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Tuesday Open Thread

It's a jail day for me, an open thread day for you.

All topics welcome.

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    Today marks 47 years. (5.00 / 9) (#1)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 11:56:01 AM EST
    Of nuptial bliss with June, my beautiful bride.

    😊

    Happy Aniversary, (none / 0) (#3)
    by KeysDan on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 01:24:40 PM EST
    Holy (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by FlJoe on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 04:28:11 PM EST
    Sh!t, from the NYT
    The president has long sold himself as a self-made billionaire, but a Times investigation found that he received at least $413 million in today's dollars from his father's real estate empire, much of it through tax dodges in the 1990s.

    President Trump participated in dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud, that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents, an investigation by The New York Times has found.



    a little late for this, no? (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by leap on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 05:25:55 PM EST
    According to the self-serving, pleased-with-themselves The New York Times in this very piece, "...The Times's investigation of the Trump family's finances is unprecedented in scope and precision, offering the first comprehensive look at the inherited fortune and tax dodges that guaranteed Donald J. Trump a gilded life."

    Why didn't The Media investigate at this level before the Orange Mushroom stole the election?

    So, now what?

    Parent

    What now (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 05:55:58 PM EST
    Could be further attention to his current tax practices.  A warm up act for what now.  The ones that have not outrun any statute of limitations.

    Allen Weisselberg is mentioned it that story.  Recently in the news as a Mueller source.

    Everyone says Mueller has Trumps taxes.  This here is some real good excuses for crossing that particular red line.

    Parent

    Statement from the (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:50:32 PM EST
    NY State Taxation authority-

    "The Tax Department is reviewing the allegations in the NYT article and is vigorously pursuing all appropriate avenues of investigation"

    Funny moment just now on Rachel she mentions a part of the story about a Trump relative who died and "left a basement full of financial records" and asking if that where they got the info.

    The reporter demurred to answer.

    Parent

    The statute of limitations (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 10:58:41 PM EST
    for criminal tax fraud is six years, but there is no limitation on the authority of IRS to audit and redetermine a return tainted by civil fraud.

    Parent
    Tell me about it... (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:21:11 PM EST
    NYS Dept. of Taxation & Finance caught me on a deduction they didn't like ten years later.  And audited every return for years after that...over a measley couple hundred dollars.

    Yet they need the NY Times to uncover alleged millions in unpaid taxes, all because a bozo grifter became president...f*ck you NYS Dept. of T&F.

    Parent

    Family business (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 04:59:35 PM EST
    Judge Barry, Trump's sister (none / 0) (#11)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 05:50:58 PM EST
    was a terrific judge. One of the best. Seemingly nothing like her brother. She is quite a bit older than he is, and fully retired now.

    Parent
    My turn to be linea (none / 0) (#40)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 09:51:37 PM EST
    I'm sure you know more about her than I do but WIKI says she is an "inactive senior judge" which they do not describe as fully retired

    Parent
    Oops (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 09:52:54 PM EST
    Ok (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 09:56:07 PM EST
    "Inactive senior" different than "senior"?

    Parent
    yes (none / 0) (#45)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 10:44:14 PM EST
    different. Senior judges typically handle most of a case load, but no more than they choose to, at full pay, I believe. Judge Barry, with the designation "inactive," no longer takes cases and does not sit on appeals. Honestly, I don't know the difference between that and "retired." I may have used the wrong term. All I know is she doesn't take cases any more, and hasn't since the 2016 election. Anyway, she was one of the best judges on that court, super sharp, always fair -- even though she was pretty conservative -- which is the court where I have most of my cases.

    Parent
    Our courthouse in Honolulu is named after ... (none / 0) (#52)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 05:10:30 AM EST
    ... the late Judge Martin Pence. For a long time, we had a shortage of federal judges in Hawaii. He was still working into his early 90s, and he'd handle preliminary motions, etc., in order to free up the younger judges for trials. Everyone really liked him.

    Parent
    I had an (5.00 / 2) (#92)
    by MKS on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:19:04 PM EST
    appeal before the Ninth Circuit a couple of years ago.  One of the Judges was appointed by LBJ.

    Parent
    Bone Spurs (none / 0) (#28)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:22:36 PM EST
    is, was and always has been, a con artist, grifter and a fraud. He was never a successful businessman. Only a successful grifter and thief. When you don't pay people for services rendered, you are a thief. These stories have been around for years. I was reading some good ones from Phillymag on his escapades in AC from a few years ago. The NYT has just finally been able to further corroborate what was already known with better research and documents.

    This the charlatan I have been presenting here for a number of years now. It's awkward patting myself on the back. (Cr@p, now I'm the new linea 😉)

    Parent

    {{hugs}} (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:24:23 PM EST
    I'd have preferred (none / 0) (#36)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:59:34 PM EST
    that she didn't get banned. Vive le difference. I'm sure I've teetered right on the edge a couple of times myself.

    Parent
    Me too. (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 09:12:37 AM EST
    Many of here posts were the trainwreck that I couldn't turn away from.

    Parent
    Noooo (none / 0) (#68)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:06:17 PM EST
    My God if anyone could have teetered it would have been me. I disagreed with Jeralyn on every ISIS post she made I think. Difference is allowed here, but constant trolling for maximum outrage, nah

    Parent
    Could we please (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:07:44 PM EST
    Please stop taking about. ...

    it?


    Parent

    I'll just teeter on by then hahahaha (none / 0) (#70)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:09:02 PM EST
    I'm still reading that article (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:28:47 PM EST
    It's like a freakin book.  Yes anyone paying attention knew a lot of this stuff in broad terms but there is new never before reported stuff that is pretty jaw dropping.

    Parent
    "Its a very scary time.... (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 06:53:27 PM EST
    ...for young men in America.  When you can be...uh...guilty of something you may not be guilty of."

    Pretty sure that quote needs no attribution.

    I'm sorry.  And I understand how they feel.  They, powerful white Christian men, must feel something like all the people throughout history who were at risk of being destroyed by an accusation.  Even a false one from someone with another motive.

    Something like people accused of being terrorists or homosexual or communists or a freakin witch.

    It really sucks doesn't it?

    Sent this LTE (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by Repack Rider on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 01:38:42 AM EST
    ...on that subject today.  I'm leaving for a month in UK Thursday, so I may not see it if it runs.

    Editor,

    Donald Trump seems to think that 2018 is a "very scary time to be a young man in America" because women have come forward with accusations of sexual abuse at the hands of his peers, privileged white men who attended private schools.

    I disagree on two grounds.  First, any year out of the last 240 or so has been a scary time to be a black man of any age in America.  In my case 1966 easily overshadows this year as a "scary time," because that was the year I answered the draft call, along with thousands of other young men who risked a lot more than a future charge of sexual misconduct.  I can understand why Mr. Trump might have overlooked that.



    Parent
    Yes, it's always unfortunate when people (none / 0) (#19)
    by McBain on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:26:56 PM EST
    are judged on limited evidence and stereotypes.

    Parent
    Oh man (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:36:14 PM EST
    Moving on...

    Parent
    fwiw (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:02:39 PM EST
    Mandrax [Quaaludes] seems to be still very popular, but because of the difficulty of dissolving the tablets, is usually taken orally.


    That's why they invented (none / 0) (#21)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:39:33 PM EST
    mortar and pestles.

    Parent
    Ya, I thought of that. (none / 0) (#24)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:48:40 PM EST
    I never did ludes, but some friends of mine in my frat did. They called them "beer without the calories."

    Anyway, even if you grind them up into power, if the powder doesn't dissolve very well it'll probably just sit on the bottom of the punch bowl. Or maybe float, I don't know. Anyway, it doesn't seem very efficient.

    Also, the punch bowls were big. It would take a lot of ludes.

    But, who knows...

    Parent

    LOL. (none / 0) (#25)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:00:05 PM EST
    I'm sure the punchbowls were big. However the trash cans were even bigger.

    Parent
    Trashcans? Not sure I'm following... (none / 0) (#48)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 11:19:18 PM EST
    Punch (none / 0) (#53)
    by FlJoe on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 05:49:24 AM EST
    bowls are generally not large enough or available, buying a new trash can of appropriate size was the solution. I attended a few parties in my youth with trash cans full of spiked punch.

    Parent
    Especially good (none / 0) (#54)
    by jmacWA on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 07:06:56 AM EST
    When they are galvanized :)

    Parent
    Gotcha. Yes, even bigger. (none / 0) (#55)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 08:34:20 AM EST
    New green plastic trashcan (none / 0) (#75)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:23:20 PM EST
    Grape kool-aid (giant can of powdered sometimes 2), 2 to 3 fifths of Everclear, and sliced fruit cuz at some point we needed to eat dinner too.

    As Matt Damon puts it, I was one of the cool kids. Not a prolific puker though. But I always knew there was grain alcohol in the punch. I suppose people who did not have parents who were permissive could only find a way to get to one these parties maybe a couple times a year. And they probably didn't understand what sort of alcohol was used or its potential.

    Grape kool-aid is the best mask for how awful Everclear tastes.

    Many of our parties had more than one keg of beer too when we went with beer. We usually had the keg deposits in rotation. $50 deposit per keg, then we only had to fundraise for the cost of the beer in the kegs.

    It was my high school senior year "83" when we stopped soliciting privately around the bonfire for funds and started selling each colored plastic cups for $5 each to make beer costs.

    Parent

    You just described (none / 0) (#134)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 07:36:22 PM EST
    "Spoolie." Sometimes a few pills thrown in for good measure.

    Parent
    I can't believe how much we drank in (none / 0) (#136)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 08:26:05 PM EST
    The 80's. And it does seem like some of us deliberately misremembering now. Matt Yglesias has a graph up on underage drinking stats from then to now though and wow we drank. But so did my friends parents and the parents were usually doing even crazier things. Then everyone went treatment hahaha

    And I raised my kids 180 degrees out from how permissive things were then, at least for me. As long as my grades were good I could come and go as I pleased.

    Parent

    Grades (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by Steve13209 on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 12:35:03 PM EST
    Same here, MT. Since I always did very well in school, I got a pass on almost everything else. Don't ask, don't tell, mostly.

    Parent
    Alcohol definately works as a solvent (none / 0) (#26)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:03:46 PM EST
    with some substances. Not sure how it would interact with powdered Qualudees.

    Parent
    Ya, me niether. (none / 0) (#49)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 11:19:53 PM EST
    I have no experience (none / 0) (#77)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:27:26 PM EST
    With added drugs to our party punch. The Everclear was enough for anyone who had little alcohol experience. And then when they got hungry they ate the fruit floating in the punch which was of course also Everclear laced at that point.

    Parent
    The idea was out there (none / 0) (#106)
    by jondee on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:19:31 PM EST
    back then that they made people h*rny.

    The Studio 54 scene was all Quaaludes and cocaine from what I hear.

    Parent

    Yes it was jondee (none / 0) (#111)
    by fishcamp on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:30:35 PM EST
    The ABC film editors used to take me over to Studio 54 after late nights of trying to teach me how to edit film.  We had those great ABC walk on water passes that got us into everything.  The place was just too hip for this country boy.  There was a good old Budweiser bar around the corner.

    Parent
    Doesn't sound like (none / 0) (#118)
    by jondee on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:50:10 PM EST
    my cup of tea either.


    Parent
    I remember (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:42:12 PM EST
    they were a big thing in the 70's though I have no idea about them now.

    Parent
    Tr*mp just couldn't help himself. (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by vml68 on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:47:18 PM EST
    Wow (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 09:02:52 PM EST
    I do not think this would have happened if he thought the Kavanaugh nomination was "on track"

    That felt like a tantrum.

    Parent

    It's hard to tell with Trump (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 09:11:06 PM EST
    when half of what he says sounds like a tantrum.

    Parent
    yes, (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by KeysDan on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 10:37:19 PM EST
    Trump feels he needs to shift to a position that Dr Ford is not believable. And, her story needs to be ridiculed and she being dismissed.  The crowd cheered as good deplorables. The chants of lock her up followed -ostensibly referring to Hillary who has never been charged for anything
    By those concerned about the unfairness of guilty for poor Kav.

    Parent
    yes, (none / 0) (#44)
    by KeysDan on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 10:38:27 PM EST
    Trump feels he needs to shift to a position that Dr Ford is not believable. And, her story needs to be ridiculed and she being dismissed.  The crowd cheered as good deplorables. The chants of lock her up followed -ostensibly referring to Hillary who has never been charged for anything
    By those concerned about the unfairness of guilty for poor Kav.

    Parent
    Everybody is Making the Assumption (5.00 / 1) (#152)
    by RickyJim on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 11:31:33 AM EST
    that the weight of 1700 + law professors signing a declaration that Kavanaugh should not be confirmed because he lacks "judicial temperament" is zero.  It is quite conceivable to me that some Republicans, who had committed themselves to voting for him on ideological grounds, will take it into consideration before voting.  

    or (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by FlJoe on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 12:12:31 PM EST
    this A group representing 100,000 congregations and 45 million churchgoers across an array of Christian denominations in the U.S. has called for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be withdrawn.

    Frankly I don't think they are deplorable enough to matter to the republicans. I think Kavanaugh could shoot some one on Fifth Ave. and not lose a single vote.

    Parent

    Being in McCaskill land (none / 0) (#154)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 12:19:32 PM EST
    Pro Kavanaugh tv ads are literally non stop.  I swear half the ads I've seen in the last week were pro Kavanaugh ads.

    Virtually no anti.

    Spending this much money a month before an election makes me think they are nervous

    It ain't over till it's over.

    Parent

    I think Kavanaugh could shoot some one on Fifth Av (none / 0) (#157)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 01:33:00 PM EST
    You beat me to the punch. I was going to post exactly that phrase. Great minds think alike! They are going to confirm Kavanaugh no matter what transpires. Get it over with. This is a GOP with no scruples, no honor, no dignity. They stand for nothing. But they deserved this entire circus. Remember Merrick Garland.

    Parent
    The too ugly defense. (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 02:11:41 PM EST
    Taking a cue from Trump's mocking, a North Carolina Republican County Chair, shared a photo of a young girl (circa 1982) claiming to be Dr. Ford at that age.

     The photo implied that Dr. Ford was too ugly to be raped; and, may infer that Kavanaugh was good looking enough and could have any woman without raping them.

     The despicable ignorance on display was topped only by the unconscionable victimization of an anonymous woman (the photo was not of a young Dr. Ford).

     The steep Kavanaugh Hill that Republicans are ready to die on continues to amaze....as if the Republicans are only one deep in right wing judges (surely there is a qualified right wing extremist jurist without the allegedly drunken, lying and sexual assault baggage).

    The misogyny of (5.00 / 4) (#160)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 03:33:54 PM EST
    the GOP---well, quite a few of us saw it back in 2016 but too many people said it's okay because it's Hillary. But now maybe people are realizing it wasn't Hillary. Any woman would have gotten that treatment.

    Parent
    QUESTION OF THE DAY (5.00 / 1) (#171)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 08:38:45 AM EST
    CHARMIN OR ANGEL SOFT?

    I just can't stop watching the video of Cheeto marching up the steps of AF1 with the band playing and a big ole piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe.

    But what made me laugh this morning was when I did the search And saw how many of the top search results were from the foreign press

    This is our president.  Hail to the Cheese.

    Hard to say (5.00 / 1) (#177)
    by jmacWA on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 10:21:29 AM EST
    Both are good Koch companies :)

    Parent
    It's a perfect (none / 0) (#172)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 08:43:57 AM EST
    metaphor for the Trump presidency isn't it?

    Parent
    Um, as I meant to say (none / 0) (#173)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 08:48:44 AM EST
    Consider this

    How many people SAW THAT on his shoe before he got to the steps
    And said nothing.

    Parent

    As I read elsewhere, it was actually (none / 0) (#174)
    by vml68 on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 09:18:46 AM EST
    a big ole piece of sh!t stuck to some toilet paper.

    a big ole piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe


    Parent
    Yeah, (5.00 / 2) (#208)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 02:06:41 PM EST
    I agree with Mark that there are going to be shoes dropping on Trump and the earlier you get out the better but Haley is damaged by working for Trump this long. She knew what she was getting into when she signed on with Trump. She probably can go back to SC and get elected to some sort of office but beyond that her national career is pretty dead. The GOP thinks she should go back to India.

    42 wrongful convictions alleged to be (none / 0) (#2)
    by McBain on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 01:12:39 PM EST
    linked to a Chicago police sergeant.
    It's believed that one bad cop preyed on innocent residents of a housing project, rounding up dozens of people on bogus charges. So far, 42 wrongly convicted people have been exonerated.

    An empty lot is now all that's left of the Ida B. Wells housing project where a group of corrupt Chicago cops preyed almost risk-free on residents for most of a decade. Sergeant Ronald Watts was their ringleader. Residents have accused him and his tactical squad of extortion, filing false police reports, planting evidence and assault.

    Many of the reversals involved drug cases.

    WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee (none / 0) (#4)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 04:13:03 PM EST
    WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today received a signed statement from Mr. Dennis Ketterer, the former Democratic candidate for Congress and weatherman for WJLA Channel 7 in Washington, regarding the recent allegations made by Julie Swetnick against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Mr. Ketterer had a relationship with Ms. Swetnick in the 1990s.

    Below are excerpts of the signed statement, which was provided to the committee under penalty of felony.

    "During a conversation about our sexual preferences, things got derailed when Julie told me that she liked to have sex with more than one guy at a time. In fact sometimes with several at one time. She wanted to know if that would be ok in our relationship.

    "I asked her if this was just a fantasy of hers. She responded that she first tried sex with multiple guys while in high school and still liked it from time-to-time. She brought it up because she wanted to know if I would be interested in that."
    ...



    So I'm confused (none / 0) (#6)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 04:57:40 PM EST
    Does this add or subtract from her credibility.

    Parent
    Yes, and not sure (none / 0) (#9)
    by KeysDan on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 05:17:22 PM EST
    what this proves, even if true. If she is into kink, it does not mean that she can't be selective....the fulcrum of the act is consent.  And, further insights may be related to her assaults at an early age and the resulting trauma.  This hearsay from the guy who provided this information to Orrin Hatch's office does not prove that she was not assaulted nor does it relate to the truthfulness of her claim.  It does sound a bit like impeaching the witness with slut shaming, however.

    Parent
    shaming you can think of seems to be about par for the course these days...

    Parent
    I am no psychiatrist, but as a defense lawyer (5.00 / 4) (#33)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:40:10 PM EST
    who has gotten to know quite a few "sex offenders," it is not unusual to see people adopting into their own behavior, seemingly by choice, a re-enactment of traumatic abuse they suffered when very young. Even assuming this ex-boyfriend is credible, that may be the phenomenon that he is (unwittingly) describing.

    Parent
    Back in the day, when Howard Stern was on free radio, he used to interview strippers a lot. Maybe he still does?

    Anyway, his standard spiel was to make small talk with them, and then ask "So how old were you when you were abused?"

    And they all seemed shocked that he was so prescient.

    Parent

    Nice turn of phrase (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by MKS on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:22:34 PM EST
    adopting into their own behavior, seemingly by choice, a re-enactment of traumatic abuse they suffered


    Parent
    I have written many (none / 0) (#117)
    by Peter G on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:48:50 PM EST
    a "sentencing memorandum" seeking mitigation for clients through explanation of the psychological sources of their (criminal) behavior.

    Parent
    Really too bad (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 06:13:20 PM EST
    There is no "comment section" on the Judiciary Committee web site.

    Parent
    New news, it's your choice. (none / 0) (#13)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 05:57:58 PM EST
    Interesting but I don't think it really (none / 0) (#18)
    by McBain on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:15:28 PM EST
    means anything.  What matters is if she actually saw BK do something terrible and if there's any other evidence/witnesses to back it up.  

    Parent
    Louis CK doing stand up again (none / 0) (#8)
    by McBain on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 05:15:02 PM EST
    Most, but not all, seemed to enjoy.  
    There was wild applause when the host announced him, and a warm send-off when he left. "You've been very kind, thank you very, very much," the comedian said from the stage.

    One audience member visiting from Europe said the crowd was happy to see him and laughed. But some in the audience were made uncomfortable by jokes he told about his daughter, according to HuffPost. And two women walked out on the act, the club said.

    Hopefully, he'll get to continue with his TV show at some point.

    John Roberts - swing vote? (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 07:41:04 PM EST
    STALE

    Vernon Madison has spent 33 years in solitary confinement awaiting execution for a crime he can no longer remember. A series of strokes have left the 68-year-old death-row inmate with severe cognitive impairment due to vascular dementia. He cannot see, or walk without aid, or recite the alphabet past the letter G, or process basic information. He struggles to speak and suffers incontinence. A growing portion of his brain tissue is dead. And Alabama would like to put him to death as soon as possible.



    As soon as possible.. (none / 0) (#27)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:08:31 PM EST
    Before he can cheat (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:29:50 PM EST
    And die of natural causes I guess

    Parent
    Executing someone like that (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 08:31:33 PM EST
    is just pure insanity. Not to overstate the obvious.

    Parent
    On any other day (none / 0) (#39)
    by ragebot on Tue Oct 02, 2018 at 09:16:40 PM EST
    Sounds like (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Repack Rider on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 01:43:07 AM EST
    ...the hammer is about to come down really hard on some treasonous slime.

    You're right that an imminent indictment would normally be news, except there is a glut of corruption news right now.

    Parent

    So now a claimed former boyfriend (none / 0) (#57)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 09:36:16 AM EST
    of Dr. Ford submits a letter.

    He says that during the six years they dated she used her psychology background to help teach/coach a life-long friend, who was (successfully) trying to get a job with the FBI, on how to pass the FBI lie-detector test.

    Apparently Ford was asked directly during the hearings if she'd ever helped/coached anyone in how to take a LD test, and she said "no."

    And, of course, she also took a lie detector test herself re: her Kavanaugh accusations...

    Googling the various characters in this soap opera can take you to places you can't unsee...

    The (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by FlJoe on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 11:05:07 AM EST
    life-long friend has denied that
    "I have never had Christine Blasey Ford, or anybody else, prepare me, or provide any other type of assistance whatsoever in connection with any polygraph exam I have taken at anytime," McLean said in a statement, according to the Wall Street Journal.

    McLean was not identified in the ex-boyfriend's letter, but Blasey Ford's lawyers reportedly confirmed that she is the friend in question.

     and she put her name on it unlike the anonymous ex-boyfriend.

    Parent
    See, there ya go. (none / 0) (#61)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 11:46:46 AM EST
    But, of course, now McLean's reputation is on the line from this accusation, and also her life-long friend Ford's reputation, so it's in her best interest to say that.

    That said, the ex said Ford cheated on him, so he could have some bitterness...

    McLean was not identified in the ex-boyfriend's letter, but Blasey Ford's lawyers reportedly confirmed that she is the friend in question.

    Odd sentence from your link. McLean was absolutely identified, by name, multiple times, in the ex-boyfriend's letter...

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#67)
    by FlJoe on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 12:16:30 PM EST
    agree pretty sloppy journalism and it's once again breaking down to a he said/she said.

    Parent
    "On the line"? (none / 0) (#123)
    by Yman on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 05:39:58 PM EST
    Why would McLean's reputation be "on the line" and why would it be in her own interest to lie?  She's retired from the FBI and there would be nothing wrong with preparing for a polygraph, even assuming it was true.

    Parent
    there was less clarity being reported on Ms. Mclean.

    Parent
    The make believe anonymous ex-bf (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 11:47:23 AM EST
    is probably a staff member for Lindsey Graham. That appears to be in line with the GOP staff pattern as of late.

    Parent
    Ha (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 11:58:01 AM EST
    I first read that as an ex-bf of Lindsey Graham.

    What a silly idea

    Parent

    about things he did with Ford during their 6 year relationship; they lived together, shared a credit card, traveled together, he helped her find a place to live in CA, etc.

    Parent
    Made me look. (none / 0) (#66)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 12:11:23 PM EST
    From the NYT:
    Although the man's name and hometown were redacted from the copy of the statement, which was dated Tuesday, a person informed about the matter identified him as Brian Merrick. A profile of Dr. Blasey in The Wall Street Journal last month said she met Mr. Merrick while pursuing a master's degree at Pepperdine University. She was "sweet, cute and with a good attitude," he told the newspaper.


    Parent
    Interesting (none / 0) (#59)
    by Steve13209 on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 10:52:26 AM EST
    Seems to refute virtually all of Dr. Ford's claims, but he doesn't want to get involved. I hope the FBI had him on their list.

    And what about the two people with signed affidavits saying they were the attackers, not BK?

    Parent

    from those two.

    Musta been pretty sketchy characters.

    Parent

    But (5.00 / 2) (#156)
    by Steve13209 on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 12:39:43 PM EST
    He did put them out into the public record. Unlike information that might jeopardize BK's appointment.

    Parent
    `Trump made a tramp out of me' (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 10:10:31 AM EST
    I assume we all go the (none / 0) (#71)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:09:36 PM EST
    Presidents "crisis alert"?

    Took me a minute to figure it out.

    I might have been hacked.  There was no misspellings

    What the HEEL is this? (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:17:47 PM EST
    Were there two eardrum piercing beeps (none / 0) (#74)
    by vml68 on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:21:28 PM EST
    to go with the alert?
    My dogs went nuts and I was running around trying to figure out which smoke detector was malfunctioning. Now I'm wondering if it was the phone!

    Parent
    It was (none / 0) (#76)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:23:40 PM EST
    Il Douche's alarm did not set off (none / 0) (#102)
    by leap on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:57:12 PM EST
     my Tracfone<sup>TM</sup>©®. So there's that.

    Parent
    I thought... (none / 0) (#99)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:44:36 PM EST
    another flash flood or microburst warning at first.  But alas, it was only the flood in the biblical sense, washing away any and all class and dignity.  

    Even those who don't play with twitter can now be trolled by the president, with no ability to opt out.  Invasion of privacy if you ask me...cyber stalking even.

    Parent

    IMMINENT (none / 0) (#72)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:15:37 PM EST
    Senate Republicans expect the FBI to deliver a report as early as Wednesday afternoon reviewing sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, starting the countdown for a critical procedural vote on Friday for the high court hopeful

    I don't think this is going to go down the way they think.

    No idea how but that's what I think.

    Since the FBI will not interview (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:33:28 PM EST
    Ford, and McConnell is planning a vote this weekend,  I think you should assume the fix is in.

    Parent
    I still think it depends (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:36:49 PM EST
    On Flakes plans for 2020.  Clearly whatever he does will be a political calculation.

    He just keeps appearing, again this morning, with his vp, uh, I mean Coons.

    Parent

    Another possibility (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:51:27 PM EST

    Russell Drew
    @RussOnPolitics
    ·
    3h
    Replying to
    @mkraju
    Spoiler alert: Sen. Jeff Flake will vote for Kavanaugh. But he showed just enough concern and honor to get a paid gig on MSNBC or CNN next year



    Parent
    I don't have your confidence. (none / 0) (#78)
    by vml68 on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:28:08 PM EST
    I think Kavanaugh is getting confirmed.
    Flake is going to stay true to his name.

    Parent
    I predict there will be (none / 0) (#80)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:30:05 PM EST
    A riot downtown

    Parent
    In many towns (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:33:46 PM EST
    Women centered protest groups (none / 0) (#79)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:29:20 PM EST
    Arriving in DC tomorrow.

    Parent
    I'm kind of Zen (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 02:33:15 PM EST
    At this point.  Que Sara.

    If he goes down great.

    If he's confirmed both houses of congress are ours and we will deal with it.

    If I was betting....
    ...well, I wouldn't bet but I think he goes down.  

    Parent

    The recent smears (none / 0) (#86)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:01:05 PM EST
    and attacks on Dr. Ford indicate to me that despite the Republican's likely success in confirming Kavanaugh, they know they need to change their early course to one of destroying her. Necessary since they realize that this will not be over with confirmation and Kavanaugh's sitting on the SC bench. No, it will continue through the electionsof 2018, 2020 and beyond.

     Trump gave them the cue at his Il Duce jambortee in Mississippi. Grassley and Hatch have picked up on it, with new reports coming in over the transom and Grassley asking for more from Dr. Ford, including lie detector information and therapist notes.

    I would not be surprised if Dr. Ford's attorney's, essentially, tell Grassley to pIss in a hat. The Judiciary Committee's responsibilities have been discharged with their vote out of committee(ll to 10) and to take the nomination to the floor. And, the reason given for Dr.Ford (and Kavanaugh) not being on the FBI list, was that they already testified at the Judiciary Committee hearing. No loose strings from the hearing for Kavanaugh to follow, no loose strings for Dr. Ford.


    Parent

    A Bless Your Heart Response: (5.00 / 2) (#122)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 05:24:49 PM EST
    Dr. Ford's attorney's response to Grassley's demand for her therapy notes and polygraph information:

    Dear Chairman Grassley:

    Regarding the documents you requested in your letter of October 2, 2018, Dr. Ford is prepared to provide those documents to the FBI when she is interviewed.  We have not yet heard from the FBI about scheduling an interview with her.
    Lisa Banks and Debra Katz.

    I would have added that if there continues to be questions about Dr. Ford's polygraph, she is willing to take one over, administered by the FBI, provided that Kavanaugh agrees to undertake an FBI polygraph, as well.

    Parent

    Kavanaugh cannot take a polygraph (5.00 / 3) (#132)
    by Peter G on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 07:19:03 PM EST
    He is way too emotional on this subject.

    Parent
    Give (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 08:06:22 PM EST
    him a beer to calm him down. Doubt he would fight that idea.

    Parent
    It's a hot mess (none / 0) (#89)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:04:29 PM EST
    And no one is going to win.

    Parent
    Welll, there is "concern." (none / 0) (#95)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:23:27 PM EST
    Trump's mocking Dr. Ford was, according to Collins, "just plain wrong,"  Murkowski found it "unacceptable". and Flake thinks it is "kind of appalling."


    Parent
    Indeed, concerns (none / 0) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:30:17 PM EST
    Trump's favorite show, "Fox & Friends," criticizes him for mocking Christine Blasey Ford

    Of course, Trump may agree with me that their only midterm hope is for the nomination to fail.

    Parent

    You don't think trump cares one way (none / 0) (#100)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:45:59 PM EST
    or the other who wins an election if he isn't on the ballot do you? If Republicans win it's because of the candidate's love for Trump, and if they lose it's because they didn't love Trump enough. It won't change anything he does as he attempts to line his pockets with taxpayers dollars.

    Parent
    Yes, sure (none / 0) (#101)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:51:44 PM EST
    I honestly doubt there was any calculation to that performance last night beyond him lashing out about that Times story.

    Which left a mark.

    Parent

    WaPo (none / 0) (#87)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:02:28 PM EST
    ..one political consideration looms large according to people familiar with FBI and administration deliberations:
    If democrats win control of the house lawmakers could launch an investigation into exactly what white house and bureau officials said internally about the Kavanaugh matter.

    Parent
    And Captain, we already have the goods (none / 0) (#90)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:05:52 PM EST
    On Clarence Thomas, and nothing has been done. So NO! He is not going to be seated or there will be a riot.

    Parent
    I just learned Anita Hill (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by MKS on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:38:34 PM EST
    passed a polygraph.

    If Kavanaugh were all that confident he did not do it, he would take one too.  Tis is not a criminal case, and so  a polygraph would make a difference. Does really he would fail?  Apparently so.

    Parent

    I completely agree (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:07:30 PM EST
    I really do.

    The country will literally explode

    Parent

    Sure (none / 0) (#88)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:04:11 PM EST
    The only real win will be women stopping another nominee accused of sexual harrassment/sexual assault from being seated on the court without a thorough investigation. We all know now Anita Hill's accusation investigation was fudged. We will not be accepting that ever again. We will no longer condone institutionalized sexual harrassment and assault. We will not be quiet. We will not go home and knit.

    Parent
    FWIW (none / 0) (#98)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 03:43:36 PM EST
    there's a rumor on twitter that Judge completely turned on Kavanaugh and spilled the beans. I would think he must have gotten immunity for that since he appeared to be criminally liable. No honor among hit men and thieves.

    It would be surprising (none / 0) (#103)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:08:14 PM EST
    if use/testimonial immunity was granted as a part of this hollowed out supplemental FBI background check.  The FBI would need DOJ/US Attorney involvement. But, Mark Judge might have just told his story, since lying to the FBI is not a good thing...or, at least, used to be the case.

    Parent
    Or possibly another motive (none / 0) (#104)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:17:06 PM EST
    A Rumor on twitter??? (none / 0) (#105)
    by SomewhatChunky on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:18:14 PM EST
    Now there's a reliable source....

    We all need to take a chill pill.  Go to the gym, take out the trash, do something useful.  In a short time, actual Senators from both sides will have read the report and the spin will start.  Then we'll all have an idea what's in it.

    Just saw DIFi already claiming that any FBI Report is not credible without Ford and Kavanaugh interviews.  What a surprise!

    Parent

    Messed up the link. Try this (none / 0) (#107)
    by SomewhatChunky on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:20:33 PM EST
    I am trying to figure out where you (none / 0) (#108)
    by vml68 on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:25:30 PM EST
    Just saw DIFi already claiming that any FBI Report is not credible without Ford and Kavanaugh interviews.  What a surprise!

    see the problem in that statement. How do you conduct an investigation and not interview the two most important/relevant people?

    Parent

    Spin has started (none / 0) (#113)
    by SomewhatChunky on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:34:36 PM EST
    I didn't say I saw a problem with it.  My point was the predictable spin has started.  

    I will form my opinion when we have a number of comments from Senators on both sides.  Then we will have an idea what's in the report.  Shouldn't take long once it's released.

    Parent

    Spin (5.00 / 2) (#119)
    by FlJoe on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:53:03 PM EST
    is one thing, stifling the investigation is an entirely different thing.

    A rushed and cursory FBI report will answer no questions but but give the GOP cowards cover to vote yes.

    Parent

    This is (none / 0) (#127)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:13:26 PM EST
    not going to be the end of it. A thorough investigation will be done of Kavanaugh and the fact that Trump or McGahan is obstructing one could get them in trouble too.

    Parent
    Yes, take out (none / 0) (#109)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:27:58 PM EST
    the trash.  However, after all is said and done, Kavanaugh will be cleared of all possible wrong doing----past, present and future.  Let'er rip, if a mistake is made the country only has to live with it for 30 or so years.

    Parent
    Seems (none / 0) (#110)
    by FlJoe on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:30:29 PM EST
    to me that no credible investigation can be complete without interviewing the principals. It makes no sense not to, Ford seems eager to talk with them Kavanaugh does not. You do the math.

    Parent
    Dude (none / 0) (#124)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:10:57 PM EST
    cannot you not read "twitter rumor"? I never stated it as a fact.

    Parent
    My understanding is that there is no (none / 0) (#112)
    by Peter G on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:31:15 PM EST
    criminal liability anymore under Maryland law, due to statute of limitations. What I have read on that score is not 100% satisfying, however. The FBI cannot grant anyone immunity anyway, only a federal judge on application of the Deputy Atty Gen (Rosenstein), and then only for federal crimes. The liability here, if any, is for some Maryland state offense, which the FBI has no jurisdiction over.

    Parent
    You know what (none / 0) (#114)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:36:26 PM EST
    If you believe his former girlfriend he is not proud of the trains.

    Maybe a guy who has hit the bottom of the bottle, writes stories about that part of his life, and confesses shamefully to a girlfriend wants to close the circle.  Pay the piper.  Balance the scales.

    Or maybe he wants a multi million dollar book deal for a book that will a actually sell?

    Either way it would be hilarious

    Parent

    On a more serious note (none / 0) (#115)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:44:33 PM EST
    If I was him, that part of the testimony when the doctor told about making eye contact with Judge hoping he would help her would be hard to hear.

    I would need sleep aids

    Parent

    Just gotta say one other thing (none / 0) (#116)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:48:31 PM EST
    If Judge confirms her story that 56% of republicans who have told pollsters that "even if it's true he should be confirmed" get to defend that.

    When I said it wont go down the way they think I honestly never considered that.

    Parent

    Holy crow (none / 0) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 04:54:02 PM EST
    Hatch: Trump `may have to give up' tax returns


    Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch said Wednesday that he would be "happy" to look into President Donald Trump's tax returns in the wake of The New York Times report that says Trump helped "his parents dodge taxes" in the 1990s, including "instances of outright fraud."


    Hatch (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:11:52 PM EST
    is going to do nothing but cover up Trump's tax fraud.

    Parent
    MITCHELL: The second is the letter (none / 0) (#121)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 05:21:45 PM EST
       MITCHELL: The second is the letter that you wrote to Senator Feinstein, dated the -- July 30th of this year.

        MITCHELL: Did you write the letter yourself?

        FORD: I did.

        MITCHELL: And I -- since it's dated July 30th, did you write it on that date?

        FORD: I believe so. I -- it sounds right. I was in Rehoboth, Delaware, at the time. I could look into my calendar and try to figure that out. It seemed...

        MITCHELL: Was it written on or about that date?

        FORD: Yes, yes. I traveled, I think, the 26th of July to Rehoboth, Delaware. So that makes sense, because I wrote it from there.

    Looks like McLean, Ford's life-long friend who denied Ford's ex-boyfriend's story about being coached by Ford on how to take lie detector tests, was an FBI agent for about 20 years and lives in Rehoboth, Delaware.

    I wonder if the FBI interviewed her and asked her if she helped Ford in any way with her letter...

    VICE (none / 0) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:11:31 PM EST
    omg

    Sam Rockwell as W and Christian Bale as Dick

    you need to see the trailer

    Bale gets fat (none / 0) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:19:34 PM EST
    If I never see dick cheney's face again (none / 0) (#190)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 01:42:11 PM EST
    in this lifetime, it will be too soon.

    Parent
    Denial (none / 0) (#191)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 01:49:14 PM EST
    Is an option

    Parent
    Amazing (none / 0) (#198)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 07, 2018 at 09:31:17 AM EST
    Apparently (none / 0) (#128)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:17:07 PM EST
    they still do not have the votes for Kavanaugh as Lindsay is suggesting a vote be put off link

    I think (none / 0) (#129)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:18:01 PM EST
    this is their new strategy. Just keep putting off a Kavanaugh vote until after the election.

    Parent
    Senators get the report (none / 0) (#131)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 06:56:20 PM EST
    8 am tomorrow


    And then (none / 0) (#137)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 08:30:34 PM EST
    we are going to find out how much the GOP hates women. We already know how much but this will probably take it to the max. And they are going to pay big at the polls for putting him on the court. They seem bound and determined to do so regardless of any bad news about him.

    Parent
    We went to dinner downtown (none / 0) (#138)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 08:37:12 PM EST
    I'd hoped when we got home the news would be better, Trump was ditching him.

    They push everything right to the cliff's edge. Much larger protest starts tomorrow morning. So I guess we're doing this. Fine

    Parent

    Mitch sez (none / 0) (#139)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 08:55:23 PM EST
    Tonight.  The Senate will get it tonight.

    So.....

    Parent

    McConnell files (none / 0) (#140)
    by ragebot on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 09:03:10 PM EST
    No link yet but saw it live on the tube.  Will update soon as I find a link.


    Got it (none / 0) (#142)
    by ragebot on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 09:11:39 PM EST
    GOP connections (none / 0) (#144)
    by MKS on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 09:57:20 PM EST
    is why they have it first.

    Parent
    McConnell is such a (none / 0) (#143)
    by leap on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 09:17:13 PM EST
    GD antiamukkkan aff. Sen. Chris Murphy tweets:
    One copy of the FBI report. No more than an hour to review it. No ability for any follow up. Then a rushed vote.

    For 2 years, McConnell has been carefully and purposefully breaking the Senate. This is the final blow. No comity or tradition left. It's just about power politics.



    Parent
    They (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 04:25:14 AM EST
    know he is guilty of all this. That is all. If they vote him in, the ones that vote for him are going to pay at the polls. My senator David Perdue hid in a restroom rather than answer questions about Kavanaugh.

    Parent
    Shelia Jackson Lee (none / 0) (#141)
    by ragebot on Wed Oct 03, 2018 at 09:09:52 PM EST
    If, then... (none / 0) (#146)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 07:52:39 AM EST
    I think Democrats have long (none / 0) (#147)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 10:42:53 AM EST
    Gamed this out and are choosing to lose. At least they don't want us to fight to the point anyone at risk of arrest.

    Parent
    I've thought that for a while (none / 0) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 10:48:26 AM EST
    Yes

    This was, probably, a done deal.  What they have done rather skillfully is make sure everyone knows what is at stake.  Before the election.

    If he passes the right will forget about it.  The next day.  

    The left will not forget

    Worth remembering that old election truism, people don't get off the couch to vote FOR something.  They do it to vote AGAINST something.

    The right, on the whole, is not going to vote to say thanks.

    Parent

    Yup (none / 0) (#149)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 11:01:08 AM EST
    I hope that Liberals and Democrats when speaking with their friends and family who have been sexually assaulted keep in mind, you don't have to sell this to anyone, but victims must grieve.

    Parent
    One thing (5.00 / 2) (#151)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 11:18:09 AM EST
    Democrats wanted their reps to fight.

    They have done that.

    Parent

    Some one just said that (none / 0) (#150)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 11:16:54 AM EST
    Because of all the reports starting to roll in there is, over the next 48 hours, going to be what amounts to a "crowd sourced" BG investigation of Kavanaugh.

    While all we just said is true it's not over till the final vote.

    Parent

    OK! (none / 0) (#158)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 01:37:52 PM EST
    Lindsey Graham To Protester: Let's Dunk Kavanaugh In Water, See If He Floats.

    A STAR IS BORN (none / 0) (#161)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 04:54:17 PM EST
    Want to forget this Shiite for a bit?

    go see A STAR IS BORN

    It is great.  And I don't do musicals.

    Gaga is a freakin (none / 0) (#162)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 05:33:09 PM EST
    force of nature

    And btw she wrote the songs.

    Parent

    I see where she bought (none / 0) (#163)
    by jondee on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 06:24:17 PM EST
    The Utility Muffin Research Kitchen.

    Parent
    Freakin (none / 0) (#164)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 06:25:55 PM EST
    Force of nature

    Parent
    40+ years ago, when Barbra Streisand ... (none / 0) (#165)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 07:00:40 PM EST
    ... starred in the second remake of "A Star Is Born," critics pilloried the film as nothing more than her personal vanity project. It was actually a pretty good movie.

    Are any critics saying anything similar about Bradley Cooper?

    Parent

    I don't really know Donald (none / 0) (#166)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 07:42:43 PM EST
    The reviews have as far as I know been pretty stellar

    I never saw the Barbara version.  Or actually any other version.

    As I said, I don't do musicals.

    Parent

    Any other version? (none / 0) (#167)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 09:40:18 PM EST
    Not even the original (1937) with Janet Gaynor, or the first remake (1954) with Judy Garland? Don't you risk revocation of your Gay Man credentials by admitting this?

    Parent
    Nope (none / 0) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 10:05:34 PM EST
    And I renounced that stereo type ages ago.  The only musical I would watch would B&W or maybe Marilyn.

    Maybe.

    I lasted about 10 minutes in La La Land.

    Dont do musicals.

    I never even made it all the way through West Side Story.

    Parent

    This was on RT (none / 0) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 04, 2018 at 10:11:41 PM EST
    I agree completely


    THE LESS SINGING A MUSICAL HAS, THE BETTER THE MUSICAL IS - ACCORDING TO THE TOMATOMETER

    With A Star Is Born hitting theaters this week - and boasting a 95% Tomatometer score - our mind has been on musicals. And, specifically, what makes a musical good... or, in the case of Star, Certified Fresh great. Is it the stellar acting? The costumes and sets? Or is it - you know - the music and musical performances? It's the last question we've decided to tackle here.

    Born straddles the line between traditional musical (think burst-out-in-song-at-any-moment films like Hairspray or La La Land) and what we're terming "performing arts movies" (think movies where characters take to a stage to perform, or perform in a natural situation, a la Once or School of Rock). It features a number of performances of sure-to-be-huge songs - expect "Shallows" to pitch a tent inside your head soon and never, ever leave - but it only features a handful of them; no one ever busts out in song unnaturally in the film, La La-style, but in scenes where Lady Gaga's Ally is composing music, she comes awfully close.



    Parent
    My wife and I took my dad to a (none / 0) (#194)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 03:20:44 PM EST
    local production of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum."

    On the ride home he said "I liked everything except when they sang."

    Part of our family lore for decades now...

    Parent

    I'm not big on musicals, either. (none / 0) (#170)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 05:50:40 AM EST
    But I have seen a number of them over the years. Some, like Gigi, My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music, are reflective of the period in which they were produced. Others, like Hair, have not aged well at all. Of that genre, my favorite is Cabaret. And Mel Brooks' The Producers was a lot of fun. More recently, I enjoyed La La Land, but mostly it was a postcard Hollywood sent to itself, and its musical score was rather forgettable.

    Parent
    I'm not a musical fan (none / 0) (#175)
    by leap on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 09:35:21 AM EST
    because I just can't listen to words AND music at the same time. And then all the blather in between. I always listen to the music. Hence, I LOVE Oklahoma and South Pacific (especially the version with Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin). Fiddler on the Roof. And West Side Story. Because the music is sublime. I grew up listening to records of these and not seeing the productions. Hence, decades later, when I finally saw the movie version of Oklahoma, I was shocked at the rape scene. And when I finally saw the movie version of South Pacific, I was shocked at "You've got to be carefully taught..."

    Parent
    There are musicals (none / 0) (#176)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 10:18:48 AM EST
    And then there is THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.

    Or THE TERROR OF TINY TOWN

    but if you wanted to interrogate me in an enhanced manner I would start with me locked in a room running THE SOUND OF MUSIC, SOUTH PACIFIC, OKLAHOMA etc.

    Parent

    The winter is forbidden (none / 0) (#178)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 10:38:11 AM EST
    till December..and exits March the Second on the dot..

    That song and the Richard Burton's voice are irrovocably engrained in my consciousness because my mother played the Broadway score of Camelot over and over and over again after JFK's death. It was her way of grieving, I suppose. And not a bad way to do it, as those things go..

    Burton, who was the non-singer in that cast, with his whiskey-and-Shakespeare voice, was still the most memorable singer by far.

    In short, there's simply not..a more congenial spot..for happy-ever-aftering..than here in Cam-el-lot.

    Parent

    I remember one time... (5.00 / 2) (#179)
    by desertswine on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 11:17:29 AM EST
    when I was in school in N Jersey, we took a class trip to Broadway.  It was to see the show Camelot with Burton, Andrews, and Goulet.  After the show we got to go backstage where we found Goulet standing around singing and happily signing autographs.  I got him to sign my Playbill.  

    I think the last musical that I went to see was Batboy.  

    Parent

    The only one I've been to (none / 0) (#180)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 11:33:23 AM EST
    was Ain't Misbehavin' which was basically the music and songs of Fats Waller. Speaking of forces of nature..

    It was great.

    DREAM GIRLS (none / 0) (#181)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 11:34:16 AM EST
    I actually AM gay

    Parent
    Neil deGrasse Tyson doesn't think (none / 0) (#182)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 12:38:52 PM EST
    "Space Force" is such a bad idea
    And according to Tyson, President Trump's proposed Space Force may an important step in that direction, although its mandate should be expanded to include the problems like space debris and protecting citizens from rogue asteroids.

    "So it's not a crazy idea," Tyson said.

    Tyson also doesn't seem to think Pluto should regain it's status as a regular planet...

    "Pluto is one-fifth the mass of our Moon," Tyson replied. "It crosses the orbit of Neptune. This is just bad behavior for a planet."

    I tend to agree with him that Pluto is correctly classified as a dwarf planet.  

    Ask him if (none / 0) (#183)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 12:40:45 PM EST
    He wants it to be Trumps SPACE FORCE

    an get back 2 me.

    K?

    Parent

    Can't help you there Howdy (none / 0) (#184)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    since I don't know him personally but if it starts out as Trumps Space Force, it could last into many other administrations.  Perhaps one day, it will play an important role in asteroid defense, as Tyson suggests is important.

    The important thing here is not to automatically dismiss something because it comes from someone you don't like.  

    Parent

    Has Trump ever said anything (none / 0) (#186)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 01:21:48 PM EST
    specifically about asteroid defense?

    Just the use of the word "force" suggests militarization, adversarialness, and less international cooperation.

    Parent

    I don't know Jondee (none / 0) (#188)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 01:36:05 PM EST
    the odds of a massive asteroid strike happening in our lifetimes is very slim.  I think this is more  Tyson's idea for long term survival. At some point we're going to have to address it.  Trump might be the one to get things started then future administrations (with better technology)can figure out the best way to keep us safe.  

    Parent
    I'm sold jondee (none / 0) (#189)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 01:38:11 PM EST
    Neil de Grasse Tyson (none / 0) (#193)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 03:18:36 PM EST
    has been showing up on shows such as Bill Maher and Trevor Noah, pushing his book and promoting science, particularly his field, as the beneficiary of military wars.  So much good has come from war, that we need to do it more often, is the inference. And, that, maybe, wars are the only way for scientific advancement. Space Force fits in nicely. Of course there is also the prospects of funding pet projects with new "Space Force" federal grants.  

    Don't know what has happened to Dr. Tyson, he even comes across as an obnoxious guest.  

    Parent

    Where does he infer that we need (none / 0) (#195)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 03:42:50 PM EST
    to do it (war) more often? I watched him on Bill Maher last week and don't remember that.  Do you have a link?  I do remember him bragging about his best selling book and being a little too energetic at times.  I won't go so far as to say he was obnoxious, though.

    Parent
    The inference (none / 0) (#197)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 11:28:12 PM EST
    mentioned in my comment was a conclusion made on the basis of the contextual fervor in describing outcomes (obtained through conflict) of the alliance between science and war making and reasoning. Others may disagree with this presumption, but to me, it was a reasonable deduction.  Accordingly, as an inference made  assessment and reasoning, there is no reference link.

    We apparently characterize Dr. Tyson's demeanor differently, "too energetic", in your case;"too extreme to bear", or off-putting (aka obnoxious), in mine.

    Parent

    Norbert Weiner (none / 0) (#196)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 05:37:00 PM EST
    used to say wars were tremendously detrimental to scientific advancement because war and hyper-competition encourage information hoarding and secrecy.

    Parent
    Officer Jason Van Dyke found guilty (none / 0) (#192)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 05, 2018 at 02:00:54 PM EST
    of second degree murder in the shooting of Laquan McDonald.

    Van Dyke arrived on the scene, got out of his vehicle and fired 16 shots at McDonald. He continued to shoot at McDonald for 12.5 seconds after he was already on the ground.

    Van Dyke told investigators that McDonald raised the knife in a menacing manner before he fired, and that he backpedaled as the teen approached. The police video did not support the officer's account.

    "None of that happened!" prosecutor Jody Gleason told jurors. "You've seen the videos. He made it up to justify his use of force."

    I hope this was a verdict based on the facts and not some kind of compromise.  Van Dyke was also charged with first degree murder.

    He will be popular (none / 0) (#199)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 09:13:56 AM EST
    at Joliet.


    Parent
    TOUGH AS TEXAS (none / 0) (#200)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 09:25:36 AM EST
    this is a GREAT ad
    Paid for by the Fire Ted Cruz PAC and made by Richard Linklater. (Dazed and Confused, Slacker, Boyhood)

    Interesting (none / 0) (#201)
    by FlJoe on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 09:33:26 AM EST
    Nikki Haley has abruptly resigned from her post as President Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, reports Axios' Jonathan Swan.
    Link

    Ivanka going to the UN? (none / 0) (#202)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 09:36:03 AM EST
    Nikki Haley may be resigning (none / 0) (#203)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 09:36:22 AM EST
    If so she is also planning for 20.

    Oops (none / 0) (#204)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 09:37:00 AM EST
    RESIGNED.  15 minutes behind.

    Parent
    So she says (none / 0) (#205)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 10:30:46 AM EST
    She is not running in 20.  She will be campaigning for "this one".  Ok.  Vague enough.

    But we all know Trump is a 50/50 chance of even making it to twenty as president.

    Haley is smart and dangerous.

    And btw (none / 0) (#206)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 10:35:59 AM EST
    The fact she "might" take an appointment to Lindseys Senate seat when he becomes AG doesn't at all mean she does not have other plans.

    Mark Sanford says (none / 0) (#207)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 09, 2018 at 10:37:49 AM EST
    He thinks there may be "Trump shoes to drop" that she wants to avoid so she getting out while the getting is good

    I agree with Mark