Somebody Won!

A Victory Lap open thread for whomever won the debate last night. Or The Voice, although how much Reality TV can we endure?

As some wag surely noted the big loser was the public's grasp of American foreign policy - in however long this took, there was no discussion of the Iran non-treaty, the climate change non-treaty, Obama's re-opening to Cuba, our fraught relations with China, Putin and the Ukraine, the collapse of Europe in the face of their refugee debacle... actually, a lot was left out.

I came away with the strong impression (as did Doc Drezner) that Ted Cruz has no idea what "carpet bombing" or "saturation" bombing means (or meant) and that The Donald would be up on stage a long time before he realized that conversation about the three legs of our nuclear stool is not a reference to Iron Man on a high-fiber diet.

I thought Rubio did as well as he could on immigration, claiming that his eyes were opened and he learned a lesson about the importance of Border Security First during the Gang of Eight debacle. Ted Cruz was transparently lawyerly in this phase, which was not a good look for him.

The group sing-along to "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Sy-ri-a?" was interesting. Strong support from some for Assad as a strongman in a troubled region, others insisting that Assad must go. Barry Red Line has tried both sides of this debate, so something for everyone.

Comments

[lyle]

I know it's early, but here's my submission for stupid question of the day:

http://nypost.com/2015/12/15/why-is-obama-obsessed-with-springing-terrorists-from-gitmo/

Well, gee...IANAL, but even I can grasp the basis of mens rea.

[buccaneer morgan]

The reality is most of the tech heads see more threats from republicans than the people who are beheading and blowing up people.

The sunnis have their preferences which more closely match the first order I mean islamic state.

These people plan right out in the open, because there is no shame in how they think about their seeds.

[NK]

Ig thanks for that-- I have not read Hidden in Plain Sight, but I will. sounds like it builds on Morgensen/Rosner's book about Fannie

[clarice]

Jeff. that's because I'm using my patented reverse mind control on the FBI. Keep it under your stetson.

[lyle]

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/263447-spending-bill-wont-stop-funds-for-obama-climate-deal

Top. Men.

[buccaneer morgan]

Gitmo illustrates how the levick group can short circuit any strictly tailored containment policy. 2/3 were saudis, most trained in camps, either had direct combat experience like the new varsity coach, or logistical support, like the late effendi al Sherri who sold the review panels on a scene out of casino royale

[James D]

The answer I'd like to have heard re: ISIS is something along the lines of:

"I can't say exactly what my strategy would be with regard to ISIS, because I don't have the latest intelligence and the disposition of all our military forces, and nobody else on this stage does, either.

What I can say is that I have a goal with regard to ISIS, and that goal is to annihilate them. So if I'm elected President, I will consult with the Pentagon, sit down with our generals and our intelligence analysts, and I will order them to design a plan to achieve that goal. Which is what our current President oguht to be doing, instead of sitting on his hands and waiting for us to be attacked again."

[lyle]

James for Prez!

[buccaneer morgan]

Cruz often didn't answer the leading question bit forth his own and brought knowledge to the table.

Kasich and Paul were insufferable popinjay at times, as was stay puft.

[Rick Ballard]

Raqqa isn't untouched. The Mail has started running sobbers and I expect a Terrorists Without Borders headchopper aid station to get clobbered any day now. I'd rather see Putin focus on destroying the Turkish supply trucks for another sixty days rather than waste bombs killing civilians who consume diminishing supply stockpiles. I'd also rather see IS fighters severely wounded and dying for lack of antibiotics for sepsis and gangrene than just blown to bits.

IOW - Raqqa will be a much nicer city when it is completely free of cats and dogs due to famine. It will take another few months but bombing civilians lengthens rather than shortens the time required.

[buccaneer morgan]

The problem is this administration does everything wrong, so there is no where to turn.

It struts when it should be silent, it surrenders principle and territory when it should hold fast.

[NK]

popinjay-- love that word

[buccaneer morgan]

Mostly untouched until recently.

[buccaneer morgan]

Yes the mail is much more mawkish than the first Lord rothermete would have allowed.

[buccaneer morgan]

Take the case of effendi aamer for whom the full water works are employed.

[buccaneer morgan]

A heads up, one of the gun dealers in the Barack an affair is a former merc in the congo, with ties to the national front, so goes the squirrel.

[lyle]

http://thepeoplescube.com/peoples-blog/obama-as-the-savior-of-polar-bears-t17326.html

[clarice]

What, narciso?

[henry]

City of Boston I already didn't like your cheating football team, but this!!!

Honoring Lerner and the GAB is uncivilized -- worse than even a Harvard victory in The Game.

[lyle]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-cruz-is-more-dangerous-than-trump/2015/12/15/00a425fa-a360-11e5-9c4e-be37f66848bb_story.html

Skip the whole thing--especially the comments. I'm linking only because Cruz clearly scares the shit out of the progtards.

[lyle]

http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/did-ted-cruz-disclose-classified-information/?dcz=

NOW the MFM gets interested in classified info. I wonder why...

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

So because the NYT isn't interested in how State and DHS stopped an investigation into the San Bernadino terrorists that means we can't talk about it?

[NK]

ManTran-- here's a news account of the Gino Gallina murder back in the day.

[NK]

the link: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19771105&id=rBczAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kjIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4242,506155&hl=en

[Rick Ballard]

"Skip the whole thing--especially the comments."

OK. All done.

Boy, that's a real time saver.

[NK]

Speaking of Gallina-- here's a Chicago Trib story about a Hoffa connection. But look at the rest of the stories-- other than the shipping Biz actually dying in ChiTown, has much really changed (check out the PLO and illiegal alien welfare stories) http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1977/11/14/page/2/article/report-slain-mob-lawyer-left-tip-on-hoffas-death

[Beasts of England]

Cruz more dangerous than Trump? Good. I always liked Cruz!

[daddy]

Yellin sure likes to talk.

[NK]

BoE-- did you get a chance to answer that last UA quarterback to win an NFL game question?

And yes, I am liking Cruz more and more b/c he scares the shite out of the Left. I believe Cruz/Carly would smoke Hilligula.

[lyle]

That's why I'm here for you, RB.

[daddy]

So does everybody agree that Hewitt is a self promoting blowhard?

I do.

But I'd still rather have him on our local Talk Radio channels than that jackass Schnit or the other Jackass from Chicago, John Brandmeyer, or Dana Loesch.

[matt]

I never did understand bombing carpets except for fleas.

Boots on the ground in the mess of Syraq has no predictable outcome. The Iraqi army is nowhere to be seen and the Shiite militias are coordinating with the Iranians, Russians, Hezbollah, and Syrian Army.

The Turks, Saudis, and other Arab states have their own infra-strategy.

What is left for our side is the Kurds at this point. the massive amount of money blown to train a Syrian opposition is an object lesson in futility.

The best way to kill off ISIS is to de-fund them. Bomb their oilfields. Bomb their convoys. Somehow take Mosul despite the Kurd - Sunni dynamic. Maybe send in the 82nd Airborne to take the oilfields and cap the wells. Otherwise I'm coming up with bupkis.

[lyle]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/15/ronald-kessler-the-fbis-problem-with-muslim-leader/?page=all#pagebreak

Insty has a longish excerpt but this is worth a read.

[daddy]

Yellin tells us she did this Interest Rate thingy partially because the UnEmployment rate is at 5%.

Am I the only one here who think that is a big fat lie?

What is our real Unemployment Rate? 10? to 15%? 20%?

Beats me, but I absolutely don't believe 5% is an honest number.

[buccaneer morgan]

The fun dealer was a rightwing merc, who sold to muslims, well you get the deal.

[daddy]

Shep sez that there is a chance that Cruz revealed secret Intel info last night. Quotes some Repub Congressman Burr for NC, who is a Chairman on the Intel Committee.

Sounds like a new method to attack Cruz.

Congressional review forthcoming.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Echoing Rick's link of a couple of days ago; the Baltic Dry Index continues lower and hits a record low as Chinese imports collapse.

[daddy]

Rush (on 1 hour Tape Delay up here) just mentioned this Congressman Burr guy and his investigation. Rush says that in his opinion if they thought there was a problem they would do an investigation to see if Cruz released any secret info instead of announcing that they were going to do an investigation to see if Cruz released any secret info.

Rush says that because they decided to publicize this then in his opinion it is another example of the Establishment orchestrating methods to take Cruz down.

Yellin is still talking.

[daddy]

Confirmed A mistrial in Baltimore.

[daddy]

Is a Mistrial enough of a reason to burn down Baltimore, or is that option only available if there's an innocent verdict for the Cops?

[daddy]

Yellin still talking.

[henry]

Does Obama need a squirrel? Yes? BURN THINGS!!

[rse]

Apparently Ryan's omnibus cemented more of the EITC provisions that turn out to be laying the base for a Universal Basic Income.

http://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/tax-deal-makes-permanent-key-improvements-to-working-family-tax-credits?utm_source=CBPP+Email+Updates&utm_campaign=a57615a8b6-12_16_15TaxStatement_General12_16_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ee3f6da374-a57615a8b6-110940917

I put up a link this morning to a paper that came out today in UK on Guaranteed Basic Income and how the Left and Right think tanks in US and UK are uniting around this. Nice of RSA to confirm a point I made two days ago, but they have a link I didn't have to all the Silicon Valley support for it.

[lyle]

Now for something up lyle's alley (well, kind of, I'm not really a yuge NFL fan much less a Viking fan):

http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-vino-vikings-the-nfls-sommeliers-1450223912

Having linked, this makes very little sense:

Newman began drinking Merlot four years ago, but found it too bitter and dry, he said, so he quickly dropped the habit. He later got into bolder Cabernets, which were more his style, he said. “I was married to Cabs for a while,” Newman said.

Merlots may not be to everyone's liking but those two descriptors are pretty ridiculous for that particular grape. Big time red wine fans often turn up their noses at Merlot because they can be too fruity and soft compared to the often more tannic Cabernet. But welcome, Mr. NFL dude, to a new and novel way to spend a lot of money.

[NK]

Obama will thump that BLM tub fer sure. When does he go to Hawaii? Can he stay there?

[pagar a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

"What is our real Unemployment Rate? 10? to 15%? 20%?"

I have no new insight, but considering the numbers we hear of people who are not looking for work IMO, 20 % is too low.

http://www.businessinsider.com/share-of-unemployed-not-looking-for-work-is-high-2015-4?op=1

[henry]

Elect an R to the White House... all sorts of troubling numbers will appear by magic

[Puddin Floppy-Feet]

NK,

Since no one wants to answer your question, the last Alabama QB to win an NFL game was Todd Rutledge back in 1987, I believe.

daddy,

5% is real. In fact, we are at full employment. Now don't pop a gasket but the way we got there is by putting everyone out of work. Got it?

[daddy]

Fifth #GOPDebate is over. Like the first, not one word about income inequality, climate change, or racial justice. The Rs are out of touch.

— Bernie Sanders

I'm with Bernie. It beats me why the 2 Hispanics, the Female, and the African American candidate didn't talk about Racial Injustice at last nights Repub debate.

There might be a reason they didn't, but darned if I can think of it off the top.

[danoso]

This Sen. Burr must be an f'ing moron. If he's really worried about classified info getting out, the last thing to do is publicize it.

[NK]

yes Jeff Rutlegdge 1987, that is the ESPN radio answer,

Will McCarren change that? maybe in a 5-3 defensive struggle.

[lyle]

Elect an R to the White House... all sorts of troubling numbers will appear by magic

Quite droll, henry.

[NK]

droll, and a fact. Appear in agency reports and of course the Legacy Media.

[Specter]

"We are dealing with private communications and things for which there is an expectation of privacy,' Jeh Johnson says in an interview."

LOL Jeh - tell that to the NSA. I guess it's OK to scoop up all that data on US Citizens, but foreigners have extra special, secret rights written down somewhere....

[Puddin Floppy-Feet]

NK,

Todd not Jeff Rutledge. Reason I know the answer is I asked a friend who is a Bama grad and Tide know-it-all.

lyle,

In the same WSJ dead tree edition I get there is a special New York section since I am living this year in Southamtpon. In that section today is an article about a Jet's fan who tailgates at the home games. Unlike the obligatory BBQ or Burger and Dog offerings his revolve around vintage wines. Lots of Bordeaux and one Sunday the offed a bottle of d'Yquem:)

[Puddin Floppy-Feet]

NK,

Apologies. It is Jeff not Todd. I have no idea why I have Todd on my mind instead of Jeff since I am looking at my friends email? Weird.

[lyle]

Who knew Jets fans were so highbrow, JiB? I mean (in my best James D or NK voice) Jets fans?? :)

[NK]

Lyle-- actually I am kind of a Jets fan. I was 11 yo in Queens living 3 miles from Shea Stadium in 1969 so....

[pagar a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

Someone won and it is not USA.

"Iran Taking Over Latin America"

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/7060/iran-latin-america?utm_content=bufferad154&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

IMO, it will get worse, much worse with the Obama regime support for Cuba.

[Threadkiller]

Does this count as wanking about racial justice?

FIORINA .. . I fought my way to the top of corporate America while being called every B word in the book. I fought my way into this election and on to this debate stage while all the political insiders and the pundits told, “it couldn’t be done.” 

I’ve been told, “no" all my life...

Close enough.

[lyle]

Well, sorry, NK. All you New Yorkers look alike to a rube from the sticks like me. :)

[Threadkiller]

http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-matthews-donald-trump-obama-birth-certificate-2015-12

Always brought up by liberals.

[Puddin Floppy-Feet]

I guess this is beyond bad blood.

Donald Trump: I Don't Want JEB!'s Endorsement.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/12/16/exclusive-donald-trump-dont-want-jebs-endorsement/

[lyle]

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2015/12/debbie_wasserman_schultz_lets_bring_muslims_to_state_of_the_union.html

Lifson:

No stranger to bizarre political posturing, DWS could really make her anti-Trump point by obtaining the two unclaimed bodies of the San Bernardino shooters from the county morgue and propping them up, Weekend at Bernie’s-style, between herself and Bernie Sanders.

Well, given the amount of lead poisoning those vile pustules died from, we know the corpses would be well ventilated...

[daddy]

5% is real. In fact, we are at full employment. Now don't pop a gasket but the way we got there is by putting everyone out of work. Got it?

Thanks Puddin'

I suspected the answer was in the "Metadata."

Metadata.

Metadata, metadata, metadata

MetaData?"

MetaData.

MetaData?

MetaData!"

MetaData, MetaData, MetaData,

MetaData?

METADATA!!!

[daddy]

QUIZ TIME: "Who Said It?" edition;

"I think the real winner last night for anybody who saw it was Lindsey graham."

[Threadkiller]

Everyone knows how much I rail against wild conspiracy charges, so it may surprise you that I think I am on to one here:

http://youtu.be/6ZbK2lkm324

At about the 2:20 mark Licky Lips mouth has gone full Sahara and he desperately need his sippy cup. CNN gratuitously cuts the dual screen long enough so as to not embarrass him.

They did not show the same courtesy when Trump was making funny faces.

The fix is in. Much like Hewitt having Rubio tell the folks at home what the Triad is.

[Threadkiller]

Everyone knows how much I rail against wild conspiracy charges, so it may surprise you that I think I am on to one here:

http://youtu.be/6ZbK2lkm324

At about the 2:20 mark Licky Lips mouth has gone full Sahara and he desperately need his sippy cup. CNN gratuitously cuts the dual screen long enough so as to not embarrass him.

They did not show the same courtesy when Trump was making funny faces.

The fix is in. Much like Hewitt having Rubio tell the folks at home what the Triad is.

[Old Lurker]

How many men have seen exactly that look on Shep's face?

[lyle]

QUIZ TIME: "Who Said It?" edition;

"I think the real winner last night for anybody who saw it was Lindsey graham."

A: Lindsey Graham.

[Jane]

Who Said It?

Lindsay Graham? (or his evil twin)

[NK]

Who said it?

Lindsay Graham's mother?

[Threadkiller]

Lindsey's bottom, McCain?

[daddy]

(or his evil twin)

Bingo, Jane!

The follow on question from the Host was "So why's he polling at only 1 percent?"

evil twin: "I don't understand it. I don't understand it."

[Jeff Dobbs]

Daddy:
this Congressman Burr guy

Hey, that's Senator Richard Burr. It's just a thing, he worked so hard to get that title, so he'd appreciate it, yes, thank you.

[James D.]

TK @ 4:34

There is no neutralizer setting to remove that image from my brain. I'll be sending the therapy bills your way, so make sure you've got plenty of cash laying around.

[Puddin Floppy-Feet]

pagar,

Iran has been infiltrating Latin and South America for years. They not only bombed the BA Jewish Center(AMIA) in 1994 and before that they bombed the Embassy in BA.

[daddy]

Jack Welch on with Cavuto is a very big Ted Cruz fan and says of Rubio, "He's too slick by half."

[daddy]

Sorry Jeff.

Every once in a great while I make a minor error:)

Is Burr from Connecticut like Markie?

[centralcal]

From Washington Examiner:

"The committee is not investigating anything said during last night's Republican presidential debate," Sens. Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein said in a statement.

Burr and Feinstein are the two leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Earlier on Wednesday, Burr told reporters he had asked the committee to review Cruz's comments.

[Threadkiller]

James, when you get here I want you to go to the long rock wall with a big oak at the north end. It looks like something out of a Robert Frost poem. If you ever get out, find that spot. In the base of that wall you'll find a rock that has no earthly business in a SoCal citrus grove. A piece of petrified Constitution draft paper. You'll find something buried under it I want you to have.

[Threadkiller]

Senators and Representatives are all congresspeople.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Daddy:
Is Burr from Connecticut like Markie?

I was hoping he was from Morehead City or that he went to UNC, but no luck. Born in Charlottesville, grew up in Winston, and a Wake grad.

[daddy]

did-ted-cruz-disclose-classified-information/?dcz=

Cavuto played the clip a few minutes back of FBI Director Comey telling us that the San Bernadino terrorists texted somebody overseas 109 times just 24 hours prior to the killings, but he can't read any of the messages because they are encrypted.

Off the top that sure sounds to me like he's revealing info that the terrorists would love to know and the average Joe, in a rational world,would have no need to know.

Did Cruz say anything last night that sounded half as revelatory as Comey's statement about our inability to read their texting?

[buccaneer morgan]

Two trust inspector dteyfus to fumble the ball.
109 times, mamma mia

[daddy]

Quite droll, henry.

"Withering droll," if you ask me.

[Old Lurker]

Isn't it common knowledge that any new bill is going to require that the TelCos keep that metadata as opposed to the NSA? And since those companies already have that information or else they can't send bills, how could it be breaking news that the TelCos will (continue to) have 100% of that data? Or was the breaking news that the old law only captured 30-40% of the data...and how can that be news since that law expired?

I am so confused.

[lyle]

evil twin: "I don't understand it. I don't understand it."

Adding to a long list of many things you apparently don't understand, you addled fool.

[maryrose]

Cruz didn't do anything wrong
Jeb has imploded so Rubio is the new GOP fair haired boy
Cruz doesn't play their game so they have to try and knock him out like ODonnell in Delaware
Just let it play out
Rand was. effective with his Rubio/Schumer connection
Rubio got rolled by Flake and McCain
We have not heard the last of the Gang of Eight wrt Rubio
It is his Achilles Heel

[Dave (in MA)]

Cripes, daddy.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/millionaire-ehsan-abdulaziz-who-said-he-accidentally-tripped-and-penetrated-teen-is-cleared-of-rape-a6774946.html Sounds like a perfectly logical explanation.

[henry]

Dave, was he running with scissors something lasting longer than 4 hours when he tripped?

[Old Lurker]

Sounds like he had a really good lawyer.

[daddy]

The businessman had already had sex with the teenager’s 24-year-old friend, whom he already knew, in the bedroom and said his penis might have been poking out of his underwear when he fell on the teen.

Wonder how that excuse would play at UVA?

[Old Lurker]

or Duke.

[Dave (in MA)]

I think his lawyer accidentally tripped and a large check flew out of his pocket and landed in the the victim's lawyer's lap.

[Dave (in MA)]

Or in Little Rock in 1978.

[Old Lurker]

You just can't make up some stories:

"The mystery of how nearly $5 million in diamonds went missing from a Midtown jewelry store has been solved.

As it turns out, some dimwitted workers at J. Birnbach Inc. were helping their boss move to another floor and tossed three weathered wooden boxes filled with diamonds in a heap of trash without bothering to look inside, law-enforcement sources said.

But a building security guard patrolling the third floor allegedly did take a peek — and discovered the mother lode: a cluster of expensive stones, including one worth $3.2 million.

Wilfred Martinez, 47, sold some of the booty to a jeweler in the same building where he found them, but not the 17-carat diamond that was the $3.2 million crown jewel of the collection, the sources said.

He has now turned over that piece to cops, along with two smaller diamonds and $10,000 in cash."

[Threadkiller]

How does that work? If Wilfred pulled aluminum cans out of the trash, aren't they his to sell?

[Threadkiller]

Maybe he needed to wait for the trash to be on the outside of the building.