Friday Talking Points [292] -- From Russian Panties To Animal Skulls
We've got a lot to get to in our weekly roundup of politics this week, it seems.
For those watching the Olympics (or trying to, in and amongst the soap opera that is NBC's coverage, and the accompanying forty bazillion commercial breaks) and wondering what's going on in Russian politics, well, we direct you to the panty protests. Not the most important issue of the week, but quite possibly the most bizarre (and that's even in a week that saw members of Pussy Riot getting horsewhipped by Cossacks, mind you).
This week, President Obama issued a handwritten apology to an art history professor, for denigrating the value of an art history college degree in a speech. This, for some reason (as if he really needs one) made Marco Rubio angry. A handwritten apology from the president must be nice -- we're still waiting for our apology for pretty much everything nasty Rahm Emanuel ever said (although we're not exactly holding our breath, on that one).
Johns Hopkins released a study proving that background checks for buying guns works exactly the way they are supposed to, but (speaking of not holding our breath) the media and the politicians pretty much ignored it.
A New York state senator introduced a bill banning killer whales in waterparks from the state, and he apparently plagiarized a student's article posted on the Huffington Post. Well, I'm not sure if "plagiarizing" is the right word, really, since he wasn't trying to sell the work as his own in any way, he just used part of it in the text of the bill (justifying its necessity). We would like to issue a blanket permission for all Democratic lawmakers, in response: please feel free to quote liberally from any of these columns in any legislation you wish. Dropping us a note informing of such an occurrence would be nice, but is not necessary.
In marijuana news (which has become a weekly staple, on these pages), Doug Gansler, Maryland's attorney general, seems to think that medical marijuana's acceptance is pretty much as inevitable as gay marriage, at this point. Gansler's running for governor, in a field with other Democrats. As time goes on, more and more Democrats are going to have to accept the fact that marijuana is now (1) a potent and valid political issue, and (2) worth supporting, because public attitudes are changing fast.
New York is moving closer to legalizing medical marijuana (beyond just a pilot program), and even two Republicans have now joined the effort -- so it's not just Democrats who are waking up to the new political reality. And in Colorado, the governor just admitted that pot sales (and therefore pot tax revenues) are going to be higher than expected. Feel free to make your own "higher than expected" joke, here.
Or, perhaps, insert your own "munchies" joke instead, because we're moving on to news from the world of pizza. Chevron decided to compensate citizens affected by one of their fracking wells blowing up by delivering coupons for a free pizza and bottle of soda to affected residents. You just can't make this stuff up, folks. In more positive pizza news from Arizona, one pizza parlor showed its displeasure of the state government passing a "religious freedom" law (which would allow business owners to discriminate against gay people) by posting a sign in the window reading "We reserve the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators." Bravo! I'd like a slice with extra snark, please....
In other news from the Wild West, a Republican state representative in Colorado left a hearing on concealed handgun permits, but he apparently left a handbag behind... with his loaded handgun in it. The jokes just write themselves, on that one.
Anyone who read What's The Matter With Kansas? will want to check out an article by the author where he updates his opinion with a look at the current state of affairs in the Sunflower State.
And finally, to end on this Western theme we seem to have moseyed into, George W. Bush is now channeling his inner Georgia O'Keeffe by creating paintings of animal skulls. Make of that what you will.
What with Congress on yet another weeklong taxpayer-funded vacation, there wasn't much happening in Washington this week that caught our eye in the Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week category.
So (to use a question format, for reasons which will become apparent in a moment): who was the most impressive Democrat in the news this week?
The answer has actually caused us to create a special Most Impressive Retiring Democrat award this week, for Representative Rush Holt, who just announced he won't be running for another term. The reason for giving Congressman Holt this award? From the news report:
Holt, a Jeopardy! champion with a doctoral degree in physics, recently re-introduced a "Darwin Day" resolution on the House floor, advancing a proposal to designate British naturalist Charles Darwin's Feb. 12 birthday as a day of recognition for "the importance of science in the betterment of humanity."
Pretty much that entire paragraph is impressive as all get out, but the thing which we found more impressive than the Darwin Day resolution -- or even the doctorate in physics -- was "Jeopardy! champion." Now that's impressive in a legislator!
So our first-ever Most Impressive Retiring Democrat goes without qualification to Rush Holt. We'll be sorry to see a man of your caliber leave Congress, because the average I.Q. of the institution is obviously going to drop with your exit. You have set a high bar for our new MIRD award, one that no one else may ever reach.
[Congratulate Representative Rush Holt on his House contact page, to let him know you appreciate his efforts. Be sure to phrase your congratulations in the form of a question, though.]
Sadly enough, there was no shortage of disappointing Democrats from last week's news. The first two are nothing more than faceless bureaucrats, so they might not even be Democrats, but we're going to hand whoever made the initial decisions (Dis-)Honorable Mention awards, just because. We can't, however, hand out Honorable Mention awards for the people who overturned these two decisions, because they did so only after exposure in the press -- not simply because they should have vetoed the idea in the first place.
The first was reportedly the brainchild of I.C.E., the immigration police. They thought it'd be a dandy idea to tie together all the country's data from vehicle license plate readers into a gigantic federal repository which would essentially track everyone driving a car in America. The stated reason for this massive surveillance was to catch undocumented immigrants. No detail of how tracking every car's movement continually was supposed to accomplish this. When the story broke in the news, the Department of Homeland Security immediately nixed the idea. But I'd be willing to bet it'll pop back up again sooner or later, perhaps over at the F.B.I. or N.S.A., so keep your eyes peeled.
The second idiotic notion for what the government should be doing came from the Federal Communications Commission, who decided to take it upon themselves to conduct a "survey" of news organizations across the country. This survey would be looking for how news editors make decisions on what to run, with particular attention being paid to expose bias. Since the F.C.C. licenses broadcast stations, this is a monumentally bad idea. Some people, of course, wish for a return to the days of the "Fairness Doctrine," but the reality is that we've moved beyond that now. Meaning the F.C.C. has no business delving into how editorial decisions are made. None. There are plenty of academic studies on news bias out there, for one, and if a new study is needed then this is the route it should take: let an academic institution conduct it, not the people who have the power to deny broadcasting licenses. Thankfully, the program was halted (once exposed in the media), but once again -- who authorized this idiocy in the first place?
We've got one more (Dis-)Honorable Mention to hand out, before we get to the main event. The lead sentence of this article speaks for itself: "Former U.S. Rep. Melvin Jay Reynolds has been arrested in Zimbabwe on suspicion of possessing pornography and an immigration offence." Read the whole story for the sordid details and the whole sordid past of Reynolds.
But this week's Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week is none other than former congressman Joe Baca, who is running for a House seat after being defeated by fellow Democrat Gloria Negrete McLeod last time around. McLeod announced she will only serve one term and will not run for re-election. Baca, in a recent interview, commented on the woman who beat him: "Look at what we wound up with: Some bimbo who decided not to run again." In the past, he has also allegedly called another fellow Democrat (Loretta Sanchez) a "whore."
Now, Democrats have done an excellent job framing all the anti-woman policies and legislation emanating from the Republican Party as a "War On Women." It's one of the best political framing examples of the last few years, in fact. But to ride that high horse, Democrats are obligated to vigorously police their own ranks. Which includes condemning the knuckle-dragging behavior exhibited by the likes of Baca. He did apologize for the language later, but that's simply not good enough. Using such language about any woman -- no matter whether she's a public official or not, no matter whether she's in your own party or not -- is just not acceptable. Period.
Democrats have positioned themselves as the party which cares about women. This works, because for the most part they do (unlike the Republicans, who believe that women are weak-minded and have to be held by the hand when they visit their doctor, for instance). So it is even more egregious to hear a Democrat say something like this, and all other Democrats should loudly condemn Baca for his stupidity and male chauvinism, speaking with one voice.
For shame, Joe Baca, for shame.
[Unfortunately, Joe Baca is not currently serving in office, so we cannot provide a link so you can let him know what you think of his language. It is our policy not to link to any candidates' campaign pages.]
Volume 292 (2/21/14)
There were two items in the news of note to those who enjoy well-crafted talking points. The first was the obituary of a giant in the field of "framing," Charles Fillmore. This column likely wouldn't exist without Fillmore's pioneering work in the field.
The second news item is more lighthearted. Former governor of Louisiana Edwin Edwards is apparently thinking about running for a House seat. He has quite a colorful past, including such items as federal convictions for corruption and a lengthy jail sentence. He was, however, an amusing politician when speaking off-the-cuff, such as when he ridiculed an opponent for being so dumb "it would take him an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes." His greatest line, though, the one that forever immortalized him in the history of American political quips, was uttered when speaking of how good his chances were for being re-elected. He could only lose, he famously said, if he were "caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy." So we'll be watching his congressional run closely, because who knows what he might say this time around?
OK, that's enough introduction. Let's get on with this week's talking points. We have a running theme this week: the utter and complete failure of the Republican Party's vaunted "outreach" to certain groups of Americans who have been voting against them in droves. Here are six facets of this failure, just from the current week's news alone. The final one was just thrown in for fun, though.
Gay outreach failure
This is another example of brilliant framing, and should be picked up immediately by all Democrats in states where this nonsense is being debated.
"The state of Arizona is enacting a law which would enshrine the ability of businesses to legally be bigots. There's just no other way to put it. The bill would allow business owners to discriminate against the public for, quote, religious reasons, unquote. In Tennessee, where a similar bill was defeated, they came up with a perfect name for such odious legislation. They called the bill they killed the 'Turn The Gays Away' bill. Because that is precisely what such laws are being debated and passed for. They are using the cloak of religion to legalize discrimination. I guess the story of the Good Samaritan was edited out of their Bibles, because it's hard to square such laws with what is commonly called 'being a good Christian.' If this bill is signed into law in Arizona, I urge the media to start calling it what it is: the Turn The Gays Away law."
Working poor outreach failure
Democrats have been doing a pretty impressive job of countering the recent C.B.O. report on raising the minimum wage, so far. Keep up the good work!
"I see Republicans gleefully pointing to the recent C.B.O. report which gave an estimate of how many jobs would be lost if the minimum wage were raised to $10.10 an hour. I find this amusing, because some Republicans are trying to get their party to actually talk about poverty in America -- but their answers to poverty are all the same, really, because they all make life harder for poor people. But to get back to the report, I do not agree with the report's conclusion, because they used outdated and disproven research to make their case. The best and most-recent research clearly shows that raising the minimum wage has precisely zero effect on unemployment. Even if, for the sake of argument, the C.B.O. is right, it offers a choice I think most Americans working at low-wage jobs would take: a 1-in-33 chance of losing your job versus a 32-in-33 chance of getting a raise of up to 39 percent of your salary. That's a 3 percent chance of losing your job versus a 97 percent chance of a raise. I think most people would accept those odds, don't you? Especially when the Republican alternative is to do absolutely nothing for any of these people."
Youth vote outreach failure
I don't know whether to say "boo!' or "baa!" OK, I apologize for that joke in advance, how's that?
"If you want proof that the Tennessee state government just doesn't have enough important things to do, look no further than them declaring outright war on the University of Tennessee, where students are holding a 'Sex Week' series of events. College students in Tennessee are in great need of solid information on sex, mostly because the state refuses to teach anything other than abstinence to younger students. Even though no tax dollars fund this event, and even though no actual university dollars are used, the state legislature is still passing a condemnation resolution. Way to go, Republicans! This is a textbook case (pun intended) of how not to do youth voter outreach. Especially the one legislator who tried to make a case for forcing the event off campus, by stating: 'They can go out there in a field full of sheep if they want to and have all the Sex Week they want.' Keep reaching out to the youth of America, GOP!"
Multicultural outreach failure
Maybe he was trying to use the anachronistic term "Mohammedanism"? Nah, he's probably just an idiot. It helps if you have an incredulous look on your face, at the end of this talking point.
"While trying to pass a law to get the Ten Commandments into government spaces and schools, one Alabama Republican referred to an alternate religion as 'Muslimism.' I guess that's what passes for multicultural outreach in the Republican Party these days, eh? I mean... Muslimism? Really? That's just... Wow."
Women outreach failure
And it wouldn't be a complete list without a front-lines update.
"I see that the Republicans have been working overtime to offer up restriction after restriction on abortion. Not content with just that, in Texas they're celebrating their, quote, achievements in women's health, unquote, after making it impossible for thousands of Texas women to get health insurance. So it looks like the War On Women is raging full-force. I guess it'll take a few more elections to show Republicans that this is not the way to get women to vote for you."
Gay and minority outreach failure
Using the word "segregation" means offending two groups at once, to put it mildly.
"In Nevada, a Republican running for a Democrat's House seat used what can only be called Orwellian language to describe why he's against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Here's the full quote:"
We need to look at people as a whole. Everybody has the same rights and privileges. We should look at the same individuals, care about our neighbor, everybody is our neighbor, but by continuing to create these laws that are what I call segregation laws, it puts one class of a person over another. We are creating classes of people through these laws.
"So, to sum up this reverse-logic, a law which guarantees equality for all means it is putting one class of person over another. Somehow. Legally removing discrimination means creating classes of people. Again, somehow. Allowing this 'segregation' to continue means being against 'segregation.' Up is down, in other words. This twisted reasoning is beyond comprehension, really. What Republicans stand for is continuing discrimination against classes of people. Granting equal rights for all removes discrimination. He's got it precisely backwards."
It's all a plot!
Twist that knife.
"I see that Louie Gohmert is launching his own political action committee to fight the ongoing war between the Tea Party and the Establishment Republicans. 'War' is his word, not mine, by the way. He explained why he's starting the PAC thusly: 'There's a war against the Tea party. There's a war against conservatives, we're told. If somebody declares war on me I'm not just going to lie down and take it. I'm going to fight.' Well, bully for him! You know, sooner or later, the conspiracy theorists in the Republican Party are going to start believing that the whole Tea Party movement is nothing more than an evil Democratic plot. I mean, if I was a fat cat Democrat with millions to pump into a dastardly effort to obliterate the Republican Party, I don't think there would be any better way to spend such money than to send it to a PAC run by Louie Gohmert. The Tea Party is doing a better job of destroying the Republican Party than any efforts launched by Democrats ever have. Which eventually is going to lead some to conclude that the whole thing is nothing more than a Democratic conspiracy, don't you think?"
-- Chris Weigant
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Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Cross-posted at: Democratic Underground
Cross-posted at: The Huffington Post
Chris,
For those watching the Olympics (or trying to, in and amongst the soap opera that is NBC's coverage, and the accompanying forty bazillion commercial breaks)
If they gave out medals for coverage of the Olympic games, then Canada would get yet another gold. Heck, we'd sweep the podium!
:-)
Seriously, though, kudos and many thanks to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), SportsNet, and The Sports Network (TSN) for their consistently brilliant and live coverage of the games. Did I mention that we get to see live events at two in the morning? Sorry. Heh.
we're still waiting for our apology for pretty much everything nasty Rahm Emanuel ever said (although we're not exactly holding our breath, on that one).
I think y'all should just try to get over Rahm Emanuel. Before y'all give hypersensitivity whole new meaning, you know. :)
Nothing on Ukraine? I know foreign affairs aren't really the blog's bailiwick, but they deserve a mention more than the protests at the Olympics.
LizM -
NBC's finally (on its obscure sports network cable channel) running live events. But overall, they still suck.
Congrats on all the good hockey news! A while back, I watched late-night (live!) hockey with a Czech woman (and my wife, of course) when the Czechs won gold. I learned what a big deal hockey is that year, when a tiny little country showed Canada, Norway, Russia, and the US how to play the game.
:-)
As for Rahm, well, I just enjoy reaching out to Chicago and giving him a little kick every now and then. Petty of me, I know, but there it is.
Heh.
YoYo -
It's more of a partisan blog on Fridays, and I don't really see a partisan split on Ukraine. At least, not yet.
Michale -
For your benefit, here's the real quote I was ripping off in MIDOTW:
"Have IQs just dropped sharply while I was away?"
-Ellen Ripley, "Alien"
Hmmm... that last work might be "asleep," doing that from memory...
:-)
-CW
Johns Hopkins released a study proving that background checks for buying guns works exactly the way they are supposed to, but (speaking of not holding our breath) the media and the politicians pretty much ignored it.
You can prove anything you want if you only look at a small slice of data...
The "study" only used one small slice of data. Coincidentally, it was the one small slice that "proved" what they WANTED to prove...
Put another way..
I can "prove" that Weigantia is a complete Star Trek blog. I can do this by ONLY examining the posts that deal with Star Trek.
You see how that works?? :D
In other news from the Wild West, a Republican state representative in Colorado left a hearing on concealed handgun permits, but he apparently left a handbag behind... with his loaded handgun in it. The jokes just write themselves, on that one.
I can do you one better. Did you hear the one about the California Gun Control activist who pushed for harsher penalties for being caught with a gun at school?? The law made it a felony instead of a misdemeanor to have a gun on school grounds. The activist was promptly busted with a gun on school grounds..
Not only does he look like an ass, but he will have to forfeit his carry license...
I just love it when activists are hoisted by their own Picard and proven to be the hypocrites that they are... :D
And finally, to end on this Western theme we seem to have moseyed into, George W. Bush is now channeling his inner Georgia O'Keeffe by creating paintings of animal skulls. Make of that what you will.
Com'on!! The guy has more integrity in his little pinky that our current crop of "leaders" (Left OR Right) have in their entire bodies!!
Let the guy enjoy his retirement, eh?? :D
Democrats have positioned themselves as the party which cares about women.
Eliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, Bill Clinton...
Like dynamiting fish in a barrel.. :D
YoYo,
Nothing on Ukraine? I know foreign affairs aren't really the blog's bailiwick, but they deserve a mention more than the protests at the Olympics.
I know, right!?? :D
But we really don't have to worry about Ukraine..
Obama rode in on his white horse and proclaimed that "there will be consequences" if Ukraine don't get their act together..
I am sure that the government of Ukraine and Putin had a good laugh over that...
That's the problem when our POTUS throws out ultimatums and then refuses to back them up..
Eventually, people just laugh at our POTUS and then just ignores him...
The danger here is that Obama might have to do something REALLY drastic to prove that he CAN back up his ultimatums..
As to Ukraine itself??
Putin is simply trying to rebuild the old Soviet empire...
Unfortunately, we don't have a POTUS with any regional (or world) credibility that can stop Putin from doing just that..
We're going to see a lot more Ukraines between now and 2016...
Remember, you heard it here first...
Michale
CW,
It's more of a partisan blog on Fridays, and I don't really see a partisan split on Ukraine. At least, not yet.
ASK and ye shall receive... :D
Hmmm... that last work might be "asleep," doing that from memory...
:-)
Close enough.. It's the effort that counts.. :D
For the record, you nailed it. It was "away" and not "asleep"... :D
The second idiotic notion for what the government should be doing came from the Federal Communications Commission, who decided to take it upon themselves to conduct a "survey" of news organizations across the country. This survey would be looking for how news editors make decisions on what to run, with particular attention being paid to expose bias. Since the F.C.C. licenses broadcast stations, this is a monumentally bad idea. Some people, of course, wish for a return to the days of the "Fairness Doctrine," but the reality is that we've moved beyond that now. Meaning the F.C.C. has no business delving into how editorial decisions are made. None. There are plenty of academic studies on news bias out there, for one, and if a new study is needed then this is the route it should take: let an academic institution conduct it, not the people who have the power to deny broadcasting licenses. Thankfully, the program was halted (once exposed in the media), but once again -- who authorized this idiocy in the first place?
I know, right!??
This has got to be the dumbest idea of ALL the dumbest ideas there ever was...
Democrats need to quit acting like Democrats accuse Republicans of acting..
It makes things REALLY confusing...
Michale
Hay CW,
Plan to split California into six states gains ground
http://news.yahoo.com/plan-split-california-six-states-gains-ground-222139687.html
Thoughts???
I mean, ignoring that the chances of this happening is slim and none and Slim just logged off, what are your thoughts about the idea itself??
Michale
As for your MDDOTW montage..
You can add DeBlasio to the list... :D
CBS 2 Exclusive: De Blasio’s Caravan Caught Speeding, Violating Traffic Laws
Embarrassment Comes Just Days After Mayor Announced New Traffic Safety Initiative
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/02/20/cbs-2-exclusive-mayor-de-blasios-caravan-caught-speeding-violating-traffic-laws/
Are Democrats BORN with an innate DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO trait?? Or is it something that is learned?? :D
Loks like DeBlasio's honeymoon with the press is over... :D
"Live by the spin, die by the spin" I always say :D
Michale
If ya'all want a preview of how the mid-terms will go.....
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/02/20/218707/with-voters-still-skeptical-dozens.html
There ya go...
It ain't gonna be pretty for Democrats or the Obama Administration..
SHELLACKING PART DUEX
Michale
YoYoTheAssyrian,
Nothing on Ukraine? I know foreign affairs aren't really the blog's bailiwick, but they deserve a mention more than the protests at the Olympics.
I disagree.
What would you like to mention about the Ukraine?
I learned what a big deal hockey is that year, when a tiny little country showed Canada, Norway, Russia, and the US how to play the game.
I have no recollection of that moment in history, Chris. None, whatsoever.
Chris:
Some people, of course, wish for a return to the days of the "Fairness Doctrine," but the reality is that we've moved beyond that now.
I have heard others express similar sentiments but not ever heard the explanation. Can you explain what was "wrong" with the Fairness Doctrine and why we're beyond it?"
Thanks.
Can you explain what was "wrong" with the Fairness Doctrine and why we're beyond it?"
It forces people to do things that they should not be forced to do in the name of SOMEONE's concept of "fairness"..
Put it another way...
How many car dealers would there be if they HAD to sell every car on the market??
How many small businesses would there be if they were forced to sell/service EVERY possible item in their chosen field??
Ridiculous, iddn't it?? :D
Michale
Michale: I don't think your analogy meets the case, but then I went here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine and got a better understanding of the topic.
So Chris -- never mind!!
But thanks for taking a crack at it -
But thanks for taking a crack at it -
"One is honored to be of service."
-Robin Williams, BICENTENNIAL MAN
:D
Michale
Michale [5] -
You mean this isn't a Star Trek blog? Oh, man, I must have wandered into the wrong place or something...
Heh.
Got a link for that gun/school story? I love irony, even at the expense of the left, you know that.
Nice "Picard" in there, too. Intentional, or a Freudian slip?
As for Dubya, I have always said that he is to be praised for his non-political ex-presidency. (Cheney, on the other hand...). If he wants to paint rather than build houses for the poor, that's just fine with me. I actually was kind of impressed -- he appeared in the last few weeks of Leno's show, and he gave Jay a portrait of him he had painted. It wasn't Rembrandt, but then again it wasn't all that bad either, so who am I to judge? He seems to enjoy it, and I'd actually like to see one of his O'Keeffe homages. But then, I originally was going to major in fine arts myself (with physics as a dual major), so maybe I've just got a soft spot for painters...
As for Ukraine, I was going to type "it's not partisan, yet, until Obama takes a stand on it and the Republicans do their knee-jerk 'what Obama is for is wrong' reaction." So thanks for confirming that.
[6] -
To be honest, I didn't. It's "Aliens" not "Alien."
I am 'fessing up to this because I just this week sneered at the Asimov quiz in my local paper, which had the following question:
"What was the name of the cat who was on the Nostromo with Ripley in 'Aliens'?"
To which I smugly responded (to my wife, who is the real expert on Ripley, I might add) "In 'Aliens,' the Nostromo was a cloud of radioactive dust!"
So, speaking of being hoist on my own 'Picard' as it were...
As for the FCC thing, fund a freakin' survey through the Columbia School of Broadcasting or something! Pretty boneheaded, I agree, but it could have just been a non-partisan bureaucratic idiot that came up with the idea, just to give the benefit of the doubt here.
[7] -
Every once in a while, someone comes up with a plan to split CA up. They never work, and this one won't either. Trust me on this one...
[8] -
Oh, please. A cop was driving. My only question was: was DeBlasio wearing his seat belt? A Dem gov in NJ proved how not putting a seat belt on can be very dangerous with cops driving, so I'll only castigate DeBlasio if he was seatbelt-less.
[9] -
"Romney's going to win! I heard it on Fox News!"
There's a LONG time before the election... too long to be counting pre-hatched chickens...
LizM [11] -
I have no recollection of that moment in history, Chris. None, whatsoever.
BWAH hah hah! I just bet you don't, eh?
Funny, I remember it quite well. I even remember the Czech goalie's name: Hasek. To be fair, he was the real reason they won gold. The Czechs were brutally outplayed by the US, Russia, and (yes) Canada, but Hasek did not let that puck in the net, no matter WHAT was happening on the rest of the ice!
:-)
But, like I said, congratulations this year, and good luck tomorrow night!
Paula [12] -
Well, the Fairness Doctrine might have been a wonderful thing, if it still existed today. I'm not against the concept, mind you, I'm just accepting reality, that's all.
But it's long been my contention that the media of today is nowhere NEAR as partisan as what Americans got for most of their history, and that the Cold War "we're all in this together" phase of media being polite and non-confrontational was merely an abberration -- a moment in time that is over.
Michale [13] -
No, there's an older concept here: the airwaves belong to ALL Americans. The government regulates them, but they also control them to a certain extent. This is why network broadcast TV doesn't have hardcore porn on at 10:00 at night.
But I'm not a gigantic fan of the FD. I am a MUCH bigger fan of another rule Reagan threw out -- the 7/7/7 rule. This dictated that any corporate entity was not allowed to own more than 7 newspapers, 7 radio stations, and 7 TV stations (I think, doing this from memory, might have been "7 AM stations and 7 FM stations" even). To put this another way, I think Clear Channel is a MUCH bigger threat to the American public than Fox News.
Paula [14] -
Basic history:
http://02e1390.netsolhost.com/broadcastownershipreg.html
-CW
PS.
The cat's name, of course, was "Jones" or more affectionately, "Jonesy". You're welcome.
-CW
Got a link for that gun/school story? I love irony, even at the expense of the left, you know that.
dailycaller.com/2014/02/10/gun-stun-gun-control-activist-swears-he-forgot-he-was-carrying-gun-while-visiting-school/
Ya gotta love the irony... :D
To be honest, I didn't. It's "Aliens" not "Alien."
It's also "word" not "work" but I didna wanna be nit picky :D
Actually, I missed the ALIEN part.. My bust.. :D
Nice "Picard" in there, too. Intentional, or a Freudian slip?
Actually, every since Joshua brought it up...
fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/071/d/1/hoisted_by_his_own_picard_by_wytrab8-d5xv9z7.jpg
.... I can't get it out of my head.. :D
"What was the name of the cat who was on the Nostromo with Ripley in 'Aliens'?"
Little Shit...
"And you, you Little Shit, are going to stay here."
-Ripley, ALIENS
:D
Every once in a while, someone comes up with a plan to split CA up. They never work, and this one won't either. Trust me on this one...
But what's your opinion on it? Do you think it's a good idea??
Oh, please. A cop was driving. My only question was: was DeBlasio wearing his seat belt? A Dem gov in NJ proved how not putting a seat belt on can be very dangerous with cops driving, so I'll only castigate DeBlasio if he was seatbelt-less.
So, if a cop does it, it's not illegal??
If the guy in the back seat had been named Christie, the Left would have been apoplectic, no?? :D
The cat's name, of course, was "Jones" or more affectionately, "Jonesy". You're welcome.
Oh yea, that's right. :D
I thought it was "Little Shit"...
It's like my dog. I am sure she thinks her name is "Dammit Athena" :D
Michale
"What was the name of the cat who was on the Nostromo with Ripley in 'Aliens'?"
Aha!! Yer not going to catch me again..
The cat WASN'T on the Nostromo with Ripley in ALIENS...
It was ALIEN..
The Nostromo had already been destroyed by the time ALIENS happened.. :D
Michale
To which I smugly responded (to my wife, who is the real expert on Ripley, I might add) "In 'Aliens,' the Nostromo was a cloud of radioactive dust!"
Oh jeezus, I really have to pay attention when I read!!!
Chalk it up to being up at 0130 with a stack of laptops to work on 7 high..
Me culpa....
Michale
In other news, it looks like Piers Morgan has called it quits..
Another Left Wing fanatic finds that the vast majority of Americans simply don't like ideological fanatics preaching how bad America is and how lousy Americans are..
This is simply why Leftist media personalities will never be as popular as O'Reilly, Hannity or Limbaugh..
Michale
As for Ukraine, I was going to type "it's not partisan, yet, until Obama takes a stand on it and the Republicans do their knee-jerk 'what Obama is for is wrong' reaction." So thanks for confirming that.
Like I said, I'se aim to please.. :D
This is going to be the problem in Ukraine. Putin REALLY needs Ukraine to join the new EuroAsian Union that Putin is pushing.
The Pro Democracy people in Ukraine want to join the European Union..
Thanx to our POTUS, the US simply has absolutely NO credibility on the world stage anymore when it comes to pushing our strategic interests.
Obama has already issued his Ukraine "red line" and I am sure that Putin got a good laugh over that..
There is absolutely NOTHING to stop Putin from sending in Russian troops to insure that events in Ukraine go Putin's way.. I predict we'll start seeing news reports of Russian "advisers" in Ukraine within the next 3-5 days...
Here's the wild-card.
Our dear leader might feel he is pushed into a corner and lash out irrationally to show the world that he CAN be tough..
It's going to be an interesting week in Ukraine..
Michale
As for the FCC thing, fund a freakin' survey through the Columbia School of Broadcasting or something! Pretty boneheaded, I agree, but it could have just been a non-partisan bureaucratic idiot that came up with the idea, just to give the benefit of the doubt here.
Considering reports of ANOTHER program that was outed and got pulled....
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/02/23/license-plates-guns-news-federal-government-column/5759933/
..... I don't think we can chalk this up to some bureaucratic idiot that is ignorant of how Americans are...
I think we're seeing a real pattern. While I don't have a problem with a National License Plate tracking system (it would be an invaluable tool) I can understand how boneheaded it is to float that particular trial balloon when Domestic Surveillance is such a hot button topic...
Just one more piece of evidence that supports the theory that our Democrat so-called "leaders" are utterly and completely out of touch with average mainstream Americans...
Michale
Egon Spengler has left us... :(
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-harold-ramis-dead-20140224,0,2259309.story
Jeez I was hoping to avoid controversy,but Michales posting of the breaking California into six states got my attention. It is my belief other than electing the Austrian B. Actor governor,this is a bad idea full stop. It should be noted that the bad actor proposing this is a "venture capitalist". My contention is anything a millionaire wants is a bad idea for us in the hoi polloi category. I await some obscure movie reference.
I have to agree Egon Spengler has left us,it is indeed sad news. I never fail to watch this classic if I stumble upon it whilst channel surfing.My favorite line in the entire movie is when Ray conjures up the StayPufft Marshmallow Man,"Hey he's a good guy,a sailor in N.Y."
My contention is anything a millionaire wants is a bad idea for us in the hoi polloi category.
I await some obscure movie reference.
Richard Pryor convinced us to vote for "NONE OF THE ABOVE"
My favorite line in the entire movie is when Ray conjures up the StayPufft Marshmallow Man,"Hey he's a good guy,a sailor in N.Y."
"Egon, this reminds of me of the time you tried to drill a hole thru your head."
"That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me."
:D
It is my belief other than electing the Austrian B. Actor governor,this is a bad idea full stop.
WHY is it a bad idea??
I would think Progressives would be all for pen'ing up Conservatives and Republicans and Right Wingers and keep them away from "decent folk".... :D
Personally, I can see the logic in it..
If you live in an area far removed from your state capital and your leaders cater to their own Party and actively work to screw you over just because you voted for the other guy.....????
Or if a State Government caters to one major city and ignores the needs of the rest of the state, as is the case in New York....
Isn't the creation of a new state logical??
I mean, other than I think it would be really kewl, I am not advocating either way..
But I DO see the logic of the Pro-Secession groups..
What's the logic of the Anti-Secession groups??
Michale
Michale -
As for DeBlasio (I really have to learn to spell and capitalize his name correctly, one of these weeks...), the cops said "we are highly trained in defensive driving, and security is a big factor with the governor."
What I heard, of course was, "we like driving really fast," but that's just me...
But as a LEO type of guy, I thought you'd buy their argument?
As for splitting CA... sigh....
There are only really two intelligent ways to split CA, and that's just into TWO states: east/west or north/south.
Now, north/south would be the most obvious, if you looked at a map and if you were aware of the animosity between LA and SF. Look at the Dodgers/Giants, just for starters.
But a better fit politically would be to separate the coastal areas from the rest of the state, roughly on east/west lines (use some of the coastal mountain ranges as a border, perhaps). The central San Joaquin Valley is enormous, and it is full of farmers who are pretty conservative. Likewise the mountain regions to the east, and the northeast corner of the state. But the coasts are mostly liberal (not true everywhere, but a general rule of thumb). The problem with this split, though, is that it would leave most of the people in the liberal part of the state, while peeling off some land in the east (after all, San Diego, LA, San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland are all on the coast).
But the real reason it'll never happen can be summed up in one word: water.
Watch "Chinatown" for more details.
I think the state water board explicitly was given the power to veto any proposal to split the state, in fact.
It'll never happen. Never. It's fun to think about, but it just ain't gonna take place, even if the citizens vote for it. That's my personal take on it. Watch and see if I'm not right.
And that's just for splitting it in TWO. Splitting it in SIX is just insanity. For one, the other states would never allow it (think about it: we'd get to have ten additional senators!). It'd be seen (rightly) as a huge power grab.
-CW
Americulchie -
Hey, c'mon, we haven't had a B-movie actor as governor for YEARS now. And at least this one could never have become president (for which the rest of the country thanks its lucky stars, I am sure), unlike Ronnie.
Which brings up the movie reference. I will let Michale provide it, from the movie "Demolition Man."
Michale? That's your cue....
:-)
-CW
LizM -
Oh, and congratulations on that hockey gold, dontcha know?
:-)
-CW
CW,
But as a LEO type of guy, I thought you'd buy their argument?
I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with what occurred if it was on the way to an emergency or if there were special circumstances..
But the guy was just being driven to work.. There was absolutely NO REASON for deBlasio to do what he did. Or, more accurately, to have his security detail do what they did.
It's just another example of an elitist politician scumbag doing something illegal just because he can...
As I said, I know I am right because, if it had been Christie in the back of that limo, we would ALL be on the same page...
But the real reason it'll never happen can be summed up in one word: water.
Watch "Chinatown" for more details.
I gotta watch a MOVIE!!!???? Bummer.. :)
Which brings up the movie reference. I will let Michale provide it, from the movie "Demolition Man."
Michale? That's your cue....
"I have, in fact, perused some newsreels in the Schwarzenegger Library, and the time that you took that car.."
"Hold it. The Schwarzenegger Library?"
"Yes. The Schwarzenegger Presidential Library. Wasn't he an actor when you...?"
"Stop! He was President?"
"Yes! Even though he was not born in this country, his popularity at the time caused the 61st Amendment which states..."
"I don't wanna know. President..."
-Demolition Man
Ya know, ya'all take all the fun out of it when ya REQUEST movie references!! :D
Michale
And in other news, Obama decides to gut the military and reduce the Army to Post WWII levels..
Good call.. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
Jeeeze, I try NOT to believe the yahoos who claim Obama is out to destroy this country...
But when our POTUS does crap like this, it's hard not to..
Michale
Hey, c'mon, we haven't had a B-movie actor as governor for YEARS now.
Yea!! All the problems that California is in, the huge economic meltdown, the water issues..
That's ALL on Democrats...
And if anyone spouts off with "CLIMATE CHANGE!!!" I will certainly taunt you a second time...
:D
Michale
Michale,
... huge economic meltdown
Huh?
You're going to have to keep up with what's happening in California or risk looking like someone who is lost behind the curve, so to speak. Ahem. :)
You're going to have to keep up with what's happening in California or risk looking like someone who is lost behind the curve, so to speak. Ahem. :)
Overall, Californians don’t think things are better in the state today than they were a year ago. In fact, almost 40 percent of respondents indicated that things have actually become worse in California over the last year, with an additional 29 percent concluding that things are about the same. Half of those polled disagreed with Governor Brown’s claim that California is a model of good governance for other states to follow
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-14/california-economy-could-cost-jerry-brown-re-election.html
Once again, the spin that California is recovering is completely devoid of any reality and is laid to rest by the facts...
Democrats have obviously gone with the tactic that, if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit... :D
Michale
Oh, and congratulations on that hockey gold, dontcha know?
Thanks! It was a great game. If the NHL was like that, I'd probably still be a fan.
Michale,
We'll discuss the seriousness of your link after Brown wins another landslide election.
Michale,
Here's a great link for you Re. California politics which will lead to many more enlightening articles on the subject.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/california-elections_b_4757149.html
You're welcome.
Solving the state's long-term drought problems, exacerbated by climate change,
Sorry.. With that one sentence the ENTIRETY of the so-called facts of that commentary are called into question.
The idea that California's drought problem is caused by Human Caused Global Warming (Yet There Hasn't Been Hardly ANY Warming) has already been THOROUGHLY debunked by REAL science, not the psuedo-religious "science" favored by the enviro-extremists/terrorists..
Do every day Californians feel that they are better off??
Well, fully 40% say that they are WORSE off than they were a year ago...
And THAT is laid fully and completely at the feet of the Democrats who are running California into the ground..
In other words, it ain't Bush's fault... :D
But let's get a Californian's perspective.. Well, you just GOT a Californian's perspective, but let's get it from one who actually LIVES their now... :D
Michale
On a completely unrelated note..
http://www.weeklystandard.com/sites/all/files/images/BhUxHIIIAAAUhZX.jpg-large.preview.jpeg
How is THAT for crappy timing, eh?? :D
Michale
Michale,
Once again, you couldn't be further from the truth if you actually put some effort into it.
Here's another link to improve your understanding:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/jerry-browns-new-budget-s_b_4571390.html
Fortunately for you, there are countless more where that one came from.
Michale,
Here is the FULL quote from the first link I provided:
Solving the state's long-term drought problems, exacerbated by climate change, involves a medley of moves including conservation, storage, and conveyance. Which will not be worked out in some two-dimensional political campaign.
You should think long and hard on that for more than a moment. It's good advice as a two dimensional debate on any blog will not solve anything, either.
But let's get a Californian's perspective.. Well, you just GOT a Californian's perspective, but let's get it from one who actually LIVES their now... :D
What's that supposed to mean?
I read your link, Liz.. And I explained to you why I have a problem with with Bradley..
Put another way..
Let's say you read a HuffPo piece where someone is trying to make a point and says "Of course, many of the problems we faced in this country are exacerbated by Bush's engineering of the 9/11 so-called 'terrorist' attacks...."
Wouldn't you have a problem taking ANYTHING that person says seriously??
I know I would... :D
I am sure you can produce a dozen links that say California is coming up poppies..
Just as I am sure you realize I could produce dozens of links that show California is heading for a cliff...
My links would have the added credibility of showing how REAL Californians feel...
Michale
But let's get a Californian's perspective.. Well, you just GOT a Californian's perspective, but let's get it from one who actually LIVES their now... :D
What's that supposed to mean?
I mean, I was born and raised in San Diego, so that makes me a Californian.. But I haven't lived in California since 1986, so I am not the best authority.. That's why I said that polls of actual Californians are quite relevant, my beef with polls notwithstanding..
However, we are graced with a Grand Nagiss who resides in California as we speak..
I would be very interested in his honest take on whether life in California is the up and coming paradise that Brown/Bradley would have us believe??
Or is it over the hill and on the way to the rocks below, as the polls and the facts seem to indicate...
What say you, Nagiss?? :D
Michale
Michale,
You have implied that Bill Bradley doesn't live in California.
Your analogy with Bush and the 9/11 attacks was not amusing.
You really must get over your Bush obsession, by the way.
Michale,
I would be very interested in his honest take on whether life in California is the up and coming paradise that Brown/Bradley would have us believe??
What paradise? Your take on the links is amusing.
But I haven't lived in California since 1986, so I am not the best authority.
Truer words have never been spoken, by you. :)
My links would have the added credibility of showing how REAL Californians feel...
I'm not sure you could tell a real Californian, Michale, if one stepped up and slapped you across the face.
Your analogy with Bush and the 9/11 attacks was not amusing.
It wasn't meant to be. It was meant to illustrate a point.
That people who hold a certain opinion that is not supported by anything other than political ideology, said opinion will color their entire outlook..
You really must get over your Bush obsession, by the way.
Funny. That's what I kept telling ya'all for YEARS!!! :D
Truer words have never been spoken, by you. :)
I calls 'em as I sees 'em... :D
I'm not sure you could tell a real Californian, Michale, if one stepped up and slapped you across the face.
I doubt things have changed THAT much.. :D
On the other hand, the way things are going in CA (where are we going and why are we in this handbasket???) it's entirely possible.. :D
Michale
However, we are graced with a Grand Nagiss who resides in California as we speak..
I just realized how insulting it is to refer to our host as a Ferengi....
Going to go back to the tried and true "Grand Poobah".... :D
Michale
Michale and LizM -
Don't have time to answer every comment just now, but about CA...
First, let me preface this with a general comment. Since the governors have been in DC recently (and on the airwaves), I've noticed the "dueling stats" game that they always play. You know: "Our state is 1st in the nation in X, therefore my party and my leadership are genius!" along with "Ah, but in my state X is down/up to Y percent, the biggest change in all the states! My party obviously shows better leadership than yours!"
The entire country went through a recession. The states were hit hard. They are bouncing back. But how much of this (good or bad) can be laid at the feet of a Democratic or Republican governor? So, I'm skeptical of the whole debate.
OK, having said that (ahem) allow me to provide an update on the Golden State. Under Republican leadership, our economy crashed, our budget went off a cliff, and life was terrible. Now that a staunch Democrat is in control, the economy's doing great, our budget woes have been solved, and everything's coming up roses.
Heh. See how easy it is?
Anyway, under Brown the budget has gotten under control, but this is largely due to the improving economy. We used to have deficits that were larger than most state's entire budgets. We don't anymore. The budget picture is improving so much that all the slash-and-burn that was necessary in the past few years (we have a balanced budget requirement) is now over, and many cuts are beginning to be restored (in education, for instance). But we're still not back to where we were before the crash.
As for the public opinion polling, my guess is that it'll continue to improve over the next year. Californians don't pay a whole lot of attention to our state government in general (and not much to national politics either), so there's a lag in perception time.
And, to prove how easy statistics are to manipulate, if 40% of Californians think things are getting worse, well... look at the national numbers, which I believe are something like 65/30 on the wrong track/right track question. Which means Californians are something like 25% MORE optimistic than the country as a whole. So how is that not a good thing?
I mean, honestly, how is Florida's governor doing in the polls these days... hmmm? How many Floridians think things are getting better in your state?
:-)
Gotta run, more later.
-CW
Under Republican leadership, our economy crashed, our budget went off a cliff, and life was terrible.
Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't JUST the Gov Republican??
I mean, wasn't the Senate/House leadership all Democrat???
So, how much of the problem was the Republican Gov and how much was the Dem Senate/House???
It's like when the Left try to elevate Clinton to god-hood because of the great things that happened under his Presidency..
But how much of it was due to his Presidency and how much of it was due to the GOP controlled House/Senate???
The devil, as they say, is in the details...
Michale
How many Floridians think things are getting better in your state?
Can't find a poll that addresses that so obviously it's not an issue here in FL... :D
Michale
Having said all of the afore, I accept your opinion that things in California are, as my lovely wife would say, "Peachy Keen Wonderful"... :D
Michale
You know, Michale, you should try to be more open to the success stories. There are so few of them, particularly in politics, that they really do need to be celebrated.
Cheers!
You know, Michale, you should try to be more open to the success stories. There are so few of them, particularly in politics, that they really do need to be celebrated.
When it comes to the "success" stories from ANY Political Party, I am always cynical..
Because I know that there is ALWAYS a hidden (or not so hidden) agenda and most of the "success" is nothing but spin...
Michale
Florida Democrat: Without Immigration Reform, Where Will We Get Our Landscapers and Maids?
http://freebeacon.com/florida-democrat-without-immigration-reform-where-will-we-get-our-landscapers-and-maids/
Can you imagine if a Republican had said something like that???
Michale
Michale,
Because I know that there is ALWAYS a hidden (or not so hidden) agenda and most of the "success" is nothing but spin...
I'm so glad I don't live in your world.
I mean, nothing wrong with a little skepticism and healthy cynicism, but that can be taken to the extreme, you know.
I mean, nothing wrong with a little skepticism and healthy cynicism, but that can be taken to the extreme, you know.
Considering the actions of politicians, I think my skepticism and cynicism is VERY healthy.. And very warranted..
There hasn't been a single politician who has done a selfless act for the good of the country since Bush decided to torture terrorists for intel..
Name me ONE selfless act committed by ANY politician that served the American people at the expense of themselves and/or their Party/Agenda..
Not ONE single example exists..
Considering that, I don't think my cynicism is extreme at all...
Michale
In other words, with our current crop of so-called "leaders" (on the Left *AND* the Right) it's Self/Party Uber Alles...
That makes for really REALLY crappy leadership..
In such an environment, I don't think ANY amount of cynicism is "extreme"...
Michale
Regarding Ukraine...
BREAKING NEWS
Putin puts troops in western Russia on alert, Russian news agency reports
http://www.france24.com/en/breaking/20140226-putin-puts-troops-western-russia-alert-military-drill-reports/
Michale
Ya know, it's kind ironic..
Obama draws a line for the Ukraine government against using the military against it's citizens and the Ukraine government promptly steps over that line and uses military against it's citizens.
Obama's Rice warns Putin not to use troops in the Ukraine and Putin promptly starts massing troops on the Ukraine border...
Does anyone get the feeling that no one on the planet is paying attention to Obama anymore??
Michale
Michale,
There hasn't been a single politician who has done a selfless act for the good of the country since Bush decided to torture terrorists for intel..
Oh, that's just great ... don't get me started ...
Considering that, I don't think my cynicism is extreme at all...
Considering how you see the world, I'd have to agree with you. No wonder you need to provide laugh lines with movie quotes.
Oh, that's just great ... don't get me started ...
Have to admit, that made me laugh.. :D
I assume you mean about Bush..
But I am willing to wager that you completely agree with the first part of that.. :D
Michale
Considering how you see the world, I'd have to agree with you. No wonder you need to provide laugh lines with movie quotes.
"Touche"
-Jake, TWO AND A HALF MEN
ROFL :D
Michale
Considering how you see the world, I'd have to agree with you. No wonder you need to provide laugh lines with movie quotes.
Actually, in real life, I am a pretty happy CupIsAllFull(OfBeer) kinda guy... :D
I only play a depressing cynic on the Internet. :D
Michale
Lucky us.
Well, if YOU see a cause for optimism, I am all ears...
But, when you look at it, really the ONLY possible good that Democrats have going for them is obamacare..
And if THAT is the best shot at "good" their is, then Democrats are in REAL trouble...
On the Republican side, I don't see any potential leader stepping up and fixing this country...
Things suck right now and there really isn't anything good on the horizon..
Except for FIRST CONTACT, of course. :D
Michale
Well, if YOU see a cause for optimism, I am all ears...
I mean, seriously, look at things.
The US has absolutely ZERO credibility in the world. Third rate tin-pot dictators are laughing at the lines in the sand, Russia is throwing it's weight around, China is becoming the dominant military force in the Pacific and now the US is cutting it's military to PRE-WWII levels...
Do you see anything to be optimistic about???
Michale
Michale [43] -
And the ONLY possible caption for that photo:
"Smell my finger!"
Heh.
-CW
Michale [54] -
"The Ferengi have taken over the ship!"
Heh.
-CW
[continued...]
Now THERE's something I should have put in today's bit of satire. Wasn't it a Ferengi religious thing that all of their women had to always appear in public naked?
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone not following Ferengi dress codes..."
OK, sorry, just couldn't resist...
-CW
Michale [56] -
Oh, right -- Republicans never do this sort of thing, right? I mean they give the lion's share of the credit for the 1980s to the Democrats who were running Congress and not that B-movie guy in the White House... what's his name... slips my mind.
I mean, please.
-CW
Michale [57] -
From what I hear, Crist is up in the polls over the GOP governor... so who do you think's going to win?
:-)
-CW
Michale [58] -
Everything's not peachy keen, and even Gov. Brown does some incomprehensible things at times.
But things are one WHALE of a lot better than they were a few years ago. But my point is, I just don't think ANY politician can be blamed or credit all that much with the cyclical nature of the economy. Brown had to oversee some very tough budget years. I don't blame him for it, and if we get some very rosy budget years, I'm also not going to think it's entirely to his credit.
-CW
"The Ferengi have taken over the ship!"
Heh.
My beef with the Ferengi is that the are comic relief, nothing more.
If they were relegated to that role, I probably wouldn't have much of a problem with them..
But a galactic power?? A threat???
Puuu-leeeeesseeee
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone not following Ferengi dress codes..."
I'm looking for the downside.... :D
Oh, right -- Republicans never do this sort of thing, right? I mean they give the lion's share of the credit for the 1980s to the Democrats who were running Congress and not that B-movie guy in the White House... what's his name... slips my mind.
So, we're agreed.. Democrats and Republicans are the same.. :D
From what I hear, Crist is up in the polls over the GOP governor... so who do you think's going to win?
Honestly, I don't follow state politics that much. But I DO know that Crist is nothing but an opportunist, a politician's politician and as such doesn't DESERVE to win...
But things are one WHALE of a lot better than they were a few years ago. But my point is, I just don't think ANY politician can be blamed or credit all that much with the cyclical nature of the economy. Brown had to oversee some very tough budget years. I don't blame him for it, and if we get some very rosy budget years, I'm also not going to think it's entirely to his credit.
If only you were the norm around here. Or of the Left.. :D
Michale
For you, Liz...
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/joe-biden-profile-103667.html#.Uw830-NdWek
:D
Michale
Thanks very much, Michale!
I'll read it later this evening ...
Chris and Michale,
Do you give Brown no credit for the proposition that eliminated the state's budget deficit?
Michale,
So, we're agreed.. Democrats and Republicans are the same.. :D
Well, I certainly vehemently disagree with that statement.
For example, Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown are definitely not the same, not by a very, very long shot.
Thanks very much, Michale!
I'll read it later this evening ...
It's actually a great piece.. I found myself actually LIKING Biden.. :D
Michale
Really, Michale?
What was it about this article on Biden that you found so appealing?
I'm not quite sure what to make of the whole thing...
What was it about this article on Biden that you found so appealing?
It showed him as a human being... :D
Michale
Oh, I already knew that.
I wasn't always sure.. :D
Michale
http://news.yahoo.com/2-000-russian-soldiers-land-armed-invasion-crimea-202159123.html;_ylt=AwrBJR.i8BBTI2MA9wXQtDMD
I betcha all just HATE it when I am right, eh?? :D
Michale