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Monday Open Thread

Busy day here, time for a new open thread. All topics welcome.

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    Help! I laughed my a$$ off and can't get up! (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 05:13:40 PM EST
    "Do you remember,
    Your President Nixon?
    Do you remember,
    The bills you have to pay
    For even yesterday?"
    - David Bowie, "Young Americans" (1975)

    LINK. I can't believe that Texas Republicans are really this fckn stupid.

    How (none / 0) (#10)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 05:36:36 PM EST
    incredibly stupid is right.

    Parent
    Hillary - we are going to raise taxes (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 11:22:07 AM EST
    This seems so completely desperate to me.

    Really.

    It's laughable.  It's absurdly easy to debunk.  It's an obvious lie, which will do wonders for his "honest and trustworthy" krap.

    Honestly, WHAT are they thinking.

    Adding (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 11:24:07 AM EST
    As far as I know the Clintn campaign has not even responded to this.  Why would they?  

    Seriously.  Who is in charge of Donalds campaign?  Carrot Top?

    Parent

    That claim by Trump (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by CoralGables on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 11:58:26 AM EST
    earned him his 40th "Pants On Fire" ruling by Politifact. He has such an overwhelming lead in that category he has already clinched the liar of the year award.

    Parent
    Trump's entire (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by KeysDan on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 02:09:02 PM EST
    plan to have an economic plan was a howler. From what he said, did not say, or said with his customary smoke and mirrors.

     Example: he will " help workers" by getting rid of the estate tax (portrayed as a tax paid by the dead, who have already paid taxes, although not necessarily true, since a bulk of such estates have not paid taxes on capital gains).  And, of course, not sure of what "workers," he is helping other than hedge fund workers; the law applies only to that portion of an estate that exceeds $5.4 million for an individual or $10.9 million for a married couple.

    Another: "our roads and bridges fell into disrepair, yet we found the money to resettle millions of refugees at taxpayer expense."

     Over the last 15 years we have resettled about 850,000; Last year, 69, 933.  No millions, unless we go back a pretty long way.  The cost of the resettlement program over the past several years has been about $1.2 billion; we need to spend about $1.5 trillion over the next several years on infrastructure. Maybe, Trump, the businessman, can get stretch that $1.2 billion for those roads and bridges.

    Parent

    I think my favorite (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 03:24:06 PM EST
    Was the "unlimited" tax deduction for child care.  Which at first blush sounds ok.  Until you realize that like everything else about his "plan" it's heavily weighted to the rich.

    For example if you employee a half dozen nannies you can deduct it all.

    Parent

    Yes, great if (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by KeysDan on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 03:51:48 PM EST
    you employ an au pair; baby sitters/child care not so much.   Another good one: If Trump is elected,  "the auto industry will come roaring back."   News flash: the auto industry has already come roaring back from the financial crisis.  The total US auto sales reached a record level of 17.5 million last year,and is expected to top this figure this year. Ford says its sales are at the highest level in a decade.  

    Parent
    Can you provide me (none / 0) (#75)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:27:21 PM EST
    link to a source that shows the deductions and tax rates?

    The only I found showed a savings to this MIDDLE CLASS family of around $10,000.

    Parent

    Federal Judge James Zagel, (5.00 / 2) (#47)
    by KeysDan on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 01:32:11 PM EST
    has ruled that former and impeached Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, must remain in prison despite his appeal for leniency based on a federal appeals court that set aside five of 18 convictions.

     Federal prosecutors previously decided not to re-try Blago on those five convictions; the five convictions that were set aside did not necessarily require a reduction in sentence. Blago's 14 year sentence will run to 2024.

    While Blago is a poster boy for major corruption, the length of sentence always seemed, to me, to have crossed the line from justice to something else. And, with the set aside of five convictions, it would seem to have been an opportunity for fairness, if not mercy.  Perhaps, a sentence reduction of four years, would have been a more just ruling.

    We've now reached a point ... (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 05:14:37 PM EST
    ... in historical perspective where each time Joe Lieberman opens his mouth, Al Gore's 2000 choice for VP appears more and more irresponsible in retrospect.

    We passed that point (5.00 / 4) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 05:24:10 PM EST
    A lonnnnnng time ago.

    Parent
    I saw that (none / 0) (#68)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 05:28:09 PM EST
    and thought that endorsement is going to go over well with his Neo Nazi and Neo Confederate fan base---not.

    Parent
    I just (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 07:09:53 AM EST
    read where only 20% of Republicans think Donald should be replaced with another candidate. IMO it doesn't matter anyway. It's not like there's anything Donald could say that would make them quit being jellyfish.

    Maybe the other 80% are not yet ready to (none / 0) (#107)
    by vml68 on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 08:08:39 AM EST
    The Zika in Bayview, A ritzy (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by fishcamp on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:38:21 AM EST
    enclave in north Miami has more people with Zika bites.  They've shown the spray planes, trucks, and people hitting that area hard, but they're still there.  The planes and trucks seem to be spraying tiny threads of spray on their pass bys They must know what their doing, since they're out of money already.  Don't go running up there CoralGables.  

    I read that this mosquito hides so well in small (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by ruffian on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 02:57:07 PM EST
    places that it is hard to reach it with the aerial or truck spraying.

    Great.

    Parent

    And they are day skeeters (none / 0) (#127)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 10:36:08 PM EST
    Not those dusk skeeters. We treated our property. Hoping to help if it gets this far up this summer.

    I was hand watering my baskets and planters 2 wks ago, because we had a broken line on our sprinkler system so we shut it down until it was repaired. My auto watering system went with it. And the minute I began watering in the middle of the day female aedes showed up looking for some blood and egg laying places.

    I haven't tested to see how successful our self treatment was. Tired of being bitten all to heck. I have a severe reaction to their bite.

    Parent

    I am not planning on getting pregnant (none / 0) (#116)
    by CoralGables on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:49:07 AM EST
     Anytime in the near future.  I have no fear of the lowly mosquito.  That said, the Wynwood area is not exactly on my running route.

    Parent
    RE: The Rio Olympics. (none / 0) (#1)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:16:58 PM EST
    Granted, it's only Day 3 of competition, but so far it looks like all the various doomsday prophecies might well be for naught, because Rio de Janeiro seems to have done a pretty good job in organizing these games.

    It was the same doomsday scenario (none / 0) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:29:55 PM EST
    but for different reasons that Olympic curmudgeons have prophesied for London, Beijing and Athens in the past. Same sh!t, different Olympiad.

    Parent
    And speaking of an Olympian doomsday, ... (none / 0) (#7)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:43:14 PM EST
    ... that should be the name of this particular dive. LOL! It hurts just to watch.

    Parent
    Yes the Olympics are doing fine. (none / 0) (#12)
    by fishcamp on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 05:59:02 PM EST
    The huge futbol venues are in the same distant cities as the Pan Am games, and take a load of pressure off Rio.  

    And on the strange religious practices in Rio, they have a Macumba beach.  I think I've seen it at the southern end of Copacabana beach, across from the fabulous Rio Palace Hotel.  The white dressed black Macumbianeros float special candles out to sea just after sunset.  It's an African version of voodoo, with some Santoria, and Catholic mixed in.  It's big down there.

    Parent

    I wonder (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:19:12 PM EST
    about the never Trump movement and this new candidate they are putting out there. Can he even get on the ballots in all 50 states? I think time may have passed in some states already.

    No (none / 0) (#4)
    by CoralGables on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:33:10 PM EST
    The deadline for 26 states have already passed.

    Parent
    No he can not (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:34:59 PM EST
    As I said this morning there are still around 300 EVs that they can get on the ballot for.  Plenty enough to make trouble for Donald.  Which is the only goal.

    Scarborough also said they make sue t get on in some others as well.

    Parent

    I would (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:41:20 PM EST
    say 300 is probably the max number since he might not meet the requirements in even all those 300 Ev's.

    Parent
    I guess (none / 0) (#8)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 04:44:38 PM EST
    he can make the ballot in Utah if he gets 1,000 signatures by August 15th.

    Parent
    STALE (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 05:58:01 PM EST
    (Slate)
    Continues to confirm they are the stupidest faux intellectual site on the whole vast Internet.


    What Evan McMullin's Ridiculous Candidacy Says About the Anti-Trump Movement

    Either anti-Trump Republicans don't understand the pressures from their party's base or they're happy to help Hillary.

    Heloooooo

    Dumbazzes, the light are on and no body is home.

    "Helping Hillary" was practically part of the announcment

    Parent

    Evan McMullen (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:03:49 PM EST
    New presidential candidate will be on ABC news at 6:30 and Morning Joe tomorrow morning.

    Who is Evan McMullen? (none / 0) (#14)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:10:07 PM EST
    He appears to be a former CIA guy from Utah. And judging by the screen capture in this article, he looks like an extra from Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies." Anyway, he'll never be on the ballot out here, so I don't care. Our state's filing deadline was eight weeks ago on June 7.

    Parent
    The Hill link (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:18:48 PM EST
    I just posted is interesting.  Just watching All Due Respect who were doing everything they could to disrespect McMullin but they had a guy on from the National Review.  Apparrently one of the only media things he did today was with the editorial board of the National Review.  You might remember the National Review has been strongly and consistently never Trump..

    The NR guy had nothing but good things to say about McMullin.  I would guess he will get lots of good press from the NR wing of the party.

    Parent

    He'll (none / 0) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:30:45 PM EST
    give the few Republicans that are not voting for Trump a reason to show up. He sure doesn't seem to be generating much excitement outside of the NR crowd and once his stance on letting Muslims into the country comes into view Trump will probably make him poll at low single digits.

    Parent
    One of the things (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:45:31 PM EST
    Driving republicans away from Trump in droves is the Muslim ban.

    Lets say you are correct.

    He gets 4

    Currently Sten and Johnson are getting 12 at RCP. Approx 4 & 8 respectively.   That's 16 points.

    Parent

    Probably (none / 0) (#21)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 07:21:12 PM EST
    in a lot of states he wouldn't have to take but 4% to swing the state to Hillary. He could that that much in GA and it would be a 7 to 10 pt Hillary win here.

    I figure he and Johnson can take votes from Trump. Stein really is not going to be a factor this year since she's not on the ballot in a majority of states. But I have to say getting more press has not helped her.

    Parent

    The press is sure trying (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 07:29:08 PM EST
    To help her.  And I've seen many Stein ads.  Not one for Johnson.

    Parent
    It works (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 07:37:08 PM EST
    until she opens her mouth and stars spouting conspiracy theories. Her praise of Putin and his human rights stances was just bizarre. Does she really think jailing journalists and attempting to kill or jail gay people is great human rights?

    One thing this election has shown time and again is if you go far enough left pretty soon you are right.

    Parent

    i never heard of this (none / 0) (#36)
    by linea on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 09:50:24 PM EST
    when did putin attempt to kill and jail gay people?

    Parent
    Bless your heart (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:32:01 AM EST
    Here (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 10:31:38 PM EST
    is a good write up link

    I should not have said kill them. What seems to be going on is that thugs are killing gay people and Putin's regime is just ignoring what is happening. But yeah, they can easily be jailed in Russia.

    Parent

    thank you (none / 0) (#96)
    by linea on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 09:30:35 PM EST
    i read the article.

    Parent
    ... so that the rest of us don't have to.

    Parent
    ouch. (none / 0) (#26)
    by Molly Bloom on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 08:20:34 PM EST
    I like it

    Parent
    why? (none / 0) (#35)
    by linea on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 09:48:41 PM EST
    why would the "muslim ban" drive republicans away from trump? cuz republicans consider any religion to be intrinsically sacrosant? or because wealthy industrialists need the cheap labor to drive down american wages and the republicans dont want to bite the hand that feeds them?


    Parent
    Yeah, they need them to show up for the (none / 0) (#27)
    by ruffian on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 08:25:24 PM EST
    downticket races or it will be a total debacle.

    I think that is the only reason for it - just give them a reason to get out of bed on Nov 8.

    Parent

    THE HILL (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:10:08 PM EST
    It sounds like he has the strong support (none / 0) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:44:27 PM EST
    of currently unemployed GOP campaign strategists that view Utah as a swing state.

    Parent
    He's not going to win (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 06:49:40 PM EST
    Anything.

    Can we just get that out of the way?  He can take some votes from Trump.  That seems obvious.  Will it matter?  Is that even needed?

    Hillary is probably going to win anyway?  Sure.  Probably.  Your house probably won't catch on fire but it's still not a bad idea to have insurance.

    These people want to make sure Trump loses.  Maybe we could give them some credit for that.

    Parent

    Evan McMullin (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 07:54:43 PM EST
    I'll see your Ted Talk, ... (none / 0) (#38)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 12:37:50 AM EST
    ... and raise you a Ted 2.

    Parent
    2 things (none / 0) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 11:16:13 AM EST
    The TED TALK was actually sort of interesting.

    I fu@king hate those Ted movies.

    Parent

    Any decent person would hate the Ted movies. (none / 0) (#48)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 01:42:55 PM EST
    Both of those films were generally rude, lewd, crude and thoroughly obnoxious. And then there's me, whose mother raised him to know better, and yet I laughed his a$$ off at both of them anyway.

    What can I say? I'm a Seth MacFarlane fan. To which most people respond, "You're kidding, right?" No, I'm not. I'm also an aficionado of The Three Stooges. MacFarlane takes unseemly delight in pushing at so-called traditional boundaries of good taste and decorum, and he's more than willing to risk offense and failure to get a laugh. He appeals to my inner social subversive and innate sense of camp.

    That said, I fully realize that MacFarlane's edgy type of humor is certainly not mainstream and definitely not for everyone. Which is more than I can say for the executives at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences who thought he'd be a great host for the Oscars ceremony. Those guys are morons.

    ;-D

    Parent

    I am a large MacFarlane fan (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 02:37:19 PM EST
    I just hate Ted

    Parent
    Speaking of Seth MacFarlane (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 02:50:13 PM EST
    I'm watching Olympic ping pong.

    Seriously.

    Olympic ping pong.

    There IS a Seth MacFarlane movie here.

    Parent

    Ted 1 wasn't terrible (none / 0) (#52)
    by CST on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 03:01:52 PM EST
    It wasn't great either.  Ted 2.... yea....

    I did really like A Million Ways to Die in the West.  I don't think it's a Seth MacFarlane thing.

    Parent

    MacFarelane (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 03:19:10 PM EST
    Has many irons in the fire.  PREACHER, for one, earns him a lot of slack from me.  

    Parent
    While we're never going to mistake ... (none / 0) (#58)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:14:26 PM EST
    ... "Ted" and "Ted 2" for the second coming of "Annie Hall," Seth MacFarlane still makes me laugh. I wasn't all that fond of his "A Million Ways to Die in the West," but it still had its moments.

    Speaking for myself only, whenever I find that I'm taking myself too seriously, MacFarlane's work is a good antidote. A little self-deprecation, levity and balloon popping serves to keep me grounded, and that's a good thing from my perspective.

    Seth MacFarlane also served as executive producer for the recent resurrection of "Cosmos" with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Ph.D., so he does have his serious side and is not all low-brow humor.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Susan Collins OpEd (none / 0) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 08:30:43 PM EST
    Man (none / 0) (#29)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 08:49:23 PM EST
    it's been a veritable field day with this kind of stuff lately.

    Parent
    I have so little respect for these people (5.00 / 5) (#30)
    by ruffian on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 08:51:21 PM EST
    Why did it take Collins 13 months to figure it out? Did she have to ponder whether Mexican immigrants are really rapists? He said that on day 1.

    Parent
    Why didn't they all say a year ago (5.00 / 3) (#31)
    by ruffian on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 08:52:52 PM EST
    'Hey party, do what you want, but I will not support this guy if he is the nominee.' Their stupid pledge?

    Parent
    Meh (none / 0) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 09:02:22 PM EST
    I think we should take it.   Like "foreign policy" letter today signed by 50 republican knuckle heads like Skelator Chertoff.

    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 09:11:46 PM EST
    I think some of them at least had some idea that Trump wasn't going to win. However they could have at least stood up to Trump when he was saying all this stuff.

    Irony of ironies is that Mr. in the closet gay senator from South Carolina might be the most moral of them all.

    But then you get back to how they have been coddling the David Dukes of the world for quite a long time and never said anything either.

    Parent

    Well now that we are on day... (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by vml68 on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 03:03:27 PM EST
    and we have this...
    Trump Suggests '2nd Amendment People' Might Take Out Clinton.

    At what point do the rest of the GOP decide he has crossed the line? Seriously, when is it going to go from "we don't approve of his comments but we still support our nominee" to "he does not represent us and won't get our vote".

    Parent

    Luckily for Tr*mp (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by Peter G on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 03:31:56 PM EST
    there is a political hyperbole exception -- invented by the Supreme Court to protect the First Amendment (not that he would approve of such Justices being on the Supreme Court) -- to the otherwise rather strict laws against threatening the life of the President or of a presidential candidate.

    Parent
    The Trump campaign (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by KeysDan on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:22:54 PM EST
    must have realized his second amendment people comment, being a line widely interpreted as a reference to assassination, may play into Trump's unstable and unhinged characterization.  A hard one to shake once pinned on him.

    The spin machine has quickly claimed that Trump really meant the political power and votes of second amendment supporters could stop the "picking" of judges.  "Nothing could be done, except...".   A pretty lame spin, in that Trump presented a post-election situation: if Mrs. Clinton gets to pick, she is the president. Unless Trump believes second amendment people get to vote on Supreme Court nominations.  Which is a possibility.

    Parent

    Yes, the spin machine is in overdrive. (5.00 / 3) (#61)
    by vml68 on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:33:48 PM EST
    I read one claim that Tr*mp meant the judges not Clinton. Well then, I guess that's perfectly alright!
    Or the overused, "It was a joke". Yeah, really funny. The TSA loves it when you say you have a gun or a bomb at the airport. They find it hysterical.

    Parent
    These people are seriously (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:37:24 PM EST
    Embarrassing themselves.  Their credibility, such as it was, is in shreads.

    Trump really is destroying the party are they are allowing it to happen.


    Parent

    Lucky for that %^#$!, not so lucky for us. (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by vml68 on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:28:04 PM EST
    After what happened to Gabby Giffords, at Planned Parenthood, etc., I truly think that some crazy nut out there listening to Tr*mp just got his "message from God" to act.

    Parent
    Susan (mealy mouth) Collins (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:35:17 PM EST
    Thinks Trump meant that second amendment advocates could come together to stop legislation.  Seriously.  I just heard that out of her own mealy mouth.

    Pffft

    Yeah.

    I'm sure that's exactly what he meant and everyone listening heard that.

    Parent

    The Los Angeles Times takes it seriously. (5.00 / 2) (#70)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 05:46:17 PM EST
    There's already an op-ed posted at their website addressing Trump's remarks:

    "This is one of the many recurring problems with Trump. He uses suggestion and innuendo to frame some incredibly vile thoughts, including suggesting President Obama may have willfully stood down in the face of terrorist attacks, the 'many people are saying' construct he used Monday to suggest Clinton was responsible for the Iranian government's hanging of a nuclear scientist, and his suggestion that Russian hackers try to find Clinton's missing emails.

    "Then he denies it, claiming his was misunderstood, or his words were taken out of context, or the 'dishonest' media have it in for him. Trump's shrugs and walk-backs are disturbing, particularly his denials of comments caught on video.

    "But Trump's comment today goes much farther than impugning someone's patriotism, trying to undercut someone's political standing or perverting the truth for the sake of an electoral victory.

    "Trump's one-liner is a statement that a reasonable person can take to mean a call to assassination. Trump -- and not his aides -- needs to explain in no uncertain terms that that was not his intent, and apologize, instead of having his surrogates spin it as a media invention. And if he doesn't, he needs to have a conversation not with his advisors, but with the Secret Service."

    Amen.

    Parent

    Yes, and there seems to be (none / 0) (#72)
    by KeysDan on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:09:21 PM EST
    a lot of that going around in Trumpland.  Al Baldasaro of New Hampshire and a Trump advisor on Veterans Affairs had a go at it: " Hillary should be put in a firing line and shot for treason."  Caused the Secret Service to interview Al. The LA Times may be on to something with their call for a Secret Service conversation.

    Parent
    Spinning (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:57:12 PM EST
    Yes.  I just saw Rudy Dooty do it.  It even made him look uncomfortable.  Not easy.

    I believe they are very misguided.  As Donald points out the media really does seem to be taking this seriously.  As they certainly should.

    At some point you would think the smart ones would realize what they are spinning is stinky and runny and is sticking to them and the walls as they spin.

    Parent

    Former Republican senator (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 07:14:04 PM EST
    Gordon Humphrey just told Chris Hayes he this afternoon "issued an urgent call to the RNC" to demand an emergency meeting to strip Trump of the nomination and replace him with someone "of sound mind"

    No, I don't think that will happen either but it's a pretty stunning thing for a republican to say.

    Parent

    Humphrey's hyperbole is for its own sake. (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 07:40:45 PM EST
    He knows as well as anyone else that the RNC has no real means to strip the nomination from its own duly appointed nominee. Unless Trump stands down of his own accord in the next couple of weeks, he's there for the duration.

    We'll no doubt be hearing more like-minded rhetoric over the coming days and weeks, as part of the desperate attempt to inoculate down-ticket Republicans from any resultant political fallout, should this race turn into the mother of all political landslides, as it's now threatening to become.

    I'm running out of popcorn.

    Parent

    Actually (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 07:53:39 PM EST
    I understand they could reconvene the delegates and put forth a new nominee but they are not going to do that. Can you imagine the chaos and the shootings that might result if something like that was attempted?

    In the end it's the same story as it pretty much has been. They are stuck with Donald and they are going to have to deal with that fact.

    Parent

    Could they do the statesmen like thing and just (5.00 / 3) (#89)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:40:47 PM EST
    withdraw the nominee, not replace,  effectively  concede the election? Or just stop spending money on his campaign?

    I don't panic easily but I am seriously worried about Clinton's safety at this point.

    Parent

    I've (5.00 / 2) (#91)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:58:13 PM EST
    been worried about this for a long time simply because the way the GOP operates. The GOP has been practicing stochastic terrorism for quite a while and Hillary has been a target of it for a long time.

    explained here

    Parent

    The Secret Service tweeted (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:45:01 PM EST
    U.S. Secret Service
    U.S. Secret Service - Verified account ‏@SecretService

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    3:39 PM - 9 Aug 2016
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    Parent

    Gordo made a pretty good argument (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:00:19 PM EST
    That it could be done.  Not that I think it will.  He even went into the business of not being able get the new person on the ballot in many places explaining that the president is actually selected when the electoral college meets and all the votes for Trump could be transferred to the substitute.  No idea at all how accurate that is.

    I do think there s going to be more of this talk.  Some, as DfrmH says, just to distance others from Trump but some who really want it to happen.   I got the feeling Humphrey wants it to happen.


    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:22:25 PM EST
    I expect though that mostly we're going to hear more wishing and hoping that some white knight is going to come and save the GOP. At this point we've got 90 days until the election and they've pretty much run out of time.

    Parent
    If Tr*mp loses the election (none / 0) (#102)
    by ding7777 on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 12:04:04 AM EST
    what would be the point in transferring Tr*ump's electoral votes to someone else?

    Parent
    how about (none / 0) (#62)
    by mm on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:34:56 PM EST
    the life of a former First Lady?  Serious question.

    Parent
    Same statute as the one I linked (none / 0) (#65)
    by Peter G on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 04:55:42 PM EST
    to "candidate." Yes.

    Parent
    The All Due Respect boys (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 05:30:11 PM EST
    Lead the show with this.  Explaining they had another show planned but this is so outrageous and so out of bounds....etc etc.

    It's a little surprising.  Halperin has been a prime apologist for Trump.   Maybe he is feeling guilty.

    A quote

    The best you can say about their statement is that's not how most people interpreted it.   That clips going to be shown hundreds of times over the next 24 hours.  .....  They better understand people are not interpreting it that way.  ....  And once again he is playing into the main critique...that he does not have the temperament to be president.

    Parent

    The word all those (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by KeysDan on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 05:50:37 PM EST
    never Trump Republicans are using is "reckless."  Does not have the "temperament" for sure, but, I believe it is much more than that.  

    Parent
    What he said (1.25 / 4) (#73)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:19:41 PM EST
    <blockquote>"If she gets to pick her judges," Trump said, "nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is.</blockquot

    An obvious reference to the NRA's political clout.

    Of course the Hillary folks will make what they want of it. Aided, need I say, by the media.

    Fact is there is nothing that Trump can say that they won't make something of it.

    Just as Obama's folks tied McCain up in knots, up to and including having him scold some supporters.

    Win or lose...maybe even a draw and hello House of Representatives...Trump won't do that.

    And if he wins the Repub Party is changed forever towards a more liberal more populists party. If he loses a new party will be formed.

    Parent

    You're defending the indefensible, Jim. (5.00 / 7) (#77)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:50:46 PM EST
    Trump's remarks speak for themselves. We don't need an interpreter. Any reasonable person would infer from this political double entendre that he was alluding to the assassination of his electoral opponent as a possible recourse for some of his followers. Such provocative and inflammatory rhetoric is entirely unacceptable for a major presidential candidate in ANY context.

    And because of his previous controversial and hyperbolic statements in which he appears to have exhorted his followers to undertake acts of violence on his behalf, he's no longer due any benefit of the doubt. If Trump's merely half the man he claims to be, he'll apologize to Mrs. Clinton and the American people for what he said.

    And that's all I'm going to say to you on this matter.

    Parent

    Anything Trump says (none / 0) (#111)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:33:50 AM EST
    will be attacked.

    That's just the facts.

    But, if you want to worry over people getting killed...

    The father of the Orlando radical islamist murderer was sitting just behind Hillary...But she hasn't disclaimed him.

    He has also posted some horrific attacks on homosexuals...

    By your standard that must mean Hillary supports murder and is homophobic..


    Parent

    He gets attacked (5.00 / 4) (#114)
    by CoralGables on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:44:57 AM EST
     Because he rarely speaks facts.  It would be difficult to find another presidential candidate in the nation's history that lied as much as trump.

    Parent
    I must have missed where Tr*mp (5.00 / 3) (#119)
    by Peter G on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 10:20:00 AM EST
    has been attacked for the past statements of someone photographed sitting in the audience at one of his rallies.

    Parent
    except that she did (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by mm on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 11:44:05 AM EST
    disclaim him.

    Clinton's campaign representative responded hours later, saying, "She disagrees with his views and disavows his support."

    Clinton had previously put out a statement calling the rally an "open-door event for the public," and adding that, "This individual wasn't invited as a guest and the campaign was unaware of his attendance until after the event."

      ABC News

    Parent
    Hours later (1.00 / 1) (#121)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 01:22:44 PM EST
    and through a representative...

    After she had walked away from a question??

    A disclaimer?

    Really?

    Parent

    Yes, really (5.00 / 2) (#128)
    by Peter G on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 08:48:49 AM EST
    If you don't have a meaningful riposte when your silly post is totally rebutted, why not just let it go?

    Parent
    Most disagree (5.00 / 3) (#86)
    by MKS on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:18:01 PM EST
    David Gergen nearly had an on-air coronary.   I worked for two Presidents who survived assassination attempts, a disgrace, he said.  

    Parent
    I do love the utter delusion (5.00 / 2) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 08:32:47 PM EST
    That is displayed by saying the Obama campaign some how "made" McCain "scold some of his supporters"

    No doubt a reference to the old lady who called Obama an A-Rab and McCain took the mic away and explained, gently, that she was nuts.

    Parent

    One of the comments I read re the clip of (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by vml68 on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 08:13:13 AM EST
    McCain and the old lady...
    In 2008 the republican candidate is taking the microphone away from the crazy person. In 2016 the republican candidate IS the crazy person with the microphone!


    Parent
    Not defending them (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 08, 2016 at 09:08:59 PM EST
    And I agree with you but I think for a long time many really didn't think he would win.  There was a question right up to the convention.  

    Considering that, the conventions are just over.   Reality is intruding.  I think you will see more of this.  Maybe a lot more.  I was just reading a thing about Condi Rice (Russia expert), James Baker and others.

    Parent

    Yeah, good points all. Pols are pols. (none / 0) (#39)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:05:41 AM EST
    Rubio says no abortions (none / 0) (#41)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 10:26:50 AM EST
    for Zika infected women. He's backed up by the Susan B Anthony list. Interesting though, neither him nor any of the anti-choice groups are falling over themselves to pick up the tab for medical bills for the resultant microcephaly or other birth defects. Come on Marco, put your money where your big fat mouth is.

    the "Susan B. Anthony List" is (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by Peter G on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 11:14:07 AM EST
    an anti-abortion organization which has appropriated the great name of Susan B. Anthony, on a foundation of little or no real evidence, to promote a cause she actually opposed -- government regulation and even criminalization of women's autonomy, including a woman's personal freedom to make choices about and to control her own reproductive life.

    Parent
    Maybe Obama can quit (1.00 / 1) (#74)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:23:58 PM EST
    playing Reagan and declare this the emergency it really is.

    But beyond fighting the mosquitoes here, the fight must be taken to the source.

    Parent

    Am I the only one (none / 0) (#76)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:29:22 PM EST
    that when I use Chrome my html commands don't work??

    I've switched to FireFox.

    It's obviously Obama's fault. (5.00 / 6) (#79)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 06:52:55 PM EST
    I don't use Chrome much (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by McBain on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 09:50:03 PM EST
    but I've had some issues with Internet Explorer since upgrading to Windows 10.  Overall, I prefer Firefox.  

    Parent
    Pale Moon... (none / 0) (#138)
    by unitron on Fri Aug 12, 2016 at 10:42:24 PM EST
    ...is a "spinoff" of Firefox, but I've found that I can use it for Twitter (on a PC running XP) much longer than Firefox before it locks up the entire computer.

    I save Chrome for online banking and such where I can easily erase all the stuff I did, while leaving Firefox and Pale Moon for sites where I want things remembered.

    Parent

    maybe your browser seting (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by ding7777 on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 12:03:29 AM EST
    in the comment box is set to PLAIN TEXT in one and HTML FORMAT in the other?

    Parent
    Thank you (none / 0) (#113)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:40:57 AM EST
    That was it.

    Parent
    That's 'one' of your best (none / 0) (#93)
    by fishcamp on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 09:05:13 PM EST
    My air conditioner stopped working an hour ago, and is now blowing 84 degree hot air around.  Melting mind situation at the camp.

    Oh, noes (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 09:12:36 PM EST
    I hope you are able to get it fixed soon. It would be horrible here in GA to have no air. So I can only imagine how bad it is at the keys.

    Parent
    Ha (none / 0) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 09:15:56 PM EST
    I knew what you meant.  Very very sorry to hear about your air conditioning.  I would have to leave.  I do better awake than trying to sleep with no air conditioning.  I can't do it.

    Mine has been running pretty much non stop for a couple of months.

    Parent

    Mysteriously my air conditioner (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by fishcamp on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 07:26:12 AM EST
    started working in the middle of the night, and I woke up freezing cold, but it's going, it's old.  This house has two separate central systems.  When the downstairs one doesn't work, I turn the upstairs way low and the fans blow cold air down the spiral staircase.  It's far from perfect.  The good news is my neighbor is taking me fishing today.

    Parent
    For the first time in days (none / 0) (#115)
    by CoralGables on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:45:59 AM EST
    it looks like you got beautiful weather for fishing

    Parent
    Check the air flow around (none / 0) (#117)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:58:26 AM EST
    the evaporator, that's the part that looks like a car's radiator. It can "ice up" and stop functioning. Then, when the ice melts or cracks and flakes off, it will start working. Here's some info. You can wash the unit to clean it without hurting it.

    Parent
    Thanks Jim. No icing problems, but (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by fishcamp on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 03:40:24 PM EST
    I am planning to hose off both outside condensers, as I've heard it's the way to keep them alive.

    BTW I did go fishing with my neighbor, who is a super guide, and I caught one bonefish.  Damn it was difficult to hop, skip, and jump around the boat, like I used to do.  My cast to the fish was bad, and I said so, then the fish hit the fly, and John said perfect cast.  It was a great day.

    Parent

    Netflix to show new Amanda Knox documentary (none / 0) (#98)
    by McBain on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 10:24:57 PM EST
    I followed that case closely but it will be interesting to learn more.  I'd also like to see quality documentaries about the Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman trials.

    My favorite true crime/trial related docs are...
    O.J. Simpson: Made in America
    Making a Murderer
    The Paradise Lost Trilogy (West Memphis Three)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement
    The Thin Blue Line
    The Last Word

    Can anyone recommend others?

     

    Let me again recommend (5.00 / 2) (#100)
    by Peter G on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 10:34:58 PM EST
    "The Fear of 13" on Netflix. It features exonerated Pennsylvania death row inmate Nick Yarris, telling his own compelling story, edited absolutely brilliantly by filmmaker David Sington. Nick was my client for over ten years.

    Parent
    Just finished watching it (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by McBain on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 01:53:13 AM EST
    Incredible story.  Good recommendation!

    After seeing something like this it always makes me wonder how many innocent people are rotting in prison or have been put to death.

    Parent

    And to be clear, I am not (5.00 / 2) (#118)
    by Peter G on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 10:12:52 AM EST
    featured in the "Fear of 13" documentary. In fact, not even mentioned except for a thank you from the producer in the final crawl. About five excellent lawyers -- public defenders and court-appointed as a team -- worked our tails off (for a decade, as I mentioned) to save Nick's life and get him out of prison. But the documentary basically doesn't mention the lawyers or legal aspects of the case at all. It is recounted by Nick, who turned out to be an awesome storyteller, from his point of view.

    Parent
    If you are into podcasts too (none / 0) (#109)
    by ruffian on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:04:02 AM EST
    'Undisclosed' is a good one - they started with a deep diveinto Adnan Syed case. One of the hosts, Rabia Chaudry, is the friend of Syed who brought that case to the attention of the Serial podcast host. The other two hosts are lawyers that got interested in that case and helped examine all the evidence, eventually uncovering information that was helpful in getting Syed's conviction vacated.

    they have now taken ont he case of a young man in Georgia that the they and the Georgia Innocence Project are convinced was wrongfully convicted of murder.

    Also another podcast, Truth and Justice with Bob Ruff, is examining some cases in Texas that look highly questionable, at best.

    I suspect the number of wrongfully convicted is staggeringly high.

    Thanks for the doc recommendation, Peter G. I will watch that one too.

    Parent

    Here is a link to the Undisclosed site (none / 0) (#110)
    by ruffian on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 09:06:45 AM EST
    They have case description and documents on the site so you can see if you are interest in listening.

    Parent
    Speaking of Making a Murderer (none / 0) (#99)
    by McBain on Tue Aug 09, 2016 at 10:31:24 PM EST
    Netflix is going to air a second season with new info

    Parent
    ... I recommend the PBS documentary "The Massie Affair," a film in which I had worked as one of the researchers and interviewers a dozen years ago. It first aired on "American Experience" in April 2005.

    It's the true story of a young and emotionally disturbed white socialite and her very prominent (and racist) family, and the resultant upheaval which followed in the wake of her initial accusation of rape against five young men of color in Great Depression-era Honolulu. What followed were two sensational criminal trials which played out as part soap opera / part horror show, and stoked the attention and imagination of the entire country.

    The second Massie trial in particular is noted by legal historians for both having provided the final courtroom appearance of the legendary criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow, and further culminating in one of the most egregious miscarriages of justice in 20th century American jurisprudence.

    Due to the one-hour time limit, the documentary doesn't delve into the profound socio-political impact that the "Massie Affair" had on the then-Territory of Hawaii. Suffice to say that the islands' non-white majority had more than ample reason to be absolutely incensed by what took place in 1931-32. For the first time since the sunset of Hawaii's independence 33 years earlier, they began to register to vote in significant numbers and challenge white authority, which eventually resulted in the political overthrow of the Republican oligarchy in 1954.

    You can watch "The Massie Affair" here on YouTube, but if you can get it on Netflix, I would strongly suggest that you go that route. And if you want to learn more about it afterward, I'd further suggest David Stannard's book "Honor Killing," a meticulously documented account of those scandalous events that amazingly reads like a crime novel.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    In Vermont's (none / 0) (#106)
    by Nemi on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 07:52:11 AM EST
    gubernatorial primary Sue Minter has won the Democratic nomination, 'beating' among others Matt Dunne, endorsed by Jeff Weaver and visibly trying to ride Bernie Sanders's (non-existing?) coattails.

    The east coast media was all aflutter ... (none / 0) (#125)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 07:49:20 PM EST
    ... a couple days ago over the knowledge that the father of Orlando mass murderer Omar Mateen was in the audience at a Hillary Clinton rally in Kissimmee, FL.

    As of this writing (8:49 p.m. EDT), we're awaiting their corresponding meltdown over the knowledge that former Congressman Mark Foley, who served as the GOP's self-designated cyberstalker of teenage boys during his time on Capitol Hill, is seated behind the podium for tonight's Trump rally in Broward County.

    That said, I'm not going to hold my breath for it.

    This photo is is its own best punchline. (none / 0) (#126)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 08:18:15 PM EST
    As Trump excoriates Hillary Clinton for the presence of Omar Mateen's father at her rally the other day, Mark Foley sits in rapt attention right behind him.

    Parent
    I'm sure someone (none / 0) (#129)
    by CST on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 10:34:10 AM EST
    can unskew this for me.

    "PPP's newest South Carolina poll finds that the state is trending
    toward being competitive in the Presidential race this year, just like in
    neighboring Georgia. Donald Trump has only a 2 point lead with 41% to 39% for
    Hillary Clinton, 5% for Gary Johnson, and 2% for Jill Stein."

    Maybe the south will rise again.  And I gotta say - Lindsey Graham has been a hoot this election season.

    The nice (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 10:55:33 AM EST
    thing about that poll was it gave a boost to my liberal friends in SC who have been fighting the fight but they know it's going to go back to red closer to the election. Trump is a tailor made candidate for SC and SC is more ideologically like Alabama than it is its neighbors of GA and NC. GA already was slated to go into swing state status in 2020 but Hillary looks like she is going to put it into play this year. Hopefully she will end up carrying GA!

    Parent
    I'm starting to get greedy (none / 0) (#132)
    by CST on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 11:02:26 AM EST
    Show me Texas! (I know, I know)

    I think all this is possible in my lifetime, although probably not this year.  Hopefully this is just the beginning, although I also recognize that it will likely be worse 4-8 years from now with someone who isn't Trump.

    I would be thrilled with GA, and/or AZ.  I'm banking on NC and VA.  SC wasn't even a dream until I saw this poll.  Utah and Kansas are also looking - if not winnable than  places where Hillary will compete strongly.

    Hopefully this will encourage liberals in those states to get out the vote. I'm a little worried about complacency, but I think enough of us don't just want to win, we want the landslide win.

    Parent

    One of the things I most like about (5.00 / 2) (#134)
    by caseyOR on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 11:10:53 AM EST
    the Clinton campaign is its (their?) commitment to downticket races and building for the future. As part of this building Tim Kaine is spending time in Texas, not because Clinton expects to win Texas this year, but to build the party for the future and, perhaps, help some downticket candidates along the way.

    Finally there are signs that the Dems can play the long game.

    Parent

    You have identified (none / 0) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 11:10:42 AM EST
    One big problem.  Liberals think there is no reason to bother to vote. I know some.

    Parent
    Gail Collins (NYTimes, August 11) (none / 0) (#135)
    by KeysDan on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 11:28:58 AM EST
    discusses those Republicans who can't vote for Trump, but can't bring themselves to say they will vote for Hillary.  "It's tough being a high profile Republican these days, people are always demanding to know what you think about your candidate's latest horrific remark.  But, unless you come up with an alternative, it is more of a sulk than a solution."

    Citing concern that Trump is a menace in world affairs, Gail cites Senator Susan Collins who admits she works well with Hillary but ruled out voting for her because Hillary wants to spend too much money--free this, free that. So, faced with a choice between Trump who would compromise national security,according to Senator Collins, and a woman who wants universal early child education, she is at a loss at what to do.  

    Parent

    I have a sneaking suspician (none / 0) (#136)
    by CST on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 11:31:33 AM EST
    That the number of Republican senators who vote for Clinton at the ballot box - even if they publicly support Trump - will be much greater than zero.

    I get it, they can't openly support the nominee of the opposing party.  It's chicken$hit, but they have their constituency and they'd never live it down.  That doesn't mean they won't still privately vote for her.  I'd put Collins squarely in that group.

    Parent

    Is there a large (none / 0) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 10:50:34 AM EST
    "Radicul Uhlamic Terrist" population there.  That might explain it because Clinton is, you know, the founder of ISIS.  Well, co-founder along with Obama.

    Parent
    The climate change show... (none / 0) (#137)
    by desertswine on Thu Aug 11, 2016 at 01:54:28 PM EST
    "Years of Living Dangerously" will premiere its second season just before the election.  The National Geographic Channel is now owned by the Murdochs.  The trailer looks good.