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Tuesday Night Open Thread

No verdict in the John Edwards case.

The ACLU weighs in on DEA data-mining of license plates (see our earlier post here.)

I'll put up a new thread on George Zimmerman shortly, as our last one is full.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Tuesday Morning Open Thread | The Election and the News >
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    Last day of school here. (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue May 22, 2012 at 09:21:49 PM EST
    And the 'bama legislators decided school can't start, except for summer school, until Aug. 20.

    Lots of outside study.

    I found out from Mrs. Grubb, the science teacher, that no leaf nor insect collections are done in the k-12 now. (Love that name for a biology teacher) She gave me some handouts for my summer rapscallions, and we're doing insects and leaves now.

    No Monarchs, though.

    They did (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 05:17:21 AM EST
    that same thing in SC about the summers because people were not taking enough vacations with school starting and the resorts were hurting financially. What the idiots do no realize is that people aren't taking vacations period because of the economy.

    Parent
    No Monarchs (none / 0) (#21)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed May 23, 2012 at 07:30:17 AM EST
    .

    Seen any Regents yet?

    .

    Parent

    Yeah (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 07:56:39 AM EST
    the Regents are at Pat Robertson's university.

    Parent
    Last day of school is today?! (none / 0) (#42)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 23, 2012 at 12:02:36 PM EST
    Josh's is tomorrow (none / 0) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 23, 2012 at 03:09:16 PM EST
    But I don't know what to do with all these vaca days.  Last year they got out on June 2 and they went back the first week of August.  I don't know what is behind the new calendar other than perhaps seeking ways to pay for less AC in the heat.

    When we first moved here I had a hard time becoming accustomed to such a long school year.  Now I don't know what to do with all this time :)

    Parent

    I always thought that was funny (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by jbindc on Wed May 23, 2012 at 03:44:05 PM EST
    When I lived in Texas, the kids got out around Memorial Day and started around the first of August, presumably because of the heat.  But August is always the hottest month, so I thought it weird.

    Parent
    It is weird (none / 0) (#53)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 04:14:06 PM EST
    August is brutal here in GA but we start anyway.

    Parent
    woah (none / 0) (#50)
    by CST on Wed May 23, 2012 at 03:40:00 PM EST
    You guys have waaay different school years than us.  In Boston you are usually in school through the end of June and don't go back until after Labor Day in September.  I wonder if it's weather related or what.  Summer doesn't usually kick into high gear until July, and August is just brutal.

    Parent
    Same here my kids get out mid June. (none / 0) (#52)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 23, 2012 at 03:48:38 PM EST
    That is the school schedule I grew up (none / 0) (#55)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 23, 2012 at 05:36:00 PM EST
    with and my daughter went to grade school using.

    Parent
    This system used to go till sometime (none / 0) (#85)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri May 25, 2012 at 11:18:45 AM EST
    in June, then back in September... Auburn University was on the quarter system, and the schools lined up around that schedule.

    Then Auburn had to switch to the semester system ( one I have grown to despise as wasteful, drawn out, and unchallenging), and the state legislature got filled with people who have self-inflicted brain damage.

    Parent

    FLASH! This just in - again: (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 22, 2012 at 10:08:36 PM EST
    Yet another study -- this one by Farleigh Dickinson University -- concludes that those TV viewers who faithfully watch Fox News are the most consistently misinformed people in America, and would no doubt be far better off watching no news at all.

    That's... (5.00 / 0) (#10)
    by desertswine on Tue May 22, 2012 at 11:01:27 PM EST
    Fairleigh Dickinson, the largest private university in New Jersey.

    Parent
    I am impressed (1.00 / 1) (#23)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 07:44:23 AM EST
    Yes impressed that a private University, why the largest in the state of New Jersey would spend its own money coming up with such a well researched and of so useful study instead of studying, say, the mating habits of the brown sand crab.....

    I mean most universities use taxpayer funds for such important work.

    lol.

    Parent

    When you say things like this: (5.00 / 6) (#30)
    by Dr Molly on Wed May 23, 2012 at 09:21:57 AM EST
    would spend its own money coming up with such a well researched and of so useful study instead of studying, say, the mating habits of the brown sand crab.....
    I mean most universities use taxpayer funds for such important work.

    it reveals:   your scientific ignorance, your anti-science agenda, and your right-wing agenda.

    Trivializing scientific research is so easy to do out of context, but it's a transparent game with an obvious anti-science agenda to most educated people.

    For example, when politicians mine funded research projects in order to take things out of context like "Outrageous! Millions of dollars spent on fruit fly mating" (when of course the whole context is that most everything we know about human genetics and mutation comes from the Drosophila fruit fly model organism and mating trials).

    Or when you do the same.

    Parent

    Oh please... (none / 0) (#60)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:44:46 PM EST
    Let me see. I laugh at a ridiculous  poll and I'm stupid??

    Gesh.

    Thanks for reminding me just how far gone many on the Left actually are.

    And how anxious some on the Left are to make personal attacks when someone laughs at one of their pet pieces of nonsense....

    And yes. I think that you are part of that group.

    Now here is a real example of ignorance. Scientific and otherwise.

    Parent

    No, nice try though (none / 0) (#63)
    by Dr Molly on Thu May 24, 2012 at 06:26:24 AM EST
    Oh please... (none / 0) (#60)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:44:46 PM EST
    Let me see. I laugh at a ridiculous  poll and I'm stupid??

    I didn't say anything about you laughing at a ridiculous poll. I commented on what you actually said, which is your repeated mocking anti-science screed. See quoted text in my comment.

    You can't run away from it, sorry. You do it all the time. And it's willful ignorance.

    Parent

    Quit making things up (none / 0) (#66)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 08:25:57 AM EST
    I mean, just because I opine that a poll from some private university is fudged I am anti-science??

    Oh, wait! I also don't believe in man made global warming...

    .....because it isn't science....

    Hmmm. Does not compute.

    Parent

    See? (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by NYShooter on Thu May 24, 2012 at 03:27:18 PM EST
    That's where the "willful ignorance" comes in.

    Parent
    Well, at least I know what "sides" are (none / 0) (#79)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 04:06:10 PM EST
    ;-)

    The total combined sample is mathematically weighted to match known demographics of age, race
    and gender among the voting population.

    Nothing to see here folks, just move along.

    BTW - Since FNC has almost 3 times the audience of MSNBC wouldn't you think the number of those polled would be much more than 55 to 44%?

    And then we have this:

    I'm going to read you a list of news sources. As I read the list, just say "yes" if you got news from that source any time in the past week.

    Link

    We then get a breakdown by party, etc.

    But no breakdown of how many said "just Fox." Or "just XXX."

    I wonder why.

    There's also the issue of truthfulness... I mean here I am a dedicated Progressive wanting to make Fox look bad.... I'll just say I only watch Fox and answer wrong....

    Paranoid?? Yeah, but we've seen stranger things.

    Parent

    Quit making things up (none / 0) (#67)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 08:25:58 AM EST
    I mean, just because I opine that a poll from some private university is fudged I am anti-science??

    Oh, wait! I also don't believe in man made global warming...

    .....because it isn't science....

    Hmmm. Does not compute.

    Parent

    You "opine" it's fudged ... (none / 0) (#76)
    by Yman on Thu May 24, 2012 at 03:58:06 PM EST
    ... because you don't like the results.  You also "opine" without a single bit of evidence ...

    ... as usual.

    Parent

    Ya, ok. As someone who grew up (none / 0) (#43)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 23, 2012 at 12:07:43 PM EST
    mere miles from the Fairleigh Dickinson, took some summer courses there, had a few HS friends graduate from there, etc., please understand that it's referred to as "Fairly Ridiculous" by the locals for good reason.

    That said, the study may be accurate, I have no idea.

    Parent

    Well, that settles it for me (1.50 / 2) (#8)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue May 22, 2012 at 10:32:33 PM EST
    I mean a STUDY from uh.... from uh.... Farleigh Dickinson...

    wow

    Desperate times require desperate actions, eh Donald?

    LOL

    Parent

    You (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 05:14:57 AM EST
    can make fun of this study but I have found it to be true that people who get their news from Fox are so misinformed it's not even funny. I have a friend who does this and sends me stuff and it's almost always wrong information. Lies go unchallenged on Fox. Even you have put forth misinformation w/r/t drilling.

    Fox has created a whole cult of people who believe they are victims for one reason or another. It's like they are a bunch of moonies. They think that the ACA is single payer health insurance and a lot of other things that are just plain wrong.

    Parent

    You can (1.00 / 3) (#22)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 07:38:39 AM EST
    believe this study but I have found it to be true that people who get their news from MSNBC are so misinformed it's not even funny. I have a friend who does this and sends me stuff and it's almost always wrong information. Lies go unchallenged on MSNBC. Even you have put forth misinformation w/r/t drilling.

    MSNBC has created a whole cult of people who believe they are victims for one reason or another. It's like they are a bunch of Code Pinks. They think that the ACA is single payer health insurance and a lot of other things that are just plain wrong.

    lol

    Parent

    Do (none / 0) (#24)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 07:55:15 AM EST
    you really think that people who watch MSNBC think that the ACA is single payer? LOL

    Parent
    No, I'm too rational to believe such (1.00 / 3) (#27)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 08:03:20 AM EST
    But I think you do believe the snarks and rants about FNC.....

    And you do love anecdotes!!!!

    ;-)

    Parent

    What (5.00 / 5) (#28)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 08:40:46 AM EST
    snarks and rants? We're talking about a scientific study here. And I live in a deep red area where I hear a lot of Fox talking points. I can make you a whole list of the fantasies that these people believe starting with the belief that they think that Obama is a Muslim. These people are just plain nuts!

    Parent
    To steal a phrase from a former (none / 0) (#58)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:36:55 PM EST
    tennis star...

    "You can't be serious."

    LOL

    Parent

    Of (none / 0) (#62)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu May 24, 2012 at 05:48:42 AM EST
    course, you're a conservative and conservatives don't believe in science.

    Parent
    To change a phrase from a former (none / 0) (#65)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 08:22:06 AM EST
    tennis star...

    You are serious.

    And that is screamingly funny. I mean based on nothing but the fact that I don't agree 100% with your and Dr Molly's agenda I am stupid and anti-science...........

    Really??? What a world you live in.

    Parent

    Now you're (none / 0) (#68)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu May 24, 2012 at 08:48:58 AM EST
    making things up again. I never said it wasn't about agreeing with me or Molly but you're not believing a scientific poll. BTW both Peggy Noonan and tea party darling Christine O'Donnell graduated from there.

    Parent
    GA (none / 0) (#69)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 12:49:15 PM EST
    Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

    A poll is not "scientific." There are many ways to fudge one.

    Parent

    And you (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu May 24, 2012 at 01:23:23 PM EST
    have proof this one is "fudged" how? You're saying that it's "fudged" because you don't like the results but have no proof that it is. This is not the first poll that has shown this. There have been numerous polls over the years that have shown the same thing.

    Parent
    Yes, this is not the first fudged (none / 0) (#71)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 02:17:17 PM EST
    poll on this subject and it won't be the last.

    These people obviously aren't engaged in getting an education.

    Parent

    ROTFLMAO (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu May 24, 2012 at 02:43:56 PM EST
    So all the polls are "fudged" because they aren't telling you what you want to hear even though they were done by different polling companies. It's a grand conspiracy I guess is what you think.

    Parent
    fudged poll (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by CST on Thu May 24, 2012 at 02:44:55 PM EST
    any proof or corroboration of that?  Or are you just basing it on "doesn't confirm my worldview".

    Parent
    Look, you snark at (none / 0) (#75)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 03:45:33 PM EST
    Rasmussen.... so I think I have a snark coming.

    You guys like it because it claims to confirms your world view.

    ;-)

    Parent

    Actually (none / 0) (#78)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu May 24, 2012 at 04:00:23 PM EST
    Rasmussen has a record that you can go by. Do you have something to back up your claims w/r/t to Farleigh Dickinson?

    Parent
    Read what I wrote to NYshooter (none / 0) (#81)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 04:50:08 PM EST
    And go the actual poll rather than the Nation article.

    And add to what I wrote to NYshooter....

    Note that the poll asks for a news source

    Exact Question Wording and Order
    US1-USP1, USP3 released 14 Feb. 2012.
    USP2 released 20 Feb. 2012.
    USSC1-USSC2b released 20 March 2012.

    <snip>

    [ROTATE within categories]

    NPR The Daily Show with Jon Stewart CNN Fox News MSNBC

    The problem with this is that it isn't Fox News.

    It is the Fox News Channel - FNC. Asking the way it is asked is bound to create errors. I mean, I watched Fox News at 11 last night in Memphis.... I didn't watch Fox News Channel!

    That by itself is enough to invalidate the study.

    And then we have this:

    The largest effect is that of Fox News: all else being equal,

    That's a qualifier. And all else is not equal. Do you think there may be a fudge there??

    Face it. The study is a joke. I knew it and now you should know if you will take off your colored lens.

    Link

    Parent

    ROTFLMAO (none / 0) (#83)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu May 24, 2012 at 04:56:17 PM EST
    You did a paste and clip and didn't include the whole thing. It makes a difference when you READ the whole article. LOL.

    Parent
    And I guess (none / 0) (#84)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu May 24, 2012 at 04:58:43 PM EST
    you never saw the poll back in 2004 where they polled fox news viewers and over 40% of them though we had found WMDs in Iraq after it was known that there were none.

    Parent
    "Desperate measures" - heh (5.00 / 3) (#37)
    by Yman on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:36:19 AM EST
    Yes, Jim - Farleigh Dickinson University.  it's one of them there fancy ... waddayacallum? ... oh, yeah, ... universities.  The scholars at these universities often study subjects relevant to their fields of expertise and produce these things called "scientific studies".  The data and findings from these studies are often submitted for study and critique among other experts in their field called "peer review".  It's a science thing.

    Now, I know it doesn't measure up to your subjective/anecdotal/biased observations, or the opinion pieces/winger websites (climatedepot anyone?) you love to cite as "evidence", but in the rational world, it's what people use to reach conclusions.

    "Desperate", indeed.

    Parent

    LOL (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by jondee on Wed May 23, 2012 at 05:51:57 PM EST
    Check out their list of prominent graduates.. Beats the hell out of what Liberty and Bob Jones U are currently serving up to the world.

    LOL ;-)

    Parent

    Last time I checked (none / 0) (#59)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:38:14 PM EST
    Liberty and Bob U aren't making up "polls" for the benefit of their Master's base.

    LOL

    Parent

    They would ... (none / 0) (#77)
    by Yman on Thu May 24, 2012 at 03:59:38 PM EST
    ... they just can't figure out how ...

    Parent
    They just make up (none / 0) (#80)
    by jbindc on Thu May 24, 2012 at 04:09:51 PM EST
    everything else - like their curricula

    Parent
    Read my #79 and 81 (none / 0) (#82)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu May 24, 2012 at 04:52:36 PM EST
    I am so glad to have escaped Iowa before it (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Farmboy on Wed May 23, 2012 at 09:15:56 AM EST
    fell completely into a black hole of fever dreams.

    I'm used to every year the legislature promising property tax reform that ends up stymied by big ag vs private land owners. I'm used to cries of anger for education reform - from both sides of the aisle - in a state that is among the nation's best in public education and teacher preparation.

    I'm not even surprised anymore by Steve King and others on the new right spewing bigotry and folks either nodding in agreement or shrugging it off with a "what can you do?" look.

    (What can you do? Well, for starts, quit voting for these evil yahoos. Stop giving them money. And when the "pastor" starts a who-would-Jesus-hate rant, get up and walk out of the church. That's what you can do.)

    But this year the state GOP has jumped completely onto the crazy train, and nobody seems to care. They've gone full birthed; they want to eliminate most functions of the US government (including agriculture! in Iowa!); nullify all federal laws and court decisions that states don't agree with, including those covering civil rights; do away with all social programs including SS and Medicare/Medicaid; and more in this Randian, successionist, paranoid vein.

    link

    I'm not holding my breath for someone in the Iowa media to notice, at least not without a "both sides bad" piece, or for someone in the Iowa Democratic party to pay attention and deride these folks out of power.

    Where have you gone... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed May 23, 2012 at 09:44:46 AM EST
    Robert D. Ray?  The insane have definitely taken over the asylum.  Glad I got out under the first reign of Braindead.  

    Parent
    Can you imagine anyone in today's GOP (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Farmboy on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:17:17 AM EST
    pushing for the US to help refugees from Iraq or Afghanistan in the same way Ray did for the families who suffered from our little adventure in Southeast Asia? And to then offer them homes in our communities, help them find jobs, and welcome them into our schools and churches?

    No. Because today's GOP equates people of color who wish to emigrate to the US to animals. Bob Ray would be called an anti-American traitor if he were able to run for office today.

    BTW, in my opinion Two-books Terry's greatest failing isn't his job performance; it's that he has no identity. He sided with Ray as Lt. Gov because that got him the run for Gov. He turned into a Reagan Republican in the 80s because that was expedient to keeping him in office. And he put on the Tea Party clown suit in 2k10 to get one more dip in the money trough - which had the side effect of elevating Kim Reynolds, who is a True Believer in King's world.

    Parent

    the Iowa GOP platform (none / 0) (#40)
    by desmoinesdem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 11:57:55 AM EST
    has been full of crazy for a long time. The birther point is new this year, but almost everything else is standard for them.

    The Republican legislators don't act on most of what's in the party platform. For instance, the very first planks deal with anti-abortion language and fetal "personhood," yet the Iowa House Republican leadership successfully blocked efforts by conservatives to force a floor vote on a "personhood" bill last year. They know some of the stuff in their platform is toxic to swing voters.

    Parent

    If you're ever in Dubuque (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by jbindc on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:16:56 AM EST
    Anything can happen at the Dog House bar...

    So a man, a parrot and a zebra ... (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Yman on Wed May 23, 2012 at 10:57:59 AM EST
    ... walk into a bar ...

    (Your link wasn't working for some reason).

    Parent

    Thanks (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by jbindc on Wed May 23, 2012 at 11:05:31 AM EST
    And a mind meld - I started that joke with several of my co-workers after showing them the story.  :)

    Parent
    Interesting article (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by brodie on Wed May 23, 2012 at 12:46:59 PM EST
    recently at the DB/Newsweek making the argument for the existence of a multiverse.  Makes sense to me.  

    Probably billions of universes, just as there are billions of galaxies and billions of stars within each (many no doubt having planets on which intelligent life is to be found, some civilizations probably having visited our place in recent times).

    Booker (none / 0) (#1)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue May 22, 2012 at 09:11:09 PM EST
    .

    Whatever you think about Booker, he told the truth, and kept media focus off topics like this.

    .

    Oh, please! Give it up, already. (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 22, 2012 at 10:00:07 PM EST
    Romney and Bain Capital are to American capitalism, as Somali pirates are to maritime commerce.

    Parent
    Not agreeing with Abdul (5.00 / 3) (#31)
    by dk on Wed May 23, 2012 at 09:26:15 AM EST
    but you're spinning to the point of unhelpfulness, Donald.

    If what you say is true, most of the national Democratic leaders are also Somali pirates because they essentially take just as much (and in some cases) more private equity money as Republicans.  Glenn Greenwald has a post with some data, just for starters if you're looking.

    I know that party functionaries aren't too interested in more nuanced discussions, especially in election years, but the issue with private equity, as with all of corporate America, is one of regulation.  Private equity is a highly deregulated industry, which is why they can get away with it when they do awful things like suck good businesses dry and funnel all the money up to investors.  If PE were more regulated, such abuses could be avoided, at least some of the time.

    So, where are the parties on this?  Republican rhetoric is to deregulate even more.  Democratic rhetoric is to get them to pay their fair share.  In reality, neither party actually does anything to rock the boat either way, so as to balance their dependence on PE cash for political contributions with popular uprisings in their base.  

    I'd certainly like PE shops to be more regulated, but at this point in reality that would involve turnover at the national leadership of at least one of the parties (in other words, in 4 years).

    So, in the meantime, I guess it's just campaign spin by politicians who understand the issue and use it to embarrass the other guy, but none of whom have an intention of doing anything about it.  Doesn't interest me, but as a party functionary I know you like it.  My two cents, though, is that if you are going to weild it in the spin room, you have to do more than your comment, since it's so easy to bring up Democratic dependence on PE money and a record of doing nothing to stop the abuses.  The Obama campaign's response this week actually was more nuanced (not reflecting reality of where the Democratic leadership really stands, of course, but better rhetoric).

    Parent

    there is a huge difference (3.00 / 1) (#34)
    by CST on Wed May 23, 2012 at 09:50:55 AM EST
    between receiving campaign funds from someone and doing that thing for a living.

    Yes I know that campaign funds can and do to some extent influence policy.  But other than giving the money back, what can you do about it really?

    Campaign finance reform would be great, but in the mean time the people are free to spend their money how they choose.

    But that is not the same thing as basing your entire world view on private equity, actively persuing that career, and claiming it as your basis for experience as president.

    Parent

    I don't necessarily disagree with you, CST (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by dk on Wed May 23, 2012 at 12:20:04 PM EST
    I agree that Romney has a warped view of the world that is inconsistent, in my view, with that of what a public servant should hold.  

    However, just to say that Bain Capital are somali pirates, as Donald did, and dropping Romney's name, but no national Democratic names, is, in my view, misleading, and ultimately, even if your only concern is to get our current crop of moderately conservative Democratic leaders re-elected, counterproductive.  

    The problem with PE is that (a) they have too much influence on the process because of $$, and (b) they are not sufficiently regulated.  As you note, in the real world nothing can be done about (a).  But the reality, in my view, is also that neither party will do much about (b) for the next four years.  My personal feeling is that while Democrats may talk the talk of doing something during the campaign, the only people who really will believe them at this point are people who are already planning to vote for them.  So, from a purely political point of view, I still think the most effective approach for Dems is, as you indicate, attack Romney personally.

    Parent

    Here, chew on this bit of info ... (none / 0) (#7)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 22, 2012 at 10:22:33 PM EST
    ... from the good folks at ThinkProgress:

    "A ThinkProgress examination of New Jersey campaign finance records for Booker's first run for Mayor -- back in 2002 -- suggests a possible reason for his unease with attacks on Bain Capital and venture capital. They were among his earliest and most generous backers."

    [...]

    "[The Booker campaign] received more than $450,000 for the 2002 campaign from the sector -- including a pair of $15,400 contributions from Bain Capital Managing Directors Joshua Bekenstein and Mark Nunnelly. It appears that for the initial campaign and runoff, the slate raised less than $4 million -- again making this a sizable chunk. In all -- just in his first Mayoral run -- Booker's committees received more than $565,000 from the people he was defending. At least $36,000 of that came from folks at Romney's old firm."

    (Emphasis is mine.)

    Parent

    loyalty in politics? (none / 0) (#9)
    by diogenes on Tue May 22, 2012 at 10:58:32 PM EST
    Anyone who is loyal to a contributor from TEN years ago as opposed to "what do the polls say now" and "who just gave me a lot of money" is a welcome improvement on the current lot of politicians.

    Parent
    Why has the ACLU not sent me a petition (none / 0) (#2)
    by oculus on Tue May 22, 2012 at 09:20:49 PM EST
    repetitioned DEA and license plates?

    Warning: read more than NYT (Ben Brantley!) (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Tue May 22, 2012 at 09:28:10 PM EST
    review of "Peter and the Starcatcher" b/4 investing obscene amounts of money in tickets.  IMO: boring.  

    Have you ever seen (none / 0) (#12)
    by ZtoA on Tue May 22, 2012 at 11:15:41 PM EST
    the opera Love for Three Oranges, by Prokofiev ? I saw it years ago and the set designs were rather horrid/goth and it came with a guide to the opera complete with scratch and sniff cards. The sniffs were also rather gross. It rivaled, in its glorious badness, the set design for an opera by Handell (tho I am completely blanking on the name of the opera - its been 15 years) It was a military set and for some reason the designer thought it would be great to entirely cover the stage with mounds, actually dunes, of sand. Yes, it looked cool, but it ruined the acuoustics!

    Parent
    Yes. Once in a staged performance by (none / 0) (#14)
    by oculus on Tue May 22, 2012 at 11:32:47 PM EST
    San Diego Opera and more recently @ Avery Fisher Hall/Lincoln Center:  Marinsky/Gergiev. Wonderful both times.

    Parent
    Anyone seen the trailer for The Great Gatsby yet? (none / 0) (#11)
    by Rupe on Tue May 22, 2012 at 11:09:23 PM EST
    I'm a fan of DiCaprio, but frankly the director seems like a terrible choice for conveying the tone of the book.  And Toby McGuire, really?  I will certainly watch it and hope to be convinced, but that trailer left me a bit skeptical.  It probably doesn't help that its my favorite book and I've read it a dozen times at least, so I have very established personal ideas of what everything should look like.

    lol!~ (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by nycstray on Tue May 22, 2012 at 11:21:55 PM EST
    . . .  so I have very established personal ideas of what everything should look like.

    I'm so jaded in that area. My visual mind RULES I tell ya ;)

    Parent

    Have not seen the trailer. But (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Tue May 22, 2012 at 11:34:38 PM EST
    Do wish "Gatz" was still playing in Manhattan.  

    Parent
    A song tonight (none / 0) (#16)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue May 22, 2012 at 11:57:15 PM EST
    from Louisiana: "Napoleon's Retreat."

    Might be applicable to a lot more politicians and leaders and generals than just Napoleon.

    I'm worried about this country's leaders right now, the pathetic news coverage of events, speeches and policy, AND the slow death of newspapers.

    Seems like David Byrne was correct.

    "Same as it ever was..."

    Talking Heads, "Once In A Lifetime"

    I've been singing (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by ruffian on Wed May 23, 2012 at 05:57:35 AM EST
    'Stop Making Sense' in my head all week. Work related, but it applies beyond just as well. Talking Heads seem to capture my mood best when I am feeling like I'm working in Dickens' Circumlocution Office.

    Parent
    Ah Bonaparte's Retreat (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed May 23, 2012 at 08:00:40 AM EST
    Brings out the Scot Irish in me.

    Parent
    More thoughts (none / 0) (#20)
    by jbindc on Wed May 23, 2012 at 07:08:47 AM EST
    There has... (none / 0) (#32)
    by DebFrmHell on Wed May 23, 2012 at 09:41:42 AM EST
    been an arrest made in the case of Sierra LaMar.  She has been missing for two months and they have not located her body.

    "What authorities don't have is a belief that the 15-year-old is still alive. Garcia-Torres has been formally charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of murder."

    Her mother still holds out hope that she is alive.

    They haven't found a connection between LaMar and Garcia-Torres so it is determined to be a straner abduction.

    I am surprised (none / 0) (#41)
    by desmoinesdem on Wed May 23, 2012 at 11:59:45 AM EST
    that the jury hasn't agreed to convict Edwards yet. Given the prosecution's strong "case" for him being a sleazebag and the judge's rulings including excluding testimony that would have helped the defense, I expected a conviction by now.

    I kind of am, too (none / 0) (#47)
    by sj on Wed May 23, 2012 at 01:44:55 PM EST
    I am now cautiously optimistic.  Does the jury have to have a unanimous verdict on this?

    Parent
    They are (none / 0) (#54)
    by jbindc on Wed May 23, 2012 at 04:18:29 PM EST
    looking pretty deeply at the relationship between Edwards and Bunny Mellon.

    Parent
    Yeah Donald Driver!! (none / 0) (#45)
    by indy in sc on Wed May 23, 2012 at 12:35:03 PM EST
    I'm no Packers fan, but I was thoroughly happy for him winning Dancing with the Stars because he was so happy and it clearly meant so much to him.  All the finalists were very good this season, but he was the only admitted "super-fan" who had seen every single previous season from the beginning.

    I think it will be hard for DWTS to top this season.

    I was glad, too (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by sj on Wed May 23, 2012 at 01:59:53 PM EST
    I've known for weeks that if Mark Ballas got his Katherine into the finals that he would choreograph a jive based routine.  I was kind of surprised that he didn't dress her as a waitress, or like Minnie Mouse, but he did downgrade her shoes.  And personally, the jive/quickstep/Lindy hop group of dances is where I fold the laundry or do other errands.

    I like the Latin dances, but that routine Cheryl put together was pretty predictable.  Latin With Lifts.  Not much new ground broken there.

    I thought it was eyebrow raising that they showed Driver's analysis of what the other couples would do right after they did it.  That had to go down rough with the other two Pros.

    All the pros always say that the free-style can make or break a winner.  I'm always surprised at how many times they don't listen to their own advice.


    Parent

    Barry Gibb's statement (none / 0) (#57)
    by sj on Wed May 23, 2012 at 09:29:41 PM EST
    Or maybe testament is a better word.

    Nice... thanks. (none / 0) (#61)
    by desertswine on Wed May 23, 2012 at 11:57:49 PM EST
    Zimmerman's relationship with police (none / 0) (#64)
    by jbindc on Thu May 24, 2012 at 07:16:39 AM EST
    CNN

    It evolved from very critical to a better working relationship.

    January 8, 2011:

    Zimmerman was once sharply critical of police in Sanford, according to an audio recording of a January 8, 2011, public meeting at Sanford's City Hall obtained by CNN.

    "I also have had the opportunity to take ride-alongs with the city of Sanford Police Department and what I saw was disgusting," Zimmerman said at the time. "The officer showed me his favorite hiding spots for taking naps. ... He took two lunch breaks and attended a going away party for one of his fellow officers."

    Zimmerman asked members of the city council to repeal the pension of the city's former police chief.

    "I would just like to state that the law is written in black and white. It should not and cannot be enforced in the gray for those that are in the thin blue line," he said.

    to:

    On September 18, 2011, Zimmerman wrote an e-mail to the then-chief of Sanford's police, saying that he had "a completely new perspective" after working closely with the department's community volunteer coordinator.

    As to the "neighborhood watch" issues:

    Beginning in August 2011, Zimmerman exchanged e-mails with the Sanford police department at least three times, the court documents show. A rash of burglaries that began in July prompted the watch captain to ask the police department to host a neighborhood watch presentation for members of the community.

    Zimmerman's e-mails with Sanford police show a cordial, even friendly, relationship. In an e-mail dated September 19, Sanford police volunteer coordinator Wendy Dorival thanked Zimmerman for his "kind words" sent to the chief. He responded, "It was with great pleasure that I sent that e-mail, you deserve the recognition!"

    Police records indicate that five burglaries were documented in the neighborhood where Zimmerman lived in less than three months, starting in mid-July.

    At the neighborhood watch meeting on September 22, according to court documents, Sanford police distributed contact cards and hosted a presentation on crime-prevention and security measures. Some of the flyers distributed read, "Report suspicious persons...activities...or vehicles." Another reads, "Know your neighbor" -- going on to issue advice on how to "profile" your neighborhood block.