Opera Glasses and Popcorn
Open wide: Hippos at the Bioparco zoo in Rome get ready for their Halloween pumpkins [EPA]
No bright ideas today………. 
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An Opera Glasses and Popcorn view of Politics and the Assembled Multitude...
Marisacat -
- Real independent observations on current events with a particular fondness for the follies of the Big Box Blahgers.
Deflates bloated egos like a champion fencer in a balloon warehouse.
- Alan Smithee
Marisacat -
"...polish on a mud wallow"
- Meteor Blades [May 24 at Mcat]
Marisacat -
"... doyenne of donkle deconstruction"
- Who is IOZ [January 2 2007]
Marisacat -
"... hardened professionals and their primary strength lies in their being completely unconflicted."
"... the primary difference is that on the level of criticizing other blogs and bloggers, they can actually do some damage."
"... Not what I look for in a liberal blog product."
- peeder - MLW, Daily Rant [3.24.07]
Democracy NOW! / Amy Goodman Electronic Intifada / General Content Press TV / Middle East News Press TV McClatchy Headlines The Real News Reuters / Politics
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on one stage reading their poetry"
"I think Allen Ginsberg standing up there reading - putting himself on the line - was one of the two bravest things I've ever seen. Remember, it was '55. People had crew cuts, and they looked at you like you were misplaced cannon fodder. The country was being run by Luce publications. It was a dangerous, cold, ugly time, and it was scary. . .
In all our memories no one had been so outspoken in poetry before. We had gone beyond a point of no return. None of us wanted to go back to the grey, chill, militaristic silence, to the intellectual void - to the land without poetry - to the spiritual drabness. We wanted to make it new and we wanted to invent it and the process of it as we went into it. We wanted voice and we wanted vision."
-Michael McClure
Over and over, in election year after election year, GE and MidTerms both… the Dems start to purr and preen, they stretch luxuriously - at just being TOLD they are going to win [...]
It never fails.
... in February of 2002, looking over the already joyless congressional stragglers willing to be drafted for duty… they barely dreamed, yet, it was even possible (Howard, a different person then, had not arrived to say it could be done)… but one thing was clear, we could not rely on the party to swing it. Could not. You could smell it, they would screw the deal. And I am not talking about Howard and primary issues here. By the end, that was a passing political story. Chuck it on the heap.
[...]
Upshot? The Republicans make it thru. They hold on.
If you click on La Louche the picture or the words, it leads to the Amazon PayPage, a way to ... oh let's say help with the cat can deliveries.
Thanks to all who made the very kind suggestion.
What a great pic.
I think they are waiting to be
shovelspoon fed…hmm I just heard an interesting political observation… that, had Carly and Meg won out here (won’t be happening), it would have been the green light for billionaires all over the country to run and massively self fund.
Won’t be happening.
One huge streak of sunshine..
TSA demands testicular fondling as an alternative to naked scanners
I saw a demonstration of the new “hand slide” and it mandates that it be determined there is “nothing in the bra”.
The hand goes directly under the breast.
I nearly hit the ceiling. If I were able to travel, whcih I have no physical strength for anymore, I would have to opt for the invasive scanner. I could nto bear to be touched by someone I do not know in any way, like that…
BUT I also heard that the new rules would have done nothing int he case of Abdulmuttalab. As it was a powder in his panties (as I put it).
We are so fucking fucking screwed.
And what of young children? youth? Young girls?
HORRIFYING.
it’s pretty sick, and frightening. And all to no real effect.
I was going to say something about hiring former Catholic priests for the job. But, I won’t.
Exactly, it is meaningless, except as an entirely morbid discipline, submission and abuse scheme.
i’m pretty sure this is the leverage to force the constitutionally non-compliant types into submitting to the scanners, or not flying and giving them trouble.
it will be interesting to see if there is any point at which everyday people just stop complying with this shit.
People, too many of them, seem happy to submit and thus share in keeping us all safe. Step right up, be a patriot fascist.
You know, safe from cargo planes that supposedly are set to blow up in mid air. And curious sons, of even curiouser fathers, who strangely put explosive powder in their pants.
The crock would be to believe all of this bullshit. Like mushroom cloud promises of a few years ago.
I just came back and they had those backscatter x-ray thingies at o’hare, but not everyone went through them.
It looks pretty humiliating – they were making people stand arms over their head, legs apart, for 15 seconds. Couldn’t help notice the women invariably were going through them while the majority asked to go around and use the traditional x-ray were men (including myself).
Since people needed to stand there for 15 seconds, the line was backed all the way to the first security checkpoint (where they check id and boarding pass). Wasn’t even a busy time of the day, but it took nearly 2 hours to get through. If anything to hope for, I hope somebody thinks about the logistics of this and maybe puts those things back in the box.
But probably they’ll just say show up three hours early for domestic flights…
Wasn’t even a busy time of the day, but it took nearly 2 hours to get through.
hmm the holidays should be just wonderful….
really not looking forward to flying for christmas.
Isn’t that in the health care insurance reform giveaway bill?
FWIW…
THE SHOWS:
–NBC’s “Meet the Press“: DNC Chairman and former Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and RGA Chairman Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS); roundtable with NBC’s Tom Brokaw, TIME’s Mark Halperin, NPR’s Michele Norris, National Journal’s Charlie Cook and NBC’s Chuck Todd
–ABC’s “This Week“: NRSC Chairman Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and DSCC Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ); roundtable with ABC’s George Will, ABC’s Cokie Roberts, Freedom Works Chairman and former Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX) and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile
–CBS’s “Face the Nation“: Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA)
–”Fox News Sunday“: Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK); DCCC Chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); roundtable with Fox News’ Brit Hume, NPR’s Mara Liasson, the Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol and Fox News’ Juan Williams
–CNN’s “WASHPOST, “Outlook’s 15th Biennial Crystal Ball Contest” “: RNC Chairman Michael Steele; Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL); roundtable with conservative radio host Bill Bennett and former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE)
–C-SPAN: “Newsmakers“: (10am ET / 6pm ET Sunday): Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher … “The Communicators” (6:30pm ET Saturday): Former House Energy and Commerce Committee Chief Telecom Counsel Howard Waltzman (2003-2006), former House Energy and Commerce Committee Chief Counsel Gregg Rothschild (2007-2008), questioned by Politico’s Tony Romm … ‘Q&A’ (8pm ET & 11pm ET Sunday): Historians Richard Norton Smith and Douglas Brinkley
–Univision’s “Al Punto“: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV); Rep. Lincoln Diaz Balart (R-FL); Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL); Gubernatorial candidate Bill White (D-TX); roundtable with Democratic analyst Maria Cardona, Republican analyst Adolfo Franco and Hispanic issues expert Arnoldo Torres
A Hidden Minefield at Pregnancy Centers
yup, work in the smear that they’re “profiting” from providing a legal service … women’s health care being the one service that is so worthless in this fucked up country that you shouldn’t be paid for it.
So what do the stealth pro-lifers live on if they have no “financial stake” in getting women to make babies? Air and dew? And what the fuck do they do for these women after the babies are born? Probably nothing.
Shit. The NYT is such a piece of utter self-important garbage and should just be put out of its misery at this point.
God hates figs
Stuff That Really Will Kill You
Full text. It’s AP but I landed on it in the UK Independent
I suppose we can start sending our own 12 year olds to war. Considering the war commercials, war movies, war whoop across all network, cable and public access TV and radio, what are we waiting for???
Glory in the good.
Didn’t Samantha Power, a bitch, try to call another bitch in the primary a MONSTER?
when are the fucking idiots known as the supposed engaged or activist American voters going to face the fact … they are ALL monsters.
All of them
Nice show from the “Hill staffers” but nobody can tell me they care all that much.
This just made me laugh:
What I think is amazing is this is like no-brainer level D policy stuff – not even enforceable, so just pass the feel good bill already – and they botch it so badly that it goes from a footnote on page 26 to front page news.
I should add, and not even just one mistake, but over and over and over. They screw up. Then screw up the post screw up spin. Then they reclarify a couple times to keep you focused on the prior two screw ups, and neither clarification makes a lick of sense. Just go to bed and call it a day – there’s no more room in the mouth for any more feet!
Just one multi-car pile up after another, and we still got two years to go!
They have absolutely no idea about politics… which is kind of fun to watch. Sort of. It does get old.
$1,000 fine for Silly String possession in Los Angeles
A hallowe’en ban?
Or, as a friend of mine said decades ago:
No running jumping laughing living.
to be fair, though, that stuff is beyond obnoxious. it was a sad day when it began to replace shaving cream as the teenaged spray weapon of choice.
Debt Collection Firm Accused Of Setting Up Phony Courtroom
Violent Turn in Abuse Case More Than 3 Decades Old
Lynch has a better than average atty, it looks to me. And others abused as children by the priest have come forward to comment on the attack…. It seems he had a taste for assaulting multiple children in a family, in more than just the Lynch instance. He molested both boys and girls.
So we shall see.
Father Lindner was able to drive himself to the hospital after the attack.
I say we call it a case of mild rebuke following decades of aggravted assault… and I have not heard of what weapon Lynch is supposed to have used… I see the charge is ”assualt with a deadly weapon”.
Etc.
It also seems that one would expect people to try sometimes to obtain personal justice since the legal system and that organization help monsters like that get away scott free, over and over again.
The church, whoever their spokesperson is, has tried to say that Lindner also “works” at the retirement home (whcih sounds more like a nursing home…) caring for other elderly priests.
Must be a page from the Catholic bible on abuse (see, “good works mitigate earlier sins” or some such drivel). IIRC they have been saying that some American priest recently found living in a similar situation in Ireland, also an abuser, “cares for elderly priests with Alzheimers”.
Who cares.
Obama fires back at AIDS protesters, tells them to hassle GOP
the prince is not amused.
Too much unused powder in his panties.
…..
… I guess.
I heard the audio… and he qualified that the Democrats “might” do more than the R.
Shades of Clinton I, smugly informing angry queers to go hang out with the Tea Party.
Tell me again why we should vilify one of these user fuckheads and not the other one. How much more blatant can they be about the fact that the GLBT community is nothing to them but a convenience, to be used like an ATM, ripped off and then mocked?
I brought back from my travels a bottle of Irish whiskey, which I’ll be cracking open for the festivities on Tuesday. Hope it goes with popcorn. Will take a sip in your honor, Marisa.
Pretty much says it all…
oh that was an hilarious read….
“If some Democratic consultant told you they are feeling better, they must have dropped some heavy drugs,” said a senior pollster who is working for candidates in competitive races. “It’s hard.”
I notice Ob and wif are getting out of town barely 3 days later. If they lose more than Bill………. AND if Illinois gov and senate races go down like a tombstone… whcih it seems they may…. AND if Coons race agaisnt ODonnell ends much tighter than 10 pts (the Gawker piece I gather has fallen like a dead body – and it seems she is rising)………….. AND if Bennet in CO goes down…………. AND Sestak… wObby is in deep soemthing or other.
I heard Bill is making a last minute stop to prop up his friend Meek.
And Obamalama, on the stump in Cleveland today, AGAIN with the car is in the ditch/slurpee slop. Get some new material!
oh thank you… that cheers me up!
I am still on the hunt for soemthing I could occasionally drink. My next try is Gin. Of course with a lot of cream, lime juice, soda water and orange flower water… (Ramos Fizz)
You were in Ireland, ts?
Only for two days (work).
But a nice break, around the work, that is…
Absolutely!
if you survive boarding, deplaning and customs. Then the same in reverse. Plus the flight itself….
Gah….
There have been some very irritating hours on the local talk show on the new rules.. BUT there have been some hilarious stories of what people found out they themsleves got thru security, becasue they had no idea it was in the bakcpack, their childrens luggage … etc.
One man went ot the air port with his daughter, they gritted their teeth all thru the wait, lines, ex- ray, whatever…spread em!, etc… so they are settled on the plane… he had told his daughter to “pack her homework for the plane” and she pulls out full fledged, steel sissors, 7 or 8 inches long. Right thru, ex ray… in fact he said they had to go thru TWICE.
Just one of several stories
I’m guessing he won’t be dressing up in drag for Halloween ?
They even trotted out a last second terror alert. Talk about a hail mary.
hahahahahahah…
Drudge Report might as well plaster
“ARMAGEDDDDONNNNN”
all across the front of the site… LOL
Supposedly The Caucus claims Obby had to work a half filled hall in Ohio. (I did nto follow the link)
Here’s The Caucus… I dunno… Sunday afernoon, political rally, another Obby speech……. in the High Holy Sport Days, Hallowe’en… and whatever lse on Sunday…. prolly luck to get 8,000 or so.
Evan Bayh. Jon Meacham. On Morning Joe.
With Barnacle. With Mika and Willie I might add.
{ Loading rifle now.
Extra ammo? Check.
Map to studio? LOL….How PASSE! GPS! C’mon!
Get with the program!.}
Anyways.
Joe, Mika, and Willie all agree with their guests!
The Democrats overeached!
Bayh: “With people most concerned about the deficit and the growth of entitlements, the healhcare bill really was …”
Meacham: “O YA. Ya. Ya Ya Ya YaYAYAH! When the Simpson (Cat Food) Report comes out, we’re going to have to come to terms with entitlements.”
There are 3 key points tho that come to mind now:
Not.
Enough.
Ammo.
December 1, th Simpson Bowles show comes to town.
I think the Obamas should jsut stay in India… with the 700+ hotel rooms. Don’t come back. Send Hillary to Africa, Biden to China. Or the reverse, who would notice. All of congress can go on a paid CO DEL…
Fuck ‘em.
I was thinking the same thing. Just go on vacation for the next two years. Couldn’t be worse.
Not if you’re Dana Houle.
oh the thought of that creature scratching away in the gutters of cheap politics.
Oh I forgot Ermine. LOL. Ermine Bowles.
Oh I’m just kidding, I know his name’s Earl.
That icon of Dem male fashion in the 90′s. The 1890′s.
Loved the whole glasses with matching sphincter bit.
I say we call him Hermione. Hermione in the Ermine. WIth a thirty foot train. AND live dancing ermine.
Another lipless, as I recall.
Wherein Nate Silver punks out.
Agreeing to Disagree: Size of Republican Wave Hard to Predict
Goddammit! Find you sea legs, Silver!
Not to mention the grog!
Put Iowa in Edwards column!
Ouija up a Caroline ascendancy!
Call it for Specter already!
Live a little, fellah! LOL.
It DOESN’T MATTER DUDE!
I wonder if wObbly is going to blame bad luck due to death of one of the last of the New Frontiersmen.
Poor (wellll hardly, but you know…) Sorenson, so ossified he barely knew who Obama was. They pointed him out and pushed Sorenson out there. One more hump for the mother ship.
Politics, so elegant.
Imagine that retainer giving account of his life to the bouncers at Heaven’s Gate.
“Well, when Jack you know…”
“No, your life Mr. Sorenson, YOUR Life, please.
They had ALL the Sunday talk shows in Limbo, dude.
What do you think this is?”
Which could all be very interesting if Oswald’s the Gatekeeper. LOL.
“You see this HOLE in my stomach motherfucker?
NO ASSHOLE, You DON”T get reunited with body parts.
And I can’t wait to see Specter’s ass!”
Okay I’m out. And while Halloween is over, we still have our Zombie …problem. The Major Parties, that is.
So I’ll see ya later tonite so to speak, where, on schedule, I can make an ass of myself trying to match wits against you and the inestimable catnip’s “spidey senses” in picking Putz A over Yutz B in some of these races…
I will not be wagering tho. I’ve been shirtless too long . LOL.
HA! Ossified AND blind, it seems…
via Mike Allen email:
New…
LINK
……………………….. 8)