Rumper Room

Rumperroom

An endless open thread for registered members of Rumproast.  Newest comments appear at the top (150 per page), so read from the bottom if you need to catch up.


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Betty: well, bummer.  I hope nothing tragic has befallen HTP; he has totally fallen off the radar at any blog I used to see him at and people have been asking about him.  I just hope he’s OK.

Comment by StringOnAStick on 02/03/12 at 08:23 PM

@ SoaS: Nary a peep, unfortunately.

Comment by Betty Cracker on 02/03/12 at 04:20 PM

Just in case part one didn’t put you completely to sleep

“Atlas Shrugged, Part 2” officially greenlit for production

Atlas Productions, LLC announced today that “Atlas Shrugged Part 2”, the second installment of the Atlas Shrugged movie trilogy, has been officially greenlit with principal photography to begin this coming April in Los Angeles, Colorado, and New York.

So filming starting in April, and release…

“Part 2 is set to be in theaters October 2012 amidst what is sure to be a fever pitched presidential election season. “

So a total of six WHOLE months between filming and release??

“We have high aspirations for Part 2. We’ve looked carefully at Part 1 and taken time to analyze and reexamine everything from the script to the casting. John and I are committed to making a great Part 2 and excited about what lies ahead,” according to Producer Harmon Kaslow.”

Well, one of the major flaws of Part One was that it beat Camomile-infused NyQuil mixed with warm milk as a sedative.  I somehow suspect they’re not going to fix that problem in six months.

Comment by Patrick McKinnion on 02/02/12 at 06:33 PM

Things that can’t screen for breast cancer and one that does.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 02/02/12 at 11:52 AM

Danzig speaks for me!

Comment by meepmeep09 on 02/02/12 at 01:16 AM

Hey Betty C., any word on Hunger Tallest Palin?

Comment by StringOnAStick on 02/01/12 at 07:57 PM

The circle of lulz with cats and dogs, too cute

Bonus vid, Maru has a new house

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 02/01/12 at 05:20 PM

We know one thing for sure, this outstanding street performer in Spokane does not hang out with Len.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/31/12 at 03:48 PM

Wow, nice to know these 2 nerds have such rich, well-rounded lives with wide-ranging interests…

Comment by StringOnAStick on 01/31/12 at 01:45 PM

Well, it’s incredibly petty and dumb, but here goes.

There’s this series of games - Silent Hill - that are known for having fluid narratives and tons of symbolism. As a result, fans have been discussing them for years - what this scene meant, who this character was actually supposed to be, that kind of thing. It’s like film criticism, except that it occasionally gets bogged down in very silly, crazy theories (so exactly like film criticism, I guess).

So recently, I was pointed to these two dickhead fans who are among the most self-important, abrasive nerds I’ve ever seen. Think every stereotype of an Internet-obsessed geek and you’ve got these two. They gained some degree of fame (well, e-fame) for a series of videos called “The Real Silent Hill Experience.” The name pretty much says it all, I think. They insist that they know exactly what happened in these games and if you argue otherwise, you are WRONG and they will explain why at very great length. It’s not like they have an inside track or anything, they’re just fans - incredibly pedantic, obsessive fans.

Yesterday, they were on their Facebook page going on about one of their batty theories when they caught the attention of Jeremy Blaustein, who was on the translation/localization team for the original games. Blaustein states that this theory is absolutely incorrect, that it’s inconsistent with the games as designed by the original Team Silent. Some people point post his remarks to the Facebook page, only to get deleted almost immediately. Finally, Blaustein himself shows up, conveys what the original authors told him and what he personally intended when he wrote the localized scripts. These two and their idiot fans promptly start arguing with him about the “contradictions” in the games (those contradictions stemming from another of their theories, based on a scrap of information retroactively inserted by someone else into a minor market release of one of the games - I hate nerds so much sometimes).

That’s what I was following last night. The Internet opens up new worlds, but often they’re not world you wanted to see.

Comment by D Johnston on 01/31/12 at 01:07 PM

@D Johnston, more details please!

Comment by JasonM on 01/31/12 at 07:14 AM

Anyone ever watch someone argue with a writer over the meaning of his work? Because I’m watching it happen in real time right now, and it’s ridiculous.

Comment by D Johnston on 01/31/12 at 01:48 AM

In other cool discovery news, my son and I found a 80s Schwinn Caliente in a dumpster, which is in almost as new condition.  OK, so it’s not as cool as discovering a new molecule, but still.

Comment by Mike on 01/30/12 at 11:31 AM

Coolio! I tried to get Levenson to notice but you know how those Northeast coast elitist college-types are.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/29/12 at 01:02 PM

@HB: Cool!  Due to my lifelong crush on geeky girls, I’m always thrilled to hear stories like this.  I’ve thrown you a tip to Bon at Zandar’s house… I think she’ll really dig that story.

Comment by Lowkey on 01/29/12 at 12:27 AM

5th grade girl discovers new molecule, get credit as co-author of paper in National Science Journal

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/26/12 at 05:31 PM

Google, busily “not being evil” since 2009:

By the end of the operation in mid-2009, agents were buying Google ads for sites purportedly selling such prescription-only narcotics as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Agents also got Google’s sales office in China to approve a site selling Prozac and Valium to U.S. customers without a prescription.

Hah, hah!  I sense an upcoming comeuppance.

BTW, I recently discovered Ghostery, a plug-in for most browsers that lists the various ad networks and trackers on the current page.  Even if you aren’t as paranoid as I am, it’s eye-opening.

Comment by sean on 01/25/12 at 08:37 PM

Personally I miss the sociopathic ClownCar desperately trying to get laid.

Comment by justlen on 01/24/12 at 04:36 PM

Chuckles and Lambchop are both clear examples of what happens when you isolate yourself from the rest of the online world, ban people with dissenting opinions, and delete their comments.

There’s an interesting difference from real-world cults in that the leaders in real-life tend to be charismatic figures. Rivers and Lambs tend to alienate a large swath of people, even those that are very close to them ideologically. Sometimes I wish I had a MacArthur grant or a tax shelter in the Cayman islands I could use to study the outre blogs. I’m absolutely fascinated by their behavior in the same way that Diane Fosse would be if she stumbled upon primates discussing the Allegory of the Cave.

And TeresainPa? She’s a keeper.

Comment by AltHippo on 01/24/12 at 04:09 PM

Shorter Riverdancer: “Everybody in the world is insane except meeeeeeeeeebleepwurblepop!!!!!!”

Comment by YAFB on 01/24/12 at 12:31 PM

RD still really seriously thinks there’s a chance Hillary will “primary” Obama:

She has proven herself to be a capable, competent, well-respected politician and administrator, both domestically and abroad.  She beats every candidate of both parties in polls, which Democrats do not mention.  The people who are crazy are not the holdouts.  It is the segment of the Democratic party who insist on clinging to their pre-conceived notions about her.  But whatever.  What’s really crazy is to go into this fluid, unpredictable election year in the fourth year of a dismal economic crisis without a Plan B.  No, Howard Dean is not an option.  Remember, you have to appeal to all of the voters.

And as Craig Crawford mentioned on Saturday night, the deadline for getting on the ballot on some of the biggest states has not expired yet.  Many of the big Democratic states like California, NJ and Pennsylvania have their primaries late.  In NJ, we don’t get to vote until June.  A lot could happen between now and then.  That lot could consist of endless pounding on Obama’s poor performance in Republican primary debates coupled with a lot of sturm and drang on the deficit.

And of course the comments under that post make her look sane by comparison:

Mr. Mike, on January 23, 2012 at 10:56 pm said:

I think Obama’s only hope is a nut bag republican candidate winning their primary. They will need the independents and only Romney has a chance of delivering them.

The other shoe is a House investigation of Obama’s Rezko days starting up after the primary ballot desdlines.
The other shoe is a House investigation of Obama’s Rezko days starting up after the primary ballot desdlines.

  teresainpa, on January 24, 2012 at 6:54 am said:

  the house will not investigate Obama because that might mean they end up running against Hillary and they don’t want to have to do that.

Comment by JasonM on 01/24/12 at 09:27 AM

I too would love for her to advocate for the TBI survivors who don’t have access to all the resources she did.

That’s the rub for me in this case.  I feel for her but at the same time I get that ‘at least you can afford to get help’ thing going on.

Comment by Rebecca on 01/22/12 at 10:55 PM

The Mittbot has been rebooted. Again.
Romney Starts To Take The Gloves Off.

I need some comedy, so I’m hopeing for something like the old SNL skit for robot insurance, but in this case with old people mounting an aggressive counterattack against the Mittbot. Won’t be as funny as the Waterston thing, but it oughtta do.

Comment by meepmeep09 on 01/22/12 at 10:52 PM

Soonergunt over at Cole’s place posted a sad account last month about one of his former NCOs.

Yeah, TBI is the ‘gift’ that keeps on giving.

[Precautionary note: comments over there are a mix of thoughtful and sympathetic contributions, along with diatribes and the semi-regular score-settling between some of the regulars; iow, the usual kind of comments often found over there.]

Comment by meepmeep09 on 01/22/12 at 10:01 PM

This is a much more honest presentation of her than the interview she gave on the release of the book. There is a great deal of hope for her to have a good rest of her life, but it won’t be the same life she was going to have.

I too would love for her to advocate for the TBI survivors who don’t have access to all the resources she did. At least the VA is trying to do better by its brain-injured wounded, but ordinary civilians are being shortchanged in appalling numbers. There’s a book called “Head Cases” that I found too painful to read. It does describe the situation very effectively.

The vicious YouTube comments have been removed, at least.

Comment by Mrs. Polly on 01/22/12 at 08:29 PM

Gabrielle Giffords is stepping down from congress.

The video her office released had me a bit weepy. Best to her (and who appears to be a stand-up guy she’s married to).

And, of course, in addition to the heartfelt good wishes contributed there, there were the usual collection of assholes who seem to populate You-Tube comments. I miss the days when those folks were sequestered at the local bar, shouting at the TV/opposite wall/imaginary companion.

I would have liked to see more discussion of our atrocious state of mental health services in this country, but hardly saw that come up with regard to this and previous shooters similarly afflicted. I guess if Jack Bauer and John Galt could tough it out, ain’t no excuse for anyone else. Hell, even Wiley Coyote recovered after being damaged by some Acme product gone wrong - why can’t everyone quite bitchin’ and just do that?

Comment by meepmeep09 on 01/22/12 at 05:57 PM

Gabrielle Giffords is stepping down from congress.

Comment by YAFB on 01/22/12 at 02:27 PM

Indeed.  If we want to let people live in places like Nome, then we should pay for more than one (heavy?) ice-breaker.  And we do, since we kind of like oil.

We also need them for things like keeping sea lanes open, rescue, scientific research, and maintaining th sonly sustainable fishery we have left.

They’re pretty darned important ships, they just don’t get the play on the news because they don’t make things go kablooey.

Comment by justlen on 01/22/12 at 12:34 PM

@ Lowkey—thanks!

@ Sean—I cannot imagine voluntarily living in such a place. Florida is beastly hot in the summer, but you wouldn’t actually DIE in minutes if you accidentally locked yourself out of the house while going to fetch the mail.

Comment by Betty Cracker on 01/21/12 at 04:09 PM

With shades of Gingrich:

In July 1970, Dodd married Susan Mooney; they divorced in October 1982. Afterwards, he dated at different times Bianca Jagger and Carrie Fisher, among others. In 1999, he married his second wife, Jackie Marie Clegg, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

However, even as an MPAA stooge, I doubt he’ll manage the third upgrade.

Comment by sean on 01/21/12 at 12:07 PM

Wow - Check out former PL fave, Chris Dodd’s latest escapade

Why am I not surprised?  Chris Dodd has always seemed like an almost Lieberman-league tool to me.  Then again, I can’t see his name without thinking of the Daily Show’s campaign song for him, a Broadway number whose only lyrics were “I’m Chris Dodd, Chris Dodd is my name,” and chuckling inside.  He’s not entirely useless.

Comment by sean on 01/21/12 at 12:02 PM

And what’s sad is USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) is the only functioning Icebreaker we have right now.

Indeed.  If we want to let people live in places like Nome, then we should pay for more than one (heavy?) ice-breaker.  And we do, since we kind of like oil.

This NYT article has some good photos of the ice-breaking.  And here’s the interview of Capt. Beverly Havlik I heard.

Comment by sean on 01/21/12 at 11:53 AM

Has anyone else been kind of fascinated by the saga of the US icebreaker making a path for the Russian tanker to bring oil to Nome?  I heard in an NPR interview with the ice breaker captain that the crew was planning to be home for Christmas before they were called on to smash through ice for a few months.  The AP Video of weather there is just sick; how can humans stand to live there?  Of course it’s balmy compared to Fairbanks, where my uncle spent a few years.

And what’s sad is USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) is the only functioning Icebreaker we have right now.

Comment by justlen on 01/21/12 at 11:11 AM

Wow - Check out former PL fave, Chris Dodd’s latest escapade
http://tinyurl.com/87ged8z
and for extra lulz
http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/23/in-dodd-we-trust/
Boy, they sure can pick some winners.

Comment by Lancelot Link on 01/21/12 at 09:13 AM

Has anyone else been kind of fascinated by the saga of the US icebreaker making a path for the Russian tanker to bring oil to Nome?  I heard in an NPR interview with the ice breaker captain that the crew was planning to be home for Christmas before they were called on to smash through ice for a few months.  The AP Video of weather there is just sick; how can humans stand to live there?  Of course it’s balmy compared to Fairbanks, where my uncle spent a few years.

Comment by sean on 01/21/12 at 01:28 AM

Some young Michigan men apparently want the football team’s quarterback Denard Robinson to remain in school for his senior year.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/20/12 at 06:15 PM

Former Red Sox pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee was once interviewed by High Times magazine. Deadspin digs it up for us, it’s a fascinating, wonderful read.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/20/12 at 12:51 PM

Betty, I know I’m a little late to the party, but congrats on the Balloon Juice gig!  I’m looking forward to the first mighty flame wars in the comments of your posts.  Ad Rumperum Victoriam!

Comment by Lowkey on 01/19/12 at 12:55 PM

I haven’t been following the Keystone deal super closely but Nancy Pelosi had some interesting comments about the Rethug claims of how supposedly important the pipeline is (from TPM):

The political attack here is based on a number of false and exaggerated claims — including that the pipeline construction would have created 20,000 jobs (the only independent study of the project concluded that the true number would’ve been much lower) and that the oil is now destined for China instead of the U.S.

At her own Capitol briefing Wednesday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took issue with these claims.

“If the Republicans cared so much about the Keystone pipeline, they would not have narrowed the president’s options by putting it on the time frame they did,” Pelosi said. “They left him very little choice…. This oil was always destined for overseas. It’s just a question of whether it leaves Canada by way of Canada, or it leaves Canada by way of the United States. So without taking a position on the pipeline, I don’t agree to the stipulation that this is oil that’s going to China now instead of the US. It was always going overseas. I don’t know where to, but it wasn’t for domestic consumption. And that’s really an important point because the advertising is quite to the contrary.”

Comment by marindenver on 01/19/12 at 12:47 PM

I am soooooooooooo annoyed with this novel I’m editing for the job. The plot has been totally lost to put forward political, religion, and media rants given by a TV personality; the MCs are completely passive and do nothing but watch said TV show; and there are these leaps in logic with absolutely no basis in the supposed story. I have to edit in very small chunks and keep reminding myself I was paid to do this.

But, on the other hand, if the ranting is any indication, he’d fit right in over here. :P

Comment by domynoe on 01/19/12 at 04:54 AM

I like how POTUS turned it back on the rethugs in the House too, saying he’d decided to say no to Keystone because it couldn’t be adequately reviewed in 60 day period.  Of course, 60 days is the deadline the rethugs set so they could use it in their campaign ads this year; glad to see he headed that off at the pass by acting now rather than 60 days later.

Comment by StringOnAStick on 01/18/12 at 05:04 PM

Bravo, Mr. President, for saying no to Keystone. What a pointless project.

Comment by justlen on 01/18/12 at 04:29 PM

I think Jane may just say that given the decision, she’s decided not to primary Obama.

Still not sure what’s more toxic: tar sands or FDL.

Comment by AltHippo on 01/18/12 at 03:28 PM

With Obama killng the pipeline, will Hamsher now take credit for the decision or ignore it altogether?

Comment by Tom65 on 01/18/12 at 02:27 PM

You have to vote for women even if they are bitches, whores, nutjobs, monsters, lunatics, morons, retards, hysterical backstabbers, relentlessly ambitious soulless Stepford wife robots, and cunts

Unless their name is Nancy Pelosi, Donna Brazile ...

Comment by YAFB on 01/18/12 at 01:12 AM

Wow, JasonM, if I was married to that I’d drown myself in the toilet, if just to deny her the pleasure of chopping off my manly nub while I was sleeping.

Comment by justlen on 01/17/12 at 11:31 PM

@justlen, you asked, so I had to check out Murphy’s site for the first time in months.  She uses the new Thatcher bio pic as a jumping off point for a call to action to elect more women, from December 27:

I don’t know why it’s so hard for women to understand this simple concept. If you want a woman president (or senator or mayor or congresswoman) you have to VOTE for the darn women who are actually running for office. You have to give them money if you can, and volunteer time and support if you can. Here’s the hard part: You have to vote for women even if they are bitches, whores, nutjobs, monsters, lunatics, morons, retards, hysterical backstabbers, relentlessly ambitious soulless Stepford wife robots, and cunts. Because to the dudes who run the media and the world, that’s what they ALWAYS are.

Comment by JasonM on 01/17/12 at 09:56 PM

Well, Darragh hasn’t posted in awhile, maybe the IRS caught up with her.

Comment by justlen on 01/17/12 at 09:28 PM

Right enough, a “Where are they now?” about the PUMAs would be a hoot. I’m not writing it, though. It would just excite them.

Comment by YAFB on 01/17/12 at 08:41 PM

Look out, RD is getting ready to blog about a totally knew topic that’s never been discussed at the Flatulence:

Posted on January 16, 2012 by riverdaughter

I have a post knocking around in my head about the after effects of the 2008 election season on women but it’s not quite there yet.

Comment by JasonM on 01/17/12 at 07:58 PM

Mike, I was only joking about you getting married for a green card. lol

len, I don’t know what’s up with that guy.  Maybe nobody in the Navy wants to bum sex him.

Comment by Rebecca on 01/17/12 at 07:56 PM

Apparently now I’m a homophobe… Who woulda thunk…

Comment by justlen on 01/17/12 at 06:57 PM

The latest from my buddy, Eyez

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/17/12 at 11:58 AM

Delivered with a proper gentle ironic folk melody, some Uncle Bonsai from the 80s (4:00) (would have been a possibly suitable addition to one of Gil Mann’s 80s retrospective posts).

Not there at the live performance myself; I’ve only heard them on the radio.

Comment by meepmeep09 on 01/17/12 at 01:08 AM

Listening to old time radio - a 40s show I think (missed the intro) - and just heard that ‘the first rule of guerrilla warfare is no dames.’

Hahaha, just listened to this yesterday.

The Rulez, always changing they are.

Comment by meepmeep09 on 01/15/12 at 10:15 PM

Surprise, surprise…  Romney made his fortune through flip-flopping:

This is the moment when Bain Capital would become especially crafty. In my experience — which I heard echoed often by my colleagues around Wall Street — Bain would seek to be the highest bidder at the end of the formal process in order to be the firm selected to negotiate alone with the seller, putting itself in the exclusive, competition-free zone. Then, when all other competitors had been essentially vanquished and the purchase contract was under negotiation, Bain would suddenly begin finding all sorts of warts, bruises and faults with the company being sold. Soon enough, that near-final Bain bid — the one that got the firm into its exclusive negotiating position — would begin to fall, often significantly.

Comment by sean on 01/15/12 at 09:50 AM

In fact, you get preferential treatment as a spouse because you’re classified as an immediate relative. I can apply for citizenship in 3 years instead of 5, for example.

Comment by Mike on 01/14/12 at 03:59 PM

Rebecca: My loving wife, of course.  4 years married this March, in fact.

Comment by Mike on 01/14/12 at 03:57 PM

Mike, who did you have to marry to get one of those? ;-)

Comment by Rebecca on 01/14/12 at 02:36 PM

HB, I’m a legal immigrant.  I won’t be mowing any lawns.

Comment by Mike on 01/14/12 at 12:25 PM

Humboldt, you weed addled dick, don’t mock the Lugans and basketball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN3LCXscleI

Keep it up and you won’t make my Schmenge Christmas list next year.

(Stayed at Hotel Sarunas in Vilnius a few years back, headed there next year.)

Comment by justlen on 01/13/12 at 07:09 PM

Good show, Mike, now please get the lawn mowed.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/13/12 at 05:28 PM

Congratulations, Mike! I have one poured already. Bottoms up!

Comment by YAFB on 01/13/12 at 03:36 PM

Woohoo! Got my green card! Imaginary drinks are on me!

Comment by Mike on 01/13/12 at 02:44 PM

It seems Len’s uncle is a hell of a basketball play-by-play man as he calls this lovely dunk from American Sonny Weems during Lithuanian league action.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/13/12 at 01:12 PM

I’ve been wondering about him myself, Rebecca. I haven’t seen him lately over at Edroso’s place either - another one of his favorite haunts - so it’s a might bit disconcerting.

I think Betty has been trying to reach him.

Comment by meepmeep09 on 01/13/12 at 03:49 AM

Has anybody got word on Hunger Tallest Palin yet?

Comment by Rebecca on 01/13/12 at 12:40 AM

As an Op-Ed columnist, Mr. Krugman clearly has the freedom to call out what he thinks is a lie. My question for readers is: should news reporters do the same?

You could do that. Alternately, we can replace you with a dictaphone because it can do your current job just as well.

Comment by D Johnston on 01/12/12 at 06:52 PM

The NYT wonders if it should be doing its job. lol


(Btw, yes, been a bit MIA. Very sick. Can barely keep up with what I should be doing….)

Comment by domynoe on 01/12/12 at 02:04 PM

This is fun, add your license plate to a list that includes your residence, cell phone, internet activity and shopping preferences of data gathered by private corporations to be sold or used without your knowledge or consent.

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/12/12 at 01:09 PM

I’m still amused at the way RD talks about how Obama,Dean,Axelrod,DNC,Sauron,Smaug,etc “threw women under the bus”, and in the same breath throws any woman who endorsed for Obama “under the bus”.  Even Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (a hardcore Hillary supporter until the the very end of the primaries) gets trashed as a traitorous careerist for having the gall to campaign for her party’s nominee.

It shouldn’t still amuse me after 4 years, but it does.

Comment by JasonM on 01/12/12 at 11:21 AM

Obama has never appreciated the sacrifice Chucky made by voting for McCain/McFail. Out of consideration he could have resigned or at least impeached himself. Anything less is a betrayal of the 18 million whose votes were illegally stolen that day in May, 2008.

Is that the kind of Hopey/Changey we can all believe in?

Comment by AltHippo on 01/12/12 at 10:50 AM

I think she expected the Obamas to resign on Inauguration Day out of sheer self-disgust and shame.

Comment by YAFB on 01/12/12 at 10:19 AM

Did she honestly expect Michelle to actively campaign against her husband?

Comment by Tom65 on 01/12/12 at 09:07 AM

Is she saying Jackie Kennedy faded into the background?  I sure don’t remember her that way.

Comment by Nellcote on 01/11/12 at 09:12 PM

Well, thinking one’s husband is the best thing since sliced bread is kinda good, right?

I just checked with Ms. YAFB. “Meh.”

Comment by YAFB on 01/11/12 at 07:24 PM

She thinks he is the best thing since sliced bread and there will be no co-presidency with him and her. She is going to fade into the background and become Mrs. Kennedy.

Well, thinking one’s husband is the best thing since sliced bread is kinda good, right? I’m no expert on marriage like Chucky, but I’m under the impression that rooting for your partner is kinda part of deal, no?

And as for the “co-presidency” thing—with all due respect to Mrs. Clinton, I don’t really think it’s appropriate for an unelected spouse to wield power equal to that of the person who was actually elected to the office. I didn’t have a problem with it in practice when it was the Clintons, but, hello, Mary Todd Lincoln anyone?

Comment by Betty Cracker on 01/11/12 at 05:30 PM

@Althippo
When I read that “We don’t care,Michelle” quote from RD, Michelle Obama was speaking a few blocks from where I work, where she did this:

After the luncheon, Obama traveled to VCU to announce a major commitment to veterans’, by the country’s top medical colleges.

The announcement pertained to the care of American service men and women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

The VCU School of Medicine—joining 100 members of the American Association of Medical Colleges—signed a pledge to support groundbreaking health care research and care for veterans.

Obama also toured the polytrauma unit at McGuire VA Medical Center where she met with wounded veterans.

More info on her Richmond visit here.
RD said this about Michelle Obama during the 2008 election:

This is what Michelle Obama’s image says to me. it says, “I am not going to rock the boat. I am a support person for my husband. I am not going to challenge the gender roles”. She isn’t a traitor to her gender so much as a collaborator in the demise of the power women have acquired over the past 40 years. She’s almost worse than Laura Bush in that respect because she hasn’t so much as rasied a peep about the overt sexism shown by her own progressive supporters on her husband’s behalf. It’s all just ticketyboo for her as long as Barry makes it to the WH.
Now, her mouth may say something completely different. But the way she campaigns for Obama is consistent with this image. She thinks he is the best thing since sliced bread and there will be no co-presidency with him and her. She is going to fade into the background and become Mrs. Kennedy.

Comment by JasonM on 01/11/12 at 04:41 PM

I think it’s a symptom of frothing insecurity, Alt, like those who habitually enlist the mythical “some of us” when cornered in arguments to shore up a position that they know is too weak to stand on its own merits.

It can’t really be the grating editorial “we” beloved of Somerby. If it were, you could singularize the pronouns and it would still hang together somewhat:

We ^I don’t care, Michelle.  By your example, you set the rest of us ^me back by four decades.

I can think of a few things that might have set RD back by four decades (mercury in groundwater is a candidate), but FLOTUS isn’t one of them.

Comment by YAFB on 01/11/12 at 04:30 PM

I guess it’s no surprise by now that we are totally in love with Sarah.

I often wonder who the “we” is in Chucky’s screeds. Today she writes (or, if you prefer, projectile vomits):

We don’t care, Michelle.  By your example, you set the rest of us back by four decades.

Does Chucky think she speaks for women, for liberals, for the voices in her head, for the 18 million? Who is this “we”?

I’m just trying to understand to what degree her delusions of grandeur are at work.

Comment by AltHippo on 01/11/12 at 02:50 PM

It looks like Redstate has a problem with simple mathematics.

And it’s even worse now.  It appears Mr. Erickson may have a rebellion (or rLOVEution?) on his hands:

And if I understand it right, attacking Bain Capital or Mitt Romney for what Bain did is unacceptable as an attack on capitalism.

Comment by sean on 01/11/12 at 02:40 PM

Well that was quick.

It looks like Redstate has a problem with simple mathematics.

Comment by JasonM on 01/11/12 at 09:26 AM

I didn’t watch much of the New Hampshire coverage last night.  But all I could think about was the way the “experts” talked about what a formidable opponent Perry would be for Obama.  They spoke in hushed tones, as if Doctor Doom and Kaiser Soze had a love child and it was breaking into the White House.  And he couldn’t even get 1% last night. 

Tis a bit early to do a Lexis-Nexis search, but I’m guessing these are the same experts who said “Dems better watch out for Fred Thompson!” in ‘08.

Comment by JasonM on 01/11/12 at 06:34 AM

Well that was quick.  Unless something strange happens in SC, poor Newt looks on track to get neutered.

Comment by sean on 01/10/12 at 08:10 PM

RD wants you to know she’s stupid but not crazy, from yesterday:

riverdaughter, on January 9, 2012 at 9:29 am said:

Well, we are certainly NOT closet Republicans or Tea Partiers. That doesn’t mean that some PUMAs didn’t go that route. We tried to stop them but this is something the Democratic party did to itself, not PUMAs. When it decided to ignore half of the party, the Democrats split itself and forced an exodus. Some of those people ended up in the crazy bin. But that wasn’t us.

I guess RD was possessed by demons or something in ‘08:

Posted on October 3, 2008 by riverdaughter

I guess it’s no surprise by now that we are totally in love with Sarah.  No, she is no Hillary Clinton.  They really aren’t in the same league.  Hillary is ready to be president.  But in this vice presidential debate, she was more than able to stand up to Joe Biden.  It was a big mistake to underestimate her.  She may not have the foreign policy experience yet but it isn’t hard to see how she got to be governor of Alaska and have an 81% approval rating.  She comes across as smart, enthusuastic and tenacious.

Also, this:

Posted on January 10, 2012 by myiq2xu
the Democrats screwed themselves in 2008 but this should be a big year for the Republicans, and the best they can come up with is Mitt, Newt, Rick, Paul and Rick to choose from?

I picked a bad year to quit drinking.

I wasn’t aware that “screwed themselves” was a euphemism for “nominated a Presidential candidate that won an election”!

Comment by JasonM on 01/10/12 at 05:52 PM

I don’t eat Lobster, but if you’re dying for a Lobster Roll, I hear they taste great if you add cilantro.

Comment by JasonM on 01/10/12 at 05:18 PM

Way off topic, but since we killed the food thread…Lobster Roll. I’m dying for a Lobster Roll.

Comment by Tom65 on 01/10/12 at 03:52 PM

If Newt keeps this line of attack up he’s going to find some very angry capitalist plutocrats at his door with a cease and desist order (plus a cease to exist order if he doesn’t shut his piehole).

Comment by StringOnAStick on 01/10/12 at 12:50 PM

I’m just loving Newt’s “any stick to beat a dog” campaign against Romney:

You have to ask the question, is capitalism really about the ability of a handful of rich people to manipulate the lives of thousands of people and then walk off with the money?

  Will he concede before or after he tries to take Romney out with a folding chair?

Comment by sean on 01/10/12 at 12:02 AM

There are reports that MSNBC is going to can Pat Buchanan tomorrow, for some racist crap in his new book.

Long overdue if you ask me!  Whatever the reason.

Comment by marindenver on 01/09/12 at 03:54 PM

meep—Maybe he’s just not pulling in the ratings?

Comment by YAFB on 01/09/12 at 11:57 AM

Mike, contact me at domynoe @ gmail.com. That way I don’t have to put my personal address up for the world to see. I’ll forward your email so I have it when I’m ready to go.

Should be soon. If these last couple of chapters cooperate.

Yea, riiiiiight.

Comment by domynoe on 01/09/12 at 01:19 AM

There are reports that MSNBC is going to can Pat Buchanan tomorrow, for some racist crap in his new book.

I call shenanigans.  Given the racist crap Buchanan has been ladling out over a lot of years while his media bosses turn a blind eye, I don’t believe this could be the real reason for firing him.  I’m guessing something else - maybe he dented a senior exec’s car in the parking lot?  Something like that, maybe.

Comment by meepmeep09 on 01/09/12 at 12:53 AM

Domynoe - I’d be interested…

Comment by Mike on 01/08/12 at 03:14 PM

I’m looking for beta readers if anyone is interested. Here’s the specs:

Urban Fantasy in 3rd person
Estimating between 75-80k
Need all levels of reading: editor, writer, and just average Joe readers
Will be looking for specific places to expand in addition to any other comments you want to add.


Basic blurb (still a work in progress):

Caring for an autistic boy was never part of the plan for Randi Kayde. She’s a hunter of the Shunned—the fallen of heaven—and being a mother only makes her job more difficult and dangerous. Born of two worlds, neither of which plays nice, and already touched by the destruction the fallen bring, Randi has dedicated herself to protecting humans. Now she’s chasing a demon with an appetite for men and a network of slaves and worshipers spreading through the city. Joining forces with Kale Adekoya, a paranormal detective, isn’t her first choice, but he can give her information she can’t get otherwise. The number of victims is rising, and Randi may not be strong enough to defeat this Shunned even using gifts from both her parents.

As Randi and Kale start closing in, a friend is attacked, one of Randi’s neighbors is killed, and Kale disappears. With events spiraling out of control and lives in the balance, Randi must find the creature’s lair and confront it on her own. But a traitor has revealed Randi and Kale’s investigation into the shunned’s attacks, and Randi finds more waiting for her than the battle she prepared for.


I’m thinking a 3 month deadline for the turn around (so, late March, early April for return). If interested, feel free to contact me via the email in the member list (I’m on the 3rd page when sorted by Members, Join Date, Descending). Anything else you want to know, go ahead and ask. Let me know you’re a roaster when you contact me. Novel will be done by the end of the month. Thanks!

Comment by domynoe on 01/08/12 at 03:32 AM

Christ, if Kola Noscopy trolls any harder over at BJ, it’s going to be carried off by a flock of European swallows (though the recent imprecation to DIAF hints that matoko_chan may be losing her touch).

Comment by YAFB on 01/07/12 at 12:54 PM

I tried on “progressive” but it made my butt look big so I’m sticking with “liberal”.  It fits as well as it always did.

Comment by StringOnAStick on 01/06/12 at 09:24 PM

In any case, I’m in great company. Now my handle appears alongside TBogg, Adam Serwer and “The 17 year old kid from West Milton who enjoys cartoons, fruit snacks, reefer, long afternoon naps and making fun of sean boyle for shmokin reds…”

So it’s clearly some idiot fucking around on Twitter. Still, maybe I can get Hamsher to endorse my manuscript if I make a bunch of updates about Bradley Manning.

Comment by D Johnston on 01/06/12 at 06:14 PM

Humboldt, that’s hilarious.

Comment by justlen on 01/06/12 at 04:54 PM

This is what a wingnut thinks interrogation at a black site in Algeria is like

Comment by HumboldtBlue on 01/06/12 at 01:31 PM
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