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Tuesday Open Thread

Shaun White finished 4th in the half-pipe at the Socchi Olympics. Iouri Podladtchikov of Switzerland, known as I-Pod, took the Gold.

It appears solitary confinement was the motive for parolee Evan Ebel's killing of a pizza driver and Colorado Corrections chief Tom Clements. In court documents released in the case of Stevie Vigil, the woman who has pleaded guilty to providing Ebel with the gun he used in his killing spree, a partial transcript of a recording Ebel had the pizza driver make before killing him, the pizza driver said:

"For twenty years we've been subject to your faddism not witness ours, you didn't give two (expletive) about us or our families and you ensured that we were locked behind a door, to disrespect us at every opportunity, so why should we care about you and yours...

...In short, you treated us inhumanely, and so we simply seek to do the same, we take (comfort) in the knowledge that we leave your wives without husbands, and your children fatherless. You wanted to play the mad scientist, well they will be your Frankenstein."

A movie script about Barry Seal, the infamous pilot and DEA informant linked to the Medellin cartel, the CIA, the contras, Oliver North, and the Bush, Reagan and Clinton Administrations, who was killed in the 1980's, has been sold to Universal for $1 million. The movie, Mena, about Seal's activities in Mena, Arkansas, will be directed by Ron Howard.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 275 (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Dadler on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 05:08:35 PM EST
    Drinking and shoplifting are her showcase events at Sochi this week. (link)

    v. 274
    v. 273

    And Ron Howard? Egad, he'll water that story down until it's nothing but a mainstream action movie. Hope not, but I won't hold my breath.

    Also...RIP to Leonard Knight, the man behind the giant piece of folk art known as Salvation Mountain.

    Have you seen Salvation Mtn.? (none / 0) (#2)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 06:02:58 PM EST
    Yep (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Dadler on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 06:53:45 PM EST
    Acid trip without the acid. God is Love, indeed.

    Parent
    Salvation Mtn. audio slide show (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 06:56:31 PM EST
    LINK

    And I'm fascinated with Slab City, too.

    Parent

    VICE documentary on Slab City (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 07:04:01 PM EST
    A poet's well deserved smack down of (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 03:35:03 PM EST
    Trey Gowdy

    I am an American poet, and I am delighted my taxes help pay for Trey Gowdy's health care. I believe I live in a rich country, one that can provide money to pay for health care even for Trey Gowdys -- Trey Gowdys, who get $174,000 for working one out of every three days, not doing much of anything I can see. Plus which I'm a poet: I just want to say "Trey Gowdy" over and over again. Trey Gowdy is adorable: he believes he lives in a rich country, one where poets just put in a smidgen of time at some magical health-insurance-giving job, and spend the rest of their hours writing sonnets. I'm an American poet, and I am here to say "Oh, Trey Gowdy: I wish."

    Read the rest and enjoy



    First Shirley Temple, ... (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 06:26:15 PM EST
    ... and now, Sid Caesar. Coincidence, perhaps -- or is it?!?!??

    A very fond Aloha to one of the funniest guys in show business.

    Wow...Olympics Ice Skating! (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by shoephone on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 12:16:05 AM EST
    Just watched Russian skaters Skolbova and Klimov totally nail their ice dancing performance. Spectacular and flawless! This is why I love the Olympics.

    And their Russian training partners, (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by shoephone on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 12:30:04 AM EST
    Volosozhar and Trankov, just beat them out for the number one spot, with a technically difficult figure skating performance set to Jesus Christ Superstar, one of my least favorite pieces of music. But they were great.

    Parent
    U.S. sweeps all 3 medals in slopestyle skiing (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 08:46:36 AM EST
    And the last shall be first:

    Joss Christensen, a 22-year-old making his first appearance on the Olympic stage, won the gold in a dominating performance that featured four near-perfect runs over the rails and jumps at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. The last skier selected for the U.S. slopestyle team, Christensen posted the top two scores in both the qualifying runs and the finals.
    ...
    Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper captured the silver and bronze, as the U.S. skiers matched the country's previous sweeps in men's figure skating in 1956 and men's halfpipe snowboarding in 2002.
    link


    I am enjoying the Slopestyle and half pipe events (none / 0) (#120)
    by ruffian on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:41:40 AM EST
    more than I thought I would. They are just jaw-dropping. I can relate to the traditional downhill skiing events, even if they are doing it 1000 times better and faster than I do, at least I can grasp the concept. But the Slopesyle is just unfathomable to me, even in slo-mo.

    Parent
    PLEASE DISREGARD THE LINK (none / 0) (#131)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 12:09:53 PM EST
    I don't know what is happening but the OLYMPICE links are getting messed up after I preview them and post them.

    Parent
    So, somewhere between 15 and 18 inches (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by Anne on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 02:30:09 PM EST
    of snow fell here in northern Maryland from about 8:00 pm last night until around 10: 00 am this morning; we've been in a lull of light sleet/drizzle and are expecting more snow as the back end of the nor'easter wraps around and smacks us...and we could get another 3-4 inches from a little storm that's supposed to move through here Friday evening.  Argh!

    The good news is - no loss of power!  And a guilt-free day off from work.  Fingers crossed the power holds, because after losing power for three days as a result of the ice storm last week, we're not much in the mood to do that again.

    Hope any and all of you in the path of this latest round made out okay - sure am looking forward to spring...
     

    Any advice on how to negotiate the (none / 0) (#71)
    by oculus on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 02:42:45 PM EST
    very deep puddles confronting Manhattan pedestrians at each intersection?  I gave up my goal of seeing the Armory Show special exhibit at the NY Historical Society today. Can't get there from here.  

    Parent
    Hip boots? Waders? (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by Anne on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 02:51:27 PM EST
    I imagine it's not just a matter of negotiating the puddles, but about not being hit by the waves being thrown from cars and buses driving through them.

    Parent
    Not sure how deep those puddles are (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:00:05 PM EST
    but maybe you should consider purchasing a pair of these.

    The powder blue pair are kinda pretty. You just might be able to start a new fashion trend. In Manhattan anything is possible. ;o)

    Parent

    Waitress recommends Red Wing lace up (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by oculus on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:11:29 PM EST
    boots  favored by oil rig workers.

    Parent
    Take a taxi? (none / 0) (#76)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:45:22 PM EST
    I did. Such a wimp. (none / 0) (#77)
    by oculus on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:50:44 PM EST
    "Can't get there from here." (none / 0) (#84)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:14:13 PM EST
    Reminds me of a childhood experience.

    On a summer vaca in Maine/NH we asked for directions from a local and he scratched his head and said: "You just caan't get theyah from heeah."

    We still repeat that in the car when we need a laugh...

    Parent

    My dad asked a pedestrian in NJ for directions. (none / 0) (#85)
    by oculus on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:19:50 PM EST
    The man said, I'm a stranger here myself."  I don't know why we thought this was hilarious.

    Parent
    Taxi Does Not Help (none / 0) (#118)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:33:58 AM EST
    You still have to go through major puddles to get to the sidewalk from and to the taxi.

    One puddle with regular shoes is all you need to get soaked.

    Parent

    Taxi did help as he pulled up (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by oculus on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 01:57:36 PM EST
    next to the curb on the side of the street of the place where I sat until Gerald Finley and Julius Drake gave their splendid performance of Schubert's "Winterreise."  Exquisite.

    Parent
    Unusual (none / 0) (#139)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 02:03:23 PM EST
    Lucky for you, as most curbs are blocked by parked cars....

    Sounds like a wonderful performance, and quite in sync with the current weather conditions, at least on a superficial level.

    Parent

    Before the program began, Mr. Finley (none / 0) (#154)
    by oculus on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 04:01:34 PM EST
    thanked the audience for coming and told us that three hours earlier, Zankel Hall had no lights.  Later I discovered the Cincinnati perform was cancelled.

    Parent
    Nice You Got To Go (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 04:25:34 PM EST
    I imagine that the performance was extra special given the difficulties that were overcome. Wish I had seen it. Schubert is one of my favorite composers, and Winterreise is as good as it gets. Of course it all depends on the performance, and it sure sounds like this was a good one.

    The late piano sonatas, also written in 1828, the year of his death (syphilis), are also great works. In particular the B flat major sonata his last (D 960) is really beautiful. Tragic, sad punctuated with moments of great joy.

    One thing that is said of Schubert is that when he is sad there is a little smile, and when happy a tear in his eye... and then there is the deeply tragic... which is all throughout Winterreise..  

    Parent

    I told the man next to me this was the saddest (none / 0) (#156)
    by oculus on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 04:41:14 PM EST
    performance of the final song ("Der Leiermann") I had ever heard, the man said, "the most detached."

    Parent
    Hmmmm (none / 0) (#157)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 04:51:39 PM EST
    Did you agree with him?  It is very minimal... almost as if the character has died and is on the way to another world... so I can
    see how someone would see this song as detached...  

    but after the whole cycle, it is profoundly sad. the end for sure..

    Parent

    Go did not agree with him. (none / 0) (#158)
    by oculus on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 04:54:14 PM EST
    This performance will stay with me.

    Parent
    OH (none / 0) (#160)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 04:58:32 PM EST
    I understand now... the person said detached to mean not compelling performance.

    Yes, a good performance of Winterreise can get to your bones, and stay with you for some time.  Really haunting music...  as deep as it gets, imo.  full spectrum of emotions, really profound.

    Beethoven who died a year earlier asked to hear Schubert's music when he was on his death bed.

    Parent

    I do not think that is what the man (none / 0) (#162)
    by oculus on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 05:07:06 PM EST
    next to me meant by his comment. I think he meant the protagonist was detached from society, as was the barefoot musician who everyone in the community was ignoring.

    Parent
    Oh (none / 0) (#163)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 05:29:58 PM EST
    Death may have happened in the Letzte Hoffnung (last hope)

    what to think of the shoeless organ grinder?, hmmmmm... after checking into the grave yard motel (Das Wirthshaus), I think the rest of the song is the spirit rising etc..  

    Schubert may have seem himself as the organ grinder... he was not famous, a parlor musician and composer..  compared to Beethoven, who some say this song is a tribute to, he was nothing.

    So he was outside of the village, so to speak, yet a great genius, overlooked.

    The organ grinder knows pain and isolation yet still smiles, Schubert wanted to join him on his travels..  to accept the hardships of life and be shunned yet smile without fear or disappointment.  that would mean a fulfilled life..

    Parent

    Googled them (none / 0) (#79)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:55:44 PM EST
    They don't look like they go up very far. Might only work on smallish puddles and not the giant economy size. Besides, didn't see them in a pretty blue color. If you are in Manhattan, you want to be sure to make a fashion statement.;o)

    Parent
    Well, you could have easily made it, ... (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:01:36 PM EST
    ... had you only brought one of these with you back east. ;-D

    Parent
    Nope. These are slushy puddles (none / 0) (#86)
    by oculus on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:23:25 PM EST
    About 4 ft. wide from the curb out into the intersection. Maybe stilts.

    Parent
    Avoid them like the plague! (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by vml68 on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:42:33 PM EST
    I made the mistake of venturing into one, not realizing that the puddle was covering a nice deep pothole!


    Parent
    Kayak (none / 0) (#104)
    by unitron on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 11:45:44 PM EST
    Make it work for you.

    Parent
    Negotiating NYC Puddles (none / 0) (#117)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:31:43 AM EST
    I have fancy (fleece lined) boots that go up 11", and there have been no NYC puddles that I have not been able to negotiate. The fleece lining is good because the puddles are very cold, but you can get away with any rubber boot that is at least 10" and does not have a lining.

    Also, if you want to wear shoes for fancy events, you can get boots that go over the shoes, and will squash into a bag when you arrive at your event.

    I think 10" high is the low limit 12", probably better..

    Parent

    Crocs on Spring and (none / 0) (#119)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:38:52 AM EST
    these should do and you can pick up a pair easily in the many the nyc croc stores.

    Parent
    All joking aside, (none / 0) (#174)
    by MO Blue on Sun Feb 16, 2014 at 08:56:52 AM EST
    these Sperry boots might do the trick.

    Pelican Too Rain Boot
    $78.00

    Shorter version:

    Falcon Rainboot
    $52.99 $78.00

    I own the shorter Falcon boot and it is a very nice boot.

    I have tested and retest these links and they should work properly.
     

    Parent

    Thank you. I'll check these out. (none / 0) (#175)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 16, 2014 at 10:36:24 AM EST
    Your links work!

    Parent
    I just bought some similar guaranteed (none / 0) (#176)
    by oculus on Mon Feb 17, 2014 at 04:49:20 PM EST
    waterproof boots. Very shiny!

    Parent
    Hope they work well (5.00 / 1) (#177)
    by MO Blue on Tue Feb 18, 2014 at 04:13:41 AM EST
    and keep you dry in Manhattan.


    Parent
    It's still 85 and sunny out here, Anne. (none / 0) (#78)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:51:44 PM EST
    And just like you, we're wondering when it will end, and are simply trying to make the best of it. But I have to admit that it's sure tough sometimes.

    ;-D

    Enjoy your snow day.

    Parent

    I hate to repeat myself (5.00 / 2) (#80)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:57:19 PM EST
    but anyone who taunts their snowbound friends with words like 85 and sunny is truly evil. ;o)

    Parent
    Evil -- moi? (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:05:07 PM EST
    Whatever gave you such an idea?

    Parent
    You won't be laughing (none / 0) (#122)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:46:29 AM EST
    when, during our snowbound captivity, some of us write long, depressing, existential novels that become surprise runaway bestsellers (books on tape version read by Max Von Sydow.)

    He who broods last, broods best.

    Parent

    Karma is a b!tch, Donald! (none / 0) (#88)
    by vml68 on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:38:37 PM EST
    n/t.

    Parent
    I'm sure it will be, ... (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 06:35:01 PM EST
    ... when we get monsooned this weekend -- at least, that's what the current forecast says.

    Parent
    Hopefully that'll ultimately end up over (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 06:57:32 PM EST
    our Sierra Nevadas.

    Parent
    I hope so, too. (none / 0) (#98)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 07:57:57 PM EST
    California needs the water more than we do. Only one "Pineapple Express" has made it your guys' way thus far this winter, and that just was this week.

    Parent
    And, right on schedule, it's (none / 0) (#91)
    by Anne on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 05:23:13 PM EST
    snowing again...

    It's not all bad news...another positive is that the snow cover is great for the water table, and being on a well, we do like that part.

    Parent

    Weather here this morning couldn't decide (5.00 / 2) (#146)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:01:36 PM EST
    whether it wanted to be rain, freezing rain, sleet or snow so it gave us a little of each. Just enough of the freezing stuff to give us mush on the roads and several spin outs on the highway.

    Has stopped for a while but more snow is in the forecast just in time for the start of rush hour traffic. The hourly forecast also indicates that it could begin again right before the senior valentines dance starts here in my community. That would be a real bummer since one of the better local bands is scheduled to play tonight and the senior commission was hoping for a really good turn out. I have my ticket and still plan to go unless it turns real bad but I may be more adventuress than some of our older folks (80s and 90s). I am a spring chicken compared to some of our dancers. Moral of the story: Keep dancing and stay young longer.

    Well hope no matter where members of the TL community are, I hope they stay warm and safe, and enjoy Valentines Day.

     

    Parent

    Donald, be very, very (none / 0) (#93)
    by Zorba on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 05:29:07 PM EST
    careful, or I will afflict you with the Greek Evil Eye.
    ;-)

    Parent
    Well, then I suppose that ... (none / 0) (#102)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 09:36:36 PM EST
    Maybe I have and (none / 0) (#125)
    by Zorba on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:57:59 AM EST
    "in" with Madame Pele.
    And maybe I don't.
    But you'll never know, will you?    ;-)

    Parent
    We are only just now (none / 0) (#92)
    by Zorba on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 05:27:48 PM EST
    getting up to 12-13 or so inches, Anne.
    Unusual in that we usually get more than you do, since we're at higher elevation.
    But this seems to have been more of a coastal storm, and you are closer to the coast.
    I hope that you are staying warm.
    And thank goodness, like you, we did not lose power!

    Parent
    I'm sorry to hear about the weather (none / 0) (#143)
    by sj on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 02:39:05 PM EST
    But I'm glad you have power. How is Baltimore city? It was way too dry the last couple of years, and not cold enough to help much with the insect problem. With my Chow's heavy coat, ticks were the dickens to find and deal with.

    Speaking of her heavy coat, her undercoat is shedding heavily right now. It's coming out in clumps so quickly that I cannot keep up with it. I'm taking that as a sign that the worst of the winter weather is over. And we have had some nasty winter weather this year. Really cold temperatures and regular snow.

    Parent

    The city didn't get nearly as much, at least (none / 0) (#144)
    by Anne on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 02:45:21 PM EST
    from what I can see.

    It's been plenty cold, though - cold enough to make the stink bugs go into hiding, but as soon as temps go up, there they are again.  

    Power did end up going out around 12:30 am, but miraculously, came on around 5:30...really is not fun getting ready for work by flashlight.

    We're supposed to go to a viewing/funeral service on Saturday around 4 - it may be snowing again, so that should be an adventure, since it's not particularly close by.

    Haven't seen too much shedding by our black lab yet, so spring may not be as close for us as we'd all really, really like it to be!

    Parent

    ... here in a while, which of course means within the last 48 hours or so. The good folks at the New Republic have thoughtfully provided us with the mother of all recent Christie bashings, "Chris Christie's Entire Career Reeks":

    "Has there ever been a political reversal of fortune as rapid and as absolute as the one just experienced by Chris Christie? At warp speed, the governor of New Jersey has gone from the most popular politician in the country to the most embattled; from the Republicans' brightest hope for 2016 to a man with an FBI target on his back. One minute, he was releasing jokey vanity videos starring Alec Baldwin and assorted celebrity pals; the next, he was being ridiculed by his lifelong idol, Bruce Springsteen. Mere weeks ago, Christie was a straight-talking, corruption-busting everyman. Now, he is a liar, a bully, a buffoon.

    "What is remarkable about this meltdown is that it isn't the result of some deep secret that has been exposed to the world, revealing a previously unimagined side to the candidate. Many of the scandals and mini-scandals and scandals-within-scandals that the national media is salivating over have been in full view for years. Even the now-infamous Bridgegate was percolating for months before it exploded into the first major story of the next presidential race."

    You know, for all the previous chattering amongst our self-anointed superiors in the Beltway punditocracy about Gov. Christie being a top-tier presidential candidate (before the Ft. Lee scandal broke wide open), one really has to wonder why nobody in the mainstream media back east really started vetting this guy fully until about six weeks ago.

    Aloha.


    Evidently Mittens' vetting process (5.00 / 3) (#108)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:57:46 AM EST
    did it's job while the mainstream media just wanted a tingle up their leg.

    According to a memo on Mr. Christie from the vetting team, it had unanswered questions on a defamation lawsuit against the governor from earlier in his political career, on a Securities and Exchange Commission settlement involving Mr. Christie's brother, on names and documentation of his household help, on information from his time as a securities industry lobbyist, and on his medical history. "The dossier on the Garden State governor's background was littered with potential land mines," the authors write.

    Disclaimer: This is in no way an endorsement of Mitt Romney.

    Parent

    But, Mittens (none / 0) (#115)
    by KeysDan on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:13:00 AM EST
    did stick to a New Jersey theme, picking what could have been a character in "Jersey Shore."

    Parent
    Ayn Rand's cabana boy.. (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:31:11 AM EST
    bring him to her tent.

    Parent
    Oh, you shouldn't have gone there. (none / 0) (#142)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 02:37:11 PM EST
    Because now, I have to post THIS.

    Parent
    You have a point (none / 0) (#133)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 12:39:00 PM EST
    My favorite description of that person is the one given by Charlie Pierce.

    zombie-eyed granny-starver

    I am not going to provide a link since two of my previous links went haywire.

    Parent

    At some point, it does become a (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by Anne on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 12:53:34 PM EST
    little like beating a dead horse, but on the off-chance that this is more like the Undead, I guess it isn't going to stop just yet.

    Parent
    With Christie, I'm thinking less Undead, ... (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 02:48:48 PM EST
    ... and more along the lines of Rasputin.

    Parent
    Hahahahahaha! (none / 0) (#153)
    by Zorba on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:50:03 PM EST
    Although, the real Rasputin looked even crazier than the actor.
    Grigori was a hard one to kill, all right.
    (And on a somewhat related note, I hope you realize that the Romanovs are saints of the Russian Orthodox Church.  I never did understand this one, and it was controversial within the church.)

    Parent
    The Russian Orthodox Church has ... (none / 0) (#161)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 05:02:32 PM EST
    ... always had a very political mindset, probably more so lately than in the past. But even that said, I'd think that conferring sainthood upon Tsar Nicholas II and his family is certainly a bit of a stretch, as are any arguments that seek to recast the tsar as a victim of political repression.

    While not quite the outright tyrant that his father and grandfather were, Nicholas II certainly had no use for democratic institutions, and proved to be quite ruthless himself when it came to dealing with public dissent. Not for nothing was he known as "Bloody Nicholas;" his many foolish decisions ultimately cost millions of Russians their lives.

    Even the Tsar's reign commenced auspiciously, with nearly 1,400 Muscovites being trampled and killed during a public celebration in Khodynka Field on the day of his coronation in the Kremlin in 1895, an event since known as "The Khodynka Tragedy." Ironically, many Russian Orthodox clerics then regarded that event as an ill omen for the country.

    The acclaimed Russian mystic and poet Konstantin Balmont saw that tragedy and prophesied Nicholas' doom: "Who would start his reign with Khodynka, shall finish it by mounting a scaffold." While the dingy basement room in Ekaterinberg where Nicholas and family eventually met their end wasn't quite the scaffold Balmont had in mind, the rest of his prediction proved spot-on.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Donald, my brother, believe me, (none / 0) (#165)
    by Zorba on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:11:21 PM EST
    You are not telling me anything that I don't already know.
    The Romanovs were declared saints ("new martyrs") by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) in 1981.  ROCOR (which was totally opposed to the Bolsheviks) formed as a separate jurisdiction soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917, and totally separated from the Moscow Patriarchate in 1927.  After which they were considered schismatics by the entire Eastern Orthodox Church (to the extent that they could not receive Communion in our churches, and we could not receive Communion in theirs, which, believe me, is a big deal in Orthodoxy).
    The Moscow Patriarchate recognized the Romanovs as saints ("Passion bearers," in Orthodox nomenclature)in 2000, and the Moscow Patriarchate and ROCOR restored their canonical link in 2007.
    Believe me, everything that goes on in the Orthodox Church can get really, really complicated.  Not just the Russians, but the Greeks, the Ukrainians, the Antiochians, and everyone.  Although, the Russians may be much more mired in the politics of their country than most Orthodox jurisdictions.
    There is a reason that people call politics that get overly complicated, with shifting alliances, "Byzantine politics."  Remember, the Byzantines were Orthodox Christians.   ;-)


    Parent
    One other aspect these days, maybe? (none / 0) (#166)
    by christinep on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:41:45 PM EST
    What do you think, Zorba, about the possibility of Catholic Pope Francis being allowed to visit Russia?  As I'm guessing that you undoubtedly know, the Vatican has desired such a rapprochement for some years (with Pope John Paul II openly seeking such a visit) for the millennium.  Between "Byzantine politics" and Roman Catholic politics, things can be so complicated that the so-called 11-dimensional chess looks like child's play.

    Parent
    This is a complicated question (none / 0) (#167)
    by Zorba on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 07:38:33 PM EST
    The Ecumenical Patriarchs of Constantinople (Istanbul, to everyone else) have met with Roman Catholic Popes many times over the years, and the current EP Bartholomew's presence at the installation of Pope Francis was quite historic.
    But, and this is a big "but," Eastern Orthodoxy does not have a Pope, the Ecumenical Patriarch is only primus inter pares, first among equals, and the other Orthodox Patriarchates and jurisdictions can pretty much go their own way to certain extents.
    The Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate have enjoyed a huge resurgence since the fall of Communism, and they have also, in my opinion, now dug in and travelled backwards in their beliefs and practices.
    In other words, the more Pope Francis looks forward to a more humane church, the less likely it is that he will be welcome in Moscow, because they are going backward.

    Parent
    Hmmmm. (none / 0) (#170)
    by christinep on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 09:30:25 PM EST
    Your last two paragraphs are not only instructive, but quite insightful.  Thank you.

    Parent
    U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by CoralGables on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 11:12:03 PM EST
    ruled today that Virginia's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional,

    She also issued a stay on her own ruling while it's appealed.

    And in somewhat related news, ... (5.00 / 3) (#105)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:15:06 AM EST
    ... sports anchor Dale Hanson of WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, departed from the usual scores and highlights last night to rip the National Football League a new one, blistering the behinds of those anonymous team executives who told Sports Illustrated that Michael Sam's value in the upcoming league draft will drop because he came out:

    "You beat a woman and drag her down a flight of stairs, pulling her hair out by the roots? You're the fourth guy taken in the NFL draft. You kill people while driving drunk? That guy's welcome. Players caught in hotel rooms with illegal drugs and prostitutes? We know they're welcome. Players accused of rape and pay the woman to go away? You lie to the police, trying to cover up a murder? We're comfortable with that. You love another man? Well, now you've gone too far."

    Hanson then pivoted, took dead aim at anti-gay bigotry in the NFL, and equated it with the open racism that once permeated the league's front offices and the rest of society, before calling out the hypocrisy of those who are presently fanning the flames:

    "It wasn't too long ago that we were being told that black players couldn't play in our games, because it would be uncomfortable. And even when they finally could, it took several more years before a black man played quarterback, because we weren't comfortable with that, either. So many of the same people who used to make that argument, and many who still do, are the same people who say that government should stay out of our lives, but then want government in our bedrooms. I've never understood how they feel comfortable laying claim to both sides of that argument."

    I don't care how many times we've seen and heard it of late, I find it still refreshing to see  public pushback like this from open-minded straight people. No doubt, they've probably long felt increasingly frustrated and annoyed by the anti-LGBT bigotry around them, but heretofore have also kept their personal opinions to themselves for whatever their reasons. But now, they are now finally encouraged to let others know publicly that they find such open expressions of intolerance to be offensive and unacceptable.

    Mahalo, Dale Hanson, and Aloha.

    Parent

    Donald (none / 0) (#110)
    by CoralGables on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 07:45:10 AM EST
    Big softball game in Las Vegas today at the Easton Desert Classic at 9:15am (HST).

    The ESPN ranked #1 Florida Gators (6-0) vs the Rainbow Wahine (4-2). Both of the Hawaii losses were at the hands of #12 ranked UCLA. One of the Gator victories came against the #4 ranked oculus loved Michigan Wolverines.

    Parent

    Should be a good game. (none / 0) (#164)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 05:54:46 PM EST
    Three years ago, the Rainbow Wahine eliminated then-No. 1 Alabama in the final game of the 2010 NCAA Tuscaloosa Super-Regional before a stunned partisan crowd and a national TV audience, with one of the more dramatic finishes in college softball history.

    With two outs, one on and her team trailing in the bottom of the 7th, 4-3, Wahine OF Jenna Rodriguez ended the game on her very first swing with a 2-run walkoff HR to the clear surprise of the ESPN announcers, who only seconds before had been singing the praises of Alabama P Kelsey Dunne after she struck out the prior two Hawaii batters to record her 15th and 16th Ks.

    The baseball 'Bows open their 2014 campaign tonight at Murakami Stadium against Oregon. We'll be there, too, right after we watch Elder Daughter's high school boys' volleyball team play a pre-season match, literally just down the street. She obviously must be doing something right as coach, because her players clearly like her and have responded with a 4-1 mark thus far in pre-season, so she's enjoying the ride and making the most of her opportunity. They open their conference season against the defending state champions in two weeks.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Fear Not... (none / 0) (#114)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:10:06 AM EST
    ...the local new station here tracked down a couple Texans who weren't scared to go on camera stating the same things the anonymous sources stated.  One went as far as to say he wouldn't shower with him for fear of being ogled.

    Granted, these were guys I never heard of, but it's always odd to me when minorities jump on the 'hating other minorities' band wagon.  One would think that if anyone would understand the plight of being a minority, it would be other minorities, but that in my experience is rarely true.

    I watched the Lombardi - A Football Life a couple weeks ago.  He was Italian and was told he could never be a head coach because of it; obviously the Packers didn't get that memo, but more importantly, he had gay players on his team when he moved to Washington.  They weren't openly gay, but it was known in the locker room.

    In 1969, the year before his death, the only year he coached the Redskins, Lombardi worked with at least five gay men -- three players and two front-office executives, including David Slattery, who would come out in 1993. In his defining biography, "When Pride Still Mattered," author David Maraniss described the scene of Lombardi charging an assistant to work with one of the gay players, a struggling back named Ray McDonald. "And if I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood," Lombardi is quoted as saying, "you'll be out of here before your ass hits the ground."
    ...

    Of course, the same was true of Lombardi's locker room in Green Bay, where he wouldn't let his Packers frequent any restaurant, bar or hotel that denied the same services to black players normally offered to white players. And when a black defensive end, Lionel Aldridge, revealed his plans to marry his white girlfriend, Lombardi blessed the union at a time when some around Green Bay, and around the league, were less than enthusiastic about it.
    LINK

    Lombardi was a devout Catholic and a head coach in the NFL in the 60's in a small town, yet he managed to get 5 championship under his belt with players of all races and sexual orientations.  Which proves that the all the BS coming out of the league is nothing more than bigotry from small men, too cowardly to associate their names with their ridiculous claims.  And anyone printing anonymous ranting of bigots is just as cowardly in my book.

    The media should not be using 'anonymous sources' for opinions, period.  If people can't state their opinions publicly, then they should not be printed, it way too easy to spin the opinion of one as the opinion of most.

    Parent

    Speaking of... (none / 0) (#124)
    by CoralGables on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:52:33 AM EST
    The NFL report on the Dolphins is out and Richie Incognito comes off even worse than anticipated along with other players and a coach.

    Parent
    He is a complete (none / 0) (#126)
    by jbindc on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 11:12:34 AM EST
    DB (and I don't mean defensive back even though he's an offensive, or rather of-FEN-sive player).

    Parent
    Wonder Who Will... (none / 0) (#127)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 11:38:30 AM EST
    ...pick him up next year ?  eh was suspended for 8 games, but he got paid for 6 of them.

    Who will pick up Martin and Sam ?

    It's going to say a lot about the NFL.  I have a feeling that this off season a couple folks might step outside the closet.

    Parent

    I suspect (none / 0) (#128)
    by CoralGables on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 11:57:12 AM EST
    Dolphins offensive line coach Jim Turner may be unemployed soon and looking for a job with another team.

    Parent
    Incognito (none / 0) (#134)
    by jbindc on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 12:41:36 PM EST
    Seems like he would fit in with the culture in New Orleans now that Jonathan Vilma is gone - their DB (not defensive back) quota is running a little low.

    Parent
    Is that the dude's real name? (none / 0) (#136)
    by nycstray on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 01:06:44 PM EST
    Yes, hilarious, isn't it? (none / 0) (#137)
    by jbindc on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 01:19:28 PM EST
    Guess you really can't (none / 0) (#169)
    by nycstray on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 09:14:00 PM EST
    make this sh!t up! lol!~

    Parent
    Simply amazing. (none / 0) (#168)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 09:09:27 PM EST
    Straight athletes have been sharing locker rooms and showering with gay teammates for decades; they just didn't know who the gay guys were at the time. I played college baseball with two teammates who've long since been out as gay, but they weren't back then and neither of them ever hit on their teammates.

    Some of these NFLers are really over-flattering themselves, believing that every gay man -- and straight woman, for that matter -- is practically swooning to get a piece of their a$$. It's perfectly understandable, of course. After all, who could resist THIS?

    There's a breaking story out of Los Angeles about former New Orleans Saint Darren Sharper, a five-time Pro Bowler who's been accused by (at last count) seven women on four different states of drugging and sexually assaulting them. No doubt, were he to come out of retirement, he'd be welcomed back into the brotherhood.

    But a guy who's into other guys, well, he has no business playing pro football, because it somehow undermines the NFL's entire He-Man subculture. Go figure.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Kukla, Fran & Oligarchy, Part II: (5.00 / 2) (#152)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:38:11 PM EST
    The irrepressible if thick-skulled Tom Perkins, who first won so many fans by comparing the self-perceived plight of the rich to that of the Jews on the eve of Kristallnacht, is back in the news.

    This time, he tells CNN that the wealthy should be given a greater share of political influence, which can be accomplished by giving them more votes.

    Look for Perkins to give Donald Trump a real run for his money this season, as the two self-vanity idols duke it out for the title of America's Most Obnoxious One-Percenter.

    ;-D

    Why does the president get to break the law? (2.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Slado on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 11:56:19 PM EST
    Another illegal delay

    Interested in some ideas on this from the lawyers.

    Seems pretty clear to this legal novice that he's breaking the law.

    Apparently (none / 0) (#12)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 09:24:45 AM EST
    you are confusing an opinion piece with an actual news piece and this one is from a guy who clerked for the crazed David Sentelle who never saw a conspiracy theory that he did not buy into.

    If you've got a case to make surely you can do better than that or maybe you really don't have a case and this is the best you can do?

    Parent

    To be fair (none / 0) (#13)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 09:43:17 AM EST
    There are many legal experts - of both parties - who question this delay, and of course, there are those who say it IS legal, but most agree that nothing can or will be done to change it.

    The administration has taken "a legally shaky position," said Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan who specializes in administrative and health law. "Extending the delay even to a portion of plans for a second year is pushing legal boundaries even harder."

    Legal experts said, however, they could not think of anyone who would have the standing to sue. At least two lawsuits have already been filed over delays to the employer coverage requirements, one of which was dismissed in January.

    SNIP

    Unlike the individual mandate, which allows the administration to grant waivers for individuals suffering a hardship, the employer mandate has no such exemption, he said.

    But the U.S. Treasury Department said in an email that the latest action was an exercise of its longstanding authority to grant transitional relief when implementing new legislation, as provided by the Internal Revenue Code.

    "There certainly are arguments that this is legal," said Timothy Jost, a health law professor at Washington and Lee University.

    While some courts have held that a specific deadline in a statute must be met, he said, other courts have said that a statutory deadline is just one factor to consider in determining whether a delay is reasonable.

    Legal experts said, however, it would be difficult for any group or individual to show that they have the legal standing to challenge the delay in court.



    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 01:58:21 PM EST
    that's fine. At least you are putting forth some facts and the fact that there are people who disagree and agree. Frankly it sounds to me like nobody really knows for sure whether it's legal or not.

    Anyway, like i said you are not trying to make your case with an opinon piece. If all you can come up with is an opinion piece then IMO you really aren't making much of an argument.

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#31)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:14:30 PM EST
    You may not like Jonathan Adler's viewpoint or politics, but he IS a well-respected law professor and widely quoted legal commentator. And the link was to an analysis he did on a legal blog (which is now on the Washington Post), so it's not exactly the same as if a Charles Blow or George Will or someone else who is not a lawyer wrote a piece outlining the legal arguments and clearly showing they have no idea what they are talking about.

    He made a legal argument.  Jeralyn makes them all the time.  It doesn't mean she is necessarily "right" or "wrong" about an issue (and it may depend on how you feel about the issue she is discussing as to whether you think she is "right" or "wrong"). She presents the facts, and applies the law in the way that she thinks is correct (or at least, for the outcome she is advocating) - as any good lawyer would do.

    (Before the usual haters start to hate, please note that I am not saying I agree with Adler's argument, just that he making a legal argument that many other legal professionals are making or agree that could be made).

    Parent

    I would (none / 0) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 06:00:03 PM EST
    say the same thing about the piece if it was from Charles Blow or George Will. These people are pundits not reporters.

    Look the guy is a memeber of the Federalist Society the same organization that Ken Starr was a member of along with a lot of other wackos. I'm sure people quote him to the get the far right view of things but the far right is more often wrong than right.

    Parent

    lol; it almost doesn't matter. (none / 0) (#55)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 10:05:25 PM EST
    They can fight to delay or even belay the delay in court, but that will take as long as the delay would have delayed everything anyway.

    Parent
    "Illegal"? - Heh (none / 0) (#51)
    by Yman on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 07:20:27 PM EST
    Says who?  What were the other "illegal" delays?

    Parent
    There have been many (2.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Slado on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 10:23:02 PM EST
    Changes to the law by executive rulings disguised as implementation.   Some are merely questionable but others simply ignore the law and are IMHO unconstitutional.

    I don't really care mind you because it is a clear sign that the law is not being implemented well by this incompetent administration and the more they have to do this the closer we come to changing it if not repealing it.

    Snark away.  It's really indefensible at this point.  

    Parent

    So much silliness, so many targets (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by NYShooter on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 02:56:52 AM EST
    hardly know where to start.

    How about.....hmm,....o.k, I think I'm on safe ground in stating I doubt very much that you really know what's "constitutional," and, what isn't. I know the right wing, A.M. radio crowd loves to toss around the word, "Constitution," it makes the bat sh*t, nutso talk around it seem "weightier." Trust me, it doesn't. But, just for chuckles (Not the same as snark, btw) what great Constitutional law was violated here? It's late at night now, so, you can google to your heart's content.

    O.k, what's next? Nah, I tell you what; I'm going to cut to the chase now. And, I'm talking about the mis-defined "conservatives," here. I know what they're deathly afraid of; I doubt that you do, however. You're more of a bumper sticker, drive-by, slogan slinger. They're scared to death by the idea that, by the time the election rolls around, so many uninsured voters will be covered that it will be a fait accompli, just like medicare, and, just like s.s.

    You had your chance to deny your fellow citizens a benefit the rest of civilization takes for granted. But, instead of using coherent statements, and, logical concepts, you sent out the clowns instead. That was an offensive move, and, even the tea types "got it."

    Parent

    Ohhhhh ... in YOUR opinion (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Yman on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 08:23:01 AM EST
    No way to make a movie about Mena... (none / 0) (#6)
    by unitron on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 08:07:59 PM EST
    ...better for Clinton 2016 campaign than no movie, I'm thinking.

    Given that Barry Seal was killed in 1986, ... (none / 0) (#7)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 11, 2014 at 09:35:37 PM EST
    Jeralyn: "A movie script about Barry Seal, the infamous pilot and DEA informant linked to the Medellin cartel, the CIA, the contras, Oliver North, and the Bush, Reagan and Clinton Administrations."

    ... and further that President Reagan didn't leave office until January 1989, I'm really curious as to how Seal was also entangled with the Bush and Clinton administrations.

    Who's funding this film -- the Benghazi Veterans for Truth?

    Iran-Contra broke in 1986. (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 12:01:02 AM EST
    At the time Bush denied knowing anything, although claiming in his personal diary to be one of the few people who knew everything.

    Clinton ran Arkansas.  I've no idea how much of the story here is true.  Arkansas as a narco republic and nexus of Bush, Seals, DEA, and Governor Clinton.  The entries for the years 1984-1986 read like Hunter S. Thompson.

    Parent

    Great article Mr. Natural. (none / 0) (#11)
    by fishcamp on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 09:05:20 AM EST
    Barry Seal came to Aspen in the mid 80's to bring drugs and ski.  He was way too fat to ski but he did bring kilos of coke to Steve Grabow who was later blown up and killed in his jeep in the Aspen Club parking lot.  The Aspen ski co. didn't call me to ski with this celebrity.  I saw him waddling around town but didn't meet him.

    Parent
    It's when Clinton was (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 01:10:54 AM EST
    Gov. of Arkansas. Mena was the hub of activity. There's a ton of books published about this, as well as documents from Congressional hearings.

    Here's an article that was supposed to run in the Washington Post but ended up in Penthouse.

    Here's a bibliography of sorts.

    Are there fanatical conspiracy claims? Yes. Is the basic story about Mena true? It seems so.

    For books, check out: Barry and the Boys, Terry Reid's Compromised, a roundup of sources here, a summary here and here. Also see here.

    I have no idea what angle the screenwriter approaches it from. Ron Howard is hardly a conspiracy theorist and he's agreed to direct. Universal and Sony were the highest bidders for the script, and Universal won out. So there is no "birther" group funding the script. What's unusual is that the script writer, Gary Spinelli, is relatively unknown, he's had one movie as far as I can tell that was hardly a big hit (called Stash House.)

    From another article on the upcoming movie.

    The script is based on the true story of Barry Seal, a 1980s "portly pilot." The 300 pound gun-runner was a drug trafficker who smuggled various drugs and other forms of contraband for both the CIA and the Medellin cartel. In the end, it was the cartel who led to his demise when they shot him.

    The title Mena refers to Mena, Arkansas, the place where a lot of the illegal activity took place. Bill Clinton was the governor of Arkansas at the time, and the entirety of Seal's dealings happened under his nose, as well as the noses of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

    Ron Howard is a big time Democrat supporter who has said he's happy with Obama and will support Hillary in 2016, so I suspect the script is heavier against Reagan and the Bushes than Clinton.  

    Parent

    Thank you for the links, Jeralyn. (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:01:35 PM EST
    And I sure hope that the filmmakers properly fix the blame for that long-ago mess on the Reagan and Bush administrations, because that's exactly where it belongs.

    Iran-Contra was in so many ways even more brazen, harebrained and dangerous to the overall democratic health and well-being of our country, as far as political schemes go, than was Watergate. Sad to say, they got away with most of it, and never really paid a proper price for any of it.

    Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh's 1997 account of these times, Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-Up, should rightly send a chill up people's spines -- that is, if people ever bother to actually read it. Suffice to say that it stands as a literary indictment of historic consequence, clearly meant to set the record straight about Iran-Contra for future generations, if not our own in particular.

    And further given the hyperpartisan times, that Mr. Walsh was a rock-ribbed Republican penning this legal memoir makes his case against the Reagan and Bush administrations all that more compelling and ultimately damning.

    (I remember Lawrence Walsh as an elderly gentleman when he served as the Iran-Contra independent counsel. He's still with us, and recently celebrated his 102nd birthday on January 8. Maybe he's determined to outlive his principal targets.)

    Aloha.

    Parent

    The book "Barry and the Boys" (none / 0) (#14)
    by fishcamp on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 09:48:07 AM EST
    is $112.20 from Amazon and it's not worth it in my opinion.  

    Parent
    You can get one on Ebay (none / 0) (#15)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 10:25:23 AM EST
    link

    for $99.95.

    Description: NOTE: Chapter 35 is intentionally missing from the printing of this publication. This was intentionally done by the publisher and is not a printing error.


    Parent
    Digression (none / 0) (#17)
    by sj on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 11:31:30 AM EST
    When you said "Terry Reid" instead of "Terry Reed" my mind instantly went here. Thanks to you I found a recording that I don't already have.

    Parent
    Republican wins San Diego mayoral race (none / 0) (#16)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 10:43:02 AM EST
    Link

    LOS ANGELES -- A Republican city councilman handily won the special election to become San Diego's mayor Tuesday and will serve out the term started by Bob Filner, a Democrat who resigned last year amid sexual harassment accusations.

    The victory by Kevin Faulconer will make San Diego the largest city run by a Republican and raises the possibility that the 47-year-old former public relations executive could become an important leader in the efforts to rebuild the Republican Party in California. Mr. Faulconer won with 55 percent of the vote, compared with 45 percent for his Democratic opponent, David Alvarez.

    The special election came nearly six months after Mr. Filner stepped down amid allegations that he sexually harassed dozens of women, including many top local leaders.

    SNIP

    Mr. Alvarez's campaign had tried to ride a wave of liberal populism, focusing on issues like raising the minimum wage and providing new city services in struggling neighborhoods. Mr. Faulconer emphasized his stances on fiscal issues like his support of a pension overhaul and contracting out city services, saying such efforts would enable the city to pay for other improvements.

    Mr. Alvarez conceded just before midnight Tuesday, calling Mr. Faulconer and pledging to work with him.

    "This much is clear: We have changed San Diego, and we are just getting started," Mr. Alvarez told his supporters earlier in the evening. "We are on the verge of accomplishing great things."

    When Mr. Filner won in 2012, he was the first Democrat elected mayor in the city in two decades. Even as many of his former supporters called for his resignation last summer, they openly worried about whether they would be able to help elect another Democrat, particularly in a special election in which turnout would be much lower than during a presidential election.

    The race attracted national attention, with Mr. Alvarez receiving an endorsement from President Obama in the final days of the campaign. National and local labor unions poured more than $4 million to support Mr. Alvarez's campaign, which Mr. Faulconer repeatedly attacked as evidence that unions would have an outsize influence at City Hall.



    I believe that makes (none / 0) (#19)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 11:50:27 AM EST
    6 out of the last 7 elections for mayor in San Diego to be won by the Republican candidate with a Republican holding the seat for 20 of the last 22 years.

    Parent
    Yes, but (none / 0) (#21)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 12:23:50 PM EST
    This was the important fact that you glossed over:

    The race attracted national attention, with Mr. Alvarez receiving an endorsement from President Obama in the final days of the campaign. National and local labor unions poured more than $4 million to support Mr. Alvarez's campaign, which Mr. Faulconer repeatedly attacked as evidence that unions would have an outsize influence at City Hall.

    Ooh that - and Alvarez is Hispanic.

    That's a problem - OFA couldn't deliver.

    Parent

    And (none / 0) (#22)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 12:27:02 PM EST
    The race was tight up until the last week - and Alvaraz lost by 9 points.

    Parent
    Why is it a problem? (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 01:41:23 PM EST
    The only Dem to win in 22 years just left office due to a scandal. The chance of another Dem winning now were ridiculously small.

    I know you like to search high and low for Dem problems, but the only problems here were the outgoing mayor's issues and your quest to inflate non-inflatable issues.

    Parent

    Um (none / 0) (#24)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 01:47:41 PM EST
    Because they were TIED until a couple of days ago - and then he lost by 9 points after $4 million AND a personal endorsement by the President?

    I know you like to search high and low for ways to defend how the Dems are so awesome, but this is really shows how much Obama could be a problem for Dems later in the year - which is why many of them are asking him to stay away.  He's kind of toxic in many places.

    Parent

    I think you're intelligent (2.00 / 1) (#26)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 01:52:27 PM EST
    and clueless.

    Parent
    Further, they were never really "tied." (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:26:10 PM EST
    Most polls have had Kevin Falcouner ahead the entire time, even during the first round of voting in November. Sometimes it wasn't by very much, but often by enough that the issue was never really much in doubt.

    Further, the turnout was only 37%, which will all seal a Democrat's doom in a special election in GOP-leaning San Diego every time. The L.A. Times presently has it pegged at a 10-pt. margin of victory for Falcouner, and I'm frankly sort of surprised it was even that close.

    San Diegans haven't really had much luck with their mayors over the last 30 years, having gone through nine of them in that time, with three of those imploding in major scandal and subsequently compelled to resign. They really don't need any more Roger Hedgecocks, Dick Murphys or Bob Filners, so here's hoping the new guy brings a little sorely-needed stability to City Hall.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Really? (none / 0) (#36)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:47:58 PM EST
    1.  A president doesn't throw his support to just any candidate - especially very late in the game; he generally will only publicly support those that appear to have a

    2. Unions aren't going to throw last minute money at a candidate who isn't polling close.

    3. Again, Democratic operatives on the ground were surprised - but you have better information?

    4. And oh yeah - it was statistically tied going into the election, so I have no idea what you are talking about.


    Parent
    Your argument is a stretch, jbindc (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by christinep on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 03:39:04 PM EST
    The only thing surprising about San Diego in years past has been the very rare occasion of a Democratic win there.  In any event, whatever your perception here, it looks like a beleaguered attempt to transform that molehill.  

    But your stamina in stumping for your view is fairly impressive.

    Parent

    Obviously, jb, that poll was very wrong, ... (none / 0) (#39)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 03:17:46 PM EST
    ...given that Alvarez lost by ten points. It was an outlier. One poll saying toss-up doesn't mean it's therefore a toss-up.

    And you ask, do I have better information? In this case, yes, I do. I've got a lot of friends in the CDP, and they are local operatives and activists, and not some DNC guys who arrived from D.C. six to eight weeks out, pretending to know exactly what's going on here. This is the locals' turf. They know what they're talking about.

    When adjusted for likely voters, internal local Democratic polls never had Alvarez any closer than five points since the first round of voting last November. Most of January, he was down by ten-plus, and that's pretty much exactly where he finished.

    Regardless of what you might think, jb, this isn't my first time at the rodeo. I've been in the game a while now, and have been involved in enough campaigns that I think I do a pretty decent jobs of gauging polling trends.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    And again (none / 0) (#64)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 08:13:39 AM EST
    The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES does not officially give his late endorsement and the backing of his political operation to a mayoral candidate if said candidate has no chance of winning.  So, it seems to me the WH (and those Dem operatives on the ground) were looking at the same polls (not the polls you cited from November) that said it was a statistical tie.

    But as usual, you know everything.

    Parent

    Sure (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 10:46:17 AM EST
    they do. It happens all the time. I guess this was a last ditch effort to help the guy.

    Parent
    Of course, I don't "know everything." (none / 0) (#106)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:38:34 AM EST
    But by the same token, having one's domicile in the Beltway doesn't necessarily endow one with the title of Smartest Gal in the Room, either.

    You seem incapable of understanding that I work with people in the California Democratic Party. Further, I've been doing so for years, by virtue of my own position in our state party. We share resources and information, and help each other whenever we can. I'm originally from Southern Cal, and I worked on two recent congressional campaigns in San Diego, trying to oust Rep. Brian Bilbray. So, yeah, I know San Diego politics quite well. Most certainly, I know it better than you.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Thank you re helping replace Bilbray. (none / 0) (#107)
    by oculus on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:02:35 AM EST
    Did you see this re lack of endorsements?

    Buono interview

    Parent

    Did you believe (none / 0) (#29)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:01:37 PM EST
    those polls? I knew a Republican was going to take that race.

    Parent
    Maybe you and CG aren't as (none / 0) (#33)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:21:24 PM EST
    all-knowing as you think you are about the voters.

    Why the San Diego mayor's race should worry Democrats

    Faulconer has a middle-of-the-road reputation built for a city that has typically elected GOP mayors over the past two-plus decades, which helped make him the favorite in the special election to succeed disgraced ex-Mayor Bob Filner. But Democrats also have a 14-point registration advantage over Republicans in San Diego, which gave President Obama more than 60 percent of its votes in 2012 as it lifted the liberal Filner into the mayor's office.

    And despite help from an enormous field operation looking to make those numbers work for Democratic special-election candidate David Alvarez, Faulconer still garnered almost 55 percent of the vote as many fewer people cast ballots than in 2012.

    It's a problem Democrats will be trying to solve across the country in 2014, when key groups of supporters, such as minorities and unmarried women, are less likely to turn out than in presidential years. It is one of the reasons Republicans are within striking distance to retake the Senate and are heavily favored to keep the House of Representatives. It's why Democratic senators such as Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, where the African-American share of the electorate dropped by a sixth in the last midterm election, are endangered.

    SNIP

    Democrats had big, late hopes of shaping the San Diego electorate just enough to make good on Alvarez's late surge in momentum and automated polling in the district. A large chunk of the $5 million-plus that went into Alvarez's campaign and outside efforts was focused on turnout. Barrera said his group alone had more than 800 people walking precincts the weekend before the election, focusing on the Democratic-leaning but lower-turnout neighborhoods south of Interstate 8. Adding in other outside groups and the Alvarez campaign itself, well over 1,000 Democratic field workers were combing the city for votes before Election Day, according to Barrera.

    So, experienced Democratic operatives on the ground were surprised by the beating Alvarez took, but you guys knew better?

    O-kay.

    Parent

    Experienced operatives from where, jb? (none / 0) (#37)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 03:04:12 PM EST
    Your neck of the woods? This is a local race and a local story. Most local San Diego Dems I know were hoping for the best, but weren't at all confident with this race in the ugly aftermath of Bob Filner's disgraceful departure. They were expecting to pay a price for it, even though Filner's political undoing came as a result of Democratic and not Republican pressure.

    (It was former Democratic councilwoman Donna Frye and two Democratic allies who first broke the story of Filner's transgressions last spring, and first called upon the mayor to resign. While Republicans were subsequently able to capitalize politically, they were the peanut gallery in the effort to drive the guy from office, and displayed only the political courage to shoot the mortally wounded.)

    Regardless of the respective party affiliations of registered voters, San Diego is a military city with a lot of retirees that has long leaned GOP, and is especially red in the north and east areas. At best, it's a "purple" with a reddish tinge. And the suburbs and exurbs of northern and eastern San Diego County itself, roughly Miramar to Escondido and eastern Oceanside, is real "Rush Limbaugh Country."

    I wouldn't put too much stock in the National Journal's present effort to divine some sort of nationwide trend from this local mayoral election result, given that the city's politics is an outlier of state politics as a whole.

    In other words, as San Diego goes, California isn't necessarily liable to follow. You want to see where the country is headed, look to California's political trends as a whole, and not simply to what's been happening in its southwesternmost corner.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    If you asked in my neck of CA (none / 0) (#38)
    by nycstray on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 03:12:51 PM EST
    I doubt anyone knew there was an election :) Now, if they had voted to take more of our water . . .

    Parent
    San Diego has been conservative GOP (none / 0) (#41)
    by shoephone on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 04:19:30 PM EST
    territory for as long as I can remember. We used to love going for zoo weekends when I was little, and as a teenager, we went to see Dave Mason concerts there a couple of times, but otherwise..? Weird town! And the weirdness is directly related to the military and the Republicans.

    Those of us who grew up in Cal know that San Diego has always been considered a stepping off point to higher office for Republicans -- let us not forget Pete Wilson years. SD is Darrel Issa land, and Duke Cunningham did his dirty deeds from SD during the Bush years.

    Honestly, I would have been surprised if the GOPer hadn't won this mayoral race.

    Parent

    Hey! We went for zoo weekends also! (none / 0) (#42)
    by nycstray on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 04:46:54 PM EST
    But...wouldn't yours have been the Bronx zoo? (none / 0) (#52)
    by shoephone on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 07:42:23 PM EST
    Nope! Born and raised in CA (none / 0) (#54)
    by nycstray on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 09:28:41 PM EST
    I was actually born in the LA area. I was even an honorary Mouseketeer :P

    Parent
    Ah, yes, Pete Wilson. (none / 0) (#70)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 02:41:38 PM EST
    Now there's a guy whose decades-long political presence generally served only to retard the scene in California. Frankly, the state GOP is presently paying a steep price for his personal ambition and desire to continue playing kingmaker, which served to eventually marginalize them in the face of public opinion and changing demographics.

    Wilson was the guy who helped foist the genial but otherwise incompetent Arnold Schwarzenegger upon state residents as their governor back in 2003. Further, the Latinophobic Proposition 187 was entirely his idea, and while it no doubt harnessed overwhelming white support for his successful 1994 re-election campaign as governor over Democrat Kathleen Brown (the present gov's sister), it also earned Republicans the undying enmity of the state's resident Hispanic-American population, for which Prop. 187 served as nothing short of a political call to arms.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I think there's a big misconception about CA (none / 0) (#90)
    by shoephone on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 05:07:43 PM EST
    It has had more Republican than Democratic  governors, by about 3 to 1, and Republicanism ruled in the 1920's, the 1950's, and during the Nixon and Reagan years. And while the big cities are dominated by Dems now, San Diego is still painted red, from what I can see. Filner was something of an aberration. Practically everything east of the central valley line is scary red. And there are huge swaths of the north and central coast -- and just inland -- that are very conservative or libertarian.  

    But, hey, you hail from one of the former Republican strongholds of California -- Pasadena -- which was staunchly conservative throughout my growing up years. One of the most interesting aspects of Julia Child's bio is her upbringing in Pasadena...and how she couldn't wait to get outta there! Her parents were very conservative.

    Parent

    Pasadena's nothing like that now. (none / 0) (#95)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 06:42:21 PM EST
    In fact, the demographics of the entire San Gabriel Valley have changed, and it's reflected in the region's current politics, which is definitely trending Democratic.

    The last GOP congressman to represent Pasadena, Dan Rogan, was bounced from Capitol Hill by district voters after he actively participated in President Clinton's impeachment and attempted removal as one of the Republican managers making their case to the Senate. That did not sit well at all with his constituents, and 65% of them subsequently voted for his challenger Adam Schiff, who's still represents the district in D.C.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    That's true (none / 0) (#101)
    by shoephone on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 09:19:37 PM EST
    And Adam Schiff is an excellent rep.

    Parent
    In addition, yesterday the settlement (none / 0) (#44)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 04:58:04 PM EST
    reached in a case brought against Filner by one of his top assistants was announced. Also, some very high profile state Dems not only did not endorse Alvarez, they endorsed an opposition candidate.

    Parent
    OFA (none / 0) (#65)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 08:14:52 AM EST
    You know - the people that are the political arm of the Obama juggernaut?

    Parent
    Now you (none / 0) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 06:03:42 PM EST
    are doing a 180 on what you said earlier. The turnout is no suprise. It happens a lot in off year elections.

    But darn you are acting like you want the tea party to win like they did in 2010.

    Parent

    Funny (none / 0) (#81)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:00:45 PM EST
    Because you act like you have your head in the sand and just want to run around screaming "TEA PARTY!!!"

    Parent
    The (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:34:47 PM EST
    tea party is real. I wish they were not. I wish they did not exist but they do.

    Parent
    Before we "screamed Tea Party" (5.00 / 1) (#140)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 02:11:01 PM EST
    people were screaming about the privatize-and-deregulate, anti-labor, theocratic, anti-science, 19th century-view of the environment, regular old GOP.

    No one needs the Tea Party, (ie, people afraid to admit they voted for Bush) to be apalled by the conservative movement.

    Parent

    There's being appalled (none / 0) (#141)
    by jbindc on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 02:20:54 PM EST
    And then thinking that a Tea Party candidate is actually going to be the presidential nominee for the Republican Party.

    Parent
    We (none / 0) (#150)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:34:46 PM EST
    shall see. All the ones that are polling up there are tea party except for Jeb Bush and who knows? Maybe people think they're voting for George W. or something.

    Parent
    If you are saying, jondee (none / 0) (#148)
    by christinep on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:33:40 PM EST
    that there is little light and only superficial room separating the present Repub Party and that group now known as the Tea Party, I believe that you are on to something.  Initially and for awhile, it appeared that the Teapots were a very different brand of conservatism than what the "establishment" Repubs have become in recent cycles.  Then--for a number of reasons, including the source of funding (see Koch Bros, e.g.)--the Tea Party looks different than so-called mainline only in terms of action & costume and in limited degree.

    IF it is the case that there is not that much difference between establishment Repubs and Tea Party types, then the latter serves a purpose for the former by keeping an activist base in check and in the Repub column when elections roll around.  Otherwise, the party leaders would have frozen out the more outrageous types long ago ... rather than playing all ends against the middle.  The only political danger for such an implicit or explicit arrangement would be IF a strong key figure with name recognition and following (say, Ted Cruz) bolts with announced plan for a another political party.  At the very least, that would end the charade that the party leaders have worked themselves.

    Parent

    the tea (none / 0) (#149)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:33:46 PM EST
    party is even WORSE than the regular GOP but the GOP is pretty much adapting their ideas.

    But yeah, George W. Bush was pretty much tea party without having the name.

    Parent

    adopting? (5.00 / 2) (#171)
    by jondee on Sat Feb 15, 2014 at 11:03:20 AM EST
    the Tea Party has been the id of the GOP right along.

    They're predominantly the same hard-right that voted twice for Bush and thinks Reagan sits on the right hand of the Father. "Independent" my foot.

    Parent

    As far as I could discern, Alvarez' (none / 0) (#43)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 04:52:13 PM EST
    only qualification was his party registration

    Parent
    Well, there you have it. (none / 0) (#96)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 06:49:59 PM EST
    That's your city, so I'll take you at your word.

    Parent
    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 276 (none / 0) (#18)
    by Dadler on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 11:50:18 AM EST
    You can't go to traffic school for this one. (link)

    v. 275
    v. 274

    Have a happy humpy humpday, mi amigos y amigas. Trying to get sonny boy healed from his head-cold-from-hell before we head to Tahoe for the yearly ski trip. Well, my wife and son ski. I play poker at Harrah's or The Montebleu. (And really, after recent health scares, happy as hell that my wife is feeling good enough herself to ski this year.) Peace out.

    I just changed this one (none / 0) (#48)
    by Dadler on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 06:25:27 PM EST
    The caption wasn't working for me anymore. Give the new one a look.

    Parent
    McClatchy/Marist Presidential Election Poll Today (none / 0) (#20)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 11:59:32 AM EST
    Ryan vs. Clinton - Clinton +8
    Huckabee vs. Clinton - Clinton +14
    Cruz vs. Clinton - Clinton +17
    Bush vs. Clinton - Clinton +20
    Paul vs. Clinton - Clinton +20
    Christie vs. Clinton - Clinton +21
    Rubio vs. Clinton - Clinton +21


    Those (none / 0) (#30)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:03:50 PM EST
    numbers are kind of surprising. I'm surprised the gap is that big with some of them but only 8 points with Ryan.

    And Ted Crus polls 3rd. Anyway this will just reinforce the mindset of the tea party that they need a tea party candidate.

    Parent

    The Christie conundrum (none / 0) (#32)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:15:29 PM EST
    appears to have damaged all of them. Perhaps that explains why some potential GOP candidates have been directing their barbs Christie's way as of late...which may also help explain Christie's precipitous fall from grace.

    Parent
    Even North Carolina (none / 0) (#35)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 02:28:44 PM EST
    which has been swaying sharply to the right as of late...this from PPP today.

    Christie vs Clinton - Clinton +3
    Paul vs Clinton - Clinton +3
    Bush vs Clinton - Clinton +4
    Huckabee vs Clinton - Clinton +5

    Interesting in that Huckabee is polling the lowest of those four GOP candidates for president, but is currently the NC choice for the GOP nomination.

    Huckabee-20%
    Bush-15%
    Paul-14%
    Christie-11%
    Cruz-8%
    Rubio-8%
    Ryan-7%
    Walker-4%
    Jindal-3%

    Parent

    Huckabee (none / 0) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 06:09:23 PM EST
    is right up North Carolina GOP's alley. His numbers do not surprise me at all. As a matter of fact, I would not be surprised to see him leading polling here in GA too.

    I wonder how much of that is name recognition too with Paul polling at 14%.

    Parent

    Or as Charles P. Pierce calls us... (none / 0) (#50)
    by unitron on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 07:13:07 PM EST
    ..."...the newly insane state of North Carolina..."

    :-(

    Parent

    I remember the last time Clinton was the favorite (none / 0) (#57)
    by Slado on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 10:25:22 PM EST
    How'd that work out?

    Parent
    That's easy (5.00 / 4) (#58)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 11:24:37 PM EST
    Surprised you already forgot. The Dems won the presidency.

    Parent
    And Hillary ended up ... (5.00 / 2) (#99)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 08:00:26 PM EST
    ... running the State Department.

    Parent
    Another former mayor goes down (none / 0) (#25)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 01:48:57 PM EST
    Ray Nagin convicted on corruption charges. Guilty on 20 of 21 counts.

    Don't these guys ever learn?

    What is it exactly about ... (none / 0) (#53)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 08:15:27 PM EST
    ... Illinois gubernatorial politics, that a greater-than-normal number of its practitioners are invariably prone to farce and scandal?

    Rahinah Ibrahim (none / 0) (#61)
    by Mikado Cat on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 02:50:03 AM EST
    Apparently FBI "checked the wrong box" on a form in 2004 putting this woman on a no fly list and ended up with her cuffed in her wheelchair detained and denied a flight to HI from San Francisco. She sued to find out why and Fed claimed national security reasons and had case dismissed. Good reading.

    Good reading? It's more like Kafka... (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:44:34 AM EST
    Pure, unadulterated Kafka.

    Parent
    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 277 (none / 0) (#63)
    by Dadler on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 07:14:34 AM EST
    The worst variation of "Take Your Child To Work Day." (link)

    v. 276
    v. 275

    Have a lovely day, all ye mortals. After my wife's health scare, my son's month of being sick as a dog with stomach virus then head cold, we're heading up to Lake Tahoe, where wife and son will ski, while dad with bum leg will gimp a hundred yards across the parking lot into Nevada to play poker at one of the casinos.

    Peace.

    RIP, Ralph Waite (none / 0) (#109)
    by jbindc on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:58:07 AM EST
    Boy it sure did fail (none / 0) (#113)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 08:31:38 AM EST
    Thanks for letting me know. Haven't a clue how that happened. Trying again:

    There are some good looking men on the U.S. Olympic team. Slide show  There are also some very attractive women on the U.S. team but didn't see a slide show on the front page of Olympic coverage. Slide show  

    There are also some very attractive women on the U.S. team but didn't see a slide show on the front page of Olympic coverage.

    This one appears to work. Will see if Jeralyn will delete the other one.


    I did delete it (none / 0) (#172)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 16, 2014 at 02:34:05 AM EST
    U.S. ranked 46th in press freedoms. (none / 0) (#123)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 10:50:27 AM EST
    by Reporters Without Borders.

    Round up the usual suspects.

    PLEASE DISREGARD THE LINK (none / 0) (#130)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 12:07:59 PM EST
    I don't know what is happening but the links are getting messed up after I preview them and post them.

    Here is the... (none / 0) (#132)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 12:35:34 PM EST
    ...LINK you posted, it works, just remove the mail to: part from of the front of the link.

    I noticed this a couple days ago.  I am guessing you are hitting a button on the page rather than copying the address and it's putting the email header.

    Parent

    Thanks Scott (none / 0) (#151)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:34:52 PM EST
    I noticed the mail to: part in front of the link. I am pretty sure I tried copying the links in two different ways and got the same bad result. Will just have to be more careful and really examine my links in the future or stop linking altogether until I figure it out.

    Parent
    I deleted the comment for you (none / 0) (#173)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 16, 2014 at 02:35:54 AM EST
    RIP, Jim Fregosi (1942-2014). (none / 0) (#147)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 03:17:54 PM EST
    He recently suffered a debilitating stroke while on a Carribean cruise with fellow former MLB players, and was removed from life support yesterday at a Miami hospital. He was 71.

    Signed by the Boston Red Sox at age 19 in 1961, and then taken by the Los Angeles Angels in the 1961 expansion draft, Jim Fregosi was the first true star player of the Angels franchise, and was considered one of the game's best shortstops in the '60s. He was a mainstay of the Halos' infield until traded to the New York Mets in 1971, as part of a five-player swap which first brought pitcher Nolan Ryan to Anaheim.

    Fregosi later returned to the California Angels in June 1978 as their manager, and the following season led the team to their first-ever American League West Division title. He also managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1993 National League pennant and the World Series. He spent the last 13 seasons as a scout for the Atlanta Braves.

    Aloha to a great player, and one of the good guys.

    From a FB friend: (none / 0) (#159)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 04:56:14 PM EST
    RE: Fregosi:

    A: Very sad!

    B:Even sadder was the Mets traded Nolan Ryan for him in 1971!!!!

    A: even in death you can't give the poor guy a break! LOL!!!!

    B: Worse trade ever!!!! Us Met fans have been forever haunted. LOL. Good manager though.



    Parent