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Sunday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 10:48:16 AM EST
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A moment of silence please, for the season of the New York Yankees, who won't be winning their 28th championship this year, and lost their captain, Derek Jeter, to a fractured ankle last night.

A sigh of relief for the Florida Gators, who survived a lackluster performance at Vandy to keep their season record perfect at 6-0. Next week, an angry South Carolina team coached by the greatest Florida Gator, the Old Ball Coach hisself, Steve Spurrier. A scary game for the Gators.

Finally, while I do not delve too much in to picking NFL games (too much variable in effort from these teams imo), I have to say that I think the 49ers (-7) over the New York FOOTBALL Giants seems like a terrific investment opportunity. The Giants have been lackluster all year. The 49ers are still fuming over their loss last year in the playoff game and Harbaugh is insane. Take the Niners, lay the 7. I expect a blowout. (My personal investment here will by 5 units.)

Open Thread.

POSTSCRIPT - Why not much on the state of the Presidential race? Because everything you might read, think or hear today will be overwhelmed by the most anticipated second Presidential debate since 1984 (when America wanted to know if Reagan was senile (he was, but everyone decided to pretend he wasn't cuz he got off that practiced one liner about Mondale"s "youth and inexperience.")) Whatever you read now is pointless. After Tuesday night we'll have an idea where we will stand in the race.

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    Newspaper Endorsements (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:08:50 AM EST
    don't grab my attention except when they go against the grain.

    The Winston-Salem Journal(NC) endorsed McCain in 2008 but flips this year and gives a very positive endorsement for President Obama with quite a few shots at the Romney approach.

    The Lincoln, Nebraska Journal Star (none / 0) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 02:24:00 PM EST
    also does the flip from going with the Republican four years ago to endorsing President Obama today.

    Parent
    Oh ye of little faith (5.00 / 0) (#4)
    by vicndabx on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:22:56 AM EST


    Quitters (none / 0) (#34)
    by MKS on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:17:36 PM EST
    Republicans don't give up....not even when Romney was behind by 5 points in all the polls....

    Parent
    The reason for my anger (5.00 / 3) (#68)
    by NYShooter on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 09:30:08 PM EST
    has nothing to do with Obama's political status, or winning the "horse race" aspect of the election. It has to do with Him representing Us. He is the only thing that stands between Us and literal serfdom. I don't have to go through the litany of horrors that will surely be imposed on us should the Neanderthal Party succeed.

    He wanted to be our Champion, and we gave him that opportunity. It is an unbelievably important, and difficult, position. But, he convinced us that he was the man we needed, and he admonished us that he was the best man for that position. He promised us that of all the candidates running He was the one best equipped to protect us from the fascist mutants gaining power in the intellectually stunted Party.

    He wanted the job so badly he succumbed to tactics he couldn't be proud of, and many of us found to be repugnant. In spite of all that an election was held, and he got the job he lusted for all those many years.
    So now, with three hundred lives in his hands, he shows up and does worse than if he spent months practicing how to lose. And, the excuses his supporters are coming up with, simply nauseating.

    It's not him I give a crap about. It's me, and my family, and all my fellow Americans who stand to lose everything we hold dear. "He was tired, he didn't want to lower himself to Romney's standards, he was surprised by all the lies Romney told.

    Poor dear, maybe I have been too hard on him.


    Parent

    I always want (5.00 / 0) (#5)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:43:27 AM EST
    Morgan Freeman's voice on my side

    Live view (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 12:00:01 PM EST
    of today's free fall from space

    Looks like he's going to jump (none / 0) (#12)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 01:06:00 PM EST
    from over 128,000 feet

    Parent
    Thanks for the link! (none / 0) (#14)
    by Democratic Cat on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 01:21:55 PM EST
    That was amazing to watch live.

    Parent
    Prediction: the debate will be... (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Dadler on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 01:54:36 PM EST
    ...monumentally anti-climatic and head-scratching. Romney will be Romney, a laissez-faire capitalist slob lacking a single unselfish sentient bone in his body; and Obama, the nice and intelligent but addled man who cannot bring himself to play genuine political hardball, who cannot bring himself to admit what Greenspan had to, that his entire worldview, that audacity of a dope, was wrong.

    I cannot see either of these men genuinely getting out of their skin.  What, is Romney gonna do, suddenly gain Reagan's professional acting skills?  Is Obama suddenly going to be comfortable and skilled at imitating FDR?

    No.

    These men are who these men are. The older I get, the less I can buy into any bullsh*t.  These debates are for the hopelessly intellectually bereft, those who actually can be SWAYED by one of these show-pony dress rehearsals.

    That ain't me, and I doubt it's anybody within twenty miles of this site.

    That said, Go O!  Surprise me, humiliate me, shove your game in my face!  I beg of you.

    I think the debates have reached the (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by ruffian on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 01:55:09 PM EST
    point of ridiculousness. I came to this conclusion after watching this morning's ABC News Jake Tapper led 'panel on debates'. George Will stated, and everyone agreed, that the debates no longer have the purpose of teasing out policy position. They are exclusively to test the character and demeanor of the contestants. This is supposed to give us some clue about how they will perform the job as POTUS. Apparently the theater of the debate stage is just like negotiating with congresspeople. If Joe Biden laughs at Paul Ryan on stage, how can he negotiate with him as a congressman?   Makes me wonder how the cast of '12 Angry Men' managed to eat lunch.

    If this is true it is because the media has made it that way with their focus on the narrative above content. We are doomed.

    "Character and demeanor"? More like (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 02:11:25 PM EST
    acting ability.  

    Parent
    Exactly (none / 0) (#48)
    by ruffian on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 06:55:55 PM EST
    We are being asked to judge who acts the part of the POTUS most effectively.

    Can we just elect Daniel Day-Lewis?

    Parent

    That's because they're not actual debates (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by shoephone on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 04:47:37 PM EST
    And they are not moderated by people with the proper experience and know-how to moderate a legitimate debate. The parties control the whole show, the media lapdogs follow along, and the voters end up with nothing meaningful from which to make an intelliegent, informed decision. Its a sham.

    And the overpaid dumba$$es at ABC just figured that out this morning?

    Parent

    The infuriating thing was that they (none / 0) (#49)
    by ruffian on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 06:58:20 PM EST
    were not even saying that was a bad thing. They all seemed to be in agreement that this is a perfectly reasonable way to be conducting the public discourse.

    Parent
    If David Brinkley were still alive (none / 0) (#55)
    by shoephone on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:33:28 PM EST
    he'd tell all of them to STFU and go back to school.

    Parent
    my family went canvassing today for (5.00 / 3) (#25)
    by CST on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 03:42:39 PM EST
    Obama in NH.  Of the "undecided" voters, 70% were strong Obama supporters, 15% were leaning Obama, 10% were actually undecided, and I didn't run into any but I'll give 5% for Romney because my sister ran into a few.

    Granted, this is a small sample size, but again, somewhere at some point they were all listed as "undecided".  My sister and I were told by different people that they think there is actually strong support for Obama in NH, but since it's NH people don't want to talk too loudly about it.

    WTF? This is the third CEO email threat (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by nycstray on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 04:22:41 PM EST
    I've seen this week . . .  No surprise with these guys, but d@mn, makes me glad my boss is me. I'd prob get my a** fired if I received one of these from an  employer . . .  :P

    One of them will win in November. (4.71 / 7) (#6)
    by Edger on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:44:50 AM EST
    Everyone else will lose.

    Again.

    Welcome back, Edger! (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by Zorba on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 01:18:18 PM EST
    We missed you!

    Parent
    Apparently the first debate did not (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:46:54 AM EST
    sway your opinion.  

    Parent
    Perhaps (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:54:25 AM EST
    he is referring to the World Series, in which case it could be a factual statement.

    Parent
    Hey guy (none / 0) (#26)
    by NYShooter on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 03:54:08 PM EST
    Since we're knee deep into the sports & betting season who do you like to blow up the world first?

    Fiscal cliff  +6
    or
    political cliff -8 1/2  

    I'm going with fiscal cliff +6. It's only money and Bernanke will announce QE/infiniteee. And, if you really want to make some serious dough, buy ink company stock.

    Political cliff? It seems even Obama doesn't give a sh^t any more.

    oh yeah, welcome back, whatever. lol

    Parent

    I'm thinking (none / 0) (#33)
    by Zorba on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:07:16 PM EST
    "fiscal cliff," too, Shooter.
    Either way, I'm thinking that this country is going to be totally f*cked.  Moving elsewhere in our retirement is looking better and better, except that every place that we would think about is pretty well scr*wed, too, in one way or another.  EU?  Don't think so.  Canada?  They have a conservative government now, too (although their "conservatives" are our "centrists").
    Maybe New Zealand.  Or maybe just hunker down here, where our property is paid off and we can grow/hunt/fish for our own food.  Who the heck knows?  
    I'm getting depressed.  {{Sigh}}

    Parent
    Krugman wrote an op-ed recently (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by NYShooter on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 10:19:39 PM EST
    about one of the Scandinavian countries. (It might have been Finland, but I'm not sure)

    Anyway, the purpose of the article was about his persistent admonishment of Europe's insane "austerity" fever.  Apparently, lets call it Finland, enjoys the highest standard of living in Europe. It also has the lowest unemployment, and its economy is just short of booming. Oh, and it also has a budget surplus .

    How come, you ask? (you know the answer, but I'll say it anyway) In all of those areas it's leaders went exactly opposite from the rest of Europe.

    I'm too tired to go into all the details tonight. But, if you're interested I'm sure a little Googling will get you there.


    Parent

    Good to see you again (none / 0) (#77)
    by sj on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:20:58 PM EST
    Welcome back, my friend.

    Parent
    Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary to Mr. Angel. (4.40 / 5) (#15)
    by Angel on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 01:25:05 PM EST
    He is a wonderful man and I love him so very, very much.  

    Does this mean (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by NYShooter on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 04:19:48 AM EST
    you and I are finished?

    O.K. Mr. Angel, settle down, that was a joke, no, really, just a joke. (How come he's not laughing, Angel?"

    Anyway, I just recently celebrated our 35th anniversary also. No fooling, it's actually true, what a coincidence, huh?

    Just one little thing, though. Instead of a romantic dinner for two we decided to put a little twist into it this year. We got a little divorce for two instead. As a naturalized citizen of America something tells me, in reading the manual, I got things ass backward. Ooh, don't go there, that didn't sound too good.

    Anyway, please don't anyone feel bad for me, our children are grown, our finances were divided equitably, we remain best of friends, and.........drum roll, I insisted on paying her far more each month than her moron attorney "demanded."

    I don't know, maybe being an idiot is a new, diabolical form of successful representation. I found myself saying, "how do you expect her to live on that," every time he presented a demand. They say that divorce doesn't have to be contentious; that you can formulate it in a way that leaves both sides happy. All I can say is that with each of Herb's blooper attempts at playing "tough guy,"  and me, playing one-upmanship to each of them, my wife just sat there smiling, her four and a half inch pumps bobbing up and down,  and she, whispering, "you're doing fine, Herb, you're doing real fine:)


    Parent

    You are a peach of a former spouse! (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by oculus on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 12:03:50 PM EST


    Parent
    Okay, I won't feel bad for you (none / 0) (#94)
    by sj on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 09:44:43 AM EST
    But it's always sad to see a marriage end.  And your generosity of spirit is in alignment with the person who comments here.

    Peace.

    Parent

    Lordy... (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by sj on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 09:40:32 AM EST
    I thought I was cranky, but what kind of Grinch does it take to rate your happy announcement a "2"?  I mean, seriously?  

    Wishing you many more years of happiness.

    Parent

    Thank you, sj. (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by Angel on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 11:43:29 AM EST
    Not sure why the 2 rating, puzzling to me.  I guess I'll just say 'whatever' and leave it at that.  

    Parent
    I would assume ... (none / 0) (#99)
    by Yman on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 01:30:50 PM EST
    ... the 2 rating is a mistake.  If you click on a number rating and then use the arrow keys on the keyboard to scroll down the page without clicking elsewhere on the page first, it will scroll across the rating numbers ... happened to me a few times.

    Can't imagine why else it deserved a "2".

    Parent

    It's just that Jeter's ankle could no longer (none / 0) (#2)
    by scribe on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:12:53 AM EST
    take the strain of carrying the whole team all alone.  

    I mean, if A-Rod could be bothered to get a hit once in a while, this could have all been avoided.  But, dear old A-Rod is too busy styling while striking out, leaving all the heavy lifting to Jeter.  So, let's place the blame where it rightly lies:  on A-Rod.  It's all his fault.

    As strong as Jeter is, even he has limits.

    Well, (none / 0) (#18)
    by womanwarrior on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 02:04:43 PM EST
    I am glad that it isn't Obama's fault.  But how about that Raul Ibanez?  He's been carrying pretty well, no?  Well, I am sorry for Jeter, but glad it wasn't an acl.  

    Parent
    Well thank our shadowy yet (none / 0) (#3)
    by brodie on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:20:42 AM EST
    real ET overlords that there are only three weeks plus a little change left til this one drag of a dishonest campaign season is over and we can clean the slate and begin speculating some more about Hillary.

    And only a couple days til we find out whether Obama is going to finally man up and take it to the Repubs.  Or whether he's going to take the opportunity to again tell us how often he and "Governor Romney" agree on the issues and how it's just a matter of a few nuanced differences here and there.

    Should be an interesting second debate Tuesday.  I'm already getting worked up.  Just hope Obama is too.

    On a serious note (none / 0) (#29)
    by NYShooter on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 04:34:56 PM EST
    It's not the first time I've stated this, and after the behavior I've witnessed these past several months, my feelings have been simply reinforced. "There's something wrong with Barack Obama."

    I know some us have tried our hand at practicing psychoanalysis regarding B.O. but my suspicions go back to the early primary days. The first inkling that "something was wrong"  was when I read that he had written not one, but two, autobiographies. The guy, only 30 something, with a resume of accomplishments as thin as a sheet of vellum paper, was driven to share his...what? with the entire world. There's hubris, and there's narcissism, but the level of self-aggrandizement regarding a short life of opaque, illusory accomplishments is very worrisome to me.

    And, there's more, much more, but it will have to wait for now.

    But, for now, yes, I'm going to vote for him, and yes, the alternative is too dreadful to contemplate.

    One last thought. I would love to hear a mental health professional's take on his debate breakdown. It has been brushed off way too simply.  At stake: The Presidency of the United States, and the Leadership of the Free World, and he doesn't show up?  


    Parent

    Obama did show up (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Mr Tuxedo on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 04:56:24 PM EST
    He gave the so-called debate the respect it deserves. Apparently he suffers foolishness ungladly. I don't blame him.

    But he'll be the "winner" of the second debate. The first one was a woodshed moment, ginned up by the media to provide the horse race they crave.

    Yawn.

    Obama is leading and he will win on November 6. Everybody knows this. The media got restless and decided to spank their darling, and that was the October surprise.

    Parent

    To: Mr. Tuxedo (none / 0) (#40)
    by christinep on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:27:15 PM EST
    In general, the point about the media take-down, IMO, is on point.  I also found the President to "perform" with a degree of lethargy...adequate, in part, but with something missing in tone & appearance.  

    Maybe the TV set-up anticipates the high possibility of a much better Presidential "performance" & will pronounce a redemption has occurred (following the political time in the Wilderness since the first outing.)

    Parent

    Closing Statments (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by MKS on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:02:43 PM EST
    Both Obama and Biden didn't really have prepared closing statements.

    If there will be a closing statment on Tuesday, it would be good to prepare one, perhaps with a zinger Romney can't respond to (to give the closing statement seeming freshness), memorize it, and rehearse it.  It is only two minutes long, and there is time to prepare one.....

    A good closing statment would have saved much for Obama in the first debate, according to David Brooks, and I agree.

     

    Parent

    Biden is good off the cuff (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by shoephone on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:42:17 PM EST
    He can think on his feet, so he didn't really need a prepared closing statement. In fact, I think it was much more effective that he didn't have one, because he was able to take everything Ryan said during the debate and refute it in a quick closing (that didn't actually take the full two minutes, if I recall). Ryan's was prepared and spoke to nothing. Obama needs to just tally up the most egregious lies Romney spouts off in the TH and refute those in his closing.

    Parent
    Always good to have a prepared (none / 0) (#61)
    by MKS on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 08:01:51 PM EST
    statement in your back pocket....You can always modify as needed.  But to on-the-spot create a closing at the end when tired will give the advantage to the other side.

    Biden ran out of gas at his closing but he had already done so well (leaving it all on the field as I think TPM said), that it did not matter.

    Obama cannot cede anything to Romney.

    A good close can cover a lot of defects....

    Parent

    There is no point is starting from an incorrect (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by Politalkix on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 08:58:12 PM EST
    assumption and building a theory on it. "Dreams from my father" was written when a publisher approached Obama to write a book after he was elected to become the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. He received an advance from the publisher and went to work in writing the book with a belief that "the story of his family and his effort to understand that story, might speak in some way to the fissures of race that have characterized the American experience, as well as the fluid state of identity-the leaps through time, the collision of cultures-that mrk modern life".
    The motivation to write the book is quite different from what you seem to think it is.

    Parent
    The shot fired through the main Denver OFA (none / 0) (#36)
    by christinep on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:18:24 PM EST
    That act--and I emphasize that no one has suggested anything about whether it was random or not, and it is being investigated--is troubling without more.  With all the hatred around, we live in a tense political atmosphere.

    I wonder (not too often, but sometimes) about the heightened threat atmosphere.  There does appear to be some evidence in general as to a plethora of threats.  

    While this heightened hatred pattern that seems to be accompanying whatever it is accompanying (demographic & other changes in American society and/or stresses from the Great Recession) may be a backdrop for my latest knot-in stomach feeling, it may be apropos of nothing and mostly a matter of my personal anxiety.

    Parent

    Given your comments re (none / 0) (#98)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 01:07:48 PM EST
    Obama that's a real leap of faith to vote for him.

    Parent
    Arlen Specter has died (none / 0) (#10)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 12:06:52 PM EST


    Campaigns Know [if] You Watch Porn Online (none / 0) (#11)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 12:44:58 PM EST
    The New York Times boldly declares that these campaign worker-callers will know...

       ...details like whether voters may have visited pornography Web sites, have homes in foreclosure, are more prone to drink Michelob Ultra than Corona or have gay friends or enjoy expensive vacations.
    Spying on our credit card statements (none / 0) (#58)
    by shoephone on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:44:22 PM EST
    Easier than reading the tea leaves, I guess. Surveillance: It's what's for breakfast.

    Parent
    "Understanding the Undecided." (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 02:14:34 PM EST
    NYT editorial cartoon

    Hillary (none / 0) (#21)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 02:21:09 PM EST
    .

    Hillary will not quietly be thrown under the bus.

    It looks like the story about the video being responsible for the deaths in Libya was a White House lie, or even worse a delusion.  The transcript is damning.

    .

    And you of course applied (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by MKS on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 02:40:12 PM EST
    this same standard to Bush and Condi Rice's reaction to the Presidential Daily Brief that had as its heading "Bin Laden deternined to strike inside U.S.?"

    You of course blame Bush for 9/11?

    Or do you say like all the Republicans that Bush kept us safe?

    Parent

    It "looks like"? - Heh (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Yman on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 03:14:21 PM EST
    What "lie"?  You keep making that accusation without quoting the "lie".

    Parent
    Republican fog (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Politalkix on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:28:57 PM EST
    When GWB was president, planes slammed into the WTC killing 3000 people and shoes were thrown at the American President in Iraq.
    BHO has kept America safe and repaired America's image aroung the world.

    Parent
    Mallarkey (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by christinep on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:29:32 PM EST


    Parent
    Or, Ar go (none / 0) (#62)
    by MKS on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 08:12:13 PM EST
    eff yourself.....

    From the film.....

    Parent

    Nonsense. (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 10:52:03 PM EST
    Initial judgments in this incident were qualified, and the assessment of what happened has been modified as further information became available. This is simply part of the ongoing review process.

    Please stop using this tragedy in Banghazi as a polarizing political wedge issue. Your Über-partisan hyperbole gets very tiresome.

    Parent

    In 2016 (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdm251 on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 04:02:50 PM EST
    I would love to see a Biden/Warren ticket in 2016.  I don't see Hillary Clinton running for public office again, unless maybe the nominee in 2016 is a young person, and she gets the VP slot to help balance the ticket.

    Assuming Romney loses this year I wonder who the repubs will run in 2016.  I think Ryan was supposed to be the candidate, but after his many exagerations and general dimness I don't see that happening either.

    I don't see Santorum going away and I can almost see Romney trying for the nomination in 2016 as well he doesn't have anything else to do

    Biden's older than Hillary. (5.00 / 4) (#31)
    by caseyOR on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 04:55:46 PM EST
    So, why would Hillary play second fiddle to a young person, but Biden gets the top slot?

    Parent
    Same SH!T (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by nycstray on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:21:28 PM EST
    different year. Ahhhhhh, the smell of 2008 in the air . . . .

    Parent
    Hillary would never want to be anyone's VP (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by shoephone on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:23:27 PM EST
    You can stake money on that. But I'm also convinced she will not run for prez in 2016. She'll be 69, won't she? And she's got too many other options for her professional future. I think she can write her own ticket. I really don't understand why people keep floating her for 2016. I'm not seeing it at all. As for Biden, who the heck knows... the outsized egos of male U.S. senators know no bounds.

    Parent
    I tight Hillary was leaving government this year (none / 0) (#43)
    by kdm251 on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:48:28 PM EST
    I think hillary Clinton has said she plans to leave the administration this year, win or lose, which to me says she is through with politics, but I have a feeling the right candidate might draw her back as the VP.

    Parent
    I'm ready to bet money right now (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by shoephone on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 06:18:40 PM EST
    that she will NEVER be anyone's running mate. She doesn't want it or need it.

    Parent
    I'll bet five bux (none / 0) (#45)
    by kdm251 on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 06:33:19 PM EST
    I will bet five bux she is the VP icandidate in 2016. I think Nate Silver would predict you have many more chances of being five dollars richer than I do, but for a chance to speculate for four years it's worth it.

    Parent
    Of (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 06:43:26 PM EST
    course women should never be on the top of the ticket should they? That's what you seem to be saying. Why on earth would she want to leave what she'll probably have going if she starts a foundation to go into a job that's worth a warm bucket of spit?

    Parent
    I'll see your $5 (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by shoephone on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:36:11 PM EST
    and raise you $10. See you in 2016! ;-)

    Parent
    Your on (none / 0) (#75)
    by kdm251 on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:17:14 PM EST
    See ya in 2016. :)

    Parent
    She (none / 0) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 06:41:31 PM EST
    is leaving because secretaries of state almost always just serve one term.

    There is NO WAY she is going to be a VP candidate. She did not want VP in '08 and why on earth would she want it now? She's either not going to run or run and get the nomination.

    Parent

    Another possibility (none / 0) (#54)
    by Mr Tuxedo on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:30:26 PM EST
    She's either not going to run or run and get the nomination.

    She could run and NOT get the nomination . . . again.

    Parent

    Why would you like to see Biden on the (none / 0) (#50)
    by ruffian on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:02:12 PM EST
    top of the ticket in 2016? Can't we do better? I thought we had 'passed the torch to a new generation'.

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    NY Giants are winning by two touchdowns (none / 0) (#35)
    by Payaso on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:18:11 PM EST
    and just intercepted and have 1st and 10 at the Niners' 12 yd line.

    Picked off again (none / 0) (#39)
    by Payaso on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 05:26:44 PM EST
    Giants up 20-3 and are 1st and goal from the five.

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    Ooof...looks like you fell for the trap, BTD... (none / 0) (#51)
    by Anne on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:02:30 PM EST
    And Ravens...more oof...already the most porous run defense in years - if you could even call it a defense - and now it looks like Lewis is done with a torn triceps and Lardarius Webb may have a torn ACL.

    I'd take Houston next week, for sure; that one's going to be ugly with a capital U.

    The reverse trap (none / 0) (#59)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:47:08 PM EST
    They lure was to bet on the Giants.

    I think Vegas took a bath along with me.

    Anyway, sticking to college football from now on.

    I have no clue with the NFL. None.

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    The 49er's (none / 0) (#70)
    by cpresley on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 10:00:36 PM EST
    Have been kicking butt so far all season, until you, BTD said they were going to win. You are bad luck.


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    BTD cost me FF bragging rights this week (none / 0) (#83)
    by nycstray on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 12:57:03 AM EST
    and it was a family member I played against :( I think I still retain 1st place status though :D

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    Guess the Wisconsin (none / 0) (#53)
    by KeysDan on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:17:15 PM EST
    Republicans just don't like President Obama's policies.

    The first BCS Poll of the year (none / 0) (#60)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 07:59:08 PM EST
    has been released and IF they remain undefeated, the Championship game looks to be Alabama vs Oregon.

    BCS Poll

    Florida, despite yesterday's pitiful (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by caseyOR on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 08:17:33 PM EST
    effort, (yes, they won), is in 2nd place in the BCS rankings. So, how do you figure an Alabama-oregon game?

    And why the hell is Florida in 2nd place? why isn't Oregon in a top 2 spot? Is it because this was a bye week for the Ducks?

    I hate the BCS.

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    thou doth protest too much (none / 0) (#64)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 08:26:57 PM EST
    If Alabama and Florida remain undefeated they will play each other in the SEC Championship game, leaving one of them with a loss and Oregon in the Championship game.

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    Gaaaaaatooooors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (none / 0) (#69)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 09:37:28 PM EST
    Relax, SEC will continue to beat the crap put of each other.

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    That's good, given that ... (none / 0) (#73)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 10:56:25 PM EST
    ... most teams in the SEC tend to not play anyone of substance outside of conference. Call me when the Gators play a non-conference game on the road against a quality program from north of the Ohio or west of the Mississippi.

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    Ha! (none / 0) (#80)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 12:11:18 AM EST
    Look, the SEC pays the best, the get the best players.

    Deal with it

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    LOL! They do that. (none / 0) (#84)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 03:04:58 AM EST
    Alabama pays coach Nick Saban a salary ($5.3 million) that amounts to just a little less than 20% of the entire athletic department budget at the University of Hawaii ($29 million).

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    If Hawaii had 90,000 fans (none / 0) (#91)
    by CoralGables on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 08:59:24 AM EST
    at every home game like the Gators or 100,000 like Alabama their athletic budget would be much bigger.

    Parent
    That still doesn't mitigate the fact ... (none / 0) (#85)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 03:19:51 AM EST
    ... that the marquee SEC schools tend not to schedule quality non-conference foes. Heck, sometimes they don't even play each other with regularity. Last year's game marked the first time Alabama and Florida had met during the regular season in eight years.

    When Florida starts scheduling home-and-home nonconference arrangements against the likes of TCU, BYU, Boise State, Notre Dame and USC, then we'll talk -- because programs aspiring to be considered elite and first-class shouldn't be afraid to play those teams.

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    Yeah, okay, but I still don't understand (none / 0) (#65)
    by caseyOR on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 08:41:39 PM EST
    why Oregon is not in the #2 spot now.

    I am starting to believe that there is an SEC bias in the BCS.

    Strength of schedule (none / 0) (#66)
    by CoralGables on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 08:55:50 PM EST
    Oregon has one of the weakest schedules of the undefeated teams. Oh, and the "pitiful" win by Florida yesterday...they were a 7 point favorite on the road and won by 14.

    The computer polls section of the BCS have the following ranking:

    1 - Florida
    2 - Notre Dame
    3 - Alabama
    4 - Kansas State
    5 - Oregon State
    6 - Oregon
    7 - South Carolina
    8 - Texas Tech
    9 - LSU
    10 - Oklahoma

    I'm a Duck fan. Nothing I would like more than seeing Florida against Oregon. To do that though Florida will have to beat 4 more teams currently in the top 15 still on their schedule. That would make 5 wins on the season against top 15 teams...not likely to happen.


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    Oregon's schedule is weak? (none / 0) (#74)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:12:02 PM EST
    Uh, no. Excuse me, but the Ducks have already beaten then-No. 22 Arizona, 49-0, and then-No. 23 Washington, 52-21.

    Further, they have regular season games remaining at No. 10 USC and No. 20 Stanford, then close at home against No. 8 Oregon State, probably for the Pac-12 North title. Then, assuming that they make it past the Beavers, they will probably face USC again in a rematch for the conference championship. That is not a chump schedule.

    If Oregon runs the table, it would be an utter travesty that would doom the BCS via lawsuit, if the Ducks were left on the sidelines in favor of an all-SEC redux. Period.

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    Using (none / 0) (#79)
    by CoralGables on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 12:01:01 AM EST
    BTD's favorite guy Jeff Sagarin, Oregon's schedule thus far is ranked 24th out of the current top 25 teams bettering only Florida State.

    And who said the Ducks would be left out. The Ducks are a lock to play in the BCS game if they run the table even though they played 5 of their first 6 games at home, and don't play a single non conference game on the road all season.

    You usually do much better research .

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    If teams would keep their (none / 0) (#81)
    by caseyOR on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 12:30:46 AM EST
    commitments to play the Ducks, Oregon's schedule would not be so easy.

    This season's first three games were originally scheduled with Kansas State, New Mexico and Montana State. All three backed out, leaving Oregon scrambling to fill those slots.

    Georgia committed to a game with Oregon next year, but they have cancelled.

    Top-tier teams won't travel to Eugene. The Ducks like to schedule home and home matches with non-conference teams. They can't do that when teams won't play at Autzen.

    What are these big-time teams afraid of?

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    We had the same problem out here. (none / 0) (#86)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 03:23:19 AM EST
    Michigan and Michigan State both reneged on their scheduled 2007 games with Hawaii after Warrior QB announced he was returning for his senior season, forcing UH to scramble to find replacements short term. We ended up with Northern Colorado and Charleston Southern.

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    Casey, Oregon will keep doing (none / 0) (#93)
    by CoralGables on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 09:44:40 AM EST
    what they are doing right now. Adding home games (rather than home and home), continue their sellout streak, and growing their athletic budget with the plan of enlarging Autzen Stadium again and eventually win the first NCAA football title for the State of Oregon.

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    And who is Jeff Sagarin, but ... (none / 0) (#87)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 03:36:50 AM EST
    ... another guy with an opinion, like BTD, you and me? That he uses computer programs to rank teams and conferences means nothing. According to him, Florida should be No. 1!

    Sagarin even ranks the SEC ahead of the Big West Conference in NCAA women's volleyball, which is absolutely laughable on its face, given that Big West teams have won 10 national championships over the past three decades while the SEC has won none. The NCAA used his methodology last year in seeding the championship tournament, resulting in the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 ranked teams ending up in the same bracket. I think his findings often defy common sense.

    What is it they say about the main problem with computers? Garbage in, garbage out.

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    Strength of Schedule (none / 0) (#95)
    by CoralGables on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 10:06:38 AM EST
    No need for me to cherry pick. Pick any strength of schedule ranking you want. The best I found for Oregon looking through 7 different rankings was 35th in the nation and the worst was 93nd. Two of the 7 only ranked the top 50 and Oregon wasn't listed at all. Their average ranking of the other five was 66th.

    And I'll give you the win in Big West volleyball. 10 Titles in 30 years would be great (although the conference only claims to have won 6 in their 40 year history). SEC Football has won 6 National Titles in a row and 10 of the last 20.

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    RIP, King Norodom Sihanouk (1923-2012). (none / 0) (#76)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:20:35 PM EST
    The former monarch of Cambodia, who abdicated in favor of his son in 2004, first came to public consciousness in the late 1950s and '60s, when he tried mightily to keep his country neutral in the Cold War. the military overthrow of his government by Gen. Lon Nol in 1970, which was aided and abettede by the Nixon administration, propelled Cambodia into the expanded war in Indochina, and made possible the rise to power of the murderous Khmer Rouge.

    Obama up three in Newsweek poll (none / 0) (#78)
    by MKS on Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 11:41:11 PM EST
    of likley voters, 49-46.  Up from 49-47 before the debate.

    Did the debate primarily excite Romney supporters?

    Is the bounce wearing off?

    Will Democrats ever circle the wagons and save the public rending of garments until after the election?

    Among Registered voters, Obama up by 7.

    They have been driving the Space Shuttle (none / 0) (#82)
    by MKS on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 12:43:35 AM EST
    around the surface streets of L.A. for seemingly the last week.  It got stuck in traffic.....had to get further instructions on how to clear power lines and trees--it is really wide and barely fits....

    Only in L.A.

    The local t.v. stations keep showing footage of the Shuttle driving around as if it were a big Winnebago that got lost.  It just cracks me up.

    I've been enjoying the pictures (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by ruffian on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 06:02:30 AM EST
    Nothing like a true spectacle!

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    They had it scheduled for two days. (none / 0) (#88)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 03:39:48 AM EST
    It took almost three to complete the 12-mile trek from LAX to Exposition Park (which is south of downtown, next to USC).

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    Sunday Morning Open Thread | 99 comments (99 topical)

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