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Off to a Dubious Start
Author: BobR    Date: 01/03/2014 15:52:06

A couple days ago, I wrote a blog with some fairly obvious predictions for the coming year. What I didn't anticpate was that by Jan 03, it would already seem quaint when compared to the realities of Republican politics.

The continuing story is of course Obamacare. Despite the fact that some of the most dramatic changes have already been in effect for a couple years, and that the exchanges and the coverage they provide have only been in effect for a couple days, Republicans are declaring failure. The House already has a plan to try to ensure a government program which helps millions get healthcare coverage for the first time fails. Sure they claim they're only trying to protect people and their information, but just keep in mind that these are the same people who are in favor of the NSA collecting anything and everything they can. Somehow, I am not convinced of their pure motives.

The party which also holds the 2nd Amendment in complete reverence does not seem to have the same reverence for the 1st Amendment - at least the religion part. In South Carolina, the legislature is trying to turn the clock back 50 years and put prayer back in the classroom. But hey - they compromised:
"The compromise would be to have the students to pray to whomever they want to. If they want to do away with teachers conducting the prayer that would be fine with us."

And to be completely fair:
Students who don't want to participate would be allowed to leave the classroom, the bill states.

Yeah, that won't cause problems for those students at all.

In the "I was in the ballpark" arena, FOX "News" Business host Stuart Varney concludes that ice in the Antarctic proves global cooling. Yes, instead of taking the now familiar tack of "yes warming, but not man-made", he is going the other direction saying the earth is cooling. And really - who are you going to trust? Hundreds of climate scientists or your trustworthy business and finance reporter?

As I also mentioned, the campaign season will get quickly underway. Naturally, the Republican primaries bring some interesting takes on what makes a good representative. In Michigan, one Republican incumbent is being targeted because he thought it unnecessary to plaster every public building with In God We Trust. In Maine, a contender claims that going to jail for domestic abuse proves his integrity. Why? Because everyone knows that lack of enough evidence is proof of innocence.

So tighten those seatbelts folks. It looks like 2014 is going to be a helluva ride.
 

56 comments (Latest Comment: 01/03/2014 22:38:04 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2014 13:53:06
... - - - ...

... - - - ...

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Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 13:59:57


Robert Reich ladies and gentlemen!

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2014 14:04:31
Morning <-for warmth

5 degree wind chill!!!!! WTF this is below the Mason Dixon! Yes my blood has thinned I live in the flippin' south.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2014 14:08:43
Raine check ya emails please

Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2014 14:11:35
Well, since our IT folks "upgraded" the remote access software, I can't get in. So I'm off to shovel some snow. Pix will be up on the BoF presently.



Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2014 14:17:28
Mornin' all.. And happy Fridee! :

Well now, the snow has stopped here, the sky has cleared and the sun is shining bright.. all in the past hour or so. It's damned cold out there tho, and when the wind gusts it's like razors on the skin.

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 14:27:33
Comment by BobR on 01/03/2014 14:34:59
There really isn't much snow to shovel. There is however about a 1/2 of ice securely bonded to the the pavement. Without heat or salt, it's not going anywhere.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 14:38:32
Quote by wickedpam:
Raine check ya emails please

good morning! and will do!

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 14:41:01
Quote by BobR:
There really isn't much snow to shovel. There is however about a 1/2 of ice securely bonded to the the pavement. Without heat or salt, it's not going anywhere.




:RMS: Nice!

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 14:51:12
What? No way! Iggy Pop was on Star Trek DS9!

Random Famous People On Star Trek

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2014 14:58:22
Yes Chris, Smoking Loon is a wine - middle of the road produced by the Don Sebastiani and his sons. We sell a good bit of it.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2014 14:58:39
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, oh noes!

BASTARDS!!!!

And by the way Slate, you and whoever you're citing for that study needs to STOP PUSHING THE FUCKING MYTH that marijuana is addictive.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2014 15:00:10
Quote by wickedpam:
Yes Chris, Smoking Loon is a wine - middle of the road produced by the Don Sebastiani and his sons. We sell a good bit of it.

Hey I don't usually like to get the 'brand name' wines except for cooking, but I got this bottle of Yellow Tail's Sweet Red Roo and it's DELICIOUS.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2014 15:07:49
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by wickedpam:
Yes Chris, Smoking Loon is a wine - middle of the road produced by the Don Sebastiani and his sons. We sell a good bit of it.

Hey I don't usually like to get the 'brand name' wines except for cooking, but I got this bottle of Yellow Tail's Sweet Red Roo and it's DELICIOUS.
d

We sell that on too - lots of it. Maybe next time I make some POS for it I'll put Scoop Approved on it somewhere


Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2014 15:11:17
OK, shoveling is all done. I didn't measure, but I'd guesstimate only about 6 inches, although it did drift higher in spots.

It was all powder, so it moved easily and quickly.



Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2014 15:12:45
Quote by Mondobubba:
What? No way! Iggy Pop was on Star Trek DS9!

Random Famous People On Star Trek


And Mae Jamison actual astronaut on an episode of ST:TNG.



Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2014 15:13:44
Did Steph or the dogs fall on something to take them off the air?

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 15:21:14
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Mondobubba:
What? No way! Iggy Pop was on Star Trek DS9!

Random Famous People On Star Trek


And Mae Jamison actual astronaut on an episode of ST:TNG.




Oh who cares about a nerd! :waits on the incoming iceball:

Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2014 15:34:42
Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 15:48:46
Quote by wickedpam:
Did Steph or the dogs fall on something to take them off the air?
This show has the potential to be a huge mess with those dogs in the studio.


Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 15:51:55
RIP Bo Diddley.

Comment by BobR on 01/03/2014 15:54:12
blog posted


Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 15:58:13
Quote by Raine:
RIP Bo Diddley.



Um Bo Diddley died in 2008.

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 15:59:35
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 16:01:25
Quote by Scoopster:
Since we're on the subject of weed... No David, you're a loser because you were stupid enough to get stoned before a presentation instead of waiting 'til you got home AFTERWARDS.

With great cannabis comes great responsibility.



Who the fuck cares, it is Bobo Brooks. He's one of the hackiest hacks in hackland.

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 16:08:23
Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2014 16:10:03
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Did Steph or the dogs fall on something to take them off the air?
This show has the potential to be a huge mess with those dogs in the studio.



it'll be entertaining though

Comment by Will in Chicago on 01/03/2014 16:30:03
Good morning from your Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana correspondent!!

As I type this, the current temperature at O'Hare Airport is 3 degrees with a windchill of minus 8. I have already been out shoveling.

BobR, I liked the blog. I fear that the GOP will continue to try to marginalize some Americans and do their utmost to make sure that nothing positive happens in this country.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 01/03/2014 16:35:36
John Fugelsang, the GOP can't stop stop supporting the Likud in Israel. The GOP's evangelical base needs me and all other Jews to move there, support the Likud's vision of a "Greater Israel" and have the war that will bring their Messiah back to Earth while my lot can either convert or die. Never mind that a brief reading of Haaretz or the Jerusalem Post will show a healthy debate on a variety of issues, including income inequality, Iran, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the role of religion in society.

I am willing to die for my beliefs, but not for what I consider someone else's bizarre theology.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 16:36:52
What in the ever loving hell? from the blog:
In a new memo to GOP members that was provided to TPM, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) outlined his plan to bring up a bill designed "to strengthen security requirements as well as require prompt notification in the event of a breach involving personal information."

"It is my intent to schedule legislation on this topic when we return next week," he wrote, adding that it will draw from legislation offered by Reps. Diane Black (R-TN), Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). "If a breach occurs, it shouldn't be up to some bureaucrat to decide when or even whether to inform an individual that their personal information has been accessed."


Hmm... When was the last time they crafted legislation about the security breaches that (Actually REALLY REALLY) occurred with Target over the holidays?

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 16:39:29
Not to mention that Eric Cantor is a bureaucrat.



Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 16:50:45
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 16:51:13
Quote by Raine:
Not to mention that Eric Cantor is a bureaucrat.




No, he is an elected legislator.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 16:52:01
Quote by Mondobubba:
Clay Akin for Congress?
This has a little more information:

It’s American Idol 2003 contestant Clay Aiken, according to The Washington Blade. While that might seem strange at first, Aiken has long been involved with UNICEF, who sent him to Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Afghanistan. The Blade reported this scoop based on two anonymous sources, which wouldn’t mean much if Betsy Conti, a local political strategist who has worked with former North Carolina Governor Bev Purdue and Al Gore, wasn’t also said to be consulting with Aiken.

Ellmers’ district was heavily redrawn to favor the Republican, but she is also being challenged from the right by Frank Roche, a conservative Internet talk show host. He released a statement with his announcement condemning her for her “moderate” voting record: (snip)

Back in 2010, Renee Ellmers was ushered into her seat by the Tea Party, but they are already feeling disillusioned with her. Formerly, the seat had been long held by Democrat Bob Etheridge.

Ellmers might be safe in her redistricted heaven, but she can’t afford a big name like Clay Aiken to run against her while she’s being primaried hard from the right, because it seems that no one really likes her, and that could depress turnout for the Republican.




Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 17:19:01
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Clay Akin for Congress?
This has a little more information:

It’s American Idol 2003 contestant Clay Aiken, according to The Washington Blade. While that might seem strange at first, Aiken has long been involved with UNICEF, who sent him to Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Afghanistan. The Blade reported this scoop based on two anonymous sources, which wouldn’t mean much if Betsy Conti, a local political strategist who has worked with former North Carolina Governor Bev Purdue and Al Gore, wasn’t also said to be consulting with Aiken.

Ellmers’ district was heavily redrawn to favor the Republican, but she is also being challenged from the right by Frank Roche, a conservative Internet talk show host. He released a statement with his announcement condemning her for her “moderate” voting record: (snip)

Back in 2010, Renee Ellmers was ushered into her seat by the Tea Party, but they are already feeling disillusioned with her. Formerly, the seat had been long held by Democrat Bob Etheridge.

Ellmers might be safe in her redistricted heaven, but she can’t afford a big name like Clay Aiken to run against her while she’s being primaried hard from the right, because it seems that no one really likes her, and that could depress turnout for the Republican.





Hell I'd vote for him.

Speaking of voting and what not, my friend CJ got a birthday call from the Governor-Elect of VA! Apparently CJ is very active in the Democratic party in Fairfax County.

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 17:47:03
I am firmly convinced that while people use the term "multi-tasking" all the time they have no idea what its origin is. I swear people don't seem to understand the simple idea of having more than one program open at a time. I just tried (with no success) to explain how to copy and paste from a Word doc into her website back end tool.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 18:13:30
Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 18:14:35
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Clay Akin for Congress?
This has a little more information:

It’s American Idol 2003 contestant Clay Aiken, according to The Washington Blade. While that might seem strange at first, Aiken has long been involved with UNICEF, who sent him to Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Afghanistan. The Blade reported this scoop based on two anonymous sources, which wouldn’t mean much if Betsy Conti, a local political strategist who has worked with former North Carolina Governor Bev Purdue and Al Gore, wasn’t also said to be consulting with Aiken.

Ellmers’ district was heavily redrawn to favor the Republican, but she is also being challenged from the right by Frank Roche, a conservative Internet talk show host. He released a statement with his announcement condemning her for her “moderate” voting record: (snip)

Back in 2010, Renee Ellmers was ushered into her seat by the Tea Party, but they are already feeling disillusioned with her. Formerly, the seat had been long held by Democrat Bob Etheridge.

Ellmers might be safe in her redistricted heaven, but she can’t afford a big name like Clay Aiken to run against her while she’s being primaried hard from the right, because it seems that no one really likes her, and that could depress turnout for the Republican.





Hell I'd vote for him.

Speaking of voting and what not, my friend CJ got a birthday call from the Governor-Elect of VA! Apparently CJ is very active in the Democratic party in Fairfax County.
oh, that is verreh keel.



Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2014 18:31:21


This city [Boston] had to enact legislation that pretty much said so. I think there is a 6-hour limit, then you can be fined.

Would that Waltham would do the same; I have been shoveling out my corner of the complex for 17 winters now. (As evidenced on Facebook..."Another walk shoveled by...")



Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2014 18:32:27
In other news, I heard briefly from my friend again. He is still alive, and now recovering from apparent emergency back surgery. Which is just what he needs, more painkillers.

I did not speak directly to him, but rather he left a message. At least he is still speaking to me.



Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 19:22:24
Quote by TriSec:


This city [Boston] had to enact legislation that pretty much said so. I think there is a 6-hour limit, then you can be fined.

Would that Waltham would do the same; I have been shoveling out my corner of the complex for 17 winters now. (As evidenced on Facebook..."Another walk shoveled by...")


We rent our townhouse. It was a given that we would shovel. That said we have had amazing neighbors that we just share the shoveling.

Since we have to shovel the side road (the service lane, in essence) We shovel to help our neighbors out. Today we found ourselves low on salt, so they just let us use theirs.

The ice under the snow was on the high end of 1/2 inch. Not fun for steps and stoops.

We are very lucky to have have such good neighbors. It helps to make us want to be good neighbors in return.

Did I mention that we just had a delivery of homemade brownies?

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 19:26:19
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Clay Akin for Congress?
This has a little more information:

It’s American Idol 2003 contestant Clay Aiken, according to The Washington Blade. While that might seem strange at first, Aiken has long been involved with UNICEF, who sent him to Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Afghanistan. The Blade reported this scoop based on two anonymous sources, which wouldn’t mean much if Betsy Conti, a local political strategist who has worked with former North Carolina Governor Bev Purdue and Al Gore, wasn’t also said to be consulting with Aiken.

Ellmers’ district was heavily redrawn to favor the Republican, but she is also being challenged from the right by Frank Roche, a conservative Internet talk show host. He released a statement with his announcement condemning her for her “moderate” voting record: (snip)

Back in 2010, Renee Ellmers was ushered into her seat by the Tea Party, but they are already feeling disillusioned with her. Formerly, the seat had been long held by Democrat Bob Etheridge.

Ellmers might be safe in her redistricted heaven, but she can’t afford a big name like Clay Aiken to run against her while she’s being primaried hard from the right, because it seems that no one really likes her, and that could depress turnout for the Republican.





Hell I'd vote for him.

Speaking of voting and what not, my friend CJ got a birthday call from the Governor-Elect of VA! Apparently CJ is very active in the Democratic party in Fairfax County.
oh, that is verreh keel.




Innit?

Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2014 19:27:04
Mmmmmmmm brownies

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 19:28:52



If you are not shoveling your walk, you are dick. A selfish dick.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 20:15:49
Mondo -- this you may appreciate, but take blood pressure pills first.



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Jenny McCarthy's Son May Not Have Had Autism After All

I am very glad her son is doing better, I really am.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2014 20:28:42


I hope someone fucking sues her over the measles outbreaks and thousands of children suffering all over the damn country because of her idiotic crusade, even if it goes nowhere.

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 20:57:08
Quote by Raine:
Mondo -- this you may appreciate, but take blood pressure pills first.



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Jenny McCarthy's Son May Not Have Had Autism After All

I am very glad her son is doing better, I really am.



Oh, I know. I follow Tail Gunner Jenny closely.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2014 21:23:32
Nom nom nom... neice has the pulled pork cooking. I has the sauce warning, the collards simmering.

Bobber is making the Mac and Cheese and the corn bread... I am hungry.

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2014 21:30:58
Snowden is a troll. People are believing everything he is saying and taking totally at face value.