home

Sunday Morning Open Thread

Everybody cool it in the comments please.

Open Thread.

< Saturday Afternoon Open Thread | Sunday Evening Open Thread >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    In a 25 minute interview, (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Edger on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:17:50 AM EST
    AlJazeera talks to Jeffrey Sachs, describing him as "an academic 'superstar' known for his controversial work on shock therapy, a theory that was applied and tested in dramatic fashion with the privatisation of state resources in South America and Russia", who describes the development of the current global economic crisis this way...
       "The banks have said, leave us deregulated, we know how to run things, don't put government in to meddle. Then with that freedom of maneuver they took huge gambles, and even made illegal actions, and then broke the world system. As soon as that happened then they rushed out to say 'bail us out, bail us out, if you don't bail us out, we're too big to fail, you have to save us'. As soon as that happened, they said 'oh, don't regulate us, we know what to do'. And they almost went back to their old story, and the public is standing there, amazed, because we just bailed you out how can you be paying yourself billions of dollars of bonuses again? And the bankers say, 'well we deserve it, what's your problem'? And the problem that the Occupy Wall Street and other protesters have is: you don't deserve it, you nearly broke the system, you gamed the economy, you're paying mega fines, yet you're still in the White House you're going to the state dinners, you're paying yourself huge bonuses, what kind of system is this?

        When I talk about this in the United States, I'm often attacked, 'oh, you don't believe in the free market economy', I say, how much free market can there be? You say deregulate, the moment the banks get in trouble, you say bail them out, the moment you bail them out, you say go back to deregulation. That's not a free market, that's a game, and we have to get out of the game. We have to get back to grown-up behaviour."

    wikipedia: Sachs is an economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the implementation of so-called economic shock therapy during the transition from communism to a market system or during periods of economic crisis.

    Is he a 'reasonable' sounding disaster capitalist promoter?

    WATCH, and you decide...

    Side note: Al-Jazeera (5.00 / 4) (#12)
    by Towanda on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:51:50 AM EST
    has announced that it is opening a bureau in Chicago.  

    More coverage of the U.S. not skewed by the Eastern bias of media, not to mention the U.S. bias of media, will be good, of course.  

    But I'm also fascinated by this, because Al-Jazeera has been so smart about from where the next big stories will come.  There has been too little attention to Occupy Chicago, for one.  And, of course, it is the president's adopted hometown, and there seem to be more stories lately about fallout from the Chicago Way.  Does Al-Jazeera sniff out more to come?

    Parent

    You're right, Towanda (none / 0) (#18)
    by Zorba on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:05:21 PM EST
    There doesn't seem to have been as much coverage of Occupy Chicago as there has been of other cities.  Strange, since it's the third largest city in the United States.  It will be interesting to see what news stories develop as Al-Jazeera opens its Chicago bureau.  

    Parent
    Oh, we're used to it here (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Towanda on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:14:42 PM EST
    in the Heartland, and it's the rest of you that are missing all that has been happening here (and elsewhere in the region) with our Occupiers.

    I think that A-J is especially smart on this, because the first predecessor movement came from the Midwest, Coxey's Army -- with the first-ever March on Washington -- as did so many Bonus Marchers.  And something is brewing (pun intended, in the region that leads in barrelage) here again that may see the next metamorphosis of this movement.  I'm watching Michigan, a fast trip from Chicago.

    Parent

    And new Al-Jazeera show debuts tomorrow (5.00 / 4) (#13)
    by Towanda on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:57:41 AM EST
    to focus on the election year -- the site to see as our U.S. media fail again, no doubt -- amid more on our continent:

    As part of its commitment to enhancing coverage of the U.S. ahead of the elections, Al Jazeera English's Americas bureau begin airing the discussion show Inside Story out of Washington D.C. Starting on December 12, the show will air every weekday at 6:30am and 7:30pm EST. The show gives a platform for guests of different perspectives to analyze and dissect the day's top news stories. Several episodes a week will be dedicated to covering the 2012 elections, while other episodes will follow significant stories from throughout North and South America.


    Parent
    Are they being carried (none / 0) (#14)
    by Edger on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 12:25:13 PM EST
    on a cable network?

    Parent
    Sorry; via WTTW (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Towanda on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 12:41:40 PM EST
    in Chitown; I think that you can live-stream from its site or, I bet, from the A-J English site.

    I'll post anything more that I see on this.

    Parent

    Ahhh... thanks (none / 0) (#16)
    by Edger on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 12:54:52 PM EST
    Here's the announcement, from PRNewsWire:

    Al Jazeera English Comes to Chicago on WTTW, America's Most-Watched Public Television Station

    CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2011 PRNewswire -- This month, Al Jazeera English (AJE) programming will become available for the first time across Chicago, joining a growing list of US cities carrying AJE content.

    As of October 31, Chicago viewers will be able to watch Al Jazeera English's award-winning global news coverage on two channels, WTTW11 and WTTW Prime (11-2; Comcast 370). WTTW is the most-watched public television station in America, serving more than 65% of Illinois' population, as well as sections of Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

    Since February, cable and satellite providers have received more than 70,000 emails from Americans asking for access to the channel. Although many viewers watch live streams of AJE coverage online, this will be AJE's first foray into mainstream public television in Chicago. AJE will air for 30 minutes at 6:30 am and 11:00 pm Monday-Friday on the WTTW Prime channel and from 5:30 am-6:30 am on WTTW11 on Saturdays. Additional time slots for AJE on WTTW11 will be available beginning in early 2012, which will mean even more exposure for AJE and provide viewers with more opportunities to see the program.

    more...



    Parent
    Being, "number two" (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by KeysDan on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:20:43 AM EST
    has been as perilous, albeit less lethal, for Mitt as it has been for an al Qaeda "number two".  With the serial anti-Mitts seemingly topping off with Newt, the former Massachusetts governor is quite likely to be able to spend more time with his family in La Jolla.  Newt's rise in the eyes of the Republican primary electorate appears to be reflected as composite of desired qualities seen in  previous and temporary first-place holders: the humility of Trump, the temperament of Bachman, the brilliance of Perry, and, of course, the fidelity of Cain. Yes, Newt does not have the flashiness of Pawlenty, the charisma of Paul or the obsessive gay-bashing determination of Santorum, but Newt can work on any remaining perceived deficiencies.  

    A true conservative (none / 0) (#11)
    by Edger on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:24:22 AM EST
    Newt knows deficiencies from long firsthand experience. He walks the talk?

    Parent
    Well, Newton needs to (none / 0) (#19)
    by KeysDan on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:08:02 PM EST
    demonstrate his bona fides in the really, really conservative department to the wise pundits who decide these things: George Will calls Newton "the least conservative"  "he embodies the vanity and rapacity that make modern Washington repulsive"  He would have made a marvelous Marxist."  Joe Scarborough said "let me just say, if Newt is the smartest guy in the room, leave the room." Senator Tom Coburn said Newt "is the last person I'd vote for for president of the U.S."

    David Brooks says that he wouldn't let Newt run a 7-Eleven, let alone a country, and "he has a negative character trait that conservatives associate with 60's excess: narcissism, self-righteousness, self-indulgence and intemperance.  And, Ross Douthat says "conservatives may want catharsis, but the rest of the public seems to mainly want reassurances..they already know Obama isn't the messiah he was cracked up to be. What they don't know is whether they can trust anyone else to do better."  

    If it is not Mittens, will they all fall in?  Or, will they be looking closer to home.  After all, policies can be flexible there.

    Parent

    When all is said and done, (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by JeriKoll on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    Mitt will be the GOP candidate.  He is always there.  Others rise and then fall.  Now it is Newt's time to rise and fall.

    I would say 45 to 50 percent chance of Mitt winning Presidency in 2012.

    Newt will have to fall within about the (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by tigercourse on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:23:51 PM EST
    next 3 weeks. The Iowa caucus is really close.

    Parent
    Newt (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:45:00 PM EST
    is going to romp in Iowa, South Carolina, and Florida. Mitt will have to be happy with his New Hampshire showing in the smallest state of the initial four.

    Parent
    I can see (none / 0) (#24)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:54:18 PM EST
    SC but Newt doesn't even have a staff for the caucuses in IA. He trying to scrape that together at the last moment.

    I have to wonder if Ron Paul won't be a surprise winner in IA because he seems to have the most dedicated supporters or some of the upper echelon of the GOP messing with the IA caucuses because they are easy to mess with in order to keep Newt from winning.

    Parent

    All the Republican Candidates looked (none / 0) (#26)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 02:02:11 PM EST
    good last night--even Perry (from what I imagine would be the Republican perspective.)

    What I don't get is why Santorum isn't doing better.  If you are a crazed right winger, he has got to be the guy for you.  A consistent right winger, who is intelligent and doesn't have brain freezes and does have experience.

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#30)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 02:38:08 PM EST
    you're not the first one to wonder why Santorum wasn't doing better and I certainly don't have any idea why that is. The fact that Perry polls better than Santorum is kind of mind boggling.

    Parent
    It's the Penn State connection (none / 0) (#31)
    by rdandrea on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 02:48:42 PM EST
    What I don't get is why Santorum isn't doing better.

    Anything Penn State is doodoo these days.

    Parent

    Santorum got pummeled (none / 0) (#48)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 05:26:27 PM EST
    in his home state five years ago. You expect him to take that onto the national stage and have success?

    Parent
    So? (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 05:54:09 PM EST
    Gingrich resigned in disgrace as speaker of the house and that doesn't seem to bother the same people.

    Parent
    You remember him as someone (none / 0) (#73)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 08:45:52 PM EST
    that resigned in disgrace. But he's known by Republicans as an 11-time winner to his House Seat who resigned only after after winning re-election to his 11th term. It's not quite resigning in disgrace if you resign the day after winning your election.

    Parent
    If you start from the proposition (none / 0) (#49)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 05:46:11 PM EST
    that conservatives are inherently irrational or arational, then anything is possible.

    Admittedly trying to figure out how a conservative would think is not all that easy.

    Parent

    You have to think like a petulant emo (none / 0) (#70)
    by jeffinalabama on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:56:07 PM EST
    teenager and then subtract reason, common decency, intelligence, and accountability.

    Parent
    Is this conclusion from living in the South (none / 0) (#74)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 08:53:06 PM EST
    or sociological research?

    Parent
    Living in the South. (none / 0) (#85)
    by jeffinalabama on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:26:51 PM EST
    I could add something about poor driving also, but that cuts across party lines and demographics.

    Parent
    Ding! Ding! (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by NYShooter on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:57:38 PM EST
    Calling for a ruling:

    **************
    "I could add something about poor driving also, but that cuts across party lines and demographics."
    *
    ***************

    Insofar as "The South" is overwhelmingly Republican, systemically poverty burdened, and Christian, I would submit that your words, "....cuts across party lines and demographics," are more false than true.

    Now, being the scholar I know you to be, I'm sure you meant, "while poor driving cuts across party lines and demographics in The South, the 3 democrats and 2 folks scoring above the poverty line, brave enough to be willing to be identified, are too small in numbers to rationally be counted.

    However, the South being the South, if nine million Republicans are identified as crappy drivers, and even I single Democrat is dragged out of hiding and stood up on the podium, The R's, and Fox News can proudly proclaim, "both sides are equally guilty."

    On a personal note: I'm surprised at you, Jeff. You know as well as I do that down South 9 million to 9 million, and 9 million to 1, are exactly the same thing. You shouldn't need me to point that out to you.

    :)
     

    Parent

    I thought the poor driving only applied (none / 0) (#86)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:34:18 PM EST
    to FL!

    Parent
    Except Huckabee won the Iowa caucus (none / 0) (#23)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:45:56 PM EST
    in 2008.  

    Parent
    That's because McCain came along and (none / 0) (#27)
    by tigercourse on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 02:03:55 PM EST
    grab votes from both Romney and Huckabee. I don't see that happening this year. Gingrich is polling huge in South Carolina and Florida right now. 2 to 1 or more in several cases. New Hampshire is the only state that Romney is doing well in right now. He can't win the nomination if that continues.

    Parent
    That would seem to be the case (none / 0) (#28)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 02:13:17 PM EST
    All the evidence points that way but it just seems so implausible.....

    Parent
    It appears (none / 0) (#25)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 01:58:40 PM EST
    Mitt is going for the long play.  He didn't show much urgency last night.

    Mitt has the advantage of the entire Republican media and money establisment out to destroy Newtt.  That process may not be complete by Iowa but by Super Tuesday?

    Newt just didn't seem like a long haul candidate last night.  Romney seemed relaxed and not worried--he must know the entire attack apparatus of the Republican Empire is out to get Newt.  They will get Caeser eventually.

    Parent

    The funniest (5.00 / 4) (#29)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 02:36:32 PM EST
    thing in all this is the fact that you are really seeing that evangelicals really don't mean what they say about when it comes to their sanctimonious lectures about the "sanctity of marriage". There's no one that expresses that all that was really just a joke than Newt Gingrich.

    Parent
    The evangelicals (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 02:54:39 PM EST
    believe in confession and forgiveness.

    Gringrich has confessed and has been forgiven.

    Unless the Left, and the East Coast Repubs, can find something new, that is a non-issue.

    But you can keep on harping about it if you want.

    Parent

    aren't these confession and forgiveness (5.00 / 4) (#33)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 03:23:44 PM EST
    believers also strongly supportive of the death penalty?

    Parent
    Does it count as "confession" ... (5.00 / 3) (#36)
    by Yman on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 03:53:25 PM EST
    ... if you don't "confess" until after you've been discovered, you blames your affairs on your patriotism, and you only "seek forgiveness" years later when you're preparing a run for POTUS?

    Parent
    Excellent point, Yman (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by Zorba on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 03:55:12 PM EST
    Does seem more than a bit hypocritical and opportunistic, doesn't it?

    Parent
    To the Republican (5.00 / 0) (#38)
    by NYShooter on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 03:59:00 PM EST
    Primary voters, "The Base," Newt is an intellectual, a scholar, a professor, and a known degenerate........excuse me, a "forgiven" known degenerate. Perfect.

    For the completely uneducated, disinterested, easily led, and totally self destructive Primary voter, Newt is the Champion they've been waiting for. Who else could say, after the deluge of Gingrich sleaze the media exposed, "the fact that I'm a dirt bag shouldn't reflect on the veracity of my statements calling the Democrats dirt bags." Newt felt safe making that comment since "hypocrisy," being a four syllable word, well.....you know.

    All of which should help explain why our guy, Jim, (our eyes into the mentally inert R voter) is now so enraptured.


    Parent

    Every paryt has its Clinton (none / 0) (#41)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 04:41:58 PM EST
    Primary voters, "The Base," Newt is an intellectual, a scholar, a professor, and a known degenerate........excuse me, a "forgiven" known degenerate. Perfect.

    ;-)

    Parent

    Except, of course (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by Yman on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:20:52 PM EST
    Clinton was never riding a hypocritical, Republican "family values" candidacy.  Not to mention the fact that Clinton actually is an intellectual and scholar, whereas Newt taught at a backwater college in GA until left after failing to publish/get tenure.

    Parent
    Yes, it counts (none / 0) (#42)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 04:46:05 PM EST
    What Newt was saying is the old, "I was working so hard the marriage just fell apart."

    Old and ineffective but only Yman would buy into it being about patriotism.

    Parent

    "Only Yman"? - Heh (5.00 / 0) (#56)
    by Yman on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:06:32 PM EST
    Click on the link and read the headline.

    Heh.

    Parent

    NYT editorial cartoon re Newt: (none / 0) (#75)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 08:58:42 PM EST
    Did you really just write that? (none / 0) (#82)
    by rdandrea on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:39:13 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    True, but it seems to be working for Newt (none / 0) (#92)
    by MKS on Mon Dec 12, 2011 at 12:44:14 AM EST
    Why, I have no idea.

    Parent
    Ummmmm. Usually, yes, they are. (none / 0) (#35)
    by Zorba on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 03:42:28 PM EST
    What I'm more interested in is if wives #1 and #2 have forgiven him.  Seems to me that those are the ones he should be seeking forgiveness from.

    Parent
    Some are and some aren't (none / 0) (#40)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 04:39:58 PM EST
    But what you are trying to do is mix  forgiveness and punishment. By and large actions like Newt's are not considered to require the death penalty.

    Parent
    Or punishment in the form of persons (none / 0) (#78)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:11:57 PM EST
    who purportedly cherish "family values" not supporting his current campaign.  

    Parent
    No (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 04:11:58 PM EST
    they don't. It's more of it's IOIYAR than anything else.

    Anywhere else his whine of how Bill Clinton made him do it and his having an affair was because of patriotism would have been met with peals of laughter.

    These evangelicals don't really care about marriage so much as they just hate gays and don't think they should be able to get married. Newt is such a clown that it's kind of fun to see him as the front runner for the GOP.

    "40 state landslide loss for the GOP" seems to be what is being put out there by the GOP pundits.

    Parent

    Ya know Ga (none / 0) (#43)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 04:54:04 PM EST
    your hatred of Newt is so intense it is remarkable. The only thing even close to it was the hatred Palin elected.

    In Palin I thought it was her rejection of 100% of the Left. In Newt, I think it is the fact that he and Palin both have the ability to turn a quick phrase that just devastates the Demos.

    I think the only thing that can defeat Newt is the Repub Hoodoos. If that happens you can expect a united Tea Party in 2016.

    Parent

    Now (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 05:06:39 PM EST
    are you channeling ABG? LOL. Newt is a clown. He was my rep so I know of what I speak. He's full of a lot of hot air and he has a special skill of shooting himself in the foot so he's fun to watch on the national stage.

    FYI--Palin never really registered with me so I don't know what you're talking about there or either you're once again just making stuff up.

    Newt doesn't devastate anybody but himself. Though he is a very big proponent of eliminationist rhetoric which the right is very big on which is the same train of thought that terrorists use--dehumanize the opposition so therefore it becomes palpable to kill them off. What Newt is doing is nothing new. It's as old as whatever...anyhow while this works with the GOP base, the rest of us just sit and laugh at the clown Newt. Newt is so toxic to most of America that he'll defeat himself. He's already been caught making crap up but I know that won't deter a lot of GOP voters for voting for him.

    Parent

    Gee, Ga (none / 0) (#87)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:46:47 PM EST
    and here I have been thinking that Newt has been on the national scene for a long, long time...

    No need for anybody to watch TV or read the paper, you'll just tell us what is right.

    Parent

    Gee, Ga (none / 0) (#88)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:46:47 PM EST
    and here I have been thinking that Newt has been on the national scene for a long, long time...

    No need for anybody to watch TV or read the paper, you'll just tell us what is right.

    Parent

    Although I've read those who were in (none / 0) (#76)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:00:11 PM EST
    Congress w/Newt--GOP Congresspersons--are adamantly against his being the nominee.  

    Parent
    Gee, Donald (none / 0) (#89)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 11:48:31 PM EST
    are you telling me that politicians have over sized egos?

    The things I learn.

    Parent

    Gee Jim (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by NYShooter on Mon Dec 12, 2011 at 12:01:56 AM EST
    Now I see what you mean how you want to have scholarly debates while those other nasty posters just want to "snark."

    Bad posters; bad, bad, bad

    Parent

    Romney (5.00 / 2) (#95)
    by jbindc on Mon Dec 12, 2011 at 08:40:38 AM EST
    Has been out there all this time, raising money and securing support while one poll leader after another crashed and burned.  Bachmann, Perry, Cain and now Gingrich.

    Having Gingrich "lead" in the polls right now is really being pushed by liberal outlets because that would be their dream candidate to go against Obama because Newtie can't win. The PTB in the Republican Party don't want him as the candidate.  Mitthas Bern quietly chugging along while each of the flavor of the week have fizzled and cleared the road fir him.

    I predict Romney wraps it on Super Tuesday.

    Parent

    TEBOW! (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Addison on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:26:18 PM EST


    Funny part of that pic (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:43:35 PM EST
    all three jerseys are Elway jerseys. Elway may be Tebowing tonight, although Pratering might be more suitable this time.

    Parent
    This seems safer than "planking." I (none / 0) (#77)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:03:11 PM EST
    read a young man in Australia, I think, died when he attempted to plank an upper story balcony railing.  

    Parent
    There was recently an arrest (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:14:24 PM EST
    for planking in this country. I chose not to link to it for fear kdog might have cardiac arrest. To the best of my knowledge there have been no Tebowing arrests yet.

    Parent
    Ha. What was the suspected (none / 0) (#80)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:15:25 PM EST
    planker planking upon?

    Parent
    May as well pass it along now (none / 0) (#81)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:31:46 PM EST
    A 19-year-old Wisconsin man was convicted this week of a "planking" spree that included him lying atop a police squad car, a bank ATM machine, and merchandise displays at Walmart and Lowe's stores.

    A Municipal Court judge in Manitowoc found Alexander Hart guilty of disorderly conduct on the strength of "planking" photos that were posted earlier this year to his Facebook page, as well as an incriminating YouTube video.



    Parent
    Meanwhile, the LAT had a headline (none / 0) (#83)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:53:16 PM EST
    re pepper spraying Walmart shopper suing somebody.  But the link didn't link to anything.  

    Parent
    Here: (none / 0) (#84)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 09:56:01 PM EST
    People have cooled ... (4.00 / 4) (#1)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:08:28 AM EST
    to the point of catatonia.

    "Everything is Cool" (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Edger on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:31:39 AM EST
    says John Prine, and I'll listen to the man anytime. ;-)

    Parent
    It's not quite that bad, Robot (none / 0) (#94)
    by Edger on Mon Dec 12, 2011 at 07:45:13 AM EST
    People did raise their eyebrows for a minute or so last week at the announcement of the indefinite detention of Americans section of the 2012 NDAA that Obama will veto.

    Fascism has no chance in America. No chance. People are fighters. They don't just roll over for things like that. They raise their eyebrows for a minute. Before changing the channel.

    Parent

    Gingrich will make me vote for Obama (none / 0) (#2)
    by womanwarrior on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:08:30 AM EST
    Yes, Virginia, there certainly are important differences. Are the R's really self-destructive enough to nominate Gingrich?  Or is he in this just to make Romney look good?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/opinion/sunday/mr-gingrichs-attack-on-the-courts.html?_r=1&re f=todayspaper

    Some of us are pulling (5.00 / 0) (#6)
    by brodie on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:27:12 AM EST
    mighty hard for Newt to crawl all over Willard and go on to face Obama.

    I really want to see those 7 Lincoln-Douglas style debates (three hours, no moderators) that The Little Giant Newt Douglas has proposed.

    Parent

    If you were a circus operator (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Edger on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:36:25 AM EST
    and you wanted to fill the tent to entertain and fleece the customers with a clown and a hypnotist show, you couldn't pick two better performers.

    Parent
    Hey, Romney isn't really rich ... (none / 0) (#9)
    by Erehwon on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:51:51 AM EST
    Really rich people make only one dollar bets! :-)


    Check out the classic scene from Trading Places.

    Parent

    We can all agree on one thing (none / 0) (#3)
    by Repack Rider on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:10:07 AM EST
    Go 'Niners!

    Heh. (none / 0) (#5)
    by ek hornbeck on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 10:25:03 AM EST
    Well how about some whoring then?

    Frack You Very Much!

    Shades of 1968 (none / 0) (#34)
    by Edger on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 03:28:07 PM EST
    I was really impressed the other day when in his economic speech in Osawatomie, Kansas Obama said "I'm here to reaffirm my deep conviction that we are greater together than we are on our own. I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, and when everyone plays by the same rules. Those aren't Democratic or Republican values; 1% values or 99% values. They're American values, and we have to reclaim them."

    And I'm even more impressed to find out that the Democratic Party and the DNC fully intend without reservation to stand squarely behind Obama's soaring rhetoric next summer at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Charlotte Prepping for Occupy Wall Street:

    In John Heilemann's cover story "2012=1968?," he wonders whether Occupy Wall Street protesters will do to Charlotte's Democratic National Convention in the summer of 2012 what demonstrators did to the Chicago DNC in 1968. The North Carolina city, sometimes called the "Wall Street of the South," is not taking any chances, and is already working to pass an ordinance that would make occupying downtown spaces with tents a "public nuisance," in addition to banning "noxious substances," padlocks, and other camping equipment. The fact that it would knock out the city's current overnight demonstrators is an added bonus.
    [snip]
    A local National Lawyers Guild director says that the rule's constitutionality might be challenged and could even spur "increased confrontation between protesters and police." For their part, the protesters say they don't even have a plan for the DNC yet, but acknowledge the opportunity it presents. "Everybody I talked to said the DNC is ground zero for everything," said one organizer. "Everybody wants to be involved. We're estimating several thousands of people coming especially from the Occupy community."

    Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

    Charlotte: Home of Bank of America (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:48:32 PM EST
    And big right to work state (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by jbindc on Mon Dec 12, 2011 at 08:43:07 AM EST
    Unions were not happy with the choice.

    Parent
    Natural place for the DNC... (none / 0) (#93)
    by Edger on Mon Dec 12, 2011 at 07:38:43 AM EST
    Tebow Bowl, Part 6 (none / 0) (#44)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 04:54:27 PM EST
    0-0 in the Third Quarter?

    Thank God Von Miller is playing again.

    Will we have Tebow magic today? (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 05:51:07 PM EST
    down 3 with 2 minutes left

    Parent
    Maybe--on Chicago 41 (none / 0) (#53)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 05:59:34 PM EST
    Could get a field goal.

    Parent
    Tie ball game!!!!! (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:02:06 PM EST
    absolutely amazing (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:03:00 PM EST
    58 yard field goal and Broncos score ten in 2 minutes to tie

    Parent
    Chicago in field goal position (none / 0) (#58)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:10:13 PM EST
    Uh-oh

    Parent
    Tebooowwww!!!!!!! (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:20:39 PM EST
    They win.....again.....

    Parent
    Unreal--fumbullll! (none / 0) (#59)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:13:06 PM EST
    Bronco's ball.

    Parent
    Broncos lining up (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:19:42 PM EST
    for a game winning field goal try from about 50

    Parent
    Something Magical (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 06:23:07 PM EST
    taking place in Denver this season. Matt Prater hits from 59 and 51 to put Broncos in first all by themselves

    Parent
    Touchdown Tebow (none / 0) (#51)
    by MKS on Sun Dec 11, 2011 at 05:51:08 PM EST
    A little late....probably too late this time....

    Not much time left to get a field goal and tie.

    Parent