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Monday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Jan 30, 2012 at 08:31:24 PM EST
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I've updated my post on the Megaload hosting companies and potential data destruction.

I think it's time for Chuck Schumer to retire. Here's his latest: $140 million for research on how to test drivers for drug use.

The Obama DOJ has cited the NDAA in a brief opposing habeas for a Guantanamo detainee. Here's the Government's brief and the detainee's cert petition.

I'd rather watch The Bachelor than talk more about Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Florida, but if you have more to say, here's an open thread, have at it.

All other topics are also welcome.

< Florida GOP Primary: Pick Your Poll | Obama and Google Ignore Top Voted Question at Online Forum >

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    Monday Night Open Thread | 76 comments (76 topical)

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    Laurence Tribe (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by weltec2 on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 06:56:43 AM EST
    was on Colbert Nation tonight... I thought oh wonderful. Finally! I, watching from here in Japan. For years I have waited for this schlemihl to give some substantial explanation for his spineless pathetic defense of Al Gore in 2000. Ever since that nightmare I have waited and waited. I would like an explanation from this Harvard law professor that I had respected for years. And then on Colbert NOTHING... nothing. No book. No comment. Nothing... I know he's almost 6 years older than me but still, I want to punch him in the face and yell, "Say something, you b------! Say something!" What happened? How come you turned into such a snail? And why... have you remained so silent on the Gore issue since then?

    Were there any questions (none / 0) (#8)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:18:05 AM EST
    about his drooling endorsement of Candidate Obama, and his thoughts about President Obama?

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#59)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:09:16 PM EST
    but it was vapid, not cutting.

    Parent
    I know you're in Japan... (none / 0) (#15)
    by DFLer on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:43:12 AM EST
    but it's schlemiel

    btw, hasn't Tribe commented post hapless defense?

    Parent

    Actually Yiddish (none / 0) (#72)
    by weltec2 on Tue Feb 07, 2012 at 02:51:47 AM EST
    is written in Hebrew so any roman spelling of Yiddish words is a transliteration. If you google the word schlemiel, you will find a number of different spellings... both of our spellings among them.

    I am not Japanese. I am a professor of American literature living in Japan since 1986. Cheers.

    Parent

    Where in Japan? (none / 0) (#73)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 07, 2012 at 03:10:42 AM EST
    C

    Parent
    I live (none / 0) (#74)
    by weltec2 on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 03:05:30 AM EST
    in Yamanashi and work in Tokyo.

    Parent
    Segue: tonight I finished (none / 0) (#75)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 04:22:28 AM EST
    "1Q84.". Is this latest Murakami popular in Japan?

    Parent
    Murakami (none / 0) (#76)
    by weltec2 on Mon Feb 13, 2012 at 06:39:39 PM EST
    is very popular in Japan. I have his book. I have not yet read it. I'm trying to get through Reamde by Neal Stephenson first.

    Parent
    Jesseyln Radack has a very interesting (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 06:57:17 AM EST
    diary up at Orange.

    We are negotiating with the Taliban on the release of five Taliban members from Gitmo.  We are also beginning to negotiate removing Taliban members from the NATO capture or kill list, but John Walker Lindh will serve his full 20 years?

    And was really ticked off with my coffee this morning when I discovered that Freddie Mac bet against all of us homeowners.  They placed bets that will pay off when we don't get our loans written down or modified and then walk away from our homes.  Thereby incentivizing themselves to work with none of us ever.

    So dear "consumers", understand that none of this is about honor or ethics.  Don't burden yourself with guilt and shame over walking away from that impossible life sucking house.  The market will have to recover, so just walk and stop doing it to yourself and your family.  You are the norm, you will have lots of company, you will be the new market of possible homeowners to tap once the crazy people have been allowed to blow us all up.  Just work to keep your family safe in where ever you dwell, and phuck these horrible people.

    the idea that a homeowner (none / 0) (#16)
    by CST on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:01:53 AM EST
    "owes" anything to these people is disgusting to me.

    They cheated and swindled everyone to the best of their ability.  If you have to walk away just walk away.

    Parent

    I agree (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:12:10 AM EST
    They took a system that incentivized a good work ethic and a good repayment ethic making homeownership a kind of pinnacle for most of us.  We have lived within that market system for generations.  When they securitized all of our mortgages though without financial regulations or the regulators to enforce what there was, those who were selling securities needed more mortgages to sell.  They didn't care that people wouldn't be able to pay those loans back.  They only cared about today and selling the securities to get the big bonus.  And that most can't pay, what the market says houses are worth will plummet so that even those of us who can pay are now huge losers too.  But they've all covered their a$$e$ with their side bets.  They just used all of us first for giant bonuses, and eventually we all had to bail them out, and now they will be okay as they have bet against all of us being able to pull through the market they all created.  It's priceless.  I am a puppet on their string and nothing more.  Nothing that I can do at this time other than walk away from the house when it craters will affect my ability to survive.

    They all should have never been bailed out, they should have all gone into bankruptcy and had things sorted out via that system.  The only way they were going to stop killing the Goose was if they had to starve to death after killing the Goose.  What a mess.

    Parent

    Bank is still getting over... (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:10:34 AM EST
    they got what they got from the home buyer and get to keep the house....with the luxury to sit on it till prices rise.  If they run into a temporary cashflow problem in the interim they call Timmy.  

    Hard to lose in a rigged f8ckin' game.

    Parent

    They aren't sitting on the houses (none / 0) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:19:15 AM EST
    They don't care if the houses completely fall down anymore kdog.  You are remembering how things used to be, when the "big boys" cared about the tangible asset that secured everything because when things were bad that was how they would eat.  They are all so rich now they are going to eat forever.  Who wants to spend the rest of their lives policing all these properties?

    The only thing they care about is that the insurance on the mortgages pays and the side bets on the dollars that are leveraged into infinity pay off....which is an impossibility....it can't realistically happen.  The snake eats itself starting at the tail when large enough failure takes place.  That is why they are all terrified of the Euro failing, that is a quickstart to the snake beginning to eat itself, margin calls take place on things that have been re-hypothecated by so many entities we probably can't even fathom it.

    The Street was not regulated, and they never quit making insane bets a 100 times over using assets that weren't even theirs.

    Parent

    I hear ya... (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:23:09 AM EST
    but they still hold the title (if they can find the title, sloppy sloppy sloppy lol)...the house can fall down and they still own the land.  They win 3 ways to Sunday.

    Parent
    One of our friends has a VA loan (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:40:20 AM EST
    that BoA is holding right now.  Because he is retired and it is wildly underwater now VA, BoA has to simply take the house back and he only takes half a ding on his credit.  They won't process the paperwork though, they don't return his calls, they keep "losing" everything and he has to resend it.

    In the meantime squatters moved in.  The property has to be in immaculate condition in order for this go smoothly.  He spent a couple of months getting the squatters removed.  He lives here now.  Finally got the squatters out, the placed repaired and cleaned up, still BoA is not processing the paperwork.  He got the VA system involved.  BoA returned his calls for about a week, and now they are back to not returning his calls.  His blood pressure is going through the roof.  He is an old soldier.  It was horrible for him when the marriage crashed and the house could not be sold for what was owed on it.  He has barely survived with his soul intact working this take back deal.  He has failed, just ask him, and BoA plays him and plays him and even tells our own government programs to phuck themselves.  It is horrible and he will have a heart attack soon if he can't develop a phuck them all attitude.  He can't win in this, and he never was going to.

    Then again, what do you do?  He receives a retirement.  What if the house ends up trashed and someday BoA does end up having to actually care about the house?  Would they be able to sue him for the trashing of the home and take his retirement?

    They are destroying the incentive to be a homeowner in our culture.  And I guess so phucking what.  I was always a big fan of yurts anyhow.  I just couldn't deal with all the laughing at me :)  I also always wanted to live in a tree house too :)  There's just less cleaning needed without all these spare rooms that we keep stuffing things we don't need into :)

    Parent

    Sh*t... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:53:53 AM EST
    he shoulda just forgot BofA, stopped paying, and worked out a sweetheart rent deal with the squatters, found renters, or just signed the house over to the squatters on a cocktail napkin.  Whats the downside there?

    Two can make up the rules as they go along, right?

    Parent

    It Depends on the State (none / 0) (#29)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:47:48 AM EST
    And their consumer protection laws, your friend should check into it.  LINK
    My state is correct, but I just Googled it, so verify.

    Look at my state Texas, even if there is a judgement against you, and that's a big if, they can't come after your assets or your wages.

    And to me, if you are going to ding your credit to that degree, no reason to pay any other unsecured debt.  If paying unsecured debt is going to keep you under water, don't to it, you'll recover quicker from bad credit then insurmountable debt IMO.  I don't believe any state allows credit card debt to go after wages or assets, but not positive.

    F them, if they hadn't got so GD greedy, all those mortgages wouldn't be upside down.  Not like your friend did anything to get upside, the stinking mortgage companies should deal with all debt they created.  And I think CC card companies should also take the ding when they knowingly extend too much credit.

    Note - this is my opinion, not advise, and surely check with an attorney for actual advise.

    Parent

    The laws vary from state to state, but in (none / 0) (#35)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:34:59 PM EST
    many states credit card companies and collection agencies can, and do, go after wages and assets. They usually have to get a court judgement, but that is not nearly as difficult as it should be. And then they can seize assets and garnishee wages.

    Retirement money, whether a pension or Social Security, is exempt from any legal attempt  to recover debts. If someone's only source of money is SS or their pension, and they do not have other assets, they are judgement proof. No one except the federal government can take somebody's SS or retirement. So, if you default on student loans, the feds could come after your SS, but not for consumer debt.

    MT, since your friend has already given up on the house, he might want to looked into debt laws in his state. And if he has no other assets that he needs to protect, well, I agree with Scott, he may well be better off just defaulting on everything, the house and the credit cards. Keep paying on the car if he needs the car. After 7 years the defaults will come off his credit report.

    Parent

    The house is in CA (none / 0) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:51:25 PM EST
    He is here so he can have a job.  And it is a VA loan.  I guess the rescued banks have to take back underwater VA houses that can't sold for what is owed.  All sorts of necessary paperwork must be filed though showing that the home was adequately on the market.  He got two decent offers too before the squatters moved in, they did not pay what was owed in full though but they were substantial offers, and the bank refused them.  I'm not sure exactly how long someone has to have the home up for sale before they can apply for the give back, but he is at that point now and they don't return his phone calls or when he does get through somehow all of his paperwork is lost and they ask him to send it to them as if he never did, three different times.

    Parent
    He Should Talk to a Lawyer (none / 0) (#42)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 01:34:10 PM EST
    Regardless.  And register with each states VA and mention it when he does.  The Wisconsin VA was phenomenal in helping me with school and some medical issues, and what I read so is Texas.

    The bank isn't looking to do anyone any favors but themselves.  

    Parent

    Today is my 60th birthday. (5.00 / 7) (#5)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 07:28:53 AM EST
    And one of the gifts I am giving myself is that for all of today I will not pay any attention to the GOP primary. I don't care who wins in Florida. I wouldn't vote for any of them. All they do is p!ss me off. So, no Mitt, no Newt, no Rick, no Ron, not any of them.

    I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge those who share my birthday. My favorites among them are Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, Nolan Ryan (as a pitcher, not an owner), and Thomas Merton. Is it any wonder I love baseball and, as a student of eastern philosophy, I found my way from Catholicism to Buddhism?

    Happy Birthday (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 07:49:29 AM EST
    Go Ducks

    Parent
    Happy Birthday, Casey! (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Anne on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:42:53 AM EST
    Your horoscope for today:

    You will enjoy just about everything you do, whether work or play. It is just that kind of day. Most things will come easily. Have a party and just be you. This is the perfect time for imagination and creativity when it comes to ideas and thinking. This, coupled with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to spellbind others. Go to that special someone and say that you love him or her; you will not be rebuffed. There is tremendous mental energy now--take care to avoid being temperamental. If you channel this energy, you can be very influential. There are indications that you are very artistic and should try your hand at some artistic endeavor. You impress people in positive ways through your communication. Why not try art as well?

    Hope you have a great day, and that it's the beginning of a great year!

    Parent

    Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh.... (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:16:29 AM EST
    For she's a jolly good Captain,
    for she's a jolly good Captain,
    for she's a jolly good Cap-tain....
    which nobody can deny, which nobody can deny.

    Happy Birthday pal, this calls for spiced rum and the shivering of timbers!  I shall raise a glass and burn a stick in your honor tonight Cap;)

    Parent

    In honor of today, all pirate crew (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 06:08:59 PM EST
    members get an extra measure of rum. Have fun and be safe mateys.

    By the by, I'm thinking Belize might be a good port o' call for the pirate ship. What say ye, mi compadres?

    Parent

    Aaarrrggghhh, matey! (none / 0) (#57)
    by Towanda on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:06:05 PM EST
    And another, belated wish for a wonderful day -- and night, now.

    Parent
    Never been... (none / 0) (#63)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 09:11:37 AM EST
    but I've done some research about going...I hear good things about Belize, have you been?  

    Matey Jeff's reports of Manzinales Colombia make it sound promising as well.

    I'll be scouting the Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico in March with the special lady, if we wanna consider going rainforest river pirate.  We can squat the Sir Edward James Castle & Gardens ;)

    Parent

    Gaudiesque. Wonderful. (none / 0) (#64)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 09:27:39 AM EST


    Parent
    Counting the days... (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 09:58:01 AM EST
    can't freakin' wait Oc...we're gonna be a couple waterfall jumping river rafting cave spelunking jungle exploring fools.  Me Tarzan her Jane;)

    Parent
    The payoff for all that hermitude. (none / 0) (#66)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 10:03:28 AM EST
    Which may explain why you haven't touted the Springsteen tour.  

    Parent
    Yeah... (none / 0) (#68)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 10:39:54 AM EST
    if I'm going its gonna be a last minute somebody got an extra or scalp deal.

    Sacrificing Further at the Beacon too...the things you do for love and foreign adventure.  Though on the off chance I come home with some cashish it might happen...put my finger in the air.

    And I'm just gonna have to allow myself one hermitude reprieve for Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 at The Bowery Electric 2/24...great venue, better tunes, and only 12 bucks.  Just get tuned up before I go to avoid a big bar tab is all;)

    Parent

    Sir Edward James-an interesting (none / 0) (#69)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 01:44:24 PM EST
    character:  Wiki

    Magritte painted two "portraits" of him.  See footnotes for light bulb one.  

    Parent

    Very interesting cat... (none / 0) (#70)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 02:03:22 PM EST
    I much prefer how he rocked his trust fund as opposed to say...Mitt Romney;)  Sponsored a lot of good ones.

    Can't wait to see his surreal spread in person.

    Parent

    Got to ask my friend who has (none / 0) (#71)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 02:34:21 PM EST
    traveled lots more in Mexico than I have--has she been there.  Looks wonderfully exotic.  

    Parent
    Happy Birthday Casey! (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:27:25 AM EST
    Sharing a birthday with Thomas Merton - awesome!

    Have a fun day.

    Parent

    Happy Birthday! (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:21:23 AM EST


    Parent
    Happy Birthday!!!! (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by ruffian on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:56:34 AM EST
    Go Cubbies!!!

    Parent
    Happy birthday. (Only 60? You've (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:03:35 PM EST
    got a long way to go, baby!)

    Parent
    Happy Birthday Casey (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by MO Blue on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 01:14:16 PM EST
    For your 60th year, I will even root for the Cubs to win the WS if the Cards are not in contention. ;o)

    Parent
    Thank you all for your kind (none / 0) (#52)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 06:05:39 PM EST
    birthday wishes. :-)

    Yes, a Cubs' World Series win would be an excellent gift this year. It would go so nicely with the Ducks' Rose Bowl victory earlier this month. Anybody have Theo Epstein's phone number?  Can you please tell him to get on the stick and put together a winning team?

    Tonight's plans include dinner with old friends during which I will enjoy one or two nicely chilled and dry Bombay Sapphire martinis.

    Interesting new factoid. I read somewhere that coconut water, the latest craze that's sweeping the nation, is an excellent cure for the common hangover. I don't plan to over-indulge,but still, knowledge is power.

    Parent

    You are a Sapphire girl too? (none / 0) (#60)
    by ruffian on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:40:24 PM EST
    I really think we must be related!

    Parent
    Tried a different gin tonight. (none / 0) (#61)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:32:45 PM EST
    Bombay Sapphire has been my go-to gin for decades. Tonight, in solidarity with my fellow Oregonians, my martinis were made with Aviation Gin, a wonderful addition to the world of gins that is made right here in Portland.

    I have to say, I loved it. It is a bit smoother than Sapphire, not quite as much bite on the back end. Great mouth feel. It was a great choice for a martini, and would be good just served on the rocks by itself.

    TL martini drinkers, give Aviation a try, and let me know what you think. It is Made In America.

    Parent

    The Obama DOJ (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:03:00 AM EST
    has cited the NDAA in a brief opposing habeas for a Guantanamo detainee?

    Let's hope (there's that word again...) that no one ever gives Mutt Romney or any other republican president/administration the power to do that. It would be far worse than the Obama Administration doing it, or so I'm repeatedly assured. :-/

    And no, that's not a typo. Excuse me, I have to go bang my head against the doorjamb, again.

    There's a cookie around here (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:30:26 AM EST
    someplace to give to you for finally dealing with your irrational hidden agenda of Hillary love/Obama hatred.  Because I know that if Hillary was doing all this as President, you would be throwing a party in her honor to celebrate it :)

    Parent
    It's enough to bring a tear to the eye, eh? (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:37:12 AM EST
    ;-)

    Parent
    It's hard not to think that these guys (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Anne on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:02:49 AM EST
    just couldn't wait to take the new and improved NDAA out for a spin on some of its most troublesome legal matters - and by "troublesome," I don't mean "a dangerous member of al Qaeda and the Taliban," but "a person we've been holding for years, who was tortured by American forces in the Dark Prison, transferred to Bagram and tortured some more, before being shipped to Guantanamo where harsh and coercive conditions persisted, has been deemed to not be dangerous or a threat to the US but whom we nonetheless want to keep holding, possibly forever."  

    For what?  Fun?  Or because we can, and we want to be able to establish an official, court-approved precedent, so we can keep doing it, whenever we want to?

    That kind of troublesome.

    Is there anyone is his or her right mind who would ever have guessed that we'd have a Democratic president not just supporting this kind of policy, but designing it?

    One by one, this president is normalizing and codifying policy that Democrats used to oppose with every fiber of their being; my fibers still feel that way, but a lot of other people's fibers have virtually disappeared - and all it took was a lousy little (D) after someone's name to do it.

    So much for principle, eh?


    Parent

    Principle? (none / 0) (#28)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:42:02 AM EST
    An in-depth New Yorker piece on hundreds of pages of internal white House memos and President Obama is broken down by Cenk Uygur on The Young Turks...

    Devastating Obama Memos From White House
    26 min youtube
    January 30, 2012

    It's the principle of the thing.

    Ok, let's watch the shoot the Cenk Uygur messenger strawmen and diversions roll here in the comments while the "Devastating Obama Memos" are dismissed as "Obama hate", and Oh! Hey! Look over there! Republicans!

    Parent

    I'm afraid to look... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Anne on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:09:48 PM EST
    but, seriously, how dare anyone even think of pulling away the curtain?

    Have we no faith?  No trust in the wisdom of our Democratic president?

    [if only we could figure out a way to spin this into higher poll numbers, hmmmm?  Then, all would be well and right with the world - Obama's world, that is.]

    Parent

    Well, I looked. I watched all 26 minutes as (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:24:21 PM EST
    Cenk worked through the memos, pointing out time and again that those of us who were skeptical about all the PPUS were, by golly, right.

    Obama was, and remains apparently, out of his depth, suffering from fevered dreams of a mythical political world where we all get along and Republicans respond to the milk of bipartisan kindness with grateful smiles.

    I guess there is some value in being proven right, but I've got to say, I would have been very happy to have been proven wrong about Obama.

    Parent

    You know I would have to look, and (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by Anne on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 01:35:05 PM EST
    now I have to read Lizza's New Yorker piece, too.

    With regard to Cenk's take, I kept waiting for it to dawn on him that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't about Obama's ineffectiveness, or about his being easily led by his advisors, but about Obama being more comfortable with conservative ideas and approaches and memes.  I wanted to ask Cenk, "why do you think Obama surrounded himself with an economic team that was rooted in the old-boy network, protective of the banks and Wall Street and conservative in their ideas?"

    And the anecdote about Steve Jobs coming away from a meeting with Obama puzzled because, while he thought Obama was smart, all he seemed to want to offer were reasons why he couldn't get things done?  Cenk spent 26 minutes relating all of the those reasons that Lizza uncovered in the memos - and as Cenk pointed out, not really in a bad way - Lizza bought into the excuses, apparently (I will know more when I read it) - and at some point, while Cenk was 16 kinds of frustrated, he kind of did, too.

    Poor President Obama: all he's done is listen to his advisors, try to bring people together and end the partisan bickering, right?

    Hope is still alive in the hearts of progressives everywhere as they desperately cling to the idea of the beleaguered-and-frustrated-president theory, instead of facing the truth that people with a progressive/liberal world view don't surround themselves with conservatives and authoritarians unless, well, they're, you know, not progressive and not even in the same zip code as "liberal."

    Wake up, Cenk.

    Parent

    You owe me 26 mins. Buddy (5.00 / 3) (#37)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:52:44 PM EST
    Sitting and watching & listening to what every single human on earth knows (except for ABG, Christine, and MKS) realizing I've morphed into a lobotomized chipmunk, wanting to hit the pause button, but once into it, simply couldn't.

    And yet, he's got Air Force One at his beck and call, and will for another four years.

    Parent

    Yes, he's flyin' allright (none / 0) (#48)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:18:28 PM EST
    Be nice if he would land someday...

    Parent
    Muppets hit back at Faux News (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Yman on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:46:49 PM EST
    Go Miss Piggy.

    Her Porcine Pulchitrudeness (none / 0) (#58)
    by Towanda on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:07:50 PM EST
    cracked me up on that video.  Saw it last night and spread it far and wide today, too, but forgot to post it here.  

    My bad.  

    You're good.

    TL'ers, the linked video is short, and sooo sweet a smackdown.

    Parent

    dueling open threads? ;) (none / 0) (#1)
    by The Addams Family on Mon Jan 30, 2012 at 08:31:55 PM EST


    we posted at the same time (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Jan 30, 2012 at 08:36:10 PM EST
    I deleted BTD's since there were no comments yet and it didn't have any other info. But thanks, BTD, for putting it up in case I hadn't.

    Parent
    Vote fraud (none / 0) (#7)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:13:18 AM EST
    .

    Reported by the Associated Press.

    .

    Please note: (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by sj on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 07:45:53 PM EST
    Mandatory state ID would not have prevented this.

    Parent
    Perhaps (none / 0) (#62)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 07:26:31 AM EST
    .

    If you needed to show your ID to pick up the ballot it may well have.  At least it would have made absentee voting by dead people more difficult than it is now.

    .

    Parent

    You do know that absentee ballots (none / 0) (#67)
    by sj on Wed Feb 01, 2012 at 10:04:53 AM EST
    are for absentee voters, right?  You don't "present" ID to pick up the ballot.  They are mailed.  And your "dead people" red herring is just that.  They didn't approach dead people, they went to real voters.  Mandatory ID would not have prevented this in any way.


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    Here's something to give one pause (none / 0) (#22)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:22:49 AM EST
    Iran says they are willing to strike the US on US soil.

    Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in prepared testimony that an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington that was uncovered last year reflects an aggressive new willingness within the upper ranks of the Islamist republic to authorize attacks against the United States.

    Intelligence shows that Iran received foreign assistance to overcome key hurdles in acquiring technology that could lead to a nuclear weapon, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    That plot "shows that some Iranian officials -- probably including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei -- have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived U.S. actions that threaten the regime," Clapper said in the testimony, which was submitted to the Senate Intelligence Committee in advance of a threat assessment hearing Tuesday. "We are also concerned about Iranian plotting against U.S. or allied interests overseas."
    No fear, Carter addressed this (none / 0) (#30)
    by BTAL on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:00:26 PM EST
    in a recent TIME interview. 10 Questions: Jimmy Carter

    Question:
    "What do you think it means that Iran seems to have its first nuclear fuel rod?"

    Reply:
    "Well, of course, the religious leaders of Iran have sworn on their word of honor that they're not going to manufacture nuclear weapons. If they are lying, then I don't see that as a major catastrophe because they'll only have one or two military weapons. Israel probably has 300 or so."

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    Forgot go add snark or sarcasism tag. (none / 0) (#31)
    by BTAL on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:01:16 PM EST


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    Believe it, or not (none / 0) (#38)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:57:15 PM EST
    both the current, and former, head of Mossad agree with Carter.

    Neither believe Iran is an existential threat to Israel, with, or without "the bomb."

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    His (Pardo) comment you reference (none / 0) (#41)
    by BTAL on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 01:25:10 PM EST
    were broad based.  In comparison to what was reported yesterday from the Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing.  Link

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    Well, yeah (none / 0) (#45)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 01:56:39 PM EST
    Pardo, and his predecessor, Meir Dagan, are politicians as well as gumshoes. You don't come into the U.S. and before an open Senate Committee, tell the folks who give them billions, and are itching for a fight that they don't think the threat is big enough to warrant an attack.

    But, who knows, we're all guessing. The Mossad chiefs didn't say there's no chance of a nuclear Iran. Just that odds weren't high enough to warrant an attack.

    But that was a few weeks ago and things can change rapidly, so maybe things have changed. It's just that the war drum beatings almost always bang louder and earlier than the facts that follow.

    The problem is we'll never know who's lying, and when.


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    Pray tell.. (none / 0) (#50)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:53:53 PM EST
    how did these neocon jackoffs, messianists, and warmongers THINK Iran was going to respond to a hostile, nuclear-armed, nation invading countries along it's eastern and western borders..

    Or was Iran's all-too-predictable responce part of the big-picture, "regime change" plan right along?

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    Existential threat.. (none / 0) (#47)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:17:52 PM EST
    I think more people need to start reading Kierkegaard over there in God's favorite piece of real estate..

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    What U.S intelligence agancies believe (none / 0) (#46)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:14:26 PM EST
    becomes "Iran says"..

    Thats pretty sloppy reporting for someone who's been known to forensically parse every statement coming from Obama..

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    Chuckie Schumer... (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:03:59 AM EST
    the worst kinda Dem...won't touch a real problem with a ten-foot pole, but never shy with a cure thats worse than the disease for a minor problem.

    I wonder if he's got his Wall St. buddies investing him in roadside drugtest developers yet?

    i think it's time (none / 0) (#40)
    by The Addams Family on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 01:15:44 PM EST
    for all of us to send one or more of our "leaders" a 10 foot pole, accompanied by suggestions for issues to be vigorously touched with said pole, & by illustrated instructions for what to do with said pole if no such issues end up being touched

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    Forget the illustrations... (none / 0) (#43)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 01:34:20 PM EST
    if somebody asks me for blood, urine, or stool on the side of the road in the future, I'm gonna insist on giving the Schumenator a live ten-foot pole demonstration;)

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    Short, sweet and correct (none / 0) (#51)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 04:40:12 PM EST
    Link

    I love this quote (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 06:27:19 PM EST
    "It always happens. When Republicans are in charge, we take the gloves off and fiercely attempt to replace them with a Democrat. But when Democrats are in charge, too many liberals take on this too-hip-for-the-room attitude and either criticize the arrangement of the two party system or insist that both sides are evil."

    So when Clinton took over this same phenomenon occurred?  Carter?  LBJ?  Kennedy?

    I would suggest, perhaps (scratches chin), that as the system has become increasingly corrupt, disgust with that system has risen accordingly.  The idea, however, that there is some powerful liberal bloc that chronically throughout our history has locked itself in blind cynicism, thus rendering change impossible (as the logical extension of the characterization leads to), is really comical.

    The truth remains: most corporate money with any brains plays both sides of the political fence ultimately -- it hedges its bets, you know this.  Whomever wins, they win.  It's an old game.  Does that mean the parties are identical twins?  Of course not, but in too many key respects they are at that level.  And that renders the system as a whole all but unworkable for everyday people, as we see now.

    Peace.

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    of course Mr. Cesca left out (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by The Addams Family on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 06:34:47 PM EST
    one option: that of consistently holding the president's feet to the fire on policy grounds, as many here at TL try to do

    the behavior Cesca describes is that of people who rightly excoriated George W. Bush for his policies but now have nothing to say except "Both sides are evil" while the Bush's policies are extended & enhanced by Barack Obama

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    Monday Night Open Thread | 76 comments (76 topical)

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