In Which I Effortlessly Square A Circle

Ezra Klein delivers nine takeaways from the election results, briefly suggesting that, unlike Obama, he is educable. But my confidence in that conclusion is shaken by Point 2:

2)  The night had few bright spots for Democrats.

But there were some for liberals. The personhood ballot initiatives lost in Colorado and North Dakota. Marijuana was legalized in D.C. and Oregon (and we're still waiting on Alaska). The minimum wage was raised in Arkansas, Illinois and Nebraska (though the Illinois initiative will still require ratification from the legislature). Washington state expanded background checks on guns. "So voters want a higher minimum wage, legal pot, abortion access and GOP representation," tweeted FiveThirtyEight's Ben Casselman. "Ok then."

Oh, bon mot! If an (uncontrolled) gun were pressed to my head I would offer the notion that maybe voters prefer our Federalist system, and are happy to pass at the state level laws while preserving a bit of humility and resisting a "One Size Fits All" approach at the national level.

Just a guess.

Comments

[henry]

I thought Biden's shiny new head was the Dem bright spot.

[Miss Marple]

Joni Ernst and Greg Abbott will be on Greta's show. Right now karl Rove is on so you can tune in late and not miss anything.

[Danube on iPad]

Rove foresees two years of obstinacy and rancor.

He deserves credit for ensuring that Cory Gardner, not Ken Buck, was the GOP nominee in Colorado.

[daddy]

Good Morning!

Here's a story on why Begich has not yet conceded:

Begich faces daunting math to beat Sullivan in Alaska U.S. Senate race

Here is why he thinks he still has a chance:

With 100 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, Sullivan led Begich by about 8,000 votes.

State elections officials said there were nearly 24,000 uncounted absentee and early votes, which won’t be tallied until next week. There are also 13,804 absentee ballots that voters had requested but not yet returned to the state, though it was unclear how many of those would ultimately end up being counted.

Then there are questioned ballots -- typically cast by Alaskans who voted at the wrong location. Elections officials won’t know how many questioned ballots were cast until Thursday, but there were roughly 13,000 in the last midterm election, in 2010.

To beat Sullivan, Begich would have to take 8,000 votes from Sullivan out of all the outstanding ballots -- which appear unlikely to top 50,000 total.

So that's his logic. Begich is betting on the Natives, on phony ballots, and on hanging chads.

On the plus side, Sullivan is a Marine Colonel, is a Harvard Law Grad, and has been State Attorney General, so he's sort of a mixture of Cecil T, Danube, and Clarice! I don't think he will go down softly without putting on one hell of a Legal Battle.

[Jack is Back!]

Looking at the demeanor and attitude of both McConnel and Obama I can only assume that if we get obstinacy and rancor it will start and end at the White House and not the Capitol Bldg.

[Steve]

Dear Republicans: No One Elected You to Work with Democrats

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2014/11/dear-republicans-no-one-elected-you-to.html

[clarice]

WaPo has a big article today in which Reid's chief of staff unloads on O , even turning over emails form him. I smell an internecine battle royale.

[Jack is Back!]

Jennifer Rubin gets this one just about right but lags TM's "petulant" little man. Read this and just smile at how right we have been since 2008 about this manchild charlatan.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2014/11/05/obama-press-conferenece-oh-this-is-why-republicans-won/

[Miss Marple]

Rick Klein on Greta going on and on about how Christy, as head of the Republican Governors Association , made himself a front-runner.

Greta throws cold water on that by saying he first has to explain the delays in recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

[Eric in Boise]

I smell an internecine battle royale.

Just one of the things I'm looking forward to the next two years. Here's another:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/11/05/usa-politics-keystone-idUKL1N0SV2CQ20141105

"…if President Barack Obama vetoes the bill, Republicans would seek to attach it to must-pass legislation on other energy or appropriations issues..."

Could Obama be forced to shut down the Government in order to stop Keystone?

There's not enough popcorn in creation.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/11/scott_walker_wins_wisconsin_again_why_the_conservative_governor_won_again.html

Good analysis and worth reading.

[Some Guy]

I missed Zero's speechifying today, was there any foot stomping?

Did he cross his arms and turn his back?

Did he eventually put his fingers in his ears, and start making 'nananana' noises?

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Fat RINO Bastard is a front runner only at the all you can eat buffet after that "sit down and shut up" outburst.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Wow nice articles in Slate and by Jen Rubin. Was that a pig that just flew by?

[MarkO]

As a presidential contender, Huckabee is a mediocre bassist.

[Some Guy]

Wow CH -- two Christie posts in a row!

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Another reason for Dems to worry - Greg Abbott won 44% of the Hispanic vote while campaigning hard on a promise to "secure the border."
Dems' radical commitment to abortion is driving away Hispanics. The Democrat social agenda could leave them with nothing but rich white urban liberals.

- Steve Stockman

[Jane on Ipad]

He did all of that some guy, and more. I can't wait until people start telling on him. Then you will really see some foot stomping.

Biggest takeaway from today's speech - everyone who didn't vote, voted for his policies. Who dreams this stuff up?

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Hubs just reminded me... I wonder how the NUNN/CARTER bitch in the QT parking lot is feeling today? :P~

[Ben]

Is it too late to save America?

[Some Guy]

Hey I like Zero's logic --

62 Million voted for him, so therefore 253 Million voted against him!

The only mandate he's got is Reggie.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

The Ferret probably got 404 on board with that nonsensical hogwash; it reeks of community organizing spiels.

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Speaking of old bitches... anyone heard any lamentations from Pelosi today?

[MarkO]

We've been trying to save America for a good 60 years.

[AliceH]

Pelosi sent some memo today to House Dems, plus tweeted, saying she intends to tun for minority leader again.

[narciso]

on a lighter note,

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/05/nbc-s-today-show-hires-pippa-middleton.html

'Norma Desmond' was seeing muttering, just a flesh wound;

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Gad. We've already dropped a house on her.

Lurkers posting at the Examiner?

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/everything-obama-touched-turned-to-crap/article/2555788

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Hollywood reacts to loss:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXysRO11Xi8

[jimmyk]

Hey I like Zero's logic

Logic and Obama don't really belong in the same sentence.

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

WTF?

According to a new IRS legal brief in the agency’s court battle with the nonprofit group Judicial Watch, IRS lawyers said that IRS officials did not search for Lerner’s emails.

Here are the reasons given:

Why the IRS didn’t search computer servers: “the servers would not result in the recovery of any information.”

Why the IRS didn’t look at backup tapes: “no reason to believe that the tapes are a potential source of recovering” the missing emails.

The IRS did not ”submit declarations about any of the foregoing items because it had no reason to believe that they were sources from which to recover information lost as a result of Lerner’s hard drive failure,” the agency admitted.

http://dailycaller.com/2014/11/05/irs-we-havent-actually-searched-for-lerners-missing-emails/

[Janet]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/11/04/west-virginia-elects-americas-youngest-state-lawmaker/

"A West Virginia University freshman who did most of her campaigning out of her dorm room became the youngest state lawmaker in the nation Tuesday.

Republican Saira Blair, a fiscally conservative 18-year-old, will represent a small district in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle, about 1½ hours outside Washington, D.C., after defeating her Democratic opponent 63% to 30%, according to the Associated Press. A third candidate got 7% of the vote."

[windansea]

two previous comments linking this article at Slate but they didn't quote the title, it's very good and even more so for being at Slate. This guy knows how to win, and I am down with that all the way.

Wisconsin Three-Peat

Why no one can beat Scott Walker.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/11/scott_walker_wins_wisconsin_again_why_the_conservative_governor_won_again.html

[henry]

I have no reason to believe my bank account ledger would have any information about unreported income.

[windansea]

I also like the fact that Walker pretty much shunned DC surrogates except Priebus who is a local, and let us know Fat Bastard invited himself

Walker looks like the real deal to me, lets get behind him

[Jack is Back!]

So Obama says he his going to be busy the next two years. Not, "I am going to be working hard for the American people" but "going to be busy" except it will be on hte golf course.

I am willing to bet that in the next two years he exceeds the number of rounds per week/month/year he has already played. He will go from a bogie golfer to a double-bogie PosTus.

He is living on a Dhow on a river in Egypt.

[Jack is Back!]

Nighty night. Off to bed. Slaap lekker. What more is there to talk about after last night and this morning.

[Centralcal on iPad]

I agree Windansea. Count me in.

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

You're a special kind of stoopit aren't you:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-guest-black-voters-were-offended-by-dems-running-from-obama/

[Sandy fallow districts~engorged capital Daze]

Walker - Haley / Jindal / Carson (pick one) 2016

Walker Works for Me 2016

Walk With Walker 2016

[narciso]

that is a striking metaphor, JiB, meanwhile the IRS does it's best Chief Quimby impression,
'nothing to see here, move along' so where did the Judicial Watch emails come from,

[Beasts of England]

A carry-over from the other thread, re: Walker's education. First, how much of the electorate finished or even attended college? 30%? I find it extremely insulting that anyone would consider that a negative - and I'd ask them 'What state have you run?'

One of my best friends had to drop out of college and get a job after he got his girlfriend pregnant. Thirty years later he owns one of the largest development groups in the Southeast and is worth $100.0M if he's worth a penny. I'd also ask the dumbasses who question Walker's lack of degree if they have a nine-figure net worth.

Let's drop this fake snobbery shit before it starts.

[Sandy fallow districts~engorged capital Daze]

I'm with Walker 2016

[Laura White]

God does watch over drunks, children, and our beloved country. Now let's find ten or more righteous men to stave off disaster. Or women--congrats Mia Love!!

[Sandy "Walks w/ Walker 2016" Daze]

BoE - Just So.

[Beasts of England]

I'm not done: the stupid moron in the Oval Office has two Ivy degrees and is incapable of running a fucking lemonade stand. Fuck this credentialed bullshit.

And I know there a lot of JOMers with Ivy degrees and I mean absolutely no disrespect to them, in any way whatsoever...

[narciso]

words mean thing, hope he eventually comes to that conclusion:

http://therightscoop.com/mark-levin-republican-leadership-just-handed-the-power-of-the-purse-back-to-obama/

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Y'all been hearing anything about this?

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/active-monitoring-ebola-doctor-Craig-Spencer-bellevue-hospital-281671121.html

The number of people under "active monitoring" for Ebola symptoms has increased from 117 on Monday to 357 people Wednesday, health officials said.
The vast majority of those being monitored arrived in New York City within the past 21 days from the three Ebola-affected countries, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation said in a statement.

357??

[Jim Miller]

Update on the Republican vs. Republican, Didier vs. Newhouse race in Washington's 4th House district. Newhouse is leading, as I write, by just 2 percent (55,053-52,871), but a quick glance at the Secretary of State's page for estimated votes to be counted shows me that most of the remaining votes are in two large counties, Yakima and Benton (Tri-Cities), where Newhouse has been running ahead of Didier.

(If I had gotten a little more sleep last night, I would probably check the numbers and call it for Newhouse. Maybe tomorrow morning. Tomorrow for sure, I will mock Nate Cohn's prediction that the Democrats were going to win several governorships.)

I would guess that Newhouse's winning margin is coming from independents and Democrats who hope that he will, at least occasionally, work with the Democrats.

Members of the church of Limbaugh may see that conclusion as heretical, but I try to call them as I see them.

[windansea]

famous college dropouts

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleyperez/23-famous-dropouts-who-turned-out-just-fine

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

They did an ebola song and made some jokes about last night on the CMA Awards and the crowd went wild...

http://twitchy.com/2014/11/05/doesnt-get-any-better-cmaawards-audience-goes-wild-after-joke-about-dems-loss-video/

[windansea]

21. Abraham Lincoln left school at 12 to help his family farm, and then he became THE PRESIDENT.

[windansea]

What Diploma?

Bill Gates
Steve Jobs
Frank Lloyd Wright
Buckminster Fuller
James Cameron
Mark Zuckerberg
Tom Hanks
Harrison Ford
Lady Gaga
Tiger Woods

[windansea]

lots of libs on the list

Oprah
Hanks
Buffet
Zuckerberg

need I go on?

[Beasts of England]

Buckminster Fuller? Wow! Go Fullerines!!

[daddy]

Wretchard details a number of Dem Talking Heads who are encouraging Obama to drop his Mr Nice Guy schtick and come out now and give us his inner Dictator that the World so desperately needs:
Parthian Shot

[Jane on Ipad]

Re: Walker's education. First I think maybe his dad died and he had to help his mother. It was something like that - a reason that would help not hurt. 2 lets compare a guy with a Harvard law degree who has never held a job and his ability to get things done with Walker.

Game, set and match

[henry]

Sandy, the signs here are "I Stand With Walker"

[Jane on Ipad]

Sorry Beasts, I should have kept reading.

[clarice]

Newsweek just published it's last issue. Given it's leftist cast this article should be considered a mea culpa for the dishonest coverage they gave Obama:By Matt Patterson
(Newsweek Columnist - Opinion Writer)
Years from now, historians may regard the 2008 election of Barack
Obama as an inscrutable and disturbing phenomenon, the result
of a baffling breed of mass hysteria akin perhaps to the witch
craze of the Middle Ages. How, they will wonder, did a man so
devoid of professional accomplishment beguile so many into
thinking he could manage the world's largest economy, direct
the world's most powerful military, execute the world's most
consequential job?
Imagine a future historian examining Obama's pre-presidential life:
ushered into and through the Ivy League, despite unremarkable
grades and test scores along the way; a cushy non-job as a
"community organizer;" a brief career as a state legislator devoid
of legislative achievement (and in fact nearly devoid of his
attention, less often did he vote "present"); and finally an
unaccomplished single term in the United States Senate, the
entirety of which was devoted to his presidential
ambitions.
He left no academic legacy in academia, authored no signature
legislation as a legislator. And then there is the matter of his
troubling associations: the white-hating, America-loathing preacher
who for decades served as Obama's "spiritual mentor;" a real-life,
actual terrorist who served as Obama's colleague and political
sponsor. It is easy to imagine a future historian looking at
it all and asking: how on Earth was such a man elected
president? There is no evidence that he ever attended or
worked for any university or that he ever sat for the Illinois bar.
We have no documentation for any of his claims. He may well be
the greatest hoax in history..
Not content to wait for history, the incomparable Norman Podhoretz
addressed the question recently in the Wall Street Journal: To be
sure, no white candidate who had close associations with an outspoken
hater of America like Jeremiah Wright and an unrepentant
terrorist like Bill Ayers, would have lasted a single day. But
because Mr. Obama was black, and therefore entitled in the
eyes of liberal Dom to have hung out with protesters against
various American injustices, even if they were 'a bit'
extreme, he was given a pass. Let that sink in: Obama was
given a pass - held to a lower standard because of the color
of his skin.
Podhoretz continues: And in any case, what did such ancient history
matter when he was also so articulate and elegant and (as he
himself had said) "non-threatening," all of which gave him a
fighting chance to become the first black president and
thereby to lay the curse of racism to rest?
Podhoretz puts his finger, I think, on the animating pulse of the Obama
phenomenon - affirmative action. Not in the legal sense, of
course. But certainly in the motivating sentiment behind all
affirmative action laws and regulations, which are designed
primarily to make white people, and especially white liberals,
feel good about themselves.
Unfortunately, minorities often suffer so that whites can pat
themselves on the back. Liberals routinely admit minorities to
schools for which they are not qualified, yet take no responsibility
for the inevitable poor performance and high drop-out rates which
follow. Liberals don't care if these minority students fail;
liberals aren't around to witness the emotional devastation
and deflated self-esteem resulting from the racist policy that
is affirmative action. Yes, racist. Holding someone to a
separate standard merely because of the color of his skin -
that's affirmative action in a nutshell, and if that isn't racism,
then nothing is.
And that is what America did to Obama. True, Obama himself was
never troubled by his lack of achievements, but why would he be?
As many have noted, Obama was told he was good enough for
Columbia despite undistinguished grades at Occidental; he was
told he was good enough for the US Senate despite a mediocre
record in Illinois; he was told he was good enough to be president
despite no record at all in the Senate. All his life, every step of the
way, Obama was told he was good enough for the next step, in spite
of ample evidence to the contrary.
What could this breed if not the sort of empty narcissism on display
every time Obama speaks? In 2008, many who agreed that he lacked
executive qualifications nonetheless raved about Obama's oratory
skills, intellect, and cool character. Those people - conservatives
included - ought now to be deeply embarrassed.
The man thinks and speaks in the hoariest of clichés, and that's when
he has his Teleprompters in front of him; when the prompter is absent
he can barely think or speak at all. Not one original idea has ever issued
from his mouth - it's all warmed-over Marxism of the kind that has failed
over and over again for 100 years. (An example is his 2012 campaign
speeches which are almost word for word his 2008 speeches).
And what about his character? Obama is constantly blaming anything
and everything else for his troubles. Bush did it; it was bad
luck; I inherited this mess. Remember, he wanted the job,
campaigned for the task. It is embarrassing to see a president
so willing to advertise his own powerless-ness, so comfortable
with his own incompetence. (The other day he actually came out
and said no one could have done anything to get our economy
and country back on track). But really, what were we to
expect? The man has never been responsible for anything, so
how do we expect him to act responsibly? In short: our
president is a small-minded man, with neither the temperament
nor the intellect to handle his job. When you understand that,
and only when you understand that, will the current erosion of
liberty and prosperity make sense. It could not have gone
otherwise with such an impostor in the Oval Office.

[clarice]

(Very tired--forgive the It's for its at the intro)

[windansea]

whoa Clarice

that Newsweek is gonna leave a mark

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Oh brother...

Obama said that Jordan “wasn’t very well informed,” explaining that he and Rashad had recently defeated Alonzo Mourning in a friendly match.

“But there is no doubt that Michael is a better golfer than I am. Of course if I was playing twice a day for the last 15 years, then that might not be the case.”

“He might want to spend more time thinking about the Bobcats — or the Hornets.”

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/11/barack-obama-golf-michael-jordan-zing-response-charlotte-hornets

[clarice]

SORRY--I WAS MISLED--THAT WAS NOT FROM NEWSWEEK (PER SNOPES) BUT FROM AN AMERICAN THINKER ARTICLE WHICH WAS MISTAKENLY ATTRIBUTED TO AA NEWSWEEK ATICLE) PLS IGNORE. NYTOL.

[narciso]

yes, it was too honest for a newsweek piece,

[windansea]

golf smack talk exchange Jordan & Obama

Jordan:

“I’ve never played with Obama, but I would,” Jordan said. “But — nah, that’s OK. I’ll take him out. He’s a hack. Man, I’d be all day playing with him.”

“Do you really want to say that?,” Rashad replied. “The president of the United States is a hack?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Jordan shot back with a grin. “I never said he’s wasn’t a great politician, I just said he’s a s***** golfer.”

Jugears:

“Mike and I, we know each other, but I’ve never played golf with him,” Obama said … “Michael wasn’t very well informed about this. I think he might’ve just been trying to give Ahmad an extra ratings boost on his show.

Obama continued, “But there is no doubt that Michael is a better golfer than I am. Of course if I was playing twice a day for the last 15 years, then that might not be the case.”

“He might want to spend more time thinking about the Bobcats … or the Hornets.”

[Beasts of England]

It was a great smack down regardless, Clarice!

And so Preznit Stompy Feet whines about his golf skills, too? You decelerate, Barry - you ain't ever gonna be any good! Ugh.

[RickB]

A Democrat in the West Virginia State Senate turned his coat today, breaking a tie and giving the GOP control of another state legislature.

I wish someone would call AZ-02 for McSally. She's up 2K with 100% counted and has been all day.

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

http://twitchy.com/2014/11/05/time-to-hoard-26-hysterical-americans-stocking-up-on-birth-control-after-gop-wave/

These womyn are an embarrassment to women everywhere. Holy mother of Pearl brand Tampons..

[Beasts of England]

Now that Angus King has been rebuffed by the reps, he can look forward to being the junior minority member of the Senate Sewage Treatment Oversight Committee. Heh.

[Some Guy]

Stephanie,

Why do I have the feeling that the women stocking up are in inverse proportion to the one's who could actually use/need it?

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Not a good year for AC/DC

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29928698

[Stephanie accidentally OnT?]

Even coyote uglies occasionally get 'love,' too.

Desperately straddling a bar stool at 2 am when the beer goggles get foggy is no way to go through life, girls.

[Janet]

That Am. Thinker post is great. Here's the link - http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/08/obama_the_affirmative_action_president.html

[glasater]

We're all tired, Clarice.

And on the golf scene this BOzo's too lazy to even work on a mediocre golf swing. That takes some real effort.

He doesn't have the discipline to even work on that. Jordan spotted that from the get-go.

[Captain Hate]

Levin brought up a point tonight that nobody is talking about and that is that the government shutdown last year was gonna totally screw the GOP's chances to take the Senate according to the conventional wisdom at the time. And I'm pretty sure that NK was stating he would say "I told you so" when Ted Cruz cost the Repubs the Senate. Welp, it's time to pay the piper.

[Captain Hate]

Michael Jordan's image has taken some major shots ever since he retired from the Bulls. The first one happened when he held a high office with the Washington Wizards and was gonna help Doug Collins and the team by unretiring and assisting the young players' development. Only he used it as a chance to be the focus of the team and didn't do a damn thing to help anybody else. Plus his ability as talent evaluator after he stopped playing was crummy. Then came his induction speech into the basketball hall of fame which was one of the most petty and small minded lashing out at weirdly perceived slights going back to high school that left everybody who heard it wondering WTF. Gracious it was not.

That said, it's not surprising he'd take shots at 404, no matter how well deserved. But again the JEF is incapable of just saying "oh I don't care about that; it's probably true" but has to be a punk like he always is. At least MJ is regarded as perhaps the best who ever played basketball. How will 404 be remembered?

[Iggy]

--Gad. We've already dropped a house on her.--

That's a perfect little gem of invective with a clever, double meaning "House" tossed in for good measure.

[Iggy]

--And on the golf scene this BOzo's too lazy to even work on a mediocre golf swing.--

He's too frickin uncoordinated to ever do anything right.
From his jump shot to his girly man pitch to that head popping lurch of a swing the man was almost without doubt in the last two or three picked on every team.
His bench riding was probably on a no-cut team.
He's what we always called a dork.

[Captain Hate]

http://therightscoop.com/mark-levin-republican-leadership-just-handed-the-power-of-the-purse-back-to-obama/

[glasater]

The only thing I've figured out about BOzo is that he had the gift of BS'ing his contemporaries. And realizing this at an age of awareness figured out he could manipulate people with this sole talent.

[Dublindave]

Executive action on immigration....I frickin love it.

Do we even need a Congress???Roflamo????

[Danube on iPad]

I think I've seen four or five versions of "Newsweek's Last Issue."

Does the thing still exist? I heard somebody bought it for a dollar. I hereby offer two dollars, and if I get it I will lay the thing down on its back in an earth-filled casket and drive an oaken stake through its heart with a robust croquet mallet. Be done, sir!

[Threadkiller]

Constitutional Scholar, Mark Latrine, seems to forget that the power of the purse is in the House, not McConnell's Senate.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.wnd.com/2014/11/no-officer-wilson-rap-but-how-about-zimmerman/

[Dublindave]

"They(Republicans)were not elected to govern"

--Rush Limbaugh

ROFLMAO!!!!

[Dublindave]

"The desire to prove Republicans can govern also makes them hostage to their opponents in the Democratic party and the media. It empowers Senator Harry Reid, whose dethroning was in large measure the point of the election. [...]

A prove-you-can-govern strategy will inevitably divide the party on the same tea-party-vs.-establishment lines that Republicans have just succeeded in overcoming.... Even if Republicans passed this foolish test, it would do little for them. If voters come to believe that a Republican Congress and a Democratic president are doing a fine job of governing together, why wouldn't they vote to continue the arrangement in 2016"

--NATIONAL REVIEW

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: Danube on iPad | November 06, 2014 at 12:27 AM =

It was indeed sold for a $1 (+ liabilities and other valuable considerations) to some old rich guy who eventually gave it to Tina Brown. Tina Brown held it for a while as a part of a number of other media properties. There hasn't been a print edition for a number of years.

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: Danube on iPad | November 06, 2014 at 12:27 AM

a silver stake and garlic would be more effective ...

[Jojo]

"Why no one can beat Scott Walker."

Maybe there's something to that God stuff after all. First words of his victory speech:

"First of all -- first of all I want to -- I want to thank God for his abundant grace."

[matt]

Jordan is an ass. He plays well, but he's not nice about it. He has lost millions of dollars over the years in betting. But he's still making $30-40 Mil/year so what does he care?

He is very typical of a certain stereotype where ego and fame in one field transfer to another. But then the balloon pops at some point. he is actually doing much better in Charlotte where he's an NC legend.

The best thing the Repubs can do is hone a dozen key ideas; VA Reform, Keystone, Reforming the IRS, reforming our intrusive security apparatus, stopping the leftist witch hunts, strong on defense but harsh on the Pentagon and contractors, mental health, spending wisely, education reform, Obamacare reform, etc.

Gain street cred and turn the leftist memes on their ears. There is already an undercurrent in the Black and Latino communities that they have been sold out. Feed that feeling and offer principled alternatives.

Of the 50 -75 million Latinos, most are here legally and paid their dues and are not happy with the left's open door policies. Reach out to the Asian communities and connect with their sense of family duty and community pride. Respect the law. Enforce the law. Be compassionate but not an open gate fool.

Support Israel and the protection of Jews from hate crimes. Stand for decency. It's not that hard. Respect life and present the case reasonably. Don't let a lying media divide us.

The current crew have pissed just about everyone off for no good reason. We are all Americans.

The people just spoke very clearly. The Republicans must listen to the message and not the Beltway Bullshit.

[Beasts of England]

@matt: I read earlier that Taffe was a no-show at the grand jury today. I don't have a link; may have been at Legal Insurrection.

[Iggy]

Ed Lasky reminds us of this epitaph for Barry's failed presidency;
Obama: 'Don't think we're not keeping score, brother'
His last line;

Americans know to keep score, too, brother.

[Barbara]

"Americans know to keep score, too, brother."

Great article, Iggy.

I hope that Americans don't forget the lessons of these past six years. Never again should Americans vote based on the hysteria of personality.

[Carol Herman]

The faces in congress are still old. And, as tradition maintains the "insiders" are measuring the drapes as they plan on taking over nicer office spaces.

Old habits die hard.

Lets see if Mitch "the turtle" McConnell can actually lasso in some popular legislation as he assumes Harry Reid's office space, etc.

Boehner is still Boehner.

When the new congress starts ... behind the scenes the old-timers will dole out the office spaces, just the same. Newcomers will learn the "ropes" pretty fast. And, the lobbyists will line up as cash machines.

What will Ted Cruz do?

And, "if" Obama takes executive action, printing out millions of green cards, will impeachment flop out on the table?

I'm not so sure the money spent electing these congress critters don't give some "guys" the ability to call in their chips?

[Jack is Back!]

Goede morgen!

I counter the troll and NR about governance and the Repub congress.

Send him popular legislation like Keystone, ACA fixes, Defense budget etc. and force him to veto. Then let the electorate decide in 2016 if they want more of the same.

[Jack is Back!]

I see where marlene and others in the NE elevations are getting dumped on again. Early ski season?

[anonamom]

Beasts, 9:22 re: Walker not having that piece of paper saying he completed somebody's requirements for college:

"Let's drop this fake snobbery shit before it starts."

and

"I'm not done: the stupid moron in the Oval Office has two Ivy degrees and is incapable of running a fucking lemonade stand. Fuck this credentialed bullshit."

You betcha, buddy!!
That was exactly my reaction when it was raised on the other thread yesterday.

And like you, no disrespect to any of the Ivy League/Phi Beta Kappa/ Rhodes Scholars of the world---but I am blessed to work with some of them, as well as some through-no-fault-of-their-own illiterate men and women, and every possible education permutation in between.
None of it means squat as far as effectiveness and common sense goes.

We need a President who values this country and can execute.

[pagar]

"http://www.wistv.com/story/27288071/sen-lindsey-graham-has-already-talked-to-president-obama"

No Good will come of this, IMO.

[Miss Marple]

Jack,

I agree with you. I have more faith in Mitch McConnell than a lot of people do. He is not a big chest thumper but seems to cagily go about doing his work with an understanding of how to get stuff done.

I particularly liked his comment about the rules change that Reid did saying "the bell can't be unrung."

[Captain Hate]

Dear God some of these are hilarious:

http://twitchy.com/2014/11/05/the-fempire-strikes-back-and-other-feministmovies/