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Thursday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 02:24:43 PM EST
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Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Thursday Open Thread | 143 comments (143 topical)

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    Want to see GOP heads explode? (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:15:45 PM EST
    Sandra Fluke is considering running for Waxman's seat.

    Works for me. (none / 0) (#103)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 09:01:50 PM EST
    On both counts.

    Parent
    Amanda Knox re-convicted.... (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by magster on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:22:23 PM EST
    Italian legal system is a joke.

    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 263 (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Dadler on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:36:20 PM EST
    She'll swat that Hallmark card sh*t into the tenth row. Don't even try her. (link)

    v. 262
    v. 261

    Get your groove on, peeps. Life is too short not to. Peace.

    Why do people despise Washington, DC? (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:47:01 PM EST
    The Washington Monthly's Tim Murphy offers us a really great example why:

    Washington Monthly | January-February 2014
    Smokey and the Bandit - "There are sports franchise owners who, through civic-mindedness and steely pursuit of victory, win the admiration of their fans. Then there is Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington [team whose racist nickname I've vowed to never again mention, even when quoting someone else directly]. [...] Two recent events further highlight Snyder's imperiousness. The first is a renewed chorus of demands by everyone from Native American activists to the D.C. city council that the team change its inherently offensive name -- to which Snyder last year responded, 'NEVER--you can use caps.' The second is the settling last fall by the National Park Service (NPS) of a whistleblower complaint over a secret sweetheart deal Snyder extracted nine years ago to give his Maryland home an unobstructed view of the Potomac River."

    Fascinating read about the corrosive results to be had from Beltway's zero-sum / quid pro quo culture, which in this case sideswiped and left for dead an honest man who was just doing his job, costing him his heretofore distinguished career as a national park ranger, and leading to his criminal indictment for theft on manufactured charges that could have easily landed him in federal prison.

    Aloha.

    Aww ... Poor Mr. Christie (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by christinep on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 05:47:53 PM EST
    It seems that the Christie ship is in the process of being abandoned.  Wouldn't ya know:  (1) Today, erstwhile foremost supporter Rudy Giuliani observed that the chances that Gov. Christie did not know about the shakedown were about "50-50" -- quite a retreat & far from a ringing endorsement.  (2)  Today, the ole' Rove favorite Ron Fournier retracted his full-throated support for how "smart" Christie was, by quickly saying that he "takes that back."

    Now......for us Democrats, some very good news out there this afternoon.  While a few people (ahem, Fournier's National Journal) opined that Nancy Pelosi may retire, Cong. Pelosi just stated that she is definitely running for re-election, because her work is not finished.  Good for the Dems; another "awww" for the Repubs.

    It always seemed to me (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by KeysDan on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 04:45:17 PM EST
    that Governor Christie's ship was merely a row boat gussied up by the Republican eastern establishment  and pundits so as to look like the Queen Mary.  And, the imagery was swallowed hook, line and sinker by many independents and Democrats.

     It appears that the latter were entertained by his style  and bowled over by his alleged moderate politics.  He worked with President Obama after Sandy and, hence, deserved their vote.  Besides, he was far ahead in the polls, having so little criticism and an under-financed and over-looked Democratic opponent.

    The reality is that Christie's style is one of bullying, intimidation, berating, and vindictiveness.  His moderate politics is belied by party-line, conservative Republicanism, save for an occasional foray toward the center.  The governor, for examples, stood with the gun lobby on background checks, was antagonistic to government employees and unions, defunded Planned Parenthood, opposes abortion rights, vetoed same sex marriage, vetoed a plan for early voting, and halted the new train tunnel, declining stimulus funding--as a part of acquiring his austerity bona fides.

    And, shortly before Sandy, Christie only expressed contempt for President Obama's leadership, claiming in his fund-raising speeches to approving Republican audiences, that the president could not find the leadership switch in a dark room.  Now, the trappings of the luxury liner have fallen off for all (who care to) see the leaky row boat underneath.

    Parent

    I think (none / 0) (#95)
    by christinep on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 08:28:09 PM EST
    that Christie "outsmarted" himself.  And, in the Machiavellian atmosphere of NJ, he forgot that if one--what's the word--screws his lifelong friend (the NY Port Authority official that Christie appointed & who made the decision on closure), he will feel the same thing in return.  As of dinnertime Friday, Christie's old buddy Wildstein may be the key takedown.

    As you say, Christie was no sweetie, and he definitely was not the almost-Democrat that some wanted to see.  Christie was the classic blow-hard & bully type ... whose vision seemed to reflect little else than Chris Christie.  (For a reminder of cajoling people prior to a national election, recall the 2000 election and GWB's portrayal of himself as the "compassionate conservative."  Just a reminder.)

    Parent

    You may be right, christine. (none / 0) (#99)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 08:53:16 PM EST
    From today:

    Los Angeles Times | January 31, 2014
    Former Chris Christie aide says governor knew of bridge lane closures - "A former close aide to Gov. Chris Christie said the governor knew about the George Washington Bridge road closures while they were happening, disputing the governor's assertions that he only learned about the mess later. A lawyer for David Wildstein, who engineered the lane closures while working at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said in a letter that the closures came at the 'at the Christie adminstration's order' and that 'evidence exists' to show the governor learned of it during the closures and the ensuing four-day traffic jam in Fort Lee, the town leading to the bridge. The Friday letter to the Port Authority from lawyer Alan Zegas, first reported by the New York Times, does not spell out what that evidence is, or say exactly what Christie knew and when. But it is the first sign that a member of Christie's inner circle has broken ranks on the bridge scandal."

    Aloha.

    Parent

    The only thing that matters is (none / 0) (#104)
    by NYShooter on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 09:13:42 PM EST
    what "sells" to the American public. Remember Reagan, and Bush (the lesser?) The mumbo jumbo that Ronnie spewed, or the swagger from GWB? It didn't matter at all what they actually were saying, as long as "they said what they meant, and meant what they said." Sounds great, means nothing; just a bumper sticker.

    The American public likes their leaders "tough." And, that's what Christie projected.


    Parent

    What Christie awoke to this morning: (none / 0) (#117)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 09:47:24 AM EST
    LINK.

    Parent
    Maybe (none / 0) (#119)
    by Yman on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 09:59:50 AM EST
    Although, when you look at the parsing language used in the lawyer's letter, his actual statements are being hyped by the media.  Got out of work yesterday afternoon and it's all they talked about on the local radio station here in NJ for my hour-long commute home.  I think Wildstein's lawyer is trying to make the carrot look as juicy as possible to try to get an immunity deal.  But I guess we'll see eventually.

    Either way ... gotta love those headlines.

    Parent

    I've no doubt that he is. (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 05:18:30 PM EST
    But were I in Bridget Kelly's shoes, and I had something to say here, I'd certainly be motivated by this latest development to offer to sing for my supper?

    Because If either of those two say that Christie knew, he'll be a dead man walking, politically speaking, and at that point I would be very surprised if the New Jersey Assembly doesn't move to impeach him.

    Personally, I'd never take the fall for anyone.

    Parent

    It sort of depends upon (none / 0) (#129)
    by Zorba on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 05:33:25 PM EST
    how much Kelly has been offered to keep silent.
    Or how much she has been threatened, perhaps.
    And I agree with you- I would never take a fall for anyone, either.

    Parent
    After Detroit ex-Mayor Kilpatrick's fall (none / 0) (#124)
    by Mr Natural on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 11:39:34 AM EST
    engendered, in his first trial, by the trail of evidence left by cellphone texts he exchanged with his paramour, you'd think these pols would have a clue.

    Parent
    Ms. Pelosi may not be retiring, but ... (none / 0) (#35)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 10:56:01 PM EST
    ... her SoCal compatriot Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) announced today that he was hanging it up.

    Parent
    Let's hope that Mr. Christie will be ... (none / 0) (#36)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 11:01:36 PM EST
    ... soon be known as Mr. Crispy, as in "toast."

    Parent
    Oh Donald.... (none / 0) (#55)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 09:07:41 AM EST
    ...how does it go, "Be careful for what you wish for."

    Christie was easily the sanest of the bunch, knocking him out only increases the chance of craZy occupying the White House.

    Not a fan, but if I had to choose a republican President, he would have been my choice, given that the other options include Huckabee, Cruz, Paul, and another Bush.

    Parent

    Here's the problem: (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by Anne on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 09:30:09 AM EST
    Paul Ryan doesn't come across as crazy, Jeb Bush wouldn't come across as crazy (even though I really don't think Bush will run).

    So, there's at least half a chance that someone who doesn't sound or act crazy, who can frame and present policy in a way that has people saying, "gee, that makes sense," who can at least stay away from subjects like magic ladyparts and sex drive, will end up at the top of the ticket.  Which doesn't make their policy positions, agenda and vision for the future good ones, but it does mean that, as per usual, some segment of the population - probably something between 40 and 48% - will be on board that train.

    What I'd like to see is a real effort by Democrats to set themselves apart from Republicans and spend the next year or so working their asses off to institute the kinds of policies that will improve people's lives.  I don't know how much they can do, whether anything much gets done, but the LAST thing we need is for Dems to spend the time remaining trying to placate, please, accommodate, concede and curry favor with Republicans whose policies are just bad.

    And we, as progressives or liberals or whatever we are, need to keep pushing the party to the left - or at least form some kind of barrier to it moving any more to the right.

    Parent

    I'll File that in the... (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 10:25:43 AM EST
    ...'not gonna happen' folder.

    While I agree, sans the Paul Ryan, the D's decided long ago to play tit-for-tat and go down to the crazy rather than take the high road.

    I would fall over if the D's decided to get back to the reasons why I always like the party, but if Obama has done anything, he's made the party realize they don't need to pursue traditional Democratic Party policies.

    Who cares if they actually accomplish anything, just knowing that they are doing what I would consider to be the work of the voting class, would be enough.  Eventually it will result in actual change, not the the poster board change we have been privy too this past 5+ years.

    For the record, I actually meant Rand Paul, Paul Ryan is crazy, or rather his budget and ego, are crazy, but he's not anywhere near electable, a big  maybe, VP.  I'll give you Bush, he's at the Christie level of sanity, which for the R's that means too sane too elect IMO.  But he would be my next choice for R President, i guess.

    Parent

    This is what we need (none / 0) (#64)
    by jbindc on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 09:59:54 AM EST
    What I'd like to see is a real effort by Democrats to set themselves apart from Republicans and spend the next year or so working their asses off to institute the kinds of policies that will improve people's lives.

    Someone with an actual vision and policy ideas. Yes, candidates say a whole lot of things during a campaign to get elected, but I'd like someone up there who actually seems to have thought about the issues and has some ideas.  This was the major problem I had with Obama - he was short on details (until he was forced to have some, after the rest of the class had already given their ideas) - but he banked on the fact (rightfully, so, it turned out) that people just would be willing to vote for him because of "hopenchange" and honestly, some people wanted to vote for the first black president, so they gave him a pass on the lack of concrete positions.

    Jake Tapper pinned this down on his interview with Obama:

    AKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Your critics say this is diminished expectations. And I've been covering you for a long, long time, as you remember, 2005, 2006 in the Senate. I remember during the campaign when you talked about, uh, your presidency being a moment when the rise of the oceans would slow and the nation and the world would heel.

    Um, and now you're talking about pen and phone and executive orders and executive actions.
    Do you think you were naive back then or have you recalibrated your expectations and your ambitions?

    I thought Obama was very naive on so many things, due to his lack of experience, and, while I was pooh-poohed, it turns out I was right. (GITMO, anyone?)

    This time we need someone, whether it's Hillary Clinton, or someone else, who really understands the issues and has some realistic ideas about how to achieve those goals.

    Parent

    Bluntly stated, Chris Christie is corrupt. (none / 0) (#85)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 02:36:46 PM EST
    As we're only now learning, he and his friends have been treating the public domain as their personal fiefdom, and he's been running New Jersey as a latter-day reincarnation of William M. "Boss" Tweed.

    Why should I or anyone else ever have to settle for that?

    Fortunately, thanks to some completely unnecessary and asinine political overreach on his part, which now totally belies his former reputation as someone who's both forthright and competent, Christie's being exposed for the arrogant and dirty bird that he is.

    And despite his many protestations and denial, most people don't believe him, and his newly emboldened adversaries are looking to tighten the political noose around the neck of his entire administration. They have my best wishes.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    When yo'r choice is often... (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by kdog on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 02:58:58 PM EST
    between corrupt or corrupt and f8ckin' crazy, you take your chances with corrupt.

    Parent
    Agreed. (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by KeysDan on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 11:27:10 AM EST
    When the choice is between corrupt or corrupt and crazy, you take your chance with corrupt.   However, my concern with Christie is not that he is corrupt, although there is that, it is he belongs in the second category of corrupt and crazy.

    Not crazy like some Republican contenders that come to mind, but crazy all the same, being the type of dangerous politician who should never be allowed near the levers of power, where power and misuse of power become seamless tools of operation.  Moreover, his temperament and personality seem entirely too amenable to systematic disrespect for dissent, or even, differences of opinions.

     While his platform may not dwell on the need for nation-wide vaginal probes, bombing immigrants or the offing of gay Americans, his brand of crazy is worrisome, and, in my view, a disqualification for public office.

    Parent

    Not with this guy, you don't. (none / 0) (#96)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 08:41:55 PM EST
    I don't worry about the crazy wingbats, simply because the type of crazy you're worried about appeals only to a decided minority of the American electorate. Outright crackpottery will never sell with a decisive majority of U.S. voters in a national election.

    When Abraham Lincoln made his observations about those who can fool all of the people some of the time, he had political lampreys like Boss Tweed and Chris Christie firmly in mind, and not stark raving ideological lunatics like Ted Cruz and Rick Santorum.

    So if the Republicans want to nominate either one of Messrs. Cruz and Santorum as their presidential candidate, then please, they should go right on ahead and be my guest. I'll be making nachos and margaritas, so that we can really enjoy watching what happens to them.

    But ruthless corruption disguised as competence and empathy, well now, that's a whole 'nother matter altogether. In my estimation, cynical and self-serving pols like Chris Christie will wilt the grass they walk upon, and can do a great deal of harm to the body politic.

    Settling on Christie is not merely take a chance, kdog. Rather, I'd call that the wholesale assumption of an uncalculated risk. And while I've been known to take my chances every now and again, I won't ever knowingly do the same with uncalculated risks. Never have, and never will.

    Anyway, I suppose that's neither here nor there at this point, because Chris Christie's political career is probably finished. The other shoe began dropping today with the disclosure that the lawyer representing former Port Authority appointee David Wildstein wrote a letter to the Port Authority, asserting on behalf of his client that the governor knew all about last September's planned lane closures prior to the event.

    The Big Boy's going down, dude. And if I had to guess, this is going to be a really hard fall with a very large splash zone -- pun intended.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Exactly, Donald, exactly. (none / 0) (#102)
    by christinep on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 09:00:22 PM EST
    IMO, the scary ones have always been the Chris Christies ... for the very reason that they are the snake-oil salespeople who re-package the crap of the worst contingent and sell it like a populist.  With the fringe right, you know what you are getting; with the Christie-types, the primary difference is the soothing packaging.

    Very well stated.  Thanks, Donald.

    Parent

    If out and out lunatics never won elections... (none / 0) (#108)
    by kdog on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 07:03:02 AM EST
    I'd agree with you guys...but recent history tells us they can and do, just look at Congress and remember 8 years of G-Dub for christ's sake.

    Goes without saying none of us want a Christie...just saying I wouldn't rest easy thinking the lunatic fringe can't win the presidency when almost half the country is voting Brand R blind, and a Brand D hangover is possible amongst the small yet often election-deciding "swing voter" block.  Less risk for all if they just nominate a corrupt mother*cker, hold the crazy.

    Agree it won't be Christie, he looks like toast...but that means the odds went up on gettin' within another pubic hair of a President NuckinFuts...who needs that stress!  We've always survived corruption, lunacy got hundreds of thousands of people killed last go round.

    Parent

    Name one out and out lunatic who's ... (none / 0) (#114)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 09:30:06 AM EST
    ... ever won the presidency. Remember, many people prior to 2000 saw George W. Bush as a conservative but reasonable center-right candidate, not unlike Chris Christie prior to his political implosion, and not at all of the cuckoo for cocoa puffs variety that characterizes the GOP's far right today.

    If Cruz or Santorum gained the nomination, they might win a few states down South, but that's about it. Such an election would otherwise be a landslide of memorable proportions elsewhere, the likes of which Dems haven't enjoyed since 1964, when LBJ mopped the floor with Barry Goldwater.

    I would think that Christie's meltdown probably increases the possibility that Jeb Bush might throw his hat into the ring. But I'm not going to worry about the wackadoodle candidates. Their appeal is to a very select demographic, which tends to fall on deaf ears with most everyone else.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Yet ... (none / 0) (#115)
    by christinep on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 09:31:57 AM EST
    While I do not disagree with your last sentence, remember what got us there was more than the obvious charade.  W posed as the "compassionate conservative" and the media, along with a lot of others, said that "well, maybe he isn't so bad."  That was in 2000 ... and when you get in the first term, you always have an advantage running in the second.  Like Bush.  (And, like any poseur ... Christie, Walker, and soon-to-be-unveiled re-invented Paul Ryan even.) And thinking back quite a bit, remember Mr. Sunshine and Morning-in-America Ronald Reagan ... before he won and ushered in the big conservative tide of "trickle down" for the next generation.

    Way, way, way back ... we have the infamous Trojan horse with the enemy "bearing gifts."
    These are the guys that get admission.  For that reason:  Jeb Bush could prove to be a big vote-getter.

    Anyway, I hope that you are keeping your tan.  The weather in NY looks pretty good for the weekend and the Superbowl.  GO BRONCOS!

    Parent

    After writing the above, I just read (none / 0) (#116)
    by christinep on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 09:35:46 AM EST
    your new comment, Donald.  Synchronicity.  (You only need to put some more punch in it with some powerful pro-Broncos thoughts, Donald.)

    Parent
    And in other news, ... (5.00 / 1) (#128)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 05:30:29 PM EST
    ... the Christie scandals have been attributed as the primary the cause of nearly catastrophic subsequent reductions in the nation's strategic popcorn reserve.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Correction: (none / 0) (#113)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 09:05:34 AM EST
    I misspoke above by stating that Wildstein's attorney claimed in his letter to the Port Authority that Christie knew about last September's lane closures prior to the event.

    Rather, the specific claim is that Christie knew of the lane closure while they were underway, and not earlier. That's also really bad if true, to be sure, but it's also not the same thing, and I apologize for the misstatement.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Why "awww" for the Repubs? (none / 0) (#47)
    by jbindc on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 07:26:40 AM EST
    Her district would stay Dem anyway.

    She isn't going to be the Speaker again, so why is this a problem for the Republicans?

    Parent

    Neanderthals 'R Us (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by desertswine on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 11:16:46 PM EST
    I wondered why I felt like howling at the moon tonight.

    People of European and Asian descent today retain Neanderthal DNA that may affect their hair, skin, fertility, predisposition to certain diseases and possibly other characteristics, a new study in the journal Nature suggests.

    The study additionally found that genetic variants passed down from Neanderthals also affect an individual's disposition toward type 2 diabetes, Crohn's disease, lupus, a liver condition known as biliary cirrhosis and even whether a person is likely to smoke.

    How Neanderthal DNA Changed Humans

    Very cool (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by jbindc on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 10:34:54 AM EST
    Thanks for sharing!

    Parent
    Brain surgeon walks 6 miles ... (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by Yman on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 06:44:03 AM EST
    ... through a snowstorm to save a patient - 62 years old.  Says it's no big deal.

    Wow.

    Funny How... (5.00 / 3) (#63)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 09:50:24 AM EST
    ...we give praise to a person who takes an oath to help people, when they actually do it.

    Not commenting on this guys actions, which were pretty cool, but more on the other surgeons who stayed home like the rest of us who don't take the oath.

    My current doctor probably wouldn't walk out to a chilly parking lot if he had a paying customer inside.

    Parent

    For kdog (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by jbindc on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 10:43:33 AM EST
    Dear America, I Saw You Naked, and yes, we were laughing. Confessions of an ex-TSA agent.

    What a coinky-dink... (none / 0) (#77)
    by kdog on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 11:28:31 AM EST
    I had just stumbled across the piece and was gonna link it...very interesting take on pointless security theater from the inside.

    Parent
    No Surprises There... (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 02:30:53 PM EST
    ... but this is hilarious quote:

    "Working for the TSA," I wrote, "has the feel of riding atop the back of a large, dopey dog fanatically chasing its tail clockwise for a while, then counterclockwise, and back again, ad infinitum."

    I had a run with the TSA last fall, they dropped something very valuable and fragile, then proceeded to leave it on the floor for about a minute.  When I said something, the guy helping the woman who had ransacked my bag said something about them being black and I let it go.

    After I thought about it, I realized that was their canned response to being complete jackasses and had I not been going on vacation, I would have filed some sort of complaint, but I was like, screw it, I am getting drunk with my pals.

    It's a miracle it didn't actually break.


    Parent

    Urrgghhh (none / 0) (#86)
    by Zorba on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 02:54:46 PM EST
    Why am I not surprised?
    Security theater, that's all it is.

    Parent
    Apologies if someone has already posted this, (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Zorba on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 12:10:33 PM EST
    But Yahoo is advising everyone with a Yahoo account to change their email passwords.
    Hackers got in and stole a whole slew of passwords.

    Why am I not surprised? (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by Angel on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 03:31:03 PM EST
    New report says Christie knew about the lane closures.

    Becasue No One Is (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 03:56:52 PM EST
    A lot of people hoping it's not true, but no one would have put money on it.

    I'll save you the trouble, what are the odds that his Administration didn't use hurricane funds inappropriately ?  1:20

    Parent

    I'll disagree with Donald from Hawaii (none / 0) (#92)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 06:19:07 PM EST
    and say Christie's role as Governor isn't over, but apprently the Newark Star-Ledger Editorial Board believes Donald may be right on target.

    Forget about the White House in 2016. The question now is whether Gov. Chris Christie can survive as governor.


    Parent
    Knowing about them... (none / 0) (#93)
    by unitron on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 06:59:16 PM EST
    ...is one thing.  Thousands of drivers knew about them.

    The question that it seems some people are trying to wiggle or smokescreen around is whether Christie knew that his people deliberately caused the closures for no defensible reasons and if so, when did he know it?

    Parent

    Puppies from Budweiser (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by CoralGables on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 11:10:22 AM EST
    at the Super Bowl this year will take a backseat to

    this one from Axe

    That ad is just screaming (none / 0) (#123)
    by nycstray on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 11:32:42 AM EST
    for a puppy ;)

    Nice ad.

    Parent

    RIP, Maxmillian Schell (1931-2014). (5.00 / 1) (#134)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 02, 2014 at 07:23:11 AM EST
    A child refugee from Hitler's Germany, Schell won the 1961 Academy Award as Best Actor for his compelling turn as Hans Rolfe, the fiercely independent defense counsel who zealously defends both his clients and his own countrymen's honor at a Nazi war crimes tribunal, in director Stanley Kramer's acclaimed courtroom epic Judgment at Nuremberg. He died yesterday in Austria at age 83.

    Schell's searing cross examinations of both Judy Garland and (a nearly unrecognizable) Montgomery Clift are the stuff of which the Oscars are really all about, excellence in one's craft. Both Garland and Clift also received nominations in their respective supporting actress / actor categories for their work in Nuremberg.

    Aloha.

    He was one of the under-appreciated (none / 0) (#137)
    by jondee on Sun Feb 02, 2014 at 09:13:58 AM EST
    greats. He also wasn't one to embrace the "take the money and run" mentality by appearing in any crap movie role that came his way..Though the last thing I remember seeing him in was in a cameo in the fun romp The Freshman with Brando and Matthew Broderick.

    On another note, Donald, if you havn't had the pleasure already, you Have to see Christopher Plummer as John Barrymore. It'll knock your socks off, I promise.

    Parent

    Saw it. (none / 0) (#142)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 03, 2014 at 08:09:24 PM EST
    Christopher Plummer was indeed marvelous. As an older actor, he actually reminds me of the late Don Ameche, whose long screen career enjoyed a similar resurgence later in life and who, like Plummer did at age 82 for Beginners, won an Academy Award for best supporting actor at age 81 for Cocoon.

    Parent
    "what was the last thing you were in (none / 0) (#143)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 04, 2014 at 07:00:06 AM EST
    Mr Barrymore?"

    "I think it was Joan Crawford..Oh! you mean you mean what was the last movie I was in.."

    Parent

    "Ruh-Roh!" -- Scoobie Doo (1969- ). (none / 0) (#1)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 02:50:30 PM EST
    Michael Scotto, the earnest young reporter for NY1 in New York City who was threatened with bodily harm by Congressman Michael Grimm (R-NY) at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday night while the camera was still providing a feed to the studio, is the nephew of Anthony Scotto, noted former labor boss and racketeer who was identified by the late mafia informant Joseph Valachi in U.S. Senate hearings as a member of the Gambino crime family.

    Or Astro (Jetsons 1962- ) (none / 0) (#2)
    by jbindc on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 02:56:33 PM EST
    :)

    Parent
    Right. I forgot about Astro. (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 10:52:31 PM EST
    I was a baby when "The Jetsons" first debuted in '62, but I remember the reruns. I always had a sneaking suspicion that he was Scoobie's father.

    Parent
    lol. His real name was Tralfaz, (none / 0) (#98)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Jan 31, 2014 at 08:45:37 PM EST
    reclaimed in one episode by his wealthy owners/family, but in what should come as a surprise to no fans of sixties television, Astro/Tralfaz quickly learned that money couldn't bring happiness, so he returned (somehow) to living with the Jetsons.

    Parent
    Why ruh-roh? (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:30:15 PM EST
    You don't honestly think the Grimm Reaper need fear retaliation from the Gambinos, do you?

    I fail to see what the reporter's uncle did for a living has anything to do with anything.

    Parent

    That's because it does indeed .... (none / 0) (#13)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 04:37:48 PM EST
    ... have absolutely nothing to do with anything. I just found it an interesting tidbit, that's all. For that matter, I'd similarly note that Anthony Scotto is also the father of Rosanna Scotto, former longtime WABC News reporter and current co-anchor of WNYW-TV's early morning program, "Good Day New York."

    Another interesting tidbit is that Anthony Scotto was also on President Jimmy Carter's short list in 1977 to become U.S. Secretary of Labor. Despite being initially fingered by Joe Valachi in 1964 for his ties to the Mob, he remained a respected and powerful figure in both New York politics and organized labor, and was known throughout the 1960s and '70s as the "King of the Brooklyn Waterfront."

    Scotto apparently once again became the target of federal investigators, thanks to a wiretap run on Gambino boss Paul Castellano, who was caught bragging to Thomas Gambino that the labor leader was in his hip pocket. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 1979 on 33 counts of bribery and racketeering, subsequently tried and convicted of all charges in November of that year, and sentenced to five years in prison, where he eventually served 39 months before his release in 1984.

    Scotto was reportedly later replaced as head of the Gambinos' labor rackets by new boss John Gotti in 1986, after Castellano was bumped off.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Fairly meaningless guilty verdict (none / 0) (#5)
    by CoralGables on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:22:50 PM EST
    Amanda Knox found guilty in retrial.

    Was Amanda Knox paying for America's (none / 0) (#118)
    by jondee on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 09:58:33 AM EST
    sins?

    In Italy, in some quarters, they seemed to have drilled into the ground the theme of the entitled American who can go anywhere and do anything..

    There's still a tremendous amount of festering resentment in Italy over the Cold War machinations of the CIA in covertly meddling in Italian politics, and also over the overreaching foreign policy unilateralism of the Bush era. And why would anyone be surprised by that?

    This kind of thing is why Americans sometimes feel compelled to tell Europeans they're from Canada.

    Parent

    Yes, in that region of Italy, a region I know (none / 0) (#130)
    by Towanda on Sat Feb 01, 2014 at 07:09:28 PM EST
    there actually are a lot of pro-Communist officials, with that reason for anti-Americanism, too.  And the anti-Americanism can become palpable in resentment of the many students that flood the region, where locals take the money but turn in a minute.  I was there with a group of students, I saw the locals close rank.  The program, once annual, was cancelled as too risky to again take students to Umbria.

    Parent
    I had no idea of the extent of U.S (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by jondee on Sun Feb 02, 2014 at 08:55:22 AM EST
    covert meddling in Italy until I read a biography of former company director Richard Helms. The blowback from that history in the present is  that we all become, to some extent, Ugly Americans -- and as another side-effect, the Italian communists are perceived as righteous victims.

    Parent
    Yep, and that region (none / 0) (#139)
    by Towanda on Mon Feb 03, 2014 at 02:32:28 PM EST
    remains very communist today.  The village where we stayed is quite Communist and remembers what you read about.  Of course, memories are long there, where they still have issues with Rome, owing not only to WWII but also to things from thousands of years ago.  These all are standard discourse in the cafes (where the villagers live, many hours of the day).

    Parent
    Cheerios brings back Gracie (none / 0) (#8)
    by CoralGables on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:45:52 PM EST
    for another Super Bowl commercial

    And it has already caused another stir.

    It still amazes me that in this day (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by vml68 on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 03:57:25 PM EST
    and age this is considered controversial.
    "Gracie" is quite the cutie. Loved the facial expressions!

    Parent
    Nothing against the kid... (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by unitron on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 04:36:00 PM EST
    ...but for a moment I hoped that meant Gracie Allen.

    Parent
    Never heard of her. (none / 0) (#14)
    by vml68 on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 04:51:52 PM EST
    Googled the name. She died a few years before I was born.

    Parent
    Say goodnight Gracie! (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by ruffian on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 07:13:46 PM EST
    Hope you look up some old Burns and Allen routines when you get a chance.

    Parent
    Hey, on the Florida BBQ topic from the other day (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by ruffian on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 07:56:21 PM EST
    If there is a Bubbaloos near Tampa, try it instead of Sonny's. I like both,nbut Bubbaloos is better.

    I was quite surprised to find Florida to be such a BBQ place. Better than Colorado in my experience. I used to think it was the best I had ...then I went to Austin, and OMG!

    Parent

    She was married to George Burns, who ... (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 10:33:59 PM EST
    ... served as her straight man in their routines. She was a very funny lady whose stage and television alter ego was a ditzy dame. But per her husband, in real life she was whip-smart with a tremendous memory capacity, and not only always knew her own lines and stage directions but also everyone else's, too.

    Parent
    OMG! (none / 0) (#15)
    by Zorba on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 04:59:37 PM EST
    You are so young, my dear.
    Or maybe it's because I'm so old.     ;-)

    Parent
    Ha! I wish! (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by vml68 on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 05:35:42 PM EST
    You are so young, my dear.

    Middle-age has crept up on me, which makes absolutely no sense because I could have sworn I graduated from college just the other day... ;-)!

    Of course, when I am around my nieces I feel absolutely ancient. Texting, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, I don't partake in any of it. They are convinced AuntV is a dinosaur!

    Parent

    Ok, I give up! (none / 0) (#19)
    by ruffian on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 07:15:12 PM EST
    What is the stir? She seems perfectly cute to me.

    Parent
    Her parents don't match . . . (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by nycstray on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 07:29:16 PM EST


    Parent
    You've got to be kidding me (none / 0) (#21)
    by ruffian on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 07:43:08 PM EST


    Parent
    Sad but true (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by nycstray on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 07:58:07 PM EST
    this is the second commercial with the 'family'. The first one really raised a ruckus. Bunch of effed up people in this country.

    Heh, just a quick World News story about it on now. Apparently Cheerios sales rose after the first one :)

    The new commercial is cute, but I'm all about the Budweiser commercial again this year . .  :)

    Parent

    Yes, can't beat horses and dogs in my book either (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by ruffian on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 08:03:15 PM EST
    Re Cheerios, next year just for a laugh and to poke the idiots in the eye,not he dad should mix in some whole wheat and honey nut Cheerios in with the plain ones on the table.

    I'm surprised/happy I missed the whole  stir the first time around but I am convinced making fun of the bigots remains the best weapon.

    Parent

    World News called it doubling down :) (none / 0) (#26)
    by nycstray on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 08:17:31 PM EST
    on Cheerios part.

    That Bud commercial was released yesterday and has over 19 mil views on youtube!

    Parent

    I've contributed to a few of those views (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by vml68 on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 08:27:35 PM EST
    since yesterday!

    Parent
    Ha! So have I! (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by nycstray on Thu Jan 30, 2014 at 08:36:07 PM EST