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    So ..... (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 08:26:07 AM EST
    45 years ago tomorrow, which happens to be Saturday, Nixon fired Cox in what became know as The Saturday Night Massacre.

    Jus sayin.

    Dems Still Don't Get It (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by RickyJim on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 08:41:11 AM EST
    Here Morning Joe explains how the Democrats have not put together a clear message for the midterms.  As I have said many times before, the winner IMHO is: Take away excess from the defense budget, increase taxes on and close loopholes for the ultra rich and we will be able to increase entitlements like having Medicare for all.  

    I saw this BS (5.00 / 4) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 09:25:11 AM EST
    It was stupid and ridiculous

    Joe Scarborough may not like trump but he damn sure will not try to help democrats win anything.

    My advise to dems? Do not take advise from you or crazy Joe.

    He really was off his meds today.

    Parent

    For example (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 09:39:56 AM EST
    Joeys big deal was democrats need to get angry.  Look at all there is to be angry about.  We should all be screaming rage from the rooftops.

    Right.  When their most effective charge about us, lapped up and repeated my media like the morning joe, is that we are a dangerous angry mob.

    Yes, let's act like a dangerous angry mob.

    That will do it.  

    What Joe says!

    Parent

    That is the Democrat's Problem (none / 0) (#12)
    by RickyJim on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 09:40:51 AM EST
    Saying DON'T!  They need to say what they are going to DO! and how they are going to pay for it.  

    Parent
    RickyJim: "Saying DON'T! They need to say what they are going to DO! and how they are going to pay for it."

    The fact that you continue to think and believe otherwise actually says more about you and your primary sources of political information, than it does about the Democratic Party and its members, elected officials and candidates.

    For example, the only people I know who are talking about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's DNA test are all the cable TV news pundits who keep insisting that Democrats shouldn't be talking about it. Because I can assure you that we're not certainly talking about it our here in the field with voters.

    I would therefore suggest that you stop listening to the political discussion through the filter of Joe Scarborough and the east coast punditocracy -- who once again appear to be much more interested in manufacturing controversy for purposes of public distraction and garnering attention, than actually reporting what Democrats are really saying -- and instead check out the various candidates themselves.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    They Don't Know How to be Succinct (none / 0) (#24)
    by RickyJim on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 12:02:02 PM EST
    A few clear charts can show the ridiculous imbalance in the defense budget, foreign military bases, domestic wealth inequality, etc.  They have to make everything crystal clear to the short attention span segment of the eligible voters.  They need a better advertising agency than they have now.  

    Parent
    A succint message for the Democrats: (none / 0) (#33)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 01:31:17 PM EST
    No cuts or elimination of Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, or ACA, as proposed by the Republicans, because of the deficits due to the tax cut scam.  The tax cut is not paying for itself, surprise, surprise...so it needs to be you, fellow citizens.

    Republicans have re-discovered the deficit and debt, and, of course, the way to staunch the flow of red ink caused by the tax cut, in largest measure, to corporations/high incomes, is to cut "entitlement" programs.

     Only need to cite Senator Mitch McConnell, who stated that the deficits/debt are "very disturbing,"  and called for such cuts, and suggested continued efforts to repeal ACA, which means the ending of mandatory coverage for pre-existing conditions (although there may be a loophole--coverage without limits on premiums or coverage for the particular pre-existing condition; general/new condition coverage excluding the particular pre-existing condition).

    Parent

    The minute (none / 0) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 10:06:53 AM EST
    the cost of MFA comes out support collapses for it.

    Parent
    Yes, MFA is Only One Part (none / 0) (#20)
    by RickyJim on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 11:36:20 AM EST
    of the question of how to finance the government and how to allocate the revenue.  The Democrats haven't been that clear on how they will modify the current situation.  A younger version of Bernie Sanders may be the way to go.

    Parent
    It would have to come (none / 0) (#23)
    by CST on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 11:59:37 AM EST
    With a provision that allows them to negotiate drug prices again.

    Also, it's never been more expensive than private health insurance.

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#50)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 06:01:58 PM EST
    here's the thing: first of all the way we practice medicine is a problem that makes it very hard to contain costs in any system. Secondly most people don't pay the entire premium for their insurance so they are comparing what is going to come out of their paycheck and some are going to have more coming out of their paycheck with MFA.

    The big question that is never answered by MFA advocates is do we want Mike Pence running women's healthcare?

    Frankly I think we need to look at other programs like the Bismarck in Germany. They use what is called a sickness fund. That would work as long as we took control out of the hands of congress.

    Parent

    Saudi state media (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:19:44 PM EST
    Confirms the death of Kashoggi as the result of "a physical altercation" that resulted in his death.

    Lucky thing they brought a bone saw.

    Guardian (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:23:04 PM EST
    cnn (none / 0) (#46)
    by FlJoe on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:37:15 PM EST
    is now reporting that MBS himself will lead the "investigation".

    Parent
    We now live (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:50:58 PM EST
    On the corner of OJ and Stalin.

    This is going to influence the election.  This is what Trumps policies mean long term.  This is now who we are.  On the world stage.  

    Parent

    Typical (none / 0) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:49:05 PM EST
    It's like the mafia owning all the prosecutors.

    Parent
    Fall (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 30, 2018 at 06:23:50 PM EST
    Vanity Fair link. (none / 0) (#1)
    by ragebot on Thu Oct 18, 2018 at 05:15:50 PM EST
    Analysis of why Warren makes mistakes in her dealing with Trump.

    As I have posted earlier her DNA vid had no chance to succeed because it lacked basic knowledge about both DNA and how NA tribes view DNA.  As someone who has taken both Ancestry and 23&Me DNA tests as well as uploading the results to Gedmatch and spent way too much time amassing paper records to verify my ancestry I have seen literally dozens of threads about folks trying to document NA ancestry and how NA tribes treat such efforts.

    I am also well aware of how most US NA tribes view DNA testing; they don't like it and actively discourage tribe members from any association with DNA testing.

    Maybe the money quotation from the article.

    That Warren or her team apparently failed to run the video announcement by the Cherokee Nation or other Native American groups is a woeful bit of political malpractice that should give her supporters pause. Nor did Warren recruit any actual Native Americans to help validate her story, or to at least talk about what she's done as senator to help their community. Instead, Warren was out there on her own, looking to many like a white person on the Internet boasting about being at least 1/1,024th Cherokee


    Warren's mistake (5.00 / 4) (#3)
    by smott on Thu Oct 18, 2018 at 05:24:56 PM EST
    Was being the front running woman.

    Also has ANY media outlet looked into Cherokee Nation's moronic criticism, which ignores Warren's statement that she is NOT claiming membership? They're heavy RNC contributors.

    Anyway, this is about the press taking down Warren. Happened to be DNA. Coulda been emails.

    Our media is broken.

    Parent

    Yep (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 18, 2018 at 08:04:53 PM EST
    that's it exactly. I hope all those people who said Hillary was "that woman" for the reason she was mistreated are learning their lesson now with Warren.

    Parent
    Along these lines, the (none / 0) (#37)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 02:28:53 PM EST
    media is reporting that Nikki Haley, in her keynote address at the Al Smith Dinner, made a really funny joke about Senator Warren.  The joke goes like this: "Actually, when the president found out that I was an Indian-American, he asked me if I was from the same tribe as Elizabeth Warren."

    Yes, a real knee slapper, but it seems to me that the joke is not on Senator Warren, but on Trump.. illustrating, once again, what former Sec of State, Rexxon Tillerson thought of Trump....  a f...g moron.

    Parent

    Bolton and Kelly (none / 0) (#2)
    by smott on Thu Oct 18, 2018 at 05:21:43 PM EST
    In profanity laced screaming match.
    I hope they're freaking out over culpability in the Khashoggi assasination.
    While Nikki Haley waves goodbye.


    I'm telling ya (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 06:18:05 AM EST
    John Kelly and Kirstjen Nielsen are boinking.

    Parent
    And Stephen Miller is their love child. (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 03:45:23 PM EST
    ;-D

    Parent
    Regarding Stephen Miller: (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Jack E Lope on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 06:07:58 PM EST
    1. Don't put him in sunlight, it can kill him.
    2. Don't let him get wet nor give him any water to drink.
    3. No matter how much he cries or begs, NEVER feed him after midnight.


    Parent
    Riff (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 06:21:39 PM EST
    Haley (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 18, 2018 at 08:05:45 PM EST
    is going to have to eat some of this simply by working for Trump. Everything Trump touches dies.

    Parent
    Now we have John Kelly (none / 0) (#92)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 07:36:00 AM EST
    Snatching Lewandowski by his clothes and trying to give him a little wall to wall counseling. WTF is going on in that place?

    Parent
    Thuggery (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 12:50:25 PM EST
    is, historically, the engine of fascism.


    Parent
    Saw First Man a few days ago (none / 0) (#6)
    by McBain on Thu Oct 18, 2018 at 08:24:12 PM EST
    I enjoyed it about as much as I expected to.  It's much different than the excellent Apollo 13.  Different style, different feel and more of a personal story.  Less control room/ living room drama, more Neil Armstrong POV drama. It's too early for me to tell if it's a good film or a great one.

    It has another low energy but effective performance from Ryan Gosling.  He pretty much does the same thing every time yet somehow it usually works.

    Might go see A Star Is Born soon.  Anything else coming out?      

    If you haven't already, ... (none / 0) (#42)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:06:27 PM EST
    ... go see "Collette," directed by Wash Westmoreland with the screenplay written by Westmoreland's late husband Richard Glatzer, who died of ALS last year. Keira Knightly stars as the title character, and she is finally in a film that truly showcases her formidable talent as an actress, thanks to Glatzer's screenplay and Westmoreland's direction. I really enjoyed it.

    Of course, this is Oscar Bait Season, so all the movies that are jockeying for position come Academy Award nomination time eleven weeks hence are being selectively released here in L.A. Last night, I drove to Westwood and saw "What They Had," Elizabeth Chomko's intimate and compelling portrait of a Chicago family that's buckling under the weight of an aging mother's struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

    This film takes a different tack from movies like "Still Alice" and "Away from Her," which had similarly with the subject of Alzheimer's, in that writer-director Chomko's focus is directed more toward the family of the victim, rather than upon the victim herself.

    Blythe Danner is that victim, Ruth, and she of course is wonderful as always. As the film opens, Ruth is clearly caught in the vice-grips of her illness, but yet is still self-aware enough of her situation to realize that her time at home must soon come to an end.

    Hillary Swank is Ruth's increasingly harried daughter Bridget, a control freak who's summoned back to Chicago by her brother Nick (Michael Shannon) from her California home after Mom wanders off at night in wintertime and is subsequently hospitalized for observation. She rightly concludes that Ruth now needs the sort of care that's well above and beyond what her loving and devoted husband Bert (played by veteran character actor Robert Forster) can currently provide her, which is something Bert can't bring himself to admit.

    Michael Shannon is pitch-perfect as Nick, the quietly embittered son who's constantly seeking Dad's approval but never getting it. He owns a popular bar in town, and he chafes at his father's diminutive persistence in calling his son a bartender. Father and son are too much alike in their mutual obstinacy to really get along with one another.

    But in my estimation, the true standout performance here is delivered by Robert Forster as Bert, a stern and devoutly Catholic man who bullies his children, tenderly cares for and indulges the ailing Ruth, and stubbornly and valiantly struggles in vain to hold onto the couple's blissful past, in large part because he's absolutely paralyzed by fear of a future without his wife by his side.

    All four of those actors ought to receive serious Academy consideration in January, as should director Elizabeth Chomko.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Boy oh boy (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 10:14:07 AM EST
    Big things are happening.  Not saying they are all good.

    But big things are happening.

    I think we are going to celebrate the election.  I think the wave is going to be bigger than expected.  Not in the sense of winning 60 or 70 house seats.  40+ is probably a good number.

    The wave is going to be down ticket.  Governors, state houses, democrats right down to dog catcher.

    This is SO important.  Census in 2020 means everything.

    I think democrats will at the very least lose no ground in the Senate and could be in narrow control.

    IMO the DNC should be paying for Trump to do what he is doing.

    Last night the made jokes about assaulting a reporter while Jamal Kassoggis blood is still drying.

    Was going to add (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 10:37:18 AM EST
    It's AFTER the election where things are going up in flames.

    If they do lose, even the house, they are going to try some evil stuff in the lame duck.

    Generationaly evil.

    And then there is Mueller and the justice department.

    Parent

    I think the aftermath (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by smott on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 11:20:13 AM EST
    Will be chaos no matter what happens.

    If GOP retains control there will be mass protests and unrest. Trump will be itching to drop martial law on us.

    If Dems wins control, every close race will be recounted and GOP will refuse to concede.

    Nobody is really ready for this. The media least of all.

    Real instability.

    Parent

    2nd amendment solutions are (1.00 / 1) (#87)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 09:24:04 PM EST
    not just for right wing nuts. (Here comes liberal hand wringing).

    I have predicted that the election of the oompa loompa would bring about civil war. And that brings about the hand wringing and panty twisting about using the democratic process. And I believe in that.

    But if those in power refuse to recognize the election. Refuse to leave and cede their seats to the Democratic victors, what is your step. What is your recourse? The courts? That's hilarious. The next clarion may be "to arms, to arms."

    Sorry but I still believe oompa loompa and his minions will drive us to armed conflict. I am ready. Are you ?

    Parent

    what would armed conflict look like? (none / 0) (#90)
    by leap on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 12:22:18 AM EST
    What would you do with your gubs? How would you use them? I just can't envision anything organized and what the target(s) would be.

    Parent
    George Soros. (none / 0) (#91)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 01:27:52 AM EST
    Law enforcement officials responded to an incident at the home of liberal billionaire's home on Monday evening, after a family employee opened a package containing an explosive device and called police. The bomb squad apparently detonated the device, and FBI officials said there was no threat to the surrounding community.

    Parent
    I don't know. (none / 0) (#94)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 10:58:39 AM EST
    Believe it or not, I'm not advocating for it. I just think the state of things being what they are, the oompa loompa egging people on towards violence, it seems to be inevitable. And the right expects the liberals to roll over and take it. I will not. I half expect a few hundred armed "patriots" to head to the border to stop the "caravan" of terrorists this week.

    The idea that the GOP would not accept the election results was put forth. I know the oompa loompa will rail on this subject until he is dragged kicking and screaming from 1600 PA Ave. He is still claiming thousands (if not millions) of votes were (are being) cast in California. My question is, if this happens, what is the recourse. The courts have been stacked by the GOP. I have no faith in the judiciary. The Supreme Court gave Bush the presidency after Bush vs. Gore. If the trumpistas refuse to recognize the results of the midterms, what happens? The Democrats have a long history of just giving in. Democrats like the spineless Chuck Schumer just shrug and say "we tried." Then they will spend the 2 to 4 years trying win in court while the GOP and the oompa loompa continue to destroy this country. And that, my friend, is not hyperbole. This worthless POS occupying in the White House, is destroying everything this country ever stood for. I am officially ashamed to be an American.

    Parent

    The scary part for me (none / 0) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 11:23:08 AM EST
    Is there is two different games being played.

    Democrats, not just Schumer, keep talking about Trump and what he is doing in typical political terms.

    The words they use.  The frame they use.  Trump is way past this.  

    I still think this election will be a win for us.

    I think what Trump is doing smacks of desperation.

    White House report raises fears of Maoism infiltrating Congress as they face a potential blue wave in November

    I don't know if it will work.  But if it does, for Trump, I begin to agree with you about conflict.

    Parent

    Well, if we take (none / 0) (#106)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 08:20:36 PM EST
    the house we will see what would have happened if Hillary had won in 2016. I'm sure this was his game plan back then.

    I agree that it is desperation from Trump. I mean he's now saying that Middle Easterners are in the caravan of people coming from Central America. No reasonable person believes that garbage.

    However he has got a cult that is in his thrall and after more than likely one of them trying to kill George Soros, I'm not sure there will not be more violence directed at liberals. However those directing the violence at us are going to be in for a big suprise when they try this.

    Parent

    My favorite story about the caravan (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 08:55:08 PM EST
    Well, "favorite"?  It really leaves you wondering if you should laugh or cry.  
    Is the fear they are coming to steal our vacation homes.

    Parent
    No Middle Easterner (none / 0) (#108)
    by fishcamp on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 08:44:55 AM EST
    is going to walk over 1,000 miles to try and gain entry to the U S.  They have much better ways to get in.  And most of the MS13 gang members are already here.  What a fool.

    Parent
    So (none / 0) (#110)
    by FlJoe on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 10:05:47 AM EST
    they fly 5000 miles to Guatemala then walk another 1000+ to infiltrate the US, makes sense to me.

    It seems to me that any terrorist(or criminal for that matter) would buy a bus ticket at least.

    I guess their lies don't have to be logical.

    Parent

    And joe, (none / 0) (#112)
    by fishcamp on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 10:46:33 AM EST
    while their hair and skin color may match the Guatemalans, they probably don't speakie Spanish and could never pass any questions thrown at them by the migras.  They would have to cross the Rio Grands some other way, maybe they have their own tunnels.

    Parent
    Afraid I agree (none / 0) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 11:25:13 AM EST
    Are thing's much different (none / 0) (#21)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 11:49:23 AM EST
    than they've been for decades?

    Trump is the noisy, shiny, distracting celebrity spokesperson for deregulation, trickle-down, "entitlement reform", Confederate re-venge on yankee libtards, culture wars, and another assault on Roe v Wade. Same as it ever was.

    The big difference is, the right base is possibly more unhinged than they've ever been before from being pumped full of Alex Jones, Q,  and prescription painkillers.

    Parent

    And in charge (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 11:51:09 AM EST
    Of all four branches of government

    Parent
    Yeah what did we do to (none / 0) (#25)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 12:07:53 PM EST
    deserve this?

    I mean, I know what you did ;-)

    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 12:10:18 PM EST
    You don't

    Parent
    I got a whiff (none / 0) (#49)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:56:25 PM EST
    of that 2. The GOP expects to lose 8 governorships.

    My guess of those 8 would be:
    FL
    ME
    IL
    WI
    MI
    OH
    NH
    Maybe GA?

    Parent

    Trump, the cut-up. (none / 0) (#27)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 12:24:33 PM EST
    Trump praised Rep. Greg Gianforte (R.MT) at his Montana mob rally, proclaiming that "Greg is smart and, by the way, never wrestle him;" "Any "guy that can do a body slam--he's my kind of guy." Greg is a great guy, a tough cookie.+

    Trump was referring to then candidate Giaforte's body slam of a reporter for the Guardian who asked a question. Gianforte pleaded guilty to the assault and went on to win the congressional seat.

    Some people are saying that Trump's remarks were inappropriate in light of the murder of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. But, it does bring clarification-- body slamming and breaking glasses are OK, body sawing and breaking bones crosses the line.

    And, on the plus side, the Trump crowd is, so far, sticking with its favorite chant, "lock her up"; they have not yet traded it in for "cut him up.".  


    Go ahead and call me nuts (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 12:42:00 PM EST
    but I'm thinking more-and-more that we should find a way to recruit Jesse Ventura. Sure, he's a little nutty, but no nuttier than Trump. And less narcissistic and more public-spirited.

    The segment of the electorate with a deep need to be the playground bully's flunky would swarm to him in droves.

    The loud-mouthed ex-Seal, wrestler, and Governor vs the loud-mouthed faux-billionaire, reality tv star. No contest.

    Parent

    You're nuts (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 12:50:55 PM EST
    We're living in nutty times (none / 0) (#30)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 01:08:44 PM EST
    in case you hadn't noticed.

    These people aren't Ever going to vote for this-year's-model Hillary. People need to wake up and smell the coffee about that.

    Parent

    Fair enough (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 01:24:09 PM EST
    If I was going to go nutty I would resist going that nutty.

    Parent
    Are there any handsome (none / 0) (#32)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 01:28:04 PM EST
    charismatic early-fiftyish WASP Bernies around?

    Parent
    Congressman Beto O'Rourke (none / 0) (#34)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 01:47:25 PM EST
    almost meets your criteria, charismatic, but he is not yet in his 50s(46 years old), not WASP (Catholic), and not Bernie (he is a Democrat).

    If he is somehow able to defeat Cruz, he will be a frontrunner.  If he loses, he may still be a viable candidate.

    Parent

    He swears he will (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 02:09:24 PM EST
    Finish his term in the Senate.

    I believe him.  If we want nutty it's becoming clear Avenutty is preparing to run.

    I have very mixed feelings about that but I would caution against not taking him seriously.

    Parent

    A Brachiosaurus (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 04:24:12 PM EST
    and Tyrannosaurus Rex on Noah's Ark..

    No wonder Gianforte is a little touchy


    Parent

    Russian charged (none / 0) (#35)
    by ragebot on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 02:00:06 PM EST
    I Don't Understand the Charge (none / 0) (#38)
    by RickyJim on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 02:37:29 PM EST
    The Justice Department charged a Russian woman for her role in a conspiracy to interfere with the 2018 U.S. election, it announced Friday. Elena Khusyaynova, 44, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. The charges are the first criminal case prosecutors have brought against a foreign national for meddling in the upcoming midterms. Prosecutors said Khusyaynova managed finances of an operation they said was designed to "sow discord" in U.S. politics by pushing arguments online about topics including immigration and gun control.
    There are plenty of people online who try to "sow discord".  Should all trolls be charged with trying to "defraud"?  Don't foreigners have 1st amendment rights too?  Can I get into trouble for posting an opinion on Brexit in a British paper?

    Parent
    "Prosecutors said Khusyaynova managed finances of an operation they said was designed to 'sow discord' in U.S. politics by pushing arguments online about topics including immigration and gun control." (Emphasis is mine.)

    Therein lies your answer.

    Parent

    The Supreme Court says that foreigners (none / 0) (#43)
    by Peter G on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 05:10:09 PM EST
    while abroad do not have Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure by American agents. I am queasy about that. Also ambivalent about the question whether a non-US person acting abroad against the US has First Amendment rights that protect against a US prosecution (assuming they otherwise committed a crime). The law on conspiracy to defraud the US, as authoritatively interpreted by the Supreme Court in 1924, is frighteningly vague and expansive (even though they reached the right result in that case). I'd have to read the entire indictment to form an opinion on this new case, and even then I would have little confidence I'd be right.

    Parent
    Much More Information Here (none / 0) (#54)
    by RickyJim on Sat Oct 20, 2018 at 10:07:43 AM EST
    Including the text of the indictment.
    This is based on the same legal theory as February's indictment of 13 Russian nationals involved in trolling the 2016 election.
    "[T]his Indictment is unprecedented; never before has a foreign corporation such as Concord, with no presence in the United States, been charged criminally for allegedly funding the political speech of individuals on social media, at rallies, or in advertisements during a U.S.presidential election campaign," wrote Concord attorney Eric Dubelier.

    U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich is taking the argument seriously. On Thursday she ordered Mueller's team to specifically address that point in a new filing due Tuesday.

    I am 100% with attorney Dubelier.  These charges do not take into account the realities of the Internet.  Disruptive trolls should be banned, but not arrested.  Do we want big brother to lurk here on Talk Left?

    Parent
    Some might see a difference (5.00 / 5) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 20, 2018 at 10:40:06 AM EST
    Between a personal hobby and a criminal enterprise

    Parent
    So Who Decides What is Criminal? (none / 0) (#68)
    by RickyJim on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 10:55:28 AM EST
    It is apparently not criminal if a troll farm is financed domestically.  The Supreme Court has overturned a law that made it criminal for a corporation to give too much money to a political cause.  To be consistent, they should throw these cases out too.  I think the Justice Department, including Mr. Mueller, have much more important crimes to go after: hacking, money laundering and obstruction of justice, in particular.

    Parent
    Store owner charges with 2nd degree murder (none / 0) (#53)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 19, 2018 at 06:34:54 PM EST
    in hatchet robbery case
    Lakeland County Commissioner Michael Dunn has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder after he fatally shot a suspected shoplifter.

    State Attorney Brian Haas announced the arrest on Friday, just two weeks after the killing.


    Can't tell everything from the video but it doesn't appear Lopez was going to use the hatchet on Dunn. Just looks like he was trying to get away.  

    Went out last night (none / 0) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 20, 2018 at 11:01:17 AM EST
    There are 2 kinds of people.  Those who do karaoke and those who do not.  

    And there (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 20, 2018 at 11:47:23 AM EST
    are those that do karoke well and those that do not. Bad karoke sticks around in your mind. My husband and I still laugh about the time we were in New Orleans and someone who could not carry a tune sang All My Exes Live in Texas.

    Parent
    Truly bad singing is an art form. (none / 0) (#61)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 01:00:36 AM EST
    And few were better at it than the incomparable Darlene Edwards, whose alter ego Jo Stafford was actually a renowned vocalist in her own right.

    Parent
    and her husband "Jonathan," (none / 0) (#69)
    by leap on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 11:54:43 AM EST
    Paul Weston, who plays the off-tempo and messy piano parts. They were a treasure. That $hit is really difficult to do. This one is swell. As is Autumn in New York.

    On the other hand, here is Jo Stafford singing with Ella.

    Parent

    My Youtube algorithm (none / 0) (#70)
    by jondee on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 12:32:56 PM EST
    is lumping Darlene Edwards in with Bill Buckner for some reason.

    Parent
    Alabamy Bound (none / 0) (#71)
    by leap on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 01:54:26 PM EST
    Ironically, while Jo Stafford was one of ... (none / 0) (#72)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 03:35:15 PM EST
    ... the best and most popular vocalists of the 1940s and '50s, the only Grammy Award she ever won was for "Best Comedy Album" (with her husband Paul Weston) in 1960 for their Jonathan and Darlene Edwards shtick.

    How that stuff ever came to be recorded in the first place is a great story itself. Back in the day, Mitch Miller -- of "Sing Along With Mitch" fame -- was the artistic director for Capitol Records, and an overbearing one at that. He would personally choose the selections for artists to record. Jo Stafford chafed under his regime, and finally she got so ticked off at Miller that one night, she and Weston recorded Miller's latest selections for her in their faux personas as Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, a routine they used to perform for friends at parties.

    Miller was pi$$ed, as Stafford had intended, and so he took the "Edwards" recordings to the Capitol Records head honchos with the idea to get her fired. It had the opposite effect. The bosses found the recordings hysterically funny, and instead convinced Stafford and Weston to record a comedy album as Jonathan and Darlene Edwards. It proved to be a monster hit for Capitol Records, and won Jo Stafford her Grammy.

    As you noted, it takes genuine talent for accomplished musicians like Stafford and Weston to sound convincing as a bad Airport Holiday Inn lounge act. They knew exactly what notes to slide off-key and make the listening experience a truly jarring exercise for their audience. They were brilliant.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Which kind were you (none / 0) (#57)
    by fishcamp on Sat Oct 20, 2018 at 11:07:38 AM EST
    last night, captain?

    Parent
    I do not need to tell you that (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 20, 2018 at 11:14:29 AM EST
    I had never been to a karaoke bar.  So as an experience and as a student of human nature, more so the more alcohol, it was amazing.

    I will never EVER do it again.

    Parent

    I am not disparaging (none / 0) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 20, 2018 at 11:43:59 AM EST
    The ones who do.

    I love them

    Parent

    MY DINNER WITH HERVE (none / 0) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 08:39:27 AM EST
    This started on HBO last night.  It's not a great bio pic but it was worth the time for me because it's interesting Hollywood history.

    Or a version of it.

    I didn't really know anything about his life or death.  Never saw FANTASY ISLAND not being a Bond fan I never even saw the Bond movie he was in.

    Dinklage is of course great.  It's worth watching just for the fist fight between Herve and Billy Barth.

    IGN


    Billy BARTY (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 08:40:45 AM EST
    The only thing I knew about Herve (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 10:29:30 AM EST
    Was GREASERS PALACE

    And I was crushed it was NOT EVEN mentioned.

    Among my top 5 favorite films of all time.  Made by Robert Downey Sr and explaining the troubled life of Robert Downey Jr it is a national treasure and Herve is in the part I love the most.

    I will not spoil it.  But if you have not, and you almost certainly have not, see GREASERS PALACE.

    I believe it is without question Herves greatest role.

    PS
    please tell me if you see this.  I have 2 DVDs.  I will send you one.

    Parent

    Greatest Palace (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 10:42:13 AM EST
    Oops (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 10:43:42 AM EST
    That trailer is the entire movie.

    Parent
    If you can't take the whole thing (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 10:52:25 AM EST
    Herve starts about 50.00 in.

    Parent
    FL governor debate (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 06:53:00 PM EST
    On CNN at 8.

    Gillum is up double digits

    That's now central (none / 0) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 06:56:48 PM EST
    Andrew Gillum (none / 0) (#75)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 07:10:00 PM EST
    Is going to be the next gov of FL

    Parent
    This is actually weird (none / 0) (#76)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 07:25:52 PM EST
    DeSantis is a disaster.  He looks desperate and distracted.  He keeps looking like he is going to cry.  And he needs a shave.  Or some makeup or something

    This is not even close.

    Parent

    "Ron DeSantis" has been showing up on (none / 0) (#77)
    by vml68 on Sun Oct 21, 2018 at 11:31:59 PM EST
    my Caller ID everyday for the past week or so. I don't bother answering.

    Parent
    I saw (none / 0) (#78)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 07:29:02 AM EST
    some clips on twitter and yeah, he did look really bad. And he strangely did look like he was going to cry.

    Parent
    RS (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 07:33:00 AM EST
    Voted today (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 06:05:32 PM EST


    we got our ballots (5.00 / 4) (#86)
    by leap on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 09:03:00 PM EST
    on Friday. Warshington is 100% vote-by-mail, and this year, postage is included. I dropped mine in the drop-box by the libarry this morning. The state sends out a voter's guide, too, with information on all the initiatives, including who supports and who does not and why. Info on Fed, state, and local candidates. AND, it's a paper ballot...

    I think every state should be vote-by-mail with postage included. There really is no excuse not to vote.

    Parent

    FOX today (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 06:19:26 PM EST
    I'm going (none / 0) (#82)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 07:19:34 PM EST
    next week when we have more locations.

    Parent
    No early voting in PA (none / 0) (#83)
    by Peter G on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 07:49:36 PM EST
    No no-excuse absentee ballots or vote-by-mail, either. Very old fashioned here, which of course is how the ultra-gerrymandered, Republican-dominated (i.e., minority-controlled) state Legislature loves it.

    Parent
    There was a line (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 08:34:39 PM EST
    About 30 minutes

    Parent
    Y'all (none / 0) (#85)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 08:59:56 PM EST
    might be standing in line for a long time in PA unless you all are better with the number of polling places and the number of machines than most places are.

    Parent
    We are generally better on # of polling places (none / 0) (#88)
    by Peter G on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 09:50:25 PM EST
    but if I see a long line, I will only be delighted.

    Parent
    Obamacare Info (none / 0) (#89)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Oct 22, 2018 at 10:04:17 PM EST
    I noticed it's tough to find accurate information on Obamacare online these days.

    I was looking for information on the ways the ACA prevents medical bankruptcies.

    As I recall, there are caps on what you will ever pay a year. No matter how much healthcare you receive.  The only caveat being the procedures must be available within your exchange.

    Does anyone have this info?

    Georgia gov debate tonight (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 08:58:19 AM EST
    It would be really nice (none / 0) (#96)
    by CST on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 12:11:57 PM EST
    If we could trust the Republican secretary of state not to steal the Governor's race for himself in Georgia.

    Not gonna lie, of all the elections happening that won't affect me in the slightest, this is the one I'd like to see flip the most because Kemp seems like such a giant and corrupt @sshole.

    FL doesn't make the cut? (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by vml68 on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 03:58:34 PM EST
    Gillum targeted by new racist robocall in Florida governor race

    I listened to the robocall. It is just disgusting.

    Parent

    I saw an ad for Lloyd Smucker, (GOP-PA) (none / 0) (#102)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 04:30:49 PM EST
    on TV yesterday that was so over the top (socialism, open borders, we're all gonna die if you elect the Dem), that it made my head explode. And every single Republican is running against Nancy Pelosi. In the last couple of weeks I've seen ads from New Jersey, Delaware and the Philadelphia area. It's nearly impossible to tell who they are running against other than Nancy Pelosi. You know, cause she's such a communist and stuff.


    Parent
    It's almost funny (none / 0) (#103)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 05:00:41 PM EST
    The worst thing they can come up with is some Hamilton tickets.

    Just watched Chuck Terd and his both siderism panel make as much of it as they could

    Parent

    Chucktoddery (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 01:06:14 PM EST
    equates Hamilton tickets to emoluments,as it does pipe bombs to disrupting Mitch McConnell's soup.

    Parent
    Does not compute (none / 0) (#98)
    by jmacWA on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 02:04:59 PM EST
    Using trust and today's GOP together is a non starter now.  The entire party (at least nationally, not sure if all republican state legislators are as bad as the national) has gone off the deep end.

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#99)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 02:41:58 PM EST
    Rawstory

    Brian Kemp, the Georgia Republican candidate for governor, expressed alarm that his opponent Stacey Abrams' voter turnout efforts "continues to concern us, especially if everybody uses and exercises their right to vote," according to an audio recording leaked to Rolling Stone.

    Kemp made the comments at an event called "Georgia Professionals for Kemp."



    Parent
    Why Taylor Swift turned her back on white people (none / 0) (#101)
    by leap on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 04:13:11 PM EST
    That is (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 05:03:34 PM EST
    Horrifying

    Parent
    This is funny (none / 0) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 23, 2018 at 05:44:17 PM EST
    Comey: my wife is so relieved

    Suspicious packages (none / 0) (#109)
    by CST on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 09:44:46 AM EST
    At George Soros home, the Clinton's home, the Obama's home, CNN headquarters, and now the White House is also being reported.

    Link

    Maybe not (none / 0) (#111)
    by CST on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 10:08:35 AM EST
    The white house after all - conflicting reports on that one.

    Parent
    Maybe they meant (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 10:55:23 AM EST
    From the white house

    Parent
    I'm (none / 0) (#114)
    by FlJoe on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 11:02:42 AM EST
    guessing Steven Miller, he seems to have that mad bomber look to him.

    Parent
    The Donald (none / 0) (#116)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 05:31:03 PM EST
    Has a 911 roots showing emergency today.

    All these rallies jamming up his Just For Men time.

    Is anyone else surprised (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 06:10:44 PM EST
    George Soros has a mailbox?

    The MAGAbomber (none / 0) (#118)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 24, 2018 at 06:28:06 PM EST


    Unger: House of Trump, House of Putin (none / 0) (#119)
    by RickyJim on Thu Oct 25, 2018 at 10:11:08 AM EST
    I didn't know much about the Russian Mafia before reading the book. It seems to have mostly replaced the Sicilian version by now.  It also failed to connect the dots as to exactly what Trump will be nailed for doing.  Selling condos in Trump Tower to Russian mobsters, who were laundering money, isn't illegal in itself.  However, there is one intriguing paragraph which might indicate the strongest of the charges Mueller might bring.
    It was an interesting time for Trump to go back to Russia. For one
    thing, now that he was back on his feet again, his entire approach to
    money had done a 180. For years he had described himself as the "king
    of debt." He bragged about his ability to use it to his advantage. Trump
    had always loved debt. But suddenly, he had begun paying cash for
    almost everything. Starting in 2006, he paid $12.6 million for an
    estate in Scotland, the Washington Post reported. Cash. Then came
    two homes in Beverly Hills. Cash again. Five golf courses on the East
    Coast. A winery in Virginia. All cash.
    And so it went over the next few years. In 2014, he paid nearly $80
    million for two golf courses, one in Ireland and one in Scotland. Where
    was that money coming from--at a time when no one in banking in the
    West would touch golf construction? Later that year, sportswriter and
    author James Dodson found out when he played with Donald and Eric
    Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
    Well aware that financing for new golf courses had been dead in the
    water since the 2008 recession, Dodson asked Eric where the Trumps
    were getting their money from.
    "Well, we don't rely on American banks," Eric replied, according to
    Dodson. "We have all the funding we need out of Russia."
    Thanks to the Russians, Trump was very much back in business. In
    fact, things were going so well that he was once again considering
    running for president, in 2016.
    After his Atlantic City fiascos, American banks refused to back new Trump ventures, golf courses or anything else.  So what did the Russian banks see in him?

    DREAM DOOR (none / 0) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 25, 2018 at 03:19:16 PM EST
    OMG (none / 0) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 26, 2018 at 10:54:45 PM EST
    This is so good.

    Parent
    SO good (none / 0) (#127)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 30, 2018 at 08:30:15 PM EST
    So good.  A big part of it is the incredible Troy James.

    Who I had never heard of.  Because I don't watch America's Got Talent.

    But it's sort of surprising because he has really been making a mark in horror and sci fi

    I googled because I was like WHAT THE ACTUAL FU@K?!
    Is this CG? That can't be a actor

    Turns out it is.  No CG.

    that Regan style spider walk is just deliciously creepy

    Parent

    Since you enjoy creepy... (5.00 / 2) (#129)
    by vml68 on Wed Oct 31, 2018 at 12:00:31 AM EST
    I thought you would appreciate this little girl's halloween costume.

    Parent
    That was probably an arcane reference (none / 0) (#128)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 30, 2018 at 08:39:42 PM EST
    This is a deleted scene from the Exorcist

    Deleted because it was thought to creepy for audiences.  

    My Captain Howdy, how far we have come.

    Parent

    One of those times when I am glad I don't (none / 0) (#121)
    by vml68 on Thu Oct 25, 2018 at 04:28:58 PM EST
    They are in panic mode (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 30, 2018 at 06:25:45 PM EST
    Roger (none / 0) (#126)
    by FlJoe on Tue Oct 30, 2018 at 08:10:33 PM EST
    Stone's turn in the barrel soon
    The special counsel investigation is pressing witnesses about longtime Trump ally Roger Stone's private interactions with senior campaign officials and whether he had knowledge of politically explosive Democratic emails that were released in October 2016, according to people familiar with the probe.
    would one of those officials be Steve Bannon?
    On Friday, Mueller's team questioned Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump's former chief strategist, about claims Stone is said to have made privately about WikiLeaks before the group released emails that prosecutors say were hacked by Russian operatives, according to people familiar with the session.
    I wonder who was on this call?
    Mueller's office is investigating calls held during the race by Mr. Stone, a longtime Republican strategist and lobbyist, and particularly his comments during those conversations relating to WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing a witness in the probe and a separate source.

    "In the background of this entire race going forward is the fact that Julian Assange ... is going to continue to drop information on the American voters that is going to roil this race," Mr. Stone said during a call on Aug. 4, 2016, the newspaper reported. "He has made that very clear."



    Parent
    FORMER REPRESENATIVE Steve King (none / 0) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 30, 2018 at 07:15:03 PM EST
    You know you are a piece of sh!t when National Republican Congressional Committee throws you under the bus.

    "Congressman Steve King's recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate," Mr. Stivers wrote on Twitter. "We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior."

    AND the doners

    Land O'Lakes, Purina Pull Support for Iowa Congressman Steve King Over Racial Remarks

    Following Purina and Intel

    From TPM:

    "Graham says that he talks to Trump more than he did to 'any other President combined,' access that is paying off in speaking roles before raucous crowds on the campaign trail, the likes of which he has rarely experienced in his multi-decade career."

    How pathetically craven.

    Yeah (none / 0) (#131)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 31, 2018 at 08:35:12 AM EST