Friday the 13th, part whatever.

Posted by: andy at 02:55 AM | Comments (106)
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I spent the afternoon at the dentist so that means you're gonna get a half-assed ONT and like it.

Unemployment Trends Over Time, State-by-State

Here's an chart showing the relative unemployment rates of different states over the past 40 years. They're ranked from from the worst long-term average to the best with shades of red denoting higher than national average rates and blue lower than average.

It's pretty clear that West Virginia, Michigan and Alaska have been under-performers for a long time but I was surprised to see that California had only slightly better employment.

Interestingly the rankings don't really change that much when you just look at employment rates since 2010. And unshockingly the best long-term employment states are mostly Red ones with ND, SD, and Nebraska currently dominating.

Why suffer in the Blue state doldrums when a better future awaits you in the off-world colonies Red states?

Posted by: Maetenloch at 06:18 PM | Comments (432)
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Either Team Romney wants to change the subject from false Bain attacks to false VP picks or Drudge is trolling for hits (they aren't mutually exclusive in reality) so here's the "hot" rumor.

Here's why there's ZERO chance of this happening.

-Rice is "mildly pro-choice". Is that like being "a little pregnant"? Do you really think Mitt wants to reopen the discussion about his views on abortion?

-She spent 8 years as one of George W. Bush's closest foreign policy advisers. Does anyone really believe that Romney wants to rehash the political fights over Iraq right about now?

-She has ZERO elected political experience.

If this is Team Mitt trying to change the subject...good for them. Maybe they can get the media chasing squirrels for awhile.

Update: That didn't take long. Romney source, "no Condi".

Posted by: DrewM at 04:33 PM | Comments (453)
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...according to @theDemocrats.

@Andrew_Dad suggested "golfs too much," and I suggest "ate a dog."

Go!

Posted by: Ace at 12:12 PM | Comments (1079)
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Above the Post One-Liner:

It's just a perpetual calender of opposite days in retard world.

-- ErikW

Don't you think?

"Everything bad that's ever happened under [Romney]Â…he blames on other people, and that just isn't very Presidential." -- @theDemocrats (apparently a real Democratic twitter feed)

Oh, by the way, Obama's a liar.

I'm looking at Twitter now, watching people like Mike Allen from Politico trying to gin up interest in this.

Meanwhile, Greg Sergeant (identified as an easy turn by Media Matters, willing to print whatever they pushed) mused thusly:

But here’s my question. Even if you accept that there’s no evidence Romney had direct involvement in Bain’s investment decisions, is this really the type of argument that’s going to fly with voters? My guess is that the distinction the Romney campaign is making here will be lost on them. They are unlikely to buy the argument that Romney bears no responsibility for the activites of a company during a period in which he is listed as the “chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and president” of the company.

In other words, as @drewmtips interprets, "So what if the facts aren't on our side. They're slightly confusing and Romney will have to fight back against the confusion. So let's push the false story anyway, guys!!!"

Thanks to @slublog.

Posted by: Ace at 11:38 AM | Comments (163)
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Romney should be transparent, but Obama doesn't have to be.

He just calls it a "Donald Trump" question.

Posted by: Ace at 10:50 AM | Comments (175)
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The end of California.

San Bernardino on Tuesday became the third California city to seek bankruptcy protection in the last month and, while no one expects the state to be consumed by municipal insolvencies, other cities teeter on the abyss.

"There are likely to be more in the future, but it's hard to know, since a lot of struggling cities may manage to work things out,'' said Michael Coleman, a fiscal policy advisor for the California League of Cities. "Some cities may not go into a bankruptcy, but they may dissolve. They may cease to exist.''

Once rare, turning to bankruptcy has become a painful but enticing option for cities whose labor costs and municipal debt far outpace anemic tax revenues....

San Bernardino couldn't close a $45.8-million budget shortfall and would be unable make its payroll this summer. Days before Tuesday's City Council vote, the city of 211,00 people had just $150,000 in the bank. The city barely scraped together enough money to cover its June payroll.

An LA County Supervisor has requested a report comparing LA's finances with bankrupt San Bernadino's and Stockton's.

In other words, Stockton and San Bernardino may be only the first dominoes to fall in California. In Stockton, avers Antonovich, “Rather than matching spending to revenue, they float bonds in order to cover escalating costs for retiree health care, pensions and public facilities and capital improvements. This is a recipe for fiscal collapse.”

They keep assuming they'll have a great big pile of money sitting around in the future. Trouble is, 1, they won't, and 2, the unions have also made that erroneous prediction, and have demanded ever-higher shares of the Big Pile of Free Money that doesn't exist, too.

Posted by: Ace at 10:16 AM | Comments (214)
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Pretty sure it's a no.

Here's the thing: He definitely does mention a "Reverend Wright." But is this Jeremiah Wright? Bear in mind Biden's spent his whole career in Delaware. And he speaks about de-segregating the Queen and Rialto theaters.

And google does turn up both a Queen and Rialto movie theater in Wilmington, DE, where Biden spent his years as a public defender.

And as far as the Reverend Wright: I'm guessing, but I think he probably means Reverend Wayne Wright, currently bishop of the Episcopal Church in Delaware. Google turns that up as a likely suspect.

So, just giving everyone a head's up. Pretty sure this is a wild pitch.

Now, on the other hand: Who the fuck is this "Mouse" character?

Posted by: Ace at 09:26 AM | Comments (185)
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I guarantee you'll love this One.

Will they do the below movie next? more...

Posted by: Ace at 08:47 AM | Comments (168)
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OK, I guess I have to say "alleged" criminal conspiracy because they're innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In the court of public opinion, though, what a bunch of amoral bastards.

"Taking into account the available witness statements and evidence, it is more reasonable to conclude that, in order to avoid the consequences of bad publicity, the most powerful leaders at Penn State University—Messrs. Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley—repeatedly concealed critical facts relating to Sandusky's child abuse from the authorities, the Board of Trustees, Penn State community, and the public at large."

Although concern to treat the child abuser humanely was expressly stated, no such sentiments were ever expressed by them for Sandusky's victims.

The report also says Penn State allowed Mr. Sandusky to attract potential victims by giving him continued access to the university and its football program.

"Indeed, that continued access provided Sandusky with the very currency that enabled him to attract his victims. Some coaches, administrators and football program staff members ignored the red flags of Sandusky's behaviors and no one warned the public about him." (emphasis added)

More, from the report:

The most saddening finding by the Special Investigative Counsel is the total and consistent disregard by the most senior leaders at Penn State for the safety and welfare of Sandusky's child victims.

Bad publicity delayed but not denied. Now reap the whirlwind.

Full report here: PDF

Posted by: andy at 08:17 AM | Comments (172)
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