Saturday Morning Open Thread

We continue to root for America!  But without jingoism or chauvinism, natch.  Let me say that If I were a television producer I would have been begging for Rio to win.  Geez, Chicago - it's not like an American audience has never seen it, what with Da Bears, Da Bulls, the Cubs, the White Sox, and endless conventions.  How is television supposed to showcase the Windy City - leaves and debris blowing down a street?  Vistas of Lake Michigan?  A CNBC MarketWatch trading floor?

But showcasing off Rio - are you kidding?  That could make shots of China's Great Wall seem so Two thousand ad late.

Well - what television wants, television gets.  And they are doing it for the viewers.  Rio's time zone works, too.

I CAN QUIT ANYTIME:  Dumbest thing I think I will read today (from Sully):

My immediate reaction, as an American, was disappointment. Obviously, when it comes to sporting events like the Olympics I want my country to win.

Uh huh.  And is the political process that awards the games anyone's idea of a "sporting event"?  Oh, well - maybe if Obama had stuck his landing...

BUT THEN AGAIN:  I could be wrong - maybe this is the dumbest thing I will read today:

Imagine if Bush tried to win the Olympics for Dallas and lost and a liberal blog was mocking him. They [Crazed righties] all would be up in arms.

Why imagine?  I am trying to remember the reaction when Bush flew to the2005 IOC meeting in Singapore to unsuccessfully pitch New York City.  Oh, that's right, he didn't go!

Well, if the analogy only works for the President's hometown then it is not really about America, is it?  It is more about putting a smile on the face of the President and his hometown cronies, and on that aspect of the current cult of personality I would rather pass.

Or if it is about America, then Bush should have pitched New York, but of course he didn't, and no President ever has.

Comments

[clarice]

I'm Mad as a Hatter apparently is not the only wacko Iranian of Jewish background--so says an Iranian correspondent:
"Ahmadinejad isn't the only covert from Judaism. THE most dangerous bloodthirsty psychopath, Habibollah Asgaroladi, the head of the Motalefeh party and his deputy Elias Eliasi are also newly Jewish converts to Islam...to say...they converted 35 years ago..."

Oy Vey!

[Jane]

Clarice,

I can't imagine a federal Judge in MA (if he was) delivering a different penalty tho.

[clarice]

Thie judge might have because he said the feds had come down hard on everyone else..Sully would probably have had to plead to a couple of misdemeanors and pay a fine. Instead nada.

[Jane]

Okay guys, if you are in the mood, I'm asking for more input. Caro is here and we are working on PLEA - except we really aren't crazy about the word "PLEA" because it sounds sort of helpless and we want to sounds strong.

PLEA stands for People's Legislative Equality ACT - which is supposed to be an organization to demand that Congress abide by the exact same laws that we do - no special healthcare, no special pensions, no automatic COLA no getting out of tax penalties - that sort of thing. We want Congress to act on every piece of legislation knowing that it will effect them the same way it effects the rest of us.

So today we came up with ELFA (what's it all about ~ ELFA?) Equal Laws for ALL.

Does anyone have any better suggestions?

[clarice]

CAALT (Congress Ain't All That)

[MayBee]

Against Congress Only Regulating Non-congressmen

[Jane]

Go Maybee - somehow I don't think that is a winner. Maybe we should find words to go with

NO OAK

[Jane]

CAALT - That's for sure.

[Pagar]

I like ELFA better than PLEA.

[Soylent Red]

How about STAB?

Screw
These
Arrogant
Bastards

[MayBee]

Make American Citizens And Congress All Similar

MACACAS

[bgates]

Congress
Isn't
Above the
Laws
It
Sets

Remember, if it takes you more than 4 hours to read a bill, it will probably make it impossible for you to see a doctor.

[bgates]

Yield
All
Special
Treatment

YAST We Can! YAST We Can!

[Gmax]

GUST

Good for
Us
Same for
Thee

[Barbara]

FORCE

F - Free
O - Our
R - Republic
from
C - Congressional
E - Extravagance
[or Excesses]

[Gregory Koster]

Briefly on Sullivan: even if he only had a fine to pay, it would count against his application for citizenship/permanent residency. Hence The Once's Justice Department, warmed up from burying the charges against the Black Panthers in Philly, let him go. Down with Sullivan!

[PD]

MERC - medical electronic records for Congress

I'm not necessarily against electronic records, but in the spirit of the thread, I'd like Congress to set the example by submitting themselves to the legislation they want to pass for everyone else.

[clarice]

U2

[PD]

"U2"

Precise, concise.

But Congress would interpret it to mean, "Act like U2 and move your assets out of country to avoid paying taxes, all the while exhorting government to dole out largesse to nice-sounding social programs."

[Elliott]

Cut Outrageous Legislators' Benefits
Congress Owed Limited Bankroll

[Jane]

We like the ring of U2 - (Actually I like all the rings, but some are just too funny.)

I don't want to get sued - so how about YOU TOO!

[clarice]

Why not,Jane?
or Ewe 2?

[clarice]

Use a herd of sheep as the symbol..

[clarice]

Maybe just one --it is Ewe, not ewes..

[Sue]

Gosh, capitalism sure let down Mikey Moore. Very sad, how capitalism told him to kiss its ass.

[Jane]

Currently Caro is working with You Too.

We are working on a tagline: so far: Congress, take bold action, make the laws apply to you too.

[Jane]

My problem is that sounds like they have a choice - maybe, "we demand bold action. Make the laws apply to you too."

[Janet]

Electronic records are a terrible idea. As a smoker I know they will be used as a nationwide denial of service in our national health care plan. Patrick Kennedy has already said abortions and stds will not be listed. Why not, if nobody is going to see these electronic records?

[Dave (in MA)]

Gmax:

Clarice

2008 perhaps. What your answer for 2006?

As I wrote a few years ago,

... The Republicans lost 30 seats in the House in 2006. This is pretty unremarkable for 2-term administrations of either party when midterm elections are held during their 6th year. FDR lost 71 seats in the House, Eisenhower lost 47, Kennedy/Johnson lost 47, Nixon/Ford lost 43, Reagan lost 5 and Clinton gained 5.

(Similarly, the Senate numbers have Bush at -6, FDR -6, Eisenhower -13, Kennedy/Johnson -2, Nixon/Ford -5, Reagan -8, Clinton -2)

[Rocco]

Perks for Jerks

[Topsecretk9]

The DOJ's Taxpayer funded AstroTurf League:

Not only is the Department of Justice Blog Squad going to reach out to nontraditional media like TPM Muckraker or the Muffled Oar, but they are also tasked with placing anonymous comments at conservative leaning blogs such as the Free Republic. They are also tasked with posting anonymous comments, or comments under pseudonyms, at newspaper websites with stories critical of the Department of Justice, Holder and President Obama.

http://muffledoar.blogspot.com/2009/10/anonymous-doj-blogger-campaign-attacks.html

[Like 'Safety Effort'.]

How about PLEASE? You fill in the S and the E.
==============================

[Jane]

Perks for Jerks

LOL

PLEASE?

As with "plea" it is too pleading and not assertive enough.

So far You Too/ or You 2 has carried round 2.

[hit and run]

You fill in the S and the E.

The S and the E obviously stands for shit eaters.

Now that's less pleading, more assertive.

Too assertive, though?

Of course, so is my FYYFFYFFFA...which, you may have noticed, uses the F-word a few times.

But the onomatopeia of the acronymn ... works.

[Boatbuilder]

Clarice--We Connecticut Republicans don't have much to be proud of (Joe Lieberman?), but we are extremely proud that Lincoln Chafee is from Rhode Island.

[JM Hanes]

Jane:

My 2¢:

I'd be less concerned about the acronym, per se, than I would about formulating a self-evident title for the bill -- one that immediately conveys what the bill is about without necessitating further elaboration.

"Legislative equality" could refer to almost anything. There would be no such question marks, if you went with something along the lines of "Abolish Congressional Exemptions from the Law" (or "the Rule of Law" or "the Legislation They Enact").

Once you've come up with the strongest, shortest possible statement of intent, you can experiment with synonyms and secondary words which might give you a useful acronym. If not, I'd forget the acronym business altogether and call it something like the "No Exceptions" law (or the "You Too" law!). That way the short version also tells you something about the bill, which an acronym rarely does without arbitrarily making the long version less effective, if not turning it into semantic gobbledygook just to get acronym based word that may have almost nothing to do with what the legislation is about. If you don't like PLEA, just don't use it.

Ditto for most of the above when it comes to naming your organization. ACORN may be one of the more memorable monikers, but is there anyone who doesn't think it's a pain to have to type out Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now in order to explain who they actually are?

With the basics in place, any 10 people randomly selected from the phone book could probably come up with a lifetime's worth of slogans. I can see traffic signs or Uncle Sam saying "Obey Your Own Laws" or "Buckle Your Own Belt, Congress" or....."You Too, Congress." It's hard to stop sloganeering, once you get started.

[clarice]

Boatbuilder, I apologize profusely for my error. Of course, you are right and I was wrong.

JMH--that's sensible advice.

[daddy]

Well I ain't worried about Michelle and Obama's problems, cause I got problems of my own.

Just after starting engine number 3 today the goll-darned APU exploded! Bells, whistles, firewarning etc. the whole 9 yards. Did the emergency procedure, fired the suppressant bottles, called for the fire-trucks, after which the Maintenance manual said it was still good to go, so even though I wanted to shut down the plane right there and go home, I was required to defer the darn APU and taxied on out to Runway 18C for takeoff.

And then, wouldn't you know it, just at rotation speed a flock of birds hit number 1 engine and the damn thing quit---instant seizure! Stomp on the rudder, trim trim trim, gear up, flaps up, shut down the engine, fire the bottle, run the checklist, declare an emergency and returned to Runway 36 Right, with a 15 knot crosswind and skoosh weather down to 1000 RVR. Gad!!!

Somehow got it on back on deck, but then amazingly the problem got fixed and after being ordered to try again, this time on takeoff got a horrendous Tail- Windshear of at least an instantaneous 20 knot reduction in airspeed. This mandated immediate "Firewall Power" to avoid eminent ground contact. A-holes and elbows in the cockpit we was, but managed to keep it airborne and safely climbing thru the shear, and cleaned her up. But then out of nowhere came unexpected opposite traffic at our 12 o'clock position descending directly at us from 1000 feet above. "Descend, Descend " squawked the computer-bitch, so I nosed over hard and just cleared the fuselage whizzing over our heads. This was good I thought, except that now the computer-bitch, noticing we were about to slam into rapidly rising mountains, started hollering "Terrain, Terrain--whoop, whoop, Pull-Up", so disconnected everything and wrestled that baby back skyward out of danger. Geez.

Next we lost Hydraulic system number 2 (bummer),
afterwhich we got directions to land immediately at the nearest airport, which amazingly suddenly got awful weather with horrendous crossswinds, and also lost all it's decent approaches except some old cruddy non-precision approach, shot off an AM Radio frequency. This meant that after entering the cone-of confusion overtop the lousy Navaid, we now had to time with stopwatches on our inbound descent leg and had to strain our eyeballs thru the fog for the approach lights, Finally acquired the runway at the instant of aborting the approach, and then did some really ugly whifferdill to get the sunuvabitch on deck.

Then amazingly was told 2 hours had passed and it was time for a pee break, so we all hit the head and drank a shot of coffee and split a Hershey Bar, and then climbed back in the simulator and thankfully it was now the co-pilots opportunity to flail like a monkey as various engines exploded and his windshield cracked and smoke caused us to don oxygen masks and holler checklists at each other.

Anyhow, I am now at my favorite local Pub drinking a fine pint. Had to change my shirt tho' since the one I wore in the Box had underarm rings of sweat the size of freakin' basketballs.

Sim training, Ughh. There's supposed to be some benefit from it, but if you ask me the only decent thing about it (besides being able to drink a beer again) is getting your brain back from memorizing tons of FAA procedures and junk, and finding out what went on in the real world for the week or so your minds been preoccupied.

So, 2 burning questions to catch up"

Did we win the Olympics?
and any new outfits from Michelle worth mentioning?

[clarice]

Sim training--Some damn joker you are!!!!

Michelle came to the ball as a rolo candy and gave her (loser) speech in a chintzy looking yellow see thru dress with no slip but a bow under her tits. Thanks for asking.

[JM Hanes]

Jeeeeez, daddy. I needed more than a pee break when they patched you up and sent you wind shearing off again.

[Elliott]

Glad to read that was all simulated.

[Rick Ballard]

I wouldn't need a pee break at all. Just a pair of clean dry pants would do the trick.

[Boatbuilder]

Clarice-no apologies necessary. We Connecticut Republicans couldn't even get Chafee (or for that matter, Obama) elected if he had an R next to his name. I'm pretty sure Ned Lamont lost to Lieberman because most of the electorate thought he really was a Republican. (Yes, our governer is technically a Republican, but so is Mike Bloomberg--both belong to parties of one).

[hit and run]

I wish the US had gotten Daddy's Simulus post rather than Obama's Stimulus bill.

Clarice:
Michelle came to the ball as a rolo candy and gave her (loser) speech in a chintzy looking yellow see thru dress with no slip but a bow under her tits. Thanks for asking.

There goes Daddy's buzz.

But I guess he asked for it.

[Ignatz]

Heh. Sounds like a typical day in our KC 135's back in SAC, when it was still SAC, daddy.
Of course our planes were older than most of us.

[clarice]

TS--just saw the muffled oar bit--I find it unlikely to be true but who knows? Someone should send the report to the DoJ IG who is a very good man and ask for an investigation.

[Rocco]

"Let them eat cake" has always been used to illustrate the divide between those that have and those that don't.

[daddy]

JMH,

Your 9:14

When I start reading a comment and after a few sentences realize it is well written and well thought out and serious, I pause and scroll down to see who the author is. It is worth stating that so very often when I do that, the author is you. I haven't even read your 9:14 comment yet, but simply wanted to post this observation before I got sidetracked by the specifics of whatever you wound up saying at 9:14.
If my beer fueled comment made no sense. please take it as a complement

[DrJ]

Jane,

How about reusing ERA -- the Equal Rights Amendment? How could the left be against equal rights? Even if it is for Congresscritters and Senators?

[JM Hanes]

daddy:

Make my day, daddy! Oddly enough, I know whose post I'm reading after a few of your own sentences too, and immediately settle in for a walkabout that could end up most anywhere and is sure to be interesting along the way. I haven't had a beer myself, but I'm a beer fueled comment groupie, so don't hold back on my account.

[Pofarmer]

"My problem is that sounds like they have a choice - maybe, "we demand bold action. Make the laws apply to you too.""

I Still like, "We came unarmed-This time"

[Sue]

Wow daddy. You should write a book. A thriller. I was on the edge of my seat.

[Ann]

The eyes always tell a story.

President Barack Obama leaves the Blueduck Tavern, in West End area of Washington, Saturday, Oct 3, 2009. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary Saturday.

[clarice]

I don't know, Ann. What do those eyes tell you?

[Ann]

I actually think Michelle looks pretty tonight.

But she ain't happy....

and they are not holding hands on their anniversary. (Wonder if she got an iphone or a dvd selection)

[PD]

I congratulate the Obamas on 17 years of marriage.

I disagree with pretty much everything they say about anything, but keeping a marriage together is something not to be sneezed at. Bravo.

[JM Hanes]

Ann:

I don't know exactly how I ended up on this page at Politico, but they assure us that the Meridian Ball is " one of the biggest fall social events" in Washington. After clicking through the two sets of photos they provide, I have to say that DC's crême looks as cheesy, if not cheesier, than FLOTUS.

[Ann]

IMO, the trick with Obama is you have to cover up his grin or smile with your hand in a picture. The smile is a facade he has learned how to use very well.

From day one, PUK mentioned that his eyes were dark and soulless and I think that is correct.

[clarice]

Heh--that's a reasonably good looking crowd. You have to remember most apparatchniki have no independent incomes and govt salaraies aren't much especially for Congressmen who need to maintain two residences. There are exceptions like the Daschles where th spouse lobbies and they clean up/
This event seemed to draw a lot of diplomats and rich DC business folk so they look far better than is usual.

[daddy]

Ignatz,

Its exactly the same as the old Military "Squirrel Cage," except different stuff blows up. If Cecil
is around hope he's laughing about "the cone of confusion'.

As normal, it was an un-fun session today, but am glad I was able, just like the News Media, to give some exact facts without proper context, and thus create a totally false perception. Interesting how easy it is to do that with selective facts. Am I still in the running for guest Wapo fabricist, or has that been won already by somebody else?

[clarice]

You're really my favorite, daddy. Don't tell the others though.
Niters.

[daddy]

Woo hoo, Sweet dreams Clarice.

May all your engine explosions be simulations!

Hey, is Rolo, "Rah-low? or "Row-low?"

[Ann]

JMH:

Goodness. What is it with women of a certain age that think they have to show their wrinkly cleavage and flabby arms. Blech.

George Stephanopoulos wife looks ridiculous. (Ali Wentworth #16)

and Jack Quinn looks like he had a face lift.

[Ann]

George Stephanopoulos's wife:

[flodigarry]

Jane -
How about LPFFA (Lipfa) - Level Playing Field for All or LPFIR (Lipfur) Level Playing Field in Regulation?

[Gregory Koster]

Daddy, it's Row-low

Sort of opposite of the hi-fly you were doing today.

[Ann]

daddy,

You had me until you mentioned the pee break!

May all your engine explosions be simulations!

I always knew you could write one hell of a love letter. I bet your wife has a trunk full!

I am envious because my husband, God Bless him, has an allergic reaction to even a Hallmark card. :)

[JM Hanes]

It could be worse, Ann! Going to a party to celebrate a bevy of 18 year olds, or a wedding reception, it's pretty astonishing to see fellow mothers of a certain age in strapless/deep cut dresses without so much as a hint of voile between them and a decidedly unflattering contrast with the young women around them -- whose skin is as gorgeous as it will ever be. I always end up thinking, hey, are you crazy? It's their turn now, and there's a point at which you can get a whole lot more mileage out of a little mystery.

[Ann]

there's a point at which you can get a whole lot more mileage out of a little mystery.

Hey, JMH, I already tell that to my daughter who is fifteen.

I had numerous kids at my house for Home Coming and I couldn't believe some of the girl's dresses. I kept thinking do they have a mother or father. How could anyone let them out of the house looking that way. And believe me I am not a prude though I must sound like one. :(

I have a pic of my daughter on Facebook in her Home Coming dress. Will try and add others tomorrow.

Sorry for the OT. But this late at night, I don't think anyone will care.

[Ann]

Clarice,

Here is a good example:

Cover up the thumbs up and grin and just look at his eyes.

[daddy]

Greg,

Thanks for the Dancing Rolo link. Very cool.
That got me prowling the nearby Youtube commercials from the 60's for Slinky's, Silly Putty, Snicker's, etc. All fun, but my favorite may be ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c&feature=related"> this one of Fred Flintstone and Barney slipping out on Betty and Wilma to smoke a couple Winston cigarettes. My kids were stunned to watch it since they still eat Flintstones 1 a day vitamins at breakfast.

They're still up watching a cartoon movie with me, and are both raving that our old commercials were better. They also thought this ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCKxWQCs3f0&feature=related"> JELLO ad was a scream.

[Manuel Transmission]

daddy,

My sim sessions are a lot like that, but I get to do them solo and when I lose an engine, it is dead stick for sure. (Is that like Ginger Rogers doing it backwards in heels?) In any case, it sure leaves the pit rings all the same. The only benefit is having to do it only once a year.

[Manuel Transmission]

ps. daddy,

You probably know one of my airport buds down here in the lower 48. He retired about five yrs ago, but spent a lot of time up there -- mostly MD-11s, I think. Goes by "Jonesy."

[Barbara]

Meanwhile as the Obama's continue to party....

KABUL – Militant fighters streaming from a village and a mosque attacked a pair of remote outposts near the Pakistan border, killing eight American soldiers and as many as seven Afghan forces in one of the fiercest attacks of the troubled eight-year war.

The Taliban claimed responsibility.

The raid began around dawn Saturday morning and lasted several hours, said Jamaludin Badar, governor of Nuristan province. Badar said the two outposts were on a hill — one on top and one at the foot of the slope — flanked by the village on one side and the mosque on the other.

The U.S. military statement said the Americans and Afghans repelled the attack by tribal fighters and "inflicted heavy enemy casualties."

"This was a complex attack in a difficult area," Col. Randy George, the area commander, said in the U.S. statement. "Both the U.S. and Afghan soldiers fought bravely together."

By Lori Hinnant, AP

[daddy]

Manny,

If you're near either Friday Harbor or Orcas I think I know your friend Bob.

[Jane]

I can see traffic signs or Uncle Sam saying "Obey Your Own Laws" or "Buckle Your Own Belt, Congress" or....."You Too, Congress." It's hard to stop sloganeering, once you get started.

JMH,

I'm working on the mission statement (in fits and starts). Can I send it to you for editing when I get it going. Anyone else want in?

How about LPFFA (Lipfa) - Level Playing Field for All or LPFIR (Lipfur) Level Playing Field in Regulation?

flodigarry

I look at that and see Lipator - which maybe we should prohibit Congress access - but I love the "level playing field" part.

I feel so badly that I missed the O's anniversary - exactly one week before the wedding of the century. Thank goodness.

[clarice]

Love the jello commercial, too!

[tea anyone]

Jane,
How about One Law for All or 1 law 4 all.

[tea anyone]

Shucks, I am always a day late.

[Jane]

Not bad tea, not bad.

1L4A

Good bumpersticker

[Rocco]

Thankfully, JMH is on our side.

"All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of congressional healthcare."

[tea anyone]

Thanks Jane,
You know maybe we should play with JMH' idea of "All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of congressional healthcare." I am all for the health care bill IF I get a GUARANTEE that it will be identical to congressional healthcare, with the same proviso that I don't have to pay for it, just like our congress.

[Manuel Transmission]

Yep, daddy, that would be the one. We had adjacent hangars at FHR until Jonesy moved up to Roche which is closer to his home. Still has his Beav.

[Jane]

The way I look at it Tea, the quickest route to smaller government is to make sure every elected official has to live by the same laws. It's also a great way for liberals to finally get it.

[JM Hanes]

Sure, Jane. You should be aware though, that whenever I try to edit my own stuff, it always gets longer!

[MayBee]

Goodness. What is it with women of a certain age that think they have to show their wrinkly cleavage and flabby arms. Blech.

I don't know. I guess I'm more than happy to see women still feel sexy as they grow older, and if they are dressing to please themselves (and their significant other), why not? Why concede all the standards of beauty to the 18 year olds?
I went to a Bat Mitzvah a few weeks ago, and a 16 year old girl was telling me she couldn't believe the tiny skirts and high heels the younger girls were wearing. "Kids today!" she said.

IMHO, there is a fine line between "mystery" and "matronly".

[Jane]

Go Maybee!

[JM Hanes]

MayBee:

Personally, I'd call the line between mystery and matronly a regular Rubicon. I'm certainly not conceding all the standards of beauty to the 18 year olds, or the sex appeal. Quite the opposite. I'm suggesting that there's more than one playing field -- which mothers who dress like their 18 year old daughters often don't seem to realize. A lot of it is contextual, of course, and when I browsed through the Meridian pix, what I really wondered about most was where the elegance went.

[Ann]

Maybee and Jane:

I am all for showing off your best assets. My mother had beautiful long legs and never owned a long skirt. She showed them off til the day she died.

There is a big difference between elegant, class, and sexy and indecent, cheap and tawdry. And that goes for all age groups.

Also, there is a huge divide between "mystery" and matronly. Mystery to me is a girl that looks like a knockout in a t-shirt vs. her friend that has her boobs falling out of her swim top and a thong on.

A good case in point is Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni.

Matronly has nothing to do with it.

[JM Hanes]

Jane:

Hope you happen to look in on this thread in the morning because maybe you can get this guy to sponsor your You Too Bill:

Through a combination of archival news footage and exclusive interviews with politicians and members of the media, OUTRAGE probes the psychology of a double lifestyle, the ethics of outing closeted politicians, and the double standards that the media upholds in its coverage of the sex lives of gay public figures. As Barney Frank, perhaps the best-known openly gay member of Congress explains, "There is a right to privacy, but not a right to hypocrisy. It is very important that the people who make the law be subject to the law."

And he's your homie!

[bgates]

Militant fighters streaming from a village and a mosque

That's going to annihilate their support. Everybody knows how proud Muslims are of being the Religion of Peace.

[Jane]

Yeah, he's my "homie" in more ways than one.

Thanks for the link. I did miss it.