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Superbowl Sunday and Open Thread

Update: Lady Gaga -- what a tour de force. Her energy, creativity, timing and artistry were all on display. She was about as close to perfect as it gets. Well Done! (Daily Mail has some great photos.)

I don't watch the Superbowl (or even know who is playing in it.) But since I do love music, some years I watch the half-time show. Also, I have seen some of the commercials for this years Superbowl, like the Budweiser immigrant commercial, which I applaud Budweiser for.

As to SNL last night, I missed it. Based on the superlative reviews, I tried to watch the opening with Baldwin and Bannon as the Grim Reaper, and the Melissa McCarthy as Spicer routine, and lasted about a minute for each.

I have no intention of watching spoofs of people I find revolting in real life and whose public role should be marginalized, not enhanced. Press spokespersons are nothing more than mouthpieces. Why have a character portray them? It's one thing to portray the UnPresident and other world leaders, it's another to portray people whose personal thoughts don't amount to a grain of sand in the universe.

There are, however, much more pleasant things to watch for entertainment this week. [More...]

James Corden and Adam Lambert battle to be front man for Queen

The talent booker for James Corden's Late Late Show does a video chat with #SaltBae to see if he'd be a good guest for the show, but #SaltBae doesn't speak English, his only language is "meat."

James Corden takes a silent ride to LAX to board a plane after Trump's visa ban. The last frame shows his message.

A sad thought for today. The Superbowl will be watched by tens of millions of people ashamed of the man in the Oval Office. He doesn't represent the majority of Americans. His ideology is out of touch with American values.

He does not speak for me or tens of millions of Americans. Americans are inclusive. We want to help those in need, we don't claim America comes first.

Tens of millions of sane and rational Americans do not respect Donald Trump and reject his ideology. The number grows daily, as more and more people fear his mental stability. He won't change our mind. We will continue to stand up for what we believe. "This isn't about about giving up or giving in."

We will fund every group that that challenges him in court and promote every lawsuit filed against his nationalist, unconstitutional and Unamerican values.

Memo to Donald Trump and Republicans:

!

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Trump Fail: U.S. Borders Re-open, Visa Cancellations Reversed | Trump's First Seven Attempts to Violate Human Rights >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Satire is an important tool in dissent (5.00 / 8) (#7)
    by Molly Bloom on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 05:18:48 PM EST
    Since we are stuck with them, I am glad SNL is doing its part.

    Yes, satire is a powerful (none / 0) (#35)
    by KeysDan on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:12:15 PM EST
    dissent tool, especially, it seems, with the temperament of Trump.  The "President Bannon" references and the SNL skit with Bannon at the big desk, and Trump at the kid's, did get a defensive response ("I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it.")

    Similarly, the NYTimes article by Thrush and Haberman, that suggests that Trump did not know much about the EO's he signed, particularly being angered by the one upgrading Bannon on the NSC and downgrading the JCS and NS Director.

    Also, Thrush and Haberman  report that aides confer in the dark because they cannot figure out the light switches in the cabinet room. Visitors wander around looking for door knobs that lead to exits.  And, Trump is characterized as being taken with the decor of the Oval Office, delighted to page through a book offering 17 window treatment options--telling some visitors they were from the FDR era (actually Clinton). Between meetings he passes time by giving tours to visitors.

    Trump's rebuttal centers on calling the NYTimes failing.

    Parent

    And there's the TIME cover (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 05:30:19 PM EST
    One has to wonder how a person with Trumps fragile ego will like conventional wisdom settling on the fact that Bannon is running things.

    Also, one thing I agree with in this post is that Gaga was phenomenal

    Parent

    Yes, rumor has (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by KeysDan on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 05:49:15 PM EST
    it, there was a football game associated with a Lady Gaga concert.

    Parent
    Not my cup of tea... (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:04:43 PM EST
    But I gotta hand it to Lady Gaga...now there's a performer who calls her own shots, based on an accumulation of data.

    Everyone knows it.

    Parent

    You know what I liked (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:36:57 PM EST
    Admitting up front I am Gaga's biggest fan, if you look close at the dancers there were women who were not the typical skin and bones fashion model types.  And Gaga herself has a body more like Marilyn Monroe than most female role models these days.  And she knows just how to use it.  You, or i should say I,  couldn't help noticing the bit of belly that rolled over that - whatever she was wearing on the bottom.  It was very sexy.
    Many of the dancers looked very much like regular people look.
    I liked that.

    Is this a new trend?  I admit I have not been paying much attention to backup dancers.

    Parent

    She took some heat for the belly roll on twitter (none / 0) (#80)
    by McBain on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 08:11:02 PM EST
    I didn't watch it live but I've seen some pics and I thought her body looked good.  The costumes were hideous but I'm probably not her target audience.

    I think it would be great if performers and models returned to a more healthy look. Too often they get rewarded for the unnatural thin look.

    Did you see the Michael Alig Netflix documentary? He claims Gaga pretty much stole his fashion and set design ideas.  

    Parent

    This (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 05:40:41 PM EST
    I haven't seen that many gin blossoms (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 11:55:27 PM EST
    since an old wine-head hit me up for change near the Pike Place Market.

    Do ex-Goldman guys have their own hobo jungle down near the switching yard?

    Parent

    Ooh (none / 0) (#67)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:02:39 PM EST
    the grim reaper has made it to the cover.

    Parent
    Gail Collins (NYT op ed): (none / 0) (#90)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:45:21 AM EST
    Poll winner:  "Pence's Poodle."

    Parent
    The Falcons ought to relocate to ... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:56:59 AM EST
    ... Choke-lahoma, where the win goes circling down the drain.

    Oh, man (none / 0) (#28)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 04:37:01 AM EST
    we are so disappointed here. Maybe the Falcons will learn from this experience.

    Parent
    Look on the bright side, though. (none / 0) (#36)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:26:31 PM EST
    You and other Falcon fans can now congratulate your team for successfully avoiding have to get their picture taken with Donald Trump at the White House.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Did Atlanta's d go into (none / 0) (#38)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:38:37 PM EST
    prevent-mode in the 2nd half?

    It looked like their backs were playing way off and letting Brady "short-and-middle stuff" the Patriots down the field..

    Epic meltdown on Atlanta's part, and epic persevering on the Patriots part.

    Parent

    I thought so, too. (none / 0) (#43)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:57:47 PM EST
    It sure looked as though the Falcons started playing not to lose late in the 3rd quarter, and had abandoned the aggressive defensive schemes that had shut the Patriots down up to that point and helped to give them that 25-pt. lead.

    Parent
    I think it was more of a case of... (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 03:12:30 PM EST
    the Atlanta defense being exhausted, for as long as they were on the field.

    Atlanta's choice not to just run the damn ball on the 3rd and 1 where the Evil Empire recovered the strip sack fumble, and their choice not to run the damn ball in Evil Empire territory and kick the figgie to go up 11 late is what did them in.

    If Atl did nothing but run the ball into the line once up 19 in the 4th, the game is over.  But they got cute.

    But all that being said, their doomed fate was sealed when Home Depot Man came down to the sideline to collect his trophy before the game was over.  Arthur Blank, you are the kiss of death!

    Parent

    Sometimes, coaches will out-think themselves. (none / 0) (#58)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 03:39:49 PM EST
    Remember, that happened at the end of the game in Super Bowl 49, when the Seahawks had 1st and goal at New England's one-yard-line with one minute to go in the 4th quarter, and Seattle Coach Pete Carroll inexplicably called for a pass-option rather than simply hand the ball off to RB Marshawn Lynch, aka "The Beast," whom the Patriots had not stopped all afternoon. The pass was intercepted, and Patriot Nation got a gift-wrapped Super Bowl victory, courtesy of Carroll's boneheaded call.

    Parent
    Indeed... (none / 0) (#61)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 05:01:25 PM EST
    Pete Carroll and Dan Quinn...you the real MVPs for the last two rings on Darth Belicheck's stubby fingers!

    Parent
    And so, the lesson here is this: (none / 0) (#70)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:16:08 PM EST
    The Falcons should have played more (none / 0) (#76)
    by Green26 on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 07:16:50 PM EST
    not to lose than they did. What killed them was not the possible playing a bit soft; it was the 2 plays where they should have been more conservative. 3d and 1 in their own territory, and they opt to throw out of a deep drop (and get sacked and fumble). 3d down within easy FG range and they opt to pass and get sacked. Jeez, run the ball on either play and they win the game.

    I agree with the comment that the Falcons D seemed to wear down later in the game. Or else the Patriots' o-line learned how to play later in the game.

    Parent

    The Falcon needed to maintain ... (none / 0) (#83)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 08:56:01 PM EST
    ... their aggressive postures on both defense and offense, while at the same time appreciating that it's sometimes a very fine line between aggressive and foolhardy, which is what happened on those two particular plays you described.

    Running the ball on 3rd and 1 is a much higher-percentage play, so that's just common sense. Within the context of playing aggressively but smartly, that would've been the right call. If you pick up the first down, great. If you don't, you punt the ball and play for field position by trying to pin your opponent deep. Trying to throw deep on that play was just foolish.

    And again, trying to pass on 3rd down when you're clearly in field goal range and three points puts the game effectively out of reach -- well, that can't be called anything but recklessly stupid. I don't know what the coaches were thinking. By that point, I surmise that the Patriots had perhaps gotten inside their heads and they were in panic mode, even though there was really no reason to be so.

    No question, the Falcons deserved to lose -- and they did.

    Parent

    Haha (none / 0) (#40)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:46:10 PM EST
    Good point.

    Parent
    The Bowling Green "Massacre" (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Yman on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 10:25:38 AM EST
    Looks like Kelly Ann "misspoke" with the exact same "mistake" a week before her invention of the "massacre" that never happened.

    #alternativefacts

    But it was an innocent mistake. (none / 0) (#37)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:30:31 PM EST
    Why, anyone could do it if they tried really hard- D'OH!!

    ;-D

    Parent

    What a roller coaster (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by CST on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:12:57 PM EST
    I said before the game that if I wasn't from New England I probably would be rooting for the Falcons with the rest of America.  Matt Ryan gave Boston the first good college football team that I can remember.

    But I will say that it doesn't get old or boring and as a city we still care about every bit of it.  What an incredible game, it has been a real special treat to follow this team over the years.

    Lady Gaga And Tom Brady (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:00:17 AM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/jpxghqg

    Nice article by Mary Katherine Ham in the Federalist

    Lady Gaga And Tom Brady Made America Great Again By Sidelining Boring Partisans
    Lady Gaga and Tom Brady did exactly what they were there to do, on the biggest stage in the world, and so well it's hard for anyone to argue with it


    Bread (none / 0) (#88)
    by FlJoe on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:13:20 AM EST
    and circuses were still plentiful in the late stages of the Roman empire. Shut up and take your Soma, sheeple.

    Parent
    Reminds me of Diane Keaton (none / 0) (#151)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 11:06:31 AM EST
    in Sleeper: "I want my orb. Where's my orb!"

    More bread and roses and less bread and circuses.

    Parent

    It's kinda funny (none / 0) (#93)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:04:50 AM EST
    ... how conservatives were all worked up about Lady Gaga, imagining some kind of political statement that never happened.  I guess they also need their "safe space".

    Parent
    Nothing upsets (none / 0) (#94)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 09:32:23 AM EST
    conservatives more than to point out the Emperor Has No Clothes.

    Parent
    One of the things... (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by desertswine on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 11:38:33 AM EST
    "One of the things that you've got to understand is that we've got to develop a continuity in order to relate to exacerbate those whose curiosity has not been defended,yet the information given can no longer be used as allegoric because the defendant does not use the evidence which can be substantiated by."

    Professor Irwin Corey has passed away.  Thanks for the laughs Professor.

    Melania settles libel suit (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by McBain on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 01:11:44 PM EST
    This was the "high end escort" claim

    As part of the settlement, Wester Griffin Tarplay had to issue this statement....

    I posted an article on August 2, 2016 about Melania Trump that was replete with false and defamatory statements about her.  I had no legitimate factual basis to make these false statements and I fully retract them. I acknowledge that these false statements were very harmful and hurtful to Mrs. Trump and her family, and therefore I sincerely apologize to Mrs. Trump, her son, her husband and her parents for making these false statements.


    In another suit (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by KeysDan on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 01:24:22 PM EST
    Mrs. Trump is seeking at least $150 million in damages, claiming a Daily Mail article damaged her business opportunities stemming from being FLOTUS.

    Parent
    Speaking for myself only, since ... (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 07:32:01 PM EST
    ... I've never before heard of Wester Griffin Tarplay, I've no desire to waste any of my time becoming acquainted with either him personally, or whatever loathsome things he once said publicly about Melania Trump. I only hope that Mrs. Trump soon develops a thick skin because fair or not, she's obviously going to need one. She can't sue everyone who insults her.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    There aren't enough lawyers in the (none / 0) (#132)
    by McBain on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:18:16 PM EST
    country to sue everyone who throws an insult her way. She'll probably pick and choose her battles.  This one was obviously a winner.  I'm not sure about the other.

    Parent
    But that's her business, isn't it? (none / 0) (#137)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:54:26 PM EST
    Why make it yours? Surely, there are far more important matters to worry about at present than Mrs. Trump's virtual virtue.

    Look, this is nothing but gossip. I didn't even know who this yahoo Tarplay was prior to your first posting this so-called "news" from CBS, and now I'm very sorry that I do.

    Nothing good has ever come from engaging in gossip. Far from being enlightening, gossip is generally mean, hurtful, exclusionary, humiliating, destructive and ultimately soul-warping. I don't hold Melania Trump responsible for her husband or his actions, and I don't wish her or their 11-year-old son ill.

    That's the last I'll say on this matter.

    Parent

    That's it? (none / 0) (#102)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 01:54:10 PM EST
    Just an apology?

    That was easy.

    Looking forward to the Summer Zervos defamation case.  

    Parent

    Well...... (none / 0) (#113)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:30:37 PM EST
    As part of the settlement, the blogger, Wester Griffin Tarpley, has issued a written statement and will, according to a statement from Trump's lawyer, "pay a substantial sum as a settlement."


    Parent
    I don't know, Trevor (none / 0) (#117)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 07:00:16 PM EST
    who reported this?

    Remember, the media has Zero credibility now.

    Maybe there never was a "Wester Griffin Tarpley."

    Has anyone seen his birth certificate yet?

    Why won't the biased mainstream media let us see it? What are they hiding?

    Parent

    Actually (none / 0) (#118)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 07:08:47 PM EST
    You are correct,

    Nowadays, you have to have a 5 day waiting period before anything can actually be believed.
    So when this is not disputed in 5 days ,
    Then you may consider Real News

    Parent

    Wait, ... did you just cite ... (none / 0) (#126)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:09:02 PM EST
    ... Trump's lawyer using meaningless, subjective qualifiers ("substantial")?

    Heh.

    Parent

    Forgot the emphasis (none / 0) (#128)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:09:38 PM EST
    Trump's lawyer.

    Heh.

    Parent

    Baa waa waa (none / 0) (#104)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 03:40:50 PM EST
    She got shafted. No money and only an apology? And did anybody even read that story?

    Parent
    Who said no money? (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by McBain on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 04:36:05 PM EST
    I clearly said "As part of the settlement".  I thought the statement by Tarplay was the important part but if you're hung up on money try reading the article I linked.  It says he'll pay a "substantial sum".  

    The bigger issue is why do so many of you have Trump derangement syndrome?  No matter your political views, the treatment of Melania has been abysmal.  When will liberals start being liberal again?

    Parent

    Melania on (5.00 / 2) (#110)
    by KeysDan on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 05:51:07 PM EST
    Obama and the birthers.  And, we are still waiting on Mrs Trump's press conference on her immigration story announced by Trump,Aug 8, 2016, to be in a few weeks

    Parent
    I guess the McBain's of the world (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:08:44 PM EST
    would say Melania and Daddy Warbucks can't have ODS, because who can blame them for not trusting any of Those people.

    Especially the ones with funny, un-American-sounding names.

    Parent

    As soon as Melania apologizes ... (5.00 / 2) (#111)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:05:54 PM EST
    ... for pushing the birther lie about President Obama.

    Any day now ...

    Parent

    The whole thing (none / 0) (#107)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 05:00:52 PM EST
    is such nonsense. The people who think it's bad for you and I to sue and want to take away that right sue everybody and their brother. Maybe they gave her $1.00 as settlement.

    Are you kidding me? What treatment of Melania? She's the one that filed this stupid suit. And for the record all I care about is the fact that she's costing us a lot of money. In all honesty I feel sorry for her. She looks completely miserable every time she is around Donald. The irony is ten feet thick with self righteous conservatives who talk constantly about p*rn but yet here we have a first lady that did p*rn.

    As far as Trump goes, well get used to it. He's doing nothing to expand his base of support and seems intent on shrinking it.

    Parent

    Did she really? (none / 0) (#130)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:14:05 PM EST
    GA6thDem: "The irony is ten feet thick with self righteous conservatives who talk constantly about p*rn but yet here we have a first lady that did p*rn."

    Honestly, I don't know how I missed that. So I just Googled and sure enough -- learn something new every day. Looks more like nude modeling than anything truly down and dirty, though. Anyway, per most others who partake in that particular line of work, she was young and probably impressionable and perhaps also needed the money. Funny, but knowing that actually humanizes Melania Trump for me.

    As far as the hypocrisy of the right on this issue is concerned, it's long been known that the most eager consumers of online adult entertainment tend to reside in so-called "Red State America."

    ;-P

    Parent

    I can only imagine how Planet Wingnut (none / 0) (#136)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:51:45 PM EST
    would've responded if say, Michelle Obama had something like that in her background.

    They would've called her Foxy Brown and photoshopped her riding in the back of Iceberg Slim's cadillac with the other girls.

    That's the kind of thing they do to "outsmart the DNC."

    Parent

    It's likely far worse. (none / 0) (#145)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 10:18:38 PM EST
    jondee: "That's the kind of thing they do to 'outsmart the DNC.'"

    And further, the people behind this are targeting an unsuspecting and low-information American electorate, of whom a fair portion is comprised of what you called "Planet Wingnut":

    Motherboard | January 28, 2017
    The Data That Turned the World Upside Down - "Psychologist Michal Kosinski developed a method to analyze people in minute detail based on their Facebook activity. Did a similar tool help propel Donald Trump to victory? Two reporters from Zurich-based Das Magazin went data-gathering."

    It is my considered opinion that there is a likely nexus between recent electoral events in Moldova, Bulgaria and the United States, and it runs through Moscow. What's described in the Motherboard article went a long way toward clarifying for me what happened. Because if I understand this correctly:

    • Psychological profiles (O.C.E.A.N.) have been further developed by mining "Big Data," which includes Facebook Likes, credit card expenditures, travel histories, lifestyle choices, etc. including GPS data of individuals moving through their daily lives.
    • These profiles have been exquisitely refined and defined.
    • Different cohorts can be assembled by selecting similar psychological profiles.
    • "Profile cohorts" -- that is, identification of individuals deemed susceptible to such outside influence -- can then be targeted with highly personal, nuanced, and progressively more inflammatory messaging via their own electronic devices.
    • These targeted messages are invisible to members of other profiles.
    • The increasingly vicious tweets and online commentary we've seen online from far-right conservatives over the last 18 months, which often appear so inexplicably unhinged and crazy to the rest of us, are actually being driven and prompted by this "Big Data" analysis.

    I believe that this technique is being deployed to influence politics and elections both here and elsewhere. Further, it may be the connection between what happened in the United States, Moldova and Bulgaria, particularly in light of this alarming Facebook Post by Aleksandr Dugin (translated from Russian), which can be seen at the 13:14 mark in this Dec. 11, 2016 segment from "AM Joy" on MSNBC:

    "Washington is ours. Chicinau is ours. Sofia is ours. Now we just have to drain the swamp at home[.]"

    Aleksandr Dugin is a prominent Russian political scientist who is well known for his fascist and warmongering views, and who enjoys close and extensive ties with President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin's executive bureaucracy and the Russian military. The nexus here is that the United States, Moldova and Bulgaria each had national elections in Nov. 2016, all of which then resulted in shockingly unexpected wins by pro-Russian candidates. I do not believe that this is coincidence.

    It can be pretty disorienting and frustrating to have a conversation with someone you love, who hasn't a clue about what you are speaking, or who may have been slowly -- over many, many months I suspect -- and subliminally "programmed" to respond to your concerns with flip and dismissive comments or characterizations, all of which serve to forestall further communication on the subject you wish to discuss.

    I now believe that this state of affairs has been deliberately induced at least in part by a sophisticated, targeted propaganda campaign originating in Moscow and further, that this campaign is still ongoing. It has had the effect of inciting socio-political chaos; and of sowing doubt and mistrust both in our government institutions and between us as citizens and individuals.

    If it's true, then it poses a direct threat to the political health and national security of our nation. One must ask, "To what ultimate end?" and, "Who benefits?" And this is why independent hearings on Russian interference in our elections ought to be conducted immediately.

    Anyway, if you have time, please read the Motherboard article and watch the MSNBC video, and then pass it on. We can perhaps discuss its ramifications later. For now, I'm taking off my tinfoil hat and signing out.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I have TDS because Little Boots (none / 0) (#108)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 05:14:19 PM EST
    in my estimation, is an underqualified, spoiled, ruthless, boorish slob of pedestrian intelligence and Zero dignity of comportment and diplomatic skills, who has no business whatsoever representing my fellow citizens and I by being the leader of the world's most powerful nation.

    And all I'm going to say about Melania is that she has my sympathy, and apparently, McBain's envy.

    Good luck to her.

    Parent

    If somoene of pedestrian intelligence (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by McBain on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 07:40:20 PM EST
    outsmarted the DNC, what does that say about them?

    How about channeling some of your frustration at the career politicians who let you down?    

    Parent

    They didn't (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:01:38 PM EST
    ... "outsmart" the DNC.  They conned the ignorant, uninformed, gullible minority of the public that was foolish enough to buy their lies and snake oil.

    Next.

    Parent

    "Career politician" ain't that tell.. (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:09:02 PM EST
    that odious two-word expression expelled a hundred times a day on every right wing blog leading up to the election.

    I'll take a career public servant over a career spoiled brat/huckster/p*ssy grabber any day.

    Parent

    a tell (none / 0) (#129)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:11:06 PM EST
    I'll take career politicians ... (5.00 / 2) (#134)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:24:10 PM EST
    McBain: "How about channeling some of your frustration at the career politicians who let you down?"

    ... over professionally outraged loudmouths who talk big and tough, yet can't even find a light switch.

    :-|

    Parent

    in my opinion... (none / 0) (#131)
    by linea on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:16:09 PM EST
    bernie sanders would have won against donald trump.... or ted nugent or kid rock or even tila tequila had she been running.

    hillary v. tila tequila makes my mind run riot. but at least i would have been entertained by president tequila's fashion disasters in the white house.

    Parent

    That's the nice thing about opinions (none / 0) (#133)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:18:53 PM EST
    They don't have to have any evidence to support them ...

    ... or any relationship to reality.

    Parent

    As soon as conservatives ... (none / 0) (#109)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 05:29:08 PM EST
    ... stop their hypocrisy and start applying their own standards to themselves.   A good start would be an apology for all the tinfoil,  conspiracy smears against HC, both before and during the time she was FLOTUS.  Then,  they can stop pretending that some blogger in his basement represents liberals.

    Parent
    GOOD (none / 0) (#119)
    by linea on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 07:20:53 PM EST
    Blogger forced to pay 'substantial sum' to Melania Trump in defamation lawsuit

    i hope she wins the Daily Mail lawsuit too and puts them out of business. too many people here are nothing more than crude political partisans, lacking any moral sense. in my opinion.

    shorter TLers, "i hate donald trump do much, that i endorse newspapers libeling a woman by calling her a prostitute."


    Parent

    Do you condemn her for publicly (5.00 / 2) (#122)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 07:57:27 PM EST
    stoking Trump's birth certificate fake news?

    If you don't, I'm sure you're perceptive enough to realize you come off as a self-righteous hypocrite.

    Parent

    "Substantial sum" - heh (none / 0) (#125)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:06:54 PM EST
    That was a statement from Trump's lawyer.  "Substantial" is a relative word that can mean pretty much anything, which is why he used it instead of stating an amount.

    too many people here are nothing more than crude political partisans, lacking any moral sense. in my opinion.
    shorter TLers, "i hate donald trump do much, that i endorse newspapers libeling a woman by calling her a prostitute."

    That's so weird.  I was thinking there were too many people willing to excuse Melania's pushing of the birther conspiracy theory because they think she's pretty or like the way she dresses.  Or excusing Ivanka's enabling of Trump because they think she's "posh" or some other inane, superficial reason.

    Go figure.

    Parent

    i try to be open... (none / 0) (#135)
    by linea on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:45:38 PM EST
    yman, i read your post and i googled melania + birther to see if this is a legitimate criticism. i found this (please watch):

    remember melania trump defended racist birther movement video
    [A clip from 2011 in which Melania Trump defends her husband's racist conspiracy theory that Obama was not really an American citizen.]

    i suspect we see something completely different when we watch this. i see a wife. you seem to see a political operative. i dont feel wives and daughters should be chastised or criticized for supporting their husband or father.

    Parent

    We do "see" something different (5.00 / 2) (#138)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 09:10:36 PM EST
    I see an adult who is capable of making her own decisions.  I see a grown woman who chose to push a baseless conspiracy theory - a lie.  The fact that he husband was doing the same is no excuse.  I see someone who - like any other adult - is responsible for her own choices.  I see a double standard and hypocrisy in those who take such offense by a lie told about Melania, but excuse the lies told BY Melania.  I also judge people by their actions, not by the fact that they're wealthy and wear pretty clothes.  I also don't feel the need to make excuses for someone and pretend they're a victim simply they're a woman.

    You're right.

    We're completely different.

    Parent

    i make an effort (5.00 / 2) (#140)
    by linea on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 09:26:51 PM EST
    to understand other people's positions and how other people feel. you dont.

    Parent
    That's basically the definiton of liberal (5.00 / 2) (#142)
    by McBain on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 09:45:31 PM EST
    being open minded and understating. Unfortunately, many in here have become bitter and intolerant. I've given up on a few because they've lost their way and will lash out at something they're afraid of.... like a different opinion.  

    Because Melania supports her husband, she's become fair game for the haters.  They've managed to make the privileged look like the underdogs.

    Parent

    "Supporting her husband" - heh (5.00 / 1) (#143)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 10:07:11 PM EST
    People can support their spouses without pushing baseless, false conspiracy theories.  But it's amusing that you both take such great offense by lies told about her, while simultaneously excusing her lies about others.

    Two peas-in-a-pod.

    Parent

    So Melania, a grown woman (5.00 / 2) (#144)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 10:16:08 PM EST
    should be just be this diaphanous, pretty thing with no mind of her own, who just goes along to get along, no matter what her husband says or does, with no accountability whatsoever?

    What is that? the liberalism of the 18th century?

    Parent

    That's not what I said Jondee (none / 0) (#150)
    by McBain on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 10:36:09 AM EST
    but it is an interesting question.  What do we expect from our first ladies?  Hillary  had to change her act, and look, when Bill was elected.  Was that fair? Of course not, but their advisors wanted a second term.

    It would have been really interesting had Hillary won this time and the roles are reversed.  What would we expect from Bill?

    Parent

    Obviously (5.00 / 1) (#152)
    by Repack Rider on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 11:25:03 AM EST
    ...you were not old enough at the time to notice...

    Hillary  had to change her act, and look, when Bill was elected.

    Don't you remember when Nancy Reagan was president because Ronald couldn't remember his own initials??

    The Clintons had been a "team" from the moment they married.  Hillary took a lead role in promoting a health care reform, and she was savaged by the GOP for being uppity.  

    The GOP always forgets, but the Internet remembers.

    Parent

    let's (none / 0) (#158)
    by linea on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 09:16:15 PM EST
    not bring up hillary.

    it's probably not a fair comparison because from what ive read, it seems the general perception of most people during the clinton era was that hillary overlooked his polyamorous activities and then publically blamed the young women and called them liars.

    oops!!

    Parent

    Or as you like to call it (none / 0) (#159)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 09:27:47 PM EST
    supporting her husband.

    Plus, there were times when she looked absolutely fabulous doing it.

    One mustn't lose sight of the big picture.

    Parent

    fine (none / 0) (#160)
    by linea on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 09:46:32 PM EST
    re: "Or as you like to call it... supporting her husband."

    i actually do find it rather equivalent.
    i actually dont fault hillary but i dont fault melania either.

    what would you do if you were married to a libertarian (for example) and he ran for political office? personnally, i would act demurely un-political but others might not want to seem like a "dumb blonde."

    p.s. i dont understand how anyone can watch that video and hate melania or see her as a political operative. she was obviously struggling with the meme.

    Parent

    False equivalencies (none / 0) (#161)
    by Yman on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 09:58:55 PM EST
    You keep making them.

    See if you can tell the difference between a spouse not believing accusations of infidelity against their spouse, and one that goes on TV to willfully promote a tinfoil conspiracy theory against the POTUS, simply because her husband is promoting the same crazy conspiracy theory.

    It's really not very hard.

    P.S. I don't understand how anyone can watch that video and attempt to justify her actions.

    Parent

    see if you can tell the difference (5.00 / 1) (#162)
    by linea on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 10:11:50 PM EST
    " between a spouse not believing accusations of infidelity against their spouse" ... and a woman who (many assert) overlooked her polyamorous husband's activities for decades and most certainly during a period where the u.k. was rife with "sex addict monster" headlines.

    seriously!! and you're attacking melania?

    Parent

    Pretty sure I didn't stutter (none / 0) (#163)
    by Yman on Thu Feb 09, 2017 at 07:25:59 AM EST
    Ahhhhh .... the "many believe" argument.  The last refuge of someone pushing an argument for which they have no evidence.

    BTW - See if you can tell the difference between what "many (wingers) believe" and me.  See if you can tell the difference between a Bitter Berner straining to draw a silly, false analogy between HC and Melania.  See if you can tell the difference between someone who paints her as a helpless, little victim simply because she's a woman and me.  Wee if you can tell the difference between marital fidelity (a personal matter) and a birther conspiracy against the POTUS (a public one),  See if you can tell the difference between someone who judges people for the actions and someone who puts them on a pedestal because you like the clothes they wear and think they're "so posh!".

    It's not hard.

    Parent

    Basic (none / 0) (#149)
    by Repack Rider on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 10:29:50 AM EST
    That's basically the definition of liberal being open minded and understating.

    First, of course, that is a "straw man" argument, defining your opponent as a soft target and then putting one in the "ten ring" while facing no resistance from a fictional character or addressing an actual argument.  You assume that all "liberals" have exactly the same motives and opinions, like conservatives do.  But we don't, which is why we are not conservatives.

    (Do you see what I did there?)  But aside from that...

    You do not claim liberal status.  Does that mean you are the opposite of a liberal in all things, which would be, based on your own definition, closed-minded and intolerant?

    Unfortunately, many in here have become bitter and intolerant.

    In that case you have clearly converted a few liberals to conservatives.  This should be a proud moment.  Why do you sound so bitter?

    Parent

    More baseless opinion (none / 0) (#141)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 09:38:58 PM EST
    You should tell someone who:

    1. believes you, and
    2. cares.


    Parent
    What position would that be? (none / 0) (#147)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 12:15:23 AM EST
    Where you "support" your lying spewing husband to Phuck an innocent person completely over? Does she gently with love hold his hips while he preforms a metaphorical raping of another human being...you know, so he doesn't get too tired, because LOVE?

    Parent
    So, A wife's duty is to publicly support (5.00 / 4) (#146)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 12:08:33 AM EST
    A husband in all of his lies, baseless defilement of others, and insanity?

    What a load of bull$hit

    Parent

    I don't see Linea saying it is (5.00 / 2) (#154)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 12:58:24 PM EST
    a wife's "duty," but only that the wife should not be criticized if she chooses to endorse and support her husband's ugly and indefensible actions and statements. Just to be fair and accurate here.

    Parent
    If only..... (none / 0) (#166)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 10, 2017 at 05:04:14 PM EST
    BTW - I don't need to "watch" (none / 0) (#139)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 09:12:55 PM EST
    I am well informed and remember the video well.  Moreover, I already posted a link to the video of her in this very thread long before you Googled it - as did someone else.

    Parent
    Melania's profiting (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by Yman on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 09:57:43 AM EST
    Remember how Melania claimed in her lawsuit that she was losing all kinds of potential income she could receive due to her increased visibility as FLOTUS, etc.?  

    Nevermind.

    That was just a "misinterpretation".
    #alternativeprofiteering

    Interesting... (5.00 / 2) (#156)
    by desertswine on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 01:45:26 PM EST
    a new photograph of Harriet Tubman has surfaced.  Well, its not a new photo, its more like a new old photo.  She's been doing some amazing things and people will soon hear about her.

    At our (3.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 03:12:30 PM EST
    house we're all going to be cheering for the Falcons!

    I am against the Trump team (none / 0) (#2)
    by MKS on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 03:43:41 PM EST
    Arthur Blank (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 03:59:04 PM EST
    the owner of the Falcons was pretty angry about that Holocaust statement Trump made.

    Parent
    as a former constituent of John Lewis, me too! (none / 0) (#5)
    by Molly Bloom on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 05:16:02 PM EST
    i hate sports (none / 0) (#3)
    by linea on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 03:51:18 PM EST
    i especially hate football fans watching television and hysterically screaming, "F-yeah! WOOO!!! F-yeah! F-yeah!!

    tonight, there will be drunks on the street at 2am. they will be sceaming, beating their chests, getting into fights outside the sports bars, randomly damaging cars and property, urinating in public, and yelling at the night.

    what's not to like (roll-eyes)?


    The screamers... (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 05:17:20 PM EST
    are just the people who hit their boxes. It's got nothing to do with football really.

    Guilty of urinating in public and yelling at the night, don't pin the rest on me pal!

    Parent

    Yep!!! (none / 0) (#77)
    by TrevorBolder on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 07:54:56 PM EST
    My box hit, 1st quarter 0 - 0

    With these 2 teams , I figured that was a loser.

    Parent

    ha ha!! (none / 0) (#78)
    by linea on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 07:55:38 PM EST
    hit their boxes?

    Parent
    Yep! (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by TrevorBolder on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 08:01:29 PM EST
    Won $550

    A common gambling office pool, totally random.

    When a quarter ends and there is a scream in the room, someone won one of their boxes!!

    Parent

    My offspring reports the Tufts library (none / 0) (#89)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:36:06 AM EST
    was wonderfully quiet on Super Bowl eve.

    Parent
    I'm not a big football fan (none / 0) (#6)
    by McBain on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 05:18:16 PM EST
    but I respect the efforts of Tom Brady.  He's probably already the greatest quarterback of all time but if he win's today, there will be no doubt.

    So, I'll watch some, maybe most of the Superbowl but its way too long.  Football in general has issues with too many penalties and commercials slowing things down but the Superbowl is even worse.  I don't care about the over hyped commercials.  

    I'll probably start the game late and fast forward through the slow parts.  

    I don't agree with Jeralyn's pessimistic view of Trump.  Tens of millions of sane and rational Americans like me are willing to give him a chance.

    Too late. (none / 0) (#11)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 05:47:03 PM EST
    That so-called human being as already proven himself unfit for task.

    Parent
    This just in (none / 0) (#15)
    by Repack Rider on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 07:49:32 PM EST
    The pro-Tr*mp demonstrators have taken up the challenge issued by the 3000 patriots who showed up at Mar-a-Lago to voice their objection to the BLOTUS's hatred of America.  In Portland, Maine today they rallied in support of the Usurper.

    A dozen people showed up to huddle together and look sad.

    Are these the "sane" Americans you identify with?

    Parent

    comment replying to this (none / 0) (#16)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 08:08:19 PM EST
    was deleted. While I'm obviously sympathetic to its anti-Trump message, it was filled with name-calling and potentially libelous accusations. Do not call anyone a rac*ist here please.

    Parent
    "Tens of millions" (none / 0) (#19)
    by MKS on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 09:42:13 PM EST
     of supporters of Trump.  Why you go there is a mystery to me.   If you count voters and supporters, you know where this goes.

    What is happening now is what happens when an unpopular President who lost the popular vote tries to shove his anti-immigrant and other agenda down the throat of the majority.

    Parent

    almost 62 million people (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by linea on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 11:06:12 PM EST
    is "tens of millions" isnt it?

    63,649,978 hillary
    61,943,670 trump

    Parent

    It's probably more than 100 million (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by McBain on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:17:47 AM EST
    Some of the people who didn't vote and some who voted for Hillary are going to give him a chance.  

    I want to see what happens with the economy and health care.  The immigration issues aren't a big deal to me.  

    Parent

    Probably over 10 billion (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Yman on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 08:43:00 AM EST
    If you're just making up numbers,  why stop there?

    Parent
    This has always been my biggest fear (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by CST on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:05:40 PM EST
    You know what they say about Mussolini, he made the trains run on time.

    How quickly he dropped the "illegal" immigration facade and went after legal Visa holders.

    But since it doesn't affect your life at all, not your problem.

    Parent

    It is everyone's problem (none / 0) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:31:50 PM EST
    Vote Vets ran an ad during Morning Joe today because Trump watches the show. It is an ad featuring a Veteran who lost his leg in the WOT who says in the ad this is not the America he fought for.

    We watched President Trump at CentCom just now. But we watched with Ali Soufan and Jon Soltz weighing in. Both discussed that a Muslim ban places our troops at risk and it places our intelligence collection in jeopardy too.

    Jon Soltz is a co-founder of Vote Vets. He was in uniform in 2003 and deployed to Iraq. After that deployment he left service and became an active critic of the Iraq War and started the Vote Vets organization. He then later deployed to Iraq in 2011 trying to help train Iraqi troops and restore some stability.

    Our nation is full of deeply principled, ethical, courageous, optimistic individuals. We shall overcome.

    We have a good friend at CentCom who is an Independent and has a Ph.D. in political science. I am attempting to find out if Trump was traveling with his entourage of canned applause again. I heard a starting clapper during the CentCom speech similar to what you can hear during the CIA speech where we already know he brought his own applause in.

    Parent

    Just throwing people (none / 0) (#54)
    by MKS on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 02:48:00 PM EST
    of Color under the bus. Who cares about them or immigrants or the disabled?  

    Parent
    It seems more (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 04:34:34 AM EST
    likely that his own voters have started to turn against him. So far he's been nothing but a disaster and has not attempted to enlarge his base of support. He only seems to care what his base of support thinks. Mostly I see his supporters begging people to give him a chance. He spent the entire campaign telling Hillary voters how much he loathed them for their gender and their skin color. I think most of us are beyond giving him a chance. He showed us who he is and we didn't like it.

    Parent
    It was over 62 million. (none / 0) (#25)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:52:54 AM EST
    To be exact, Trump got 62,979,636 votes (46.1%). Mrs. Clinton received 65,844,610 votes (48.2%), which means that she won the nationwide popular vote by 2,864,974 (2.1%).

    Parent
    I love football and sport in general (none / 0) (#8)
    by Green26 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 05:25:19 PM EST
    and loved Melissa McCarthy doing Spicer last night.

    My son, now trying to be a college football player, is picking Atlanta by 10. I am rooting for the Patriots so that Kraft and Brady can chuckle at Goodell when he hands over the trophy. I don't pick teams based on politics. I hear Putin likes the Falcons. Ha.

    The Coke commercial is good (none / 0) (#9)
    by Green26 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 05:33:42 PM EST
    America the Beautiful in many languages.

    George Bush,, the elder, out for the coin toss, along with his wife.

    I am sure the trumpettes (none / 0) (#10)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 05:44:43 PM EST
    Will be calling for a Coke boycott after that commercial. I liked the commercial as well. I wish I could could bring myself to support Budweiser with a purchase, but it is just horrible beer. I'm no longer a big beer drinker, but when I do imbibe, I confess to being a beer snob.

    Parent
    Go Falcons! (none / 0) (#12)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 06:31:15 PM EST
    Woo hoo!

    Falcons and Ryan playing (none / 0) (#13)
    by Green26 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 06:33:01 PM EST
    very well.

    Ouch. (none / 0) (#17)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 09:29:03 PM EST
    Started sharp, ended flat.

    Parent
    Wow, 31 unanswered point by Pats (none / 0) (#18)
    by Green26 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 09:32:22 PM EST
    Greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. I can't think of a better Super Bowl game either. Brady was superb. Set passing yardage record. Catch by Edelman late on the floating pass, which hit a Falcon leg and then lay briefly on a Falcon arm, was unbelievable.

    I feel bad for the Falcons. They played a great game but just couldn't stop Brady and his receivers later in the second half. A few costly mistakes by Falcons too.

    Unbelievable (none / 0) (#20)
    by McBain on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 09:42:46 PM EST
    I also feel bad for Atlanta.  That city could really use a championship.

    What else can you say about Brady?  

    That late 4th quarter sack probably saved the game.

    Parent

    Yes, that sack was a bad play (none / 0) (#21)
    by Green26 on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 09:55:12 PM EST
    by Ryan and perhaps not a good call by the Falcons. Shouldn't have allowed that when they were in FG position. Also, thought the earlier pass play call when Ryan got hit and fumbled was a bad play call by Falcons. Thought the Falcons should have been more conservative on both plays and just sat on their lead.

    Julio Jones is an unbelievable receiver.

    Parent

    Yeah both teams took some intersting risks (none / 0) (#22)
    by McBain on Sun Feb 05, 2017 at 10:20:25 PM EST
    The Falcons could have run the ball to avoid a sack.
    Brady threw a couple balls into trouble that he probably didn't need to throw.  Fun game to watch.

    Parent
    Brady got totally bailed out by Edelman ... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:10:21 PM EST
    ... with his miraculous catch on that final drive. Otherwise, forcing the ball into triple coverage like that was foolish and unnecessary, given that there was another receiver wide open on the left (whom he obviously did not see). Had that pass been picked, it's game over.

    Parent
    Another big dif between Brady (none / 0) (#41)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:46:22 PM EST
    and Ryan: Brady's much better at "hearing footsteps" and dumping the ball right before he gets sacked, or even on his way to the ground.

    Ryan doesn't seem to have that sense of when people are closing in on him.


    Parent

    That was a awesome game (none / 0) (#29)
    by TrevorBolder on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:44:48 AM EST
    Watched at a friends house, diehard yankee fan, so...hates anything Boston, lol.

    I have no hatred for Belichek and Brady, I call Belichek The Master!!

    And have admiration and respect for both, my team, the NY Football Giants, win a Superbowl, and never make the playoffs the following year. The continued domination of a sport is just awesome to watch, they are head and shoulders above all other football organizations.

    And consider what their legacy would look like without Eli and The Giants.

    Republican wants another Kent State (none / 0) (#31)
    by Yman on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 09:19:17 AM EST
    A Republican county leader in Michigan - responding to recent protests - has said it might be time for another Kent State. - twice.

    Wow.

    He then gave a half-@$$ed "apology" and claimed his statements were intended to prevent violence.

    Right.

    I see there's a "black-bloc" (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 10:37:02 AM EST
    provacateur over at Kos defending adolescent tantrum vandalism and violence as legitimate "tactic to thwart fascism."

    His posts have the very distinctive odor of the kind of astroturfing tactics that are the forte of the vile James O'Keefe and his weasel squadron: get the cameras rolling, provoke an incident, and then present "the left" to Middle America as a mob of out-of-control, "entitled" spoiled brats and violent nihilists.

    If the excremental Milo is scheduled to appear at your campus, organize a peaceful counter-demonstration and an articulate rebuttal speaker and then Very Publicly challenge Milo to a debate and Very Publicly shame him for his cowardice if he backs out.

    That's how it's done.

    Parent

    Or, better still, ... (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 03:29:58 PM EST
    jondee: "If the excremental Milo is scheduled to appear at your campus, organize a peaceful counter-demonstration and an articulate rebuttal speaker and then Very Publicly challenge Milo to a debate and Very Publicly shame him for his cowardice if he backs out."

    ... just ignore Milo Yiannopolous altogether. Let him address his audience of 20-25 Young Republicans. At best, he's is a marginal player using up his Andy Warhol-allotted 15 minutes, and I just don't think he's worth the effort to call further attention to him.

    I certainly don't want to see what happened on the campus of my alma mater on January 20 when Yiannopolous was speaking up there, during which a protester in UW's Central Plaza, aka Red Square, was shot in the stomach by a right-wing provocateur. (This incident is likely why protesters were so jacked up last week at UC-Berkeley.)

    Let's all please be aware that a fair number of people in Trump's camp are delusional paranoids, and one should simply assume at this point that a not-insignificant number of them are exercising the 2nd Amendment rights and are armed. Given the violence of the last couple of weeks, I'd urge people to back off for now, discretion being the better part of valor.

    I recommend targeting GOP congressional critters near your neighborhood for picketing instead, to let them know you're watching them. After all, they're the ones who are voting on all this crap back in D.C., and not Miss White-Wing Thang.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    In the best of all worlds (none / 0) (#60)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 04:16:21 PM EST
    you may be right, Donald, but passionately idealistic youth being what is, do you really think ignoring that strident strumpet of the alt-right altogether, in these highly-charged times, is ever going to be a possibility on our campuses?

    Parent
    Well, that's where real leadership comes in. (none / 0) (#74)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:55:54 PM EST
    Not everything is as important as it might otherwise first appear to be. And my experience so far is that most millennials and Gen. Xers -- not all, but most -- are open to receiving some direction when it cones to channeling their rage.

    To that effect, Milo Yiannopolous is the political equivalent of a hush puppy. He's a distraction, and the GOP knows it. That's why they have him out there. But honestly, he's more suited for "Entertainment Tonight" than MSNBC or the network news. Media loves controversy. Ignore him, and he soon won't matter to them.

    Look, these GOP's big boys aren't going to come to us, because they're cowards at heart. They know they're going to catch Schitt from the general public, which is why they go out of their way to try and ensure a friendly audience.

    Therefore, it's imperative that we take the fight to them, which is what the following clips show hordes of demonstrators did last Saturday in Roseville, CA, a usually sleepy Republican suburb northeast of Sacramento. These people showed that they're willing to march smack dab into the middle of hostile territory and claim it as theirs.

    It's much more productive -- and fun -- to do a real number instead on your local GOP Capitol Hill tool, which in this case is Congressman Tom McClintock. And this is what happened when he tried to leave by the back door.

    Target the congresscritters, not the snooty little drama queens like Milo.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    This is a misunderstanding (none / 0) (#75)
    by Towanda on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:56:51 PM EST
    of who comes to Milo's events, based on the recent experience on my campus.

    Very few in attendance were students of my campus . . . except for a trans student of ours whom he had humiliated in his writings.  (She was there, although she now has completed the transition, so he did not recognize her.  She wrote about his mockery of her again there.  He is a horrible, horrible person.)

    He is taking advantage of the situation of my campus and many other public campuses, constrained by  policies for free speech -- which mean that we have very few reasons for refusing rental of a site.  Many of us asked our chancellor to reject the rental, but campus counsel said he could not do so.  (This may make it an interesting question for a law blog, because campus counsel are . . . wusses.)

    Milo also takes advantage of policies for student groups sponsoring events for almost-free rental, so he makes more profit. A handful of students on our campus formed to sponsor the speech. But looking at the photos of the audience, and interviews with many in the audience, we know that only a handful of our students were in attendance.

    Not that other students were not there; Milo drew from some local conservative church colleges and the like that never would allow him to speak at their campuses, as they lack sufficient security staff.  And the rest of the audience was comprised of those poorly educated whom the large orange lout loves.  Not.  College.  Students.

    Parent

    But here's the thing. (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 08:31:13 PM EST
    Suppose we all just ignored him. And by that, I mean to the point of not even bothering to acknowledge his presence, because he's truly not worthy of our time.

    No question, Milo Yiannopolous is a vile creature. But is he actually somebody important, or does he somehow constitute a political threat? The answer is no and no, respectively. Miss Milo is just another screaming celebrity-wannabe who thrives on attention and controversy.

    So, don't give him any attention, and there will be no controversy. Eventually, the media will get bored, and Miss Thang will shrivel up into a well-deserved dustball of irrelevance and blow away.

    No, I'm going to practice what I preach. That's the last I'm going to say about Milo. He's not worth the resultant waste of Jeralyn's bandwidth.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Problem with this theory (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by vicndabx on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 04:29:44 PM EST
    while we on the left ignore him, many others on the right and center do not.  This crap needs to be confronted head on.

    This election should be a wake up call for all who believe "the media" is the final arbiter of what is/is not relevant.

    Parent

    No, it doesn't. (none / 0) (#115)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:48:27 PM EST
    vicndabx: "Problem with this theory while we on the left ignore him, many others on the right and center do not.  This crap needs to be confronted head on."

    The best and quickest way to douse a fire is to deprive it of oxygen. You and I really can't control what the right thinks and does, or control what Miss White-Wing Thang says. We can only be responsible for our own thoughts, statements and actions.

    Preferably, and speaking for myself, I would prefer that we engage this contest in a proactive manner and abandon our defensive crouches, and compel the right to respond and react to what WE say and do, rather than almost always vice versa.

    And in that regard, as obnoxious and repulsive as Milo Yiannopolous may be, he is nothing more than a right-wing sideshow. Why further grant him the mantle of cause celebre, by turning his Young Republican Stage Revue into a major public kerfuffle and conflict? That's why the media keeps covering him.

    Better that silly queens like him be pitied, rather than confronted. It's more important that we control and temper our own reactions to his nonsense, and not get sucked into the vortex of his self-absorbed drama. We need to think and act strategically, not emotionally.

    You want to express outrage, you need only look to Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer. That's Broadway. The self-loathing queen played onstage by Miss Milo is strictly regional theatre. He deserves our contempt and scorn, but not any otherwise undue attention. We've got far bigger and more important fish to fry.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Exactly (none / 0) (#116)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:52:40 PM EST
    The best and quickest way to douse a fire is to deprive it of oxygen. You and I really can't control what the right thinks and does, or control what Miss White-Wing Thang says. We can only be responsible for our own thoughts, statements and actions.......
    And in that regard, as obnoxious and repulsive as Milo Yiannopolous may be, he is nothing more than a right-wing sideshow. Why further grant him the mantle of cause celebre, by turning his Young Republican Stage Revue into a major public kerfuffle and conflict? That's why the media keeps covering him

    But unfortunately, I do not see that happening

    Parent

    To be clear, not talking about Milo specifically (none / 0) (#155)
    by vicndabx on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 01:02:29 PM EST
    was talking generally about those who spout racist ideas to further marginalize those that are minorities.

    As you well know, history has taught us that "ignoring it" w/o sustained pushback, be it via protest or politics, doesn't turn out well.

    Parent

    Paid provocateurs. .or is that fake news for (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:52:11 AM EST
    lefties?

    Parent
    Reading about Milo...whew (none / 0) (#92)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:00:47 AM EST
    He is so full of self loathing I think he wants someone to hurt him. You know how some people suicide by cop? I think Milo is similar. He claims he's gay and that it's an evil repulsive life style choice. He said he would also like to try conversion therapy, and not because it would work.

    Parent
    Not "news" just a theory (none / 0) (#95)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 11:35:21 AM EST
    based on history.

    Parent
    Take a few minutes (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 01:21:58 PM EST
    and look into some of the dirty tricks the weasely James O'Keefe and his Project Veritas have been involved in.

    Showing up at Sanders rallies posing as fanatical Clinton supporters and aggressively getting in the faces of the attendees..sending people out to BLM meetings with instructions to talk about how much they want to kill cops..

    Of course, maybe whoever bankrolls Okeefe's operation - why do I suspect it the same sort of usual suspects who funded the Planned Parenthood "secret footage"? - hire their dirty tricksters strictly on a volunteer basis. Maybe they just tell them they have a chance to save the world from baby-killers and creeping socialism..

    Parent

    He so self-alienated (none / 0) (#100)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 01:31:15 PM EST
    that he hasn't figured out yet that the evil, repulsive "lifestyle choice" is working for not-so-Breitbart.

    Parent
    He's a broken person from what I can tell (none / 0) (#101)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 01:34:13 PM EST
    Fine with screwing people over, very Trumpish.

    Parent
    Never underestimate the (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 08:00:17 PM EST
    power of self-loathing. The LGBTQ community is rife with lives ruined or ended by someone in the throes of self-loathing.

    Milo is a dangerous person.

    Parent

    I'm under no illusion regarding ... (none / 0) (#164)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 09, 2017 at 04:15:17 PM EST
    ... the self-destructive power of gay homophobia. California's Prop. 8, co-authored and championed by then-deeply closeted State Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) is a textbook example.

    But with all due respect, Milo Yiannopolous is no Roy Cohn or Roy Ashburn. His biggest claim to fame thus far has been getting banished by Twitter for his relentless trolling of SNL's Leslie Jones. He is only important in the eyes of those people who put a lot of stock in celebrity, and that's directly correlated to the amount of media attention he receives.

    And that's why I choose to both pity and consciously ignore him. If you prefer otherwise, well, you and other members of the LGBT community certainly don't need my permission or anyone else's to police your own. All I'd counsel is that you do so in a manner that avoids drawing further undue media attention to him and winds up feeding the beast, so to speak.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I don't know whether to laugh (none / 0) (#165)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 09, 2017 at 06:29:23 PM EST
    or cry about Milo announcing that he's going to undergo "conversion therapy."

    Why do I suspect the result is going to be he's going to require a closet designed by the same people that built Florence Supermax.

    Parent

    Obamacare repeal (none / 0) (#39)
    by Yman on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:41:47 PM EST
    During the campaign,  Trump promised an immediate repeal.   Last month,  they were just putting the "final strokes" on the replacement law.   Now?  It turns out that governing is actually harder than making empty campaign promises and these things can be a little complex,  so this might be sometime next year.

    Ya think,  genius?

    Andrew Postman further expounds upon ... (none / 0) (#42)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 12:52:39 PM EST
    ... my own contention made here at TL a couple weeks ago, that today's dystopian nightmare is more reflective of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," rather than George Orwell's "1984." (In my earlier post, I had quoted his father Neil Postman's 1985 work "Amusing Ourselves to Death.")

    Some Brave New World... (none / 0) (#62)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 05:08:26 PM EST
    with a side of Idiocracy. Tell me Donald Trump ain't the first President Camacho.

    Parent
    I have no idea who President Camacho is. (none / 0) (#81)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 08:11:16 PM EST
    I'll have to take your word for it. For the record, Neil Postman observed the following differences between Orwell and Huxley:

    "What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much [information] that we would be reduced to passivity and egotism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy."

    Tell me Huxley's fears haven't been realized. We are indeed a trivial, self-absorbed and pop culture-centric society, for whom the truth has been drowned in a deluge of mindless gossip, bullschitt and manufactured controversies.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    He's at Centcom (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:00:18 PM EST
    Who is his speech writer? He's reading this stuff, it's full of inflammatory rhetoric.

    Attacking the press with ... (none / 0) (#47)
    by Yman on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:17:41 PM EST
    ... more blatantly false attacks,  again.   Says they don't report on terrorist attacks.   Hard to believe there are people that are so ignorant they actually believe him.

    Also interesting - he didn't even mention CPOW Ryan Owens, who died in that CF of a mission.

    Parent

    Yes, really a terrible speech for CentCom (none / 0) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:40:27 PM EST
    Whining about the Supreme Court nominee processes? His first words, CentCom are heroes :( He seems unable to emotionally and intellectually attach to reality around him.

    Parent
    Trumpler says that the dishonest press.... (none / 0) (#68)
    by desertswine on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:03:07 PM EST
    are covering up terrorist attacks.

    �It�s gotten to a point where it�s not even being reported. In many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn�t want to report it. They have their reasons and you understand that,� Mr. Trump said.

    He was in Tampa, at MacDill AFB.

    Trump seems to be nuts, and getting nutser.

    Parent

    The whole thing (none / 0) (#71)
    by MKS on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:29:29 PM EST
    is reminiscent of Hitler ignoring his generals and living in his own reality.

    Mattis has a tough job.

    Parent

    The grim business (none / 0) (#72)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 06:33:28 PM EST
    of handing out a set of daggers with Little Boots' name on them.

    Parent
    Sometimes I think that (none / 0) (#86)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 01:57:52 AM EST
    He's so beloved though, and he loves that. Not in same way that Trump does. Mattis has substance. He would march 10 miles with everyone, he would take a baby wipes bath and give up showers. He has the adoration of many to sustain him. Rumor that Votel is wading through hell trying to fix the china Trump smashes for fun on the Twitter every day.

    It's going to a be long miserable four years for many.

    Parent

    Do you think Bannon writes this $hit? (none / 0) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:42:00 PM EST
    It's awful stuff

    Parent
    No idea (none / 0) (#51)
    by Yman on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:48:18 PM EST
    Hard to believe it's a professional writer.  Wonder how much of it he does himself.

    Parent
    I think Bannon outsources it (none / 0) (#52)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 01:54:09 PM EST
    to Richard Spencer, the "Hail, Trump!" guy.

    Parent
    You know who Trump is reminding me of? (none / 0) (#84)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 09:15:23 PM EST
    The late Arizona Gov. Evan Meacham (1924-2008), a know-nothing bigot and far-right Republican who narrowly won the office in a three way race, succeeding the popular Democrat Bruce Babbitt. He was a combative little cuss who constantly shot his mouth off over anything and everything.

    He offended and alienated so many people so quickly during his 15 months as governor (Jan. 4, 1987 - April 5, 1988) that the GOP-led state legislature impeached and removed him on what later proved to be a rather flimsy -- if not altogether trumped up and false -- pretext, rather than have to endure any more of his arrogance, insults, embarrassments and outright incompetence.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Does it matter? (none / 0) (#53)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 02:39:13 PM EST
    I mean seriously even if someone wrote the best speech on earth do you think he'd actually use it? I think even if a good one was written he might only get the first paragraph in before he started ranting and raving.

    And if anybody did write the speech it was probably the Grim Reaper.

    Parent

    I can't tell how he does this (none / 0) (#59)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 03:54:12 PM EST
    I am encouraging myself to stop being "shocked". It is hampering MY ability to access deductive reasoning. And even when I don't respond with shock, when I remain calm, I am still mentally stunned. But I need to begin to work through that.

    I think that is hindering the left a little. Not the peaceful protesting part, but the shock of authoritarianism in the White House. And I'm not blaming us. When foundations are safe we are supposed to be able to live our lives joyfully.  It is instinctive for many of us though when dangerous authoritarianism approaches, we are upset without being able to communicate well to those around us how this is detrimental. Living in Southern Alabama, while I'm here I have two choices, shut up and sit there wide eyed, or know the detrimental particulars. If Alzheimer's is encouraged when we stop learning, well we will all be a little more Alzheimer's resistant ;)

    We are at a place right now where we who care will come to understand on a more scholarly level what our institutional foundations are made of that support the democracy.

    I understand that portion that encompasses my life really well, but the foundations of the judiciary and the fourth estate I do not understand well "foundationally". Not well enough to argue it before something terrible happens. Perhaps that's a place to start, past horrors and the importance of the press.

    Honestly, even when he delivers a speech to CentCom like this, I struggle to put into tangible words what is "wrong". It is a place to start. But you've got me onto something now.

    Parent

    Fired for Protesting? Watch Your Back (none / 0) (#55)
    by vicndabx on Mon Feb 06, 2017 at 03:10:49 PM EST
    The FBI's Rap Back program is quietly transforming the way employers conduct background checks. While routine background checks provide employers with a one-time "snapshot" of their employee's past criminal history, employers enrolled in federal and state Rap Back programs receive ongoing, real-time notifications and updates about their employees' run-ins with law enforcement, including arrests at protests and charges that do not end up in convictions.

    The Intercept

    Delusional. (none / 0) (#103)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 03:19:28 PM EST
    So-called human DJT speaking about Barack Obama.

    "It's a very strange phenomenon: We get along," Trump told Bill O'Reilly in an interview for Fox News broadcast Monday. "I don't know if he'll admit this, but he likes me. I like him."

    Trump knows (none / 0) (#114)
    by MKS on Tue Feb 07, 2017 at 06:35:03 PM EST
    Obama has high approval ratings and wants to borrow some of that good will for hiself.

    Parent
    You may not know it (none / 0) (#153)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 11:32:29 AM EST
    but you like me. You really do..

    Reminds me a little of the Fuhrer's 'hypnotic suggestions', such as when he told the Gestapo to "yield to their urge to obey."

    Parent

    Kids can sue the gov't re: Climate Change (none / 0) (#157)
    by vicndabx on Wed Feb 08, 2017 at 04:10:20 PM EST
    Missed with the events of the last few months:

    Aikin wrote: "This action is of a different order than the typical environmental case. It alleges that defendants' actions and inactions--whether or not they violate any specific statutory duty--have so profoundly damaged our home planet that they threaten plaintiffs' fundamental constitutional rights to life and liberty."

    Do it kid(s)!