Problems With The Current Not-Romney

Newt Gingrich was, for practical if not legal purposes, a lobbyist for the drug companies during the 2003 debate over the creation of a Nedicare drug benefit.  That does not square well with his recent claim that he has "never done lobbying of any kind."

Newt is an engaging speaker with a million ideas but I don't think he will wear well.

Comments

[peter]

Will he be able to beat Hillary?

[Walter]

All the drama from the others is enough to make me actively support Mitt. Anybody but Obama means any body other than Obama.

[Appalled]

I think it's time Mitt Romney becomes the not-Romney candidate. He has the intellectual capability...

I mean seriously, who's left? NPR was betting on Ron Paul. I wouldn't, myself.

[Captain Hate]

The WSJ had an article from Iowa this morning about the dimwits in Iowa whining about how they don't have Huckabee to vote for again. The whole state needs to be nuked from orbit and the fertile ground thoroughly salted. Yet Duke and Duke values them highly...

[Sue]

I can't stand the idea that Iowa plays such an important role in picking our president. For crikey's sake, they gave us Huckabee.

I laughingly asked the boss if he ever thought we would be rooting for Newt. ::grin::

Strange times, indeed!

[Sue]

And on the democratic side, they chose Kerry and Obama. That right there should disqualify them forever from even voting let alone playing such an important role.

[MarkO]

All of these primaries cause me to yearn for the halcyon days of smoke-filled rooms and a meaningful convention. Especially, Chicago 1968. Iowa? What’s the point of that? New Hampshire? OK. Let’s take the state motto and use it: Live Free or Die. Too extreme? Live Less Regulated or Complain? Maybe the “Live Free” thing is an OCW precursor, and the “free” means not working.

[Captain Hate]

Hmm maybe this software is reaching one of it's occasional meltdown levels

[narciso]

You noticed that too, Captain, remember Iowa is important because it gave us Jimmy Carter,
New Hampshire wasn't really important until
McCarthy placed second, if I read right, in '68.

[henry]

Unforced truth from a true Duke & Duke senate candidate:

Shovel a little manure and see what the real Tommy Thompson is all about.

How is that not a Washington insider speaking?

[(Another) Barbara]

rse: I put a turkey brine recipe at the end of the last thread, hoping it would not trouble the recipe haters so greatly there. Try it. Wonderful. I've been using it for the past 15 years or so, and we'd never eat a turkey fixed any other way.

P.S. If the only brand of kosher salt you can find is Morton's, use less. It's saltier than other brands. I use Hawaiian sea salt which works perfectly, but probably isn't widely available over there.

P.S.2 It wasn't my recipe that brought the site down was it? If so, I'll leave in shame now.

[OldTimer]

I'm fed up with the Republican failure to expose the Progressive Democrats and the destruction they commit against our Republic each and every day. Even our candidates treat the Democrats and Obama as if they were "worthy opponents" instead of the parasitical, freedom destroying, lying, hypocritical, domestic enemy they truly are. The Democrat party is a criminal institution--we have decades of historical evidence to prove how wicked they are and what they've done to undermine and crumble the venerable institutions of our country. Why can't the Republican candidates attack, full-force and with deadly precision, the very cancer that's killing us?

It's the Democrats, stupid!

[Jim Ryan]

This story is somewhat troubling. Have to think on it a while. But if it is shown that Newt helped FM pump up the bubble, got paid big bucks for it, and has now lied about it, then I absolutely will not vote for him in the general election. I will pull the lever for George Allen instead of Tim Kaine. I'll pull the lever for my Cong Robert Hurt. Then I'll go home. There are minimal standards that must be met in the "lesser of two evils" heuristic.

[centralcal]

Sheesh it took me over an hour between home and now work, to get into this site! Is the server in meldown after Sunday? lol.

(A)B, I am sure it wasn't your recipe. Hope I can check it out, but not sure if this comment will even post.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Just like everything else, the Company has fallen for the 'Short Sale'
The Wall Street Plague jumps species.

http://news.yahoo.com/american-spies-outed-cia-suffers-lebanon-092325694.html

The Lebanon crisis is the latest mishap involving CIA counterintelligence, the undermining or manipulating of the enemy's ability to gather information. Former CIA officials have said that once-essential skill has been eroded as the agency shifted from outmaneuvering rival spy agencies to fighting terrorists. In the rush for immediate results, former officers say, tradecraft has suffered.

[Clarice]

ABO9or Hillary), repeat ABO(or Hillary). The candidate may just as well be Hillary as Obama. His party is already telling him to bow out..Doing it thru hacks like Matthews because they dare not do so in their own names or they'll lose their last real base,
If the candidate is Hillary , ours might as well be Newt..Romney will just stand their like a stick while she pushes him over.

[Porchlight]

(A)B, your recipe looks delicious. My SIL is doing the turkey/stuffing/potatoes this year, so I will have less cooking to do than any year I can remember. Would love to try your sage butter and rub next year, though.

[Captain Hate]

OldTimer, you must report quickly to the Duke and Duke Comity Club where such displays of antagonism to our friends across the aisle will be dealt with effectively.

[MarkO]

All of these primaries cause me to yearn for the halcyon days of smoke-filled rooms and a meaningful convention. Especially, Chicago 1968. Iowa? What’s the point of that? New Hampshire? OK. Let’s take the state motto and use it: Live Free or Die. Too extreme? Live Less Regulated or Complain? Maybe the “Live Free” thing is an OCW precursor, and the “free” means not working.

[Danube of Thought]

Hillary will not run, and it is very far from certain that any Republican will beat Obama.

Minus 18 at Raz today.

[Clarice]

I'm oing to check out those recipes though my DiL has taken charge of this Holiday for several years now.

[centralcal]

Have any of you watched the Center Seat segments of Special Report over the last few weeks? I have only seen a couple and they were via the computer on the internet portion of the show. Anyway, today, Rick Perry will be the featured "guest." Romney is the only one that has refused to appear, so far.

[Clarice]

DoT, I don't think Hillary will run either, but that Matthews is saying what he is and Cadell and Shoen what they are suggests to me Obama is exceedingly vulnerable.

[Porchlight]

DoT, you were missed in yesterday's open thread. We had quite a little dustup.

[narciso]

the whole process takes the 'Feiler Fast' hypothesis into absurd territory, Eisenhower
was written into the New Hampshire primary,
Lodge won it on write in votes in '64, McCarthy placed 2nd, but as with slick willy, it didn't quite matter who was on first,

[Jack is Back!]

Jim Rhoads was having problems coming into the site. ChaCo suggested server problems. Probably, like on the USS G.H.W.Bush, having problems flushing down all the useless and unwanted crap in the system.

A(B): I tried to comment on the other thread before the server went down that you do all that for a turkey:) What ever happened to a little butter, salt and pepper, a stale brad stufing and putting it in the oven to burn to a crisp?

But it does sound like a meal to fit any palate.

OT: Circle December 21st, Ladies and Gentleman. Big Day coming.

[centralcal]

Porchlight, you rabble rouser! ha ha. (Hey, I put my pom poms away in the mothball closet, let's hope they don't get "called out" again.)

[Porchlight]

Guilty as charged, centralcal. ;)

[Sue]

Country music coming to the White House...

Among those performing Monday night: Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Mickey, Darius Rucker and James Taylor.

That should do it. ::eyeroll::

[Sue]

I had to google Lauren Alaina. Idol runner-up.

[Old Lurker]

Speaking of unpleasantness...what ever happen to Anduril?

[OldTimer]

Well, Captain, it seems I'm not the only one ticked off at the Democrat liberal insanity. Rush opened up his show with a healthy, robust tirade against "Mine Enemy"! And he's still going at it!

[Porchlight]

Sue,

Laura Ingraham is calling this new initiative, which presumably includes MO's appearance at the NASCAR event, the "Redneck Razzle Dazzle."

I don't think Kristofferson, Lyle or Alison Krauss are quite going to reach the audience they're looking for.

[narciso]

Hoe did this collocquoy feel;

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/283628/down-ship-michael-walsh

[Captain Hate]

Like I've said before, OldTimer: Every election day I'm fighting a 2 front war.

[Rick Ballard]

From previous thread - CH

"Btw, I want Rick to tell me why I shouldn't regard this whole debt commission failure as something Boehner shouldn't have gotten snookered into doing;"

The electorate remains in "I would like to eat my cake and still have it" mode, just as they were when President Obama's manifest incompetence and failure as anything resembling a leader was amply demonstrated during the summer. We are now at Thanksgiving and a rehash of his failure will carry on into January, the month when ads can begin using his own prediction of being a one term President due to incompetence.

The GOP contingent within the Stupor Committee was solidly tuned into the corollary to the electorate's rather unrealistic desire. The electorate's preference cascade remains:

1. Absolutely no new taxes.

2. Some program cuts.

3. Some personnel cuts.

4. Absolutely no new taxes

The Democrat's attempt to sell "only on the richest" has failed in two ways. The first is that the electorate is unwilling to cede Leviathan another penny and the second is that there just aren't enough simpletons dumb enough to believe the Democrat lie concerning "only on the richest" to move the needle.

Nasty Nan remains the most hated political figure, Dingy Harry is still in second and BOzo continues to sink. The Democrats are stuck with both rotting albatrosses around their necks (BOzo and the Democrat Obamacare) and the stench and weight continue to drag them down.

I wanna see what other poisoned darts Boehner and McConnell have in their quiver. I have no problem with the ones fired to date.

[Sue]

Porch,

I don't think so either. But they had country at the WH before. Brad Paisley was there. I wonder if he would like a re-do on his comments from that night? Kind of sad how people you think sing well and write well just don't have a clue in hell.

[Sue]

I have no idea who Mickey is. The only country Mickey I can think of is Mickey Gilley. Is he still alive?

[rse]

In the name of this week's holiday and with gift giving coming up, LUN is a site that might contain that perfect little something for somebody.

Red already has the TSAF bumper sticker and it's a good cause.

It's also a reminder that we have got to take back this country before freedom finally does become Bill Ayers' desire that it mean unknown control by a politically connected elite. Who will endeavour to pay no taxes to fund the govt they engorge from.

Off to get that recipe and then to describing diabolical machinations in everyday language that captures the evil essence. TSAF.

[(Another) Barbara]

Once you taste turkey done that way JIB, there's no turning back. Worth every bit of effort and is to a regular baked turkey like a prime tenderloin is to a hamburger patty.

Yesterday I paid $48 and some pennies for a 14.5 lb. kosher turkey -- the only kind the store sold that wasn't frozen, wasn't injected with weird stuff. I intend to wear that price tag around my neck as jewelry for our Thanksgiving dinner. Safeway was selling the regular frozen kind for $6.98 ea., 18 lbs. and up. Man, that hurt.

[Porchlight]

I couldn't figure out who Mickey was either. Mickey Gilley is still alive. Mickey Newbury could sort of be on the fringes of country I guess, but he is no longer with us.

[Captain Hate]

Thanks for the feedback, Rick; you've knocked off some of my rough edges.

Porch, Kristofferson wrote some great songs a long time ago but he's as lib as you can get and I'd be surprised if he'd be a good draw for any traditional country audience. I've never understood the appeal of Lovett although some people whose taste I kind of respect say good things about him. James Taylor LOL. I like Alison Krauss but she's gotten kind of snooty and is aiming more for crossover audiences.

[Sue]

I guess we'll find out. He is more famous for his last name than his first name, though.

[mikey]

dont care, if Newt didnt break the law or do anything unethical than what difference does it make what he did as a private person? I know an ardent liberal who supported Obama in 2008 but worked on the McCain campaign. It paid well and they were willing to use her talents.

If lobbyists were all crooks then lets just outlaw lobbying.

[narciso]

And for some unintentional humor, you have the Frum, chasing Frank Rich down a rabbit hole.

[Clarice]

Here safeway frozen turkey was 59 cents a pound while they lasted.
I can't get on that old thread to see your recipe but I'll try again later or maybe you could repost it here. Please

[Porchlight]

Yes, exactly Cap'n - I wasn't so much referring to the quality of those artists' music as the fact that most of their fans are already Obama voters. Such as the kind of people whose favorite country record is the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou. (Don't get me started.)

[Annoying Old Guy]

She Who Is Perfect In All Ways is a big Lyle Lovett fan. I've actually been to more of his concerts than Weird Al Yankovich. A number of his songs are outright hilarious, especially combined with his well polished deadpan. I don't know why he would be popular with proglodytes, as you have to pay attention to get it.

[Porchlight]

p.s. I like some of Lyle Lovett's earlier stuff quite a bit. I think his voice is tremendous. Some good friends in town just scored a free piano on craigslist on Saturday. Reportedly it lived for years in a bar and was played by many Austin musicians, including Lyle. It is badass - Haines Brothers, circa 1912, huge upright, painted ochre.

[Danube of Thought]

I'm sure Sue already knows this, but Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggert (remember him?) are all mutual first cousins. Swaggert's middle name is Lee, and he gets that name from the same uncle as Jerry Lee does.

Sorry to miss it, Porch, but when the place gets too clogged with Dana and the responses to him I lose interest.

Had trouble getting on about a half hour ago.

[matt]

This Hezbollah/Iranian CIA case stinks to high heaven.

From the way it was reported the CIA was holding mass kaffee klatsches at a pizzeria in Beiruit for their entire spook team, which supposedly allowed the Hezzies to ID the entire network and roll up another in in Iran.

So either A - they're bs'ing or be, the CIA has to be put out of its misery. If this was such a violation of fieldcraft, heads should roll.

[(Another) Barbara]

Clarice asked, really she did.

The Best Turkey in the World

(three parts to recipe: curing the turkey, the browned sage butter that goes under the skin, the spices that are rubbed on the skin just before going into the oven)

Cured turkey:

1 1/3 Cups Hawaiian or kosher salt
1/2 Cup plus 2T. sugar
2 bay leaves
1 T. dried thyme
7 whole cloves
1/2 tablespoon whole allspice berries, coarsely cracked
1 t. juniper berries, crushed (I buy these at the health food market)
2 gallons water, approximately

one 12-14 lb. turkey, not ever frozen, not injected with junk

In a very large stock pot combine the salt, sugar, bay leaves, etc. (all the spices). Add the water and bring to boil over high heat. Let cool to room temperature, put the turkey in this fragrant bath, and cover. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours (or put it outside if you live in a cold place and aren’t visited by wolves.) If the brine doesn’t completely cover the turkey, turn it once in a while so all areas get exposed.

Sage butter:

1 stick unsalted butter
20 fresh sage leaves

In a small saucepan or skillet bring the butter to a simmer over medium heat and cook until it turns nicely browned, about five or six minutes, stirring to keep solids from sticking. The last minute add the sage leaves, then remove from the heat and let steep until the butter cools. Throw away leaves (or eat them, like I do) and refrigerate butter until solid. (Can be done a day or two ahead as long as kept in a covered container)

Spice mixture for rubbing into turkey skin:
1 1/2 T. fennel seeds
1 large dried chili pod
1/2 T. whole allspice berries
1/2 T. whole black peppercorns

Toss all of the above in a pan over high heat until fragrant. Cool, and then grind in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. (Can be kept at room temperature for a couple of days.)

Okay. . . when you’re ready to assemble and begin cooking: Remove turkey from brine, rinse briefly with cold water and dry him/her/it. Stuff it with whatever you regularly use. With your fingers, loosen the skin from the breast without tearing, and (also with your fingers) spread the softened browned sage butter between the flesh and the skin. Rub the spice mixture all over the turkey’s skin. Bake as you usually do.

# # #

[Sue]

I want my country artists to keep their mouths shut, unless they are doing worthy causes for the military. I am not voting on a president based on which country star is performing at the White House.

[Captain Hate]

Right Porch; how did the Dixie Slits not make the cut?

[Clarice]

Matt, I completely agree.

Thanks A B. I'm going to copy it now to make when I return.

[Thomas Collins]

Whoa, (A)B. It's clear that whoever "talks turkey" with you had better know what they are talking about!

[Jim Ryan]

Mikey, it's teh lying.

[Danube of Thought]

The folly of high marginal tax rates, for those who don't get it (and they are legion).

I believe that Kristofferson has said that all of his most memorable songs (Bobbie McGhee, He's a Taker, etc.) were written in a two-week period. Other than the stuff on that one album, he's been eminently forgettable.

[Sue]

DoT,

Yes, I knew they were cousins and yes, I know who Swaggart is. I was raised on southern gospel, early rock and country music. I'm a well rounded southerner. ::grin::

[MarkO]

"Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggert (remember him?) are all mutual first cousins."

First, how does this get to a small island off the coast of Baja? Second, When Jerry Lee married his 13 year-old cousin, was she one of the Lees?

[MarkO]

Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar and I think he was there with Bill, or so I misremember.

[Porchlight]

Right Porch; how did the Dixie Slits not make the cut?

Free Natalie Maines!

...was the text on a homemade shirt a friend of mine wore after Maines' comments about Bush got the Chixie Dicks into trouble. Laaaame.

DoT, just wanted to know that your name came up many times. I think you can probably guess the context. No need to slog through the thread if the typepad morass is too much.

[Porchlight]

I like Kristofferson's acting but he can't sing worth a damn. Good-looking, though.

[Sue]

He can write a song though. Sunday Morning Coming Down remains one of my all time favorite country songs.

[Extraneus]

Just please, nobody post that gay Rorschach test pic of Kristofferson and Barbara Streisand. I'm begging you.

[Dave (in MA)]

I think I'd rather hear O Brother Where Art Though than anything from the people who BOzo and Moochelle are going to pretend to like tonight. Maybe they can post the latest Donk poll numbers and noted thinker George C. Looney can pop up and say "Damn, we're in a tight spot!".

[MarkO]

I Googled. I was only off about 10 years. Eeeek.

[Jane]

Maybe the country stars will boo from the stage at the White House.

[(Another) Barbara]

Jane, who was the moderator for the Three Amigos humor night on the cruise? Saw a blurry photo online but could not recognize who it was so I wrote a note to Roman Genn to ask. Wiseacre replied that it was someone they pulled out of the sea in Cuban waters who agreed to moderate in return for being dropped off in Miami.

[Janet]

...what ever happen to Anduril?

The Evangelicals got him, OL.

[lyle]

How can anyone not like Lyle Lovett?

[Annoying Old Guy]

matt;

Yes, it seems very odd. I dare not hope that some in the CIA is smart enough to play along with Caliphascist propaganda by agreeing that fake charges of spying are legitimate in order to cover the real agents and sow FUD in the target organizations. On the more realistic side, maybe this was all being run by Wilson & Plame quality people.

[lyle]

Also, Kristofferson could give Willie a run on the weed consumption from what I understand.

[lyle]

Just please, nobody post that gay Rorschach test pic of Kristofferson

That the one where he looks like an old lesbian?

[Porchlight]

I am *this* close to posting that pic...

[Extraneus]

[girding my loins]

[glasater]

How do people think Newt would handle this situation:

Soros Funding Paul Volcker to Develop Plans for Handling a US Financial Crisis

I am keeping on topic;-)

A quote:

"Mr. Ravitch also predicts that municipal bond holders will have to share with taxpayers and public workers the pain in correcting the problems. "What we are seeing in Europe is that everyone has to throw something into the pot to avoid catastrophe," Mr. Ravitch recently told a group of municipal analysts."

Mr Ravitch shares and office with Volker.

[Dave (in MA)]

How is it a "gay Rorschach test pic"?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

DoT, you were missed in yesterday's open thread. We had quite a little dustup.

No you weren't, although your surrogates were doing a good job whining on your behalf.

[Captain Hate]

How can anyone not like Lyle Lovett?

Personal tastes. I just don't like his music. Plus as a non-musical aside, it really takes a fool to marry Julia Roberts.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

An evangelical Richard J. Mouw president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena writing in the LA Times. I had to check that the sun actually rose in the East today:

Mormonism: Not a cult, not a problem
Evangelicals should cast aside old suspicions and hostilities and listen carefully during this campaign.

[Captain Hate]

I am *this* close to posting that pic...

I think TK gets a lot of pleasure out of posting it; I hate to deprive him of any entertainment outside of *that* issue.

[Extraneus]

If you know the one I mean, no straight person of any gender could possibly experience the slightest twinge of titillation upon viewing it. Therefore...

[Porchlight]

Ext, I just can't bring myself to do it. You are spared. [Anyone who wants to can google Kristofferson and Streisand and hit "Images."]

[Jane]

AB,

It was Bob Costa.

[Jane]

Gateway Pundit is reporting this:

US officials reported that the Hezbollah terror group recently captured a CIA spy ring. The US fears the spies will be killed by the Islamic group.

Are we doing anything about this? Would we under a different president?

[Neo]

At least 15 of Mr. Obama’s “bundlers” — supporters who contribute their own money to his campaign and solicit it from others — are involved in lobbying for Washington consulting shops or private companies. They have raised more than $5 million so far for the campaign.

Because the bundlers are not registered as lobbyists with the Senate, the Obama campaign has managed to avoid running afoul of its self-imposed ban on taking money from lobbyists.

But registered or not, the bundlers are in many ways indistinguishable from people who fit the technical definition of a lobbyist. They glide easily through the corridors of power in Washington, with a number of them hosting Mr. Obama at fund-raisers while also visiting the White House on policy matters and official business.

[Jane]

AB,

Costa was one of my favorite people on the cruise, however, he was clearly outgunned by the young guns who were, as always, completely over the top.

[Neo]

US officials reported that the Hezbollah terror group recently captured a CIA spy ring. The US fears the spies will be killed by the Islamic group.

"They" (whomever they are) say there are more than a dozen at rick. Imagine for a moment that there are one or none. Just think of all the strife this will cause within Hezbollah.

[Dave (in MA)]

I suppose it's the album cover or movie poster from that 70s chick flick. Since it involves Streisand, I am completely disinterested.

I suppose a similar ick response can be triggered with this. If the viewer says "what was she thinking": gay. If it's "what was he thinking", either not gay or the viewer simply has better musical taste.

[Danube of Thought]

I wouldn't expect to be missed by Sara, and would be disappointed if I were--but I'm grateful to her for telling me about my surrogates, to whom I extend my thanks.

[rse]

OK AB. But I have an 18 pounder in honor of the human eating machine coupled with my brother.

Plus I like to cut up turkey later mix it with bbq sauce and bake and then serve over rice.

Do I adjust brining liquid by about 1/3?

It's much more pleasant to remember Kris with Rita Coolidge.

[Dave (in MA)]

Jane, how was Lileks? He has begun a series of daily "bleats" talking about the cruise here: http://lileks.com/bleats/archive/11/11/112111.html

[Danube of Thought]

Are we doing anything about this? Would we under a different president?

I think the answers are no and probably not. These people are local paid informants,not US citizens.

[Porchlight]

Wow, Dave (in MA). I think you have indeed found a very similar image. Whoa, haven't thought of that particular couple in years.

[Rick Ballard]

Manchin joins Dead Man Walking chorus.

What would the '12 election look like if BOzo chucked it and the Supremes relieve the Dems of the stench of Obamacare? The economy would still stink and Uncle Sugar would still be broke but the lightning rods would be gone.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Also, Kristofferson could give Willie a run on the weed consumption from what I understand.

WEll they were both Rhodes Scholars ... oh wait, not that Willie, you meant Willie Nelson. Here is a small factoid about Kris that I'll bet many didn't know ... after his honorable discharge as a Captain in the Army, West Point wanted to hire him as a professor of literature.

[(Another) Barbara]

It was Bob Costa.

Ahhh. No wonder he didn't look familiar. I've read Costa for a long time, but don't think I've ever seen a photo of him and don't remember him from past cruises (if he's been on any).

Thanks.

[Clarice]

I can't imagine what interest we'd have except disinformation in confirming people were spying for us.

[Captain Hate]

LOL @ Dave's image of Cher and Gregg Allman; who could've seen that marriage being a complete trainwreck.