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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

So many bastards, so little time.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

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

This is dead girl, live boy, a goat, two wetsuits and a dildo territory.  oh, and pink furry handcuffs.

Come on, man.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

Celebrate the fucking wins.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Fight them, without becoming them!

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

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You are here: Home / Politics / Activist Judges! / Open Thread: Green Balloons

Open Thread: Green Balloons

by Anne Laurie|  October 18, 20105:59 pm| 146 Comments

This post is in: Activist Judges!, Open Threads, Blatant Liars and the Lies They Tell

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“Signe Wilkinson’s honors include the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning (the first woman to win this award), the 1997, 2001 and 2007 Overseas Press Club Award, the 2002 RFK Award and she has the distinction of having been named “the Pennsylvania state vegetable substitute” by the former speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.” (h/t www.gocomics.com)
***********

This thread has been declared a Sullivan-free zone. How’s everybody spending their Monday evening?

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Previous Post: « Now I got a reason to be waiting….the Berlin Wall
Next Post: Chuck Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

146Comments

  1. 1.

    Spaghetti Lee

    October 18, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    watching Rangers-Yankees. Go Lee!

  2. 2.

    Loneoak

    October 18, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Revising a paper about mice with human brains.

    No kidding, this is not a Christine O’Donnell joke. I am actually doing this for real employment reasons.

  3. 3.

    Violet

    October 18, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Trying to finish getting in my fall garden. I broke sod over the weekend with a rented tiller. My shoulders and arms are killing me. I put in part of the dirt and compost, but need to finish that and get the transplants in. Finally getting cool enough here to do some gardening.

  4. 4.

    JPL

    October 18, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Watching Chuck and praying to the Aqua Buddha.

  5. 5.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    @Loneoak:

    So Brain, what do you want to do tonight?

  6. 6.

    Violet

    October 18, 2010 at 6:09 pm

    @JPL:
    Ooh, Chuck! I forgot it was on tonight. And it’s about to get a full season pickup.

  7. 7.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    October 18, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    I’m trying to find one of these awesome health insurance companies like Martin has out in California. My wife’s company is about to drop coverage for their 15 employees because it’s too expensive to carry.

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Virginia is the health insurance utopia that California is.

  8. 8.

    gbear

    October 18, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    So we can’t talk about how completely cool it was the first time we saw The Beatles on TV?

  9. 9.

    Loneoak

    October 18, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    @freelancer:

    The same thing we do every night!

  10. 10.

    LT

    October 18, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    Preparing to fly across the country tomorrow with a cat in mine and the spouse’s laps. Ow. My cat wandered in from the bushes torn up seven years ago. Serious outdoor cat who DOES NOT LIKE STRANGERS. Ow.

    Help.

  11. 11.

    Nick

    October 18, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    The next time some blogger says Democrats need to stand up and fight like Republicans, I’m going to smack someone

    @ggreenwald: Jon Chait is probably right about this: “The ugliest, most illiberal political ad of the year” is from Jack Conway: http://is.gd/g6Va4

    Why should the Dems “fight” again?

  12. 12.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    Is this a Palin free zone?

    Cause Wonkette has a doozy.

    “This is so Bristol, challenging herself, getting out of her comfort zone,” Sarah said, referring to Bristol’s propensity to “try anything once,” even if she’s not using proper protection. Here’s another big revelation: Bristol “relates to” Florence Henderson “more than anybody else” because they are both 9,000 years old in terms of their outlook on life.

    and:

    As she boards the flight, Palin hands the phone to her husband, who says, “It was a good thing that I declined, otherwise we wouldn’t be watching Bristol today. Because, after my performance, they would ban any other Palins.”

    That should be a general rule for any sort of thing, such as a democracy.

  13. 13.

    cleek

    October 18, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    watch MadMen, drink wine, curse my miserable life

  14. 14.

    PurpleGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    I’ll sped some time revising my resume. Then I’m going to spend some time crocheting.

  15. 15.

    ruemara

    October 18, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    Crafting a WoW-esque resume for a big job, trying not to head down to that last thread with Joyner in it and tell him to fuck himself to the infinite power and wondering if I’ll even have a place to live in 5 more months. I’d love to find my happy place, I’m just short of any psychotropic drugs to get me there.

  16. 16.

    burnspbesq

    October 18, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    Working, doing timesheets, and paying bills.

    Hopefully I will get to watch last night’s episode of “Mad Men” before the season premiere of “Friday Night Lights” a week from Wednesday.

  17. 17.

    Roger Moore

    October 18, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    @Spaghetti Lee:
    FTMFYWADSA.

  18. 18.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    @Loneoak:

    Okay, but this time you put the pants on the chimp…

  19. 19.

    MagicPanda

    October 18, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    Random question that has always bothered me: People use the phrase “The Village” to mean the press, and how insular they are.

    Where did that use come from? Is it a reference to the movie? Something else? And who started it?

  20. 20.

    JPL

    October 18, 2010 at 6:19 pm

    @burnspbesq: A new season of Friday Night Lights… how was it?
    I don’t think NBC is picking it up so I’ll have to add it to netflex.

    Headlines that you make you go DUH, from MSNBC
    Goat that killed Wash. hiker known as aggressive

  21. 21.

    PurpleGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    @MagicPanda: Reference to The Village set and culture of the Patrick McGoogan SF series “The Prisoner”, I believe.

  22. 22.

    Nick

    October 18, 2010 at 6:23 pm

    @MagicPanda:

    People use the phrase “The Village” to mean the press, and how insular they are.

    Believe it’s from a 1960s British TV show called “The Prisoner.” The Village was the prison from where spies are drugged until information can be taken from them.

    The Simpsons mocked it as “The Island” in one episode where Homer accidentally uncovers a secret while making shit up for his website.

  23. 23.

    JGabriel

    October 18, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    When Jonah Goldberg Throws A Party:

    Everything was going just fine until one elf, Todd Seavey, started alluding to his lengthy bf-gf relationship with the elf sitting next to him, Helen Rittelmeyer. “It might come as a surprise to some of you that we dated for two years, not just because we have ideological differences, but because there are probably some people in this room who also dated Helen during those two years,” said Seavey …

    (Sing-songy) Awkward.

    .

  24. 24.

    Ash Can

    October 18, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    @JGabriel: Classy to the last.

  25. 25.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    @freelancer: But if Jimmy cracks corn, and no one cares, why does he keep doing it?

  26. 26.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    @PurpleGirl: I always thought it referred to the Sally Quinn/David Broder Clinton-era stuff about the Clintons coming in and “trashing the place.”

  27. 27.

    burnspbesq

    October 18, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    @JPL:

    Season Five starts on DirecTV on 10/27. There is generally about a 24 hour lag before episodes start showing up on various torrent sites. Don’t know whether Hulu will have it starting next week, or when it starts running on NBC in May 2011.

  28. 28.

    Roger Moore

    October 18, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    @soonergrunt:
    But if they called them sad meals, nobody would buy them.

  29. 29.

    burnspbesq

    October 18, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    @soonergrunt:

    It’s a unique way of going Galt.

  30. 30.

    MikeJ

    October 18, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    @MagicPanda:

    The definitive villager article:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/quinn110298.htm

    Muffie Cabot, who as Muffie Brandon served as social secretary to President and Nancy Reagan, regards the scene with despair. “This is a demoralized little village,” she says. “People have come from all over the country to serve a higher calling and look what happened. They’re so disillusioned. The emperor has no clothes. Watergate was pretty scary, but it wasn’t quite as sordid as this.”

  31. 31.

    lamh32

    October 18, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    Is it really geeky of me, that I’m totally psyched that President Obama is filmed a clip for an episode of Mythbusters??? Even more so, it’s been reported that President Obama asked to be on the show cause he’s a fan!!!

    Gah!!! I love Mythbusters. I hate to say it, but I’ve been psyched by this all day!

    Obama to be on ‘MythBusters’

  32. 32.

    burnspbesq

    October 18, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    But if they called them sad meals, nobody would buy them.

    I think you’ve forgotten about the Eeyore Fan Club, emokids, etc.

  33. 33.

    Redshift

    October 18, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    I think I’m gonna read Krugman’s econ paper on interstellar trade.

  34. 34.

    Pangloss

    October 18, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    @JGabriel: You beat me to it. My favorite story of the day.

    Damn. This election season has me down— the lowest since the two or three months after 2004, when Bush and Rove were doing a victory dance and announcing that they had political capital, and were going to spend it.

    —Thinks a little more about moving to Brazil.—

  35. 35.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    @MagicPanda:
    The reference is to a Sally Quinn article in the Washington Post about the aftermath of the Monica Lewinski scandal. Quinn stated that Washington, D.C. is a village of friends who all go to the same parties and their kids all go to the same schools and so on and so on and the President’s behavior disrupted the village.
    H/t to Anne Laurie for her work on the Balloon-Juice Lexicon.

  36. 36.

    Menzies

    October 18, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    @cleek:

    Sounds like my kind of party.

    I’m waiting for Jeopardy and trying to decide which of my translations I want to do, because there’s no way in hell I’m doing my senior project proposal just yet.

  37. 37.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    @Roger Moore: I think so, but where will we find a duck and a horse at this hour?

  38. 38.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    @soonergrunt: That’s the one.

  39. 39.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    @burnspbesq: Wuh, I think so, Brain, but if we didn’t have ears, we’d look like weasels.

  40. 40.

    Annie

    October 18, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    Just came back from the vets and am feeling a bit sad and worried. Our oldest cat — she is 12yrs — has lost some weight and over the weekend really didn’t feel like eating. She has been playing and running around, so at least she has some energy.

    The vet kept her overnight. She has a few anger issues and our wonderful vet decided it was best to knock her out to finish the tests and do a dental check and cleaning.

    She thinks she could have either something with the thyroid, which is curable, or possibly the onset of diabetes, which is managable. Of course it my nature to always assume the worst.

    She is particularly dear to us. We rescued her in Bosnia a few years after the war, when animal clinics had no supplies. She had several injuries, and the Bosnian vet was awesome — he managed to fix a broken leg with nails and some wood — and my husband managed to save her from a spinal injury giving her enough cortisone to save an elephant. The cortisone came from an emergency room where my husband was a doctor before the war.

    Our Bosnian vet explained that in war and post-war, obviously health needs focus on people. Aid is people focused. No one thinks about animals. Hence, the vet faculty and vet clinics had nothing and were just winging it hoping that some aid would eventually arrive.

  41. 41.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    @lamh32:

    Me too. I saw this and have been in a decent mood all day, partly from that, but mostly from everyone here being on their A game today.

  42. 42.

    Phyllis

    October 18, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    Gonna crack open a bottle of Mondavi Pinot Noir to have with our salmon patties and baked potatos. Celebrating the fact that the SO was called today to begin his new, made-possible-by-the-stimulus job next Monday.

    Perfect timing, since his last unemployment check comes…this Wednesday. That would be the federal level unemployment that has kept him afloat since he was laid off in in October of 2008.

  43. 43.

    PurpleGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    @soonergrunt: Oh well, I thought it was something geeky.

  44. 44.

    Nick

    October 18, 2010 at 6:49 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I always thought it referred to the Sally Quinn/David Broder Clinton-era stuff about the Clintons coming in and “trashing the place.”

    …or that.

  45. 45.

    PurpleGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 6:49 pm

    @Phyllis: That is good to hear. I’m happy for you both.

  46. 46.

    El Cid

    October 18, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    Foreclosure bling was given out to the fraud mills.

  47. 47.

    Bruuuuce

    October 18, 2010 at 6:54 pm

    Back to work, rooting for the Yankees, and rereading the Barry Hughart Master Li books.

    @lamh32: Saw that and squeed a bit. But haven’t they already dealt with (and busted) that myth?

  48. 48.

    Ash Can

    October 18, 2010 at 6:55 pm

    @lamh32: That’s all kinds of awesome.

    @Annie: Good luck to you and your kitty. It sounds like the three of you have been through a lot together.

  49. 49.

    kdaug

    October 18, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    I will be worshiping the Canadian whiskey and frozen-aqua Buddha, personally.

    (O.K, bit of a stretch – I’m more a Tullimore Dew with lemon guy, but I’ll be worshiping nonetheless).

  50. 50.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    @PurpleGirl: That would actually be more respectable than the truth. They crucified Clinton for a blow job and they let Bush Jr. off from starting a war based upon lies. They did these things because the Bush’s and their underlings knew how to throw a proper Washington cocktail party.

  51. 51.

    gogol's wife

    October 18, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    @JGabriel:

    I was wondering when this clip was going to show up here. Comedy gold.

  52. 52.

    lamh32

    October 18, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    @Bruuuuce:

    I believe they did, but I think the article I read says that Obama will task the guys with re-doing the myth exactly as Archimedes described or some such. I bet the guys may have already been doing the myth again anyway, and so Obama picked that one. They usually have a show where viewers ask them to re-open a myth and such, so it was probably something they asked to do again.

    I don’t even care, it still make me happy…lol.

  53. 53.

    Annie

    October 18, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    @Ash Can:

    Thanks. We have. I am trying not to cry, because I really have no reason to cry because she is in good hands and a survivor, but I feel like crying because it is weird to be home without her…..:(

  54. 54.

    John Bird

    October 18, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    Writing a memo. Fuck.

  55. 55.

    JPL

    October 18, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    Well, …… The local nbc Atlanta station is going to talk about the bad Aqua Buddha ad. WTF
    I say we have a fundraiser for Conway.

  56. 56.

    gogol's wife

    October 18, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    @Annie:

    I too wish you the best with your dear cat.

  57. 57.

    Roger Moore

    October 18, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    @burnspbesq:
    I’m just quoting the mouse, man.

  58. 58.

    Bubblegum Tate

    October 18, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    @JPL:

    praying to the Aqua Buddha

    This has officially become political snark slang for doing bong hits, right?

  59. 59.

    lamh32

    October 18, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    Anti-Reid group to Hispanic voters: ‘Don’t Vote’

    A new group is airing an ad in Nevada telling Hispanic voters not to vote.

    The president of Latinos for Reform, Robert Desposada, is a conservative political consultant and political analyst for Univision, but he said the ad is a sincere effort to express Hispanic frustration with the Democrats failure to deliver on immigration reform.

    “”We’re saying what a lot of people are feeling. “It’s the only way for Hispanics to stand up and demand some attention,” Desposada said, adding that he also couldn’t ask voters to support Sharon Angle.

    “I can’t ask people to support a Republican canddiate who has taken a completely irreponsible and bordering on racist position on immigration,” he said.

    “Don’t vote this November. This is the only way to send them a clear message,” says the ad’s narrator of Democrats. “You can no longer take us for granted.”

  60. 60.

    John Bird

    October 18, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    My latest is to use “going Galt” to mean literally any rash choice I’ve made, no matter the context.

    The last time, I was choosing cold cuts from a platter.

    “Well? I mean, the turkey looks good,” said Andrew.
    “FUCK IT. I’m going Galt,” I grumbled, piling all three meats onto one baguette round.

    Next: how I withheld my productivity, in bed.

  61. 61.

    MagicPanda

    October 18, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    @soonergrunt: Ah, that makes more sense.

    I was looking at the earlier responses about The Prisoner, and I was like whaaaaa?? I’ve seen every episode of The Prisoner, and aside from the fact that the village is a bunch of confusing, evil liars, I didn’t see much resemblance to the media.

    The Sally Quinn article makes more sense as a reference. Thanks!

  62. 62.

    PurpleGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Via Digby: Wear purple this Wednesday (October 20th) in support of GLBTQ teens and to remember those who we have lost. See the post at Hullabaloo (which links to a Facebook page).

  63. 63.

    FlipYrWhig

    October 18, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    @Annie: Last year we had what sounds like a similar thing with our older cat (15, I think, now). She would either eat a ton or not eat at all, occasionally literally bouncing off the wall. Then about a year ago she got one hell of a respiratory infection which led her to stop eating or drinking entirely. After finally beating down the respiratory infection with dose upon dose of antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids, week after week, the vet diagnosed her with a thyroid condition. It took a while to get the dose right, but we give her a pill a day (dissolved in wet food, hallelujah, so we don’t have to pry open her mouth). She’s been holding steady for about 8 months now.

  64. 64.

    pablo

    October 18, 2010 at 7:11 pm

    I swear to the FSM that I never saw Signe’s ‘toon before I did this one a few days ago. Great minds…. oh well. Can I get one of those Pulitzer too, please?

  65. 65.

    trollhattan

    October 18, 2010 at 7:11 pm

    Sharon Angle’s latest trick: turning Latinos into Asians. Oh, The Force is strong with this one:

    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/angle-to-latino-students-some-of-you-look-a-little-more-asian-to-me.php?ref=fpb

    If she becomes a senator it will be interesting to see whether she can out-loon Inhofe.

  66. 66.

    Roger Moore

    October 18, 2010 at 7:11 pm

    @soonergrunt:
    But me and Pippi Longstocking, what would the kids be like?

  67. 67.

    PurpleGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    @lamh32: “bordering on racist” position. Bordering? My ghod what she said at that meeting with Hispanic students DEFINES racist.

  68. 68.

    John Bird

    October 18, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    You know, I think this might be a night to go Galt, get my Aqua Buddha on. Sharron Angle might think I look Asian, but I understand she can’t really tell, so I’m not too worried.

  69. 69.

    D-Chance.

    October 18, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    Boeing is jumping on the health-care-cutting ship. The wonders of ObamaCare.

    On a related note, I’m required to attend a “health care” meeting tomorrow at my rag’s HQ. Mandatory. And I’m fully expecting the “woe was us; but, sucks to be you” speech, myself…

  70. 70.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    My evening: preparing to depose owner of cheating car repair shop and then defend deposition of my little old lady client.

  71. 71.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    I’ve created a monster…well, more than one actually.

    :D

  72. 72.

    Martin

    October 18, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    @PurpleGirl:

    Then I’m going to spend some time crocheting.

    You allocate time for that? Most of us just work in being crotchety with other activities. But I admire your time management skills.

  73. 73.

    El Cid

    October 18, 2010 at 7:29 pm

    @D-Chance.: Quotes from Boeing.

    “We want to manage our costs so this tax doesn’t apply to our plan, but that’s down the road,” said Forte. “If this health care law hadn’t passed, would we be making changes to the health care benefit? Absolutely. For competitive reasons.”
    __
    In the letter to Boeing employees, Stephens said out-of-control health care inflation is hampering Boeing’s ability to compete with other manufacturers. Its major civilian aviation competitor, Airbus, is based in Europe, where governments shoulder the burden of health care costs.
    __
    Stephens also cited lifestyle issues, such as people who are overweight and do not adequately exercise, as the third major reason for the cost shift. The health care law ranked second among the three, ahead of lifestyle factors.
    __
    Boeing said annual deductibles and copayments will increase for all its plans next year.

    So Boeing basically says they could compete better internationally if only we had an actual government-funded health care system, and if you people weren’t so damned fat.

  74. 74.

    Martin

    October 18, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    @D-Chance.:

    Boeing is jumping on the health-care-cutting ship. The wonders of ObamaCare.

    Nobody said reforming an industry was easy.

  75. 75.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    @freelancer: I think so, Brain, but burlap chafes me so.

  76. 76.

    PurpleGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    @Martin: You must understand that I live with a yarn stash, as in large mountains of yarn. I have many projects ongoing at any one time. Therefore, time must be planned and set aside for crocheting.

  77. 77.

    JPL

    October 18, 2010 at 7:36 pm

    The NYTimes is covering the governor’s debate.
    In response to a question about the budget deficit one candidate responded

    Ms. Davis gets in the first personal dig of the night, saying that if Albany passes a stock transfer tax, “Businesses will leave the state faster than Carl Paladino at a gay bar.” Big laughter from the audience.

    Paladino so far appears to be subdued. I could not find this debate on CSPAN. Does anyone have a feed?

  78. 78.

    John Bird

    October 18, 2010 at 7:36 pm

    @El Cid:

    As I understood it, health care costs are actually a big factor in Boeing vs. Airbus.

  79. 79.

    Steeplejack

    October 18, 2010 at 7:36 pm

    @lamh32:

    Maybe they can clear up the Kennedy assassination. I bet Obama has access to some good double-secret archives.

  80. 80.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Narf!

  81. 81.

    morzer

    October 18, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Speaking solely for myself, I shall worship not the Aqua Buddha but the Blue Moon. I find it produces more reliable spiritual results. While engaging in said worship, I shall explore the mini-series about that dangerous librul John Adams.

  82. 82.

    John Bird

    October 18, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    @JPL:

    I would’ve said, “. . . faster than Carl Paladino at a gay kid’s funeral.” Which is really the issue. But life doesn’t work like I want it to work.

  83. 83.

    trollhattan

    October 18, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    @El Cid:

    SWAG: Boeing’s reeling from their failure to successfully source most of the 787’s bits from across the globe and are now looking for other ways to slash costs as they bring some of them back stateside. And we all know what that means–pound on the workers (and move as much production to the Confederacy South as you possibly can).

  84. 84.

    Loneoak

    October 18, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    @El Cid:

    Boeing isn’t raising the costs of their health care plan, they are increasing the Freedom of their employees.

  85. 85.

    JPL

    October 18, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    @morzer: John Adams went to a Unitarian church. In this climate, Aqua Buddha is more mainstream.

    Where’s Doug.. Is there really a Rent is to high candidate running for governor of NY.

  86. 86.

    John Bird

    October 18, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    @JPL:

    “Businesses will feel more threatened in our state than a reporter covering Carl Paladino.”

    “Businesses will be more offended by this policy than a black man on Carl Paladino’s e-mail list.”

    This really works no matter what you do with it.

  87. 87.

    JPL

    October 18, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    @John Bird: I thought Paladino’s subdued comment was interesting.
    Mr. Paladino, still in subdued mode, talks about “out-of-control” property taxes. Mr. Redlich, the Libertarian candidate, appears to ignore the question entirely and instead defines himself as distinct from the usual New York politician: “I’ve never been caught with a prostitute, my dad was never governor, and I have never been convicted of a crime.” There is no laughter.

    vote for me cuz I only have two families.

  88. 88.

    Steeplejack

    October 18, 2010 at 7:48 pm

    @JGabriel:

    Oof. That clip is cringe-worthy. But they look like they’re made for each other.

  89. 89.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    @MagicPanda: I am to serve, Sir/Ma’am.

  90. 90.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    @PurpleGirl: I guess it’s not racist enough to think all black people look alike, or all asian people look alike, or all hispanics look alike… she takes it a step further. Apparently she thinks that all people who aren’t white look alike?

    I might be even more outraged, but I’m still reeling from the news I just read about some yale fraternity, chanting “no means yes, yes means anal”. Has the whole world gone mad?

  91. 91.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    @trollhattan: I do not believe that the Padawan can surpass the Master.

  92. 92.

    Roger Moore

    October 18, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    I think so, Brain, but why would anyone want a depressed tongue?

  93. 93.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    @Roger Moore: I think so, Brain, but, the Rockettes? I mean, it’s mostly girls, isn’t it?

  94. 94.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    @freelancer: Umm, I think so, Brain, but what if the chicken won’t wear the nylons?

  95. 95.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    October 18, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    @Steeplejack: It’s called the Book of Secrets.

  96. 96.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I think so, Brain, but we’re already naked.

  97. 97.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    @soonergrunt:

    Are you pondering cheese sticks?

    If I could reach you, I would hurt you.

  98. 98.

    Steeplejack

    October 18, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    __

    How’s everybody spending their Monday evening?

    Flipping between baseball and football. Leaning toward baseball if the football game is a snoozer, with Chuck, Lie to Me and/or Castle as backup if the baseball game is a snoozer.

    FTFY!

  99. 99.

    El Cid

    October 18, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    Watching Chris Matthews live at a college, young man says he supports Rand Paul because of all the debt and deficit and how the Federal Reserve is creating inflationary policies.

    Obviously Matthews can’t possibly mention to him that there is no inflation, and there hasn’t been, and no one is predicting any.

  100. 100.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    @freelancer: I think so, Brain, but Pete Rose? I mean, can we trust him?

  101. 101.

    lamh32

    October 18, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    Wow, this is just weird and kinda “comic-book-y” all at once.

    Russia being plagues by wolf packs…(VIDEO)

  102. 102.

    New Yorker

    October 18, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    Watched a little bit of the NY Governor’s “debate”. Mainly, I just wanted to see if Jimmy McMillan is as crazy as he seems. He exceeded my expectations.

    Of course, the ugly truth is that McMillan is no more insane or inarticulate or clueless than Palin, Angle, Miller, Paladino, O’Donnell, etc.

  103. 103.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    @soonergrunt:

    You know Brain I’ve been thinking I don’t want to be an elf anymore.
    What do you want to be Pinky?
    A dentist!

    Brilliant, Brain! Oh, one quick question.
    What?
    Do sealions eat sea zebras?
    You are going to be a help this time. Say it!
    “You are going to be a help this time.”

  104. 104.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    @freelancer: I think so, Brain, but if we had a snowmobile, wouldn’t it melt before summer?

  105. 105.

    MikeJ

    October 18, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    @lamh32: Haven’t they already done Archimedes death ray twice?

  106. 106.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    @WaterGirl: The first time I heard the “No means yes…” thing, it was “No means yes and yes means up the butt, ” and Princetonian was saying it. Maybe it’s an Ivy thing.

  107. 107.

    debit

    October 18, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    @Annie: Fingers crossed for your kitty.

    @ thread: Tonight I am going to let my dinner digest, then hop on the treadmill. I’m on the final week of Podrunner’s couch to 5k program. I thought I was in decent shape when I started, I mean, I commute by bike and rode over 1000 miles this summer. But when I started running, 60 seconds would leave me winded and gasping. I’m now running 30 solid minutes and barely feel my heart rate raise. Next week I’ll start the 8k program. Assuming my knees hold out, anyway.

  108. 108.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    @soonergrunt:Brain: Any questions?
    Pinky: Yes, do you know the way to San Jose?
    [Later]
    Brain: Make a right at Oxnard.
    Pinky: Come again?
    Brain: It’s the way to San Jose. You get to Oxnard and make a right.

  109. 109.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    @freelancer: My personal favorite:
    Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I’m pondering?
    Pinky: Whoof, oh, I’d have to say the odds of that are terribly slim Brain.
    Brain: True.
    Pinky: I mean, really, when have I ever been pondering what you’ve been pondering?
    Brain: To my knowledge, never.
    Pinky: Exactly. So, what are the chances that this time, I’m pondering what you’re pondering?
    Brain: Next to nil.
    Brain: Therefore, you *are* pondering what I’m pondering.
    Pinky: Poit, I guess I am!

  110. 110.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    @soonergrunt:

    and for the PUMAs:

    Hillary Clinton: Would you mind telling me who you are?!
    Brain: As if you didn’t know.
    Hillary Clinton: Right. As if I didn’t know.
    Pinky: Why, he’s your guest of honor – the Brain!
    Brain: I am the subject of this whole conference.
    Hillary Clinton: We’re here to discuss the human brain.
    Pinky: Egad! There’s a human version of you? Scary!

  111. 111.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Lovely. Just lovely. I hope none of those assholes ever gets laid again.

  112. 112.

    WereBear

    October 18, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    @lamh32: Me too! President Obama is our Geek Overlord. I welcome him!

    Mr WereBear and I are trying not to hug our tiny kitten and kiss him on the top of the head. Every five minutes. We fail.

    Fortunately, he seems to like it.

  113. 113.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    @soonergrunt: I have never seen pinky & the brain, but I found that quite charming. Thanks for sharing something positive on this kind of shitty day.

  114. 114.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    October 18, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    @MikeJ:

    Haven’t they already done Archimedes death ray twice?

    Yes, but apparently this time they are going to try to harness the brilliance of Obama.

  115. 115.

    debit

    October 18, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    @WaterGirl: You must watch this, then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5nMsXg1Lk

  116. 116.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    @WereBear: I am sure your little kitty adores you. What a lucky kitty.

  117. 117.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 18, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    Just found via Sadly, No! – apparently the NYT has stolen Ms. McArdle’s calculator:
    An article last Sunday about Pamela Geller, a blogger who attacks Islam, misidentified the location of a beach from which she video-blogged about her visit to Israel during the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006. She was in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at the time of her reports, not at a beach in Israel. The article also overstated the number of monthly unique visitors to Ms. Geller’s Web site, Atlas Shrugs. The site attracts 194,000 such visitors, according to Quantcast statistics — not one million. (The Nielsen Company estimated 184,000 in September.) And because of an editing error, the article misspelled the surname of the lead singer of the Who whom Ms. Geller was likened to for being the “front man” in the attack on Islam. He is Roger Daltrey, not Daltry.

  118. 118.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    @WaterGirl: It was about 20 years ago, so it is nothing new. That doesn’t make it any better, of course.

  119. 119.

    freelancer

    October 18, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    You’ll love this then:

    Pinky: Russia! I’ve heard of that place! Isn’t it full of cheating, lying and backstabbing intrigue?
    Brain: The Cold War is over Pinky. Now Russia is a place of free-market capitalism.
    Pinky: What’s free-market capitalism?
    Brain: Erm… cheating, lying and backstabbing intrigue.

  120. 120.

    Jahill10

    October 18, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    @Bubblegum Tate: I don’t know, but it would be awesome if it was!

  121. 121.

    burnspbesq

    October 18, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    @El Cid:

    “So Boeing basically says they could compete better internationally if only we had an actual government-funded health care system, and if you people weren’t so damned fat.”

    Sounds about right to me. Never quite understood why the Obots didn’t play the competitiveness card.

  122. 122.

    debit

    October 18, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Also, too, I’m making plans to go see Obama on Saturday.

    ETA also too and also: speaking of Pinky and the Brain, my kids are the only ones who properly respond when I say “Charlie Sheen.” That is, of course, “Ben Vereen, change to the size of a lima bean.”

  123. 123.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    @WaterGirl: You must find episodes and watch them. It is mandatory. Go, go now.

    Why are you still here?

    ETA:

    Brain: Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?
    Pinky: Mmmm, no, Brain, don’t think I can.

  124. 124.

    Dr. Omed

    October 18, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    My beagle Annie takes a stand on Republican candidates in Maryland: http://twitpic.com/2yuyyx

  125. 125.

    Jules

    October 18, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    Besides throwing a shoe at my TV because Matthews is all shocked at Conway’s AquaBudda ad?
    Listen to my husband once again go over the things he would do if he was Ruler of the World.

  126. 126.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:21 pm

    @debit: Wow. Who knew? After watching that episode I had to go to wikipedia for a little background:

    Pinky and Brain are genetically enhanced laboratory mice who reside in a cage in the Acme Labs research facility. Brain is self-centered and scheming; Pinky is good-natured but feebleminded. In each episode, Brain devises a new plan to take over the world, which ultimately ends in failure, usually due to Pinky’s idiocy or the impossibility of Brain’s plan. In common with many other Animaniacs shorts, many episodes are in some way a parody of something else, usually a film or novel. The opening song is preceded by the following dialogue:
    Pinky: “Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”
    The Brain: “The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!”

  127. 127.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Seriously?

  128. 128.

    El Cid

    October 18, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    @burnspbesq: Today’s conservatives scream ‘tyranny’ when you talk about obesity being a problem with diet and maybe we could recommend less of fat-sugar-salt-patty cookies in our schools.

  129. 129.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    @freelancer: You win. I laughed out loud at that one.

  130. 130.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 18, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    @WaterGirl: Yep. Nothing new under the sun.

  131. 131.

    Mnemosyne

    October 18, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    @lamh32:

    Did you see the tweet from Adam about it?

    RT @donttrythis: On my way to meet the President & I’ve got a nosebleed. Better now than later. http://plixi.com/p/51433376

  132. 132.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:30 pm

    @Dr. Omed: Love it. Absolutely love it! And with photoshop, you could easily change the candidate sign.

  133. 133.

    WaterGirl

    October 18, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I never knew what I was missing! Will have to check them out this weekend.

  134. 134.

    Anya

    October 18, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    Anyone watching the crazy NY mayoral debate. I might register with “The Rent Is Too Dam High Party”.

  135. 135.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 18, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    @Annie: I’m so sorry to hear that. Cross fingers that she’ll be all right.

    WereBear, Tristan is as cute as ever! I can see why you’re loving him up all the time.

    Dr. Omed, that’s great! Maybe we can train our pets to do that to every Republican candidate’s sign.

    @trollhattan: Ya know, it really ticks me off that the only time we Asians get in the news is when people pull stupid shit like this. As I said in the last thread, you white people OWN Sharron Angle. We don’t want her; we’re not taking her; you keep her away from us!

    @debit: Obama’s gonna be in town on Saturday? Figures. I’m going to be in NC this weekend.

    Me, I’m gathering the last pieces of my costume for Halloween. OCD is good for something.

  136. 136.

    Anya

    October 18, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    @Anya: Sorry, meant to say Gubernatorial debate.

  137. 137.

    debit

    October 18, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    @asiangrrlMN: Damn, that’s too bad. He’s going to be at a rally at Northrop mall this Saturday.

  138. 138.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 18, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    @debit: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! #Shakes fist at sky#

  139. 139.

    Felonious Wench

    October 18, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    Working in D.C. this week. Walked from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial as the sun set. Saw how the grass of the Mall was torn up, I assume from all of the gatherings there as of late. Not a protester in sight, just joggers, the setting sun, and quiet. The calm before…something.

    It was actually pretty moving walking up the steps to stand in front of Lincoln’s statue. THAT felt like the country I am proud of. I needed that moment.

    FW

  140. 140.

    BR

    October 18, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    As for my day…I called the White House comment line and shouted at them about DOJ priorities. Basically that instead of putting in lots of effort to fight rulings overturning DADT and fighting CA’s efforts to legalize pot, maybe they should prosecute the folks on wall street that crashed the economy with outright fraud.

    Worth a shot…

  141. 141.

    Ash Can

    October 18, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    @WereBear: That’s some weapons-grade cute, there. :)

  142. 142.

    Mnemosyne

    October 18, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    @El Cid:

    So Boeing basically says they could compete better internationally if only we had an actual government-funded health care system, and if you people weren’t so damned fat.

    But Boeing wouldn’t have even noticed those problems if not for the Evil Obamacare!

    I have to admit, it cracks me up to see everyone blaming Obamacare for every price increase when those price increases are pretty much the same ones we’ve been seeing every year for the past five (if not 10) years. But suddenly it’s all Obama’s fault and the insurance companies totally wouldn’t have increased their prices this year (like they have every other year) if not for the evils of Obamacare.

    Anyone who actually thinks their health insurance cost would not have gone up next year if the ACA hadn’t passed should buy my lovely bridge in Brooklyn.

  143. 143.

    burnspbesq

    October 18, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    I’ll see your bridge, and raise you an oceanfront property on La Cienega (it’ll be oceanfront property after another 20 years of global warming, that is).

  144. 144.

    soonergrunt

    October 18, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    We used to watch Pinky and the Brain during downtimes at the unit when I was an active duty infantryman.

  145. 145.

    Scott

    October 18, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    @Loneoak:
    So lone, are you OK.
    What can we do to help?
    More cheese maybe?

  146. 146.

    Liz

    October 20, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    Yeah, if the Florida Ballot has its way this year “don’t ask don’t tell” won’t be applied to the military any longer, but on where candidate’s public funding is coming from. That’s so wrong.

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