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You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Open Thread: The Cutting Edge, Artisanal GOP Grifter

Open Thread: The Cutting Edge, Artisanal GOP Grifter

by Anne Laurie|  March 17, 20159:28 pm| 142 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Election 2016, Open Threads, Republican Venality

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Rand Paul's petitions are a scam to get your email address http://t.co/9OgGRGRZzJ

— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) March 10, 2015

So many grifters, so many marks. Rand Paul, updating his old man’s “political” grift for a new generation… or, as the NYTimes puts it, “Rand Paul Is Capturing an Audience; the Challenge Is Winning Votes“:

AUSTIN, Tex. — While his rivals were slogging their way across New Hampshire this weekend, Senator Rand Paul was here, some 1,700 miles away at the South by Southwest festival, where he was competing for oxygen not with other Republicans but with a Judd Apatow premiere and with Grumpy Cat — the Internet meme, in the fur.

Mr. Paul dropped by a cocktail bar for a concert. He fielded questions in a Twitter “town hall” and almost filled two hotel ballrooms with intrigued festivalgoers who came to hear him speak on Sunday night. His staff made sure it was all documented for his Snapchat followers.

Who is the Republican front-runner for 2016? It is often hard to tell. But there is little debate about who is the biggest curiosity in the race: Mr. Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, who has been building the most unorthodox campaign for the Republican nomination, bringing his brand of libertarian conservatism to audiences that are more inclined to vote Democratic…

Mr. Paul and his advisers have set a tentative date of April 7 to announce the campaign so they can take advantage of the second-quarter fund-raising calendar, which begins on April 1. Mr. Paul, like other prospective Republican candidates, has found that potential donors are reluctant to give to him until he formally declares a candidacy…

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Next Post: Late Night Open Thread: GOP Grifter Busted for Two-Bit Overbilling »

Reader Interactions

142Comments

  1. 1.

    Roger Moore

    March 17, 2015 at 9:35 pm

    Following in the family business, I see.

  2. 2.

    lamh36

    March 17, 2015 at 9:36 pm

    hmmm…um…okay so the SS has reported that a package mailed to White House tested presumptively positive for Cyanide

    http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/17/politics/white-house-mailed-cyanide/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

  3. 3.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 17, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    Let’s hope Charlie Pierce’s five-minute rule remains in effect indefinitely.

  4. 4.

    Baud

    March 17, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Campaign slogan should be, “There is a sucker born every minute.”

  5. 5.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 9:40 pm

    @efgoldman: Ron Paul and his followers provided us with some grade A entertainment these past two elections. The son is just a garden variety wingnut coasting on the family name. No comparison.

  6. 6.

    Baud

    March 17, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    @efgoldman: Rand’s audience is young white people.

  7. 7.

    kindness

    March 17, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    Paul’s campaign gambit may be unorthodox but I think Huckabee selling snake oil magic cures is more so.

  8. 8.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 17, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    @lamh36:

    An envelope containing an unknown milky substance, in a container wrapped in a plastic bag, received at the White House Mail Screening Facility, tested positive for cyanide,” the alert read.

    According to the Intercept, the alert identified the man listed as the return address on the envelope as having a long history with the Secret Service, dating back to 1995.

    Call me crazy, call me nuts, but I’m pretty sure that if I were going to mail cyanide to the White House, I wouldn’t put a return address on the envelope.

  9. 9.

    Howard Beale IV

    March 17, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    That’s why when they ask for an email address you give them [email protected].

  10. 10.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 9:46 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: You’re not crazy or nuts, but the person who sent the cyanide probably is.

  11. 11.

    Baud

    March 17, 2015 at 9:46 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: And that’s why you’ve never been caught.

  12. 12.

    Peale

    March 17, 2015 at 9:47 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Not mine at least. I’d probably use yours.

  13. 13.

    Mnemosyne (tablet)

    March 17, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    You probably also wouldn’t have a 20-year history of doing it.

  14. 14.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    @efgoldman: They’ll have to make sure it’s not a case of the attempted murderer looking to frame the crackpot who was already known to the Secret Service. Remember the case of the wrongly accused Elvis impersonator.

  15. 15.

    samiam

    March 17, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    No doubt “Rand Paul has some good ideas” Cole is on that list.

  16. 16.

    pseudonymous in nc

    March 17, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    “No, I don’t want an emailed receipt.”

  17. 17.

    Iowa Old Lady

    March 17, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    @Howard Beale IV: When my son was a teenager, he used [email protected] to fill in all internet surveys.

  18. 18.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 17, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    @beltane
    @Baud
    @Peale
    @efgoldman
    @Mnemosyne (tablet)

    May I just say, I’m really disappointed in all of you. I was fully expecting someone to play off my “call me nuts” comment with a riff on “bitter almonds.” I expect better of the Juicetariat.

  19. 19.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    Once, when I worked for the federal courts, we had a pro se litigant mail us her colostomy bag.

  20. 20.

    mdblanche

    March 17, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish ballad performed by Tom Lehrer.

  21. 21.

    Southern Beale

    March 17, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    Our wingnut Lt. Gov. has appointed a known racist and nativist who tried to get Nashville to pass a referendum making English the official language of Nashville to the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.

  22. 22.

    MaximusNYC

    March 17, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    Rand Paul’s petitions are a scam to get your email address

    Whose aren’t?

    Seriously, does anyone fill out online petitions any more?

  23. 23.

    Frankensteinbeck

    March 17, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    Mr. Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, who has been building the most unorthodox campaign for the Republican nomination, bringing his brand of libertarian conservatism to audiences that are more inclined to vote Democratic

    This is hysterical. The news media wants SO BAD for there to be a large portion of undecided centrist voters who really will understand that Republicans are right if they’re just talked to in the right language.

    Rand Paul is not going to win any Democratic votes. He is not going to expand libertarianism, (which is really just fiscal conservatism without bigotry, we swear!) Just like Paul Ryan was not going to win over the common man with his budgetary genius.

    Rand Paul is an even worse liar than Mitt Romney. Paul doesn’t even try to pretend there’s any consistency in his views. He just says whatever he thinks someone wants to hear at the time. It’s great for the media, who can see in him whatever they want. Put him in a national race, and that mask disappears like a puff of smoke.

  24. 24.

    Bobby B.

    March 17, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    Rand is going for the young stoner vote, like Obama did. He’s also going to toss the stoners to the wolves, just like Obama did.

  25. 25.

    Howard Beale IV

    March 17, 2015 at 10:13 pm

    @Iowa Old Lady: [email protected] is a takeoff on the following:

    The Unix/Minix/Linux filesystem location /dev/null,
    The IBM DOS/MFT/MVT/MVS/zOS JCL staetment DD DUMMY,
    MTS‘s *DUMMY*
    Various OS’s ‘recycle bin’

    IOW, a Null Device-where bits go to die.

  26. 26.

    Mike in NC

    March 17, 2015 at 10:14 pm

    The local rag today had a front page article about how the Republican “front runners” were planning to descend on Columbia, SC. That’s a city whose best days were spent being torched by General William T. Sherman.

  27. 27.

    JGabriel

    March 17, 2015 at 10:16 pm

    via SiubhanDuinne:

    According to the Intercept, the alert identified the man listed as the return address on the envelope as having a long history with the Secret Service, dating back to 1995.

    I hope it’s Boehner or McConnell. Or Bibi.

  28. 28.

    Howard Beale IV

    March 17, 2015 at 10:17 pm

    @Bobby B.: Close: Obama tossed everybody’s vote aside in deference to the corporate elite-how else do you think he managed to get ACA rammed through (and why there’s been a metric shit-ton of amicus briefs out of the hospital/pharama complex to keep ACA alive?)

  29. 29.

    Botsplainer

    March 17, 2015 at 10:18 pm

    I’m suspicious. The dog’s breath smells like cat litter.

  30. 30.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    Speaking of Republican assholes, did I hear correctly that the House passed a bill increasing defense spending, privatizing Medicare, repealing Obamacare and turning food stamps and Medicaid into block grants to states at lower funding levels?

    I haven’t seen anything about it on the news but I got texts from my kids earlier today.

  31. 31.

    Howard Beale IV

    March 17, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: Paul the Lesser doesn’t even bother to hide the fact that like his father, he’ll sell out to whoever pays him donation-wise. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been such a stupid moron to sign on to the Iranian Letter.

    The acorn doesn’t fall that far from the tree.

  32. 32.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 17, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Silly of me, I know….

  33. 33.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 17, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    @mdblanche:

    And a hearty “Rickety-ticketty-tin” to you and yours.

  34. 34.

    Alex

    March 17, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    So in Israel election results, it looks like Netanyahu will remain Prime Minister with a rather large win (29 or 30 seats).

    The biggest question is if he’ll need a member of the centrist parties or what concessions will be needed to form the coalition government.

    Oh, and how he’ll walk back his anti-two state statements and his accusing Israeli Arabs of daring to vote. Minor issues that I’m sure no one really cares about. And pointing out that combining those two concepts will be Jim Crow to an apartheid state is the real racism.

  35. 35.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 17, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    @MomSense:

    the House passed a bill increasing defense spending, privatizing Medicare, repealing Obamacare and turning food stamps and Medicaid into block grants to states at lower funding levels?

    IOW, Tuesday.

  36. 36.

    srv

    March 17, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    @Baud:

    Rand’s audience is young white people.

    Ageist Racist.

  37. 37.

    Southern Beale

    March 17, 2015 at 10:29 pm

    @MaximusNYC:

    I do, sometimes. I have a yahoo email account I never check for such purposes.

  38. 38.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    @Southern Beale: People speak English in Nashville? WTF? But, been a few years since I’ve been there, so maybe they teach it in the schools now.

  39. 39.

    Southern Beale

    March 17, 2015 at 10:31 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    They’re all going to be in Nashville in about 2 weeks, to fellate the NRA which will be in town. Really wishing I could be anywhere else that week but unfortunately spring break is next week not the week after.

  40. 40.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Guess their inaction is a good thing in this case. I see it was only a budget committee preview.

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Have they had a good idea in the last 30 years?

  41. 41.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    @Alex: In most countries, elections have consequences. The United States abstaining on a few key Security Council votes would be an appropriate consequence. Alas, Israel is not like most countries.

  42. 42.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:34 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Perhaps it was too subtle for the day?

  43. 43.

    Botsplainer

    March 17, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    @Alex:

    That way, when Tel Aviv is a smoking, glowing crater and boats are evacuating refugees from the continuous shelling of Haifa (Jerusalem having been cleared of Israeli forces in the invasion), I won’t feel real bad about civilian collateral losses, because the residents of Israel brought it on themselves.

  44. 44.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: OT: I just sent “Please Don’t Tell…” to my niece for her birthday. She better like it, you bastard. Wait, that came out wrong.

  45. 45.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 10:37 pm

    so many grifters. so few nominations.

  46. 46.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    @Little Boots: Nice.

  47. 47.

    Frankensteinbeck

    March 17, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    You’re good. I swear the first book is more popular than… things you probably would rather she be reading this book than doing anyway!

  48. 48.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 10:39 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    ” This is hysterical. The news media wants SO BAD for there to be a large portion of undecided centrist voters who really will understand that Republicans are right if they’re just talked to in the right language. ”

    I have to wonder whether deluging them damn youngster libertarian leaning prospective GOPers semiweekly with obviously bogus petitions that would barely only fool senile Fox News viewers is the ‘right language’.

    ” Paul doesn’t even try to pretend there’s any consistency in his views. He just says whatever he thinks someone wants to hear at the time. It’s great for the media, who can see in him whatever they want. ”

    Funny and infuriating that the NYT blandly reported just that fact without seeming to notice. Very little of the snide editorializing on the GOPer grifters in our miserably failed GOP-corporate media experiment. That seems to be reserved for Democrats.

  49. 49.

    Violet

    March 17, 2015 at 10:40 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I gave it to a tween girl for Christmas. She read it in a few hours and declared it the best book she’s ever read. Seriously.

  50. 50.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    That reminds me that I need to buy the second book.

  51. 51.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    was that a compliment? well, now.

  52. 52.

    Frankensteinbeck

    March 17, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    @Violet:
    My god, people like you make me so happy. Well, technically people like her, but like you for reporting it!

  53. 53.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Since it’s an open thread: how many BJers are heading to Svalbard for Friday’s eclipse? Where’s the meetup?

    A very rare supermoon eclipse of the sun is happening this week that won’t take place again until 2034
    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/very-rare-supermoon-eclipse-sun-164826472.html

  54. 54.

    mdblanche

    March 17, 2015 at 10:43 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Making a proposal makes it a Tuesday. Lately actually passing a bill without Nancy Pelosi rescuing them from themselves only happens on days that don’t end in y.

  55. 55.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:44 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: Eh, she’s my niece. I shall be indulgent and tolerant of her transgressions – if only to torment my brother and my s-i-l. “Come on, every pre-teen girl experiments with lesbian satanism these days. It would be weird if she didn’t.” She is a very goodie-two-shoes sort, so I don’t know that I will have the chance.

  56. 56.

    Gian

    March 17, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    there must be something wrong with me, because all the mainstream coverage I see of the Israeli election seems to suggest the locals there only vote on US policy and there are no local issues.

  57. 57.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    @Gian:

    yeah, it’s pretty amazing. israel actually gets to have real debates about itself. the U.S. pretty much only one view is allowed.

    we’re sad and stupid.

  58. 58.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: What age? Niece is turning 12. She is disturbingly conventional in movie and music tastes.

    Her brother who is 17 months older is much more adventurous on those things – I hope to turn him into a hipster music snob. I shall work slowly and carefully – pushing his musically boundaries bit by bit until he can no longer stand to listen to top-40 radio. Don’t say I don’t have goals.

  59. 59.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: I’ll report back, but only if the review is positive. If you don’t hear back, just assume that I forgot to report back.

  60. 60.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 10:53 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    fine

  61. 61.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 10:54 pm

    @Little Boots: Maybe we’re sad and stupid, but at least we elected Obama twice. The chances of Israel ever doing something similar are zero to nil.

  62. 62.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: @Violet: Shit, that was aimed at Violet.

  63. 63.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 10:56 pm

    @beltane:

    true enough.

    just in that one context, we are seriously so hemmed into one view, and one view only about one country.

    it actually is sad.

  64. 64.

    Frankensteinbeck

    March 17, 2015 at 10:57 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m A Supervillain is the conventional book good for all but the most wildly repressed middle schoolers. That’s why it’s the one that took off. That and the great name.

    EDIUT – @efgoldman:
    People loving the book is the best thing. It’s AWESOME that people are buying so many I can keep doing this as a job, but make no mistake, it’s the good reviews that make me feel like this is worth it, and the bad reviews that crush me. Far more than sales going up and down.

  65. 65.

    Gin & Tonic

    March 17, 2015 at 10:58 pm

    @efgoldman: Nothing wrong with beer snobs.

  66. 66.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    @efgoldman: I am not actually a beer snob at all. A Miller or Bud after cutting a lawn is perfect. I think one should tailor one’s drink to one’s locale.

  67. 67.

    Alex s

    March 17, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    @Little Boots: American Jews who care about the future of Israel and want it to be a model of democracy and freedom are the real anti-Semites.

  68. 68.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    @efgoldman: Boehner has more to lose from the GOP House making an ass of itself from now until Nov 2016 than his reactionary loons in safe districts do.

    Probably Boehner finally realized that the GOP loons in the House are incapable of organizing a hangover. If 25 GOPers try to oust him, 15 will be megalomaniac fantasists who run for Speaker themselves.

    I wonder whether the our miserable press will finally notice that Boehner is not ever in a tight spot at all, with no difficult leadership dilemmas ever, unless he chooses to Hastert rule everything, including bathroom breaks. No, they won’t notice, or don’t care, or don’t want to even try to report any political news accurately or correctly.

  69. 69.

    Violet

    March 17, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: She was just barely 12.

  70. 70.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck: Honestly, I am sure she will love it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bought it for her.

  71. 71.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    @Alex s:

    unless you love netanyahu … or cheney … or nixon …

    oh good god, what a dreary formula it always is.

  72. 72.

    mdblanche

    March 17, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    @Gian: Israel has plenty of local issues. The parties on the left emphasized the rising cost of living, the growing housing crisis, and an economy that only benefits a handful of oligarchs. The parties on the right emphasized the menace of a fifth of the population being goyim who are starting to get uppity and act like they’re equal to Jews. The early returns suggest the last issue was the one that most resonated with the voters.

    Tonight’s fun fact: Bibi appears on track to become the longest serving prime minister in Israeli history.

  73. 73.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    @Alex s:

    Didn’t Martin Peretz of even-the-liberal New Republic excommunicate Josh Marshall from Judaism for his vicious anti-semitic screeds at TPM?

    See? There you go.

  74. 74.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:02 pm

    @Violet: Cool. Same as my niece.

  75. 75.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:03 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    thought you left.

    music?

  76. 76.

    Suzanne

    March 17, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    @Bobby B.: While I could not care less if people smoke weed, it bothers me that there is a sizable contingent for whom the legal right to smoke weed trumps all other considerations (outside of medical use). Like, I get that it’s fun, but it really is not the critical issue facing the republic today. And some of that that would give you the right to smoke weed would shit on all the other rights you have.

  77. 77.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 11:05 pm

    @mdblanche: To paraphrase Golda Meir, the Israeli people have shown that they hate their neighbors more than they love their economic well-being.

  78. 78.

    Wag

    March 17, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Some Pogues for the end of the day.

  79. 79.

    rikyrah

    March 17, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    @MomSense:

    In other words, the Ryan budget that they have been passing year after year.

  80. 80.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Uh oh! Presbyterian Church USA says same-sex marriage is OK. That was on top of news just now.

    People will be upset.

    I will talk with my many familial and other Presby connections to see if they understand the issue and why there will be upset. Not sure the frozen chosen associate sex with marriage. Sex is reserved for dour affairs, no touching allowed.

    I’ll call my folks and congratulate them on the news, and discreetly inquire to see whether the Church properly understood the issue at stake. Synod, or whatever committee on committees that did it, probably more worried about the financials and due process of proceedings (Calvin was a damn lawyer, you know).

  81. 81.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    @Little Boots: What gave you the idea that I left? I have been commenting. Fine. There will be a test on the 1950s Lefty trivia in this song later. Take notes.

  82. 82.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:08 pm

    @Wag: Bad link.

  83. 83.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:09 pm

    @Suzanne: Bobby B has been around before. He has an issue. Can you guess what it is?

  84. 84.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 11:10 pm

    @rikyrah:

    Same as it ever was.

  85. 85.

    Eric NNy

    March 17, 2015 at 11:10 pm

    I had just assumed every petition I sign for Act Blue or DSCC was a way to get more emails/money. But gotta say, sometimes I’m all happy to sign them just to make me feel better.

  86. 86.

    mdblanche

    March 17, 2015 at 11:12 pm

    @efgoldman: @jl: Meanwhile last I checked Loretta Lynch’s nomination is being held up in the Senate so that McConnell and company can die on the hill of sex trafficking not being a form of legitimate rape. I never thought I’d say this, but the Grim Weeper is actually doing a better job controlling his caucus than Yertle.

  87. 87.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:12 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I don’t know. didn’t you say, or do I just always kinda hope.

    on the other hand, I like the song.

    my lefty knowledge stops at 1792. is that wrong?

  88. 88.

    Violet

    March 17, 2015 at 11:15 pm

    @Suzanne: Like in Colorado after they legalized weed and then in 2014 the guy running for Governor was against it being legal. They went and interviewed people buying weed and they were all, “I’m not interested in politics now I’ve got my weed.” Complete IGMFY. The article I saw, the people they interviewed didn’t believe the Republican candidate for Governor would do anything to take away their weed. Yeah, Republicans never take away rights. No precedent for that.

  89. 89.

    beltane

    March 17, 2015 at 11:15 pm

    @mdblanche: This group of Senate Republicans are a bunch of divas, there is no controlling them.

  90. 90.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    @Little Boots:

    One of the greats.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJA69C6SlRk

  91. 91.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    @Little Boots:

    my lefty knowledge stops at 1792. is that wrong?

    No, it doesn’t make you wrong. But, for example, the reference to Frank Ryan was a reference to an IRA leader who also served as an officer in the International Brigade in Spain against the fascists.

  92. 92.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:17 pm

    @MomSense: Lovely.

  93. 93.

    Suzanne

    March 17, 2015 at 11:17 pm

    @Violet: Exactly. Honestly, those people who only care about their weed are LOSER STONERS. That’s it, I said it.

  94. 94.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    see, that … is kinda interesting.

    what else?

  95. 95.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:19 pm

    More Irish for those who care.

  96. 96.

    Suzanne

    March 17, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    I ordered oatmeal from room service. $24. Good Lord.

  97. 97.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    @Eric NNy:

    That is true, individual pols and groups of all stripes harvest email lists from various kinds of solicitations for various kinds of future solicitations.
    I have gotten on a lot more emails of politicians I don’t ever remember giving money to.

    But typically, the come-ons are more honest: we want your money, we want your support, we are dong such and so for this legislative effort, give us money for our GOTV.

    I don’t get bogus polls and fake crisis issues from them twice a week.
    And if this is Rand Paul’s idea of how to bring a new younger more normal breed into the GOP, then Rand is a fool.

  98. 98.

    Violet

    March 17, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    @Suzanne: Yep. And selfish assholes.

  99. 99.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:21 pm

    @MomSense:

    yup, with omnes on this. I love dicking around, but when people aren’t dicking around, it is beautiful around here.

  100. 100.

    Violet

    March 17, 2015 at 11:22 pm

    @Suzanne: And you were worried about eating at that nice restaurant? Wow. That better be some artisinal oatmeal hand cut by elves.

  101. 101.

    Suzanne

    March 17, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    @Violet: The room service here is expensive, but it will be at least as much if I go out. And I don’t feel like going out. And my company pays.

  102. 102.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    Other issues than scoring weed? Don’t harsh on me, myaaannn…

    i mean, staying home getting stoned and makin’ out with my babe, is, like, can be a political statement too, dude.

    Does Uber deliver food….?

  103. 103.

    PIGL

    March 17, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    @mdblanche: sing rickety tickety tin?

  104. 104.

    mdblanche

    March 17, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    @beltane: The ability McConnell had to control them when in the minority will be hurting the country for years to come.

  105. 105.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    More pandering to you Mick bastards.

  106. 106.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:34 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    everyone’s getting sleepy.

  107. 107.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:36 pm

    @Little Boots: I tried. I will accept no blame.

  108. 108.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:36 pm

    doors?

  109. 109.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 11:36 pm

    @Little Boots:

    I read that there is a biopic in the works. Man what a voice.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CizmrHgmLvU

    We have our moments here.

  110. 110.

    Mnemosyne (tablet)

    March 17, 2015 at 11:37 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    And here’s the one for after the third whisky:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V-LyUCV80d8

  111. 111.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    @Mnemosyne (tablet): Only the third?

  112. 112.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    bagpipes bagpipes bagpips bagpipes! Irish Uilleann bagpipes!

    Irish Uilleann Pipes
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq3m_R3Lnu4

  113. 113.

    Gin & Tonic

    March 17, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Thought you said Knick bastards. But hey, they actually won tonight, beating the Spurs, if you can imagine. Although here’s the NYT’s lede: In an exercise that continued to defy rational human behavior, paying customers again filled Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

  114. 114.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    still, we should have doors:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq9oR9x171w

  115. 115.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 11:42 pm

    @Mnemosyne (tablet):

    Some Irish brothers lived in the apartment above mine in Somerville, Mass and on many a weekend night they would come home falling down drunk, sing Danny Boy at full volume, and then sob.

  116. 116.

    Mnemosyne (tablet)

    March 17, 2015 at 11:42 pm

    Also, too, an episode of “Father Ted” for the Lenten season:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kay2v1ao9Xg

    “Oh my God, I’m still on the fecking island!”

  117. 117.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:44 pm

    @MomSense: If I could go to the Crossroads to sell my soul, Sam’s voice is my price. Just saying. He is perfect. Even over Otis who is so damn near perfect that no human can tell the difference.

  118. 118.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    March 17, 2015 at 11:44 pm

    @MomSense: What a voice indeed. Thank you.

    @Omnes Omnibus: And, what you just said.

  119. 119.

    jl

    March 17, 2015 at 11:45 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Bring Us More Beer
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2kdC9LoH68&index=28&list=PLD4CBC3875B3C1255

  120. 120.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:46 pm

    more doors? omnes, don’t yell:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKa0Par8Un8

  121. 121.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:47 pm

    @Little Boots: Work with us….

  122. 122.

    Amir Khalid

    March 17, 2015 at 11:47 pm

    @MomSense:
    Puts me in mind of this classic.

  123. 123.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    how are doors wrong?

    you are a little judgey.

  124. 124.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Over Otis? That’s a tough one. They both just kill me.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaO50nWnvg

  125. 125.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 17, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    @Little Boots: No, mate, there is a flow in a certain way, just ride with it.

  126. 126.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 11:51 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    HA!!

  127. 127.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    fine:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C648sopLG1I

  128. 128.

    Wag

    March 17, 2015 at 11:54 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Another attempt.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O-OnS3LPt0w

  129. 129.

    MomSense

    March 17, 2015 at 11:55 pm

    @Little Boots:

    Doors weren’t the only band with mojo.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hEYwk0bypY

  130. 130.

    Suzanne

    March 17, 2015 at 11:58 pm

    I miss my husband in that very specific way. Siiiiiiigh.

  131. 131.

    Little Boots

    March 17, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    and sheets.

    and goobs.

  132. 132.

    Wag

    March 18, 2015 at 12:01 am

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=au30c9ZMIPg

    More Pogues along with the Dubliners

  133. 133.

    Violet

    March 18, 2015 at 12:03 am

    @Suzanne: I get it. I’ve ordered room service as well because I’m tired and don’t feel like going out after a long day. It’s expensive, though.

  134. 134.

    Suzanne

    March 18, 2015 at 12:04 am

    @Violet: These restaurants near here are all pretty spendy.

  135. 135.

    Violet

    March 18, 2015 at 12:07 am

    @Suzanne: Yeah, the Riverwalk is touristy and thus pretty expensive.

  136. 136.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    March 18, 2015 at 12:12 am

    Still Saint Patrick’s Day west of here, so:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADUQWKoVek

  137. 137.

    Mnemosyne (tablet)

    March 18, 2015 at 12:18 am

    @The Ancient Randonneur:

    It apparently was an actual complaint on Twitchy today that Obama wore a green tie and dyed the White House fountain green. Because apparently celebrating an ethnic holiday is the worstest thing ever.

  138. 138.

    jl

    March 18, 2015 at 12:29 am

    @Mnemosyne (tablet): I hope they accused him of mocking the holiday and the Irish. I would find that too hilarious, as a half Irish person, since it would mocking the unmockable.

  139. 139.

    David Koch

    March 18, 2015 at 12:32 am

    I imagine Baby Doc is gonna run for president every open cycle for the next 25 years.

  140. 140.

    jl

    March 18, 2015 at 12:35 am

    @David Koch: Let him. He’ll never be a Harold Stassen. Not by a mile.

  141. 141.

    Steeplejack

    March 18, 2015 at 12:57 am

    @jl:

    I thought Obama’s surname was Americanized from the original O’Bama.

  142. 142.

    cckids

    March 18, 2015 at 1:18 am

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Call me crazy, call me nuts, but I’m pretty sure that if I were going to mail cyanide to the White House, I wouldn’t put a return address on the envelope.

    In the spirit of the last thread, I’d use Cheney’s.

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