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Wednesday Open Thread: A New Year

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:13:00 AM EST
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It's my birthday -- another year, about to begin. I'm taking the day off from the news and the computer.

For everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah tonight, L'Shana Tova! and a year of blessings, fulfillment, health and happiness to all.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Wednesday Open Thread: A New Year | 136 comments (136 topical)

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    Happy birthday Jeralyn (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by loveed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 04:06:21 AM EST
     Enjoy your day.

    Happy birthday AND happy new year! (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 07:05:11 AM EST
    May they both be sweet.

    Happy Birthday Jeralyn. (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by lentinel on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:23:31 AM EST
    And thank you for your marvelous TalkLeft.

    I swear (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:04:19 AM EST
    that you've had two birthdays this year... I guess the years are starting to feel like half years now...

    Happy birthday.  Hope it's a lovely day in the midst of beautiful fall aspen.  Relax, enjoy and think about something non-political, please!

    Happy Birthday... (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:49:19 AM EST
    Madame President of Talkleft Nation, Happy Birthday to you!

    MM was Lady Gaga's inspiration (none / 0) (#54)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:14:30 PM EST
    seems like.  What a dress.  

    Parent
    Here's a more gentle birthday wish: (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:07:52 PM EST
    Wie schön, dass du geboren bist

    "How nice that you were born"

    Happy Birthday! (5.00 / 2) (#75)
    by observed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:10:09 PM EST
    I hope to greet you and TL soon from another continent, because I am cleared for take-off!!
    The visa just arrived.

    When do you depart these shores for (5.00 / 0) (#79)
    by caseyOR on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:21:34 PM EST
    the new lands? Was the visa the final part of the paperwork puzzle for you?

    You are heading off on such an amazing adventure. i await your bulletins from your new land.

    Parent

    The visa is the last piece of paperwork, (none / 0) (#82)
    by observed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:27:07 PM EST
    as far as my information goes.
    I need to go to Seattle first. My mother, who is almost 90, had a scare after a fall last week.
    It turns out she had an infection, and after antibiotics is doing quite well; still, I want to see her before I take off.
    My flight will be booked for me; I asked for a departure Sunday afternoon.

    Not sure if I mentioned this on TL, but I was just informed that smoking is banned in restaurants and bars in KZ.
    That's good news for me.

    Parent

    Oculus, you must pick out which (none / 0) (#83)
    by observed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:27:39 PM EST
    operas and other performances you particularly want reviews for!

    Parent
    Do you have a link for opera sched.? (none / 0) (#84)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:30:57 PM EST


    Parent
    I will find one. Do you like dance? (none / 0) (#85)
    by observed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:32:49 PM EST
    I believe they have quite a few ballet and dance troupes passing through.

    Parent
    This is the best I can do. Clicked (none / 0) (#88)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:45:20 PM EST
    "English" but got this:  link

    Parent
    Alright, now THIS is classic (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 04:13:51 PM EST
    White House: Experts Dismiss Iran Naval Threat.  My favorite paragraph from the piece.

    The worst move the United States could make now would be to overreact, said John Mueller, the Woody Hayes chair of national security studies at Mershon.

    Advice against overreacting from anything named after legendary hothead football coach, Woody Hayes, I mean come on, you can't make this sh*t up.

    Woody Hayes punches opposing team's player in '78 Gator Bowl. (LINK)

    Hahahahaha! (none / 0) (#94)
    by Zorba on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:12:47 PM EST
    "Woody Hayes chair of national security studies."  Thanks, Dadler, I'm still laughing.   :-)

    Parent
    "Bob Knight chair for world peace" (5.00 / 0) (#96)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:43:59 PM EST


    Parent
    Would that be the actual chair (5.00 / 2) (#99)
    by Zorba on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:04:20 PM EST
    that Knight threw?  Actually, I think a "Bobby Knight Chair in Conflict Resolution" has a nice ring to it.

    Parent
    Bill Belicheck as fashion czar (none / 0) (#98)
    by jbindc on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:52:44 PM EST


    Parent
    Look how much smaller the playes are... (none / 0) (#102)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:19:10 PM EST
    ...in the video clip of the punch.  The kid who intercepted it looks no bigger than a DB these days, and he was the NOSE TACKLE.  NTs run 300 plus pounds now, even many at the high school level.

    Parent
    Happy Birthday! (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Democratic Cat on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:03:12 PM EST
    And thanks for the gift you give us every day of TalkLeft.  Hope you have a wonderful day away from your computer.

    Ditto! (none / 0) (#133)
    by lilburro on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 11:28:22 AM EST
    Happy belated birthday Jeralyn, hope you had a wonderful day.  

    Parent
    Happy Day, Jeralyn (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by christinep on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:43:29 PM EST
    Thank you for the gift of your open blog...a year-long gift which you generously renew for your readers.

    In celebration, my husband & dog & I did the Annual Fall Leaf ride. The celebration aspect? My wish for you to take a leisurely Birthday Week drive in our nearby golden mountains.  Sparkling golden today! (This year's outing: Over Squaw Pass, stop at Echo Lake, down to Idaho Springs for slow store stop-ins. Gentle half-day.)

    What a gorgeous day (none / 0) (#108)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:48:50 PM EST
    for a day trip to the hills!  I'll bet is was quite a sight up there.  Lucky you...

    Wasn't quite peak when I was up in Georgetown last Friday, but still worth seeing.

    Parent

    Those mountains, the colors, the wonder (none / 0) (#113)
    by christinep on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:36:58 PM EST
    Yes, MileHi, they must have invented the word "gorgeous" for these days.  And all the "re" words...reenergized, reinvigorated, renewed, refreshed....

    Parent
    Flash mob protests Michele Bachmann (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by Yman on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 08:27:39 AM EST
    "You Can't Pray Away the Gay".

    As the post said: (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by MO Blue on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 09:20:18 AM EST
    Flash mob + Bachmann protest = awesome

    What's not to love about a flash mob? They're fun. They're surprising. They just put you in a good mood.

    Thanks for sharing that. Nice to start the day with a smile on my face.

    Parent

    Happy Birthday (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:13:09 AM EST
    Jeralyn! I hope you have a wonderful day!

    Have a happy! (none / 0) (#4)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:10:01 AM EST


    Happy Year to all (none / 0) (#5)
    by koshembos on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:40:27 AM EST
    Every person should have a great year. You don't have to be Jewish to be healthy, working (or retired) and loved.

    Happy New Year. Shana Tova.

    Happy Birthday, Jeralyn (none / 0) (#7)
    by MO Blue on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 07:44:45 AM EST
    Blessings for a good year for all.

    Happy Birthday (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 07:48:29 AM EST


    Happy Birthday! (none / 0) (#9)
    by jbindc on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 07:54:03 AM EST
    May you have many more healthy, happy and productive ones as well!

    Happy Birthday! n/t (none / 0) (#10)
    by Yman on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 08:04:49 AM EST


    Happy Birthday, Jeralyn... (none / 0) (#11)
    by Anne on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 08:10:38 AM EST
    Hope it's a great year for you and TL!

    Happy Birthday Jeralyn! (none / 0) (#12)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 08:20:17 AM EST
    Hope it is a great year for you.

    Happy Happy (none / 0) (#13)
    by vicndabx on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:02:23 AM EST
    many more....

    Happy Birthday. (none / 0) (#14)
    by tigercourse on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:22:21 AM EST


    Happy anniversary of your birth (none / 0) (#17)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:25:23 AM EST
    Sounds so much more regal.  Ahem.

    Happy Birthday! (none / 0) (#19)
    by Zorba on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:26:49 AM EST
    And many more!

    happy birthday (none / 0) (#21)
    by CST on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 10:04:43 AM EST
    to a fellow Libra!

    Doing anything fun this year to celebrate?  Besides not reading the news of course.

    Tom Brady's haircut. (none / 0) (#103)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:20:47 PM EST
    Pro or con--or as the kids say, U Mad?  

    Parent
    In the Boston sports community (none / 0) (#123)
    by CST on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 08:16:30 AM EST
    definitely pro.

    Personally?  The longer hair was kind of growing on me.

    Parent

    Happy D Day (none / 0) (#23)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 10:35:26 AM EST


    Isn't D Day (none / 0) (#45)
    by Peter G on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    June 6?

    Parent
    Happy birthday madame (none / 0) (#55)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:14:31 PM EST
    and many, many, many more to you!

    Parent
    Support the Plan (none / 0) (#24)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 10:45:14 AM EST
    "President Barack Obama's jobs plan could help prevent a 2012 recession, economists said in a new survey.

    Obama's $447 billion American Jobs Act would create thousands of jobs and would expand the economy, economists surveyed by Bloomberg News found, in a report released Wednesday. The plan, they said, would push down the jobless rate in 2012, possibly boosting Obama's reelection bid with the potential job growth."

    Link

    If you are contacting your Congresscritters, (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by MO Blue on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:38:05 AM EST
    you might want to qualify your support. IOW you may want to say that you support creating jobs but that you do not support the following changes to Medicare and Medicaid:

    Mr. Obama proposed higher premiums and deductibles for many Medicare beneficiaries and lower Medicare payments to teaching hospitals and rural hospitals. He would start charging co-payments to frail homebound older people who receive home health services. And he would reduce the growth of federal payments to states for treating low-income people under Medicaid. link

    Other provisions you may not want to support are the trade deals with S.Korea, Columbia and Panama (link,link, link) and providing free labor to companies under the guise of "training".  

    Parent

    it's a nice plan (none / 0) (#25)
    by CST on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 10:51:59 AM EST
    but it's never going to pass.

    If only because "The plan, they said, would push down the jobless rate in 2012, possibly boosting Obama's reelection bid with the potential job growth."

    It's been pretty clear to me that the republicans will do anything in their power to prevent the economy from getting better for that reason alone.

    Parent

    There's an interesting (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by Anne on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:21:13 AM EST
    something-something going on in the Senate, with Harry Reid putting off a vote on the AJA until late October, in favor of the China trade bill, which:

    ...according to an estimate by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, would lead to two MILLION jobs coming back to the US.  They believe it would force a revaluation of the renminbi relative to the dollar, rebalancing the trade relationship between the two countries. That is vitally important to make exports a driver of recovery.

    What's more, the measure has strong bipartisan support. It got over 360 votes in the House back in 2010, and it passed easily in the Senate years earlier. There are 201 co-sponsors for the House measure, and they may force a vote even if the House GOP leadership doesn't want the bill to come to the floor.

    In other words, Reid is RIGHT that the Chinese currency bill is potentially a more important jobs bill than the American Jobs Act.  It has the added benefit of being more likely to pass.

    There's only one problem. The White House doesn't want the bill.

    The White House isn't thrilled with the China measure, revealing the latest rift with congressional Democrats over the direction of a jobs agenda -- as Obama tries to walk a diplomatic tightrope with a powerful economic trading partner.

    The critical vote comes Monday, when the Senate is likely to move ahead on the bill to crack down on Chinese currency policies. Seizing on concerns over the jobless rate, the legislation has created some odd bedfellows in Congress: Republicans whose states have been hit by outsourcing and progressive Democrats from battleground states with manufacturing hubs, like Michigan and Ohio, who want to protect their ailing industries from what they consider unfair competition.

    The legislation, long championed by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Brown, would penalize China with tariffs for allegedly keeping the value of its yuan artificially low in an attempt to maintain low Chinese wages and cheaper exports that are more attractive in foreign markets.

    Multinationals don't want to see the products they produce in China get more expensive. The Chamber of Commerce is on record against the bill. The White House probably doesn't want to anger them, nor do they want to raise the ire of China, preferring a soft (read: non-existent) diplomacy.

    Two million jobs is nothing to sneeze at, nor is leveling a playing field that has been tilted for too long in China's direction, to the US workers' detriment.  And how do you reconcile broad support that includes Republicans - a lot of them - with their desire to block anything that might boost Obama's electoral chances?

    As for Obama, if it comes down to choosing between millions of people going back to work, and drawing the ire of the Chamber of Commerce...what does he do if the bill passes?

    Parent

    Thanks for this (none / 0) (#32)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:27:58 AM EST
    Very interesting, to say the least.  But we live, obviously in "interesting" times.

    Parent
    I ya wanna see interesting (none / 0) (#51)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:10:53 PM EST
    take another look at Blood, Sweat and Canvas, boychick.

    Dadler, you see my message on the Monday Afternoon thread?


    Parent

    if.. (none / 0) (#52)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:11:14 PM EST


    Parent
    No, was it a reply to me? (none / 0) (#60)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:29:30 PM EST
    Or your own message?  Link me, Colonel.

    Parent
    Just found your message (none / 0) (#63)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:35:01 PM EST
    Thank you very much.  You have no idea how much.  My rejections have been piling up.  I even did the unthinkable and went back and forth with the editor of a quarterly, after they rejected my last story.  I'd seen a story in their previous issue about similar subject matter, and it just blew so badly I couldn't stand it.  Editor said, well, I think third person would've worked better for your story.  I told her that would've been cowardly on my part, a horribly weak choice, the route to the least amount of truth.  As for the story they ran, and paid really good money for (that's what burns me), I told her, nicely, that she got fooled bigtime, but that it happens, mediocre writers fool naive editors all the time.  Should've held my tongue, but what the hell, I hadn't torched a bridge in awhile. ;-)

    Parent
    BTW, it wasn't the dictator story (none / 0) (#67)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:40:53 PM EST
    It was this one they rejected. (LINK)

    The Dictator's Ringtone still sits waiting for someone to publish it.  Hoping maybe the Paris Review takes a liking, but I doubt it.  I'm just too screwy.  Writers come and go, I shoulda been an Indian. ;-)

    Parent

    long as ya still got the fire (none / 0) (#72)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:59:39 PM EST
    that's the important thing..

    My pleasure, pal.

    Parent

    I have a few embers left (none / 0) (#91)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 04:32:57 PM EST
    Keeping the bellows handy is my bigges challenge.

    Parent
    Besides which, everybody now knows (none / 0) (#36)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:32:21 AM EST
    how mean those nasty Chinese are to their dogs.

    Parent
    I wish I knew what was wrong (none / 0) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 01:47:10 PM EST
    with Obama.  He seems to do the exact of opposite of what common sense dictates.  And after the Suskind book, I hope the crazy apologists out there realize there is no 11th dimensional chess and there never was.

    Parent
    If you just think of him (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Zorba on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 01:57:12 PM EST
    as a Republican, or at best a Reagan Democrat, almost everything he's done makes sense.  Not to me, but I'm sure it does to him.

    Parent
    Well, just think about this: (5.00 / 0) (#62)
    by NYShooter on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:34:17 PM EST
    During the campaign, when he pretended to be a Democrat, he actually had guys like Joseph Stiglitz and Robert Reich as advisors. They served his purpose well as diversions & decoys until the election.  But, once elected, they were shown the door. Then, get this; Obama's first choice for Treasury Secretary was, J.P. Morgan's, Jamie Dimon, who, in my opinion, was the scummiest, most vicious, Bankster alive. But, I was proven wrong. It seems the Wall Street "insiders" who had Obama's ear (or had him by the Ba!!s) vetoed that idea for the one they really wanted..........Yup, you guessed it, our own, Timmieh Geithner, better known by the plutocrats as, "Our Guy."

    Pretty much explains, when the economy has been going in reverse for two and a half years, why the Trojan Horse running the economy still has a job.

    It also explains why, when millions have lost their jobs, and their homes, that Wall Street has never been richer. "Our guy" is not OUR guy.

    On this one I think I'll go with Lieutenant Colombo, " You know something, Sir, I never did believe in coincidences."

    Parent

    Read an article today about a Dem. (none / 0) (#66)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:39:45 PM EST
    who generously supported Obama is now funneling money to Romney.  Because Obama is anathema to Wall Street.  Soooooo confusing. Article was probably CNN or LAT.  

    Parent
    Greed, unbridled (5.00 / 0) (#68)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:44:51 PM EST
    rampant greed, and fevered, erotic, fetishistic greed. The stooges and loons teaching business and economics these days are churning out these mutants from planet Ayn Rand..  

    Parent
    I read that, (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by NYShooter on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:52:15 PM EST
    and it makes no sense at all.

    Does it make sense to you that the President who has stocked his cabinet with nothing but Wall Street quislings, and whose policies have made Wall Street richer than they ever had been even in their wettest dreams, would abandon him because he made a camaign kibbutz about "fat cats?"

    Gimme a break.

    Parent

    The article was about (none / 0) (#93)
    by MO Blue on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:08:53 PM EST
    Jamie Dimon who supported Obama in 2008. He has been talking to Romney and it was reported that he had not contributed to Obama's 2012 campaign.

    Parent
    Here's one article (none / 0) (#95)
    by jbindc on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:25:20 PM EST
    From yesterday

    Now it appears the Wall Street donors who helped fund Obama's successful 2008 bid are shifting their campaign cash elsewhere.

    SNIP

    But it's something that the Obama campaign appears to be worried about. Over the summer, Obama held a sit down with top Wall Street executives, many of them donors, as a way of offering an olive branch to the industry.

    There's a reason Obama might want to make nice: According to the Center for Responsive Politics, he raised nearly $15 million from the securities and investment industry in 2008, which ranked as one of the top 5 industry donors to his campaign.

    But Obama hasn't had nearly as much success with Wall Street this year. According to CRP, Obama has raised just $857,362 from donors linked to the securities and investment sector, compared to Romney's more than $2.3 million.



    Parent
    Here is the post I referenced (none / 0) (#109)
    by MO Blue on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 07:01:07 PM EST
    This is how a constituency that has clout gets the job done:

    JP Morgan honcho Jamie Dimon, once a "fat cat" ally of President Obama, seems to have strayed to Republican contender Mitt Romney.

    Dimon, a lifelong Democrat who was rumored to be on Obama's short list for treasury secretary before he settled on Tim Geithner, met privately with Romney on Tuesday morning before a fund-raiser at Brasserie 8¹/2 hosted by Highbridge Capital, a JPMorgan-owned hedge fund.

    Dimon, who was spotted "in a discreet one-on-one" discussion with Romney, cannot publicly endorse a candidate because he sits on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. But he donated to Democratic candidates in 2008 and privately supported Obama. link

    A spokesperson for Dimon said that Dimon has not attended an Obama fund-raiser and has not made any contributions to his campaign during this election cycle.

    Parent

    Depending on one's point of view (none / 0) (#104)
    by christinep on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:30:29 PM EST
    ...and where one stands is where one sits. And, all that. Outside this venue, there really are a number of people who consider a number of Obama's policy inititatives & realities to represent liberalism. Yep, points of view differ from here to there and back.

    IMO, one of the most perplexing things I've seen in American presidential politics in all the years since beginning to read: That the right is convinced that Obama is a Socialist and, at the very same time, that some on the left are sure that Obama is as conservative as Reagan and his bunch. A fascinating display of the famous or infamous "eye of the beholder."

    Parent

    It would be a lot more fascinating if (5.00 / 2) (#114)
    by Anne on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 09:58:23 PM EST
    this were all just an academic exercise, and we were examining voter behavior and beliefs like bugs under a microscope for some dry dissertation full of pie charts and graphs, but see, to me, that's just a way to distance yourself from real people, and the effects the current administration's policies are having on so many of them.  It's the tool you use when all else fails.

    And it ignores a very simple truth: we can only assess where someone else stands on any given spectrum by knowing where we see ourselves and our beliefs on that same spectrum.  I can't speak for anyone else, but I know what I believe and that's how I judge the degree of liberalism or conservatism in anyone else's positions.  And I know that I want those who are making the decisions to make them more from where I am than where the conservatives are.

    It's really pretty simple.  It doesn't mean anything to me that you scoff at those of us who see Obama as a Reagan wannabe, and I don't care that others see Obama as a flaming liberal, or any kind of liberal: in relation to what I believe, the positions and beliefs I hold, he's not.  

    He's not even close.

    Parent

    Actually, it is quite real, visceral (none / 0) (#135)
    by christinep on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 12:20:53 PM EST
    to point out a "fascinating" apparent dichotomy that strikes at the heart of the political situation today. I'm guessing that the real people-different views is as real as you & I. What is unreal, potentially, is limiting one's view--obscuring one's outlook--to an ideological bent alone.

    BTW, this is not to endorse the mushy middle. It is tho a way of suggesting that the ends of both sides of the continuum may need to look at another place <on that contrinuum> occasionally in order to get a clearer view.  E.g., it helps sometimes to talk with people from different walks & different locations... to listen & hear beyond those with whom we agree. And, again, do you think that both the almost polar-opposite views by the left & the right can both be true? I'd venture that the answer is "no."  

    Not a matter of my scoffing. Only a matter of pointing out an oddity that others have been observing lately. As always, your point-of-view that what matters is your perception with regard to yourself is obviously a valid pov.

    Parent

    In the Suskind book (none / 0) (#110)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 08:08:32 PM EST
    The economic experts he campaigned with are referred to as the B team after he was elected. Nobody that he threw around during his campaign made the A team except for Goolsbee.

    Parent
    My brother just sent me Move-On photo (none / 0) (#50)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:05:07 PM EST
    of a woman holding a protest sign.  Comparing Obama to Jesus.  Characterizing Obama as anti-war.  What universe does she inhabit?

    Parent
    Here is is: (none / 0) (#56)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:16:37 PM EST
    link

    Parent
    I don't think that's a comparison (none / 0) (#77)
    by jbindc on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:19:20 PM EST
    That's a slam to Tea Partiers.

    Parent
    Speaking of Jesus and Obama (none / 0) (#57)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:19:34 PM EST
    Did you see the guy heckle Obama, calling him the antichrist and reciting scripture passionately from the depths of soul?  At one point I swear I saw hurt register on Obama's face.  Any of us who have spent some time in an Evangelical Christian church know the antichrist drill.  I even had Christian comics about it all when I was little and the whole 'Left Behind' series is more indoctrination to the horrible fear based myth of an antichrist.

    He has got to know that as the economy gets worse for common folk the accusations that he is the antichrist are going to begin to get more and more serious and passionate from that wild bunch and anybody else slightly inclined.

    Parent

    Shades of The Reverend Jeremiah (none / 0) (#64)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:35:02 PM EST
    Wright.  What goes around comes around!

    Parent
    Wouldn't you just love (none / 0) (#65)
    by Zorba on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:36:48 PM EST
    to see a confrontation between this woman and the heckler who thinks Obama is the anti-Christ?  No doubt it would make my YouTube "must see" list.  

    Parent
    As VP Biden said recently (none / 0) (#105)
    by christinep on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:32:24 PM EST
    Don't compare me to the Almighty; compare me to the Alternative."  That explains the Universe.

    Parent
    No Eleven Dimensional Chess - (5.00 / 2) (#112)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 08:54:46 PM EST
    but we've been treated to plenty of eleven dimensional bullshit!

    Parent
    the 11 dimensional chess (2.00 / 2) (#61)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:31:51 PM EST
    is all the yoga positions, and jumping hoops these mfers have to go through to raise that 500 mil to be in the position Obama's in. It's the system and the system doesn't let in people who threaten to monkey overly much with it.

    And don't kid yourself, St Hillary is no major exception to the rule.

     

    Parent

    How does "St Hillary" come into (5.00 / 3) (#126)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 08:47:20 AM EST
    any of this?  I'm getting very tired of this Hillary $hit.  Everytime lately that is now on the record that Obama screwed something up, immediately for some the name Hillary is thrown down on the table.

    If it is compounded ignorant to say that Hillary would have been a better President (which I think it sort of is because she isn't President and there is no way to know such a thing) it is equally compounded ignorant to get all ruffled and throw about St Hillary and claim she would have been the same.  YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.  

    Look, I really don't care who you supported.  I don't think it some kind of human failing to have supported him during the primaries and the election.  This will hardly be the last time Democratic voters get a big ole snow job.  I was an Edwards supporter, very passionate and full of enthusiasm and I got me one hell of a snow job too.  Get over the make believe stigma about how "wrong" you were about what was largely unknowable.

    The only thing I care about is that the group calling themselves Democrats and Liberals hold and make their representation accountable.  That is all I care about.  And Hillary has ZERO to do with anything that is going on in the economic realm.  She has a job, she is doing it, and it concerns other things.

    Obama could have done several things before we got here that would have improved our current situation immensely and he did none of them.  Our nation was in a crisis when he took over and now it is an even deeper crisis.  I intend to inspire him to make the choices that will save the people and one day be able to restore a healthy economy to THEM based on fundamentals and not B.S. and fibs.

    Parent

    Four words and you're (none / 0) (#137)
    by jondee on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:09:09 PM EST
    off on a tirade.

    Missing ther entire point about the system being rigged to ensure that 'the money' will always influence Obama more than you or me.

    You want things to change? Lets find a way to indict the Supreme whores and crooks who o.k things like Citizens United and enable rigged elections, and keep pushing for campaign finance reform.

    Parent

    I doubt that she missed the (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by sj on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:17:30 PM EST
    point.  It's one MT has been making for quite a while.  What she was doing was making a point of her own.  Which you completely apparently missed.

    Parent
    thanks for clarifying that (none / 0) (#139)
    by jondee on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 02:19:42 PM EST
    but, as you say it's already been made many times.

    Parent
    truthfully (none / 0) (#53)
    by CST on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:14:11 PM EST
    I prefer the other kind of jobs bill, invest here rather than punish there.

    I will say that in an idealistic world I am all for free trade.  I recognize that this world is not ideal, and the economy is terrible and we need every job we can get.  But in a perfect world I would say the answer to this is not to strong-arm currency but to fight for improved working conditions in China.

    That being said, under these circumstances if I were president I would probably sign this bill.  But I wouldn't be happy about it.

    Parent

    in an idealistic world (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:33:53 PM EST
    I'm for no laws at all..

    Free Trade is bullsh*t. In practice, it's predatory types in developed nations trying to get their fangs into developing nations, by imposing conditions that the developed nations never "developed" under themselves.

    Effing foxes guarding the henhouse of (so-called) "freedom".

    Free Trade is about as honest and accurate a description of the actual agenda and modus operandi as "Right to Work", "Pro Life", and "The Department of Defense".

    Parent

    China continues to roll us over like (none / 0) (#58)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:20:30 PM EST
    dogs on currency.  I think we need to put our foot down.

    Parent
    that's fair (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by CST on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:24:37 PM EST
    it's also a big reason why I'd probably sign the bill.

    But that doesn't mean it's easy to reconcile ideology with realism or that I like it.

    Parent

    Agree (none / 0) (#27)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:05:27 AM EST
    That's why we need to focus efforts on demonizing their actions.

    Regardless of how we got here, we now have a plan that will work, a president crusading for it and dems largely behind it.

    Parent

    "demonizing their actions???" (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:15:47 AM EST
    Of course.  Whatever it takes - to change nothing.

    You are a persistent little herder.  Are you paid by the word or by the blog?

    Parent

    I've made my calls (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:23:56 AM EST
    Pestered who I could pester.  I only wish Obama possessed the critical self-awareness to understand just how failed his entire "strategy" has been.  When you fundamentally misunderstand the depth of your opponent's insanity, which was crystal clear a decade ago, two decades ago, and you constantly capitulate and kow-tow to them, then you are going to get your ace handed to you.  Because they know you are an easy mark.  His weak personality, his deluded sense of his own "post-partisan" appeal, his marginalizing of activists he could have utilized, his inability to understand differences in ideology largely represent the difference between good policy and bad, nothing really you can say at this point.  It's been a failure, he'll be lucky to keep his job.  Only the pure batsh*t in the brains of the Republican party might save him, but that's really nothing to be happy about.  Add to
    his utterly idiotic appointments of Republican U.S. Attorneys (why on earth would he screw precedent, ignore the picks of his dem "partners" and appoint the choices of an insane party?), and it's hard for me to really believe Obama and I have any kind of congruence on ANYthing political.

    Obama should've been worried about demonizing the opposition from the start.  Because they deserved it, if for no other reason than the vile sh*t they spread about him pre-election.  What fully functioning, non-dysfunctional person gets on their knees for people who hate him and were NEVER going to help him do ANYthing.  How he didn't understand this, when everyone else did, ack, who cares at this point.  

    Peace out, my man.

    Parent

    Do we really have a President who (none / 0) (#39)
    by observed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:41:27 AM EST
    is crusading for the demonization of Republicans????
    If the answer is yes (possibly so),that has been the case for less than two weeks.
    At what cost comes Obama's putative learning curve?


    Parent
    Re Rosh Hashana:: (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:10:53 AM EST
    a friend is cooking dinner for 6 guests tonight.  Time was set early so some of the guest may go to services.  But not her.  She sd. someone (not one of her guests) called her a "foodie Jew."  I've never heard this expression.  Have you?  

    I've never heard it... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:29:20 AM EST
    ... but I did bake a few of our last (Michigan) tomatoes last night, slightly hollowed out, sprinkled with thyme, salt, pepper, drizzled with olive oil, squeezed into a baking dish, thence the oven at 350, a dollop of Costco's finest goat cheese filling the divot after 25 minutes, then baked another 10 or so minutes.  Balsamic vinegar could be a tasty coda.


    Parent
    Not ready for this. CNN (Blackberry) (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:31:54 AM EST
    says FL may hold GOP primary in Jan., causing other states to leap frog.  Politicians may be in hotel rooms in Des Moines over the holiday.  Penalty for violating GOP calendar:  lose half delegates.  Awwwwwk!

    Tea Party keeps losing support (none / 0) (#35)
    by Yman on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:32:06 AM EST
    From a 33/26% approve/disapprove ration in Jan. 2010 to a 28/53% ration now.

    Who is really calling for Christie (none / 0) (#38)
    by loveed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:39:39 AM EST
     to enter the race? The media and the old part of the republican party.

     I truly hope Christie is smarter than Perry. He was a prosecutor and in his first term as governor. This is Barack all over again. No foreign policy, no military,the economy sucks,no jobs. I could go on and on.
     He's brash, this might play in New Jersey, but not in the rest of the country.
     As I predicted Perry is toast,before Oct.1st. He probably is going to be investigated also. A kickback is a kickback, A Quid pro Quo is a quid pro quo no matter what texas law says.
     I tried to explain how this game is being played. Shinning objects during the summer. Tea Party branded as racist. Crazies galor. All induced by the media.
    The old GOP party still wanting control.
     I will say this again, this is not you 20004 GOP. There embarrassed by the Bush presidency,all that spending goes against their beliefs. They want someone with experience on the economy,foreign policy,proven job creator.And conservative enough.
     They don't like Romney, his support is so soft. This is his 3rd try.
     I still think it will be Huntsman. He's under the radar.He is not being attacked by anyone. He now in second place in New Hampshire. If you know anything about politics there,1st or 2nd can changed the whole game(ask Bill Clinton). His record is better than Romney,he's more conservative, more experience in foreign policies. Wall Street Journal endorse his economic plan.
     So while the media is focusing on Christie. Huntsman is traveling all over the state explaining his economic Plan.While the old GOP is begging Christie, Huntsman is explaining his jobs plan.
     It's funny how the media will not talk about,the plans of the candidates that has announce,but they will talk about Christie all day. Christie says he is not running.

     

    Loveed (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 12:18:49 PM EST
    They are NOT embarrassed by Bush. They really don't care about spending or they would be knocking Reagan for it which they aren't.

    Chris Christie is a guy who turns down millions in stimulus for a rail but funds a disastrous bankrupt mall project with tax payer funds? A guy who lays off teachers because he says the state doesn't have enough money yet somehow it has enough money to fund his extravagant lifestyle of using a helicopter to fly to his kid's games? Yeah, he's a shiny toy just like Perry. The imaginary Perry was always better than the real thing just like the imaginary Christie is.

    I still can't imagine the GOP nominating someone who worked for Obama.

    Parent

    Sad (none / 0) (#81)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:24:14 PM EST
    but true.

    Parent
    It's not much of asset ... (none / 0) (#89)
    by sj on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:48:58 PM EST
    ... if he keeps booking a room there for himself.

    Parent
    Another oxymoron (none / 0) (#131)
    by jbindc on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 10:20:04 AM EST
    "People of color"

    As opposed to those people who don't have a color?

    And, the irony is that while no people are truly white or black [or yellow or red, for that matter], black people were considered "colored" when, in fact, on the color spectrum, black is the absence of all color and white is the presence of all color.

    Parent

    the media (none / 0) (#111)
    by loveed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 08:43:05 PM EST
     Will be the death of this country.

     We are all Americans. Not republicans,not democrat,not tea party we are Americans.
       The dems. have there on crazies
    Kucinich, Gravel,Maxine Waters. No dems take them seriously.
     The Bachman's, Perry,Santourin,Newt,ect..
    Why do the media give them so much coverage? To shape the face of the republican party as
     bigoted  racist,crazies,non-tolerant.
      The media decides who get coverage. Now it's Romney and Perry. Even though Perry fading fast, 3rd or 4th place. Herman Cain has passed Perry. Perry still get the coverage.
      All day Christi,Christi (how many time do he have to say no,before the media gets it)
     No coverage of the economic plans of any of the announce candidates. No discussion of how they will create jobs. What about there foreign policy?
      It's time we start holding the media accountable.  

    Parent

    Christie is too smart (none / 0) (#47)
    by NYShooter on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 01:44:44 PM EST
    to pull an "Obama" at this point in time, for all the reasons you pointed out. He's got 2016 circled on his calendar.

    Plus, his focus groups told him, umm......"full figured" doesn't play well with voters. Look for a slim, trim junkyard dog in `16.


    Parent

    IF (none / 0) (#80)
    by jbindc on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:21:45 PM EST
    Romney doesn't win now, or, in the alternative, IF Jeb Bush doesn't get in the race in 2016.

    Christie will possibly be on a VP short list though.

    Parent

    Happy Birthday, Jeralyn!! (none / 0) (#41)
    by jen on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 12:11:50 PM EST
    Wishing you health, happiness and an abundance of good!

    I was just looking at (none / 0) (#43)
    by Edger on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 12:55:41 PM EST
    a picture of you, and trying figure out how you manage to stay 25 allatime. ;-)

    How do you do that? What's your secret?

    Happy Birthday, Jeralyn!

    Happy Birthday, (none / 0) (#44)
    by KeysDan on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 12:59:56 PM EST
    have a great day.

    Hippo Birdies to you! (none / 0) (#46)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 01:12:43 PM EST


    Who disappeared BTD/Armando? (none / 0) (#70)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 02:48:34 PM EST


    Happy Birthday, J. (none / 0) (#76)
    by caseyOR on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:18:46 PM EST
    Have a great day, and an even better year.

    Happy, happy birthday (none / 0) (#78)
    by sj on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:21:12 PM EST


    Occupy Wall Street (none / 0) (#87)
    by Robot Porter on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 03:42:42 PM EST
    The Orangey place has a good diary on the Occupy Wall Street protest here.

    It's clearly an evolving thing.  But it appears much more functional and organized than other reports have suggested.  Not surprising.  The MSM job is to marginalize stuff like this.

    Happy Birthday J (none / 0) (#97)
    by athyrio on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:51:42 PM EST
    and may you have many more...

    Happy Birthday Jeralyn (none / 0) (#106)
    by john horse on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 06:39:41 PM EST


    I've watched almost all of the (none / 0) (#115)
    by observed on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 10:35:53 PM EST
    Granada production of Sherlock Holmes stories (with Jeremy Brett).
    I just watched the very last one Brett filmed, while he himself was dying. Some of his expressions in the last few episodes are as haunting as any you can see on the screen.
    Besides appreciating the acting, I felt that these productions showed that Doyle was quite sympsthetic and even forgiving of the passions which drive people to crime.

    For a change, I watched Thunderball last night.
    Boy is that fun. The underwater fight scenes were quite impressive. I much prefer the physical realism of older films to the absolute cartoonishness of modern CGI crap.

    A most happy birthday!!! (none / 0) (#116)
    by desertswine on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:04:49 PM EST


    Happy B-Day J! (none / 0) (#117)
    by nycstray on Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 11:43:12 PM EST
    Thanks for all you do! Hope your day was relaxing and with happiness.

    I'll be doing the same tomorrow. I think the same year also :)

    happy birthday (none / 0) (#120)
    by loveed on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 03:22:16 AM EST


    Parent
    Hope you had a great day too (none / 0) (#143)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 02:54:44 AM EST
    We come from a good year!

    Parent
    just read this (none / 0) (#144)
    by CST on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 08:20:16 AM EST
    We have the same birthday.  Probably not the same year though :)

    Happy belated.

    Parent

    Happy Birthday (none / 0) (#145)
    by MO Blue on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 08:48:26 AM EST
    Sorry my wishes are one day late. Hope you had a great day and will have a fantastic year.

    Parent
    Amazing night of baseball (none / 0) (#118)
    by cymro on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 12:00:28 AM EST
    Happy Birthday Jeralyn!

    Also, this is an open thread, so ...

    I have just watched the most amazing 5 hours of baseball I can recall. As an A's fan, it was maybe not as thrilling as being at the 20th game of the streak in 2002. But, considering I'm not a fan of any of the 8 teams involved in the wild-card races, both of which were tied this morning, the events of the final games of the season in both leagues tonight were almost unbelievable. You could not have written a less likely movie script:

    • In the American League, Boston (who had blown a 9-game lead over Tampa Bay in the last three weeks) leads Baltimore 3-2 in the ninth, and need just one strike to win. But they concede two runs and lose to the Orioles 3-4. So their fate hangs on the result in Tampa ...

    • ... where the Rays are losing 7-0 to the Yankees after 7 innings. But the Rays score 6 in the 8th, and hit a homer to tie the game with 2 out in the 9th. In extra innings, they hit another homer in the bottom of the 12th to win 8-7, eliminating Boston from the playoffs.

    • Over in the National league, the St Louis Cardinals, easily beat Houston 8-0 to guarantee at least a 1-game playoff with Atlanta tomorrow. Meanwhile ...

    • ... Atlanta (who had blown a 8.5-game lead over the Cardinals in September) lead the Phillies 3-2 in the 9th, but give up a run to tie the game 3-3. In extra innings, with two out in the 13th, they concede another run, losing 4-3. This sends St Louis to the playoffs.

    Red Sox and Braves fans are, no doubt, stunned and disappointed that they are not going to the playoffs after appearing to be locked in on September 1st. But for the rest of us, who usually root against the Red Sox and the Braves anyway, this was a truly memorable night of baseball.

    Also, it demonstrated the value of the MLB wild-card system, and gave us not just one, but two underdogs to root for in the playoffs, which I hardly dare hope will be as exciting as tonight's games.

    Go Cards! (5.00 / 0) (#121)
    by MO Blue on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 05:26:37 AM EST
    Seems they have a need to put themselves into positions where they need a miracle to get into the playoffs and somehow get it.

    Parent
    Dang! (none / 0) (#119)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 03:19:24 AM EST
    Thank you for the excellent game update. Last I saw, the Yanks score was 7-zip. Not usual for me to cheer a Yank loss, but since it knocked out the Sox . . . {grin}.

    Parent
    And Babe Ruth's ghost (none / 0) (#140)
    by NYShooter on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 03:04:20 PM EST
    Just keeps on laughing and laughing

    (and, of course, flipping "the bird" to the Sox)

    LOL


    Parent

    You know, when they built Camden Yards, (none / 0) (#142)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 05:12:53 PM EST
    they found artifacts from the bar Babe's dad owned in downtown Baltimore, so maybe...the curse lives on!

    Parent
    honestly (none / 0) (#122)
    by CST on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 08:11:35 AM EST
    This was reminiscent of the first 20 years of my life.

    This saying was brought back out, on fb at least, which used to be the motto for every september/october:

    "there's always next year"

    Only now it's a lot less bitter.  So congrats to the Rays, they earned it, and the sox earned that choke.

    Parent

    And Orioles fans are asking why (none / 0) (#127)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 08:51:58 AM EST
    the team that played lights-out baseball in the month of September couldn't have played that way for the previous three months.

    And it's a good question.  They kind of did this last season, although not in such a "spoiler" kind of way, after Buck took over as manager; if you calculated last season's AL East standings from Buck's arrival, the O's led the division.  Too bad it's the entire season that counts, huh?

    So, what's the deal?  Was last season about being energized under a new manager?  Was this season's surge in the last month just about timing?  Was it a case of good teams peaking too soon, and the Orioles taking advantage?  Well, given the many ways the O's found ways to lose this season, I'm not so sure.  We did our part to knock the Sox out, but we still have to live with our 14th consecutive losing season, even if our good play in September helped us avoid racking up 100 losses.  Not much of a silver lining in that cloud, but we'll take it.

    I'm not sorry the Sox are out of it; they did this to themselves.  But, hey - thanks to the Red Sox fans who came here, spent their money in our city, and boosted game attendance!

    Parent

    More unlikely details I omitted (none / 0) (#141)
    by cymro on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 04:32:00 PM EST
    The Rays comeback was truly remarkable. You might call it a once in a lifetime event, had not the Cardinals pulled of the same trick on the same night! This was baseball history.

    Some more trivia:

    • After playing for 4 hrs 54 mins, the Yankees vs Rays game ended just 4 minutes after the Orioles vs Red Sox game, which had included a 1 hr 26 min rain delay.

    • The Yankees used 9 pitchers.

    • And most incredible of all, the tying homer was hit by former A's first baseman Dan Johnson, who has spent most of the last 8 years in the minors (or playing in Canada and Japan), had a major league batting average of .108 this season, and had no hits in 6 at bats since he was called up 2 weeks ago.

    You could write a movie script based on Dan Johnson's story alone. I still can't fathom how Rays manager Joe Maddon had the courage, let alone the foresight, to send him up to pinch hit with the outcome of the entire season on the line. Truly remarkable!!

    Parent

    Herman Cain says AAs "brainwashed" (none / 0) (#125)
    by Yman on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 08:35:11 AM EST
    During an interview that aired on CNN's "The Situation Room" on Wednesday night, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain suggested that members of the African American community "have been brainwashed into not being open-minded, not even considering a conservative point of view."

    The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza said, "I have received some of that same vitriol simply because I am running for the Republican nomination as a conservative." He added, "So it's just brainwashing and people not being open-minded, pure and simple."

    Link

    But the good news is that he says somewhere between 33 and 50% of AAs are "open-minded", based on the people he meets.

    But HE hasn't been brainwashed, of course (none / 0) (#128)
    by Dadler on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 09:19:24 AM EST
    It's everyone ELSE'S brain that's the problem.  Very typical childlike point of view.

    Parent
    Wait, there's that 33-50% (5.00 / 0) (#130)
    by Dadler on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 09:22:17 AM EST
    Which, it seems, renders his first statement even more ridiculous that originally thought.  Was he actually bent over and specking out of his butt?  I say yes.  Let's go to the video...ugh.

    Parent
    I guess what he meant to say ... (none / 0) (#134)
    by Yman on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 11:57:58 AM EST
    ... was that only 50%-66% of AAs are "brainwashed", based on his scientific sampling of AAs who speak to him.

    Heh.

    Parent

    A statistician might claim (5.00 / 2) (#136)
    by MO Blue on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 01:02:38 PM EST
    that the sampling size was too small for the study to be accurate. :-)

    based on his scientific sampling of AAs who speak to him
    .

    Parent
    Thanks everyone (none / 0) (#132)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 10:33:11 AM EST
    for the happy birthday wishes. It was a beautiful day here and I enjoyed every minute of it, especially reading the comments here.

    Wednesday Open Thread: A New Year | 136 comments (136 topical)

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