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Monday Afternoon Open Thread

Looks like BTD and I are both tied up at work. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Sunday Night Open Thread | Obama's Speech on Libya >
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    what can Brown do to you? (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:06:41 PM EST
    The Republicans' Hispanic problem

    Of the nine states where the Hispanic population grew by 100 percent or more between 2000 and 2010, McCain won seven of them: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee. That means that what had been reliably red states for decades are slowly -- or not so slowly -- seeing huge growth among what, for the moment, is a reliably Democratic constituency.

    Add to that the fact that the four states with the country's largest Hispanic population -- California, Florida, New York and Texas -- will account for 143 electoral votes for the next 10 years.



    Please hush (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:09:51 PM EST
    Before the bed sheet crews start fencing the white people in down here and forcing us to breed.

    Parent
    I thought (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:20:05 PM EST
    they did that already

    Parent
    By the looks of some of us down here (none / 0) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:28:49 PM EST
    Makes ya wonder :)

    Parent
    This explains why abortion rights (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Towanda on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:42:04 PM EST
    are high on the GOP agenda again -- despite a nation needing jobs and so many other issues.

    The abortion rights issue targets Catholic support, which has meant many Hispanics in past, but I wonder whether that's still so or whether continued acculturation is trending as it has for so many other Catholic immigrant groups who became nominal Catholics, if they remained churchgoers at all.  

    Parent

    Not sure it is (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by Madeline on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 09:50:47 PM EST
    "a reliably Democratic constituency". There are some conflicts in culture with Democrat issues; same sex marriage, abortion, marriage and family, self reliance.

    I think it depends on what they can get from Republicans.  

    Parent

    I'm surprised (none / 0) (#33)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:28:54 PM EST
    that Ga isn't on that list. Not surprised at the least at AR with Tyson being large there and all.

    I guess (excuse me I know) I'm not your typical southerner because I really could care less about how many hispanics there are.

    The article you linked to was interesting. The GOP was wringing their hands because they know they have a huge problem but to solve it will make a lot of people mainly their aging evangelical base sit home.

    The people around here simply cannot understand why Hispanics and African Americans do not vote for the GOP. I tell them the GOP has spent literally decades being hostile to those groups of people calling them names and everything. They just give me a puzzled look and DO NOT understand how what they say comes across.

    Parent

    National Security Issue (5.00 / 0) (#36)
    by MO Blue on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:36:32 PM EST
    Our growing reliance on imports and lack of industrial infrastructure has become a national security concern," said Rep. Schakowsky. She spoke at a March 16 news conference (at 28:10) in opposition to the pending U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.The Forbes report referenced by Rep. Schakowsky was "Intelligence Community Fears U.S. Manufacturing Decline," by Loren Thompson, February 14. The decision to prepare an intelligence estimate was first reported by Richard McCormack in "Intelligence Director Will Look at National Security Implications of U.S. Manufacturing Decline," Manufacturing & Technology News, February 3.

    But the concern is real. As our manufacturing moves to places like China and (significantly for this context), Korea, we've lost certain capabilities. Indeed, when Bush slapped tariffs on steel in 2002, a number of tool and die factories moved to Korea where they could still access cheap steel while still supplying the US market. And in recent years, the loss of highly-skilled manufacturing process capabilities has meant we face challenges in sourcing some of our key military toys. link



    President's update tonight on something (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:22:12 PM EST
    that happened last week but he didn't get around to officially mention so as not to distract from WTF.  This speech will provide information to  the nation on "the situation in Libya", alternately known as our latest war in a Muslim country.

    Daddy Bush was prolific at wars, but it took his full four-year term to engage in his two wars (Panama to get the evil Noriega, our former CIA asset and the Gulf war to not get Saddam, our former friend) as well as a humanitarian military adventure in Somalia in which nothing could go wrong but still  ended almost a year into the next president's term and served to spawn the movie 'Black Hawk Down.".

    President Obama, after just a little more than two years into his term, has the country engaged in three wars (not counting activity in places like Yemen): Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and now a humanitarian military intervention in Libya.  Of course, his predecessor give him a leg up on Iraq and Afghanistan from which to work.  Who says Democrats are weak on defense?

    Obama had to do something (5.00 / 4) (#54)
    by MO Blue on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:32:56 PM EST
    to earn that Nobel Peace Prize. :-(

    Parent
    Obama's big FP blunder so far (5.00 / 0) (#60)
    by brodie on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:45:26 PM EST
    isn't Libya but doubling and tripling down in Afghanistan.  Perhaps feeling a lack of confidence early on in his FP/commander-in-chief chops, he let his military basically dictate terms about the options, with no job repercussions for their failure to follow his orders.

    The upside about Afghanistan is that that ongoing costly quagmire precludes Obama engaging in more than moderate military action in Libya. And with our ongoing economic quagmire at home, O just doesn't have all the political wiggle room that, say, LBJ felt he had in 1965-6 as he escalated massively in VN.

    Parent

    We are in the early days of the Libya (5.00 / 0) (#69)
    by MO Blue on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 06:57:26 PM EST
    military endeavor. Plenty of ways for it to become a long term quagmire. Don't think I agree with this assessment.

    The upside about Afghanistan is that that ongoing costly quagmire precludes Obama engaging in more than moderate military action in Libya.  

    To date, there has been no limit on the amount that our government is willing to spend on war without any real concern about what 98% of our people may have to sacrifice. If the upper 2% can make money out of our military actions, full speed ahead.    

    Parent

    Yup, I don't think ... (5.00 / 0) (#76)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:20:07 PM EST
    one should ever underestimate the United States ability to get stuck in a military quagmire.  We're really good at it.  We have decades of experience!

    Parent
    Yes, the President said tonight (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:39:10 PM EST
    that we have satisfied our objectives.   However, after a brief pause he continued, that does not mean our work is completed.

    Parent
    Mission Accomplished! (none / 0) (#81)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:43:35 PM EST
    (Don't read the small print.)

    Parent
    A complex statement that the President made (none / 0) (#87)
    by christinep on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 09:51:20 PM EST
    ...on many levels.  In times past--ere so many wrapped themselves in so much <justifiable> cynicism--it might have been outrightly termed "The Obama Doctrine" on intervention in the 21st century.  A speech containing: Background (with factual & legal justification), Argument--laying out the choices & approaches & whys in advance response: and, Exhortatory conclusion.  I readily admit that, after the first two parts, the restatement about who & what we are as a nation--oupled with the pragmatism so unique to the times & so uniquely Obama--was persuasive plus.  So many concepts, so many phrases...including the more indirect argument that our support at this time may result in a vastly different, more effective, and warranted relationship in the MidEast (Gone may be the days of the image of the Great Satan etc etc.)  The summary for me: We should not & cannot effect the pace & progress of change in the MidEast region...but, we "can make a difference."

    Parent
    Huh?!? (none / 0) (#89)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 12:29:33 AM EST
    I heard (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 06:37:35 PM EST
    a funny comment on the radio the other day (on of those NPR quiz shows).  Someone said "Obama has now fired more cruise missiles than all the other Nobel Prize winners combined."  I wish I could remember who said it.

    Parent
    Well, I think the prize is (none / 0) (#58)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:39:21 PM EST
    still meritorious if you remind yourself that Alfred Nobel invented dynamite in 1866.

    Parent
    I have no expectation of being told (none / 0) (#64)
    by Anne on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 06:22:53 PM EST
    the truth tonight; we will be told whatever appears to garner the most support from the people, so I expect a full-court press on the humanitarian element, with a large helping of freedom-talk.

    And I'm not discounting those elements - they're important, no question - but I keep remembering how Iraq was going to be a "cakewalk."

    I guess we'll see soon enough what Obama has to say, but I'm not expecting anything more than a super-duper sales job.

    Parent

    Hmmm ... (none / 0) (#67)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 06:47:43 PM EST
    This speech will provide information to  the nation on "the situation in Libya", alternately known as our latest war in a Muslim country.

    Or, more simply put, our latest way of killing more brown people.

    Parent

    The Final Four (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by CoralGables on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:32:14 PM EST
    The only thing west of the Mississippi in this championship will be the venue.

    Mark it down: Wednesday, May 11th (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:34:14 PM EST
    Anyone going to see the Giants/Diamondbacks game at PacBell will get to see my son's band/orchestra play the national anthem.  Needless to say, he's a tad excited.  Having moved to public school, whose music programs have been decimated, Eli has found that he's as advanced as any of the other trombone players in the middle school band, which he won't officially join until next school year.

    won't officially join, that is... (none / 0) (#56)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:35:15 PM EST
    ...because he's only in fifth grade right now.

    Parent
    And meanwhile, (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by lentinel on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:39:17 PM EST
    on the back burner:

    TOKYO -- Highly contaminated water is escaping a damaged reactor at the crippled nuclear power plant in Japan and could soon leak into the ocean, the country's nuclear regulator warned on Monday.

    and

    In another new finding, Tokyo Electric Power Company, which runs the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power station, said late Monday that it had detected an increase in levels of plutonium in soil samples taken from within the compound a week ago, raising fears of yet another dangerous element that may be escaping the crippled reactors.

    And - in our own country, the NYTimes reports that:

    "Safety officers plan for every known contingency, but no one can predict everything that might go wrong."

    Well, if they can't predict everything that could go wrong, and the consequences of something going wrong would result in the painful deaths of hundreds of thousands, they should shut the bloody things down.

    Yup. That's always been my position on nukes (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 06:42:13 PM EST
    God will probably have to help me (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 09:24:07 AM EST
    The poodle puppy, being a puppy, is now on a chewing rampage.  She got my rolled leather Weaver leash this morning.  Almost made me cry.  And she is so smart she has figured out how to open the top latch on her dog crate, if she figures out the bottom latch I guess we will have to padlock her in :)  Holy Christ though, maybe it is a better idea to shop for dumb dogs :)

    Donald Trump: tax the rich to pay off (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 02:47:35 PM EST
    national debt.  See TL sidebar.  

    A one-time "net worth" tax... (none / 0) (#2)
    by Anne on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:01:14 PM EST
    kind of like a pre-death estate tax; would we all have to file something to prove we weren't in the top 1%?  How do we even know what the top is to calculate what 1% of it is?

    And can't you predict the response?  "If I'm going to be taxed now, for what I own now, I don't want to be taxed again when I die."  Can't completely disagree with that, either.

    Parent

    Come on Anne (2.00 / 1) (#4)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:23:50 PM EST
    Can't you support this?

    Simple and just on the rich.

    Parent

    Exclusive to Newsmax: (none / 0) (#3)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:21:10 PM EST
    1966 Pleaze (5.00 / 0) (#25)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:09:43 PM EST
    A birth certificates contains the location (city & state), time, the doctors printed name, and most importantly the parents names.

    If Obama whipped that out, he would be rightfully run out of DC.

    Upon further review, that might be '46 and not '66.

    Either way it looks like the certificate I got after a 3 day training course last month, complete with the gold seal.

    Parent

    That (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:28:52 PM EST
    doesn't even look like a real birth certificate. It looks like the one I got from the hospital that wasn't legal for registering my children in school or anything.

    Parent
    Oh, oh, oh my goodness... (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by christinep on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:38:35 PM EST
    Trump isn't a citizen! Start the echo chamber, start the response of outrage! (Yada, yada, yada...)

    Parent
    Looks like (none / 0) (#10)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:42:33 PM EST
    you're right.  It's signed by the physician and a hospital administrator, not a State Registrar.  
    For a certification of live birth document to be legal, it must be from a State Registrar with a stamp, seal and signed by a person commissioned by the government, preferably the registrar.
     Link



    Parent
    it would be to funny (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:43:18 PM EST
    if this led to the discovery that Donald doesnt have a legal birth certificate.

    Parent
    If the hospital (none / 0) (#16)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:48:40 PM EST
    did its job, it filed the info with the state, and the state will have a copy of his actual certificate of live birth.  It's not hard to then get a certification of live birth from the state.

    Parent
    unless (none / 0) (#17)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:50:21 PM EST
    like me you were not born in a hospital and try to get one at 16.  that was a pain in the arse.


    Parent
    Surprised our... (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:53:51 PM EST
    bueracratic overlords didn't make you climb back in the womb for a do-over.

    Paper...we are obsessed, addicted...we are hopeless.

    Parent

    I think that (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:56:41 PM EST
    his mom would have vehemently objected to that.   ;-)

    Parent
    Mama Howdy's Objection... (none / 0) (#41)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:53:38 PM EST
    has been overruled...gotta be official...back in ya go Capt, or no drivers license for you!

    Meanwhile, dudes can get CDL's with suspended licenses at the DMV...why do we bother with these hassles again?

    On a serious note I feel bad for those guys...driving for years with no incident, means nothing to the state...tragedy leads to crackdown while the mob applauds...a few more on the unemployment line, foiled by face recognition software...how comforting!  Yay!

    "The alleged failure of the defendants to be totally truthful with state authorities or their employers about the status of their driver's licenses compromised the transportation safety of their passengers," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

    Bullsh*t Mr. Brown...licenses don't drive buses, people do.

    "He's a driver who has been an exemplary driver from the point of view of the company who needs someone to show up and do the right thing by the kids," Davidoff said. "We're always upset when we're deceived."

    Davidoff added that Marin worked for the company for 11 years and had a spotless record.

    I know, I know...don't f*ck up your license...good luck with that in a quasi-police state.

    Parent

    My birth certificate has my footprints on it (none / 0) (#63)
    by shoephone on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 06:07:07 PM EST
    which was standard practice when and where I was born -- 1950's, L.A.

    Where are the Donald's paw prints???

     

    Parent

    Birth certificates here in MO (none / 0) (#70)
    by MO Blue on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:00:15 PM EST
    do not have footprints but the hospital certificates did have them.

    Parent
    Ceasing... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:35:32 PM EST
    Reverse Robin Hood policies works too...and less paperwork.

    Parent
    Ya gotta admit (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:26:49 PM EST
    it would be a fun campaign if The Donald ran.

    I'm sure the writers at SNL (none / 0) (#7)
    by Anne on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:34:07 PM EST
    and all the late-night shows, are thrilled to pieces at the possibility; by the time SNL gets finished with him, the real Donald will be even less attractive than the SNL Donald, not more.

    Parent
    But who (none / 0) (#13)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:43:20 PM EST
    gets to play Donald?  Better yet, who (or what) gets to play his hair?

    Parent
    Rimshot (none / 0) (#34)
    by MO Blue on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:29:18 PM EST
    Most important IMO

    Better yet, who (or what) gets to play his hair?

    Perfect campaign ad ala anti Nixon:

    Would you trust a politician with hair like this?


    Parent
    Nobody (none / 0) (#40)
    by lentinel on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:44:34 PM EST
    could have been more of an idiot than "Bedtime for Bonzo" Reagan.

    A real laff riot.

    Now he has  been canonized.

    So don't underestimate Donald ("I got six hundred million to sink into this") Trump.

    Parent

    I can think of other knuckleheads... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:36:54 PM EST
    that will be just as entertaining, without the constant urge to gag.

    Parent
    I think any of the Pauls would be fun, (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:11:10 PM EST
    Ron, Rand or Ru.

    Parent
    who ever is elected (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:19:14 PM EST
    should just appoint Ru Secretary of Fabulous.

    Parent
    Can I get an Amen, up in here? (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Joan in VA on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:24:24 PM EST
    Ron's gotta drop the "R"... (none / 0) (#47)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:05:55 PM EST
    Rand is whack.

    Ru works.  Debates would be great.  

    Parent

    True, and Ru (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:56:41 PM EST
    has the best wig.  And good hair, natural or not, is important to a politician, according to Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.

    Parent
    Had to look up Ru -- (none / 0) (#48)
    by brodie on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:14:26 PM EST
    hopelessly behind in my knowledge of popular culture.  Only know a handful of the most egregiously "famous for being famous" celebs, and not entirely sure I feel the better for it googling Ru.

    Parent
    Ru is not famous for being famous (none / 0) (#49)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:19:52 PM EST
    she has a tv show.  come on.


    Parent
    watch (none / 0) (#50)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:20:37 PM EST
    you mean (none / 0) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:42:39 PM EST
    like Michelle, Newt, Rand, Sara and Huck?

    Parent
    More along the lines... (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:48:28 PM EST
    of non-Brand D/R variety of knucklehead.

    Jesse "The Body", your country needs you once again.  But it is wrong of me to wish it on him...too nice a guy, imo.

    Parent

    Jesse (none / 0) (#39)
    by lentinel on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:41:42 PM EST
    was entertaining - because he made sense and spoke in a manner that was both personal and comprehensible.

    I agreed with much of what he had to say - but outside of Larry King's old show, he hasn't been given much of a forum.

    But this is the kind of character I would like to see against the stiffs that are the current lot of front-runners.

    Parent

    Jesse the Body is much (none / 0) (#43)
    by brodie on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:54:20 PM EST
    too straightforward in speaking the truth, way too much fact-and reality-based in his thinking, far too concerned with moral issues like the US engaging in torture to be a part of the contemporary GOP.

    A character he is, but just not a crazy one, nor a knuckleheaded one, unless I'm forgetting something.  Didn't actually embarrass himself or the state during his one term as gov, iirc.  

    Parent

    Jesse is a 9/11 Truther, so that disqualifies him (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by steviez314 on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:11:35 PM EST
    from being "not crazy" IMHO.

    Parent
    I mean no disrespect... (none / 0) (#46)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:02:45 PM EST
    by the term, we're all knuckleheaded in our own way.

    There was some incident with his son having a party at the governor's mansion, people made a stink...I think it turned him off to the whole thing and I don't blame him.

    I'd vote for him in a heartbeat for sure...if Trump is the main also-ran I'll be very upset.  But they'll be others...ripest yet for a third party go for somebody...anybody....besides Trump.  Guy can't even run a couple casinos without losin' money...thats hard.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#35)
    by lentinel on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:36:18 PM EST
    have to agree.

    Trump would blow Obama's circuits. Trump is so outrageous,  he would force Obama to think on his feet - a skill with which he has lost contact.

    And bring on Bachmann too, while you're at it.

    These nuts are outside the box.
    Anything that is unsettling to the packaged crap that passes for political discourse would be welcome.

    Now - if there were only someone on the left who had the same access to the newsmedia as these flakeroos, someone like Nader for example - that would be genuinely interesting - and historic.

    But for now, I'd settle for the entertainment possibilities of having the current batch of packaged politicians face a bunch of crazy curve-balls for which they cannot be adequately programmed.

    Parent

    saw in interesting conversation (none / 0) (#37)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:39:17 PM EST
    the other day about Newt and all his BS and who would be smart and cagey enough to catch him up in some of it.  the thinking was that Bachman could.  I think thats right.  debates will be fun.

    Parent
    Bachmann (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by lentinel on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:53:59 PM EST
    v/s Newt.

    Wrestlemania at its best.

    Parent

    Hmmm ... (none / 0) (#68)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 06:57:15 PM EST
    He does the "You're fired" joke once.  But how does he remaining entertaining after that?

    Parent
    giant hovering "clouds" (none / 0) (#14)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:47:36 PM EST
    they win (none / 0) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:56:48 PM EST
    Diego Rivera just started spinning (none / 0) (#22)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:02:12 PM EST
    a couple of rpms faster in his grave..

    Parent
    simpler solution.. (none / 0) (#21)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 03:58:22 PM EST
    hold the World Cup in some place a little more climatically-hospitable for atheletes and spectators than effing Qatar..

    It's not like there aren't a few slighly more suitable places on the planet..

    it might be (none / 0) (#24)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:08:47 PM EST
    time to cry

    SPEAKER IN 'NO-WIN SITUATION'?
    When It Comes To Averting Shutdown, Boehner's Problem May Not Be Dems

    I think it's time (none / 0) (#44)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:56:24 PM EST
    for Boehner to sing a few choruses of "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To."

    Parent
    Nobody needs to buy the book "O" (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:15:34 PM EST
    I had my book club send it to me.  It is a boring silly piece of $hit.  Seriously, I'm not kidding in the slightest :)  I wish it was fall, I could start a fire with it and it would be of some use.

    I guess we are all tired of (none / 0) (#38)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 04:41:02 PM EST
    Holy cow (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by sj on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 10:22:41 PM EST
    I'm amazed that the video/videographer survived.  It was just inexorable.  It didn't even look fast, though I'm sure it was -- no way to outrun the water.  It was just inexorable.

    Parent
    That is the best I've seen (none / 0) (#45)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:01:05 PM EST
    at showing the progress. Just unbelievable.

    Parent
    anyone besides me (none / 0) (#52)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:27:00 PM EST
    see Sucker Punch this weekend?

    lots of petty reviews.  this one seems about right to me:

    In Defense of `Sucker Punch' - Uncovering the Method Behind Zack Snyder's Madness

    PART I: WHY IT FAILS, AND WHY THAT'S OK

    I didnt think it failed.  (I saw it twice).  but I understand why it might not be for everyone.

    I did! (none / 0) (#84)
    by lilburro on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 08:51:12 PM EST
    And actually I only did because of your posting about it.  I thought it was good and want to see it again.  

    I decided to fight some people on Movieline about it and here is what I wrote:

    This is what I really don't understand about the criticism Sucker Punch has received. I disagree with the "teenage fantasy" line. Sucker Punch to me was in fact about women being violently controlled by men and working out their relationship with regard to the men that are violently controlling them. Just because a woman might fantasize that she is in a brothel does not necessarily mean she wants to be in brothel (hence the other layer of fantasy). I think the audience was made successfully uncomfortable by the movie. Yes, you could ignore the premise of the film and go home and fap but you can do that with any film. Unless teenage boys are either a lot more sadistic or masochistic than I realized, this is no more fap material than most movies, and in fact is much less so, because it is challenging you on that premise all the time.

    However that explanation of the movie is not something a 14 year old is necessarily going to come up with. So I think it should've been rated R.

    I thought it did an awesome job at taking symbols associated with weakness and transforming them into something that can be worn while being strong.  At least in her head, which was the important battle, after all.  It's about how women internalize sh*t.  So no it's not going to be critically popular or make as much money as it should.

    Parent

    And it's true (none / 0) (#85)
    by lilburro on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 09:00:19 PM EST
    the intensity of the bad reviews, and the level of vitrol, is really weird.  It seems to me the reviewers are trying to control the characters' bodies more than Snyder was.  io9 has had some interesting discussion about the movie.

    Parent
    I thought the same thing. (none / 0) (#91)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 09:26:22 AM EST
    I really liked it.  the reviews are weird.  I think part of it was the fact that he snubbed them by not screening it for them.

    and he did that because of what they did to Watchmen Im sure.

    Parent

    It is headed (none / 0) (#93)
    by lilburro on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 10:03:26 AM EST
    for "cult classic" territory.  I think another issue is that the reviewers don't seem all that familiar with anime and female action heroes in anime, or with the concept of "fan service."  If you thought Sucker Punch was "fan service" you weren't paying attention.

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    the other thing (none / 0) (#92)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 09:38:00 AM EST
    that struck me was how it seemed completely missed that they turned the tables on the men by transfixing them with Baby Dolls dancing while stealing the things they needed.


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    News of mild interest, nothing (none / 0) (#61)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 05:49:37 PM EST
    to worry about, no threat to health or safety.  Amazing to me how governments downplay problems that they want to minimize (e.g., there is no oil in the oysters or fin fish, safe to eat away, radioactive iodine has a fast half-life, no worry, strontium, cesium, well, the levels are very low).  If, say, we want a war, we can't be too cautious: we can't wait for the mushroom cloud you know, the aluminum tubes could either be used for WMD or cake batter, but we can't risk it, the evil dictator is massacring his people or is threatening to do so). And, it is even more amazing to me how it works every time.

    I saw (none / 0) (#71)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:03:16 PM EST
    a comment on another blog that Obama may not even be on all 50 states ballots with the birth certificate issue though I can't see how that is possible.

    Awwwww shucks (none / 0) (#73)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:12:42 PM EST
    After a good hawk speech, John McCain can't wait to get in front of the cameras and sop up any leftover gravy.

    Buwhahahahahaha (none / 0) (#74)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:14:44 PM EST
    Now CNN went to split screen and redid some of Obama's speech with McCain standing there listening on.  President Obama and John McCain BFF :)  How did this happen?

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    oooooooh and CNN also showing (none / 0) (#75)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:19:08 PM EST
    footage of shooting Tomahawk missiles off....War Pron.

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    Newt newters himself (none / 0) (#77)
    by Edger on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:28:59 PM EST
       Hours after declaring Sunday that he expects to be running for president within a month, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he's worried the United States could be "a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists," in the foreseeable future, according to Politico.

        Gingrich was addressing Cornerstone Church, a megachurch in San Antonio, Texas, led by the Rev. John Hagee, an influential leader among American evangelicals. Hagee's endorsement of then-presidential candidate John McCain in 2008 was plagued by controversy.



    NObody (none / 0) (#78)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:36:47 PM EST
    takes Newt seriously. I mean really...

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    Is his statement an either/or statement? (none / 0) (#82)
    by MO Blue on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:49:39 PM EST
    I know many politicians don't make much sense especially when they discuss religion but I don't see how we could become

    "a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists,"

    If we were dominated by radical Islamists, we would more likely be a fundamentalist Muslim country and not a secular atheist country.

    BTW, the article says that the Grinch became a Catholic within the last 2 years. I would have thought the Catholic Church had enough problems without adding Gingrich to their numbers.

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    I got the impression (none / 0) (#83)
    by Edger on Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 07:51:46 PM EST
    Newt thinks it could be both at the same time. Lol.

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    what the heck are they talking about (none / 0) (#94)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 10:23:57 AM EST
    twin baby boys have a conversation

    from the hand gestures they may be italian.


    this is great (none / 0) (#95)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 10:37:29 AM EST
    Video: Pakistani actress destroys mullah who accused her of immorality

    interesting window into what these people have to deal with on a daily basis.