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Friday Open Thread

Here's a new open thread, all topics welcome.

Has anyone seen a Trump statue in person? G-rated comments only please, or use asterisks for anatomical parts.

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    Those photos are great! (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by desertswine on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 02:09:16 PM EST
    People seem to love those statues and appear to be having a lot of fun with them. Their reactions are priceless.

    Bad Lip Reading (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 09:36:24 PM EST
    Muchas felicidades to Paul Manafort, ... (5.00 / 2) (#64)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 06:59:42 PM EST
    ... the now-former Trump Poobah who not only masterminded what may yet (and hopefully) turn out to be one of the great slow-motion political train wrecks in U.S. history, but also somehow managed to call attention to himself by allegedly violating several important provisions in 22 U.S.C. §§ 611-621, the otherwise-obscure "Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938":

    "No person shall act as an agent of a foreign principal unless he has filed with the Attorney General a true and complete registration statement."

    In the immortal words of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, "Oops."

    The official statement (none / 0) (#1)
    by MKS on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 01:18:35 PM EST
    of NYC Parks Dept. was hilarious:  No "erec*ion" no matter how "small" will be permitted.

    It Is Hard For Me To Believe (none / 0) (#2)
    by RickyJim on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 01:56:32 PM EST
    that Trump forces won't respond with some sort of t*t for tat.  

    No doubt, the statues (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 02:38:26 PM EST
    will be the cause of "extreme wetting," by many Trumpettes.  The art and its humor, of course, is not his body, per se.  After all, it is a body not unlike that of many a 70-year old grandfather.

     And, it would not be funny for just any opponent, say Romney, Ryan or Cruz.  It is funny, and it stings, when taken in the context of Trump.  Trump makes fun of other people's bodies--indeed, what makes for worthiness is their appearance.

    Fiorina was too ugly to be president, a person who is very flat chested is very hard to be a '10', Christie is not allowed to have Oreos--these are a  part of his operational belittling.

     And, of course, he was more than eager to counter, on national TV, Little Marco's insinuation that he sports something akin to a cocktail shrimp.

     Mrs. Clinton does not judge others by their looks, nor is personalized deprecation a part of her lexicon. However, that has never stopped her opponents from simply being mean,with no humor in sight.


    Parent

    We should hope that no statues of (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by fishcamp on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 11:48:32 AM EST
    Hill and Bill show up...

    Parent
    As if they haven't been (none / 0) (#4)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 02:19:40 PM EST
    Creative with their Clinton directed misogyny

    Parent
    The US team came in dead last after Allyson Felix was unable to complete the baton hand off to English Gardner.

    However, as it turned out, Allyson was impeded by the Brazilian team in the adjacent lane during the pass. So the Brazilian team was disqualified, and the US team was given the chance to run again, alone, to see if they could Q for the finals by beating the team which qualified in last place; China.

    Later that night the US team ran alone and beat the Chinese time's time handily, so they are taking China's place in the finals.

    If it were me, since there are 9 lanes, but they are running only 8 teams, I would have had the US team take the empty 9th lane instead of displacing the Chinese team.

    They not only beat the Chinese, ... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 03:24:52 PM EST
    ... they actually posted the best qualifying time of all the teams running in tonight's final. Here's to hoping they repeat that feat tonight.

    Parent
    margin.

    Parent
    When they hold onto the baton (none / 0) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 05:09:09 PM EST
    Ha! (none / 0) (#21)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 06:14:01 PM EST
    Weird thing. After the incident happened Aton Boldon was commenting on the slo-mo replay and saying "The Brazilian girl did nothing wrong." and my whole family was like "What?? Are you watching the same video as the rest of the world?!"

    After a while Aton came around, but boy, it was weird for a while there...

    Parent

    I was surprised they were re-instated (none / 0) (#45)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 09:59:54 PM EST
    but onto the men's...
    It was the ninth time since 1995 that the U.S. men have been disqualified or failed to get the baton around at an Olympics or World Championships.


    Parent
    Real shame. (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 12:14:16 PM EST
    From what I've seen, the US simply does not have the 4x1 athletes practice together enough.

    I imagine there are a bunch of good reasons for this, but those reasons do not change the reality that passing the baton simply takes 100s, or better, 1000s of reps to get to International levels of competency.

    Japan is a good example. afaik none of their athletes are as fast as any of ours, but they still beat us solidly (despite us "cheating").

    Here is a quote that sums it up for me :

    "They said [Gatlin] got the stick before the exchange zone," Tyson Gay said. "I don't really know the rules [...]"

    Really? You are competing in the frigging Olympics and don't know the rules?

    Looks like the US has filed a protest over the DQ, but if Gatlin touched the baton outside of the passing zone, I don't see any hope under the rules.

    The entire pass must take place inside the passing zone. The pass starts when the outgoing runner first touches the baton, and finishes when the incoming runner stops touching it.

    Another way to look at it is if any part of the baton is outside the zone, and both athletes are touching it, that is a DQ.

    I suppose if I were the US, and the only video evidence are the long-distance camera shots that we've been seeing, which aren't very clear, I'd protest that the videos are non-conclusive.

    Trouble is, usually, the DQ is called by the passing zone judge who's standing track-side.

    If the judge says he/she saw the DQ, unless there is video (best is track-side video) that conclusively shows that the judge is wrong, I'd expect the DQ to stand.

    All that said, for better or worse, track is not like, say, football, where the rules are the rules.

    Parent

    US appeal is denied, USA DQ stands. (none / 0) (#59)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 05:12:44 PM EST
    Too bad I read this. (none / 0) (#48)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 11:39:14 PM EST
    It's only 6:35pm out here and because the prime-time broadcasts are delayed, that race has yet to air out here.

    Parent
    My apologies (none / 0) (#50)
    by CoralGables on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 03:32:12 AM EST
    That's certainly not your fault. (none / 0) (#58)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 04:46:43 PM EST
    The local network affiliates delay the broadcast out here because we're 6 hours behind the U.S. east coast (and 7 hours behind Rio), so the Olympics' daily events conclude well before our workday is even finished. So if we want to watch sporting events same-day as though they were live, it's up to us to be careful with what we watch and read online.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Obama Needs To Visit LA (none / 0) (#6)
    by NycNate on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 02:36:00 PM EST
    He shouldn't listen to the politicians making excuses for him not going.  He should go.  He criticized Bush for the same issue.  It doesn't look good to be on vacation golfing while fellow citizens are struggling.

    LA's Gov.asked him to wait (5.00 / 5) (#8)
    by MKS on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 02:45:04 PM EST
    because a visit by POTUS halts the aid efforts.

    Is it about helping or a photo op?

    We will find out how much photo ops outweigh substantive help.

    This is not like Bush, because aid is being distributed and people helped.  

    Parent

    Now Obama is going on Tuesday... (none / 0) (#19)
    by NycNate on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 05:47:42 PM EST
    After Trump said...

    Trump: He Ought to Get Off the Golf Course and Get Down There!

    You have to be a leader. You can't be seen following a guy like Trump.  
    I'm a real estate guy.  If one of my properties had been ravaged by a flood.  Or if one of my tenants had died, I'd have to go.  I'd have to see it for myself.  No governor could tell me to wait. I wouldn't even be able to or want to golf.

    That's what a CEO, an executive, a President does. As proof, just reference Obama's own comments regarding Bush not visiting after Katrina.

    Parent

    Trump timed at 49 seconds (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Towanda on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 08:41:33 PM EST
    of good works, says CNN.

    Never broke a sweat, even in the Deep South.  Never even took off his natty navy blazer.

    This is a publicity op, sweetie.  It may be what a landlord does, but don't embarrass yourself by claiming that it's what a leader does.

    Parent

    That's not leadership (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by MKS on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 09:34:24 PM EST
    but showmanship.

    When some GOP House member was criticizing Obama for not being there, he was asked what he was lacking.  He had no answer.....He did say FEMA was there, etc.

    I do not accept the analogy between your properties as realtor and Obama's job as POTUS.

    Parent

    This highlights (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by MKS on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 09:42:11 PM EST
    that many believe, as do many on the Right, that Bush's failure regarding Katrina was all about optics.  

    True, looking out the plane did not look so good, but it was the failure of FEMA to help, the trapped people in the Super Dome, and the complete lack of a coherent and effective response.  That has not happened this time.

    But Republicans really believe it is all about optics--when Democrats win it is just because of optics, not substantive policy failures of the GOP.  

    Parent

    Speaking of optics, (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by KeysDan on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 01:42:10 PM EST
    Tony Perkins, president of the anti-gay Family Research Council, a hate group, so labeled by Southern Poverty Law Center, lost his Baton Rouge home to flooding. Preacher Perkins said that he and his family had to escape by canoe.

    Just last year, Perkins agreed, in an interview, with a "Christian Prophet," that Hurricane Joaquin was a sign of God's wrath for legalizing gay marriage. It seems that for these "Christian" bigots, when bad things happen to people they hate, God is punishing them.  When bad things happen to them, it is because God loves them and is testing their faith.

    Parent

    There were no trapped people (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:07:01 AM EST
    in the Superdome.

    It was headquarters for the rescue efforts.

    The National Guard had its headquarters for Katrina, not just a few peacekeeping troops, in what the media portrayed as the pit of Hell. Hell was one of the safest places to be in New Orleans, smelly as it was. The situation was always under control, not surprisingly because the people in control were always there.

    From the Dome, the Louisiana Guard's main command ran at least 2,500 troops who rode out the storm inside the city, a dozen emergency shelters, 200-plus boats, dozens of high-water vehicles, 150 helicopters, and a triage and medical center that handled up to 5,000 patients (and delivered 7 babies). The Guard command headquarters also coordinated efforts of the police, firefighters and scores of volunteers after the storm knocked out local radio, as well as other regular military and other state Guard units.

    Jack Harrison, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia, cited "10,244 sorties flown, 88,181 passengers moved, 18,834 cargo tons hauled, 17,411 saves" by air. Unlike the politicians, they had a working chain of command that commandeered more relief aid from other Guard units outside the state. From day one.

    Link

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#29)
    by Yman on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:45:40 PM EST
    He's going because of Trump's stupid comment.

    Heh.

    Parent

    BTW (none / 0) (#31)
    by Yman on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:47:20 PM EST
    What "comments"?  Funny how you won't post them.  

    Parent
    So you think Obama's (none / 0) (#52)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 08:06:49 AM EST
    next stop should be the fire line in California?

    Parent
    A Thank you (none / 0) (#75)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 11:37:05 AM EST
    In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," the governor downplayed critical remarks he made before the Republican presidential nominee visited his state.

    Edwards said Trump's visit to the state was positive for Louisiana.

    "Because it helped to shine a spotlight on Louisiana and on the dire situation that we have here, that it was helpful," he said.

    "I also appreciated the good phone call, the conversation that I had with Gov. [Mike] Pence [R-Ind.], who was sincere and genuine when he called, and we spoke for a long time on Friday morning about their desire to be helpful," he said about Trump's running mate.



    Parent
    There is not a sincere bone (none / 0) (#120)
    by MKS on Tue Aug 23, 2016 at 10:17:02 PM EST
    in Trump's body.

    Parent
    He sent FEMA (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 02:46:59 PM EST
    ...instead of motorcading around and blocking traffic.

    IOW, he did what Bush failed to ("Heckuva job") do.

    No surprise.  Mr. Obama has done EVERYTHING Bush failed to do.

    Remember when Bush was more concerned with his golf game than with terrorists?  "I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers.  Now, watch this drive?"  I'll bet you were really outraged about that.

    Sarcasm, in case you needed the explanation.  You probably thought the PDB title, "Bin Laden determined to attack inside the United States" was not what we commonly refer to as a "warning," and that there was no reason to respond to it.

    Parent

    But...but (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 03:41:21 PM EST
    Donald.  he unloaded a truck!

    Well, part of a truck.

    A couple a boxes anyway.

    Parent

    That (none / 0) (#15)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 03:43:42 PM EST
    was hysterical. He unloaded six boxes, one of them Play Doh, and left.

    Parent
    With his sport coat on (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Towanda on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 06:51:24 PM EST
    which looked weird.

    He must have missed class on the day that  Political Campaigning 101 practices rolling up your sleeves aka looking like one of the working class. Or at least looking like you're breaking a sweat.

    Parent

    No L.L. Bean. (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by oculus on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 01:06:07 AM EST
    Bush's problem (none / 0) (#10)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 03:14:02 PM EST
    wasn't that he didn't go. It was that he didn't send any help. And then he showed up a week later extolling the virtues of a horse lawyer.

    However I am glad that conservatives are finally admitting that Bush's handling of Katrina was a national embarrassment.

    Parent

    In case you forget (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 12:56:55 PM EST
    Katrina hit the coast, south of New Orleans, on 8/29. The USS Batan commended rescue operations on 8/30 while the storm's trailing edge was still there.

    You see, you cannot deploy massive numbers of men and equipment in advance of such a storm. They would just be wiped out. A few NG remained in NO's Superdome and other harden sites and did heroic work. It was later the Command Center for the rescue efforts and all the claims of rapes and so forth were lies.

    Link

    And then we had the local politicos playing games.

    Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday,(8/26) the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

    The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

    WaPost

    In case you don't know, the National Guard in each state is under control of the governor. While the president can declare martial law and federalize the Guard that, when the state government is obviously in existence and functioning, such an act would be such an egregious power grab that impeachment would be a correct solution.

    But instead of saying, "Thanks. Put the federal government at work in fighting this disaster," the governor played politics.

    WaPost

    Parent

    The rotted hulk of the SS Bush (5.00 / 3) (#61)
    by jondee on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 05:35:54 PM EST
    has been lying in pieces at the bottom of the ocean for eight years and the man is still clutching at straws and trying to do damage control.

    Parent
    Huge failure (none / 0) (#67)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 11:25:56 PM EST
    Thousands dead. No real plan, not enough resources committed that could actually rescue the people

    Parent
    First of all (none / 0) (#70)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:37:20 AM EST
    "thousands" did not die.

    Resources? See my comment above.

    Plan? No doubt both the Feds and the State and City didn't work well together. But try to remember the state wouldn't turn over control to the Feds. They quibbled while NO flooded.

    However, 42,000 could have been evacuated had the mayor, who has since gone to prison along with the Demo Congressman who rushed in to rescue his cold cash, simply used the 600 school buses that were parked and available. Yet they weren't used.

    The biggest story everyone missed was that the guys in charge - and you're entitled to your own political persuasion here - weren't out-of-touch FEMA bureaucrats, or a president somewhere fund-raising, or a paralyzed governor in Baton Rouge, or a mayor hanging out with his crew at a posh hotel a block away.

    Except for the Coast Guard's brilliant performance, which saved up to 30,000 lives, most of the rescue operation was run by local National Guard middle management, combat tested in Iraq, accustomed to hardship, and intimately familiar with the city.

    But the facts are that Obama pushed his putter while LA flooded. He wouldn't even go until Trump showed up.

    Yet you defend him.

    Sad. Very sad.

    Parent

    I know you would like to spin this (none / 0) (#119)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 23, 2016 at 11:48:23 AM EST
    But it won't spin. It has completely stopped spinning in the press too.

    There are few converational things more atrocious though than attempting to make any sort of equal  comparison between flooding and the senseless negligent deaths of 2000 Americans

    Parent

    Wasn't the other problem (none / 0) (#117)
    by BackFromOhio on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 03:56:32 PM EST
    that the person from the admin who was in charge of relief efforts by the Federal govt when they finally began was not competent at his job?

    Parent
    ... you'll experience an epiphany of enlightenment, and finally take note of the substantive body of work that's has actually been and is still being accomplished by the Obama administration, rather than continue to obsess ad nauseum over the phony controversies and superficial minutiae that are being fed to you intravenously by your professionally outraged Fox News and AM squawk radio overlords.

    Parent
    what happened in LA? (none / 0) (#27)
    by linea on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:33:50 PM EST
    maybe he disagrees with the "substantive body of work that's has actually been... accomplished by the Obama."

    for me personally, (1) the healthcare mandate hurt me and i will need to pay a fine next year. (2) i understand Obama is prosecuting an unprecedented number of people using arcane secrecy laws. (3) the FDA under his administration is still pot-crazy. (4) and he's still doing the war and drone thing.

    anyway, i feel voicing one's disappointment is good. dont you?

    Parent

    We're not talking healthcare and drones. (none / 0) (#47)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 11:27:43 PM EST
    The issue is FEMA and the timely delivery of federal aid to flood-ravaged Baton Rouge and southern Louisiana.

    Parent
    Donald, in case you missed it (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:40:34 AM EST
    this is an Open Thread.

    linea has every right to write about his/her disappointment.

    Parent

    Jim, in case you missed it (none / 0) (#72)
    by Yman on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:54:24 AM EST
    She was responding to Donald's post, which was discussing the FEMA response.  Moreover, pointing out that her response wasn't relevant to the subject she was responding to is entirely different than claiming she doesn't "have a right" to write about her disappointment.

    Parent
    It's an open thread (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 12:18:27 PM EST
    She has the right to comment/post whatever she wants.

    Even if its pointing out Obama's many faults.

    Parent

    Are you talking about (none / 0) (#84)
    by jondee on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 05:16:56 PM EST
    about his actual faults, or the ones discussed at that blog with the picture of him with a bone in his nose?

    Parent
    Why do I find you and Yman and Donald (none / 0) (#86)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:06:36 PM EST
    trying to suppress someone's freedom of speech?

    It is a most un liberal thing to do.


    Parent

    The 1st (none / 0) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:09:55 PM EST
    amendment does not protect you from the consequences of what you say ie screaming fire in a movie theater. For some reason conservatives never seem to understand that. Nobody is stopping you from saying stupid and inflammatory things but when people point out you are saying stupid and inflammatory things it is not "suppression".

    Parent
    Reframe often do you? (5.00 / 1) (#111)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 08:54:49 AM EST
    My comment was about Donald trying to suppress linea's stated opinion of some of Obama's actions.  (Try reading her comment.) That's political speech. That is the very essence of what the First Amendment is all about.

    Donald has a history of telling people to get out, shut up, etc. He was definitely trying to suppress her freedom of speech.


    Parent

    It does seem like liberals are a little (none / 0) (#88)
    by McBain on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:15:19 PM EST
    less tolerant of other opinions than conservatives.

    Parent
    Conservatives (none / 0) (#90)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:19:47 PM EST
    are just bizarre when it comes to speech. What it boils down to is the fact that they want to scream nonsense and shop conspiracy theories and for no one to challenge them on that. There's a reason why most conservatives largely retreat to their own bubble and don't interact much. Have you ever noticed how all conservatives seem to say the same thing all giving canned responses to everything?

    Parent
    Actually (none / 0) (#93)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:23:56 PM EST
    No, not at all. You sound like Pauline Kael

    Pauline Kael was an American film critic who wrote for The New Yorker magazine from 1968 to ..... 'I can't believe Nixon won. I don't know anyone who voted for him. ... I only know one person who voted for Nixon. Where they are I don't know.

    Parent

    Sorry (none / 0) (#95)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:27:01 PM EST
    Trevor but conservatives have become who they profess to hate Pauline Kael. They don't believe that unemployment is low. They think things are the worst they have ever been in this country despite data quite contrary to that evidence.

    PS I am quite well aware of a number of Trump supporters. I live around quite a few of them.

    Parent

    How many liberals tell people (none / 0) (#94)
    by jondee on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:24:07 PM EST
    they're going to burn in hell for all eternity for disagreeing?

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#98)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:29:15 PM EST
    Just where have all the violence been this campaign season? At whose protests?
    People have been assaulted for supporting a candidate. Not too tolerant

    Parent
    I guess (none / 0) (#101)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:31:34 PM EST
    you have forgotten about the Hillary supporters that have been assaulted. But I'm guessing from your posting that you would be okay with that. Even to the point where your candidate inferred that Hillary should be murdered by his own supporters and surrogates have outright advocated for her murder.

    Parent
    Unless (none / 0) (#102)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:32:32 PM EST
    They were Sanders supporters, you are right, I have no knowledge of that happening

    Parent
    Attacked (none / 0) (#112)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 08:58:32 AM EST
    Remember Chicago? San Diego? San Jose?

    And this weekend they attacked Trump's SUV.

    Parent

    going after people is one thing.. (none / 0) (#121)
    by jondee on Wed Aug 24, 2016 at 07:12:05 AM EST
    but when they start attacking expensive automobiles..

    Parent
    Don't all groups have (none / 0) (#118)
    by BackFromOhio on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 03:59:59 PM EST
    members with these traits from time to time.The thing that truly gets the goat of many Dems and should have been less tolerated by the media is the habit of those who sling mud and declare non-truths as gospel. That this practice should be tolerated from anyone allowed time on media "news" -- from those of any perspective -- is most unfortunate.

    Parent
    Agreed (none / 0) (#89)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:17:56 PM EST
    Like someone posting this:  
    the problem is Trump thinks the Khans who lost their son in Iraq are terrorists with zero evidence.

    which is stupid, inflammatory and a total falsehood, totally made up

    Parent

    Here you go: (none / 0) (#91)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:22:45 PM EST
    Khan is a terrorist sympathizer coming from Donald.

    So no not made up but thanks Trevor for finally revealing yourself as a Trump supporter despite denying it.

    Parent

    link (none / 0) (#92)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:23:43 PM EST
    Nope (none / 0) (#96)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:27:23 PM EST
    Try again, that writer sounds like you. He just made things up. TRUMP NEVER SAID THAT.

    But someone on this blog said this

    the problem is Trump thinks the Khans who lost their son in Iraq are terrorists with zero evidence.

    Which is not even what the author at your link claimed, he only claimed sympathizer.

    Someone wrote that Trump called the Khans terrorists, so is that hate speech , stupid speech, or just speech that should be banned speech?

    Parent

    So saying (none / 0) (#99)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:29:28 PM EST
    that their terrorist sympathizers is okay????

    I think conservatives should just talk and talk and never shut up personally. The more they talk the more people they run off.

    Parent

    That was never (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:31:27 PM EST
    said by Trump either.

    The author just made it up. Does he ever quote Trump in the article. NO. He made it up, like you do.

    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#103)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:33:55 PM EST
    it was not made up. Trump said that Khan was against him because Trump wasn't going to let terrorists into the country. Or he wasn't going to let Muslims which also says he thinks all Muslims are terrorists. Same difference.

    Parent
    Once again FALSE (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:41:08 PM EST
    Trump has said many stupid and insulting things this campaign.
    You do not have to resort to making things up. He provides you with enough ammunition.

    I haven't seen 1 quote where The Donald has called Khan a terrorist or a terrorist sympathizer.  

    Parent

    Of course not (none / 0) (#107)
    by Yman on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 09:13:53 PM EST
    Because Trump always makes his most eggregious slurs indirectly, by way of inference:

    Trump Says It's His Policy to Stop Terrorists Coming to the U.S. That Bothered Khizr Khan

    In an interview with Columbus' ABC affiliate Monday, Trump himself said explicitly it was his position on trying to keep "radical Islamic terrorists" out of the U.S. that prompted Khan to criticize him.

        "It's a very big subject for me. And border security's very big. And when you have radical Islamic terrorists probably all over the place, we're allowing them to come in by the thousands and thousands. And I think that's what bothered Mr. Khan more than anything else."



    Parent
    Has anyone banned you (none / 0) (#97)
    by jondee on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 08:27:57 PM EST
    from the site for disagreeing, the way you ban people from your blog?

    Parent
    Why do I find your silly, false ... (none / 0) (#105)
    by Yman on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 09:02:29 PM EST
    ... accusations so ridiculous?

    Oh, that's right ...

    ... because they are.

    Parent

    thank you {{ }} (none / 0) (#85)
    by linea on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 05:58:36 PM EST
    Brilliant, Sherlock (none / 0) (#106)
    by Yman on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 09:05:11 PM EST
    Then again, no one said she didn't.  Just as Donald has the right to point out the fact that her response was irrelevant and non-responsive to his post, to which she was responding.

    Parent
    He did? (none / 0) (#28)
    by Yman on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:44:23 PM EST
    He shouldn't listen to the politicians making excuses for him not going.  He should go.  He criticized Bush for the same issue.

    What did he say? ... specifically.

    Parent

    There was a discussion (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 03:37:25 PM EST
    The other day about a missing Maddow and rumors about Chris Hayes show being cancelled.  Seems unlikely with this-

    Fox News is still the most-watched cable news network, but MSNBC has enjoyed a significant bump this summer. The network's primetime lineup beat CNN in both total viewers and the key demo to land at No. 2 overall in the second quarter of this year, and Maddow's 9 p.m. show also beat CNN in both total viewers and in the demo. July marked the 38th straight month that Maddow has beaten CNN in total viewers.

    In fact, according to Adweek, July marked MSNBC's most-watched month in nearly four years, with triple digit surges in both total viewers and the demo over July 2015. And it wasn't just Maddow's show outperforming expectations; All in with Chris Hayes and The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell also saw big gains over last year.

    The network also outstripped both Fox News and CNN during its coverage of the Democratic National Conventions last month.

    That's from a piece about Maddow now regularly beating Megan Kelly.  Also it's from BRIETBART.  I was just scanning to see what they were up to.  Not what I expected to find.  But the numbers are correct.  I checked.

    Thank you for posting this good news. (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by mogal on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 04:12:49 PM EST
    i never liked (none / 0) (#25)
    by linea on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:17:01 PM EST
    megan kelly (wearing club dress on a news show, blech) but im ok with her now because she came forward to bolster the assertions in the sexual-harassment lawsuit.

    Parent
    And it also (none / 0) (#26)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:25:20 PM EST
    might be why her ratings were tanking. Maybe the Trumpsters will end up just taking over Fox instead of attempting something new.

    Parent
    i feel (none / 0) (#30)
    by linea on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:46:26 PM EST
    there is no big money support of the "paleo-conservative-esque" platform that was put together for trump. thus, the movement will die.

    but yes, i agree that many MK viewers left after she attacked trump in the first debate. but i also feel fox news management gave her the green light on that.

    Parent

    Petition to name Abbey D as US flagbearer (none / 0) (#20)
    by Green26 on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 05:50:11 PM EST
    "We would like the U.S. Olympic Committee to name Abbey D'Agostino, the women's 5,000-meter runner who stopped to help Nikki Hamblen of New Zealand after both fell in their qualifying race, as the USA flagbearer in the Rio Olympics Closing Ceremony. [The stated mission of the Olympics is to: ....] By her selfless act in encouraging a competitor in her time of despair to finish the race; through her sheer grit and determination to finish the race despite suffering a torn ACL and meniscus [and strained MCL]; and with her classy demonstration of grace under the most extreme conditions, Abbey D'Agostino is the living embodiment of the Olympic Spirit and personifies the very best traits of the U.S.A. -- .... We urge the U.S. Olympic Committee to name Abbey D'Agostino to be the USA flag bearer in the closing ceremonies...."

    Change.org.

    Abbey is wonderful but tough to do it on crutches (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 09:56:48 PM EST
    Besides, the Olympic Committee doesn't pick the flag bearer.

    If we're going to go with how the rest of the world views us with Trump being a presidential candidate, we may as well go with Lochte or Solo.

    Parent

    A new FORCE awakens (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 06:14:15 PM EST

    this is not about STAR WARS

    "If true, it's revolutionary. For decades, we've known of four fundamental forces: gravitation, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces," continued Feng.

    "If confirmed by further experiments, this discovery of a possible fifth force would completely change our understanding of the universe, with consequences for the unification of forces and dark matter."

    Or maybe it is

    In other sciencie news (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 06:34:27 PM EST
    Mark your calendars and make your plans.  A total solar eclipse is coming to you exactly one year from this weekend.

    Where are you going to be on Monday August 21, 2017? If the answer is not in the US, you might want to revise your plans.

    Because next year, for the first time since 1979, a total solar eclipse is going to pass over the contiguous US (the last non-contiguous eclipse was in Hawaii in 1991). The path of totality, where the Moon will completely obscure the Sun, will sweep across the US from the northwest to the southeast.

    I am sitting about 100 miles from the best spot in the country, most totality and most time, but the whole country will get a show.  

    Can't wait.


    Parent

    Something to look forward to after the end of (none / 0) (#32)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:47:23 PM EST
    the penultimate GoT season!

    Parent
    This is a big deal (none / 0) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:56:27 PM EST
    There have been people planning for this for years.  Hotels along the totality route are already full or filling up.  

    I was thinking someone should start organizing hands across America thing where people join hands from coast to coast along the totality line.  Maybe I will.

    Ever see one or a near total?  It's pretty amazing.  I saw a partial when I was a kid.  I couldn't remember exactly when so I went back and checked the dates.  It had to be 1963.

    Parent

    I remember the 1963 eclipse. (none / 0) (#39)
    by caseyOR on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 08:59:57 PM EST
    My family was on vacation in Omaha, visiting aunt and uncle and cousins. My mother and my aunt made all of the kids stay in the basement until the eclipse was over. I guess they wanted to be sure nobody damaged their eyes by looking directly at the eclipse.

    Parent
    My dad was really into it (none / 0) (#40)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 09:19:13 PM EST
    Which is probably one of the reason I remember it so well.  We didn't have a lot in common.  Not his fault or mine.  Just a fact.  But that was one thing we did together.  Per his instructions.  (I was 12) we got a couple of pieces of glass and smoked them heavily by holding them over an oil lamp.  As far as seeing it, it worked incredibly well.  It's probably a miracle we didn't burn our eyes right out of our heads.  Years later I learned how dangerous it is and marveled that I came through that with 20/20.

    Parent
    During the 1963 eclipse (none / 0) (#51)
    by fishcamp on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 08:05:43 AM EST
    I was ski racing and training down in Chile.  We didn't get to see that eclipse.  Everybody knew about it though, and the locals told horror stories of things that can happen during an eclipse.  Can't remember them since they got more exaggerated with each Pisco sour we drank.

    Parent
    Casey (none / 0) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 11:34:53 AM EST
    Would you shoot me an email at my listed address?

    I would like to chat about the Great Northwest.

    Parent

    Howdy, she's going to (none / 0) (#77)
    by fishcamp on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 12:44:16 PM EST
    tell you the same thing I did...bring your rain gear.  I should will you my 14.2 acres up at the 6,000' level, where that rain turns to snow.  Blue River, Oregon.   But we've been through this.  Go Ducks.  

    Parent
    I like rain (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 03:17:24 PM EST
    It does rain (none / 0) (#110)
    by jmacWA on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 05:47:03 AM EST
    I lived on Bainbridge Island just outside Seattle for 6 years. It is overcast almost every day in the morning starting late fall, thru early spring.  I lived in and around New York city for 40+ years and had heard about how rainy it was in Seattle, but was shocked to find that annual rainfall in Seattle is less than NYC.  I liken it more to San Francisco where you typically don't see the sun until late morning.

    What bothered me more than the wet was the dark in the winter.  It gets dark really early and can get a bit depressing (I did move there from Tucson AZ, so that might have made the darkness seem more intense).

    Summers are the BEST of anywhere I have ever been.  They are quite dry and temps rarely go above 85.  The locals start complaining about the heat if it's over 75 for more than a couple of days.  I lived there when they recorded their highest temp ever 103 and that was not pleasant but most summer days are in the 70's and nights are always cool.

    I don't know much about the rest of the Pacific Northwest, but the weather around Seattle was not what most people think, yes there is a mist very often, but actual rain not that much in my experience.

    Parent

    It sounds perfect (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 09:04:43 AM EST
    To me.  

    Parent
    It came close (none / 0) (#114)
    by jmacWA on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 09:46:48 AM EST
    It was an ideal environment, especially for my SO, since she is a big time gardener and supposedly Bainbridge Island has the best gardening in the continental US.  Now we are in Allentown, PA and this summer is the way I remember east coast summers (last 2 were great) ... hot and sticky and I constantly hear how I can't grow this or that anymore :).

    The move was to be closer to the grandchildren, not because we didn't really like living there.

    Parent

    In Allentown they have a thousand (none / 0) (#122)
    by jondee on Wed Aug 24, 2016 at 07:18:56 AM EST
    words for rust the way the Eskimos have a thousand words for snow.

    Parent
    I have some friends (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 24, 2016 at 08:11:46 AM EST
    Who live on Mercer Island

    Parent
    I still have the viewing glasses... (none / 0) (#46)
    by desertswine on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 10:54:21 PM EST
    from the last solar eclipse.  It was 20May2012.  All the neighbors gathered out in the street to view it.  It was an annular eclipse, meaning that the moon was slightly too small to cover the entire sun.  They called it a "Ring of Fire" eclipse.  It was spectacular and I met neighbors that I didn't know I had.

    Parent
    it doesnt have a name (none / 0) (#33)
    by linea on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:55:01 PM EST
    there might or might not be a "new mysterious fifth force" and "Obviously, we need to take this with a large pinch of salt."

    but mostly because it doesnt have a name. and it's boring.

    Parent

    It does (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 07:57:16 PM EST
    It's name is Cleatus.

    Parent
    really?? (none / 0) (#36)
    by linea on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 08:03:13 PM EST
    i dont know if you're teasing me or not.

    if it actually has a name than i'll take it (mildly) seriously but if it doesn't then it's just click-bait for science-wonks.

    Parent

    Cleatus (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Aug 19, 2016 at 08:04:09 PM EST
    Seriously

    Parent
    Conflicting statements in US swimmer scandal (none / 0) (#55)
    by McBain on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 12:24:44 PM EST
    One one the swimmers, Gunnar Bentz, says..
    Then the second guard drew his weapon and both guards pointed their guns at us and yelled at us to sit on a nearby sidewalk

    Fernando Deluz, a witness who says he helped translate during the encounter, said this...

    There was no aggression. Pointing a gun at them? Never. There was nothing like that

    Questions I'd like answered:

    • What kind of damage was done to the gas station?
    • Is there more security camera footage?
    • How was the money handed over? At gunpoint?
    • What involvement each swimmer had in this drama


    Oh, really. You'd like answers. (5.00 / 2) (#60)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 05:28:48 PM EST
    Well, here's mine. Give it up already. Three of the four U.S. swimmers have since admitted wrongdoing, and the United States Olympic Committee has already apologized formally to both Brazil and Rio Olympics officials for this very unnecessary and deplorable "ugly Americans" incident.

    Therefore, please stop looking for obscure reasons to further excuse the appalling behavior of these four numbskulls. They'll likely be getting what they deserve soon enough, when the IOC convenes its disciplinary panel in a few weeks hence.

    In the meantime, this matter is now resolved as far as Brazil is concerned. It serves no purpose at this point to keep implying that the Brazilians somehow instigated the confrontation and are at fault here. They didn't, and they aren't. Our attention should return to the other, more deserving Olympic athletes as these Games come to a close.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    And what will this disciplinary planel (none / 0) (#63)
    by McBain on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 06:43:58 PM EST
    base their decisions on?  Public sentiment or facts? If significant penalties are on the table, I hope there's a thorough investigation not a knee-jerk reaction.

    It serves no purpose at this point to keep implying that the Brazilians somehow instigated the confrontation and are at fault here.

    Brazilians might have some blame or zero blame. It seems clear Lochte, and possibly other swimmers, have at least some blame but they probably didn't all do the same things.  Neither one of us knows what really happened.  I'm hoping we'll get to see more security camera footage.  Right now, I'm not comfortable with ignoring the possibility there was some kind of shakedown for money.  Not just at the gas station but also for the swimmer who had to donate 11K just to get his passport back.

    Our attention should return to the other, more deserving Olympic athletes as these Games come to a close.
     

    Speak for yourself.  I find this scandal far more interesting than anything else coming out of the Olympics right now.  

    Parent

    C'est fini. (none / 0) (#65)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 07:35:34 PM EST
    Mais amusez vous bien, s'il vous plait.

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#66)
    by Yman on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 08:08:33 PM EST
    "Ignoring the possibility" = imagining what you want to believe.

    Parent
    ... on NBC's Olympic broadcast? Matt Lauer is always at his best in those interviews in which he sees an opportunity to shoot the wounded, and he certainly didn't disappoint me.

    Lochte still refuses to admit publicly that he and his friends were not robbed at gunpoint last weekend, even though the other three have clearly done so. Better still, he now seems to be claiming that it's all the fault of demon rum, and that he was still too wasted from the previous night's carousing to realize what he was saying in last Sunday's now-infamous with NBC News. I think the next step will be an announcement that he'll be going into rehab for an extended period.

    Lochte sucked the oxygen out of the room this week with his antics, and I can imagine that a number of his Olympic teammates will likely have a few rather choice words for him. I can't imagine any company wanting him as a spokesman or pitchman after this week's events.

    What an embarrassment he's become.

    Parent

    RIP, Jack Riley (1935-2016). (none / 0) (#62)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Aug 20, 2016 at 06:30:55 PM EST
    The popular character actor, who died in Los Angeles yesterday after a lengthy illness, first garnered serious public attention on the '70s CBS sitcom "The Bob Newhart Show" as Dr. Hartley's acid-tongued but hopelessly neurotic patient Elliot Carlin, who quickly became a fan favorite. He later endeared himself to my two young daughters and countless other children as the voice of the absent-minded Stu Pickles on Nickelodeon's long-running animated series "Rugrats."

    Riley struck up a friendship with Newhart while both were working on Mike Nichols' 1970 film "Catch 22," which led to Newhart casting him as Mr. Carlin two years later when CBS greenlighted his sitcom. In addition to Riley's TV work, he became a favorite of Mel Brooks, who cast him in five of his films. Other film credits included Robert Altman's "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971), "The Long Goodbye" (1973), "A Dangerous Woman (1993), and "Boogie Nights" (1997).

    A fond Aloha to a one of Hollywood's more versatile talents, and given what his peers say about him, a genuinely nice guy.

    Does anyone have any experience (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 11:31:05 AM EST
    Good or bad with BLUE APRON?

    I personally (none / 0) (#79)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 02:41:14 PM EST
    have not but a friend of mine used it, actually two of them. The ones that were more positive were a retired couple in central Georgia. The other one is a single parent in metro Atlanta. The retired couple really, really liked Blue Apron and mostly I think it is because it included a lot of new tastes that are not readily available to them. The single mother liked the fact that everything was planned but seeing that every grocery store under the sun is not that far from her she seemed to think it was not worth the cost.

    Parent
    I think I would like it for that reason too (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 03:18:54 PM EST
    It seems to include a lot f stuff not really easily available to me.
    It's really not that expensive.

    Thinking seriously about trying it.  I will review.


    Parent

    No, but I wish I had one now. (none / 0) (#78)
    by fishcamp on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 01:04:57 PM EST


    ... sexist articles endured by Hillary Clinton this election cycle, this is arguably one of the very worst:

    >Washington Post | August 21, 2016
    Hillary Clinton talks more like a man than she used to - "Political observers have probably spent more time dissecting Donald Trump's speech patterns than any presidential candidate in recent history. Interest in the GOP nominee's rhetorical tics has been, well, huge. But over the course of a 25-year career in politics, Hillary Clinton's linguistic evolution has been just as noteworthy. My research finds that as the Democratic nominee moved from first lady to U.S. senator to secretary of state, she spoke in an increasingly masculine way. In talking more 'like a man,' Clinton has conformed to prominent gender norms in American politics."

    That this piece of bullsh*+ was offered by a woman is both baffling and inexcusable. If Mrs. Clinton sounds like a man to Jennifer Jones and her editors -- that is, when she isn't screeching, harping or cackling like an old shrew -- then the east coast media elite is writing like an over-endowed Barbie doll who can't see her own two feet when standing in robust support of Ken, her plastic boyfriend with small hands and no genitalia.

    Jeez, Ms. Jones. Boo, hiss.

    Peggy Noonan.. (none / 0) (#83)
    by jondee on Sun Aug 21, 2016 at 05:11:35 PM EST
    the same ex-Reagan speech writer who gushed that Sarah Palin "hit it out of the ballpark". Not that she's non-objective..

    Word is they had to keep Peggy in one those Silence of the Lambs harness things at the Gipper's funeral to keep her from jumping into the coffin as they were lowering it into the ground.

    Parent

    SITE VIOLATOR. (none / 0) (#109)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Aug 22, 2016 at 03:22:26 AM EST