Shining a light on the Thursday OPEN thread
Walnut Avenue bridge | Shot by Dan
“You’ve got to get out and pray to the sky to appreciate the sunshine; otherwise you’re just a lizard standing there with the sun shining on you.”
Ken Kesey
October 18, 2012 - 10:00 AM
I thought this was an interesting article from a Mormon woman.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/18/my-take-hard-truths-matter-im-mormon-and-im-voting-for-obama/?hpt=hp_t2
I completely disagree that a lizard soaking in the sun could not be entirely appreciative. That quote just sort of irks me.
Seems the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree:
“Tagg Romney Says He Wanted to ‘Swing’ At President Obama in Debate”
http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-7805482/tagg-romney-says-he-wanted-to-swing-at-president-obama-in-debate-30894885.html
It’s been said that the son is not responsible for the fathers misdeeds, however, Tagg’s bullying behavior does remind us of the fathers bullying past.
Regardless of how Tagg “Felt” about the president. Coming out and saying it is reprehensible and disgusting behavior of the highest outrage. Do we really want this man’s father to be the leader of the free world?
I think not.
Miriam:
“That quote just sort of irks me.”
Not as much as my “Cuccinelli in 2013″ quote, eh? Miriam, please shoe away your gray cloud and bring sunshine back to this board.
I’m with Miriam.
Reptiles don’t have the cortex to process emotions. As such, a lizard is incapable of appreciation. It lies in the sun to regulate body temperature. If it doesn’t, it could die. Biological imperative driven by self-preservation does not equal appreciation.
What I disagree with about the quote is the implication that a person has to physically or spiritually acknowledge something in order to be appreciative. I would argue that since appreciation is entirely subjective, the author’s logic doesn’t follow. We feel appreciation; the more we try to quantify it, the more we diminish it, IMO.
Happy Thursday all!
I see the little bedwetter from the NYT blog says 0bama is still a 2 to 1 favorite. As we know, the Times hired the partisan geek to try to give some “scientific” cover for their phony poll. Amazing how I could sit at my desk in Roanoke and foresee the 2010 GOP tsunami while this guy missed it. Likewise in 2012, I sit here sipping my ice water and can tell you Nate Silver’s odds are exactly the opposite of reality. It is Romney who is the prohibitive favorite.
Question: When my prediction is right and the Silver’s is wrong, will the NYT fire the bedwetter and give me his job?
Love the picture, Dan!
Let me predict further, ladies and gentlemen, that not only will Romney win in a 6+ point landslide, the GOP will take a minimum of 54 Senate seats. You may mark it down and take it to the bank.
@6 Wow…way to be literal J. M. White…haha. I was saying the same thing that you are but apparently I needed to say it more concretely. I was not discussing the nature of a lizard, just to clarify…But heck, you sort of made my afternoon by discussion reptilian lack of emotionality. That’s priceless.
John Wilburn!!!!!!!!! Hi! I’m not under a grey cloud. I’m exactly one week from moving so I’m under a pile of boxes, changing utilities, freaking out, house hunting, throwing accrued junk away, drinking beer to keep from freaking out…oh, and working full time and being a mom too. Didn’t find a house yet so renting one for a bit. Joy! I get to do all of this twice. Weeee! But yeah, that’s the main reason I’ve been quiet. Plus, general burnout with the election and discussions about it.
#7 I don’t even want to think about how suzie knows the guy is bedwetter.
Question: When my prediction is right and the Silver’s is wrong, will the NYT fire the bedwetter and give me his job?
Comment by Suzie — October 18, 2012 @ 11:26 am
Not a chance in Hades, Suzie. You’d have to be able to write intelligently and coherently, without slinging ignorant personal insults first. I’m unconvinced that you’re even capable.
Related to the Ken Kesey quote, about a month ago the blog Letters of Note featured a letter Kesey wrote to friends in 1984 regarding the death of his son: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/09/what-world.html
It begins:
Dear Wendell and Larry and Ed and Bob and Gurney:
Partners, it’s been a [edited].
I’ve got to write and tell somebody about some stuff and, like I long ago told Larry, you’re the best backboard I know. So indulge me a little; I am but hurt.
We built the box ourselves (George Walker, mainly) and Zane and Jed’s friends and frat brothers dug the hole in a nice spot between the chicken house and the pond. Page found the stone and designed the etching.
I was a puddle by the end.
#6 “Reptiles don’t have the cortex to process emotions”–Comment by J.M.White
That explains some of the behavior on this blog……
I wasn’t trying to dig at you, Miriam; I was simply playing around with words. If I insulted you in any way, I sincerely apologize for that was in no way my intention. As you said, I was just waxing literal about the concept of comparing reptiles and humans. One could also argue that just the very act of laying in the sun is a form of appreciation. The lizard is using it, after all. The absurdity that I find in the quote is in the author’s comparison in literal terms. Figuratively, I (very tentatively) agree with what he says.
You have no need to clarify anything. It’s in our nature to anthropomorphize the things in our world… just as it’s in the lizard’s nature to soak up the sun. It’s also apparently in my own nature to poke fun at the various interpretations of our wonderful language.
I wish you good luck in your hunt for a home. I know how stressful times like that can be. Things have a way of working out for the best in the end, I’ve found, though, so keep your head high. Take care.
Question: When my prediction is right and the Silver’s is wrong, will the NYT fire the bedwetter and give me his job?
Comment by Suzie — October 18, 2012 @ 11:26 am
Question? When your prediction is wrong and you’re shown up for the buffoon and cartton caricature that you are, will you get the hell off this blog and leave the honest people alone for a chanmge?
Has anyone seen the movie Argo? Excellent movie about the Iran hostage crisis. Directed by Ben Affleck who also stars. It gives a very good behind the scenes look at what transpired. Of course I and everyone else knew the outcome but it sure had me on the edge of my seat without resorting to sensationalism and with only a minimum of heart string pulling. This movie gets you from the start and you never let go. Highly recommended.
From Mike Huckabee Website:
“Free Candy
Last year, the Occupy Wall Street protesters set out to shut down America’s big financial fat cats. All they succeeded in doing was driving local restaurants out of business and costing waiters and bus boys their jobs. Well, they’re back again, and this year, they’ve managed to sink another group of plutocrats: Trick or treaters… The story next…For years, Manhattan’s Trinity Episcopal Church has hosted a Halloween festival for families, with movies and candy for the kids. But this year, the Occupy protest camp has made the area too dirty and dangerous. So the Halloween festival has been canceled. You know, it’s one thing when these Occupy protesters cost minimum wage workers their jobs. But don’t they realize how much they’re undermining everything they stand for when they prevent a bunch of children from going up and down Wall Street and demanding free candy?”
Nitwit Mitt’s fastest flip-flop yet?
“As President, I will create 12 million jobs.” 10/16/2012, 8:15 pm
“The government doesn’t create jobs.” 10/16/2012, 9:10 pm
@J.M. White, I wasn’t insulted. I was amused though. And in the end we agree so the various forms of phraseology just don’t really matter. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I’m overwhelmed just a bit but I’m also a change junkie, so there is a crazy dark part of me that is enjoying all the upheaval.
Contra…LOL. Ah poor Rmoney. He gets himself coming and going.
Pp, is there any source for any of that other than Huckabee’s personal whining?
scottw, looking forward to that movie. I don’t actually know the story or the outcome (I’m going to assume it was positive, because I can’t imagine Affleck going to so much trouble had it failed), but the previews look great. I think Shillary saw it and gave it a thumb up.
“As such, a lizard is incapable of appreciation”…ergo it votes GOP.
hey you libs, what’s obuma’s and vp joe’s message these days? Big Bird and binders. That’s it. Mock and talk.
But we do have that extra something JM called “the cortex to process emotions” so by not appreciating the sun on a beautiful day, the truth, love, kindness or any other kind of beauty or worth, we are much, much worse and lower than a lizard. Having a capability and not using it is on display here daily and it is a damnable shame. A lizard cannot help not feeling emotions or reasoning.
It’s a BLOWOUT!!!
RMONEY up 7(thats SEVEN!!!) in the Gallup poll today. The Messiah is going down.
Did anyone participate in the earthquake preparedness thing today?
And, from the guy who brought you Obama 2016….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/18/dinesh-dsouza-resigns-kings-college_n_1980614.html
“The sudden departure comes after days of controversy over accusations of marital infidelity against D’Souza, who reportedly attended a recent event on Christian values with a woman who was not his his wife of 20 years and shared a hotel room with her.”
Nothing says “Christian values” like shacking up with your side-action!
#25 Completely forgot it was happening. OTOH, while I know that this is of some potential use in an earthquake, it still feels like the duck and cover drills for nuclear explosions.
#24 Who was it that called him the messiah — other than right wingers?
It’s a BLOWOUT!!!
Obama +4 in NewsMax/Zogby Florida Tracking Poll
RAND Tracker: Obama 50% Romney 44%
Ras NEVADA: Obama 50%, Romney 47%
PPP VA: Obama 49, Romney 48
PPP MA: Warren 53, Brown 44
Reuters: 47 percent Obama, 45 percent Romney.
terps calm down…Romney’s defeat will end up crushing you…Romney is still losing in most battleground states…
I don’t get how RCP has Rmoney up .7, and Gallup has him up 7? Which would indicate Gallup is way out of line with everyone else.
I’ve met several of the Gonzos in person but there are 2 that regularly post here that I would like to meet: JM White and Art Hill. I always enjoy their posts! Hopefully we can have a Gonzo get together soon and I’ll get to meet them (and others).
Great picture Dan! You must carry the camera with you all the time or else have a very good cell phone camera
Allen, what an ass.
“Note from university to Senate campaigns: 1,000 signs in one place is overkill, not free speech.
This morning Virginia Tech officials ordered the George Allen for Senate campaign to remove all but 100 of the about 1,000 signs erected overnight in grassy areas in front of Squires Student Center.”
@31 As the self-appointed social secretary (though I’ll gladly defer it to someone else), once I get moved and settled, I’d like to start planning another Gonzo Gathering. A lot of folks couldn’t make the last one and we had a good time…would be fun to do it again with more folks.
Shrill,
According to RCP, not only does Romney lead nationally (and trending upward), but he now also leads in the Electoral Map for the first time (also trending upward). And big names in polling, like Gallup and Rasmussen, both have Romney up +7 and +2. Both of those polls include data from yesterday, meaning the debate “bounce” for either candidate is reflected. Plus (according to RCP), in all the battleground states that Obama currently leads, the lead is 3pts or less, well within the margin of error. The only state outside the margin of error is Pennsylvania,+5 for Obama. Also, history shows that Gallup has never had a candidate above 50% this late in the race that would go on to lose the election. Romney is currently up 52%-45% in Gallup’s poll. There are also whispers that team Obama has given up on Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina and will concentrate their efforts elsewhere.
I’m not calling the election for Romney, as I realize things can change quickly. I’m just sayin’ I wouldn’t go toasting an Obama victory just yet.
Miriam, when you’re able to arrange such an event again, I’d be honored and happy if I could attend. There are many people on this blog I’d like to meet in real life. We’re a pretty diverse group here and it’d be nice to match some faces with the names.
I really hope we can talk matt into coming, too. I look forward to engaging him in mortal combat in the Pit of Doom. There will be a Pit of Doom, right? ‘Cause if not… LAME. What else are we supposed to do, talk and get to know each other? Pfft.
JM White, I keep an email distribution list so that folks here who are sincere about wanting to meet up can arrange to do so. I think it would be silly to put the details out on the blog. Therefore, if you would like me to add you to the distribution list, shoot me an email to themiriam@comcast.net and I’ll add you to the list. I honestly think I could really use a beer after all this moving hooplah, so I would vote we all gather around election time – perhaps the 3rd or 4th of November. Or perhaps post election – maybe November 17th or 18th.
Oh! There is not a Pit of Doom. I’m terribly sorry. They wouldn’t let us drag it in, or even open a portal to it inside the Salem Macados
Excellent choices Bill Perdue, I would love to meet both of them too!
Tag teams in the Pit of Doom! I like it. I’ll volunteer to do it at my house for that. I think Shillary and Miriam could take down any challengers
matt. The reason it looks close is because RCP puts even outliers into the mix which skewers the numbers. Included are the old polling numbers as far back as the 7th Oct – which included the Romney “bounce” – President Obama’s approval numbers are still ahead of Romney, and those samples are also important.
We will have to watch for the polling that will include the last debate, and the one next week.
There is no doubt that the race appears close – I will be very surprised if at the end of election night is really is. Guess we will have to wait and see, no?
I’d take J.M. White as a tag-team partner if there was a pit. Maybe Contrasuzie if we’re staying above ground. Dave Hicks would be an all-around good pick.
A pre-election gathering would be fun. Or, perhaps a post-election gathering for personal delivery of a prize to the winner of the various election results (candidates, states, total seats, anything…) if Dan is so inclined to set up a contest for such. As the instigator, I’ll go in on the prize.
There were so many folks that couldn’t make it last time Oh, and Dan. So yes, I think we should do it again. Anyone else who isn’t on my email list and wants to join the Pit of Doom, email me.
Wow…way for the forum to delete a whole bunch of my comment because I had the nerve to put stuff inside brackets. Among the folks who couldn’t make it – Other John, Sandi, CnP, Warren, Kristen – and I’ve forgotten who else. But my point is that a second gathering is in order for sure.
Bill Perdue – didn’t Miriam and I appear to be gentle souls? Darn.
I really want Contrasuzie to make it to the next gathering. (As well as the folks I missed from last time, obviously.)
I honestly witnessed Shillary and Jack agree with each other on one single thing related to guns. It was amazing. It was miraculous. And I drank for free thanks to John W. So yeah, fun times!
Miriam,
I’d love to attend a gonzo party. However, my son who used to live & work in Blacksburg is now living & working in Virginia Beach.
@46 Ron May, does that mean that you also now live in Va. Beach?
@40 Well John, we either meet before the election and argue about the results or we meet afterwards and a few of us will be crying in our beers/non-alcoholic beverages. It does not matter to me but we need to stick with Salem (for Warren and the Montgomery Co. folks) I’ll shoot an email.
“I really hope we can talk matt into coming, too. I look forward to engaging him in mortal combat in the Pit of Doom.–JM
Ha! Yes my friend, I would enjoy a dance of death with you under the watchful gaze of the Manitou. And afterwards, my victory song would reverberate in your ears as you cross the great river to be with your ancestors.
But seriously, I can tell you are a good guy, JM. Maybe we should just bring boxing gloves instead. That way you won’t end up in the hospital.
Miriam:
“we meet [after the election] and a few of us will be crying in our beers/non-alcoholic beverages”
The only one I would expect to be a crybaby about the election if her candidate loses is Suzie. I sincerely wish she would come to the get together. Last time was great. We had a full spectrum of opinions present and everyone was very civil and had a great time. Sure hope that happens again.
No Miriam I currently live about 30 miles south of South Bend, Indiana. A prior time I met Dan was while I was visiting my son in Blacksburg.
Marked Man, please try to make the get together. I’ll give you another “Guns Save Lives” sticker to wear if that sweetens the deal any.
matt:
“Maybe we should just bring boxing gloves instead. That way you won’t end up in the hospital.”
OMG. I hope matt comes to this too.
Well, Indiana would be quite a road trip. Alas! Krisen, I don’t think you are on my list. I’m sure Contrasuzie also is not. Matt, feel free to email me if you want to join. Social gathering is now officially back in the planning stages again. I also agree that Suzie should attend; however he may not feel like it.
John Wilburn @54,
Wasn’t it clear that I was only joking around about the “dance of death/boxing” thingy? Come on, dude.
Maybe we should just bring boxing gloves instead. That way you won’t end up in the hospital.
Comment by matt — October 18, 2012 @ 4:21 pm
NO! It’s either Hulk Hands and togas or a bare-knuckles, no-holds-barred, weapons-welcome, last-man-standing, free-for-all brawl to the death! Your choice, worthy adversary! Choose wisely, though, for it may be the last decision you ever make. Hulk Hands are not to be trifled with, sir.
PIT.
OF.
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
“Shocking. A conservative Republican congressman was caught having an illicit affair — and it wasn’t with a man, woohoo!” — Stephen Colbert http://on.cc.com/VaaQyj
I’m not at all convinced one mediocre debate performance could result in a such huge groundswell of support toward a lackluster Romney. Scarborough went from incredulous critic a few weeks ago to frothing supporter this morning. Someone flipped a switch and the media poured it on, trying to convince the Villagers this chump actually has a chance. My guess is they’re trying to squeeze the last drop of Citizens United blood from the turnip.
We’ll see.
Gallup is a 7-day tracking poll of 2700 likely voters. Their 10/8-14/2012 poll had Romney +2. Their newest poll of 10/11-17/2012 has Romney +7. If you assume that the 4 day period 10/11-14 was consistently Romney +2, then Gallup has it Romney 56%, Obama 42.3% over the last 3 days!!! (Think 7-day average of +7 as total of 49, subtract of the first 4 days of +2 for total 8, gives 49-8=41; over 3 days that’s Romney 41/3 = +14.7%. I say that’s impossible.
Shillary, you and Miriam are gentle souls and I really enjoyed meeting you. That being said, I wouldn’t want to go up against you in The Pit of Doom.
Suzie in #7 and #9: I see the little bedwetter from the NYT blog says 0bama is still a 2 to 1 favorite. … not only will Romney win in a 6+ point landslide, the GOP will take a minimum of 54 Senate seats. You may mark it down and take it to the bank.
According to oddschecker, which compiles the odds from different betting places, you could make a fortune doubling your money!
http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/politics-and-election/us-presidential-election/winner
hey dano and danr,
I just saw on THE FIVE, on FOX News (which I think is a pretty informative, lively, and fun show that you guys probably don’t know is even aired…), which showed a clip from good ol’ vp joe giving a speech earlier today…
…speaking to the crowd, vp joe goes, “how many of you here know someone who has been in Iraq and Iran? How many of you know someone who has been in war in Iraq and Iran”. I KID YOU NOT! SERIOUSLY!!
Now, here it comes,…wait for it….YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!!!
The article linked below outlines facts that many of us suspected all along. It shows clearly the connection between Karl Rove, the Koch brothers and the now discredited voter registration firm the RNC hired to do its bidding in several key states. That last firm has been accused by Republicans in most of those states of voter registration fraud. Interestingly there also seems to be a connection to a Republican state senator from Virginia.
What a surprise!!!
http://www.nationalmemo.com/roves-american-crossroads-shares-address-legal-firm-with-sprouls-strategic-allied-consulting/
We were reminded once again, during the debate this week, that Romney’s numbers don’t add up.
http://www.nationalmemo.com/debate-arithmetic-round-two/
Miriam, I sent you an e-mail…couldn’t resist checking out The Pit of Doom
From the Globe and Mail; Is Obama’s Latino Tidal Wave Being Missed by English-Only Polling?
This is a great story on several levels.
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/19844693/puppies-help-find-missing-boy-with-down-syndrome
@61 Wise of you. In my spare time, I’m a duel sword weilding heartless killer online. So yeah, I wouldn’t actual mess with me. (hides behind Shillary)
Elena, got your email and responded. I’ll update the entire crew tomorrow when I’m less lazy. But leaning towards BEFORE the election because that ups the stakes in the Pit of Dooooooooooooom.
It is soooo funny to watch you gutless Liberals try to prop up your failing Messiah! LOL! Obama is like a monkey on a hot plate on the Libya issue! And Joe Biden is an absolute idiot! His hair plugs are too tight! 29 days to go!
Congratulations Tigers!
Art Hill: From the Globe and Mail; Is Obama’s Latino Tidal Wave Being Missed by English-Only Polling?
Not hardly. The idiot blew it at the Univision forum. Refused to answer the question on immigration.
“Mr. President, during your 2008 campaign, you promised immigration reform. Despite having huge majorities in Congress, you failed to even propose a bill. Why?”
And then, true to form, the idiot went on to blame Republicans for his failure. That pissed off a LOT of hispanics.
George Allen got absolutely murdered tonight.
hey dano and danr,
Did you catch the bit on The Daily Show whare the potus said that the response to the tragic Benghazi fiasco “was not opitmal”? Now, think about potus’ answer. He’s the smartest guy in the room, right?
Hey dano, maybe it’s time for one of your BIG obama columns where you get to tell us what obama REALLY meant to say, when he said that ol’…”not optimal…” …thingy.
Actually I dont think many people pray to the sky
to appreciate sunshine..You can fully appreciate it
without feeling it on your sunburnt eyelids.
Here in Dallas many times I look skyward for clouds.
I wonder where Kenny was when he thunk that up.
Maybe April after a cloudy winter?
Off to Google.
“29 days to go!”
Tell all your friends!
Now aren’t these republicans “special”?
Man Tied To Va. GOP Arrested In Voter Form Destruction
“A Pennsylvania man employed by a company working for the Republican Party of Virginia was arrested by investigators from the Rockingham County Sheriff’s office on Thursday and charged with destroying voter registration forms.”
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/10/colin_small_virginia_gop_voter_registration_fraud.php
Damn, look at those dirty Dems cheating again:
“The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in the investigation of voter registration fraud that began on the afternoon of Oct 15, when law enforcement received a citizen complaint of voter registration application forms being found in a dumpster behind a business in the City of Harrisonburg.”
Oops, guess I should have read further:
“Colin Small, 31, Phoenixville, Pa was a Voter Registration Supervisor employed by Pinpoint, an independent private organization contracted by the Republican Party of Virginia, for purposes of general voter registration.”
http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/Arrest-Made-in–174857831.html
and here is the local story on the guy trashing voter registrations and the charges
http://www.nbc29.com/story/19858475/rockingham-police-make-arrest-in-trashed-voter-forms-investigation
http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/1018/full-face-transplant-photos-revealed.aspx?xid=aol_eh-news_24_20121015_&aolcat=HLT
I remember this story a few months ago here…I think he was in Danville? What a great outcome. So happy for this guy.
The Wall Street Journal and NBC just released two swing states polls by Marist:
Wisconsin – Obama 51-45 LVs
Iowa – Obama 51-43 LVs
October 15-17.
Wisconsin Senate race, Democrat Tammy Baldwin leads: 49-45
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/18/14542135-polls-obama-holds-his-lead-in-iowa-wisconsin
In the spirit of what a beautiful day it was, I hope my GOP friends enjoy the poll lead Romney and gang is currently celebrating.
I will also be here for you when you are crying crocodile tears on election night and we the faithful blue carry the day. I promise not to dig too much. Well, except for 1 who really deserves some payback. Ok, make that 2.
Cheers!
Shrillary is here blabbling about stray outlier polls. For my part, I have taken it easy on you libs by not quoting polls lately. If you don’t want both barrels, best not to bring them up.
I remember that story too, Kristen. I’m happy for him too, it’s a pretty amazing story.
I don’t know of any liberals who have ever considered Obama to be a messiah. That is something the conservatives like to think we believe.
#81 The WSJ is a liberal rag. Right?
#80 Amazing.
Unfortunately for the libs, the RCP average for all pols shows Romney’s lead as growing. Also RCP now shows Romney leading in the Electoral College.
More right-wing voter intimidation. Clear Channel, largely owned by Bain, has once again mistakenly rented out billboards to people or groups who demanded to stay anonymous (this is allegedly against CC policy, but, oops, darn it, they did the same thing in 2010, but don’t worry they’ll fix it). Most of those billboards, which warn of severe penalties for voter fraud, are in swing state areas populated by folks most likely to vote for Obama. We know that past history shows no patterns of mass fraud in those areas, so why would somebody target those areas for such billboards?
Hmmm….
The massive effort by right wingers to suppress voting is despicable.
Oh, look. Gallup is cooking the numbers. We’ll see how long this stays up.
Just in case they decide to take it down, from CBS News;
“The results continue the latest trend shown in Gallup’s polling – Romney gaining an advantage in a race that has been consistently close. Just four days ago the same poll showed Romney leading by just 2 points, which is within the margin of error.
The tracking poll obtains its average through interviews with 2,700 people over seven days. All of the respondents were asked after the first presidential debate, where, by most accounts, the president performed poorly, but only some were interviewed after the second debate where Mr. Obama had a much stronger showing.”
Looks like America’s number one radio personality has just been dethroned.
“And then, true to form, the idiot went on to blame Republicans for his failure. That pissed off a LOT of hispanics.”
And you know this because you know so many Hispanics, right?
I love when Screwzie speaks for groups of people with whom she has nothing in common.
Why is the president on the daily show? Does he not get it? What is wrong with his team? He still can’t get his story straight. He has 3 days to figure this out.
So gdad, why would warning someone of the penalty of voting fraudulently intimidate or suppress legitimate voters? If you don’t drink and drive and I warn you of severe penalties for drinking and driving, are you gonna quit driving?
@95 – Mattyr – He’s gotta keep himself in front of the “no effort” voters. I mean his campaign is flailing like a carp on concrete. 18 days to go and Big Bird and “Binders” are their talking points. That should work out well…
#95 Chuck, buddy, have you ever been a victim of the “driving while black” form of intimidation and discrimination? Have you ever lived in constant or near-constant fear that you’ll be accused of doing something wrong even though you know you haven’t?
Or, are you a college student who’s thinking of voting for the first time but you’re away from home and you’re not 100 percent sure you’ve done everything right and it really is kind of a hassle to go vote anyway and then you see one of these billboards right near your dorm?
I didn’t think so.
I love how the boys have made up the “no effort” voters meme in response to the documented “low effort” tag they have to wear. Too cute.
I also love how the polls you dissed and decried for months on end, now matter to you. Typical.
You earned the badge of “low effort” and you apparently wear it proudly.
And, for what it is worth, it takes no effort at all to see Obama is the better choice, so you are right about that too.
Wrong, Walker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daily_Show#Demographics_of_viewership
“A more recent survey, released by the Pew Research Center on April 15, 2007, indicates that viewers who watch both the Colbert Report and The Daily Show tend to be more knowledgeable about news than audiences of other news sources. Approximately 54% of the Colbert Report and The Daily Show viewers scored in the high knowledge range, followed by Jim Lehrer’s program at 53% and Bill O’Reilly’s program at 51%, significantly higher than the 34% of network morning show viewers. ”
Daily Show watchers are the smartest bunch out there. Clearly Obama’s constituency.
#96 See my answer to Chuck, Walker. The Rethugs have done everything imaginable to suppress certain segments of the vote this election. It’s undeniable. For instance, I have yet to see anybody who can even begin to explain why, if right wingers are SO concerned about the integrity of the vote, they haven’t done a thing to combat absentee voter fraud (HINT: Absentee voting generally favors Repubs).
Are the billboards by themselves a huge deal? Almost certainly not, but they ARE part of a disturbing pattern. Tell us, Walker, why Repubs in Ohio wanted to eliminate early voting the weekend before election Tuesday. Was it to battle voter fraud? Well, at least they didn’t try to claim THAT that I know of. They said it was because it was a “hassle” for election officials (never mind that a number of officials said it actually saved them a lot of stress on Tuesday). The real reason? A fair slice of Dem supporters who might have trouble getting to the poll on a weekday instead vote on the weekend. The court nailed the Repub’s butts to the wall on that one. As an added bonus, when Dems went to court to try to make sure that everybody got the same chance to vote early — including the military — Repubs falsely claimed Dems were trying to take the early vote away from soldiers. How honest of them.
But I guess you support all that chicanery.
#96 Walker, I see now that you were talking to mattyr, so I apologize for that, but what I saw was the #95 in your post, which is now the number for Chuck’s reply to me. So I thought you were taking about his reply to me.
“A more recent survey, released by the Pew Research Center on April 15, 2007,”
The smartest bunch out there does not cite five and a half year old data as ‘current’ and wikipedia links as their reference for all things in life.
“I’m a duel sword weilding heartless killer”
Comment by Miriam — October 18, 2012 @ 7:12 pm
Ahhh… A student of Niten Ichi-ryū. You’d be hard pressed to find a better Sensei than Yoshimoti Kiyoshi. I’ve studied the style – very difficult to master but absolutely beautiful to see in action. With Shrillary as a kuro obi judoka, you two would make terrifying adversaries and it would honor anyone to fall at the hands of such masters.
Sorry… I’ve been studying the Japanese arts for years now and I get a little carried away with the terminology.
“it really is kind of a hassle to go vote anyway ”
People who feel this way are exactly the type of people who do not need to be voting, IMHO.
Another perspective on who, including the Romney’s, profited from the auto bailout and the tactics used to obtain massive profits.
http://www.thenation.com/article/170644/mitt-romneys-bailout-bonanza#
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jun/20/jon-stewart/jon-stewart-says-those-who-watch-fox-news-are-most/
“And once again, particular Fox shows scored well above the average. Hannity & Colmes was one of only four choices to exceed 40 percent — the others were the New Yorker/the Atlantic, NPR and MSNBC’s Hardball — while The O’Reilly Factor scored 28 percent, or 10 points above the national average. (Hannity & Colmes even exceeded Stewart’s Daily Show in this poll, 42 percent to 30 percent.)”
Boom.
Here’s the thing Sandi, polls don’t matter to me, but for all those months you say I have “dissed and decried” the polls, you and your ilk have been trumpeting the polls and how Obama seems to have an insurmountable lead and that the election was in the bag. Kristen has said repeatedly how it would be a blowout. Now, when the polls swing the other way, polls suddenly don’t matter to you? You’re right, it is typical. Typical liberalism to ignore any facts that don’t suit your argument.
Geez gdad, drama-queen much? Are you that intimidated by billboards? Do you feel compelled to obey or even give serious consideration to every billboard you see? If you aren’t why do you assume you are so much stronger and more independent than everyone else? I was once a college student voting absentee for the first time. It didn’t seem to be that scary of a proposition. Nor was it that difficult to understand. Of course that was before the days of the political parties trying gerrymander new voting districts by registering people to vote in districts they didn’t actually live in.
Reality is this.
Obama has been exposed. His record is AWFUL, but more importantly the veil has been lifted. The people saw him in the two debates. They see that he has NO plan for the future except more of the same. Romney, on the other hand, sounds reasonable, likeable and Presidential. He also knows how to create JOBS. Job creation is the #1 issue.
You libs know this is true.
I don’t expect you to admit it. But, you know, deep down, that Obama is a massive failure and that he doesn’t deserve a second term.
most ill-informed @83 “Shrillary is here blabbling about stray outlier polls. For my part, I have taken it easy on you libs by not quoting polls lately. If you don’t want both barrels, best not to bring them up.” Comment by Suzie — October 18, 2012 @ 10:23 pm
Poor most ill-informed, I must be using statistical information her “intellect” just can’t comprehend…and, BTW, Most ill-informed – the day I take advice from you, or feel intimidated by your mental midget-ness – is the day I become a republican.
THIS – WILL – NEVER – HAPPEN…
and here “dearie” is a new poll JUST FOR YOU… it includes Catholics…
[T]he Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, both projects of the Pew Research Center – POLL October 18, 2012 :
Three-quarters [75%] of Latino Catholics and eight-in-ten [80%] religiously unaffiliated Latinos support President Barack Obama’s re-election. [...] among Latino evangelical Protestants, who account for 16% of all Latino registered voters… 50% prefer Obama, while 39% support his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney. http://www.pewforum.org/Race/Latinos-Religion-and-Campaign-2012.aspx
Seems when you demonize certain segments of the population, they won’t vote for you…who knew?
Comment by Lake Claytor — October 19, 2012 @ 10:29 am @108
“He also knows how to create JOBS. Job creation is the #1 issue”
Really? Please direct me to some proof of this false statement about his job creating. He knows how to lay off workers, close plants, bankrupt companies, steal pensions, ship jobs overseas, and get loans to cover these costs from the government.
Now if you actually mean “He also knows how to create JOBS – in China, India and everywhere but in the US”, well, yes, then I agree with you…otherwise you are deluding yourself.
Marked Man, tell me you did not just post a link that referred to 2007 research after slamming Kristen for quoting a 2007 research article….Tell me?
And from your own link:
“So we have three Pew studies that superficially rank Fox viewers low on the well-informed list, but in several of the surveys, Fox isn’t the lowest, and other general-interest media outlets — such as network news shows, network morning shows and even the other cable news networks — often score similarly low. Meanwhile, particular Fox shows — such as The O’Reilly Factor and Sean Hannity’s show — actually score consistently well, occasionally even outpacing Stewart’s own audience.
Meanwhile, the other set of knowledge surveys, from worldpublicopinion.org, offer mixed support for Stewart. The 2003 survey strikes us as pretty solid, but the 2010 survey has been critiqued for its methodology.”
Like you they got stuck on his use of one word, “consistently” to refuse the ill-informed label they were given over and over.
Those who watched Fox News almost daily were significantly more likely than those who never watched it to believe that:
Sorry, my link did not work:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf
“Those who watched Fox News almost daily were significantly more likely than those who never watched it to believe that:
most economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (8 points more likely)
most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points)
the economy is getting worse (26 points)
most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring (30 points)
the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts (14 points)
their own income taxes have gone up (14 points)
the auto bailout only occurred under Obama (13 points)
when TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it (12 points)
and that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States (31 points)“
Reality is this. You have no clue what reality is.
#107 I see you didn’t answer much of what I addressed, Chuck, especially the part about driving while black.
Anyway, billboards don’t intimidate me in the least. I pay almost no attention to them and I usually completely blank out T V commercials. But, as I’ve already said, they ARE without a doubt a small slice of a larger Rethug, right-wing effort to suppress the vote.
#104 “People who feel this way are exactly the type of people who do not need to be voting, IMHO.”
Thank goodness you have no say in the matter (except, of course, if you support the rampant Rethug voter-suppression efforts). You don’t want people voting who might be put off by inconvenience. suzie wants an intelligence test, or doesn’t want women voting, or only wants property holders voting, or god knows what. Pretty soon you people will have us living back in the late 1700s.
Well, I wouldn’t want someone voting on a decision that could affect my country, my family’s life, my financial interests, etc. who are put off by how the voting process ‘inconveniences’ them.
Awwwwwww…. poor things.
” Meanwhile, particular Fox shows — such as The O’Reilly Factor and Sean Hannity’s show — actually score consistently well, occasionally even outpacing Stewart’s own audience.” – Sandi
Good post, Sandi. Way to drill Kristen’s ‘research’ into the ground.
High-Five!!
No kidding, gdad. I have a long, long list of people I’d like to see have their votes yanked…the flat-earthers and “Gays are going to burn in hell” folks first up. Let them be glad it’s not up to me.
Well gdad, I didn’t answer because it wasn’t worthy of an answer, but I would note that once again it is liberals who bring race into the issue. Despite your melodramatic diatribe above, I don’t want anyone who is legally entitled to vote to feel pressure not to do so, nor should it be difficult for them to do so. However, I do think it should be extremely difficult, no, make that impossible, for people who are not legally entitled to vote to do so.
On a different note, this is interesting. Despite the constant liberal assertion that the Romney campaign is the “big money” campaign, it appears that Obama has just as many “big money” donors as Romney. So much for that tripe about Obama’s fundraising coming from the support of the “little guy.”
Liberals are acting like that parent in denial we’ve all experienced.
They have their baby in their lap.
The baby has filled his diaper to over-flow and EVERYBODY in the room knows it…except them.
Voting for me is nice and easy…Pulaski County moved our polling place from the Fairlawn Volunteer Fire Department (where it was in 2008, and man was it a mess with a line extending well outside the door and into the parking lot), to the new Riverlawn Elementary just up the road. It’s on my way to work, so I just leave a half hour earlier and stop on my way to the office. If that doesn’t work, I can easily swing by after work on the way home. Aside from some primaries, I’ve voted in every Federal, state, and local election held that I’ve been eligible to vote in. And, I volunteered on several campaigns before I could even vote…got to learn a lot about the process and the hard work (and expense) that goes into trying to win an election. Phone banks and mailers are hard work, requiring a lot of hours to make decent headway…but door-to-door canvassing is by far the hardest, though the exercise of walking entire neighborhoods was nice.
Sandi, maybe some people stop payment on their reality check.
Chuck, have I said that polls did not matter? Even after they “swung” to Romney? No, I did not. I think polls are the snapshot in time of whomever is polled. Whether that extrapolates out to the general population of this nation or not is always up for discussion. What you cannot do, as the right wing has done for the whole cycle is diss the polls and the pollsters and now suddenly cite them as “proof”. It is a sad caricature of what sane people are supposed to be.
The polls matter and the ones I trust matter a great deal. The electoral map is the one I watch most closely as, unless lawyers and the SC intervene, that is who decides the election. Al Gore won the popular vote, 50,999,897 48.38 to 50,456,002 47.87, you might recall. That is over half a million votes. It ain’t over till it is over.
Oddly enough, some of you act as if we have never lost before and therefore cannot handle it if we do this time. That is rubbish. Frankly watching Romney let you all down would make for some fine entertainment, if the nation did not have to suffer it too. Time will tell but I don’t panic. I freely admit I will cry if Obama loses because this is so much bigger than him, but none of you can even grasp that, so just enjoy my tears as you will. IF, it happens.
tsk, tsk, tsk. There he goes again.
Hey gdud, you kinda act like a sniper on this blog… a sniper with a pea shooter. I betcha you even need to “jump up” when you shoot, to give it more ooomph.
@99 – You keep on truckin’ with that K-bird.
@98 – got your ophone yet, Sandi?
Nope Sandi, the link I referenced included data from 2010 too… let me read it for you:
Knowledge of Politics and Current Events
Rush, Hannity, O’Reilly, AND Glenn Beck listeners all scored higher than Colbert and Daily Show listeners.
http://www.people-press.org/2010/09/12/section-4-who-is-listening-watching-reading-and-why/
Ouch! Truth hurts, doesn’t it??
I see how gdad works now… he gets confused about who and what he is posting, then blames someone else for not answering him immediately.
Makes sense…
Mark, the link you referenced, included the quote you used, from the 2008 survey. Speaking of “Ouch!”…Wanna keep digging?
#129 Talk to Walker about putting the wrong post # in his reply, MMM.
As for blaming someone for not answering me immediately — I did no such thing. So once again, MMM, you’re lying. You just can’t help yourself, can you?
#117 “Well, I wouldn’t want someone voting on a decision that could affect my country, my family’s life, my financial interests, etc. who are put off by how the voting process ‘inconveniences’ them.”
I see, so we can mark you down as objecting to all the folks who vote absentee simply because it would be inconvenient to go to the polls on Tuesday? Poor darlings. And those poor Ohio Republicans who fought all the way to the SC to ditch voting the weekend before Tuesday because it might be too “inconvenient” for some of the election officials.
Actually Marked Man, from your new link, under the heading “Knowledge of Politics and Current Events”
It says: “Looking at the talk shows, at least 30% of the audiences for Limbaugh, Hannity, Olbermann and Maddow got all four questions correct. O’Reilly’s audience did about as well (29%). The regular Glenn Beck and Hardball audiences performed slightly worse, with 21% and 23% of their respective viewers getting all the questions correct. Daily Show and Colbert Report audiences fared about as well.”
Are you just making stuff up now?
The article goes on to say:
“Wall Street Journal readers fared the best on the quiz—51% of regular Journal readers got all four questions right; just 3% got none right. New York Times readers also fared well: 42% got all of the questions right.
and confirm:
“About four-in-ten conservative Republicans (41%) say they prefer to get news from sources that share their political point of view – the highest percentage of any political group.”
Thanks for the link, good read.
#125 Good lord, look who’s talking about sniping with a pea shooter on this blog. Jeez.
LC @121 what eloquence…[sarcasm off]
no but I’ll bet she’s got food stamps, abortion kits and all the other libbie com crap, she’s still waiting on her bammyphone
#12 And you, LC, are acting like the little baby.
sandi Romney could NEVER let us down the way bammy has let you down…lol
“Hey gdud, you kinda act like a sniper on this blog… a sniper with a pea shooter. I betcha you even need to “jump up” when you shoot, to give it more ooomph.”–Frank
Ha! Yep, that’s ol gdud. Falling short with every shot.
hey J.M.,
In my study of the ancient arts of martial, is it safe for me to believe that Aikdo best reflects liberal tactics, and Pancrase best reflects conservative tactics? (chuckle, chuckle…)
oops, I just realized I miss-spelled a word…it should read “Aikido”.
gdad,
Make sure you check your msn email account.
“133.Actually Marked Man, from your new link, under the heading “Knowledge of Politics and Current Events”
It says: “Looking at the talk shows, at least 30% of the audiences for Limbaugh, Hannity, Olbermann and Maddow got all four questions correct. O’Reilly’s audience did about as well (29%). The regular Glenn Beck and Hardball audiences performed slightly worse, with 21% and 23% of their respective viewers getting all the questions correct. Daily Show and Colbert Report audiences fared about as well.”
Are you just making stuff up now?”
Sandi, do you realize from that same graph that Rush, Hannity, O’Reilly, AND Glenn Beck listeners ALL scored higher than Colbert and Daily Show listeners?
Frank: Pancrase is not a martial art; it’s a martial arts/grappling promotion (like UFC, Pride, K1, Strikeforce, etc.). Pankration is a Greek boxing/grappling art and former Olympic sport that is a pretty close analog to modern MMA, excluding closed-fist strikes to the head.
To answer your question: Aikido, being an art of deflection and redirection of energies in order to incapacitate an attacker, would be more in-line with “conservative” as the term is defined. An experienced practitioner of Aikido uses very little energy, instead using the attacker’s energy against him.
An example of a “liberal” martial art, as the term is defined, would be closer to Ninjutsu or Silat, since they’re really a combination of several different martial arts, giving no preference to one over the other. Instead, they tailor the regimen to the individual strengths of the practitioner and aren’t opposed to improvisation.
Traditional Karate, Judo, Jiu-jitsu, Kempo, Capoeria or Tae Kwon Do would also be considered “conservative” martial arts.
MMA, Pradal Serey, MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program), Eskrima, SCARS (Special Combat Aggressive Reactionary System) and Krav Maga are other examples of “liberal” martial arts.
You cannot possibly categorize martial arts by the political definitions into which we’ve twisted the literal definitions of “liberal” and “conservative”.
Hey J.M.,
Boy, you sure don’t do anything half-as-ed, do ya? And, that’s a good thing.
I would have thought Aikido would have been selected as more reflective of liberal tendencies, given that it is referred to by some as the “martial art of peace”….and as you note uses deflection to counter unexpected aggression. However, I do see some conservative tendencies as well. Regardless, if I were to study a martial art, I’d probably lean toward Aikido. And, now I don’t have to worry about what my conservative friends might think…
I agree with you about the “twisting” part…
Thanks!
Marked Man, “occasionally” is a blind squirrel finding a nut, not consisterntly scoring.
Seriously, you were “quoting” a graph?
Frank: there are several good Aikido schools scattered around the area. It’s a beautiful, but violent martial art when executed by a skilled practitioner. I absolutely loved my training! I’m not a large guy and Aikido uses techniques that enable me to toss around people much, much larger than myself. Personally, I think a combined training regimen of Aikido, Krav Maga, and Jiu-Jitsu would make an incredible fighter/defender – using Krav Maga for striking and stunning, Aikido for counters and throws, and Jiu-Jitsu to submit or finish them. Simply devastating, sir.
Though my training is so wide-spread and thus I can’t claim even the slightest mastery of any particular art, I’d be happy to train you in the techniques I know should you ever get a wild hair.
I DO think your conservative friends might wonder why you’ve suddenly taken up meditation and have a new-found awareness of the various energies of your environment. Of course, if they gave you too much grief, a couple of quick throws might help adjust their attitude.
No conservative has any “awareness of the various energies of” their environment. That is a massive part of the reason they fall for and repeat lies so easily while claiming to be honest and Christian.
Well. I appreciate the offer. Thank you, J.M. You’ve given me something to really think about.
Will it help me deal with pea-shooter attacks?
You are wrong, wrong, wrong, Sandi. There are words AND graphs on that link. I just thought I would also have to tell you (in words) what the graph listed… that the listeners/watchers of basically every major Conservative-leaning program ALL score higher than Colbert and Stewart.
Need any further assistance with deciphering bar graphs?? I’ll be glad to help!
Seriously, that’s some long link in your name there… flustered, are ye?
Probably not, Frank. The littlest peon here that tries to keep biting my ankles wouldn’t meet when he was challenged.
yo Marked Man, there’s no way she gets a bar graph. a bar maybe, but definitely not a bar graph. it’s like trying to get through to a gnat.
“http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/10/16/tom-coburn-wasteful-government-spending/1636067/”
hey cookie breath, are you talking about the money bammy spent on robot squirrels?
Marked Man, “occasionally” is a blind squirrel finding a nut, not consisterntly scoring.
Comment by Sandi Saunders, 7.2 percent of private-sector workers were union members last year, down from 7.6 percent the previous year. — October 19, 2012 @ 10:41 pm