Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?

Three NY Times articles exemplify a turning of the tide for Team Obama. 

First up, Young Artists Out of Love:

The Rise of the Drone Master: Pop Culture Recasts Obama

WASHINGTON — In Marvel’s latest popcorn thriller, Captain America battles Hydra, a malevolent organization that has infiltrated the highest levels of the United States government. There are missile attacks, screeching car chases, enormous explosions, evil assassins, data-mining supercomputers and giant killer drones ready to obliterate millions of people.

Its inspiration?

President Obama, the optimistic candidate of hope and change.

Five and a half years into his presidency, Mr. Obama has had a powerful impact on the nation’s popular culture. But what many screenwriters, novelists and visual artists have seized on is not an inspirational story of the first black president. Instead they have found more compelling story lines in the bleaker, morally fraught parts of Mr. Obama’s legacy.

Obama as Captain Un-America? Ouch.

Perpetual front-runner Maureen Dowd, being young hip and artistic, joins in:

Is Barry Whiffing?

WASHINGTON — Stop whining, Mr. President.

And stop whiffing.

Don’t whinge off the record with columnists and definitely don’t do it at a press conference with another world leader. It is disorienting to everybody, here at home and around the world.

I empathize with you about being thin-skinned. When you hate being criticized, it’s hard to take a giant steaming plate of “you stink” every day, coming from all sides. But you convey the sense that any difference on substance is lèse-majesté.

You simply proclaim what you believe as though you know it to be absolutely true, hoping we recognize the truth of it, and, if we don’t, then we’ve disappointed you again.

...

I also appreciate the fact that it’s harder for you than it was for J.F.K., W. and all those other pols who had their rich daddies and their rich daddies’ rich friends to buy anything they needed and connect them up and smooth the way for them. That gives them a certain nonchalance in the face of opprobrium and difficulty, a luxury that those who propel themselves to the top on their own don’t have.

Hmm, JFk and 'W'? What about Wild Bill Clinton of the, well, Hope Clintons? There is a Dem icon with no useful family ties. Pressing on, she riffs on Obama's "Take me out of this ballgame" metaphor:

An American president should never say, as you did Monday in Manila when you got frustrated in a press conference with the Philippine president: “You hit singles; you hit doubles. Every once in a while, we may be able to hit a home run.”

Especially now that we have this scary World War III vibe with the Russians, we expect the president, especially one who ran as Babe Ruth, to hit home runs.

She deserves minor props for realizing that the Babe was a lefty just like Obama. Of course, the Babe was also a record-setting pitcher...

Instead of the Babe Ms. Dowd should have gone with the Yankee Clipper just so she could work in a Mrs. Robinson reference about confused and alienated youth (and angry elders!). Or she could head in the direction of Mr. Coffee and exhort Obama to give up the decaf in favor of the strong stuff. Hey, I don't normally offer these Pro Tips for free.

And to be fair, this point is excellent:

The Times’s Mark Landler, who traveled with the president on his Asia trip, reported that Obama will try to regain the offensive, including a graduation address at West Point putting his foreign policy in context.

Mr. President, don’t you know that we’re speeched out? It’s not what we need right now.

Drone Master indeed.

The third leg of the NY Times stool is this laugher explaining how the head of the Executive Branch is going to focus on, how shall we say it, executing:

As His Tenure Winds Down, Obama Turns Focus to Executive Branch

...

For the remainder of President Obama’s term, what matters most to his success is what Washington watches least: competent governmental management.

Although the part of his presidency that involves getting major new laws through Congress has wound down, the part that involves effectively running the vast federal apparatus to carry out his priorities still has nearly three years to go.

Three long years. And yes, they mention the obvious:

In one way, the situation is liberating for Mr. Obama because, in basketball terms, it puts the ball in his hands at the end of the game. But it is also perilous. From starting health care exchanges to overseeing the National Security Agency to executing his Syria policy, the diffident chief executive and his team have repeatedly thrown the ball out of bounds.

“He’s a nonmanager,” said Charles O. Jones, a presidential scholar and a senior fellow at theMiller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

This sort of heresy would have been unimaginable not that long ago. Say, October 2012.

Comments

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Thanks TomM for reading and reporting on this Prog dreck. This is all so predictable-- Obummer's Progism has been a disaster for the country-- no jobs, no growth, food and fuel prices spiraling, and the Dem's will pay the price in '14 and probably '16 elections. So what's a Prog to do in light of this disaster? Blame Obummer, easy! made easier by the fact Obummer really is an incompetent liar and narcissist, so the progs can simply use the truth to blame Obama. The Prog Bus wheels go round and round, round and round... now it's Obummer's turn to be under them.

[Thomas Collins]

As usual, I will take on the role of Prez 404's greatest defender not only at JOM, but in the entire cosmos. Noone in 2007 and 2008 who (i) paid some attention to what was known about Obama's past pronoucements, and the critical studies/conciliatory internationalist/machine politics milieu in which he operated, (ii) was somewhat observant about the lack of responsible positions Obama held, and (iii) didn't think that writing (or having written for him) memoirs prior to any substantive accomplishment in life, reading reasonably well from a teleprompter and publicly punching a BlackBerry was a sufficient condition for being POTUS, would be at all surprised by the 404 Administration. The failure is largely one of America's media and academic oligarchy to inform the general public of the facts. Barry has just been conforming to what he is.

By the way, I give Barry some credit for being aware enough to realize that the critical studies/leftist schtick needed supplementing by a political machine. He knew he had to mix a Daley nutritional supplement into the Gramsci soup.

So, what we have is one of the most, if not the most, corrupt, leftist and (still) unprepared POTUSes in the history of the US. But one can't say anyone who paid attention wasn't warned.

Meanwhile, who is his likely successor if she is healthy? Why, someone who was one of the primary architects and supporters of the vaunted US foreign policy reset that has worked out so well in the Middle East, Russia and surrounding environs, and Asia.

[Captain Hate]

Trey Gowdy not happy with Johnny B:

http://therightscoop.com/trey-gowdy-pissed-that-congress-wont-do-more-to-get-benghazi-emails-that-judicial-watch-is-clearly-getting/

[Joan]

The real question is 'will the heresy last?' And I sort of doubt it.

[henry]

WI senate RINO exposed sabotaging Common Core repeal bill. More sunlight on these roaches, please.

[Dave (in MA)]

Speaking of sunlight on roaches...

Jughead's isn't the only regime hit by a Smoking Gun memo. Mini-Me's bunch has been using public funds to campaign against a ballot question that would take down the automatic gas tax hike that was put in place recently.
http://www.tankthegastax.org/

These bastards want the gas tax to go up automatically so they don't have to be on record as having voted to take more money out of taxpayers hands.

[Qrstuv]

I am glad to see the NYT acknowledge this reality: "vast federal apparatus"

[Neo]

A transportation proposal sent to Congress by the Obama administration on Tuesday would remove a prohibition on tolls for existing Interstate highways, clearing the way for states to raise revenue on roads that drivers currently use at no cost. Congress banned tolls on Interstates in 1956 when it created the national highway system under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

LUN

[Jane]

As His Tenure Winds Down, Obama Turns Focus to Executive Branch

Apparently he has wrecked everything else.

[Clarice Feldman]

Rick seems to be locked out. Any help would be appreciated.

henry. I just got a fund raising letter which says Walker's race is getting tougher--his opponent is closing in. TryE? I hope not.

[Stephanie]

Can we triple the toll if they have Obama stickers on their cars? ;)

[Bori]

Great, we will finally have Obama act as the President!! (:(

[henry]

Clarice, there is a new poll that shows it tied right now. I don't really know. The state is closely divided and turnout will be everything once again (esp w/o voter ID). As the Dem hopes for the senate disappear, and Wendy goes under the TX bus, it frees money to chase the closest win the left can get. That may be here -- the source of fracking sand among other Walker related evils.

[Bori]

Rick seems to be locked out. Any help would be appreciated.

If he has Malwarebytes, he should run a scan to see if some malicious program has attached itself to his browser. He can also checked to see if his virus software is blocking this site, as a result.

"Good Luck"

[Jane]

Jay Carney just told reporters that the uncovered email had nothing to do with Benghazi.

Now remember the email was about prepping Susan Rice for the Sunday shows after 4 Patriots were killed in Benghazi and Hillary was too tired to go.

I'm pretty sure people are laughing at him.

[Porchlight]

Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?

What, no Paul Simon arrest reference? And it was in TM's backyard, too.

Great post though.

[Porchlight]

Rick, sorry I have no suggestions for you - hope you make it back soon.

It is so delicious watching Wendy Davis crash and burn. Too bad she couldn't have sucked more dollars away from other critical races first, though. But it turns out even the Dems aren't that dumb.

[Porchlight]

From Neo's link about the Obama plan to toll federal highways:

“Tolling has proven to be an inefficient mechanism for collecting transportation revenue, consuming up to 20 percent of revenue generated, and those paying the toll may not even see that road improved because the president’s plan would allow toll revenue to go to other projects in the state,” said Miles Morin, spokesman for the alliance.

"Other projects in the state" = other Dem voters and Dem cronies in the state

Just another wealth transfer. And you watch, they'll time it to kick in after January 2017, so the new Republican president will get the LIV blame.

[boatbuilder]

Modo seems to have forgotten about LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan as well as Clinton--i.e, most of our presidents since 1964. Poor Barry, why didn't he get to be rich growing up? It's all so unfair.

[Dave (in MA)]

What, no Paul Simon arrest reference?

I wonder how badly she beat him?

[Porchlight]

boatbuilder,

She's a Texan. Probably pretty bad.

[Captain Hate]

It is so delicious watching Wendy Davis crash and burn. Too bad she couldn't have sucked more dollars away from other critical races first, though. But it turns out even the Dems aren't that dumb.

Did she make enough to have that growth removed from her face?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

The Simons duking it out in New Canaan. from the indispensible NY Post, check out the 7th graph about the confrontation. BTW, according to the Post the Simon manse is worth a lot more than I assumed. Unlike TomM I don't travel in those Fairfield County real estate circles, so I don't know manse prices: http://pagesix.com/2014/04/28/paul-simon-and-wife-arrested-after-domestic-dispute/

[Porchlight]

Cap'n,

The mole doesn't actually bother me that much. I think she's an attractive woman - on the outside only, of course.

[Stephanie]

There was a FB post on the evil men in the republican party saying evil things about Wendy I saw posted the other day. The comments were hilarious as most of the women commenting weren't enamored of her attempt at victim casting. The nays outweighed the yeas about 4 to 1. Quite impressive really as the puff in the story was torn apart by an easy comparison to that evil wikipedia.

It was delish!

[Thomas Collins]

Obama's POTUSey is best looked at in contrast to James Knox Polk's. The ratio of accomplishment to recognition is infinitesimal in Obama's case, and approaching infinity in Polk's case. Obama wasted stimulus dollars, sold an administrative state behemoth prepaid health plan "reform" that is unadministrable and further threatens the US's financial integrity, and performed a "reset" in world politics that malfunctioned even more than the health plan website. Yet he has been the subject of a creepy charismatic leader type adulation. Polk accomplished needed tariff relief, restructuring of the US banking system, negotiating the Oregon deal with the Brits without going to war, and expanding the southwestern boundaries, all in one term, and is largely ignored.

[Captain Hate]

I think when Jennifer Granholm had her mole removed, it was linked to her cortex because she's been crazier than ever since then.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Rick's old typepad profile has been deleted. I don't know if he did it intentionally, or if there's a typepad issue with that.

But if you go back to find old Rick comments (that he made while signed in to typepad), they now say "Posted by: Deleted Account" and his nice avatar of the bald eagle has been replaced with...

That's not at all how I pictured his appearance.

He emailed last night and I responded this morning - I'm afraid there's not much I can do - I was powerless to help Mark Folkestad when he was locked out. But I'm willing to try anything and everything.

I will however check with TM to make sure Rick's IP address wasn't inadvertently put on the naughty list.

[Porchlight]

Bummer, hit. I hope you can get through to TM. Place ain't the same without Rick.

[Danube on iPad]

Something quite exquisite about the fraud Davis imploding.

[Dave E.]

I sense another pivot to jobs.

[Sue]

My FB page is lighting up with the following:

Cowboys' fans are praying Jerry Jones says something racist.

Ouch!

[MarkO]

"Jay Carney just told reporters that the uncovered email had nothing to do with Benghazi."

Carney has become Ron Zeigler. Remember that this same document (in a redacted and unreadable version) was produced to the House under a subpoena that called for relevant "Bengahzi" documents.

[Sue]

Mark,

Judicial Watch sued for documents related to Benghazi talking points. This email was produced.

[Captain Hate]

I could believe Claire Shipman beats the snot out of Carney for sounding like such a witless tool.

[Captain Hate]

Sue, I heard on local sports talk that the Cowgirl fans are urging Jones to draft Johnny Football.

[Sue]

That's what I heard too, Captn.

[Frau Stachelschwein]

Anyone else following the FCC's new chairman and ex-lobbyist Tom Wheeler getting his lies in place about net neutrality? The techdirt people are *not* buying any of carp he is pitching.

[Porchlight]

Saw just now on HotAir:

Federal minimum wage hike fails in Senate, 54-42

[Rick B]

FREE AT LAST!!!

At least for the moment. Stephanie's suggestion re the throwaway email address worked.

Hit,

No more Fido for a while. I did dump the Typhuspad account.

[lyle]

Cowboys' fans are praying Jerry Jones says something racist.

Ouch!

Ouch, indeed!

[Porchlight]

Yay Rick!

[Frau Stachelschwein]

You mean the Equity Pay bill, Porch?

[Porchlight]

"Jay Carney just told reporters that the uncovered email had nothing to do with Benghazi."

Jon Karl knocks this one out of the park:

https://twitter.com/jonkarl/status/461573507936051200/photo/1

Jonathan Karl
‏@jonkarl
@PressSec says @rhodes44 email not released bc "explicitly not about Benghazi." It has section entitled "Benghazi" pic.twitter.com/SP3c5MynS6

[Frau Stachelschwein]

Wonderful, Rick. Sock it to 'em...and us!

[Porchlight]

Not sure, Frau:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/30/senate-likely-to-block-bill-to-increase-federal-minimum-wage/

Note the URL says "likely to block" - then I guess they just updated the article...

[pagar]

"Speaking of sunlight on roaches..."

Why is this hater still on the air?

http://www.tpnn.com/2014/04/29/bill-maher-wishes-death-upon-this-l-a-clippers-star-for-this-belief/

Bill Mayer donated $1 million dollars to the Obama campaign. Will Obama be returning that Money because of the demonstrated hate of Bill Mayer to a follow American just because he doesn't belief the left wing garbage that Bill Mayer believes?

[Captain Hate]

Since Mike "Costanza Grande" Holmgren has badmouthed Manziel, Browns fans are regarding him as the second coming of Otto Graham.

[Frau Stachelschwein]

Equity Pay bill is the Julia Lackwitz fund raiser for those times that she is forced to be a wage slave.

[Ann]

Good News from Rhoads:

Ben Rhodes ‏@rhodes44 13m

In June POTUS will travel to Poland, Belgium, France. Opportunity to underscore enduring importance of our alliances http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/30/statement-press-secretary-president-s-travel-europe-june-2014 …

Where is Michelle vacationing?

[pagar]

http://news.yahoo.com/senate-gop-blocks-dems-minimum-wage-boost-163605319--finance.html

http://www.journal14.com/2014/04/30/economics-101-we-told-you-so-raising-the-minimum-wage-has-already-cost-jobs/

"Obama minimum wage edict leads to job losses at military bases"

[MarkO]

Sue, I misspoke. It was the subpoena from Judicial Watch that was for Benghazi documents

[Porchlight]

"underscore enduring importance of our alliances" = beg forgiveness for telling them all to eff off for the last five years

I wonder if they'll buy it. Gives him an excuse not to campaign with any of the rats hoping to escape the sinking ship.

[42]

How does one confuse the Yankees with Brooklyn?

[Frau Stachelschwein]

Ann, going to Europe now on the heels of his Asian success? Pres.404 is so fab at leading from behind, he should have his buttocks bronzed.

[Jane]

Carney should really be laughed out of town. I think that started today. His body language made it clear that he lies constantly. (I actually didn't see much of his body language but that's the kind of thing a liberal would say with authority.)

[Dave (in MA)]

That's not at all how I pictured his appearance.

How about...

[Captain Hate]

Why is this hater still on the air?

I'm pretty sure Blake Griffin is significantly smarter than Maher and 100% positive he could physically crush him like a worm.

[Rick B]

TC,

What happens in Progville as Mighty BOzo continues to strike out? Do you think the chorus of boos will increase or will the dissatisfied boot lickers who greased his way realize the danger to the Fascist Party inherent with criticism of the FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT?

If he were capable of learning, then criticism might improve his performance but I am unaware of any evidence of his possession of that capability beyond that displayed by puppets or parrots.

[maryrose]

Carney is panicking now that his name is linked to the email as one of the {cc} people.Obama will need more than criminal lawyer representation for this outright "cover-up of a cover-up" as Ktauthammer labels it. Hillary too will feel the heat and if protesters start showing up at her talking digs -she is toast. Warren hear we come but Fauxchahontas wil die in 2016 as the economy, inflation and the flawed Aca insure fewer people than in 2009. Unemployment rate will stubbornly stay above 6.5 and fruit and meat will become luxury items
Congrats to Rich and Peter.
Rich - you may have been one of the higher paid people at your old job so the decision could have been financial."If you can-read the book "Who Moved My Cheese". Sometimes we hang unto something because it is familiar but not always in our best interest. They should have appreciated you more.
As far as ironing goes-I like how the clothes look -but my iron broke down over a year ago and I have yet to replace it.

[Jim Eagle]

Damn it. We are in Belgium in June until the 5th then down to Paris and the overnight train to Venice then on our cruise to Greece, Turkey and Italy. 3 nights in Rome, two in Venice then back to Southampton. This is Frederick's "Greek and Roman Mythology" trip he has always wanted to do.

I sure hope I get into a bloody no holds barred fight with my EuroLeft in-laws on what a complete ignoramus the Champ is and how he has endangered them more than they know. Perhaps they are learning that now but we'll see. They are so naive when it comes to the Champ.

[What Left?]

"I sure hope I get into a bloody no holds barred fight with my EuroLeft in-laws on what a complete ignoramus the Champ is and how he has endangered them more than they know"

Don't be too surprised if they savage him in a Putinesque manner.

[maryrose]

CH:
I want the Browns to choose a quarterback. If Johnny Manziel{Mr.Football} is it I am sure we will lose out on teams ahead of us in the draft selecting him. I am a nervous wreck and every morning on the Rizzo show they talk about other bad possibilities. We are vacationing in Oregon and Washington on Draft Day so will have to watch it on hotel tv.What are your thoughts on our chances of a successful experience in the NFL Draft?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

JiB-- when is JEF in Europe? my wife and I are in normandy 5/20-5/28 for D-Day +70 years.

[Porchlight]

From the WH press release:

While in Warsaw, the President will hold bilateral meetings and join other world leaders in commemorating the Polish Day of Freedom, marking the 25th anniversary of Poland’s emergence from Communism.

This is the a-hole who announced we were welching on our missile defense agreement with Poland...on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland.

You know he's just going to hate celebrating anyone's "emergence" (how about liberation? freedom?) from Communism.

[Frau alte Dame]

"They are so naive when it comes to the Champ Chump."
FIFY

Give 'em hay-ull, JiB. We will be in Germany in July, and I expect to enlighten a few in the extended family and anyone else who needs it.

[Miss Marple]

Put this on the tail end of the last thread. In case you were wondering about Mike Pence's rejection of Common Core, Michelle Malkin has it about right.

The anti-CC people are NOT happy with him, and they are not going to go away. He's lucky he isn't up for re-election this fall.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/big-government-republicans-like-mike-pence-pushing-a-phony-common-core-rebrand/article/2547894

[Porchlight]

While in Warsaw, the President will hold bilateral meetings and join other world leaders in commemorating the Polish Day of Freedom, marking the 25th anniversary of Poland’s emergence from Communism.

Sorry, can't let go of this. Commemorating? Emergence? What a solemn occasion. It sounds like they're bummed out about it. Gee, wonder why.

[Ann]

Just FYI :)

Poland - Top 100 Golf Courses
www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/country.asp?id=52‎
There are twelve championship 18 hole golf courses and nineteen 9 hole courses waiting for Obama in Poland.

Belgium Top Golf Courses and Best Golf Resorts.
www.where2golf.com/Belgium/top-golf-courses.asp‎

France - Top 100 Golf Courses
www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/country.asp?id=12‎

[MaxB]

“He’s a nonmanager,”?

Perhaps he just manages from behind.

[narciso]

Carlos Slim's just full of Vizzini today;

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/04/30/white-house-back-to-peddling-economic-stimulus-via-infrastructure-spending-and-new-taxes/

[maryrose]

Ann:
I am sure Obama will find the time to play golf while in Poland.
MaxB:
It is an established fact that Obama manages from behind because he's usually behind the 8 ball.
I am glad they voted down the wage increase that would destroy jobs. Comments on Politico mostly favor the dems. Of course Pryor can claim he would have voted against it. He's in the fight of life in Arkansas. It reminds me Of hil and Obama and the vote to fund the troops in Iraq. As I recall Bammy voted against our military troops and he still became president. Unbelievable.

[Jim Eagle]

Ann,

He will be in Brussels I believe but he should play Gravenstein (Royal Belgium Golf Club) if he is there and enjoys playing great courses because it will humble him to the point he may want to give the game up? Our course is Royal Antwerp but if he doesn't speak French he will probably be ignored. How do you think he'll like that?

Stay tuned to JOM as I report live for the trip June 4th and 5th but I'll be on the Thalys on the 5th.

[Frau alte Dame]

Who will welcome in the Summer of Recovery V?

[Miss Marple]

I am doing my part, Frau. I am investing in a road trip with my grandchildren this summer, out to Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, etc.

I decided I should go this year before they set up check points on the interstates and ask for travel documents.

[Jim Eagle]

BTW, thinks the worm has turned? Charlie "Cheetah" Crist is ahead of Rick Scott in the latest polls. He has actually changed his position 180 on every major issue since he was Gov and running against Rubio.

Now that is unbelievable - almost as unbelievable that Mass elected Fauxchohantas and Virginia turned completely blue. This "unfettered exuberance" I keep hearing for the 2014 may turn out to be another "Obama is going to get shit canned" from last year.

[narciso]

Except for US Today, I didn't see any piece o Benghazi, I guess the two minute Sterling hate, took all the ink, also the WSJ poll, which seems to absolve Obama of his fusterclucks,

[Jeff Dobbs]

When will you be in Yellowstone, Miss Marple?

This is our year to hit Idaho (just on the western side of the Tetons, over the pass from Jackson Hole).

We're usually there straddling 4th of July, no definite dates set yet.

We could carpool!

[Frau alte Dame]

LOL Miss Marple - better check to see that the giant sheet covering Mt. Rushmore has been removed.

[Jim Eagle]

Tolls on Interstates are not new policy recommendations. I remember back when I was there while Bush 41 was POTUS that Sam Skinner and his DoT minions were looking at it to fund high speed rail and maglev on the interestate ROWs'. Same with Clenis' first term.

But they looked and said no. I don't see the votes in Congress for it then or now.

[maryrose]

JIB:
Don't getdiscouraged. The Dems want you to think they will survive to decrease Repub turnout in November.Why do you think theyare fighting like hell In Wisconsin agaist voter ID? They know disillusioned dems are not going to turn out so they need their phony baloney ballots to carry the day.Repubs are mad as hell and believe me they will turn out.In Ohio early voting has been drastically reduced. We have them running scared. Kasich's challenger is some vain fop from Cleveland whom I met last year while working the polls. He had his own photographer with him annd a "Don't you know who I am attitude. I didn't know who he was.

[rich@gmu]

peter from a few threads down. congratulations.

Posted by: maryrose | April 30, 2014 at 04:26 PM-

suppose it is moot now, and fixating on it is unproductive. As far as pay goes, I was probably middle of the pack (but probably one of the highest paid for my time in service at the company) and researching it my salary wasn't out-of-line for the area. My guess is it comes down to 3 things: smoking, working a nonstandard work schedule because of school, and a keystroke logger on my username so they could follow along with my comments at various websites (YIKES!!).

The first two would have contributed to a sense for senior management* (and I contributed to this) that I was too self-indulgent with the job or that I wasn't the type of employee they wanted around longer term (not fitting in with the corporate culture, as it were). The last one, I made some intemperate remarks every once in a while (mostly at Ace's), but nothing that I don't think hundreds of other employees would have made at say facebook or other message boards and nothing about the company directly (mostly stuff about school and goofing off-stuff that ultimately hurts my reputation but could be construed as a violation of the firm's social media policy).

*i had recognized that senior management was walking the floor at strange times of the day (definitely strange if I saw them given my work hours) and the word I got was that some really wanted to drop the hammer-things like "convicts running the prison" and that "it was time to show who was boss".

More importantly, I wasn't surprised that a lay off was coming, but like I said before, I am just stumped as to what sort of mathematical wizardry would have put me at the bottom of the shop. I worked the holidays, weekends, small hours of the morning-efficiently, mistake free, and usually without complaint. I managed to do all that while taking a 3/4's load at school in a serious degree program and maintaining good (great!) gpa. It felt like a disciplinary action, and I wasn't once informed as to what or why I was being disciplined for.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

$4/Gal regular.. yeah... tolls on interstates will go over well.

The Ct Turnpike (I-95) had tolls until 1984 or so, what was up with that?

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

Now that is unbelievable - almost as unbelievable that Mass elected Fauxchohantas and Virginia turned completely blue. This "unfettered exuberance" I keep hearing for the 2014 may turn out to be another "Obama is going to get shit canned" from last year.

I agree, JiB. Terry McAuliffe winning was a huge moment for me. We are in big trouble.

Most people don't know the same things we know at all. They don't just have a fact here or there wrong...they have never heard of the story.
Unless there is a big shift in the media machine, I don't see much changing.

[lyle]

They're out-Orwellianing Orwell now.

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/04/30/video-on-msnbc-animal-farm-is-a-parable-about-income-inequality/

Does this bint even consider where the money comes from for her paycheck?

[Captain Hate]

My guess is it comes down to 3 things: smoking, working a nonstandard work schedule because of school, and a keystroke logger on my username so they could follow along with my comments at various websites (YIKES!!).

My guess is it was something really stoopid on their part and you'll make yourself crazy trying to figure it out. People get canned for some of the most capricious reasons and making sense of it is an exercise in futility.

[Miss Marple]

hit and run,

WIll be out there last two weeks of June, 18-28.

Taking daughter-in-law (who has never been west) and 3 grandchildren, 17, 15, and 11. Younger two are girls.

They need to see the west and have never been.

Grandson is off to college in one more year, so now is the only chance.

We are driving up through South Dakota and then on to Yellowstone and then to the IU Geology Field Camp, where I got my degree.

If we can, I would like to push on up to Glacier but don't know if we will have time.

[lyle]

Terry McAuliffe winning was a huge moment for me.

I sympathize but was this that big of a deal considering how many gubmint workers reside in NoVa?

[Captain Hate]

They're out-Orwellianing Orwell now.

Orwell would never get such low ratings.

[lyle]

That's quite a road trip, MM. You're covering some vast territory.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

Except for US Today, I didn't see any piece o Benghazi,

See...most people don't know hardly anything about Benghazi & who can blame them. They aren't news junkies, like us.

I tell ya, I hate the media.

[Miss Marple]

lyle,

Yep. The point is to get the kids to understand how BIG the country is, which you cannot do by flying.

There will be 3 drivers, and I am renting a van.

I actually love road trips.

[Thomas Collins]

Rick B, I think the progs are in the process of developing talking points that focus on Obama's management style as being too above the fray, on supposed GOP intransigence, and on foreign policy mistakes that happened after Hillary Clinton left the Secretary of State position. Look for prog undercutting of Kerry. The progs need to achieve the following balance: Critique the Obama Administration in a way that (i) ignores the failure of progism itself and focuses on lack of administrative skills, and (ii) distances Hillary Clinton from the current and future foreign policy disasters. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing NY Times articles on how Hillary viewed the reset in a different manner from Obama, that Hillary's was a more "trust but verify" approach in contrast to Obama's softer approach.

Although there will be progs who will speak ill of the Clintons, the center of gravity of prog strategy over the next couple of years will be to pave the way for a Hillary Clinton POTUSey.

[Dave (in MA)]

Jane, Rocco, TC, et al,

Good news/ bad news...

Good: On June 1st Boston is getting a 'libertarian' talk station, on AM 1510, replacing a 3rd(4th?)-tier sports station. Bad: The overnight programming will consist of Alex Jones. So now there will be syndicated kooks overnight on 2 out of the 3 local talk stations. (And a low-info type on the other--last night Bradley was talking about how he was scared of all the "bad chemicals" used in fracking)

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: lyle | April 30, 2014 at 05:24 PM-

that and the influx of tech workers to NoVa (i live in data center alley). However, VA is a big state and McAwful's administration is going to be a long term disaster.

Posted by: Captain Hate | April 30, 2014 at 05:24 PM-

Well stated and thanks. ION, one of my predictions has come to pass. my old firm was "bought" [the deal terms are strange by my reading] yesterday so there's that.

[Porchlight]

We are driving up through South Dakota and then on to Yellowstone and then to the IU Geology Field Camp, where I got my degree.

My mom grew up in southeast South Dakota, in a small town called Lake Andes on the Yankton reservation. The Missouri River there is just so beautiful. And the waves of prairie and the Badlands and the Black Hills and everything else. Enjoy! And be sure to stop at Wall Drug!

[Steve]

CLASSIC:
Lip Sync Battle: Emma Stone vs. Jimmy Fallon

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2014/04/video-lip-sync-battle-with-emma-stone.html

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

ThomasC-- and do you think Obummer and his hardcore Lefty pals will quietly let the 'pragmatic' Dems throw them under the bus for HildaBeast? I don't think so; IMO a real shooting war is erupting between the Hardcore Progs and the phony baloney Clintonistas for control of the Dem Party. Knife fight in an alley between rich old white Libs and the Urban anti-Christian anti-West Third World Progs, I know who I fancy in that fight.

[lyle]

The point is to get the kids to understand how BIG the country is, which you cannot do by flying

Well, you're traveling through some of the biggest states, that's for sure. Have fun even if you don't wander into Idaho. We hit Yellowstone four years ago and Old Faithful went off precisely as we got there. Jackson Hole is gorgeous. That would be quite a haul up to Glacier, however.

[Clarice Feldman]

I love the remark that this is a trip Frederick's always wanted to take..ALWAYS--he's what 9?10?

Have fun.

I just had an emergency root canal. The anestyhetic is wearing off and my eyes feel funny.