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Author: BobR    Date: 10/05/2012 13:31:37

Mitt Romney is known to be a bit of a political windsock. When he was governor of Massachusetts, he was considered fairly liberal for a Republican. He was in favor of abortion access for women. He helped create "Romneycare", which was more progressive than anything occurring at the national level.

When he ran for president in 2008, and especially so in 2012, the old Romney was cast aside, and a new Romney was revealed. The new Romney was "severely conservative", he wanted to end abortions in all cases, including rape and incest. He hedged on Romneycare, saying that was the right thing for MA, but Obamacare was horribly wrong for the country.

As he began winning primaries, and it became clear he was the front-runner and likely candidate, it began to occur to the campaign that his hard-right turn for the primaries needed to be "corrected" for the general election. Romney senior campaign advisor Eric Fehrnstrom let slip in a March interview that they would be shaking the etch-a-sketch to reset all his policy positions. It was a damning remark, because it put truth to the notion that Romney has no convictions to his positions. He is as comfortable changing his positions as he is changing his expensive suits.

It's unclear whether it's the general malaise and lack of enthusiasm for Romney, or the hangover from the economic crash of 2008 still hurts, or that people have looked at what President Obama has accomplished and blame Congress for what he hasn't gotten done, but Romney's poll numbers have never been very good. He has been struglling to really just pull even with Obama, and it seems pretty clear that unless a major seismic shift occurs, he is headed for defeat.

His solution? Reboot the campaign... which he has tried several times.

His first big reboot was picking Ryan for his running mate. It was an odd reboot, occurring early on a Saturday morning, virtually ensuring it would be "old" news by the time the weekday news cycle reved back up. Ryan was supposed to bring economic gravitas to the campaign, and some youthful energy, but it mostly reminded everyone that Romney had supported Ryan's budget plan that involved privatizing Medicare. End result? Nada.

Next up was the Republican National Convention. This was supposed to be the big moment when Romney was "introduced" to the country (as if the country wasn't already well aware of who he was; what he stood for, of course, nobody really knew and still doesn't). This too was a failure, as Romney was upstaged by a bizarre performance art piece by actor Clint Eastwood. Romney's wooden recitation of his speech was soporific and quickly forgotten as everyone focused on the empty chair.

By early September with 50 days left until the general election, Romney decided it was time (again) to reboot the campaign, this time by (finally) putting some specifics to his general plan outlines. Yes, voters deserved to know the specifics... but as a tool for pumping some air into his deflating campaign? Sorry - no go.

He tried again a couple weeks later with a more general reboot, in which he was going to go on the attack and "prove" that President Obama was a failure. That lasted about 24 hours, because the next day Mother Jones released the infamous 47% video. His reboot didn't even get a chance to display the login screen before a full system crash.

Finally - we had the debates on Wednesday. To many Romney supporters THIS was finally the moment when Americans got to meet the "real" Romney. Many people felt Romney won. What I saw was an aggressive pompous self-centered arrogant empty suit disavowing everything he had campaigned on and proclaimed on his campaign's website for the previous 9 months. It showed to me that the "real" Romney not only did not have the courage of his convictions - he didn't have ANY convictions. Apparently, I was not the only one, because from what I've seen, Romney got a 2 percent polling bump, and President Obama got a one percent bump. That's less than the margin of error for any poll.

As if to put an exclamation point on the reality that Romney will say whatever he thinks will get him elected, he declared the day after the debates that he was completely wrong with his 47% comments. That is a far cry from his original defense that the comments were "inelegantly stated".

Who is Mitt Romney? Every time he "reboots" it's as if a new changeling has arrived on our doorstep, ready to convince us that he is the REAL Mitt Romney. At this point, I don't think he even knows who he is himself. If rebooting this many times has not fixed the problem, then perhaps the problem is the operating system itself.
 

106 comments (Latest Comment: 10/05/2012 21:10:20 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/05/2012 12:42:38
Morning, everyone.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 12:46:35
Grunt Morning.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 12:48:54
Morning

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 12:51:33
Look! Up in the sky!

It's a bird!

It's a plane!

It's.....a banana????



Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/05/2012 13:02:25
Got my first RW asshat junk mail appearing in my corporate email box. Hello junk folder.

Wonder what true blue 'Merikan signed me up for that.....

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 13:08:22
Good Morning!

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 13:10:34
Romney Won Using a Debate Technique Called the Gish Gallop

Snow White, Superman and Pinocchio are walking along.
They see a sign: "Contest for World's Most Beautiful Woman." Snow White goes in, later comes out smiling, wearing a crown.

They walk along and see another sign: "Contest for World's Strongest Man." Superman goes in, later comes out smiling, wearing the belt.

They walk along and see a sign: "Contest for World's Greatest Liar." Pinocchio goes in, later comes out with his head down crying.

"Who the hell is Mitt Romney?" Pinocchio sobs.


Comment by BobR on 10/05/2012 13:32:55
Das Blog is up

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 13:40:31
Mittdows? Mittentosh?

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 13:44:27
Blog = TRMS: Nice!


Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 13:44:39
I bet he's got another "reboot" coming when they starts to slide again.

Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 13:44:54
Goood morning all & Happy Fridee!!

Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 13:47:01
Oh btw, the unemployment rate is down to 7.8%.

There goes another talking point!

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 13:52:48
Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 13:56:00
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh btw, the unemployment rate is down to 7.8%.

There goes another talking point!



Scoop, out of my mind!

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 14:00:01
So Scoop, when do you get the results o' the sleep study?

Comment by BobR on 10/05/2012 14:02:29
Quote by Raine:
Mittdows? Mittentosh?

Mittix!

Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 14:06:16
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Mittdows? Mittentosh?

Mittix!



Mittang?

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 14:07:50
Mitt's parents wanted to name him "Tim" but were just dyslexic.

Or, they had high hopes he'd have a Major-League career.

(Sorry, old jokes from his Mass days.)



Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/05/2012 14:08:15


Which means jackshit to people in their 50's who lost their jobs in the Bush recession. Most aren't going to be hired for any meaningful job.

Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 14:08:27
Quote by Mondobubba:
So Scoop, when do you get the results o' the sleep study?

You know, that's a good question. I wonder if they're posted to my patient portal or not.

I do know this - they called me back for a second sleepover, so I'm probably being fitted for a CPAP machine.

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 14:10:36
I've got it!

Mr. Mittzptlk

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071101061836/marvel_dc/images/e/ed/Mr_mxyzptlk_earth_one_whos_who.jpg


Comment by BobR on 10/05/2012 14:15:01
Quote by trojanrabbit:


Which means jackshit to people in their 50's who lost their jobs in the Bush recession. Most aren't going to be hired for any meaningful job.

I guess I am the exception to that. I lost my job at 48, found a new one at 49, and then got an even better one at 50.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/05/2012 14:25:48
Quote by BobR:
Quote by trojanrabbit:


Which means jackshit to people in their 50's who lost their jobs in the Bush recession. Most aren't going to be hired for any meaningful job.

I guess I am the exception to that. I lost my job at 48, found a new one at 49, and then got an even better one at 50.

I am as well, Bob, as I first lost my job at 48 and bounced around in contract positions until I found this one at 55. But my skill set is not common (EMC testing). My sister worked at the same bank for decades.....she's not going to find anything in that field again since she's 60. Mrs. Rabbit likewise probably is only going to be able to take retail positions (and I doubt she can physically do that anymore).

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 14:26:57
Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 14:30:09
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
So Scoop, when do you get the results o' the sleep study?

You know, that's a good question. I wonder if they're posted to my patient portal or not.

I do know this - they called me back for a second sleepover, so I'm probably being fitted for a CPAP machine.

Nope.. nothing on the portal. Maybe they'll go over it with me next week.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 14:30:17
Day two with "Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing" as an earworm.




Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 14:33:44
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Mittdows? Mittentosh?

Mittix!



Hey! Don't denigrate Linux that way! Wait that would be Mittux.

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 14:34:14
Listening to Dr. Maddow break down the "First Debates" over our electoral history.

Feeling much better. (I never was on the ledge, but maybe the window was open a little bit.)



Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 14:36:37
TriSec is blessed - my industry is the only growth industry left (Healthcare) and I have a certain skillset that is extremely limited and in high demand. (EDI, particularly understanding the ANSI codesets.)

But I too contracted and temped for 3 years post-Bush....it's going to take at least that many years to rebuild, methinks.



Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 14:36:47
So, the unemployment rate when Barack Obama took office: 7.9%


Today? 7.8%

I'm not very good at math, but I think it's lower now than before...



Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 14:43:43
Quote by TriSec:
Listening to Dr. Maddow break down the "First Debates" over our electoral history.

Feeling much better. (I never was on the ledge, but maybe the window was open a little bit.)




yeah that was a great history lesson. :crush: :scibbles in notebook, Mr Dr Rachel Maddow: :sigh:

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 14:49:30
See now Mondo...Dr. Maddow is the perfect example of that "outsider" moving to Mass and becoming "One of us".

She might be a California girl, but she belongs to us now, and always will. (Northampton, MA).

Mitt never had that - he always will be an "outsider". As you well know, he no longer maintains a home in this Commonwealth, except for that storage closet in his son's basement.


Comment by BobR on 10/05/2012 14:49:58
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Mittdows? Mittentosh?

Mittix!

Hey! Don't denigrate Linux that way! Wait that would be Mittux.

Psst - there's this O/S out there known as "Unix"...

Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/05/2012 14:52:16
Quote by TriSec:
TriSec is blessed - my industry is the only growth industry left (Healthcare) and I have a certain skillset that is extremely limited and in high demand. (EDI, particularly understanding the ANSI codesets.)

But I too contracted and temped for 3 years post-Bush....it's going to take at least that many years to rebuild, methinks.


I'd say anyone in LED lighting is experiencing a bit of growth. We beat sales projections every month.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 14:53:19
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Mittdows? Mittentosh?

Mittix!

Hey! Don't denigrate Linux that way! Wait that would be Mittux.

Psst - there's this O/S out there known as "Unix"...


Well duh! But us cool kids prefer linnux. Cause you know having a high powered, difficult network aware OS in a laptop is great geek overkill.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 14:58:18
Actually I think the Mittbot's OS is C/PM.

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 14:58:21
Oh, and the nice UPS man brought me a little porkpie last night. Lookin' good. Maybe I'll start playing again.



Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 15:00:48
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/36333_434886209882414_486102477_n.jpg


Comment by BobR on 10/05/2012 15:01:57
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Mittdows? Mittentosh?

Mittix!

Hey! Don't denigrate Linux that way! Wait that would be Mittux.

Psst - there's this O/S out there known as "Unix"...

Well duh! But us cool kids prefer linnux. Cause you know having a high powered, difficult network aware OS in a laptop is great geek overkill.

Not sure what "cool kids" have to do with Romney. I was thinking more of a "store the data on large spools of magnetic tape" type of system running him... On the other hand, those old computers never needed rebooting, so perhaps we should stick with Wittows

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 15:02:18
Oh, blog research staff?

Has the no pre-existing clause in the ACA gone into effect yet? A coworker of mine at the store...her son has kidney cancer and Humana dumped him - he can't get coverage anywhere right now.



Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/05/2012 15:02:46
Good morning, bloggers!! I doubt that Mitt will successfully reinvent himself. He has said so many different things that there is enough material for a two hour documentary on his flip flops.


Closer to home, my two year old grand niece Emily Rose -- who has been in the hospital with a severe respiratory infection -- is having her tonsils and adenoids remove to help her swallow. (She mostly eats with a feeding tube, due to having been born with her stomach not connected properly. That has been fixed but she is still adjusting.)

As for Mitt, in the spirit of Mr. Mittzplk, let me introduce Mittefic:

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc28/idol-head/TheVileMenagerieMALEFIC.jpg


While I view Mitt Romney's policies as foolish and destructive, I do not yet believe he is as bad as the villain whose Martian name is Ma'alefa'ak J'onzz, brother of the Martian Manhunter, and responsible for the genocidal destruction of his own world. Actually, this is one of the few characters in comics whose crimes could creep out the Joker.

Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 15:10:36
So, Jack Welch things the jobs numbers are bogus eh?

Too bad no one gives a flying fuck about what Jack Welch thinks.

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 15:11:00
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, blog research staff?

Has the no pre-existing clause in the ACA gone into effect yet? A coworker of mine at the store...her son has kidney cancer and Humana dumped him - he can't get coverage anywhere right now.

http://www.healthcare.gov/ is a good place to start.

then there is this part: Click on a state to see if he can get a PCIP


Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 15:12:36
Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 15:15:35
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, and the nice UPS man brought me a little porkpie last night. Lookin' good. Maybe I'll start playing again.



Do you mean this:

http://www.hats-plus.com/chronicles/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Pork-Pie-Pie.jpg


or this:

http://images.villagehatshop.com/media/images/viewer/130004BaileyJett/medium_130004BaileyJett1.jpg


(disclosure: That is the very hat that Mondo owns)

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 15:19:02
How old is your co-workers Son, TriSec?

Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 15:21:38
Quote by Scoopster:
So, Jack Welch things the jobs numbers are bogus eh?

Too bad no one gives a flying fuck about what Jack Welch thinks.

Heh it's not just Welch either.. Looks like the talking points today said JOB TRUTHERS ASSEMBLE!

Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 15:22:22

Liv - when you check it - looks like Dish is going to be dropping many local CBS stations - what does your communication nose tell you?

*sigh* looks like I'm switch to something else soon (not Comcast if I can help it)

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 15:38:52
*grunt* Can't see the photos, sir.

It's a Jaxson...black, with a grey band. And it's ridged. like it's made out of a number of concentric rings. It's supposedly a crushable travel hat.



Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 15:40:21
Quote by TriSec:
*grunt* Can't see the photos, sir.

It's a Jaxson...black, with a grey band. And it's ridged. like it's made out of a number of concentric rings. It's supposedly a crushable travel hat.




I went with the obvious comparison to pie and hat.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/05/2012 15:45:24
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Scoopster:
So, Jack Welch things the jobs numbers are bogus eh?

Too bad no one gives a flying fuck about what Jack Welch thinks.

Heh it's not just Welch either.. Looks like the talking points today said JOB TRUTHERS ASSEMBLE!



Speaking on behalf of Chicago guys whom Jack Welch painted as liars, may he and his limo be stuck in the worst parts of Englewood or Austin at midnight and noticed by some of the most vicious and greedy gangs on the planet.

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 15:47:02
Mitt bombshell: He cheated, too.


...But there was a moment in the debate that will be discussed in the days ahead that everyone missed until yesterday.

A review of the debate tape reveals that, apparently, Mitt Romney needed a cheat sheet to keep the lies straight.

The rules of the presidential debates are clear about not bringing outside notes and presidents and aspirants have followed the rule for decades.

Video of the first eleven seconds of the debate available on YouTube shows Mitt Romney reaching into his pocket at the moment he is out of view of those in front of him, he used the lectern as a shield, and removing what appears to be folded papers from his pocket


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 15:51:11
Quote by Scoopster:
So, Jack Welch things the jobs numbers are bogus eh?

Too bad no one gives a flying fuck about what Jack Welch thinks.


Since Jack was revealed to be a massive greedhead when he dumped his wife, yeah who gives a flying fuck.

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 15:52:44
Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/05/2012 16:00:43
Quote by TriSec:
Mitt bombshell: He cheated, too.


...But there was a moment in the debate that will be discussed in the days ahead that everyone missed until yesterday.

A review of the debate tape reveals that, apparently, Mitt Romney needed a cheat sheet to keep the lies straight.

The rules of the presidential debates are clear about not bringing outside notes and presidents and aspirants have followed the rule for decades.

Video of the first eleven seconds of the debate available on YouTube shows Mitt Romney reaching into his pocket at the moment he is out of view of those in front of him, he used the lectern as a shield, and removing what appears to be folded papers from his pocket


Mitt needs to be held accountable for this.

I checked out the Gish Gallop article on Daily Kos and found an excellent link on communication:


It goes against our nature; but the left has to start asserting its own values

The progressive attempt to appeal to self-interest has been a catastrophe. Empathy, not expediency, must drive our campaigns


George Monbiot
The Guardian, Monday 11 October 2010 15.59 EDT

The acceptance of policies that counteract our interests is the pervasive mystery of the 21st century. In the US blue-collar workers angrily demand that they be left without healthcare, and insist that millionaires pay less tax. In the UK we appear ready to abandon the social progress for which our ancestors risked their lives with barely a mutter of protest. What has happened to us?

The answer, I think, is provided by the most interesting report I have read this year. Common Cause, written by Tom Crompton of the environment group WWF, examines a series of fascinating recent advances in the field of psychology. It offers, I believe, a remedy to the blight that now afflicts every good cause from welfare to climate change.

Progressives, he shows, have been suckers for a myth of human cognition he labels the enlightenment model. This holds that people make rational decisions by assessing facts. All that has to be done to persuade people is to lay out the data: they will then use it to decide which options best support their interests and desires.

....................

Common Cause proposes a simple remedy: that we stop seeking to bury our values and instead explain and champion them. Progressive campaigners, it suggests, should help to foster an understanding of the psychology that informs political change and show how it has been manipulated. They should also come together to challenge forces – particularly the advertising industry – that make us insecure and selfish.

Ed Miliband appears to understand this need. He told the Labour conference that he "wants to change our society so that it values community and family, not just work" and "wants to change our foreign policy so that it's always based on values, not just alliances … We must shed old thinking and stand up for those who believe there is more to life than the bottom line". But there's a paradox here, which means that we cannot rely on politicians to drive these changes. Those who succeed in politics are, by definition, people who prioritise extrinsic values. Their ambition must supplant peace of mind, family life, friendship – even brotherly love.




Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 16:05:12
Quote by TriSec:
Mitt bombshell: He cheated, too.


...But there was a moment in the debate that will be discussed in the days ahead that everyone missed until yesterday.

A review of the debate tape reveals that, apparently, Mitt Romney needed a cheat sheet to keep the lies straight.

The rules of the presidential debates are clear about not bringing outside notes and presidents and aspirants have followed the rule for decades.

Video of the first eleven seconds of the debate available on YouTube shows Mitt Romney reaching into his pocket at the moment he is out of view of those in front of him, he used the lectern as a shield, and removing what appears to be folded papers from his pocket
I was looking into this.

At the end of the debate, he appears to have retrieved it.


Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/05/2012 16:09:23
Quote by Raine:
Quote by TriSec:
Mitt bombshell: He cheated, too.


...But there was a moment in the debate that will be discussed in the days ahead that everyone missed until yesterday.

A review of the debate tape reveals that, apparently, Mitt Romney needed a cheat sheet to keep the lies straight.

The rules of the presidential debates are clear about not bringing outside notes and presidents and aspirants have followed the rule for decades.

Video of the first eleven seconds of the debate available on YouTube shows Mitt Romney reaching into his pocket at the moment he is out of view of those in front of him, he used the lectern as a shield, and removing what appears to be folded papers from his pocket
I was looking into this.

At the end of the debate, he appears to have retrieved it.



Okay, so what should Obama and Biden do for the next debates? Have someone keep an eye on Romney and Ryan? It would be good to have Romney called out on this. A person who violates all the rules of a debate should be watched carefully.

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 16:20:58
youtell me:




Comment by BobR on 10/05/2012 16:24:24

Um... His flippy-floppy on that was a paragraph in today's blog...

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 16:28:32
Would Romney cut the funds he asked for?


On October 5, 2005 — exactly seven years ago tomorrow, Governor Mitt Romney signed into law a bill directing the state to ask the federal government for more Medicaid money for home and community support services for autistic children who, without that support, would be at risk of being placed in an institution. The Romney administration asked for the additional Medicaid money, it was approved, and today the program is helping 160 children and their families get services at home.

In 2015, the state will have to ask the federal government to renew the funds. And so the question arises — would a President Romney continue or discontinue the funding for this program, one that Governor Romney asked for?




Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 16:29:20
Quote by Raine:
youtell me:




is there already a note pad and pen on the podium for them to make notes?


Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 16:35:22
This is why the BSA needs to change.


Ryan Andresen has spent a decade completing the requirements for the coveted Eagle Scout award, and now that he is just about to turn 18 -- the cut-off date for attaining the highest honor -- his Boy Scout troop won't approve it because he is gay.

His project, a "tolerance wall," was inspired by the years of hazing he endured in middle school in Moraga, Calif., and later at Boy Scout summer camp, where his nicknames were "Tinkerbell" and "faggot."

"I had I had no idea what gay was at that point," said Andresen, who described hazing that included, among other rituals, having the word "fag" written in charcoal across his chest.

"It was really embarrassing and humiliating," he said. "And I was terrified."





Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/05/2012 16:42:00
Quote by Raine:
youtell me:





Yes, he had something in his hand and put it up on the podium. Mitt Romney has no honor.

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 16:45:55
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
youtell me:




is there already a note pad and pen on the podium for them to make notes?
Yes, they are provided paper and pen and the rules of the debate were that they would not bring anything on stage.

Watch this: (about 10 second in...)

The Obama leave the stage empty handed. Mitt foes over to the lectern, grabs the papers, fold them up, tries to put it inside his jacket and then hands it off to his son.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/05/2012 16:46:40
Quote by TriSec:
This is why the BSA needs to change.


Ryan Andresen has spent a decade completing the requirements for the coveted Eagle Scout award, and now that he is just about to turn 18 -- the cut-off date for attaining the highest honor -- his Boy Scout troop won't approve it because he is gay.

His project, a "tolerance wall," was inspired by the years of hazing he endured in middle school in Moraga, Calif., and later at Boy Scout summer camp, where his nicknames were "Tinkerbell" and "faggot."

"I had I had no idea what gay was at that point," said Andresen, who described hazing that included, among other rituals, having the word "fag" written in charcoal across his chest.

"It was really embarrassing and humiliating," he said. "And I was terrified."






The Boy Scouts of America needs to change. The petition to get Ryan Andersen his award has over 22,000 signatures.

Mike Papantonio is talking about the South on the Ed Schultz show. I think that he is right in that the South will be very slow to change, even if I have some friends who are progressives there.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 16:49:40
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
youtell me:




is there already a note pad and pen on the podium for them to make notes?
Yes, they are provided paper and pen and the rules of the debate were that they would not bring anything on stage.

Watch this: (about 10 second in...)

The Obama leave the stage empty handed. Mitt foes over to the lectern, grabs the papers, fold them up, tries to put it inside his jacket and then hands it off to his son.


sketchy.

Personally I don't think all those people should have been on the stage.


Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 16:53:39
A 4F EXCLUSIVE - THE SECRET CRIBSHEET REVEALED!!

http://images.bluegartr.com/bucket/gallery/88f25f975c9bdc4bd69f3fea11b55767.jpg


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 16:54:42
Quote by Scoopster:
A 4F EXCLUSIVE - THE SECRET CRIBSHEET REVEALED!!

http://images.bluegartr.com/bucket/gallery/88f25f975c9bdc4bd69f3fea11b55767.jpg






Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 17:05:15
I know we've had this discussion before but do neo-con asses still own Direct TV?

Comment by livingonli on 10/05/2012 17:06:25
Good day, folks. I had my doubts about the unemployment numbers during the Bush years and I believe they cooked a lot of the economic numbers to make things look better than they were. Part of why the wars were never part of the budget so that the deficit numbers were also lies.

Mala, I believe that Dish's dispute with CBS is over the CBS owned-and-operated stations where the retransmission consent is up for renewal and this will be the second time since they went through this several years ago with their Viacom dispute before CBS and Viacom were split into separate divisions. WUSA is not a CBS O&O so that should not be a problem

Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 17:06:33
Hmmm apparently the crib note thing has been debunked - it was a handkerchief.

http://i45.tinypic.com/nebaz8.png


Comment by livingonli on 10/05/2012 17:08:41
Quote by wickedpam:
I know we've had this discussion before but do neo-con asses still own Direct TV?

Liberty Media and not News Corp. owns DirecTV. I guess you should check their contributions on various sites that track that since they don't mention their politics as much as Murdoch's. Their principal media properties are the Starz-Encore channels and the Root Sports regional networks (they also own a stake in GSN).

Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 17:10:21
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by wickedpam:
I know we've had this discussion before but do neo-con asses still own Direct TV?

Liberty Media and not News Corp. owns DirecTV. I guess you should check their contributions on various sites that track that since they don't mention their politics as much as Murdoch's. Their principal media properties are the Starz-Encore channels and the Root Sports regional networks (they also own a stake in GSN).


Thanks. I'm on the verge of switching. Dish has pissed me off yet again.


Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 17:12:00
[email protected]

The Scoutmaster and the Committee Chairman are the folks responsible for the troop's decision not to submit the young man's Eagle application.



Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 17:15:54
I suspect they are a "closed" troop.

Their recruiting policies are utterly ludicrous. Pack 250 welcomes all comers, at any time of year, no matter what age.

Our only limitation is the number of Den Leaders, and even then we currently have 3 over-large dens.

There is something terribly wrong with this Troop - this should be about the boys, and reading their policies it's run more like a private outing club.


Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 17:21:29
Does anybody belong to Newsvine?

Vote me up, willya?



Comment by livingonli on 10/05/2012 17:26:53
I just checked Google and Dish is in a dispute with Gannett as well and WUSA may go down on Sunday night when the agreement expires. Many broadcasters are not happy with the auto-skip functions of the Hopper and this could be straining any attempts by Dish to get agreements from broadcasters down the road.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 17:28:31
Quote by livingonli:
I just checked Google and Dish is in a dispute with Gannett as well and WUSA may go down on Sunday night when the agreement expires. Many broadcasters are not happy with the auto-skip functions of the Hopper and this could be straining any attempts by Dish to get agreements from broadcasters down the road.


yeah, just found that out last night. not happy. at this point they keep taking away channels I watch, its becoming less of a value.

Comment by livingonli on 10/05/2012 17:36:13
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by livingonli:
I just checked Google and Dish is in a dispute with Gannett as well and WUSA may go down on Sunday night when the agreement expires. Many broadcasters are not happy with the auto-skip functions of the Hopper and this could be straining any attempts by Dish to get agreements from broadcasters down the road.


yeah, just found that out last night. not happy. at this point they keep taking away channels I watch, its becoming less of a value.

I don't know how Dish can stay in business outside of locking people into contracts with the numerous programming disputes they have had of late. At this rate, the only channels they can hold onto are Glenn Beck's and the various international channels they have. Outside of Viacom, most of DirecTV's disputes have been with small market broadcasters who are much more greedy about their cash payment demand and have made it difficult in general because their carriage terms have been so high.

Comment by livingonli on 10/05/2012 17:45:34
Although I have to wonder about my cable company and their fight with Tribune, since WPIX has been off for well over a month now and I am wondering why they haven't reached a settlement and this is looking more like who will blink first. It may come down to whether WPIX's absence from Cablevision takes a huge enough hit in the ratings or whether Cablevision subscribers switch to competitors in order to watch WPIX. It just sucks that DirecTV doesn't carry sub-channels so I have missed Antenna TV for this past month.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 18:05:21
Quote by livingonli:
Although I have to wonder about my cable company and their fight with Tribune, since WPIX has been off for well over a month now and I am wondering why they haven't reached a settlement and this is looking more like who will blink first. It may come down to whether WPIX's absence from Cablevision takes a huge enough hit in the ratings or whether Cablevision subscribers switch to competitors in order to watch WPIX. It just sucks that DirecTV doesn't carry sub-channels so I have missed Antenna TV for this past month.


isn't it like Dish and you pay like 5 buck a month to get the locals?


Comment by livingonli on 10/05/2012 18:10:50
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by livingonli:
Although I have to wonder about my cable company and their fight with Tribune, since WPIX has been off for well over a month now and I am wondering why they haven't reached a settlement and this is looking more like who will blink first. It may come down to whether WPIX's absence from Cablevision takes a huge enough hit in the ratings or whether Cablevision subscribers switch to competitors in order to watch WPIX. It just sucks that DirecTV doesn't carry sub-channels so I have missed Antenna TV for this past month.


isn't it like Dish and you pay like 5 buck a month to get the locals?

Used to be. Locals are incorporated now in the current packages, I think they do knock the price down if you are in one of the few remaining areas where locals are not available.

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 18:14:15
Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 18:22:07
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by livingonli:
Although I have to wonder about my cable company and their fight with Tribune, since WPIX has been off for well over a month now and I am wondering why they haven't reached a settlement and this is looking more like who will blink first. It may come down to whether WPIX's absence from Cablevision takes a huge enough hit in the ratings or whether Cablevision subscribers switch to competitors in order to watch WPIX. It just sucks that DirecTV doesn't carry sub-channels so I have missed Antenna TV for this past month.


isn't it like Dish and you pay like 5 buck a month to get the locals?

Used to be. Locals are incorporated now in the current packages, I think they do knock the price down if you are in one of the few remaining areas where locals are not available.



good to know

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 18:40:47
Happy 42nd birthday to PBS!

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 18:48:14
Quote by Mondobubba:
Happy 42nd birthday to PBS!


Cigarette?

Blindfold?




Comment by Scoopster on 10/05/2012 18:52:30
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Happy 42nd birthday to PBS!


Cigarette?

Blindfold?

Well played, sir...

Comment by livingonli on 10/05/2012 19:17:10
I still remember as a kid watching those old Mister Rogers episodes where the NET logo was over the house shot on the opening sequence which was replaced with a regular house side when NET became PBS.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 19:35:30
Tri, I just spoke to a guy who claims to be the head of ODESSA. if speaking with him wasn't like being straped to Count Rugan's machine, he would an entertaining nut.

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 19:35:31
Quote by Scoopster:
Hmmm apparently the crib note thing has been debunked - it was a handkerchief.

http://i45.tinypic.com/nebaz8.png

I'm not quite convinced. I just checked out the C-span clip of Obama's closing statement -- that looked like a tissue.

I may rewatch the debate. I am just not convinced, especially when you see him go over and get those notes at the end. That was sketchy.

Comment by TriSec on 10/05/2012 19:37:11
Quote by Mondobubba:
Tri, I just spoke to a guy who claims to be the head of ODESSA. if speaking with him wasn't like being straped to Count Rugan's machine, he would an entertaining nut.



We're coming for you Mondo. Pack your bags.

"CROMWELL"



Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 19:43:32
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Tri, I just spoke to a guy who claims to be the head of ODESSA. if speaking with him wasn't like being straped to Count Rugan's machine, he would an entertaining nut.



We're coming for you Mondo. Pack your bags.

"CROMWELL"




He has the same name as his dad, noted Waffen SS officer, Skorzney

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 19:46:56
the RNC has a hellova lotta nerve with this Web ad -- it's called *smirk*



What a terrible ad to boot.

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 20:15:58


So Rmoney came to Abingdon Virginia today... So did this guy:

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 http://americablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/nxbnr1.jpg


Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 20:19:06
Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 20:25:18


That's so wrong, it's just right.


Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 20:39:57
Mala: did you see who's coming to Glee next week?

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 20:40:58



That is all kinds of wrongly hilarious.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 20:43:14
Speaking as we were (in passing) of Linux earlier, the first version of kernel was released today in 1991. Linux can now buy whiskey.

Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 20:46:34
http://obamadiary.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/wi_wsj1.jpg


Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 20:47:05
Quote by Raine:
Mala: did you see who's coming to Glee next week?


ummmm, think I missed the previews - been kinda meh on the show until this week


Comment by Raine on 10/05/2012 20:47:20
Quote by Mondobubba:
Speaking as we were (in passing) of Linux earlier, the first version of kernel was released today in 1991. Linux can now buy whiskey.
Too bad Mitux can't drink.


Comment by wickedpam on 10/05/2012 20:47:42
Quote by Mondobubba:



That is all kinds of wrongly hilarious.



isn't it though


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 20:58:26
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Speaking as we were (in passing) of Linux earlier, the first version of kernel was released today in 1991. Linux can now buy whiskey.
Too bad Mitux can't drink.



Well we might have to hack the Mittbot's software to add a "raging drunk" sub=\-program.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/05/2012 21:10:20
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:



That is all kinds of wrongly hilarious.



isn't it though


I like reason 5 to vote for Obama.