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Friday Open Thread: Cuba and Sweethearts

Marco Rubio bashed Cuba hard during last night's Republican debate. I don't know that anyone outside of Miami's conservative Cuban-American community agree with him. He also threatened that Guantanamo will be kept open and lots of people will be tried there.

Marco Rubio is not "America's Sweetheart." Neither is Ted Cruz, who always seem to wear too much eye makeup during debates. He reminds me a bit of Pee Wee Herman.

Much more fun to watch than Republicans, is Elle King. The video above of "America's Sweetheart" is from her appearance a few days ago on the Late Late Show with James Corden. "Kick out the jams, kick up the soul, Pour another glass of that rock and roll." [More....]

Here is the Rolling Stones announcement of their free concert in Havana, Cuba on March 25.

The free concert will take place at the Ciudad Deportiva de la Habana and will be the first open air concert in the country by a British Rock Band.

If you can't make it in person, it will be filmed.

Here's Elle King singing America's Sweetheart on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Partial lyrics:

Kick out the jams, kick up the soul
Pour another glass of that rock and roll
Turn up the band, fire in the hole
Gonna lose control tonight

....Well they say I'm too loud for this town
So I lit a match and burned it down
What do you want from me, I'm not America's sweetheart

This is an open thread all topics welcome.

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  • Display: Sort:
    "conservative Cuban-American community" (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:09:53 AM EST
    One of these days Democrats will get around to confronting the elephant in the room, the tilt of Latinos toward a very conservative Church.

    That the only Latinos in the Presidential race are firmly Republican ought to scare the [caution] out of those who seem to regard the mis-stereotyped demographic as being in the bag.

    If I'm right, a couple of wedge issues are headed the way of the DoDo bird.  


    Fortunately, you are wrong. (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by caseyOR on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:36:59 AM EST
    The Latino community is not monolithic. Mexican-Americans are not interchangeable with Cuban-Americans who are not interchangeable with Honduran-Americans, etc.

    Cuban-Americans were quite conservative politically, very much Republicans. The younger generations of Cuban-Americans, not so much. This had almost nothing to do with religion and almost everything to do with Castro-hate.

    Latinos from Mexico and Latin America are not GOP-centric. While, yes, there are some who are Republicans, by and large these voters lean Democratic. They have leaned Democratic for generations, regardless of their religious affiliation. Through all the culture wars of the last three decades these voters have voted Democratic.

    So, please, tell us just what wedge issue important to the Church you cited will drive these voters to support the GOP?

    Parent

    I always find it interesting (none / 0) (#4)
    by CoralGables on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:21:36 AM EST
    That people think the Cuban-American community is filled with die-hard republicans. Miami-Dade County, home of Little Havana votes Dem. If my memory is correct, Miami-Dade was the county in Florida with the biggest swing in votes towards Obama in 2012 when compared to 2008.


    Parent
    From my understanding (none / 0) (#45)
    by CST on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:55:23 PM EST
    The catholic church south of the border is a lot more liberal than the one here.  Also, even white Catholics are (I believe) historically Democrats and a lot of them are much more socially liberal than the church itself.  With the Zika virus, even those who aren't socially liberal are starting to reconsider - or at least have the conversation in a way that's less inflamatory.  And the church itself is pretty pro-helping the poor these days - and has often had that as one of their main focuses, at least in northern cities.

    In other words, for all the problems with the Catholic Church (and I have many), they aren't really a conservative church the way American politicians describe conservative.

    Parent

    The kids (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by CST on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:37:45 AM EST
    are alright.

    Even better, the adults are listening.  Really proud of BPS students right now.

    "Days after thousands of students walked out to protest budget cuts, Mayor Martin J. Walsh said Thursday that he plans to announce that Boston high schools will be spared the controversial reductions that endangered popular programs and teacher jobs."

    "On Monday, about 3,650 students -- mostly from the city's high schools -- walked out of class in protest, according to School Department figures, and more than 1,000 rallied outside the State House. That night, parents, students, and teachers packed a School Committee budget hearing to challenge the cuts."

    Go, Boston kids! (none / 0) (#26)
    by caseyOR on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 11:10:03 AM EST
    Job well done.

    Parent
    It's great to see such students ... (none / 0) (#50)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 04:01:11 PM EST
    ... refusing to be passive observers to their own fate, which was otherwise preordained for them by their myopic elders. They remind me of the kids in Wisconsin, who walked out of school to join their instructors on the picket lines in Madison when Gov. Scott Walker started attacking the teachers' union. I just cringe whenever I see such dubious misplacements of public priorities. There is really no issue that's more pressing and important than our repeated failures to adequately fund our public education system at all levels, from pre-school to college.

    Parent
    Violence at rallys (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:38:48 AM EST
    Last night Chris Hayes did a segment on the violence at Trump rallys.   It was interesting if possibly a bit heavy on the "Hayes-steria".   But the part that caught my attention was at the very end about the convention so I started surfing a little.

    Prediction- the violence will not go away.  I suspect it may even get a bit more intense.  The reason is I believe it is being used as a not so veiled threat of what "might" happen with Trump supporters if they try any shenanigans at the convention.   Hayes featured some quotes, as I said, at the end of that segment that said as much.   And they were not from anonymous nobodies.

    This is strictly my opinion.

    Hayes (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:56:02 AM EST
    Sorry (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:58:54 AM EST
    Okay, let me first condemn violence (none / 0) (#40)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:19:04 PM EST
    but it looks like the attackee was gesturing and extending his arms at the old dude...or at least in the general direction. Heaven knows what verbal taunts were exchanged.

    The bigger issue is what rights do people who crash someone else's meeting and then demonstrate, try to distract, etc., have?

    Obviously being beat up by an elderly meeting attendee isn't on the list of remedies but somewhere in there common sense says that the attackee wasn't there to express his support of The Donald.

    Parent

    Thank you (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:36:58 PM EST
    For making my point that this wil just be another "thing"

    Parent
    Yeah... (none / 0) (#53)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 04:39:11 PM EST
    ...because words/physical presence are a good enough reasons to invoke the violence you don't condone.

    Good thing you cleared that up Jim.

    Parent

    Glad to help you out (none / 0) (#63)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:14:43 PM EST
    Now, look at what's happening in Chicago.

    Is that your idea of free speech? Going into the venue?

    Parent

    Thank you again (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:19:27 PM EST
    For making my point again.

    Parent
    Always glad to help (none / 0) (#65)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:36:06 PM EST
    And I wonder if Trump's opponents understand that they most likely have assured Trump's nomination ...perhaps the  presidency?

    Parent
    For once (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:41:07 PM EST
    We are in complete agreement.  These protesters gleefully celebrating having "won" the battle are probably unaware they have simultaneously lost the war.

    Anyone who doubts this will benefit Donald should turn on CNN.  He is winning already.  

    His margin in Illinois just went up 5 points

    Parent

    Yup...they are setting up the epic battle (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by ruffian on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:36:58 PM EST
    against the dirty effing hippies they have been spoiling for since Nixon.

    People that don't think Clinton is a liberal will be amazed how they portray her in September. And if by some miracle Bernie is the nominee, well as entertaining as that would be, I hope I don't see it.

    Parent

    MoveOn (none / 0) (#87)
    by sallywally on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 08:08:15 AM EST
    Supports Sanders, don't they?

    Parent
    It always saddens me when (none / 0) (#67)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:46:41 PM EST
    students at a university try to shut down free speech.

    What have these kids been taught??

    Parent

    How do you know (none / 0) (#68)
    by Towanda on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:50:03 PM EST
    the intent?  Everything that I read, in days of this protest being publicized, was not about shutting down the event.  It was about protesting it.

    Trump decided to shut down the event.  No one else.

    Parent

    So you would have kept the event (none / 0) (#76)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:30:45 PM EST
    going with protesters inside that have attacked the podium and fighting the security guards and there are thousands outside??

    How many do you think would have been killed and wounded??

    Parent

    Since you asked, I would have (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Towanda on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 10:57:51 AM EST
    informed the campus cops on the site of the cancellation before informing the crowd, which only could cause chaos without sufficient security -- and that tells me that concern for crowd safety was a lie, just as much as the claim that law enforcement told the campaign to do this.  I would have informed the Chicago cops to come into the site, to assist campus cops.  (Do you understand that only some are actually trained to be cops?)

    And I would not have picked that venue, in the first place.  For a week, there have been pleas to move the rally, because inviting thousands of bigots to bring their bigotry to a primarily minority campus -- and a campus already tense owing to budgetary crisis imposed by the idiot Illinois (Republican) governor -- was, quite literally, Trump asking for trouble.

    If you really think otherwise, you cannot connect the dots.  Or you will not do so.

    Parent

    They have been taught (none / 0) (#70)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:59:37 PM EST
    What they are doing is free speech.  And you know what?  It is.

    This is so much more than that.   I must say as a political observer this is better than sex.  

    For example, idiotic Stewart Stevens, GWBush mouthpiece is on CNN pi$$ing and moaning.   Oh, if only Donald was like George.  You know what George did in his 2004 campaign?   He screened the audience of every rally he attended so this could not happen.   Because it would have.

    The Trump campaign knew this was going to happen.   It had been being organized openly all day.   They coukd have stopped it.   They could have moved the event.   This was as masterful a manipulation of media and populace I have ever seen.  He played MoveOn like a freaking Stradivarius.

    MoveOn is claiming credit and claiming it will keep happening.  

    Parent

    Oh, (5.00 / 2) (#77)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:50:49 PM EST
    not surprised the idiots at Move On thought something like this was a good idea.

    Parent
    Donald (none / 0) (#71)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:07:52 PM EST
    Is now live on CNN.

    He says he thinks the problem is "largely economic".  The poor African American youth who are so angry because they can't find jobs.

    Holy hell.

    Parent

    "Wall Street" (none / 0) (#72)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:21:25 PM EST
    Many had Sanders signs (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:22:28 PM EST
    It is not free speech when they go (none / 0) (#75)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:27:47 PM EST
    inside the venue. They are, at that point, interrupting a private function held in a facility that was paid for by someone else to be used for an event. I think the charge, among others would be "disturbing the peace."

    The video of the people inside shows very clearly that the protesters wanted violence. Trump was smart enough to cancel and keep people from being hurt.

    BTW - I remember the rally in Denver. There was quite a discussion right here regarding whether or not that was right.

    Parent

    The L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune ... (none / 0) (#84)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 05:18:53 AM EST
    Agreed. (none / 0) (#58)
    by KeysDan on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 05:58:36 PM EST
    And, it is a physical manifestation of attacking political correctness. A new staple of his campaign. You can rarely go wrong by attacking a dissenter, no mater what...always, a but... but..  he/she deserved it  etc.  

    Parent
    Turn on the news (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 06:22:11 PM EST
    Or check the web

    All hell is breaking loose in Chicago after some hell broke out earlier in St Louis.

    Parent

    This is quite a spectacle (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 06:50:52 PM EST
    You should be watching.

    Parent
    My 15 year-old aced his college assessment exams (5.00 / 4) (#23)
    by Dadler on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:54:36 AM EST
    He'll officially be attending CSM Middle College next semester. I am sort of in awe of this kid, even if it's been a battle to keep him from entirely going off the rails for the the last year plus -- as you have all probably been able to gather from my irregular and quite erratic presence here in that span. There is only one math class at the entire College of San Mateo, where Middle College is located, that is advanced enough for him. For this I credit his mother, an applied math major. I am so proud, and so So SO happy he has this option, being as frustrated as he has been with the traditional high school system. So this fall after his sophomore year in regular HS, as a 16 year-old, he'll be a de-facto college student (though he still has to jump through hoops to get an official HS diploma, without which it's much harder to maneuver afterwards.) Go Eli!

    Congratulations to Eli. (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by caseyOR on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 11:08:47 AM EST
    In everything you have shared about him here, Eli sounds like a wonderful boy. Smart, talented and kind.

    I am so glad for Eli that thee is an alternative to regular high school that works for him.

    Parent

    I had the pleasure... (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 12:36:29 PM EST
    to meet the lad, albeit briefly...and he is a chip off Dadler's block.

    Congrats on the good news D...but this enquiring mind wants to know what kinda band this new school has! If Lil' Dadler is still playing the trombone.  Gotta feed the soul as well as the mind ya know;)

    Parent

    My second thought too. But what (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by oculus on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 04:19:49 PM EST
    about the band?

    Parent
    Great music program at the college (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by Dadler on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 08:56:08 AM EST
    Way better than his H.S. program. Truth be told, his middle school band teacher was the greatest, a sweet and kind and cool cat. His H.S. teacher, while as knowledgeable and talented as heck, was still a working pro around town and just didn't know how to deal with kids when it came down to it. The fact that E's uncle is a pro, tours with Sergio Mendes, on top of my constant reminders of how important music had been for his mind and life, I think he'll be okay.

    Parent
    And why I am taking Eli to this show (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by Dadler on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 10:05:16 AM EST
    With Trump heading to Hilldawg's hometown (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Towanda on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 11:57:04 AM EST
    . . . enjoy the laff -- the "Trump footlong" -- from my favorite place for a true Chicago hot dawg.

    Sign at Chicago protest (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Towanda on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:51:32 PM EST
    Trump Puts Ketchup
    On Hot Dogs

    Chicagoans will understand that if this is true, it will cost him votes.

    Parent

    he also eats pizza (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 01:23:54 AM EST
    with a knife and fork

    Parent
    Oddly enough Chicagoans don't find that (none / 0) (#85)
    by ruffian on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 05:54:52 AM EST
    as much of a crime as Jon Stewart does. That was one of his recurring themes I just did not get.

    You have to eat the deep dish pizza with two hands if it is in the pie shaped slices. Often it is cut into smaller squares instead, as is a lot of the thin crust Chicaog pizza, such as Aurelio's ( my fave). They don't lend themselves to the one handed grab Stewart prefers.

    Parent

    It's (none / 0) (#86)
    by TrevorBolder on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 07:23:59 AM EST
    A NY thing

    Fold the pizza

    All of those new fangled creations may be tasty, chicken and whatever toppings you may place on the pizza,
    But it is not pizza

    Like my pizza, thin crust, well done but NOT burnt, and lots of cheese

    Parent

    I often eat pizza (none / 0) (#97)
    by jbindc on Sun Mar 13, 2016 at 02:27:02 PM EST
    With a knife and fork - it's less messy and gives it time to cool off (I don't care for most types of pipung hot food).

    And thin crust has it's place, but I prefer dough-ier crust. (Yes, my boyfriend, born in raised in the Village, is pretty much horrified.  But we've been together 5 years, so I must have some other redeeming qualities). :)

    Parent

    Wiener take all (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 12:06:35 PM EST
    That is Funny... (none / 0) (#30)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 12:12:04 PM EST
    ... but I can't imagine eating anything that is referencing the Donald's junk or the 'Trump Package'.  But I would buy one for the picture value.

    Parent
    Jeralyn: "Marco Rubio is not 'America's Sweetheart.' Neither is Ted Cruz, who always seem to wear too much eye makeup during debates. He reminds me a bit of Pee Wee Herman."

    ... singer-actor Joel Grey, in his Oscar-winning persona as the creepy and sinister Master of Ceremonies in Bob Fosse's classic 1972 musical "Cabaret."

    ;-D

    From the right angles, Cruz (none / 0) (#2)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 07:16:49 AM EST
    looks a bit like Bill Murray, with a chin problem.

    Parent
    But isn't Ted Cruz ... (none / 0) (#39)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:17:02 PM EST
    ... nothing BUT right angles?

    ;-D

    Parent

    Eleven GOP polls from Florida so far this week (none / 0) (#5)
    by CoralGables on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:22:48 AM EST
    A little overkill but one thing is consistent, Trump leads all of them and Rubio is 2nd in all of them.

    Average for all 11 is Trump +14.7

    Does (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 08:44:36 AM EST
    next week start winner take all for the GOP primaries? If so being 2nd matters as much as being 5th.

    Parent
    FL is winner take all (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:16:17 AM EST
    Maybe Ohio?

    Parent
    Not exactly (none / 0) (#9)
    by FlJoe on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:35:07 AM EST
    winner take all, Oh and FL are complete statewide WTA, NC is completely proportional, IL and IL are WTA all by district with a lesser amount of at large delegates WTA. Anyone who gets 15+ in NC will get delegates. A strong second might be able to grab a district or two in IL and MO(I am thinking Cruz has a decent chance in parts of MO and S. IL).

    Moving forward the only major states with true state wide WTA are AZ and NJ, the rest have some type of winner take most with delegates won district by district.

    Parent

    8 states have Winner Take All (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:43:48 AM EST
    Link

    Florida, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Arizona are WTA.

    Parent

    Republican (none / 0) (#16)
    by FlJoe on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:06:30 AM EST
    math is complex, any stop Trump effort is going to be fought on a district by district basis if it goes the distance.

    Parent
    Should have added the Dem side (none / 0) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:54:05 AM EST
    By comparison, pollsters aren't that interested in the Florida Dem side. Only 5 polls over the past five days. Taken together the average is Clinton +34

    Parent
    I woke up (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:15:00 AM EST
    To the Carson endorsement.   It was like one of those times when you wake up but you are not sure you are really awake.

    They were basically foing a split screen with Trump calling a pathological child molestor

    Large fish crossing the street (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:03:51 AM EST
    Those are Redfish (none / 0) (#18)
    by fishcamp on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:44:22 AM EST
    fun to catch and good to eat.  Paul Prudhomme made blackened Redfish popular with his spices.  The fish have a strong flavor the second day.  Blackened fish have become very popular in restaurants to mask the two or three day old flavor.  The fish have not turned yet, but would have a funky taste without the blackened spices.

    Parent
    I love blacken fish (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:49:29 AM EST
    I'm hungry

    Parent
    But fresh redfish (none / 0) (#20)
    by CoralGables on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:52:04 AM EST
    especially the smaller ones back before the netters nearly wiped the supply out of the Gulf to feed the blackened craze...delicious on their own.

    Parent
    Bernie is running (none / 0) (#21)
    by sallywally on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:54:04 AM EST
    Tons of ads in Ohio, all networks and some right after Hillary ads. Unfortunately they are pretty good ads. He doesn't sound or look extreme. Like your grandfather...or peer.

    Thoughts on what Bernie wants? (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Suisser1 on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 12:43:18 PM EST
    At this point, what IS his objective? He can't seriously hope to influence her presidency in continuing to denigrate her character and in doing so make it less and less likely that his supporters, especially the young "Bros" will support her nomination. What is his end game?

    Parent
    maybe he wants (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 01:23:02 AM EST
    a legacy and to be something other than a footnote in history.

    Parent
    Bernie needs to win a day of delegate math (none / 0) (#24)
    by CoralGables on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 10:58:06 AM EST
    or it won't be long before the narrative changes to he doesn't have a chance. Up until now he's been winning the news cycle even when he loses the day. That won't keep up much longer as he continues to fall further behind every voting day.

    Parent
    Judging (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 11:44:36 AM EST
    by Bernie's behavior Ohio seems to be the only state that he thinks he has much of a chance in next week.

    Parent
    NYT: Bernie to build on MI win (none / 0) (#88)
    by sallywally on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 08:14:25 AM EST
    to go for the nomination.

    Parent
    Bill Curry ..Salon (none / 0) (#89)
    by TrevorBolder on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 08:43:37 AM EST
    Is banging the same drum

    It should be over for Hillary: Party elites and MSNBC can't prop her up after Bernie's Michigan miracle
    Trade, wages and the corrupt political class are the new key issues. Bernie and Trump finished off the party elites

    http://tinyurl.com/j6jcn9l

    Parent

    Salon has become so delusional (none / 0) (#93)
    by Towanda on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 11:01:39 AM EST
    that it's sad.  It used to be a smarter site.

    Now, Salon can't even do simple arithmetic.  I mean, counting delegates does not require advanced calculus.  It's only addition . . . and, increasingly, subtraction from the sum total.

    Parent

    I guess Salon (none / 0) (#94)
    by TrevorBolder on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 11:56:29 AM EST
    Is after the under 30 Demographic.

    Sanders won 81% of under 30 votes in Michigan.

    They just feel Hillary is the Establishment,

    And do not trust her.

    There is a BIG anti establishment surge in both parties,
    On the Republican side Trump has rode it to frontrunner status, based on the fact the there were 16 candidates carving up the Establishment vote.
    Sanders has garnered a slightly higher percentage of the vote than Trump , but is going against a consolidated Establishment candidate. If the Democrats didn't clear the field for Hillary, The Bern could just as well been out in front.

    Parent

    The word "Establishment" (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by christinep on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 01:34:28 PM EST
    In the old days--bad old days or good old day or, simply, days back then--the urge to change government direction and/or related personnel used to be called the Throw the Bums Out syndrome.  The cleaning-house compulsion is really nothing new ... although there are different, designated ills from time to time.

    Isn't it somewhat a matter of perspective when people look at the same set of facts/same events and arrive at very different causation reasons! Very normal.  Add to that a special, real reason that the first decade or so of this century produced hurtful results in terms of people's living conditions and daily lives ... add to that the anxiety and harm of the wars/conflicts beginning with our incursion into Iraq ... add to that the growing discrepancy, economically, between the topmost 1 or 5 percent and everyone else (while life has never been "fair," that discrepancy along with the flaunting of the kazillionaires in this century to date, it may be an unusually astringent salt to add to the recent recession's economic wounds)... and, very much so, add to that the effect of massive new communication techniques and realities that can/have fostered fears and hatreds to niche audiences as well as increased broader understanding of the world around us.

    Lots of things going on.  Good and bad things.  For young people, I'm thinking that the sheer number of things--as for each new generation--must be exceedingly challenging to reflect on and sort ... certainly, when all sorts of media tend to promote only the good-bad dichotomy and hype the when-it-bleeds-it-leads approach via cable, "breaking news," the short-hand of Twitter, the emotions of Facebook.  What we might all agree on is that things are stirred up. Societies do that periodically.  Societies even come up with the latest ways to classify (or simplify) a conflict ... that leads to our modern-day Establishment vs. The Rest of Us (aka "the good guys.")  A useful classification to focus all of us on the need for some change.  Two questions:  (1) What degree of change ... and the what, when, where, how of such change?  (2) What is The Establishment ... is it narrow or broad in definition and, if broader than the $$$$ classification, what are the ramifications?

    In a lot of ways, the years ahead could prove very positive for the country as we finally open up discussion and addressing issues shelved during earlier challenges.  I'm hoping that the country can try to find the pathway(s) together.

    Parent

    It's (none / 0) (#96)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 02:40:23 PM EST
    not like he's going to say that he's going to quit. However he's not acting like that with dumping most of his money into OH. He's suing in Ohio. I don't trust polls but if you go by them he's losing in NC, FL, MO that are on Tuesday and even Ohio if you believe the polling.

    Parent
    Another Duke Lacrosse situation? (none / 0) (#31)
    by McBain on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 12:16:15 PM EST
    Yale basketball captain expelled, for "sexual misconduct" just before team gets to play in NCAA tournament for the first time in 54 years.  

    The team had to apologize for supporting the player.  This is what his father said....

    "We have strict orders from our lawyers," Jim Montague told the Register last week. "Soon enough, I'd love to tell the other side of the story. It's ridiculous, why he's expelled. It's probably going to set some sort of precedent. We're trying to do things the gentleman's way, so we're keeping things close-knit. But you guys will get a story."

    The Duke Lacrosse fiasco started 10 years ago this Sunday.   ESPN will air a two hour special Sunday night.  

    So The Source You are Using... (none / 0) (#34)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 01:20:18 PM EST
    ...is the kids dad, OK.

    I am sure you know how to use Google and he was expelled, police not involved.  How you think this is related to Duke is a complete mystery.

    Parent

    Could be another rush to judgment (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by McBain on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:58:48 PM EST
    involving an athlete and sexual assault allegations at a prestigious university.  Hopefully, we'll find out more soon.  Sounds like a lot of PC BS right now.  

    Parent
    Sounds like a lot of (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by CoralGables on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 06:55:37 PM EST
    McBain BS right now.  

    Parent
    As of this moment, ... (none / 0) (#49)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 03:31:37 PM EST
    ... this is an internal affair involving Yale University, its men's basketball team, former Bulldog captain Jack Montague and nobody else.

    Mr. Montague abruptly quit the team and withdrew from Yale on Feb. 10. University officials have since apparently decided to expel him for an undisclosed disciplinary matter per its student code of conduct. And further, there has been no police investigation (as of yet) into what are at best vague public allegations. So, how exactly do you figure that this is "another Duke Lacrosse situation"?

    You know, the biggest complaints you repeatedly get from others here generally occur during those times when you jump to often-outlandish conclusions about a given matter, without ever bothering to first ascertain the actual pertinent facts.

    If you're concerned about what happens to Jack Montague, that's your business and further, you've every right to be so. I don't think anyone wants to see the young man unnecessarily expelled from Yale, provided that such a penalty is truly undeserved. Otherwise, according to university policy, that expulsion will remain a permanent mark on his academic record. And if Montague quit school while facing pending disciplinary charges, he will have rendered himself ineligible for reinstatement to Yale at a later date.

    But all that said, I really don't know enough about his present situation to render even a qualified judgment, one way or the other. But here's what I do know. Universities and colleges across the country are under increased public scrutiny and pressure to start taking a lot more seriously any and all allegations of gender / sexual violence involving their students. Certainly, none of them want to become the next Florida State, which is presently the poster child for the obvious gross mishandling of such matters in violation of Title IX.

    Therefore, I would suggest that you please find other ways to express your concerns, without channeling a sense of hysteria that's worthy of the headlines one reads at the local supermarket's tabloid racks, and without sounding completely insensitive to the crime of sexual violence against women on college campuses.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    We disgree about this.... (none / 0) (#60)
    by McBain on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 06:38:37 PM EST
    I don't think anyone wants to see the young man unnecessarily expelled from Yale, provided that such a penalty is truly undeserved.

    There are plenty of people who would like to see a "privileged" athlete expelled even if he doesn't deserve it. We saw that in the Duke Lacrosse case. There was a ridiculous rush to judgment within the university. Maybe people wanted those players expelled and indicted because of past offenses they had nothing to do with.

    You know, the biggest complaints you repeatedly get from others here generally occur during those times when you jump to often-outlandish conclusions about a given matter, without ever bothering to first ascertain the actual pertinent facts.

    Can you provide any instances where I jumped to outlandish conclusions without facts?


    Parent

    As I stated, this is an internal and private matter between Yale University, its basketball team and former Bulldog captain Jack Montague. No police are involved.

    None of those aforementioned parties have been forthcoming on any details, although ESPN is reporting today that an unnamed source familiar with the matter has disclosed that Montague's dismissal from school was the result of the university's internal investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct on his part.

    For all we know, Yale's dismissal of Montague may well be no different than the incident involving BYU's March 2011 dismissal of Cougar forward Brandon Davies -- the team's leading scorer and rebounder -- for violations of that school's honor code, after he reluctantly admitted to a school disciplinary panel that he had slept with his girlfriend.

    Given that Yale and Brigham Young are both private institutions which maintain pretty strict standards for student conduct, it is perfectly within their rights to discipline and / or dismiss any student who fails to uphold those standards, even if such conduct would not amount to a violation at a public university or another private institution.

    Speaking for myself only, when I don't really know, I don't just assume, whether for good or ill. Further, since the details are admittedly quite sketchy, nobody's talking as of yet and no police file has been opened in the matter, you can't possibly be privy to what actually happened here.

    Therefore, you've got no business comparing Jack Montague's dismissal from Yale with the Duke Lacrosse case, which was initially a criminal investigation about an alleged sexual assault that went horribly awry for a variety of reasons, none of them good.

    The sort of hysterical overstatement you offered in this instance is tabloidesque, because you're presuming as fact something which is not at all in evidence and thus, you are impugning the integrity of Yale University without sufficient cause to do so.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    What am I presuming as facts? (none / 0) (#78)
    by McBain on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 09:21:21 PM EST
    What have I concluded? Think about it Donald.  Think before you say something like this...
    because you're presuming as fact something which is not at all in evidence and thus, you are impugning the integrity of Yale University without sufficient cause to do so.

    I was careful to say this "Could be another rush to judgment".  And "Another Duke Lacrosse situation?" notice the question mark.  Those aren't conclusions. The only conclusion I've come to is that Montague appears to have been expelled because something vague called "sexual misconduct".

    For all we know, Yale's dismissal of Montague may well be no different than the incident involving BYU's March 2011 dismissal of Cougar forward Brandon Davies -- the team's leading scorer and rebounder -- for violations of that school's honor code, after he reluctantly admitted to a school disciplinary panel that he had slept with his girlfriend.

    If that's true then it's even more absurd for someone to have put up posters on the Yale campus that read....
    "Yale men's basketball, stop supporting a rapist."

    I do see some similarities between this case the early days of Duke Lacrosse.  I will continue to point them out.


    Parent

    I'm through discussing this matter with you. (none / 0) (#80)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 11:04:13 PM EST
    Whatever happened at Yale is not at all equivalent to the Duke Lacrosse case. And if you can't see and understand that, then I feel very sorry for you, because you're terminally hyperbolic.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    What's a guy to do (none / 0) (#35)
    by coast on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 01:57:36 PM EST
    I was hoping with the upcoming election I would return here for some lively banter and serious discussions on issues and the election.  Unfortunately, my party has lost itself.  I can't bring myself to vote for either of the front runners.  Who would have thought I would actually be sitting here with my best option being former Sec. of State Clinton, whom I really think can't say an honest word if her life depended on it.  However, if its a decision on who out of this group may be able to actually run a government, I would have to give her that at least.

    I will just enjoy sitting here reading the posts from the regulars here as I have been doing.

    Oh well.....

    Sorry (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:04:05 PM EST
    You have bought into 25 years of Republican talking points and are now on par with Rush Limbaugh, Ted Cruz, and the RNC.

    (The whole "... former Sec. of State Clinton, whom I really think can't say an honest word if her life depended on it," gave you away).

    If you wanna talk policy proposals, then let's have a discussion.

    Parent

    I haven't bought into anything (none / 0) (#41)
    by coast on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:19:58 PM EST
    I can call a spade a spade when I see one.

    I don't listen to Rush, I'm not voting for Cruz (is he really seen as the statesman for the party?), and I'm obviously not beholden to the RNC considering I'm not supporting them.

    We can agree to disagree on the trustworthiness of Sec. of State Clinton.

    When policy issues arise I'll chime in with my two cents - not sure its even worth that.

    Parent

    Why do you think (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:32:18 PM EST
    She can't be trusted any more than any other politician - Obama?  Bernie Sanders?  Elizaberh Warren?

    Some thoughts (yes, he worked for HRC, but unless you can dispute his facts, then so what?)

    Sadly, many on the left imbibe and regurgitate these fabricated narratives, spewing falsehoods and filth at Hillary with gleeful abandon. They are joined by mainstream media operatives with personal vendettas like Maureen Dowd and the Morning Joe crew, whose venomous words reveal more about their own failings than about Hillary.

    But the fact is this: no one has ever produced an iota of evidence that Hillary has behaved improperly because of a campaign contribution. No one has produced a scintilla of proof that there is a quid pro quo when it comes to her speaking fees. From Whitewater to Benghazi to her emails, nobody can point to a single instance of corruption or purposeful wrongdoing on Hillary Clinton's part.

    None. Zero. Ever.

    The most they have are votes they disagree with. And even there, the false frames are tossed around with no regard for facts. Hillary's voting record is as liberal as Elizabeth Warren's, yet somehow Hillary is the only one portrayed by critics as a sell-out, a closet Republican, a traitor to progressives.

    What can you specifically point to that makes you say you couldn't believe anything she says?


    Parent

    Agreed (none / 0) (#44)
    by coast on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:44:45 PM EST
    I was going to make the same point - not any more or less than any other politician - but failed to do so.

    Parent
    How about (none / 0) (#56)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 05:44:58 PM EST
    Until this afternoon, on the Bernie Sanders campaign website, they were hosting an event / fundraiser called "Bern the Witch".

    It has since been taken down, but goggling it will help you find it.

    Parent

    Link (none / 0) (#57)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 05:47:55 PM EST
    What about this decision process, coast? (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by christinep on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 04:20:02 PM EST
    Start with jotting down your priorities for the next WH occupant...and, in so doing, it can be helpful to be as specific as you can be about legislation approaches, foreign policy approaches, Supreme Court qualifications, etc. IMO, the key in this kind of personal evaluation is to be as honest with yourself as you can be.

    Next--while it can be very difficult in view of how televised personality and party talking points do influence us--try looking at the race only from the policy screen that forms your standard checklist.  Why? Because not one of us can really tell what is inside the minds or intents of any of the candidates ...in this media-savvy day we can get taken in by our own emotions.  For example: You seem, automatically, to attach the "not honest" label to HRC ... from my perspective, I find her to be the most honest candidate that I've seen in a long while because she does not over-promise and because she takes her time with responses ... a individual who doesn't give you the sun & the moon or a quick yes/no as he suspects you want to hear may actually be the more honest precisely because of her precision.  Nuance doesn't fit neatly on bumper stickers or roll easily off the tongues of the news people; but, that attention to facts as opposed to the bravado/bluster of some easily wears longer than emotionally buying into a load of cr#p.

    But, this is about your dilemma. Whereas your party's candidates do not appear to offer specific, direct policies other than the frontrunner's isolationistic nationalism and threats against numbers of people who don't agree, I am impressed with Hillary Clinton's positions on almost all issue, her confident & strong demeanor, and the integrity to avoid getting into the pit with the namecalling Repubs. For you--I'm guessing--the task of relooking at your beliefs is difficult at best; tho, your own honest evaluation of what counts and why could be transformative in a positive way. I wouldn't want to be in those ill-fitting shoes.

    Parent

    Unlike Most... (none / 0) (#54)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 04:42:49 PM EST
    ... if I find it rather refreshing to find a republican who can admit the obvious.

    I do disagree with the Clinton comments, saying she is dishonest seems to be trendy, but when exactly has she been dishonest.

    I do wonder where my dad's republicans go if they don't go Trump.

    Parent

    We know (none / 0) (#55)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 05:17:35 PM EST
    You FEEL like she's dishonest

    Parent
    Rubio (none / 0) (#37)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:12:23 PM EST
    Gave the green light to supporters in Ohio to vote for Kasich.

    You think me shoes are made of leather (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 02:16:48 PM EST
    But I'm a substitute for another guy
    I look pretty tall but my heels are high
    The simple things you see are all complicated
    I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated,

    yeeeeeeeeah


    Parent

    Kasich refused to reciprocate (none / 0) (#83)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 12, 2016 at 01:26:40 AM EST
    with Florida voters, when asked if he would tell Florida Republicans to vote for Rubio to stop Trump. He said you can't tell supporters to vote for someone else. But he also said he's not spending any time in Florida (and not trying to win it.) He said voters in Florida are smart enough to make their own decisions.

    Parent
    Couple kills escaped convict who held (none / 0) (#47)
    by McBain on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 03:13:54 PM EST
    them hostage

    Early Thursday, the 24-year-old wife and mother, who'd been allowed to leave the bathroom, returned with a handgun and fired one shot at McCloud, police said. She then freed her husband, who "took control of the weapon and fired additional shots, striking McCloud."

    Not sure why he let her leave the bathroom.  Obviously, he wasn't expecting  them to own a handgun.  I wonder if the husband will be criticized for firing additional shots.  

    If police can shoot (none / 0) (#48)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Mar 11, 2016 at 03:25:22 PM EST
    ..an unarmed black man who is already lying on the street and unresponsive after being shot the first few times, then reload and shoot him a few more times. I don't think the guy will get in trouble.

    Unless he isn't a police officer.

    Parent