Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

Republicans in disarray!

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Second rate reporter says what?

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

The revolution will be supervised.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Come on, man.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

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154Comments

  2. 2.

    Omnes Omnibus

    I had a classmate in law school who could not understand why a person would decline to let the police search his vehicle. In his view, he had nothing to hide and, if someone else had left something illicit in his car, the police would clearly understand when he explained that the illicit item did not belong to him. He was a conservative, of course.

  3. 3.

    Unabogie

    But John, how can we know if those Baptists were part of a child trafficking ring if we don’t torture enhanced interrogate frat haze them?

  7. 7.

    Mike Kay

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    all you have to do is turn it around and ask him/her about gun registration. After all, if they have nothing to hide, they shouldn’t fear the government.

  10. 10.

    Rhoda

    In kinda similar news Stolberg reports for the NYT that Barack Obama went to his daughter’s recital during a health care summit btwn Democrats and was the first president since Cleveland to skip the Gridiron dinner. He’s a good father, that’s apparently a problem now.

    Nobody seems to be accusing Mr. Obama of being an inattentive president, though he did irk one powerful constituency — the Washington media elite — when the White House announced he would not be attending last year’s Gridiron Dinner, the annual white-tie affair in which the city’s high-society journalists poke fun at politicians in song and skits. The decision earned Mr. Obama the distinction of becoming the first president since Grover Cleveland to miss the first Gridiron of his presidency, and the capital’s media mavens were especially bent out of shape when they discovered that spring break was taking place not in Chicago, as the White House had originally said, but rather at Camp David, the presidential retreat, a short 20-minute helicopter ride away.

    No one is saying he’s an inattentive president, yet.

    He better be at this years Gridiron I guess.

  11. 11.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Mike Kay: 2d Amendment. You know, the important one. Not like the optional ones, such as the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments. Those are for hippies.

  14. 14.

    jrg

    These are the same people that think “Freedom of Religion” means the freedom to spend tax dollars posting monuments of the 10 commandments, and “Freedom of Speech” means freedom from criticism. I fail to see how this behavior is a big surprise.

  16. 16.

    Eastriver

    Digby is a writer. You, JC, are a linker/commenter who occassionally writes. When you actually sit down and write something of length and breadth the results are always as good as anything Digby cranks out. I know your banged up right now, and that is totally ducked up in every way, but when you get both wings working I hope you’ll rake the time and energy to post something longer than the usual Can You Believe How Outrageous This Is??? Linklinklink. (I’m writing thus as a fan. I know that it helps your bloggy stats to post multiple tines per day so fans check your site multiple times per day. But maybe once a week you can pen something fat and juicy like Frank Rich does.)

    just sayin’.

  17. 17.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Eastriver: And You. eastriver, are a wanker who wanks every day whether Cole writes something “juicy” like Frank Rich or not, which is the best wanking I’ve heard today btw.. It is what you do and do well here in the land of hot air.

    edit= now cue the obligatory flurry of old man stuck jokes from Eriver, hopefully with some added material to keep the natives intrigued

  20. 20.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    How do you use this hypocrisy against those who obviously don’t care, when your target audience doesn’t know what the word means?

  22. 22.

    TheWatcher

    Obviously Digby is a homo pinko-commie who loves marxism, fascism, and radical islam. Otherwise, she’d see the difference between god fearing Christians and dark skinned islamofascists coming to kill us in our beds.

    Did I mention she has a vagina, also too? Obviously she hates America. Thank God we have patriots like Malkin and Limbaugh to save us from the creeping menace of Muslims and Estate taxes.

  25. 25.

    Omnes Omnibus

    John Yoo’s New Book
    Did FDR instigate an attack to ensure America would go to war?

    This is the ad I see at the top of the page. WTF?

  26. 26.

    kay

    PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti’s prime minister said Monday it’s clear to him that the 10 U.S. Baptists who tried to take 33 children out of his quake-ravaged country without permission “knew what they were doing was wrong.”

    But Prime Minister Max Bellerive also told The Associated Press his country is open to having the Americans go before courts in the United States because his own nation’s judicial system was devastated by the Jan. 12 earthquake.”

    That’s generous. I suppose he has enough to worry about without dealing with enraged US conservatives.

    Turns out, the leader has to get back to Idaho soon for a court date anyway:

    “The Idaho Department of Labor confirmed that 14 claims for nonpayment of wages were filed against Personal Shopper Inc. in 2008 and 2009. The company’s former marketing director also filed a civil lawsuit against Silsby and the company in October for unpaid wages, wrongful termination and fraud, the newspaper said.

    Silsby is due in Idaho court next week in the case and a jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 22.

    Court records show that Silsby also is due in court in March to answer to another civil lawsuit filed by Beer & Cain, a Boise law firm. The lawsuit says Silsby has failed to pay more than $4,500 for services rendered.”

  28. 28.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @kay:

    10 U.S. Baptists who tried to take 33 children out of his quake-ravaged country without permission “knew what they were doing was wrong.”

    Baby Jeevus has a big appetite is all. And them diapers don’t grow on burning trees. A little commerce in the lards work ain’t no sin in RightWingJesusVille, USA.

  29. 29.

    Veritas78

    What Digby and Greenwald both need is an editor. For $50 a post, I’d cut their intelligent blather to a third. Then, they’d be quotable instead of linkable.

    This is the curse of the intertoobz: no editors.

  30. 30.

    burnspbesq

    Didn’t I see somewhere yesterday where someone involved in the defense of these dirtbags is the subject of an international arrest warrant from El Salvador related to charges of trafficking in teenage girls for purposes of prostitution?

  32. 32.

    MikeJ

    @Veritas78: Yes they need editors, but in addition to Digby’s 2000 words she’ll quote 2000 words from the original. She really, really, really needs to learn how to pick the nut graf instead of quoting the entire book.

    Not that I don’t think she;s a great voice.

  33. 33.

    burnspbesq

    I have absolutely no doubt that these people sincerely believe that what they were trying to do was the best thing that could possibly happen to those kids. And they might be correct in that belief. But it’s not their call. Go to jail, go directly to jail (after a fair trial, of course), do not pass go, do not collect $200.

  34. 34.

    Annie

    @Eastriver:

    I don’t get it. I appreciate John’s pointing us to Digby’s piece and the Greenwald link. Just read them, and Glen’s piece is especially good. Why does John have to rewrite what they both just wrote?

    The key is to get this stuff out to the widest audience possible, particularly given the strengthen of the wingnut propaganda machine.

    And, this link does a good job of pointing out wingnut hypocrisy. White supposed Christians can break the law, and traffick children for “pure” reasons — they were just thinking of the souls and welfare of these poor children. No matter that what this group was doing was illegal, including taking children who do have parents.

    But, the “others” can be detained, tortured, and held for years without due process, just because we feel like it. It is sickening.

    And, who cares that they need “editors.” We all do. I don’t think that is the essential point here.

  35. 35.

    DougJ

    @MikeJ:

    I find Digby a tad long-winded at times, but not that much. Greenwald, on the other hand. I love the guy but I’ve never made it through an entire post.

  36. 36.

    Mark S.

    Everybody’s a fucking critic tonight.

    As for the topic at hand, I certainly noticed the same phenomena with the O’Keefe arrest. All the sudden all of these wingers are gravely concerned about due process and “let’s not rush to justice.” They never give a shit about such things when the defendant is brown and poor.

  37. 37.

    Yutsano

    @DougJ: Glenn I use to hone my skimming abilities. He’s a great writer, but sometimes he forgets life cannot be digested down to a legal brief.

  42. 42.

    Delia

    I have many extended family members from Idaho, though they’re from the other side of the state. Anyhow, here’s the way I suspect the melodrama played out. Probably nine of the ten people involved in this miserable affair are chumps. They’re the sort of people who automatically believe that anything their country or their church does is Good, and hence they should never be allowed outside the US unescorted by a knowledgeable tour guide. This Silsby woman appears to be a grifter, and believe me, small Western towns and cities have their share. These trusting church people fall for them very easily, especially if the grifters talk the talk. And apparently this Latin American lawyer she hooked up with is something worse.

    And then it all gets caught up in the national agendas of the right wing political grifters who are operating on a whole ‘nother level. And here we go again.

  43. 43.

    mr. whipple

    @Mark S.:

    “Everybody’s a fucking critic tonight.”

    It’s the Olympics. I’d give Digby/Greenwald a perfect 7, but they stumbled a little on the triple flickflack toejammer.

  44. 44.

    AB

    In a related story, Maddow has been kicking ass this last week. I just finished watching some of the highlights.

  45. 45.

    kay

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    I followed the links, and it looks to me like the 9 were basically bamboozled by the charismatic leader who doesn’t pay her employees. I don’t know if she’s a trafficker. She’s definitely a lunatic. It’s complicated by the fact that they somehow ended up with “spokesman” who may or may not be a lawyer, and may or may not be a trafficker himself. They’re trying to get his fingerprints for a match to determine if he is a previously-charged trafficker.
    It’s appalling, though, the arrogance, even if the 9 didn’t intend to actually break the law.

  46. 46.

    geg6

    I admit to finding it quite fun and entertaining to watch the whining and crying of these pieces of shit excuses for humanity as the have been hauled from a surely nasty jail to court. Fuck these assholes, these child abusers, these kidnappers. I want them to rot in a Haitian jail. Teach them a thing or two about who is the “elect” and who isn’t. A lesson all these fuckers could stand to learn.

  48. 48.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @mr. whipple:

    but they stumbled a little on the triple flickflack toejammer.

    I think because they tried an eleventy hundred flickflack toejammer, when a really only a triple or single flickflacker toejammer was needed. Only soze many toes to jammer.

  50. 50.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Thus we again note that Christianity is a feminine religion. These Christians came from Idaho, which is not the same as the Midwest.

  51. 51.

    Violet

    Thank you for linking the post. It’s excellent. Not much to add. It sums the whole situation up so perfectly.

  53. 53.

    Mark S.

    Plato taught that the highest form of rhetoric is the non sequitur.

    He also advocated drinking homemade moonshine derived from gasoline.

  54. 54.

    Brick Oven Bill

    John’s link, ‘digby’, called the Idahoans Midwesterners. I have just corrected the record Yutsano. Sometimes the Left is challenged by Geography.

  55. 55.

    Annie

    OMG. Kathryn Jean Lopez says that one member of the group should be released because he was just being “imprudent.” WTF…These people are insane, and even more so because they don’t even realize what they are saying. Now we have the “imprudent” defense?

    Wow, I bit a lot of child traffickers would love to use that defense…

  58. 58.

    Zam

    @Brick Oven Bill: Actually I once heard Nevada referred to as the midwest, I’m pretty certain a large number of people lump anything that is either west or middle into that phrase.

  60. 60.

    Cassidy

    Brick Oven Bill says:

    Another episode of pedantic theater is now concluded. Join us tommorrow as we discuss the merits of Roma tomatoes and what Aristotle thinks of Danii Minogues baby bump.

  61. 61.

    bago

    @Zam: In all honesty, pretty much everything from cincinatti to San Francisco is emptiness. I should know emptiness. I was born in Alaska.

  62. 62.

    kay

    @Annie:

    Kathryn Jean Lopez says that one member of the group should be released because he was just being “imprudent.”

    I think we should send some Haitians to Idaho to pick up some kids. Just randomly. Any that are unattended, even momentarily. How do Haitians know those kids are in good Christian homes?

  63. 63.

    Kennedy

    Speaking of the Count of Monte Cristo effect, if you’ve read the book/seen the so-so film adaptation, you’ll recall that once innocent Edmund Dantes goes batshit crazy and kills everyone who wronged him upon breaking out of prison.

    So ironically, that analogy is even more pertinent than for the simple purpose of identifying the horrors of false imprisonment.

  64. 64.

    mclaren

    Still with the torture stuff?

    We’re in the third Bush term and troops are still bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq and we’re still kidnapping people and hurling ’em into black holes without charges and without a trial, and health care reform has collapsed and the deficits just keep skyrocketing without end and the health insurers just keep making record profits while dumping more sick people off the insurance rolls.

    Meanwhile, people in America still tool around in SUVs and make 70 mile commutes to work and global warming just keeps cranking up hotter and hotter and hotter, and the people living in Woodland Hills, CA, where the temperature hit 119 degrees F on 23 July 2006, think they can just keep doing this and it’ll all turn out fine in the end.

    America keeps outsourcing all our high-paid high-skilled jobs overseas and the cost of a college education has now hit such an insane peak that we’re looking at another bubble, but this time, an education bubble…

    …And we’re talking about torture, right? Because, what? That’s the one thing Obama has done right?

    Everything else has fallen apart and gone to hell, a 60-seat Democratic majority in the senate and the total amount of radical left-wing reform we’ve gotten is zero, bupkiss, nada, zippo, zilch, and we’re full of smug self-righteousness about the Repubs and torture?

    Yeah. Whatever. Do you guys have any idea what a trainwreck this country is headed for? And not 20 or 50 years from now. Soon. Don’t know when, but, boy, it’s gonna be spectacular.

  65. 65.

    Brick Oven Bill

    It will be spectacular mclaren. We are very lucky to live in these times. You can currently buy a cream puff with foods stamps. This has just been established. And with this data point, I am going to sleep.

  66. 66.

    Violet

    @Zam:

    Actually I once heard Nevada referred to as the midwest, I’m pretty certain a large number of people lump anything that is either west or middle into that phrase.

    Flyover country. It’s “the midwest,” a giant shapeless mass of anything that isn’t New York or L.A. Unless it’s Texas, in which case people think you drive a 1970’s era Cadillac with longhorns attached to the front grill. Or you ride a horse to work.

  67. 67.

    rootless_e

    Wingers

    Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD or APD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as “…a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood.”[1]

  69. 69.

    rootless_e

    @Violet:
    You have something against driving a 1970’s era Cadillac with longhorns attached to the front grill?

    Like there’s something wrong with that. jeez.

  70. 70.

    rootless_e

    This is the most precise description of base republix

    Antisocial Personality Disorder is a condition characterized by persistent disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. Deceit and manipulation are central features of this disorder. For this diagnosis to be given, the individual must be at least 18, and must have had some symptoms of Conduct Disorder (i.e., delinquency) before age 15. This disorder is only diagnosed when these behaviors become persistent and very disabling or distressing.

    Diagnostic Criteria:

    Three or more of the following are required:

    * Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
    * Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
    * Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
    * Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
    * Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
    * Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
    * Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another

    http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe04.html

  72. 72.

    Annie

    @kay:

    Yes. And, then, when they are caught, they can just say there were being “imprudent,” and look to Lady Kathryn for support…

  73. 73.

    Violet

    @rootless_e:

    You have something against driving a 1970’s era Cadillac with longhorns attached to the front grill?

    Like there’s something wrong with that. jeez.

    Nope. Nothing against it at all. Still love seeing them drive down the street. It’s just kind of stupid when people who live in New York or L.A. think everyone who lives in Texas drives a car like that. Exceptionally provincial.

  76. 76.

    Annie

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    Very, very, cute. But, I still think that Charlie is the cutest puppy ever….In addition to Lily of course (don’t want to get thrown into moderation purgatory…)

    @MattR:

    LOL…But that woman can sure give me nightmares…

  99. 99.

    Kristine

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    I had her DNA tested to find out which terrier breed gave her that face. Results indicated she has quite a bit of Husky/American Eskimo–which makes sense only if you hear her yodel or see her romp in the snow–but nothing about terrier. But you look at her and you know it’s there.

    Charlie is a cutie bug.

  100. 100.

    Dirk

    I admit to finding it quite fun and entertaining to watch the whining and crying of these pieces of shit excuses for humanity as the have been hauled from a surely nasty jail to court. Fuck these assholes, these child abusers, these kidnappers. I want them to rot in a Haitian jail. Teach them a thing or two about who is the “elect” and who isn’t. A lesson all these fuckers could stand to learn.

    This is the standard BoB has to exceed. Not a high bar, shame he has such trouble with it.

  102. 102.

    Yutsano

    @Dirk: I may relent and haz me some pie. Although I can’t install it at work so it might end up being a futile exercise. Or we could just wait until BoB annoys our hosts again.

    @gwangung: Michelle Roark, who didn’t medal, had an absolutely ATROCIOUS picture shown of her on NBC. I think she should sue over it.

  104. 104.

    Shalimar

    @Mike Kay:

    why to rank and file republicans hate McCain?

    Not BOB, but I’m pretty sure they have never forgiven him for voting with Democrats on several issues eight years ago. Campaign finance reform was the equivalent of negotiating with Hitler for wingers. That and losing to a Dem in 2008, since they also seem to hate Bush Sr. and Dole too.

  105. 105.

    mai naem

    From what I heard earlier on, these people picked up 8-9 year old kids who told them that they were not orphans. You know, a toddler may not be able to tell you if they’re orphans but an 8-9 year old can definitely tell you whether they still have family around. Fuck ’em. Hope they get a bit of that waterboarding that they so love for those moozleem people.

  106. 106.

    gwangung

    @Yutsano: Didn’t see her picture, but I saw the interview with Kearney in the studio, and she was strikingly different than when she was on the slopes (suppose she should give thanks to a very good make up job–good without being noticeable).

  108. 108.

    burnspbesq

    @kay:

    If even half of what has been bandied about in the media is true, any US Attorney worthy of his or her title will be able to get this guy for some combination of conspiracy and wire fraud. And the chances of this crew telling a consistent story to the FBI seem pretty remote, so some or all of them will catch some 1001 counts on top of whatever else they get indicted for.

    I worry about venue if they are charged in the US. Idaho and jury nullification go together like bagels and cream cheese. Hopefully there is a way to bring the case in DC or the Eastern District of Virginia.

  109. 109.

    Yutsano

    @gwangung: Make-up does nothing for someone when they’re skiing. In fact they all have nothing on their skin period, mostly to avoid any problems with sweat carrying particulates running into their eyes. So the fact that they look totally different after they get out of the make-up room isn’t all that surprising to me. They are athletic but beautiful girls.

  110. 110.

    Yutsano

    @burnspbesq: I’d bet money that even though Haiti has no infrastructure left to host a trial, they would still like a venue that would be convenient for them. I’m thinking Miami would be the best candidate.

  111. 111.

    gwangung

    @Yutsano: Oh, yeah. I was admiring the work; you could tell the features are there when she’s working, but in studio, you could really see she has some really expressive eyes (but without overuse of eyeliner and mascara). She’s still good looking on the slope, but she emphasizes different features in the studio.

  113. 113.

    Mark S.

    @Shalimar:

    That, and they still hated him until he won the nomination. The loathsome Ann Coulter was quoted as saying:

    Right-wing loon Ann Coulter is so beside herself over John McCain that she vows not only to vote for Hillary Clinton, but campaign for her too, if he wins the Republican nomination. She’s more conservative than he is,” Coulter said on Fox News. “She lies less than John McCain. She’s smarter than John McCain. I will campaign for her if it’s McCain.”

    Though the analogy isn’t perfect, McCain is kind of the Lieberman of his party. I was pretty shocked that he won the nomination in 08.

  114. 114.

    Mike Kay

    @Mark S.:

    it’s a bad analogy. Lieberman supported the invasion and constantly undermined Democrats, by saying, in one way or another, “the republicans are right and my party is wrong.”

    McCain’s support of campaign finance reform in no way rises to any of the numerous betrayals of Lieberman.

  115. 115.

    Yutsano

    @gwangung: I was blessed with a mother who needs very little make-up. I am therefore of the opinion that women tend to overdo it only because society tells them they have to cake their faces with the stuff. I guess it’s my inner feminist coming out, but whenever I see that I always question the necessity.

  118. 118.

    bago

    @DougJ: Actually I would say he is an effective user of HTML. The wall of facts with links is a very powerful communicator. It requires recursive parsing to fully appreciate, as the list is not terribly structured…. But seriously, 10 well sourced links agreeing with your assertion? Daaaamn. Epic smackdown yo.

  119. 119.

    2th&nayle

    I’m thinking Miami would be the best candidate.

    Not to be too flip here, but wouldn’t Guantanamo be closer?

  120. 120.

    Yutsano

    @2th&nayle: I think there would be an infrastructure issue there as well. Inasmuch as there is a courtroom per se there, it may not be configured or even available to host a civilian trial. I did think of that however, especially since some victims were airlifted there.

  123. 123.

    2th&nayle

    @Yutsano: Yeah, I’m sure your right about that, but I still think there would be measure of poetic justice for these folk that assumed they could just come in and shanghai these kids, as if they were just so much chattel. I can already hear the crying, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, from the evangelical right! Can’t you?

  125. 125.

    Yutsano

    @2th&nayle: The gnashing of teeth has already begun. How dare these upstanding white folks get accused of kidnapping when all they were trying to do is save their poor black souls? Plus they were GOOD CHRISTIANS!! It’s already out there. I personally would love to see Guantanamo used for that purpose, you might see them moving for its closure.

    @asiangrrlMN: I somehow had you pictured as a reasonable make-up gal. Maybe I just know you better than I should.

    I figured the Dawg visit would be a one-time shot for now. He’s teasing me though. He knows I’m careful with too many questions but I think he’s egging me to ask where he’s headed in a few weeks.

  126. 126.

    asiangrrlMN

    @2th&nayle: This whole story has just chapped my hide. The sheer, unmitigated gall of this women and her followers. You are right, though, that the evangelical right will most likely cry how this poor woman is a victim of…something and persecuted for her religion beliefs. Disgusting.

  128. 128.

    asiangrrlMN

    @2th&nayle: I bought a black sweatshirt with Tunchie’s face and OBEY on it, a long-sleeved black t-shirt with Tunchie’s face and Balloon Juice in gray lettering on it, and a white ‘classic thong’ with OBEY and Tunchie’s face on it. I don’t normally wear thongs, but you know how I love all things Tunch!

    @Yutsano: Yup. Make-up is a hassle, and I’m missing the girl gene that allows one to apply it flawlessly. Plus, the whole political bit. You actually got to SEE the Dawg? I thought you just meant phone time. Woot woot!

    @J. Michael Neal: Aren’t you glad you have it on DVR? I certainly am.

  129. 129.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: Oh no he’s still in Virginia we just talked for awhile. He’s teasing me in that he told me it was a good safe post. But he didn’t say WHERE. And it’s gonna drive me nuts because with everything else they’re doing to him the possibilities are pretty narrow. If I saw him in person…uhh…you wouldn’t have heard from me for the rest of the night. :)

  130. 130.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: That’s what I thought! I would have expected you to be incommunicado if you were actually with the Dawg. Is he not allowed to tell you where he’s going?

    @Yutsano: If you check out my latest blog entry, you can actually see a picture of my face!

  131. 131.

    2th&nayle

    @Yutsano: My thoughts exactly. I’m sure the irony would be completely lost though. Guantanamo for thee; but not for me! Or words to that effect.

  132. 132.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: I don’t think he can out and out tell me. But if I figure it out he won’t deny it if that makes any sense. I have a theory about it at any rate. He didn’t sound disappointed in it, or if he is he’s hiding it well.

    That quilt is GAWJUSS!! My compliments to the quiltmaster! And is it sad you look like the kind of grrl I’d love to go drinking with if I still drank?

    @2th&nayle: I do like the irony, but I think it will actually happen on the continent somewhere. And nowhere near Idaho.

  134. 134.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: It’s also a trust thing with him. I don’t know all the details but I get the feeling he’s been exploited and his trust have been abused in the past. So I really take my time with all that. I’m patient and he’s worth it.

    Oh yeah, it’s also I’m smart and he likes having fun with that.

    BTW feel free to laugh at me, but thanks to Bill Maher I now get the two wetsuits and a dildo thing.

  136. 136.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: We can focus on more than sex. Sheesh just because he’s a Leo and I’m a Scorpio doesn’t mean we can’t focus on other attributes. Not that I don’t like those parts of him.

  138. 138.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: Do I get a doggie biscuit now? :P

    Speaking of which, I need to drop you an e-mail. I’m making cookies next week for work and I think I need to pay up my debt now.

  140. 140.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: We’re having a potluck on Thursday, and Friday is my day off so I can ship them off then. Or I might get enterprising and mail them Thursday or even Wednesday just so they get there in a decent amount of time. I’m all about freshness in my cookies.

  141. 141.

    2th&nayle

    @Yutsano: Don’t get me wrong, unless it’s proven that these people were actually planning to traffic these children for profit, I wouldn’t necessarily want to see them go to prison for their willful stupidity, but on the other hand, it does appear that they did in fact kidnap those kids. It’s mostly just the arrogant self righteousness of their actions that pisses me off! It’s no secret, that in this country, if you try to take your OWN kids from someone else that’s got custody of them, you’re gonna find yourself doin’ some time.

  142. 142.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: Coooool!

    @2th&nayle: I agree with you on all accounts. People have to learn to look outside of themselves. And, frankly, this woman is a mess. I think some time in a minimum-security facility is the LEAST she should get, but I highly doubt she will.

    And, that good intention bullshit doesn’t fly with me, either. I am not one to let the excuse of religion cover a multitude of sins.

  143. 143.

    Yutsano

    @2th&nayle: The really sour part of this is not only is the head of these folks a rather shady character this other person with an iffy past shows up practically out of nowhere wanting to do pro bono work he’s unqualified to perform. This whole situation stinks to high heaven and I hope this gets investigated thoroughly.

    And tomorrow I find out about the promotion. I’ll know about half an hour after I get to work so at least I don’t have to be waiting around for it. My pillow is calling my name.

  146. 146.

    J. Michael Neal

    I just timed this shit. 4.5 minutes of biathlon, followed by 2.25 minutes of commercials, followed by 4.25 minutes of biathlon, followed by 2.5 minutes of commercials, followed by 4 minutes of Dick Button blathering, followed by 3 minutes of commercials, followed by 8 minutes of Up Close and Personal, followed by 2 minutes of commercials, followed by 5.5 minutes of Jimmy Roberts saying absolutely nothing, followed by 3 minutes of commercials, followed by 2.5 minutes of talking heads talking about luge, followed by 2 minutes of commercials, followed by 2.25 minutes of more talk about luge, and then, finally, 2.25 minutes of actual fucking luge. Then more commercials.

    Fuck NBC.

  148. 148.

    Shalimar

    @Mike Kay:

    McCain’s support of campaign finance reform in no way rises to any of the numerous betrayals of Lieberman.

    Considering the paranoia and victim complex of the average winger, everything McCain did was far worse. He actually negotiated with Dems repeatedly and even considered becoming one. They have been indoctrinated to make that the equivalent of devil worship. Democrats are the ultimate evil on earth to people who have been listening to Limbaugh for years.

  149. 149.

    2th&nayle

    @Shalimar: I’m not too sure there’s any appreciable difference between those two, they’re both shitweasels! So is Limbaugh for that matter. But I take your point.

  150. 150.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    @Mike Kay: “keep crunching that granola, And get a hair cut!”

    Pull up your pants, get a job! ;)

    The way this thing is sounding I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the ‘attorney’ that is doing the volunteering and the woman have an ‘adoption’ arrangement. She gets the kids to him, he pays her and everyone but the kids is happy. That would make sense, especially if the authorities are wondering if he may have something to do with trafficking children as sex slaves in El Salvador. If this is the case then it’s possible that the woman may not be aware of the ulterior motives of the ‘attorney’ other than she may think she really is helping these kids.

    Regardless, even if this is the case (she was unaware) then at the very least I would expect kidnapping charges to be brought against all of them with maybe some pleading down for the minor participants. They took kids and tried to haul them out of the country without proper papers or arrangements and from what the authorities say they knew they were wrong to be doing this.

    I think long, indefinite incarceration with poor access to legal representation, lots of waterboarding and military trials are in order here. Someone knows something and I think the Haitians should be free to do what they need to do to protect the parents and children of their country from religious zealots who want to take them away. I am sure that the wingnuts here would agree that if they are in custody then there must have been a good reason to arrest them, right? That means it’s time for the authorities to haul out the rack and start the questioning!

    If the above is good enough for the good ol’ US-of-A to do to others in the name of protecting our citizens then it’s good enough for everyone else to do to us. What comes around, goes around. Besides that, it’s got “Approved by the Government of The United States of America” stamped all over it, so you know it has to be right!

    I wonder if she is worried about the upcoming trials in Idaho relating to her business and ripping off employees? For some reason I think she might actually miss being there for them.

  151. 151.

    D-Chance.

    Oh, no, not again…

    People, stay the fuck away from Joe Biden’s motorcades. His crew can’t drive, and they don’t care that they can’t drive. Yield… no… turn around and run whenever you get anywhere within half a state of his freaking car.

  152. 152.

    sparky

    @mclaren: now, see if you just did this:

    troops are still bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq and we’re still kidnapping people and hurling ‘em into black holes without charges and without a trial, and health care reform has collapsed and the deficits just keep skyrocketing without end and the health insurers just keep making record profits while dumping more sick people off the insurance rolls.
    Meanwhile, people in America still tool around in SUVs and make 70 mile commutes to work and global warming just keeps cranking up hotter and hotter and hotter, and the people living in Woodland Hills, CA, where the temperature hit 119 degrees F on 23 July 2006, think they can just keep doing this and it’ll all turn out fine in the end.
    America keeps outsourcing all our high-paid high-skilled jobs overseas and the cost of a college education has now hit such an insane peak that we’re looking at another bubble, but this time, an education bubble…
    …And we’re talking about torture, right? Because, what? That’s the one thing Obama has done right?
    Everything else has fallen apart and gone to hell, a 60-seat Democratic majority in the senate and the total amount of radical left-wing reform we’ve gotten is zero, bupkiss, nada, zippo, zilch, and we’re full of smug self-righteousness about the Repubs and torture?

    without that introductory phrase, maybe people wouldn’t have tuned out. the rest of it is true, unfortunately (actually, at this rate, Afghanistan might be worse than Iraq because of the spillover into Pakistan) maybe it should be the G H.W. Bush admin instead.

  153. 153.

    New Yorker

    Ah, the irony of someone named “Lopez” being the cheerleader for this sort of tribalism. If the Palinites ever seized power, she’d be on the first prison bus to Tijuana (what do the Teabaggers care if she was born here?).

    It’s like the urbane intellectual Jews of Commentary and the Weekly Standard praising the “Real American” war against The Other while ignoring 2,000 years of western history in which, um, urbane intellectual Jews are The Other that is first to be expelled/shot/burned/gassed by such populist movements when they gain power.

  154. 154.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    Fuck NBC.

    I’ve been living within reach of Canadian TV stations for decades, and while it has its deficits, their coverage of Olympics has been monumentally better than American coverage. To top off the absurdity of NBC’s coverage here in western Washington, the local affiliate is showing everything on a three hour delay.

    I’m not a huge fan of most Olympic sports but it will be nice to watch, for instance, the men’s downhill in real time and most of the competitors covered.

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