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June 05, 2012 03:40 PM UTC

Tuesday Open Thread

  • 53 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome.”

–George Orwell  

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53 thoughts on “Tuesday Open Thread”

    1.  All the pundits seem to agree, if voters turn out the way they did in ’08…Walker is toast.

      It would be great to see the disgraced EX- governor of Wisconsin doing a perp walk in handcuffs…(or one of those zip-tie thingies they use nowadays).

        1. http://Www.biggovernment.com

          Tom Bartlett, Democratic challenger to Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) in today’s recall election, announced late Monday that if elected, he would cut state worker benefits.

          In 2010, Barrett also ran for governor on a platform including his “Put Madison on a Diet” plan, which included certain benefits cuts for state workers.

          “The underlying tenets are still there,” Barrett told the Wisconsin Reporter last night. “They’re very much what we’re looking at.”

          The plan itself is no longer available online. Nonetheless, Barrett wrote editorials about it back in 2010.

          “We can change the culture in Madison by … keeping state employee compensation and pensions in line with the private sector,” said Barrett.

          To keep that promise, state workers would see their benefits cut by a factor of nearly five.

          “That’s what people expect, and that’s what we will deliver,” said Barrett.

          The recall election has been run largely because unions opposed Governor Scott Walker’s attempts to cut state worker benefits, and collective bargaining power for public sector unions who seek to use their leverage to force the state into bankrupting itself on the shoals of their benefits.

          It seems that even Barrett, the union favorite, has to recognize economic realities – and even he would take Walker-esque measures against the unions once elected.

          At this point, unions – and their paid-for politicians in the Democratic Party – must be asking themselves why they bothered with the recall in the first place.

          So it seems that win or lose the WI Governor must face the facts…..$3-4Billion in debt or a $150-300Million surplus

              1. http://www.breitbart.com/Big-G…

                I like to give you knuckleheads the main page figuring you might actually go there, find the story and absorb a few others while youre reviewing facts that counter your warped reality.

                FYI if you haven’t noticed it, the problem in WI was that the free markets couldn’t keep pace with demands of the welfare state.

                WI-ites had and have two choices …. move forward to bankruptcy and potential state takeover of the free market or government reform.

                The story here acknowledges that Tom Barrett understands this fact. In 2010 he committed to putting Madison on a diet and will move forward (if awarded the Governorship via recall) with cutting the state to assure it is sustainable within the free market construct of its constitution.

                1. travesty, all perpetrated by the dead loon Breitbart, people will figure this one out.

                  Ya think, asshat?

                  I mean supposed stuff that no longer exists said by a guy, with no audio or video?

                  “Free market” my ass, walker took the surplus, gave it to his campaign donors, and blamed everybody else for the shortfall.

                  This one’s been figured out, asshat.

                  Now, answer for Konarko, asshat.

  2. Of course, what election would be complete without the obligatory pro walker phone calls to identified Democratic voters informing them that “if they signed the recall, they’ve already voted” and “don’t forget to register to vote and vote Wednesday, 6jun12”?

    And what’s with the “dead babies” ad’s the rethugs are running?

    Despicable.

    As odd as it seems, some “people” actually accept tactics like this by trogs like luntz s “ok”, as long as their “team” wins.

    And let’s not forget the criminal charges that are literally pending against scottywalk.

    Say they cheat enough, the turnout’s low enough, and the soon to be indicted walker wins.

    He’ll be removed from office before the end of his term upon being arrested, and the State has to eat another election.

    Common sense dictates remove him now, Wisconsin moves on, and scotty meets Bubba.

    1. Hard to believe nefarious calls like these actually work:

      …pro walker phone calls to identified Democratic voters informing them that “if they signed the recall, they’ve already voted” and “don’t forget to register to vote and vote Wednesday, 6jun12”?

      But then, we all know that for the more uninformed voter, they do.  

      I’m highly skeptical the recall will succeed but I sure as hell hope I’m wrong.

      1. that all the GOP voter ID legislation and roll purging is strictly for the purpose of Dem leaning voter suppression is the fact that the same Republicans who wax hysterical about the rare possible fraudulent vote are not at all concerned about these fraudulent calls, mailings, etc. to voters purposely spreading misinformation for the express purpose of causing thousands to miss their opportunity to vote. Nope, that’s just “pranks” and any draconian legislation to put a stop to it with severe punishments would be terribly unfair. Boys will be boys, etc.

        ArapG and ‘tad can blather all they want. The truth is clear. If GOP Governors and SOS’s were really concerned about legitimate elections, they’d be way more concerned about thousands receiving misinformation aimed at preventing them from voting than they would be about a tiny number of potential fraudulent votes. They’d be at the head of the line demanding the former be treated as a serious crime. They’re not.  Case closed.

        Oh, by the way. That 91 year old New Jersey born WWII vet in Florida who had to prove he was a citizen and eligible to vote? He just happened to be registered Dem. Gee, what a surprise.  

      1. this is just a preview of what’s going to happen at the National RNC convention.

        While I think they’ll all moonbats, the RonTards are going to shake the “mainstream” Republican’t Party to the brink of destruction when they get a bunch of RomneyBot delegates to switch.

        It ain’t gonna be a brokered convention, but there’s going to be a BUNCH of backroom deals cut. That will drive the Teabaggers batshit crazy, and it’s going to spill out during the convention….

          1. entertainment while we organize, organize, organize. The League of Women Voters is fired up. You will be hearing a lot from us in the next 5 months.

    2. My case illustrates how success is always rationalized. People really don’t like to hear success explained away as luck – especially successful people. As they age, and succeed, people feel their success was somehow inevitable. They don’t want to acknowledge the role played by accident in their lives. There is a reason for this: the world does not want to acknowledge it either.

  5. In praise of misfits

    Software firms gobble up anti-social geeks. Hedge funds hoover up equally oddball quants. Hollywood bends over backwards to accommodate the whims of creatives. And policymakers look to rule-breaking entrepreneurs to create jobs. Unlike the school playground, the marketplace is kind to misfits.

    1. pharma-culture, a culture in which everything from the normal rambunctiousness of little boys to grief over the death of loved ones or anxiety over real financial difficulties is treated as a disease requiring (lucrative) medication. How many of histories great artists and inventors would have been nice, numbed, unknown “normals” had they been taking modern day medication?

      Not to say that there is no legitimate role for medical intervention but it certainly seems we’re seriously overdoing it.  

      1. as my truck driving step dad would say. If there is one pervasive principle in our modern lives it is the total capitulation to the notion that corporate benefit defines our society.

        If you have not seen it, I recommend a film called, “Making a Killing”, produced by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR.org). It deals with the market in anti-depressant drugs. It will disgust you, but it is so informative, it’s worth enduring the feeling of outrage…

        Now where ARE those blood pressure pills?

          1. I’m trying to give up my job with the grammar police. Every once in awhile though, it IS fun to pile on when Tadpole is on a role.  🙂

  6. Waiting for ArapaBot to interface with the RomneyBot hivemind to explain this…..

    Romney-Backed Solar Company Fails Days After He Faulted Solyndra

    Republican Mitt Romney, who criticized President Barack Obama last week for backing failed Solyndra LLC, supported as governor of Massachusetts a different solar-power company that has gone out of business.

    Konarka Technologies Inc. filed to liquidate on June 1 after getting state and U.S. aid, a development that may muddy his attempts to use Solyndra to try to show Obama’s broader economic failures, a professor said.

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/…

    1. also the article states:

      Asked to respond to the candidate’s backing for Konarka, Saul (Romney’s spokesperson) said Obama has “a lot of questions to answer about why he used taxpayer dollars to reward wealthy campaign donors for bad ideas like Solyndra.”

      Answer a question with a question.  

  7. perhaps this explains the RomneyBot’s lack of any issues regarding veterans….

    Romney’s (non) military record faces new scrutiny

    Though an early supporter of the Vietnam War, Romney avoided military service at the height of the fighting after high school by seeking and receiving four draft deferments, according to Selective Service records. They included college deferments and a 31-month stretch as a “minister of religion” in France, a classification for Mormon missionaries that the church at the time feared was being overused. The country was cutting troop levels by the time he became eligible for the draft, and his lottery number was not called.

    http://www.google.com/hostedne…

    So, Arapabot and the rest, perhaps you can help “clarify” this:

    Romney’s recollection of his Vietnam-era decisions has evolved in the decades since, particularly as his presidential ambitions became clear.

    He said in 2007 – his first White House bid under way – that he had “longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam.” But his actions, Selective Service records and previous statements show little interest in joining a conflict that ultimately claimed more than 58,000 American lives.

    1. Thing I’m kidding, sweetheart? Check out some of the comments on Daily Kos. You really need to get out more and discover it ain’t just the right that have issues.  

      1. Nobody ever said it was ok at any time, for any reason, under any circumstances to root against our kids in harm’s way, our security, or for enemies of our nation.

        IT isn’t about “you started it” it’s about right and wrong, supporting the very, very very few with the courage to step up and defend our country.

        Right now, the republicans are rooting for disaster. Not just the top, but the overwhelming numbers of conservatives, tebaggers, and every other slimy subset of republican demographic.

        republicans see success in the foreign policy area as a thumb in their eye, and bad news as good for them.

        Don’t try that with me.  

        1. You telling anyone to calm down, on any given day. Oh my God, that is fucking hysterical.

          Read your own dumbass comment. It’s real easy to do. Hit “parent” and refresh your ailing memory as to your own words.  

          Open a window, get some ventilation. Those fumes are starting to do some permanent damage, my little overexcited, over generalizing, stereotyping lunatic amigo.

          2. Any time the old red “strong on National Defense” con gets popped, it elicits  strong, vitriolic, “patriotic” and “incensed” response from our “conserve” demo.

            Reds puff up, fist pump, predict, and protest anybody but them bein’ “defenders of Democracy”.

            The only thing militaristic republicans don’t do as a group is the most important………..serve.

            But it is fun to hit that nerve.

            And stop denying you’re rooting for bad news.  

            1. How you love to paint total strangers with your broad, lunatic brush.

              I gotta finish watching Jaws now. In other words, enjoy something fictional based more in reality than the world you’re living in currently.

              Pie! Ajb, you better duck.  

            2. And I’m completely sincere in my curiosity: Why do you assume anyone who doesn’t completely agree with you (whether that disagreement is real, or imagined) must be a right-wing lunatic?

              To the more specific point. While I don’t read the DailyKos, I don’t find it unbelievable that a liberal might not consider flying into a country we aren’t at war with and bombing some folks without benefit of any kind of due process is kind of, well, lacking in American values.

              I’m not crying for anyone today, but I’m not celebrating the act. This may be the first time I’ve been indirectly called a “modern republican” for wanting fewer bombs.

              1. I’m actually in the pro-drone camp. Ever since I read The Triple Agent, I’ve become a fan for reasons I won’t bore anyone here with.  

                I know plenty of fellow Democrats that have serious, well considered, thoughtful issues with drone attacks. Some express those arguments well. Some sound even crazier than the right wing and are rapidly falling down the CT nut well.

                I have quite a few pacifist friends that find drone attacks abhorrent. I happen to feel differently. I don’t tend to attack them simply because they feel differently on the matter or label them as Republicans.

                Then again, I’m sane.

                1. I have severe issues with the Executive Branch having unilateral power to blow anyone away by remote control based solely on a few legal opinions and some cool hardware.

                  Now we’re in the process of arming drones to “law enforcement.” Just a few, and just for the really bad guys.

                  Surely the Executive Branch won’t step into domestic law enforcement, right? Unless it’s some guy we think is a potential domestic terrorist, and then we might have to hellfire his Toyota on I5….

                2. Save the reasoning, that’s pretty much what I got out of your original response.

                  I will read your book and try my very best to keep an open mind.

                  1. Also kind of heartbreaking and devastating.

                    Chronicles the complete breakdown within the CIA that started about 20 years ago, moving from field operatives to a completely different way of analyzing data and infiltrating the enemy, with catastrophic results for the CIA.

                    It was quite an eye opener for me. Also sort of scary to read in print the kind of advanced technology we have in place to spy on and locate people. I don’t think it’s possible to fall off the grid anymore. I think those days may just be over for good.

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