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McCain's Rick Monday Politics
This is just embarrassing. Denver Post columnist (and reason contributor) David Harsanyi reports that the McCain campaign is making political hay out of unused miniature American flags:
This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.
Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage - with dramatic effect, no doubt - and tell the story.
"What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags," a Republican official emailed. "We estimate the total number to be around 12,000 small flags and one full size 3×5 flag."
I'm not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone's patriotism here.
Yes they are. And they should be ashamed of themselves for engaging in such a pathetic stunt. I have previously argued that the "questioning our patriotism" meme was, for the most part, a straw man. Sure, some crackpot bloggers had done just that, as had vile "journalists" like Jerome Corsi, but McCain seemed to avoid such tactics. But things are getting tight, November is just around the corner, and the McCain campaign seems to be indulging in the most pitiful jingoism since Kang and Kodos ran for President.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 3:39PM|#
If McCain were service-oriented, like he claims, then he could
make a PSA for the Democrats and concerned Americans:
Remember, kids, the appropriate way to dispose of a flag that will
no longer be flown is by burning them!
|9.6.08 @ 3:44PM|#
Y'all have to read the comments in the linked article. Here's
just one
Typical of Democrats to trash the flag. I am quite surprised they did not have a flag burning ceremony after the DNC convention. As an American, I am very dissappointed in the Democrat's call to "save the planet", yet attempt to fill our landfills with what they call trash, in this case, The American Flag.
And they wonder why MANY people question their patriotism?
VM|9.6.08 @ 3:49PM|#
And they should be ashamed of themselves for engaging in such a pathetic stunt
but it works. and people buy it.
the rank twaddlenockery boggles the mind! BOGGLES!
jtuf|9.6.08 @ 3:55PM|#
This is straight out of bizzaro world. The Democrates ordered too many flags, wasting "scarce resources" to have them made and filling up "limited landfill space" with the extra items intead of donating them to a good cause. The Republicans freecycle the items and get blasted for saving them from the trash. Making a big political statement about salvaging the flags is a bit overkill, but salvaging the flags was just good old fashion thrift/conservation and respect.
Neu Mejican|9.6.08 @ 3:56PM|#
These are, of course, biodegradable flags.
So burning is not the proper method of disposing of them...you
would dissolve them in water.
;^)
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 3:57PM|#
These, of course, are the same people that attached flags to
their cars after 9/11/01, and let it fly to a tattered stump.
Not that they'd ever flown a flag before, or knew how to
respectfully do so in accordance with the US Flag Code. No, they
just knew that they needed to let their neighbors and anyone that
they were passing at 80 mph know that THEY ARE PATRIOTIC!
I *HATE* fairweather patriots. Hate 'em.
(I'm having a bad day, so I might be snippier than usual, but that
doesn't change the fact that I could never stand those that cared
more about the trappings of patriotism than the actual belief it
implies.)
Mister DNA|9.6.08 @ 3:57PM|#
I think the implication here is not so much that Obama hates America, but that he's a lousy janitor.
|9.6.08 @ 4:01PM|#
The Dems probably thought it cost more to recover and ship them to the next event than to buy new ones. Or some campaign worker was to lazy to do his job and threw them out. I looked real damned hard, for some strange reason (realism? sanity?) the outrage just doesn't appear.
Liberal Arts|9.6.08 @ 4:04PM|#
Mister DNA,
Racism !!! Next you'll be saying he doesn't shine shoes very
well.
|9.6.08 @ 4:05PM|#
I'm having a bad day, so I might be snippier than
usual
Than usual?
Remember, kids, the appropriate way to dispose of a flag that
will no longer be flown is by burning them!
But respectfully! It's all about the respect.
(It's amazing how many people don't know that you are
supposed to burn worn-out flags)
jasno|9.6.08 @ 4:07PM|#
On the one hand, as someone who plans on voting for the big-O
this November, it is surprising that they just threw them out. They
wouldn't just give them to the local Dems for a future event?
Obviously, though, the patriotism angle is pure bullshit.
Jennifer|9.6.08 @ 4:12PM|#
From McCain's perspective, saying "Vote for me because I'm more patriotic than the Democrats" STILL makes more sense than "Vote for me because the last eight years have been so wonderful for America, it's only natural you'd want more of the same."
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 4:16PM|#
Than usual?
Far worse. I'm feeling fairly homicidal.
But respectfully! It's all about the respect.
Because if you don't give respect, then the smoke will rise and
travel to the Middle East, where it will give comfort to our sworn
enemies and foment anti-American sentiment amongst impressionable
children. However, with sufficient respect, a faint choir of angels
will be heard in the background, and miraculously no smoke will
rise.
|9.6.08 @ 4:17PM|#
Confirms what I thought about the Palin pick.
Anybody who hasn't drunk deep the Kool Aid already is going to roll
their eyes at this. The McCain campaign know they're going to lose,
and have shifted to a strategy of trying to make sure that people
who always vote Republican don't stop voting, in the hopes of
helping down-ticket races this year and keeping them voting
Republican in the future.
Liberal Arts|9.6.08 @ 4:17PM|#
They wouldn't just give them to the local Dems for a future
event?
With no hammer and sickle, Islamic crescent,or giant red star, what
would Democrats do with them?
|9.6.08 @ 4:20PM|#
Far worse. I'm feeling fairly homicidal.
Okay, I'll bite. What's the matter, grasshopper?
SIV|9.6.08 @ 4:21PM|#
Confirms what I thought about the Palin pick.
Nice non sequitur joe
So if the polls look close at election time are you guys going to
"take it to the streets" if Obama "gets robbed"
|9.6.08 @ 4:23PM|#
I can't answer such an implausible hypothetical, SIV.
Remember when you used to pretend to be a "Single Issue Voter," and
denied vociferously that you were a Republican shill while you
shilled for Republicans?
You know, when you lied to everyone in this community to try to
manipulate them for your own ends?
Good times, SIV. Good times.
|9.6.08 @ 4:24PM|#
Nice non sequitur joe
I'd accuse you of playing dumb, but I've seen you try to reason
before.
SIV|9.6.08 @ 4:29PM|#
The "single issue" relates to animal rights.
I don't think Governor Palin is a big animal rights
supporter.
My libertarian comment bona fides are legion.
It isn't that I'm so keen on Team Red winning as much as I like to
see you assholes lose.
|9.6.08 @ 4:31PM|#
No, dumbass, the "Single Issue" was your support for
cockfighting.
It isn't that I'm so keen on Team Red winning as much as I like
to see you assholes lose.
Oh. Sorry to disappoint.
Since the last federal election in 2006, more than 2 million
Democrats have been added to voter rolls in the 28 states that
register voters according to party affiliation. The Republicans
have lost nearly 344,000 thousand voters in the same states.
|9.6.08 @ 4:44PM|#
I agree with Joe that the Palin selection shows that the Republicans know that they can't win, so they're throwing a bone to the religious right to keep them satisfied until 2012.
|9.6.08 @ 4:56PM|#
The McCain campaign can do math, too. Only 21% of registered
voters can now be categorized as "swing voters," down from 30%
prior to the start of the Democratic and Republican
conventions. - Gallup today.
Once the convention bumps level off (I predict McCain will max out
within 1 point of even, at the height of his bounce), there will be
7 weeks left to the campaign instead of 10; there will be a smaller
portion of the electoral up for grabs; and Obama will be slightly
closer to 50%, even if his lead coming out is exactly the same as
going in.
Remember those weeks and months towards the end of the Democratic
primary, when we saw all of those analyses about "Hillary needs to
win 70% of the remaining delegates. If Obama gets 50% of the
delegates in the next contest, Hillary will need to win 78% of the
remaining delegates." We're approaching that same territory in the
Obama-McCain race. Even though it's close, there just isn't that
much left to fight over.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 4:58PM|#
Okay, I'll bite. What's the matter, grasshopper?
And that would make you Master Po?! (LOL!)
Nothing too spectacular or noteworthy. Things just conspiring to
irritate me without respite. Hanna is making things hectic here in
the hospitality industry, as you might expect. I seem to have
misplaced my copy of Deus Ex, an out-of-print (and
therefore very difficult if not impossible to replace) game that
just so happens to be my favorite of all time. I finished reading
the last of the latest round of books, and so am bored out of my
skull. My boss is being uncommonly irritating. Cats' got diarrhea.
S.O. is sick.
Nothing that sounds at all important or impressive until you're
living them all at once. Then you just want to hall out and deck
the first annoying person you see. The best part is I still have to
be nice to people all day.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 5:01PM|#
I gotta agree about Palin. I don't see Palin helping since
they're going to seclude her in Alaska until the VP debate.
Those that would crawl across broken glass to vote against Obama
(SIV) will now crawl enthusiastically across broken glass to vote
for Palin.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 5:04PM|#
The left is pretty stupid in trying to find some "silver bullet" to kill her though. They're wasting their time. The quickest way to make sure her political future is finished is for McCain to lose.
|9.6.08 @ 5:10PM|#
If it's true, then yeah, that's tacky, cheap, and embarrassing.
However, that opening line, "Republicans tell me..." Sounds kind of
like Star mag saying, "Sources say..."
It's what one says when they don't really have a story, but want to
get one circulating.
|9.6.08 @ 5:11PM|#
And that would make you Master Po?!
I can't see!
Hanna is making things hectic here in the hospitality industry,
as you might expect.
Oh yes. Is it as humid there as here? It's SO FUCKING HUMID. I
haven't turned on the AC in weeks and weeks but might today.
My ex had a really bad week so she decided to go to Little Compton
this weekend because my cousin extended his rental of his beach
house and she just needs a getaway. What timing. :-(
matt2|9.6.08 @ 5:14PM|#
Deus Ex...
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3715727/Deus_Ex
assuming you know how to mount an .ISO, should be no problem
BDB|9.6.08 @ 5:18PM|#
Yeah, they're not, to their credit they refuse to take the bait. It's Daily Kos and the liberal bloggers that are going on pointless (and endless) witch hunts. Well, and Sullivan. He's not really liberal.
|9.6.08 @ 5:22PM|#
The quickest way to make sure her political future is
finished is for McCain to lose.
Nah. Losing VP candidates run for president the next cycle.
Edwards, John
Quayle, Dan.
Mondale, Walter
Wait a minute! You're right! Even if the run for the top slot, it's
just a flare before the long slide into irrelevance and
obscurity.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 5:25PM|#
My ex had a really bad week so she decided to go to Little
Compton this weekend because my cousin extended his rental of his
beach house and she just needs a getaway. What timing.
:-(
No shit! That timing is cursed by the Gods.
And re:humdity, I can't see through the (putatively transparent)
windows in the lobby of the hotel, because of condensation. And
that's with a big honking air conditioner pumping all the moisture
out. 'S bad.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 5:26PM|#
The left is pretty stupid in trying to find some "silver
bullet" to kill her though.
If she turns out to be a werewolf your face is gonna be
red...
BDB|9.6.08 @ 5:36PM|#
The only losing VP candidate in recent history to actually get
his party's nomination for candidate was Bob Dole, and that was
twenty years later.
If he hadn't talked about "all the Democrat wars" in his VP debate
he might have only had to wait until 1980 to run.
If there is a silver bullet against Palin, it will be a George
Allen YouTube moment. I can almost smell it coming. And you just
can't make those happen.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 5:37PM|#
Well, "werewolf" would explain the two-week media
blackout.
"Governor Palin can't take question right now because
she,...eh...well, she's not in a very chatty mood. And she's
hungry."
"For two weeks?!"
"She's very hungry."
|9.6.08 @ 5:43PM|#
If there is a silver bullet against Palin, it will be a
George Allen YouTube moment. I can almost smell it
coming.
Which is why they won't let her talk to the press.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 5:45PM|#
Yeah, but those moments can come during other times than press interviews. George Allen was giving a stump speech when he decided to run off at the mouth. I can see her doing the same thing, easily, especially since she's inexperienced.
ed|9.6.08 @ 5:49PM|#
You reap what you sew. Fill a stadium full of American flags to show how patriotic you are, then toss 'em in the trash when the show is over? I'd call it poetic justice that the Republicans are (to use another agricultural metaphor) making hay out of it.
|9.6.08 @ 5:58PM|#
sounds to me like the dems got caught with their environmentally friendly and patriotic pants down
|9.6.08 @ 5:59PM|#
Except it didn't actually happen, ed.
According to a senior official involved in organizing the
Democratic convention, the McCain camp is simply lying about the
flags.
"All of the flags at Invesco were picked up and put in bags and
into storage, along with the unused flags and campaign signs. The
flags were going to be donated, and the signs were going to be sent
out to be used elsewhere," the official said, speaking anonymously
since he was not authorized to talk to the press.
There, I'll see your "Republicans tell me that a worker said," and
raise you a "senior official involved in organizing the Democratic
convention...not authorized to talk to the press."
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 6:03PM|#
ed --
Yeah I suppose that would be true.
If it mattered.
Unless the flag is flying over a battlefield or by an official
instrument of government, it is just a colorful piece of cloth. The
Democrats are told they have a "patriotism deficit", whatever the
fuck that means, and so I can see why they'd want to buff up their
image with cheap meaningless flags.
But what's the excuse of the asshole who flies a flag out in the
rain, at night un-illuminated, or from his fucking car? He clearly
thinks it is no better than a piece of cloth. Except if you ask him
about it, it's being patriotic to do what he does.
He's a Palin fan. (Not a McCain fan. That would be crazy!)
|9.6.08 @ 6:03PM|#
Maybe it's the democrats that are lying. They both seem to do it all the time anyway.
ed|9.6.08 @ 6:08PM|#
What's next? Palin's retar-, er mongol-, er "special needs" baby is actually named Hussein?
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 6:09PM|#
The only good thing to come out of 9/11/01 was that had you been
knocked unconscious and dragged to an unfamiliar location, and you
managed to get outside, there is no way you would mistakenly think
you somehow ended up in Canada.
A co-worker of mine nearly got shot by an ornery (and unbalanced)
cop passerby at work because he had accidentally flown the US flag
upside down one day in front of the business (now he always
double-checks!). This was in '98. Where the fuck were all the
ornery barely-balanced vets and/or cops to threaten all the idiots
who didn't know dick about properly displaying the flag after
9/11/01?
Nitpicking asshole|9.6.08 @ 6:10PM|#
"Anybody who hasn't drunk deep the Kool Aid already is going to
roll their eyes at this."
Are you sure "drunk the Kool Aid" is the correct comparison?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavor_Aid#Jonestown_suicide
|9.6.08 @ 6:13PM|#
But what's the excuse of the asshole who flies a flag out in
the rain, at night un-illuminated, or from his fucking
car?
Why do you, and why do I, know all the flag rules? It must
have been my brief stint as a cub scout. They teach that sort of
stuff.
What's next? Palin's retar-, er mongol-, er "special needs"
baby is actually named Hussein?
Osama!
BDB|9.6.08 @ 6:17PM|#
I heard Palin may be secretly Russian, smuggled across the Bering Straits as a baby. I demand to see her birth certificate!
|9.6.08 @ 6:24PM|#
Maybe it's the democrats that are lying. They both seem to
do it all the time anyway.
Which means we have to consider the likelihoods.
A. The Democrats, who went so eco-friendly with recycling,
compostable forks, carbon credits and whatnot, that they earned a
mocking blog post from Reason magazine for the efforts, had a
massive oversight and were going to landfill plastic bag after
plastic bag of...wait for it...American flags.
B. The Republicans made up a story to insult the Democrats'
patriotism.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 6:27PM|#
Epi --
When I was twelve, my local paper ran an article about the US Flag
Code, and for some strange reason I remember it very clearly. It's
just one of those things.
My freshman year roommate in college was an Eagle Scout, and he and
I would kvetch about all the disgraceful displays of the flag on
campus without proper illumination and protection from the rain, as
we roamed around campus causing trouble at 2 in the AM.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 6:44PM|#
And SIV is the new Guy Montag.
And what a promotion it has been. Much like, I suppose, being moved
from Governor of Alaska to VPOTUS candidate.
|9.6.08 @ 6:46PM|#
Nitpicking asshole,
"drinking the Kool-aid" is an internet meme used by internet people
as a cheap substitute for cleverness. It is indeed a reference to
the Jonestown cult, and it loosely translates to "committing fully
to a cause or candidate." The subtext of it is to deride the
committed in question as buying into a kooky or half-baked
ideology.
|9.6.08 @ 6:49PM|#
as we roamed around campus causing trouble at 2 in the
AM
I hope you were as baked as I was at that time of the night
(morning?).
BDB|9.6.08 @ 6:50PM|#
Come on, any college student walking around campus at 2 AM has to be either baked or wasted.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 6:54PM|#
BDB, Epi --
Not baked. I didn't really smoke outside of parties until much more
recently.
Funnily enough the first time I smoked pot was at Woodstock '99. We
got out just before the riots started.
I will cop to drinking copiously, though usually not when we were
out to the wee hours. Those times were reserved for poking around
construction sites and breaking into administrative buildings. Best
not to be drunk when you do those things.
SIV|9.6.08 @ 7:07PM|#
And SIV is the new Guy Montag.
Not until I get my date with some left wing media chick who's
really undercover on a story about Right Wingers
|9.6.08 @ 7:10PM|#
Those times were reserved for poking around construction
sites and breaking into administrative buildings
So you know how to pick locks too?
Funnily enough the first time I smoked pot was at Woodstock
'99
Lightweight.
|9.6.08 @ 7:16PM|#
Maybe, as I posited earlier, some dumb flunky tossed the stupid
flags out.
joe should be along shortly to explain why the blue team doesn't
have any dumb flunkies, and if they did they would never,
using "an official, speaking anonymously" lie in an attempt to save
face over what is really minor unimportant bullshit. Cause y'know,
the dems are like the best at morality and stuff.
This will be followed by John to accuse all of the Democratic
campaign workers of being dumb flunkies except the unpatriotic flag
trashing socialist ones. He will assert that all
Democratic campaign officials speaking anonymmously are obvious
lying through their teeth. Cause y'know, the Dems are like America
hatin' commie loving lying bastards.
The rest of us can look forward to 59 more days of this. Red and
blue team fanboys, excusing every fuckup on their side and
trumpeting every one on the other. With luck it will all come down
to < 1,000 votes in a mid sized state , throwing the election
into overtime where partisan judges that claim to be objective will
decide the issue. First at the state level for one side, then at
the federal level on the other.
This will allow the losing party to whine incessantly for four
goddam years.
|9.6.08 @ 7:19PM|#
Was there a Woodstock 99? If so, I'll bet it sucked as much as the original but in totally different ways.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 7:20PM|#
The election won't be close. The probability of having three down to the wire elections in a row is extremely low.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 7:20PM|#
"Was there a Woodstock 99? If so, I'll bet it sucked as much as
the original but in totally different ways."
You are correct.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 7:23PM|#
A prediction, though. If Obama wins a close one, the right will
accuse the Daley Machine/Rev. Wright/NAACP/Bill Ayers/David Axelrod
(choose one) of stealing the election.
If McCain wins in a close one, the left will accuse Diebold/the
KKK/Karl Rove/Sarah Palin (chose one) of stealing it.
|9.6.08 @ 7:24PM|#
The election won't be close. The probability of having three
down to the wire elections in a row is extremely low.
Past events have do not affect future probabilities. The liklihood
of a close election is just as great as in 2000. But you knew that.
;-)
|9.6.08 @ 7:27PM|#
A prediction, though. If Obama wins a close one, the right will accuse the Daley Machine/Rev. Wright/NAACP/Bill Ayers/David Axelrod (choose one) of stealing the election.
If McCain wins in a close one, the left will accuse Diebold/the KKK/Karl Rove/Sarah Palin (chose one) of stealing it.
And Lonewacko will accuse the CFR. Of course you and I will be
secure in the knowledge that the secret coalition of Freemasons and
International Jewry pulled off another one.
SIV|9.6.08 @ 7:33PM|#
This will allow the losing party to whine incessantly for four
goddam years.
Only if Team Red wins!
If McCain wins in a close one, the left will accuse Diebold/the
KKK/Karl Rove/Sarah Palin (chose one) of stealing it.
Choose 'em all (excepting maybe the KKK)
I hope they blame the Clintons and the MSM !
SIV|9.6.08 @ 7:38PM|#
One thing I don't want--the House of Representatives
deciding it.
That is the one thing that would get the conservatives howling.Who
would they pick?
Al Gore ? Hillary Clinton? One of their own?
As an anarchist, I might like that scenario, as even though
constitutional, it would de-legitimize the State profoundly.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 7:39PM|#
"That is the one thing that would get the conservatives
howling.Who would they pick?
Al Gore ? Hillary Clinton? One of their own?"
They have to pick from among the top three finishers. Likely Obama,
McCain, and Barr.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 7:40PM|#
Also, don't expect it to break down along party lines. I can easily see Heath Shuler voting for McCain and Chris Shays voting for Obama so they keep their jobs, for example.
|9.6.08 @ 7:51PM|#
If I've got this right, if it goes to the house each state
delegation has one vote. Californias blue delegation would have the
same weight as North Dakota's red one. I think that would
give the Presidency to the GOP.
You constitution nerds can correct me if I'm wrong.
SIV|9.6.08 @ 7:51PM|#
W/O consulting my pocket constitution, I think they can pick
anyone who meets the 35 or over, native born, hasn't served the
limit already criteria.
The safe thing would be the "popular vote" winner.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 7:55PM|#
"If I've got this right, if it goes to the house each state
delegation has one vote. Californias blue delegation would have the
same weight as North Dakota's red one. I think that would give the
Presidency to the GOP."
Nope. Right now IIRC they did a simulation and assuming everyone
votes along party lines the Democrats will win by two votes, with
two delegations tied.
I personally think McCain and Obama should pledge to throw their
support behind whoever wins the popular vote in the event of a
269-269 tie for the sanity of the country.
SIV-
No, it has to be top three candiates. Ex., in 1824 it was Jon
Quincy Adams, Calhoun, and Jackson. Henry Clay got electoral votes
but didn't finish in the top three so he wasn't qualified. He threw
his support behind J.Q. Adams and Jackson spent the next four years
accusing Adams of "stealing" the election.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 7:56PM|#
He accused Adams of that because Jackson won the popular vote and a plurality of the EVs.
ed|9.6.08 @ 8:00PM|#
The rest of us can look forward to 59 more days of
this
Silly rabbit. It's permanent.
SIV|9.6.08 @ 8:05PM|#
You are correct.The Dems do control a majority of State H of R delegations but that includes some "red" states.Although it is easy to put together a tie on the electoral map I couldn't imagine any of those scenarios happen this time.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 8:16PM|#
So you know how to pick locks too?
I maintain a cornucopia of anti-social skills.
And for everyone LOL'ing at Woodstock '99, it was worth it just to
see some greats like James Brown and George Clinton play. James
Brown opened the first day's set, and holy crap, you'd never know
the guy was like seventy-five years old. He still had moves.
The Christianists predictably tried to piss all over it; they were
camped out outside the grounds shouting (in tongues?) at anyone who
approached. I was sort of embarrassed for them. Then there were the
guys passing out Chick Tracts; they were far more polite.
The chicks were mostly pretty and mostly naked.
The security guards traded us some weed for a few cold
brewskis.
...
Leave it to you guys to shit all over something just because it
*smells from afar* like hippies.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 8:18PM|#
Silly rabbit. It's permanent.
That's a fucking thread-winner.
And depressing.
|9.6.08 @ 8:25PM|#
If the point was to throw them out, why were the flags isolated,
rather than being mixed with all the other trash?
It's kind of a lot of work to do that if they're just going to the
garbage.
My guess: the bags of flags were near the loading dock, ready to be
taken by the party for use elsewhere. The dumpsters are probably in
the same general area (ie, within the same cavernous chamber with a
large overhead door and a truck ramp). Republican scumbags stole
the bags and are making up this story.
Question: What did George W. Bush do with the US flag he waved
backwards in China?
|9.6.08 @ 8:26PM|#
Leave it to you guys to shit all over something just because
it *smells from afar* like hippies.
I ain't shittin' on the hippies. I just believe, due to
overwhelming evidence, that large crowds of people make for a suck
event. Witness Denver and Minneapolis the last couple weeks.
Suckitude everywhere you point a TV camera. We had a goddam Super
Bowl less than 2 miles from my place a couple of years ago. When
the week wasn't sucking, it blew. I won't even go to an NFL game
anymore. MLB is my limit on large events. And I buy tickets at the
gate so I never have to endure a sellout. Cental Park, NY is cool.
Central Park during a Rolling Stones event would be hell.
BakedPenguin|9.6.08 @ 8:35PM|#
MLB is my limit on large events
You're going to Tiger games, so your limit is what - 5,000 people
or so?
jk jk - I actually agree. I prefer minor league sports for the
small crowds.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 8:56PM|#
J sub --
I agree that large quantities of people diminish the probability of
awesomeness. However, unlike you, I get the sense that the other
whiners were doing so not because of the number of people, but
rather because the event was called "Woodstock".
shecky|9.6.08 @ 9:03PM|#
LMNOP,
Yeah, I can see how the name itself carries a whole lot of baggage.
I say the same thing about Burning Man. There's a whole kind of
awesomeness that just defies description in words. But if folks
want to write it off as a bunch of naked hippies in the desert, so
be it.
|9.6.08 @ 9:22PM|#
J sub D,
Large groups of like-minded people can either make for a great or
terrible event. The past few weeks are examples of terrible. I try
to go to the Greyfox bluegrass festival every year, and its one of
the most amazing experiences you can have. There's a shitload of
people on a private farm, and its basically a libertarian paradise.
Everyone is friendly, does what they want, barters for what they
need, and no one cares what you do unless you hurt someone else or
their property. I've never seen a cop even remotely near the fest.
It is absolutely amazing, and I don't even like bluegrass.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 9:32PM|#
"I get the sense that the other whiners were doing so not
because of the number of people, but rather because the event was
called "Woodstock"."
I was shitting on it because Limp Bizkit was there.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 9:34PM|#
BDB --
Cool thing about there being more than one stage is you don't gotta
listen to people who suck.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 9:37PM|#
True. But I was just recalling the late 90s music scene, and how much it sucked in general. Then again, it sucks now too.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 9:37PM|#
shecky --
It is amazing, the power of symbols and labels to act upon the
human mind.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 9:39PM|#
Heh. How old are you, BDB?
I can't really name a time in which the vast majority of music
hasn't sucked (Sturgeon's Law, and all that), and the affection for
the 1% that's good tends to vary depending upon a person's age at
the time the music is introduced.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 9:42PM|#
I'm 23. Even when I was 14, in 1999, I still thought Limp Bizkit sucked. Not many people my age can say that with a straight face.
|9.6.08 @ 9:44PM|#
LMNOP,
From my observations it seems that the 60's and 70's produced a
disproportionate amount of good music compared to other decades, at
least judging by the amount people who enjoy music from those time
periods. I think there may be some sort of cause-effect
relationship between the use of drugs and good music. The 60's and
70's seem to have the most drug use, and also seem to have the
longest lingering popular music. Come to think of it, I can't
really think of a band that I like that didn't use drugs, including
alcohol.
|9.6.08 @ 9:46PM|#
BDB,
Just turned 23 myself, and when Limp Bizkit's song nookie came out,
I know I enjoyed watching it on TRL. Embarrassing for sure.
BDB|9.6.08 @ 9:47PM|#
Well, that typo in my initials is almost appropriate since I was talking about TRL circa 1999.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 10:01PM|#
I think there may be some sort of cause-effect relationship
between the use of drugs and good music.
That I have to agree with, at least to the extent that there needs
to be some strong mind-altering force present. If it isn't drugs,
it's God or politics.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 10:02PM|#
p.s. Personally I think it best to take all three together in
equal proportions simultaneously. They're no good on their
own.
Call it the Hunter S. Thompson approach.
ed|9.6.08 @ 10:08PM|#
Limp Bizkit sucked. Not many people my age can say that with
a straight face
That too is depressing.
Syd|9.6.08 @ 10:38PM|#
BDB | September 6, 2008, 7:55pm | #
"If I've got this right, if it goes to the house each state
delegation has one vote. Californias blue delegation would have the
same weight as North Dakota's red one. I think that would give the
Presidency to the GOP."
Nope. Right now IIRC they did a simulation and assuming everyone
votes along party lines the Democrats will win by two votes, with
two delegations tied.
It looks like the Dems are going to pick up a seat in Alaska, too,
unless the recount shows Don Young losing the GOP primary.
SIV-
No, it has to be top three candiates. Ex., in 1824 it was Jon
Quincy Adams, Calhoun, and Jackson.
William Crawford, the treasury secretary, not Calhoun. Calhoun was
the vice presidential candidate and won overwhelmingly, which as a
Yankee I find truly embarrassing. Jackson got 13 votes for VP and
Clay and Van Buren got some too.
Okay, I'll stop now.
Somebody Had To|9.6.08 @ 10:54PM|#
1) "Abortions for some, minature American flags for
others."
2) "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos."
|9.6.08 @ 11:01PM|#
joe should be along shortly to explain why the blue team
doesn't have any dumb flunkies, and if they did they would never,
using "an official, speaking anonymously" lie in an attempt to save
face over what is really minor unimportant bullshit. Cause y'know,
the dems are like the best at morality and stuff.
This will be followed by John to accuse all of the Democratic
campaign workers of being dumb flunkies except the unpatriotic flag
trashing socialist ones. He will assert that all Democratic
campaign officials speaking anonymmously are obvious lying through
their teeth. Cause y'know, the Dems are like America hatin' commie
loving lying bastards.
The rest of us can look forward to 59 more days of this. Red and
blue team fanboys, excusing every fuckup on their side and
trumpeting every one on the other.
What I like about most about this faux-wordliness? It just doesn't
fucking matter what's actually true.
|9.6.08 @ 11:06PM|#
There's a 269-269 possibility. If Obama takes everything he's
leading in, + NH and NV.
But it probably won't work out that he'd taken Nevada but not
Colorado.
|9.6.08 @ 11:38PM|#
We have pictures of the flags in the trash at the convention. With Obama signs and DNC signs I might add.
Elemenope|9.6.08 @ 11:59PM|#
We have pictures of the flags in the trash at the
convention. With Obama signs and DNC signs I might add.
"That's not her toe, dude. You give me a few hours, I'll
get you a toe. With nail polish. As if these fucking
amateurs think we're just supposed to piss ourselves, because they
sent us a toe."
|9.7.08 @ 1:14AM|#
"We have pictures of the flags in the trash at the convention.
With Obama signs and DNC signs I might add."
Well, that seals it for me. I'm voting Palin/McCain.
I'm also an idiot.
do-de-doo-doo....
Mike Laursen|9.7.08 @ 2:29AM|#
I think there may be some sort of cause-effect relationship
between the use of drugs and good music.
A lot of Sixties music was performed by musicians who came from
more sophisticated genres and, well not dumbed down, but distilled
their sophistication into pop music.
Many of them learned to sing harmony in churches and glee clubs.
Many had backgrounds in other genres like jazz, folk, or gospel.
And, compared to later generations, they had more formal music
training.
Later generations of rock musicians learned how to play by
listening to rock music. You can see some of the same degeneration
with modern movie and TV writers whose scripts consist primarily of
references to previous movies and pop culture.
Mike Laursen|9.7.08 @ 2:35AM|#
What I like about most about this faux-wordliness? It just
doesn't fucking matter what's actually true.
I thought J sub D summed up the next 59 days pretty well.
Furthermore, how can we ever get the true story of what happened.
Especially, when our witnesses are officials of the two major
parties -- i.e. professional truth spinners.
And furthertymoremore, what sane person gives a rat's ass what
happened with the flags?
|9.7.08 @ 5:50AM|#
Remember when you used to pretend to be a "Single Issue
Voter," and denied vociferously that you were a Republican shill
while you shilled for Republicans?
Joe you are the Dem shill.
|9.7.08 @ 6:03AM|#
The problem is less about the patriotism, and more about the "green" issue. The Dems are willing to make everone in Denver go on a wild goose chase to make sure that the food hasn't travelled a maximum number of miles and consists of the appropriate variation of colors. If they really gave a shit about the environment, they wouldn't throw out thousands of perfectly good flags to go in some landfill.
|9.7.08 @ 6:05AM|#
Lol "Somebody had to" If only aliens would steal our candidates like they did Dole and Clinton.
Fluffy|9.7.08 @ 8:54AM|#
Honestly, I don't care if the miniflags were in the trash or
not.
But if the Republicans claim this is some kind of critical issue, I
would like them to first provide me with documentation about the
fate of every miniflag used at any convention or campaign event of
theirs since 1964.
I would be HIGHLY surprised if they weren't thrown away, and were
instead at some plush Retirement Home for Flags. I would be even
more surprised if they were disposed of in some quasireligious
ceremony involving Marines and white gloves.
OTOH, I would not be surprised AT ALL if the truth is "We always
throw our flags away, too, but we just decided to check on the fate
of Democrat flags for the very first time NOW, because we know that
media figures like John King who suck all the McCain cock they can
get will eat up whatever bullshit story we feed them. And also
because it's different when the Democrats do it."
That's just the kind of guy John McCain is, after all. The kind of
guy who can't even count the delegate votes at his own convention
honestly, even when there's only two votes against him. That kind
of guy would absolutely, positively decide that throwing flags away
is some kind of huge issue, even after Republicans threw flags away
for generations. You know - a cunt.
BakedPenguin|9.7.08 @ 9:09AM|#
Fluffy - so I take it you're not going to Invest in Victory by donating to the McCain ComplianceFund?
BakedPenguin|9.7.08 @ 9:11AM|#
Ha ha ha. I just noticed all the Google ads are for mini flags. I love the way context specific ads produce irony more often than relevance.
|9.7.08 @ 9:44AM|#
I truly find it hard to believe that anyone with a single ounce
of common sense is taking McBush seriously. I mean really.
Jiff
http://www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com
|9.7.08 @ 9:53AM|#
Joe you are the Dem shill.
Once again, I'm going to back to What I like about most about
this faux-wordliness? It just doesn't fucking matter what's
actually true.
I don't lie. I don't write bullshit. I have a point of view - whoop
dee fucking doo!
I'm straight with you, and I pass on legitimate information. That
should matter, that should be a pretty significant distinction with
the likes of SIV. And I suspect that, to most readers, it is.
Eric Dondero|9.7.08 @ 10:00AM|#
Something tells me Mr. Monyihan is not a Military Veteran? Let's just call it an educated guess.
Eric Dondero|9.7.08 @ 10:02AM|#
Yup Joe, the McCain Campaign "knows they're going to lose
anyway." Guess that's why Zogby has them up by 4 this
morning.
You're such a great political prognosticator.
BDB|9.7.08 @ 10:14AM|#
Because if it is I wouldn't put too much weight on it since the same firm has Obama leading in North Carolina and Arizona (!). They're online polls which is about as accurate as taking a number from a random number generator.
Naga Sadow|9.7.08 @ 10:15AM|#
Sweet! As soon as Joe notices Dondero's comment he's gonna flip out into Internet Rambo Mode.
|9.7.08 @ 10:31AM|#
Yup Joe, the McCain Campaign "knows they're going to lose
anyway." Guess that's why Zogby has them up by 4 this
morning.
It's called a convention bump, Einstein. At this point after the
Democratic convention, Obama was up eight. In a real,
non-internetz, poll.
But you heard it here first, folks. Eric Dondero, who told us
Romney was a lock, thinks McCain is winning.
BDB|9.7.08 @ 10:37AM|#
It's not even a convention bump. It's a Zogby Interactive Poll, a method of polling so godawfuly inaccurate they won't even include it in the RCP average. Again, the same poll has Obama up in McCain's home state.
Not Eric Dondero|9.7.08 @ 10:50AM|#
Hai guys, lookie! Theres a new pool from Shyster, Cheethem, and Steele polling that says McCain is up +23!!!!!
|9.7.08 @ 11:10AM|#
Apples to apples:
On the Sunday after the Democratic Convention, Gallup has Obama up
8. On the Sunday after the Republican Convention, Gallup has Obama
up 2.
On the Sunday after the Democratic Convention, Rasmussen had Obama
up 3. On the Sunday after the Republican convention, Rasmussen has
the race even.
BDB|9.7.08 @ 11:15AM|#
The only important question is: what will the polls be a week from now after both bounces are gone?
|9.7.08 @ 11:18AM|#
You're going to Tiger games, so your limit is what - 5,000
people or so?
3,000,000+ paying attendees at Comerica Rark last year. Divided by
81 home games gives you a little better than 37K per. They suck
this year so the numbers will be ~30% off.
Winthorpe|9.7.08 @ 11:18AM|#
I'm English so forgive my dumbassery but what's up with McCain's
arms? When he try to clap, he ends up looking like a dwarf. Or a
midget. I forget which one is rude.
Don't worry about getting bored about the coverage. At least you
don't have to listen to the euro-weenies talk about it ALL THE
FUCKING TIME when we don't even get to vote. Shit, I'm European,
and I want to tell us to shut the fuck up.
|9.7.08 @ 11:21AM|#
I heard Palin may be secretly Russian, smuggled across the
Bering Straits as a baby. I demand to see her birth
certificate!
I'd like to see her college transcripts, too. That should be good
for a few snickers.
Really, though, if I'm hiring someone don't I have the
responsibility to check out their educational background?
BDB|9.7.08 @ 11:23AM|#
"Really, though, if I'm hiring someone don't I have the
responsibility to check out their educational background?"
Pug, that's SEXIST! You must be panicked.
|9.7.08 @ 11:31AM|#
Apples to apples:
On the Sunday after the Democratic Convention, Gallup has Obama up
8. On the Sunday after the Republican Convention, Gallup has Obama
up 2.
On the Sunday after the Democratic Convention, Rasmussen had Obama
up 3. On the Sunday after the Republican convention, Rasmussen has
the race even.
Criminy.
Such is the quantitative understanding of those planning our
cities.
Please tell me you're kidding. Just trying to see what you can get
away with?
|9.7.08 @ 11:32AM|#
The only important question is: what will the polls be a
week from now after both bounces are gone?
I think the one on November 4 probably is the one that matters
most. I'm afraid of an Obama administration but I'm fuckin'
petrified of a McCain one. If the donkey party loses this one, mass
seppaku by party leaders is the only honorable option
remaining.
joe,
To close to home? ;-)
|9.7.08 @ 11:39AM|#
Winthorpe,
John McCains shoulders were very badly broken during "enhanced
interrogation techniques" that the United States government no
longer considers torture.
JDM,
Are just going to stand there with your mouth open looking stupid,
or are you going to try to put together some sort of argument?
|9.7.08 @ 11:45AM|#
I'd like to see her college transcripts, too. That should be
good for a few snickers.
Really, though, if I'm hiring someone don't I have the
responsibility to check out their educational
background?
There's this guy I sorta worked for who was a C student at CCNY. He
then rose to the top of his profession and was encouraged to run
for president by many in his party. When asked about his lackluster
academic record and subsequenty success as Chairman of the JCS,
Colin Powell basically said "is this a great country or
what?"
Bill Gates, Harvard dropout.
Winthorpe|9.7.08 @ 11:51AM|#
Crap. I feel like a prize ass. War injuries and all
that...
If I were American, I'd vote for William Shatner.
BDB|9.7.08 @ 11:52AM|#
J Sub-
Joe Biden was a C student at University of Delaware and nearly
flunked out of Syracuse Law. So yeah, they can't really start
talking about academic records.
|9.7.08 @ 12:00PM|#
Bill Gates and Joe Biden have accomplishments over the course of their lives to demonstrate ability beyond what their grades would suggest.
Mr. Green|9.7.08 @ 12:27PM|#
ooh, colonel. come back to the library and use the lead pipe in that magical way
|9.7.08 @ 12:43PM|#
If I were American, I'd vote for William Shatner.
Shatner is Canadian, so no dice. Personally, I'd like to vote for
Charles Bronson, because he is 1) super cool and 2) dead.
"I'm going down to Andy's fix-it shop...to fix him."
|9.7.08 @ 1:09PM|#
Mr. Green | September 7, 2008, 12:27pm | #
ooh, colonel. come back to the library and use the lead pipe in
that magical way
Hey, that's my line.
|9.7.08 @ 2:04PM|#
BDB | September 7, 2008, 11:52am | #
J Sub-
Joe Biden was a C student at University of Delaware and nearly flunked out of Syracuse Law. So yeah, they can't really start talking about academic records.joe | September 7, 2008, 11:58am | #
I didn't think so.
From the
New York Times.
In the latest report, Newsweek says that a videotape of a campaign appearance in New Hampshire, ''especially prized by Joe Biden's rivals,'' shows the Senator asserting that he attended law school on a full academic scholarship. A campaign spokesman said the Senator actually received a partial scholarship from the university based on financial need. Speaking in Anger
He is shown saying, the magazine reports, that he performed badly in his first year but ''ended up in the top half'' of his class. Mr. Biden, who released his law school records last week, finished 76th in his law class of about 85.
Having a mediocre academic record doesn't really hurt you in my
eyes. Puffing it up to impress somebody, whether voter or bar
hottie, does.
|9.7.08 @ 2:35PM|#
J sub D,
"I didn't think so" was addressed to JDM, in response to his
failure to put forward an argument.
JDM,
Are just going to stand there with your mouth open looking stupid,
or are you going to try to put together some sort of
argument?
JDM | September 7, 2008, 11:45am | #
Res Ipsa Loquitur
...
joe | September 7, 2008, 11:58am | #
I didn't think so.
Sorry for the confusion.
|9.7.08 @ 2:36PM|#
Oh, J sub, it might have been a bit more accurate to note that the NYT piece you're quoting refers to an event that took place in 1988.
|9.7.08 @ 4:49PM|#
J sub D,
"I didn't think so" was addressed to JDM, in response to his
failure to put forward an argument.
'Nuff said. That's why I usually use quotes.
|9.7.08 @ 4:52PM|#
Oh, J sub, it might have been a bit more accurate to note
that the NYT piece you're quoting refers to an event that took
place in 1988.
That's why I usually provide links (and did this time).
Can we now assume that Joe Biden no longer, to put it charitably,
exagerrates his resume?
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