Moderate This!

The Presidential debate commission announces the debate moderators.

PBS's Jim Lehrer will host the first presidential debate on Oct. 3 in Denver, Colo. CNN's Candy Crowley will host the second, town-hall debate on October 16 in Hempstead, N.Y. CBS's Bob Schieffer will host the third debate on Oct. 22 in Boca Raton, Fla.

ABC's Martha Raddatz will host the vice presidential debate on Oct. 11 in Danville, Ky.

I love the first comment at Politico:

Debate moderators were chosen for diversity - a network liberal, a cable liberal, a PBS liberal and a female liberal.

Yup. But as newsies go, these are about as centrist as could be expected, since both sides have to agree on each choice.

Comments

[NJ Jan]

Speaking of CNN, Ryan Lizza 's analysis of Soledad O'Brien/Sununu Medicare discussion was that O'Brien shredded Sununu with the facts. That's quite an alternative universe he lives in. If he keeps it up, he may one day qualify as a debate moderator.

[Donald]

Coronado! Now, down to IB where I belong.

What's up with the white super structure on that carrier dot?

[Sue]

If he keeps it up, he may one day qualify as a debate moderator.

LOL. But true, which makes it sad.

[tastes like butter]

Morel core? Check danyoob's crack where most of his ideas grow.

[AliceH]

Headlines of Top 3 stories on The Daily Ticker (at finance.yahoo.com):

"Ryan's Economic Policies are Stuck in the 1980's"

"Worst-case Economic Scenarios Will be Avoided This Year"

"Will Romney/Ryan Plan Hammer the Middle Class?"

*sigh*

[Rob Crawford]

"Ryan's Economic Policies are Stuck in the 1980's"

How is this a problem?

"Worst-case Economic Scenarios Will be Avoided This Year"

Next year, though, all bets are off. Particular if the Spending Twins are re-elected.

"Will Romney/Ryan Plan Hammer the Middle Class?"

No. Unless you define "middle class" to mean only government employees.

[Some guy]

May I humbly submit that it is a grave error to give into the impulse to block or ban trolls.

One of the main reasons that this election will "unexpectedly" be a landslide, is that the Left has become so insular and parochial that they literally don't know what is going on around them.

In the early days of blogs, the Left was the first to grasp the power of the medium and to exploit it for genuine political gain. However, they also couldn't resist their impulse to quiet dissent and to demonize non-orthodoxy.

In it's formative years dKos would block access to any persuasive or articulate conservatives who would dare to upset the "community". I knew then that the Left was going to eventually turn the 'net into a weapon of power, then someday put it to their own head.

Let's not make their mistake.

As I stated earlier, they do serve a useful purpose, it's just not the one they think are attempting.

[dublindave]

Morel core? Check danyoob's crack where most of his ideas grow.

It's a test called 'how easy it is to manipulate weak minded Republicans.'

I want you to watch this;

[James D.]

Every day brings more absurdity from our "public servants" in DC...

New federal standards for "black boxes" that record information leading up to auto accidents will will take effect Sept. 1, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ruled on Tuesday.

The decision means the new standards for the devices will not be delayed by one year, as automakers had requested.

The federal standards will apply only to cars that are voluntarily outfitted with event data recorders (EDRs), also known as black boxes. But while the government does not yet require all cars to have black boxes installed, NHTSA is still thought to be considering a federal mandate as a next step, possibly this year.

Because the Federal givernment isn't already intrusive enough, I guess...

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

Dot,

Can I ask a stupid question? What are all these docs you are talking (with NK and Mark) about from - what era?

[Rob Crawford]

Some guy -- except I can hear what the left is saying everywhere else.

And most of what the trolls contribute is abuse, not insight.

[rse]

Jane-today's post involves the Boston Public Schools among others. FYI.

[DebinNC]

More Biden in Danville, VA yesterday:

Romney wants to let the—he said in the first 100 days, he’s going to let the big banks once again write their own rules–unchain Wall Street [right arm dramatically raised] They’re going to put y’all back in chains [said while pointing down and to the right, as if at specific people].

Wow. Let's pray there's video of the people Biden points at as in jeopardy of being put "back in chains".

[Sue]

Obama talks about Romney putting dog on top of car in an event in Iowa. Ed Henry reporting. Oh boy...what's for dinner?

[Captain Hate]

Dennis Miller was slattering the dumbest buffoon to crawl out of Scranton for those comments.

[Danube of Thought]

Dunno, Donald. Some sort of maintenance going on, but I haven't read any details.

[MarkO]

Obama hungry today. He's talking about Romney putting dog on car. Choomed up?

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

RSE,

I think what you are doing is wonderful. However, having no children, and up to my ears in political stuff I have zero interest in the educational system, and feel absolutely confident that it is well in tow with you at the helm.

[sbw]

Some guy, your premises do not accurately describe the circumstance.

Contributors forward a discussion. The -- if I may steal a word -- besotted do not even try to illuminate.

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

"Weren't there some companies involved with building totems to the Sun God which ceased operations?"
I drive by shuttered Solyndra from time to time, if that's what you mean. :)
Don't think that would dent the state's sales tax revenue though...

That Chiang link is a treasure trove of info.

[Danube of Thought]

Jane, we are talking about my father's reminiscences of the Guadalcanal campaign. They were recorded and transcribed by a Naval Institute historian in 1972-73. He survived the sinking of USS Atlanta on November 13, 1942 and then spent the next three months on the island, attached to the 1st Marine Division.

[Danube of Thought]

So it turns out that Mars looks remarkably like Needles, CA.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

Thanks Dot. What was the name of the book NK was reading?

[Some guy]

sbw: "Some guy, your premises do not accurately describe the circumstance.

Contributors forward a discussion. The -- if I may steal a word -- besotted do not even try to illuminate."

I'm really not that obtuse... I know the value or lack thereof in specific individual's postings here. That isn't the point.

Trying to homogenize something like this, no matter how logical or positive it might seem at the time, will diminish it over time.

[Danube of Thought]

Neptune's Inferno.

[Danube of Thought]

OK, CH and MarkO--heard about Julius Peppers's UNC transcripts?

[NK]

Neptune's Inferno-- I've read a lot of military history, most of it's well documented, and most of it is dry. Most of the attempts to add 'human interest' to those histories seems forced and lame to me. Not Neptune's Inferno, the author is a great writer and has insight to human nature and emotions. He takes impecably researched history, and adds personal recollections that give great context-- it's not forced at all. I'd highly recomend the book to any casual reader.

[tastes like butter]

And with an assist from John McCain, Romney’s tax debacle is back in the headlines:
Arizona Sen. John McCain said today that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is wrong about his assertion that Mitt Romney did not pay taxes for 10 years, saying his team that vetted the presumptive GOP nominee in 2008 found no such thing.

“Nothing in his tax returns showed that he did not pay taxes,” McCain said during an interview taped for “Face to Face” that will air Tuesday evening. The two senators and New Hampshire’s Kelly Ayotte all criticized Reid for his claim that someone told him Romney had not paid taxes for 10 years.

First, the relevant question is whether or not he paid any earned income taxes or capital gains taxes.

Second, the pressing question is what is going on with Romney’s 2009 tax return since 2009 is the year the IRS smoked out all the rich folks who were hiding their money in secret overseas bank accounts by giving them the option to voluntarily come forward, report their overseas holdings, and avoid criminal prosecution.

[Dave (in MA)]

Sue, IE.

(Not saying it about you, just in general)

[Danube of Thought]

Richard Epstein reports on that law we had to pass to find out what was in it:

"The result may turn into an Obamacare quagmire. Public officials, at both the federal and the state level, are grappling with the Herculean task of implementing the law. Its internal complexity and flawed design make it a program that was built to fail. The most recent evidence of the ACA’s administrative breakdown comes via the New York Times in a story by Robert Pear—no enemy of Obamacare—who reports that the fine print of the ACA could leave the dependents of millions of low-income employees without coverage from either their employers or the ACA’s insurance exchanges."

Heckuva job, Barry.

[rse]

Fine Jane. It ties into Agenda 21 and the Regional Equity Movement for you to tuck away some where until someone makes a statement that otherwise makes no sense.

It's why Mass with its excellent standards had to be forced to give them up. I am willing to bet some of that will come up over next few months between the Tea Party and radio.

[sbw]

Some, guy. never said you were obtuse. Never thought it. Never meant it.

There is such a thing as a loyal opposition and trolls ain't it.

[jimmyk]

Public officials, at both the federal and the state level, are grappling with the Herculean task of implementing the law. Its internal complexity and flawed design make it a program that was built to fail.

Go figure--who'd've thought that central planning would be such a failure? Can't blame Barry for not anticipating that.

[Captain Hate]

CH and MarkO--heard about Julius Peppers's UNC transcripts?

He played 2 sports so he obviously didn't have any time for that bothersome course work. The Holes could use a big slice of humble pie.

[Some guy]

"it a program that was built to fail."

I would not be surprised if it was *intentionally* built to fail.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

DOT,

Can I get on that list for when you send out that stuff? My best friend from law school is a huge WW2 buff and he would kill to get to read it. He just finished Neptune's Inferno.

[MarkO]

Saw the Peppers issue. classic UNC.

[Some guy]

sbw, apologies if that was poorly worded.

[jimmyk]

I would not be surprised if it was *intentionally* built to fail.

Hmm, incompetent or evil? Quite the dilemma. I'm going to have to compromise and say both.

[Danube of Thought]

Will do, Jane.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

Thanks Dot!

[Ignatz]

--I think of your and Janet's unflappable good spirits as embodying the Christian ethos which others elsewhere claim but fall short of.

Posted by: Captain Hate | August 14, 2012 at 11:36 AM --

Just dropped wifey off at chemo. Puts problems like internet trolls in their proper place; negligibility.

[MaryD]

I've been living happily free of several spellings of dublindave and other assorted scum, thanks to the narcisolator, - until today. dublindave (this spelling) is back. Any thoughts on getting rid of this psychotic creep? Thanks in advance.

[Extraneus]

I don't understand why people are so hard on dublindave. He's the first one to admit to some pretty serious deficiencies, but he's usually in pretty good spirits and is often a witty, charming and funny guy. And I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't frequent lefty sites, so I might not otherwise ever get the chance to grasp the true nature of their despicable positions on the issues or political strategy.

Leave dublindave alone!

[Extraneus]

(I take that all back if he's a parody poster, which I realize is a good possibility.)

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

Apologies for the length. I'm imagining Jane and Dick performing this on their show... :)

Abbott and Costello discuss U3 versus U6 unemployment:
COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.
ABBOTT: Good subject. Terrible times. It's 9%.
COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?
ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.

COSTELLO: You just said 9%.
ABBOTT: 9% Unemployed.
COSTELLO: Right 9% out of work.
ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.
COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 16% unemployed.
ABBOTT: No, that's 9%...
COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 9% or 16%?
ABBOTT: 9% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.
COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed. You have to look for work to be unemployed.
COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!
ABBOTT: No, you miss my point.
COSTELLO: What point?
ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work, can't be counted with those who look for work. It wouldn't be fair.
COSTELLO: To whom?
ABBOTT: The unemployed.
COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.
ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work. Those who are out of work stopped looking. They gave up. And, if you give up, you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment rolls, that would count as less unemployment?
ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!
COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?
ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That's how you get to 9%. Otherwise it would be 16%. You don't want to read about 16% unemployment, do ya?
COSTELLO: That would be frightening.
ABBOTT: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means there are two ways to bring down the unemployment number?
ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.
COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?
ABBOTT: Correct.
COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?
ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to just stop looking for work.
ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like an economist.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what the hell I just said!
ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like a politician.

[AliceH]

MaryD: sometimes greasemonkey inexplicably disables itself. If you use Firefox, click the dropdown for it in the upper right of your screen and make sure it has ENABLED checked.

[Sara]

I have only watched clips online but still, something is happening.

I'm not going to go so far as to say there has been a major change/shift at CNN, but I've found myself switching over there during certain election coverage because their reporting is more neutral than the bias reporting that Fox has been resorting to that just turns my stomach.

[bgates]

it turns out that Mars looks remarkably like Needles, CA

-but with a brighter economic outlook.

[centralcal]

Jake Tapper ‏@jaketapper

RT @OfficialSkyNews: BREAKING NEWS Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has passed away at the age of 86 after prolonged illness. ..

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

Is Maggie dead? Not sure....
http://100gf.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/is-margaret-thatcher-dead-yes-but-not-that-margaret-thatcher/

[centralcal]

No - Jake Tapper has retracted the above Tweet. She is still alive. sheesh!

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

While Bing-ing for news on Maggie, I got hits for several Brit Leftie sites still in a state of high dudgeon over those times.
I started to leave a comment at one of the sites, but their checking is more thorough than what we have at JOM. It said "you are not logged on to the email you are posting under".
Amazing what commenting systems can do these days!

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

Instapundit links to an article on medical problems due to iron-rich blood.
I can't help but think of how we were taught to mock old-time practitioners who "bled" their patients. And no doubt some/many deserved mockery. Still, one wonders if "old wives tales" made sense in the context of the technology at their disposal.

[sbw]

Iron-rich blood, hemochromatosis, can be caused by a genetic defect. The old wives tales are still old wives tales unless you have the defect.