home

World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is being held in Jacksonville, Florida today.

Go Gators!!

This is an Open Thread.

< The Polls- 11/1 | Getting Out the Inmate Vote >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Michigan State 25 Wisconsin 24 (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by cal1942 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 04:24:33 PM EST
    The only game I'm interested in.  State wins with a field goal with 7 seconds on the clock.

    Spectactular! (none / 0) (#55)
    by Steve M on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 04:42:58 PM EST
    Great win.  State had been making a cottage industry out of losing games like this one, prior to this year.

    Parent
    Go you hairy dawgs! (none / 0) (#1)
    by talesoftwokitties on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 09:26:14 AM EST
    Woof!

    Dogs will beat the spread (none / 0) (#45)
    by Xclusionary Rule 4ever on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 12:28:39 PM EST
    Sportsbook has Georgia +7.5;  I don't know where Gallup has them, but they will win by 10, just like Barack.

    Parent
    Oops (none / 0) (#56)
    by CoralGables on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 07:24:45 PM EST
    ROFL (none / 0) (#57)
    by Amiss on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:38:31 PM EST
    Good stuff (none / 0) (#2)
    by Steve M on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 09:46:41 AM EST
    I didn't think the stakes could get any higher in that rivalry, but somehow, Georgia managed to give the Gators even more motivation!  Should be fun.

    The Spartans take on TChris's Badgers today as they continue to hope for an improbable Big Ten title.

    Maybe Michigan/MSU should (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 09:53:53 AM EST
    look at this world's largest cocktail party idea and play the game everyyear in, what, Kalamazoo?

    Parent
    Tempting! (none / 0) (#6)
    by Steve M on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:01:42 AM EST
    but I think we'll stick with our tried and true favorite libations: beer for MSU, pot for U-M.

    Parent
    still? (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:05:32 AM EST
    I will never forget  a former professor telling me students were "fornicating in the streets" in Ann Arbor.  

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#18)
    by Steve M on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:22:35 AM EST
    The 60s still live in Ann Arbor!  A quick bout with Google produces this.

    Parent
    "I want to go back to Michigan, (none / 0) (#19)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:31:52 AM EST
    to dear Ann Arbor town, . . ."

    Parent
    Go Gators! (none / 0) (#53)
    by GGINPB on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 03:04:24 PM EST
    That's funny. My daughter graduated from FL, got her Master's and PH.D from Georgia and is now a Prof at WMU in Kalamazoo, so that's an idea she'd be especially familiar with.

    Parent
    What say you? Will this (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:00:01 AM EST
    story persuade and "persuadables"?

    PA re Obama's Aunt

    Interesting... (5.00 / 0) (#10)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:11:44 AM EST
    Too bad she's not a WW II veteran or even a  feminist kicked out of her country for distributing birth control.  

    No political capital here, move along, nothing to see.  If I wrote my own biographical narrative, I wonder which of my family I would feature and which I would ignore?

    Parent

    Obama didn't ignore her in his books (none / 0) (#13)
    by Cream City on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:13:33 AM EST
    at all -- there's quite a bit in there about this aunt, a favorite of his, in trips to Kenya.

    Parent
    more questions... (none / 0) (#22)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:57:50 AM EST
    So she was his "favorite aunt" in Kenya and moved here?  I suppose he could not know...but if he did know then I hope he's got a focus group tested response ready.

    Parent
    Obama campaign responded today (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Cream City on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:10:05 AM EST
    and pleaded ignorance blah blah blah.

    It doesn't wash for me, but then, I question authority.  Such a '60s notion.  It's no longer fashionably and politically correct to do so.

    Parent

    Maybe there's a large immigrant (none / 0) (#25)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:29:21 AM EST
    Kenyan community there?

    Now I wish I had read his books.  Biographical narrative doesn't usually interest me, but when a walking talking piece of suddenly appears in America, I'm curious.

    Parent

    I agree... (none / 0) (#28)
    by Thanin on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:31:51 AM EST
    that sounds like a weak response.  Maybe theyre trying to make it a non issue rather than trying to spin it into something else.  I just hope the story doesnt have legs of its own, but I bet it will.

    Parent
    As desperate as the McCain campaign is (none / 0) (#31)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:37:27 AM EST
    it's hard to imagine they won't work the story as hard as they can.  They've only got four days and little to lose.

    Parent
    How did she get into public housing (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Cream City on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:12:12 AM EST
    or perhaps it's different public housing here, but I recently helped an elderly friend with this, and the paperwork was extensive.  And the first thing required was a Social Security card-- which a deportee like Obama's aunt ought not have.

    As for the illegal donations from foreign nationals -- that story is too complex to cope with now, so it will come out after the election.  I dread the next four years, after witnessing an administration held hostage for things that weren't true.  The distractions were bad then, but in this economy, they could be disastrous.

    Parent

    non-story, imo (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:29:51 AM EST
    If someone dug far enough into my life, I'm certain they'd find illegal immigrants scattered all over the place.

    At this point of time in America, that's just how it is for many, many people.

    This story will gain traction with the people who are certain Obama has ties to terrorists and who believe electing him will bring about Armageddon (in the Biblical sense). For most of the rest of us, though? Not so much.

    Parent

    It's a GOTV gimmick (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:41:15 AM EST
    for the GOP.  Right wing radio Monday will be interesting.  I know exactly what I expect to happen.

    Parent
    Fabian! How are you? (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:44:08 AM EST
    You might be right on HOTV, which leads me to think I need to email the Obama campaign links to some of McCain's cousin's postings in these parts. And a heads up on his criminal record.

    hehehehe ....

    Parent

    Getting ready for winter. (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:57:02 AM EST
    Mourning - Ike dropped a tree on top of my paw paw patch.  One tree was undamaged.  The remainder may resprout next year - paw paws are reportedly hard to kill.  It was going to be my first paw paw harvest.

    Plus a new furnace this month, courtesy of a 30 year old control box that works when it wants to (yesterday yes, today no).  That will add to our overall energy efficiency.  Windows are done.  One door replaced.  Now a 25% plus increase in heating efficiency.  

    We have more energy conservation projects on tap.  Two of them are going to be real PITA DIYs.  

    How's your life?

    Parent

    Absurdly busy (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 12:00:42 PM EST
    To give you some idea, I've been painting the living room in my new house since August. :D

    Parent
    Hey - at least you are doing that! (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 12:12:13 PM EST
    I just have a jug of industrial strength cleaner to get the kid crud off the walls in preparation for painting pretty much every room.

    I actually used some of it!  I can't claim that I've actually done so much as cleaned even a single wall.  Trying to avoid having to use Kilz which totally reeks from all reports.

    Parent

    Zinsser???? Something like that which is much less expensive than Kilz and works just as well. It has a bit of a stink for a few minutes, but it's gone in no time.

    I'm up to my ears in home improvement and getting nowhere fast.

    Parent

    We need "domestic partners"! (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 01:33:59 PM EST
    I still remember an interview, NPR I think, a couple of medical students had been in a romantic relationship and were planning on marriage when the man broke it off just when they were heading for their residencies.  The problem?  She wasn't planning on being a stay at home wife and mom, which didn't fit with his plans.

    I'm sure that made perfect sense to some people, but to me I was thinking "W.T.H!  Why exactly did he think she was doing?  Going to medical school and training to be an M.D. so she could take all that intensive and expensive education...and wash his dirty socks?".

    Listened to PBS last night.  They did a long segment tracking uncertain women voters (but never used the term PUMA) who weren't sold on Obama.  They examined What Women Want in terms of legislation and policies.  They came close to asking the question "Do women have a candidate that is truly an advocate for their concerns?".  If they had actually asked that question, the answer would have to be "No.".  Obama makes some effort but always falls far short.  McCain likes to talk about families, but not women specifically.

    Great program
    NOW: What Women Voters Want.

    The PBS lineup was good last night.  Well except for the shout-a-thon McLaughlin.

    Parent

    I watched that program too! I like (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 01:39:14 PM EST
    how they decided to interview a REAL Hillary Dem, instead of the unhinged stereotype the MSM likes to push.  

    Parent
    They were real people (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 01:48:07 PM EST
    not some spokespeople that some cable show tried to wind up.  

    I loved the show.  PBS and NPR shows have become lifelines recently because the various media have totally jumped overboard.  Election FRENZY!

    (Watched TV today while giving blood.  Little House on the Prairie, cleaning product ads, pharma ads and...campaign ads.  I know people won't understand why I would laugh at all of those, but they understand when I laugh at the political ads.  
    Little House on the Prairie features the cleanest, brightest, newest frontier town evah!  Cracks me right up.)

    Parent

    I hope youre right. (none / 0) (#29)
    by Thanin on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:32:22 AM EST
    In these parts, McCain has a cousin who has been jailed on rape and assault charges, and had harassment charges leveled at him and posts the most vile and racist stuff all over the place and is half out of his mind from ... whatever. Drugs? Alcohol?? Fetal alcohol syndrome? Too many blows to the head??

    Rest assured he's not the only McCain family member wandering out there in the repellent stratosphere.

    Now, were McCain of Bush family status, I might worry a bit more. But he's not.

    Parent

    Unless your point is gossip (none / 0) (#38)
    by Cream City on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:52:07 AM EST
    which is fun for you, anyway, but -- the parallels don't work, i.e., personal situations/family members of candidates vs. their stances on crime issues and immigration issues and illegal donation issues, etc.  If you map it out, you'll see.

    Parent
    Well... (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by Thanin on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 12:17:30 PM EST
    the medias obsession with false equivalence might keep something like that in the news as a counter, which, while I agree its not all that relevant issue wise, it easily sounds as bad if not worse.  

    Or the two might just make people end up thinking the truth, which is you cant control what your family members do and their actions dont inherently reflect on you personally.

    Parent

    ... for the Great Philosophers to dissect the whole thing, after all.

    And if it works, it works!

    I mean, what's worse? A convicted rapist who spews vile racist crap? Or a poor little 60 year old Kenyan woman denied immigration for who knows what reasons?

    Parent

    with links.

    It's not my decision anyway. But, yes, it's fun. :D

    Parent

    I know that 'hood (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by CST on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:40:31 AM EST
    Housing in Boston is very expensive, so the fact that she has subsidized housing and could afford to donate $250 to a campaign really isn't shocking at all.  $250 over the course of a few months won't go very far in this city.

    Also, it appears she has been avoiding the press and not answering questions.  It is quite possible that Obama didn't know she was here and that was intentional on her part.  She wouldn't even tell reporters she was his aunt and his half-brother in Africa had to identify her.

    The fact that she's here illegally - ouch.  I'm just glad my family is tiny and I can keep track of them all.  It's gotta be hard with such a large family, half of whom you've only met a handfull of times, and all spread out over the globe.  She may have been his "favorite aunt" in Kenya, but that doesn't mean it's easy to keep in touch with family in Africa.

    Parent

    My dad had inquiries about his (none / 0) (#36)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:46:22 AM EST
    marital status when he visited relatives in Slovakia.  He's not exactly a prize - 60s, not in great shape but he was an American.  

    Parent
    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by CST on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:50:14 AM EST
    I have had inquiries every time I travel abroad - because I am an American.

    The worst was "do you have a boyfriend" followed by "why not?"  as if that's not an impossible question to answer.

    My sister's advice - give them your phone number once in very fast English and then tell them it's their fault if they don't remember :)

    Parent

    "AP" (sorry andgarden) (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:00:41 AM EST
    Im curious about this too... (none / 0) (#8)
    by Thanin on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:05:50 AM EST
    Not sure if mccain is in too much of a hurry to bring up immigration.  Seems all camps have been avoiding it like the plague, so maybe this is the only reason Obama was.  And now that its out, now what?

    Parent
    I think the flash point, if any, may be (none / 0) (#9)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:08:01 AM EST
    the fact she is living in subsidized housing.  Long waiting list, at least in CA.  

    Parent
    The point that struck me...... (none / 0) (#14)
    by vml68 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:15:30 AM EST
    was the fact that she was able to donate to the campaign. I truly believe that a lot of the money the campaign has raised is from questionable sources. In normal times, raising this amount of money would be pretty incredible but considering the state of the economy it seems kinda fishy to me......but then I am a very suspicious person by nature. (Please don't take away my tin foil hat.... :-)!

    Parent
    Whoa. (none / 0) (#15)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:16:04 AM EST
    I don't know much about subsidized housing, but I do know that much of Cali housing is incredibly expensive.  When I visited San Jose over a decade ago, my husband and I looked over real estate ads and just gaped.  Little two bedrooms well out of the city cost twice what we would pay in the city in Columbus.  How could low wage workers afford housing?

    Parent
    Hi from someone who lived in Columbus (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by vml68 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:21:00 AM EST
    for 15 years.

    Parent
    Hey, yourself! (none / 0) (#21)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:55:17 AM EST
    I went from NE hicksville Ohio to the east side of Cleveland to here.  I like Ohio.

    Parent
    I went to college (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by vml68 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:12:17 AM EST
    in Wooster. Then lived in Columbus (Dublin/Worthington) after that. You mentioned the sticker shock in housing prices from Columbus to CA, I felt that when I moved to NY/NJ!

    Parent
    Ditto. (none / 0) (#30)
    by Fabian on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:33:16 AM EST
    My husband toyed with moving to NJ - he has relatives and his employer has operations there.  But the move wouldn't have changed his compensation at all, so it would have been a net loss.  Plus the phenomena of nobody drinking tap water was not confidence inspiring.  (It's not an affectation, there really is a reason people do it.)

    Parent
    No one... (none / 0) (#16)
    by Thanin on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:20:21 AM EST
    chooses subsidized housing, its something you take if you cant get anything else.  So generally its in depressed neighborhoods.

    As far as the rest, I think oculus is right that the worst parts of this will be how she got the housing in the first place and the donations to the campaign.

    Im worried.

    Parent

    Party School. :-) n/t (none / 0) (#12)
    by Joelarama on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:12:52 AM EST


    "University of Florida: The (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 10:44:19 AM EST
    Foundation of the Gator Nation."

    Parent
    Cold here in Jax today (none / 0) (#27)
    by Richard in Jax on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 11:30:35 AM EST
    Colder than usual. But...I'm going to the Gator Bowl and hang out under the bridge.

    I'm heading up to Aspen (none / 0) (#47)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 01:03:56 PM EST
    and Owl Farm for the weekend. Please hold down the fort, although I'll be checking in and blogging some from there.

    Oregon Ducks (none / 0) (#48)
    by caseyOR on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 01:06:32 PM EST
    take on the California Bears today. Hey, we're on national TV. How nice to see a televised Pac 10 game that doesn't feature USC.

    Go, Ducks! Please.

    Kenosharick, if you see this (none / 0) (#50)
    by Cream City on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 01:37:02 PM EST
    I saw an explanation in the MJS for why so much money is being poured into your Congressman Paul Ryan's campaign, even in the Milwaukee market.  I just had to put up with seeing yet another ad with his smarmy face, despite his district being 100 miles from me, which reminded me to tell you. . . .

    It's because the state GOP wants us to vote for him here, too -- but next time.  Ryan is being prepped to take back Kohl's seat in the Senate upon his (long overdue) retirement, so the insiders say.

    I wonder which one of your state legislators wants to move up to the House, hmmmm?  There is a chance of the Dems taking the state legislature's lower house, at last, this time -- and I'll do my part in my state legislative district.  But more movement in the ranks will keep this interesting, if Kohl finally goes off to contemplate all those Kohl bills that never happened.

    I'll be shutting up now (none / 0) (#58)
    by Xclusionary Rule 4ever on Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 11:03:50 AM EST
    Gators rule. We are not worthy.  I hope I'm not wrong about Obama, tho.