home

Thursday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 07:35:38 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Out and about today and this evening, I hope nothing important happened.

Here's another open thread, all topics welcome.

< Thursday Morning Open Thread | Friday Morning Open Thread >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Thursday Night Open Thread | 129 comments (129 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    I think (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 07:55:14 PM EST
    I am going to have to take a hiatus from facebook. One more post about Chick Fil A and I am going to toss my cookies. Ugh.

    Chick-Fil-A'd out.... (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 08:58:48 AM EST
    I don't get it...the owner has a right to be a hater (free speech), people have the right to protest that speech and boycott, or the right to support him and eat there.

    The government officials in certain cities saying "you're not welcome here" are out of line, some of the protestors are out of line busting low paid employees chops, and the assorted haters running to eat there to eat "non-gay" sandwichwes make me sad, but they have free speech rights too.  Whaddya gonna do...

    So much ado about nonsense...Chick-Fil-A doesn't issue marriage licenses, states do.  And as far as I know gay people are not being denied service at Chick-Fil-A.

    Who cares about Chick-Fil-A? Seriously.

    Parent

    I pretty much (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:07:43 AM EST
    agree. The problem comes with Chick Fil A using lobbying groups who through the government try to deny gays rights.

    I think the cities should just have let them build the restaurants too and let the people that live there decide whether or not they want to eat there. Denying these people a business license just plays into the victim syndrome so many Christian conservatives have.

    Parent

    Me too - I don't know what legal grounds (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:44:14 AM EST
    there are for denying them the right to open restaurants. I think that was the wrong tactic to take. It was probably just political hot air, but it was not helpful in the least.

    Put the information out there and let the market decide. I have no problem with that as long as all the information is out there. Too many of the news stories end at the statement from Cathy and never talk about the contributions to anti-gay groups, making it look like purely a free speech issue. When I told a friend about the contributions, she immediately made a connection to her own decision to stop using a chiropractor who she found out donated to neo-nazi groups. It makes sense to people when they put it in those terms - would some of these people patronize a business they knew donated to pro-choice groups? Probably not.

    Parent

    Agreed (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Yman on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:03:07 AM EST
    I don't think the mayor or the alderman have a legal basis for denying a franchise, and one of them has already backpedaled away from their comments.

    That said, the rest is just both sides exercising their rights of free speech - although I'm sick of seeing pictures on my FB page.  Chick-fil-a will get a brief bump in business, but they'll lose business in the long run due to the damage to their brand and people like me who will no longer buy their food.

    Parent

    The Chicken and the Egged on: (none / 0) (#88)
    by KeysDan on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 01:02:47 PM EST
    Which came first? While it was heartening to see those long lines of fierce First Amendment advocates, it does not seem that these chicken lovers really need to fear government censorship or government abridgment of the free speech of, Chicken Fil A's, Mr. Cathy. Nor do they need to fear the loss of cultural identity by being deprived of their favorite fast food by overly enthusiastic human rights advocates, including legally toothless local office holders. However, Mr. Cathy has, in effect, registered his business on the side of intolerance and has demonstrated that he puts his money where his chicken sandwiches go in--and seems, in so doing, to care not if his business turns into what his fried chicken goes out as. It is a curious business model, but he does seem to know his customers--reliably and readily egged on by the likes of Reverend Huckabee. But, maybe Obamacare will not be as ripe for repeal in their eyes, as diabetes (type II) and heart disease treatments are on the upswing.

    Parent
    Yeah it is about the lobbying groups (none / 0) (#34)
    by lilburro on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:53:20 AM EST
    and the money.  To the degree that it's about free speech for Dan Cathy I also think it's putting Chick-Fil-A to the test as a workplace where the owners hold intolerant views.  I posted in my comment above an article about gay workers at Chick-Fil-A.  It's been a nightmare for them the past few days with people coming in and telling them they're glad this place doesn't support the queers.  ???  Last I checked you don't have the right to say whatever you want in a restaurant and still be served.  If Chick-Fil-A wants to maintain that their views are just their views, I would hope they would offer more protection to workers.  Plus, many of these workers are probably in states where they can be fired for being gay.  Maybe ENDA will get a little more well-deserved attention after this.

    Parent
    I'm boycotting (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:17:56 AM EST
    Never a big fan anyhow.  It's just a friggin chicken sandwich.  It's not that special and I don't need to support the owner and his philosophy with my money...and I won't.  I need to eat different food, and those food serving people will probably have to hire more people.

    Parent
    Not to mention... (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by easilydistracted on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:06:12 AM EST
    It's just a friggin chicken sandwich

    the waffle fries are overrated.

    Parent

    Um, they need to hire more (none / 0) (#63)
    by Wile ECoyote on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:49:40 AM EST
    because you are going to eat more?

    Parent
    NO, because I won't eat (none / 0) (#111)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 09:35:05 AM EST
    Chick-fil-A.  I will complain if my son is scheduled to eat at Chick-fil-A on school trips.  Anytime I'm with a group of people, Chick-fil-A is off the list and I will be very vocal explaining why.  Other businesses will get more overall business.

    Chick-fil-A is a scary business.  Did you know that they have a non-profit called Winshape that funds Christian group homes among other gross things like lobbying for Uganda to kill its gay people?  I can't believe we have such things as Christian group homes though where state authority sends children, that seems like such a violation of a child's rights to me.  But they exist in the South.  Anyhow, after having nobody else to love you and receiving a Chick-fil-A childhoood of brainwashing they would like to hire you.  They want you to work for them for life, making Chick-fil-A wages forever.

    Also, a Chick-fil-A franchisee can only make 100,000 a year per store.  Most fast food franchise owners make around $300,000.  I'm not sure where the rest of the profits go, probably to Winshape.  But where is the capitalism here?  This sounds like a form of socialism!!!!!  For the Glory of God though!  I wrote about it this week for my writing assignment.

    Parent

    There is a limit to how much (none / 0) (#124)
    by sj on Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 03:13:47 PM EST
    the franchisee can make?  Really?

    Parent
    From what Forbes reports...yes (none / 0) (#125)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 03:48:11 PM EST
    Where do the rest of the profits go?  Don't know, do they all go to Winshape in order to "shape" Chick-fil-A's future abandoned child work force?  What sort of foster mom hopes you go to work for Chick-fil-A for the rest of your life and that you make Chick-fil-A wages until the day you die?

    It smacks of lesser being Christain soschulizm.

    Parent

    My googling brought up Forbes but (none / 0) (#126)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 04:08:50 PM EST
    not reference to income limit for franchisee.  Link?

    Parent
    I saw the article I think (none / 0) (#127)
    by CST on Mon Aug 06, 2012 at 11:47:37 AM EST
    it doesn't say limit, just average - due to the company franchise rules, most don't make more than that.

    Link

    "Chick-fil-A pays for the land, the construction and the equipment. It then rents everything to the franchisee for 15% of the restaurant's sales plus 50% of the pretax profit remaining. Operators, who are discouraged from running more than a few restaurants, take home $100,000 a year on average from a single outlet. A solo Bojangles' franchisee can expect to earn $330,000 (Ebitda) on sales of $1.7 million."

    Parent

    From wiki: (none / 0) (#128)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 06, 2012 at 11:57:43 AM EST
    Business model

    Chick-fil-A uses a model significantly different from other restaurant franchises, notably in retaining ownership of each restaurant.

    Chick-fil-A selects the restaurant location, builds it and retains ownership.

    Whereas franchisees from competing chains pay almost $2 million up front to open a franchise, Chick-fil-A franchisees need only a $5,000 initial investment to become an operator.

    The company gets 10,000-25,000 applications from potential franchise operators for 60-70 slots they open each year.

    Chick-fil-A gets a larger share of revenue from its franchises than other chains, but the formula works well for operators - franchisees make an average of $190,000 per year.

    In 2010 Chick-fil-A took the industry lead in average sales per restaurant, making an average of $2.7 million per restaurant in 2010 (McDonald's was second with $2.4 million per restaurant).[10]



    Parent
    They also dropped a chunk of change (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:20:48 AM EST
    supporting Uganda's kill the gay people bill.  They can KMA....forever

    Parent
    they had record breaking sales (none / 0) (#2)
    by NYShooter on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 07:59:30 PM EST
    last night.

    Parent
    One day of hate will not make up for (5.00 / 3) (#51)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:18:31 AM EST
    losing the rest of us all year.

    Parent
    That's What I Told my Friend Yesterday... (none / 0) (#89)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 01:05:22 PM EST
    ...the support will fade, but they will never get back gay people and if the studies are accurate, that 10%, minimum and then friends, relatives, and just good people like yourself who they have lost.

    Don't really get how going inside one to kiss, and presumably making a purchase, makes any sense.

    I can honestly say, Chick-Fil-A has never gotten one cent from my pocket.  And although I have never been in a KFC, there is a Taco Hell/KFC that hit occasionally and get me sum potato wedges.

    Parent

    I told my husband that if I had a girlfriend (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 02:36:09 PM EST
    or a wife of my own like lucky he does, I would go to Chick-fil-A today, buy a sandwich, put it between my breasts and video myself rubbing breasts with my loved one.  I am broken though.  I cannot be relied upon to do decent things.

    Parent
    I Don't Know What Any of That Means... (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 02:53:23 PM EST
    ...but I got tears in my eyes, from laughing, that was fricken hilarious.

    I wonder if there are any gay chickens, surely there has to be, which would mean some of those folks ate lesbian chicken sandwiches.


    Parent

    It would give a whole new meaning (none / 0) (#97)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 02:40:01 PM EST
    to bang chicka wang wang though

    Parent
    I don't know (none / 0) (#108)
    by NYShooter on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:36:07 PM EST
    what went through that owner's mind. Everybody feels different things about certain issues, some I wouldn't be too proud to admit publicly. But, most people have the good sense to keep it to themselves.

    Why did this fool feel the need to take his hatred public? Did he think that there were that many like-minded haters out there that alienating so many people wouldn't make a difference?

    I don't care who you are, publicly proclaiming yourself to be a hater, regardless of the issue, cant' be good for business.

    Well, good for him, I hope his 15 minutes of "appreciation" was worth it. I think, once a business gets a toxic reputation, whether you're for, or against, a particular issue, I would think folks would tend to avoid the place.

    At least that's my opinion. Time will tell.

    Parent

    Funny Facebook story (none / 0) (#6)
    by Dadler on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 08:38:40 PM EST
    Girl I went to prom with, had huge crush on, whom I hadn't heard from or scene in a quarter century plush, finds me, of course, on Facebook, friends me.  I accept, then peruse her page, some of her photos, etc.  Then I notice she's just adopted a little boy, how nice.  His name is Dutch. Hmm, interesting name, I think, must be family or something.  A few months later, lo and behold, they adopt another boy. Good for them. And then I see the new boy's name...Nixon.  And suddenly Dutch makes sense. Not good sense, but, well, you know.

    Seriously, Nixon and Dutch, how classic is that. Poor kids. But these days, as many have noted, Tricky Dick and Cowboy Ronnie would be a little to lefty red for the current Repub party.

    Parent

    "whom I hadn't SCENE... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Dadler on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 08:39:56 PM EST
    "...in a quarter century PLUSH."

    Very odd typo pair. Like I was subconsciously being a set decorator.

    Parent

    I thought maybe it was (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Anne on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 08:46:51 PM EST
    the ten martinis you mentioned earlier today...or should that be "men tartinis?"  

    Hey...that actually sounds kind of...interesting...

    Parent

    Or have a secret passion... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 09:46:23 PM EST
    for acting with furries.

    Parent
    Seeing a lot of pro-Chick Fil A (none / 0) (#15)
    by lilburro on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 12:42:25 AM EST
    stuff?  Fortunately, I can't say I saw anyone boasting about how they went to Chick-Fil-A appreciation day.  Which I guess should make me feel good about the people I know as that's not something I'd necessarily expect, I haven't been consciously filtering out for this.  The only exception to the rule I can think of, really, is my aunt, which, ugh...she's a lesson in familial love and patience, let's just say that.  And pure get over yourself bone-headedness (ssshhh...)

    At first I was a little bored of the anti-Chick-Fil-A stuff too, considering I was aware of their anti-gay tendencies before and had decided somewhere along the line to stop patronizing a restaurant that in all likelihood had entirely different political aims than mine.  If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...etc.  So Rahmbo didn't exactly touch my heart.  But I've been pleasantly surprised by some of the analysis that has come out of it, and the willingness of people to stand against Chick-Fil-A.  The gay employees speaking out is both sad and predictable; "love the sinner, hate the sin" (unh huh) isn't really how people live.  Or Chick-Fil-A, for that matter.  The Nation has a number of interesting takes on this issue (one here) and digby covered the Forbes article about how Chick-Fil-A is basically as wingnut as your worst suspicions might suggest.  As a straight friend of mine on Facebook said, so they push marriage on other people but won't allow gays to get married?

    Straight folk generally are much more willing to make connections between their lives and gay folks' than they were 15 years ago, it seems to me.  But getting that to translate to the polls is, so far, another story entirely.

    Parent

    Actually (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 07:16:50 AM EST
    I put up a church sign that said I wish the lines to volunteer for VBS and food banks was as long as the lines for Chick Fil A and it sent two friends into tailspins. To me it was really a nonpartisan kind of thing and these people who are pro-Chick Fil A went off the rails about it. If their views are so "popular" they sure are defensive about them. I think a lot of it is guilt or something.

    Parent
    Defensiveness and victmization complexes (none / 0) (#24)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:26:27 AM EST
    seem to be common in American political minded Christians these days, if my sister -in -law's facebook page commentary is any indicator.

    Parent
    It's funny (none / 0) (#47)
    by Yman on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:13:43 AM EST
    Just because they can't do whatever they want, they cry "Persecution!", despite the fact that Christians make up almost 80% of the US population.

    O'Reilly's/Fox News "War on Christmas!" never fails to crack me up every year.

    Parent

    That's brilliant. (none / 0) (#40)
    by lilburro on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:58:51 AM EST
    But hate is easier than help you know...

    Parent
    Maybe I'm a jerk... (none / 0) (#31)
    by magster on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:50:16 AM EST
    ... but a nice minor strength, just one unpleasant mad dash to the toilet, non fatal e-coli outbreak sourced to Chik-fil-A restaurants would make me LOL a litte.

    Parent
    Well here's something important that (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 08:20:37 PM EST
    happened today, while everyone was busy watching Olympic dressage competition: the movie Vertigo replaced Citizen Kane as The Greatest Film of All Time in Sight and Sound magazine's once-a-decade survey of critics.  Kane having held the top spot for half a century.

    Wouldn't be my #1, but neither would Kane.  Rear Window, N x NW, Psycho and The Birds are better films than Vertigo.

    Yeah, me too, I always fall asleep during (none / 0) (#5)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 08:27:51 PM EST
    Vertigo. Not a good sign. I like Rear Window or Notorious a lot better as far as Hitchcock goes.

    Parent
    speaking of Vertigo (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by desmoinesdem on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 11:25:40 PM EST
    it's been too long since I watched the Mel Brooks movie High Anxiety.

    Parent
    I would pick Rear Window (none / 0) (#11)
    by desmoinesdem on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 11:24:58 PM EST
    and Dial M for Murder as favorite Hitchcock movies, but not better than Citizen Kane.

    Parent
    Dial M is way too chatty (none / 0) (#74)
    by brodie on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:39:33 AM EST
    That screenplay must run to double the pages of the average one.  No better than an above average Hitch film.  Has its charms (Grace Kelly mostly but not enough).  About on a par with another of his "Technicolor baubles", To Catch A Thief.

    Parent
    RKO 281 (none / 0) (#56)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:28:08 AM EST
    RKO 281 is a movie staring Liev Schreiber as Orson Welles and James Cromwell as William Randolph Hearst:
    Coming to Hollywood as a celebrated boy genius featuring a spectacular career arc in New York including his "War of the Worlds" radio hoax, Orson Welles is stymied on the subject for his first film. After a dinner party at Hearst Castle, during which he has a verbal altercation with Hearst, Welles decides to do a movie about Hearst. It takes him some time to convince co-writer Herman Mankiewicz and the studio, but Welles eventually gets the script and the green light, keeping the subject very hush-hush with the press. When a rough cut is screened, Hearst gets wind of the movie's theme and begins a campaign to see that it is not only never publicly screened, but destroyed.

    If you have seen Citizen Kain it's a must watch IMO, it adds so much context to the movie.  I think RKO 281 is the studio were it was filmed.

    Parent

    Citizens Kane was one of 12 films... (none / 0) (#59)
    by magster on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:41:33 AM EST
    ... we saw in a college film class, and frankly CK was my least favorite/most boring film on that list.

    The class was on how films attempt first person narration, and the professor's list of best efforts in that regard. One of my favorite all time classes.

    (My favorite was The Innocents about a governess who either sees ghosts or is going nuts -- you decide).

    Parent

    One thing which is a bit (none / 0) (#71)
    by brodie on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:33:16 AM EST
    disconcerting from a factual, historical perspective is this:  if the Kane character is a fair fit for WR Hearst, the mistress Susan character is off base as depicting Marion Davies, who had actual (acting) talent.  Welles apparently hadn't intended to draw the connection, but Hearst probably did as did the viewer who was familiar with the basics of the Hearst personal story.

    RKO 281 I recall as a quality film about a film, but I don't remember how accurately they handled the issue of the Susan character and whether they showed Welles worrying about people misinterpreting or conflating Susan and Marion.

    CK is still a great film though.  Just a tad too icy for my tastes.

    Parent

    And in Real Life... (none / 0) (#90)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 01:19:47 PM EST
    ...she gave Hearst a bunch of money after he went under and I believe had a secret love child with her.

    I have no idea about the real life Davies, but she's played by Melanie Griffith and she pretty much plays the same character in every movie IMO.

    Parent

    Listening to DK radio (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by lilburro on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:12:47 AM EST
    I'm glad Reid said what he said about Romney.  Keep the tax issue alive.  Looking forward to analysis of the jobs report.

    Ditto (none / 0) (#112)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 09:36:32 AM EST


    Parent
    summer update (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by CST on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:43:53 AM EST
    so far it has been relatively low-key, which is what I was looking for.  Beach by day, and I'm working 7 nights a week.  I also have to catch a midnight ferry, so it's not like I can go out much after work, and it's just me and granny most of the time so it's not like she's up when I get home.  Most of my customers are rich old people, although we did have one national news anchor show up with a crew.  I have lost a lot of weight though, being on my feet and out of the office.  Plus it's hard to eat between 3 and 11.  Which also means my tolerance for what little vice I have is waaay down, and today I have the headache to prove it (hence online instead of beach).  I decided to go out for a beer (or two) after work and ended up sleeping in my car for a few hours on the other side of the ferry since I couldn't drive home.  Lesson learned.  But I'm glad I went out as the summer did just get more interesting.  I'm a sucker for foreigners, and I'm surrounded by them.

    Obama Will Sign Bill... (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 03:28:05 PM EST
    ...that restricts funeral protests.

    I am down with any protest at any funeral.  I love the 1st Amendment, but using a funeral for some agenda is unacceptable.  People should have the right to bury friends and family in peace.

    I know decency is subjective, but really, in this case it isn't.  It sucks we have to write law contrary to the Constitution to dictate basic human decency because a couple hundred idiots can't figure it out.

    Facebook makes me want to puke... (none / 0) (#3)
    by fishcamp on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 08:11:18 PM EST


    Iowa Supreme Court (none / 0) (#10)
    by desmoinesdem on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 11:23:57 PM EST
    in a split decision said University of Iowa did not have to release records related to an alleged sexual assault on campus in 2007.

    In a split decision involving a different configuration of justices, the court also said an Iowa school district did not have to release details on how two employees were disciplined following an outrageous strip-searching incident in 2009.

    Thought There Was a Federal Law... (none / 0) (#27)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:42:12 AM EST
    ...about reporting campus crimes.
    The Clery Act

    Parent
    Romney takes the bait (none / 0) (#13)
    by CoralGables on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 11:28:12 PM EST
    Tells Reid to put up or shut up.

    Actually it's Romney that will have to put up if he wants them to shut up. Romney foolishly makes another headline that puts the attention back on his taxes.

    Today's obvious outlier Pew poll has Obama up by 10 points, 51-41 and Romney spokesman "taking some time off" from the campaign.

    It was an awful day for Romney.

    I think I understand that what Romney (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by Anne on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 06:55:10 AM EST
    wants Reid to do is prove that he - Reid - actually had the conversation with the Bain investor whom Reid alleges told him that Romney didn't pay any taxes for 10 years, but what slays me is that Romney thinks that's where the controversy really is.  That he can make it about Reid's honesty and that will somehow make people forget or not care that Romney won't release his tax returns; he doesn't seem to understand that the longer this goes on, the more it seems like Romney has something to hide.

    If Romney was smart - and I'm not sure that he is, really - he'd dump these tax returns out into the public arena, and use them to prove that not only is he a success in business, but he knows how to hire the right people who know the tax law and know how to use the tax code to Romney's greatest advantage.  There's nothing wrong with that - and Romney being able to do it doesn't mean that anyone else has to pay more tax.

    My thinking is that there may be something in those returns that reveal that all was not kosher or done by-the-book where Romney's income/investing/offshore accounts were concerned - and that's what he's protecting.  

    Romney may have some whiz-bang tax advisors, but he really ought to fire however many political advisors didn't get him to nail down these issues long before he jumped into the race.  And if this was a case of Romney not listening to his advisors, and believing he could ride out the questions and suspicions, well...that's just stupid.

    And we've had enough of that in the WH to know we don't need to go there ever again.

    Parent

    However he got the $100 million (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by observed on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 07:41:38 AM EST
    IRA, legal or not, if people see the details, it will look badk for him.

    Parent
    Well it's not so much that Romney (none / 0) (#19)
    by brodie on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 07:46:52 AM EST
    believes the controversy is about Reid and his source as that politically he needs to take the heat off himself and the call to release his tax returns, and drumming up a little controversy directed at Reid for the MSM to consider in McCarthyite tones seems like the tactic that might work.  

    And already some in Corp Media have complied -- Sam Stein of HuffPeau and most of the usual suspects on Morning Joe have questioned Reid's approach.  Even guest Howard Dean could offer only a weak defense of Harry -- "I don't like ad hom attacks" said the Doctor.  Oh my.

    Logically Romney either has a major political problem with the taxes -- little or nothing paid in those years -- or a legal one as Anne suggests.  I'd guess it's more the former, taking advantage of every loophole and offshore Swiss acct to pay no taxes, which he knows will be a disaster if presented to the public.  He's planning on riding this out with the stonewall and finger pointing elsewhere strategy, hoping people will tire of it and return soon to a focus on his VP pick and the convention then back to the economy.

    Parent

    It's a good bet (none / 0) (#20)
    by jbindc on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 08:18:57 AM EST
    that the economy will be the focus today, as the US added 163,000 jobs, but unemployment ticked up slightly to 8.3%

    Parent
    And (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 08:53:43 AM EST
    yet Romney can't seem to make the sale on the economy.

    The crux of the problem is Romney has no solutions but neither does Obama.

    Parent

    And the stock market (none / 0) (#36)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:56:18 AM EST
    is flying high on today's jobs report. The added jobs surpassed expectations, surpassed last month,  and surpassed the monthly average for the year when July has historically been an off month.

    Investors obviously liked this jobs report.

    Parent

    Gamblers CG...gamblers (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:58:28 AM EST
    Gamblers are worthless as an economic indicator.

    Parent
    but (none / 0) (#53)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:23:06 AM EST
    you know you drop extra on the ponies when your pocket economy is better.

    Parent
    True... (none / 0) (#57)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:29:06 AM EST
    but Wall St. gamblers are usually gambling with somebody elses money.  Like working slobs retirement money.

    Parent
    Flying high on Friday....but who knows (none / 0) (#67)
    by Anne on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:11:25 AM EST
    what Monday will bring?  Stocks go up, they come down.  How many times have we heard, "stocks fell today on profit-taking?"  

    Like millions of others, I have money in a 401(k), so any growth there is good; the scary part is being 59 and realizing that if things go south, I'm not going to have a lot of time to recover.  And the quality of my eventual retirement will be affected.  

    2008 didn't help matters much, but at least when things were down, my contributions were buying more shares, so there's that, I guess.

    As Brad DeLong said on his blog today,

    That we regard this as a good employment report is just one sign of how far we have been beaten down...

    Right after he wrote this:

    In July, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was little changed at 5.2 million. These individuals accounted for 40.7 percent of the unemployed.

    Both the civilian labor force participation rate, at 63.7 percent, and the employment-population ratio, at 58.4 percent, changed little in July.

    The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was essentially unchanged at 8.2 million in July. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.

    In July, 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, down from 2.8 million a year earlier. (These data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.

    When there are that many people un- or under-employed, 163,000 jobs in a month is better than no jobs, but not much.  To me, it shows just how volatile the stock market is that it would "fly high" on this kind of news.

    We just have so far to go, and it doesn't seem to me that anyone is really doing anything - the Fed has coyly said that there are things it could do, but it hasn't done them.  Ed Demarco at Fannie and Freddie is refusing - against all advice and analysis - to allow them to participate in HAMP's principal reduction program.  

    For whatever good it does or means, I'm happy when the stock market is up, but it's getting to be a little like thinking that just because your spouse didn't smack you around today, that everything will be better now.  I know that's not what you were saying in your comment, and I apologize for not taking more good out of this than I have, but unlike Charlie Brown, I know Lucy (the stock market) is going to yank the football (my future financial well-being) out from in front of me, and that's why I can't trust that it means what we all so badly want it to mean.


    Parent

    Not sure (none / 0) (#85)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 12:13:37 PM EST
    if you are still working and thus still adding to the egg, but we're just about in the same boat going forward.

    I'm currently one of those recently unemployed by choice, deciding that the corporate move to take away benefits and hours from my employees made me feel worse than the company check and benefits to me on Fridays made me feel good.

    Like you, I'm in it with my IRA/401k for the long haul even though the day to day can be a frustrating adventure. For now, I'll keep the needs few and the wants small, and confidence in the long term averages to keep me in running shoes.

    Parent

    Yup - still contributing to the egg... (none / 0) (#87)
    by Anne on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 12:34:36 PM EST
    still working...we have about 10 years left on the mortgage, which we'd like to get paid off sooner.

    My husband retired about two years ago when, after over a year of being unemployed and having no luck getting a job at age 62, he opted to start collecting his SS.  And he gets a small disability payment from the VA.  

    He also gets all his health care through them at no cost - don't know what we'd do otherwise.  I have my own policy that's getting right pricey, though.  When my daughter comes off my policy this year, I may go with the plan at work, as I could be on it by myself, and my employer would pay most of the premium.  It's not a very well- liked plan, but if I could save the almost $10,000 a year I'm spending now, that would be good.  We'll see.

    We long ago paid off the credit cards and pay cash for most everything; we've got some money set aside for our younger daughter's wedding next May, and I'm hoping we don't have to use all of it!  Yeah, sure...

    It's a challenge, for sure, but I think those who don't do some thinking and planning for their futures are going to feel like they got hit in the back of the head with a 2 x 4 when they decide they want to retire.  

    Parent

    In a way, (none / 0) (#103)
    by NYShooter on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 06:37:29 PM EST
    you have to feel sorry for President Obama. In spite of the fact that Obama has failed miserably to use the tools at his disposal, or the goodwill he had after his election, the fact remains that his options are limited when the opposition party is hell-bent on destroying his Presidency, and the American people in the process.

    Krugman says it best:

    "There has been plenty to criticize about President Obama's handling of the economy. Yet the overriding story of the past few years is not Mr. Obama's mistakes but the scorched-earth opposition of Republicans, who have done everything they can to get in his way -- and who now, having blocked the president's policies, hope to win the White House by claiming that his policies have failed."

    Then he goes on to tell this incredible story:

    "And this week's shocking refusal to implement debt relief by the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency -- a Bush-era holdover the president hasn't been able to replace -- illustrates perfectly what's going on."

    Every effort to aid struggling homeowners, or to replace this Bush-era stooge, have been stymied by the Republicans. When you have the Party of "No" exercising veto power over any attempt to fix the economy the current intractable mailaise should come as no surprise.

    Oh, if we only had a Media that had a clue as to what its responsibility should be, we'd have headlines like this:

    Once again the Republicans show their contempt for the American public, and the rule of law......Story on Page 2.......

    Parent

    You know what though? (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 07:38:01 PM EST
    I read this and I'm thinking WTF was Obama doing for two years that he could not get this guy replaced. Was going to parties more important that getting rid of a Bush era stooge? This doesn't make me feel sorry for Obama just mad at him that he didn't think it was important enough to get rid of this guy. Maybe he wanted the guy there because he him self really does not want to do anything for the homeowner in this country. I mean if you can't do something THIS simple when you have the power, you're not going to get even very simple stuff done when you don't have the power. Grrr...

    Parent
    Yes, well, just (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by Zorba on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 08:02:11 PM EST
    Google Michele Leonhart.  She is the head of Obama's DEA, and is a hold-over from the Bush administration.  Despite Obama saying during his run for the Presidency in 2008 that
    medical marijuana was an issue best left to state and local governments. "I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue," he vowed, promising an end to the Bush administration's high-profile raids on providers of medical pot, which is legal in 16 states and the District of Columbia.

    Link
    his administration
    has quietly unleashed a multi­agency crackdown on medical cannabis that goes far beyond anything undertaken by George W. Bush. The feds are busting growers who operate in full compliance with state laws, vowing to seize the property of anyone who dares to even rent to legal pot dispensaries, and threatening to imprison state employees responsible for regulating medical marijuana. With more than 100 raids on pot dispensaries during his first three years, Obama is now on pace to exceed Bush's record for medical-marijuana busts.

    His DEA head, Leonhart, whom Obama nominated and who was confirmed in January 2011,
    has consistently turned down research into the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of marijuana, and has a track record of undermining state law with regard to legal medical marijuana. On July 21, 2010, several pro-legalisation groups called on President Obama to withdraw his support of Leonhart, including SSDP, MPP, NORML, LEAP, and DPA.

    Link

    And I'm not even going to get into Tim Geithner and the rest of Obama's economics advisors......

    Okay, I'm getting myself depressed.   :-(

    Parent

    It doesn't make sense for him to tell (none / 0) (#14)
    by observed on Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 11:31:26 PM EST
    Reid to put up. Only Romney can put the matter to rest.

    Parent
    Harry Reid is telling a lie. (1.00 / 4) (#104)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 07:04:29 PM EST
    When he claims that Romeny has not paid taxes for 10 years.

    2010 and 2011

    Watching no Democrat step up and tell Harry that he has lied and it is time he resigned from his leadership post reminds me of why I decided the Democratic Party had left me in 1968.

    Harry doesn't deserve to be called Senator nor does he deserve to be called "Mr."

    Parent

    Speaking of liars.... (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by observed on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 02:52:47 AM EST


    Parent
    Poppycock (5.00 / 2) (#114)
    by shoephone on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 12:14:33 PM EST
    You left the Democratic Party because you were a Dixiecrat. The Republican Party just made it more comfortable for you to be what you are.

    Parent
    As usual you know no history (1.00 / 2) (#116)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 01:51:37 PM EST
    Dixiecrats disappeared long before I became interested in politics.

    But don't let facts slow you down.

    You and Dear Leader Reid can just keep on making things up and some will cheer you...

    But most will jeer you and sneer at you.

    Parent

    The only one being sneered at here is you (5.00 / 2) (#120)
    by shoephone on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 05:29:23 PM EST
    And, uh, the Dixiecrats all became Repugs. Just like you.

    Parent
    "Dear leader"? Really Jim? (5.00 / 2) (#122)
    by nycstray on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 07:38:58 PM EST
    Pathetic.

    Parent
    Desperate men say desperate things (none / 0) (#123)
    by shoephone on Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 01:13:15 AM EST


    Parent
    "Poppycock." That's an oldie! (none / 0) (#115)
    by oculus on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 01:15:36 PM EST


    Parent
    It's my homage to the late, great Sam Ervin! (5.00 / 3) (#121)
    by shoephone on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 05:35:39 PM EST
    "Poppycock" is what he called called Nixon's claims of privelege regarding DOJ's order to turn over those infamous Oval Office tapes.

    Whenever anyone says Nixon was the vote of the intelligent voter, "poppycock" is what we're hearing...

    Parent

    Reid said he was TOLD ... (none / 0) (#105)
    by Yman on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 07:32:01 PM EST
    ... by a Bain Capital investor that Mitt hadn't paid taxes for 10 years.  He didn't specify which years.

    Parent
    Yes, it is important to watch (none / 0) (#118)
    by KeysDan on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 02:16:31 PM EST
    the words. Senator Reid did not say, for example, Romney paid no taxes for he past 10 years. We all know that Romney did pay taxes, at least in 2010, in which we learned about his very low tax rates, but other matters such as his IRA. And, Romney, in challenging Senator Reid to put up, said we should "trust" him that he paid .."taxes, a lot of taxes..." but he did not say he paid a lot of income taxes. That remains to be seen.

    Parent
    Oh, I bet it was more like 1965. (none / 0) (#110)
    by observed on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 03:18:05 AM EST


    Parent
    nor does he, or most people (none / 0) (#113)
    by jondee on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 11:58:13 AM EST
    care that a Teabagger thinks the party has been taken over by socialists, peacefreaks, and treehuggers.

    Afetr years of..

    Parent

    After years of personal (1.00 / 1) (#117)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 01:52:49 PM EST
    attacks by jondee and his continual demonstration of an inability to debate the issues I am forced to note that discussing anything with him is not worthwhile. Simply put, he is incapable of a reasoned debate.

    Parent
    People who tell the truth (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by observed on Sat Aug 04, 2012 at 04:33:16 PM EST
    generally earn some respect.
    You don't have any respect.
    I realize the implied inference does not make a logical conclusion, but i suggest you take the hint.

    Parent
    Unless Reid has a source from McCain's... (none / 0) (#75)
    by unitron on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:43:03 AM EST
    ...2008 campaign.  Isn't McCain supposed to be the only one who's seen several years worth of Mitt's tax returns?

    Although I like the way Carville phrased it better.

    Parent

    So, how's this going to play out? (none / 0) (#35)
    by magster on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:56:10 AM EST
    I initially cringed at Reid's accusation, but now I am thinking Reid has a drip drip strategy mapped out with the source having already to agree to go public, maybe with documentary proof, when the time comes.

    Reid's latest play is to have a top aide tell CNN's Dana Loesch "if you knew this source, you'd not question his credibility". Reid's acting like a cat playing with his kill.

    Parent

    It's not like Reid to make serious (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by brodie on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:31:25 AM EST
    but baseless accusations.  I too am guessing he's got the goods on the Mittster.  If not it's a huge almost game changing gift to the downward trending Romney campaign.  Hard to believe Reid would recklessly risk a presidential election on thin gruel or a shaky source.

    Not a huge Reid fan, but I'm sticking with him on this one.  And I'm glad the Dems are making strong efforts to keep the tax returns issue front and center.

    Parent

    I like your style Dude... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:27:45 AM EST
    This is what happens Orleans County Sheriff's Department, this is what happens when you f*ck a stranger in the arse!!!

    Anybody who has ever been handcuffed over some bullsh*t has daydreamed something similar...find a good lawyer, and good luck to you Roger.  No matter what happens, you sir are a legend!

    Oh boy, he willl be dining out on that (none / 0) (#26)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:36:27 AM EST
    story forever. I hope so anyway since he is going to have a huge legal bill and fine.

    Parent
    Yep... (none / 0) (#28)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:42:35 AM EST
    you can't win in the end, but that musta been a glorious 15 minutes of vengeance my man Roger had.  

    I will stick to the virtual reality of "Grand Theft Auto" to vent my police state rage;)

    Parent

    ha! Yes I would recommend that (none / 0) (#30)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:45:45 AM EST
    outlet kdog. Don't make me come up there and bail you out!

    Parent
    I'm a cheap date... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:50:47 AM EST
    just bring me a rock hammer baked in space cake, should I grow a pair as large as Roger's;)

    Parent
    I'll send you (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:01:04 AM EST
    the Rita Hayworth poster.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#32)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:50:38 AM EST
    ... he clearly won, the cops get new vehicles and he gets to pay for them right after her gets out of a long jail sentence.

    A+ for style, but this guy basically screwed himself over a petty bust.  And cops being cops, I am positive those new cruisers will even better gadgetry for arrest people.

    Parent

    If he had only... (none / 0) (#37)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:56:25 AM EST
    advanced planned it better, he mighta got away with it.  There were no cruisers left to pursue, and the sheriff's were all parked on their arses in the AC'd office, didn't even know the monster truck rally was going down till an informer dropped a dime.

    Parent
    I Grew Up on a Farm... (none / 0) (#61)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:44:01 AM EST
    ...everyone knows everyone's tractors for miles and while even if the cops didn't recognize the dude, there is no way he wasn't get caught.  And most tractors top out around 15mph on the highway, no suspension, so in a field, maybe 10mph.

    there are faster, but the price approaches $100k which seems unlikely if your plan is to run over cop cars.  A tire is a couple grand.

    His heart was in the right place, but his head...

    Parent

    He shoulda spray-painted his tractor... (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:52:55 AM EST
    torched it, and hopped on a motorcycle stashed around the corner.

    I wish he woulda consulted with me first;)

    Parent

    ala, crimes of passion... (none / 0) (#76)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:48:08 AM EST
    rarely well thought out!

    Parent
    See What Happens... (none / 0) (#39)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 09:58:31 AM EST
    ...to a DJ when he plays '3 Blind Mice' after a questionable call in minor league baseball.
    LINK

    Derek Dye is the college intern DJ.

    Of course he's a college intern... (none / 0) (#73)
    by unitron on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:38:32 AM EST
    ...a radio veteran would know that joke's been done to death already years ago.

    Parent
    Saw somewhere on a blog that pepper spray... (none / 0) (#42)
    by magster on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:02:57 AM EST
    ... cop at UC Riverside was fired. :)

    I dunno (none / 0) (#44)
    by CST on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:06:22 AM EST
    I could care less if Menino doesn't let chick-a-fil-a come to Boston.  It's not like we need more fast food franchises.  And they seem like jerks.

    We don't have a walmart either.

    I'm not shedding tears for Chick-Fil-A... (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:14:18 AM EST
    but it's an abuse of power CST, no denying it...next time it might be someplace you would like to eat that the emperor forbids.

    Or in NYC's case, the size of the soda you can have with your meal.  I'm sick of the petty tyrant bullsh*t with so many real problems coming to a head. I linked to a NYCHA scandal yesterday...Bloombucks is worried about the poor getting diabetes from soda yet thinks evereything is hunky-dory with mold infestations and rats and assorted immediate health hazards in public housing.  It's a joke.

    Parent

    sort of (none / 0) (#50)
    by CST on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:18:30 AM EST
    he hasn't actually done anything but write a letter.  The permitting process is complicated but it usually requires a planning board or some kind of community support.  If he is just rallying the troops within that frame, I'm fine with it.  If he plays dictator that's something else.

    Parent
    I don't know... (none / 0) (#55)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:27:08 AM EST
    if he spent 5 minutes on it, it was 5 too many that coulda spent tackling an actual problem in Boston.  Menino is just pouring gas on the hate fire, imo.  Like others said above it just feeds into the false sense of persecution the haters have.  

    I don't think the people of Boston or NYC need to be "led" here, we know the score.

    Parent

    That's menino though (none / 0) (#62)
    by CST on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:45:04 AM EST
    you get the politicians you elect.

    Parent
    Well... (none / 0) (#66)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:08:20 AM EST
    ...as much as I agree with you, the thought of no Wallmarts does make me warm and fuzzy inside.
    ----------------

    So this morning a was talking to friend at work and mentioned how I couldn't get wrapped up in the non-sense because i don't eat chicken, haven't for decades.

    I kid you not, 20 mins later I am in our conference room with about 5 people checking out the Friday morning spread.  I grab a muffin and some fruit, and pass on the Chick-fil-A biscuits.  Keep in mind that it's pretty much all republicans, and someone asks about me not grabbing Chick-Fil-A biscuit and I could tell it was an inquiry beyond breakfast.  Now I am down with equality, but as a liberal, I am already an outsider, don't need the good old boys thinking I am gay, not that there's anything wrong with it.  But I try to fly under the radar.

    So I say, I don't each chicken, no one is buying it, and it's at the end of the hall so people above me that I don't associate with beyond work.  So I mention that my claim to fame is I have never been in a KFC or Chick-Fil-A.  And leave.

    Well I call my friend and tell her the idiotic story, she's like 'Though Protest Too Much' and pretty much told me how dumb that sounded.

    F*CK, how did a non-chicken eating straight fool get wrapped up in a stupid chicken sandwich gay marriage controversy at work ?

    It's no big deal, but I'm here trying to blend, do my work, get my check, and pop-up on as few radars as possible. Incognito is my work motto.

    The lesson here is don't brag about something that couldn't possibly effect you...

    Parent

    Aaaargh, I can relate to that story (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:52:24 AM EST
    so well. Can't do anything without it being remarked on and turned into some kind of a statement around here either. I'm like you - lot of people know my leanings, but I never start a political discussion at work. So I feel like I am being baited when others do, and my teeth get ground into dust.

    Parent
    Great story... (none / 0) (#69)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:22:54 AM EST
    office politics...it's for the birds;)

    I like how we have few Walmarts, but is Target really that much better?  That battle has been lost, all we can do is let our dollars walk & talk.  Not to say I'm happy there is talk of a new Walmart right next door to Sh*ti Field in Flushing, but whatever.  The f*ckin' stadium is named after a crime syndicate.

    More troubling to me is elected officials meddling and deciding for everybody.

    Parent

    Yes It Is (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 01:45:40 PM EST
    Target pays better and insures it workers.

    And it's far more ethical in general, doesn't use it's power to break vendors and environmental regulations.  Not to mention they are China's largest customer.

    So from a consumer not much of a difference, but from the community, loads better.

    WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price  Worth watching.

    It's like the election, neither one are ideal, but one is better than the other.  Some years ago, i used to pay a gf 10% of her target bill so she would stay out of Walmart.  But I know damn well she was still sneaking in there.  But after her car got broken into and they refused to hand over the tape to the cops, she quit cold turkey.

    Parent

    Hate to defend Walmart... (none / 0) (#92)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 01:59:25 PM EST
    but they've imporved slightly since that excellent documentary shined a light on the nasty...slightly.  

    Plenty of chinese made crap for sale in Target, and the wages/bennies are hardly anything to write home about.  It certainly isn't a living wage, at least in the NY metro area.  then again, no retail wage is a living wage around here, and Bloombucks keeps stonewalling a living wage law.

    Point taken though, Target is the Dems to the Walmart Repubs...good analogy.

    Parent

    Come On... (none / 0) (#94)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 02:27:39 PM EST
    They are even worse, remember that $24M bribery scandal of top level Walmart executives like 3 months ago ?  And after Walmart discover it, they covered it up with illegal book keeping and promoting the head bribateeer.  

    But I am positive they are working diligently to suppress the truth and figure out how to slime their way out of it.  The only problem, is they can't out lawyer the DOJ, like they normally do at the local level.

    Like I said, Target may not be the ideal, but they are better than Walmart.

    Parent

    I should have specified... (none / 0) (#98)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 02:50:04 PM EST
    slightly better in regards to their workers.  

    A shady every trick in the book business model is assumed from the Walton clan...but on the list of their dirty deeds, bribing Mexican officials for permits hardly rates.  

    With their fortune, I wouldn't put it past them to outlawyer the DOJ.  Wall St. does it on the regular....every time they settle for a fine that is less than the ill-gotten profit, with no admission of wrong doing, that's outlawyering the DOJ.

    Parent

    Shrug (none / 0) (#100)
    by jbindc on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 03:03:25 PM EST
    Whole Foods isn't really much better. They are anti-union, have had poor working conditions and low wages reported, they sell their private label "organic" food that comes from China (which basically has no regulation or rules about what constitutes "organic"), they have been reported to the CDC for selling toxic fish, and had customers sickened from E-coli contaminated beef and bad milk, etc.  

    Funny how we don't see liberals out protesting them.

    Parent

    Whole Foods (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 05:34:02 PM EST
    What ?

    HERE in DC, HERE, & HERE

    And back in the day PETA...

    Nothing grand, but in terms of gross sales, it surely more protesting than Wallmart.  And in terms of destruction, seriously, no one can mess with the boss.  The couldn't even if they wanted to.

    Parent

    It's the same argument as (none / 0) (#129)
    by jbindc on Mon Aug 06, 2012 at 01:46:07 PM EST
    "They aren't as bad as the other guy".

    So what?

    Parent

    to clarify (none / 0) (#46)
    by CST on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:13:12 AM EST
    legally I'm not sure what he can do here, but if he wants to write a letter or use his power to make it more difficult for them, I'm fine with that.

    Parent
    Also (none / 0) (#54)
    by CST on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 10:23:06 AM EST
    I wonder if they comply with MA state law recognizing gay marriage for employee benefits...  If they even offer benefits.  They can't discriminate against legally married couples.

    But they probably just don't offer benefits.

    Finally found the NBCSN (none / 0) (#68)
    by brodie on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:13:32 AM EST
    on my cable system, where they're showing soccer.  Had no idea I got this channel.  I guess I must have been expecting TimeWarnerCable to text or leave a smart phone message to let me know.

    I'd be embarrassed to admit how much time I wasted in frustration surfing cable channels before I settled down and remembered they offer this fancy thing called a Main Menu which features channel lists for subjects like Sports.

    What! (none / 0) (#72)
    by unitron on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:35:19 AM EST
    You thought TWC would do something for your benefit?

    Your childlike faith is so touching.

    : - )

    Now if it had been one of those deals where they get some extra money out of it, you'd have been hearing about it every 5 minutes.

    Parent

    Yeah well typical lefty lib (none / 0) (#79)
    by brodie on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:55:16 AM EST
    that I am, I misjudged the TWC situation obviously.

    Btw, Japan women are up 1-0 on Brazil at the half.  Marta held in check so far by disciplined and hard working Jpn defense.

    US women earlier defeated NZ.  Not sure if I like US uniforms of horizontal red stripes on white.  Evokes prison attire.  

    Of course we lead the world in prisoners, and maybe this is a way for our women to pay tribute to them or to the prison industrial complex. I dont know fer sure.

    Parent

    It just became (none / 0) (#81)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:56:07 AM EST
    NBCSN recently. Before that it was Versus, making it understandable you wouldn't know it existed. Be happy, I still have to find it online each time Abby Wambach plays.

    Parent
    Huge endorsements... (none / 0) (#70)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:28:49 AM EST
    for Mittens...Jenna Jameson & Ron Jeremy.

    Jenna says....

    "I'm very looking forward to a Republican being back in office," Jameson said while sipping champagne in a VIP room at Gold Club in the city's South of Market neighborhood. "When you're rich, you want a Republican in office."

    No sh&t Jenna, so sh*t.

    Even a gay pron star has come out for Mitt...is it legit or are they just f8cking with Romney and the jesus patrol?

    Signs of the apocalypse (none / 0) (#77)
    by Dadler on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:50:50 AM EST
    Jenna Jameson ventures into political commentary while Ron Jeremy's spongy caulk speaks like a ventriloquist's dummy on This Week with Gorge Stupidopolous.

    Parent
    Ron Jeremy for Romney (none / 0) (#83)
    by shoephone on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 12:06:37 PM EST
    Unless this is an Onion-style prank, well... the ads practically write themselves ;-).

    I admit to not knowing (or caring) who Jenna Jameson is. Any NYC Jenna just makes me think of Jane Krakowski's character on 30 Rock.

    Parent

    Not NYC Jenna... (none / 0) (#84)
    by kdog on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 12:12:15 PM EST
    California Jenna, she's a pron star too...not exactly an industry I would consider a bastion of family values conservatism, but I guess some rich folk look at lower taxes as the be all end all no matter where they made their fortune.

    Sh*t I like low taxes too, don't get me wrong, but it ain't the be all end all...I can't vote for an alien life form just because it is promising me a lower vig.

    Parent

    Maybe she'll run for California governor! (none / 0) (#86)
    by shoephone on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 12:16:15 PM EST


    Parent
    Saw a Ron Jeremy Inverview at His Appartment... (none / 0) (#96)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 02:39:41 PM EST
    ...the guy is fricken tight with his dough, he was in a once bedroom hell hole.  He a practicing Jew and although I don't remember the specifics, I do remember thinking that he was not anything like I had presumed.  He's smart and makes a lot of money behind the action.  He plays the idiot well.

    Never seen Jenna with the porno mask off, but she is loaded beyond belief.  She's no dummy, she took over the industry and gets paid more than most clothed actors and has her hands in all kinds of behind the scenes money making ventures.  

    Like the new age rappers, they figured out that the only exploiting being down was their own for truck loads of cash.

    I doubt either was being satirical, rich folks love them some tax breaks.

    Parent

    Anyone else not digging the Blade Runner? (none / 0) (#80)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:55:54 AM EST
    S. Africa's Oscar Pistorius is competing in the Olympic 400m and 4x400m relay who's a double amputee below the knees, so he has two prosthetics and has been nick-name "The Blade Runner."

    I have all the respect for him in the world, and he is very inspiring, but while my heart says let him compete, my head says I really don't think he should be competing against athletes who do not/cannot use machines to enhance their physical abilities during the race.

    Regardless of the his disabilities, he's using technology during the actual competition to run faster than he would otherwise that no one else can use.

    For example, would we be OK with a guy on the mound as ML pitcher who was missing his left hand, but who had some sort of sling or catapult type prosthetic? Make it long so he gets more leverage, like a lacrosse stick does, and he could throw a 120mph fastball. With the right soft rubber on the prosthetic, think of the curve balls he could throw.

    Pistorius's carbon-fiber blades don't get tired, don't get injured and are (much) lighter than flesh and bone.

    If he can wear blades why can't everyone else? Say 6" blades strapped to the bottom of your shoes? The increase in stride length would absolutely give you a huge advantage over your performance w/o them. If Oscar was smart he'd tinker with the length of his blades until he found the "sweet spot" for him.

    Think of the advantage in the high jump or hurdles if you had such tall and bouncy blades strapped onto your shoes. There's a reason their are rules regarding how thick the soles of your shoes can be in HJ and LJ...

    Oscar participated in some tests and the results of which were used to make the point to the IOC that the blades were no advantage. What isn't usually mentioned is that the tests were done by a scientist who invented and sells high-performance blades and who is a double below the knee amputee himself.

    Um, I understand that this whole issue is a sticky wicket for the powers that be in international sport, but, really? These are the tests you rely on?

    Sport is about who the athlete actually is, not who he/she mighta/coulda/shoulda been if only he/she had been born differently...

    Actually, please don't repond here to this here (none / 0) (#82)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 11:59:09 AM EST
    I'm going to put it on the new Fri Open Thread.

    Parent
    Houston, Coolest Eva... (none / 0) (#93)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 02:04:20 PM EST
    ...just kidding, but this is hilarious and is totally Houston.

    Police chase with a middle aged white guy in a Smart car on the freeway.  This was yesterday I believe.

    It's a long chase, so this version is sped up and put to clown car music, very funny.

    Thursday Night Open Thread | 129 comments (129 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment