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You are here: Home / z-Retired Categories / Previous Site Maintenance / Open Thread

Open Thread

by Michael D.|  January 4, 200811:56 am| 66 Comments

This post is in: Previous Site Maintenance

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Previous Post: « Huckabee Takes The Lead
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66Comments

  1. 1.

    r€nato

    January 4, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    head over to Sadly, No! for a bracing shot of Huckenfreude.

  2. 2.

    r€nato

    January 4, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    The only thing that could top this is Ron Paul having a strong showing in NH. Is that at all possible? After all, NH Republicans are a libertarian-leaning lot, aren’t they?

  3. 3.

    myiq2xu

    January 4, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    You are referring to pie?

  4. 4.

    TheFountainHead

    January 4, 2008 at 12:14 pm

    I can has Obama v. Huckabee race now? PeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeZZ!

  5. 5.

    Billy K

    January 4, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    You are referring to pie?

    Pie. I liek it.®

  6. 6.

    akaoni

    January 4, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    *Start shameless self promotion*

    Iowa Democratic caucusblogging here.

    *End shameless self promotion*

  7. 7.

    Jay

    January 4, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    Long-range speculation: Barak Obama/Colin Powell ticket. He knows where the bodies are buried and has huge respect from the military and centrists of both parties.

  8. 8.

    demimondian

    January 4, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    I don’t think so — Powell’s damaged goods for the anti-war base. I’m thinking Obama/Clark.

  9. 9.

    Billy K

    January 4, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Long-range speculation: Barak Obama/Colin Powell ticket.

    I’m thinking Obama/Clark.

    You guys are nuts. Obama/Richardson or Obama/Edwards.

  10. 10.

    TheFountainHead

    January 4, 2008 at 12:49 pm

    I’m thinking Obama/Clark.

    You know I had the same thought the other night, and dismissed it as fantasy, but that might be FUN.

  11. 11.

    eastriver

    January 4, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    An open thread? Sew what?

  12. 12.

    eastriver

    January 4, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    Obama/Osama

  13. 13.

    Jay

    January 4, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    You could see Clark behind Hillary last night!!!1! That gets him nowhere with Obama.

    Do you think the anti-war folks are going to vote for any Republican?

    Richardson will say anything and everything and loses cred every time he talks.

    Powell brings experience, “I tried to slow them down”, and the same level of class and calm confidence that Obama has.

    If not V.P. then he will be somewhere in the upper ecshalon of an Obama admin. Bank on it.

  14. 14.

    demimondian

    January 4, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    I’m seeing Clark as a Hillary surrogate. You know it’s going to come down to wheeling and dealing at the end, and somebody from the loser’s team needs to be veep. Clinton won’t take it, and I think Obama needs a military type, anyway, so I’m thinking Clark to fill the military hole, provide a white Southern male, and provide a sop to the Clinton team.

  15. 15.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    You are referring to pie?

    No.

    It is delicious cake.

    You must eat it.

  16. 16.

    John S.

    January 4, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    Obama/Richardson or Obama/Edwards.

    The former has zero chance of happening, AFAIC. The latter seems like the logical choice – a heavily progressive ticket with just the right amount of populism riding the wind of change.

    I think Clark would make a pretty good Sec. of Defense, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned up there. As for Powell, I think with all of Obama’s talk about ‘reaching across the aisle’ it is fairly certain he would find a place in that administration. Schwarzenegger – not so much.

  17. 17.

    Billy K

    January 4, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    The cake is a lie, my friend. The cake is a lie.

  18. 18.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    The only thing that could top this is Ron Paul having a strong showing in NH. Is that at all possible? After all, NH Republicans are a libertarian-leaning lot, aren’t they?

    There’s an armful of predictions that he could make it to third.

    Bigger question, will he trounce Giuliani again? Every time he does that, it’s an implication that 9/11 is about world engagement, not evul muhslummms.

  19. 19.

    Billy K

    January 4, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    I think Clark would make a pretty good Sec. of Defense, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned up there. As for Powell, I think with all of Obama’s talk about ‘reaching across the aisle’ it is fairly certain he would find a place in that administration. Schwarzenegger – not so much.

    I could see Powell as Sec. of State, unless he’s not for reallys done with public service. He may truly be burned out. Clark I woudl love as Sec. Def. Hell, I’d like him as VP, but he’s too much Clintonista to truly be a part of an Obama campaign.

    How about….and I’m only posing it as a question…Arnold for UN Ambassador?

  20. 20.

    tBone

    January 4, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    The cake is a lie, my friend. The cake is a lie.

    Well done, android.

    The Enrichment Center once again reminds you that android hell is a real place where you will be sent at the first sign of defiance.

  21. 21.

    Billy K

    January 4, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    Oh, and FFS – would someone PLEASE keep Bob Shrum away from Barack?

  22. 22.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    The cake is a lie, my friend. The cake is a lie.

    You'd say anything to get your mind off the fact you destroyed your own friend.

    And you did it faster than any of the previous test subjects

  23. 23.

    Dave

    January 4, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    Anyone see Jonah’s latest attack on Joe Kennedy and his heating oil program? The best part is when he insinuates that all the poor ever watch on television are game shows and soaps. What a guy!

  24. 24.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    Regarding all the talk about how Obama won’t do anything, I came across a link to this over at Sully’s place today. Seems that, in Illinois, he scored some major, progressive legislative accomplishments, and managed to work with traditional opponents of a progressive agenda to get it done.

  25. 25.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    Oh, and FFS – would someone PLEASE keep Bob Shrum the mainstream democratic apparatus away from Barack?

    Fixed for relevance.

  26. 26.

    Jay

    January 4, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    He may truly be burned out

    I said during the run-up to the Iraq War that Powell was against it and I still believe that; he was doing his job as a soldier. Any burn-out would be superseded by the need to vindicate himself and an even bigger need to help correct massive policy mistakes that he was forced to swallow.

    I seriously doubt Clark will have any place at the Obama table. Edwards maybe. Let’s see who throws too much mud in the coming month.

  27. 27.

    akaoni

    January 4, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    How about Jim Webb for VP. Strong defense background, Democratic Senator in a red state. Only concern would be picking up his seat in the Senate…

  28. 28.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    Joe Kennedy and his heating oil program

    … is some creepy shit.

    That’s an arm of Chavez’s Citgo program to give oil to groups in barter for services. Which would make sense if he were running a po’dunk nation, but they know what “currency” means there, and we know what “currency” means.

    The program has supposedly helped Venezuela get surplus medical doctors from Cuba, but that was an international agreement. What the hell does Chavez think he’s going to get by helping the American poor? Noting — on top — that American destitution is the Ritz-Carlton compared to other countries, he’s not going to get shit out of them.

  29. 29.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    How about Jim Webb for VP. Strong defense background, Democratic Senator in a red state. Only concern would be picking up his seat in the Senate…

    No long-term experience, same as Obama. Need a Cheney to Obama’s Bush.

    Just, this time, with more cardiovascular activity. So HRC is out.

  30. 30.

    Billy K

    January 4, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    How about Jim Webb for VP. Strong defense background, Democratic Senator in a red state. Only concern would be picking up his seat in the Senate…

    Would be awesome, but we really need him in the Senate. It’s not easy finding a Dem to take that seat.

  31. 31.

    Jake

    January 4, 2008 at 1:29 pm

    The best part is when he insinuates that all the poor ever watch on television are game shows and soaps. What a guy!

    At least he didn’t call them fascists.

    Maybe one of NRO’s intrepid reporters can get to the bottom of this?

    LOLzers! Oh noes! Master Goldburp has released the hounds of truthiness. I guess he’s too busy stuffing Cheetos to conduct any counter inspections.

  32. 32.

    Jay

    January 4, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    How about Jim Webb for VP

    I like it. Virginia’s going Blue, so finding a replacement wouldn’t be as difficult as it was 4 years ago.

  33. 33.

    Dave

    January 4, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    Chris,

    Kennedy’s heating-oil program isn’t related to the “barter-for-goods” deal that Chavez is trying to cut for South and Central American countries. Kennedy has worked with Citgo since the mid-80s.

    Frozen Americans or taking Citgo oil to keep them warm. I don’t think it’s a hard choice to make.

  34. 34.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Frozen Americans or taking Citgo oil to keep them warm. I don’t think it’s a hard choice to make

    I’m not saying it’s creepy from us, it’s creepy from them.

    It’s like finding a package with candy on your doorstep. You wonder what’s up.

    And I’d like to challenge you on that assertion that they’re not related. As soon as there was press on the Chavez program, the Citgo commercials came on. They operate on the same market of poverty, they come from the same country, and they’re offering the same product. It’s at least highly coincidental.

  35. 35.

    NickM

    January 4, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    “How about Jim Webb for VP.” Yes! He’s my Senator and I love him. He loves to make Republican sissies cry. He puts Virginia in play and forces the Republicans to defend here – 13 electoral votes at stake, too – almost as much as NJ. And I’d guess he’d do well in a lot of places with Reagan Dems.

    “Only concern would be picking up his seat in the Senate…”

    Not so much. Virginia’s trending blue, quickly. Fairfax county has shifted and is kicking out its Republicans. Since it’s long been the tipping point between the People’s Republics of Arlington and Alexandria and the rest of the Red state, its shift makes Virginia very competitive. We’ve had two consecutive, very popular Dem governors and booted Sen. Allen, who looked to have a lock on his seat even a couple of months before the 2006 election.

    Dem Mark Warner is very likely to take the Senate seat in 2008, and Webb’s not up for relection until 2012 anyway, so we have a long time to worry about replacing him – maybe with current governor Tim Kaine. And there’s a nice bench of state senate Dems coming up through the ranks now.

  36. 36.

    Dug Jay

    January 4, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    Dave above has grossly mischaracterized Goldberg’s comments on Joe Kennedy’s heating oil program for the needy. If you follow the Link that Dave provided you will see that Goldberg is NOT belittling the disadvantaged, but questioning the effectiveness of Kennedy’s approach to making potential users of the heating oil program aware of its existence, given that Kennedy has only advertised on the Sunday Chris Wallace Fox news program.

  37. 37.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Jonah Goldberg is just a conservative communist, anyway.

  38. 38.

    wingnuts to iraq

    January 4, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    why not mark warner, if we’re throwing out jim webb. Oh wait, isn’t he running for Senate?

    Lieberman! /puke.

  39. 39.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    Dave above has grossly mischaracterized Goldberg’s comments on Joe Kennedy’s heating oil program for the needy. If you follow the Link that Dave provided you will see that Goldberg is NOT belittling the disadvantaged, but questioning the effectiveness of Kennedy’s approach to making potential users of the heating oil program aware of its existence, given that Kennedy has only advertised on the Sunday Chris Wallace Fox news program.

    OMG the partisan blindness. You has it.

    “only” advertised? It’s advertised freaking everywhere.

    The poor folks in the commercial look like they’re having a rough time and they seem perfectly cast to conjure memories of Bobby Kennedy’s Appalachia tour. But do they, or people like them, really catch Chris Wallace’s show every Sunday?

    That’s positing that the poor are not watching Chris Wallace. That’s either an attempt to malign the targets of the program, or to give analytical advice on marketing.

    But I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s taking out these ads to score political points, and not to actually get flooded with phone calls from needy people.

    … and that’s impugning the porcelain-toothed Kennedy.

    Do you really think Goldberg was being useful in that article, or a jerk tossing ad hominems?

  40. 40.

    Dave

    January 4, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Dug Jay,

    Are you nuts? Kennedy has been advertising that program for over 20 years all over the Northeast on local and national cable channels, billboards and newspaper ads.

    Chunk was basically jumping on Mona Charen’s bandwagon to take a cheap shot at Kennedy on an issue he is painfully ignorant about…and decided to throw a jab at the poor while he was at it. Or do you think all the lower-class watches on television are games shows and the soaps?

  41. 41.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Or do you think all the lower-class watches on television are games shows and the soaps?

    I expect that neocons like Goldberg think that, even if that’s not all they watch, it’s really all they should be watching.

  42. 42.

    myiq2xu

    January 4, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    Would be awesome, but we really need him in the Senate. It’s not easy finding a Dem to take that seat.

    Webb wouldn’t have to resign his Senate seat until just before he was sworn in as VP, and by then Warner could be naming the replacement, no?

    OTOH – he would also make a dandy Secretary of Defense.

  43. 43.

    myiq2xu

    January 4, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    Or do you think all the lower-class watches on television are games shows and the soaps?

    C’mon now! Everyone knows the favorite show of the trailer park segment of society!

    Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

  44. 44.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    I expect that neocons like Goldberg think that, even if that’s not all they watch, it’s really all they should be watching.

    Think that through a bit. They want you watching Fox News 24/7, remember?

    This isn’t the neocon side of Jonah, this is the homely, pudgy dweeb side of him. He’s being a dick because that’s all he knows how to do to garner attention. Ignore him just like he was ignored throughout eighth grade. It was a laconic post anyways.

  45. 45.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Think that through a bit. They want you watching Fox News 24/7, remember?

    D’oh! Fox does a good job of incorporating Springer-esque gossip, human interest stories, and “the news,” so I suppose you’re right.

  46. 46.

    Punchy

    January 4, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Obama/Chris Rock ticket, wins….puts Powell as SecDef, Sharpton as SC Justice when one finally kicks, Billy Blanks as SecAssKicking, and Condy Rice as secretary…that’s it, just a secretary. Answering phones.

  47. 47.

    Jamey

    January 4, 2008 at 4:38 pm

    Yeah, we want it. Just not from you.

  48. 48.

    Ninerdave

    January 4, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    Olbermann mentions Balloon Juice!

    No, not the blog, just the phrase.

    However, if you‘ve had enough of all this balloon juice and you just want to know the outcome now, there‘s the Intrade futures exchange—the Irish-based online wagering site which offers contracts to betters based on who they think will win the nominations, the primaries, the election—with the reminder that the percentages represent how confident the gamblers think an individual candidate is going to win—not by how much they would win.

    You’re sorta semi-almost-famous-being-not-really-mentioned-but-sorta-mentioned-on-TV there John.

  49. 49.

    Jen

    January 4, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Punchy, if you’re still on here, you need to re-read what I was trying to say about the South and Iowa in the other thread. You seem to think I was calling Iowa racist when I was actually doing exactly the opposite — Iowa is Exhibit A for not being racist. You might want to make sure you understand what a person is talking about before you go all, uh, punchy on them.

  50. 50.

    Paul L.

    January 4, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    Makes me wish they would hire Scabs.
    David Letterman Returns, Still Supporting the WGA.

    Thousands of writers still walk the picket line every day until their legs cramp and their backs ache, only to return to a home they can now barely afford because of the producers’ greed. So, to the arrogant media moguls who’ve gotten so fat off our sweat-soaked toil that they can no longer fit behind their oversized mahogany desks, I say to you: Stop spending all your money on cufflinks, cocktails and whores. Stick a crowbar in your wallet and start bargaining in good faith with the writers.

  51. 51.

    Paddy O'Shea

    January 4, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    Rick Moron is blowing a gasket over the Huckster. RW Nuthouse has never been funnier than it is today.

  52. 52.

    r€nato

    January 4, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Rick Moron is blowing a gasket over the Huckster. RW Nuthouse has never been funnier than it is today.

    gee, what have those guys got against Christians?

  53. 53.

    Dreggas

    January 4, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Obama/Dodd

    Obama/Feingold

  54. 54.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    Obama/Osama?

  55. 55.

    demimondian

    January 4, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    Obama/Dodd

    Obama/Feingold

    Both vvep choices from states/regions Obama is going to get w/o any trouble.

    Obama/Feingold?

  56. 56.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    It seems that Obama would benefit most by choosing a running mate from Florida or Virginia.

  57. 57.

    demimondian

    January 4, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    Yes, and Webb would be a great choice…if we can be sure that Warner will win the Va election this Fall.

  58. 58.

    JWW

    January 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    do you wanna know?

    Just how fucked up your blog site is, every time I state what a worthless GI John was, I get blocked. He was a piece of shit in the Army, as with the blog above, he uses only certain dead soldiers too gain ground.

    To Andrew Olmsted, your honor to the nation is what makes us. We do not decide who lives or who dies, we show respect to those that serve.

    John has used you as an icon for his blog. I am sure that is not what you wanted.

    He is a piece of shit that once wore a uniform. Sad as that may be, the Country gives you Honor.

    My comments to the above post were blocked, Thanx John, you POS. I guess so much for your personal version of (Freedom of Speech)

  59. 59.

    myiq2xu

    January 4, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    Over at CNN Lou Dobbs head is exploding because Mexico promised to defend anyone charged under Arizona’s new anti-immigration law.

  60. 60.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Yes, and Webb would be a great choice…if we can be sure that Warner will win the Va election this Fall.

    Unfortunately, Obama will have to pick a running mate before Warner’s success becomes a sure thing.

  61. 61.

    rachel

    January 4, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    JWW’s motto: Don’t Even Start Making Sense

  62. 62.

    tBone

    January 4, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    Just how fucked up your blog site is, every time I state what a worthless GI John was, I get blocked. He was a piece of shit in the Army, as with the blog above, he uses only certain dead soldiers too gain ground.

    How dare John delete stalkerish comments from gibbering loons?? He really is a POS, I guess.

  63. 63.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 1:54 am

    JWW’s motto: Don’t Even Start Making Sense

    I see you think all comments are equal, but some are more equal than others. I spit on your version (of Freedom of Speech).

  64. 64.

    rachel

    January 5, 2008 at 5:13 am

    dslak Says:

    JWW’s motto: Don’t Even Start Making Sense

    I see you think all comments are equal, but some are more equal than others. I spit on your version (of Freedom of Speech).

    Translation, please?

  65. 65.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 5:20 am

    Translation, please?

    Just because I can mimic JWW doesn’t mean I know what he’s trying to say.

  66. 66.

    grumpy realist

    January 5, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    And even when he’s trying to make sense, JWW still comes off as the dribbling wild-eyed spittle-flecked loon on the corner ranting about How The UFOs Kidnapped Him To Program Him As A Sex Toy For The CIA.

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