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Saturday Open Thread: Belated April Fools' Edition

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 08:54:00 AM EST
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The Aspen Daily News has a funny article about Trump getting the naming rights to Sardy Field (Aspen's airport) and his plans to turn it into an international hub. It's an April Fool's joke.

There's even a photo of the new airport, topped with a Donald-style mane of hair. There's more about his plans to outlaw hiking, take on environmentalists and erect a statue of himself in Carbondale.

Trump is also seeking naming opportunities elsewhere in the Roaring Fork Valley. He has already approached Carbondale about placing a statue depicting himself as a Roman god in the town’s roundabout, and Glenwood Springs concerning the design of the Grand Avenue Bridge, which would be shaped like his p*nis.

[More...]

But Colorado Department of Hauling (C’DOH) engineer Moore Roundabouts feels the bridge design would not be long enough to do the trick. “I’m not sure that model could stretch that far, let alone across the width of a soup can,” he said.

The author signs the article with an email address, "pleasedontsueus" at a pretend news ".org" in Aspen.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Open Thread: Belated April Fools' Edition | 193 comments (193 topical)

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    Plato said (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by fishcamp on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 06:57:21 AM EST
    "If you do not take an interest in your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools."

    Here's a nice pic (none / 0) (#2)
    by Mr Natural on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 08:16:53 AM EST
    of Glib Lib Bill Clinton, signing away the safety net in 1995.

    The article is, The End of Welfare as We Know It: America's once-robust safety net is no more. - Alana Semuels, The Atlantic, April 1, 2016


    Parent

    The old wedgie routine from Mr. Natural (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by christinep on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 03:11:15 PM EST


    Parent
    Less is more. (none / 0) (#70)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 04:30:16 PM EST


    Parent
    If I was the ... (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 11:26:26 AM EST
    Clinton campaign, I'd start running an ad about Sanders' lies regarding the fossil fuel contributions.

    It's time to ends this. She's let him slide long on the support from Karl Rove, on his failure to show commitment to down ticket races, and breaking his pledge to run no negative ads. And on many other things.

    Sanders was supposed to bring a breath of fresh air to presidential politics. But this is the same stale Clinton and her supporters have been choking down for decades.

    Enough.

    The press (none / 0) (#7)
    by jbindc on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 12:04:18 PM EST
    Has been surprisingly kind of on top of this.

    Parent
    Not enough. (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 12:10:20 PM EST
    Look at these recent headlines.

    But, even if the press was all over it, it still provides the opportunity to highlight the hypocrisy rife in the Sanders campaign.

    A lot of voters are just buying the "straight talk" moniker without a second thought.

    Parent

    From the Slate article in your link: (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by Nemi on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 02:27:12 PM EST
    It was an unusual flash of anger on the rope line from Clinton, who has experience playing either dumb or hard of hearing when asked a question she doesn't want to answer in similar situations. The intensity of her response aside, though, it was similarly disingenuous as many of her previous ones on the topic of campaign cash. Clinton is technically right, her campaign has not received any donations directly from oil and gas corporations--but that's hardly something to boast about given federal law bars corporations from directly donating to candidates.

    Maybe I'm overly sensitive - an election circle like this on top of the one in 2008 can do that to a person :( - but I wonder: Does anyone ever write things like that about a male candidate? Dumb? Hard of hearing? Disingenuos? Not to mention the "she's right ... but ... and btw nothing to boast(?) about ..."?

    Parent

    Disingenuous (5.00 / 4) (#19)
    by FlJoe on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 03:08:02 PM EST
    despite being "technically" correct and Bernie is not disingenuous  despite being "technically" incorrect, weird logic there. He himself discovers that what Bernie is implying is against the law, but somehow he cannot understand why Hillary is so miffed about it.

    CDS is a terrible thing.

     

    Parent

    And, of course, she isn't just ... (5.00 / 3) (#22)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 04:10:57 PM EST
    technically right. She's actually right as well.

    And Sanders "demand" for an apology, when he lied, isn't plain talk. It's standard politician mumbo jumbo.

    Parent

    Have to wonder about (none / 0) (#50)
    by ragebot on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 10:24:09 AM EST
    how important down ticket support is to anyone but insiders.

    Much of Bernie's support is because he claims to want to upset the establishment insiders.  When Clinton, or her supporters, claim rightly Sanders is not doing as much a Clinton in helping down ticket a lot of Sanders' supporters may view that as a good thing.

    I know it may not be looking at the big picture form Clinton's, and her supporters, viewpoint; but from Bernie's supporters the opposite may be true.

    Parent

    If that (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by FlJoe on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 11:14:28 AM EST
    is true then it is part and parcel of the snake oil he is selling. He allows his supporters to believe that down ticket support is the "opposite" of a good thing.

    It doesn't take an insider to know that down tickets are very important, retaking the Senate is nearly as important as retaining the White , Feingold for instance has raised over 7 mil( half from large donations) what fool of a progressive would deny him more? Even if it comes from the dreaded Security & Investment industry(160K so far). Numbers from OpenSecrets.org  

     

    Parent

    Sanders' current strategy is to woo (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by ruffian on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 11:20:24 AM EST
    super delegates away from Clinton. Down ticket races are pretty darn important to them, since they ARE the down ticket races. So the importance to the average voter of this particular issue isn't the point.

    Parent
    Presidents don't rule by decree. (5.00 / 2) (#61)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 02:00:19 PM EST
    ragebot: "Much of Bernie's support is because he claims to want to upset the establishment insiders.  When Clinton, or her supporters, claim rightly Sanders is not doing as much a Clinton in helping down ticket a lot of Sanders' supporters may view that as a good thing."

    They have to govern in concert with others in Congress and state governments. To think and believe otherwise is incredibly naïve, particularly given the ongoing experience we've had with divided government at the federal level and its resultant dysfunction.

    The failure of so many people throughout the political spectrum to understand even the basic structure of government, the nature of its processes, and the elements of effective governance is likely rooted in our own failure as a society over the last 40 years or so to responsibly provide civics education to our children.

    In my opinion, we're now collectively paying a very serious price for that several generations of neglect. Because rather than participate in their own governance as is their right and obligation as citizens, far too many of us appear to see government and politics as either some sort of vicarious form of personal entertainment or pervasive nuisance or even malevolent presence. And unfortunately for their own sake, there are many in power who've encouraged them to hold fast to that detached and ignorant view.

    There can be no messiahs in our politics, simply because our collective system of governance isn't structured to function at one particular individual's mere behest or demand, regardless of however extraordinarily able that person might be.

    Those candidates who would sell themselves to the electorate as our white knight in shining armor are at best appallingly misguided; at worst they are disingenuous charlatans. And those voters who would hitch their cart to that horse in any event are hapless fools who are setting themselves up for some rather bitter disappointment and even further disillusionment.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    My point was (none / 0) (#55)
    by ragebot on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 12:32:22 PM EST
    down ticket races are important to some, but not all.  Bernie supporters, right or wrong, blame NAFTA and TPP for their job loss.  Both NAFTA and TPP were passed by folks who likely are running in those down ticket races; folks who Bernie supporters blame for not having jobs.

    So saying Hillary is helping with down ticket races can translate to Bernie supporters who have lost their job as saying Hillary is helping those who cost jobs.

    Parent

    So who (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by jbindc on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:55:53 AM EST
    Do Bernie and his supporters think are going to help him in his "revolution" to achieve his vision?  It certainly won't be the Republicans who get elected downticket....

    Parent
    Hilarious ... (3.50 / 2) (#56)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 12:47:44 PM EST
    most Bernie supporters couldn't tell you what NAFTA or TAPP even stand for. Let alone care about them.

    Most weren't even born when NAFTA passed. So they hardly lost a job because it.

    Heck, I bet there a lot of Bernie supporters who've never held more than a work study or summer job.

    He's offering free college. That explains most of his support. And he's running against Clinton. That explains the rest of it.

    Parent

    Because I know some Bernie supporters (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 01:50:10 PM EST
    I'm not going to insult them by saying they don't understand those issues and can only fathom free college.

    Nor do I think the attacking Sanders supporter is indicative of the whole.

    Bernie Sanders is straying off course for many of us though. I wanted to hear his message, but his new tactics are starting to make me hard of hearing.

    Parent

    Trust me, prior to Sanders ... (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 02:07:48 PM EST
    bringing up trade agreements, you could have talked to the typical Bernie supporter for 72 hours straight. And the issue would never have come up.

    I live in the land of Bernie supporters. My FB feed is full of their fulsome nonsense. So they are hardly some alien tribe I only spy from afar.

    And, you'll note, I said "most" not all. Still ... the vast majority of them fall into one of the two camps I described.

    I think you want to believe most people reasonably assess the political climate, because that's what you do. Most do not. Their reactions are rapid and entirely emotional. And they devote all their efforts to defending that knee-jerk motional choice.

    Parent

    Not true (5.00 / 2) (#64)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 02:36:25 PM EST
    I find Sander's supporters to be too idealistic for my taste, but that doesn't make them ill informed or wrong. I have my opinions and my reasons for having them, but it's still just an opinion.

    I am old enough to now understand that the worse thing that could happen to us is that any of us lose our ability to champion the causes that are important to us.

    I don't need to vanquish or belittle Bernie supporters. I'm saving that for those I truly fundamentally disagree with.

    Parent

    Nice post, MT (none / 0) (#68)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 04:21:48 PM EST


    Parent
    Too idealistic. (none / 0) (#71)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 04:32:11 PM EST
    Sigh.

    If only that were true.

    Parent

    No, don't trust him (none / 0) (#72)
    by jondee on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 04:34:07 PM EST
    like a few people here, the last time he actually did any work with his hands involved a dirty raincoat in a theatre in the old Times Square. And the job was finished in three minutes.

    But I want end this on a pleasant, philosophical note so I'll just add that we should't let our resentments form our presumptions, and then talk as though our presumptions encompassed the whole of complex reality.


    Parent

    I don't "trust" Sanders jondee (5.00 / 3) (#75)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 05:43:34 PM EST
    He's a politician. Through heartbreak that only a political junkie can understand, I came to understand that no politician is crucifixion worthy ;)

    There will never be perfection, and we must all go to our grave making the arguments and votes that preserve and enable the democracy. When I was younger I didn't understand that.

    But for real, my son said at dinner, "Just show me the tax returns Bernie so that I can move to Canada and kill myself."

    And I get it. I have felt that way. Had that sort of passion. And it has to be honored in a way, because there are other fights that kid has to win, and he can't win if he doesn't have access to the emotional energy to make the argument for himself.

    Parent

    I really appreciate (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by mm on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 07:04:15 PM EST
    Rosario Dawson bringing up the false story that Secretary Clinton is being investigated by the FBI at Bernie's rally recently.  I guess it won't be long before she's warming up the crowd with ghost stories of Sydney Blumenthal.  That's why we need Bernie to hang in there.  So glad Bernie is sticking to the issues and taking the high road.

    Parent
    I'm not sure what point you (none / 0) (#90)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 08:29:03 PM EST
    Are trying to make that hasn't been addressed

    BTD is a Bernie supporter who is holding the Sanders campaign accountable for spreading and/or enabling falsehoods.

    Parent

    BTD is a Bernie supporter? (none / 0) (#132)
    by jbindc on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:10:15 PM EST
    You sure about that?

    Parent
    I sure don't get that impression (5.00 / 2) (#139)
    by ruffian on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 03:09:32 PM EST


    Parent
    BTD is a Clinton backer (5.00 / 2) (#143)
    by CoralGables on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 03:53:28 PM EST
    but also a Democrat and will support whoever wins the nomination, which isn't really a factor this time since Clinton has already gone into the victory formation and Sanders' staff is putting together their resumes.

    Parent
    He is on the record (none / 0) (#162)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 05:26:10 AM EST
    As supporting Sanders. I haven't read anything different since he made that statement

    Parent
    Where is on record saying that? (none / 0) (#169)
    by jbindc on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 01:59:01 PM EST


    Parent
    Right here (none / 0) (#183)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 06, 2016 at 01:41:25 PM EST
    When the primary started he chose Bernie. There is more than one posting stating that

    Parent
    Well, if BTD is supporting Sanders, ... (none / 0) (#184)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Apr 06, 2016 at 02:47:08 PM EST
    ... then he sure has a lot of people fooled, because his tweets about that campaign and its supporters of late have been absolutely withering in criticism and snark.

    Parent
    Pretty sure I stated that (none / 0) (#185)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 06, 2016 at 03:17:16 PM EST
    Is it possible that over the years you missed all of BTDs calling outs and foul calls during primaries no matter who he supported?

    That's how he ended up with a passel of PUMAs reading and commenting, but he was NO PUMA ;) Jussss sayin

    Parent

    Does this sound like an endorsement? (none / 0) (#187)
    by mm on Wed Apr 06, 2016 at 04:16:21 PM EST
    Hillary looks great. She sounds so much more experienced on foreign affairs than Sanders and O'Malley. Hillary says we can support the countries fighting ISIS, but it's not our fight. I agree. O'Malley is much more hawkish, on both war and intelligence. Sanders doesn't come off anywhere near as sure of himself as he does on economic topics. I wouldn't trust either O'Malley or Sanders to be chief Executive.
     LINK

    Parent
    To my knowledge he is not (none / 0) (#190)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 07, 2016 at 01:43:45 PM EST
    Officially on the record as voting for Clinton in the primary. He has previously said he was going with Bernie.

    He has always supported and defended most of the Democratic party from scurrilous attacks.

    Many were upset in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks though.

    Parent

    Where are those Sanders supporting (none / 0) (#186)
    by caseyOR on Wed Apr 06, 2016 at 04:11:30 PM EST
    posts? I have gone back to Oct. of last year, and I cannot find any post where BTD states his support for Sanders. I did find a post on a Democratic debate after the Paris attacks where BTD states that he would not trust either O'Malley or Sanders to be Chief Executive.

    That does not sound to me like Armando is in Sanders' camp.

    Parent

    MT, you must devote more time (none / 0) (#189)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 07, 2016 at 12:50:13 PM EST
    to following Armando's many tweets!

    Parent
    He does get on the Sanders (none / 0) (#192)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 07, 2016 at 02:15:45 PM EST
    Campaign for dealing dirty. He's a Democrat first. And now we have a Supreme Court pick too.

    Parent
    And I did read this morning (none / 0) (#193)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 07, 2016 at 02:20:51 PM EST
    That he doesn't perceive the Sanders campaign at this point as giving two schizzles about down ticket races. And that probably loses Bernie the BTD vote, but the last time he spoke of his primary vote he was feelin the Bern

    Parent
    I think you are wrong (none / 0) (#188)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Apr 07, 2016 at 12:43:03 PM EST
    he said in 2015 Clinton needs an open primary....I don't recall him ever expressing support for Sanders over Clinton. He will support whoever is nominated. Your comment will be deleted tonight unless you can come up with a quote and source.

    Parent
    I'm pretty sure J that I read (none / 0) (#191)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 07, 2016 at 01:45:32 PM EST
    At least 2 comments from him where he said he was going with Sanders in the primary even though he did not expect him to win.

    Parent
    As I've always felt (5.00 / 2) (#100)
    by Nemi on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 07:05:45 AM EST
    and mentioned before: Josh couldn't possibly have asked for better parents. :)

    Parent
    That's so kind and flattering (5.00 / 1) (#128)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 01:43:58 PM EST
    I think we are also so fortunate to share our lives with him. Most of us do our best to raise our children with principles that we hope leads them to happy lives and happy community.

    Sometimes, that young mind can begin to think circles around the parents. He's much more advanced than his father and me in many ways, his mind has more energy :)

    Parent

    Robot Porter: "Trust me" (none / 0) (#85)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 07:30:43 PM EST
    Donald Trump: "Believe me"

    Parent
    From the mouths ... (none / 0) (#123)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 12:49:32 PM EST
    of ....

    Parent
    The CDS slur that you've been swinging (none / 0) (#145)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 04:39:30 PM EST
    around has developed a second definition, Robot.

    Parent
    I have no ... (none / 0) (#147)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 06:24:51 PM EST
    idea what any of that means.

    Parent
    not a good argument (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by linea on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 05:23:06 PM EST
    Re: Most weren't even born when NAFTA passed. So they hardly lost a job because it.

    I checked wiki and NAFTA was passed in 1994 so most of my friends were born before NAFTA was passed.

    But how can you possibly assert (imply?) that NAFTA and similar free-trade deals had a one-time impact the year they were passed? Seems silly to me.

    Parent

    There are many things being said (5.00 / 3) (#76)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 05:49:54 PM EST
    About Bernie supporters in general, being tossed around too casually by fellow Liberals, that I'm very uncomfortable with.

    Parent
    Thank you! (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by linea on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 06:53:46 PM EST
    {{ hugs }}

    Parent
    How comfortable will ... (none / 0) (#125)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 12:53:18 PM EST
    you be when he's still spouting RNC anti-Clinton talking points in a month, two months, at the convention?

    The only reason he's still in this race is people keep giving him and his supporters a pass.

    Because they're uncomfortable criticizing them.

    Parent

    The only reason he's still in the race? (none / 0) (#127)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 01:42:10 PM EST
    I hope you don't sincerely believe that, and it's just your frustration talking.

    Not every criticism of Hillary Clinton is a vapid RNC talking point, some are quite legitimate.  Not every agreement with Bernie Sanders is a failure of the media, it's just a difference of opinion in what could be possible.


    Parent

    most Sanders supporters (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by CST on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:52:17 AM EST
    are under 22?  Interesting.  I thought he was winning voters under 45/40 depending on the state.

    But yea, apparently over 40% of the Dem primary voters are all just kids who want some free college and have never held a real job.  Give me a break.

    Parent

    Well said... (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 01:47:03 PM EST
    free college or no free college, you couldn't pay me to go back to finish college.  My keg-standing days are over!

    Parent
    Where (none / 0) (#117)
    by sallywally on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 11:46:41 AM EST
    does this info come from?

    Parent
    exit polls (none / 0) (#120)
    by CST on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 12:15:42 PM EST
    Every state is different, but the dividing line seems to be roughly 40 for a lot of them.  I'm not going to link to every single primary state's exit poll, and I'm sure there are exceptions (blowout states on both sides), but if you look up a few you'll see a pattern.  At the very least Sanders is winning a significant portion (if not more than half) of voters up to 45.

    Here is Ohio, here is Michigan, here is Illinois

    The dividing line for all of them is ~40.

    For exceptions see New Hampshire and Florida

    You'll see more exit poll exceptions for Clinton because she was winning strongly in the south, and many of the caucuses where Bernie won strongly didn't have exit polls, but New Hampshire example is a good example of what a strong Bernie win probably looks like.  In any event, he's won 42% of the popular vote in the race so far, there's absolutely no way that a majority of his support comes from people who are under 22.

    Parent

    OK, thanks. (none / 0) (#141)
    by sallywally on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 03:33:59 PM EST


    Parent
    TPP (none / 0) (#57)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 12:48:12 PM EST


    Parent
    A story about Aspen's airport, Sardy Field. (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by fishcamp on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 11:35:55 AM EST
    Tom Sardy was a wonderful person and befriended me when I first moved to Aspen.  He was involved with just about everything in town, including the ski racers.  1959 was the tryout year for the 60 Olympics in Squaw Valley.  I tried but didn't make that team.  Tom would arrive at the bottom of our practice hill almost daily with snacks and good advice about our skiing.  Years later he let me use the entire upstairs of one of the historic buildings as an editing room for my films.  Later still that building sold and became a maze of boutiques.  Tom also owned Sardy's Mortuary on  Main Street.  It's now a fancy hotel.  Tom Sardy was one of the good guys.

    I saw Mavis Staples live last night. (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 11:54:03 AM EST
    Last night I saw Mavis Staples live in concert. What night. What a performance. Mavis was amazing. So much energy, so much emotion, so much talent.

    From "Freedom Highway" written by Pops Staples in 1965, through the Buffalo Springfield hit "Something's Happening Here" to "I'll Take you There" and ending with the encore "The Weight", it was a raucous emotional ride. A ball of energy, now 76 years old, Mavis was electric. Her band, just a guitar and bass and drums, and her two backup singers, were all Mavis needed.

    The opening act was a honky-tonk band from Chicago called the Western Elstons. They were pretty great, too. Jumpin' and jivin' tunes, and then an especially sweet performance of "Twilight Time". They play regularly in the Chicago area. Anybody up that way, go see them.

    And if you have not yet seen the documentary "Mavis!" find it and watch it. you'll laugh; you'll cry' but you will not regret it.

    Is it the election season (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 12:26:47 PM EST
    that's causing my reading issues? Every time someone writes Mavis Staples I read Marla Maples.

    Parent
    Just for that, CG, ... (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 12:27:47 AM EST
    ... you are hereby sentenced to listen to Marla Maples sing "The Pearl" -- and then write 500 times, "I will never again confuse Mavis Staples with either Marla Maples or Marilyn Manson."

    ;-D

    Parent

    Awesome... (none / 0) (#102)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 08:54:29 AM EST
    So glad you got to see her Casey, and not at all surprised Mavis delivered.  She's like the Postal Service that way, she always delivers!

    I'll have my turn at the end of the month, headed on down to Memphis Tennessee for the Beale Street Music Festival, and Mavis is on the bill.  Neil Young, Paul Simon, Lucinda Williams, and many more too. Kickin' off the summer concert series with a vengeance this year baby!  

    Seconded on the new Mavis documentary...it gave me a whole new appreciation for The Staples Singers.  Especially Pops...such a ground breaker and musical genius.  Listening to what Jeff Tweedy did mixing Pops last recordings brought a tear to my eye...as did the scene up at Levon's Barn.

    Parent

    Oh wow, good for you! (none / 0) (#112)
    by ruffian on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:20:41 AM EST
    I went to that festival many years ago, it is so much fun. They do a great job. Even in the rain we had a fantastic time. Saw Dylan, Blues Traveler, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Shawn Colvin, too many to count.

    Go to Graceland if you haven't been. It is worth it!

    As it happens I will be in Memphis the weekend after that for my nephew's graduation from the U of M. I was hoping it would all coincide, but I'm sure the University plans around the music festival. Oh well. Oh well, another time.

    Parent

    Thanks Sister... (none / 0) (#118)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 11:48:16 AM EST
    it was too good to pass up...one of my concert buddies travels to Memphis often for work, and he was able to time a business trip with the festival.  So he had the hotel and a car rental covered, I just needed to get there.  Flight is only 350, so it was a no-brainer...3 weeks of self-imposed hermitude and I'm there!

    I'll see if I can make time for Graceland, in between the rock and the roll.

    Speaking of old lovebirds Dylan & Mavis...they're playing together at Forrest Hills Tennis Stadium this summer July 8th...hope to score an after-market ducat to that sh*t!

    Parent

    Memphis sounds amazing! (none / 0) (#130)
    by caseyOR on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 01:55:14 PM EST
    You will have such a great time. Wish I could be there.

    That scene with Levon in the barn brought the tears to my eyes, too. And Pops, what a musical talent. You are right- a real groundbreaker.

    I will be waiting for your report on the Memphis trip as vicarious is the only way I will get to experience it this year.

    Parent

    I also loved the part where... (none / 0) (#135)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:29:09 PM EST
    Mavis is talking about Curtis Mayfield bringing his tune "Let's Do It Again" to Pops for The Staples Singers to cut it...and Pops says "I can't sing this, I'm a church man". To which Curtis replied "...the lord won't mind".  

    Parent
    Now we're debating about debates again (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by jbindc on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 01:58:22 PM EST
    The Clinton camp says they have proposed three different dates to debate in New York - Monday, April 4 at 7:30 pm, which was rejected by the Sanders camp because of the NCAA Championship game. Plus, they wanted to wait until after Wisconsin, which is the next day.  Fair enough.

    Then they accepted the Sanders offer to debate on Good Morning America on Friday, April 15th.  Unconventional, but a bigger audience than a nighttime debate (especially with the networks going into sweeps and the NHL and NBA playoffs starting soon). Then Sanders went back on their offer with something like, "But people are working!" or something.  Then Clinton proposed Thursday night, April 14th.  Sanders still says no. Sanders has been begging for a debate in NY before the NY primary, and now 3 separate times and dates have been turned down.

    So, which is it Bernie?  Want to debate or not?  I haven't seen your camp coming back with alternate dates.  Looks like HRC called your bluff and you lost.

    The Clinton camp ... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 04:14:40 PM EST
    should end negotiations. And play out Sanders' rejections for a couple of days.

    Parent
    Bernie (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 04:41:40 PM EST
    was bluffing and she called him on it. I'm sure he thought she was going to say no so he asked. Now he looks like an idiot because he's the one that said he wanted the debates. No one in their right mind would actually think Bernie would want a debate.

    Parent
    Please no more debates (none / 0) (#21)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 03:50:45 PM EST


    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 07:49:22 PM EST
    how many more times can a question be asked about anytime and the answer be MILLIONAIRES and BILLIONAIRES no matter the question.

    Oh, yeah, and WALL STREET.

    Parent

    Hip Hop Musical "Hamilton" criticized (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by McBain on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 05:36:11 PM EST
    for requesting "Non White" actors

    Broadway blockbuster "Hamilton" has been praised for casting mostly black and Latino performers in place of America's founding fathers.
    But the Great White Way's newest hit musical has come under fire for a casting call that sought "NON-WHITE" performers.

    I see no problem in the producer's/directors choice to cast black and latino actors in most roles just as I would see no problem in them wanting a mostly white cast. I don't go to many plays, but in the world of film I've enjoyed many all white Woody Allen films.  I've also enjoyed a few Spike Lee movies.  

    Let the artist express his vision without political correctness rearing its ugly head. That should apply to race, gender, age and physical attractiveness.

    Irony is the intent (none / 0) (#113)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:21:51 AM EST
    And it couldn't be delivered any other way.

    Maybe Oculus would know, is this the first show celebrating the founding?

    Parent

    there was '1776' (none / 0) (#140)
    by ruffian on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 03:11:48 PM EST
    Not nearly as good as Hamilton, IMO

    Parent
    Above my pay grade. I still (none / 0) (#150)
    by oculus on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 07:21:24 PM EST
    love "Carousel" and "South Pacific."  Did you see:  "Falsettos" is being revived. Excellent.

    Parent
    Did you ever see "Summer of Sam"? (none / 0) (#151)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 07:47:37 PM EST
    That 1999 crime thriller was produced and directed by Spike Lee, and was notable for its plot having being centered in the Italian-American communities of the Bronx, which was the area of New York where serial killer David Burkowitz (aka "Son of Sam") terrorized everyone in the summer of 1977, when the story takes place. With the noted exception of Lee himself in a cameo appearance as a clueless TV reporter, I believe that "Summer of Sam" is the only film of his to date that has had an all-white cast.

    But like most of Lee's films, "Summer of Sam" is also generally under-appreciated. A few years ago, I turned on a friend to that film -- and he's a guy who doesn't pay attention to the credits -- when I later asked him what he thought, he really liked it but was under the mistaken impression that Martin Scorsese had directed it, rather than Lee. He was surprised to learn otherwise.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Yes, that was really good. (none / 0) (#157)
    by ruffian on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:01:29 PM EST
    One of my favorite Spike Lee movies is Inside Man. Another  one folks might have to read the credits again to realize he directed. I think it is nearly a perfect thriller.

    Parent
    One of my favorites, too. (none / 0) (#158)
    by vml68 on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:09:09 PM EST
    Clive Owen and Denzel Washington, what's not to like :-)

    Parent
    John Nichols, a supporter (5.00 / 3) (#65)
    by KeysDan on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 02:51:01 PM EST
    of Senator Sanders, authored for his readers in the Nation (also a supporter of Sanders) a highly favorable review of Mrs. Clinton's speech at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Nichols felt that this speech, which addressed the importance of the election to the Supreme Court, was a very important and impressive presentation--her best of the campaign.

      Nichols acknowledges special insights to the topic gained from her legal education at Yale University, her academic and teaching experience in law, and her legal practice and other life experiences.  

    With regard to the Garland nomination, Nichols quotes some favorite lines: "We chose a president. We chose him twice.  And, now Republicans in the senate are acting like our votes don't count and that President Obama is not still our nation's leader.  And, I'll tell you, those are not high-minded principles, they are low-minded politics."

    Nichols seems surprised by the quality of the arguments, and feels that Mrs. Clinton's speech might persuade undecideds. A decent article by a Sander's supporter. Advise against reading the comment section.  

    I wonder what (none / 0) (#84)
    by sallywally on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 07:07:35 PM EST
    his fellow Bernie supporters said to him and if he was surprised.

    Parent
    This should be interesting (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by ragebot on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 02:58:59 PM EST
    infowars is not my go to source, but this does seem to be legit.

    A blurb from the link:

    The Panama Papers include approximately 11.5 million documents - more than the combined total of the Wikileaks Cablegate, Offshore Leaks, Lux Leaks, and Swiss Leaks. The data primarily comprises e-mails, pdf files, photo files, and excerpts of an internal Mossack Fonseca database. It covers a period spanning from the 1970s to the spring of 2016.

    Had to Google (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 03:15:21 PM EST
    Mossack Fonseca.

    That is the global 1%, most likely (hopefully) including the fiscal affairs of some totalitarian leaders,
    Castro's
    The Chavez fortune
    Putin
    Assad

    Oh goody, a little more research ,  BBC

    http://tinyurl.com/hra8o52

    Eleven million documents were leaked from one of the world's most secretive companies, Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
    They show how Mossack Fonseca has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax.
    The company says it has operated beyond reproach for 40 years and has never been charged with criminal wrong-doing.
    The documents show links to 72 current or former heads of state in the data, including dictators accused of looting their own countries.


    Parent
    MSN link (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by ragebot on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:41:49 AM EST
    says movie stars including Jackie Chan are named as using Mossack Fonseca.

    With 11,500,000 documents it will probably take a little while to go through them.  Perhaps a little less sensational, but a worry to some:

    "President Francois Hollande promised Monday that French tax authorities will investigate the disclosures of the Panama Papers and that legal proceedings will follow. Australia said it, too, had launched a probe into 800 wealthy Mossack Fonseca clients."

    Parent

    I give (none / 0) (#144)
    by TrevorBolder on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 04:02:02 PM EST
    The movie stars a break, unless of course, they are active politically and spout a totally different line.
    The politicians, however, are another story

    Parent
    I wouldn't give anyone a break here. (none / 0) (#152)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 07:52:05 PM EST
    This was about tax dodging, money laundering, bribery and corruption at its heart. Why should movie stars or anyone else involved get a free pass from subsequent scrutiny?

    Parent
    From (none / 0) (#153)
    by TrevorBolder on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 08:09:48 PM EST
    What I read yesterday, it was all   legal.
    Tax avoidance is legal, tax evasion is illegal.
    Tax dodging sounds like avoidance

    Parent
    Daily Beast (none / 0) (#163)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 06:40:58 AM EST
    There might very well be some financial crimes here, but nothing proven ..yet.
    I originally thought it would be exposing the enormous HIDDEN wealth of dictators, the 1%, of countries political elite that would be the immediate benefit of these reveals.
    The embarrassment and exposing the hypocrisy of "world leaders" is always a good thing.


    It should be emphasized that moving tens of millions of dollars into offshore bank accounts, which cannot be accessed by international law enforcement agencies or tax collectors, is not an illegal act--but it does rather suggest that the owners of those accounts didn't want their private financial records to be published by newspapers all over the world.
    Yet, that is exactly what has happened after somebody  obtained decades of secret financial records from one of the leading offshore banking experts.
    Mossack Fonseca is a law firm based in Panama that has advised thousands of clients from Chinese President Xi's brother-in-law to British Prime Minister Cameron's father. Many of these secretive savers may have nothing to hide but many of the world's tax and fraud agencies have already demanded access to their account data.
    Why would the families of African dictators have vast sums of money they didn't want anyone to see? Why did American companies want to put their profits in secret accounts? What are the chances that so many of Putin's close friends have gotten so enormously wealthy without corruption straight out of the Kremlin?


    Parent
    A couple of years ago, an article somewhere (none / 0) (#166)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 11:45:14 AM EST
    mentioned the Moscow mayor wearing a one million dollar wristwatch.  

    I don't even know where you'd find a million dollar wristwatch.

    Parent

    In this country there are (none / 0) (#167)
    by vml68 on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 01:13:41 PM EST
    Richard Mille boutiques in Miami, Aspen, Las Vegas and Beverly Hills.

    RM 56-01 - about $1.8 million
    RM 56-02 Sapphire - a little over $2 million.

    Now that you know where to find one....Happy shopping, Mr N!!

    Parent

    Pretty Sure... (none / 0) (#168)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 01:40:01 PM EST
    ... if Victoria's Secret sells a 2 million dollar bra, locating a million dollar watch would not take long.

    The million dollar cell phone is a must have for billionaires.  Vertu

    Parent

    Batman vs Superman (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by vicndabx on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 06:35:36 PM EST
    All I can say is go see it. If you can, in a theater with great sound. Daresay it's Zack Snyder's best so far.

    Huh? (none / 0) (#95)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 04:08:36 AM EST
    "Batman v. Superman" has gotten absolutely terrible reviews, Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 29% approval rating, and its box office fell off 81% this week from its opening 9 days ago, presumably because word of mouth.

    Glad to hear that somebody liked it.

    Parent

    Don't rely on the critics (none / 0) (#103)
    by vicndabx on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 08:57:51 AM EST
    IMDB has it at 7.4  

    Parent
    I rely on friends and aqcquaintances. (none / 0) (#126)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 01:01:07 PM EST
    The ones who saw it all thought "Batman vs. Superman" was a very bleak and overwhelming mess, and none of them liked it at all. My younger daughter went with her boyfriend because he loves this sort of film and really wanted to see it, and she calls it "a waste of 2-1/2 hours and $25." She further described his reaction as "disappointed."

    Seriously, you're the very first person I've heard who actually recommends it.

    ;-D

    Parent

    This was funny... the exact moment that (none / 0) (#131)
    by desertswine on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:06:27 PM EST
    Ben Afleck knew that Batman v Superman s*cked.

    Parent
    IMO the only bad thing about this movie (none / 0) (#176)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 05:19:04 PM EST
    Is Affleck.

    Interestingly the RT critic score is like 29 and the viewer score is 70s.  Not that unusual for Snyder.  The critics and those who look to them don't get and the fans do.

    Parent

    Affleck remains best ... (none / 0) (#178)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 06:47:44 PM EST
    suited to indie productions.

    He started there. And always seems most comfortable in that type of film.

    Blockbusters just aren't his forte.

    Parent

    All my friends loved it (none / 0) (#174)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 05:08:35 PM EST
    And did I.  

    Parent
    Did yu like Watchmen? (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 05:10:56 PM EST
    I like this a lot.  I still think I liked Watchmen more.  Watchmen also got pretty some terrible reviews.  

    Parent
    I had mixed feelings about it (none / 0) (#182)
    by CST on Wed Apr 06, 2016 at 09:57:03 AM EST
    Was it entertaining?  Sure.  But to be honest...

    This is getting tired.

    Honestly, I didn't want to care, I go to movies to not care about that kind of thing, otherwise you'll just tear your hair out, it is what it is in Hollywood.  But there was one scene in particular - which just really... it was impossible not to notice.

    "Lois is, without a doubt, the Hollywood action flick love interest. When we join her immediately upon her return to Metropolis, it's so we can peek in on her whilst she's nude in the bathtub. (Cavill, now in his Clark Kent gear, playfully climbs in with her--fully clothed.)"  Totally unnecessary to the plot, totally... unbalanced.  At that point in the film I was already annoyed and something about it just grated.

    Otherwise - it was ok.  I didn't hate it.  I thought Ben as batman was solid, Amy Adams under-utilized, not really a fan of Alfred.  Superman was fine and Lex Luther was - eh.  The other superhero was cool I guess but didn't really matter that much to the plot, and could have been better utilized during the story part of the movie.

    Parent

    And then there's (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by jbindc on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 05:16:20 AM EST
    this, which seems odd for a campaign to write an obit on itself on one hand, while still claiming they're going to win WI and NY.

    Clearly the staff is in CYA mode.

    I think the link got scrambled. (none / 0) (#122)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 12:44:08 PM EST
    I see the title of the article in the hyperlink, but it takes you back to this open thread.

    Parent
    Sorry (none / 0) (#133)
    by jbindc on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:13:33 PM EST
    Try this.

    Parent
    This (none / 0) (#137)
    by jbindc on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:40:25 PM EST
    (Bold is mine)

    At several points in 2015, Mr. Sanders rejected strategies that most serious candidates would embrace against an opponent.

    In October, as they gathered at a hotel outside Las Vegas to prepare for the first Democratic debate, Mr. Sanders's advisers urged him to challenge Mrs. Clinton over accepting $675,000 from Goldman Sachs for delivering three speeches, according to two Sanders advisers. They thought the speaking fees meshed with the senator's message about Wall Street excess and a rigged America. But Mr. Sanders, hunched over a U-shaped conference table, rejected it as a personal attack on Mrs. Clinton's income -- the sort of character assault he has long opposed. She has the right to make money, he offered.



    Parent
    I'm starting to wonder if Sen. Sanders ... (none / 0) (#148)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 06:45:22 PM EST
    ... ever first envisioned that he might actually win this thing, when he started out on this quixotic quest. In obvious retrospect, it sure doesn't seem that way, hence the 180 he's done regarding such attacks on Hillary Clinton of late.

    I also saw Tad Devine on one of the Sunday gasbag shows recently, and to be honest, I believe that he's the likely primary source of most if not all of the Sanders campaign's recent vitriol. What a thoroughly repulsive character he is! Can't we as a party expect better than this?

    When I began working in politics, much of what I learned about campaign management came from the late Bob Oshiro, who was very successful throughout his career, and was well respected in both local and national Democratic circles as one of the very best at what he did. He was one of my mentors.

    And it was Bob's definitive opinion that a good campaign manager is someone who is content to stay at the back of the house and out of the limelight, who is very seldom seen and never heard publicly. I suspect that he would likely not approve of Tad Devine shilling so publicly in front of his own boss's campaign, as though he's trolling for future business clients once Bernie's bandwagon has finally run its course.

    Of course, Bob Oshiro's actual heyday was during a time and era when political campaign consultancies were not perpetual 24/7/365 business enterprises, as they appear to have since become within the Beltway and other prominent political centers across the country.

    When Bob wasn't in campaign mode, he had his own law practice and served in the Hawaii legislature. He later became president and CEO of the Queen Emma Foundation, the not-for-profit parent of The Queen's Medical Centers, the largest private health care system in the islands which was founded in 1859 by the wife and consort of King Kamehameha IV, Queen Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonalani Naea.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Trump. And Cruz try to block Kasich (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:32:54 AM EST
    LINK

    The Trump and Cruz campaign are in support of a rule that would require a candidate to get a certain amount of support to appear on the ballot.

    A past rule requires a candidate to get a majority of the delegates in at least eight states to get on the convention ballot.

    "If the campaigns can convince a majority of delegates on the Rules Committee and in the convention, then they can pass an eight-state rule," former RNC general counsel Ben Ginsberg told MSNBC.

    That rule would prevent Kasich from getting on the ballot.

    Readng the stuff uptread on Hillary supporters being mean to Bernie supporters I can only say at least they are not being called moronic drug addled trailer trash like the rest of the Republican Party is calling Trump supporters.  

    This is getting really interesting.  This thing from the hill is fascinating because it's Trump and Cruz working together.  Is this a hint of things to come?

    Sure,  Trump and Cruz have said awful things about each other but other republicans are saying even worse things about both of them.  It's being quite openly discussed that most people supporting Cruz at this point do not really support Cruz but only hate Trump more and plan to dump Ted ASAP.

    knowing how craven and ruthless Trump and Cruz are do we think they will just allow this to happen?   I'm Thinkin no.

    April Fools (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 12:52:43 PM EST
    Friday I was meeting a bunch of friends for another friend's mother's funeral.  This was at the restaurant after.

    My friend Omar just bought an Audi A5 and he's stuck a ton of money in it making it faster and making it look good.  It's his baby.  At home I wrote a note, something like, 'Sorry I scratched your car, let me know about the damages.' then signed it with a first name.  No number.

    I put it on his windshield knowing we would all be outside after eating shooting the S.

    We watched Omar go over his car on a hot day in Houston, in a suit, looking for a scratch that did not exist.  I will let him and the others, in on it a week or two.

    I owed him, he had put a piece of pipe under my passenger side seat of my new truck.  It rolled out one day and for like a month, I could not figure out what it went to.  Even asked my neighbor, a service manager at Toyota.  Then Omar let me know he planted it knowing I would never toss it in the trash.  So for like a month there was a piece of pipe rolling around in the back of my truck.  It was painted and had plastic caps on it and looked OEM.

    Last night I saw the movie Self/Less (none / 0) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 11:19:49 AM EST
    Its a pretty stupid and predictable thing but the interesting thing is the central character played by Ben Kingsley is clearly modeled on Donald.  Or at least parts are.  And parts clearly are not.  Like the fact that he is bald and not a terrible person.

    In (none / 0) (#26)
    by Nemi on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 05:10:28 PM EST
    this article from a year back, Ben Kingsley is presented as rather unpleasant and self absorbed ... or in the words of one of the commenters: "Great actor, total asshat." The writer of the piece, Zoe Williams, has some very elegant ... 'zingers'. As for example this one:

    "Sorry, what are you talking about?" he says. Imagine he was king, and had arrived at an orphanage in a Rolls-Royce to adopt all the orphans and take them back to his palace, and I was a parking attendant who had stuck a ticket on his car: that gets you about halfway to the derision and disgust in his voice.

    Heh! He even gives his personal version of the "Excuse me, I'm talking". lolsob :)

    Parent

    People complain about Dem Superdelegates (none / 0) (#10)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 12:33:43 PM EST
    but it's nothing compared to some of the wheeling dealing going on in the GOP. North Dakota chooses their 26 Republican delegates to the convention today. There will be no caucus and no primary. All 26 delegates will be chosen by 11 people.

    A similar type meeting to pick 14 at large delegates in Tennessee under similar rules was also scheduled for today but it may or may not have been cancelled (or moved to a secret location).

    That's how to used to be (none / 0) (#11)
    by jbindc on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 12:44:33 PM EST
    And why I think people get confused as to how candidates are chosen.  It's a private organization and they can make the rules as they fit to choose their nominee.

    Parent
    To the GOP's credit (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 12:47:16 PM EST
    they said all primaries and caucuses have to be binding. Guess they weren't strict enough in their writing of the rule so North Dakota cancelled their caucus.

    Parent
    Also (none / 0) (#17)
    by FlJoe on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 02:02:23 PM EST
    54 out of 71 delegates in PA will remain unbound. Because of the rules in certain states, delegates could be unbound. Illinois for example has a "loophole" primary, where delegates are directly elected from each CD, it is unclear how bound they actually are or how they might be replaced if they could not make it(leading to even more avenues for skullduggery).

    Silver indicates that there are at least 138 of them liable to attend the convention, that's over 10% of the needed count, more or less under complete control of the Republican establishment(not that crafty candidates can't poach a few).

    Say what you will about the Democratic SD process, at least they are up front about demanding that the Party elders have a say in the process. The Republicans on the other hand are having to rely on arcane rules and backroom wheeling dealing to avert disaster.

    Parent

    Sometimes I like these Wikileaks guys (none / 0) (#13)
    by TrevorBolder on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 01:02:46 PM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/hj48fbj

    This is something the former head of the Bank of England admitted one month ago when Mervyn King said that Europe's economic depression "is the result of "deliberate" policy choices made by EU elites.  It is also what AIG Banque strategist Bernard Connolly said back in 2008 when laying out "What Europe Wants"

    To use global issues as excuses to extend its power:
    environmental issues: increase control over member countries; advance idea of global governance
    terrorism: use excuse for greater control over police and judicial issues; increase extent of surveillance
    global financial crisis: kill two birds (free market; Anglo-Saxon economies) with one stone (Europe-wide regulator; attempts at global financial governance)
    EMU: create a crisis to force introduction of "European economic government"
    This morning we got another confirmation of how supernational organizations "plan" European crises in advance to further their goals, when Wikileaks published the transcript of a teleconference that took place on March 19, 2016 between the top two IMF officials in charge of managing the Greek debt crisis - Poul Thomsen, the head of the IMF's European Department, and Delia Velkouleskou, the IMF Mission Chief for Greece.
    Why is it (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 01:11:38 PM EST
    I'm continually reminded by "the possible story behind the posts" that one of our own TL commenters may be on house arrest with an ankle bracelet.

    It's not me ... (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 01:47:35 PM EST
    I just like wearing bulky socks.

    ;)

    Parent

    Way too veiled for moi. (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 07:29:36 PM EST


    Parent
    I have no idea (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 03:26:58 AM EST
    what or whom you are referring to. What is "the possible story behind the posts?" and who here has commented about being on an ankle monitor? Why would that matter? Why would you bring attention to it? Are you attempting to embarrass a particular commenter? If so, that's inappropriate.

    Parent
    But I'm allowed outside during dayli- D'OH! (none / 0) (#33)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 09:05:33 PM EST
    ;-D

    Parent
    Well Donald you have (none / 0) (#58)
    by fishcamp on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 01:37:44 PM EST
    Even less daylight than I do, since you are around 20 degrees north of the equator, and I'm 25 N.  Once while in Manaus, Brazil which is 2 N, when the sun set it was dark.  Conversely once during a climbing film in North Wales, during the summer, it didn't get dark until 10:30 at night.  Strange variations.  Not sure why part is bold...I didn't touch a thing, your honor.

    Parent
    A five star segue, fishcamp. (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 04:26:54 PM EST
    Did I spell segue correctly?  lol; my idea of living dangerously is not googling the spelling.

    Parent
    To be exact, our global coordinates in Hilo ... (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 06:02:50 PM EST
    ... are 19°42'N, 155°55'W. The sun rose this morning at 6:11 a.m. HST, and will set this evening at 6:35 p.m. And like most sea level locales in the tropics, we have very little dusk. Once the sun goes down, it tends to get dark very quickly. Right now at 1:00 p.m., it's 79°F and mostly cloudy, with 55% humidity and winds blowing lightly westward at 7 mph.

    Life is tough.

    Parent

    Have I asked you if you went to (none / 0) (#149)
    by oculus on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 07:09:12 PM EST
    the opera house in Manaus?

    Parent
    We did, when we went to Brazil ... (5.00 / 1) (#154)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 08:15:43 PM EST
    ... in 1997 and took the cruise up the Amazon. Unfortunately, they were between productions so we didn't get to see anything onstage, but we got a tour of the place. What a magnificent building! I was really impressed by the frescos on the high ceiling above the floor.

    Unfortunately, the magnificence of the structure itself and the adjacent blocks immediately around it -- which was obviously constructed for tourists such as us -- only made them stand out like a sore thumb in comparison to the rest of surrounding neighborhood, which had a very run-down appearance to it. There were several high-rise buildings two blocks away, all of which looked as though there hadn't been been any maintenance or upkeep done to them since they were first constructed back in the 1950s or '60s.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Manaus plunged into decay (5.00 / 1) (#156)
    by fishcamp on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 08:58:46 PM EST
    when the rubber industry ended.  Caruso sang at that beautiful opera house, and miseur Eifel built a large tower of wood in Manaus during the heyday.  My fiancé and I passed through there in the early eighties.  Her great, great grandfather was the first missionary to bring bibles up the Amazon.  Eurico Alfredo Nelson.  She was Margo Nelson, and the little girls at a Baptist school we visited were touching the hem of her dress in reverence.  There are many religions along the shores of the Amazon.  It's always hot there.

    Parent
    Guns N' Roses perform surprise concert (none / 0) (#24)
    by McBain on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 04:39:32 PM EST
    This was the first time Axl Rose and Slash have performed together since 1993.  
    "The conflict between Axl Rose and Slash was kind of your classic, 'Who's leading this band?'" L.A. Times music writer Mikael Wood told correspondent Carter Evans. "Slash and Axl have been pretty vocal about their disinterest in working with each other again. They've both said statements to varying degrees of 'Never, not in this lifetime.'"

    I was never a huge fan of the band but I do remember their massive success in the late 80s/early 90s. Some consider their album Appetite for Destruction to be the greatest debut in rock history.  This is what one of concert goers said about just how cool the surprise performance was...
    "That is more important to me than the birth of my child."

    They've got to be one of the trashiest looking bands of all time. My favorite G N' R songs are Paradise City and November Rain.

    Poor kid. Doomed to a life of low (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 07:34:48 PM EST
    self-esteem.

    Parent
    As crazy as he sounds, I love the honesty (none / 0) (#32)
    by McBain on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 07:59:29 PM EST
    Lots of people get to have kids but fewer than 500 got to see the aging rockers' historic concert the other night.  

    Parent
    My favorites are ... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 09:23:02 PM EST
    ... "Sweet Child o' Mine" and "Used to Love Her." I also like their covers of Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die" and Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door."

    If they reunite for a tour, I'd go and see them.

    Parent

    I forgot about the Live and Let Die cover (none / 0) (#35)
    by McBain on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 09:53:36 PM EST
    almost as good as the original.    

    Parent
    I like Axl Rose (none / 0) (#38)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 03:46:09 AM EST
    A few Labor Days I've posted him, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards performing Salt of the Earth together.

    Axl Rose wrote this letter to Indonesian President Wikodo asking him to call off the execution of drug offenders. He began very respectfully, thanking him and Indonesia for the graciousness they showed the band when touring toured there. But after that, he gets to the point, at times quite forcefully and convincingly. I quoted most of it here. A snippet:

    I ask you now to show such great depth of humanity and compassion now to these individuals and to deny your bloodlust in your war on drugs and grant clemency to these three individuals and give them a permanent stay of execution and to change the course of your own life and place in both your country's and world history. No other can do what you alone have the power to do and that is the power to show benevolence and mercy where mercy can be truly appreciated and given it's proper respect not only by the condemned but by the entire world and it's many leaders.

    You've made your point and struck fear in both the hearts and minds of the condemned and anyone even remotely considering bad choices or already involved in those worlds. Their crimes were not committed on your watch. Life is the only thing important now, not death but life

    Here's Axl and Guns of Roses singing Knocking on Heaven's Door in Tokyo in 1992.

    Boycott Bali and Indonesia, praise and good wishes to Axl Rose.

    Parent

    Yeah... (none / 0) (#121)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 12:38:46 PM EST
    ... I remember taking this CD to the first school dance my senior year and getting the DJ to play, can't remember what song, but probably 'Welcome to the Jungle'.

    Rumor has it Axl is joining AC/DC on tour, seriously.

    Great band lead by a megalomaniac with talent, that being his ability to burn every single bridge he has ever crossed.  AC/DC will regret this decision very soon as I don't think the man has ever showed up to a concert on time or sober.

    That was one of my first CD's that didn't come from the Columbia House and it was my own personal proof that a CD could be played a million times w/o losing quality.

    Obviously, my favorite song on the album was Nightrain, because that next summer I moved out of my house to Milwaukee with friends and the local liquor store sold the Night Train Express for $1.57 a liter.  It's always between the MadDog and the Thunderbird.  We bought that, and Schlitz Red Bull, by the case.

    Wake up late honey put on your clothes
    Take your credit card to the liquor store
    That's one for you and two for me by tonight
    I'll be loaded like a freight train
    Flyin' like an aeroplane
    Feelin' like a space brain
    One more time tonight

    I'm on the nightrain

    Then amazingly enough, 18 months later when I found myself on a Navy base in Norfolk, I spotted the locomotive at the liquor store for $.99 and my brain has never been the same.

    Parent

    Final Four, G1: Villanova 95, Oklahoma 51. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 07:27:01 PM EST
    The Sooners picked the wrong night to shoot only 32% from the floor, with the Wildcats shooting 71%. Oklahoma's All-American Buddy Hield got only 9 points in his final collegiate game.

    Oklahoma was down by 14 at halftime, 42-28, but closed to within 9 at 46-37, before the roof caved in. Villanova rolled over the Sooners in the final 14 minutes, 49-14.

    With their 44-pt. margin of victory, the Wildcats now own the biggest rout in the history of the NCAA Men's Final Four, easily eclipsing Princeton's 36-pt. win over Wichita State back in 1965.

    The Wildcats look scary. Yikes.

    Final, G2: North Carolina 83, Syracuse 66. (none / 0) (#36)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 02, 2016 at 09:55:03 PM EST
    Given how exciting the tourney has been thus far, today's games have been entirely anti-climactic. Let's hope we have a great championship game between Villanova and North Carolina on Monday night.

    Parent
    If Villanova wins I will at least (none / 0) (#115)
    by ruffian on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:43:18 AM EST
    get a moral victory in my pool, being the only one to have picked them. Unfortunately because of my horrible overall bracket selections, the best I can do is to tie for 2nd place.

    Parent
    Do You Know How Many... (none / 0) (#146)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 04:47:17 PM EST
    ... people I know who dislike basketball have tickets to the game tonight.  Seems like every single one, where was I when they handing out tickets.

    Same with the Shell Houston Open this weekend, first time I haven't been able to go in like a decade and it was so nice out today.  Nothing like sitting on the edge of the fairway relaxing on a beautiful day as the pros tee off 300 yards away.  Then watch their second shot close enough to hear them talking.  All the while drinking a beer, a $7 beer, but still a beer.

    Parent

    I'd much rather watch it on TV. (none / 0) (#155)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 08:25:22 PM EST
    I mean, what's the point of attending in person when you're going to be stuck with a view like this -- or this? If you don't have binoculars or field glasses, you're screwed. Basketball games should not be played in football stadiums.

    Parent
    While I Agree Somewhat... (none / 0) (#165)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 10:36:15 AM EST
    .. but I call BS, if I gave you tickets and you lived in town, you would have been bouncing off the walls to go.

    Granted, we both would have DVR'ed it to catch the close up action, but that would have been a phenomenal game to see, even from the nose bleeds.

    San Antonio played in the Alamo Dome for a decade, you know the one they built thinking that would guaranteed them an NFL team, but didn't, so they curtained off half the facility and the Spurs played.

    Parent

    For the (none / 0) (#39)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 06:40:34 AM EST
    Elizabeth Warren fans

    http://tinyurl.com/h6zh5dh

    American Prospect article

    Why (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by FlJoe on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 08:50:41 AM EST
    must there always be a gratuitous slap at Hillary
    a woman who made it from hardscrabble roots on her own, not in partnership with a husband president
    In the very first paragraph no less. CDS strikes again!

    To be fair he hits Sanders also
     

    Unlike Sanders, she is a shrewd legislator with major practical accomplishments to her credit, one who knows how to play both an inside and an outside game, and how to lead from the left.
    I agree, IMO Warren has done more for the cause in her short time in DC than Bernie has done in two decades plus.

    From Wiki  

    Later that month, Warren introduced her first bill, the Bank on Student Loans Fairness Act, which would allow students to take out government education loans at the same rate that banks such as Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Chase pay to borrow from the federal government.........  Endorsing her bill days after its introduction, Independent Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders stated: "The only thing wrong with this bill is that [she] thought of it and I didn't"
    (my bold) Way to lead from behind Bernie.

     Notice that this was a Clinton like baby step compared to Bernie's free college for all, notice that this was quashed by the Republicans. Notice that she is back at it again Sen. Elizabeth Warren Calls for Total Overhaul of Student Loan System. Notice that there is no call for free tuition included

    Elizabeth Warren is by far my favorite politician, but I think she is not qualified to be President (mostly by her own personal choice), she is a dreamer and a doer, a bulldog on the same issues that Bernie mostly flaps his wings about. She, unlike Bernie and his revolution, is willing to work the system clawing back territory step by step, tactically at least, on the same page as Hillary.

    Parent

    The pro left is at it again, just as with 2008. (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by AX10 on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 01:58:30 PM EST
    Hartmann, TYT, Rhodes, Olbermann, DU/KOS,
    are doing it again.  They are just as bad as the far right.

    Parent
    I just turn it off and listen to something else. (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 05:38:16 PM EST
    I don't need media celebrities to lecture me about Democratic Party politics. That the professional left seeks to characterize their lies about the Clintons and accompanying hatred of them as some sort of noble and high-minded purpose on their part, doesn't make what they're doing any less nauseating.

    They are not unlike how Ronald Reagan once characterized the far right, ideological nihilists who would sooner drive headlong off a cliff with all flags flying, rather than compromise their positions and principles with those whom they perceive as their moral inferiors.

    Bottom line here is that there is no "us" in them, which is a self-marginalizing trait they share with their right-wing doppelgängers in the GOP / Tea Party.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    And you beat me to it! (none / 0) (#42)
    by smott on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 08:54:29 AM EST
    First sentence. CDS has juju.

    Parent
    CDS (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by FlJoe on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 09:06:41 AM EST
    often manifests as a journalistic Tourette's Syndrome, it's almost involuntary.

    Parent
    Never got the appeal ... (none / 0) (#49)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 10:22:43 AM EST
    of Warren.

    She has always seemed to get massive praise for some pretty uninspired positions.

    Parent

    I'm a Warren fan (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by smott on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 08:53:42 AM EST
    And hope she is our President one day.
    Can't help but notice Robert Kuttner failed to make it through his first sentence without taking a shot at Clinton though:
    "
    She is the other woman of American politics--an unabashed progressive with a compelling life story, a woman who made it from hardscrabble roots on her own, not in partnership with a husband president. "

    I just hate that Sh**t. Who's to say Hillary wouldn't have made it further faster had she not taken a decade or two off to help Bill campaign. CDS is an amazing thing.

    Informative article though, thanks.

    Parent

    I wish (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by sallywally on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 09:35:01 AM EST
    She would endorse Clinton. This isn't likely to happen, I know. I want Hillary to have her mojo, especially since they are not pie-in-the-sky advocates. They aren't even seen together, though. And usually I don't support anything like this. Usually I find it totally annoying.

    But I am worried, though, and really sick of Sanders lying about Hillary. He has thrown away his principles for ego and is using his young fans in service of that ego. He is selling them snake oil. I think Warren must know this.

    Parent

    It's (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by FlJoe on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 10:12:49 AM EST
    probably for the best that she does not endorse now. if Hillary wins the nomination Warren will instrumental in pulling in many of Bernie's supporters in the general, especially the most "enthusiastic", who would most likely instantly label her a traitor if she endorsed Hillary now.

    Parent
    Well the Bros (none / 0) (#53)
    by smott on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 11:17:44 AM EST
    Have already flamed her after Ssnders lost MA.
    Apparently that was Warren's fault for not supporting Purity to the extent required .
    It's nausesting.

    Parent
    Purity said again today (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by CoralGables on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 02:27:00 PM EST
    he's not releasing his tax returns.

    Parent
    And (5.00 / 3) (#88)
    by FlJoe on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 08:09:58 PM EST
    'My wife does our tax returns.  We have been a little bit busy lately.' is a pretty lame excuse if you ask me. Maybe this is nothing, but this is so far off from his usual MO it does make one wonder.

    I wonder if it has anything to do with this  

    Jane O'Meara Sanders, and his stepdaughter, Carina Driscoll, both drew sizable salaries from Sanders's House campaigns between 2000 and 2004.
    given that Bernie's Senate Campaigns in 2006 and 2012 were multi million dollar affairs I'm wondering if she cashed in on it in a way that would take a little shine off Bernie's halo.

    Parent
    This is the dumbest excuse I"ve ever heard (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by jbindc on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 05:12:12 AM EST
    It only wirks for 2015 taxes - because, mo thet might not be done yet.  What's up wirh all the rest of the years? As a Senator, he's had to file financial disclosures - what are those based on?

    And everyone is supposed to keep old returns for at least 7 years.

    Parent

    One of the best? comments I have (none / 0) (#134)
    by vml68 on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:17:09 PM EST
    read in defense of Bernie's delay in releasing his taxes...

    Maybe because he and his wife are on the road and the taxes are at home in a filing cabinet or box like mine are.

    Don't know whether to laugh or cry!


    Parent

    Seriously. (none / 0) (#138)
    by jbindc on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:41:06 PM EST


    Parent
    I think (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by FlJoe on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:23:30 AM EST
    that Sanders is worried about people looking to closely at his financials, to my untrained eyes some thing looks pretty fishy. One list of his net worth over time shows:

    2004 $115,501
    2005 $128,001
    2006 $188,504
    2007 $345,503
    2008 $219,504
    2009 $105,003
    2010 $429,004
    2011 $308,005
    2012 $460,506
    2013 $330,506
    2014 $330,408
    May 2015 $440,511
    August 2015 $528,014
    Link
     My research indicates that from 2004 thru 2011 The Sanders were pulling in at least 330k per year (Bernie's govt. paycheck + Jane's College gig) where did all the money go? Apparently they took a hit during the financial breakdown ( which begs the question, why did MR anti-wall street himself allow himself to be exposed to their malfeasance in the first place). That aside I find it hard to believe that their net worth remained so low compared to their gross income for many years. I apologize in advance if this is mere BDS(Bernie Derangement Syndrome) on my part(the guy is starting to get under my skin), but this American citizen would like some answers.

    Parent

    Trump (none / 0) (#107)
    by ragebot on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 09:51:02 AM EST
    made an interesting comment a while back about how releasing financials.  Trump said he had released some forms required by the FEC (maybe it was some other government agency) required of candidates.  Trump said those forms were much more revealing in terms of describing a candidate's financial situation than a tax return.

    Not trying to take Trump's side.  But am wondering about just what the FEC, and any other govt agency, requires of candidates.  I know there is a reason good tax lawyers make the big bucks and suspect they could hide things in a tax return.  On the other hand the FEC, and whoever else, should be able to come up with forms that answer questions.

    Any good election lawyers who know just what is required of pols.  Seems like Bernie (and most of the other pols running for prez) should have a history of submitting forms.  Wonder what they look like.

    Parent

    Bernies reports (none / 0) (#111)
    by FlJoe on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:19:23 AM EST
    here, Not that illuminating.

    Parent
    Thanks for the link (none / 0) (#142)
    by ragebot on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 03:35:34 PM EST
    kinda funny search function where you just put in the last three letters of the pols name, but worth a click for me.

    Parent
    The net worth is a bit misleading. (none / 0) (#116)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:50:22 AM EST
    It should also show the present value of his congressional and senatorial pensions.  Does he get both?  Can he or is he drawing the congressional pension already?

    Parent
    From a thread (none / 0) (#101)
    by Nemi on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 07:11:35 AM EST
    that I won't link to as there's so much nastyness going on - in all directions! - this is still pretty good.

    Parent
    She's been taking this crap (5.00 / 2) (#48)
    by mm on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 10:13:18 AM EST
    since Bill was Governor of Arkansas.  She wasn't allowed to be her own person.

    She couldn't even keep her maiden name because it offended the haters.

    When she came to me and said she wanted to change, I could see in her eyes that she had made the decision to do it. And I said, "I do not want you resenting me. I would a lot rather lose the election than lose you." She said, "I'm not going anywhere." I said, "I know, but I don't want you to resent this for the rest of your life. You made this decision when you were a child. I like it. I approve of the decision. I don't care about it." And she said, "Look, Bill, we cannot--this is stupid! We shouldn't lose the election over this issue. We shouldn't run this risk. What if it's one per cent of the vote? What if it's two per cent? You might win or lose the election by two per cent."
    LINK

    Parent
    The Battle for Brooklyn (none / 0) (#44)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 09:12:46 AM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/hu3qofa

    Per the Boston Globe

    Madame Secretary vs The Bern

    He may win Brooklyn (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by smott on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 09:39:02 AM EST
    But I doubt he will make an impact outside the city.
    538 has Clinton with a 97% chance of winning. And recent polls unlike other surprises.

    And the CDS in that article is just as strong.

    Parent

    The most ridiculous ... (none / 0) (#51)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 10:34:38 AM EST
    paragraph:

    Of the two headquarters, Clinton's campaign offices are physically closest to Sanders' favorite target, Wall Street, separated by a short subway ride under the East River. One Pierrepont Plaza, where Clinton's team occupies two floors, has also been a home to the back-office bank workers of Morgan Stanley. St. Ann's School, just across from Clinton's headquarters, charges $36,080 for preschool.

    Implying anything by proximity in NYC is ridiculous. I mean you could follow this with:

    While Sanders headquarters is closer to Italian neighborhoods where black youths have been brutally beaten to death by rampaging gangs.

    Or whatever.

    Parent

    Four former S.O.S. Clinton aides to share (none / 0) (#78)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 06:24:58 PM EST
    an attorney.

    Beth Wilkinson, a well-connected former assistant U.S. attorney best known for prosecuting Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, is listed as representing three of Clinton's top State Department staffers, according to a congressional letter obtained by POLITICO and dated Feb. 10. A fourth Clinton aide, Philippe Reines, is also represented by Wilkinson, according to sources familiar with their representation.

    Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 07:00:04 PM EST
    this is why the GOP is starting to throw in the towel and say there's nothing there. Apparently you don't all hire the same lawyer if there's something there.

    Parent
    Jonathan Turley (none / 0) (#91)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 08:29:38 PM EST
    has his own take on it.

    http://tinyurl.com/havfd7x

    Finds it odd for each individual, but beneficial to Madame Sec.

    I am curious as to whom is footing the bill for this high priced attorney, who just opened her own shop.

    Generally, it is clearly to a person's advantage to have a single lawyer who is solely and exclusively pursuing your own interest. Moreover, there is little question that the Clinton campaign would prefer key witnesses to be represented jointly.

    The most problematic in a joint representation is Sullivan who has repeated come up in reports on the circumvention of the secure State department email system and various classified email. Mills is also someone who I believe would be best served with individual counsel. Sullivan and Mills also represent two of the greatest potential threats to Clinton. Samuelson also has some potential liability as the alleged person who sorted through the emails to decide what to delete, including emails now deemed classified.


    Parent
    Oh, good grief (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 09:07:47 PM EST
    Now there's another conspiracy theory you're shopping.

    Start wrapping your head in duct tape because it's gonna explode in short order.

    Parent

    Oh good grief (none / 0) (#98)
    by TrevorBolder on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 05:33:54 AM EST
    Please elaborate. So you feel Turley is making a strictly political analysis designed to attack the Democrat frontrunner, that his analysis has no basis or regard to the legal issues in defending multiple clients in a criminal proceeding.

    I will respect his opinion nevertheless.

    Wikipedia on Turley

    Turley is widely regarded as a champion of the rule of law, and his stated positions in many cases and his self-proclaimed "socially liberal agenda",[8] have led liberal and progressive thinkers to also consider him a champion for their causes, especially on issues such as separation of church and state, environmental law,[10][16] civil rights,[7][17] and the illegality of torture.[18][19][20] Politico has referred to Turley as a "liberal law professor and longtime civil libertarian".[21] Turley has nevertheless exhibited his disagreement with rigid ideological stances in contradiction to the established law with other stated and published opinions.[10][21]

    In numerous appearances on Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show, he has called for criminal prosecution of Bush administration officials for war crimes, including torture.[22]



    Parent
    No, (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 07:04:16 AM EST
    I'm talking about you shopping conspiracy theories regarding who's paying for lawyers.

    Turley long ago lost it. I remember right after the impeachment trial and before the vote Turley was swearing up and down that there were the votes to impeach Bill and he was going to be removed from office the next day. I don't know what his problem is but when faced with the obvious he just ignores it and creates his own narrative. So therefore I'm not surprised also to find that you are doing a cut and paste from him.

    Buy some duct tape, Trevor. You're gonna need it.

    Parent

    Your bete noir, Professor Turley, on (none / 0) (#159)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:19:11 PM EST
    A new, hugely wrong (to my untutored eye) Circuit Court Opinion:

    Ninth Circuit: Police Can Lie About Critical Traffic Stop Without Losing The Resulting Evidence

    Parent

    What are you talking about? (none / 0) (#161)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 05:24:50 AM EST
    What conspiracy theory?

    Who is paying this high priced lawyer is NOT a conspiracy theory?
    A very legitimate question.
    Because it all plays to Madame Sec benefit.

    Generally, it is clearly to a person's advantage to have a single lawyer who is solely and exclusively pursuing your own interest. Moreover, there is little question that the Clinton campaign would prefer key witnesses to be represented jointly.
    The most problematic in a joint representation is Sullivan who has repeated come up in reports on the circumvention of the secure State department email system and various classified email. Mills is also someone who I believe would be best served with individual counsel. Sullivan and Mills also represent two of the greatest potential threats to Clinton. Samuelson also has some potential liability as the alleged person who sorted through the emails to decide what to delete, including emails now deemed classified
    .

    Parent
    You are (none / 0) (#164)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 09:30:29 AM EST
    shopping concern trolling and conspiracy theories. You are implying that she is paying for the lawyer without any evidence to back you up which is also considered conspiracy theories.

    Wrap your head with duct tape Trevor. You're gonna need it to keep your head together when it explodes.

    Parent

    Okay (1.00 / 1) (#170)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 03:58:35 PM EST
    Lets do this slowly
    Very high priced lawyer
    4 aides to Madame Sec (probably cannot afford the pricey lawyer)
    Legal interpretations say it would be preferable for each individual to have their own counsel

    Next obvious question: Who paid for the lawyer?

    Don't try so hard, Sometimes

    The obvious , is just obvious.

    Parent

    The interpretation is (5.00 / 1) (#172)
    by jbindc on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 04:44:25 PM EST
    Having one counsel shows they're pretty confident there's no "there" there, since you're right - it would be a risky strategy if there was actually damning stuff to defend againsy

    Parent
    Thank you for the (none / 0) (#173)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 05:02:20 PM EST
    1st legal interpretation of risk for multiple defendants using 1 attorney , other than the Turley opinion I posted.

    Having one counsel shows they're pretty confident there's no "there" there, since you're right

    That is ordinarily correct, but I beg to ask, how the hell can they afford the fees of a boutique attorney?

    Which is why I asked the question, if someone was picking up the tab for this well connected attorney, one they couldn't ordinarily afford, might they sacrifice risk, to retain a attorney of her caliber?

    Such as the fact that it is highly unusual, it does not make the question irrelevant.

    Parent

    Wrap (5.00 / 1) (#177)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 06:47:10 PM EST
    your head in duct tape. First of all you have no idea how much that particular attorney costs and secondly you don't know how much money the people she is representing have. You are ASSUMING that she is more expensive than what these people can afford therefore you are positing a conspiracy theory that someone else namely Hillary MUST be paying for it. Do you realize how much conspiracy you are putting forth in your statements?

    Lastly, there is such a thing as attorney client privilege in the US. I know conservatives don't like such a thing but it's there and therefore you are never going to get your conspiracy theory shot down or justified. But you're going to continue just asking questions

    Parent

    Yes (1.00 / 1) (#179)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 07:58:45 PM EST
    Since it is a legitimate question.

    Madame Sec never does anything by the book.

    Using a private homebrew server to conduct official business of the US Sec of State,

    So why would paying for counsel for 4 aides be beyond her,

    Especially if it helps her

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#180)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 08:44:03 PM EST
    do you think the general who used a private server is a problem? I'm betting you don't think it's a problem. You act like she's the only one who has ever done this. I know you are terrified and terrified people shop conspiracy theories to make themselves feel better. We've been over this a million times with you but apparently you are a slow learner or perhaps you are learning disabled.

    It's not a legitimate question as to whether someone can afford a lawyer or not. This is what is wrong with Republicans. You guys are the nosiest little snoop sisters there ever where. I mean after all you did pilfer through her underwear drawers and Chelsea's underwear drawers looking for things.

    Parent

    The rules (none / 0) (#181)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Apr 06, 2016 at 05:53:21 AM EST
    Do not apply to the Clinton's. And they are shocked, shocked, when they are called out on it.

    A investigation concerning the security of classified documents by the Sec of State, and her staff is very relevant. When a boutique , pricey lawyer agrees to take on counsel for 4 staff members, opening themselves up to additional risk, Oh yes, everyone is wondering who is footing the bill. The woman who benefits for her staff having a combined collaborative stories, and is worth over 100 million. Oh yeah, definitely worth asking.

    Parent

    Yawn... (none / 0) (#171)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 05, 2016 at 04:35:00 PM EST
    ... making silly accusations by asking questions you don't know the answers to, then answering them using your 'common sense', is why your comments are being label as conspiracy theory blather.  Everything is based on the assumption of other assumptions, and the actual evidence is slim to none.  In this case closer to none than slim.

    I would imagine since this revolves around their jobs, the government is paying for the attorneys, and while you assume the Dream Team is being pulled in because you see crimes of the century, back in reality these are probably fairly standard interviews and in DC there are probably a lot of qualified attorneys to give them legal advise.

    Parent

    Beth is an excellent lawyer (5.00 / 2) (#136)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 02:33:04 PM EST
    If there were an ethical problem with multiple representation, she wouldn't be doing it. (She and David G. met during the trial, he was there as a journalist. She didn't participate in the Nichols trial which went next.)

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    She's also (none / 0) (#79)
    by jbindc on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 06:32:51 PM EST
    Married to David Gregory, formerly of NBC's "Meet the Press".

    Just a bit of trivia.

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    The Defense Industry's fav 2016 candidates (none / 0) (#86)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 07:34:29 PM EST
    Bernie and Hillary.

    Oh, good grief (none / 0) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 07:51:07 PM EST
    A bunch of Bernie supporters are now picketing CNN saying they are not being fair to him or something.

    Give them participation trophies ... (none / 0) (#89)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 08:21:52 PM EST
    and I'm sure they'll leave.

    I know a lot of people here believe Sanders supporters needed to be treated with kid gloves. It's that kind of nonsense that has put the GOP in the position they are in today. The belief that you can win by not losing too badly.

    You win campaigns by beating your opponent. And when your opponent's supporters are acting like fools, you make sure they and everyone around them knows it.

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    His supporters (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 09:08:55 PM EST
    are doing in his campaign. He never attempted to seriously reign them in and now he's got a problem.

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    Todays (5.00 / 3) (#94)
    by FlJoe on Sun Apr 03, 2016 at 09:16:56 PM EST
    Lesson in hypocrisy : During his House/Senate career, Bernie raised 20 mil for his campaigns, 11% from PACs', also plenty from Democrats. Link (Love that site).

    Sanders has played the money game his entire career, he just got to play relative small ball because Vermont is tiny and he got plenty of support from the Democratic party(some of it "laundered" wall street money). Now he just demagogues against Hillary just because she had the fortune/misfortune of playing in the big leagues for a decade and a half.  

     

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    He likes running for ... (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 12:04:30 PM EST
    office. And running for office is always about him.  

    The comparisons of Sanders to Jeremy Corbyn are entirely spurious. Corbyn has devoted a significant portion of his life to issue advocacy, and helping others in a real way.

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    "the Big Leagues" (none / 0) (#110)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:17:19 AM EST
    What have the "Big Leagues" done for you?

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    Not much (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by FlJoe on Mon Apr 04, 2016 at 10:36:10 AM EST
    but then again I could never hit a big time curve ball anyway. I did have the sense to avoid playing tackle football without a helmet.

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    Saturday Open Thread: Belated April Fools' Edition | 193 comments (193 topical)

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