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Monday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:37:50 PM EST
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In New York where I am today, it is the afternoon. But in Denver, where Jeralyn is today (I think), it is the morning (you mean it is not Thursday morning in Denver? . . .)

The Vuelta de Espana started Saturday. Through Stage 3, Spartacus (aka Fabian Cancellara) leads. But with the Vuelta dedicated to brutal mountain stages, he is not going to win. Probably thinking more about the Worlds. If you need an American rooting interest, Chris Horner is riding for Astana (where it looks like Contador is trapped for the 2010 season.)

In me-centric sports news, the Gators begin their campaign on Saturday for their third national championship in college football in the last 4 years. Go Gators! Yanks still lead the Sox by 6. I remain content.

This e-mail exchange is good. Let's everyone know what Joe Klein is - imo, stupid and no "progressive" and a McCarthyite to boot. But of course, the new Klein (the Ezra variety) is on his way to emulating the old Klein. No one else will say it, but I will. Speaking for me only of course.

This is an Open Thread.

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    In honor of Ted Kennedy (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by CST on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:53:40 PM EST
    I think there should be a hiatus on any pro-yankees sentiment through the playoffs.  That is, if the sox even make it...

    Very emotional weekend here.  I know I don't have the historical reference that many people had to the Kennedys and their legacy.  But they have always been a part of the conversation and even for me it feels like the end of an era. My family has always been passionate about politics, and there is something so personal about the Kennedys, especially to MA that makes it really hit home.  For some reason, I was reminded of the day JFK Jr's plane went down.  At the time I was on the island where he was headed so we could hear all the search planes.  There was this huge sense of loss.  And I didn't even really know what I was losing.  Now I have a better sense of what's going on, but I can't quite put my finger on why it feels more personal than it actually is.  It felt like the whole city lost a close personal friend.  I know pols are not our friends, and pols are just pols.  It's just hard to think of the Kennedys that way.

    Big Kennedy backer (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by brodie on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:11:16 PM EST
    here, but I don't think I'm dishonoring him to note that I have never shared his enthusiasm for the Sox (nor of course do I prefer Steinbrenner's Yanquis).  

    Speaking of honors, I was pleased to see that he would be buried at Arlington, alongside his brothers, in what I assume will be the type of modest marker RFK's grave* has.  And so far, afaict, there hasn't been a huge backlash about this from the Right.

    His loss was huge, especially as we consider what he could have done, healthy, in pushing through a strong HC bill, and in terms of his overall forceful and principled stance for so many liberal issues.  He leaves a major void for the progressive left, and I hope whoever replaces him in the election has even half his passion and commitment to the cause.  No more passionless and timid wonkish MA pols, please.

    * no controversy about the gravesite for Ted would be in contrast to when Bobby's widow asked Pres Johnson for a modest federal sum to maintain RFK's grave -- LBJ refused ...

    Parent

    Heh (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:57:15 PM EST


    Parent
    No. It isn't. (none / 0) (#10)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:59:34 PM EST
    Not for everyone.

    Parent
    not sure i follow (none / 0) (#13)
    by CST on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:02:11 PM EST
    what isn't?

    Parent
    It isn't hard to think of the Kennedys (none / 0) (#19)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:09:05 PM EST
    as just pols and not our friends.

    It takes practice, tho.  Resisting cultural and political propaganda is, to quote W, "hard work!"  And it often makes one a pariah with friends and family who only dabble in politics once every four years and think they are informed decisionmakers and voters, blathering on and on repeating the talking points of the current themes and denying facts and reality.

    Oh, well.  Life.  Not just a magazine.

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#21)
    by CST on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:13:20 PM EST
    I was speaking for me there, not in general.

    But politics is not a four-year dabble for anyone at my home.  Which is why I think it becomes so personal.  It's a life-style.

    Parent

    I was speaking for myself (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:38:55 PM EST
    as well...and about MY 'friends and family,' who have not spent their lives in politics as I have.

    It may be personal and a lifestyle but it is also far more than that for me.  It's a calling.  As an unbeliever who left 'my family's church' at eleven, I have always tithed to the Democrats.  Until now.

    Reality bites.  Not only are pols not our friends, Democrats are not my friends...and by that I mean the Democratic Party, not individuals who remain inside the tent.  Many of them are still among my best friends.

    It's hard to leave home at any age.

    Parent

    It's just hard to think of the Kennedys that way (none / 0) (#20)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:10:06 PM EST
    I know pols are not our friends, and pols are just pols.  It's just hard to think of the Kennedys that way.


    Parent
    This week is just flying by faster than usual (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by cymro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:05:04 PM EST
    I'm reading a Thursday Morning open thread, and I can't even remember what I did with the first three days of the week. Well, at least the weekend will be here soon, I guess.

    :-)

    Hey (none / 0) (#17)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:06:17 PM EST
    A bit of foolishness from me. Forgot to look in my dictionary.

    Thanks for the catch. Correction coming.

    Parent

    heh (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:08:57 PM EST


    Parent
    ever wonder what (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:32:19 PM EST
    a real life Popeye might look like?

    Rick Baker is a god.

    cripes that scared me (none / 0) (#36)
    by Stellaaa on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:39:32 PM EST


    Parent
    Poor Olive Oyl. n/t (none / 0) (#43)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:49:47 PM EST


    Parent
    maybe (none / 0) (#48)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:01:38 PM EST
    I waiting for the Rick Baker Olive.

    Parent
    I used to work for him, back in the day... (none / 0) (#45)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:57:20 PM EST


    Parent
    I think I did too (none / 0) (#47)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:00:43 PM EST
    but I remember cigars not a corncob pipe.


    Parent
    Ha! Although I meant I used to work for (none / 0) (#52)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:10:39 PM EST
    Rick Baker...

    Parent
    On a funny note (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:05:26 PM EST
    I allowed Joshua to watch George Lopez's new special because everything nasty is in Spanish.  If Joshua wants to know the dirty parts he's going to have to get some bilingual going on :)  Call it incentive.

    Monday Morning Nightmare.... (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:25:15 PM EST
    A guy and a gal with badges around their necks ring the office doorbell....my mind kicks into overdrive..."I don't have any warrants, do I have any warrants?, I don't think I have any warrants."...but it was just agents of the Dept. of Agriculture wanting to look at the shipping skids we get from China...weird.

    Then after lunch we cubicle dwellers got paycuts...really sucks for my co-workers with families to support already livin' on a thin line...I'm cool, I'll live with a little less gambling money, but these other folks are really up against it.  

    Oh Well...we know where the door is.

     

    Too bad you do not have some (none / 0) (#58)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:28:46 PM EST
    family connections . . .

    Parent
    I've got lots of family/friend connections... (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:34:09 PM EST
    just none that lead to wealth...but if I ever need work done, a place to eat or sleep, or illegal drugs, I'm all set:)

    And I wouldn't trade those connections for all the tea in China.

    Parent

    very funny (none / 0) (#60)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:29:23 PM EST
    "I don't have any warrants, do I have any warrants?, I don't think I have any warrants."

    probably would be my mind flash exactly.

    about the skids the probably wanted to make sure they were not made of pressed political prisoners.


    Parent

    My first thought would be what did (none / 0) (#63)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:35:27 PM EST
    the 20 year old do.  She has avoided illegal things in her youth but will she forever?  I've been tagged for speeding now twice in about 16 months.  I'm usually doing much better than this breaking the law and not getting caught.

    Parent
    That kind of excitement... (none / 0) (#64)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:37:01 PM EST
    ...will get the old heart going on a Monday morning, huh?  Was your fight or flight instinct about ready to fully kick in?

    I can relate to the paycuts--ours are cleverly renamed as "furlough days".  Guess that plays better in next years election or something.  

    Parent

    Yes, the political ploy pay cuts (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by Cream City on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 04:11:24 PM EST
    not called pay cuts but called furloughs really rankles us here, too.  The reaction of state employees -- the largest group of employees in the state -- to this game in which we are pawns helped to hurt our gov in the polls, so he is not going for re-election.

    It is a pay cut for us, and a bad one in combo with soaring health insurance premiums to mean a 10% drop in take-home pay, and also after years and years of falling behind in non-raises, etc.

    Was your gov at least ready with a plan, not just a political catchphrase, when announcing furloughs?  The inanity here has meant constant new guidelines of what to do, with new forms to fill out -- meaning more work for all, when we are supposed to work 3% less.  Or, as we now are told, 3.065% less.  (How many idjits did it take to come up with those digits?  We dunno.)

    But for those of us who are teachers, we are not to cancel classes.  Or office hours.  Or other hours related to teaching.  Or other meetings.  Or . . . well, we dunno.  And if we don't fill out the forms, we get our pay cut, anyway.  So what happens if we do not fill out the forms that make more work when we are to work less?  No answer yet on that.

    The state would have done better to ask us for voluntary furloughs.  We were ready for that, and some were ready to cover for coworkers who cannot afford it -- and who, under the inane guidelines, still will be stuck as many truly furloughed workers are not with transportation and child care costs.  We all would have treated each other, including the pols who pulled this, with more respect.  

    Parent

    Wow... (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 05:13:56 PM EST
    at least my cut didn't come with a side order of steaming beuracratic bullsh*t, just a 5 minute spiel and a closed office door....my sympathies pal.  We have no money so lets print paycut forms...ya can't make it up.

    Reminds me of one of my fav Bukowski poems "The Shoelace"...the forms are definitely madhouse material.

    "so be careful
    when you
    bend over."

    - Charlie B

    Parent

    You have my sympathies (none / 0) (#90)
    by Cream City on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 05:45:36 PM EST
    believe me, as in other ways, it is hard to have to deal with it face to face -- been there, done that.  

    At least the 70,000 of us in my state were not singled out, as we all got the word of our pay cuts more impersonally -- when we saw the gov on teevee giving his speech and when we read it in the paper the next day.  (Nice, huh.)  And then began more than six months now of figuring out just what the heck he meant by it.  It really has been a disaster of monumental proportions -- and it is about to get worse this week . . . when the unemployment offices statewide go on furlough.  Now, does that make sense?  Especially when they are flooded with more work to help more people?

    Of course, even six-plus months ago when we first got word of state furloughs, my family already was dealing with your sort of days.  We already had layoffs and furloughs and full-on firings in my family.  The first of them, and also the youngest of them, had it hard until they were able to figure out, with the passing of time, that it wasn't their fault; it's the economy.  

    But not a one of them is back at work fulltime, and some not at all . . . as billions and billions of my dollars later, the bankers are fine, but millions like those in my familyi are still trying to figure out how to get through, day by day.  While we still are trying to figure out, hour by hour (I am not kidding; last week's latest furlough guidelines were "superseded" 45 minutes later), what the gov meant.  

    Multidimensional chess is no fun when you're the pawn.

    Parent

    So you've both had paycuts? (none / 0) (#67)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:44:08 PM EST
    Joblessness and paycuts....but I'm supposed to believe that things are getting better?  I just don't see it happening outside of my military bubble when I talk to American civilians.  Try to give soldiers a paycut....heck, now that's some political suicide.

    Parent
    Paycuts... (5.00 / 2) (#76)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:10:00 PM EST
    ...staff reductions and whole programs being cut at the State level in order to balance the budget shortfalls.  

    Not to mention we haven't seen an actual pay raise/cost of living increase in years.  

    Parent

    Economy (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by mmc9431 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:34:23 PM EST
    Until consumer confidence improves, there's no chance for an economic recovery. Our economy is based on consumer spending. I don't see how that's going to improve until the housing market begins to rebound.

    My situation isn't any different than millions of other American's and right now I've seen my retirement fund cut by over $50,000 in two years. (Just in depreciation) That cuts into a lot of spending nationally.

    Everything done to stimulate the economy was focused on big business. (Something I would have expected from a Republican administration, definitely not a Democratic one).

    Parent

    Heart was in my throat man.... (none / 0) (#74)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:07:03 PM EST
    if I heard my name I was out the back door, burning rubber out the lot!

    Funny thing is if they were coming for me for an unknown warrant, my arse woulda got canned and my fellow workers might have dodged the paycut.

    Parent

    Sorry kdog (none / 0) (#71)
    by andgarden on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:00:08 PM EST
    Seems like we're in a deflationary period.

    Parent
    Everybody but me (none / 0) (#80)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:38:18 PM EST


    Parent
    Thanks... (none / 0) (#84)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:59:19 PM EST
    but I've always got my Chef Boyardee cache to fall back on, so no worries, yet:)...its these poor slobs I work with who brought children into this world that are a wreck right now...the three people around my age who work here all have kids and already work two jobs...their rock and a hard place just got a helluva lot tighter.  

    Parent
    Shipping skids (none / 0) (#73)
    by Fabian on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:06:20 PM EST
    probably looking for insects hitching a ride.

    Parent
    That was my thought... (none / 0) (#75)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:08:43 PM EST
    but they were strangely secretive about it.

    Parent
    What was on the skids? (none / 0) (#78)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:34:18 PM EST
    Perhaps we've been importing/ingesting something again and they are trying to get a handle on it before it goes public . . . .

    Or it was something that was turned away at one inspection port and came back in through another . . .

    Parent

    Ball Valves.... (none / 0) (#82)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:48:15 PM EST
    is our biggest China manufactured item, but they only seemed to care about the skids.  I was thinking lead content in our Chinese valves too...but its gotta be somekind of Chinese insect.

    Parent
    It probably gorges itself on some (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:50:46 PM EST
    Monsanto patent :)

    Parent
    thinking about 2010, 2012 (none / 0) (#1)
    by mikeel on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:43:38 PM EST
    Yanks just too tough....

    Obama's slide continues.  I think if 2010 is really bad for the Dems, are there any primary possibilities (besides Hillary) out there?

    I'm open to a primary challenge to Obama in 2012 if he fails on health care--and I mean not just sighning anything that passes.

    don't worry (none / 0) (#40)
    by bocajeff on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:45:00 PM EST
    no one could beat Carter in the primaries in 1980, so nothing will happen to Obama if he's as badly perceived...

    Parent
    Returning to the subject of NJ Democrats (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:47:37 PM EST
    Jon Corzine has an ad presumably designed to be seen as much as heard (for the bar/gym). IMO, the message is "Chris Christie is a fatass."

    Holy Cow :) (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:51:38 PM EST
    Another overfed puffy pasty Republican :)

    Parent
    It also looks like Christie is parked in the (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by steviez314 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:52:09 PM EST
    handicapped spot in the beginning.

    And don't forget that fence with barbed wire at the end--it looks like Christie is reporting to prison.

    Parent

    Ha! I missed the fence (none / 0) (#6)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:54:58 PM EST
    It comes up as the announcer says Christie was caught.

    Parent
    Great points (none / 0) (#7)
    by andgarden on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:55:00 PM EST


    Parent
    Yup. Great spot (none / 0) (#15)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:03:35 PM EST
    with subliminal messages in the video portion.

    The link leads to some other hilarious video posts including "Touring the state looking for problems" at fast food restaurants on the shore!

    Parent

    I'm still waiting... (none / 0) (#9)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 12:59:15 PM EST
    ...for that "big thunderstorm" that JEM said we were getting yesterday.

    Maybe it was one of those super isolated ones that only occured over her house and I missed out...

    Heh (none / 0) (#11)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:01:48 PM EST


    Parent
    This link per discovering at Atrios' (none / 0) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:02:00 PM EST
    hangout.

    Glenn Beck

    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:03:15 PM EST
    ahh that Beck.

    He's something ain't he?

    Parent

    OLIGARH (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:39:59 PM EST
    this is still my all time favorite.  

    um, glenn, its spelled wrong.

    Parent

    He was all out of breath too (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:53:38 PM EST
    and he couldn't seem to get with his "questions".  So I went to Glenn Beck dot com and his questions are mostly freaking out about Czars.  This is also a reason why the M.I. officer dislikes me, he said something about some communist who helped found Color of Change destroying Beck's career.  So my spouse did a wiki on the "communist", who has received so many humanitarian service awards it's disgusting.....what a piece of chit huh?  And really no evidence that Beck's demise is his fault.

    Parent
    Van Jones (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:59:14 PM EST
    destroying Becks career?!

    what a world what a world.


    Parent

    Background... (none / 0) (#54)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:19:47 PM EST
    ...here.  

    Is the MI officer a birther too?

    Parent

    I don't know (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:27:41 PM EST
    He probably won't tell me anymore either if I ask :)  There was one other thing though that he did not know that causes me to wonder about military intelligence in general....he's supposed to be an expert on Islam but he did not know that Muslims circumcise their sons too as part of the practice of their faith.  I brought it up picking up my spouse for lunch....that the birthers now claim they need to look at Obama's package but they were a little mixed up on how to tell if you were a Muslim :)  He told me that Muslims did not circumcise and I had to get the wiki out again.  Next thing will be that the wiki is a leftist conspiracy.

    Parent
    As they say... (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:40:21 PM EST
    ...M.I. is an oxymoron and this guy sounds like a plain old moron to boot.

    Parent
    Wow. That's really a stunner (none / 0) (#92)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 06:12:43 PM EST


    Parent
    lying (none / 0) (#22)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:13:25 PM EST
    was watching this discovery channel show last night called "the truth about liars" which was about how much and how often we lie.
    they talked quite a bit about this website which I could hardly believe when I heard it.

    it it just me or is this more than a little disturbing?


           Are you wondering what we do?

       1. Do you need a RESCUE call to be made at any time from any number?
       2. Do you need us to make a phone call, but want the phone call to appear from Paris? With the Paris number showing up on the caller id of the intended party?
       3. Are you in Dubai, but telling your partner you are in Tokyo? Would you like to have us assign a Tokyo number to you, receive the phone call on your behalf and forward it to your number in Dubai?
       4. Do you want to create an impression that you are staying in a certain hotel anywhere in the world? Complete with the 24 hr hotel receptionist answering in the accent of your choice and confirming your stay?
       5. Do you want to create an impression that you are flying by a certain airline on a certain date anywhere in the World?
       6. Are you married but looking to spice up your relationship by spending romantic time with your spouse away from work, friends and relatives?
       7. Do you want to create an impression that you have a job with your own business phone, personal secretary and business cards?
       8. Do you have a personal or business sensitive matter that needs to be solved? We have professional actors and actresses who will study your background material and handle your situation effectively whether it is a phone call to a third party or a meeting.

    complete with fake receipts.  scary.


    If I was (none / 0) (#31)
    by Fabian on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:31:38 PM EST
    that kind of person, I'd use the service.  I'm a terrible liar!

    Parent
    good for you (none / 0) (#55)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:20:53 PM EST
    I lie passably.  but I embellish well.


    Parent
    Sort of blows Trust but Verify right out of the (none / 0) (#61)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:31:25 PM EST
    water :)

    Parent
    just in case you were unclear (none / 0) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:15:14 PM EST
    "If they somehow manage to get the votes and get enough Democrats to walk the plank and commit suicide, in the next Congress, I'll be chairman Joe Barton of the Energy and Commerce committee, and we'll repeal it," Barton said.

    BTW (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:19:22 PM EST
    A President has the veto power so you know Barton is fos.

    OR did you notice how Dems rolled back all of Bush's policies in 2007?

    Parent

    but then are talking about Dems. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:22:07 PM EST
    the republicans do lots of things the dems seem unable to do

    Parent
    I feel pretty confident (5.00 / 5) (#29)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:24:28 PM EST
    that in the unlikely event the GOP retook the House, Obama would do his best Clinton 1995 imitation and veto GOP bills till the government was shut down.

    Which of course makes the failed opportunity of this Administration,, and do not kid yourself, the first 7 months are always the most productive, so painful to watch.

    NO FDR. Let's hope at least a Clinton, and not a Carter.

    Parent

    carter is the current (none / 0) (#30)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:27:32 PM EST
    republican talking point.  but I get the feeling its more wishful thinking.  he doesnt smell like a carter to me.  

    honestly I think if the situation arose he might be clinton on steroids.  


    Parent

    No evidence of it yet. (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:44:44 PM EST
    Must be the hope thingy.

    Parent
    Speaking of Clinton... (none / 0) (#94)
    by BackFromOhio on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 07:30:23 PM EST
    did anyone notice Obama turned around talking to a gesticulating Bill (looking like he was explaining something) just before the church service started on Sat?  I didn't pick it up from the TV, but found video at CNN.
    I woulda loved to have been a fly on the wall.

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#25)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:18:32 PM EST
    Cuz Joe Barton is telling you what he thinks is smart for Dems? No, only Dems are stupid enough to discuss their strategies in public.

    Parent
    We tried a bottle of blueberry wine (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:16:19 PM EST
    last night.  A lot of blueberries being grown around here, it was more of a novelty thing...even said so on the label.  It was supposed to be more of a dessert wine as well but the finish tastes exactly like roast beef.  I had everyone in the house try it to see if they too tasted roast beef and it was unanimous.

    making home brew is easy (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:21:08 PM EST
    making wine is hard.  I tried making some plum wine once.  it may have tasted like roast beef.  it didnt taste like plums thats for sure.


    Parent
    Must depend on the recipe (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Inspector Gadget on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:10:31 PM EST
    When we lived in the dry country of Saudi, the only wine we had was homemade. I made wine out of rice, dates (fresh from the palm tree), potato, and several other produce selections. The wines were very good despite them only taking 4-8 months of aging. The fruit juice wines everyone made aged much faster :)

    No headache or hangover is worse than that from homemade wine.


    Parent

    You can always distill (none / 0) (#41)
    by Fabian on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:45:43 PM EST
    any batch you can't drink.  That's not easy, but at least it won't go to waste!

    Parent
    Good God (none / 0) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:08:39 PM EST
    I'd probably kill something trying that :)  If you do improperly doesn't it have potential lethal consequences?  My spouse still won't buy me a professional distiller either.  Says I willfully break the law enough :)

    Parent
    It would be a great (none / 0) (#72)
    by Fabian on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:00:50 PM EST
    science fair project!  It's just applied science and you can always test the results to see if you did it correctly before you use it for hand sanitizer.

    (That's right - you are just making hand sanitizer for flu season!)

    Parent

    Odd. (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Fabian on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:38:55 PM EST
    Roast beef is glutamates and some flavors from carmelized sugars.  

    OTOH, now that I have found the secret to fruit sauces, I have mangos, blueberries and apples in the freezer.  Thickening with sugar or corn syrup is way too sweet.  Thickening with starches like corn starch is too gloppy.  Using sugar and pectin gives cooked fruit some body and allows it to still taste like fruit.  This trick also works with pies which is where I first saw it.  Cook's Illustrated used shredded tart apples in a blueberry pie for the pectin.  

    Unfortunately, I don't have a recipe.  Take fruit, cook it with as little water (or apple juice) as you can, add sugar to taste and then add pectin until it thickens slightly.  It will thicken up a little more when it cools.

    Parent

    When I run low on wild blackberries (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:47:31 PM EST
    I always stretch the berry pie content by using apples for filler.  I never knew why it worked so well!

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    I sure wish it was Thursday morning... (none / 0) (#33)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:37:49 PM EST
    ...in Denver.  We'd be that far removed from the sad weekend in local sports and that far closer to the start of the only football that matters--the college variety.

    Speaking of which, how about those Wolverines!  

    The University of Michigan announced Sunday that it has launched an investigation into allegations that its football program regularly violates NCAA rules limiting how much time players can spend on training and practice.

    The announcement from Michigan athletic director Bill Martin came after a Detroit Free Press article in which players from the 2008 and 2009 teams said the amount of time they spend on football during the season and in the offseason greatly exceeds NCAA limits. The players spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions from coaches.

    Naughty, naughty, eh oculus?

    Not to mention be on the cusp of the long Labor Day weekend--made even longer with the first of many forced furlough days.

     

    From day one (none / 0) (#38)
    by Steve M on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 01:42:59 PM EST
    I predicted the Rich Rodriguez era at Michigan would be a complete debacle.  I'm looking pretty good so far.

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    They still play football in Ann Arbor? (none / 0) (#59)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:29:16 PM EST
    Who knew?

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    Not this year (none / 0) (#65)
    by Steve M on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:38:51 PM EST
    the MSU game will be played in East Lansing, so the Ann Arbor fans will have to wait another year to see what real football looks like.

    U-M's home schedule this year features Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Delaware State.  Gee, not desperate for a win or anything, are we?

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    Too bad for UMich, (none / 0) (#70)
    by brodie on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:56:44 PM EST
    especially since this is a violation that's probably very widespread among the major programs.

    Well, I still like their team colors and that kinda wacky stylized wolverine scheme on the helmets.

    And their fight song is probably the first or second best one in all the land ...

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    very cool (none / 0) (#68)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:44:47 PM EST
    time lapse footage of LA fire with Eno music.

    Deathly beautiful... thanks. (none / 0) (#77)
    by desertswine on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:30:49 PM EST


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    heh (none / 0) (#69)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:55:51 PM EST
    Krugman misses Nixon

    Not a spirit lifting column (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 03:48:13 PM EST
    Years of fighting?  I'm already so tired of it.  The corporations killed their cash cow....our economy.  I can't see where politicians can get away with allowing them to run this country when the common man deals with deflation.  Won't people become too outraged?  The corporations won't have huge gluts of cash to shower on politics anymore either.  Whatever happened to campaign finance reform?  Oh yeah.....the Dems became the ones with the giant coffer.

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    Outrage? (5.00 / 2) (#87)
    by mmc9431 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 04:15:53 PM EST
    When was the last time you saw this country outraged? I've seen things accepted here that would have caused rioting in the streets in other countries! The Supreme Court with the 2000 election springs to mind. And as unpopular as the Iraq war was and is, the outrage didn't last.

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    Katrina (none / 0) (#95)
    by BackFromOhio on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 07:35:57 PM EST
    the beginning of the end of the Bush admin, whose favorability ratings tumbled therefter & never recovered.

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    This is a job for Obvious Man! (none / 0) (#85)
    by Fabian on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 04:01:19 PM EST
    There's a diary at dkos right now that addresses a very important issue: paid bloggers, bloggers paid to blog, bloggers being explicitly receiving cash compensation to post diaries and the need for such bloggers to disclose clearly and unambiguously (Lady Redundant Woman!) that they are indeed being paid and by which person or organization.

    The obvious answer is: Be transparent, be clear.
    The bloggers in question joined the discussion and slowwwwwly and reluctantly agreed.  Eventually.  I'm not sure what is so difficult about "I am paid by This Worthy Organization to promote This Cause.".  

    Sun NYT ranks Gators No. . (none / 0) (#88)
    by oculus on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 05:04:10 PM EST
    2!!!!!

    Prediction (none / 0) (#91)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 05:46:17 PM EST
    I was looking at Jenna Bush, noting how eerily she looks like her dad, cut the hair and she's a youthful him.

    And then it struck me.

    Jenna Bush will be the first female president.

    I can feel it in my bones.

    Shoot me now.

    Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by Steve M on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 08:03:36 PM EST
    the dual assets of being a woman and the Bush name will surely prove an unbeatable combination.  Having said that, I could be talked into taking the other side of that bet.

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    Please No! (none / 0) (#97)
    by mmc9431 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 08:16:42 PM EST
    After the disasterous reign of King John, England never had another John as king. I hope that American's have the same sense and we never see another Bush in the WH!

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    Thank Gawd, I'll be dead by then! (none / 0) (#98)
    by shoephone on Tue Sep 01, 2009 at 01:42:21 AM EST


    Parent
    billionaires for wealthcare (none / 0) (#93)
    by Dadler on Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 07:10:54 PM EST
    these satirical pranksters are quite amusing while confounding anti-reform protesters at a recent san diego townhall on healthcare.  and yes, they call themselves billionaires for wealthcare.

    Klein's inconsistency (none / 0) (#99)
    by catchy on Tue Sep 01, 2009 at 03:57:20 AM EST
    He's covering how the Gang of Six will dissolve and a bill w. 51 votes can pass in reconciliation.

    But there's nary a word at his blog that he was dead wrong to pronounce Obama's hands tied, the Gang of Six process written in stone, and a bill with a public option incapable of getting out of the Senate.

    Keep it up, BTD. You're putting pressure on media figures like Klein like progressive house members are putting pressure on Blue Dogs.

    Monday Morning Open Thread | 99 comments (99 topical)

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