Ditherer In Chief

From the Times:

Obama Lags on Judicial Picks, Limiting His Mark on Courts

They provide an endless and complicated rationalization. Let's cut to the numbers:

Mr. Obama has still put a significant stamp on the judiciary, appointing two Supreme Court justices — the same number as Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush each did in eight years — and 30 appeals court judges, roughly as many as either did on average per term. But his impact has been uneven. He has made significant changes to some appeals court circuits — which have the final word on tens of thousands of cases a year — while leaving others untouched.

In federal district courts, where trials are held, Mr. Obama has appointed just 125 such judges, compared with 170 at a similar point in Mr. Clinton’s first term and 162 for Mr. Bush.

Mr. Obama is virtually certain to leave more vacant federal judgeships at the end of his term for the winner of the 2012 election to fill than he inherited from Mr. Bush. Beyond sheer numbers, Mr. Obama has reduced his long-term influence by appointing judges who were more than four years older, on average, than Mr. Bush’s, according to data compiled by Russell Wheeler, a Brookings Institution scholar.

The less long term impact Obama has, the better.

Comments

[DGS]

It would be nice to see Romney get an immediate opportunity to replace a very liberal judge on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg.

[Captain Hate]

His negative impact might be lessened by his overriding laziness.

[Jane]

Cap'n,

Are you going to Occupy the Truth, today?

[Captain Hate]

Jane I hadn't even heard about it until you mentioned it and I googled it on Malkin's blog. I hadn't planned on it but Mrs H and I are going to the library and will be in the vicinity so I may wander over. It's a great idea because the MFM's minimal coverage of those deadbeats' thwarted bridge bombing is deserving of ridicule.

[Jane]

It is probably my #1 issue so I hope you drop by and report back - gawd knows it won't get any media coverage.

[bgates]

the same number as Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush each did in eight years

-and you wingers say he's lazy! Here's a factoid which...doesn't really speak to that, does it?

Mr. Obama has reduced his long-term influence by appointing judges who were more than four years older

Ah, but this ignores the impact of Obamacare, which can be counted on to raise their life expectancy by a decade or more (while probably halving that of a Bush appointee).

[Rick Ballard]

"His negative impact might be lessened by his overriding laziness."

CH,

You obviously haven't looked at the President's tee times created or saved numbers. Who are we to criticize the manner in which he chose to waste utilize his time?

[centralcal]

Well, I guess we can safely assume if Romney team threatened boycott of debates if MSNBC was chosen, Obama team did same if FNC was.

Byron York ‏@ByronYork

NYT on behind-scenes at Presidential Debate Commission: Team Romney threatened boycott if MSNBC anchor was chosen. http://ow.ly/d3Qwd

[pops]

Hospital spokeswomen: ""Our comment to everyone who has been calling is that federal law does not permit us to provide any more details concerning information [about Obama's birth] without authorization from Mr. Obama,"

I am certain they could comment on whether FETUS Obama was resident in their hospital, because Barack insures fetuses have no rights and are not protected under federal law...unlike lizards and toads.

[pops]

Besides, Barack Obama publized for 12 years that he was born in Kenya. I don't want to call him a liar...

[Obozo--Ace Golfer]

Prioritize! Prioritize! Should I use a 56 degree wedge or go high with the 64 wedge as I pitch up on the 7th green? I'll get round to "thinking" about a new appointment for that trial judge spot later.

[narciso]

I suspect she is misapplying the law, here;

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/17/2956670/miami-dade-judge-tosses-murder.html

[Janet]

Obama, Obama's half-sister, & lib talker Bill Press (in his book) all said Obama was born at Queens Hosp.. LUN Where did they get THAT idea?

The "story" is that there are so many different STORIES. Even if a person just read Dem./lib sources...they couldn't put together a consistent life narrative for Obama.

[narciso]

Of course, they would dump Dowd's 'temper tantrum' in my fishwrap,

[GMax]

Artur Davis on Kudlow channeling Rick Ballard! Its amazing close your eyes and you will think you are hearing Rick( wink):

“There are 7 million of us who voted for Barack Obama who are traveling in a different direction because we didn’t get the unified country we wanted, we didn’t get the results we wanted on the economic front,” he said.

[Threadkiller]

"Today Liberty Legal Foundation filed our motion for preliminary injunction against the DNC with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. If the 9th Circuit grants our motion it will issue a court order preventing the DNC from certifying Obama as the Democratic Presidential candidate.

You may remember that the states will not place candidate’s names on the ballot unless and until they receive a document from the political parties identifying their candidate. So, the national political parties send notifications to all 50 states identifying the party’s candidate for president. These notifications come from the DNC and RNC immediately after the parties’ conventions.

Until 2008, each one of these notifications included a statement from the parties that certifies that the candidate is constitutionally eligible to hold the office of President. In 2008, for the first time since this practice began, the DNC sent out 49 notifications that did not include a certification that their candidate, Obama, was constitutionally qualified to hold the office of President. No explanation was offered. Because its laws required the eligibility statement, Hawaii received a notice that included the eligibility statement. The other 49 states, which received notifications without the eligibility statement, all accepted them and placed Obama’s name on their ballots. Perhaps they were relying upon the fact that the DNC’s bylaws state that they are not allowed to support a candidate that is not constitutionally qualified to hold office.

Whether the eligibility certification is express or implied, the political parties and the states understand that these notifications represent the parties’ representation that their candidate is constitutionally qualified to hold the office of President. This is why Liberty Legal Foundation sued the DNC to prevent it from sending notices to the states after its 2012 convention. Our lawsuit points out that such notices are either fraudulent or, at a minimum, represent gross negligence on the part of the DNC.

Our lawsuit makes no claim about where Obama was born. It simply points out that Obama’s father was never a U.S. citizen and that the Supreme Court ruled in 1875 that a natural born citizen must have two parents that are U.S. citizens.

We filed our lawsuit in Arizona because Arizona is part of the 9th Circuit and the 9th Circuit had already ruled that any candidate running for any public office has legal standing to challenge the eligibility of any candidate running for the same office. The Arizona District Court is bound by the 9th Circuit’s ruling on this point. One of our named plaintiffs is Presidential candidate John Dummett. Mr. Dummett’s inclusion as a named party to this lawsuit gives all other CCA plaintiffs standing to challenge Obama’s eligibility."

http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2012/08/injunction-motion-against-dnc-filed.html?m=1

Whack jobs...

[GMax]

Clarice

Saw your post of the Zero campaign spin. By that logic they should limit it the rally to a dozen people , that he can get quality time with each one! From the looks of recent rallies, when you subtract out Sec Service, paid campaign staffers, and paid to attend union mugs he aint far off.

[Threadkiller]

Slightly more on topic. I lifted this from someone else's post about an email they received:

"Columnist Andrew McCarthy gives us what probably is the most important question regarding the upcoming presidential election.

If Mitt wins the nomination, I will enthusiastically support his candidacy. For my friends who have hesitation on that score, I’d just ask you to keep four things in mind:

1. Justice Scalia just turned 78

2. Justice Kennedy will turn 78 later this year

3. Justice Breyer will be 76 in August

4. Justice Ginsburg turned 81 about a week ago.

In addition, Justice Ginsburg has Pancreatic Cancer. Justice Stephens has already said he would retire and is just waiting for Obama to be reelected. The next president could appoint as many as 4 new Justices over next 8 years. This election is about more than ObamaCare Tax.

We wish them all well, of course, but the brute fact is that whoever we elect as president in November is almost certainly going to choose at least one new member of the Supreme Court, in addition to hundreds of other life-tenured federal judges, all of whom will be making momentous decisions about our lives for decades to come.

If you don’t think it matters whether the guy making those calls is Mitt Romney or Barack Obama, I think you’re smokin’ something funky.

So for anybody who is thinking of not voting because your favorite didn’t get nominated, or writing in a candidate who can’t win, imagine this:

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ERIC HOLDER

After you have stopped gasping, kindly send this forward to your list of concerned citizens."

I don't buy into the Holder notion at all. The information on the others is what I ofound a little disconcerting.

[GMax]

Jim Treacher via Insty says what I am thinking:

This guy is a clown. Morning zoo radio? Entertainment Tonight? Really? What, was SpongeBob busy?

[narciso]

Well Jackson put up Taney, Wilson McReynold's,
so it's not out of the question.

[BR]

Hee, TK, I'll lend you my outward lashing scorpio tail in exchange for your seppuku-knife-post-endings :)

[BR]

That was in re 9:42 :)

[Danube of Thought]

Minus 16 at Raz today.

Leads Romney by 2.

[GMax]

Gallup 7 day rolling average with a very low MOE due to the large sample size:

Romney 47
Zero 45

Among REGISTERED VOTERS.

[MAM]

Okay - I'm beginning to worry a bit more. Why the 6-point gain for O in Raz? Are independents buying into the unreleased tax return farce? Can Romney/Ryan win Virginia or Florida or Wisconsin? Why no bigger, lasting bump for the Ryan pick? Seeing all of these large crowds for RR, I was becoming encouraged. I'm in Mass - no chance for RR here. Am I being an Eeyore?

[GMax]

Oh I guess I should have stated the MOE, its 2%. Romney is almost outside the MOE among RV, without dealing with the undecideds and without a Likely voter screen or adjusting for voter intensity in the turnout mix.

[pagar]

There is probably a logical reason for this.

: "the DNC sent out 49 notifications that did not include a certification that their candidate, Obama, was constitutionally qualified to hold the office of President."

IMO,The senders didn't want to go to jail for isssuing a statement known to be false.

[Threadkiller]

Thanks BR!

Off to install one of these today:

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/ammv210sr1.html

[Porchlight]

Mr. Obama is virtually certain to leave more vacant federal judgeships at the end of his term for the winner of the 2012 election to fill than he inherited from Mr. Bush.

This is rather tortured. Technically speaking he can leave judgeships vacant for himself, but the way they've phrased it (and the whole reason for the article) suggests that they think he's going to lose and are bummed that he didn't have more impact in this area before the handoff to Romney.

[maryrose]

CH:
I totally agree with your literary choices and would add Dickens,Dreiser and George Elliott to the list.
TM;
Love the title of this particular thread. It sums up the past 3.75 years. I can't wait for this long nightmare to be over. It is truly a shame about Egypt.I would have loved to visit there-now not so much.

[GMax]

Yeah my upbringing taught to not like crucifixtions very much...

[Threadkiller]

All this 1961 talk may be throwing everybody off. 2003 might be a better date for the nutters that want a conspiracy to gossip over.

" 1. On June 11, 2003 Democrat House member Vic Snyder [AR-2] introduced H.J.R 59: in the 108th Congress – “Constitutional Amendment – Makes a person who has been a citizen of the United States for at least 35 years and who has been a resident within the United States for at least 14 years eligible to hold the office of President or Vice President.” – Co-Sponsors: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14]; Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10]; Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4]; Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49]; Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18]; Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4].

2. On September 3, 2003, Rep. John Conyers [MI] introduced H.J.R. 67: – “Constitutional Amendment – Makes a person who has been a citizen of the United States for at least 20 years eligible to hold the office of President.” – Co-Sponsor Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27]

3. On February 25, 2004, Republican Senator Don Nickles [OK] attempted to counter the growing Democrat onslaught aimed at removing the natural-born citizen requirement for president in S.2128: – “Natural Born Citizen Act – Defines the constitutional term “natural born citizen,” to establish eligibility for the Office of President” – also getting the definition of natural born citizen wrong. – Co-sponsors Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK]; Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA]

4. On September 15, 2004 – as Barack Obama was about to be introduced as the new messiah of the Democrat Party at the DNC convention, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [CA-46] introduced H.J.R. 104: – “Constitutional Amendment – “Makes eligible for the Office of the President non-native born persons who have held U.S. citizenship for at least 20 years and who are otherwise eligible to hold such Office.” – No co-sponsors.

5. Again on January 4, 2005, Rep John Conyers [MI] introduced H.J.R. 2: to the 109th Congress –“Constitutional Amendment – Makes a person who has been a citizen of the United States for at least 20 years eligible to hold the Office of President.” – Co-Sponsor Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27]

6. Rep Dana Rohrabacher [CA-46] tries again on February 1, 2005 in H.J.R. 15: – “Constitutional Amendment – Makes eligible for the Office of the President non-native born persons who have held U.S. citizenship for at least 20 years and who are otherwise eligible to hold such Office.” – No Co-Sponsor

7. On April 14, 2005, Rep Vic Snyder [AR-2] tries yet again with H.J.R. 42: – “Constitutional Amendment – Makes a person who has been a citizen of the United States for at least 35 years and who has been a resident within the United States for at least 14 years eligible to hold the office of President or Vice President.” – Co-Sponsor Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4]

8. All of these efforts failing in committee and the 2008 presidential election looming with an unconstitutional candidate leading the DNC ticket, Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill, [MO] tries to attach the alteration to a military bill in S.2678: on February 28, 2008 – “Children of Military Families Natural Born Citizen Act – Declares that the term “natural born Citizen” in article II, section 1, clause 5 of the Constitution, dealing with the criteria for election to President of the United States, includes any person born to any U.S. citizen while serving in the active or reserve components of the U.S. armed forces.” – Co-Sponsors DNC Presidential candidate Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY]; DNC Presidential candidate Sen Obama, Barack [IL]; Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ]; Sen Coburn, Tom [OK] – (This was the first effort to also assure that GOP Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain [AZ] would be cleared to run against the DNC primary victor.)"

http://www.art2superpac.com/issues.html#Attempts%20to%20Redefine%20or%20Amend%20Article%20II

When did "Kenya" get edited out of his bio?

At this point I will keep my promise.

[pagar]

"I'm beginning to worry a bit more."

One of the things that worries me. I keep seeing the story that a climate sceptic
was converted. Wasn't this debunked the day it came out?

http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2012/08/15/3568554.htm

[Captain Hate]

maryrose, I included Dickens but misspelled it as Dickins like a boob. I was obviously tired because I did the same thing with Stone Cold Jane Austin. Your comment reminds me that I *have* to read "Middlemarch" before the end of the year.

Btw are you going to Occupy the Truth?

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

Ryan and his Mom speaking at the Villages. Lee Greenwood opened which of course made me cry. I've become such a wus.

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

Oh and he's wearing a short sleeve shirt so you can see his buffness.

Swoon.

[Captain Hate]

Am I being an Eeyore?

Probably but at least you're not being complacent.

[GMax]

Stone Cold Jane Austin.

Noe that was funny!

[Rick Ballard]

"Am I being an Eeyore?"

Perhaps. Here is a fun Gallup widget where you can compare various Presidents' approval ratings at different times during their terms and reflect upon those who have won and those who have lost in their bids for reelection.

In order to really worry you must identify the qualities displayed by President Obama which would allow you to state with confidence "This time, it's different.". Be sure and include rising unemployment, rising gas prices and a declining economy in determining just how spectacular the trait President Obama displays must be in order to overcome reality.

[Porchlight]

Your comment reminds me that I *have* to read "Middlemarch" before the end of the year.

Yes, do. One of the very greatest novels in English, maybe in any language. I recommend it for fall/winter reading especially.

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

Cap'n,

What time does Occupy start?

Is everyone aware what perpetuated it? 4 or 5 people who were involved in Occupy Ohio were arrested for plotting to blow up a bridge, the Fed and one other thing. The press buried it. (Gee I wonder at whose request?) So today is an attempt ala Brietbart to hold the press to account.

It is very important.

[Captain Hate]

Jane, Malkin's site said it starts at 11. There were 5 deadbeats arrested. To prove the point of the protest, a NRO online article linked to a WaPo portrait of the OWSers who were arrested and *surprise* the page no longer exists.

[narciso]

The commenters at the ABC link, are much more informed than the transcriptionists.

[MarkO]

"Minus 16 at Raz today.
Leads Romney by 2."

Take your marks.

Set.

DOOM

[Danube of Thought]

"Justice Stephens has already said he would retire and is just waiting for Obama to be reelected. "

Good God! Not Justice Stephens!

[Extraneus]

(Reposted from the last thread.)

Hey Porch, you might be too young but do you happen to remember Father Guido Sarducci's Five Minute University?

"The idea is that in five minutes you learn what the average college graduate remembers five years after he or she is out of school."

Two words on the Classics for a busy mom: Cliff's Notes.

I once made it through the Iliad, Odyssey and Beowulf in a couple'a hours. Saved me a lotta time.

[narciso]

There are more mirrors then in the villain's lair in the last of Arnold's Conan films;

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/314313/reason-liberal-hate-no-diversity-david-french

[Porchlight]

Ext, I remember Father Guido but not the five minute university - heh.

I'm a big fan of Cliff's Notes. They get a bad rap but really they're quite intelligently written.

[narciso]

When the Times is marginally more frank then the Journal, on this one point;

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/314357/egypt-s-military-and-arab-spring-andrew-c-mccarthy

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

I was invited to the Romney-Ryan town hall in Manchester on Monday (probably with half the country). Wish I could go. I sent Tom Bowler my invite but he can't go either. I don't know if you need it to get it, but if anyone else wants it, let me know.

[MAM]

Rick - Thanks for the link. I'm still trying to figure out, in state-by-state election, how RR puts together the electoral votes. Taking Wisconsin would be a huge step toward winning but we need Ohio, and/or Florida? I understand your point about approval below 50% but Raz indicated that Obama is at 48% and may be climbing! I'm trying to balance the state-by-state equation with the overall approval theory. When I participated in Chik-fil-a day, I was stunned by the huge turnout in a blue state such as Massachusetts, so I'm hoping there is a silent majority waiting to vote for RR (or ABO).

[Danube of Thought]

I remember when Father Guido go busted for wandering around the Vatican in full holy garb.

[peter]

Will we be stuck with these EBT cards for eternity? At the LUN, the evil they cause

[Captain Hate]

I'm a big fan of Cliff's Notes. They get a bad rap but really they're quite intelligently written.

Yes to this; they get a bad rap because too many people use them to try and fake reading the book but they provide excellent commentary for people who are, you know, actually reading the book.

[Ignatz]

--4. Justice Ginsburg turned 81 about a week ago.-

I'm pretty sure it was 181.

[Janet]

Love that NRO French link, narciso. It is SO true.

[Ranger]

Well, this doesn't bode well for Obama:

August Unemployment Not Looking Good

More interestingly, there were no BLS seasonal adjustments in August 2011. If this remains the same in 2012, the Gallup seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August would be 8.3% while that of the BLS would be 8.7%, assuming a similar increase to that shown in the Gallup data.

It will be interesting to see if they attempt to adjust the numbers for August this year, and how they justify it.

[Danube of Thought]

MAM, wait till after both conventions.

[narciso]

Hillsborough got five more days, and they are still not happy

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/17/2956305_p2/federal-court-rejects-florida.html

[narciso]

Yes, an objective source, from SCAM;

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/immigrant-supporters-decry-florida-senate-bill/1163541

[Ignatz]

Excellent comparison of Detroit's descent into the abyss and the ruling imbeciles of California bent on taking it inexorably down the same path.
Since the place is hopeless, it can't come soon enough for me.
Only a crash will either make the place governable or give it some tiny hope of splitting into its two irreconcilable halves.

[narciso]

Apparently the good Rev, thinks 'negative rights' an inconvenience,

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/2009/10/rainbowpush-coalition-leader-calls-attacks-on-ford-bottom-feeder-politics.html

Of course, the paper doesn't spell out what
'horrid' things Foster accused her off. (she lost btw)

[Clarice]

To return briefly to Homer (and Beowulf),it really would be interesting to hear it read at night by candle or fire light in the same short spurts that the storytellers had, .

Remember if you are old enough, how much more exciting stories were on the radio than they are in animated films. remember the sound of the doors squeaking and footsteps in the dark?

[Manuel Transmission]

Stone Cold Jane Austin.

Our county fair started Wednesday and the highlight is the 'Trashin Fashion' show. Our pal, the petit ex-wrassler, made up a full body suit to perfectly mimic Hulk Hogan at about 30 percent scale. She nailed his moves (having worked with him for years) so it was a major hit. Unfortunately, the lighting was bad so I could not get a decent pix of the action. I had a small camera and the flash was tricked by her champion belt and all else came out black.

I did, however, get shots of the returning synchronized hula team from the Olympics, so will try to post them later. Heh.

[AliceH]

--Only a crash --

One of the most important things I have learned about how my IT job "works" is to accept that there are certain areas of blatantly obvious needed development or improvement/mitigation that simply will not be approved, no matter how predictably catastrophic the failure to act now may be. We call these "blood on the pavement" projects.

The only choice one has is to secretly develop in advance a plan for responding when the inevitable happens - or (my preferred option) manage to get oneself reassigned into a safe area before the SHTF.

[pagar]

From Narciso's 10:59 link.

"exposure to American military counterparts and his high standing in the eyes of Obama-administration officials boded well for future Amercan-Egyptian relations and Israeli security."

IMO, any one who has high standing with the Obama regime will not be good for future American and Israeli relations/security.

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

Clarice,

Can we have a sneak peak? It is, after all, Saturday.

[Danube of Thought]

remember the sound of the doors squeaking and footsteps in the dark?

Sure do. The six-year-old imagination filled in all the blanks perfectly.

"This is your old friend Norman Brokenshire...."

[Clarice]

I compare Obama and Biden to Poitier and Curtis in the movie "The Defiant Ones", Jane/

[DebinNC]

Just before Obama threw him under the bus, Jeremiah Wright explained to the Detroit NAACP Gala crowd that black kids are right-brained and learn from a "subject" (storyteller), while white kids are left-brained and learn from an "object" (book). There was no pushback at all against Wright's contentions. A year later comes a study showing black kids watch twice as much tv every day as whites and a much higher number have tvs in their rooms than whites do. The ramifications for black achievement are sad with no remedy in sight imo since they determinedly reelect the ones who keep them "in chains" and deny them the key - reading fluently, widely, and with understanding.

[Clarice]

If you are too young to remember radio drama, you can download free old "The Shadow Knows" radio programs. Turn off the lights , get under the covers, and prepare to get really SCARED,http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/template.php?show_name=The%20Shadow

[Rick Ballard]

MAM,

Gallup does an exhaustive analysis (350K interviews) every year on a state by state basis to determine sentiment shifts as demonstrated by party affiliation. The survey results covered 2011 and do not reflect further movement in 2012. Note that Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Ohio have all shifted from Solid Dem to Competitive while Florida and Virginia have shifted from Lean Dem to Competitive.

I have no concerns about Florida or Wisconsin. Ohio and Virginia are the only states questionable.

[Rick Ballard]

MAM,

Gallup does an exhaustive analysis (350K interviews) every year on a state by state basis to determine sentiment shifts as demonstrated by party affiliation. The survey results covered 2011 and do not reflect further movement in 2012. Note that Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Ohio have all shifted from Solid Dem to Competitive while Florida and Virginia have shifted from Lean Dem to Competitive.

I have no concerns about Florida or Wisconsin. Ohio and Virginia are the only states questionable.

[MAM]

DOT - I'm trying to remain calm. If I hear one more older person tell me that they don't want a voucher nor do they want to pay 6400 more for Medicare - I'll scream. Those voters are listening to the lies of the Obama campaign and their accomplices in the Media. Part of me wishes that RR would focus more on the economy and unemployment but I realize they have to fight the medicscare campaign with a good offense. RR needs to have an uplifting convention with lost of positive ideas to fix the economy and create jobs. I work at a college and graduates are not getting hired at good-paying jobs. Yet, they don't blame Obama - they blame Bush and evil corporations! Thank goodness all of my children graduated college more than five years ago and have wonderful jobs that they love.

[DebinNC]

I think of Obama and Biden like George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men with "You didn't build that" - "The private sector is doing fine" - "We tried my plan, and it worked!" showing which is "acting stupidly" and "like the Special Olympics."

[Clarice]

That would be good, too, Deb

[Porchlight]

Clarice, thank you so much for that oldtimeradio link! My husband loves that stuff - we are totally going to download and listen.

[Clarice]

I picked "The Defiant Ones" because it's about a white man and a black man who don't like each other but who are shackled together. I begin by noting how Palin attached the shackles.

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

Geez Clarice, I never saw that movie. I've been left out of the loop!

[Danube of Thought]

45∞% at Gallup today.

No incumbent has ever been that low this late and won.

[DebinNC]

Storyteller Jim Weiss is excellent. He's had a long career, so most libraries carry at least a few of his audios.

[Captain Hate]

Jane, I drove by the Occupy the Truth rally a little after noon (I had Mrs H with me for something that was previously planned and there was NFW I could get her to go to it; I did spend the subsequent time explaining to her what it was about and got a slightly greater than lukewarm response) and it looked like they had a pretty decent crowd considering I didn't even know it was happening until you mentioned it this morning. I'm pretty sure Michelle M was speaking at the time so it was a primo time to go by.

[Rob Crawford]

If you are too young to remember radio drama...

When I was a kid I nearly wore out cassette tapes of a couple episodes of "Abbot and Costello", the "War of the Worlds" broadcast of the Mercury Theater on the Air, and one of The Lone Ranger.

Now I listen to the Old Time Radio channel on Sirius/XM. "Johnny Dollar" is excellent; the radio versions of "Gunsmoke" and "Have Gun Will Travel" (along with "Frontier Gentleman") and, of course, Jack Benny and Fred Allen and Bob Hope and others, get me to work with at least a grin.

[Clarice]

It's probably too old for you, Jane..The two escape from the chain gang together..they hate each other's guts but need to work together to live.

Anyway the idea of the two shackled together appealed to me--not much more linkage to the movie in the piece.

[Rob Crawford]

Oh, and how could I forget "Fibber McGee and Molly"? And its spin-off "The Great Gildersleeve"?

[Captain Hate]

To return briefly to Homer (and Beowulf),it really would be interesting to hear it read at night by candle or fire light in the same short spurts that the storytellers had, .

I read Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf and anything he writes I imagine being recited by a peat fire.

[Clarice]

Exactly, I think the only way people can get the full flavor of these old classics is to hear them as the original audiences once did.

[MarkO]

"remember the sound of the doors squeaking and footsteps in the dark?"

Did anyone else sleep with a Bowie knife? Always alert.

What was that?

[Captain Hate]

DoT, have you heard Gregg Allman's most recent release "Low Country Blues" on Rounder? Despite all the health problems he's had (liver transplant FTL), he's been sober for over a decade and is in amazingly good voice even if he does look like aged white trash in close ups. It's a much better release of originals and standards than I had any reasonable expectation of it being.

[Clarice]

You're a kid, sitting around a campfire, drinking mead (okay, cocoa and nibbling on hot dogs and s'mores) and you hear this:

"Afterwards a boy-child was born to Shield,
a cub in the yard, a comfort sent
by God to that nation, He knew what they had tholed,
by long times and troubles they'd come through
without a leader; so the Lord of Life,
the glorious Almighty, made this man renowned.
Shield had fathered a famous son:
Beow's name was known through the north.
And a young prince must be prudent like that,
giving freely while his father lives
so that afterwards in age when fighting starts
steadfast companions will stand by him
and hold the line. Behaviour that's admired
is the path to power among people everywhere."

More fun then sitting at a desk while your teacher prods you to explain the text. No? You'd remember this I bet.

[Clarice]

MarkO, there was a night when my husband and his older brother were home alone. "The FBI in Peace and War" was on the radio and at the end of the show there was an announcement that Otto Neff was on the loose in Milwaukee. Do you suppose the boys were sure Neff was right outside their bedroom window? If so, you'd be right.

[MarkO]

In those days, it was dark and quiet outside. I slept outside most summer nights and watched the Milky Way spin by.

Sometimes I listened to KOMA.

[AliceH]

O/T: a question for you financial whiz kids. I've just read for the one hundred and eleventieth time a "it's all going to crash and burn and soon" article that offers the following advice: "People need to begin to make preparations with their investments, retirement savings, and personal finances before it's too late...."

Make WHAT preparations exactly? Are we talking cash in the mattresses or is there any actual ACTION to be taken beyond the always-in-season diversify your assets and minimize expenses?

I would appreciate advice that includes active verbs and direct objects.

[Danube of Thought]

Many thanks, CH--hadn't heard it or heard of it. To iTunes I go.

[peter]

In case anyone here needs an emetic: LUN

[Ignatz]

I used to listen to National Lampoons radio show as a kid. Does that count?

[Janet]

((Storyteller Jim Weiss is excellent.))

Yeah, Deb. He's great. My kids didn't watch TV when they were little but we did old movies & story tapes. We read 'A Night to Remember' & 'To Kill a Mockingbird' on road trips to Chicago. They were pretty little too...kinda amazing how focused a little one can be if they get used to having to listen.

[peter]

Our elites have sunk into a boutique decadence of moral preening entirely disconnected from reality: A non-homophobic chicken in every pot, an abortifacient dispenser in every Catholic university, a high-speed-rail corridor between every two bankrupt California municipalities . . .

Steyn today at NRO

[Ignatz]

George Will, special for MarkO; why-doom-has-not-materialized.
Actually its about the unending idiocy of environmental alarmism. The first three comments when I was there reveal strong confirmatory evidence of the hypothesis that liberals are uneducably stupid.

[AliceH]

We didn't have a radio, but we did have one of these:

We'd have to turn it on 10 minutes before a show to allow the TV to warm up, and to get that day's designated antenna holder into position so the picture would be less snowy.