Tuesday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 11:50:57 AM EST
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Another busy day for me. Light to no posting from me. Not sure about J.

Open Thread.

< AG Eric Holder Outlines DOJ 's Planned Priorities | Security Details For the Royal Wedding >

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Tuesday Morning Open Thread | 127 comments (127 topical)

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SS notoverly generous even now (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by MO Blue on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 12:08:36 PM EST

. Social Security provides vital protections that have been enormously successful in reducing poverty among the elderly and disabled, but its benefits are by no means overly generous. Compared to 30 OECD nations, the U.S. ranks 25th in the share of an average worker's earnings that is replaced upon retirement by a country's public pension program. Social Security's annual benefit of about $13,860 a year for an average retired worker is only slightly above the poverty level of $10,830. link

Exactly - it is only a minimal safety net (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by ruffian on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:42:39 PM EST

Hardly a real retirement. Risking it is just unconscionable.

Parent

It is absolutely critical (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by cal1942 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:01:59 PM EST

for people without any other retirement income and also for people with very small pensions and for people who've lost big on their 401Ks.

In today's world of 401Ks without defined benefit pensions, Social Security is the only dependable source of retirement income.

Unconscionable that any politician considers cuts especially since workers have contributed for their entire working life.

Parent

: Yes - it is the final safety net (5.00 / 1) (#41)
by ruffian on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:19:05 PM EST

Maybe I said it wrong before - did not mean to imply it is not important to people. Without it, lots of people have nothing.

Parent

It was never meant to be a (none / 0) (#23)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:30:47 PM EST

retirement plan. It is an individually funded insurance programed guaranteed by the government.

BTW - Hope you escaped the bad weather.

Parent

Actually (none / 0) (#30)
by cal1942 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:55:11 PM EST

it's called federal old age pension.

Had it not been for Social Security my mother would have had to live with one of her kids, something she was loathe to do. She was actually able to bank a little each month.

Many people have ONLY Social Security available for retirement.

Parent

: Here's the mechanics (none / 0) (#66)
by Harry Saxon on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:15:12 PM EST

of how it works:

Confusion, or misrepresentation of the nature of Social Security has often muddied debate over the program. The payroll taxes collected for Social Security are neither simply "taxes" nor do they create "retirement accounts" analogous to investment accounts such as IRAs. Social Security is an insurance program funded through payroll taxes. The FICA taxes constitute insurance premiums protecting workers and covered family members against loss of income from the wage earner's retirement, loss of income from the wage earner's disability, as well as survivor benefits in the event of the wage earners death. Hence it is incorrect to compare the return on Social Security contributions with the return on private investment instruments. It is, however, legitimate to compare the return on the "risk pool of funds" garnered by this government-run insurance program with the return on the "risk pool of funds" garnered by a for-profit commercial insurance company. Like any insurance program, Social Security "spreads risk". For example, a worker who becomes disabled in their thirties or forties could receive a huge return for the relatively small amount they contributed in FICA before becoming disabled, since disability benefits can continue for life. Likewise, the surviving family of a worker who dies in mid-life may receive substantial benefits even though the worker has only contributed for a relatively short time. This is similar to any other insurance program, public or private, whether the risk is against illness, car wrecks, or house fires. Everyone in the particular insurance pool is insured against the same risks, but not everyone will benefit to the same extent.
Wiki Link
Technically, it's known as 'social insurance'.

Parent
: The creator of Social Security (none / 0) (#82)
by Towanda on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 05:18:56 PM EST

and her president who pushed it called it old-age insurance, and that's how it was sold to the public. Plus, SS is not structured the same as are many (most, I think, but that could have changed) pensions.

Parent

Thanks (none / 0) (#72)
by MO Blue on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:36:30 PM EST

I was lucky enough to escape any ill effects of the bad weather. It hit all around me but not in my particular area. For once, even my electricity stayed on, probably due to the fact that I needed to go grocery shopping and my freezer was not full. Now on to SS:

A limited form of the Social Security program began as a measure to implement "social insurance*" during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when poverty rates among senior citizens exceeded 50%.

*social insurance, where people receive benefits or services in recognition of contributions to an insurance scheme. These services typically include provision for retirement pensions, disability insurance, survivor benefits and unemployment insurance.

Social Security and your retirement plans
Your retirement benefits
Social Security is part of the retirement plan of almost every American worker. Source:SSA

Parent

Phoebe Snow RIP (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Harry Saxon on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 12:36:06 PM EST

Phoebe Snow, a singer and songwriter who gained fame with her 1974 self-titled album that featured the hit single "Poetry Man," has died. She was 60.
Snow died Tuesday in Edison, N.J., her longtime friend and public relations representative, Rick Miramontez, said. She had suffered a brain hemorrhage in January 2010.
The album "Phoebe Snow" turned the singer, blessed with multi-octave range, into a star. She made the cover of Rolling Stone, appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
"Phoebe Snow has made it," Stephen Holden wrote in a 1975 review for Rolling Stone. "On a musical level she shows the potential of becoming a great jazz singer. Among confessional pop songwriters she immediately ranks with the finest."

LA Times Link

Also... (5.00 / 1) (#92)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 06:48:53 PM EST

RIP to Punk Pioneer Poly Styrene

Oh Bondage, Up Yours indeed.

Parent

I almost remember something... (none / 0) (#21)
by sj on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:25:31 PM EST

I need to check in iTunes and see if the music rings a bell...

Parent

One of my favorite songs is her (none / 0) (#43)
by ruffian on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:20:22 PM EST

duet with Paul Simon - 'Gone at Last'. Check that one out.

Parent

: thanks for the tip! (none / 0) (#46)
by sj on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:29:47 PM EST

Parent

Sad news. Phoebe Snow had (none / 0) (#33)
by caseyOR on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:04:23 PM EST

such a beautiful voice. And she had only come back to performing and recording in the last several years. IIRC, she put it all on hold after the birth of her baby in order to care for the disabled child.

Parent

I just read about Ezra's article (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by observed on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:03:48 PM EST

on Obama being a moderate 1990's Republican.
Um, no, he's not that liberal.
It's possible Obama is more far right than Dick Armey, for example---and Armey was a flame-throwing Republican of that era.

Even (5.00 / 3) (#9)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:37:10 PM EST

if Ezra is right we're supposed to be excited about having Bob Dole for a President?

Parent

Yes, and we're also... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Dadler on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:43:06 PM EST

...supposed to understand that this is just the best we can do. But Ezra was in grade school gluing together pieces of construction paper when Dole was running, I can forgive him his lack of real insight, though not as easily his position or paycheck.

Parent

Well (5.00 / 4) (#12)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:51:07 PM EST

that's the New Dem party for you. A party run by wet behind the ears pundits and people who have the same goals as the GOP: rewarding wealth not work.

Parent

I think he might actually have been (5.00 / 5) (#15)
by Anne on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:01:07 PM EST

eating paste, Dadler...

Parent

And now ... (5.00 / 6) (#20)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:18:23 PM EST

he should be eating crow for some of the stuff he wrote in '08.

Parent

Long before that my friend (none / 0) (#56)
by Militarytracy on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:53:56 PM EST

He was pro Iraq War. He was a lot more certain about invading Iraq than a hawkishly prone soldier's wife was. I was torn, then stricken. He was much more certain than I was and a lot less stricken than I was too when there were no WMDs, but it wasn't his spouse's arse in the line of fire then either was it? He hasn't been around long enough to know what really happened in years gone by....and he's fine putting everyone in jeopardy that isn't HIM.

Parent

You were quick ... (none / 0) (#65)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:12:16 PM EST

to jump on the Klein bandwagon. He was 18 when the war started and had only been running his blog for a month.

I'd never heard about him back them. And, frankly, would have paid no attention to an 18 year-old hewing the MSM line.

But those views indicate he was a main-chancer from the beginning.

Parent

I can't say I was on his bandwagon then (none / 0) (#67)
by Militarytracy on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:17:49 PM EST

But nothing about Iraq was making sense so I was reading everything I could get my hands on. Why was his voice even considered then? It was much later on that I discovered his age....it was during a time when I was questioning something he wrote about the economy when I found out how old he was, and then everything made sense. I had at least seen PTSD sticken homeless veterans of the Vietnam War when I was growing up. He hadn't even seen that, so no wonder Iraq didn't sound like such a bad idea to him.

Parent

before we go all age crazy over here (5.00 / 1) (#69)
by CST on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:30:06 PM EST

I would just like to say that I find an 18-year olds point of view on going to war to be extremely relevant. Certainly not the only valid or relevant point of view, as we can all learn from those with experience. But young people absolutely need to be involved with any discussion that includes sending people to war. As they are the ones likely to be affected, have friends affected, etc...

It's easy to write Ezra off because of his age, but maybe he's just wrong. I remember a lot of idiots writing about Iraq. Most of them were well above 30.

Ezra is my age. I guarantee you he saw "PTSD stricken homeless veterans of the Vietnam War" when he was growing up. And I don't know much about his upbringing, but I grew up listening to a lot of Vietnam-era stories from my parents and their friends as well. It was crystal clear to me what was going on at the time of the Iraq buildup, I don't buy the "young" excuse.

Parent

I didn't mean to say his voice should have been (5.00 / 1) (#80)
by Militarytracy on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:58:36 PM EST

irrelevant, but it should not have been as relevant on the Left as it was. And some people are born with a better understanding of "defending" and when that comes into play and what that really means than others.

I put myself in the category of born unknowing and very poorly schooled. I should have never ended up with a soldier husband and I don't think my grandfather ever got over the fact that his one grandchild that was born with his temperament married someone in the military :) Swear to God, I was raised being told that serving in the military was as stupid a choice as anyone could make. It was all about brain washing and militarization and it served no useful purpose at all other than to waste tax dollars and get people killed :) If anyone needed to die I was raised that my job was to make sure I was never the one that was that stupid :)

If I understand anything at all now about how a nation grows to defend itself and protect and retain its values and its self respect and its human rights standards, I learned it all on the fly. When Iraq kicked off I knew and understood nothing about the military. I was an unwilling fly in the milk.

You seem to naturally have a much better understanding of such matters than I ever did. I would say that Ezra understood the reality about as much as I did when Iraq was kicking off, maybe a little less than I did :) You could be a completely different picture though and I don't know why some people are better at understanding that you must be able to defend yourself or suffer the consequences. Some people are though. I'm deductive and possibly dangerous if someone is threatening my children, I have to work on standing my ground and negotiating effectively in most other areas of my life. My husband on the other hand was easily negotiating extra credit work and better grades after a weekend of partying since high school I would guess :)

Parent

I think the biggest problem with Ezra (none / 0) (#101)
by CST on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:04:59 AM EST

is that he is viewed as being "left".

He's not.

The military was never reflexively a bad thing - I mean cripes, a significant chunk of my heritage is German/Jew, kind of hard to ignore that lesson. Plus, my grandfather was in the military, although his sons and my dad were definitely not and some went to extreme measures to make it so. So I was certainly aware it could be a bad thing too.

Parent

It seems that when it is always on your (none / 0) (#123)
by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 01:58:03 PM EST

plate it is an opportunity to think about all the dangers, needs, and consequences. My husband and many of the people around us can discuss military actions item by item though, discuss if the nation truly is in danger or if military action is needed to halt a military assault on civilians. There is always disagreement though it seems on the second. Many people who served in Bosnia are still divided about whether or not we should have been there. Most everyone thinks it was a success, but not everyone who went thinks we should have been there.

Prior to my more mature exposure to those serving though, I never troubled myself to think any of that through. Military service was something that stupid people did and they died for the politicians, not me. I remember this one guy hitting on me after the first Gulf War showing me a stack of photos from when he there, and he had no clue how unsexy he was making himself :)

Parent

And now (none / 0) (#124)
by jbindc on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 02:09:50 PM EST

You dig a man in uniform. :)

Parent

: I think it is a pheromone thing (none / 0) (#127)
by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 02:15:25 PM EST

Parent

I honestly don't think ... (5.00 / 2) (#70)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:34:05 PM EST

Ezra has thought of much other than his career, and how he can best position himself to take the next leap forward.

His writing never feels honest. There's never the sense that he believes any of this stuff.

But it is a lesson in what blind ambition will do for you. Because he's a piss-poor writer. And an even worse thinker. He'd never have gotten where he is based on his intellect or writing talent.

Parent

Then perhaps he should not have (none / 0) (#129)
by BackFromOhio on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 05:42:58 PM EST

written about it...

Parent

But! (none / 0) (#18)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:06:41 PM EST

But that's so ageist, Dadler! ;-).

Parent

Guilty! (5.00 / 1) (#29)
by Dadler on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:51:13 PM EST

And proud. In this case, that is. Your mileage may vary.

Parent

: Not guilty (none / 0) (#130)
by BackFromOhio on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 05:43:40 PM EST

if he'd been fully informed & young, no one would be complaining

Parent

My 77 year-old dad ... (5.00 / 3) (#19)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:17:06 PM EST

put it best:

Obama's a tory!

Parent

Your Dad (5.00 / 2) (#37)
by cal1942 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:09:11 PM EST

(who has 8 years on me) and I agree completely. IMO, Obama's an eighteenth century British Tory.

Parent

: My dad didn't ... (5.00 / 2) (#54)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:46:24 PM EST

specify a century, but I think he'd be happy with that.

Parent

What a news flash! (5.00 / 3) (#22)
by mmc9431 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:30:42 PM EST

I could have told him that three years ago. If he had bothered to listen to what Obama said throughout the campaign he would have known this.

I constantly challenged my progreesive friends to show me why they believed Obama was anything like the image that their imagination had created of him. I never could get an answer. They just knew he was going to usher in a new progressive era.

Parent

Same experience (5.00 / 2) (#38)
by cal1942 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:11:16 PM EST

Same response.

Crickets.

Parent

You should have looked at (5.00 / 1) (#76)
by MO Blue on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:50:49 PM EST

his website. :-)

Parent

My (none / 0) (#42)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:20:17 PM EST

experience has been that it's the same reason the teahadists think he's a socialist--the color of his skin. Neither one of these groups can see past the color of his skin to look at what he actually did or his record or anything. I heard we have to nominate Obama because African American voters have been a loyal constituency but I certainly don't see where Obama has helped them much job wise other than showing that an African American CAN be president.

Parent

True (none / 0) (#57)
by mmc9431 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:54:03 PM EST

I reminded them of Clarence Thomas!

I used to vote for women in the election because I figured they would have more apathy and concern for woman's rights. Shows what I knew. There's a lot of wacky women in politics too.

Parent

: LOL (none / 0) (#94)
by Politalkix on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 07:49:15 PM EST

Isn't it strange that you did not look at view points expressed by BHO and Clarence Thomas on various matters and examine voting records of BHO in Illinois before making illogical comparisons.
No wonder your friends didn't listen to you....

Parent

I almost asked for a link... (none / 0) (#14)
by sj on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:59:34 PM EST

... and then realized I just wasn't that interested. [sigh]

Parent

: I suspect (none / 0) (#17)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:05:53 PM EST

it might have been airplane glue rather than paste....and he wasn't eating it. ;-)

Parent

The state taketh... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by kdog on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:55:06 PM EST

the gambling gods giveth.

Lost my audit challenge, owe the state 7 hundo...hit the daily number straight midday today, plus 5 hundo. That certainly takes the sting out...thanks gambling gods!

I coulda stimulated the local economy with that cash, but you can have it if you insist NY State...wouldn't want ya to have to hurt yourself auditing a multi-millionaire with a team of assasin accountants or anything.

A link just for you, bro (none / 0) (#24)
by Dadler on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:34:22 PM EST

The 8000 word version of my free-money online poker run (LINK). Waiting to hear if the SD Reader is going to publish it (first place I sent it), but I'll give you an exclusive early peek. Enjoy, when you have the time. And the gods WERE looking down on you with that daily number hit, only explanation. ;-) Peace out.

Parent

And I'm gonna kill that link later today (none / 0) (#25)
by Dadler on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:37:19 PM EST

So lemme know when you print it out.

Parent

& anyone else who might take a peek (none / 0) (#27)
by Dadler on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:40:14 PM EST

no problem, give a read while you can. it's there.

Parent

Printed! (none / 0) (#58)
by kdog on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:56:10 PM EST

Thanks again:)

Parent

And enjoyed.... (none / 0) (#74)
by kdog on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:47:58 PM EST

speaking of audits, by my calculations you owe me 3 bucks for the bad beat stories contained within...you know the rule!

Imagine how I felt waiting on a check from a quasi-legal outfit based overseas...and I had to take it to a check-cashing outfit...talk about sweating a flop, waiting while the guy worked the phones to verify the fundage.

Parent

: the check's, um, in the mail (none / 0) (#78)
by Dadler on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:53:09 PM EST

pay it to you in college basketball dollars when you come out this way.

Parent

the hot streak continues.... (none / 0) (#26)
by kdog on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:39:34 PM EST

and new poker-themed prose from Dadler? All thats missin' is bird sh*t on my shoulder:)

Thanks brother man.

Parent

Nice Read.. (none / 0) (#75)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:48:57 PM EST

I play occasionally in the bellows of Houston's underbellies. I would guess my total lifetime winnings to be nearly zero, win some, lose some is my poker history.

I have to finish the article, but nice for someone to cash in on a real pot.

Parent

: TY (none / 0) (#79)
by Dadler on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:53:42 PM EST

Glad you're digging it.

Parent

Good for the win! (none / 0) (#39)
by jbindc on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:16:56 PM EST

'Course you're gonna owe taxes next year on those winnings.....

:)

Parent

No I ain't.... (none / 0) (#49)
by kdog on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:32:41 PM EST

well I guess I could claim it...lol.

But winners paying less than 600-1 are cashed at any lottery agent...anonymously. Over 600-1 ya gotta go to a NYS Lottery office with SS card, and it is reported to the taxman.

Parent

Hey (none / 0) (#51)
by jbindc on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:36:11 PM EST

If you did something illegal and made money, ya gotta claim it. (See Al Capone)

:)

Parent

Exactly, taxes are for (none / 0) (#53)
by me only on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:44:14 PM EST

other people.

Parent

If GE can dodge them all... (5.00 / 1) (#61)
by kdog on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:59:07 PM EST

I can dodge a few I take moral objection too.

Namely tobacco and gambling. The former is tyrannically excessive in my state, so I go see my Native American friends, and the latter is an inequality under the law objection, much higher rate than other forms of gambling...totally unfair. I sleep well on both counts:)

Parent

That's fine, (none / 0) (#93)
by me only on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 07:14:37 PM EST

I object to Medicare and SS as generational theft.

Parent

: Funny... (5.00 / 1) (#99)
by kdog on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 09:42:34 AM EST

those are two taxes I don't mind paying. I know some gets grifted, but most of it makes its way to help the sick and the old.
State and federal income taxes to pay for war and cops and prisons and institutionalized grift I'd like to morally object to and not pay, at least partially, but those taxes are taken, not paid. Not worth possibly losing freedom fighting, gotta pick your battles ya know?

Parent

The end of the typewriter! (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:42:08 PM EST

RIP, Mr. Clickety-clackety.

Oh man! (5.00 / 1) (#34)
by sj on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:06:40 PM EST

I didn't know that the Flip camera had been discontinued! I love that thing. I don't want to use my phone.

(Sorry, that was the most distressing part of reading your link)

Parent

: Joshua just won one in a school contest (5.00 / 2) (#62)
by Militarytracy on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:04:46 PM EST

He loves it too

Parent
: Heh! (none / 0) (#50)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:35:28 PM EST

Parent

Resolved: Prop 8 Proponents should (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by andgarden on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:00:17 PM EST

be sanctioned for their request to have the Perry District Court decision thrown out on the basis of Judge Walker's relationship with a man.

Discuss.

straight white men (none / 0) (#35)
by CST on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:07:27 PM EST

are apparently the only people who should ever be allowed to rule on civil rights cases?

Parent

Better make sure they aren't Catholic too (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by andgarden on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:08:49 PM EST

Parent

: kick out the jews too (5.00 / 2) (#45)
by CST on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:22:57 PM EST

and we've now ruled out the entire supreme court.

Parent

Then (none / 0) (#40)
by jbindc on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:17:51 PM EST

A male judge should never make a ruling on abortion.

Parent

: the other way around (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by CST on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:22:09 PM EST

basically they are saying a female judge should never make a ruling on abortion
Because it might actually affect her

Parent

As someone (none / 0) (#48)
by lilburro on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:31:39 PM EST

not familiar with the law but familiar with the "morans" of America I can only say I hope they're sanctioned. Here's Time magazine running an article that makes it seem like the judge's sexuality is a fair question. This is your mainstream media. Ugh.

Parent

: I haven't read (5.00 / 1) (#90)
by Zorba on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 06:42:05 PM EST

Time Magazine (or Newsweek either) for years. I'm with you, Donald.

Parent

Radio Station Recommendations (5.00 / 1) (#47)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:30:03 PM EST

I just got Tune-In radio on my tablet. Any good recommendations for alternative rock or classic rock stations. This app is telling me I can get any radio station, worldwide.

I like non-mainstream, at home I listen to Classic Vinyl on XM mostly. One of my favorite stations ever was MTV-U. I would love to find a station like that and ya, I know, MTV, but it really was/is awesome.

If anyone else uses internet radio or has a cool local station, let me know.

Listening to 93.1 Jack FM of LA, very commercially and popishly cool. Need something with a little more bite.

WFMU ... (none / 0) (#52)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:40:20 PM EST

though at times it might be a little too out there for you. But I think you'll find a lot of shows to love on it.

Check out their website which includes program schedules and so on.

Parent

WFMU !! (5.00 / 1) (#55)
by lilburro on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 03:49:31 PM EST

I love that station. And you can always go back and stream older shows if the DJ currently on doesn't play music to your liking.

Parent

WTF ????? (none / 0) (#81)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 05:14:27 PM EST

Listening for about 5 minutes, sounds like Chickens and dogs fighting, seriously, no beat, no instruments, just chickens and dogs. Just heard a cow mooo. This is insane, Sid Barrett post-PF, straight from the loony bin.

Now a guy is yelling, no music, and he is way off key. OK, guitar kickin' in. Reminds me of Black Lips, basement music by complete lunatics who may or may not actually know how to play their instruments.

Can't decide, so will give it a whirl tomorrow and see what an entire day encompasses.
Thanks.

Parent

"WTF" (none / 0) (#83)
by sj on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 05:22:00 PM EST

Would that be... "Win The Future"?

Parent

: ROTFLMAO (none / 0) (#85)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 05:35:18 PM EST

Parent

Scott, I think ... (none / 0) (#88)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 06:37:09 PM EST

you're in love.

;)

Parent

Radio 1190 (none / 0) (#91)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 06:43:47 PM EST

Student run radio out of the Peoples Republic of Boulder.

Link

Reminds me of when I was but a lad spinning vinyl for KDPS back in the day.

Parent

NFL Commissioner (none / 0) (#2)
by Makarov on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 12:20:13 PM EST

Roger Goodall has an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal stating that a successful antitrust suit against the league would end football as we know it:

the draft
minimum salary
team salary caps and floors

What Mr. Goodall fails to mention is that the owners terminated the existing CBA 2 years early, and after asking the players to give back another $1B in annual revenue off the top, and subsequently locked them out. In fact, the whole reason the NFLPA de-certified (a necessary step in filing the antitrust suit) was because the owners telegraphed their plans to lock out the players in a bid to gain leverage in negotiations over revenue distribution.

During failed CBA negotiations, the NFLPA actually agreed to the league's idea for a rookie pay scale. Currently, rookies who are picked in the top 5/10 draft positions make many times more than most proven, veteran players. The players were also amenable to adjusting the split of revenues, but wanted proof of the leagues claims that franchises were struggling after upgrading old and building new stadiums.

Goodall's view that the players' goal is to eliminate the draft and salary cap elements of the CBA is based purely on the comments of not one player or NFLPA lawyer, but a sports agent. It's ludicrous.

More over, the only way the NFL will lose the antitrust suit is if they choose not to settle. Settle they did almost 20 years ago in the Reggie White case.

The 2011 NFL season will happen, most likely under 2010 CBA rules, and a new CBA will be part of a negotiated settlement of Brady et al vs. NFL. The sooner the league admits this, the sooner fans, coaches, players, and the many thousands of workers whose income is tied to this country's most popular sport can both rest easy and get back to work.

Forgot to mention (5.00 / 0) (#8)
by Makarov on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 01:19:06 PM EST

that it's pretty delicious irony to see the WSJ's editorial page as a soap box for the continuation of an anti-competitive, highly restricted and regulated marketplace (the NFL with all its rules).

Here's the link to the article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576285090526726626.html

If you read it in a vacuum, you'd think the players were on strike to end the draft and restricted free agency, and not the owners terminated the CBA 2 years before its expiration and locked out the players.

Parent

Not that ironic... (5.00 / 0) (#16)
by kdog on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 02:05:18 PM EST

the WSJ is all about rigged markets, re-dubbed "free" in the Newspeak Dictionary 9th Edition.

Parent

The WSJ Editorial Page... (5.00 / 0) (#84)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 05:30:48 PM EST

... is home for all the wronged kazillionaires to whine about how unfairly they are being treated, or rather their hand-pecked political servants to do it for them.

Like it or not, the players put A$$es in the seats and I am fricken tired of all the owner BS. But then again, I do own a few shares in the GB franchise... maybe I should be more pro-owner, never. Left to the owners, all NFL players would be behind the dumpsters hunched over with an expired NFL bus pass and a day-old donut.

I so miss the era of the rich fan who bought a team for the massive tax write-off ?

Parent

: I agree (none / 0) (#89)
by Zorba on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 06:39:12 PM EST

Nobody is paying the big bucks to go listen to Dan Snyder or Jerry Jones bloviate.

Parent

NFL (or football in general?) is most (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 12:30:35 PM EST

popular sport in U.S.? By what measure? Participation, viewship, attendance, polling?

Parent

Gross revenue (none / 0) (#5)
by Makarov on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 12:40:29 PM EST

and TV ratings*.

* - it would be interesting to compare aggregate TV audiences over a season between the high viewership, low volume (in # of games) sport like football and low viewer/high volume sports like baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Fun item of note, though:

Last year's NFL 1st round draft (roughly a 3 hour event, televised live on a Thursday night) had a much higher # of viewers than a live NBA playoff game going on at the same time.

Parent

: Not to mention the crowd waiting to get (none / 0) (#6)
by oculus on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 12:44:57 PM EST

into Radio City Music Hall.

Parent

Booman (none / 0) (#64)
by lilburro on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:10:18 PM EST

makes an interesting statement in his comments section:

But it's important to remember that you could bring FDR back from the dead and he wouldn't be able to do a thing with Mitch McConnell.

I agree that there are many structural problems facing progressive legislation but I don't agree with this. You can't say the bully pulpit approach works if it's not tried.

We could use someone (none / 0) (#68)
by Harry Saxon on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:24:07 PM EST

with a 'second-rate intellect, first-rate temperment' than the vice-versa we have in Obama.

Parent

you're right (none / 0) (#71)
by sj on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:34:56 PM EST

But what else do you expect from Booman?

Parent

Yeah, it's ridiculous .... (none / 0) (#73)
by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:46:04 PM EST

statement. Mitch McConnell is no tougher than tons of people FDR had to deal with. Not to mention the fact that the editorial boards of virtually every newspaper was against FDR. While Obama has lap dogs.

Parent

That comment (none / 0) (#77)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:52:12 PM EST

is more of the "no, we can't variety". You can't change McConnell and I don't think that anyone thinks you can. The problem is that Obama seems to think that he can work with McConnell.

Also when you campaign on amorphous hope and change it doesn't help you legislative wise.

Has anyone even tried twisting McConnell's arm to see at what point you might get something out of him?

Parent

I hear (none / 0) (#86)
by Makarov on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 05:48:46 PM EST

the best way to negotiate with a turtle is to flip him on his back, not pull on his flipper.

Parent

: I like that (none / 0) (#87)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 06:25:15 PM EST

but you can twist his flipper until he flips over right?

Parent

It is impossible for someone (none / 0) (#122)
by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 12:51:06 PM EST

to analyze a situation and place something on the table as a possibility when they cannot place it on the table in their own life. Negotiating from any position of power is not to be found in Booman's daily living, it isn't something he personally employs so it can't exist in his writings or assessments.

Parent

The price of not voting (none / 0) (#95)
by Politalkix on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 09:33:45 PM EST

link

Not voting for the exalted "Democrat" (5.00 / 1) (#96)
by shoephone on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 10:38:35 PM EST

is not the same as not voting at all. Good luck with the "you have nowhere else to go" argument. But I think you'll have to promote it elsewhere. Insults and fear-mongering don't seduce people. Plus, that tactic has simply gotten boring as all he[[.

Parent

: Who said that? (none / 0) (#97)
by Politalkix on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 11:40:24 PM EST

Who said that "you have nowhere else to go"? Hyperventilating much?
I thought that Governor Strickland enjoyed support in this blog. He got replaced by
Gov. Kasich. There already seems to be buyer's remorse in Ohio.

Parent

The Mittens in Massachussetts (none / 0) (#98)
by Politalkix on Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 11:43:28 PM EST

link

WH (none / 0) (#100)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 09:51:23 AM EST

releases "long" form b/c not that anyone here cares but it was the first thing that popped up on my news this a.m.
here

saw that (none / 0) (#102)
by CST on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:06:08 AM EST

aaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa

this might be fun

Parent

Trump has already (none / 0) (#103)
by brodie on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:20:16 AM EST

signalled that he's pivoting now to the issue of Obama's academic records, and whether O got into Columbia and HLS legitimately.

Then after that, waiting on Donald's desk as important matters to talk about, are how exactly O got to be president of the Harvard Law Review.

Also on tap I'm sure, proof he was the actual author of his memoir Dreams of My Father -- or whether it was his radical left friend Bill Ayres.

Parent

Yep (none / 0) (#104)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:24:55 AM EST

this is moving onto part 2 now.

Of course, this completely destroys the book that Jerome Corsi was writing about the birth certificate which is a good thing.

Parent

saw that too (none / 0) (#105)
by CST on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:34:02 AM EST

Trump "If I couldn't get into the Ivy league schools, how did this guy get in"

WTH does "legitimately" even mean? Anyone who's ever worked in admissions can tell you it's a subjective process. Is he gonna try and say that Obama bribed someone or faked his application? Otherwise, what's to legitimize?

Parent

Here's the thing (none / 0) (#107)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:41:51 AM EST

that Trump is ignoring: Obama transferred into Columbia so his high school grades might not have been that good or maybe he did just okay at Occidental but when you transfer in, there are way different standards than if you are (or there were back then) than if you are initially applying.

Parent

Another conspiracy theory (none / 0) (#109)
by jbindc on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:50:58 AM EST

This morning, there was an article about how Donald Trump, who has never voted in a Republican primary, has given tons of money to Democrats and Democratic causes.

Seriously - maybe he's out there parroting the crazy bull$hit because, outside of political junkies, no one really knows or cares who Paul Ryan or Michelle Bachmann are or what they say. But Trump is laying out the crazy talking points, so more people are paying attention. It's being debunked all over the place and being shown to be insane. So when Michelle Bachmann gets up in a debate and says the same thing, people will realize how crazy she is and won't take her seriously.

Honestly - it would not surprise me in the least to find out the Dems are putting Trump up to the craziness....

Parent

honestly (none / 0) (#111)
by CST on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:55:16 AM EST

this would be a brilliant plan

Which is why I don't think it's true. The Democrats are not that smart.

Parent

: Well, that's true (none / 0) (#112)
by jbindc on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:56:12 AM EST

The Democrats are not that smart.

Parent

Not the (none / 0) (#115)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:01:58 AM EST

first time I've heard this theory. I've heard it put forward that Trump was a "ringer" sent to destroy the GOP and hey, if he does that we all should thank him for doing something that Obama has been unwilling to do.

Parent

Yeah, and it also (none / 0) (#113)
by brodie on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:58:23 AM EST

depends on the quality and standards of the schools transferred from and to. Oxy then, and probably now, has a very good rep for producing serious and able students, so a "B" grade from that school can be misleadingly interpreted by some as not up to Ivy standards, whereas that might not be the interpretation of a given Ivy school, particularly one that has had success in accepting previous students from that university with similar grades.

Of course, all that nuance, all the legitimate subjectivity of the admissions process gets lost when the Donald is involved in cynical GOP primary politics.

Parent

and it was much much easier (none / 0) (#114)
by CST on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:00:15 AM EST

to get into an Ivy back then too.

Parent

Actually (none / 0) (#116)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:07:32 AM EST

back when Obama was transferring around is the same time I was in college and actually I saw many people come out of shoddy junior colleges and get into good colleges. So while I don't know the specifics of Obama's situation at Oxy, I do know that back then it was way easier to transfer than get accepted initially.

Parent

One has to wonder about the continued (none / 0) (#125)
by christinep on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 02:12:04 PM EST

thread of "other" "different" "socialist (even)" and "special treatment" about getting into certain schools. A familiar strain from the RW. A familiar argument about....Let me guess?? Affirmative action??? and that brings us to the line that seems to hold it all together.

Parent

: Oops, almost forgot to add the word: Racism (none / 0) (#126)
by christinep on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 02:15:07 PM EST

The only thing that continues to surprise is the persistence of that thread, that racist thread, that is being employed by the RW as late as today. It certainly does help me understand, in my gut as well as my head, why our President has developed such incredible counter-offensive, counter-punching skills. IMHO.

Parent

I think Trump (none / 0) (#108)
by brodie on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:45:15 AM EST

is taking a page from the Jesse Helms playbook, looking to uncover some affirmative action activity with O's acceptance to the Ivies, along with perhaps some less than stellar grades from previous schools, to diminish the luster of O's stardom and to suggest O has gotten an unfair advantage over other more worth people because of his race.

Just another way to ingratiate himself in the GOP primaries with the racist base over there.

Come the general, if he's gotten that far, he'll pivot again, somewhat, to protect himself against charges he's playing dangerous race politics.

Parent

affirmative action activity (none / 0) (#110)
by CST on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:54:10 AM EST

is a charge that's impossible to prove or disprove. Which I'm sure Trump knows.

He's just throwing racist darts at the wall, hoping something sticks.

What a clown.

If he makes it to the general, it will be way too late to pivot. Although I'm beginning to think BTD is right and he's not gonna run. So he's just throwing as much mud as possible, because he can.

Parent

Wasn't Obama a legacy admission? (5.00 / 1) (#117)
by MO Blue on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:32:36 AM EST

Obama's father - Barack Hussein Obama Sr. - was a Harvard Graduate.

Legacy admission was also Dubya's way into the Ivy League.

Parent

: Yes, it was a legacy admission (Harvard) (none / 0) (#128)
by NYShooter on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 05:17:11 PM EST

and his transfer from Occidental to Columbia was helped along by "set asides." But, having said that, he appears to have had some kind of epiphany half way through his Occidental years, getting more serious, and knuckling down with his studies. While it doesn't look like his grades were high enough to get into Columbia through traditional channels, his new found dedication to scholastics impressed his professors so much that their letters of recommendation played a large part in his admission.
So, even if affirmative action played a role in helping him along, his performance was a good example as to the program's success. Affirmative action, contrary to the wing nut's tantrums that its a "give-away" program for those who don't deserve it, was a program that merely gave a "leg-up." The work still had to be done, and in Obama's case, once given the chance, he certainly "did the work."

Parent

I like Obama's statement (none / 0) (#118)
by ruffian on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:58:23 AM EST

delivered live to the press. Transcript here.

Conclusion:

I know that there's going to be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest. But I'm speaking to the vast majority of the American people, as well as to the press. We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do. I've got better stuff to do. We've got big problems to solve. And I'm confident we can solve them, but we're going to have to focus on them -- not on this.

In fact, I love that.

Parent

Ladies and Gentlemen (none / 0) (#106)
by jbindc on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:37:02 AM EST

You soon-to-be new Secretary of Defense - Leon Panetta, and soon-to be new head of CIA, David Patraeus.

: Wow - a Dem SoD! (none / 0) (#119)
by ruffian on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 12:11:48 PM EST

How will the Republic survive?

Parent

I see that the White House has (none / 0) (#120)
by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 12:17:58 PM EST

released Barack Obama's Certificate of Live Birth Certificate. This is what my husband hoped would happen to Donald Trump.....and now it has.

Congratulations, Jeff. Braves have an (none / 0) (#121)
by oculus on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 12:18:41 PM EST

excellent pitcher. Padres formerly-excellent pitcher--not so good last night. And we really truly cannot hit the baseball.

Tuesday Morning Open Thread | 127 comments (127 topical)

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