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Friday Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 04:42:07 PM EST
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3 college picks tonight: Boise (+71/2), Tennessee (-3) and San Jose State (+25).

Started off terribly last night, 1-3. Tonight will be better!

Open Thread.

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    Friday Afternoon Open Thread | 83 comments (83 topical)

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    How about "lawless" (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by DFLer on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 05:17:25 PM EST
    the trailers looked good>

    'Lawless' is the true story of the infamous Bondurant Brothers: bootlegging siblings who made a run for the American Dream in Prohibition-era Virginia. In this epic gangster tale, inspired by true-life tales of author Matt Bondurant's family in his novel "The Wettest County In The World," the loyalty of three brothers is put to the test against the backdrop of the nation's most notorious crime wave.

    Saw it, loved it (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Sep 03, 2012 at 08:03:27 AM EST
    Shia LaBeouf even turned in a good job.  Tom Hardy is EXCEPTIONAL.  Guy Pierce is appropriately creepy, fetishy, disgusting, unethical and vile.  And his part in his blacked hair is so wide they must have shaved it in.  Did men do that to their hair back then?  The houses were believable, the rest of the haircuts were the real deal, clothing was the real deal, cars were cool.

    Sadly in Enterprise AL 10 people went to see 'Lawless' during the 7 pm showing Saturday, and 25 angry white so old they go to no movies spent their precious evening energy to go see 2016.  I was very loud and mouthy at the concession area,  I can't believe I live someplace in the middle of this sort of ratio of phucking pathetic stoopid angry white people to people making an honest humanist effort on planet earth with the other human beings.  The South will rise again, or be the center of firey hell on judgement day.

    Parent

    Turmoil in the running community (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:11:52 PM EST
    In an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Paul Ryan was asked about his personal best for runnning the Marathon. Ryan replied, "Under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something."

    Nothing strange there. A 2:50 for a runner in great shape is not uncommon. If Ryan has broken 3:00, he'd be the fastest marathoner to be on a national ticket and worthy of recognition by Runners World Magazine. John Edwards, the previous record holder, ran a 3:30.

    So what caused the stir? Well it seems runners always know their personal best so red flags went up with the "two hour and fifty-something" in the running community.

    Runners World Magazine to the rescue to salvage the Ryan running reputation. They've been investigating all their records of marathon races and thus far have come up empty on any Marathon run by Ryan, and have received no response from the Ryan team.

    My guess is he probably did, but the Ryan team might want to reply soon. Runners take this stuff seriously.

    At least for now, John Edwards has been returned to the lead on the National Ticket Marathon rankings.

    Ryan should have some pics (none / 0) (#12)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:17:38 PM EST
    When a friend runs a marathon, her official running pic taken by the marathon is generally posted on FB. And yes, she knows her times and mugs for the camera :)

    Parent
    I'm not a runner (none / 0) (#19)
    by shoephone on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:10:50 PM EST
    and even I know my fastest times hiking favorite trails. I even know my fastest time walking around Greenlake.

    C'mon Ryan. Stop yer lyin'.

    Parent

    Romney/Ryan (none / 0) (#65)
    by CoralGables on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 10:04:29 AM EST
    another example of "We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers."


    Parent
    Why haven't those sexists at RW... (none / 0) (#23)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:22:19 PM EST
    done a cover spread of Ryan like they did Palin?  Did they investigate her marathon time?  

    I'm not going to believe that Ryan does P90X either until I see the before and after photos.

    Parent

    Maybe they will feature him (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:37:45 PM EST
    but they have come up empty on proof in their initial research. Yes Palin ran a marathon. To the best of my knowledge she ran a documented 3:59.

    Parent
    I've run and been a volunteer for ... (none / 0) (#26)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:30:57 PM EST
    ... the Honolulu Marathon, which is one of the larger marathon races in the country (25,000-plus every year), and they keep very accurate records which go back at least a couple of decades, if not farther. The race is over 40 years old.

    And yeah, marathon runners take this stuff very seriously. The fastest I ever ran was 3:48:17 in 1986 -- and I have the photo finish in a frame to prove it.

    I stopped running marathons after I got sick the first time with Hodgkins' disease in the late '80s, and nowadays, I walk instead of run because of a bad right knee.

    Parent

    What a dirty dirty dog (none / 0) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 04:31:48 AM EST
    I thought that the marathons were excellent about logging and tracking runners and times.  I know there are different organizations though, but who is so poor at such important things?  If he has run and has multiple times to reference, how is it that there isn't even one record found yet? I suspect he's a damn liar.  He lied very easily over and over and over again in that convention speech.

    My neighbors are crazy runners.  If I want to know if they are gone for the whole weekend and to keep an eye on their house I just check scheduled marathons in our area.  Very often they will be registered, but if the registration isn't posted I can usually find that they ran it last year and yes....they are probably gone for the weekend running it this year.  They always run together too.  Their times are usually side by side.

    Parent

    he ran a 4 hr marathom when he was 20 (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by observed on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 05:14:31 AM EST
    he has 'fessed up to the lie.

    Parent
    Will Congress pass a law (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 07:46:20 AM EST
    imposing criminal sanctions for pols  who fabricate re marathon results?  If so, what will  be the title of the bill?  

    Parent
    See, for example, the "Stolen (none / 0) (#61)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 07:55:26 AM EST
    Valor Act.". [ snk.]

    Parent
    Perhaps (none / 0) (#64)
    by CoralGables on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 09:45:09 AM EST
    Janesvile, Wisconsin can start a new tradition after the election in November and honor Paul Ryan with the inaugural running of the Lyin Ryan Marathon, where race organizers promise to shave an hour and ten minutes off your time.

    Records now show Ryan did run a marathon and, as noted above, a spokesman has acknowledge his... ummm... massive runners fib.  He actually ran a 4:01 in the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1990, not the "Under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something." as he claimed.

    What have we learned about Paul Ryan? He'll fabricate (lie) about just about anything?

    Parent

    Sounds like a manifestation (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Peter G on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 10:08:43 AM EST
    of compulsive lying to puff oneself up, something deeply psychological, not just cynical lying to make a political point.  In fact, much like the "Stolen Valor" culprits. Worse than what led Senator Thomas Eagleton to be removed from the Democratic ticket as VP candidate in 1972. (He had been hospitalized for depression during the previous decade, with no current diagnosis.)  I'm serious.  This could be insurmountable for Ryan, if the press pushes it a little, and thus big trouble for Romney.

    Parent
    It does begin to look like (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by Zorba on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 02:56:31 PM EST
    some kind of compulsive lying.  It's getting very, very close ( if not, in fact, already there) to saying "how can we tell when Paul Ryan is lying?  When his lips are moving."
    A deeply psychological, congenital liar type of problem, or just a totally cynical and amoral politician who is willing to say whatever it takes to win?  
    I don't know, Peter, but either way, it's really, really pathological and something that American voters should be concerned about.

    Parent
    Amazing About Eagleton (none / 0) (#69)
    by daring grace on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 10:16:47 AM EST
    The depression Dx and hospitalization was more than enough to sink Eagleton, but I've always thought what really clinched it was that he'd had ECT treatments.

    Even today it would probably disqualify, but forty years ago...wow...

    Parent

    Rosie Ruiz. (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 12:13:57 PM EST


    Parent
    Well done (none / 0) (#73)
    by CoralGables on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 12:51:05 PM EST
    Ryan most definitely gets the Rosie Ruiz Award of the presidential campaign season.

    Parent
    He's lost the vote of marathoners! (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 12:57:16 PM EST


    Parent
    The Noble Lie, (none / 0) (#66)
    by KeysDan on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 10:05:08 AM EST
    (cf. Ayn Rand).  

    Parent
    Jerry Brown has challenged Chris Christe (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Politalkix on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 09:06:12 PM EST
    to a 3 mile foot race. Fat chance that Christie will accept the challenge (can he be enticed with crispy creme stations along the race route?)

    While I'm not usually into fat jokes/comments (none / 0) (#44)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 10:03:22 PM EST
    Christie is a bully . . .

    and all I can say is he was really stupid to call out Gov Brown.  And his ageist comment looks really stupid in hindsight after The Chair last night.

    AND, I'll say it again, very happy to be back in CA where that blowhard rarely makes it to my news :)

    Parent

    I mock bullies, hypocrits and liars only (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Politalkix on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 10:27:33 PM EST
    and Christie is all of that.

    Parent
    And he preaches austerity & discipline (none / 0) (#75)
    by christinep on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 02:02:04 PM EST
    For the government & for the general citizenry.  Yet, where's the practice?  He doesn't appear to follow his own advice....

    Parent
    You have to understand (none / 0) (#77)
    by Politalkix on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 02:43:25 PM EST
    Christie wants to be Foodchamp (or Foodchomp?) President!

    Parent
    I got the cover of the Gos Weekly Review (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 05:18:20 AM EST
    this week!  Hooray!  I love having a weekly writing assignment because I end up investigating and studying issues that normally I would not if left to my own devices.  

    What subjects have you tackled (none / 0) (#72)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 12:15:17 PM EST
    so far?

    Parent
    She went easy on me at first (none / 0) (#76)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 02:40:30 PM EST
    And allowed me to do rape and the military rape problems and scandals.  Akin gave me opportunity two to write about rape.  I also got to write about some of the racism around the Olympic games and going through AA diaries at DKos can at times yield an amazing wealth of learning.  It did then.  My latest assignment was what we can expect from a Romney Presidency.  I was even able to tie in two of Armando's diaries about the dissonance of Romney being an extreme President.  George W Bush used Presidential directives to attempt to destroy the social safety net even though he couldn't get the Congressional votes to do it.  Obama had to immediately neuter four of them when he took office before they took effect.  So any notion that Romney can be contained in this area through having one of the branches run by Democrats is stupid.  Romney has proven to be a man of no definable standards or ethics, he has been all over the road on every social issue only taking positions that got him the office or the wealth he sought.  He will launch an extreme Presidency simply hoping to insure his second term.  He may even start a war in the Middle East in order to make the nation too afraid to "change horses in midstream". He cares about nobody but himself and his own.  He scares the crap out of me really.    

    Parent
    For some reason he isn't as scary to me (none / 0) (#78)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 02:47:05 PM EST
    as George W. Bush.  I guess because I assume he is more competent.  But, of course he may be more competent to do the opposite of what I want.

    Parent
    He sure is competent (none / 0) (#80)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 03:24:19 PM EST
    But wow take a look at his motivations and how he justified everything that he has done...even if it was destroying our economy's protective layer of pensions that really does end up destroying the lives of other people.  The man does not give one phuck about anybody and he is much better at excusing himself.  Bush hides and lies about how he feels about what we think of him, Romney stands up there and finds himself without fault and raises his head even higher.  I guess as long as he's paying that tithe to the LDS church he feels like he's fully covered by the only being that matters.

    My husband is very auditory and he said about Romney's convention speech that he has never heard a more patronizing speech in his life.

    How do you feel about Romney using the death of his family member Anne Keenan due to a septic abortion to get MA voters to believe he was pro-choice and vote for him?

    One thing I learned recently was which voting block is the most loyal to Democrats and constitently votes Democrat the highest percentage?  It's Black women.  I felt like a fraud for not knowing that :)

    Parent

    I'd never vote for him. I think he'll (none / 0) (#81)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 03:29:33 PM EST
    have trouble if he wins.  Although he must be able to delegate to have been so successful in business.  

    Parent
    Equating "success" (none / 0) (#82)
    by Politalkix on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 04:08:40 PM EST
    in business to success in a presidency is scary. link


    Parent
    Going to theater where I have gift card... (none / 0) (#1)
    by magster on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 04:53:03 PM EST
    Bourne Legacy or Premium Rush? Not really excited about either, but those are the only 2 movies at this particular theater  that I haven't already seen where I have the gift card.

    I haven't seen a good review... (none / 0) (#2)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 05:08:34 PM EST
    for Premium Rush yet.  Have you seen/enjoyed the other Bourne's?

    Parent
    I loved the other Bourne movies... (none / 0) (#3)
    by magster on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 05:13:07 PM EST
    New Yorker gave the Bourne Movie a hearty "it's ok" with gratitude for less hand held cameras.

    Premium Rush got a 75% on rottentomatoes...

    Parent

    I guess I'm not sold on PR... (none / 0) (#6)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 05:29:46 PM EST
    because I have to deal with enough idiots on bikes downtown every day!  If it was me, I'd go see Bourne.  I'll have to wait for the DVD though because my movie going partner would never agree to seeing that.

    Parent
    I'm gonna watch ... (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:17:45 PM EST
    a Clint Eastwood movie. ;)

    Parent
    The one with the chimp? (none / 0) (#32)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:50:22 PM EST
    That's a classic!

    Parent
    Every Which Way But Loose... (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by desertswine on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 08:13:32 PM EST
    That was an orangutan.  It was Reagan who made movies with chimps. They out-acted him, too.

    Parent
    Just got back from Premium Rush (none / 0) (#48)
    by magster on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 10:51:53 PM EST
    It was OK. Not great.

    Parent
    I'm predicting the next YouTube trend (none / 0) (#5)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 05:23:19 PM EST
    Replacing the Call Me Maybe thing: Recordings of arguments with empty chairs. Or replacing the audio of the Clint Eastwood tape with your own audio.

    It has probably already started.

    #Eastwooding (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 05:33:51 PM EST
    and invisible obama are quite popular on twitter today :D

    link

    Parent

    Eastwooding! Perfect. It has a name (none / 0) (#8)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 05:47:13 PM EST


    Parent
    This has been a popular (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:06:02 PM EST
    photoshopped piece of Grandpa Simpson today

    Parent
    Poor Mitt . . . . (none / 0) (#10)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:08:25 PM EST
    I wonder who's idea it was to bring out Eastwood? This is too funny

    Parent
    empty chair jokes will rule (none / 0) (#34)
    by ZtoA on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:54:37 PM EST
    Apparently I don't have any facebook friends who will admit to being conservative. They're mostly artists so maybe that explains my bubble. But empty chair jokes are all over my facebook feed. Way to many to include, some funnier than others. here's a few:

    here

    here

    here

    Parent

    More on Eastwood and Obama (none / 0) (#14)
    by Zorba on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:26:51 PM EST
    and "The Man in the Empty Chair" from Lawrence Downs, in the New York Times.
    Who thinks Clint Eastwood did a fine job?

    I do.

    Go ahead and snicker about how last night's eagerly awaited surprise convention speech by a Hollywood legend turned out to be an 11-minute ramble by a rumple-haired guy, 82 years old, talking without notes to an imaginary Barack Obama in an empty chair.

    An imaginary Barack who tells Mr. Eastwood several times to shut up, then tells him and Mitt Romney to do an unspeakable thing to themselves.

    Yes, it was very unexpected. But memorable! And the perfect distillation of the Republican campaign.

    And it goes on from there.  Link.

    Well, I'll believe SOMEthing distilled... (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Dadler on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:42:34 PM EST
    ...was involved.

    Parent
    I seriously doubt that Eastwood was drinking (none / 0) (#17)
    by Zorba on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:55:21 PM EST
    anything, but he definitely showed that he was past his "sell by" date.  I really don't know what the he!! Republicans and Reince Priebus were thinking. Having this shell of a man making this speech makes them look like idiots (well, duh!) and has added a new, not very flattering word ("Eastwooding") to our vocabulary.
    Does Clint Eastwood not have any advisors available who, knowing him, could have suggested to him not to make any kind of speech at the convention?  Or is he so lost in his own world that he did not pay any attention to them?  Or were his advisors and helpers so afraid or over-awed by him (or stupid, or in fear of losing their jobs) that they dared not give him any kind of reasonable advice?
    OTOH, the thing that alarms me the most is that there are most likely many voters who think his speech was great.   :-(

    Parent
    I choose lost in his own world (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Dadler on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:27:43 PM EST
    The weather is always nice in Bubbletown.

    "Well, I guess directing a film isn't THAT hard," I'd be thinking if I were a average American hearing that old turdsack ramble.

    Parent

    I think Eastwooding is hilarious (none / 0) (#53)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 05:24:17 AM EST
    It's right up there with "planking"

    Parent
    "jumping the Eastwood" (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by observed on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 05:52:07 AM EST
    comes next.

    Parent
    At my fantasy Dem convention (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by ruffian on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 06:58:34 AM EST
    Michelle Obama walk by an empty chair on the stage and gives it a fist bump.

    Parent
    I'm a fan of Insane in the Mom Brain (none / 0) (#68)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 10:15:53 AM EST
    On facebook.  She's crazy.  She makes people take pictures of her planking things, then she came up with armadilloing things (you lay on your back with arms and legs in the air for the photo), and there's Koaling too.  I can't wait to see if she will take up Eastwooding.

    Parent
    I would (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by lentinel on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:51:59 PM EST
    like politicians to be able to say, "Go fk yourself" on TV during the debates. This would be a welcome change from the "sighing" approach so ineffectively rendered by Al Gore, or the universally accepted pantomime of pretending to wrote something down.

    A spontaneous, "That's bullsh)t and you know it, Henry", or a "Henry - go fk yourself" would be quite refreshing.

    Parent

    Did you feel the tension (none / 0) (#29)
    by lilburro on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:43:57 PM EST
    when he was going on about how the night Obama was elected everyone was crying, including himself?  LOL!  Wrong crowd, Clint!

    Parent
    Well, (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 06:57:21 PM EST
    obviously the RNC did nothing to ease the minds of conservatives going by my unscientific facebook surveys. It seems that all my conservative friends are starting to have meltdowns all over the place.

    Good (none / 0) (#21)
    by Zorba on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:15:23 PM EST
    I hope that they have more meltdowns.
    Yes, I know, this is not kind, but frankly I don't give a royal rat's patootie.  Let them suffer. ;-)

    Parent
    I know (none / 0) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:16:50 PM EST
    It couldn't happen to a nicer group of people ;). The thing that bothers me the most is their facts are ALL wrong.

    Parent
    I once knew someone (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by CoralGables on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:26:32 PM EST
    that when you pointed out quite clearly and with supporting evidence that "their facts are wrong", would answer..."that's your opinion".

    There are people out there that create and live in their own reality, where 2+2 equals whatever it is they want it to be that day.

    Parent

    Yes, see my (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:47:30 PM EST
    comment below to Zorba. I think they are identical to the Moonies. Nothing will get them to admit that George W. Bush was a disaster. One today told me all the polls were faked. When I said did you think the same polls were faked when they showed George W. Bush leading and the it was crickets chirping.

    Parent
    I'd feel better (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Zorba on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:37:29 PM EST
    if any one of them actually reconsidered their political views, but I seriously, seriously doubt that will happen.  They don't want to be confused by actual facts.  So, at the very least, they can have some heartburn over this.
    Again, I realize that this is not very kind, but I am of Greek heritage, and Greeks are experts at holding grudges, not for years, not for decades, not for centuries, but for millennia.  ;-)

    Parent
    Mike Lofgren (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:45:19 PM EST
    wrote an article about how the GOP is now a cult and I think cult is a most accurate description. Replace Republican with Moonie in your mind and what are the results? Pretty much the same thing--both reject facts etc.

    Parent
    I'll (none / 0) (#37)
    by lentinel on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 08:14:23 PM EST
    be interested when the two candidates "debate" - whether their stated positions on the war, abortion, the patriot act, offshore drilling, more drilling, even more drilling, unlimited detention without charge or trial, Bradley Manning, Gitmo, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Israel and other issues will be identical, nearly identical, or just about identical.

    Parent
    My 2 cents (none / 0) (#39)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 08:31:32 PM EST
    it will probably be a repeat of Lieberman Cheney because apparently DEMS never learn anything from dealing with these Republicans.

    Parent
    The (none / 0) (#42)
    by lentinel on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 09:20:40 PM EST
    way that the Dems have been "dealing with" the Republicans is to morph into them.


    Parent
    Anybody see a dead cat bouncing? (none / 0) (#20)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:13:19 PM EST
    Given the lukewarm to negative reviews of the Republican Convention throughout the media, I'd say the GOP just gave the Democrats a golden opportunity this coming week to seize control of the race heading into the fall.

    So far, (none / 0) (#59)
    by lentinel on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 07:24:38 AM EST
    the Dems haven't been too effective in converting golden opportunities into anything of value.

    We'll watch and hope (audaciously) for the best.

    Parent

    Did anyone notice if Romney even mentioned (none / 0) (#33)
    by ruffian on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 07:52:06 PM EST
    Afghanistan or the troops once in his speech? Just heard on Young Turks that he did not. What do you make of that?

    What (none / 0) (#35)
    by lentinel on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 08:07:58 PM EST
    I make of it is that he knows that the war is unpopular with the American people, and that he supported it and still does. So he says nothing.

    I think the exact same thing can be said of Obama.

    This is the way our politicians "honor the sacrifice" of the people they send into harm's way.

    They ignore them.

    Parent

    Yes but when was the last time a GOP (none / 0) (#55)
    by ruffian on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 06:42:45 AM EST
    pol did not at least mention the troops to get a rousing cheer? Upon reflection since my last post, I find it admirable that he did not use the troops in this way.

    Parent
    Flip side: you can just hear Fox news if a Dem (none / 0) (#56)
    by ruffian on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 06:46:04 AM EST
    candidate failed to show some love for the troops. Even worse than not wearing a flag pin.

    Parent
    Well, (none / 0) (#58)
    by lentinel on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 07:21:59 AM EST
    I'll betcha that Obama, while probably not mentioning them specifically in terms of Afghanistan, will bring up "our troops" at least once for the obligatory cheer from the crowd. How patriotic.

    In Romney's case, I must confess that I find nothing admirable about his omission. The reference he made to the military was a general one - about being so strong that noone would dare attack us. (Guess he learned nothing from 9/11, germs in a bottle, anthrax, suitcase bombs, shoe bombs, underwear bombs... the lot.)

    I fully admit that I have raging contempt for both parties at this point.

    In terms of coming to grips with why there is such animosity towards us in certain parts of the world, we have made absolutely no progress. Essentially we have accepted the notion that "they hate us for our freedoms" - and so we must, bomb, enslave, impoverish and humiliate them. That's always worked out great in the long run...

    You mentioned the flag pin.
    You remember when for a brief shining second Obama chose to campaign without one? He was asked about it and answered that one did not need to wear a pin to show or feel patriotic (something to that effect). I thought that showed a smidgeon of integrity. But, two seconds later, the pin was there.

    That is Obama's first term in a nutshell imo.

    Parent

    I think there was no mention of (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Anne on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 08:34:09 AM EST
    "the troops," because it's hard to talk about them and their sacrifice and the War on Terror without referencing you-know-who: bin Laden.

    The last thing the opposition party wants to have to do is give credit to Obama for getting bin Laden.

    As for Obama, if anyone thinks he's going to leave out his signature accomplishment, they're nuts: he or some parade of military VIPs are going to spin and milk and weave that one into a symphony of patriotic fervor that will have most people thinking they're watching Republicans, not Democrats.

    Not that getting bin Laden wasn't a good thing, but I wish it didn't have to come with all the other accoutrements - the Patriot Act, the warrantless surveillance, the kill lists, indefinite detention - that the Dems gathered in Charlotte are going to look like wild-eyed and enthusiastic supporters of.

    Parent

    Or remind (none / 0) (#63)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 08:52:53 AM EST
    people of the foreign policy screw ups Bush had. Kind of surprised that they had Condi speak just for that very same reason.

    Parent
    Here's a good movie: (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 08:17:22 PM EST
    Searching for Sugarman

    2:12 2Q: Boise St. 13, Michigan St. 10. (none / 0) (#40)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 08:35:14 PM EST
    Great game from East Lansing on ESPN, if anyone's interested.

    Why the GOP convention was comedy GOLD (none / 0) (#43)
    by Politalkix on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 09:47:05 PM EST
    They nixed Reagan's hologram because it would outshine Romney! link

    Hmmm . . . (none / 0) (#45)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 10:09:36 PM EST
    But Stevens downplayed any tensions between Romney and Eastwood, who had offered to speak at the RNC. Asked if the candidate spoke to Eastwood after his speech Thursday night, Stevens said he wasn't sure, but said Eastwood hung around to watch Romney's speech and the actor was spotted at events after the festivities were over.
    link

    Bold mine, I did not know that.

    According to an NYT link I posted (none / 0) (#47)
    by oculus on Fri Aug 31, 2012 at 10:36:25 PM EST
    earlier today, Eastwood gave a good speech supporting Romney.  Sun Valley.  Then Romney asked Eastwood to speak at GOP convention.  

    Parent
    I finally listened to Ryan. (none / 0) (#49)
    by observed on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 03:00:11 AM EST
    What an annoying dweeb!
    He sounnds like a candidate for sophomore class president in high school.
    How can one fear such an idiot?

    Clint's schtick (none / 0) (#70)
    by fishcamp on Sat Sep 01, 2012 at 10:39:52 AM EST
    could have maybe been ok if he hadn't had all those senior moment stall outs.  To his credit he did reel them all in but ye Gods man.  If that happens to me just send me out to sea in a beautiful pea green boat.

    Friday Afternoon Open Thread | 83 comments (83 topical)

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