(Jeff Danziger’s website)
__
It’s August, aka the Silly Season, which in America means kids get sent to camp, political bloggers choose up teams to start this year’s round of civil warz to the death, and Seattle’s Stranger sends its book editor Paul Constant to a business conference:
Yesterday, I Went to the American Idol for Startups. It Made Me Want to Die.
… These women and men have come together to do brutal violence to the English language, to leave the spoken and written word bloodied and victimized on a cold cement floor, wishing for the sweet relief of death.Or at least, that’s the unintentional result. The ostensible reason they’ve gathered in Showbox SoDo, hiding away from the sunny afternoon in a dark room lousy with power strips, is to stare at a podium and a screen and lose a whole day to PowerPoint. They’re all wearing lanyards with big plastic placards dangling around their navels, their names in huge, humpty-point type and the words “Startup Riot Seattle 2012” and “#occupystartups” at the top. Ostensibly, they’re here to take part in something like an American Idol for startups…
But, oh, my God, the terrible things these people do to words. It’s like watching some sadist work over a baby lamb with a rusty crowbar and a broken gin bottle. The names of these startups sound like the products of an aggressive brain tumor on the frontal lobe. Crowdegy, Placeling, Kouply, QuoteRobot, Appthwack, Makegood, Onthego, Nickler, Kahal, Tanzio, Taskk. They’re all whimsical and unique in exactly the same way. One of the judges works for Storenvy. The main corporate sponsor for Startup Riot is Mailchimp, along with a flock of smaller sponsors like Uber, Gist, and Twilio. I could staple the mismatched meat of syllables together all afternoon and you wouldn’t be able to tell the legitimate businesses from the illegitimate: Mehole, Kaprah, Yimmy, Blanter, Catzap, Dunzyinonezy, Simplert, Lustaminate…
It’s also the season for the NYTimes — and not in the Style section, either — to tonguebathe the latest Republican attempt at re-branding for the Kool Kidz:
Young in G.O.P. Erase the Lines on Social Issues
…. Polls show that Americans under 30 are the least likely to identify as Republican, and those in the millennial generation support President Obama by a wide margin. But in an effort to win votes by capitalizing on disenchantment with the recession and its slow recovery, Republicans are placing a renewed emphasis on fiscal issues, with hopes of energizing their young people — a group that had one of the lowest turnout levels in the history of presidential elections in 2008 and did not turn out in strong numbers in this year’s primaries.“I would prefer that Mitt Romney leave social issues sort of alone, because I do disagree with him on those things,” said Ms. Kotzambasis, whose group, like many others, operates mostly independent of any national party oversight. “He keeps saying that the first things he’ll tackle are health care and the economy, and I hope he tackles the economy. I’m graduating in a couple years, and it’s pretty dismal where I am.”
What has become the norm, some experts say, is for young Republicans to take a cafeteria-style approach to issues that are important to them. And some established leaders see that as a boon to their party.
“My theory is that, just as young people don’t have to buy a whole album on iTunes and can pick and choose just the songs they like, they can customize their political views — and they do,” said Kristen Soltis, a Republican pollster who is the communications adviser to Crossroads Generation, a new pro-Romney “super PAC” aimed at young voters…
Look, you miserable spoilt little weanlings (she said, shouting at the clouds), if you’re going to vote Republican, and least sack up and own your IGM (y parents) FU politics. Your highest ambition in life is to be Luke Russert, or at least Luke Russert’s trophy wife, and meanwhile you’re coasting on mommy’s credit card and daddy’s employer-paid health insurance, and every penny of sales tax on that Prada/ Gucci/Louis Vuitton must-have bag-of-the-summer chafes your expensively toned quads. You don’t want to be embarrassed in front of your friends, so you’re telling the NYT stenographer you’re “cafeteria-style” Republicans who have nothing to do with those sweaty Tea Party types all lathered up about sodomites and feminazis and kenyamuslimsocialists. Yeah, let’s you and me and all the world take your pick’n’mix mealy-mouthing out for a spin at the Tampa convention and watch the ensuing kumbaya…(/unfair alte kacker rant)
***********
Apart from — well, probably, along with — THe Silly, what’s on the agenda for the evening?
Tony J
Ahhhh.
leaves money on the dresser.
(semi-snark)
But really, that was great.
NotMax
FSM bless the ACLU.
General Stuck
A little something to take the edge off.
Seanly
Well, yes. Deosn’t everyone do that? I don’t like everything the Democrats do (though I do hate everything Republicans do lately). But when you vote for someone, it doesn’t matter if you like 100%, 60% or 10% of their agenda – you get what you vote for. You get the whole craptastic album even if you only like one good song. You don’t get to live in a reality with just the policies that make you happy.
MikeJ
I hope catzap was a fake startup name ’cause I may take it.
Redshift
Ah, the ever-popular trying to lie a generation of young Republicans into existence through sheer repetition.
I, for one, would be fascinated to know the age of the “pollster” is who is telling us what those young people really think. And how much a consultant was paid to come up with that iTunes line.
But congrats to Rove on establishing “Crossroads” as the brand-name for high-priced fail!
NancyDarling
Not in Arkansas!
Catsy
Is this a joke?
I’ve been to two concerts at the Showbox SoDo. It’s okay as a concert venue. I can’t fathom trying to hold a tech conference of any kind there.
Klaus Kinky
Geez, the old “Hip-publicans” bit again. It’s been the election-year staple since at least the late ’80s, probably longer.
khead
Feel free to pick a view that is not shared by the majority of folks in the GOP in 2012.
Go ahead. We’re waiting.
This should be fun.
Redshift
@Seanly: The reason this is doomed to fail is that the Republicans expect you never to mention your differences with the party, or expect the party to respond to them. (See Republicans, Log Cabin.)
Hence the hilarity of the news articles about the “diversity” of the lineup of speakers at the GOP convention — some pro-choice, varying views on immigration. Will they mention any of those in their speeches? Not a chance.
MikeJ
@Klaus Kinky: Family Ties went on the air in ’82, so I’d guess since at least their first view of Alex P. Keaton.
lonesomerobot
I totally support terrorists that commit terrorism for things I can support.
David Koch
Hope Solo is Spiderwoman
http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/full/633935114.gif?key=500271&Expires=1344551191&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIYVGSUJFNRFZBBTA&Signature=G3l4Q5XI02aFHvknP6TepHkA0HpqebDu5auxibLN9m5rfjsUgqxEXtfPiIir3yssmGUg15owd9lVl-hQ8Md0IMGeDgEt8WfaBsMCce-tNh~9y7UNC~qDzz2DeEZKCeRuxsRGohI888hpCNgjudO0HiJPjZP7JVN5kXlQNcDQre0_
Catsy
Bless their little hearts, they’re just adorable when they’re being this naive about how things work in the modern GOP.
khead
@David Koch:
I don’t think it’s as good as the one she had in the first half where she deflected the ball into the crossbar.
That’s the save that folks should be pimping.
Redshift
I was rather amused by this NPR piece I heard on Tuesday, which is about the differences between Obama and Romney campaign events, and tries desperately not to call attention to the enthusiasm gap.
For example: They talk to an Obama supporter who waited many hours to get into the event, in addition to waiting a couple of hours to get the ticket. And contrast that with a Romney supporter who just walked in.
That’s followed by an excuse from a former Bush staffer, who goes on about what an advantage the president has, with a story about Bush buzzing a NASCAR event in Air Force One before arriving, generating wild enthusiasm. Except, of course, that Obama does none of that; he generates wild enthusiasm just by showing up.
Unlike a lot of campaign pieces, I actually found it funny rather than annoying. It really seems like Shapiro, by bending over backward to excuse the Romney campaign’s failings, makes them impossible to be dismissed in the way a straight-up description might have been.
different-church-lady
Okay, we totally have to do something meme-like with that. Like, some kind of variation on pie hole, only with a heavy dose of snot-nosed selfishness. Like, “Jamie Dimon once again has decided he needs something to to stuff in his Mehole.”
NotMax
@Seanly
True dat.
Also too, Ms. Soltis sticking her head in the sand regarding what the GOP has actually been pushing through or attempting to push through as a concerted agenda regarding things such as abortion, contraception, etc. etc. doesn’t make those GOP policy efforts go away.
Every election, there are these pieces about the Young Republican campus shills, who nearly always spout off inanities (or worse). Remember this golden oldie from 2006?
Brachiator
Mentioned it in another thread and will throw it in again here. Folks interested in an actual, funny comedy should go see Ted while it is still in the theaters.
The movie is sufficiently raunchy without the pointless fear and trembling and sickness unto death with respect to female characters. Shorter, Mila Kunis is hot and sweet, as are the secondary actresses.
And I love it when gags are set up and pay off well.
The movie is also a kind of backhanded love lettter to Boston.
Funny and an offbeat date night movie if your significant other has a good, dirty sense of humor.
Ted is not quite as much fun as the GOP falling all over themselves to alienate future voters, women and nonwhite peoples in the United States, Anglo Saxons in the UK, and ETs discovered by the Mars Curiosity rover, but it will do.
Also, too.
Chyron HR
@NotMax:
And the loser is deported!
Dennis SGMM
Bwahahahaha! To be young and to be a supporter of the GOP is to already be in the grip of psychosis, and teh stupid. The Rs have been trying to portray their Hitler Jugend (There. I Godwined the thread) as deep-thinking young folk since the Eighties. It still isn’t working, at least not on campus.
trollhattan
Could this guy’s efforts have stopped Wade Michael Page?
We’ll never know.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/08/dhs/all/
trollhattan
@Redshift:
This a.m. Morning Edition interviewed a Hispanic woman M.D. in Iowa whose single issue for the president is to “sign the DREAM act” but who’s planning to vote Romney because “his values fit mine.”
I’m shopping for a new radio right after work.
Litlebritdifrnt
I wanted to stop in and thank you all for your kind and caring words about Cueball and particularly for John putting up a special thread about it. I am still at the can’t speak without crying stage and this evening coming home to an empty house was horrible however, as the days go by I know that when I think of him the smiles will come more often than the tears. Thank you all again it is much appreciated.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Can anybody help a Foolish Literalist out? I don’t know who Alex Burns is, but he works for Politico and I’m very tired so maybe my snark and radical centrist detectors are broken, but
I’m guessing, because Politico, that this is utterly sincere, but for whom is this supposed to lock up this election? also, too,
What the fuck is the/a “trust deficit”?
Violet
Hey, Anne Laurie–just sent you an email with a photo of a billboard I saw on a recent road trip. Thought you might find it interesting.
Martin
@Redshift: And not noted was that Obama was pulling 5 and 6 figure crowds well before he was president. Being president has fuckall to do with why he’s so popular.
NotMax
@Jim, Foolish Literalist
Like the missile gap, but fuzzier?
lamh35
So I know we should ignore polls this early, but first CNN had Obama over R-money by 7%. Now a FauxNews poll has Obama by 9%?
But I guess the media will ignore since this is a “horse race”
Martin
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: A trust deficit describes a management problem where various actors in a team – either individual or groups, distrust other elements of the team to the point of dysfunction.
I assume in this case he’s referring to Democrats and Republicans instinctively and automatically assuming the worst intentions on the part of the other group.
Of course, Obama did give a speech about that, and the GOP stopped inviting him to talk to them.
jl
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: A clueless centrist goofball, IMHO. A speech about Simpson Bowles will have about as much impact on the voting population as digging a post hole in the middle of a lake. The Village Idiots will swoon over it for weeks, though.
Unless he means a speech with Grandpa Simpson and Sally Bowles in it. That might get some voter attention.
jl
@Martin: Thanks. I thought it was a dig at Democrats for not having enough trust funds.
Edit: and I would not call Alex Burns ‘crazy’, other insults would be more appropriate.
Steeplejack
@MikeJ:
Change “Mehole” to “Myhole” and I can get funding for us by Monday.
Berial
Charles Pierce had something to say about this earlier in the day. I think he nailed it….AGAIN.
Redshift
@Martin: Not directly, but after the Bushie’s excuses about the presidential stuff, there’s “Even before he was president, Obama was a rock-star candidate.” I dunno, I took that to be acknowledging that everyone listening with half a brain was already thinking “but he got big crowds before he was president.”
My favorite bits were “For Romney, crowds are more often in the hundreds” and “At Romney rallies, it can be difficult to find any people of color in the crowd.” No duh.
danah gaz (fka gaz)
@Redshift: Your post is riddled with win.
yopd1
I received a Twitter DM from the TED Fellow Max Little who is developing a diagnostic test for Parkinson’s disease to screen anyone for Parkinson’s Disease in a 5 minute phone call. Current results are nearly 99% accurate and he is looking to improve the accuracy and improve the test to allow it do measure progression of the disease. He needs volunteers to call, both those with Parkinson’s and those without.
Currently there is no diagnostic test that determines accurately whether a patient has Parkinson’s. This causes delays in treatments for those who have it and hampers research because of difficulty finding subjects who are newly diagnosed. By creating a test that can accurately determine if a patient has Parkinson’s, a cure could be found sooner.
Visit the Parkinson’s Voice Initiative for one of the numbers.
If one of the front pagers want to post the site/phone numbers to the front page, I’m sure he’d appreciate it as well.
raven
Sent to camp? School started here yesterday.
Dennis SGMM
@lamh35:
It won’t be a horse race if there’s a revolt at the revolting convention and that’s still, to my mind a very real possibility. Why? The GOP has an atavistic desire to win, even if that means dealing with the mess that they created. Romney is beginning to look less and less like a winner. There is an outside chance of a revolt and the nomination of someone more to the liking of the mentally ill GOP because they’ve convinced themselves that the American people will flock to vote for someone who thinks the way that they do.
Tehanu
@jl:
Shouldn’t that be “Simpson. Burns”?
Redshift
@Martin: A week or so ago, the “trust deficit” was all over the punditry. It doesn’t refer to the lack of trust between the parties, so much as the fact that trust in public institutions of all sorts (including political parties) is at historic lows. What didn’t get a lot of play is that conservatives have been actively undermining trust in almost all of those institutions.
The mind boggles the idea that a presidential speech on the subject of people having low levels of trust in government would do anything at all. Amazing that there are people who continue to get paid for that sort of thinking.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Martin:
So…. this kid is calling on Obama (I guess, and/or Romney?) to make a speech appealing to both sides to put partisanship aside? In his own twitter caricature he looks like he only shaves every other day, but…. come on. He’s old enough to type, and presumably get paid to do so. It does fit well with the belief that The People are clamoring for Simpson/Bowels.
Violet
@Dennis SGMM: I agree. I also think that once the Olympics are done the media will wake up to the fact that the horse race narrative is boring and isn’t bringing ratings and that a “Republicans in Disarray” or “Can Romney Hold On?” or “Is Romney a Crook?” type narrative will be a lot more exciting.
jl
@Berial:
Good article by Pierce.
The GOP in its current form is not viable, and cannot solve its youth problem. The socially non reactionary young GOPper are swamped by social conservatives. The young people coming into the GOP will be mostly those who have been brainwashed by their reactionary families, and that will be dwindling crop of youngins that will leak out quite a few kids as they grow up and start to think for themselves. That demographic will not attract very many people who grew up in more average environments.
The GOP is on its way to being a white bigot rump, and I don’t see much anyone can do about it. But I am prejudiced towards the GOP’s political extinction, so maybe it is just me.
They can win by suppressing the vote of non GOPpers, that is about it, which is a vile strategy for survival. Better that the beast die, politically.
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
Obama has an ad ready for the “Son of Boss” tax avoidance scheme that Romney pulled at Marriott.
NotMax
@jl
The right’s selective tunnel vision is quite amusing.
Simpson-Bowles: A presidential commission which reached no conclusions by consensus and officially made no recommendation – Good.
Budget Supercommittee: A legislatively mandated committee that received testimony from both Simpson and from Bowles, which reached no conclusions by consensus and officially made no recommendation – Bad.
Dennis SGMM
@jl:
FTFY
jl
@Dennis SGMM: I thought this was a family blog, but you have point. Might as well add ‘toke up’ as long as we’re at it.
different-church-lady
@trollhattan:
The problem is not with your set.
jwb
drip, drip, drip. Reid announces source on Romney taxes is a Republican. Ha, ha, ha.
NotMax
@raven
Had a friend send me a copy of a Maui picture which you might enjoy.
He took this last year. What he was planning was to take a pic of the submarine, but something fortuitous happened just as he snapped the shutter.
Redshift
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Beats me. I think TPM reported that Lindsey Graham was going on about Simpson-Bowles and the deficit recently. Apparently he had either forgotten or was counting on his audience to have forgotten that Republicans tanked Simpson-Bowles because it included much bigger tax increases than Obama is proposing.
In the Politico-bubble, they probably think that voters across the country are deeply concerned with the deficit (because the Village is), and that either Obama or Romney could get huge amounts of support for it, and that Republicans would actually go along with it. Believing six impossible things before breakfast is all in a day’s work over there.
jl
@jwb:
” Reid announces source on Romney taxes is a Republican ”
OMG! Reid is so depraved. The monster!
What is he doing to our civil political discourse. I swoon!
Redshift
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Beats me. I think TPM reported that Lindsey Graham was going on about Simpson-Bowles and the deficit recently. Apparently he had either forgotten or was counting on his audience to have forgotten that Republicans tanked Simpson-Bowles because it included much bigger tax increases than Obama is proposing.
In the Politico-bubble, they probably think that voters across the country are deeply concerned with the deficit (because the Village is), and that either Obama or Romney could get huge amounts of support for it, and that Republicans would actually go along with it. Believing six impossible things before breakfast is all in a day’s work over there.
Valdivia
I actually know this Soltis character. A guy I was dating a couple of years ago kept bumping into her at young techie people events in DC and he kind of talked a little too much about her. So, yeah, I hated her both for being a Republican and because he seemed to like her. /I know, TMI
different-church-lady
@jwb: Wait… is anyone else catching a whiff of freshly fucked rat in the air?
David Koch
@khead: I think people are focusing on this one as opposed to the other two great deflections, as well as the one were she dove into on coming traffic and got socked in her ribs, is because it happened late in the game after a quick steal. Japan is so fast and that steal came out of nowhere, giving Solo and viewers only had a second to set up their focus.
Violet
@jwb: Ha ha ha! That’s excellent! I love how Reid is ignoring all the Dem concern trolls and Republican freak outs and is sticking to his story.
I called Reid’s office to thank him for keeping after the tax story and also for his stance on global warming. The intern was really appreciative, especially when he asked where I was calling from and I told him my red state location. The intern actually said, “Wow!” Heh.
Baud
@jwb:
And that Republican is Mitt Romney. /M. Night Shyamalan
ETA: Seriously, I wonder if the Republican is John McCain. Do you think he really could hate Romney more than he hates Obama?
Comrade Dread
Yes, yes you can. I’m a Pro-life Democrat. And speaking from experience, I’ve gotten a much warmer welcome from the Democrats online than I ever got from the GOP folks when I started suggesting that maybe we shouldn’t go around spreading freedom with bombs or letting corporations loot the nation.
I’ll assume you’ve missed the last 10 years when the GOP has been quite busy purging the heretics who were insufficiently anti-science, pro-war, pro-gun, Objectivist and pro-arsehole from their ranks. (Though the latter two are probably redundant.)
muddy
Tweety is interviewing Newty. I worry for Calista that Newt is on to a new woman, he has a new hairdo, not as spherical. A whole new phase may be starting for him.
The Moar You Know
iTunes is destroying the record companies.
These people may want to think through all the ramifications of their analogies.
jl
@muddy: Newtie will out ‘helpling’ the GOP on the TV machine. Look for even better Obama numbers soon.
NotMax
@muddy
Parted from the left, piled up on the right. Coincidence?
jrg
That itunes bit is hysterical. It’s like marrying a hooker with a coke habit because she’s a good cook.
Violet
@Baud:
I wonder if McCain talked to Romney about a possible Secretary of State position, or some similar type role, and Romney rebuffed his advances. McCain is the type to hold grudges, it seems to me. I don’t think he’d like being ignored.
Valdivia
@jrg:
ha ha ha, FTW.
I should add that now I feel very vindicated in my loathing of Soltis seeing what she has to say. Gah.
jl
@Valdivia:
Just be thankful you run with DemcocRATS. If you were GOP, you would now be under suspicion for liking someone who may have liked someone on the Other Side.
Violet
@Valdivia: Ewww…sounds like are well rid of him.
raven
@NotMax: Wow, just wow!
raven
@The Moar You Know: Fuck the record companies.
jl
@NotMax: beautiful pic. thanks.
scav
@jl: That was Wicked. Whew.
muddy
@NotMax: No, I’m sure that’s meant to be a subliminal message to the faithful.
However, I detect the use of a curling iron on that feathered pile portion, and that’s just not manly. The faithful don’t like that either. He may be forced to get a new adultery partner to prove his masculine bonafides.
Valdivia
@jl:
I am very thankful, I actually used to give prospective dates a politics test, just to make sure ;)
@Violet:
yeah, it was a very fun and not very serious kinda thing, but the fact he found her intriguing was a clear red flag.
/edited for grammar
LanceThruster
@Litlebritdifrnt: Did not get the chance to pay my respects there so I’ll do it now. Your gracious comment here only further my admiration and respect for you. So sorry about Cueball.
Though I happen to be godless, I always have responded with tears to this tribute to the companions that we love so dearly – http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
LanceThruster
@NotMax: Cool beyond words.
raven
@Litlebritdifrnt: Hang in there.
lamh35
@jwb:
Hmmm…McCain, Steve Schnidt, or Nicole Wallace???
mai naem
Wow, Anne, the snark in this post is worthy of Mr.Pierce.
@Dennis SGMM: This is my fear, that the Repubs get to Fla and nominate somebody better but from what I remember none of the other candidates had done the paperwork for all the states, except maybe Ron Paul and Ron Paul, even for Repubs, is a whackjob. Unless I am not understanding this paperwork regs stuff correctly.
@muddy: I was watching Morning Ho this AM and they had the Newtster on and he was kinda sorta hitting on Mika..
xian
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I was saying “boo-urns”
Jay C
@Martin:
OK, so now we know what one of the problems with the Romney campaign is….
BruceFromOhio
…what’s on the agenda for the evening?
Drinking heavily.
Violet
@mai naem: In a thread yesterday, someone suggested that the Republicans could go with Paul because they know he’d lose and it would defeat the Paulistas for a generation.
burnspbesq
@khead:
Wonder why there weren’t any “Marry Me Carli Lloyd” signs at Wembley.
Actually I don’t wonder, but she was the MVP of the tournament.
scav
Just as they’re desperately trying to arrange things so they can stage manage a Happy Families Thanksgiving Balloon Drop and MittLaunch between wildly antagonistic factions, some of whom are paranoid and all of whom are jumpy because of declining polls, not only does a corpse with a knife in the back show up, but the detective announces that the fingerprints belong to One of The People Sitting There at The Table. Classic If a bus so much as backfires around that convention hall . . . .
Omnes Omnibus
@Valdivia: You seem to have a busy social life.
JGabriel
__
__
Paul Constant:
SoDo? Is that a number one or a number two?
.
Baud
@Valdivia:
Is that what you kids call it these days?
Litlebritdifrnt
You might not believe this but Son of Boss is trending on Twitter.
Baud
@Violet:
If it is McCain, I would be a little worried because I wouldn’t trust him as a reliable source for anything, much less anything involving numbers.
JGabriel
__
__
Valdivia:
But at least you found out early about his crypto-lust for the dark side.
.
Baud
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Son of Boss is a cool-ass name. Great marketing if you’re selling tax shelters; bad public relations if you’re trying to defend them.
Litlebritdifrnt
And this is why it is trending, new OFA ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DABbkpHzg3o&feature=youtu.be&a
Thoughtcrime
@jwb:
WASHINGTON – A top aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) provided new details Wednesday on the identity of Reid’s source for the claim that Mitt Romney did not pay taxes for 10 years. Romney has since called on Reid to release the name of the source.
“This person is an investor in Bain Capital, a Republican also, and somebody who has been dealing with Romney’s company for a long, long time and he has direct knowledge of this,” said Reid aide Jose Parra, referring to Romney’s tax returns.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..62255.html
Reid can do this for weeks.
He’s hosting a game show about Romney’s taxes—“What’s My Lie?”
2 down and 8 to go.
rikyrah
I love your snark against the GOP Youth
LOL
Violet
@Litlebritdifrnt: Ohhhh…that’s good. Romney looks so shifty in his response. He looks like he’s hiding something for sure.
burnspbesq
This is actual statutory language from the marijuana-legalization initiative that will be on the ballot in Oregon in November.
http://octa2012.org/oregon-cannabis-tax-act-legislation/
Violet
@Thoughtcrime: He really can do this for weeks. Drip, drip, drip. When the story gets a little old, drop in another tidbit. I can’t wait for the discussion to move from horse race to “Can the GOP Afford to Nominate Romney?”
jl
@Litlebritdifrnt: Thanks for that ad. I hope it stirs howls of outrage among the Very Serious.
Edit: and glad that Obama is sticking with the personal endorsement of message at front, with a stolid, serious no kidding around pic.
dmsilev
@Thoughtcrime:
Hmmm. Mitt Romney is leaking information on Mitt Romney’s tax returns to Harry Reid?
different-church-lady
@JGabriel:
[looks it up in Urban Dictionary…]
EWWWWWWW! THAT’S DISGUSTING!!!!!
Corner Stone
@Thoughtcrime: According to the linked HuffPo article the top aide has changed the definition of what he meant.
muddy
@mai naem: I’m not surprised, I don’t think he can help himself. When he did an interview on Al Sharpton’s show a few weeks (months?) ago, he started right out with saying how great it was that Al was able to keep his weight down after losing it, he had to interrupt to fit that in. I’m sure he was surprised when Sharpton did not begin to preen and squirm about over it, because that sort of thing always goes over so well with the laydeeez. (shudder, not enough diamonds in the world)
Corner Stone
@jrg:
What…ummm…
Judas Escargot, Acerbic Prophet of the Mighty Potato God
@Redshift:
I always found Rove’s choice of PAC name to be quite telling, actually.
Corner Stone
@burnspbesq:
Carli seems to be really attractive and successful. Why don’t you wonder about the marriage proposals?
muddy
@Corner Stone: Are you trying to ask for her number?
KG
@Dennis SGMM: a floor fight is about the only thing left on the list of “things I never figured to see in my life time.” Marked off in the last 15 years or so:
1. impeached president
2. president winning electoral college and losing popular vote
3. Red Sox winning the World Series
4. LA Kings winning the Stanley Cup
5. black man elected president
6. female speaker of the house
Things still on the list:
1. floor fight/brokered convention
2. Cubs winning the World Series
3. female president
I’m most comfortable about the Cubs.
Part of me wants to see the revolt just for the political theater. Plus, I would figure that anyone that gets the nomination would get walloped in the general and I would home that would move the GOP back towards reality/sanity
Corner Stone
@Valdivia: That color green looks good on you.
different-church-lady
@Corner Stone:
Man, that sets some land speed records for walking back.
Violet
@KG: Between the Paulites and the Fail that is Romney, you might see your first option on the “things yet to see” list. I’m hoping.
burnspbesq
@Corner Stone:
Because she hasn’t gotten the same marketing push as Nike’s designated It-Girls, Solo and Morgan.
Corner Stone
Color me naive, but sometimes I’m still a little boggled that in these times and attitudes, a man with an untold (and apparently untellable) personal fortune could actually be contending to try and win the presidency.
Not just that he’s up there giving it a go, but that some almost 50M actual people will be voting for this individual.
And I mean, I’ve been steadfastly informing everyone here from the very beginning that Romney would be the R nominee and all. But still. Sometimes when I stop working on my DRONEZ for a moment, the shit, it boggles me.
gogol's wife
@Litlebritdifrnt:
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to contribute to the thread when it appeared. Please accept my deep sympathy.
MikeJ
@Baud:
I’m going to set up a company or two to engage in inflated basis transactions and call it Fluffy Bunny Inc. Or better yet, Good Deeds, Inc. Public Works, Inc. Philanthropy, Inc. When you get caught the headlines will all be “XYZ Corp engaged in Philanthropy”.
burnspbesq
@muddy:
Good luck. She’s been dating the same guy since 2008.
Corner Stone
@muddy: I’m trying to a)figure out the analogy, and b)figure out the downside.
MikeJ
@burnspbesq: And Tobin Heath may be the best player on the team, but since she’s not a striker the casual fan won’t notice (and NBC won’t talk about her).
Turgidson
@khead:
Yeah, my first reaction to that quote was, “you’re not too familiar with today’s GOP, are you?” although the purity brigade will accept her vote even if she doesn’t hate teh gay enough, as long as she never runs for office.
Baud
@MikeJ:
There’s the rub. To be successful in the tax shelter business, you have to believe in your heart that you will never get caught. Although given the culture of that group of folks, I’m a little surprised that we haven’t yet heard of the Cunnilingus tax shelter.
Litlebritdifrnt
@gogol’s wife:
Thanks. I appreciate it.
WaterGirl
@Belafon (formerly anonevent): Yes it is!
Oh, sorry, I was just answering the question they asked at the end of the ad:
“Isn’t it time for Romney to come clean?” YES, yes it is.
WaterGirl
@Belafon (formerly anonevent): Yes it is!
Oh, sorry, I was just answering the question they asked at the end of the ad:
“Isn’t it time for Romney to come clean?” YES, yes it is.
burnspbesq
@MikeJ:
True story: the acquisition vehicle for the first-ever hostile tender offer was called LHIW, Inc.
Somebody asked the lawyer who set it up what “LHIW” stood for.
It stood for “Let’s Hope It Works.”
different-church-lady
@Corner Stone:
Me too. Boggles the mind at first, the idea that in a time where millionaire assholes haven’t been less popular since the guilded age, the GOP manages to come up with Thurston Howell III.
Then you realize the problem is that it was “his turn” and it was pretty much all set up that way four years ago. McCain got the nod not because he was a perfect candidate but because it was his turn. Romney’s getting the nod this time because it was his turn more than anyone else. That’s about the amount of thought they put into this.
Corner Stone
I don’t agree with all the planks in the D party, and I don’t think anyone ever really does. But the shit I disagree with the D party about isn’t a question of whether equal rights actually apply to all people. Or whether one gender is more equal to make decisions than another.
You can’t say you like crushing the poors economically but you disagree with stopping two guys from marrying all legal like.
Wait…shit, I guess you can.
KG
@Violet: we’ll know before the actual nomination, because they’ll have to change the rules to allow other names offered for nomination. The Paulistas hope was that Paul would win a plurality in at least 5 states to be able to get his name in, but he only got 4 states.
And the more I think about it, the more I can understand the freak out that is most of the “conservative” movement these days. When you really consider everything that has changed in the last 15-20 years politically, socially, technologically, it’s a real shock I think. That doesn’t make it ok, just saying that I get it.
muddy
@Corner Stone: My first thought was that it wouldn’t do you any good if she were a good cook, because if she’s doing a pile of coke she won’t want to mess about with food, none for you!. And the professional skills don’t help, because she’s out working all the time and doesn’t want a busman’s holiday when she gets home, none for you! etc
That’s all sorts of downside. Plus you’d have to be bailing her out all the time, your friends would constantly ask you how Roxanne’s home cooking was, etc.
WaterGirl
@jwb: Well, that was fun reading! Until I got to the part that said: Update.
Then they walked it back. Don’t know party affiliation. Don’t know how long he was involved in the company. Etc.
Corner Stone
@Baud:
I am totally fucking failing at analogies tonight. Or metaphors or meta meta or whatever the hell is going on round here.
So what the hell does this mean?
KG
@different-church-lady: yup. Huckabee was about the only guy that could have beat Mitt this time around
burnspbesq
@MikeJ:
Chastain hasn’t shut up about Heath being the future of American women’s football since the Games started. She’s right, and there are a lot more like her in the pipeline. Wait till you see the skill level on our U-20 women’s team that is playing in the world championships later this month. Katie Stengel, Morgan Bryan, and Vanessa DiBernardo will blow your mind, and Mollie Pathman is going to be the Roberto Carlos of women’s football, an attacking left back with the skill-set of a forward.
Violet
@KG: Most people seem to be adjusting to the changes pretty well (I’m going with the 27% as “true conservatives” here). What’s different about conservatives that their response to change is to freak out and try to pass laws that take us back to some mythical 1950’s era? It’s not the changes themselves, it’s the conservatives’ response to the changes that I don’t understand. They’re driven by fear much more than the rest of the population.
Violet
@WaterGirl: Wonder why Parra said it in the first place if he was just going to walk it back so quickly? Was he not supposed to say anything or is it untrue? Thoughts?
Corner Stone
@muddy: She can change!
Dennis SGMM
Seeing as how this is an open thread, my new camping kit is nearly complete and I’m going for a break in run to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Just finished a telephone chat with one of the rangers there and she told me that daytime temps are in the 110’s. Few if any campers; perfect.
Baud
@Corner Stone:
I picture these tax shelter big money guys as the type of macho men who would think it cool to assign sexual terms to their schemes. It’s just conjecture on my part. They may well be decent folk.
KG
@Violet: yeah, like I said, I understand the cause (the changes), but really don’t get the response. It’s like they believe they can actually “stand athwart history and yell ‘stop!'” and actually be successful.
Chris
@trollhattan:
Homegrown jihadism? For real? Compared to the overall jihadist threat (most of it based overseas), I’m not going to say right-wing extremists are more dangerous, but the homegrown jihadist threat? The militia types left that one behind in the dust before it even had a chance to start.
David Koch
@burnspbesq: I missed this when it happened cuz I was following the ball, but you were right about Tancredi’s dirty play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u3ggsT2HWkc
Bubblegum Tate
@Baud:
It’s not too far from Kramer’s proposed serial killer nickname, Son of Dad.
burnspbesq
@Dennis SGMM:
I’d be surprised if its not 120. We hit 99 in central OC today.
Corner Stone
@Baud:
And I assumed they would be the type of guys who were scared to find themselves face to…err..face in a situation like that.
Macho men don’t give pleasure, they take it!
Corner Stone
Alright, now I’m hungry. Maybe cereal tonight.
mamayaga
@Violet:
It may very well have been true, but not approved for dissemination. Could also be a coy way to keep the press working on this little guessing game Harry’s got going. How can they resist hunting this guy down when Harry keeps giving them hints?
WaterGirl
@Violet: I’ve been trying to figure that out, too. It doesn’t really make sense to me, unless the information was correct and might help reveal the source, and sharing that was a violation of “I’ll tell you this but it can’t be attributed to me”.
That’s all I’ve got.
Edit: It would be irresponsible not to speculate. Other ideas?
burnspbesq
@David Koch:
The US and Canada should just switch balls and play 15 a side. They genuinely do not like each other.
Baud
@Corner Stone:
I wasn’t necessarily thinking in strictly heterosexual terms.
Corner Stone
@Violet: It may be a way to bait the Kevin Drum types into swallowing the hook.
KD says, “See?! Even a top aide doesn’t believe Harry’s fantastical tales! It’s obviously BS.”
And then Harry can either continue letting out the line, or when he’s ready, SNATCH YO AZZ! And yank them into the boat and start clubbing them.
Ok, admittedly I’m just trying to restart my analogies engine here.
Corner Stone
@Baud: Tell us more…
MikeJ
@Corner Stone: My pizza dough is about to go in the stand mixer, then proof for an hour and a half.
Turgidson
@different-church-lady:
Maybe. But in both instances, they still landed on the best candidate they had. Which says more about the laughably bad primary fields than it does about the nominees’ awesomeness.
Baud
@Corner Stone:
You’ll have to wait for my autobiography . . . 50 Shades of Baud.
Violet
@mamayaga: @WaterGirl:
It certainly would be irresponsible not to speculate!
I like the idea of teasing the info to keep the press digging. Walking it back that far makes it look like the first statement was untrue, though. Not helpful to the “Reid is telling the truth” storyline.
Lurking Canadian
@muddy: He’ll have to convert to Mormonism, to get another “sanctity of marriage” card. He’s already used his Catholic one, and Rome is awfully stingy with them.
David Koch
@burnspbesq:
How do you get to see them play? Is there a sports channel on satellite or on the intertubes that carries women’s soccer? I ask cuz even though the US team has high ratings, celebrities, eye candy, and strong sponsorship, sports channels rarely carry their games.
burnspbesq
Fuck. NFL preseason games already?
muddy
@Corner Stone: lol I think I had a guy like that once.
scav
Drat! Drat! Drat! Just when I had my locked room convention story all ready to go. Hurumph. Luckily there are some nice story clouds outside to condole me.
Steeplejack
@Baud:
Okay, I LOL’d.
burnspbesq
@David Koch:
The group-stage games will be on ESPNU (I think) and the Watch ESPN app (for sure). They are at crazy times because the tournament is in Japan.
Violet
@Corner Stone: Kos at GOS is speculating that Reid’s source is John Huntsman, Sr. Interesting thought. Huntsman Sr. hates Romney.
muddy
@Corner Stone: Well, you’ve done a nice job on your imagery, that was really sweet. I could almost feel my shoulder tiring from the clubbing.
Baud
@Violet:
Jesus, it’s a goddamn Game of Mormon Thrones.
danah gaz (fka gaz)
@Violet: Isn’t easier to compile a list of notable republicans who DON’T hate Romney?
Cassidy
AHHHHH! Fucking NBC. I’ve been waiting all day to watch that game since I couldn’t at work. Highlights! Fucking Highlights! And then Ryan Seacrest. Fuck you you fucking assholes.
burnspbesq
@Cassidy:
If you have Time Warner, there’s a dedicated football channel. Or try their sucky app.
David Koch
@Violet: I mentioned that last night how it’s been circulating for a while that Romney didn’t tithe to the church during years when he paid zero taxes and they’re pissed.
WaterGirl
@Violet: The plot thickens!
I completely believe that Reid has a source who has reliable information on this. I don’t know whether we’ll ever find out who that source is, but I’m liking the game, in any case.
Give ’em hell, Harry. I called Reid’s office yesterday to say so, too, after someone here suggested that we do that. They did seem quite pleased about the call.
danah gaz (fka gaz)
@Cassidy: If I watched TV, I think I’d imagine doing horrible things to the TV exec who said “You know, I think people REALLY want to see more Ryan Seacrest”… I know that I’m pretty ignorant of TV celebrity, but why the fuck is Ryan Seacrest even famous? (I’m serious, I don’t know) Shouldn’t he be bagging groceries or something? I just don’t get it.
burnspbesq
U-20 schedule:
US v. Ghana, 8/19, 11:50 p.m. Pacific
US v. China, 8/23, 2:50 a.m. Pacific
US v. Germany, 8/26, 11:50 p.m. Pacific
It looks like every match will be available on some combination of ESPN channels and apps.
jwb
@different-church-lady: So was it an unauthorized release by the staffer or meant to be floated and then walked back?
David Koch
@Cassidy: it’s on “On-Demand” on cable and on the channel reserved for the NFL Red Zone
muddy
@Lurking Canadian: He’ll get by with that, in the South they say Catholicism is a cult, so what’s the difference? This cult, that cult, what’s important is how much they trod down on women.
Violet
@David Koch: Yeah, that’s my theory as to why Romney can’t release his returns. It’s not so much the election he fears, but the loss of status with the Mormon church. That’s his ultimate fall back position and if the church finds he hasn’t been tithing appropriately, he’ll lose his status. I can’t imagine how terrified he is of that happening. He’d have nothing left except his money to keep him warm at night. That’s not enough for someone who has been accustomed to being higher up the food chain than everyone else his whole life.
The Other Chuck
What occurs to me that annoys me the most about the olympics coverage, and really, not just NBC and not just the Olympics, is that the commentators *never ever shut up*. It’s like they’re calling play-by-play on the radio.
Fuck’s sake, this is 2012, can’t we at least get ala-carte _audio_ tracks so I can still have sound on the action but not the constant incessant yapping of the commentators?
Cassidy
@danah gaz (fka gaz): I don’t normally mind Seacrest. He’s a decent live host and not bad for the Sunday Top 40. That being said, he is one of the last people I’d ever associate with the Olympics. I undersand NBC’s decision to bring him into the broadcast for the younger demographic; it’s not like Costas is a titan in the 18-24 y/o group. I just don’t understand the decision to not air the women’s soccer final during prime time like they’ve done for everything else.
David Koch
@Cassidy: They will also post a replay of the game later on on this site
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/browse/index.html#sx=sports&cx=soccer
pseudonymous in nc
I’m imagining Rmoney calling up all the Bain Capital investors, one by one, saying “are you the fucker who spoke to Reid? I know it was you, you treacherous swine!”
Violet
@danah gaz (fka gaz):
He hosts the most popular radio show in the country, an LA-based program that is syndicated nationally. He has hosted the most popular show on TV, “American Idol”, since it started. He’s got his own production company and is the production house responsible for the Kardashians. He’s rich, famous, and I’m pretty sure NBC is eyeing him as a Matt Lauer replacement somewhere down the road. This is his first audition.
Cassidy
@David Koch: Cool. Thanks. I’ll be checking that later.
jwb
@Corner Stone: I would have thought a man as rich as Romney would know that he needs to take the time to hide the shit. Nothing speaks to me more and tells me he absolutely has to be kept out of the WH than the fact that he didn’t think it was worth his time and money to scrub his personal accounts. It’s not like the man isn’t paranoid, given the way records of his performance have a habit of disappearing, but why he didn’t take care with his personal finances so they look squeaky clean—really it just boggles.
khead
Wow.
This thread goes to 180+ while I’m cleaning my kitchen?
I shoulda put some cat pics in here early on. The girls were pretty f’in cute today while curled up on various pieces of furniture.
burnspbesq
@Cassidy:
It requires too big a block of time. Lot of other stuff going on today, including day 2 of the decathlon, the men’s 200 meters, heats in the men’s 4×400 relay, semis in women’s basketball, women’s boxing finals, etc.
Thoughtcrime
To add some intrigue to Kos’ speculation that Reid’s source is Jon Hunstman Sr. — remember that Huntsman Jr.’s daughter said in an interview that Romney would have never run for president if he had to hand over his tax returns.
Also, too, during the debates Jr. gave Romney some serious dagger eyes.
danah gaz (fka gaz)
@jwb: I think Occam’s Razor applies here.
He’s a moron, and an incompetent politician.
raven
@The Other Chuck: Many of the NBC online feeds have no announcers.
Violet
@burnspbesq: Don’t they have other channels, like MSNBC or Universal Sports or Bravo or something where they can air the soccer final?
BillinGlendaleCA
@The Other Chuck:On a sports blog I sometimes read, one commenter suggests turning down the sound all the way. The mute button might work as well.
Cassidy
@burnspbesq: I get that, but they could have shown pieces of the match, like the did the volleyball(s), gymnastics, etc. Instead, they just did a 5 min blurb showing who scored and Solo blocking some shots. Just seems kind of disrespectful to one of the most successful women’s team we’ve ever had.
jwb
@WaterGirl: All they needed to do here was float the idea that it’s a Republican. Now, everyone is suspect. I can’t imagine this was an accidental leak, though I don’t have a good theory for why they would walk it back except maybe to make it look like it might be an accident.
raven
@Violet:
this is the link for the online replay
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/soccer/womens-soccer-final-united-states-vs-japan-mds-aug-9.html
pseudonymous in nc
@burnspbesq:
That’s true, though they could assemble a decent 15 minutes of highlights… but NBC isn’t showing the Olympics, it’s showing the NBC Olympics, which is a different thing.
Anyway, they showed the women’s water polo final live on the broadcast network at the same time, and water polo isn’t a quick event, though it’s more amenable to commercial breaks. Instead, they decided that the NBCSN was its dedicated football channel and stuck with it.
raven
@jwb: accidental, yea right
Thoughtcrime
@pseudonymous in nc:
Keyser Soze, you ridiculous man.
David Koch
Some really nice photos on Getty
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&assetType=image&mt=photography&p=women%27s+football
Violet
@jwb: In the walk-back, Parra doesn’t say that the source isn’t a Republican. He says he “doesn’t know the party affiliation” of the source. Perhaps he hasn’t checked that party affiliation for sure. Perhaps the source used to be a Republican, but now he’s not. Who knows. It’s an interestingly phrased walk-back.
danielx
Yes indeed. Pay no attention to all that stuff about how the Republican Party really hates the idea of your being able to stay on your parent’s insurance, hates gay people, hates abortion, is opposed to contraception and generally thinks women should not be allowed into the boys’ clubhouse and most especially sexually active unmarried women. Also, too, Mitt Romney thinks you should work three jobs to be able to afford to go to school, never mind how he paid for school nor yet what it cost at the time.
Ignore all that, young Republicans! Your party loves you and is listening to and paying attention to your concerns and issues.
The Dangerman
@David Koch:
I thought tithing was 10% of gross, not taxable, income?
Also, surely Romney’s not stupid enough to fuck over the Church … hold on, let me reconsider this…
Violet
@raven: Thanks. I’m not enough of a sports nut to watch it online. I just wondered if they were showing it on one of their other myriad channels.
muddy
@pseudonymous in nc:
And then they get pissed that he accused them and they all turn on each other, like dogs attacking each other in the yard because neither of them can reach the mail carrier. O a girl can dream…
raven
@Violet: They replayed it on their specialty channel at 5:30.
Dennis SGMM
@burnspbesq:
You’d be right. The air temp may be 110, but when you have the heat bouncing off of the rocks and the ground 120 is not uncommon. I’m an experienced and careful summertime desert camper (Joshua Tree, Mojave, Death Valley)so I know what I’m getting into.
The payoff is the solitude, the absolutely aching, empty reach of those places. One starry desert night is worth having to hold still in the shade and drink a gallon of water each day.
pseudonymous in nc
@The Dangerman:
I don’t see that happening. I do think it’d be interesting to extrapolate what Rmoney considers his income to be for tithing purposes vs taxing purposes, and my guess is that the IRS loses out in that one.
raven
@Dennis SGMM: As far away from the Delta as you can get.
MikeJ
@Violet:
Heh. Back when Casey did it I was a monkey that had to sit in the control room at a affiliate and play the record (yes, vinyl record) of the show, make sure it didn’t skip, and play the commercials.
burnspbesq
@pseudonymous in nc:
You know they have a ton of B-roll on Ashton Eaton, Oscar Pistorius, and Claressa Shields that they’re dying to use tonight.
raven
@burnspbesq: They are in Kenya right now.
Thoughtcrime
Another pre-emptive strike by team Obama:
CINCINNATI — President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies aren’t waiting for Republican Mitt Romney to reveal his vice presidential choice. They’re already trying to scuff up those considered by political insiders to be most likely to join the GOP ticket.
The president’s campaign started swinging at the potential Republican running mates this week while urging home-state Democrats to chime in about the shortcomings that — as emails to donors and supporters put it — “Americans need to know.” The pre-emptive strikes are an effort to define a possible No. 2 in a negative light and reflect a sense that time is precious to sway opinion in a stubbornly close presidential race dashing quickly toward November.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/even-before-romney-makes-vp-pick-obama-campaign-begins-effort-to-pick-apart-gop-ticket-mate/2012/08/09/42cfa058-e1ee-11e1-89f7-76e23a982d06_story.html
Violet
@MikeJ: That’s cool!
dance around in your bones
I am listening to my X radio station on Pandora and re-living how much I loved those muthafuckers.
That is all. I get so tired of politics sometimes. But I want Obama to kick ass this year, yee-ha!! And retain the Senate and re-take the House.
That is my wish, thanx Gawd.
WaterGirl
@jwb: Maybe the hope is that the press will actually start to try to figure out who the source is and that during that process, they will turn up a bunch of additional information not helpful to Romney?
The Dangerman
@burnspbesq:
What a fine story that has turned out to be.
ETA Basketball should be US, Spain, Argentina (though Russia might spoil for the bronze; still, that would be an upset)
burnspbesq
@dance around in your bones:
Billy Zoom runs an amp repair business in my home town. I’m tempted to buy a beat-to-shit old Twin Reverb on eBay just so I have an excuse to go meet him.
MikeJ
@pseudonymous in nc:
We know that *somebody* at Bain signed over millions in Burger King’s, among others, stock, to the church. The cool thing about contributing that way is 1) you don’t pay cap gains like selling it and giving the money 2) the appreciated price is what you write off and 3) the church of course also gets to stiff Uncle Sugar.
The was one stock I saw discussed that Bain insiders were buying for pennies and giving to the church for multiple dollars per share of write off.
WaterGirl
@muddy: Okay, hang on. I thought muddy was a guy. Now everything I thought I knew was wrong.
burnspbesq
@The Dangerman:
They might want to save some of that Pistorius B-roll. South Africa’s appeal was granted, and they are in the final of the 4×400.
WaterGirl
@Thoughtcrime: I had forgotten that it was Huntsman’s daughter who wrote that article. But the article stood out for me, and it was that article that made me certain that Romney is very scared of something in this tax returns. And I don’t think it’s just that folks will be pissed if they find out he hardly paid any taxes.
It makes total sense to me that Huntsman (Mormon) would tell Reid (another Mormon) about this stuff with Romney (Mormon-Slime).
Can I say again how much I am loving Reid and this whole story?
burnspbesq
@The Dangerman:
Bill Simmons, for whom I usually have no use, wrote a great piece on the men’s basketball quarters.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8249995/olympic-hoopalooza
Just Some Fuckhead
@Corner Stone:
Ha!
But to yer larger point, I think you have to break it down for it to make any sense.
30 million of ’em will vote for him simply because he got the (R) nomination, and he’s the “home team”, no matter how awful. See: RaiderNation.
Another 10 million will vote for him because they have such a low opinion of politics, they just assume everyone is as craven and disgusting as Mitt.
Another 5 million will vote for him because he’s not black/socialist/Muslim/whatever.
Republican voting machine fraud/shenanigans will prolly account for a couple million votes.
A handful of those closest to him will vote for him because you don’t ever piss daddy off. Not after the last time when he choked Ben into unconsciousness for letting one of the servants take an early Friday and then beat up Ann pretty badly for trying to intervene on Ben’s behalf.
maven
Watch Fox. Palin had it All Done At Once.
Wrong.
dance around in your bones
@burnspbesq: Oh man, DO it! Just to say you did, and talked to the guy.
Sorta sad he’s reduced to fixin’ amps or whatever….though it seems he trained for that early on.
In any case, I fucking adore/love/worship and always have….X.
Saw them many times live in both LA and SD. The harmonics of John Doe and Exene were unrivaled at the time.
Steeplejack
@The Other Chuck:
The guy who did the women’s soccer final today was awful. Nonstop yammering, and very portentous:
“With 10 minutes to go, can the U.S. team hang on in this all-important match? The Olympic championship. At Wembley Stadium in London. The cathedral of English soccer. Tell me, [color commentator], as a player, what is the feeling you have in a critical game moment like this?”
“Well–”
“Hold on, a Japanese chick almost scored!”
maven
Priceless.
raven
@efgoldman: Soonergrunt let the cat out of the bag, they have an autopost thang for threads up in here!
burnspbesq
@dance around in your bones:
They were the opening act in one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Them and Oingo Boingo at the Orange Pavilion in San Bernardino in (I think) 1987.
muddy
@WaterGirl: What did you think you knew?
burnspbesq
@Steeplejack:
It’s Chastain who’s the problem. Smith is very good with Kyle Martino on NBCSN’s MLS broadcasts.
Steeplejack
@Violet:
I saw the women’s soccer final live this afternoon on NBC Sports (cable channel). And I see that it’s on now on another NBC-related cable channel, and will be shown again at 10:00 p.m. EDT.
In general, I am having a hard time keeping up with what is being shown when on which channel. So my viewing has become pretty much hit or miss.
Cassidy
Looking for a replacement for Pandora. Right now I’m thinking Songza or Slacker. Suggestions?
burnspbesq
@Cassidy:
Mog.
maven
John.
Wake up.
John………….
dance around in your bones
@burnspbesq:
Oh gawd, Oingo Boingo was one of the best under-rated bands of the 80’s…..I still remember most of their songs word for word.
Just fucking excellent.
raven
@dance around in your bones: Oh gawd is right.
Cassidy
@burnspbesq: It sounds cool, but I’m looking for something in the “free on my iphone” parameter.
muddy
http://jezebel.com/5933380/worlds-worst-son-rubs-dog-defecation-in-moms-face-during-argument
Some people have to look up to see rock bottom. I can’t stop laughing, it’s so absurd. Even monkeys have the dignity to fling, not to rub.
The Dangerman
@burnspbesq:
Well deserved, at least to this non-track guy’s eyes, and a fine story that Blade Dude gets to run in an Olympic final (I was trying to not spoil with the last post); really, couldn’t be much better (except the runner that fell appears to be out, no doubt).
Steeplejack
@burnspbesq:
I don’t know if it was Smith–I was listening for a name but never heard one–but he had it dialed up to 11. Does Smith have a mild British accent?
ETA: Maybe he does better with an “equal” partner. Maybe he felt that he had to carry Chastain. It definitely felt like he was filling air.
burnspbesq
@Cassidy:
The NPR Music app is pretty stinkin’ good. I would pay for “First Listen” if I had to.
dance around in your bones
@raven:
Oingo Boingo really knew how to play music. They were just fantastic.
I converted a fairly staid London boyfriend into an Oingo Boingo fan, just through enthusiasm and repeated playing of said band, plus a probably rather inferior home-made tape I sent to him – but mostly through the repeated playing of da band, on a crappy tape deck.
Hell, it was the 80’s.
Haha.
burnspbesq
@Steeplejack:
That’s the guy. Arlo Smith. He’s not Martin Tyler, but then, who is? At least he’s not Max Bretos.
raven
@dance around in your bones: Dead Man’s Party sounds like some little kids trying to play Los Lobos.
trollhattan
@dance around in your bones:
Name a better band from that era. See, can’t be done!
raven
@trollhattan: Los Lobos, REM.
burnspbesq
@dance around in your bones:
Danny Elfman is a genuinely twisted individual. Who else could write a song about pedophilia that you can’t stop dancing to?
Valdivia
@Omnes Omnibus:
I used to–thanks okCupid and a lot of horrid setups by people I loathe politically–now I am quiet as a kitten :)
@Baud:
ha! I know, I know. So euphemistic of me ;)
burnspbesq
@raven:
The Plimsouls.
trollhattan
@dance around in your bones:
Heh, I saw them when they still had “Mystic Knights of the…” welded to the front of their name. Good then, also, too. I suppose they were a little more high-concept before the re-do.
Cassidy
@burnspbesq: I’ll give it a try. I used to discover so much stuff on Pandora I hadn’t listened to. Now it seems, they just play the same 20-30 songs on a loop no matter what the station.
amk
@NotMax: Well done, ACLU.
trollhattan
@raven:
From that LA scene I hold Los Lobos and The Blasters in equally high regard. Never did warm all that much to REM. XTC was and remains my three-capital-letter band.
Cassidy
Not enough punk in that conversation.
raven
@trollhattan: Yea, I really have no business in this conversation.
burnspbesq
@Cassidy:
I also like the KCRW app.
scav
aahhh, imagine that as a category. “And the award for the Best most Under-Rated Actor goes to . . . . ” or, possibly better yet: “And the Award for Best Most Over-Rated Actor goes to . . .!”
dance around in your bones
@raven: Yes, but Oingo Boingo came along far before Los Lobos (who I also love).
Ok. checking the googly machine, they were about contemporary – in my defense, I was traveling during much of that time…except when I was in SoCal and attending concerts by X and Oingo Boingo and The Waitresses and The Roches and ….who the fuck else?
Who were the two guys that survived the Sex Pistols? Oh, Steve Cook and Paul Jones – I remember seeing them in a small club in SD and the amps just about ruined my hearing for a week. I think they were turned up to twelve.
raven
@trollhattan: I went to a free REM show the year I moved to Athens (1984) and I thought the Byrds ahd dropped in. I really like them and have had some fun local experiences related to them but I’m a 60’s guy.
raven
@dance around in your bones: I guess. Blue Cheer was pretty fucking loud.
raven
Blue Cheer puts me in mod. Fuck this, I’m crashin!
AA+ Bonds
pfft, this is when I stoppped reading
burnspbesq
John Doe’s still got it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-nqzhfCC3o&feature=related
dance around in your bones
@burnspbesq: Danny Elfman was a neighbor of a friend of mine and signed/gave a CD (boy, does THAT date me!) to my kid during a medical crisis.
Wish I still had it. Oh well.
trollhattan
@raven:
IMHO music has one job only–to make an emotional connection with the listener. The lucky among us get to experience that (I’m flabbergasted how few folks I know really lurve music).
And a special “fuck you” to the evil bastards who killed music radio; I don’t think we’ve ever recovered.
dance around in your bones
@burnspbesq:
I agree – but he is so enhanced by the harmonics of a female singer, no? I just thought he and Exene were perfecto together.
Dennis SGMM
@raven:
LOL! It’s a dry heat. Where I was, the air temp hit 124 F. Couple that with the humidity and there wasn’t anything to do but stay awake until you passed out.
burnspbesq
@dance around in your bones:
I love Kathleen Edwards.
There’s a cover version of “The Golden State” by Eddie Vedder and Corin Tucker that’s pretty special.
LanceThruster
Came late. A great totally non-commercial music station online is kcsn.org (Cal State Northridge). And with the track and artist displayed and the playlist archived, you’ll most likely discover some really neat stuff. Make requests also, too.
Enjoy!
dance around in your bones
@raven: Yeah, I remember those guys… who was it who did ‘Up Against The Wall, Motherfuckers” ?
Oh yeah. MC5 – THOSE muthafuckers were LOUD.
I’m kinda oldish, too.
Cassidy
Love MC5 and the New York Dolls. Johnny Rotten is still alive.
dance around in your bones
@burnspbesq:
Thanks for the intro to Kathleen Edwards.
The John Doe/Corin Tucker was pretty cool too, though I retain a fondness for the original crew. Somehow their vocals just soared. Maybe it’s just time/lost youth/nostalgia…..but I don’t think so.
I could be completely wrong.
WaterGirl
@muddy: That was just a figure of speech. But you do get a sense of people who are here a lot, and for whatever reason, I thought you were male. Maybe the name muddy? Maybe it was the guerrilla dog rescue? I have no idea.
A few weeks ago someone on BJ found out that geg6 is female. I thought “how could you not know geg6 is a woman?” But here I am, in the same boat. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. You’re still the same interesting commenter you were a couple of hours ago. I was just surprised.
WaterGirl
@dance around in your bones: I thought that was “Up against the wall, redneck mothers”. Or is that a different song?
Origuy
@Dennis SGMM: I’ve been to Anza-Borrego in January. Tamarisk Grove is is a nice campground with some shade, if you want a few amenities. Check out the area called The Slot, some very intricate topography.
dance around in your bones
@WaterGirl:
I remember it as just: Up Against The Wall, Motherfuckers
However, I do not doubt that there have been many iterations.
ETA: I may be confusing this with “Kick Out The Jams, Motherfuckers!”
Hell, it WAS the 60’s.
Steeplejack
@WaterGirl:
Different songs.
MC5, “Kick Out the Jams, Motherfuckers.”
Jerry Jeff Walker, “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother.”
WaterGirl
@Steeplejack: You never cease to amaze. You are either the master googler of all time, or you have a mind-boggling memory.
dance around in your bones
@Steeplejack:
Thanks, Steeplejack. You can always be counted on to pull up the correct videos.
I’d never heard the Red-neck Motherfucker thing.
But damn – people had some weird hair in the 60’s, no? And I say that as one who was there at the time. I thought Ginger Baker’s hair was to DIE for.
WaterGirl
@dance around in your bones: You must be feeling better. I hope so, at least. You are sounding like your old self. :-)
dance around in your bones
@WaterGirl:
Thanks. Watergirl. I AM feeling better, am off the lovely yet deadly painkillers and not experiencing quite as much pain. It has been a long haul, especially after losing my husband.
I miss the hell out of him.
Thanks for remembering me :)
P.S. My grandkids are both wonderful and frustrating as heck, so – that’s life!!
Nikki from TX
Hi. I’m a lurker living in overly hot and stupidly red Dallas. I have a date tomorrow and was looking at the movie listings for Cinemark. What’s that I see – 2016: Obama’s America by Dinesh D’Sousa???
Did Cinemark go full wingnut while I wasn’t looking?
Steeplejack
@WaterGirl:
I had that original MC5 LP.
I have always loved music, and when you get older there’s a lot more to remember! And YouTube (and Google) has been a godsend for running down stuff that you can sort of, or can’t quite, remember. So it’s a felicitous combination of memory and YouTube.