As Much As I Hate Seeing A Nazi Win Something...

The Republicans in Illinois-3 managed to draw some ghastly headlines which will be fodder for late night comedians and Paul Krugman. The NY Times manages a bit of fairness and balance:

Denounced by His Party as a Nazi, Arthur Jones Wins Illinois G.O.P. Congressional Primary

Say what?

Arthur Jones, a Holocaust denier described as a Nazi by the Illinois Republican Party, won the Republican primary on Tuesday in the state’s Third Congressional District, a heavily Democratic district that includes part of Chicago and its suburbs, according to The Associated Press.

Mr. Jones, 70, unsuccessfully sought the nomination five times before, and his victory on Tuesday was a foregone conclusion after the Republican Party failed to draft another candidate to enter the race against him.

The Times coverage is decent but overlooks a lot. The short version is this: the incumbent, Dan Lipinski, is a pro-life anti-ObamaCare Blue Dog Democrat who was locked in a near-death struggle with a progressive challenger. The Nazi, Jones, had been kept off the ballot in cycles past by the invocation of technicalities. So the plan was to DQ Jones and let Republican crossover voters in the primary keep Lipinski alive. Since Lipinski won, barely, that part of the plan succeeded.

In 2016, for example, the Republican Party also failed to run a conventional candidate. Jones was the only one to submit signatures but the party managed to disqualify him to keep him off the primary ballot. They had the same plan for 2018 but Jones outmaneuvered them with a last-minute filing:

How did this happen? Jones, a perennial candidate, snookered the GOP.

Nobody else ran as a Republican in the primary because politics is a results-oriented business and the chance of a Republican winning are slim. The boundaries were drawn by Democrats to elect a Democrat. Rep. Dan Lipinski, the incumbent, will face Marie Newman in the Democratic primary, and one of those two will win on Nov. 6. There are other Democratic strongholds in the Chicago area featuring a lone Republican. It can be a Maytag repairman-like assignment.

...

Jones, who campaigned for the same seat in the 2016 primary, was removed from the ballot that year after the Illinois Republican Party found paperwork errors and filed a successful objection to his candidacy with the state Board of Elections. The GOP tried to do the same this election cycle, but Jones had cleaned up his paperwork. He also appears to have kept a low profile, collecting signatures to meet eligibility requirements by going door-to-door and then waiting until the Dec. 4, 2017, deadline to file. If only others had noticed.

And beyond that, Republicans were backing Blue Dog Democrat Dan Lipinski against a progressive opponent.

If [challenger] Newman decides to run in 2020, she’d be the favorite in the race. This cycle, an actual neo-Nazi ran unopposed in the GOP primary in the 3rd District. Because the state has an open-primary system, Republican voters in the district could have chosen to vote in the Democratic primary and back Lipinski. (The irony of a Bernie Sanders-backed candidate losing thanks to crossover votes in an open primary was not lost on Twitter.)

Sophia Olazaba, a field manager for the Newman campaign, said she doesn’t doubt that some Republican voters crossed over. “Even when we were canvassing, a lot of homes have had both Jeanne Ives and Dan Lipinski signs, so those people could have crossed over,” she said, referring to the GOP gubernatorial candidate whose entire campaign was premised on her opposition to legal abortion.

Another volunteer, Sabrina Ithal, also from the 3rd district, mentioned that the open primary format could have actually worked in their favor: “I converted quite a few Republicans who voted Democrat for the first time in 30-40 years today.”

The Susan B. Anthony List, a group that opposes legal abortion, made re-electing Lipinski a major priority, dumping big money into the race and working the ground to get out the anti-abortion vote on his behalf.

So the Republicans had a strategy - leave their primary line open, disqualify Jones if he showed up (a timeless Illinois ploy familiar to Obama fans and foes) and hope their voters kept Lipinski afloat. And it could have worked, just as Virginia could have advanced in the NCAA tournament.

But Jones stayed under the radar while gathering signatures, didn't flaunt his views, and filed on the last day. Ooops! From The Atlantic:

And just as the Illinois Republicans failed to find a challenger for Jones, another safeguard of the political system seems to have broken down, as well: The state’s ballot-access guidelines, which Mooney told me are intended to “limit the fringe element from cluttering up the ballot,” required Jones to get the signatures of 603 registered voters. I spoke with multiple people who signed Jones’s petition, and they were shocked to learn they had supported the candidacy of a former Nazi. “I probably just signed it because he asked me to,” said 63-year-old Linda Florczak-Wieser of LaGrange when I called her on Wednesday. Another voter from nearby Worth said she didn’t even recall signing the petition in the first place. And when I asked 93-year-old Alice Brunell how she felt about Jones’s views, the Bridgeview resident replied incredulously, “I didn’t know that!”

The peril and promise of these ballot access rules is that ordinary registered voters are empowered - the party bosses cannot unilaterally dismiss reform minded, "rage against the machine" candidates like in the good old days. On the other hand, sometimes shit happens.

It's easy to be an ex-post genius, but suppose the Republicans had run their own candidate but, because their energy and money was with Lipinski, the Nazi won anyway? Really bad.

Or suppose the Republicans opposed the Nazi, put some effort into it, and managed to see both Lipinski and the Nazi lose. Will that be helpful this November? 

The local Republicans had a plan that could have worked perfectly but didn't. That doesn't mean the alternative plans didn't also have paths to poor results.

Apparently Republicans will muster a write-in sacrificial lamb for the November vote. And Krugman, Oliver and the other progressive entertainers will have their fun.

MORE: Dan McLaughlin of NRO has lots more.

Comments

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

Please note President Trump's tweets about the Omnibus Spending Bill and the Politico story I just posted.

A poster over on Conservative Treehouse says that iti's not a budget, more like a credit card with a high limit. Just because you have a high limit doesn't mean you have to use it.

[JimNorCal]

CH: "Holding down a finger on the image on an iPad just gives you "copy" or "save image" options."

After save image you can open your images, view and discard.
Clunky, multi step but not difficult

[Captain Hate]

Yes, henry, I'm wondering what DJT's endgame is on not vetoing this massive spending pile of [Redacted for Lent] but keeping us from becoming Venezuela within ten years. Surely he recognizes the problem with this ridiculous level of Uniparty spending.

[Old Lurker]

Upon completing the Constitution: A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it."

Webster Definition of oligarchy

1 : government by the few.

2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes.

How's that Republic looking now, Doc?

[Old Lurker]

MM, yes I saw that and understand the point of view.

I am just weary of all of it.

[Captain Hate]

A poster over on Conservative Treehouse says that iti's not a budget, more like a credit card with a high limit. Just because you have a high limit doesn't mean you have to use it.

Ok but the other side will spend their portion to buy votes and the RINOs will panic and do likewise. Or they'll spend massively from the get go like GWB's Spendapalooza.

People like that commentor are why I'm more jaundiced toward CTH than most.

[Beasts of England]

We should be seeking sponsorships for the RattlerGator v. Old Lurker Cage Match. Maybe have some t-shirts printed up...

[henry]

In case anyone wants to toss their soul for cash:

CNBC @CNBC
20s

We're hiring! CNBC is looking for a talented senior producer to join its growing digital video team. This person is a news junkie, obsessed with markets, the economy, politics, and news that matters.

[Old Lurker]

You want me to fight a guy with a double hernia surgery plus a bad hip?

Have you no honor, sir?

[JohnH]

Ext, I read on an IPAD running v11.0. If I hold my finger on an image I get the option to copy or save but if I continue to hold I get a much smaller full picture that I can see in it’s entirety.

[Old Lurker]

Darn. Got that one wrong too.

"Have you no sense of dignity, sir?"

[Porchlight]

My cheap kindle lets me open image files just fine.

Forces me to download pdfs, though.

[Porchlight]

M.Joseph Sheppard
@SHEPMJS

Interesting demographics of the Reuters Registered Voters Poll; Last 7 days
40-49 year olds Trump up 7 60+ Trump up 7 65+ Trump up 10.

These represent the most likely to vote in mid-terms/not swayed by MSM

11:30 PM · Mar 21, 2018

[Buckeye]

You want me to fight a guy with a double hernia surgery plus a bad hip?

Have you no dignity, sir?

Don't get cocky, he might smack you upside the head with a formidable "package".

All puns intended:)

[rse]

I finally got through that Euro Fake News report and it solves the question of why the obamas bios were worth so much to bertelsmann since they are represented by Marc Sunderman on that High Level Expert Group that essentially gives legacy news media a monopoly on what will constitute acceptable and available truths over the internet.

No wonder bo let icann relinquish control over the internet. That report also puts both FB and search engine overlords exactly where they want to be as the framers of prevailing perceptions.

Or as the report frames it "helping them to better understand society".

Brought to us by lester dolt and newsreader muir and eric schmidt.

[Threadkiller]

Just because you have a high limit doesn't mean you have to use it.

That commenter should be banned for life.

[clarice]

OL--your best yet.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Mark Knoller
‏Verified account @markknoller
3m3 minutes ago

DefSec Mattis welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to the Pentagon for talks.

https://twitter.com/markknoller/status/976814998872879104

Pictures at link.

I wondered where the Crown Prince was.

[Extraneus]

Holding down a finger on the image on an iPad just gives you "copy" or "save image" options."

Ah, I didn't realize that. Well all images I post from now on will be clickable, such as below.

[Old Lurker]

Buckeye "Don't get cocky, he might smack you upside the head with a formidable "package".

I refrained, during that medical discussion of RG's post surgery "changes" in that area, of asking what sort of God would endow a Black Guy with an even BIGGER package?

White Men are already under enough stress as a group.

[Threadkiller]

Speak for yourself.

[Threadkiller]

.

[anonamom]

buckeye--

I have been the "only girl in the room"(office) most of the time for the past forty years, and the mother of sons, AND aunt to eight nephews---let's just say I've noticed some things.

Not to mention being exclusive w my mate since he was a lad of 18...

[Captain Hate]

Ah, I didn't realize that. Well all images I post from now on will be clickable, such as below.

Well done!

[rse]

clarice-remember how you remarked it is difficult to determine who really owns bertelsmann?

That report has a selling point on deferring to media org's that they can provide transparency in ownership. Really?

[Buckeye]

Not to mention being exclusive w my mate since he was a lad of 18...

He is a lucky guy anonamom.

I figured you have been around enough men to figure us out. One track minds are pretty obvious:)

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

This is a pretty comprehensive article on what's currently going on (up to last night) with Facebook:

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-22/facebook-advertisers-start-pulling-out

[rse]

https://cosnconference.org/the4thindustrialrevolution/

So many confessions in a 3 minute video.

[Old Lurker]

Too bad I don't know how to post pictures.

I have a pic of two beautiful 30's style art deco radios.

One is labeled "The Man" in proper deco font.

That radio has a simple toggle switch for ON-OFF.

The other radio in an identical carved wooden case is labeled "The Woman" in proper deco font.

The front of that case is covered in dials, knobs, switches and warning lights.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Mark Knoller
‏Verified account @markknoller
11m11 minutes ago

"We are going to end this war and on positive terms for the people of Yemen," said DefSec Mattis, in response to reporters question at start of talks with Saudi Crown Prince. Mattis said US and Saudi Arabia would work together to bring security and stability to the region.

[Old Lurker]

I have another which shows the path a man follows to an from his car when "he goes to the mall to buy new bluejeans". He parks closest to the store he intends to use, walks in, walks out and drives away.

You can draw the path a woman follows on the same mission all by yourself.

[jimmyk]

I don't buy all the conspiracy stuff. I've never used FB much (though I appreciate the JOMers links), but I have no trouble accessing information. All the screaming is just because FB screwed up this one time by seeming to help evil Republicans, whereas in general FB, Google, Twitter, Yahoo, etc. are all lined up for Democrats. It also (for them) risks shining a light on all the ways they normally do help Democrats. Basically, the left is saying "Dammit, Zuckerberg, not only did you maybe help the wrong guy, but now the world sees what we usually do just for the Dems, and we may not so easily get away with it."

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

That is because women can operate more complex equipment and thus, can make the radio do more things.

Like posting pictures.

😁

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I couldn't resist this because just the sight of this guy makes me remember him on Andy Griffith and laugh:

[Beasts of England]

Formidable Package would be a great name for a band...

[Old Lurker]

As to Trump's polling among women since Stormy's story broke...

We mentioned here a few weeks ago, probably while picking on Beasts, that scientists had documented that men who are seen in the company of beautiful women become even more attractive to other beautiful women.

Years ago I was impressed by the guy who noted that men in Central Park who were walking dogs had more success picking up women in Central Park...so he started a "puppy rental business" at the entrance to the park.

Based on the above, I think any decent escort service could set up shop at the same park.

[Old Lurker]

MM "Like posting pictures."

And funny little smiley faces which I am also unable to master.

[clarice]

OL--Into the binder goes that last post.

[henry]

Sara Carter on Mueller and Whitey Bulger.

https://saraacarter.com/questions-still-surround-robert-muellers-boston-past/

[clarice]

Now it's theist TWO posts into the binder.

[clarice]

When my son was young I had a friend between his marriages looking for women who begged me to lend him my son for a night. He figured if he took him to apace up place with a wrinkled bag contained a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every attractive woman would be drawn to his table. He also liked the puppy scam.

[Old Lurker]

Mrs. OL was saying she might come over to you house to see the T'Max, Clarice, but I had stupidly mentioned that binder so now she might make reviewing it a precondition to the OLX4 order.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

If you go to emoju.com there is a huge assortment of faces and icons.

All you do is hold down on the left side of your cursor as you swipe over the face you want, to highlight it. Then right click on your cursor and hit "copy."

Then come over here and in the comment box, right click again and choose "paste."

😎

[Old Lurker]

Slippery slope, MM. If I do that, next you will want me to get my iPhone out of my glove compartment and turn it on.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Ok, I'm confused.
To attract hotties, am I supposed to be seen with a beautiful girl or a wrinkled bag?

[Sue]

Ok, I'm confused.
To attract hotties, am I supposed to be seen with a beautiful girl or a wrinkled bag?

Ha!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

My pal Vachel Lindsay translates Mark Zuckerberg's "apology:"

Vachel Lindsay
‏ @_VachelLindsay_
13h13 hours ago

'Using our full spectrum of communication channels, I will deliver a statement known as an apology to any human life forms that inhabit our platform, prior to quantifying their differential responses in an algorithm, to promote trust attributes, going forward.'

Mark Zuckerberg

[Old Lurker]

Ig, the wrinkled bag is useful as Plan B when the bar closes in case Plan A failed.

[JimNorCal]

Still steam in the 2A issue. Looks like the Left is using tactics similar to the ones used to end smoking.
Make guns "icky" and find ways to make people doing something legal to be marginalized and inconvenienced.

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/291878/
Reddit: "We want to let you know that we have made a new addition to our content policy forbidding transactions for certain goods and services ... Firearms, ammunition, or explosives."

Good catch from “Sam” on Twitter who explains that “the subreddit r/GunDeals [was] merely posts and links to gun retail websites that are fully FFL compliant.”

[clarice]

Heh OL--Reviewing my last post--ugh..Let me clarify--he wanted to take my son and a wrinkled brown bag with a PBJ sandwich in it..He says such things always work--make the guy seem approachable and non threatening--or, looked at another way, could allow the girl to make the first move without it being obvious.

[clarice]

Say, Iggy, have you tried this?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

If somebody uses data they have collected on me to try and sell me something or convince me of something, why should I care? I don't have to buy it or believe it.
People have been doing the same thing for data that can't be hidden [usually] like male/female, tall/short, bald/hairy, poor/rich etc for...well, ever.

Nor am I sure distorting markets by regulating google et al as public utilities is a good idea if they discriminate against certain ideas.
It's a free country, so start your own that doesn't and the world will beat a path to your door [to stay with the mouse theme].
The one sure way to make sure anti-statist views are suppressed on the internet is to give the state the power to co-opt google et al through regulation.

[JimNorCal]

Miss M's recommendation should be "emoji.com" I believe

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Christopher Steele to be deposed in libel lawsuit.

Details and link to the London court order can be seen on this thread:

https://twitter.com/PoliticalShort/status/976513163741954048

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

clarice,
Which "this". the beautiful girl or the wrinkled bag?
I tried the puppy trick and the intended target must have figured I kick him when she's not looking. :)

[clarice]

the kid with the obj sandwich in a wrinkled bag.

[clarice]

*pbj*

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

JimNorCal,

Right you are! Hoist on my own petard!

Ha!

[Beasts of England]

'...men who are seen in the company of beautiful women become even more attractive to other beautiful women.'

That's called proof of performance. :)

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I'll take it under advisement, clarice.
Couldn't I just put short pants on Chester and feed him the PBJ?
Would save that whole kid rental thing.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

The dog saga continues:

https://twitchy.com/gregp-3534/2018/03/22/uniteds-new-policy-to-protect-pets-punishes-members-of-the-u-s-military-by-accident/

[Extraneus]

Seems to be a mysterious 6-year gap in Zuckerberg's timeline, conveniently overlapping both 2008 and 2012.

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/291880/

[JimNorCal]

A fave emoji: Trump's Wall (h/t Porch)

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/object/brick-wall-smiley-emoticon-emoji.png

[henry]

House Russia report to be released. Vote is done. Dems will produce their own Schiff as usual.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/house-republicans-vote-to-release-russia-probe-report.html?__source=twitter%7Cmain

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-22/mark-zuckerbergs-very-bad-day-damage-control-highlights

[Extraneus]

House Intelligence Committee votes to end Russia investigation

The House Intelligence Committee voted Thursday to formally end the its investigation into Russia interference in the 2016 election.

The committee also voted to release a report saying the lawmakers found no evidence of collusion between Russia and President Trump’s associates, Politico reported.

The vote was along party lines, and the GOP-written report will be reviewed by the intelligence community before its release to make sure no classified information is being shared.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

The reaction to the Zuckerberg interview ub the article I just posted at 11:15 included this comment by Meghan McCain:

Meghan McCain
✔
@MeghanMcCain

If Mark Zuckerberg think's he has ever had an ice cubes chance in hell at running for President - this interview should convince everyone it's an irrational fantasy. It's like CNN is interviewing an android.

[Extraneus]

Kosovo Opposition Party Tosses Tear Gas In Parliament To Stop Vote

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Extraneus,

How long until the dems try that here?

[Man Tran]

I am utterly baffled by this concept of focused advertising. I can safely say that I have never been swayed by an ad proffered either randomly or premeditatedly to me. The silly and annoying little images that show up about every three sentences over at AT or other sites are occasionally amusing, but mostly annoying. How many times have I seen the three or four flashing images of a nice model with her head cut off wearing various tops? I cannot possibly count.

Somewhat related: the discussion about socks a few days ago coincided with my need for a fresh supply. So I started with our trip to Merica a week ago by wandering into a Macy’s for the first time in about 10 yrs. I strolled around the main floor for about 10 min. to confirm that there was no 2nd floor with men’s furnishings. Ok, on to Costco. The cardboard wall of sock boxes had not a single choice that I would have taken home for free. Finally resorted to Amazon where I discovered that the world must have gone mad. I must have scrolled through hundreds of choices that seemed like they were for a clown convention, or maybe golfers wearing those baggy short pants. WTH are we supposed to wear with jeans or chinos?

[henry]

Great. Banks now cancelling 2nd Amendment.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/citigroup-sets-restrictions-on-gun-sales-by-business-partners.html

[henry]

NYT so who knows?

CNBC Now @CNBCnow
2m

BREAKING: John Dowd resigns as President Trump's lead lawyer in the special counsel probe - New York Times

[henry]

Do bakers have to make cakes with guns pictured on them?

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

MT,

Where I go for socks if my local sports shop or Brooks Brothers don't have what I want or need.

https://bombas.com/collections/mens-socks?msclkid=ef58d89dff02119e7884822e349931ec&utm_campaign=Search_US_Bing_NB_Mens_Exact&utm_content=A1&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=men%27s%20socks

[Threadkiller]

Focused advertising is for people who can be convinced that teaparty=racist, MT. They believe that they can by a "big, jumbo, quart" at a better value than a regular quart.

You are part of a minority that the advertisers control by reducing selections, not offering false choices.

[Threadkiller]

..buy..

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

henry,

Confirmed. Said he loves the president and wishes him well. He resigned. No further comment.

Napolitano thinks it's because DiGenova has a different strategy and Dowd doesn't agree.

[henry]

Thanks Miss M

[Captain Hate]

Speaking of Mega McCannzz, we're not gonna be rid of Daddy Dearest anytime soon, are we?

[Sue]

Isn't Dowd the one that called on Mueller to end the investigation?

[Marlene]

Hubby went to check on Andy the dog and after a visit to the vet,he is okay. Still old,but okay. His trachea closed up and he passed out. I mentioned the neighbor is a rabid Orioles fan and today she has tickets to a spring training game in Sarasota. Orioles vs Red Sox. She is relieved about the dog and she won't miss the game. :) She was a principal in Anne Arundel County,MD and she once told me that she had to get out of there. Every time there is a school shooting she just shakes her head.

[Extraneus]

Actually nobody "called on" Mueller, that was just the spin. But yes, it was him.

Reached for comment by email about the firing of former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Dowd sent The Daily Beast the text of Trump’s most recent tweet on the subject, which applauded the dismissal.

“I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe’s boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier,” Dowd then wrote.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-lawyer-its-time-to-fire-robert-mueller

[Tonto]

"Formidable Package would be a great name for a band..."

Years ago I remember Greg Gutfeld suggesting "Suspicious Packages" would be a great name for a gay club that catered to Islamic terrorists.

[jimmyk]

That Daily Beast piece is so full of innuendo it's busting the scale. Notice the URL says "it's time to *fire* Mueller" even though that's not remotely what Dowd said. The article doesn't claim it, but puts out denial of the "firing" straw man. Then, in describing the firing of McCabe, it describes McCabe as having "long been a target of Republicans." And Trump hasn't long been a target of Democrats?

[Captain Hate]

Dowd brought up a good point. Did Rosenstein respond to it?

I don't care if it's 4D chess or what; it's still a huge waste of money, which is something which obviously doesn't bother our free spending Repuke congress.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://twitter.com/Joe_Varner/status/976842604385112065

Explanation on the Omnibus bill which people haven't considered.

I would NOT refer to those people as "dupes" though. (I think he was referring to the Freedom Caucus."

[Marlene]

Hubby says our dog is a babe magnet. Our town is very pet friendly. He will sit on a bench with a coffee,the dog on his leash,waiting for me while I shop. Usually the little old white haired ladies stop to pet the dog. I've never seen a hot babe stop. Ha.

[Tom R]

I give you a 2,225 page must pass omnibus spending bill that allocates next to nothing for the Wall

I have issues with the omnibus bill but you can't really complain about wall funding. The budget bill gave Trump the amount of money he was asking for to build the wall.

[Captain Hate]

jimmyk, headline writers are some of the biggest fake news obfuscators around. I don't know how many articles I've read which I've finished, looked at the headline and thought "that's not what it said".

[Captain Hate]

Excellent retweet, Miss Marple.

[rich]

Man Tran-

"The Merchants of Cool" is a good point of departure for a general background.

iirc to politics (and I thought I bored everyone to tears yammering on about Obama's data operations)

http://videolectures.net/solomon_ghani_presidential_elections/

this is an hour and a half lecture with Rayid Ghani the chief data scientist for Obama's '12 campaign. MIT had a good overview as well.

[Old Lurker]

MM "How long until the dems try that here?"

A. I saw the video of that on the news last night and no way was that tear gas, so it must have just been a smoke bomb.

B. Before it gets done in the US Congress, the bomber might get some of that special gas the Russians used on a theater with a hostage situation since they killed everybody by accident.

[Stephanie, Nene, Not your Normal Grandma]

My dad used to take their yorkie to the beach every year. By the end of the day, he knew every female in the condo complex, where they were from, if their hub was there (lots of guys who went down only on the weekend to join family) and had several invites to 'cock'tail hours. It was an ongoing source of amusement for the family.

[Tom R]

Remember when Private Ryan promised to restore regular budgeting where everything would be transparent instead of these massive omnibus behemoths cluttered with everything? They don't even pretend like that ever happened.

This pisses me off too. What I would like to see from Trump is an official press conference with leaders from both parties and both the Senate and House present. Trump then issues a warning that he will no longer agree to sign omnibus spending bills and that the next budget bill that reaches his desk must return to the regular budgeting procedure that Congress used to follow.

If he wants to tie it into Swamp draining, he can point out to the entire country how think tanks and lobbying firms are the real entities that create the omnibus spending bills. He could also point out how they are intentionally massive in size which prevents members of Congress from actually reading what is in the spending bill.

He can wrap it all up by pointing out that returning to the regular budgeting process will make the process more transparent as well as give everyone in Congress as well as himself and his staff more time to actually read the legislation and make an informed decision on whether it should be signed into law or vetoed.

In Scott Adams/Dilbert world, that is how a Master Persuader frames the issue to force Congress to bend the knee and do what he wants.

[Jane]

Dowd is out, and the people on Fox Business are so far out on the ledge they are about to fall off.

Tariffs to be announced at noon.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I wish I could figure out how to monetize my daughter's dog Jack. He is absolutely the cutest dog I have ever seen. He is a cross between a chihuahua and a Pomeranian and he has long hair like a collie, only he is tiny, about a6 inches long and a foot high at the top of his head.

Cream color with brown eyes and black nose and his face looks like Snuggles the fabric softener bear.

[Tom R]

Formidable Package would be a great name for a band...

The classic scene from Spinal Tap when the band member walks thru the metal detector at the airport just popped into my mind.

[Old Lurker]

Tom R. "The budget bill gave Trump the amount of money he was asking for to build the wall."

BS.

The conversation probably went like this:

Trump. I want $18B to build the wall in its entirety.

Schumer. NFW. We demand the ability to stop the wall as soon as we impeach you next January.

Ryan. Chuck has a good point.

Trump. But I promised my base that one of my three top priorities was building the wall.

Schumer. OK we will give you just enough to pretend we are starting the wall and with your silver tongue you can sell that to your dumb base as "See, I got everything I asked for on the wall."

Ryan. I will have to re-run my excel spreadsheet with, say, <10% of the cost of really building the Wall.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

93 WIBC Indianapolis
‏Verified account @93wibc
7m7 minutes ago

NEWS: A Winter Storm Watch is in effect starting Saturday morning. The @NWSIndianapolis says snow could start Friday night and you could get as much as 6 inches: http://bit.ly/2GRi2j5

==================

Sunshine and 50 today and tomorrow.

Good thing I went to the grocery yesterday morning!

I am really ready for warm weather! Joe Bastardi says this is going to go on here until the middle of April.

[Old Lurker]

Jane there are very very few members of the media even Fox Bidness that would ever be accepted on THE Ledge.