1 Good morning, folks.

Pretty much everything associated with Ron Paul is despicable and/or embarrassing on one or more levels. (shrug)

2 Good Morning Morons its Dec 27, 2011. I don't know if its a special day or not 'cause haven't checked the almanac yet. Slept late this morning.

Not much news ad reporters are still on holiday but here goes.

3

OBama praises celebration of fake black nationalist holiday

One has to question his competence on this one.

4

SC woman sues bar for not checking her ID

More fallout from joint and several liability.  In a world with true justice this woman would be run out of court and her lawyer disbarred.

5

Byron York says Ron Paul being pushed to the front by non-Republican activist nuts

(or words to that effect)

6

Heritage highlights WP story about how Obama's green programs are eat up with politics at every level

Frankly I am surprised the WP even hints at a negative story about Obama. But why should anyone act like they are surprised that so-called “green” programs are “political”?  The entire movement is political and always has been. None of it has ever been based on real science.

7 And that's it.

8 It looks like the Paulbots will win in Iowa and the OWS crowd is moving in by the bushel basket full to try to disrupt the caucuses.

I think it is time for some town not run by urban communists to crack down on these assholes and Iowa just may be the place that does that.

9

Byron York says Ron Paul being pushed to the front by non-Republican activist nuts

(or words to that effect)

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 07:16 AM (YdQQY)

Sad thing is the GOP field being weak enough for this to be possible.

10 Reason once again proves how innappropriately it's named.

11 Zerohedge and others are reporting that Sears will shutter over 100 Sears and K-Mart stores due to collapsing margins and poor sales after Thanksgiving.

Some Nobel guy named Mundell  is being quoted as saying Berlusconi is going to come back in Italy.

Bank of America's 4th quarter report is going to be terrible.

Sources for all above are things I picked up on Twitter.  Sorry,  no links.

12 Byron York is right.

13 Ham Sandwich '12!

14 Sad thing is the GOP field being weak enough for this to be possible.

The sad thing is that the rank and file of the Republican Party is allowing the MFM to choose their candidate again. There is a reason nearly every candidate that surged to the top above Romney was beaten back into the ground.

All the signs point to Mutt winning on a plurality. Its 2008 all over again. Obama will win and the Republican Party will be dead after it splinters into two groups, the NE establishment Rockefeller wing and the Tea party conservative wing.

15 Zerohedge and others are reporting that Sears will shutter over 100 Sears and K-Mart stores due to collapsing margins and poor sales after Thanksgiving.

Some Nobel guy named Mundell  is being quoted as saying Berlusconi is going to come back in Italy.

Bank of America's 4th quarter report is going to be terrible.

Sources for all above are things I picked up on Twitter.  Sorry,  no links.

Posted by: Miss Marple at December 27, 2011 07:23 AM (GoIUi)

And the French unemployment rate hit a 12-year high in November. Gosh, it sure is smart of us to be trying to make the USA into a Euro-socialist economic clone just as fast as we can. It's working ever so swell over there.

16 Paulsamics

Tilting with contrails

17 What irritates the heck out of me is to find out that you can register as a Republican in Iowa THE DAY OF THE CAUCUS!  In New Hampshire they welcome "unaffiliated" voters!  And South Carolina has an open primary!

WHY ARE WE EVEN PAYING ATTENTION TO 3 STATES WHICH HAVE SUCH RIDICULOUS RULES? 

Sorry to shout,  but honest-to-God I cannot remember when I have been so disgusted at the STUPIDITY of the GOP.  The entire primary system is set up to allow Iowa and New Hampshire to go first and get to act all superior and collect millions of dollars from candidates through ads, travel, and hotel bills,  and then to see they cannot even make it an actual Republican primary,  but will let the democrats make Ron Paul the winner,  so that we will hear nothing but Paul on TV for the next month.

I am seriously PO'd about this.

18 All the signs point to Mutt winning on a plurality. Its 2008 all over again. Obama will win and the Republican Party will be dead after it splinters into two groups, the NE establishment Rockefeller wing and the Tea party conservative wing.

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 07:25 AM (YdQQY)

Many in the latter group might just stay home, too. Which, I guess, is what the GOP establishment would prefer to having someone not handpicked by them beat Obama instead.

The Beltway gang and the MSM deserve their share of the blame, but there's plenty left over for the sorry ass field of candidates we have running the sorry ass campaigns they've run and for the chickenshit candidates who didn't bother running at all to get some blame, too.

19 Ron Paul is the Real WarMonger

Accomodation

20 This morning brings a leap forward in the art of venery, which is the naming of groups of things like an exaltation of larks, a pride of lions, or a ration of shit.

In a Wall St Jrnl article on restructuring at MGM (migod they're looking at a Silence of The Lambs TV series), co-CEO Gary Barber stated they cut their legal staff from 20 to three. The reason?

"There was a bottleneck of lawyers."

Up until now (sorry, heretofore), I thought the plural of lawyer was "partnership."

21 There is a lead in on Fox right now as to whether employees should be rewarded for not taking sick days.  NOOOOOOOOOOO!  I lost a very wanted pregnancy some years back because assholes with major viruses and bacterial infections tried to cash in at my then corporation.  I got so sick I lost a baby boy in my second trimester.  If you are sick, stay home assholes.

22 Had a fantastic visit with our daughter's now-five-year-old son (who was placed in an open adoption), his parents and sister yesterday. He loves trucks and all things construction-related, so they built "Monstertown" beside our driveway yesterday with his toy cement truck and crane truck using loose bricks, sand and sticks.

23 Vic at December 27, 2011 07:16 AM

This is very similar to the point I was making the other day, isn't it.

Mischief <===> Democrats with time on their hands.

24

One has to question his competence. on this one.

Posted by: Vic

FIFY

25 Open primaries, open caucuses and lax enrollment rules have got to go. As does having Iowa and New Hampshire's ridiculous claims to being first. That, and conducting five to six regional primaries with a rotating rank order are the only way to go.

26

Don't we have to stop buying the good cheap light bulbs next month and start buying the sorry, made-in-china, got mercury in them, cost too much, shut-up the government knows what's best for you, takes a Hazmat team to clean-up a broken one, light bulbs?

the suck just keeps on...

27 I could give f*ckall about who the ethanol-subsidy grubbers in Iowa think should be crowned as the front runner.

28
Gingrich Supported WillardCare in 2006 Newsletter

29 "The next reasonable question is if Ron Paul didn't write them who did?"

Lew Rockwell and Murray Rothbard.  You can look this up, you don't have to wait for Paul to actually come out and say it.

Shikha Dalmia talks about what Ronnie needs to do here.

She's basically right in saying that if Paul doesn't actually confront this shit head on he's gonna bury the libertarian movement with him.

And before people here start crowing you have to admit that if not for the libertarians conservatives wouldn't have any decent arguments to rip off and call their own.

30 The sad thing is that the rank and file of the Republican Party is allowing the MFM to choose their candidate again. There is a reason nearly every candidate that surged to the top above Romney was beaten back into the ground.
Posted by: Vic
............
What nonsense.  Ron Paul is in the lead in Iowa, or close to it.  The MFM did that???  It's conspiracy theory bullshit.

But, even if it were true.  Who the hell else is there left besides Romney?  Perry, maybe.  But he has shot himself in the foot enough times without any help from the MFM.  cripes..

31 Time to get ready for work. Best week of the year to actually accomplish things since the queue of non value added usual meetings is empty.

32 And South Carolina has an open primary!

Open primaries are not the fault of the Republican Party. At least not in SC. They have sued three times since I have been here to get them closed and are shut down every time.

Long ago when the Demo-commies controlled the SC Legislature they made the Primaries open. Republicans sued. The SC Supreme Court ruled that as long as the State contributed materially to any part of the primary, including providing polling places, that the State could dictate the qualifications for who could participate.

Now the one thing that they did have is that you can only vote in ONE primary. The polls have a copy of the voter rolls for the district they are in and when someone votes in the Primary their names has a single line through it and a notation made for which party ballot they asked for to vote with.

The problem is that during years like this one with no open Statewide offices and no Dem national primary there is no State Dem primary. So I fully expect a lot of mischief in SC this time.

33 Once I can find my godaddy passwords I'm moving 5 sites over. Internet and congress does not mix. A warning to any biz thinking of cocksucking the Feds.

34 Chi-Town, when are you going to admit you are a Democrat?

35 "There was a bottleneck of lawyers."

LOL. I'll put that on the list right next to a 'gridlock of politicians', or is it a 'graft of politicians'?

36
Byron York says Ron Paul being pushed to the front by non-Republican activist nuts

Just like John McCain and Bob Dole!

37 LOL. I'll put that on the list right next to a 'gridlock of politicians', or is it a 'graft of politicians'?

Posted by: Retread at December 27, 2011 07:50 AM (ALZZ7)

Use "gridlock" when you want to say something nice about them. :-)

38 Use "gridlock" when you want to say something nice about them. :-)

Well that won't happen in 2012!

39 I think I'm gonna sue my credit card company for letting me charge too much.

Yeah that'll work. 

Well I'm off to get some coffee from McDonald's. Which I expect to be at just the right temperature for me to chug down right at the counter.

40 Switching gears a little...I skimmed over SOPA and the CNet FAQ and I don't have a big problem with it.  Should I?

41 Here's a feel-good story for your Kwanzaa.

Man trying to rob grocery dies after shot in face by Kroger employee

42 I skimmed over SOPA and the CNet FAQ and I don't have a big problem with it.  Should I?

Posted by: JohnTant at December 27, 2011 07:55 AM (eytER)

According to a lot of the news outlets and major internet sites it allows ANYONE to make an accusation of copyright infringement and then the government can shut the site down w/o any trial or evidence being presented.

Unlimited potential for government mischief. All this with zero evidence of need for additional laws. We already have copyright laws that make it illegal to steal material.

43

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 08:01 AM (YdQQY)

OK, I was under the impression that the removal order would come via court order.  What's wrong with a US Attorney going into a judge's chamber and asking him to point his browser to getmoviesfree.com or whatever and demonstrate the infringement?  Wouldn't a court order involve due process, especially if the content creator served the website with a C&D demand first?

Maybe I'm missing something (entirely possible...too much holiday cheer over the weekend).

44 Also, interestingly, Go-Daddy was exempted BY NAME in the bill and was also to be a parking facility for suspended domains which would mean money for it.

Sort of like how AARP was for Obamacare and was/is going to make big bucks from selling policies that Obamacare would make necessary.

Meanwhile Mitt says he's going to repeal Obamacare this week but LAST week he said he would keep the mandate.

He must of got his Weekly Positions list mixed up. I mean he must have a crib sheet of some sort to keep track of all his lies flip-flops policy reevaluations.

45 Re: Ron Paul. If I want a president who hates Israel, despises the military, and thinks the US is an illegitimate imperial power, I'll just vote for Obama.

46 Wouldn't a court order involve due process, especially if the content creator served the website with a C&D demand first?

A court order is not an adversarial proceeding because both sides are not heard. Also, according to what has been put out by all those people above the government doesn't need a court order. They can do it on their own.

nd even if they "fixed" it by requiring a court order it is still not OK as all the government would have to do to shut down a site they didn't like was go find a complaint "Obama Judge".

Don't say it will not happen because it has already happened numerous times in the past. FDR actually used the FCC to shut down political opponents.

47 Mischief Evil <===> Democrats with time on their hands.

Posted by: franksalterego at December 27, 2011 07:35 AM (9XykO)

FIFY

48 http://tinyurl.com/bu3kbxt

Above is story about House GOP cutting EPA administrator's budget by 33% and how the ranking democrat is upset.

49 The offending websites are not actually shut down.  ISP's must block the domain to all Americans (and possibly redirect to a US Gov't web site).

As a musician, I am in support of ways to limit the illegal distribution of copyrighted material.  However, this law seems to make it too easy to block a site.

50 FDR actually used the FCC to shut down political opponents.
Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 08:12 AM (YdQQY)
Fairness Doctrine anyone (with Kagan and the wisest latina on the SC)?

51 Morning all. Vic thanks for the headlines. Wiping apple pie crumbs from the keyboard. Hmmm hubby must have got up in the middle of the night....

52 It is already illegal to copy and distribute copyrighted material and there are ample ways to enforce it as the music publishers have demonstrated time and time again.

We do not need to give the government any more power at all.

53 Good news is that with the NE RINO wing of the republican party firmly in charge, we don't have to worry about democrat media bias against conservatives--the RINOs are doing fine on their own.

54 48 http://tinyurl.com/bu3kbxt Above is story about House GOP cutting EPA administrator's budget by 33% and how the ranking democrat is upset. Posted by: Miss Marple at December 27, 2011 08:14 AM (GoIUi)

55 In other good news, I haven't killed my pinko asshole brother yet.

He keeps trying to parrot Kos shit at me, and I keep walking away. I'm on vacation, dammit.

56

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 08:12 AM (YdQQY)

I'm not saying misuse won't happen, not at all.  And I'm painfully aware that two entities I really don't like (MPAA and RIAA) are all in favor of this, which gives me pause.

There has to be a solution though.  If I record a song and have full copyright protection on it here in the US, but some outfit in Kenya is distributing a pirated copy for free to people in the US, what is my recourse?  It's unrealistic for me to subpeona everyone I suspect of receiving the pirated copy of the song, and also unrealistic to seek relief in the Kenyan courts. 

That's what got my antenna up.  The CNet FAQ tells me a court order is required, which means convincing a judge that there's a problem which needs to be resolved.  If the website has received a number of demands from the content person to take the song down but has not complied, and is out of the reach of a US court because of the physical location of the web server/content, what is a reasonable next step? 

Injunctions are granted all the time prior to a full trial and those have passed Constitutional muster.  I guess I'm looking at a removal order in the same vein as an injunction, with relief from the order available when the website petitions the court.

Again, it's not that I'm sold on SOPA but that I need to understand the outrage against it.

57 Piracy isn't killing the music industry. Crappy music is killing the music industry; along with the regard of record execs charging $18 for a CD that costs fifty cents to make.

The video game industry is doing fine; partly because they're not publishing crap, and partly because, as the president of Steem makes the case, if you set a fair price for your product, piracy becomes a non-issue.

58 Crap, messed #54 up. What I wanted to say was, the GOP should figure out the per capita $ amount of the EPA budget cuts and propose them as a payroll tax cut. Play the Democrat's own game.

59 We do not need to give the government any more power at all.

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 08:18 AM (YdQQY)

^^^ This!

After all, it isn't like there aren't already a myriad of laws and/or regulations that affect every aspect of your day to day life.

Wish the Founders had inserted a sunset provision for all Congressional legislation!

60 The CNet FAQ tells me a court order is required, which means convincing a judge that there's a problem which needs to be resolved.

And we all know that, in real life, lawyers will shop for a judge who is friendly, naive, stupid, or correct enough to give them the injunction whether it is warranted or not.

61 Posted by: HeatherRadish at December 27, 2011 08:19 AM (UUfHw)

  I know what you mean. my Brother-in-Law keeps coming up to me and saying Four more years!I want to slug him. What a jackass....

62 There has to be a solution though.

We already have one. Buying pirated material from Kenya is just as illegal as buying pirated material from the U.S.

63 Charming too see that Dr. Paul just recently spoke at the 50th anniversary of the John Birch Society - actually he was the keynote speaker. On Youtube- the usual crazy train shit from him. Also- thanks for the Open primaries GOP, you f**king idiots- you couldn't see this being gamed by Obama groups a mile away? Worthless.

64 Reason is just High Times with an anti-semitic kook conspiracy theorist candidate for president. Dude.

65 The SC Supreme Court ruled that as long as the State contributed materially to any part of the primary, including providing polling places, that the State could dictate the qualifications for who could participate.

Why doesn't the SC GOP use people's (Party members') garages and churches and other free/cheap places as their polling places?  It seems like they could afford to not use state resources if they put their minds to it.  Or the friggin' RNC could raise funds for that purpose 


Good morning, morons.  'Hope everyone had a great long weekend. 

I didn't watch the game last night so imagine my surprise when I found that my FFL team (Verdant Wolverines) managed to squeak out a victory.  We were up against Drew Brees which is usually a death knell in FFL.

66 According to Fox and Friends,  Perry is statistically tied with Newt in Iowa.

67 It's weird about  Reason.  When I read an article on the Paul newsletters last week, it read like an admission that he was wrong to be involved in them even though clearly Reason backs Paul.  I must've skimmed the article too quickly. 

68 35 LOL. I'll put that on the list right next to a 'gridlock of politicians', or is it a 'graft of politicians'?
Posted by: Retread at December 27, 2011 07:50 AM (ALZZ7)

A 'cell block of politicians' has a nicer ring to it (and is especially appropriate for Illinois).

69 Posted by: JohnTant at December 27, 2011 08:20 AM (eytER)
And you favor giving an unelected judiciary aand the unaccountable DoJ even more power over you for a relatively trivial event?  The same judiciary and DoJ that gave you Roe v Wade, Kelo, free range new black panthers at the polling places, Fast and Furious, etc.?

70  66 According to Fox and Friends,  Perry is statistically tied with Newt in Iowa.

Please let that be so.

Maybe Tebow lost this weekend because God was busy focusing on helping Rick. 

71
And before people here start crowing you have to admit that if not for the libertarians conservatives wouldn't have any decent arguments to rip off and call their own.

Posted by: Robert at December 27, 2011 07:42 AM (4ixH5)

FOAD

It's people like you who claim Ron Paul started the Tea Party.

72 Good thought,  Y-not!

I would like Perry to pull it out just to cram it down the throats of the pundits, DC insiders, and pollsters who have mocked him for the last month.

Especially Ann Coulter, who has revealed herself to be nothing but a mercenary for the Northeast corridor GOP.

73 26 Don't we have to stop buying the good cheap light bulbs next month and start buying the sorry, made-in-china,........
Posted by: Case at December 27, 2011 07:40 AM (FD6YW)

Case -- don't know where you are but I'm 98% certain that ALL lightbulbs are currently made in China...CFL, Edison, Metal Halide, Flor...bulb plants were off-shored years ago.......

As for the ban, it is on Edison A-100w only...you can still get all other varieties of Edison A-w types...but give the greenies time!

Morning Morons and Moronettes!

74

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 08:24 AM (YdQQY)

I used Kenya as an example, but OK.  What about a country that doesn't care about US copyright law?  Moreover, how do I identify who is "buying" (read, downloading for free) my copyrighted material so I can go after them?  From what I gather, the community against SOPA is also against me getting a subpeona for IP addresses from the internet provider in the US.

Maybe there's a philosophical difference?  I happen to think it's a valid function of the federal government to enforce copyright law, and to me the easiest way to do it is to block offending websites (one suit) instead of trying to go after those downloading the content (many suits).  If there's due process in the system used to block the website, what other pitfalls are there outside of the slippery slope issue?

I'm sympathetic to the judge-shopping critique, but to me that's more an indictment of the judicial system instead of the law.

75

Good morning, all!  Happy Tuesday after Christmas.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. 

Any word on how CDR M is doing?  Pneumonia is miserable, the poor thing.  I hope he's faring better today.

76 41 Here's a feel-good story for your Kwanzaa.

Man trying to rob grocery dies after shot in face by Kroger employee

Posted by: HeatherRadish at December 27, 2011 07:58 AM (UUfHw)

I'm loving it...CCW (affirmative) in Indiana?...but carrying in a workplace?...I hope that employee has some really good legal representation...sad to say but true.

77 Ron Paul's foreign policy and lack of leadership are far more telling of his lunacy that any rantings he may/may not have written in his cultist newsletter.

Where is his record of bold leadership?

78 merry 3rd day of Christmas!

79 Ha! Ron Paul wasn't even in Congress in 2008. that was his robot double. Reason is just a tool of the international robot cartel.

80 Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 08:26 AM (5H6zj)

Putting on a primary using only party resources would be very very expensive. The simplest solution would be for them to undo what the Dems did in the legislature. As I understand the court ruling it is left up to the State to say who could participate, not that the primaries MUST be open.

Unfortunately the Republicans gained the majority in the legislature about 15 years ago by a bunch of the Democrats switching parties.  So until a generation passes we get a lot of Democrat actions from people who have an R after their name.

Which is why the Republicans went back to court again this year. (and lost again)

81 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

82 According to Fox and Friends,  Perry is statistically tied with Newt in Iowa.

Posted by: Miss Marple at December 27, 2011 08:26 AM (GoIUi)

Fingers crossed...

83 ...tied to Newt

1994, the clerk Shirley who hid Newt's first divorce records, payoff plus nearly 20 years interest. Just another Gingrich public record removed from government files, not legally stashed for "safe keeping" away from view on the false premise of being "sealed".

84 It doesn't matter if its Kenya or Red China, it is illegal to buy pirated material.

85 Taking down sites that actually host pirated content, sure, that's fine. Going after search engines for pointing to them, or ISP's for having pirated content pass through them is too far. It's akin to shutting down gun shops because some criminals use guns.

86
My democrat newspaper rag ran a good cartoon of Ron Paul this morning.

You can see it here.

87 Any word on how CDR M is doing?

Word last night was that he got kicked out of the hospital, but whether it was because his health is better or the nurses couldn't stand anymore was unclear.

88 Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  Or a happy Chanukah (as appropriate).

89

I'm loving it...CCW (affirmative) in Indiana?...but carrying in a workplace?...I hope that employee has some really good legal representation...sad to say but true.

Posted by: billygoat at December 27, 2011 08:34 AM (6DDE+)

...OR, was store security, OR off-duty POPO.

90 In other news, a new post went up at my place yesterday (I do them in advance and schedule them), so head on over and check it out.

91 some should photoshop mr magoo glasses on ron paul

92 #68 How about a cellblock of AGs? Yes, I have Holder in mind.

93 Unfortunately the Republicans gained the majority in the legislature about 15 years ago by a bunch of the Democrats switching parties.

So do you mean to say that just because someone has an R next to their name doesn't mean their victory is a win for the Party?  Color me shocked!

94 "There was a bottleneck of lawyers."
Up until now (sorry, heretofore), I thought the plural of lawyer was "partnership."

That one's pretty good but I have always liked an "obfuscation" of lawyers.
Since I coined it.

95 Word last night was that he got kicked out of the hospital, but whether it was because his health is better or the nurses couldn't stand anymore was unclear.

Posted by: Retread at December 27, 2011 08:44 AM (ALZZ7)

Hope so for his health's sake and that he's resting comfortably at home.

96 @70: I've concluded that Newt just can't overcome his baggage and the political ill-will he built up over the decades. That pretty much leaves me with a choice between Romney and a - perhaps - resurrected Perry. (I actually think even Huntsman deserves serious consideration, but his snotty attitude ruined his chances this time around him; I predict it'll be "His Turn" next time the GOP nomination is open) Romney gives signs of Chicago-style political toughness, something I admire in a Republican. He's politically gutting Newt, supposedly an old friend, ruthlessly. He's a pretty good debater, and articulate. He's got an impressive record of accomplishment in the private sector, and that may be the most important quality in 2012. Perry has a significant advantage over Romney: he's not tainted by Romneycare. He can point to job creation in Teaxas, but it's reasonable to wonder how much of that is due to him; nevertheless, it should play well politically. BUT: he needs to overcome his patent lack of preparation for a political run. He MUST learn to come across as knowledgeable and articulate, and refrain from facial expressions and smirks that don't project a certain lack of intellect. All that is doable, given years of practice like Romney has. I don't doubt Romney will be the nominee.

97 A conflagration of lawyers?

98 That one's pretty good but I have always liked an "obfuscation" of lawyers.

In my social circles, we like "an embarrassment of lawyers."

99 91 some should photoshop mr magoo glasses on ron paul

Posted by: phoenixgirl at December 27, 2011 08:46 AM (Ho2rs)

...heh!...makes me think of Magoo's Chinese houseboy, Charley!  Mitah Magloo, Mitah Magloo!...heh...I denounce myself.

100 Is there any evidence if Romney has ever applied his supposed political toughness against a Democrat? 

101 97 A conflagration of lawyers?

Posted by: De' Debil Hisself at December 27, 2011 08:48 AM (j5CHE)

...how about a clusterf*ck of lawyers?

102 "the seven principles of Kwanzaa -- unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith."

 

103 ...which reminds me that Obama IS a Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Failure.

104 PRE-DOOM:  This morning on NPR it was, the GOP party rules and the states who violate them.  An establishment GOP insider douche was quoted as saying that these questions about proportional delegates and states that go early losing delegates are moot.  It's going to be Romney and it's not going to be close.

105 If we all write to Newt and promise to order a book if he drops out, do you think he could be persuaded? 

106 100 Romney is like the Anti-Christ only republican.
Has the beguiling appearance and speech of a conservative but is actually opposite

107 @104
I can't stomach even one minute of NPR. 

108 PRE-DOOM:

No DOOM! this week, I think.

"the seven principles of Kwanzaa -- unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith."

Shorter: "the seven principle of Kwanzaa -- select any 7 mutually exclusive ideals."

109

Where is his record of bold leadership?

LETTERS OF MARQUE!!!

I am not supposed to hate, so I am stuck with I really, really, really detest that old lunatic--he's actually gotten some people to believe he's serious.  You might as well be voting for Gandalf or Hello Kitty, Paulbots.

Also, Recovery Summer 2010^tm continues with Sears to close 100-120 Sears and K-Mart stores.  That'll be what, another 10,000 jobs gone?

110 Anyone see the story about Stratfor being hacked by Anonymous?

111 ...how about a clusterf*ck of lawyers?

Bonus points if they stutter.

112 I can't stomach even one minute of NPR.

I takes me 4 minutes to drive to work and during that 4 minutes they almost always say something hilariously stoopid.

113 107 @104
I can't stomach even one minute of NPR. 

Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 08:52 AM (5H6zj)

Agreed...Listening to that is self-imposed torture.

114 You might as well be voting for Gandalf

I resent that: Gandalf at least understood who the badguys were, and that the war had to be taken to them.

Besides, if Ron Paul has anything in common with someone who has borne a Ring of Power, it's Gollum.

115 Heh. The week of Kwanzaa and black history month. Can someone please create some year long holiday so I don't have to mark my calendars up?

116 Yeah, Paultards and the Libertarians of Tucson, I gotta say... I figured you guys as a bunch of ineffectual, socially retarded, dumbasses who played RPG w/ 20 sided dies at Cody's Beef & Beans! Yeah, and that weird guy, with the glasses, at Golden Lanes, he's a fuckin' tout, ya moron!! A tout for fuckin dawgs... I had no idea the POWER of your movent.

117 my radio doesn't even know what station npr is on.....

118 Oh oh - Marie Osmond had lip collagen injections done... She looks vaguely hispanic now. Her mouth looks like it came off a blowfish. I wish women would concentrate on staying physically fit and trim, and stay away from "procedures." But it has to be asked... Are fuller lips better at felatio? As long as she doesn't hum "I'm a Little Bit Country."

119 socially retarded, dumbasses who played RPG w/ 20

Be careful who you call "socially retarded" and "dumbasses."  I can critical with my Longbow on an 18 - 20.

120 besides.....listening to npr while driving is dangerous.....even on a short 4 minute drive.....it will either make you fall asleep in 30 seconds or cause road rage....

121 CoolCzech- The one hope I have is that it seems Romney and his people are willing to go down and dirty to win this. That will go a long way to firm up GOP support in the general. I want some horseshoes in the GOP's boxing gloves.

122 117 my radio doesn't even know what station npr is on.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at December 27, 2011 08:56 AM (Ho2rs)

...and lets keep it that way!

123 Useless without a picture, CC.

124 The one hope I have is that it seems Romney and his people are willing to go down and dirty to win this.

Yeah, they seem to be willing to go down and dirty against Republicans- I agree with whoever said it above: where's the evidence he'll do the same against Democrats?

125

I can't stomach even one minute of NPR.

 

Nine times out of ten, when their news begins, the first two words are "President Obama...." If they weren't attached to the only decent music station down here, I'd never hear their bleatings at all. Just like I never hear the inane babblings of Chrissy Matthews or anyone else at those places.

Life is too short to listen to bullshit masquerading as news.

 

126 The one hope I have is that it seems Romney and his people are willing to go down and dirty to win this.

Did he do that in any of his runs against Democrats? 

I know he is willing to do it against Republicans, but what I saw of some of his campaigning in Massachusetts was a strategy that involved pandering to lib interest groups. 

127 Yeah, they seem to be willing to go down and dirty against Republicans- I agree with whoever said it above: where's the evidence he'll do the same against Democrats?

There is none. Even McCain refers to him as a RINO.

128 124 Yep- thats the issue. He's taken some shots at Obama but he needs to do more if he gets the nod. He has to show the base he will fight this administration or else he ( and we) are sunk.

129 Even McCain refers to him as a RINO.

Okay, well: "Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle."

That doesn't make him wrong, of course.

130

My BIL is worried that if Ron Paul doesn't win the Republican nomination, he'll run as a third party and leech votes away from the Republican nominee.  I countered by saying that, if RP does run as a third party nom, he'd also leech a lot of the leftwing nutbars who are disenchanted with Obama because of his many broken campaign promises (such as Gitmo). 

What do y'all think?  Does my argument hold water, or was it just cold comfort?

131 I just don't see how Romney's passive-aggressive dirty campaigning using rumors spun by surrogates is going to work against Obama. 

132 re the primary process, I have a few points:
 
There is a continued exodus of people from both parties to independent. By closing primaries, you must register as R or D to vote in them. It seems like that would reduce primary participation and lock in GOP preferred candidates. Remember Dede Scozzafava?
 
There is much complaining here alone about the GOP 'establishment' picking our candidates for us, as well as the MFM. True, the Dems have an opportunity to run an Operation Chaos this year, but the shoe won't always be on our foot.
 
The SC system Vic described sounds pretty sensible to me overall. Otherwise you get very partisan primaries, with both candidates tacking back (or pandering if you prefer) to the middle to get that 36% and growing independent vote in the general.
 
It seems better to me to have the Is involved from the start. But I agree that the 1st 3 primary states should be rotated somehow; I'm sick of Iowa being so heavily weighted.

133 What do y'all think?  Does my argument hold water, or was it just cold comfort?

I think if Luap Nor runs as an Independent, he'll sap as much from the Democrat/Green Party/Van Jones side of things as he will from the Republicans.

Also, I don't think he would do it: he knows he's old and has admitted he's not sure his constitution is up to a full-on General Campaign.  Well, if he's not up for that as a candidate for a major party, he sure as heck isn't up for it without the support structure a political party would provide.

134 I think the Party should punish states with open primaries by reducing the number of delegates they get to send to the convention and/or they should reward the states that have a high number of registered Republicans. 

135

Good Morning Morons its Dec 27, 2011. I don't know if its a special day or not 'cause haven't checked the almanac yet.

Nine years ago today I got the best Christmas present ever: my baby girl.

If that's not in the almanac, it should be!

 

Good morning, everyone. I can see the sun again. After nearly 8 inches of rain this month, I'd forgotten what it looked like.

136 I countered by saying that, if RP does run as a third party nom, he'd also leech a lot of the leftwing nutbars who are disenchanted with Obama because of his many broken campaign promises (such as Gitmo).

Yes, I think he would pull some of the young dummies who voted for Obama last time. 

137 I hope Paul runs 3rd party- his supporters are stoners , nuts and anti semites. Sounds like Democrats to me.

138 Didn't Johnson drop out recently and say he was running as the Libertarian?

139 Has the beguiling appearance and speech of a conservative but is actually opposite.

The raised eyebrows and blank stare while delivering lines with such memorized vehemence -- virtual lip service endorsed by "read my lips". Shirley binds "no new taxes" to failure for personal profit at further public expense.

140 100 Is there any evidence if Romney has ever applied his supposed political toughness against a Democrat?  Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 08:49 AM (5H6zj) Alas, he's been too much of a Republican for that. But I think his gutting of Newt has been impressive. And at least Romney made the ballot in VA, which says something about competence.

141 I just don't see how Romney's passive-aggressive dirty campaigning using rumors spun by surrogates is going to work against Obama.

I see exactly how it will work:  Poorly.

Okay Romney Camp: I'm going to give you some free advice: rumors and innuendo won't work against Barack Obama.  Even though it will be a bald-faced lie, he will simply say, "these are old rumors, already debunked."  He will then trot out the birther straw-man, and the Media will do the rest.

You will have to attack him on his Character (hint: Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure) and his policies (hint 2: Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure).

Actually- that's not directed to the Romney Camp, it's directed to whoever our eventual nominee is.

142 One redeeming feature of NPR is Car Talk. They've got Top Men on their staff:

http://tinyurl.com/82hkbzs

For example: Air-Quality Monitor: Carmine Dioxide

143 As a musician, I am in support of ways to limit the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. However, this law seems to make it too easy to block a site. Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at December 27, 2011 08:14 AM (UTq/I) As a 'former' musician I find my stuff on torrent sites all the time. BooHoo. that is money I'll never see; On the other hand SOPA is the 21st Century equivalent of government brownshirts burning books and jailing dissidents for printing newsletters. Yes, yes it is. A "national security" waiver in the NDAA allows the military to disappear US citizens on US soil and SOPA allows the US Federal government to disappear web sites. To be fearful and angry is healthy when Freedom is crushed within the borders of the last great hope of freedom in the world.

144 hi all
so could someone please offer a reason to be against SOPA that doesn't rely on insane paranoid extrapolations of government power such as THEY'RE GOING TO CENSOR THE ENTIRE INTERNETZ!!!  because that is what I see most often.  I don't buy into all of the conspiracy bullshit.

145

>> Reason's defense of Paul's letters was despicable in 2008. It's still despicable, but also embarrassing this time around.

 

It's lame too. 

146 Perry IS A Straight Shooter

How many of his toes remain attached?

147 And at least Romney made the ballot in VA, which says something about competence.

Even if I were not fully in the tank for Perry, I really think what has happened in Virginia is a reflection of a poorly designed system on their part that favors recycled candidates with a well-defined core of supporters.  I hope the VA GOP enjoys their victory of excluding all but two candidates.  Somehow I doubt that the voters of VA will feel that it was a victory. 

Has it been clarified yet whether or not Paul actually met the 15,000 signature minimum?  The last I read he was below 15,000 but his votes still were not certified. 

148

On the other hand SOPA is the 21st Century equivalent of government brownshirts

I don't see it that way.  SOPA is what happens when you let technologically illiterate congressional types have the keys to the intertubes.  They might as well be legislating about string theory.

149 123 Useless without a picture, CC. Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 08:59 AM (5H6zj) Of Marie Osmond's collagen-bloated lips administering a hummer to the tune of "I'm a Little Bit Country"? I'd pay for that pic. Very well: http://tinyurl.com/bvk3edk

150 And at least Romney made the ballot in VA, which says something about competence.

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 27, 2011 09:09 AM (niZvt)

He should be competent at this, he's been running for years and years.

151 I see the TSA and DHS as a clear and present danger to liberty. They should be dissolved.

152 Re: SOPA

The problems with SOPA (just like with 'Net Neutrality') is that the Government can't police the Internet without taking away freedom from the majority of people who won't be breaking the law anyway.

The thing with IP laws regarding "art" (music, art, plays, movies, whatever) is that they simultaneously restrict Liberty without actually providing any security.  Especially any "new" Intellectual Property laws.  We already have laws governing Copyright and Trademarks and Patents, and such.  Additional laws aren't going to stop people from circumventing the law.

153 143 Say someone here posts a link to a copyrighted song in the comments. (C'mon this happens all the time here and anywhere else links are allowed in comments). The copyright owner files a complaint and boom, AoSHQ is blocked by a judge. Ace has to scramble to hire lawyers to get the site unblocked. In the meantime, our favorite playground is off the air indefinitely.
 
Do you now need another reason to think that SOPA is a piece of crap?

154 Y-not, it's not that you're just "in the tank" for Perry: you've got on your wet suit, flippers, and scuba gear. The garter belt and g-string over the suit are a nice touch, though, so I'm inclined to like you all the same.

155 Egads, CC, she's barely recognizable. 

156 I think the Party should punish states with open primaries by reducing the number of delegates they get to send to the convention and/or they should reward the states that have a high number of registered Republicans. 

Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 09:05 AM (5H6zj)

And I still advocate that the States who vote with the highest percentage for Republicans should go first.  States with a higher percentage of voting Republican should have an "early" say in the candidate.

That would certainly knock out Iowa and New Hampshire voting early. But that would kill the "moderate" wing wouldn't it?

"Punishing" States with open primaries is punishing the wrong people.

157

The creation of DHS was the single worst public policy decision in the history of the republic.  Yes, even worse than Obamacare.

It has turned into a twin out-of-control pork exercise and poster child for bureaucratic mission creep--especially TSA.

158 so could someone please offer a reason

Reason 1: Democrats want it.
Reason 2: While I may not believe the current crop of politicians will censor the entire internet, I know the law gives them the power to do so.  I favor NOT giving the Government power which is so easy to abuse.
Reason 3: See Reason 1.

159

so could someone please offer a reason to be against SOPA that doesn't rely on insane paranoid extrapolations of government power such as THEY'RE GOING TO CENSOR THE ENTIRE INTERNETZ!!!  because that is what I see most often.  I don't buy into all of the conspiracy bullshit.

Link in name to somebody talking about what could happen if he links to copyrighted material or if somebody says he did. (h/t Insty) Mentions things that have already happened to one song at a time:

As an owner of a YouTube channel and Facebook page, IÂ’ve had content falsely reported for copyright many times. With one click of a button, anyone can say IÂ’ve broken copyright, and rather than actually deal with the truth of it, often these sites are simply automated to delete the content without warning or further review.

160 155 Egads, CC, she's barely recognizable. Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 09:20 AM (5H6zj) Isn't it awful? i can understand that everyone wants to look young, but Jeebus, another round of this and she'll look like Joan Rivers before Joan actually broke thru the Plastic Barrier and started to look oddly human again.

161 Say someone here posts a link to a copyrighted song in the comments.

So a *link* is all that is needed?  I am skeptical of that, Ace wouldn't even be hosting the copyrighted content.

162 "Punishing" States with open primaries is punishing the wrong people.

Not if they are sending Democrats to the convention.

The thing that is irritating me is I'm pretty sure I won't even get to vote in Utah.  It has some sort of weird caucus system that I think results in the ballot only having one candidate on it. 

163 Does "anybody but Romney" exclude Ron Paul?

164 you're all wrong. It is an intestinal blockage of lawyers

165 Reason 1: Democrats want it.

actually it is bipartisan

166 chemjeff do we really need more gov't oversight?

167 Does "anybody but Romney" exclude Ron Paul?

Gollum should be excluded on general principles.  So I'm thinking "yes."

168 163 valient of course......

169 I can has doom?

170 He should be competent at this, he's been running for years and years. Posted by: Tami at December 27, 2011 09:15 AM (X6akg) Yeah, I know what you mean, but that's kind of what I'm saying about Perry: Perry HASN'T, and it SHOWS. That, and what I think is really lack of fundamental preparation on his part for this run: he gives the impression that up until the day Anita cajoled him into running, he was watching porn DVD's and eating Cheetohs instead of studying for the debates. I think his idea of foreign issues are the pro's and cons of the Brazilian Wax.

171 148 On the other hand SOPA is the 21st Century equivalent of government brownshirts I don't see it that way. SOPA is what happens when you let technologically illiterate congressional types have the keys to the intertubes. They might as well be legislating about string theory. Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 27, 2011 09:14 AM (B+qrE) Whether your view is correct or not the result is the same...Oh,...also there is a provision requiring prosecution of anyone providing software that can circumvent the blocks....just like in Iran, China, Syria etc. If it walks like a duck...

172 actually it is bipartisan

I didn't say "Only Democrats want it."  I said "Democrats want it."

Just like the ACLU, if the Democrats are for something, I'll line up against it.  I'll figure out what I'm against later.

In this case, what I'm against is yet more of my Liberty being stolen by the Federal Government.

173 So a *link* is all that is needed?

From the "news" reports all it takes is ANYONE filing a claim. And I firmly do believe this corrupt administration would use it heavily.

174

So a *link* is all that is needed?  I am skeptical of that, Ace wouldn't even be hosting the copyrighted content.

Chemjeff, this is in the legislation.  That is how horrible it is.

175 I can has doom?

Not this week, I think.  I believe Monty mentioned that last Thursday.

176 It looks like the VA GOP changed its rules in the middle of the primary. Pull quote:

. . . his larger point that Virginia’s ballot access policies have systemic problems gets a big boost when it turns out that the state party can effectively increase by fifty percent the practical threshold for ballot access – in a day, and in the middle of an existing campaign.

177

And I still advocate that the States who vote with the highest percentage for Republicans should go first.  States with a higher percentage of voting Republican should have an "early" say in the candidate.

That would certainly knock out Iowa and New Hampshire voting early. But that would kill the "moderate" wing wouldn't it?

"Punishing" States with open primaries is punishing the wrong people.

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 09:20 AM (YdQQY)

But Democrats would probably say that states that vote with the highest percentage of Democrats should go first. 

My question is, why are we talking about primaries as if only one party votes in a primary (or caucus)?  Democrat and Republican primaries are held at the same time.  I don't think you're going to find a state that's willing to hold more than one primary based on voter rolls of registered Repubs and/or Dems.  Incumbent politicians may make one party's primary largely nominal, but here in NH, for example, our governor is not seeking re-election, so our Democratic primary is going to be very important to that portion of the electorate this election cycle. 

178

I can't stomach even one minute of NPR. 

Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 08:52 AM (5H6zj)

ItÂ’s important for conservatives to listen to NPR.

By listening to how liberals rationalize the insanity of their views, we can start to understand how people can be turned to thinking in realistic terms.  Liberals do convert to conservatives, primarily through some event that exposes the lie theyÂ’ve been believing, but sometimes through the application of logic.  Without knowing their thought process, itÂ’s difficult to help them along.

Failing persuasion, knowing the liberal mind will at least give us clues as to where they are hiding when the Malleteers are set loose.

179

They might as well be legislating about string theory.

I would pay cash money to see Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Ph.D., be asked a question by Rep. Hank Johnson. 

On the SOPA thing, right off the top of my head there's a conflict with, crap, I'm too lazy to look it up, but whatever the legislation is that says site owners are not liable for the content by the users.  So taking the commenter links to copyright material thing, in theory, you'd have a conflict. 

That's probably been hashed out but see re:  too lazy to check.

 

180

That, and what I think is really lack of fundamental preparation on his part for this run:

This lack disappointed me greatly.  He should have done campaign boot camp for six weeks and then jumped in.

181

So a *link* is all that is needed? 

That is definitely the claim. I don't have a primary source of that...yet...

If someone had 1000 links to pirated stuff, you could see it making sense. But making it that broad means it could easily be abused.

 

Found the link to the bill. It's in my name, but I haven't read it yet.

182 But Democrats would probably say that states that vote with the highest percentage of Democrats should go first.

There is no law that I am aware of that says the Dem primary and Repub primary must occur on the same day. Not in SC anyway.

183 >>I think his idea of foreign issues are the pro's and cons of the Brazilian Wax.

Did you watch his interview with Erick Erickson?  Because he certainly does have some well-developed ideas about our hemisphere and his core principles with respect to Europe and the Middle East are terrific. 

I understand that he let you down, but he is not the shallow candidate that Cain was.  I think you are missing out on a chance to support a conservative candidate by focusing too much on a few gaffes. 

184 Reason 1: Democrats want it.

actually it is bipartisan

Posted by: chemjeff at December 27, 2011 09:24 AM (Pvej1)

Reason 1.a: Bipartisan establishment politicians want it!

185 It astonishes me that chemJeff thinks federal control of information is just A-OK and then calls me paranoid by extension. How about this?: There are breakins all over the neighborhood, your solution? Install double locks on all the doors with one key for the homeowner and one key for the local government. your key will not work without the government key but their key alone can open or lock your door. This is not a straw man argument it is a parable.

186

Failing persuasion, knowing the liberal mind will at least give us clues as to where they are hiding when the Malleteers are set loose.

I figured out the liberal mind back in the nuclear freeze days.  They do not deal in facts only feelings.  And it drives them apehsit when conservative candidates deal in facts and feelings.  See:  Reagan.

187 Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at December 27, 2011 09:28 AM

I think when you have the former Secretary of State for Virginia as your in state campaign guy (which is who Perry had) and you still don't make the ballot, it may be that there was something wrong with the system more than something wrong with your campaign effort. 

188 So a *link* is all that is needed?  I am skeptical of that, Ace wouldn't even be hosting the copyrighted content.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 27, 2011 09:23 AM (Pvej1)

Well, recall that Las Vegas lawyer outfit that threatened to sue *anyone* posting a single line from a copyrighted story. They wrangled millions in cease and desist payments before they too were sued to death.

Let's just say that even the threat of being sued can be effective in stilling voices. Giving any more power to a bottleneck of lawyers is a bad idea imho. 

189 Perry HASN'T, and it SHOWS. That, and what I think is really lack of fundamental preparation on his part for this run: he gives the impression that up until the day Anita cajoled him into running, he was watching porn DVD's and eating Cheetohs instead of studying for the debates. I think his idea of foreign issues are the pro's and cons of the Brazilian Wax.

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 27, 2011 09:25 AM (niZvt)

You see what you want to see....but I think he's more detailed than you paint him out to be.  I agree he's not a great debater, but his one on one interviews and his town halls are excellent.

190

it may be that there was something wrong with the system more than something wrong with your campaign effort. 

I'm going the other way--shows me that the campaign effort stinks mightily if you can't get 15,000 sigs in deep red Virgina south of the DC 'burbs.

191 Morning!

192

“…when conservative candidates deal in facts and feelings.”

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 27, 2011 09:31 AM (B+qrE)

 

ButÂ…butÂ…     I thought weÂ’re heartless.  Someone just said that a few debates ago.

193 i don't think npr has the monopoly on liberal thought....to know what libs are thinking i just have to pay attention to congress and the scoamf's pressers.......there is no need to listen to npr crap unless i want to feel like i'm screwing them over by not voluntarily donating to their fundraisers.....and if i want to do that i'd do it with the sound off

194 Well, I agree with one thing.  Mitt Romney is every bit a good a candidate as Ron Paul. 

195 I thought weÂ’re heartless.

Not all of us.  Just you.

196 There is no law that I am aware of that says the Dem primary and Repub primary must occur on the same day. Not in SC anyway.
Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 09:29 AM (YdQQY)

It might be a good idea for the parties to sponsor their own primaries (as suggested somewhere above) to get the bipartisan state hacks out of the game.  More formal than a caucus, less structure than a state run primary.  The chance for mischief still exists, but it would end open primaries and VA GOP screwjobs.

Unfortunately, this seems to be yet another area where our beneficient leaders are leading us by our nose-rings down the path to the slaughterhouse.

197 I don't know if its a special day or not 'cause haven't checked the almanac yet.

Oh yeah, a few things.  A trimmed down selection, courtesy of That Wiki, already decamping from GoDaddy as we speak:

    537 – The Hagia Sophia is completed.
    1512 – The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regards to native Indians in the New World.
    1831 – Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate the theory of evolution.
    1845 – Ether anesthetic is used for childbirth for the first time by Dr. Crawford Williamson Long in Jefferson, Georgia.
    1922 – Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō becomes the first purpose built aircraft carrier to be commissioned in the world.
    1932 – Radio City Music Hall opened in New York, New York.
    1945 – The World Bank and International Monetary Fund are created with the signing of an agreement by 29 nations.
    1968 – Apollo Program: Apollo 8 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, ending the first orbital manned mission to the Moon.
    1978 – Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of dictatorship.
    1979 – The Soviet Union invades the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
    1985 – Palestinian guerrillas kill eighteen people inside Rome, Italy and Vienna, Austria airports.
    1996 – Taliban forces retake the strategic Bagram air base which solidifies their buffer zone around Kabul.
    2001 – The People's Republic of China is granted permanent normal trade relations with the United States.
    2002 – The company Clonaid announces that it has successfully cloned a human being, although it has never presented any verifiable evidence.
    2007 – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated in a shooting incident.
    2008 – Israel launches 3-week operation on Gaza - Operation Cast Lead
    2009 – Iranian election protests: On the Day of Ashura in Tehran, government security forces fire upon demonstrators.

So yeah, stuff happens on December 27 

198
All other problems in LA finally solved:

A proposed ballot measure that would require porn actors to wear condoms while filming in the city of Los Angeles has qualified for the June ballot, according to a letter from the city clerk certifying that proponents had gathered enough valid signatures.

Ged Kenslea, a spokesman for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the ballot measureÂ’s main backer, said proponents gathered more than 70,000 signatures, well beyond the 41,000 required to place it on the ballot.

“We’re thrilled we’ve passed this initial threshold,” Kenslea said. “We believe we’re going to prevail in court and look forward to taking this issue directly to the voters.”

LATimes



Expect to see some vigorous push-polling on this initiative.....

199 187 would have reached the opposite conclusion . simple competence would suggest that he knows how the sys,tem can be gamed., and how problems can be avoided

200 It might be a good idea for the parties to sponsor their own primaries (as suggested somewhere above) to get the bipartisan state hacks out of the game.

I wonder what the biggest expense is.  It can't be polling places because even in California we used people's homes (garages) and churches. 

I suppose it's printing ballots... except those would have some non-party spure that isn't a state responsibility. 

201 I understand that he let you down, but he is not the shallow candidate that Cain was. I think you are missing out on a chance to support a conservative candidate by focusing too much on a few gaffes. Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 09:30 AM (5H6zj) Well, the other thing that bothers me about him is: what exactly makes him more "conservative" than, say, Bush? Certainly his attitude on illegal migration doesn't distinguish him. It reeks of "compassionate conservatism."

202 I guess no one has the BALLS to debate the REASON team. Yep, fucking whiners who support the same old same old. Yawn, call me when the borefest is over.

203 202 why debate nutjobs?

204

ButÂ…butÂ…     I thought weÂ’re heartless.  Someone just said that a few debates ago.

Gigantic fumble on Perry's part.

Really successful Republican messages appeal to patriotism and opportunity:  "It's morning in America....and here's how."     One can spend the entire campaign in how to deal with the less fortunate, if you let the Dems define the issue.  Dear Romney campaign (yeah, I think it's going to happen):  Don't do that.  Pick three things and never come off of them.  I'd go with balance the budget via spending cuts and getting the economy moving again, Iran, and yes--education--it's a national trainwreck and one on which the party of the status quo is incredibly vulnerable. 

205 199 187
would have reached the opposite conclusion . simple competence would suggest that he knows how the sys,tem can be gamed., and how problems can be avoided

So Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are the only two competent candidates, is that it?  What happen to Huntsman and Santorum, NRO's other "viable" candidates?

I really have to wonder why people are so eager to have a primary end before a single vote has been cast by annointing Romney. 

Good luck with that strategy.  I'm sure he'll give a wonderfully polished concession speech next November. 

206 Newt in 2006: Romneycare has enormous potential (Hot Air)

207 It astonishes me that chemJeff thinks federal control of information is just A-OK and then calls me paranoid by extension.

please, don't put words in my mouth
I don't think "federal control of information is just A-OK"
I am simply objecting to the more hyperventilating paranoid BS nonsense that is out there about SOPA
you demonstrate that yourself when you claim that SOPA is about "federal control of information"

208 I wonder what the biggest expense is.  It can't be polling places because even in California we used people's homes (garages) and churches.

Almost ALL of the polling places here are schools. And they use the electronic voting machines except during runoffs. In those they use paper ballots provided by the party.

But the biggest expense is paying the poll workers.  The State does that.

209 despicable in 2008.

Given a decade's readership turnover, no one should notice ace bloggers evah modulating a tune to a politically expedient key.  "Despicable" mote, meet beam.

210

I guess no one has the BALLS to debate the REASON team.

"I had no idea what was in the newsletters that I made a million bucks from."

"And you want to be the chief executive of the United States."

"Yes."

"I win."

211 96 @70: I've concluded that Newt just can't overcome his baggage and the political ill-will he built up over the decades. That pretty much leaves me with a choice between Romney and a - perhaps - resurrected Perry. (I actually think even Huntsman deserves serious consideration, but his snotty attitude ruined his chances this time around him; I predict it'll be "His Turn" next time the GOP nomination is open) Romney gives signs of Chicago-style political toughness, something I admire in a Republican. He's politically gutting Newt, supposedly an old friend, ruthlessly. He's a pretty good debater, and articulate. He's got an impressive record of accomplishment in the private sector, and that may be the most important quality in 2012. Perry has a significant advantage over Romney: he's not tainted by Romneycare. He can point to job creation in Teaxas, but it's reasonable to wonder how much of that is due to him; nevertheless, it should play well politically. BUT: he needs to overcome his patent lack of preparation for a political run. He MUST learn to come across as knowledgeable and articulate, and refrain from facial expressions and smirks that don't project a certain lack of intellect. All that is doable, given years of practice like Romney has. I don't doubt Romney will be the nominee. Not to mention Perry is young enough to fine tune his craft like Romney and perhaps win in future elections.

212 Newt Gingrich is irrelevant.
Ron Paul is irrelevant.
You will all be assimilated.
Resistance is futile.

213 don't be bitter. your guy lost fair and square

214 Certainly his attitude on illegal migration doesn't distinguish him. It reeks of "compassionate conservatism."

More conservative than Bush?  Umm... lots, actually.  First off, Bush 43 was not a huge believer in the 10th Amendment, Rick Perry most definitely is.  Bush believes that Government is the answer (just less government than most Democrats), Rick Perry does not.

And the idea that he's soft on illegal immigration is a little bit skewed.  It's not completely wrong, but it's not completely right, either.  He wants the border secured.  He believes that is step one and must be accomplished before anything else can even be discussed in realistic terms.  After that is done, he mostly believes that we should round-up and deport the violent criminals, and deport the non-violent illegals as they're found (without putting forth much effort looking).  He believes there is a difference between a Drug Cartel member and some migrant worker. 

He has mentioned "path to citizenship," but he almost always qualifies that with "get in line," so I'm not terribly concerned about that.

Mostly, though, if the only thing you're looking at is Illegal Immigration, the entire Republican field is going to disappoint you.  Truth sucks.

On everything else, from Taxes, to Regulation (GW likes him some regulation), to Reach of Government, Rick Perry is almost as conservative as I am.  Which is saying something, for a politician.

215

Newt Gingrich is irrelevant.

It's not that Newt is irrelvent, it's that he has an attention span measured in nanoseconds.

216 You know, CC, you'll have to provide me with more examples of how Perry is not a conservative.  It's pretty hard to counter your charge that Perry is weak on immigration when you provide absolutely no evidence to support your claim. 

217 it's that he has an attention span measured in nanoseconds.

And we don't use big numbers, there, either.  Rarely double digits.

218 You know, CC, you'll have to provide me with more examples of how Perry is not a conservative. It's pretty hard to counter your charge that Perry is weak on immigration when you provide absolutely no evidence to support your claim. Don't hold your breath.

219 207 It astonishes me that chemJeff thinks federal control of information is just A-OK and then calls me paranoid by extension. please, don't put words in my mouth I don't think "federal control of information is just A-OK" I am simply objecting to the more hyperventilating paranoid BS nonsense that is out there about SOPA you demonstrate that yourself when you claim that SOPA is about "federal control of information" Posted by: chemjeff at December 27, 2011 09:43 AM (Pvej1 My mistake. You did not say it was OK. Now tell me how giving the federal government the power to disappear websites and prosecute you for distributing circumvention software is NOT controlling the flow of information. Think carefully about it. Maybe take off your shoes so you can count higher.

220 Jeezus fing kriiist.  It is raining like the end days hear in central florida.

221 It is raining like the end days hear in central florida.

Stop bragging.

222 Thoughts on Newt's support of Romneycare?

223 I really have to wonder why people are so eager to have a primary end before a single vote has been cast by annointing (sic) ...whoever.

Hm, you didn't advocate for such before Perry's campaign sank? How many here proposed clearing the debate deck of those deemed below "top tier"?

Censorship, "one voice" politicking, scripted questions/answers, sound bites, card checking, "kick him out of the Republican Party," whatever.

224 I posted the link to the actual Sopa bill but I don't speak Lawerise.

225 joffen i saw that and just laughed.....what's to think about? it's just more of newt being newt....i read a headline somewhere else today that his immigration policy has some HUGE loophole i didn't bother to click on the link....my reaction was "of course it does!" i'm not worried about perry's immigration position i'm worried about romney and newt's immigration position....

226 Posted by: retired at December 27, 2011 09:52 AM (n+kUs)

Jesus H. Christ, put away your high dudgeon.

You and all of the other conspiracy kooks go straight for the deep end.  A bill like SOPA is introduced, and all of a sudden, it's BLACK HELICOPTERS CENSORING TEH INTERNETZ!!!!  How about "it's a bad idea because it gives the government too much power to go after copyright infringement"?  That sounds like an argument that might be made by someone who isn't always looking over his shoulder watching for agents from the Trilateral Commission.  But no no no, it has to be presented in the starkest, most fear-mongering terms possible...

gah

227 when it comes to the gov't you should always look at the worst case scenario because that's what it ends up being.........

228

As an owner of a YouTube channel and Facebook page, IÂ’ve had content falsely reported for copyright many times. With one click of a button, anyone can say IÂ’ve broken copyright, and rather than actually deal with the truth of it, often these sites are simply automated to delete the content without warning or further review.

I've had that happen as well.  On YouTube if anyone makes a claim of infringement, then YouTube yanks the video and puts the burden on the person posting the vid to prove it's not infringement.  That's under the lovely DMCA iirc.  There's no court order needed just a click of a mouse to file the complaint.  I vaguely recall some lefties making multiple false infringement claims to force the pulling of a vid and the person hosting it having a hellish time keeping it.  Yes, yes, nice and specific, I know.

Hey, let's talk ebay.  There are massive problems with the sale of fake designer handbags on ebay.  As a result, if you list something that you are saying is an actual Gucci (or whatever) there are various steps you must follow.  I was helping someone post an actual Gucci bag and we followed the steps precisely.  The listing got taken down three times and ended up with me in a fairly testy chat exchange with an ebay rep wherein I made clear that I didn't appreciate being accused of being a criminal.

I bring this up because I foresee precisely the same problems with SOPA.  Let's say someone makes a false claim against the HQ.  What will it take to get that rescinded?  And who is going to pay for that?  Hell, you don't think that Anonymous won't have all the fun in the world with this?  It's a nuclear bomb to take out a gnat.

229 >>>222 Thoughts on Newt's support of Romneycare?

I'm more worried about Romney's support of it. 

230 It's a nuclear bomb to take out a gnat.

And about as effective on the gnat population in general.  The fact is that people are going to steal content.  It is going to happen, no matter what the Government does.  More over, by the time the Government is aware of the actual criminal sites, the damage will be done: said content will already have been stolen and illegally distributed.

However, the innocent sites that get targeted either because of misunderstanding or actual malice will be greatly inconvenienced, perhaps to the point of shutting down instead of dealing with the Government.

But the fundamental point is that this is the Federal Government taking yet more power for itself, and I think it has quite enough already.

231 Something happened with Michelle Malkin and YouTube...fuzzy memory...accusations by lefties so YouTube pulled video...

232 But the fundamental point is that this is the Federal Government taking yet more power for itself, and I think it has quite enough already.

^This. 

233 222 Thoughts on Newt's support of Romneycare?

Joffen, the way I read it, Newt didn't actually endorse Romneycare, he just said more of his typical academic boilerplate stuff about it, i.e., it is "bold and transformational and forward-looking and has tremendous potential".  You can believe all of those things about Romneycare but still not believe it is your preferred plan.

Actually I think one of the NRO guys mentioned this: remember when Newt brought up the school in Appalachia where the kids worked for part of their tuition?  He brought that up as an idea, but did he ever propose actually copying and implementing that model for other schools?  No.  He just said "hey look here is this cool idea".

234 226 Posted by: retired at December 27, 2011 09:52 AM (n+kUs) Jesus H. Christ, put away your high dudgeon. You and all of the other conspiracy kooks go straight for the deep end. A bill like SOPA is introduced, and all of a sudden, it's BLACK HELICOPTERS CENSORING TEH INTERNETZ!!!! How about "it's a bad idea because it gives the government too much power to go after copyright infringement"? That sounds like an argument that might be made by someone who isn't always looking over his shoulder watching for agents from the Trilateral Commission. But no no no, it has to be presented in the starkest, most fear-mongering terms possible... gah Posted by: chemjeff at December 27, 2011 09:59 AM (Pvej1) I am not a conspiracy kook by any stretch of the imagination. You, on the other hand are either breathtakingly young, stupid or foolish or all the above. How about a law that says I can block your "offensive speech" from the internet by filing a complaint? No problem right? Do you understand anything about the real world? Dumbass.

235 OK, this thread has gotten way too serious for my book. 

BBL when the talk turns to shoes and food. 

236 Thoughts on Newt's support of Romneycare?

Back when?  It is a true fact that mandates were considered "conservative" for a while.  Then some people stopped and thought about it from the angle of "do we want government to have this power," and very quickly decided that mandates are not conservative.  But that didn't really happen until around 2009 or so, IIRC.  So if his support of RomneyCare was pre-2009, I'm prepared to let it slide.

Heck, I was prepared to let Romney's support of RomneyCare slide if he'd repudiated it back at the beginning of this year.

237 someone should explain to newt that he should focus quality of his thoughts and not the quantity

238 The only question about the Virginia fiasco is did the Perry and Newt campaigns know the threshold for avoiding a petition audit was changed midstream from 10,000 to 15,000 petitions? If they were aware of it but decided to stick with what they got than shame on them for taking the risk. If they were not aware of it than shame on the Virginia GOP for changing the rules and not properly notifying interested parties.

239 5

Byron York says Ron Paul being pushed to the front by non-Republican activist nuts

(or words to that effect)

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2011 07:16 AM (YdQQY)

Look at the Paulbots swarm and attack in the comments. It's no exaggeration to say that his supporters are the most vile, aggressive and insulting people out there; not above out-and-out lies--multiple stereotypical/mythical "Vietnam vets" in the first few.

240

so could someone please offer a reason to be against SOPA that doesn't rely on insane paranoid extrapolations of government power such as THEY'RE GOING TO CENSOR THE ENTIRE INTERNETZ!!!  because that is what I see most often.  I don't buy into all of the conspiracy bullshit.

How about this - because it's funny as shit to see Hollywood/Entertainment lefties hoisted upon their own petard of "Capitalism Sucks!" while furiously  protecting their income streams.

Wait, I think that comes out in support of it.  Well shit...

241 If they were not aware of it than shame on the Virginia GOP for changing the rules and not properly notifying interested parties.

How about "same on the Virginia GOP" regardless?  You don't change the rules in the middle of the race, that's just not cool.  Even if you have a compelling reason, you should err on the side of more candidates, not fewer.

242 235 OK, this thread has gotten way too serious for my book. BBL when the talk turns to shoes and food. Posted by: Y-not at December 27, 2011 10:06 AM (5H6zj) I agree......about the food part.

243 In other good news, I haven't killed my pinko asshole brother yet.

He keeps trying to parrot Kos shit at me, and I keep walking away. I'm on vacation, dammit.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at December 27, 2011 08:19 AM (UUfHw)

Show him the following:

Reality is very different for somebody standing in front of traffic on a busy street than it is for somebody standing on the sidewalk. To the person in the street it is critical that traffic be stopped - or they will be killed. The person on the sidewalk on the other hand can see that traffic has to move or no one will be able to get to work, food won't get to the stores, and millions of people will die.

To the person in the street the people on the sidewalk become enemies; they are trying to kill him with their moving traffic, and they must be defeated at all costs.

People on the sidewalks are conservatives - people in the street are liberals. Perspective doesn't just alter your view of things, Reality itself is different depending on a person's perspective. Neither conservatives or liberals are seeing things that aren't true; both are correctly observing reality.

Of course there is one other thing that conservatives can see from their perspective - that liberals can't see from theirs; liberals are blithering idiots to take the positions they take.

244 BBL when the talk turns to shoes and food.

For some reason I don't understand, my parents are still surprised when meals I cook turn out really well.

They were highly surprised by my Basil-Feta Pork Rolls on Christmas.  I've only been doing pretty well all the cooking for myself (and now my family) for the last 10 years or so...

245 Heck, I was prepared to let Romney's support of RomneyCare slide if he'd repudiated it back at the beginning of this year.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 27, 2011 10:07 AM (8y9MW)

Ditto.  But he keeps doubling down and forcing me into the Fort Perry.  I'm beginning to think these fuckers are all lefty Alinskiites - make them feel constantly defeated. 

Or however that goes.

246 "The listing got taken down three times and ended up with me in a fairly testy chat exchange with an ebay rep wherein I made clear that I didn't appreciate being accused of being a criminal." Ebay pissed me off to no end. I tried to sign up and they wanted me to pay $5 bucks. I said no way. They said as a seller it was necessary. I went back and checked to make sure that I hadn't clicked the wrong thing. I didn't. I only wanted to buy. Then they told me I had to pay extra because what I wanted to buy was expensive and it was my first time blah blah blah. It was a freaking $15 dollar piece of software, fer crissakes! I don't know how it got fucked up but it was clear they would not listen to what I had to say.

247 Allen, its more like : its true mandates were supported by some "conservatives" but was dropped by these "conservatives" when it became politically expedient to do so.

248 Ahhh, I'm suddenly reminded of the heady days when EBay didn't suck hind tit.

249 For some reason I don't understand, my parents are still surprised when meals I cook turn out really well.

Oh, that's harsh. Maybe in another 10 years. Basil feta...yum. I'm so burned out on cooking, esp. when something interesting like that has a 50-50 chance of making the kids scream in horror.

250 its true mandates were supported by some "conservatives" but was dropped by these "conservatives" when it became politically expedient to do so.

Not entirely.  Heritage really did shill for them for a while, but they've changed their tune.  Some of the TownHall writers supported them, too.  In fact, my gut instinct when I first heard about them was "well, I can see that."  It only took me a few minutes to decide it wasn't actually a conservative position, but I can understand why others might not have thought that deeply about them.

I would say you're absolutely correct as far as "conservative politicians" go.

251 I think Newt just gave the Romney camp ammo. Unless Newt comes out and explains exactly what was so "forward-thinking" about his plan, Romney can ask him during the next debate. Just sayin. BTW, Go Perry!

252 218 You know, CC, you'll have to provide me with more examples of how Perry is not a conservative. It's pretty hard to counter your charge that Perry is weak on immigration when you provide absolutely no evidence to support your claim. Don't hold your breath. Posted by: Joffen at December 27, 2011 09:50 AM (zLeKL) Well, I didn't say he's not conservative, I said I don't see him as more conservative than W. Three high profile issues come to mind, and I don't necessarily disagree with him on at least one of them: 1. People that don't want in-state tuition for illegal aliens "have no heart." Where does that end? What people opposed to Medicare Part D? Obamacare?? It's a worrisome mentality, best called "compassionate conservatism." 2. His nutty proposal for mile-wide "highway supercorridors" in Texas that would be huge public works projects and trample property rights, and points to a prediliction to zany Big Ideas a la Newt. 3. Gardasil. OK, I'm OK with it, but solid conservatives like Bachmann.

253 On Newt's support of Romneycare:

http://bit.ly/u5Fo93

254 People on the sidewalks are conservatives - people in the street are liberals. Perspective doesn't just alter your view of things, Reality itself is different depending on a person's perspective.

Bollocks.  Neither perspective changes the fact that there's a damn fool playing in traffic.

255 I'm so burned out on cooking, esp. when something interesting like that has a 50-50 chance of making the kids scream in horror.

My son (4) devoured his pretty quickly.  My daughter (2) wanted nothing to do with them.

Fact is, before I started cooking my own food, I was one of the ones who would scream in horror at something interesting.  Then "cooking" hot-pockets, hamburger helper, and spaghettios got rather boring.  So I branched out.

256 Although I am firmly for Perry, I admit the there is something Romney could do to raise my rather low opinion of him. He could say, loudly and emphatically, that his opponents deserve to be on the Virginia ballot with him. He could also say that without his competition being on the ballot, he could not claim it as a victory. Alas, Romney is not known for taking the high ground (with the exceptions of calling Muslims peaceful and being unable to call Obama a socialist), so this will not happen.

257 When the JEF won, the day after I sat down and wrote out 4 thing that would need to be changed if we were going to beat him in 2012. (I've since lost the paper and I can only remember 3.)

1) Change the primary process--no more allowing non-Republicans to have any say in who the nominee is.
2) Change the people in charge, those running the party, those elected--too many are "go-along, get-along," too many still think the party is too conservative and needs to be moderated.
3) Quit abandoning the cities--run a candidate in every contest; a few thousand votes in a city otherwise ceded may often be the key to victory.

The other was along those lines. Notice how not one has anything to do with who our candidate is? Our failure as conservatives is we keep trying to find the perfect candidate when the whole of the party--from the rules to the people running it--are rigged against us.

Now: Look at that list, have you seen one thing that has changed? Every one of those was--and is--a bigger problem than McCain. And nothing has changed.

That's why the JEF will win again.

258 It's still raining here like a mother.  If it let's up later we are going to the beach.   If not we'll just drink.   You can cheerfully kiss my ass.

259 25, close, rotate the schedule based on previous election turnout and require an ante to vote in the primary, say $25.

260 Bollocks.  Neither perspective changes the fact that there's a damn fool playing in traffic.

Posted by: DarkLord© for Prez! at December 27, 2011 10:18 AM (GBXon)

You clearly didn't finish reading my post.

261 You know, it would be lovely if, before I die, I could participate in an election that did not boil down to giant douche vs. turd sandwich.

262 You clearly didn't finish reading my post.

Oh believe me, I did.  It just has nothing to do with the fact that they don't have separate realities at all, contra your assertion.  Perception is not reality, though it certainly shades how we deal with it.

The sooner this whole 'perception is reality' claptrap is banished into the same intellectual void phlogiston theory and the miasma model of disease inhabit, the sooner we can start getting back to sanity.

263 so could someone please offer a reason to be against SOPA that doesn't rely on insane paranoid extrapolations

The MPAA/RIAA are major DNC funding sources.  As Insty likes to point out, you could cripple the Democrat party by repealing DMCA and zeroing out funding for copyright enforcement for a year or two.

Meanwhile, SOPA's a bad idea because it gives more power to the federal government on behalf of something that's ALREADY illegal.

264

"...Republican Party will be dead after it splinters into two groups, the NE establishment Rockefeller wing and the Tea party conservative wing."

 

I agree, but the new Tea-Party, by not being the party of the Evil-Rich, should draw from the Democrats also.

265 Some Nobel guy named Mundell  is being quoted as saying Berlusconi is going to come back in Italy.

Posted by: Miss Marple at December 27, 2011 07:23 AM (GoIUi)

LOL.  That Mundll retard is the one who came up with the pathetic idea of the Euro.  The Nobel continues with its track record of picking anti-American idiots.

BTW, Europe only went for the Euro for one single reason, and it had nothing to do with binding them monetarily or helping Europe - the Euro was designed to do nothing but kill the dollar.  Europe deserves what they get, which is a fast-track to hell atop the Euro.  And that Mundell twerp should go right along with them.

266

Then "cooking" hot-pockets, hamburger helper, and spaghettios got rather boring. 

You take that back, hot pockets are awesome.  They help me think.  Well, those and the Xena tapes. 

I need to start cooking again.  Once upon a time I was a great cook and I have a crap ton of cooking stuff that I use mainly to nuke spag-os.  It seems pointless to cook for just me though.  I hate throwing out food and the option to eat the entire pan of lasagna isn't better.

267 I agree, but the new Tea-Party, by not being the party of the Evil-Rich, should draw from the Democrats also.

The Dems will go with the other side who favor tax and spend.

268

256 Although I am firmly for Perry, I admit the there is something Romney could do to raise my rather low opinion of him. He could say, loudly and emphatically, that his opponents deserve to be on the Virginia ballot with him.

I think when it comes out that Romney's Virginia operatives were the ones who changed the rules last month, on how the petition signatures are counted.....then, Romney will try to wash the taint off of himself by saying something like that.

But it won't work. .....The taint is there. It will remain.

The Romneybots were so quick to come out and declare "incompetance" and "rules are rules" to condemn Newt and Perry. .....This is bullshit. .....Their guy got the rules changed in the eleventh hour to kick them off the ballot!

269 I agree, but the new Tea-Party, by not being the party of the Evil-Rich, should draw from the Democrats also.

Why would the Tea Party draw from the party of Evil?

270 In an analysis accompanying his most recent survey in Iowa, pollster Scott Rasmussen noted, "Romney leads, with Gingrich in second, among those who consider themselves Republicans. Paul has a wide lead among non-Republicans who are likely to participate in the caucus."

271 Well I would say that the mandate is a conservative idea but not a libertarian idea.  It is conservative in the sense of holding individuals accountable for their own choices, as opposed to letting the collective pay for the individual's choices.  That is not to say that the mandate is the best possible conservative solution, but in the universe of possible choices, it is more conservative than not.

272 Posted by: CoolCzech at December 27, 2011 10:17 AM (niZvt)

1) The in-State Tuition for minor children of illegal aliens is a sticking point.  You can agree or disagree with it.  I would challenge you, though, to explain to me why in-State Tuition is some major "magnet" for illegal immigrants.  Because otherwise it's just a choice about how we're dealing with kids who happen to be here illegally because their parents brought them.

This falls in the same category as the question: "If you deport all the illegals, what about the ones who came here as children?"  Also "what about the parents of children who were born here?"  These are (excuse me for saying so) "heart" questions- in as much as we don't generally believe in punishing minors for the decisions and actions of their parents.  It is a perfectly rational position to take (as I do, actually) that "well, crap happens," and deport them anyway (or make minors who were born hear wards of the State, or whatever), but I don't deny that such a position is a very cold one to take. 

I think the "heartless" comment was a blunder, and I think it was a knee-jerk ad hominem attack after his "prepared" answer was largely ignored.

But, given that I don't think the choice we in Texas made was the most conservative, I also don't see it as some major disqualifier.  Again, we're not talking about adults who chose to come here, we're talking about how we deal with minors who where brought by their parents.  You may not like how we addressed that problem, but you can't say that it's a not a problem that needed to be addressed.

2) Do you live in Texas, because this comment suggests to me that you do not.  Ask people who live on I-45 between Dallas and Houston (or I-35 between Dallas and Waco) about conditions on those roads.  They are overwhelmed almost all the time.  The Trans-Texas Corridor project was a plan to address the very real needs of transporting both goods and people from the south (both the border itself and the ports around Houston) up north and vice versa.  Again, you can disagree with the policy (and, again, I did) but to claim it's a "land grab" as though the only purpose is to put money in the hands of investors or something is a gross misrepresentation of the TTC project.  Do you think that all roads should only be built with private investment?  Think carefully on what that would mean before you say "yes."

3) Again, for "conservatives" to be upset over Guardisil is for them to misrepresent what actually happened there.  The State of Texas already has the authority to mandate certain vaccinations for enrollment in public school (which is completely optional in Texas- you can go to private school or even homeschool without even telling your local community, let alone the State).  Any of those mandates can be waived by the parent opting out of them.  This is a fairly simple (by State Government standards) procedure.

Mandating an HPV vaccine (yes, Guardisil was the only one available then, it isn't any more, and it wasn't always going to be) forced private insurance in Texas to cover the cost of the vaccine, just like they do for Polio, or any other state mandated vaccines. 

You can disagree with him choosing to mandate HPV (which he rescinded), but you can't claim it was some form of Government expansion or over-reach.

273

Look at the Paulbots swarm and attack in the comments. It's no exaggeration to say that his supporters are the most vile, aggressive and insulting people out there; not above out-and-out lies--multiple stereotypical/mythical "Vietnam vets" in the first few.

Posted by: Jimmuy at December 27, 2011 10:08 AM (hh/BN)

I was just listening to a tattoo shop owner on the local talk radio station. The subject was voter ID. He claimed it's no big deal because he only tattoos people with IDs (state issued photo IDs, driver's licenses, military IDs and passports only) and when somebody doesn't have one they're almost always back the same day with one. It's simple to get a state issued photo ID in PA.

He also said all the young-uns are registering as Republicans in order to vote for Ron Paul. It looks like the most of Obama's youth demographic now support Ron Paul in the primaries.

The question is, how will they vote in the general election?

274

Remember whe Rush Limbaugh started "operation chaos"? INspring some of us to vote for Hillary in the d primary in 08. Well, two can play that game. Now the left are voting for Ron Paul. (they have no problem doing this as they hate Israel and agree with Ron Paul on his foreign policy)

Thanks Rush.

275
Oh believe me, I did.  It just has nothing to do with the fact that they don't have separate realities at all, contra your assertion.  Perception is not reality, though it certainly shades how we deal with it.

The sooner this whole 'perception is reality' claptrap is banished into the same intellectual void phlogiston theory and the miasma model of disease inhabit, the sooner we can start getting back to sanity.


So you deny that being in front of a gun is any different from being in back of it? That is after all purely a perspective difference.

276 Well I would say that the mandate is a conservative idea but not a libertarian idea.  It is conservative in the sense of holding individuals accountable for their own choices, as opposed to letting the collective pay for the individual's choices.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 27, 2011 10:32 AM (Pvej1)

The conservative approach is NOT to force individuals to buy insurance, but to let individuals suffer the consequences of their NOT buying insurance.  i.e. hospitals should be under no obligation to service anyone who can't pay for it.  That's what private charity is for.

Having the government force a mandate on individuals is ANTI-CONSERVATIVE, whether at the state level or federal.  There is nothing conservative about that.  Nothing.

277

Nanny McInsider Trading Legislation is spending $10,000 a night for her vacation in HI.

278 Has Romney's support of a VAT been mentioned yet? A VAT? Wow. Yes, that's a good fucking idea. /sarc

279 apples and oranges much?

280 Man trying to rob grocery dies after shot in face by Kroger employee

Posted by: HeatherRadish at December 27, 2011 07:58 AM (UUfHw)

What kind of crap is this?

What's wrong with a double-tap to the center of mass?

281

The demoprog's favorite candidates:

Obama!

Ron Paul!

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert!

282 Look at how Righthaven abused existing copyright law and tell me we need additional copyright protection?

And why the hell are we giving any quarter to the one industry that is, by and large, leading the assault against traditional American values?

283 No, Ms. Kardashian's sin is this: She pays what she owes in state taxes under California law, instead of the much larger amount that some self-appointed advocacy group thinks she ought to be paying.

284 284 jimmuy amen

285 It's akin to shutting down gun shops because some criminals use guns.

Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at December 27, 2011 08:42 AM (azHfB)

That's a fine idea! Would you like a job?

are

286 Everyone knows Ron Paul would never win against Obama in the general. So, no matter where you are coming from (libertarian purity, his newsletter is no big deal, Ron Paul has some good ideas, bla bla bla) He will give Obama a landslide victory.

287 You take that back, hot pockets are awesome

I never said they weren't.  I said a diet consisting almost entirely of those, Hamburger Helper, and Spaghettios was boring.

I still like hot pockets from time to time.

As far as "cooking for 1," it does suck, but done properly it can be pretty cool.  What you do is cook things that make good left-overs.  A whole lasagna is probably a bit much, but some home-made chili is good when you make it, and then you can drop it in a pan and re-heat it a night or two later.

That is not to say that the mandate is the best possible conservative solution, but in the universe of possible choices, it is more conservative than not.

No, it isn't.  Anything that gives the government the power to mandate private transactions (as a health insurance mandate does) irrevocably opens a door which can all-too-easily lead to pure tyranny.  Just because something has one good effect doesn't not mean it is conservative in principle.

If you want to hold people accountable for their choices, you stop requiring hospitals to treat anyone who comes in the door.  Then, instead of paying them to do so, you allow them to write of the cost of so doing on their taxes- which stops taxpayers from footing the bill (or at least: as much of the bill) while still providing the doctors and hospitals some incentive to care for the true emergency cases.

288 The assumption behind the Courage Campaign video is that raising taxes on millionaires wouldn't change Ms. Kardashian's behavior—and the money would fund public services and "critical programs for children."

When I see this kids walking away with checks in the hands, only then will I believe it.

289 Posted by: alexthechick at December 27, 2011 10:28 AM (VtjlW)

Do you own a freezer (check just above or to the left of the refrigerator)?

290 morning all slow news day ha?

291 So you deny that being in front of a gun is any different from being in back of it? That is after all purely a perspective difference.

Again, this is to misunderstand reality.  The difference is in your place in it, not in what reality is.  What changes is your situation within it.

In any event, you should have stayed on the sidewalk there instead of wandering out to hold me at gunpoint.  That bus isn't going to do your spine any wonders. 

292 I'm operating under the assumption that any 3rd party candidacy will just serve to re-elect Sir Golfsalot

293 Ha! Don Surber thanks me for the most amusing comment of the day. For a spelling correction, no less. Sometimes I think my pearls are wasted around here.

AllenG: Get yourself a bread loaf pan. Perfect for a one-person lasagna -- two servings and a third for lunch the next day.

294 So you deny that being in front of a gun is any different from being in back of it? That is after all purely a perspective difference.

Posted by: An Observation at December 27, 2011 10:35 AM (ylhEn)

Oh look! reductio ad absurdum!

295

 Dig a little deeper.

The folks who actually wrote the newsletter in question got fires or something...shortly after it happened.

 There are a lot of negatives for ech of the candidates. Forget the rhetoric, for a moment. Leave aside the emotion, if you can. Forget what you want for yourself out of all of this, if that's even possible. Why not put all of those negatives in a ledger and contrast and compare, point by point. Then, do the same with all of their good points.

 Make a rational decision..kinda like you were adults or sumpin'.

296 There are a lot of negatives for each of the candidates. 

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at December 27, 2011 10:55 AM (E7Z1r)

That may be true, but we were discussing Ron Paul, so the flaws in the other candidates are not important in the discussion.

If you are going to shill for Ron Paultard, then you need to be much, much better at it. We have had your ilk comment here for a long time, and most of them were better than you are. In fact some of them weren't even stoned when they commented!

297 #295 Some of the funniest stuff at Surber's place are the typos. Don had one himself in your link: “Why give up a six- or seven-figure gig at CNBC to ruin for vice president?”

Santelli would have to work awfully hard to top Biden's ruin of the vice-presidency.

298

The folks who actually wrote the newsletter in question got fires or something...shortly after it happened.

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at December 27, 2011 10:55 AM (E7Z1r)

Who? No one seems to know who wrote them, if RP himself did not.

299

It seems pointless to cook for just me though.

Since I've gone X-treme low carb and my family hasn't, I feel like I'm cooking for 4 and 1 at the same time.

I really need to improve my attitude. It's feeling like a burden and it used to be so fun.

300 What's wrong with a double-tap to the center of mass?

They only mentioned the one to the head. Maybe the shooter was practicing the "Failure Drill" “Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.”

301 Posted by: Mama AJ at December 27, 2011 11:01 AM (XdlcF)

Are there any other cooks in your home? If not, I believe that where you are is called "the driver's seat."

If they want carbs, then toss some potatoes in the microwave and tell them to enjoy.

302 Yeah. The guys that wrote the newsletter got fired shortly after they wrote the offensive stuff. Then Ron hired replacement writers who wrote even nastier crap, and they got fired shortly after.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

You'd think after a decade of this, a smart guy like Dr. Ron would have, you know, started vetting his writers before turning them loose, then turning them out.

303 Again, this is to misunderstand reality.  The difference is in your place in it, not in what reality is.  What changes is your situation within it.

In any event, you should have stayed on the sidewalk there instead of wandering out to hold me at gunpoint.  That bus isn't going to do your spine any wonders. 

No, you are arguing the Aristotelian "There is only one reality". Aristotle was wrong about everything else he said - what makes you think that he was right about "There is only one reality"?

What I said is that the perspective of the observer determines the reality for that observer. I did not say that "perception is reality".

My assertion is supported by quantum physics, yours is not. The perspective of the observer of an experiment in quantum physics determines the outcome of the experiment. If you are on the emitting side of an electron gun in the double slit experiment - electrons behave like particles. If you are in back of the slits the electrons behave like waves. Whether the electrons behave like particles or waves is purely dependent on the observer's perspective. If you have two observers - one at each of the above locations you have two realities occur in the same experiment; the first observer detects particles - the second waves.

A similar situation occurs in relativistic observations: a moving electron gains mass relative to a "stationary" observer as the electrons relative velocity increases, it also displays a magnetic field around it - while to an observer moving with the electron there is not only no mass change there is also no magnetic field associated with the electron.

Sorry there is not just one objective reality; Aristotle, experimentally, is wrong again.

304 If the government legalized pot, Ron Paul support would go to about 2%

305 Wow, ace, they just blasted your theme song on Fox Business.... Considering the Sears crack-up, Mrs Meanie just reminded me that Sears/K-Mart introduced the Kardashian line this year. That's up there with New Coke in the annals of brand suicide. Aside from that, while doing home renovations this year, I wasn't super happy with the products available at my local Sears.

306 Only one of the "chuckleheads" at reason said it doesn't matter. Shikha Dalmia wrote a great piece on the way Paul should confront and deal with these newsletters. When you're accusing someone of lumping people into groups (racism) you might want to avoid lumping people into groups.

307 The plural for lawyer is "cocksuckers." 

That's about all I have to add.

308 I am contrarian about Ron Paul.  If he runs as a third party canidate it will be nothuing but good for the Republican nomineee, whoever it is.  First of all, he won't have to go around apologizing for Paul's neo-confederate, truther bullshit or spend one minute explaining why that is not mainstream thought in the Republican Party - thus taking away a major attack line for Obama.  Second, the vast majority of people voting for him would otherwise either not vote or vote for Obama.  There are very. very few Republicans who actually agree with Paul on much of anything, but a lot of the Hitler  Obama Youth brigade will.

309

Good story in USAToday about how much starting salaries for new federal workers have gone up and far outpace starting salaries for private sector jobs.  This stuff MUST be thrown at Obama in the campaign. 

310 Subject:  FW: Holiday safety

Out before the holidays.  Be safe always.
 
Please, take care of yourself.  A recent joint study conducted by the Department of Health and the Department of Motor Vehicles indicates that 23% of traffic accidents are alcohol related.
 
This means that the remaining 77% are caused by assholes who drink bottled water, Starbucks, soda, juice, energy drinks and shit like that.
Therefore, beware of those who do not drink alcohol.  They cause three times as many accidents.

This message is sent to you by someone who worries about your safety.

311 Posted by: An Observation at December 27, 2011 11:14 AM (ylhEn) The British have an excellent word for that: twaddle. Subatomic principles do not apply to the macro-world as we experience it. People don't randomly appear and disappear, if a car is dropped from a building it doesn't split into useful components. Unfortunately, since the *second* someone theorized the strange properties of subatomic particle, ignorant idiots have been trying to apply such "rules" to society, physics as a whole, psychology, and on and on like some Frankenstein's Monster of a metaphor. Perception of reality is *not* reality in the same way that a word is *not* the thing it describes - they are a flawed attempt to link, not a thing itself.

312 I hope you never stop!  This is one of the best blogs Ive ever read.  Youve got some mad skill here, man.  I just hope that you dont lose your style because youre definitely one of the coolest bloggers out there.  Please keep it up because the internet needs someone like you spreading the word.

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