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    The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ... (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 03:10:42 PM EST
    ... has overturned the conviction of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on five of the more significant counts, ruling that prosecutors did not prove the governor broke federal law during the process of finding a successor to then-President-elect Barack Obama in 2008-09. Blagojevich, who was originally sentenced to a 14-year prison term as a result of being convicted on 11 of 16 counts, is likely to face resentencing as a result of the decision, but the court ruled that he cannot be released pending that date.

    The 5 counts reversed (none / 0) (#5)
    by Reconstructionist on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:15:16 PM EST
     all relate to the attempt to procure from Obama in exchange for appointing Jarrett. the appeals court found instructional error because the jury was erroneously instructed on the extortion based counts  that it could in convict based upon the defendant's seeking appointment to the Cabinet in exchange for the Senate appointment and should only have been instructed it could convict if it found the defendant had sought to exchange the appointment to the Senate for property. It deemed that endeavor  mere logrolling which is, according to the court, part and parcel of the job.

     Similarly, it also found no bribery  fraud convictio  could be founded on the Seeking of a cabinet job  because it would stretch "honest services" fraud too far to make logrolling a crime.

       The government could retry him on those 5 counts with the jury being instructed it can only convict if it finds the quid pro quo was money or a thing of tangible value and the appeal court expressly stated: "The evidence that Blagojevich sought money in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the Senate is sufficient to convict..."

      I very much doubt it will bother. The court also rather unsubtly suggests that the 168 months imposed was not unreasonable and that since the vacating of those 5 counts doesn't impact the guidelines sentencing range if the district court again imposes 168 months it won't be reversed. The district court could though impose a lesser sentence in its discretion.

    Parent

    Oh, (none / 0) (#6)
    by Reconstructionist on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:19:26 PM EST
      you can read the opinion by clicking the Blago link here. It will open in a .pdf

    Parent
    Agreed. (none / 0) (#20)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 05:47:08 PM EST
    While such horse-trading is an often unsavory aspect of politics to outside and casual observers, it's a necessary part of the process and should not be criminalized, unless it can be proved that one or both of the parties derived a personal material benefit from a quid pro quo arrangement.

    When I was working in the state legislature, more often than not such bargaining and posturing involved attempts by individual lawmakers to secure funding in the state budget for prospective capital improvement projects in their respective legislative districts, and not for line items that steered funds to businesses owned by themselves and / or family members.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Here is some sheer silliness (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by ruffian on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 10:03:07 PM EST
    if you lived through the 70's...check out the Sears Catalog and the Faces of Price is Right.

    One of my brothers told me about that site - you really can spend hours looking at it.

    That Sears catalog almost caused a divorce... (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by vml68 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:51:02 PM EST
    I was catching up on TL on my Ipad around midnight since I could not sleep. Started looking at the Sears catalog and reading the commentary and by the time I got to the page with the shoes, I was giggling so hard, I woke up my husband.
    He was not amused. I had to listen to grumble, grumble, inconsiderate, grumble, early morning meeting, grumble, don't have the luxury of sleeping in like you, grumble, grumble. I wisely decided to close the Sears catalog page.

    Parent
    In the late 70s (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:17:52 PM EST
    I made a great friend when I lived in NY.  Her name is Robin and we are still in touch.
    I met her because we started working at the same place.  But her previous job, which would have right around the time of those pics-maybe a couple of years later, was airbrushing the crotches of the men's underwear in the Sears Catalog.  Her cubical was plastered with the unairbrushed originals.

    Parent
    LOL! She sounds like someone I would (none / 0) (#81)
    by vml68 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:50:55 PM EST
    Her cubical was plastered with the unairbrushed originals.

    love to be friends with  :-)!

    Parent

    Main site is (none / 0) (#25)
    by ruffian on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 10:05:20 PM EST
    The Institute of Official Cheer

    Lilek's commentary is so great. It is like looking at things with my brother - I can see why he likes it.

    Parent

    Something about that (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:38:46 PM EST
    feels like looking at a porn site.  A classic porn site.  

    I totally mean that in a good way.

    Parent

    Jeb! shows he is not his brother, (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 02:19:27 PM EST
    he is his own man.  George W. wanted to get rid of social security, but Jeb! wants to get rid of Medicare.  

    I'd be happy if we just got rid (none / 0) (#114)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 04:59:13 PM EST
    of the Bushes.

    Parent
    Any TLers in NYC... (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by Dadler on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 04:55:02 PM EST
    Sandra Bland (none / 0) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 01:36:15 PM EST
    I missed all of this, getting caught up (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by ruffian on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:15:01 PM EST
    Glad there is an investigation. i have no doubt that without the earlier incidents in Ferguson, NYC, etc they would have gotten away with this. Maybe one more step toward police not pulling this crap? Probably too much to hope - I said the same thing after the Rodney King video went public over 30 years ago.

    Parent
    Seen Hannibal? (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:22:28 PM EST
    I hate to say it (none / 0) (#9)
    by CST on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:23:52 PM EST
    But I think one of the times this feels somewhat different now is that it's not just happening to black people anymore.  Remember Occupy?  That was in a way an "awakening" for young white people about police brutality.  And it's not even close to as bad as it can get.  Also - there are simply more videos now.  Rodney King - while there was a video - was a single incident.  Not incident after incident after incident.  At some point it becomes impossible to ignore.

    Parent
    King was the first one with a video (none / 0) (#11)
    by ruffian on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:33:59 PM EST
    but one of the reasons such hope was placed on the prosecutors of those officers was that there had been many such incidents, and worse - deaths in jails, much like Ms. Bland that were not investigated as murders. There was such relief when finally something was caught on tape. Even I felt the relief and hope,  and I was a young white woman living in Orange County. That all fed into the eventual outrage at the verdict. It was not just about Rodney King.

    I'd like to think that young white people did not need to experience this themselves to be awakened to it. I'm more glad for the prevalence of cell phone cameras.

    Parent

    the king incident (none / 0) (#13)
    by CST on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:42:48 PM EST
    was before my time - at least before the time when I was really paying attention.  But between then and now - this feels like the first time people actually care.  It was always "tough on crime" and now it seems like the people in charge at lest are saying something different.

    I'd like to think that young white people shouldn't need to experience it either to care, but the reality is - it makes them notice, and it makes their parents notice - in a way that maybe they didn't before.

    And yes, cell phone cameras - who could've known that big brother would be every citizen.

    Parent

    I really hope we are at a turning point (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by ruffian on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:52:35 PM EST
    And yes, might as well put the surveillance state to good use.:-)

    Parent
    I know they said investigators went (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 09:38:46 PM EST
    To great lengths attempting to trick the motion activated camera, and they weren't able to sneak about in such a way that it failed to activate. BUT, if the tape isn't continuously running, why can't you just turn the thing off and when it's all done, turn it back on? It's not like there would be dead air time you could detect.

    Parent
    We were visiting my mother and family ... (none / 0) (#19)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 05:31:29 PM EST
    ... in Pasadena in April 1992, when that Simi Valley jury acquitted those police officers, and all hell was unleashed as a result of that travesty of justice. 53 people died in the ensuing violence, and that was a very sad and scary time.

    When my mother drove us to LAX for our return flight to Honolulu a week later, we first headed west from Pasadena into the San Fernando Valley on the Ventura Frwy., and then south on the San Diego Frwy. to avoid going anywhere near south-central L.A. And as we approached Inglewood, we could see smoke lingering heavily in the air in some places from still-smoldering buildings.

    Now that I think of it in obvious retrospect, that was a rather paranoid reaction on our part, because driving from Pasadena to LAX via Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills is about a 60-mile trip, one-way. But such was the trauma of those times that it likely took years before most white residents again dared to venture anywhere south of downtown L.A. on city streets and boulevards, rather than use the elevated freeways which pass through those often blighted neighborhoods.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Not so sure it wasn't the right move at (none / 0) (#21)
    by coast on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 08:15:40 PM EST
    Time.  I'm sure Reginald Denny wishes he had taken a different route.

    Parent
    By the time we departed, ... (none / 0) (#22)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 09:04:53 PM EST
    ... the National Guard had blanketed the city and the riots were over. The quickest way today to get to LAX from Pasadena is to take the 110 south to the I-105 off-ramp, and then head west on that freeway to the airport.

    But in 1992, the I-105 was still under construction and wouldn't be open for another few years, so we'd take the 110 to the I-10, then head west until we hit the San Diego Frwy. just east of Santa Monica, then head south until we reached Century Blvd. and the LAX off-ramp. That route takes you through west L.A. and not south-central.

    Going to LAX through the San Fernando Valley adds an extra 20 miles and 45 minutes to the trip, because traffic on I-5 in either direction through the Sepulveda Pass and the Santa Monica Mountains has almost always been heavy.

    Burbank Airport is actually the closest commercial airport to Pasadena, being only 15 minutes away. But it's much smaller than LAX and has no nonstop flights to and from Hawaii. We have no choice but to fly into LAX. In fact, about 25% of all flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii are to and from LAX. It's a very heavily traveled air corridor.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    It's been happening... (none / 0) (#31)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 10:09:18 AM EST
    to white people for awhile now too, at least since we went broken windows police state crazy in the 90's.  Far lesser scale than those of darker pigments of course, but it's been happening.

    Sh&t even the 60's-70's, white hippies experienced their share of police brutality.

    It feels different now because of the all the cameras...before the last ten years or so the chances of catching an officer brutalizing someone on tape were slim to none, now it's slim to none an officer won't be recorded.

    Parent

    I hate to tell (none / 0) (#32)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 10:33:55 AM EST
    you but the country went police crazy way before the 90's.

    Parent
    Police always been brutally crazy... (none / 0) (#36)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 12:45:25 PM EST
    but before Broken Windows became all the rage in the 90's, there were limits and unwritten rules.  The cops still brutalized, but at least the victim generally knew why...now it's a free for all, no rhyme or reason.

    I came of age right as Broken Windows did, I saw the change happen.  What got my older brother a ride home from the cops and a mild scolding over got me and my friends arrested.  

    Parent

    As it should be. (none / 0) (#3)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 03:39:16 PM EST
    This woman had no prior criminal history, and was in town for a job interview at her nearly alma mater Prairie View A&M, when she was pulled over by a white state trooper for failure to signal while making a lane change. How in the world did she wind up in county jail as a result of that?

    And if the good citizens of Waller County, TX are worried about how this wholly unnecessary tragedy will reflect upon the greater community, well, they should be. The concept of democratic self-governance implies that citizens take responsibility for actions undertaken in their name by public officials, including law enforcement. If they can't or won't clean up the acts of state troopers, local police and sheriff's deputies, then the federal government should do it for them.

    African Americans and other citizens and residents of color should not have to be worried about being preyed upon by white law enforcement officers for the simple act of driving through town. If Sandra Bland committed a traffic infraction, fine. State Trooper Brian Encinia should have simply written her a citation and let her be on her way.

    But Trooper Encinia didn't do that. Instead, he apparently ordered Ms. Bland out of her car without due cause, then threatened her with a taser for the simple act of wanting to use her cell phone, and finally charged her with failure to obey a direct order and arrested her when she rightly complained about the way she was being treated.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    This Was About... (none / 0) (#7)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:22:27 PM EST
    ...a cop flipping out because she wouldn't put her cigarette out in her own car while being ticketed.

    My boss lives in Waller.

    Parent

    Link Below... (none / 0) (#10)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:26:07 PM EST
    ...the sad thing is he wasn't even going to ticket her, just a warning:
    The lawyer for the family of a woman found dead in a Texas jail cell last week said dashcam video from the roadside traffic stop that led to her arrest shows the encounter grew confrontational after she refused an officer's demand to put out her cigarette.

    Sandra Bland, 28, was pulled over by a state trooper for a routine traffic violation in Prairie View on July 10, authorities said. After running her license and insurance, the trooper returned to her car with what appeared to be a written warning, according to the the lawyer, Cannon Lambert, who sat down with NBC News in a joint interview with Bland's sister.


    LINK

    Parent
    Jeez, that makes it even worse. (none / 0) (#18)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 05:02:21 PM EST
    What in the world is the matter with these people? It's like they've lost all sense of proportion here. Why can't law enforcement officers just do their job professionally, without all the power-tripping?

    Parent
    I Would Call That... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 10:46:47 AM EST
    ...literally, the multi-million dollar question.

    Parent
    I would call it, (none / 0) (#40)
    by NYShooter on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 01:15:33 PM EST
    "not worth 2 cents" question.

    After all that's been written about the psychological make-up of LEO's in the U.S, and, all the anecdotal evidence we've seen with our own eyes in the many videos displayed recently, why is there this question?

    A large percentage of applicants are anti-social losers in real life, and, what better profession than a police officer exists for them to vent heir pent-up rage? Some applicants may offer a naïve excuse, "desire to help humanity" to gain entrance.

    But, whether they begin their employment already steeped in aggressive, power hungry mode, or, soon gain such an attitude from fellow officers, the result is the same. They rapidly adopt the feeling that the public is simply a collection of inferior, worthless scum, unappreciative of the work LEO's do. Also, having convinced themselves that they're grossly underpaid for doing such a difficult job, while working under a sense of paranoia which tells them how much the public holds them in contempt, and, you have the perfect formula which so often results in the sadistic, inexcusable damage we've all seen so often.

    Parent

    Actually, it's a rhetorical question, ... (none / 0) (#42)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 02:27:56 PM EST
    ... and one which really didn't require you to answer by stating the obvious. I don't disagree with anything you're saying here about the anti-social types who are often attracted to such careers, but honestly, that's why I stated it in the form of a question. I was simply venting my frustration with it all, and not being clueless.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Relax, big guy, (none / 0) (#82)
    by NYShooter on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:59:44 PM EST
    if you took my comment as a dig on you, I apologize. I thought I was adding emphasis to your post.

    I hardly ever respond to your comments; I think I'll stick to that.

    Parent

    Thank you for the clarification. (none / 0) (#94)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 01:19:51 AM EST
    I'm sorry that I overreacted.

    Parent
    "eany, meany, (none / 0) (#112)
    by NYShooter on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 04:37:16 PM EST
    miney, pinky"

    (then we hook our pinkies together and re-affirm, "now, we're friends again," LOL

    At least, that's the way it was done when we were 8 years old. It worked pretty well, maybe adults should try it:)

    Parent

    LOL! Yes, perhaps we should. (none / 0) (#117)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 05:29:34 PM EST
    Dogs bark, and the caravan passes.

    It's very hot and muggy today in Hilo, 88 degrees with no trade winds at all, which makes it one the few times during the year when I regret not having air conditioning.

    The Spouse is going to be teaching 3rd grade over in Keaukaha, which is a Native Hawaiian homestead community across town near Hilo Airport, and so she's in meetings all day in preparation for the new academic year. (Hawaii public schools actually start up again next Wednesday, July 29.) Younger Daughter is in lab all afternoon at UH-Hilo. So both of them are in A/C environments.

    The only one who's apparently comfortable in our house right now is Younger Daughter's cat, who has found a nice cool place in the corner of our bedroom closet to sack out and nap. He's a real character, and he normally likes to hang out next to my desk while I'm working in my office, but it's simply too hot in there today for either of us.

    I've got some grant reports to finish and send off, so I'm going to pack up the laptop and head down the road three blocks to the public library, where it's nice and cool, and I can concentrate on my work.

    Have a blessed day. Aloha.

    Parent

    No sympathy here (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 06:46:37 PM EST
    this just popped up on the iPad

    ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY...

    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A HEAT
    ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY.

    * AREAS AFFECTED: A LARGE PORTION OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
    ARKANSAS...AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH ARKANSAS. GENERALLY SOUTH AND
    EAST OF A LINE FROM PARIS...TO CLINTON TO MOUNTAIN HOME.

    * HEAT INDEX: EXPECT HEAT INDEX VALUES TO RISE ABOVE 105 DEGREES
    AROUND NOON. A FEW PLACES MAY SEE HEAT INDEX VALUES APPROACH 115
    DEGREES. EXPECT HEAT INDEX VALUES TO GRADUALLY DROP BELOW 105 DURING THE EVENING HOURS

    blessed be my AC.

    Parent

    Classic Racial Law Enforcement out of the 60's (none / 0) (#27)
    by Palli on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 12:09:39 AM EST
    Waller County, as much of East Texas, is notoriously racist and dangerous for Black citizens. Law enforcement there is age old Homeland Terrorism. Prairie View A&M University is an important an Historically Black school (HBUC) and the students and faculty/staff have been on the forefront of the Voting Rights Movements for 4 decades. Sandra Bland was known to the sheriff's department from her college days. Few should doubt she was targeted at her return.

    State investigators ruled Officer Brian Encinio broke numerous procedures and the stop was illegally conducted. A Waller Co. dash cam video has been released to the public and appears to be clumsily edited. But it is shocking just the same. At 15:00 min. mark Encinio tells Sandra Bland she is going to jail for resisting arrest for a warning. The Officer's "affidavit" on the arrest is incorrect and incomplete when compared to dash can. There is apparently no USE of FORCE Report, although the autopsy speaks of deep bruises on her back muscles.
    http://tinyurl.com/WallerDashcam (this is the edit analysis)

    She was jailed in a cell with 5 other women but at some point in her 5 day stay she was removed and placed in a empty cell in the rear near an outside exit door that was out of surveillance camera range. (The camera was timed to motion activated.)

    Anyone aware of civil rights history in Texas knows Waller County and recognizes the death of Sandra Bland as jailhouse murder.

    Parent

    CORRECTION 3 day stay in the jail (typing in dark) (none / 0) (#28)
    by Palli on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 12:21:43 AM EST
    Just learned the Bland family Medical Examiner determines death as blunt trauma to the back of the head.
     #1 LE fiction Not death by hanging using a plastic bag wastepaper basket liner
     #2 LE fiction Not death by asphyxiation using plastic bag

    Parent
    Hannibal - yes Howdy, just watched it (none / 0) (#12)
    by ruffian on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:38:39 PM EST
    Why do we watch such disturbing things? Ugh.  If there is any part of me that would censor anything from being on TV, that would be it!

    I probably should study the psychology of the fascination with such stuff - probably hat is part of what Thomas Harris is exploring.

    in any event, they did a wonderful job of weaving it all together to get Hannibal in position for the Red Dragon sequence.

    Why did he surrender? (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:51:07 PM EST
    question of the day.   Not in the books.

    The scene when Graham tells him to leave was some of the best acting from Mads you will ever see.  No words.  But so many feelings on that face.  Sadness, fear, rage, loss.

    IMO he surrendered because he did want to leave Will.  This way he will be around.  For the Red Dragon or whatever else.  And we are pretty sure he can leave if he wants to.  The romance of the books has become a bromance.  In no way sexual.   But powerful and sensual and much darker and more fascinating.

    Parent

    My thoughts too (none / 0) (#16)
    by ruffian on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:54:48 PM EST
    When Will told him he did want want to think about him anymore, it was too much. That was the last thing he could stand -better to be incarcerated.

    Maybe Mads will get his Emmy next year...he really is wonderful - that face!

    Parent

    If you have not (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 04:57:39 PM EST
    you should try a film called Valhalla Rising.  Mads is the main character and he does not have one word of dialog.

    Wonderful trippy movie.

    Parent

    Theodore Bikel... (none / 0) (#26)
    by desertswine on Tue Jul 21, 2015 at 10:15:35 PM EST
    was one of the most gifted actors and entertainers of all time.

    Author E.L. Doctorow also died. (none / 0) (#29)
    by oculus on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 12:29:45 AM EST
    My favorite book of Doctorow's ... (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 01:30:43 AM EST
    ... is "The Book of Daniel," which recounts the lives of the fictional Paul and Rochelle Isaacson (who resembled Julius and Ethel Rosenberg), and the impact that their arrest, trial, conviction and execution for espionage had on their two children. Its film version proved to be one of Sidney Lumet's lesser cinematic efforts.

    Parent
    Thank you, NOAA and NASA. (none / 0) (#30)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:04:34 AM EST
    Now THIS is very cool -- the first photo of earth from the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite, which is hovering some one million miles above us. For more about DSCOVR, click here.

    Security researchers, (none / 0) (#34)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 10:47:47 AM EST
    Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, have hacked into Jeep and other Chrysler vehicles taking control of the electronics.  They could control the locks, windshield wipers/cleaner, speedometer , lights and blinkers. and even engage/disengage the brakes.  All remotely.   A reporter from "Wire" tells his experience.  

    All pretty scary.  Miller and Valasek plan to present their findings and observations at a hacking conference in Las Vegas in August.  

    Holly Cr@p... (none / 0) (#37)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 12:48:00 PM EST
    ...Ferguson just hired a black interim police chief.
    The new top cop in Ferguson, Missouri, has his work cut out for him.

    Andre Anderson -- a former amateur boxer, Army alum and 24-year veteran of the Glendale, Arizona, force -- is tasked with reforming Ferguson's scandal-scarred police department. He will also have to rebuild confidence in a community ripped apart by last summer's racial unrest.

    "There's a lot of work to be done," Anderson, dressed in a crisp white uniform, told reporters on Wednesday. "I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work."

    Anderson, 50, is taking a six-month leave from his Glendale post to serve as the interim police chief in Ferguson -- a role that could become permanent at the end of his service, Mayor James Knowles III said Wednesday.

    Seems like the city wants to clean up their act.  Here is to hoping they have budget issues next year because they stopped using the black community as a Ferguson City ATM.

    Well (none / 0) (#41)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 01:42:59 PM EST
    BTD has been over at the GOS fighting the good fight trying to bring some people into reality regarding a poll but it seems to be falling on a lot of deaf ears.

    I Said Literally... (none / 0) (#43)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 02:48:40 PM EST
    ...because that very question costs tax payers many, many, millions every year.  It wasn't a reply, more of a statement of fact.

    VRBO (none / 0) (#45)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:07:11 PM EST
    I was wondering if anyone has used any of these websites, like Air B&B to book private homes/condos ?  I think VRBO is more vacation rentals that Air B&B.

    We are trying it next week and I am a little nervous about it.  It's a 4 hour flight and 4 hour drive away.  The worse that can happen is we have to pay regular room rates at a hotel and deal with credit card fraud non-sense when we get back.

    But I am pretty excited about the deal we got, a condo for less than 2 rooms at a hotel.  It's like a timeshare without the commitment, it just seems so much better that my spidey sense can't help but wonder.

    I have used VRBO w/good results. (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 10:07:23 AM EST
    I used a site (none / 0) (#46)
    by CST on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:15:30 PM EST
    to stay at an apartment in Barcelona for the weekend - wasn't either of those two particular sites, but something similar.

    It was a good experience, we got what we expected.  I'd just say do your research on the site and the area as much as possible, and with all travel be prepared for something to go horribly wrong, and hopefully it won't :)

    We got exactly what we thought we were getting and it was way better than any other option at the time.

    Parent

    Yup... (none / 0) (#52)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:36:41 PM EST
    ...that's what we are doing, good to hear your experience was good.  We did the research, it wasn't as easy as 1-2-3-book, but not terrible.

    Parent
    I've heard some not so good stories (none / 0) (#47)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:22:44 PM EST
    but not many.

    For example my brother's next door neighbor rented his beach house out through one of those sites, and some "friend of society" copied the photo of the house and used it to create his own ad on the same site, and then took several people's money.

    Parent

    one thing I did (none / 0) (#48)
    by CST on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:24:54 PM EST
    was I only looked at places that had previous positive reviews for the specific person who was renting it out.

    It was clear the place we went had an established thing going on.

    Parent

    So it works kind of like ebay? (none / 0) (#49)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:28:40 PM EST
    Sounds like a reasonable way to keep fraud to a minimum.

    Parent
    to be honest (none / 0) (#51)
    by CST on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:35:35 PM EST
    I've never used ebay.

    Parent
    on both buyers and sellers so that both parties may make their own decision as to whether they want to do business with the other party.

    Parent
    We used (none / 0) (#56)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:43:28 PM EST
    VRBO one time and yes, it works kind of like EBay but only the people who rented commented. I guess you could say it's more like Yelp where people rate what they got for the money and then if there was a problem the owners could respond.

    Parent
    Somewhat... (none / 0) (#60)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:20:12 PM EST
    ..in that there are ratings, but the most was about 10. We ended-up going through a couple from CA that I called.

    They also have a reply rating with the time it took for a reply, which is weird at first, but after emailing a couple of people, I understand why, many do not reply, or they reply a day or two later.  

    Our first attempt was rejected so I called the management company, they had not updated so it wasn't available, but funny thing, the woman I spoke with was in Dallas and the owner was from Canada.

    It's a bit of a hassle, but well worth it if as advertized.

    Parent

    Don't have any experience with Air B&B (none / 0) (#62)
    by vml68 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:37:28 PM EST
    but used VRBO for a place in the Keys for a week that was dog friendly and it was a good experience.

    Parent
    I've used VRBO (none / 0) (#108)
    by Yman on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 02:02:51 PM EST
    ... for a trip to St. Thomas.  We needed a place that slept 6 (4 kids) and 2 hotel rooms or a whole house was going to be very pricey.  Found a condo right on the beach and the property manager even picked us up at the airport.  It was perfect, but I did check the reviewed for the  specific property, first.

    Going to their site now to find a place in Anchorage, AK.

    Parent

    Ted Cruz (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:30:55 PM EST
    Oh, but (none / 0) (#54)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:41:47 PM EST
    this is really going to pull on the heartstrings of GOP voters.

    Parent
    Personally (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:43:35 PM EST
    looking forward to the satires.

    Helpful hint

    If you don't want to be called a bigot don't be a bigot.

    That was easy.

    Parent

    Then, there is (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:26:18 PM EST
    the couple seeking a marriage license in Rowan County, KY.  The clerk, Kim Davis,  will not issue a license since that is against her beliefs regarding traditional marriage.  While Ms. Davis has, herself, been married four times, the couple has been gracious enough to note that this is not about her serial marriages, but her completing an administrative obligation of office.  

    Parent
    Afaiac (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:42:19 PM EST
    this stuff is now officially funny.  It is no longer consequential.  It is like digging through the tar pits.  Let them make news by refusing to admit the war is over.  Like those  people living in caves in the 50s.

    Parent
    ... who wept onscreen and yelled at everyone to leave her alone.
    ;-D

    Parent
    It's like (none / 0) (#59)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:18:31 PM EST
    they exist in a bubble. They really don't understand exactly what they did or why they had the reaction to what they did.

    Parent
    I don't think so (none / 0) (#100)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 07:59:13 AM EST
    i think they know exactly what they are doing.  They are now professional victims.  

    They chose to close their business rather than deal with icky gay people.

    F@ck these people.  And the pity party they rode in on.

    But they know what they are doing.

    Parent

    You gotta love (none / 0) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 03:41:47 PM EST
    that Cosbys lawyers are yelling 'hey, no fair! We paid her to keep quiet'.

    How can anyone think this is a good strategy?

    He's out of options. And he's out of reputation. (none / 0) (#58)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 04:16:04 PM EST
    He's got nothing left to lose but his money.

    Parent
    And his wife. (none / 0) (#99)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 07:53:57 AM EST
    Who, from the sound of it, is still in a bit of denial.

    Parent
    Judd (none / 0) (#101)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 08:03:33 AM EST
    New National GOP Poll (none / 0) (#66)
    by CoralGables on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:12:30 PM EST
    taken after the Trump uproar last weekend and Trump still driving the car. Thought there were 16 official candidates now but they hit it up with 17. Guess there is someone named Gilmore we have been ignoring.

    Trump 19%
    Walker 17%
    Bush 12%
    Carson 10%
    Rubio 10%
    Huckabee 8%
    Cruz 4%
    Fiorina 4%
    Paul 4%
    Christie 3%
    Kasich 3%
    Jindal 1%
    Perry 1%
    Santorum 1%
    Gilmore <1%
    Graham <1%
    Pataki <1%

    Ties in alphabetical order.

    By FOX rules this poll would put 11 on the stage in a couple weeks. The Kasich bump doesn't surprise me and he'll likely make the stage at someone's expense.

    I have to say Huckabee at 8 (none / 0) (#68)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:22:19 PM EST
    while Cruz is at 4 is quite surprising but other than that it looks to be the same numbers we have been getting for the last week or so.

    Parent
    I thought the prime rule was (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:24:40 PM EST
    10 spots.  I would think the can figure where the numbers rounded from.

    Also it's supposed to be an average of the last five polls.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#72)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:31:55 PM EST
    I don't think Kasich is going to make the cut since he just jumped in his other poll numbers are probably 1. Christie will probably make the cut. But they definitely are going to have to include THE DONALD.

    OMG, go to the Donald's Facebook page if you want a laugh. Today he is going after Rick Perry showing that Perry was begging him for support and money four years ago and was taking his picture with the Donald. Calls him a hypocrite!!! Then tomorrow he's going down to the border. Oh, man, this is going to be good.

    Parent

    There is still 2 weeks (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:33:29 PM EST
    Oh, yes!!! (none / 0) (#76)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:35:21 PM EST
    Who is it going to be next? He looks to be trying to pick off the low hangers at this point like Graham and Perry.

    Parent
    "Who is it going to be next?" (none / 0) (#93)
    by NYShooter on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 10:45:25 PM EST
    Well, it sure won't be Congressional Democrats.

    They're being as quiet as church mice. Imagine Trump turning his turrets on them, and pointing out how they sold out the American public during the financial melt-down. Being in the crosshairs as Trump shows how the Democrats voted to bail out the Banks at the expense of the middle class is not where any of them want to be.

    Parent

    Being (none / 0) (#103)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 08:43:27 AM EST
    that Trump himself was probably one of those beneficiaries he probably won't go down that road. However, we're also talking about Trump so there's no telling.

    Parent
    There will be (none / 0) (#77)
    by CoralGables on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:38:49 PM EST
    more polls before the debate and Kasich will likely be in the top 10 of all of them. Perry, Graham, Santorum? They will keep attacking Trump with stupid lines hoping to make a headline and grab a spot

    Could being the front and center candidate in the followup debate with the second tier be better than standing on the far outside at the main debate?

    Parent

    I hadn't thought (none / 0) (#78)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:41:03 PM EST
    of that but yeah, if they're having a 2nd tier debate with the rest then a candidate might be better off at that because they won't have Donald sucking up all the oxygen


    Parent
    I thought both Fox and CNN (none / 0) (#80)
    by CoralGables on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:50:23 PM EST
    were having a tier 2. I may be wrong on that and the tier 2 debate only applies to CNN in September.

    Parent
    Heard an interesting comment today (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:00:29 PM EST
    he said the kids table was insulting and he would not go.   Instead he would show up in the audience and demand to ask questions.

    This could get really interesting.

    Btw
    That was Micheal Steel.  The former head of the RNC.

    Parent

    He won't be invited to either table (none / 0) (#84)
    by CoralGables on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:09:39 PM EST
    So Steele (none / 0) (#86)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:14:35 PM EST
    is saying that he was going to be put at the kid's table?

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:18:46 PM EST
    he is saying the "forum" for the low tier candidates is insulting and he would not do it.

    Parent
    Yeah, well (none / 0) (#89)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:30:44 PM EST
    but how else are some of these guys going to get any notice? They show up for that they might hit a home run on some issue and get a lot of press.

    Parent
    Or they could (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:54:45 PM EST
    disrupt the debate from the audience and definitely get some coverage.   That is his point.  I agree.  It's what I would do.  It's what Donald would do.  You think Donald would sit at the kids table?   Or would he show up in the audience and make news.

    It's an interesting long ball idea.  And Steel is not nobody.

    Parent

    Did you (none / 0) (#92)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 07:14:55 PM EST
    see where Rubio is now imitating the Donald? This goes on much longer and they're all going to start sounding like him making more and more outrageous statements but I hate to tell them that it's not going to work because they just come off as a poor imitation of the real thing. Why have a fake Donald when you can have the real Donald?

    Parent
    Rule but not a hard rule (none / 0) (#74)
    by CoralGables on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:33:39 PM EST
    Statistical tie can add to the ten.

    Parent
    Jeb (none / 0) (#70)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:26:01 PM EST
    is in danger of dropping to a second tier candidate at this point.

    Parent
    About Kasich (none / 0) (#71)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:28:39 PM EST
    i hope not.  IMO he is the best they have got.   Hope they give him the Huntsman treatment.

    Parent
    Disagree (none / 0) (#75)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:33:43 PM EST
    I think Pataki is more of a threat than Kasich. Kasich took Medicaid expansion. Pataki is removed from all the toxicity of the current GOP and sell himself as a moderate.

    Parent
    Pffft (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 05:47:48 PM EST
    yeah
    I meant Kasichi is the best of the ones who have more than a snowballs chance in hell.

    Parent
    John Kasich apparently (none / 0) (#107)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 12:57:40 PM EST
    received "the signal from God" that he said he was waiting for.  It would be interesting to hear more of the signal.   Don't know what God signaled the last time around, but whatever it was, Kasich did not act on it fast enough.   Kasich announced his presidential "exploratory committee" 2/15/99, and dropped out 7/14/99.  

    Parent
    Kasich (some background) (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by christinep on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 06:14:12 PM EST
    Memories of Kasich (!)Shortly after the time that Scott Walker began his open assault on public unions by pitting them against others not employed by the government, the venerable Kasich attempted to do the same in his gubernatorial capacity.  As the Walker Repubs attack on unions widened and the approach became more obvious, Kasich pushed his Repub legislature to pass similar legislation--slightly less known, as it was in the shadow of Walker--only to turn against and urge withdrawal of the direct anti-union legislation when it became obvious that the combined union force of the Ohio AFL-CIO was openly, loudly, unalterably opposed to it.

    Kasich has had his ups & downs in terms of approval in the state of Ohio.  While recently riding a high, he is vulnerable because his anti-union fiscal views really don't mesh with populous Ohio. OTOH, Mr. Ohio Conservative has demonstrated the ability to maneuver away from positions that are headed for public opprobrium.  One of his big supporters in the columnist business is NYT's David Brooks ... Brooks sang his praises several months ago as someone that would help the party. (Today, I also read a column to that same effect by Margaret Carlson, who argued that a Kasich/Rubio ticked could be a winner.)  Bottom line: Kasich is a natural for what-was-once-called the Northeast Repub fiscal conservatives.

    IMO, it could be trouble IF Kasich actually rises in this Repub party ... for the reason that he covers that depth of his conservatism well initially and because Ohio is always a key state.  The upside, of course, is that the Repubs really do seem to be on an openly wacko tear this time.

    Parent

    I think that's right (5.00 / 3) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 06:20:13 PM EST
    Kasich is dangerous because he is in fact a right wing ideologue with a friendly ah shucks smiley face.

    Parent
    Yes, my hope (none / 0) (#123)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 06:59:44 PM EST
    is that God signals that he should go back to FOX news.

    Parent
    This is a comment (none / 0) (#85)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:13:17 PM EST
    re: the Donald from a facebook friend:

    Go all the way Trump ....You may be the only one who can save this country. Have not heard anyone come up with any ideas to challenge you...I have wanted to wipe out and try something new for awhile. I am so tired of people telling me how and who I can vote for...what is going to happen. The Dems have thrown out all the rules...it is about time someone else did. You have them all worried because they can not bully you, run you off and you are not playing by the rules they are use to.... They quieted the Tea Party,,,,thought we were all crazy 8 years ago because we wanted someone who would stand up and take our country back.

    I think Howdy you're prediction of "we're not going to take it anymore" might have been spot on if there are a lot of them that feel this way.

    "They can not bully you" (none / 0) (#87)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:17:13 PM EST
    and
    They cannot buy you.  Trump is telling people in speeches to NOT give him money.  He says keep your money he is paying for it himself.

    That is a very attractive idea for more people than you might think.

    I believe there are quite a lot.


    Parent

    Yeah, (none / 0) (#90)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 06:34:14 PM EST
    but I bet they're still giving him money. Yes, i can see the appeal in that. A lot of these people don't have any money to give either I'm sure.

    You and I are on the same page w/r/t Trump I would say.

    Saw an article the other day by one of those The Blaze people who was telling Trump supporters that they were making fools of themselves. In the comments they were having none of it and calling the guy a liberal sell out. A liberal sell out that writes for the Blaze??? It seems they are in full riot and Trump knows exactly how to play that violin.

    Parent

    More Catholic Than the Pope, Part MMCXLVI: (none / 0) (#97)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 03:11:17 AM EST
    From the Associated Press, word comes of a new Gallup Poll which shows that Americans' approval of Pope Francis has "plunged," "plummeted," "nosedived," "cratered," "free-fallen" and other hyperbolic verbiage, in the wake of his recently released encyclical on climate change, and two months before his first trip to the United States. Per the AP:

    "Mark Gray, polling director for the Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, said the poll reflects that 'many American Catholics are more closely affiliated with their political party than their faith.'"

    Okay. Given that this poll was conducted before the pontiff's trip to South America, where he decried the predatory excesses of capitalism and called upon people to stand in solitary with the poor, one can only wonder what Americans think now of this Kenyan Socialist Pinko-- Oops! Wrong commie, my bad -- this Marxist-Leninist masquerading in clerical vestments.

    It's probably a good thing that Pope Francis isn't running for the GOP presidential nomination, because greater numbers of Republican Catholics apparently prefer to trust Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Rick Santorum on matters of faith, rather than His Holiness.

    (Sigh!) Good luck with that.

    That's why the lady is a champ. (none / 0) (#98)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 04:53:41 AM EST
    Eyes opened wide last year when San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich hired Becky Hammon, former longtime star player with the Spurs' WNBA counterparts, the San Antonio Silver Stars, as an assistant coach with the team, the first woman to hold such a position in NBA history.

    Eyebrows were raised earlier this month when Coach Popovich announced that Hammon would be the head coach of the Spurs' entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, a role by which the NBA's dean of coaches has identified her as his top assistant.

    Well, all those those eyebrows must have risen to the hairline on Monday, after Becky Hammon coached her guys to the Summer League championship, capped by a 93-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the title game.

    While Greg Popovich clearly deserves credit and appreciation for advancing the cause of women in professional sports, it's now pretty obvious that he didn't hire Hammon simply as an attention-grabbing gimmick. He brought her aboard because she knows basketball inside and out, can teach and coach the game, and knows what it takes to win.

    During Monday night's close game, there were no wandering eyes on the San Antonio sideline; Coach Hammon clearly commanded her team, and she had both her players' rapt attention and their respect.

    And with the Spurs' Summer League championship, she's undoubtedly enhanced her viability as a head coaching candidate in the NBA -- perhaps even as the potential successor to Coach Popovich himself, should he decide to retire and / or move to the Spurs' front office.

    Congratulations, Becky Hammon. Well played.

    Personally (none / 0) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 08:33:55 AM EST
    i find the idea that God is concerned with programming a very attractive one.

    After all why wouldn't he be. I have faith that God wants Hannibal to be picked up by HBO.

    it's just as likely and way more justified that this-

    "The Duggars want to return to TV because they truly believe it was part of God's plan for them to spread the word about their faith," the source says.



    Yes (none / 0) (#104)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 08:45:17 AM EST
    Christian Cultism does a lot of good for Christianity. It's like Sister Wives does a whole lot of good for Mormons. /snark.

    Frankly I wish those freaks would go away and take the Duck Dynasty freaks with them.

    Parent

    Bloomberg Business Headline This Morning (none / 0) (#106)
    by CoralGables on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 10:39:39 AM EST
    Jobless Claims in U.S. Fall to Lowest Level in Four Decades


    Less unemployment.... (none / 0) (#110)
    by unitron on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 03:03:10 PM EST
    ...or more people giving up the search?

    Parent
    I Would Guess... (none / 0) (#111)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 03:20:57 PM EST
    ...less unemployed people, but dollars going into worker's pockets, as a whole, no setting any records.

    IOW, we are creating low wage employment.

    About the only think Obama can say about jobs, 'Better than Bush' and that ain't saying much.

    Parent

    The good news, reportedly is (none / 0) (#119)
    by christinep on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 06:18:48 PM EST
    broad-based.  IOW, there are few downers in it.

    Parent
    uh, oh, trouble for Hillary? (none / 0) (#115)
    by NYShooter on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 05:01:54 PM EST
    A Quinnipiac survey
    released Wednesday shows Mrs. Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate, trailing Sen. Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in head-to-head match-ups in Colorado, Iowa and Virginia. Mr. Rubio holds eight-point leads over Mrs. Clinton in Colorado and Iowa, and a narrow two-point lead in Virginia. Mr. Bush leads Mrs. Clinton by five points in Colorado, six in Iowa and three in Virginia, while Mr. Walker has a nine-point lead in Colorado, eight-point lead in Iowa, and three-point lead in Virginia.
    (from The NYT)

    A bump (none / 0) (#116)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 05:19:23 PM EST
    in the road.

    Parent
    Quinnipiac? (none / 0) (#120)
    by christinep on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 06:19:44 PM EST
    Yep.... etc.

    Parent
    Ladybaby (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 23, 2015 at 09:24:53 PM EST