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August 10, 2011 03:48 PM UTC

Wednesday Open Thread

  • 50 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”

–Winston Churchill

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50 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

  1. Dylan Ratigan

    “Money in politics is pure, unadulterated corruption,” Williams continued. “Get rid of campaign contributions and the political parties will cease to exist because policy will prevail or politics. We have amended the US Constitution twice with regard to liquor but not once with regard to the buying and selling of our politicians. What’s wrong with this picture?”

    …

    He said of President Obama, according to an MSNBC transcript:

    I would like him to go to the people of the United States of America and say, “People of the United States of America, your Congress is bought, your Congress is incapable of making legislation on healthcare, banking, trade, or taxes because if they do it, they will lose their political funding and they won’t do it.

    1. he’s a milquetoast entitled bore sleeping with hedge funds mgrs, securities firms, insurance industry and real estate interests.

      His pasty white ass doesn’t deserve a Senate seat but the voice of the people don’t count so this is the best “we” could do.

      Remember folks, within his terms first 9 mos he was outraising 95% of the Senate in bagging cash — skewed priorities given our greater problems.  

        1. Organizing for America (Obama’s grassroots) hosted 80+ events, made 50,000 phone calls, did about 15,000 door-2-doors, and recruited almost 1,500 volunteers on Bennet’s behalf.

          Obama came to CO for Bennet fundraisers with Bennet, joined in conf call town halls, and  put up robocalls for MB.

          Obama had presence in both the primary & the election so just what was the game?  Who was Obama paying back?  Obama doesn’t have any long standing history with Bennet and certainly didn’t owe him all the attention and certainly doesn’t have a power ally in MB now that his pasty white butt is ensconced in our Senate seat — so what was the deal?

          MB didn’t want to play backroom deals in HCR but he sure didn’t mind them being played in his own interest.

          1. is there a backstory behind Obama’s huge assistance to Bennet, or is it a simple story told by dollar signs (i.e. the same dollars that swept Obama into office also wanted Bennet in office)?

                1. with the background story, here goes. Bennet was a friend of and an informal adviser early on to Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, specifically on issues of education. He was also on Obama’s short list for Secretary of Education so it was sort of a no brainer that Obama would be backing him from the get go considering their personal relationship.  

                  1. Bill Ritter SOLD BENNET THE SEAT!!! And then, and then [gasp] and then, Bennet got Obama to endorse him by BEGGING FOR HIS HELP AND PROMISING MONEY!!!1111

                    AND AND AND, don’t forget, ANSCHUTZ!!! AND STUFF!!!!!

      2. But since you bring it up–yet again and still–was it better (for Colorado) to elect a senator “anointed” as a nice guy by one’s self and his ardent personal friends or as an already useful incumbent senator by the president? As Twitty says, the people of our state spoke–twice–many moons ago. This politics stuff shouldn’t be so eternally personal.

        You’re right, though, the fundraising is an unfortunate priority. But necessary. Come election time, Republican PACs will be trying to screw every pasty white Democratic ass on the ballot. Dems will need every dollar they can raise. We’ll see if Bennet has to sell his house.

  2. two Republicans State Senators recalled in Wisconsin

    Two Democratic State Senators  will be recalled in Wisconsin next week.

    A lot of money to end up at the same place

    1. Because it’s going to tell us something that is still in question now–what were the voters thinking last night and what motivated their vote?

      I’m just fine with picking off two Republicans. In fact, I’m in a downright good mood. We came within a hair’s breath of picking off a third, got our asses whooped in 2 of the other races and all things considered, until next Tuesday, we have a net gain of two in the Senate which makes things real interesting in 2012.

      If we hold both seats next week that is a nice net gain for the Dems. Period. And all the spinning in the world won’t change that fact, considering the history of recalls in the US for state legislators.

      After next Tuesday, if out of 11 recalls, only 2 seats change hands, it would seem to indicate that most folks don’t dig the recall process, no matter how much money you throw at it.

      Now, if both Dems lose their seats next Tuesday, whether anybody likes the message or not, Wisconsin voters will be letting folks know, loud and clear, that they are with Walker and his changes. And that may be a bitter pill to swallow for some Democrats but I think it will also be at least partially true.  

  4. So, the GOP picks are out for the Committee of Twelve charged with coming up with ways to further reduce the deficit, and …

    ALL SIX Republicans are people who have signed the Grover Norquist Oath to never, ever, ever, ever again raise taxes. Ever. Did I mention ever?

    I suppose there’s always a slim chance that this group will now say that they need to set aside their pledge and put all options on the table. Yeah, looking forward to THAT press release…

    This selection by the GOP of some of the most inflexible members of their party is ridiculous of course, is contemptuous to the concept of compromise and balance, and is a huge “F*** You” to the Democrats, to the President, and to the country as a whole. Why didn’t they just pick Louie Gohmert and Michelle Bachmann while they were at it, and at least give us some comic relief?

    Vote these traitorous bastards out, or we’ll continue to pay tax subsidies to Big Oil, tax breaks to corporate jet owners, and tax loopholes for racehorse owners while our country declines rapidly towards disaster, safety programs for the working class continue to be slashed, Medicare and Social Security are put on the chopping block, tax rates plummet to ridiculous, unsustainable lows – and the richest just keep getting obscenely richer without being asked to make the slightest sacrifice toward the common good.

    1. … when this committee that’s pretty disastrous (as you note) can’t agree on anything? I mean, TeaMan Pat Toomey and Bush OMB Head Rob Portman ain’t gonna agree with Patyt Murray and John Kerry about anything.

      So, does anyone have a link to the details of what cuts are slated to go into effect when this committee doesn’t produce anything?

    1. He been investigated and caught on tape arranging Cocaine deals. What do you expect from someone like this?

      Interestingly though there are much better leaders for the blacks, such as Mayor Nutter.

      Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter Tells Black Youth Flash Mobs “You Have Damaged Your Own Race” & “Pull Up Your Pants & Buy a Belt”

      Tuesday, August 09, 2011  Janet Shan

      Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter tells black youths who participate in flash mobs “you have damaged your own race” and to “pull your pants up and buy a belt ’cause no one wants to see your underwear or the crack of your butt.”

      TOUGH LOVE: Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter said enough is enough to the marauding black flash mobs that have terrorized tourists and citizens of the City of Brotherly Love alike. During a press conference yesterday to announce a curfew, Nutter admonished the black youths saying, “you have damaged your own race.”

      “Take those God-darn hoodies down, especially in the summer,” Mr. Nutter, the city’s second black mayor, said in an angry lecture aimed at black teens. “Pull your pants up and buy a belt ’cause no one wants to see your underwear or the crack of your butt.”

      “If you walk into somebody’s office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms and on your neck, and you wonder why somebody won’t hire you? They don’t hire you ’cause you look like you’re crazy,” the mayor said. “You have damaged your own race.”В 

        1. I assume your reference to dragon and wizard is some David duke fueled race card faux rage your projecting.

          What exact word(s) have gassed you up to cast me in such light?

          If you don’t have a response I suggest that you go recount all the minority friends you have.

          1. ‘Tad, do you have more minority friends than me? Shall we compare trading cards? Oh, look, one of mine grew up in a “ghetto,” I get double points for that, right? Ow, one of yours was adopted by white parents–that doesn’t really count. But it’s all good as long as we’re happily denying our privilege by tokenizing the people we call “friends,” right?

            Here’s a hint for you: Racists count up their minority friends and wave them around like human shields against being called out on their racism.

            Decent people have actual friendships with all of their friends.  

          2. You aren’t nearly crafty enough to get me to try to prove a negative.

            But while you’re waiting for me to try, please explain why you call people “beaners.”

            Inquiring minds want to know.

            1. My buddy is the one that calls himself a beaner. Now my sister, well she likes the white life. She doesn’t use that kind of language about herself or what she calls ‘those illegals’.

              Personally I don’t use the beaner term except to juice you folks up by incorporating it into stories on a blog post. I never really was exposed to it (beaner) and when I was as a teenager it had this odd California context to it.

              We called them there Catholics with names like Sanchez, Diaz, etc… Spaniards. From what I remember they all had Anglo first names like Joe, Mary, Elizabeth, etc… Heck, most of the folks had an Anglo parent to start with. The only real differentiation I can recall were the ones that went out of their way to let you know grandpa was a Cuban or Cuban via Spain.

              Does that address your concern?

            1. Maybe a panel on jobs, but race is passГ©. Most of us here aren’t exactly pure breads. I guess I find it sad that you see people first by their race versus the person themselves.

  9. Where’s the dairy and blog entries recapping last nights elections. I her the GOP won 4 or 6 and there are 2 more races next week.

    Where is the blow by blow analysis lil bitches?

    1. Let’s see, um,  . . . six, four, two . . . (carry the eleven) . . . that’s a loss of two seats.

      Nothing gained = nothing “won.”

      Even the Rockies wouldn’t count last night’s Wisconsin results as a victory

      1. For those who enjoy thoughtful analysis, Nate Silver has a good write up about it today.  What it means for 2012 is a bit of a wash–reasonable people can interpret it either way.  Simply burping back some Gooper spin about it being a great victory and causing fear in Dems is bit silly though…

        Might make BJ feel all warm inside, just like that Ken Buck fella who was gonna go all the way to …back home 🙁

        But it has no merit as to actual content.  Then there is Libby.  BJ, I believe to be a simpleton and fool–he probably really believes in all this–like Santa Clause or Adam and Eve.  BJ ‘arguments,’ generally dispatched with greater ease than the proverbial fish in the barrel, at least have some semblance of order.  Libby just strings together random words in a manner that occasionally includes at least some notion of grammatical structure but has never, IIRC, produced what might be called a coherent thought–wrong or otherwise.  Garbage in garbage out–that bot needs some new code.  

  10. Nothing says ‘heartland’ like the heart-stopping good cuisine at the Iowa State Fair!  

    Worried about childhood-onset Type II diabetes?  NO!  Because voicing such concerns makes you a ‘food nazi.’  

    Concerned at record obesity levels that place burdens (i.e. ‘cost taxpayers’) on public services and health care costs, cost businesses in lost productivity (see: health concerns with USA obesity epidemic)?  NANNY STATE!!!

    Want to teach human beings about their own biology and the consequences of certain actions they are likely to engage in–that is if they are like the majority of other humans throughout history and geography–PERVERT!


    “The heartland is perfect territory for more of the One Nation Tour as we put forth efforts to revitalize the fundamental restoration of America by highlighting our nation’s heart, history, and founding principles,” Palin writes in the email. “State fairs hold a special place in our nation’s history and heritage, so my family is honored to highlight one of them on one stop along the One Nation Tour route – America’s historic Iowa State Fair! (I’m also excited to try some of that famous fried butter-on-a-stick, fried cheesecake-on-a-stick, fried twinkies, etc. I’ll enjoy them in honor of those who’d rather make us just ‘eat our peas!’)”

    Promoting premature death, rising health care costs, and ill health for our children–ringin’ those bells, Sarah, ringin’ those bells.  

  11. America’s Workers Get Stiffed

    (The small-government, tax-cut-only approach is helping our competitors win the global race for jobs.)

    Jobs aren’t scarce. and manufacturing jobs aren’t disappearing. No, really: there are more jobs-even manufacturing jobs-than ever! The federal government pegs the net job increase at U.S. multinational companies at about half a million since 2000. And let’s give credit to tax policy, too, which has freed up cash for companies to add those jobs. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, American companies are paying less in taxes as a percentage of GDP than ever recorded. In the quarter just ended, corporate profits soared.

    Soaring profits and tax cuts translate into jobs, right? Yes!

    Just not in America.

    Those half-million jobs were created by multinationals cutting 2.4 million jobs in the U.S. while adding 2.9 million offshore.  The invisible hand is working overtime these days, grabbing American corporate profits and putting them to work in other economies.

    http://www.thedailybeast.com/n…

    Good damn thing our politicians are focused like a laser (German, Swiss, or Japanese) on America’s jobs problem.

    1. But nobody in power, Republican, Democrat, or other, cares about regular Americans going back to work.

      All they care about is retaining power they already have or regaining power that they don’t have.

      1. I happen to agree with you Ralphie, that most or all truly don’t care.  This is not debatable: The power of the powerful does NOT depend on regular Americans going back to work.

    2. My company constantly has job openings and is constantly interviewing (anyone who’s an experienced enterprise software salesperson who lives in the Boulder area – email me!). The number I most often hear is there are 5 million open jobs right now. That’s 100,000 in Colorado. Jobs like the ones at my company.

      The problem is there are not enough people with the needed skills. The reasons for this run the gamut from crappy K-12 schools, the astronomical cost of College, people not wanting to learn a new skill, etc.

      Our political leaders are not only ignoring this problem, but when they do discuss it they don’t address the issue of jobs in today’s economy. Instead they look at old responses which won’t help today.

      1. “experienced enterprise software salesperson”

        So how does one get that experience? Are you waiting for other companies to hire and train salespeople, so you can hire them away later?

        Pardon my cynicism, but one doesn’t become “experienced” in school or any vo-tec program.

        1. But a start-up doesn’t have the time or people to train someone.

          The biggie is to get training somehow so that, while you may not have experience, you show that you’re willing to put in the effort and you do have the knowledge.

          Example – I sometimes get asked by programmers who are out of work because they spent 30 years on a language no longer used (COBOL, FORTRAN, etc.) how to get a job. And I always suggest the same thing – write an app for the Android. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it doesn’t have to do a lot, but it does need to work well. Do that and you go from unemployable to numerous job offers.

  12. Representative Peter King (R — but I really didn’t need to tell you that, did I?), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee has his panties all in a bunch because of a film being produced about the raid that got Bin Laden.

    Seems that at the time of this raid, there was a certain President who Rep. King is afraid might receive some positive mention.

    Reacting to a New York Times column saying the film was timed to give Obama a “home-stretch boost” in his re-election bid, King called for an investigation into the assertion that Bigelow had been given “top-level access to the most classified mission in history.”

    http://www.reuters.com/article…

    1. As much as I can’t stand Peter King (and I can’t stand him), he has a point.

      Classified information shouldn’t be used for political purposes.

      I’d be interested in knowing if it was.

      1. FDR could have moved up the invasion of North Africa by a couple of weeks and with it occurring just before the election seen a lot more Dems in Congress. He asked Eisenhower once and when told that would increase the risk accepted the delayed date.

        I don’t think any President in recent time would have been that restrained.

      2. why is it I think that your point is not the only point, or even the likely point, that Rep. King’s committee will be pursuing?  (Besides the fact that I’m a cynic, I mean.)

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