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Friday Afternoon Open Thread

Interesting news day today. I'm not sure much of actual import happened, but lots to talk about.

Open Thread.

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    Calling all investors... (none / 0) (#1)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:24:51 PM EST
    Lovin' Zenyatta's chances tomorrow in the Breeders Cup Classic.  The mare beyond compare goes 20 fer 20 with back to back Classics...you heard it here.  The heart of that champion cares not about racing surfaces, pace, or competition...she always runs them down.  I don't think she knows how to lose.

    She's the only single in my syndicate's big Pick Six ticket.

    That's gambling. (none / 0) (#3)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:32:35 PM EST
    Investing is when the race is rigged so you know your filly will win.

    Parent
    Now theres a man... (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:47:03 PM EST
    paying attention to the ramblings of a madman:)

    But I must insist a gamble on Zenyatta is actually a sound investment...what we commonly refer to as "investing" is better described as grifting or being grifted.

    Parent

    Saw a Sports Science segment.... (none / 0) (#2)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:30:33 PM EST
    ...on her today on the tWWL today.  She's a monster physically--a longer stride than Secretariat.  And any horse that likes a cool Guinness has got to be OK...

    Started out.. (none / 0) (#14)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:45:21 PM EST
    as an ugly duckling too...nasty rash and small at age 2, that's how she was bought for the bargain basement price of 60k.  Now look at that swan! Talk about smart investing!

    And named after a Police record...thoroughbreds get no cooler than Zenyatta.

    Retirement was assumed win or lose, but the connections say not so fast...they were gonna retire her last year but Zenyatta wouldn't let them...the horse will decide whether to come back for more purses in 2011.

    Parent

    Speaking of nasty, rash and small... (none / 0) (#50)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:55:57 PM EST
    ...did you see the jockey fight?  

    Parent
    I missed it (none / 0) (#55)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 08:51:47 AM EST
    I suppose I'll have to youtube it as I have a thing for jockeys :)  I read about it and I saw the race, but not the fight.

    Parent
    wow (none / 0) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:32:35 PM EST
    She can say it over and over (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by jes on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:38:00 PM EST
    again and I won't believe it - unless she says it in 2014.

    Parent
    She did stop short of (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by brodie on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:44:29 PM EST
    making a Shermanesque statement.  Probably a lot of wiggle room in her words if you were to parse them carefully.

    Still, sounds like she just isn't interested in another run -- maybe 2008 just was too long and tough a grind to want to repeat it again in this lifetime.  Especially at age 69.

    Parent

    you are not alone (none / 0) (#9)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:40:26 PM EST
    there are people who would not believe it if she was dead

    Parent
    Well, I do hear 4 dead people (none / 0) (#11)
    by jes on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:42:52 PM EST
    won in the mid-terms! Go dead people.

    Parent
    I am reading a great book (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:45:45 PM EST
    called Handling the Undead by the guy who wrote Let the Right One In.

    Parent
    Don't read much horror, but occasionally (none / 0) (#18)
    by jes on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:51:34 PM EST
    watchg a film. I see the film version of "Let the Right One In" is on netflix instant play. I'll queue it up for this evening. Thanks.

    Parent
    the movie is great (none / 0) (#27)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:12:57 PM EST
    but the book is amazing

    Parent
    Ah, yes. I forgot I'd seen this movie. (none / 0) (#43)
    by jes on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 06:19:54 PM EST
    It really is excellent.

    Parent
    I'll have to check that out (none / 0) (#54)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 08:49:53 AM EST
    And (none / 0) (#5)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:34:41 PM EST
    ". . . saying the United States should be ready for a woman president."

    Good choice of verbs.

    Parent

    that certainly (none / 0) (#7)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:37:03 PM EST
    changes the climate doesnt it.  now Bayh may have a chance in 16 and not haunt the process in 12 if this is true.

    Parent
    Bayh (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:06:41 PM EST
    will not wait until 16 if he's gonna run. He's gonna run in '12 if he runs at all. I mean he's not Hillary who wouldn't challenge a sitting Dem. By 2016 nobody will even remember who Bayh is.

    Parent
    And saying how "nice" it is to visit (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:00:18 PM EST
    countries who have had or have women in the highest office.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:05:27 PM EST
    Obama ruled out a presidential run in 2004 saying he wouldn't be ready to be president by 2008...oh, wait...

    Honestly, you see things like this and who knows? I'd be willing to bet money that she is not going to run in 2012 and that she will not serve as Obama's VP but past that who knows?

    Parent

    lol (none / 0) (#44)
    by squeaky on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 07:03:05 PM EST
    In 2004-5 she unequivocally ruled out a run in 2008. Announced she was running 2006.

    Parent
    Not sure about that one. (none / 0) (#47)
    by brodie on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 07:38:57 PM EST
    And besides, "unequivocal" is a well-known flexible concept in the world of politics and promises about future runs for higher office.

    That's why any decently experienced reporter knows you need a pol making an actual Shermanesque statement before entirely ruling her out of the picture.  Which didn't quite happen in this case re 2016.

    Parent

    OK (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by squeaky on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 07:58:40 PM EST
    Time flies, she unequivocally stated during her 2000 campaign for NY Senator that she had no intention of running for president.

    In her 2006 bid for NYS Senator she dodged the question.

    Dec 2006 she hinted, Jan 2007 she announced her run.

    I would be shocked if she did not run in 2016, despite what she says now. It is better for her to say no, now, and have the crowds cheering for her return.

    Parent

    Drudge admits (none / 0) (#6)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:35:50 PM EST
    No, Pentagon says, Obama will not be guarded by 34 ships

    but on the equivalent of page 8a

    no screaming headline this time

    well (none / 0) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:41:51 PM EST
    OBAMA TELLS 60 MINS: IT'S NOT POLICIES THAT WERE REJECTED, IT WAS FAILED COMMUNICATION SKILLS...

    (guess where that came from)

    he may be wrong but at least he gets there is a problem

    Heard this on the news tonight, (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by Anne on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 07:10:26 PM EST
    and almost could not believe my ears...

    I suppose it is kind of a communication problem when someone says one thing, then says something different, and tries to claim that the two things mean the same thing - and good luck figuring out which position is the one that counts.

    Obama might want to consult the meaning of "communication;" I think he would find that it's as much about listening as it is about talking, and when someone doesn't listen to a good chunk of the populace - who are being very clear about what they want and expect - there is, indeed, a problem.

    Imagine the horror of spending the better part of two years being treated as if actual pearls were dropping out of your mouth every time you opened it, and the media treated you as if your brilliance was exceeeded only by the sun - and now, all you get is the stony stare, the pointed question, the skepticism.  How did this happen?

    I guess this is what happens when you begin to believe your own hype, but that's not a communication problem, that's an ego problem.

    Parent

    Yes, what he really means is that (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 07:26:11 PM EST
    we are too stupid to get what he is saying.

    Parent
    There's obviously (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Zorba on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:30:40 PM EST
    a disconnect there.  He talks and talks and talks, and thinks that we should be not only absorbing this, but agreeing with it.  When we don't agree, he thinks it is because he did not communicate well, rather than because, in fact, we understood all too well, and did not agree with what he was saying or what his policies were.  Call it ego, hubris, whatever, he has it, definitely.

    Parent
    It looks like the Sister Mary Elephant (none / 0) (#51)
    by BTAL on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 08:07:59 AM EST
    syndrome....

    Class...claaaass...CLAAAAAAASS...SHUDD-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!

    That professorial gene coming to the surface.

    Parent

    "...he gets there is a problem " (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by NYShooter on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 12:29:46 AM EST
    unfortunately, he doesn't get THE problem.

    Parent
    Oh goody (none / 0) (#13)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:45:08 PM EST
    so, now he's going to try to solve a problem that doesn't exist? Or, one that he is certain he can reverse....we all know he loves to give a speech to make things better (even if they're off-topic 9 out of 10 times).

    That's actually scary, Capt. I'd have some confidence in him if he was a better listener.


    Parent

    It's (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:08:48 PM EST
    not that he doesn't listen so much as he doesn't know when to listen and when not to.

    Parent
    Or, who a Democratic president listens TO (none / 0) (#28)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:17:37 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    doesn't exist? (none / 0) (#16)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:46:36 PM EST
    you dont think there is a communication problem.

    mmmmmk

    Parent

    Communication is a TWO-WAY event (5.00 / 3) (#19)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:51:47 PM EST
    Listening is at least as important as speaking, if not a little moreso. And, no, I do not think we have gotten lousy policy because they didn't do a good enough job of telling us how great these bills really are.


    Parent
    Ohhh, noes. If that's the problem (none / 0) (#24)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:07:55 PM EST
    that he sees, then the solution is -- more historic speeches.

    Uh, no.  Ya gotta have something to say that the people will find worth hearing.

    Parent

    Rock (none / 0) (#26)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:10:10 PM EST
    stars past their prime trying to relive their "glory days" is what Obama giving another speech reminds me of. He needs to completely give up the speech making.

    Parent
    Oh, for the days of (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by the capstan on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:21:59 PM EST
    fireside chats instead of teleprompter orations.  Back when the object in view was actual communication.  Or maybe even a dose of 'Give 'em hell, Harry!' (Won't even suggest another go at  'I have a dream....' or 'Ask not....'

    How the mighty have fallen!

    Parent

    Well FDR was smart (5.00 / 0) (#36)
    by brodie on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:34:55 PM EST
    enough to know not to wear out his welcome in people's homes and thereby dilute some of the Roosevelt magic.  

    He only did firesiders a few times a year.  No televised press conferences, or media interviews or major speeches on teevee (sorry Joe Biden), apart from SOTUs and Dem Convo speeches heard on radio.

    BHO needs to take a break from the rather ineffectual and constant messaging and maybe do some quiet thinking about what has just transpired with some new advisors and outside voices from the party base who can tell him what is going on in the real world.

    Parent

    Perhaps he can introspect through (none / 0) (#38)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 05:06:18 PM EST
    the process of writing another autobiography.

    Parent
    India's national legislature is (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:23:45 PM EST
    installing its first teleprompter for the occasion of Pres. Obama's speech.  Times of India explained exactly what a teleprompter is.  

    Parent
    So, what is the reason for a trip to India? (none / 0) (#32)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:26:25 PM EST
    Winter break from school happen to fall in the timeline?

    Parent
    The kids are staying home to go to (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:29:46 PM EST
    school.  Maybe escapism after election?  Delhi paper referred to this as a long-delayed trip.  He will try to persuade India to purchase from U.S., Delhi paper sd. even traditionalists this Diwaali are opting for made-in-China plastic flowers and candle holders.  Not sure about the marigolds though.

    Parent
    Pakistan, perhaps? (none / 0) (#34)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:29:51 PM EST
    Times of India pointed out Pres. Obama (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:33:24 PM EST
    would not be visiting our "notional" ally, Pakistan on this trip.  Neener, neener, neener.

    Parent
    I'm not saying he would go there (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 05:10:52 PM EST
    but going to India says something to Pakistan and to the world, doesn't it?  It does to me.

    Parent
    Article in NYT about India/Pakistan (none / 0) (#40)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 05:15:12 PM EST
    states India's armed forces are not stationed close to Pakistan border, but rather in the center of the country.  Not accurate.  We saw mega bases near the Pakistan border for just that reason.  

    Parent
    Same thing my spouse saw (none / 0) (#41)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 05:22:31 PM EST
    in India.  While I waited and worried back here.  As I will do again when he heads back there soon!

    Parent
    I'm thinking you should join him for (none / 0) (#52)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 04:43:30 PM EST
    one of these trips.  Very interesting, diverse culture.  Not to worry--security is much tighter than here.  And more rational.

    Parent
    G-20 conference. (none / 0) (#37)
    by caseyOR on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:56:47 PM EST
    Obama's headed to that part of our world to talk with the other leaders about yet more ways to try to "fix" the world economy without making the banksters pay for any of the clean-up.

    Parent
    "Fix" is right... (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 06:14:30 PM EST
    as in "the fix is in".

    Those G-20 caterers don't come cheap.

    Parent

    Agree with those who (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by brodie on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:25:39 PM EST
    complain he's been overexposed in the media.

    And also that when he does appear, he needs to have a crisper, more memorable and resonant message for his base and for the unwashed masses -- and preferably that message is attached to a new jobs program or something bold to alleviate the home mortgage crisis.

    Short of having substance behind the words, people are just going to tune him out.

    Parent

    Waiting for photos of Pres. Obama (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:02:14 PM EST
    visiting mosque in Mumbai.