Hello, ‘rons and ‘ronettes.

In the Golden Age, many stars had nicknames: John Wayne was “The Duke” and Clark Gable “The King.”  Myrna Loy, for a year or two atop popularity polls, was “The Queen of Hollywood,” but that really didnÂ’t stick.  Lana Turner began her career as “The Sweater Girl” while Ann Sheridan was “The Ooomph Girl,” a nickname she loathed.

And in Los Angeles around 1913, there was a 17-year old girl named Reatha Watson.  Originally from Washington, young Reatha and her family were living in Los Angeles when her half-sister showed up one day with a somewhat louche character named C.C. Boxley.  The two convinced Mr and Mrs Watson to let the lovely lithe Reatha come with them on a trip to Santa Barbara, but it seems the two might have had more nefarious motives; after three days, Reatha was convinced they werenÂ’t going to let her go home.  The Watsons must have had suspicions too, as they swore out a warrant against Boxley for kidnapping.

Reatha managed to make her way back to Los Angeles, where she was picked up by the police on suspicion of loitering (a more genteel way of saying ‘prostitution.Â’).  The presiding judge dismissed the charges and told her to go home, saying that she was “too beautiful” to live on her own.

When the stunningly lovely Reatha managed to break into films in 1920, a press agent (possibly Hearst writer Adele Rogers St. Johns) dug up the old ‘loitering’ story and gave the judge’s warning an exotic twist: Reatha Watson – now known as Barbara La Marr – was “The Girl Too Beautiful to Live.”

Sadly, La Marr seemed determined to live up to her nickname.  A frenetic lover, she married five times, expressing her love of sex and boasting she slept no more than two hours a night.  She loved to party and was seen at all the Hollywood nightspots; very often, her makeup artist had to slather on the base and powder to cover up a nightÂ’s debauchery.

La Marr also had a crippling cocaine addiction.  Gradually, it took over her life, and despite various stints in rehab, she could never shake the drug.  She finally died on January 30, 1926 from tuberculosis.  She was only 29.

Here she is:

http://tinyurl.com/bss4m9h

And here she is again:

http://tinyurl.com/ctekwhr

Hope you enjoyed that.  Have a lovely weekend and a blessed Easter.  IÂ’ll see you all on Monday.

Right. The cliché count in conservative punditry is too low. That's why it's ineffective

Also, "evah." We should say that. What really draws in the young people is Mom's internet slang.

And the circumlocutory equivalents of eye-rolls--people love those! They bring us together! One per sentence, minimum.

Happy Good Friday to all.

"Hang in there, baby"

>>>How's everyone feeling today?

You know how when you've got metric craploads of work piled up on your desk that should have been done last month fergawdsake and your boss is going WTF? and you're just like F this Imma read AoSHQ cuz I can't get my head in the game and all?

Yeah, I'm alright.

MPPPP, a truly tragic and wasted life. And proves Lindsay Lohan was not the first human being destroyed by Hollyweird.

Oh, far from it, Anna.  If that sort of thing interests you, you might want to read the book Dangerous Curves Atop Hollywood Heels, a collection of short bios of "hard luck" actresses from the silent days.  One who isn't in the book is Florence Lawrence, who was really the first "movie star" in our sense of the word.  Unfortunately, she badly injured her back during a stunt and had to retire from films.  When she tried to return, she couldn't get any decent roles.  She finally committed suicide in the 1930s by eating ant paste.

And then they'll blame Bush.

Posted by: Feminist at March 29, 2013 07:59 AM (KqmXZ)

Of course they will, It works for everything else doesn't it? That rise in STD's? Maybe not GW but it's some bush's fault. See how that works?

How's everyone feeling today?

Meh.  Half the office is out, so I feel like taking off early, but if I do, it only means I'll have to come in at some point over the weekend.   I've got busywork / paperwork I could do, but I don't want to touch that, either.  I wish I could be writing, but I've just decided to throw out half my book, so I'm a little down on that, too.

I think I'll grab another cup of tea and hang out here for a while.  Boss won't be in for another hour, anyway.

R*i*c*k  W*i*l*s*o*n.

(puts  down  pencil)  Ok,  another  name  on  the  list  of  people  to  punch  in  the  mouth.

walthough to be cold that ending does sound a lot like Fallout3 or FONV

You'll have to translate, sven.  I don't understand what you're referring to.

>>>>Why aren't any of the people asking the basic question about SSM: Religious freedom is already under attack, and SSM will be the hammer used to smash it; where are the guarantees that religious people will not be forced to bow to the will of the state?

Mustard seeds, people. Probably churches are going underground again. Which, I dunno, may answer the "where do you go in a diaspora?" question.

113By the By, I'd like to get my hands on that cock sucker columnist who wants to stop paying for Vet's Funerals because they are not heroes. Fucking pisses me off.

You can say that again! Oh wait you already did

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 29, 2013 08:17 AM (QRXqb)

--------------

My  church sends money to an underground congregation in China so that they can stay one step ahead of the authorities.  They have to move around quite a bit to avoid arrest.

Mine is trying to get the rudiments of an ammo concern going down in texas w/the pioneer project.

I am pretty sure I can find other things to do with ~7500 bucks than pay for his flight plans.

Posted by: sven10077-ArkLaTex travelogue and Researcher at March 29, 2013 08:16 AM (LRFds)

And how much might it cost to get such a 'concern' going Sven?  Have you done any cost estimates/planning?

Ant paste? That alone speaks volumes of how she viewed her prospects and probably her existing financial situation if that was all she could afford.

I'll have to do a post on Lawrence.  She wasn't a great actress by any means, but her story does serve as a good example of how some could make a transition from one era to another while others couldn't.

There's another actress of around the same period (I don't remember details right now) who tried to kill herself with mercury but ended up swallowing mercury bichloride by mistake and essentially burned out her insides.

Posted by: mama winger at March 29, 2013 08:19 AM (P6QsQ)

The granddaughter of my church's former pastor has done a ton of missions work in Asia, including several trips to China. Her stories are interesting. Nothing frightening has ever happened as she's told it, but a lot of moving around. She was actually a part of a Bible study that met, once, on a military base.

>>>DId you all see that North Korea is aiming it's missiles at Austin TX?

He's just Keeping Austin Wierd

No I will not look up ways of disguising mercury bichloride to murder someone in a mystery story.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 29, 2013 08:23 AM (QRXqb)

*PSSST*    Tomato  leaves  in  the  salad.   *looks  left  and  right  then  slinks  away* 

Rick Wilson:  Sit down. 

This piece of snark from Ricky was particularly stupid:

"This is about political counsel, based on experience and reality. I've worked in 38 states, not in a radio studio."

Pal, you can snark all you want about winning races in New York by working for RINOs, but trying to suggest you've done more for conservatism than Rush Limbaugh is simply stupid. 

Man, my brain is fried - the actress was Olive Thomas, who killed herself (by accident or on purpose, no one knows) by drinking mercury bichloride in 1920.  It was a prescription medicine for her husband's syphillis and the coroner believed she mistook it for water or a sleeping potion.

She was a Ziegfeld girl, and there's a legend that her ghost haunts the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York.  Perhaps she does, but I never saw her there.

Here she is, as painted by Alberto Vargas:

http://tinyurl.com/d65hvfx

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 29, 2013 08:31 AM (QRXqb)

---------

Oh, thank you!  I will certainly take a look at that.

Not sure why AK was singled out.

A dig at Palin, perhaps?

Yeah, Rick Wilson.  Surrendering on an issue that the opposition wants you to surrender on is simply "picking an advantageous battlefield."

Good thing he wasn't in charge of the 101st during WWII.  He would have evacuated the troops from Bastogne and relocated them to a more "advantageous battlefield."  Like Tulsa.

Good morning.

Daughter has talked me into going to the 6:30 service on Sunday. I guess I'll be stumbling in here around 5:30 Central. If you're here then, please yell loudly.

Oh, I'll be back in a minute with a link for you writers...

I also find it very amusing that the R's seem to think the SoCons won't walk because gay marriage is the only thing we don't agree with them on.  Hell this is just the tipping point, not the first offense.  I mean the list of things I have swallowed over the years because "the other guys are worse" is endless.

Especially hysterical are the self righteous Fiscons who scream "You have to give in on this so we can get back in power and STOP the spending."

When in THE HELL has that actually been true?

I will not vote for someone who does not represent me again.  If that means the R's can't win then too damn bad because

LetItBurn

His response to me? "I'd be interested to hear about the hundreds if elections YOU'VE been involved in."

EoJ, tell me you tweeted back, "I'd be interested to hear about the hundreds of elections you've WON."

I'm still waiting for someone, anyone, to make the case that we'll pick up more Gay-Marriage supporters than we lose in Christian Conservatives.

"Demographics" seems to be the only answer I've heard.  The theory being that as the culture 'progresses,' all those icky, white-trash, snake-handling CCs will die off while the young, hip, gay marriage supporters will become a majority of voters.

>>>Maybe it is because we don't dress in recognizable dress, sort of like costumes.

Sharia sez you can wear blue identifying patches.

He's making the point that Rush doesn't run on campaigns.

I'd go further and say that Rush benefits politically when the Republicans are in the wilderness, because it makes him more edgy and gives him more to rail against.

It's a fair point.

Some people here are simply convinced that our only issue is voter fraud, and that young people en mass are going to switch their views as they get older. Ok. I'm not really willing to take that on faith and am looking for ways to avoid another culture war. Fight for federalism, and fight the socialists.

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 74% more DOOM! at March 29, 2013 08:40 AM

I don't think it's really all that fair of a point, actually.  Like Breitbart believed, the fight is just as much cultural as it is political.  Limbaugh did a lot to make conservatism cool.  Ricky trying to say Limbaugh's criticisms are suspect because he only "works in a radio studio" is just a stupid way to try and say Limbaugh has never seen the elephant. 

He's wrong.  Not only has Limbaugh seen the elephant, he packaged the elephant, made the elephant cool, and revitalized a dying medium in the process.  3 hours a day, every day, for years.  It's easy for mercenaries like Ricky to try and disparage that, but in my book going out in the culture wars and succeeding via objective metrics is more impressive than working for RINOs.

Vis a vis the point about how Limbaugh doesn't benefit as much when the Rs are in charge, well, I think he was actually doing pretty well between 2001 and 2008.  It's a popular theory that his success hinges on elections, but I don't think the data bears that out.  Besides, Limbaugh had plenty to rail against when W was in charge...

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2013 08:49 AM (9Bj8R)

-----

No where.  In other words, I will not vote.  I refuse to assent.

Speaking from my Christian circles, they care much more about abortion than tax benefits for gay people.

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 74% more DOOM! at March 29, 2013 08:46 AM (FsUAO)

Some  of  the  "social  pioneers"  pushing  this  aren't  planning  to  stop  with  SSM,  their  next  goal  is  the  age  of  consent.   I've  talked  to  college  faculty  that  think  the  age  of  consent  should  be  no  more  than  twelve  and  as  low  as  seven.

It  should  be  noted  that  a  number  of  know  NAMBLA  members  were  college  faculty. 

Yes,  I  wanted  to  kill  them  slowly  but  I  restrained  myself.  It's  a  treat  I'm  saving  for  the  burning  time.

222 It's a pretty easy sell. Argue that marriage shouldn't be decided at the federal level, and hold onto our pro-life plank. At least at the national party level.

Except that the R's haven't really done anything but give lip service to the pro life plank...... I think there are a lot more SoCons ready to call "bullshit" on the Republican party than you realize.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at March 29, 2013 08:40 AM (8FQ6f)

How many have you won? And what gains did those wins get us?

Some of the "social pioneers" pushing this aren't planning to stop with SSM, their next goal is the age of consent. I've talked to college faculty that thinkthe age of consent should be no more than twelve and as low as seven.

It should be noted that a number of know NAMBLA members were college faculty.

And fashion and Hollywood have been pushing the sexualization of children for years.  FWIW, Spielberg's long been rumored to have short eyes.

>>>>I can tell you where they won't go. They won't go to the voting booths. You can believe that I'm wrong if you want, and you can test the theory if you want. If you do test the theory though, and find that they stay home, well, you can blame yourself.

Correct. I'm not religious by any stretch but even a heathen like myself easily sees that once you've cut off what a person sees as their means towards salvation [meaning, forcing a choice between loyalties to law or faith] you will lose every time. Wars start over that kind of stuff.

Link about publishing in name. Sarah Hoyt's site. And in the recent posts section, top right, there's a post by Sabrina Chase about making an audio book.

:sigh:

Isn't it always the case that whatever issue you reverently believe the GOP is wrong on is one that it's "crucial" we either change or stance on or let go.

Wilson won't tell you where he stands because it would show his hand and reveal why he doesn't want "Culture War 3.0."

I get his point that you can't build a coalition based on controversial stances, but at the same time you can't build a coalition by telling people "sod off we don't agree with you" repeatedly.

His argument is it's own contradiction "this is a controversial issue, so by taking stand X we lose voters." Incidentally, by taking Stand Y we also lose voters.

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 74% more DOOM! at March 29, 2013 08:58 AM (FsUAO)

The  same  was  said  twenty  years  ago  about  SSM.  They're  already  trying  to  "normalize"  child  sex.  Polanski  was  just  early  in  their  eyes.   

Even though I don't care if gays "marry", Rick Wilson is an example of everything that is wrong with the GOP.

I've never met him, but judging from his article he's a weak minded buffoon cut from the same cloth as Steve Schmidt.  One of the dozens of "professional" political consultants who define where the party is by the way they stack up to what the liberal media defines as the pressing issues of the day.

Considering the real issues, the economy, unemployment, national security, healthcare etc., what are we even doing wasting time on gay marriage?  Idiots like Wilson allow these things to become national issues by taking them seriously.

When will the GOP learn?  Palin is right - it's time to clean house of assholes like this.

Posted by: FITP at March 29, 2013 08:55 AM (JvZmY)

This.  The GOP could defund Planned Murderhood tomorrow if it:

a.) had the stones and

b.) would stand tall against the screams of "ZOMG! Back alleys!  Women dying!"

Let the left scream and pimp out desperate women.  Ignore them.  Eventually PM would shout themselves hoarse, realize the Repubs aren't going to give back the money, and go back to their business of death.  But I wouldn't have my pocket picked to do it.

I've already called "bullshit" on the GOP.  Romney was my last shit sandwich.

And the boss just walked in.  I want to get Mama AJs writer tip; otherwise, hope you all travel safe and have a wonderful Easter.

263 The SoCons are mocked endlessly for their 'socially archaic" ideas but what precisely have the FiCons accomplished in the last 15 years?

I too am a FiCon (an actual one, not someone who plays one on t.v.), but also a SoCon.

My point is....where the hell do the FiCons/Libertarians have ANY credibility to preach to me?  The truth is that they and the NeoCons (which I also WAS....not so sure any more) have done more to damage the R brand than the SoCons EVER did.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2013 08:59 AM (9Bj8R)

-----------

I live in Wisconsin with a SoCon / FiCon governor, thank goodness.  I have no illusions that this will hold for any length of time.  My focus is not on fitting in and going along so that my life remains as trouble-free as possible.  My focus is not on what is politically expedient.  My focus is doing the right thing as I understand it to be, and not surrendering my conscience for political gain, as is my choice to do.  I am not unaware of the cost that might be required of me.  I have been taught to expect this may come, from the time I was a little child. 

Fifteen years ago teh ghey marriage was unthinkable.  Now? It looks to be on the fastrack. So the idea that the age of consent won't be lowered because of mass opposition to it doesn't hold water.

Fabianism is what we are up against. They nibble at our society a little at a time, and wear it down decade after decade. The Fabianists are patient. And they will win unless there is a major push back.

Yup. I remember Nimoy talking about how Shat was always the first one to the craft services table because he parked a bicycle outside the set, and was off to the buffet as soon as they were done shooting. So one day, Nimoy gets tired of the crap and steals the bike. Shat is SOL and has to walk like everyone else.

EC, Shat says Nimoy had the bike.

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 74% more DOOM! at March 29, 2013 09:12 AM (FsUAO)

Not to mention that it would make zero logical sense. "I pissed at the R's for abandoning me on Gay Marriage! So I'm voting for the party that supports Gay Marriage and Abortion!"

Good morning, all!

Is the baby butcher an “elegant man”? You decide.

http://is.gd/1VPzlT

Posted by: Vic at March 29, 2013 07:24 AM (53z96)

That's absolutely filthy.     Dear Lord, I'm sick reading that.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2013 09:14 AM (9Bj8R)

That's Kaley Cuoco. From that awful tv show, Big Bang Theory.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2013 09:14 AM (9Bj8R)

Do you not recognize Kaley Cuoco?!

I is sad.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 29, 2013 09:11 AM (OevbG)

You're welcome, Ian.  Silents also suffer because you have to interact much more with them.  Rather than let the dialogue carry you along, you have to watch and think about what's happening on the screen.  But for all that, silents are just like any other film: some good ones, a lot of crap. 

You might want to watch The Artist as a nice lead in to a real full-length period silent.

Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (All my Hate cannot be found) at March 29, 2013 09:07 AM (ial2b)

The left has been working diligently at destroying this country for decades. They may get push back every now and then but they never stop. The last chance we had to really thump them and disrupt their efforts was in the 50s but that was undermine. They have been going full force since then and acting like martyrs the whole way

315 Ugh, yes. Gay marriage/civil.unions should be a completely separate issue from abortion. Abortion is legalized murder, period, the end. Gay unions/marriage are nowhere near that.

But you are missing the point.....SoCons have ALSO had to take it in the shorts on abortion.  Lip service doesn't save any unborn babies from being ripped apart limb from limb. 

"Rick Wilson, who is a good guy, pushes back after being slammed on the Rush Limbaugh show."

Wilson is just another dunderhead who buys into media spin instead of reality on the ground.  Fact is - gay marriage isn't actually "picking up steam" like the media are saying it is.  This is a media creation that they're trying to turn into reality...specifically because it is NOT one now.

"The food stamp map. Alaska, eh?"

Figures.  This IS the state that voted to re-elect Lisa Murkowski, specifically because she brings in so much federal pork and dough into the state.

7000?! Woot! We no longer look like the worst form of healthcare ever!

(Socking note: Context in Nick)

Where are you moving to get away from the liberals and their insane policies?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2013 08:59 AM (9Bj8R)

Nowhere.  At the end of time, there are only 2 kinds of people.  Those who say "Lord, thy will be done."  And those to whom the Lord says "Fine, have it your way."  Seems like a good model to me.  It's time to let them reap the whirlwind.  Alternatively:  Let it burn.

With    all due respect to Rick Wilson, who is indeed a good guy, his rebuttal reads to me as yet another "this is not the hill to die on" argument.   Maybe he's right,  maybe he's not, but you   know what?  I'm sick of hearing it.        Maybe if some of these polis and pundits had chosen a g-ddamn hill to die on years ago, we wouldn't be facing    "wholesale slaughter" on these issues today.

Off horrible form of healthcare Sock

@Nevergiveup,

Meh, it comes up around the horde a lot because people think she's pretty. (I say it like that because I'm actually not sure what to think of her.  I think the people at TBBT do a good job of keeping her cute, but if you see her in other places not so much.)

Posted by: soothsayer at March 29, 2013 09:23 AM (hA+ft)

I hope you're right. I hateses me some Fat Bastard Rino.

@ 351 - "
They are abandoning everything and trying to make this "capitalism versus fascism" uber alles but they refuse to call Obama out on his economic thuggery to the point that it winds up being "we have nicer more siccessful leaders" to "American idol nation."

The main reason to continue the culture war is because the culture is important.  Which way we go on culture impacts EVERYTHING.  Only an idiot would try to separate social issues from issues like, say, ObamaCare spending or welfare spending or even foreign and defence policy.

This all remains true, no matter how many Morons(tm) want the SoCons to shut up so they can have consequences-free sex with their girlfriends.

Posted by: maddogg at March 29, 2013 09:20 AM (OlN4e)

LA and Austin I could see, but the odds of the Norks getting a rocket to DC are pretty damn slim.

Why the hell would Kim Jong Unni both bombing Austin?   Wouldn't San Francisco, Seattle or San Diego be     an easier target?

278.Eh. I have a hard time believing that most Christians who aren't super political will stay home in protest or vote for pro-abortion dems, myself. Sure, some, but most people don't poke around on blogs like this one. Most seem to have the idea that it's your civic duty to get out and vote for somebody.

It's not just the gay marriage issue that will keep Christians away, failing to defund Obamacare, McCain and his squishy control positions, Boner's dumb moves every other day and Amnesty plan they are trying to write are just a few of the reasons  I gave up on the GOP with my wallet, my trip to the polling station is next.

Posted by: Libtardo at March 29, 2013 09:24 AM (bcA4R)

According  to  Rick  Wilson,  yes,  and  when  they  go  for  age  of  consent  will  that  be  a  hill  to  die  on? 

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at March 29, 2013 09:25 AM (4df7R)

If you are going to blow gas for the sake of blowing gas, the direction is immaterial. Little sawed off bastard couldn't hit South Korea and survive.

How about this: the Government should not be in the business of encouraging risky behavior. Not discourage, just stop encouraging. If you want to engage in high-risk factor activities (I ride a motorcycle) fine, but the government needs to stop encouraging risk.

Buying a house and marriage are encouraged by the government as generally good for society. The "rights" associated with marraige have been instituted to support and encourage marriage.  Homosexual male sex (and it is ultimately about sex) is unequivocally risky and the results are unarguably harmful to society. 

         There are lots of arguments to be made about whether other aspects of homosexuality (psychological, role models in childhood developement, etc.) are also risky, and everyone who studies it seems to have a bias that makes them focus on or throw out specific data to support thier posisiton (BTW, that's not science), but male homosexuality is risky and should not be encouraged.  Specifically should not be encouraged the way marraige is encouraged.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at March 29, 2013 09:25 AM (4df7R)

Don't piss on his parade. I'm emailing him coordinates of targets right now. Send a big one to Crook County IL

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 74% more DOOM! at March 29, 2013 09:22 AM (FsUAO)

I think a pro-life position is just generally more philosophically defensible.  Currently the SSM pushback is "what two people can't make their own decisions" (or some crap.)

While I don't like that line of reasoning, it's admittedly hard to cast oneself as the party of freedom when you're busy making rules.

Abortion is less riddled with that problem if you can get people to accept the initial premise that it's a life (which more and more people I think are buying into.)

But that may be my own personal biases.

Frankly I'm just sick of hearing about SSM, at what point do you just get out of my fucking face?  My biggest opposition right now is to hearing about it nonstop, I just want to be left alone.

All of us down at the Brattleboro WomanÂ’s Reproductive and Pregnancy Decision Center re proud to announce for the Easter Howliday that all persons of color that shop in Brattleboro will receive a one percent discount at the Brattleboro Hellth Food store and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Of course a photo ID is required by all to prove you are a person of color to be elligeble four the discount. Also we are taking donations toi the "We hate Bush" drive and all money raised will be sent to Presdent Obama to pay down the BUsh debt. We hopes to sea wall persons of color this weekend and also persons of non colora our also welcome in the racial free zone of Brattleboro :-)

361 Pro-life movement is vibrant and growing. The youth aren't increasing they support of abortion, and are in fact by and large for restrictions in late term abortions.

And what, exactly, has the National Republican party done to help this along?

I will concede that <some> is being done at the state level (in <some> states), but on the national stage this is just another bone to be thrown to the SoCons to get them to STFUASTFD 

@ 359 364 - "That's my guess, too. It came out of nowhere, just since shit-for-brains got re-elected, suddenly it was "75% in favor." I never heard anyone explain the background on the numbers for the change.
Posted by: zsasz at March 29, 2013 09:22 AM (MMC8r)

Are the polling numbers made up?

Do we have to unskew numbers now on this?"

You tell me.  The recent poll was from WashPo/ABC.  At this point, I don't believe a single thing coming from the MSM.  They're also trying to convince us that suddenly vast numbers of the American people support gun control, even though the evidence on the ground is that this is NOT the case.  Why should it be different with gay marriage, which is just another brick in the left-wing agenda?

If there is one truism we need to understand, it is that large numbers of people do NOT suddenly shift one way or another on some issue in the space of a few months.  This simply does not happen.  It hasn't even happened on gun control, despite Aurora and Newtown and the constant coverage these got.  Yes - the population's views on an issue can change, but this is gradual, over the course of years or even decades.  Not three months.

Face it, even in the states where gay marriage was approved in November, it ran several percentage points behind Obama's performance in those states.  If gay marriage really enjoyed the support of nearly two-thirds of the country, then it would not have gotten the lagging numbers it did in these uniformly deep Blue states.

Did Maine, Maryland, and Washington approve gay marriage (and Minnesota refuse to amend its constitution to affirm traditional marriage)?  Yes.  Is this indicative of an epic sea change on the issue?  No.  Hithertofore, most all of the 32 states that have voted against it have been Red states.  It's only now that the Blue states, which had been lagging, have finally started weighing in.  The only state to change has been Maine - and that barely, as Maine had the closest margin of all in favour of SSM.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 29, 2013 09:28 AM (1Jaio)

This is true.  

Make sure to give him pinpoint coordinates to downtown Chicago.   Even if his rockets muff the trajectory a little,   as    long as they land      in the general vicinity of Scum City, they'll be right.

MWR,

You're up in NH, right? What's the deal with the schools taking away dodgeball?

Posted by: EC at March 29, 2013 09:29 AM (GQ8sn)

They've been going after dodgeball for YEARS.   Ever since I was in school.      By the time I was a HS senior we weren't allowed to play it anymore at my school.  Such stupidity.  

You know, I'd love to have kids -- really I would -- but I don't know that anyone shoudl be subjected to growing up in this modern dystopia.    I don't fancy my children reading  "1984" in their US history classes as a TEXTBOOK.

Because I want to punch every single democrat in the face.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2013 09:35 AM (9Bj8R)

Never settle for substitutes.  They always leave you disappointed.

Why did you become a reliable Republican voter?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2013 09:35 AM (9Bj8R)

Just as a point of order -- you don't have to be a reliable Repubbie voter to   want to      punch every single democrat in the face.  

Good luck, HoboJerky!  

401Alright 'rons got an interview in a bit. Wish me luck.
Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 74% more DOOM! at March 29, 2013 09:36 AM (FsUAO)

Good Luck, don't piss on the desk

Good advise, and also keep your fingers outta yer nose and pants until after the interview. Make sure you have pants on, and zip your fly.

That was far, far too polite.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at March 29, 2013 09:38 AM (sbV1u)

*shamefaced shuffle*  Yessir.

Alright 'rons got an interview in a bit. Wish me luck.

Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 74% more DOOM! at March 29, 2013 09:36 AM (FsUAO)

Remember that interviewers like independent thinkers who don't take shit from anyone.

Also, check your zipper before going into the office.

394 What are they supposed to do outside of replacing liberal supreme court justices with conservative ones?

Well, how do you think that the "thriving pro life movement" got so thriving?

It sure as hell wasn't by running away from the discussion every time it is brought up or by treating people who think that a fetus is a real, live human being entitled to protections and rights as a backwards assed, red neck, bible thumping moron.

The answer usually is "we believe in the sanctity of life" and then change to subject ASAP.

How about they actually, you know, ADVOCATE for what is supposed to be a f'ng plank in the f'ng platform? 

Yo, AnnaP!

Heh.  In college, whenever someone would knock on my dormroom door I'd invariably answer,  "Yo yo, wassup?" instead of, "Come in!"   The looks I   used to get were hilarious.   Just try to picture a so-white-she's-virtually-blue NH girl with big, curly hair    and a very Irishy-Britishy face    putting on a "homegirl" accent and saying,  "Yo yo, wassuuuuuuup?"  to other whitebread NH   college students.

It was fun.

Good Luck, don't piss on the desk

Well said.

Everyone, remember this advice.  It will serve you well throughout your life.   Tell your children.

"...don't piss on the desk"

Not to be confused with pounding your dick on the conference table in order to make a point, which is still perfectly acceptable.

Two Vacations In One Week: Obama Girls Go From Bahamas Vacation To Idaho Skiing GetawayÂ…

Good grief.

I can count the number of times I went on a "vacation" when i was Malia and/or Sasha's ages on the fingers of one hand.  I'm not going to begrudge them the chance to get the hell out of DC    and away from their famewhore father and fat mother, but I'd appreciate it if their     fucking parents made even a handwave     at     decorum and optics and sent the girls to the frigging Poconos or something.    Not every     vacation has to be to some lavish resort    that the hoi polloi can only dream of visiting.      Jeezy Creezy.

Of course, look at who their parents are and what their parents do and... yeah.   Spitting into the wind.

Good Luck, don't piss on the desk

Unless the situation calls for it.  Sometimes that can be the difference between "We'll phone you" and "Have a mink coat."

Does the phrase "protected class" mean anything? You will fund advanced medical treatment for this class and you will like it!

This.  Breat cancer?  OMG, the most horriblest, worsest disease EVAH!  Everybody wear pink!

Prostate cancer?  **crickets**

I'm coming to you LIKE A MAN*    to tell you the Dump is up.

*This is unusual, since I'm not one

Just try to picture a so-white-she's-virtually-blue NH girl with big, curly hair and a very Irishy-Britishy face

What is she wearing?

Posted by: mama winger at March 29, 2013 08:54 AM (P6QsQ)

aaah...yup.  I'm done.

Assignment for Astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson:  Resolve Fermi Paradox.

Hint: a paradox requires that BOTH side of it be apparently true.  A paradox is not a paradox just because climate scientists, OOPSIE - I mean "astronomers", DECLARE that one side of it is -  true.

Another hint: Understanding that they may be to us as we are to ants is a good start.

Final hint:

Ant 1: "Holy shit look at that completely un-ant-like being that is looking at us and is like 10,000 times as large as we are!"

Ant-stronomer: "My religion does not preclude the existence of such huge beings, and in fact we think they probably exist.  But the fact that you see them, and you are a bitter clinger, while I am a Big Fucking Astronomer, means that they cannot exist.  Try to keep up."

I hope you non-elites could follow that.