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LiveBlog for Monday, July 13, 2009

feinstein• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), both on the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested yesterday that the Bush administration broke the law by ordering that a CIA counterterrorism program be concealed from Congress. They are pushing for twin investigations into Bush-era torture policies.

holderAttorney General Eric Holder is leaning toward appointing a prosecutor to investigate the Bush administration’s interrogation practices. “Newsweek” is also reporting that Holder has asked his staff for a list of 10 candidates who might serve as that prosecutor if one is named.

• After weeks of meeting senators and preparing for tough questions, Sonia Sotomayor today begins the formal hearings on her nomination to become the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Sotomayor, 55, received a good-luck phone call yesterday from President Obama.

Dems on the House Ways and Means Committee on Friday proposed a graduated tax on wealthy Americans to pay for health care reform. The new tax would apply to individuals who make more than $280,000 a year and married couples who make more than $350,000 a year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has life-threatening pancreatic cancer, a news report in South Korea said today, days after new images of him looking gaunt spurred speculation that his health might be worsening following a reported stroke last year.

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 2:40 am and is filed under liveblog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

377 Responses to “LiveBlog for Monday, July 13, 2009”

  1. trojanrabbit says:

    Goood morning all! * bows to Steph & the Mooks *

    Hope everyone had a great weekend and that Rebekah had a great vacation.

    With no fanfare whatsoever, the remaining analog TV stations that were broadcasting the “nightlight” service starting June 12 went dark around midnight. The same “This Old House” loop that has been playing the last month just stopped mid sentence. There’s only 1 station in my area still broadcasting analog (LPTV stations can still run analog for the foreseeable future), but it’s in Spanish.

    Seeing how the FCC is poised to destroy the AM band with IBOC trash, and is about to do the same with FM, it will be interesting to see how they’ll continue to screw up the old VHF TV bands. Most of the stations that chose to keep their digital channels there because they were dangled the carrot of needing much less transmitter power (at least according to the FCC) are rueing their decision. As I see it, nothing more than a carrot thrown to cable and satellite.

  2. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Mornin’ Trojan!

  3. shāf says:

    Morning, trojanrabbit and the rest of the First Watch. Good morning Team Steph with a ‘Welcome Back’ to Rebekah thrown in for good measure.

    It’ll be great to listen live again (at least this week). Next week starts our process design (all-day) meetings, so I’ll be back to Stephcast-only listening. Oh well, at least it’s steady work.

    Did anyone see this in the NY Times (by way of HuffPo)?:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/business/13goldman.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss

    For Goldman, a Swift Return to Lofty Profits

    Excerpt:

    Up and down Wall Street, analysts and traders are buzzing that Goldman, which only recently paid back its government bailout money, will report blowout profits from trading on Tuesday.

    Analysts predict the bank earned a profit of more than $2 billion in the March-June period, because of its trading prowess across world markets. If they are right, the bank’s rivals will once again be left to wonder exactly how Goldman, long the envy of Wall Street, could have rebounded so drastically only months after the nation’s financial industry was shaken to its foundations.

    The obsessive speculation has already begun, along with banter about how Goldman’s rapid return to minting money will be perceived by lawmakers and taxpayers who aided Goldman with a multibillion-dollar cushion last fall.

    “They exist, and others don’t, and taxpayers made it possible,” said one industry consultant, who, like many people interviewed for this article, declined to be named for fear of jeopardizing business relationships.

    Startling, too, is how much of its revenue Goldman is expected to share with its employees. Analysts estimate that the bank will set aside enough money to pay a total of $18 billion in compensation and benefits this year to its 28,000 employees, or more than $600,000 an employee. Top producers stand to earn millions.

    Goldman was humbled along with the rest of Wall Street when the financial markets froze last year. As a result, it lost money in the final quarter, a rarity for the bank. Along with other big banks, it was compelled to accept billions of dollars in federal aid, which it paid back last month.

    Amid the crisis, it also converted from an investment bank to a more regulated bank holding company.

    Goldman declined to comment over the weekend, pending its Tuesday earnings report.

    But if the analysts are right — and given the vagaries of Wall Street trading, any hard forecast is little more than a guess — the results will extend a remarkable run for Goldman that was marred only by the single quarterly loss last fall of $2.12 billion.

    Looks like the boys with the Midas touch are going to cash in on yet another speculative bubble (again, mostly at the expense of less educated investors). If you haven’t already done so, read Matt Taibbi’s Rolling Stone article “The Great American Bubble Machine”.

  4. shāf says:

    And, good morning to you, Danielle! You arrived while I was composing my post.

  5. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Mornin’ Shaf… great post!

  6. shāf says:

    Info is coming out that a secret CIA initiative terminated by Director Leon Panetta was an attempt to carry out a 2001 presidential authorization to capture or kill al Qaeda operatives, according to former intelligence officials familiar with the matter:

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124736381913627661.html

    This comes on the heels of Sunday’s reports…

    Lawmakers criticized the Bush administration’s decision not to tell Congress. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, hinted that the Bush administration may have broken the law by not telling Congress.

    “We were kept in the dark. That’s something that should never, ever happen again,” she said. Withholding such information from Congress, she said, “is a big problem, because the law is very clear.”

    Ms. Feinstein said Mr. Panetta told the lawmakers that Mr. Cheney had ordered that the information be withheld from Congress. Mr. Cheney on Sunday couldn’t be reached for comment through former White House aides.

    I truly hope Eric Holder appoints a Special Prosecutor for not only the torture polices, but also CIA’s cover-up.

  7. MidwestRuth says:

    I confess to being a Matt Taibbi junkie. His work on the credit-default swaps was brilliant.

  8. trojanrabbit says:

    Re: Goldman Sachs

    Who said “Crime doesn’t pay”?

  9. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Trojan, don’t you ever just want to sit people down and force them to listen to Tohm Hartmann??? I feel like he explains all this perfectly!

  10. trojanrabbit says:

    Danielle, I wish I had the chance to listen to Thom more. I’m just at the limit of things I can listen to.

  11. trojanrabbit says:

    oh…sorry….Good morning, shaf, MidwestRuth.

  12. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    I know Trojan… I only wish I had more time!

  13. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Anyone else listening to Bill Press find this conversation utterly annoying???

  14. Carol Hussein in Central Mass says:

    good morning, First Watchers! good name for us, shaf.

  15. MidwestRuth says:

    Hi everybody. I SO missed the live blog last week, but spent mega-hours at work so I could take a couple days off this week.

  16. ‘Mornin’ TR, Danielle, Shaf, Carol, Ruth and all Mookenbloggers, et al. Hawaii?

    I hope you all had a great weekend!

    I’m hoping against hope that Dick Cheney’s appendage is caught in the ringer on this CIA order business. But, somewhere in the back of my mind I’m convinced that the sorry bastard will never see any kind of justice, here’s a cat who has pretty well been above the law most of his public “service” time.

  17. Yes, what happened to the Bill Press program, is some dufus sitting in for him today? Sounds hee-hawish to me.

  18. LeftCenter says:

    Good morning, live blogospherians. It’s Day 4 of the Daisy T. Beagle era here. People and doggy are doing nicely.

  19. Rich Masters, Who TF is he? Sitting in for Press, evidently. I expect them to break out in “Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me” any moment..

  20. LeftCenter says:

    Rich Masters is a regular fill-in host for Bill Press.

  21. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    19- I’m not sure, I know the guys gave his name, but these morons are definately not doing his show any justice… since when has Press spent his time talking about chewing tobacco, MJ songs,and other nonsense???

  22. Carol Hussein in Central Mass says:

    #4,5 shaf, re Goldman Sachs’ record profits

    the bastids

  23. MidwestRuth says:

    well at least Bill Press will be back tomorrow…

  24. shāf says:

    #24 Glad to see that Mama has fill-ins who are stars in their own right. Heck, if they do really well, it forces her to step-up her game. And it shows that she really wants her listeners to enjoy the show in her absence, not just pine for her return.

  25. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Well said Shaf!

  26. Juliet Hussein Bravo says:

    G’morning, bloggistas!

    Thanks for the great links, Shaf.

    #9 MidwestRuth: “I confess to being a Matt Taibbi junkie. His work on the credit-default swaps was brilliant.”

    Sam Seder did a great 3-part interview on BreakRoom Live with Matt Taibbi on the Goldman stuff on July 8-9-10. Here’s the link:

    http://www.maronvseder.com

    Click on “Past Shows” in the sidebar – the past shows and segments all come up (sorry I couldn’t get a better link).

  27. Dan The Man says:

    Good Morning Board! Happy Monday!

    Happy Birthday to Indiana Jones and Captain Piccard!
    Harrison Ford is 67, Patrick Stewart is 69.

  28. JayAreBee says:

    Lying CIA and Republican’ for Regan

    The Boehner needs to see these.

    Oliver L. North, National Security Council staffer in the Reagan administration and point man in the Iran-Contra scandal—Indicted March 16, 1988, on 16 felony counts. After standing trial on 12, North was convicted May 4, 1989 of three charges: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destruction of documents. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell on July 5, 1989, to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours community service. A three-judge appeals panel on July 20, 1990, vacated North’s conviction for further proceedings to determine whether his immunized testimony influenced witnesses in the trial. The Supreme Court declined to review the case. Judge Gesell dismissed the case September 16, 1991, after hearings on the immunity issue, on the motion of Independent Counsel

    Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration until 1987—Indicted June 16, 1992, on five counts of obstruction, perjury and false statements in connection with congressional and Independent Counsel investigations of Iran/ contra. On September 29, the obstruction count was dismissed. On October 30, a second indictment was issued, charging one false statement count. The second indictment was dismissed December 11, leaving four counts remaining. The maximum penalty for each count was five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan set a January 5, 1993, trial date. Weinberger was pardoned December 24, 1992. (pardoned by Bush 41)

    Robert C. McFarlane, National Security Advisor to President Reagan from 1983 to late 1985 —Pleaded guilty March 11, 1988, to four misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress. U.S. District Chief Judge Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., sentenced McFarlane on March 3, 1989, to two years probation, $20,000 in fines and 200 hours community service. McFarlane was pardoned December 24, 1992. (pardoned by Bush 41)

    Thomas G. Clines, Central Intelligence Agency agent—Indicted February 22, 1990, on four felony counts of underreporting his earnings to the IRS in the 1985 and 1986 tax years; and falsely stating on his 1985 and 1986 tax returns that he had no foreign financial accounts. On September 18, 1990, Clines was found guilty of all charges. U.S. District Judge Norman P. Ramsey in Baltimore, Md., on December 13, 1990, sentenced Clines to 16 months in prison and $40,000 in fines. He was ordered to pay the cost of the prosecution. The Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., on February 27, 1992, upheld the convictions. Clines served his prison sentence.

    Alan D. Fiers, Jr. , Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Central American Task Force during the Reagan administration—Pleaded guilty July 9, 1991, to two misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress about secret efforts to aid the Nicaraguan contras. U.S. District Chief Judge Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., sentenced Fiers January 31, 1992, to one year probation and 100 hours community service. Fiers was pardoned December 24, 1992. (pardoned by Bush 41)

    Clair E. George, Deputy Director for CIA Operations —Indicted September 6, 1991, on 10 counts of perjury, false statements and obstruction in connection with congressional and Grand Jury investigations. George’s trial on nine counts ended in a mistrial on August 26, 1992. Following a second trial on seven counts, George was found guilty December 9, 1992, of two felony charges of false statements and perjury before Congress. The maximum penalty for each count was five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth set sentencing for February 18, 1993. George was pardoned on December 24, 1992, before sentencing occurred. (pardoned by Bush 41)

    Joseph F. Fernandez, CIA station chief in Costa Rica —Indicted June 20, 1988 on five counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstructing the inquiry of the Tower Commission and making false statements to government agencies. The case was dismissed in the District of Columbia for venue reasons on the motion of Independent Counsel. A four-count indictment was issued in the Eastern District of Virginia on April 24, 1989. U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton dismissed the four-count case November 24, 1989, after Attorney General Richard Thornburgh blocked the disclosure of classified information ruled relevant to the defense. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va., on September 6, 1990, upheld Judge Hilton’s rulings under the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA). On October 12, 1990, the Attorney General filed a final declaration that he would not disclose the classified information.
    .
    Duane R. Clarridge, career CIA officer —Indicted November 26, 1991, on seven counts of perjury and false statements about a secret shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran. The maximum penalty for each count was five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. U.S. District Judge Harold H. Greene set a March 15, 1993, trial date. Clarridge was pardoned December 24, 1992. (pardoned by Bush 41)

  29. Just looked at CSPAN2, U.S. Senate, was wondering if Sotomayer confirmation hearings will be seen there today? No information on the satellite program guide, literally..

    I see the racist jerk Jeff Sessions (R-AL) is making a big production about the Sotomayer confirmation not being a “foregone conclusion”. A foregone conclusion, however, is that racist Republicans are going to demonstrate their ignorance to try to obstruct and cast as many aspersions as possible on Ms. Sotomayer.

  30. trojanrabbit says:

    27
    Definitely, shaf.

    As I said last week, I’m very happy that my two favorite radio hosts (obviously Mama is one) have very capable fill-ins.

  31. Juliet Hussein Bravo says:

    #22 LeftCenter, Rich Masters?? Is that a radio host or the God’s Chosen Elite who reside at the “C” Street house under the tutelage of David Coe?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Street#The_house_on_C_Street

    :-o

    Sorry. I’m sure he’s perfectly lovely and not at all bent on World Domination.

  32. LeftCenter says:

    #32 I have a funny feeling most of those aspersions won’t be cast in the hearing room – at least not the most blatant ones.

  33. shāf says:

    It’s Miller Time, y’alls!

  34. Shane-O says:

    #32 – CSPAN3 – and pretty much all the news networks

  35. trojanrabbit says:

    Did Mama appear on the Ed Show last Friday? Haven’t seen any YouTubes put up.

  36. MidwestRuth says:

    Thanks for the link Juliet! I missed that.

  37. LeftCenter says:

    Roberts and Alito don’t have to go. We just need one more judge (after Sotomayor) to get a 5-4 majority.

  38. #35, yeh I guess we can look to the de facto leader of the Republican Party Rush Limbaugh to be doing the besmirching of Sotomayer, with Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, and Glenn Beck chiming in..

  39. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Damn Liberal-biased facts! :)

  40. LeftCenter says:

    #41 Yup.

  41. Shane-O says:

    #38 Trojan – my video production is experiencing technical difficulties — but Steph on Ed is up on the SMS site homepage, thanks to D.J. (RoachRadioTv is the channel on the YouTubes)

  42. Trojanrabbit:Yes, she did. I found the video put on Youtube yesterday by RoachRadio TV.

  43. flombaye says:

    31: thank you for that flavorful summary. – it’s especially wasteful that dubya had never heard of fernandez, and thus felt the need to throw token ‘spanic-on-the-dancefloor albert gonzalez onto the public revenue gravy train.

  44. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Tony or Mark here yet???? I owe them both a blog post… but I was still drying out from the Hank III show on Friday, and I figured that neither wanted a drunkin’ post on their blogs…

  45. LeftCenter says:

    I’m shocked…shocked that Cheney was behind the CIA withholding information from Congress!

  46. trojanrabbit says:

    44, 45
    Thanks

    Usually I see when RoachRadio puts stuff up on Facecrack. Hadn’t seen anything even this morning. I should just subscribe to his stuff right at YouTube.

  47. flombaye says:

    34: according to wikipedia, this rich masters guy also had a role in the war of northern aggression. – how weird. northern aggression. you’da thunk they’d have better things to do than TP the land of dixie.

  48. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Trojan… facecrack?!?!?!… LOL

  49. shāf says:

    Nothing pointy will remain!

  50. shāf says:

    #52 …or spiny!

  51. flombaye says:

    …but the jury is still out on the theory of gravity…. and marijuana may still be harmful, so we need to spend taxpayer money on another study… illegal? …. some disagree.

  52. shāf says:

    Madness? This is Sparta! (okay, too soon. But the band fit.)

  53. flombaye says:

    the “headache system” is working.

  54. trojanrabbit says:

    51
    at least to my wife it is….way too damn addictive

  55. trojanrabbit says:

    56
    Cue the pic of the “Bufferin” guy with the little hammer hitting him repeatedly on the head.

  56. TR, you’re dating yourself, Hombre! That commercial was one of the original “give the viewer a headache” types on TV, a pioneer of sort.

  57. flombaye says:

    danger, will robinson ! neil young vortex ! … “i had a fine time, with dianne feinstein, that keeps me searching for a heart of gold”

  58. Juliet Hussein Bravo says:

    #50 flombaye :lol:

    Googling “Rich Masters” produces this link:

    http://www.qorvis.com/an_influential_firm/bios/masters_r.html

    Maybe he just likes to play golf and wear a green sport jacket?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_Tournament#Traditions

  59. trojanrabbit says:

    59
    I readily admit my aged status.

    If I don’t, my body reminds me of it all the time.

  60. LeftCenter says:

    #62 And the A’s never got to that hammer (and don’t forget the electric spark, and I think there was one other thing going on inside that guy’s head) as fast as the B’s as they raced through that little latch in the stomach.

  61. Juliet Hussein Bravo says:

    ProducerChris is right about the failure to brief Congress, these people don’t know how government works. All they know is how to cash a paycheck and do what the hell they want until they get caught :evil:

  62. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    I’ve posted an article about the whole Dick Cheny / CIA debacle on my blog http://themayberrylane.blogspot.com. I’d love some SMS blogger comments on there if anyone has the time. :)

  63. If Cheney could at least lose his government pension over all this crap, it would be some small token punishment for him. I know, I know, with his hundreds of millions of Halliburton CEO (deferred) pay, it would be like taking $10 out of one of our paychecks. But it would be something – I have zero faith in Cheney ever even appearing before Congress to testify under oath, as I said, this bastard has been above the law most of his professional life.

  64. shāf says:

    #62 We’ll see if you say the same thing tomorrow, Paul. ;)

  65. flombaye says:

    coincidence? — ian punnit (coast to coast overnite) recently hosted the author of “shadow over santa sussanah”, who talked of how everybody you’ve ever heard of is within 3 degrees of charles manson. viewing the SMS portrait of dianne feinstein, i am reminded of this. – al lewis (“grandpa” on the munsters) used to use chuckles as a babysitter. looking at the portrait of feinstein, i just have to wonder if the two of them somehow managed to merge their DNA.

  66. flombaye says:

    “you boys look prety shook up. you been goofin with the B’s?” – so what was the point anyway?

  67. TR, you’re a youngster! I wish I was 59 again and know what you know now..

  68. shāf says:

    Before… it was ‘Twig and Two Berries Militia”. ;)

  69. flombaye says:

    64: not only that, but lavort is looking good these days.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-jGFPJFokQ

  70. flombaye says:

    66: still a possibility thoe. exposing treasonous activity has some very book patterns, like unraveling a chainstitch. – it took two years, but rove is finally being required to answer to legal process, and they’re not that many circles apart.

  71. flombaye says:

    when the guy said “rodney king”, i mistakenly thott of rodney dangerfield for a second… somehow, that works too.

  72. Tony says:

    Howdy, folks. I am going to blog and run today but I wanted to say hello before I did it. I’ve been blogging. That takes a while if you want to put together a decent post. If I just wanted to throw crap up on the wall, then it’d be easy but I want everything to be well thought out and well reasoned.

    Anyway, as you know, Wal-Mart has decided to throw their weight behind a federal mandate for employers to provide health insurance or pay the government.

    I blogged about that at Wal-Mart’s Push for Health Insurance Sparks Fight.

    When even Wal-Mart is getting on board with a federal mandate, those fighting it are really in a bad spot.

  73. But flombaye, sir, true justice would require a public castration of Rove with a dull knife, after being injected with Pain Heightener..

  74. flombaye says:

    “let’s not bicker and argue about ooo killed ooo”

  75. trojanrabbit says:

    77
    lol
    I read that as Palin Heightener…

  76. LeftCenter says:

    #79 Palin Heightener: Sarah’s high heels

  77. flombaye says:

    77: well cheer up. i saw our favorite jewish holiday, rom immanuel, at the walgreens picking up some quietiss and a storebrand set of butterknives.

  78. shāf says:

    I think we need to setup a virtual G-8 (or G-21) and use Facebook to do the networking. Unfortunately, Berlusconi would waste time playing Mafia Wars and Sarkozy would be friending supermodels.

  79. The reality is that the criminal activities of the Bush Administration have cost all sort of lives and limbs of our military, and Iraqi civilians by the hundreds of thousands. And it is unlikely that they will ever experience any form of justice themselves. It’s disgusting, hardly an image of our country that any of us should experience..

  80. MidwestRuth says:

    I know there are super important world issues to settle and laws to pass on global warming, health care, campaign finance reform etc., but could they outlaw commercials that are above normal volume…PLEASE! and that includes the headache relief commercials–they’re giving me a headache, and that’s just cruel.

  81. Tony says:

    And yes, Goldman is going to profit again. They have a track record of getting out while they’re ahead instead of trying to squeeze every single bit of potential profit from a trade.

    Goldman seems to be the only firm on the Street that understands bulls make money, and bears make money, but pigs get slaughtered. They leave money on the table but when the bubble pops, they’re on to the next one.

    I don’t feel sorry for the people who Goldman takes advantage of. Baron Rothschild said a long time ago the time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets and Warren Buffett’s been preaching for a long time that you should be greedy when people are fearful and fearful when people are greedy.

  82. flombaye says:

    79: wouldnt be necessary; sarah is already fairinheight, and yet rankin so very low among life forms. – i would recommend the movie, but it needs more cowbell.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah,_Plain_and_Tall

  83. Steve3NJ says:

    The State Department better pull Cheney’s passport before they start any investigation of that idiot. I am sure Cheney has planned it all out, that if the crap he did explodes, he will run. Don’t forget, he is a coward, and has no conscience. The amount of people who died, to enrich his cronies, made no difference to him. Halliburton is in Dubai, and they are there for a reason. To stay an arm’s length out of US law. I may think out of the box, but I certainly feel that Cheney has no integrity or morals. Mark my words, Cheney will run instead of face reality.

  84. Oh yeh, flombaye, I forgot to add “while subjected to a loop of the Quietiss commercial at 165 dB..”

    I’ll bet TR could set that equipment up for us too.

  85. shāf says:

    #85 Tony, you don’t believe we’ve all been harmed by Goldman’s actions? You’re being very narrow in your interpretation, Sir.

  86. Russ says:

    Did anybody waste their time this morning trying to call c-span about the lamest story going on right now. surprime court. They give us a civics lesson when we need news!!! How about whats happening overseas. OK I know the senate has to approve the nominee but why would you ask people who have NO! desision

  87. Shane-O says:

    #76 – easy to do when the total net worth of your family (The Waltons) is greater than the total net worth of the poorest 100 MILLION (thus one-third) people in the U.S.

    About time.

  88. flombaye says:

    88: quietiss actually functions thru inverse decibels, but yes, as caesar disgustus used to say, “samus thingus”.

  89. spiffyhussein says:

    Hello all. 92 posts already? So busy.

  90. Tony says:

    The only thing Goldman has done is make money. There has to be a seller and there has to be a buyer. Goldman definitely does take advantage of others. But there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of suckers.

    Especially when those suckers are other firms that supposedly have very smart people who pull the trigger on the trades with Goldman.

    The only people who get hurt are those who keep on buying when the bubble is inflating and then get caught holding the bag when the bubble bursts.

    I don’t feel sorry for them. If someone was so sure they could make hundreds of thousands flipping houses, then they were the sucker. If Goldman made money on the Wall Street equivalent, so be it. Fine by me.

    There is a sucker born every minute and I have no problem with those suckers being taken advantage of as long as there’s full disclosure.

  91. shāf says:

    Yes (security status). In fact, Blaggo was stripped of his security status (as IL Governor) when he was indicted.

  92. flombaye says:

    91: flashback of tyhe sesame street episode wherein oscar teaches about “magnanimity” – not to be confused with the dr evil episode demonstrating the denifits of “hot liquid magmanimity”. – still, just look at the size of those drumsticks !

  93. flombaye says:

    did john mccain quiet when the viet cong bombed pearl bailey?

  94. Russ says:

    Why can’t we require the news agencies to report only the truth and they would break the law if they don’t!
    !

  95. shāf says:

    #94 Tony, I recommend you read Matt Taibbi’s Rolling Stone article before you take such a ‘Caveat emptor’ attitude. GS’s influence extends far past its business.

    Here’s the link again:
    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/28816321/the_great_american_bubble_machine/print

  96. flombaye says:

    sarah palin as a common tater? – no tater is that common. – even this one is too smart for sarah:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPsY_nhTtxg

  97. spiffyhussein says:

    98—many are dedicated to truthiness. It’s close enough they reason.

  98. Juliet Hussein Bravo says:

    #94 Tony, well said. Matt Taibbi explains in detail in his Rolling Stone article and interview with Sam Seder on Break Room Live how the speculation on oil futures is what drove the price of gas up last year (at a time when supply was historically high and demand historically low) after Goldman Sachs asked for an exemption to the rules restricting investment in oil futures (to prevent just such a run). Hmmmm….

  99. Russ, recall that Fox News sued and won to NOT have to report accurately!

  100. LeftCenter says:

    And on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Quietiss ads is the Get Presales ad where it sounds like the ad was recorded inside a toilet.

  101. flombaye says:

    i’m out to lunch for now. if you dont believe me, ask some of my therapists. pasta la pizza.

  102. Shane-O says:

    #94 they’re not “people” — they’re just “suckers”

    But if a corp. is sucking off suckers, who sucks most?

  103. Tony says:

    Okay, folks….I’m out of here. Have a good one. And yes, I know my comments about Goldman will piss most people off, but that’s fine by me. I’m one of those evil DLC types that the “true believers” love to hate.

  104. Shane-O, I had this brilliant idea for a production for you, but I’ll be damned if I can remember it now..

    My mind never was that sharp, so now I don’t notice it fading so much. Of all the things that I have lost, I miss my mind the most.

  105. Tony, I’ll have to catch up on the blog hear and see what you said. (Did you drop in just long enough to toss a turd in the punchbowl, and are now leaving? ;-> )

    Have a good one.

  106. Shane-O says:

    #108 – well, if ya remember it – please post. not that i’ll be able do it, and even finish it (only about 9 in 10 that I start are ever sent to the show) – but i’ll try!

  107. Shane-O says:

    *quack*

  108. shāf says:

    Tony, I’m sorry you feel compelled to dump and run.

    If you’d be willing to defend some of your positions sometime, there might be value. Otherwise you are bordering on boredom, with your constant blog pimping and lack of progressive perspective. I say, “Good day, Sir!”

  109. Shane-O says:

    #110 – still sleepy – REVERSE! I don’t send 9 of 10.

  110. Russ says:

    Hey #94 Say I was a fake seller and I got a mans signature on what seem to be a real contract like for 100,000 dollars could i sue him for not paying him because I offered him nothing.

  111. SueC says:

    Good Morning, Bloggies! Happy Mondee!

    #4 I went to the matt taibbi goldman-sachs article after jim was talking about it on sms last week–good stuff!

    #9 I think I will become a matt taibbi junkie now that I’m aware of him–Thanks, Jim, for turning me on to him by mentioning his rolling stone article on air!

  112. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Shaf… even with my friendly dealings with Tony, I must say the “Good day sir” made me chuckle… LOL… (and can’t argue with your point… no one should just come in to start and argument!)

  113. Shane-O says:

    Shaf #113 “blog pimping” – *bows* – well described, Sir!

  114. spiffyhussein says:

    I just don’t think the U.S. needs more formerly poor people running the country. Poor people are dangerous. ;-)

  115. spiffyhussein says:

    113—-lol, a proper British tell off! Blog pimping. Very good term.

  116. LeftCenter says:

    So in Tonyland it’s okay to screw over people if they’re suckers. I don’t like Tonyland.

  117. trojanrabbit says:

    113
    For some reason I noticed that “blog pimping” was one of the frowned upon behaviors pointed out in the liveblog FAQ, in fact the post would even be subject to removal.

    Once…OK, constant blog pimping though…

  118. I confess, sometimes I have wondered if Tony was a plant, a Republican masher. But, thank God we don’t all agree on everything. Otherwise, all you guys would be after my wife.

  119. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    And FYI… I’m new to the blogosphere (besides the SMS blog)… so forgive me for asking for blog posts.. but I mainly wanted somewhere to converse with all o’ yalls after the SMS blog clears out at noon… but I have no ads on the page, thus the only thing I have to gain is your conversation. :)

  120. spiffyhussein says:

    117—especially an argument defending Goldman Sachs.

  121. spiffyhussein says:

    121—that is the foundation of much of our capitalist system, even business run by so-called Christians. Jesus wants us all to take advantage of suckers to make money.

  122. Russ says:

    #103 WHO COULD WIN IN AMERICAN COURT BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE ON A GOVERNMENT CHANNEL ON TV THAT WOULD CALL THE VERDICT THEMSELVES!!

  123. Americans reject the Republican Party, particularly right wing shitheads like Sessions..

  124. LeftCenter says:

    Interestingly enough, Sen. Sessions, the words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in the 1950s. They weren’t in the original pledge which read, “…one nation, indivisible…”

  125. Didn’t take long for Sessions to demonstrate what a miserable jerk he is..

  126. spiffyhussein says:

    122—well it’s one thing if people are friendly, non-combative, and they want us to look at what they wrote about this and such. That’s fine. If it’s interesting I’ll look. If it’s not, I won’t.

    But it’s quite another thing if someone comes here all argumentative and wants us to look at his blog when we just don’t agree with the poster too often. Then it’s like someone is trying to sell you a car you don’t want.

  127. Shane-O says:

    #124 Dani – don’t worry. Just speaking for myself – it’s clear you are putting forward ideas – not selling anything. It’s all good.

  128. k to the g says:

    morning all! there goes sessions projecting right-wing judicial activism onto others – gonna be a long day. wonder what Sessions’ oath to the Constitution and the the rule of law says?

  129. In my view, Sessions is the prototypical Republican zero Senator..

  130. spiffyhussein says:

    Good lord—find me one person on this earth who doesn’t let their background influence their decisions, big or small.

  131. LeftCenter says:

    We will now have the list of statements taken out of context.

  132. shāf says:

    I feel sorry for Judge Sotomayor. She’s got to be propping up her eyelids with toothpicks about now!

  133. Russ says:

    #108 dITTOOS

  134. Ten minutes in, Sessions in full GOP Propaganda mode.. See what I mean?

  135. JoePhilly says:

    Did you know that Obama was going to nominate Jesus Christ to the supreme Court?

    But the GOP threatened to block the nomination of Christ saying that “he hung around with prostitutes, had questionable middle-eastern ties, and showed far too much empathy”.

  136. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Thanks Shane-o… I felt a bit scrambly after the blog-pimping comment… don’t want to come accross that way… just trying to extend the greatest part of my day (blogging with you all)!

  137. spiffyhussein says:

    I think from now on I will tell everyone I am making all my decisions based on my stuboorn, Danish, femaleness.

    I just want to see if it pisses people off. Plus Danes are generally a pretty stubborn people. That’s how they survived in the cold all those centuries.

  138. DaveTheDemographer says:

    We’ve had Foley with male pages, Craig with restroom quickies, Ensign with an aide and hush money, and Sanford with a Latin love muffin. I’m waiting for the sanctimonious Senator Sessions to be caught in a man-on-barnyard-animal tryst.

  139. JoePhilly says:

    Is this crazy rant from the old or new testament??

  140. Shane-O says:

    [in Sen. Lindsey Graham voice] ‘judge Sotomayor I am so sorry you had to listen to Jeff Sessions’ silly diatribe. No person should be subjected to that.’

  141. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    137 /141.. LMAO!!!! (but sad, because both statements ring soooo true!)

    Gosh, can someone interpret what this nut-job is talking about?? He lost me somewhere around the death penalty comment…

  142. The bastard needs to take a breath..

  143. spiffyhussein says:

    OMG, Steph is old enough to remember the 70s when men said we couldn’t be judges, astronoauts, of firefighters because of our hormones.

    Anybody else here old enough to remember that? I do.

  144. LeftCenter says:

    #148 Don’t worry about getting lost. Sen. Sessions was lost the moment he opened his mouth.

  145. Derrick says:

    Jeff Sessions from Alabama, enough said!!! I unfortunately have to say that I have lived there for most of my life. Thank goodness that I am a resident of Washington state now.

  146. spiffyhussein says:

    138—Are you kidding? She’s from NYC. This is nothing to a New Yorker. Riding the subways in the 70s—that was scary—but this is nothing.

  147. JoePhilly says:

    Anyone want to bet that Sessions is STILL babbling on when they return from the break??

  148. LeftCenter says:

    #150 I remember the ’60s when game show hosts would commonly ask female contestants, “What does your husband do?”

  149. SueC says:

    #87 Totally agree, Steve. Cheney is such a BF coward–hello, 5 deferrments during vietnam? Definitely need to pull his passport now!

  150. shāf says:

    #150 *raises hand* Yep. A friend of mine was actually told that she shouldn’t be paid as much as a male sales rep because she wasn’t the primary bread winner and (at the time) was single. Oh, and that was a about thirty years ago in Indiana.

  151. Derrick says:

    I have tried to get as much distanct from those twangy voices in Alabama as I could, now that I live in Washington state.

  152. shāf says:

    Sessions a bit of a douche? I think he pegs the douche-meter!

  153. oh darn I missed him … more Republican racism …. actually I want them to keep it up.

  154. gabby hussein hayes says:

    is there an orange powder for rush limbaugh?

  155. gabby hussein hayes says:

    isn’t it obvious that rush limbaugh is superior to barack obama?

  156. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    It’s all good Sotomayor… I think the entire blog said it outloud for you!!! (I know I did… exact word funny enough!)

  157. gabby hussein hayes says:

    being straight means you find Janet Reno more attractive than RuPaul.

  158. LeftCenter says:

    #165 Do I really have to make a choice between those two?

  159. Russ says:

    #150 he allready bit me

  160. SueC says:

    Anyone know if Jeff Sessions is related to another A-Hole in congress, Pete Sessions, from TX? It would fit.

  161. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Quit bloviating and make your damn point already!

  162. LeftCenter says:

    The key word is “empathy.” We certainly can’t have that.

  163. Russ says:

    EVERYONE FFAARRSSEE!!

  164. Orin Hatch is another Republican jackass, although not such an overt racist as Sessions.

    And Sue, being an overt racist is virtually required to get elected in certain parts of the country, definitely as a REPUBLICAN.

  165. shāf says:

    Yep. Hatch is a douche nozzle (for when ‘douche bag’ would be considered a complement).

  166. trojanrabbit says:

    I’m going to bow out for the day. Finished up some reports, but now I’m back to playing “programmer”. I can control two pieces of equipment separately, but I’ll be damned if I can get them to work together. I must be missing something really simple.

    TTFN.

  167. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    democrat-IC….

  168. LeftCenter says:

    There’s a good reason Obama voted against them.

  169. k to the g says:

    okay, I get it. This is the droning-on-til-you-almost-fall-asleep test of Judge Sotomayor for the court. I’d love to see her jump up and do some Ninja moves after these old-fart blowhards are done.

  170. MidwestRuth says:

    oh come on…Roberts was chosen for his agenda.

  171. Hahahah – a douche nozzle!

  172. Nothing less than Republicans continuing to be miserable jackasses is at stake..

  173. LeftCenter says:

    What attacks against the plaintiff are we talking about?

  174. so left wing groups are the ones smearing her … ONLY left wing groups? come on let’s hear about the right wing groups

  175. Russ says:

    171 I meant farce

  176. LeftCenter says:

    Steph and mooks…instead of saying douchey , how about Massengillian?

  177. Dan The Man says:

    Anyone ever hear any of Orrin Hatch’s Jesus music? Man, it’s worse than that “Let the Eagle Soar” song!

  178. shāf says:

    The answer is “YES”. Now, STFU!

  179. k to the g says:

    pleaee, it’s not douchey, it’s more like their prostates are being squeezed.

  180. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Ok, the fake respect is killing me…

  181. FredBoca says:

    Listening to the hearings with Mama and Mooks chiming is like watching old SciFi flicks on Mystery Science Theater — makes the otherwise absurd, cheesy, and mundane much more enjoyable. Quip away !!!

  182. trojanrabbit says:

    Before I bow out, speaking of Hatches.

    My wife’s new favorite shopping hangout is the Patriot Place mall at Gillete Stadium. Last time I went the place was mobbed because they were holding American Idull tryouts. Last week my wife went there and the CBS restaurant was mobbed because Richard Hatch was there. Fortunately she didn’t bother to go in the restaurant.

    I’ll try that TTFN again.

  183. JoePhilly says:

    wow are these right wingers insane.

  184. she just gets 10 minutes to respond after they spend over an hour pummeling her? hardly seems fair

  185. Scott says:

    SueC — no direct relation between them other than the obvious — being corporate loyalists and soap-box moralists.

    You may be thinking of Pete’s father (William) who was Director of the FBI.

  186. LeftCenter says:

    #198 And worse than that, she can’t really say what she’s thinking without further fueling the RWNJs “arguments” against her.

  187. Fair would be taking some of these Rethuglican Senators to the woodshed for a serious whipping..

  188. Russ says:

    Everybody must get stoned as said by the imortal Bob Dillan. Hey does anybody think they’ll legalize pot in Cal.

  189. flombaye says:

    i walk in, and the commercial on for the SMS here is for doc heissen’s headache system… what i just now cott is that the mention of “light sensitivity”. – a classic symptom of HFCS. – was this type of headache even known before they started putting the HFCS in everything? – it’s even in ritz cackers now. – they keep putting it into more things, with the result that i buy less of their things. a very odd economic strategy.

  190. flombaye says:

    106: it’s still KOJAK

  191. LeftCenter says:

    Sen. Feinstein just hit the ball out of the park.

  192. Scott says:

    BTW, his full name is:

    Jefferson Beauregard “Jeff” Sessions III

    but you can call him “Beau-Sess” or BS for short.

  193. k to the g says:

    Go Di-Fi!

  194. flombaye says:

    123: not saying we dont agree on the desirability of your wife – not saying that at all – i’m just much more drawn to a few of your mistresses.

  195. Gotta run, the missus has assignments for me.

    Have fun, Mooksters. See ya manana.

    Don’t you dare change a thing!

    L.

  196. flombaye says:

    126: it’s true. jesus was a huge advocate of phishing.

  197. SueC says:

    #199 thanks, scott–and, you made a rhyme:-)

  198. shāf says:

    You go, Di!

  199. SueC says:

    #206 LOL!

  200. Russ says:

    #205 and #206 PLEASE CALL IN WITH YOUR REPORTS!! it’s not me it’s not me it’s not me

  201. k to the g says:

    Crackers can be so….white

  202. flombaye says:

    140: actually, the problematic element was the community organizing, and the chasing of the goldmen and their sacks out of the temple… okay, and getting kissed by judas…. okay, and the jewishyness.

  203. flombaye says:

    141: “blog-pimping”? – isnt that just called “blomping”?

  204. LeftCenter says:

    #222 Blimping?

  205. flombaye says:

    144: the day is young.

  206. flombaye says:

    145: crazy ones are from the old testament.

  207. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    222… LOL… What ever you call it, I don’t want to be the guilty party! :)

  208. k to the g says:

    what a grasshole

  209. LeftCenter says:

    The Dems need to do what Sen. Feinstein did. Keep hitting on right wing activism on the Court.

  210. flombaye says:

    “free from politics, feelings, and prejudices”? – - – a very good thing to try to be…. but a bit late after uneducable frat boys thomas and scalia had drifted in… – it would seem that cleaning house first would make sense.

  211. so white men don’t use their background and experiences to inform them????

  212. Dan The Man says:

    You notice what a hard time he’s having speaking?

  213. LeftCenter says:

    Massengillian…I think I’ve heard that somewhere. Yes, folks, they do read the live blog.

  214. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Is he playing a game of “Out of context theater” or is he just stupid??

  215. PJ Squeezy Louise Hussein McFlavin says:

    #187: They read you!

    (G’morning Blooksters)

  216. the proper roll of a judge is to by a white evangelical dominionist christian man and that’s all

  217. Shane-O says:

    #228 HA! – I was thinking “Chuck **assley” – but yours is better!

  218. shāf says:

    LeftCenter! ProducerChris read your post (Massengillian). HA!

  219. LeftCenter says:

    #234 Stupid.

  220. flombaye says:

    149: the russians had a much more scientific approach; they ran actual tests to find who could excel at what. result: about 2000 female snipers successfully (how can i put this delicately?) DEFUCKINGSTROYED the nazi invasion before it became evenmuch fashionable.

  221. Shane-O says:

    “SM Future Husband” Sen. Russ is on – YAY!

  222. Russ says:

    Flombae says SHIT MY PANTS!!!!

  223. SueC says:

    ok–got my numbers off—#198: thanks, scott; and you made a rhyme:-)

    #205–LOL!

    There, that’s better!

  224. flombaye says:

    153: now, now, be nice. jeff is bringing just the right balance of “yada yada” and “blah blah blah”. the man is truly a scientist.

  225. shāf says:

    For the GOPers on the Judiciary Committee, even if Obama moninated a W.A.S.P. male, they’d find a way to say that his experience was a problem.

    They need to take a long walk on a Summer’s Eve and not return to D.C.

  226. flombaye says:

    161: this is ted nugent for GOONTANG, now with extra brain-calming additives.

  227. k to the g says:

    248. Summer’s Eve! :lol: :lol:

  228. mrfairplayman says:

    I would just like to add the word “peniscular” as an adjective to the conversational vocabulary that includes “masengillian” as an adjective to describe a certain republican senator and his ilk.

  229. flombaye says:

    162: “i’m higher on the food chain ! get in my belly !!”

  230. spiffyhussein says:

    180—What I very much dislike about the Supreme Court is how many of them are Catholics and how many of them go to the same church. That it troubling. We very much need more religious diversity on the court.

  231. flombaye says:

    164: i’d like to apply for pretzelhood please.

  232. PJ Squeezy Louise Hussein McFlavin says:

    #221: isn’t that what blompkins do?

  233. Russ says:

    I got the best high nature can buy.

  234. spiffyhussein says:

    240—some women can be very sneaky. I can see how the professions of spy or sniper would suit many females equally as well as they would suit some men.

  235. spiffyhussein says:

    Sarah is using her fishy background to influence her. That’s unconstitutional.

  236. k to the g says:

    Sarah Palin – the great American distraction whenever the media is between celebrity deaths

  237. shāf says:

    Now for something completely different…

    “Orgasm A Day” Campaign Directed At British Schoolchildren Sparks Controversy:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/12/ogasm-a-day-campaign-dire_n_230221.html

    Excerpt:

    A National Health Service leaflet is advising school pupils that they have a “right” to an enjoyable sex life and that regular intercourse can be good for their cardiovascular health…

    …Alongside the slogan “an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away”, it says: “Health promotion experts advocate five portions of fruit and veg a day and 30 minutes’ physical activity three times a week. What about sex or masturbation twice a week?”

  238. Russ says:

    flombae says stay on the train and get out of here. “bitch”

  239. Shane-O says:

    Ken in Cleveland – “Fame” montage – loved it!

  240. flombaye says:

    222: the title says it all. why does anybody even care about the word of somebody with such a dismal track record in the first place?

  241. SueC says:

    Gotta run, bloggies! Have a great Mundee!

  242. because as an African American man he wouldn’t have ANY understanding about that

  243. shāf says:

    #265 Yes. Excellent work, Ken.

  244. flombaye says:

    231: can you blame them?

  245. he’s not saying to rule entirely on the gut … but use it to help inform the ruling

  246. LeftCenter says:

    It seems to me that a whole lot of Constitutional interpretation, a prerogative of the Court since John Marshall, has been based a whole lot on the biases and prejudices of the members.

  247. Scott says:

    Spiffy, regarding “What I very much dislike about the Supreme Court is how many of them are Catholics and how many of them go to the same church.”

    What’s your source for this? I can’t google it.

  248. LOL … my 13 year old is now objecting to this republican … lol

  249. k to the g says:

    What an insulting piece of crap you are Kyle, the lesser Ensign from Arizona.

  250. flombaye says:

    233: i think that just refers to maryann and ginger trying to bulk up the skinny guy. – they can only take so much of the professor’s clumsy ravishing with all his polite, clinically accurate talking dirty.

  251. spiffyhussein says:

    220—OK, that story just ruined my day.

  252. flombaye says:

    237: on the other hand, 228 sort of gets oswald off the hook.

  253. spiffyhussein says:

    How do these guys get elected when they are such boring speakers and poor communicators? Oh wait…I forgot…it’s all about “relationships”.

  254. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    These republi-tards are giving me a headache in my eye!!

  255. spiffyhussein says:

    I gotta go too. Be well all!

  256. LeftCenter says:

    I’m sure her family is thrilled to hear all the crap coming from the RWNJs on the committee.

  257. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    I see Sparta on the horizon….

  258. k to the g says:

    220. the best part of that story is that the guy probably won’t last long in prison.

  259. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    282- my thoughts exactly

  260. flombaye says:

    249: again, the title says it all. what is with classmates.com and all their reunion spam?

  261. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    286… you mean you don’t care that there are 3 new members with photos…

  262. The opening remarks by the GOP senators during the Sotomayor hearing are insulting, denigrating, patronizing, and disgusting. There I said it.

    Also, it’s the DemocratIC party, dopes.

  263. LeftCenter says:

    The problem is that she hasn’t agreed with her Republican colleagues 100% of the time. And even if she did, they’d find fault in her.

  264. shāf says:

    Did Wolf need a hard-cheese and drywall break?

  265. flombaye says:

    256: would adding boehner speed up the construction of bonehenge?

  266. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Premature Sparta?

  267. JuanitaMN says:

    Are we going to be listening to this all week?

  268. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    292..LOL

  269. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    SPARTA!!

  270. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Damn… I’m Sparta-ing solo…

  271. sorry for ruining your day but that story is important and people need to help (#220)

  272. LeftCenter says:

    I’m stalling just long enough for this to be SPARTA!

  273. Russ says:

    ME To!

  274. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    :( No Sparta Love, huh?

  275. Shane-O says:

    Zzzzzz…

    Might it be better to start with the opening statement of the nominee rather than the blowhards in the Senate?

    Oh, yeah – political theater.

    Sotomayor, foil for the Right-Wingers’ arguments. Good luck.

  276. LeftCenter says:

    Missed again by 1.

  277. flombaye says:

    263: ““Health promotion experts advocate five portions of fruit and veg a day and 30 minutes’ physical activity three times a week. What about sex or masturbation twice a week?””
    — i believe that’s called abstinence.

  278. LeftCenter says:

    Congrats Russ!

  279. shāf says:

    HA! Russ with a Ditto-Sparta! *bows*

  280. Shane-O says:

    Russ! – “Sparta, by a nose!”

  281. Derrick says:

    Lindsay Graham is an idiot.

  282. flombaye says:

    287: photos of members?

  283. OH shut up lindsey you are going to vote against her

  284. k to the g says:

    Lindsay is the bag the douche-bag comes in.

  285. flombaye says:

    “wise latino comment” being all they have… the medium is the message.

  286. LeftCenter says:

    “I’m not going to hold it against you for advocating a view to which I disagree. I’m just going to bring it up.”

  287. Shane-O says:

    Oh Goody. The ambiguously … Senator

  288. DrunkNIrishDanielle says:

    Bye all! Have a good one!

  289. Scott says:

    Juanita queried:

    “Are we going to be listening to this all week?”

    I sure won’t. To quote Homer Simpson, “BOR-ing”.

    I’ve already moved on down the dial.

    L8r

  290. k to the g says:

    Lindsay, get over it. Your man-crush fell flat on his face as a candidate.

  291. deophane says:

    Hrm…Lindsay Graham really seems to like talking about Sotomayor without her robes on…

  292. LeftCenter says:

    Could it just be that the RWNJs are trying to smear her to the point where she will just say it’s not worth it and withdraw her name?

  293. flombaye says:

    324: it wont work. sotomayor is not a fighter, and therefore will not quit.

  294. siena says:

    CNN gets off on wrong foot in Sotomayor hearings

    In my run-up to the Senate Judiciary hearings on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, I singled out PBS and CNN, the two TV sites most committed to fact based news and information, as places to turn for TV coverage.

    One hour into the hearings, PBS is doing just fine, but CNN is offering some of the worst and most distracting coverage anywhere on TV or online. Talk about overproduced and misguided as to where the focus should be, CNN seems to think its talking-head analysts matter more than what is happening in the Senate hearing room.

    CNN is cutting away from the questioning for discussion among its experts more than any other news channel — and when they aren’t cutting away for what has frankly been not very illuminating talk, there are the commercials. I am glad to see any news outlet make money these days, but if you have to break for commercials, don’t keep breaking back to the news set for talking-head chatter.

    Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Jeff Session (R-Alabama) had barely finished their excellent opening remarks, when CNN cut back to the studio. Leahy and Sessions had deftly laid out the differences between the two camps, and they were huge — both legally and culturally. The key was the standard of “empathy” articulated by Judge Sotomayer and President Barack Obama.

    But instead of hearing where the first senator, Herb Kohl (D-Wisconson) was going to take the line of questioning, CNN viewsers saw anchor Wolf Blitzer hand the discussion over to Democratic consultant Maria Echaveste who practically jumped out of her seat to attack the characterization by Sessions that whjat Judge Sotomayer calls empathy, he calls “prejudice.” And, agaion, I have to tell you Echaveste was all heat and no light — attitude without insight. And she got more face time than some of the senators in the early going Monday.

    PBS, meanwhile, got out of the way, and let the cameras stay on the Senate hearing room, so that viewers wouldn’t miss a word. PBS has its priorities right. It’s about Sotomayer and the hearinsg, not partisan consultants brought onto the set to talk over the coverage.

  295. flombaye says:

    will hoss and little joe follow this one?

  296. LeftCenter says:

    Can’t answer the racist background comment.

  297. shāf says:

    Andy is a Freeper!

  298. LeftCenter says:

    Ah…because he hadn’t actually HEARD any of it.

  299. Software Diplomat says:

    Senators do not DESERVE our respect, they need to EARN it. And Grassly and the other douches have NOT earned our respect. They have earned our derision.

  300. flombaye says:

    326: this is the copyrighted BUSH-DUKAKIS-COVERAGE tactic. i was just an uninterested teenager, but i noticed that dukakis had absolutely smeared bush into the cracks on the sidewalk. – it was as if they had allowed the bruce lee square-off against burt ward to follow thru. — and a bunch of tired old talking heads droned on afterward about how bush was a much more compelling speaker, and how dukakis kept trying to drag it back down to actual issues. “dull! dull! boring! who cares about all that?!!!”

  301. Hiya! what do the right wing jerks have to say
    about the Bush twin skanks? versus the Obama girls

  302. Senator Douche-Nozzle, the floor recognizes you… as a douche-nozzle

  303. Free Republic dot com huh? what a bunch of filth

  304. flombaye says:

    331: they’ve earned our derision so they get derision? the doctrine of equivalent response? – why that sounds jesusy! – are you a marxist?

  305. k to the g says:

    Freepers need to stay in the stinky bathroom of the internet. Whew, Steph, don’t make us go in there. :mrgreen:

  306. Hey Steph! I just ran across this product:
    “Boudreaux’s Butt Paste”
    perhaps a little would make Jim’s happy ass a little happier.
    or your Spectacular Derriere might perhaps be rash-free
    with the use of this product, ‘specially after some right-wing
    Tool type chaps your ass with their shenanigans.
    All my love…

  307. JoeBob Scruggs says:

    Jeff Sessions speaks the truth of the new south. Blowing mightily against racism. I am reminded of a fiery Truman Capote. OMG Lindsey Graham speaks to my heart. Why am I flashing on Dale Gribble? Be still my heart. I gotta go now and rewind my Deliverence tape and…

  308. shāf says:

    I bet it ‘blowed up real good’.

  309. Software Diplomat says:

    #326, I stopped paying attention to CNN a long time ago because their right wing bias was becoming more and more evident. Like today, when the Republicans speak, they get covered completely, but when a Democrat speaks, they (the anchors) cut in so people cannot hear what they have to say.

  310. flombaye says:

    so glad they found a newgent. the old ones were all the same. – ah yes, “cat scratch fever”, ted’s latest!

  311. Russ says:

    The only problem with sparta only lasts 1 day . sparta that is. This is revolution time. watch the media and never trust of believe them. At least until we can get a law in place to protect citizens from lies and fraud. If corporations want to qualify as people like they are recognized by courts. Make them pay sales taxes for anything they buy. just like any citizen.BUY 1,000,000 dollars of inventory 8.5% sales tax 85,000 dollars. Directly to the state of the transaction tax rate.

  312. flombaye says:

    it’s putin’s floating head! quick! where’s sarah palin’s harpoontang?

  313. shāf says:

    Cue Leave it to Beaver theme dammit!

  314. shāf says:

    One man… one woman… and another woman.

  315. Software Diplomat says:

    #336, Ok “derision” is too strong a word. Snark is more appropriate. They deserve our snark. The right wing nutjob senators deserve to be MST3K’ed.

  316. flombaye says:

    he draws out that R, almost as long as the REO speedwagon guy. maybe jim ward will love beavurrrrrrr for ev-urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

  317. MidwestRuth says:

    Oh good, now I can boycott Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster all at once!

  318. k to the g says:

    Mama, do your Jodi Foster, pleeeease?

  319. old old SNL skit Lord Douchebag
    http://snltranscripts.jt.org/79/79tdouchebag.phtml

    Douchebag, how are you? I haven’t seen you in the
    House of Lords in ages! Don’t tell me for the first
    time in memory we are going to have a House of
    Parliament without a Douchebag?

    Lord Doucebag: My dear Sandwich, Parliament has
    always had its share of Douchebags, and it always will.

    Lord Salisbury: Spoken like a true Douchebag. I have
    often heard the King speak of your family.. [ to Earl
    of Sandwich ] ..and of yours, as well: “Give me a
    Sandwich and a Douchebag, and there is nothing I
    cannot do.”

    blah blah blah
    Butler: Lord Compost Heap and Lady Disinfectant Cake!

  320. flombaye says:

    351: why do you want steph to kiss danny bonaduce?

  321. shāf says:

    All are welcome. All are welcome!

  322. What about this story, Sanford and Ensign at “The Fellowship” or
    “The Family”? This ‘Christian’ group has Hitler as it’s patron
    saint. Doug Coe, the ‘Leader’, is a MAJOR douchebag.
    This is nitroglycerin in a paint shaker.

    Just when you think you’ve learned about all the creepy,
    vile little cults that run the world: The Bilderbergers,
    The Trilateral Commission, The Bohemian Grove, the
    Council On Foreign Relations, The Club of Rome… then
    along comes “The Family”, AKA “The Fellowship”, an
    odious network of ‘Christian’ power-brokers who manipulate
    from behind the scenes. Only this ain’t Jesus’ Christianity.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_(Christian_political_organization)

    Scumbags Sen John Ensign and Gov Mark Sanford are both members.
    This secretive groups whorships POWER and holds Hitler and Mao as
    patron saints.

    Their beliefs include ‘Christianity is about building more
    power for the powerful. Chosen by God to dispense blessings
    to the rest of us. You’re chosen by god for leadership,
    and so normal rules don’t apply’

    This is the Devil’s Christianity.

  323. thank you Chris, ‘they are the bags the douchebags come in’

  324. shāf says:

    k to the g gets a reference from ProducerChris! Yay!

  325. flombaye says:

    355: definite oldsmobile copyright infringement issue – this is not your father who art in heaven’s christianity.

  326. PJ Squeezy Louise Hussein McFlavin says:

    #313: k to the g shout out!

  327. shāf says:

    #357 And also, Mark, too! ;)

  328. Shane-O says:

    Has anyone notice the Chyron on MSNBC ALL MORNING stating that Sotomayor is the THIRD woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court?

    Ummm…

    1. O’Connor
    2. Ginsberg
    3. Myers
    4. Sotomayor

  329. These Right Wing Tooles just chap my ass. Time for some Butt Paste.

  330. flombaye says:

    361: perhaps they meant making it to the confirmation hearings, because i think myers got laffed out of there a couple of days into the nomination.

  331. k to the g says:

    Watch the media keep the focus OFF Darth Cheney as much as possible.

  332. flombaye says:

    too late. i just registered the “dick vader vibrator” on “gooo daddy”.

  333. Rachel Maddow did two days on this creepy Kult.
    She interviewed an author who has a book and a
    Harper’s Magazine article on them. The Harper’s
    piece is online and is good reading. Michigan’s
    own Bart Stupid lives in the House with them
    down on C Street in D.C.

  334. Russ says:

    Oh stephie your so pretty you don’t understand you take me by the heart when you take me by the hand. Oh stephie what a pity you dont understand its gals like you stephie stephie do stephie do stephie dont break my heart stephie!!!

  335. 363 yeah, Meyers shouldn’t count. F@#King Bush.

    Jim thinks he hit the lotto, comes into work and
    tells off Steph, Chris and Radmilla, only to find
    his lotto ticket was in error… hee hee

  336. LeftCenter says:

    That’s all for today. See you tomorrow!

  337. Noon in Deetroit arreddy?! That’s whut happens when
    you don’t regain consciousness til after Sparta…
    y’all have a great day

  338. shāf says:

    Great show today!

    Have a great rest of the day.

  339. k to the g says:

    Bye all! We survived the first wave of the douchebag explosions! :-D

  340. k to the g says:

    The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power (July, 2009 Paperback Edition). Sen Ensign is Only the Latest Errant Bad Boy to Receive the “Spiritual” Support for His Sin from this Capitol Hill Elitist Fundy “Fellowship.” They are Also Called the “C Street” Brethern.

    You can buy the book at Buzzflash and support them too!

  341. Vicki says:

    First time I’ve tried this. I was talking to my mom this am (me 69, her 87) and we came up with a comedy take on “The C Street Cabal”. We should get together and send them 1 lb packages of salt peter to counteract the candy bowl of Viagra they keep on the coffee table. What else could explain the high rate of marital infidelity that seems to abound in the members of this cabal? Feel free to make a better joke of it than I did. My mom and I laughed at least five minutes on this one!

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