I am on vacation until Monday, May 7. But, as always, our threads go on. Carry on.
We’ll be in Gloucester MA (Cressy’s Beach, Stage Fort Park) on Sunday, April 29, at 6:30 PM ET for a sunset remembrance of our Trail Mix pal Sean Holton at the site where he ended his cross-country bike trip 15 years ago, for those in the neighborhood who might be able to join us.
Holton Chronicled Death With a Writer’s Eye
– The Orlando Sentinel (Nov. 29, 2011)
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
133 Responses to Open Thread
Now on The Trail
taegan reminded us that mann and ornstein have a new book coming out next week. here’s amazons description of “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism”:
the key woohoo from the above:
Hello, all. My condolences to you about LL; he was a good dude.
Hey exChamp,
Nice to see you!
Barbra Streisand Turns 70
by Taylor Marsh
Insurers Alter Cost Formula, and Patients Pay More
By NINA BERNSTEIN
EDITORIAL NYT
Callous Choices in the House
bob
I’ve got to correct you A “Jack” is not a mule. It is a male donkey. It is a temperamental, stubborn ornery pia. He is also, a horny bastard that doesn’t mind a little cross species sex, so that when you put him in with a receptive mare the end result is a mule.
BTW none of the above descriptions apply to this Jack.
Jack
Welcome back, your lordship.
Jack
Jack, I’ll believe a lot of things, but from your descriptions of Mrs Jack’s returns from her innumerable business trips, I question whether this statement about you is not, in fact true, “He is also, a horny bastard…”.
A girlfriend of mine used to own and ride a breed of donkey known as Giant Ass… yup… it was a really big donkey.
Everyone got a kick out of saying to her “I saw you and your giant ass the other day”.
she said it was much smoother than riding a horse…
Hey Champ… how’s it going…
I opened yesterday’s mail a few minutes ago. Among the trash I found a letter from Mitt. He greeted me as “Dear Fellow American” and touted me as one of “America’s most notable” republicans.
The cheap screw didn’t even send a postage paid envelope with his request for money.
All this because I voted for the Democratic protest candidate in the republican primary. I love open primaries.
Tony you will probably enjoy Marc Thiessen’s piece at WaPo slamming the Bishop for slamming Ryan’s budget. The piece is ridiculous but the comments are great.
Stinky and I are almost ready to visit the doctor; she has become quite frail.
RNC spokeswoman Alexandra Franceschi told The Fernando Espuelas Show that the Republican party’s economic platform in 2012 is going to be the same as it was during the Bush years, “just updated.”
Cold Comfort!!!!!!
Hi Pogo and all
Thanks, I will surely give that piece a look…
Hey Flatus
Hope Stinky and you are ok…thinking of you.
The Republic Report uncovered that in March, Congressman Tim Holden (D-PA) introduced a bill to allow industrial farmers to dump animal waste into the Chesapeake Bay. He then immediately received $16,000 in reelection campaign contributions from the National Turkey Federation, the National Chicken Council, Dean Foods, and other industrial farming companies.
It may be legal, but, IMO, this is a blatant conflict of interest that creates a danger of corruption.
Needing Last Minute Political Support, Rep. Tim Holden Introduces Bill To Allow Pollution Into Chesapeake Bay, Collects Big Ag Cash
By Lee Fang, April 17, 2012 4:45PM
welcome back Champ, you’re no “ex”
Purple -
Geeze…this is just as bad as the border patrol story on Democracy Now….
we suck as a country and government.
Flatus, sending some good thoughts you and Stinky’s way, sounds like you all can use them.
Jack
Flatus
Hope all goes well for you and stinky. Kind thoughts for both you and your dear lady.
Hi Champ
Welcome back. Stick around for a while if you can.
A very good article from Columbia Journalism Review
How the Media Has Shaped the Social Security Debate
The press plays a dubious role
It is starting to look that way
Jack
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134376/Is-drone-neighbourhood-Rise-killer-spy-planes-exposed-FAA-forced-reveal-63-launch-sites-U-S.html
Flatus… so sorry about Stinky… cherish her.
Here’s a fun presidential game I found on the CSM site…
Gaffe Dodger…
Another nice pic of Lard; wish I had met him in person.
Keeping you & the Mrs. in my thoughts, Flatus.
ps -- Finally got new, TX voter reg card in the mail on Saturday.
“Paul also will once again air a TV ad proclaiming himself the “big bold Texan” in the GOP field, which his campaign says will be the first of several spots to run in the Lone Star state ahead of the May 29 primary.”
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/04/ron-paul-texas-campaign-swing-colleges-/1
crackers & w’jack -- As the saying goes: If the world didn’t suck, we’d all fall off.
Best wishes for you and Stinky Flatus! You two are tough cookies.
And speaking of cookies. I’m watching Colbert Report and they showed that little episode where he was saying the cookies that someone brought to a picnic looked like someone got them at the 7-11. They were actually from a famous local bakery.
Poor Mitt..he can’t help it. He’s like a social bull in a china shop. And he wants to be the leader of the free world?? Wouldn’t want him negotiating any serious diplomatic issues. He’d get us all killed.
Of course..I’ll have to admit that it’s not much better when we hear the O man saying to leaders of other countries..not to pay too much attention to what he’s saying..it’s just campaign talk. Great. He’s admitting he’s just bluffing the rest of us.
That’s the best this country has to offer? And no one wants to consider..none of the above.
Actually, that Chesapeake Bay pollution story is disturbing -- the crabs were damn near killed off from a combo of over fishing and fertilizer runoff into the CB drainage basin, and the Bay almost died from the ag runoff. It’s come back some, but it ain’t there yet. This is a typical piece of BS legislation that would violate the Clean Water Act -- Hell, chicken farmers in Eastern WV who let chickenshit runoff into the Potomac got slammed with fines within the last 20 years, and now a critter from PA wants to give that practice a stamp of approval? Moron.
Here’s an article about the problem.
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2685994
And another.
http://www.bayactionplan.com/2011/09/big-chicken-vs-clean-bay/
I wonder whether the proposed legislation would run afowl [sorry] of the CB Improvement Act?
Latest Gallup running tracking
Obama Romney 50 -- 44
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/disgraced-gov-eliot-spitzer-on-edwards-trial-a-tragedy-but-a-crime/
For those trying to decide on their Derby horse, here are the top 20 contenders with their trainers and jockeys assigned so far. There are four other “also eligible” who might come in to play should any of these drop out for any reason:
2012 Contenders
patd
I understand where Spitzer is coming from, but the key element for me is why was this “neighborhood watch” carrying a gun in the first place. If the apartment complex does not recognize him as an “official” protector of their property or back him as a known agent for a group of “protectors”, then I think what he did was a crime.
If they do recognize him, then the Martin family better sue them all the way to bankruptcy.
Barbra Streisand has always been a smart and talented person. She has fought the good fight for decades.
Most people I don’t like or respect are the ones who disparage this very good person.
Happy Birthday!
Love Streisand’s version of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind”
blue
I never heard that one before…pretty funny.
jamie, spitzer was talking about a different tragedy.
patd
Thought I heard him say something similar about the Sanford shooting.
Re x-FL Governor Crist :
http://www.nationofchange.org/ex-gop-gov-crist-s-law-firm-donates-pro-obama-super-pac-1335254098
Flatus,
I hope that the doctors can come up with something to heal and cure Stinky quickly.
I find it interesting that a blue dung rep from PA promotes a bill that could endanger Chesepeake Bay and possibly lead to typhoid fever during an election year. He may have gotten a $16k bribe from the industries, but he’s lost $100k worth of good will. I think that timmy holden is going down in the primary, and this bribe could be the tipping point.
Btw, we have an enormous poultry industry in MN, too.
The local energy company buys almost all of the chicken and turkey poop to make electricity. When this practice began, it hurt the organic farmers, cuz the power company out bid them for the poo.
Why can’t PA chicken and turkey poop be a resource rather than a waste product ?
Stupid industry. Stupid & crooked blueturkeydung congersman.
Of course, timmy holden opposes alternative energy sources.
Sweetie is hosting the 1st Sopranos’ practice tonight. I must now go baste the peppered unicorn.
I hope they like peppered unicorn.
Red wine with peppered unicorn.
Shhhh. It’s actually a beef roast, but don’t tell them.
Love that edit button.
Jamie…thank you for “New York State of Mind”.
I’m watching Eliot Spitzer on Current. He is very informative.
I don’t know why anyone would choose to watch that windbag, Ed Schultz, instead of Spitzer.
Certainly not a good sign of an improving economy, and graduation is only weeks away.Where will they find work?
http://huff.to/I9GZW0
They’ll go right back to school.
If they are Chinese, they can go home and take jobs that romney exported.
I concur wholeheartedly with Mr. O. Democrat’s opinion handed down at 8:01 pm. Why indeed?
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/04/24/open-thread-7/#comment-287793
Flatus,
Just catching up, oh man, hope Stinky is ok? I’ve seen frail and that isn’t good..Wishing you all the best..
Flatus…Thinking of you and Stinky, and praying for her to get stronger. Please take care of both of you!
it’s evening in america?
mitt’s “a better america begins tonight” just doesn’t have the same hopeful ring to it as ronnie’s morning bit.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/04/24/romney-speech-better-america-begins-tonight/
As I listened to the President’s speech yesterday with reference to the cost students/parents incur with higher education, it dawn on me he never mentioned the ever increasing fees the colleges/universities are charging. How much did it cost the President to go to Harvard, and how much would it cost today? To go to the U of Pennsylvania will cost you approximately $60,000 per year. Over 4 years that is a whopping $240,000. If you paid it back with 0% loan, as in ZERO, your monthly obligation amortizesd over 20 years would be $1000. At 4% the monthly payment would increase to $1,454.35.
Prez was pretty good on the college loan interest slow-jam with Jimmy Fallon, too. The line during the interview about taxing the super-rich was quite an applause line, too. He may be able to get out the youth vote after all.
Movington, very good point -- when I got out of grad school I had no loans. Out of law school I had almost $30,000 in student loan debt and thought that was a crushing loan load (my first house cost me less than that)- but I had a degree that made me employable right out of the chute. For 2010 grads, the average loan debt was $25,050 and the unemployment rate among college grads from that class was 9.1%. And there is a sliding scale in the elites -- Harvard doesn’t expect a financial contribution from families with incomes less than $60,000. That said, I do not know how much of the financial package there is grant money and how much is loan money.
blueINdallas,
Why doesn’t the Prez ask the colleges to lower their tuition rates? Given yeaterdays news report that 1 out of 2 college graduates can’t find work, or can only find part-time work.
Understanding the private equity hustlers
Nothing about these guys including Romney is good for the economy.
From Steve Clemon’s blog on the Atlantic.
Looks like Romney is irritating the social conservatives
Steve Clemons has another good post on Romney and foreign policy
Maybe this will help keep animal waste out of the Chesapeake Bay. Now will they win the general election?
Mark Critz defeats Jason Altmire, Matt Cartwright beats Tim Holden
By Rachel Weiner, April 25, 2012 10:53 PM ET
The Northwestern study done for AP on college grad joblessness is sobering.
“This America is fundamentally fair. We will stop the unfairness of urban children being denied access to the good schools of their choice; the unfairness of politicians giving taxpayer money to their friends’ businesses; the unfairness of requiring union workers to contribute to politicians not of their choosing; the unfairness of government workers getting better pay and benefits than the taxpayers they serve; and we will stop the unfairness of one generation passing larger and larger debts on to the next.”
Mitts idea of America. sounds like voucher schools, union busting, and a continued attack public sector workers.
He can dress the rhetoric up any way he desires but it still comes out to be the republican play book 7.0
He can claim to be a severe conservative until the cows come, mostly he is just a horses ass.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/pennsylvania-primary-blue-dog-democrats_n_1450926.html
Difficult to shed any tears over this.
jace, either one, the product coming out is the same
Patd,
Good on you!
pogo, quote from that pa article you posted:
here’s the link for the pac which i understand is a big-un outta tx.
http://www.campaign4primaryaccountability.org/
Obama is annoying but Romney makes me want to throw up
Yet even more bad news on the economy. Isn’t there any good news?
http://bloom.bg/Jz1z1p
Pogo,
I believe this is the Northwestern study you were referring to:
http://yhoo.it/Ka8zwT
Mitt is either a liar or is very ignorant…perhaps both.
I’m a longtime union member and I fully understand that campaign contributions come directly from voluntary individual contributions. Romney has been around the block enough times that I would be surprised if he didn’t know this.
KGC: I strongly agree with your 10:14 post…
Movington -- that’s just the AP article about the study. It’s only one degree of hearsay.
Pat, I think that was PiT’s article.
The college student thing is silly. Every year there are stories about kids have to return home to live and not able to get jobs after spending a bazillion dollars on their now worthless BA…
I think the unemployment number is higher this year but only relative to the overall unemployment numbers — what about old people near retirement who can’t find jobs — I think their plight is much worse — they can’t afford to retire and they can’t find jobs at any kind of a decent pay level.
Wolf Blitzer did a face plant on Romney’s butt today.
he declared his speech perfect — really. Just because he didn’t talk about all the things that will cause him to lose? Mittens isn’t going to bring up his hard right stands unless a decent newsperson makes him.
Where would we find that person --not at CNN
There has to a use for this thing I found from a couple of years ago when we were floundering around for a place to be Time Enough To Talk
KGC
Love the “Wolf Blitzer Face Plant”. It’s one thing to attempt to be objective between the extremes of the party, but Blitzer couldn’t be more obvious if he were on the Romney payroll.
More documentation of Obama’s and tax cheat Tim Geithner’s total disregard for the American People.
George Washington: Tarp Overseer Debunks Bailout Myths: Big Companies HAVEN’T Repaid Tarp Funds … And Funds to Help Homeowners HAVEN’T Been Disbursed
Let me not forget Congress’ disregard for the American People.
Fed Paper on Repo Exposes Inadequacy of Financial Reforms
By Yves Smith, Naked Capitalism, April 25, 2012
Afghanistan says no to Dana Roherbacher --wolfe blitzer is outraged…I wish we could ban him actually both of them--he’s a total jerk
Wolfe Blitzer needs to be off the air now. He’s having a Lou Dobbs moment -- he’s mad at the Obamarama for allowing the biggest turdface on the planet to be treated the way he deserves — Blitzer has broken every journalistic rule there is and his obvious partisan position makes him unfit to be on the air
today was wolfe’s gooper all day everyday…I don’t care if he doing it so all the money they have invested in election coverage doesn’t go to sleep
in the end Obama will win Romney is too odd and being a Morman will hurt sorry folks just a fact — Rick Warren has already said he’s NOT a christian- you think Dems are turned off. I think the current Republican strategy is to get Ryan as vp and then send Romney hunting with Dick
So Wolfe are you aware of all the comments your idiot friend has made about afghanistan This is a particularly delicate time. One of the people we sent to help them just murdered a whole bunch of them for no apparent reason.
Roherbacher is the type of person to pour gasoline on a fire.
and you sir are the so unbelievable stupid I’m shocked you can move about without assistance
Here’s why loser boy was asked not to come
http://wonkette.com/470655/congressman-dana-rohrabacher-r-the-taliban-gets-no-respect-from-afghanistan
I wish we could ban him from the US and throw Orange County out of the State and the union. If a Democrat did something like this the entire party would be apologizing but since a gooper the media not only takes their side but develops faux outrage on their behalf.
Fire Blitzer he is over the line he insulted the secretary of state and secretary defense called them names in fact — he needs to go
KGC -- I don’t think the majority of the country really cares how odd Romney is. As of now, this election year is a Referendum on Obama. Now this could change if Romney does something bat shit crazy like pick a Palin-like Right wing Vice-President but that is yet to be seen. Blitzer should have been fired on air one second after he treated Hilary Rosen like a child.
The Young Turks on CISPA:
http://youtu.be/UERicIJ2J5U
CNN’s rating problems are starting to show. I think they have decided to become the thinking man’s Fox News.
Smarter broadcasters just as slanted.
jaslf
it doesn’t have to be a majority. I think this is an election that will be won by whomever can cobble together enough special interest groups. Romney needs Christian voters to win — but he can’t campaign on the issues that will fire them up. I think they will stay home and won’t be engaged in the campaign
KGC -- You really think so? At the end of the day, I believe that Christian groups will be fired up because of the stupid rhetoric the right wing machine pumps out there. Their bullshit beliefs that Obama is not an American, he is a socialist, he is ruining America, and he wants to destroy Christianity will lead them to the polls. But we just have to wait til November to get a definitive answer, I suppose.
Jaslf
Today all the news was about how clever Romney is and how he “pivoted” to the center. He can’t stay in the center and keep the Christian right fired up. Even Shrub knew that for his second term — he cheerfully threw the gay republicans out of the big tent.
I think they are whacky enough to vote for someone because he is a Christian and not to vote for someone who isn’t
And people liked Shrub..they don’t like Romney. He’s got himself into quite a pickle in my opinion. And if you pile on the “he’s not a Christian..” I think that peels off enough voters to hurt him. And Latinos hate him.
Thanks for welcoming me back, but due to my inability to express myself without conveying copious amounts of negativity, I try to keep my thoughts to myself these days (I’ve been doing well to that end). I certainly can’t get wrapped up in another presidential election year cycle of arguing, one-upsmanship, and the like; it makes me too crazy.
Thanks also for linking LL’s obit: He was a very accomplished guy, and as I implied earlier, it doesn’t seem like he had a bad bone in his body. I’ve got 206 of them, and here I am, and there he goes. What a world.
Glad to see you all still fighting the good fight. Semper Fi, or something like that.
Ok, fine, just one, and then I’m gone…
Regarding Romney: Anyone who uses that much hair gel that often has got to have some sort of brain damage.
Seriously, I’m done. Oh, wait…
I noticed no one since Lesley has mentioned Dana --and CNN does the same programming from 6-10 From the Affront through pursed lips — all the same footage and topics. I think Lesley was off the reservation with his manufactured outrage for Dana
Someone needs to rap his knuckles good --maybe he can join Lou at Fox
XChamp
Good snark is always welcome — sorry if it damages your psyche while you’re participating — it is a noble endeavor to seek the stay on the highroad…but when you fall off -- stop by
Champ, as scientists say, “Positively charged objects and negatively charged objects experience an attractive force.”
The Harold Evans vs. Rupert Murdoch conflict is really fascinating.
Hey Champ,
Soooo glad to see you back..Can’t wait for Solar to see you’ve been here..Oh and i’m still waiting to see that picture of your guitar…
Blue Dog Dems Go Down
by Taylor Marsh
The defeated blue dungs are now free to caucus with the rip up licans for 8 months. Why not ? They’ve already been at it for decades.
I don’t know which I prefered, Historical Lard (A White House Mystery) or Hysterical Lard (Dick Cheney vs Bob Dylan)
Sigh.
The record event report from Sandstorm City. …..
On a lighter note, my railroad raft parts have all come in.
The Belt Sander Drag Strip clears the shop Sunday , my railroad raft starts Monday morning. In 2 weeks , I’ll be quietly rolling off Tenn. Pass.
My partners in Colorado are discounting this fur ball. Boy are they gonna choke , when I show-up with industrial testing.
My partners in Colorado are discounting this fur ball.
I’m designing it so it will run the narrow track as well.
That puts me on 3 of the greatest rail lines in America.
The ‘Clinton Party’ Wins In Pennsylvania: Is 2016 Next?
Howard Fineman
Brakes ? Seat belt ? Roll bar ? Crash helmet ? Inflatable suit ?
Location , location , location.
Or to quote Forrest :
“be there first, with the most”.
So what happened to the font on this page?
Everything is appearing bold and with a larger font.
“Isn’t there any good news?” -movingon, 10:30 am
There sure is ! osama bin ladin is dead. We’re not in combat in Iraq anymore. DADT. Sotomayor and Kagen.
And the man who has become the emblem of the hollowing out of American industrial strength is going to lose his race to the White House by 21 lengths.
It’s a great day to be alive, movingon.
Never mind it looks like the zoom in got hit in error.
There won’t be mourning in America.
The EPA has cleaned up several streams in Colorado. Namely the Ark. below Leadville.
I think it’s for us old guys who have poor eyesight.
I heart the EPA !
There’s good news, brother !
Big Regulatin’ Gummint found a private sector mad cow before that cow could kill an entire neighborhood.
I tell ya, there’s Good News, brother !
rip up licans want to make America defenseless in the face of murdering for-profit cowpoker terrorists.
The rippers are out to weaken our defenses.
So Gates joined up with two of the War Criminals Hadley and Rice.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/rice-hadley-gates-robert-gates-condoleezza-rice-stephen-hadley_n_1452788.html
Fortunately, movingon, America’s Civil Servant Patriots are on the job, preventing cowpoker terrorists from killing scores of unsuspecting church ladies and cub scouts.
My Friends, there’s Great News in America this evening !
Namely the Ark. below Leadville.
With an “enbargoed railroad track. Over 100 miles long”.
Down through the center Colorado.
Has Gates no shame ?
rice is questionable to bad, but hadley is a 100% murderous religious bigot perv.
Fortunately, hadley is now out to pasture. Another bit of Great News, here in America !
Big spot, big money.
And I know it.
Professional religious bigot ann coulter says, oh,bummer “showing up on Jimmy Fallon is pathetic”. She’s so foghing jealous of oh,bummer, she could bust.
The railroad raft carries 10 days of fresh hot water. And batteries to run everything.
If can make the right machine. We will invent a new way to see Colorado .
Big Money.
Big Money.
Every part is cheap from China. And the junkyard.
I showed the line to Tony & Larry today , they said. ” Wow “.
In 2 weeks we are test bedding , and going to Colorado.
The history of the student loan program.
http://bit.ly/KbtCjh
Osama bin Laden, the leader(?) of Al Qaeda is dead and that is a very good thing, however the spiritual zeal of Al Qaeda still lives on in the minds of many terrorists. Although OBL is dead, the more deadlier of the 2, Amman al-Zaharani, is not. It has been reported going as far back as 2006, that between 80 to 90% of al-Qaeda is dead; you can kill the enemy you cannot kill a belief which others will follow. http://econ.st/IrCZgY