Month: September 2013

Athenae, Congress5 Comments

Both Sides Do It!!!

Allison Hantschel

Congressional gridlock. There were no signs from Congress or the White House of last-minute negotiations to resolve the standoff. Instead, Democrats and Republicans spent their energies trying to pin blame on the other side for failing to avoid a calamity. If only there was some way to tell who was truly at fault. Boehner and Reid have taken a low profile as the deadline draws closer, leaving on-camera appearances to deputies and often speaking through their press staffs. Guess not then. And if the battle over “Obamacare” pushes up to the mid-October deadline to raise the debt ceiling, U.S. stocks … Continue reading Both Sides Do It!!!

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T5 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cruz to nowhere edition

tommyfd

Good morning, everyone!

As a Texan, I’m proud to be from the state that brought the world Molly Ivins and Wendy Davis. Unfortunately, we also brought the world Gohmert Pyle and Ted Cruz (leaving Canada out of it for the moment).

So – the first in a series of Carnival Cruzes –Cruz Amuses!

Senate votes 100-0 to move ahead on debate over ObamacareLos Angeles Times ^ | 09/25/2013 | Lisa Mascaro

Posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 12:54:39 PM by SeekAndFind


Edited on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 1:03:36 PM by Admin Moderator. [history]

The Senate easily overcame Wednesday’s first hurdle to a fizzling GOP strategy to strip funding for President Obama’s healthcare law in exchange for keeping the government running.

Top Republicans are now for a new — more modest — way to chip away at the Affordable Care Act.

1 posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 12:54:39 PM by SeekAndFind

DamnYouAll
.

To: SeekAndFind

100-0? After all that, Cruz voted to move the measure forward?

Am I missing something?

2 posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 12:56:26 PM by Personal Responsibility (Government: Slimy used car salesmen writing laws forcing you to buy their cars)

Only your sanity – but you never used it anyway, did you?

To: SeekAndFind

This was NOT the cloture vote Cruz wants to stop!

These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.

That will come Friday or Saturday.

(Seems to be a lot of confusion on this…)

3 posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 12:56:28 PM by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)

To: SeekAndFind
Cruz voted for this? So, what was the point?

Carmen Ghia: “Keep searching around – you’ll find it.”

I have an uncomfortable feeling this whole thing was about maximum TV time for Cruz and a possible Presidential run. From what I’m seeing here, it’s working.

10 posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 1:01:40 PM by colorado tanker

Bingo

To: Personal Responsibility

This was the motion to proceed (to debate), basically bringing the bill to the floor.

In the old days there would have been an actual debate, but now, Reid files for cloture at the same time he files a bill so he can call for an end to debate whenever he wants, which is usually after the mandatory 30 hours of debate, i.e. the next morning or afternoon.

18 posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 1:05:32 PM by cotton1706

That was a close one!

To: JRandomFreeper
Look at FR today. All we’re doing is fighting each other, and not the Dems.The fact is we can’t repeal Obamacare with only control of the House. When people sat on their hands and refused to vote for Romney they lost the chance for repeal.

As long as we are this divided we have no chance to win the Senate or the Presidency. Or repeal Obamacare.

24 posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 1:09:05 PM by colorado tanker

CaptainObvious2jpg
.

To: Repeal The 17th

No. What Cruz is doing has no chance of success but sure is getting him a lot of TV time. Plus, overnight he has become the darling of FR and other conservatives without actually accomplishing anything. He won’t be up for reelection for years but wants the House Republicans, who are up for reelection next year, to take the political heat for him. That sets off my antennae.

58 posted on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 2:30:53 PM by colorado tanker

Ban-Watch_It
.
More Cruz Snooze after the wrinkle in space and time…

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cruz to nowhere edition”

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Dance Dance Devolution: Shutdown Coverage

Chris Cilizza, proving that nothing is too stupid to say to the entire Internet: @ TheFix So, the shutdown seems damn near inevitable. Distract yourself with our shutdown@ Spotify playlist.http://ow.ly/pmpJP Sure, sure, it’s not like he killed anybody with that tweet. And putting a shutdown playlist together is totally something that we’d do in any newsroom where I worked. But I hope we wouldn’t tell the whole Internet we were doing it and ask them to take it as just as big a joke as we found it, because the stakes aren’t the same for us as they are for … Continue reading Dance Dance Devolution: Shutdown Coverage

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Dance Dance Devolution: Shutdown Coverage

Allison Hantschel

Chris Cilizza, proving that nothing is too stupid to say to the entire Internet: @TheFix So, the shutdown seems damn near inevitable. Distract yourself with our shutdown @Spotify playlist.http://ow.ly/pmpJP Sure, sure, it’s not like he killed anybody with that tweet. And putting a shutdown playlist together is totally something that we’d do in any newsroom where I worked. But I hope we wouldn’t tell the whole Internet we were doing it and ask them to take it as just as big a joke as we found it, because the stakes aren’t the same for us as they are for the … Continue reading Dance Dance Devolution: Shutdown Coverage

Athenae, Congress5 Comments

Both Sides Do It!!!

Congressional gridlock. There were no signs from Congress or the White House of last-minute negotiations to resolve the standoff. Instead, Democrats and Republicans spent their energies trying to pin blame on the other side for failing to avoid a calamity. If only there was some way to tell who was truly at fault. Boehner and Reid have taken a low profile as the deadline draws closer, leaving on-camera appearances to deputies and often speaking through their press staffs. Guess not then. And if the battle over “Obamacare” pushes up to the mid-October deadline to raise the debt ceiling, U.S. stocks … Continue reading Both Sides Do It!!!

Adrastos, Music, Sunday Morning Video

Sunday Morning Video: Smile Live

Peter Adrastos Athas

Smile was one of the great lost albums of the Sixties. Neither the other Beach Boys nor Capitol Records liked Brian Wilson’s ground breaking music so the album as whole was shelved although vast chunks of it were recorded by the Beach Boys. In 2004, Brian recorded a version of Smile. Here’s a live performance by Brian and his crack band: Continue reading Sunday Morning Video: Smile Live

Current Affairs, Doc, Scott Walker's Horcruxes, Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

Scott Walker is Werner Heisenberg in “The Jobs Effect.”

docphd

It’s always someone or something else’s fault… Scott Walker never graduated from college, or probably passed a course where the Uncertainty Principle was discussed. That said, he has no problem whatsoever blaming everyone else for the uncertainty that led to the shitty job numbers his state seems to be pumping out at a record pace: “There’s no doubt in our first two years, because of the protests, the recalls, that they had an impact early on. Much as there is concern nationally about the impact of Obamacare and the impact it has on employers, they just wonder with uncertainty.” Right. … Continue reading Scott Walker is Werner Heisenberg in “The Jobs Effect.”

Adrastos, Art, Film, Pulp Fiction3 Comments

Pulp Fiction Thursday: Bad Day At Black Rock

Peter Adrastos Athas

Bad Day At Black Rock is almost a genre unto itself. It’s a socially concerned, anti-racist, noir Western. How’s that for a mouthful? The hero, Spencer Tracy, is a wounded veteran who learns that bad things happened to the Japanese American family of one of his ARMY buddies. Two of the nicest people in movies, Robert Ryan and Ernest Borgnine, played racist, hiss provoking villains and played them well. This is a must see 4 star flick. Here’s the trailer: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Bad Day At Black Rock

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Law/Justice3 Comments

The Malakatude Files

Peter Adrastos Athas

The “the world is my living room” trend has just exploded in Sweden: Slightly inconveniently, society is often divided over what counts as acceptable behaviour in public. Eating in the street, for instance: I found to my dismay that this is considered rude in polite (southern English) society while wrestling a Greggs cheese pasty into my mouth on a London high street in front a horrified university course-mate, circa 2007. Doing your makeup: another activity I didn’t know was frowned upon in communal areas, until I was enlightened by Celia Walden’s Telegraph article on the matter (in which she described … Continue reading The Malakatude Files

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media4 Comments

JUST STOP SUCKING

Allison Hantschel

I keep saying it, guys: 1) On the print business overall: “My biggest problem is the ‘death of print’ doom and gloom talk, which scares advertisers into thinking no one will see their ads. But as long as people keep picking up our paper, which they do, the ads get seen.” Why yes. When you go around with your hair on fire screaming EVERYTHING IS HORRIBLE AND WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE people treat you like you have cooties and they don’t want to buy your shit. Advertisers read the trades, too, so if you spend all your time talking … Continue reading JUST STOP SUCKING

Adrastos, Congress, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks3 Comments

The Case of the Mormon Pirate

Peter Adrastos Athas

No, I’m not talking about Willard Mittbot Romney, I’m talking about Utah Senator Mike Lee who has a terminal case of stupid and said the following during the fake filibuster: “Regardless of how long I might serve in the United States Senate I hope one day to be granted a letter of marque and reprisal so that I could become a pirate as I longed to be as a child. And you’re all invited to join me when I get that letter of marque and reprisal.” My condolences to the Senators Udall who are related to this bombastic bozo but … Continue reading The Case of the Mormon Pirate

Michael F3 Comments

Definitely Not The Most Interesting Man In The World

mmferry1965

From Album 5 He once spoke for 21 hours, just to hear himself talk. Optional musical accompaniment. So, we’ve now been treated to a piece of Ted’s mind, and,, to paraphrase (allegedly) Dan Quayle of all people, what a terrible thing to have…or not to have at all. How true. Anyway, while Old Teahaddist Ted might not be the most interesting man in the world, he sure is one of the biggest snobs I’ve ever heard of. Even Texas should be embarrassed. Continue reading Definitely Not The Most Interesting Man In The World

Athenae, Congress, So Called Liberal Media2 Comments

All The Bitches Love Ted Cruz

Allison Hantschel

Oh my GOD, you guys, is Nedra Pickler writing for “Tribune Wire Services” now? Whether or not he actually seeks his party’s presidential nomination in 2016, as some pundits expect, the former Texas solicitor general has become a “name,” and a potential presidential contender. “Ted Cruz” was the top search on Google, ahead of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” a drama that premiered on ABC, National League Football star quarterback Peyton Manning and NBC’S “The Voice.” Ted Cruz was trending on CNN’s website, overtaking the attack by Islamist militants in a Kenyan shopping mall and singer Miley Cyrus. Well, if he … Continue reading All The Bitches Love Ted Cruz

Athenae, Immoral Values7 Comments

A ‘Strong Pro-Abstinence Message’ … for Women

Allison Hantschel

I heard about this on the radio yesterday and nearly drove off the road. I’ve never called in to a radio show before, and I’ve pretty much given up on the local teeny-bopper station since they replaced my favorite host anyway, but I spent 20 minutes on hold trying to give this entire idea what for: Sharyn Alfonsi’s insightful interview with Harvey who has found success with his down-to-earth advice found in his book. “A guy that’s really serious about you, he’s gotta be talking to you,” Harvey told Alfonsi. “He’s gotta wanna have one-on-one, in your face interaction. That’s … Continue reading A ‘Strong Pro-Abstinence Message’ … for Women

Adrastos, Music2 Comments

Tuesday Night Music: The Sail On, Sailor Variations

Peter Adrastos Athas

Sail On, Sailor is one of the best songs the Beach Boys ever recorded. It was on the underrated Holland album and was co-written by Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks and two dudes I’ve never heard of. The album was released during Brian’s Howard Hughes phase, so Blondie Chaplin sang lead on the original version. It has one of the *best* bridges in rock history. We begin with the 1973 studio version: Here’s a sloppy but spirited live version featuring Brian Wilson, Matthew Sweet and Darius Rucker: Finally, an oddball version wherein Rodney Crowell rehearses the song with the Beach … Continue reading Tuesday Night Music: The Sail On, Sailor Variations

Athenae, Congress, So Called Liberal Media5 Comments

Dire Warnings and Sharpening Rhetoric!

Allison Hantschel

Tell me what I need to know about a potential government shutdown over Obamacare, CNN: Polls showing a decrease in public support for the health care reforms embolden the Republican stance. Meanwhile, surveys showing most people oppose a government shutdown and that more would blame Republicans if it happens bolster Democratic resolve. What polls and surveys, in both cases? No idea. There’s no link and no numbers. These are apparently indisputable facts that no longer need any kind of explanation. Maybe this poll would help: Sixty-two percent in a new ABC News-Washington Post poll say they lack the information needed … Continue reading Dire Warnings and Sharpening Rhetoric!

Adrastos, Album Cover Art, Art, Music2 Comments

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)

Peter Adrastos Athas

Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart was one of the quirkiest and most interesting musicians of the 1960’s and ’70’s. His style was avant garde Delta blues/jazz with a Dada twist. His voice was so raspy that he made Howlin’ Wolf sound like Jackie Wilson. He was also a very talented painter as you can see below on the cover of his 1978 LPShiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller.). In fact, Van Vliet retired his Captain Beefheart persona in 1982 and focused on his artwork for the remainder of his life: Here’s the entire LP via the YouTube: Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)

Adrastos, Political Crack, Television4 Comments

Watch the crook, it’s important

Peter Adrastos Athas

Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards is one the most interesting politicians of my lifetime. After years of beating the rap, he went to jail in 2002. He served his time, divorced his much younger wife while in the pokey, and ended up marrying an even younger woman. The latest Missus has talked EWE into doing a reality show and it’s going to debut on A&E on October, 27. If the trailer is any clue, The Governor’s Wife, should be the campiest reality show on that network since the Steven Seagal Jefferson Parish fake cop show: I wonder if there’s the … Continue reading Watch the crook, it’s important

Adrastos, Economy, Malakatude, Political Crack4 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Robert Benmosche

Peter Adrastos Athas

I’d never heard of this week’s “honoree” until today and don’t care to learn more about him. All I know for certain is that Robert Benmosche is the chief executive of insurance giant and bailout recipient AIG.I also know that he has a big fucking mouth, which he might want to keep zipped in the future: Robert Benmosche told the Wall Street Journal that “less than 10” employees were behind bad trades that led to a massive collapse of the market, and that lawmakers suffering of “ignorance” were wrong to demand accountability of AIG across-the-board: “That was ignorance … of … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Robert Benmosche

Adrastos, Malakatude, Sports4 Comments

Your mother should know

Peter Adrastos Athas

In news from college football crazed SEC country: Mark Richt says this will be like any other big-game week, except he’ll be down one administrative assistant. Tammy Mettenberger, who happens to be the mother of LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who was dismissed three years ago from Georgia, has been given the week off. “She loves her son, obviously, and it would be awkward for her to be hanging around all week,” Richt said Sunday night. “I told her, ‘Enjoy it, go have fun, do some things you wouldn’t normally do this time of year and enjoy it.’ “ This game … Continue reading Your mother should know

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T3 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – character assassination edition

tommyfd

Morning, all! This week’s Obsession is dedicated to the characters the Freeperati love so dearly, and how quickly they’re ready to shoot them to death (in a metaphorical sense, natch) when they stray from the path of the True Scotsman Conservative.

Let’s get going – with –Megyn a change!

FOXNEWS SCHEDULE SHAKEUP: MEGYN IN AT 9 PMDrudge ^ | 8/8/13 | Drudge

Posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:03:47 AM by ConservativeMan55

FOXNEWS SCHEDULE SHAKEUP: MEGYN IN AT 9 PM Thu Aug 08 2013 11:56:26 ET

**Exclusive**

FOXNEWS is set to make its first primetime schedule change in 10 years, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Superstar newswoman Megyn Kelly has landed the 9 PM slot, top sources reveal.

The shock announcement is set for later this month.

“It’s all about Megyn,” an insider explains. “She is the new face of cable news. She has it all!”

Developing…

1 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:03:47 AM by ConservativeMan55
I’m expecting a serious discourse here on the relative journalistic merits / disadvantages of Hannity versus Megyn.
Aren’t you?

To: Hotlanta Mike

She’s a lot prettier! lol!!

10 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:07:23 AM by ConservativeMan55

To: ConservativeMan55

“We’re sorry, Sean, but our viewer research indicates that 68% of male viewers to this network tune in for cleavage.”

17 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:08:46 AM by Buckeye McFrog

Heh.
But where does this leave perrennial Freeper favourites Hannity and O’Reilly?

To: ConservativeMan55

If Megan is the new face of cable news, what is Bill O’Reilly then?

9 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:06:49 AM by Hotlanta Mike (“Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish – too much handling will spoil it.” Lao Tzu)

Good question.

To: Hotlanta Mike
If Megan is the new face of cable news, what is Bill O’Reilly then?

The other end of a horse.

20 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:09:48 AM by pgkdan (Marco Rubio can go straight to hell!)

Good answer.
And now the knives come out.

To: cripplecreek

maybe put Hannity at 8 and kick off the O’Bloviater.

11 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:07:30 AM by RedMDer (http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)

To: RedMDer

Don’t think so. The OBloviator as you call him has the highest rated show on the network.

They are not stupid lol. He makes them money, whether you like him or not.

13 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:08:10 AM by ConservativeMan55

All right! We have a falafel-fanboy! Let’s have some Hannity-love, please?

To: ConservativeMan55

Didn’t Sean have enough liberals on at night?

15 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:08:36 AM by bmwcyle (People who do not study history are destine to believe really ignorant statements.)

To: ConservativeMan55

Hannity can go away for all I care. All he does is repeat is talking points. Plus, hopefully this will cut down on Rove’s appearances on Fox.

23 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:10:13 AM by Lou Budvis

To: ConservativeMan55
That was going to be my guess.

Hannity has his radio show, but he’s become repetitive, interruptive, and usually interruptive over stupid personal inside jokes not pertinent to the discussion at hand. He also misses too many rebuttal opportunities and falls back on his repetitive talking points too often.

I expect Kelly to provide a sharper focus and challenge to her interviews, but I fear that she leans much further to the Left than people think – – at least to the Left of Hannity.

-PJ

39 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:13:24 AM by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
To: longfellow

“All he does is repeat the same crap to every guest.”

Yes. Hannity is like a wind-up doll who at any given moment has about 40 memorized phrases. He merely accesses the phrase the fits the moment. Tiresome and dull.

62 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 11:18:50 AM by BlueStateRightist
.

HannityDouchebag

Won’t anybody stand up for Sean?

To: All

I like Hannity but his show is tedious. Maybe MK will be on Foxy Business and the can bring in Jenna Lee.

144 posted on Thursday, August 08, 2013 12:05:55 PM by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)

Who, in turn, could bring in Pamela Anderson, who in turn could bring in Jenna Jameson!
WinningSheen
.
More character assassination after the jump!

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – character assassination edition”

Adrastos, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Law/Justice, New Orleans12 Comments

NOLA Notes: Danziger Bridge Convictions Reversed

Peter Adrastos Athas

Speaking of careless people, our former US Attorney’s staff screwed the pooch on this important post-K police brutality case: In a 127-page order, U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt overturned the jury convictions of five New Orleans police officers accused of shooting unarmed people a week after Hurricane Katrina and then orchestrating a cover-up. His decision focused largely on the two high-ranking former prosecutors who anonymously posted online comments about the case, as well as other pending cases, when it was still in its infancy and during the month-long trial. “This case started as one featuring allegations of brazen abuse of … Continue reading NOLA Notes: Danziger Bridge Convictions Reversed

Athenae, Faith, Religion2 Comments

Chill and Let My Father Do His Job

Allison Hantschel

This interview with Pope Francis burned the Internet up today, mostly for these things: A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person. Here we enter into the mystery of the human being. [snip] We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible. I have not spoken … Continue reading Chill and Let My Father Do His Job

Athenae, Immoral Values, Stupid Republican Tricks2 Comments

GOP Rebranding, Part the Thousandth

Allison Hantschel

The House may be on it: The Republican Conference kick-started National Hispanic Heritage Month this week, which began September 15th, with a “GOP Meetup” in the U.S. Capitol Building that brought together Hispanic businessmen, pastors, political activists, and other community leaders from across the country with several representatives who are taking the lead in engaging minority audiences. But the rank and file aren’t having it: I believe that the Hispanic groups should be reaching out to the Republicans and Conservatives by first making certain that all the illegals go back and straighten out their own countries instead of coming here … Continue reading GOP Rebranding, Part the Thousandth

Adrastos, Malakatude, New Orleans, So Called Liberal Media1 Comment

NOLA Notes: Newspaper Ad Wars

Peter Adrastos Athas

The war of words between the two A’s, Advance and the Advocate, continues to be addictive. The Advocate is running some teevee ads featuring some high profile New Orleanians including some local pols: If you haven’t seen The New Orleans Advocate‘s new television campaign, you probably will soon. The brisk, clever ads emphasize the paper’s daily delivery schedule and feature local personalities — Archie Manning, Irma Thomas, Rita Benson LeBlanc, Andrea Apuzzo, the 610 Stompers — ringing a doorbell and handing copies of The New Orleans Advocate to a surprised homeowner. It’s all set to a jazzy soundtrack and the … Continue reading NOLA Notes: Newspaper Ad Wars