U.S. Builds WMD Case Against Syria, Shep Fairey Pleads Guilty, Romney Says He Would Raise Medicare Eligibility Age: P.M. Links

Mike Riggs | February 24, 2012

The State Department is worried about Syria's WMD stores.
Romney would raise Medicare eligibility age.
Afghans: Still pissed!
Feds subpoena Penn State for records related to Sandusky child rape case.
State AGs go after Google's new privacy policy.
Bird flu not so bad, say scientists.
Shepard Fairey pleads guilty in AP case.

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SIV|2.24.12 @ 4:26PM|#

Cleveland babe

db|2.24.12 @ 4:32PM|#

If she blinks so much that they can't get a picture without here eyes completely unobscured, that would be extremely creepy.

|2.24.12 @ 5:21PM|#

I wonder if she hung out in the communist bookstore in Cleveland Heights. When I lived there, I always had an urge to go in there and start stealing books.

|2.24.12 @ 5:44PM|#

Murder Fur Hire!

EscapedWestOfTheBigMuddy|2.24.12 @ 7:05PM|#

$830--850 for a hit!?

Damn, I guess life is cheep in Cleveland.

I read some book allegedly by a 1970s mob hitman, and he said he got $1500 and the cost of the weapon. Must be deflation of something.

No|2.25.12 @ 8:58AM|#

It's just Clevelanders. Ask Warty.

Hugh Akston|2.24.12 @ 4:26PM|#

The State Department is worried about Syria's WMD stores.

I'm getting the strangest feeling of deja vu.

|2.24.12 @ 4:29PM|#

Obama really is Bush III.

Hey TEAM BLUE, how do you like rooting for Bush? That shit in your mouth taste good?

o3|2.24.12 @ 4:52PM|#

i musta missed the invasion of syria. details please

|2.24.12 @ 4:59PM|#

When it happens, you will be on here defending it.

|2.24.12 @ 4:50PM|#

Saddam sent his WMD stores to Syria right before the invasion. Only right wing nuts believed that before. Now look for it to be conventional wisdom that everyone has known all along.

|2.24.12 @ 4:51PM|#

"Hey, Syria, America is about to fuck my shit up over these WMDs, would mind hanging on to them for a while?"

"Sure Saddam, what's the worst that could happen?"

|2.24.12 @ 4:56PM|#

Saddam had them in the first gulf war and didn't use them because his commanders refused to. What was he going to do with them? So he moved them to Syria figuring if he survived the war, he could get them back then.

Sudden|2.24.12 @ 8:26PM|#

"Sure Saddam, what's the worst that could happen?"

When you put in the Satan from South Park voice, it actually makes sense.

shrike|2.24.12 @ 4:51PM|#

Only right-wing nuts believe that now.

shriek |2.24.12 @ 7:46PM|#

Only a Team Blue shill would vote for Obama.

o3|2.24.12 @ 4:55PM|#

john missed the link in Brian's piece about Air Force Lt. Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski.

o4|2.24.12 @ 4:56PM|#

oh wait, the LTC is a muslim traitor...or something. what was i thinking?

cynical|2.24.12 @ 10:38PM|#

I myself am amused at the thought.

The Other Kevin|2.24.12 @ 4:53PM|#

This time it's different, because they have photographic proof that Syria has mobile WMD labs in train box cars.

shrike|2.24.12 @ 4:58PM|#

It was a stroke of genius on Cheney's part to get Colin Powell to lie for him in 2003 at the UN.

People knew Cheney was a snake but trusted Powell. Then they fired Powell. The Bush Mob was ruthless.

|2.24.12 @ 5:28PM|#

Yeah it had nothing to do with Powell being the Sec. of State or anything.

shrike|2.24.12 @ 5:40PM|#

Powell initially refused to address the UN until they leaned on him. He insisted that George Tenant sit right behind him to lend some credibility to the lies he told.

"Mobile chemical weapons labs" - that was some heavy bullshit they sold.

RoboCain|2.24.12 @ 6:03PM|#

That was Breaking Bad, you idiot.

db|2.24.12 @ 5:51PM|#

Those are balls!

Comcast Sucks (Coxswain Hardy)|2.24.12 @ 4:27PM|#

I'm getting the strangest feeling of deja vu.

No shit.

|2.24.12 @ 4:29PM|#

I think we all know the Syrians would use WMD if they had them.

Better safe than sorry.

Cheney|2.24.12 @ 5:04PM|#

If there is a 1% chance we need Shock n' Awe followed by a 10 year occupation.

|2.24.12 @ 5:31PM|#

Better start packing pallets full of $100 bills just to be ready for the aftermath.

Barack Obama|2.24.12 @ 8:30PM|#

And thanks to me, it was only nine years, with an additional year of non-military civilian contractors finishing it off.

Fist of Etiquette|2.24.12 @ 4:30PM|#

Days before a pivotal primary, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Friday he would raise the eligibility age for Medicare as he looks to show he’s willing to curtail government benefits in the long run.

This just in: Mitt Romney wants old people eating cat medicine.

H man|2.24.12 @ 5:23PM|#

Better them than me.

Old People|2.24.12 @ 5:42PM|#

Oh, we'll eat you too.

EscapedWestOfTheBigMuddy|2.24.12 @ 7:08PM|#

No, no, no!

It's the rich you eat. The rich, not the young!

What kind of slogan would "Eat the young" be, huh? I mean, seriously.

Montani Semper Liberi|2.24.12 @ 4:31PM|#

We can't invade Syria before we have a catchy song like Iraq and Roll or Bomb Bomb Iran

A Serious Man|2.24.12 @ 4:34PM|#

Syria Fight Fever.

Doctor Whom|2.24.12 @ 4:40PM|#

You really don't remember.
Was it something Assad said?
Are the voices in your head
Calling "Syria"?

db|2.24.12 @ 4:41PM|#

The ASCAP song database is useless, is what I have learned here.

|2.24.12 @ 4:58PM|#

There's this war that's been on my mind
All the time.
Sy-Sy-Syria, oh, oh.

Now they can't even hear my plane,
But I think I'll bomb them just the same.
Sy-Sy-Syria, oh, oh.

|2.24.12 @ 5:02PM|#

God damn, dude. You've sunk so low as to modify a Phil Collins song? What happened to you?

|2.24.12 @ 5:05PM|#

Why ruin a good song with a stupid war?

|2.24.12 @ 5:08PM|#

Touche.

|2.24.12 @ 5:12PM|#

That song is evil catchy, too. You hate it, but it won't go away. Just like the Middle East. And Madonna.

Nancy Pelosi|2.24.12 @ 5:03PM|#

Are you Syria-ous?

EDG reppin' LBC|2.24.12 @ 4:33PM|#

The Penn State investigation is getting worse every day. The next couple years of court proceedings are going to reveal some seriously fucked up information. I just hope when it's all over, that I will still be a fan of college football.

kinnath|2.24.12 @ 4:34PM|#

The Shepard Fairey story makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.

|2.24.12 @ 4:47PM|#

This.

I'm not even going to consult with my doctor after feeling like that for more than 4 hours.

|2.24.12 @ 4:56PM|#

Hope floats.

Zeb|2.24.12 @ 5:01PM|#

He certainly did some scuzzy shit that he deserves to be punished for. But being sued for basing a painting on a photograph seems a bit much.

kinnath|2.24.12 @ 5:10PM|#

Without reading the actual details of the case (and working from a dim memory of the original complaint), the Fairey poster appears to be a direct "posterization" of the actual photograph. If so, this is a cut-and-dried copyright infringement.

Yet, even as a strong proponent of IP (including copyright), I think the complaint by API was bullshit (there is no way they suffered any financial loss from the claimed copyright infringement).

But I am delighted to see the bastard tampered with evidence in an ongoing federal case.

No|2.25.12 @ 9:00AM|#

there is no way they suffered any financial loss

Irrelevant. Not that you could possible know.

|2.24.12 @ 5:18PM|#

I guess he lied to whomever was investigating the copyright case.

I think he panicked initially and ended up making things worse...

Fist of Etiquette|2.24.12 @ 4:35PM|#

Earlier this year Shepard Fairey settled his civil case with the Associated Press over the misuse of Mannie Garcia’s photo of Barack Obama as the basis for his ubiquitous Hope poster.

Next up, fraud charges.

kinnath|2.24.12 @ 4:40PM|#

How do you get fraud?

Hugh Akston|2.24.12 @ 5:20PM|#

The poster said "HOPE."

Sevo|2.24.12 @ 5:28PM|#

It'd be worse if it said "change".

Fluffy|2.24.12 @ 5:35PM|#

Yeah, people actually had hope, so you can't make that the basis for a fraud claim.

But if it had said Change they could just have plead change for the worse.

Fist of Etiquette|2.24.12 @ 6:07PM|#

I consider the hope people had negligent at best and fraudulent at worst.

Sudden|2.24.12 @ 8:33PM|#

Hope is the denial of reality.

|2.24.12 @ 4:39PM|#

I am driving to Anaheim with sloopy while listening to him passionately sing along to My Fair Lady. Life is good.

We are going to be in Long Beach tonight with EDG if anyone is down to hang out.

Hugh Akston|2.24.12 @ 4:41PM|#

Where at?

EDG reppin' LBC|2.24.12 @ 4:59PM|#

4th Street pub crawl. Maybe dinner/beer at Congregation Ale House, then Beachwood BBQ, House of Hayden(?), Clancy's, The V Room, The Red Room, Fern's, Ashley's, and The Pike.

There is Reggae at Alex's Bar, Goth Metal at Que Sera, and Karaoke at The Prospector. Too bad, no punk rock tonight.

Or we may just end up stuck at whatever bar is cheap, cool, and good. All SoCal Reasonoids are invited!

Hugh Akston|2.24.12 @ 5:21PM|#

I'd love to meet y'all, but that sounds just awful. Lemme know if you ever get together for a quiet drink somewhere.

EDG reppin' LBC|2.24.12 @ 5:35PM|#

Come on out Hugh. We'll probably get stuck at House of Hayden, anyways.

Hugh Akston|2.24.12 @ 5:53PM|#

Alright, I'll email sloopy.

Fair warning though: I'm a bigger buzz kill than Buzz Killington.

Sudden|2.24.12 @ 8:36PM|#

Seriously? All my fellow SoCal reason brothers have to pick drinking night during my lent vow to not drink? Damn, y'all are cruel.

As an aside, Hugh and I being SFV guys had not interest in it anyway. Like any good Angeleno, we recognize that everything south of the 10 is filth (Palos Verdes excepted).

Comcast Sucks (Coxswain Hardy)|2.24.12 @ 4:40PM|#

Am I reading the other threads nonstop libel threats correctly, that John, Suki, Warty, Epi, rather, and SF are all the same poster?

db|2.24.12 @ 4:44PM|#

Huh? Ive been busy all day so havent been following. Summary plz?

|2.24.12 @ 4:46PM|#

What the fuck are you talking about, dude?

The Other Kevin|2.24.12 @ 4:46PM|#

rather is trying to build a WMD case against John or something.

Zeb|2.24.12 @ 5:06PM|#

And John got pissed because someone (I'm not going to speculate) called him by his real name and called him a child molester.

|2.24.12 @ 5:15PM|#

Isn't that per se defamation? I don't know where the law is on this now, but that used to be extra dangerous, because damages were presumed.

Hugh Akston|2.24.12 @ 5:23PM|#

That's actually how Warty got out of his defamation lawsuit, by threatening to countersue.

Turns out that even addressing someone by the name "Warty" is considered defamation.

|2.24.12 @ 5:27PM|#

That's an automatic million in damages.

|2.24.12 @ 5:36PM|#

My name was outlawed in Australia, you know. After what we call The Incident.

|2.24.12 @ 4:47PM|#

The Singularity Approacheth.

|2.24.12 @ 4:48PM|#

No.

Tonio|2.24.12 @ 4:51PM|#

No. It is suspected that "rather" is responsible for the White Indian posts, and the constant annoying posts with the ever-changing handles but with consistent style and content.

Warty, Epi and Sug are targets of Anonyposter's wrath, and it seems unlikely to me that they are responsible. Also, John, but to a lesser extent.

Suki is the online persona of a male poster, forget who. It has a blog.

cynical|2.24.12 @ 10:51PM|#

John Tagliaferro, I think. Something like that.

Tonio|2.24.12 @ 4:52PM|#

Also, Warty says he has more on this, but doesn't post that here. Write to him.

|2.24.12 @ 5:07PM|#

Yup. You cracked the code, brah. Good work, brah.

Tater|2.24.12 @ 5:18PM|#

My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

The Other Kevin|2.24.12 @ 5:28PM|#

Actually none of the H&R posters are real. All posts are written by a guy they keep in the back room of Reason HQ. Those ads you see on your right fetch a high premium due to the large number of lurkers.

|2.24.12 @ 5:30PM|#

"The back room"? Have some fucking respect. It's called The GloryHolarium, dude.

A Serious Man|2.24.12 @ 4:45PM|#

Frothy strikes back at conspiracy between Mitt Romney and Ron Paul to sabotage his campaign. Could it be that he's finally unraveling after his bad debate performance?

http://dailycaller.com/2012/02.....f-no-deal/

db|2.24.12 @ 4:46PM|#

Whatever happens, it's God's Will.

Loki|2.24.12 @ 6:05PM|#

Vote Whores: Episode V: The Frothy Strikes Back!

I couldn't stop myself, sorry.

Coeus|2.24.12 @ 4:46PM|#

This cracked me up:

The owner of the establishment recounted the harrowing ordeal for a local news team: "I was speaking to the employee at that shop and I thought he said, ‘I can smell shit.' And I go, I said, ‘No shit, it's a gay back room,'" he said. "And he goes, ‘No, I smell smoke." I said, ‘You'd better go check that out.' And then, before I knew it, the whole fucking thing's on fire."

http://jezebel.com/5887918/sex.....uckatorium

|2.24.12 @ 4:48PM|#

And then, before I knew it, the whole fucking thing's on fire.

Also, fried chicken, and before I knew it, the whole fucking things on fire.

Ice Nine|2.24.12 @ 4:53PM|#

Maybe O3 could pop in and translate all that go/said thing for us.

o3|2.24.12 @ 4:59PM|#

dont wanna. end of day. good luck

|2.24.12 @ 4:49PM|#

Am I reading the other threads nonstop libel threats

There's yer trouble.

Loki|2.24.12 @ 4:55PM|#

The State Department is worried about Syria's WMD stores.

It's like deja vu all over again...

Except, where'e the "anti-~~Bush~~war movement" now?

The Other Kevin|2.24.12 @ 5:10PM|#

Just follow the slurping sound.

|2.24.12 @ 4:55PM|#

The State Department is worried about Syria's WMD stores.

Ken Shultz is worried about the State Department.

We sooooooooo don't need to get involved in this.

Marty Feldman's Eyes|2.24.12 @ 4:57PM|#

Math fail:

How the U.S. Could Pressure North Korea Tomorrow: Quit the $100 Bill

"The won was devalued by 100 percent, which meant 1,000 won suddenly had the purchasing power of 10 won."

*chortle*

|2.24.12 @ 5:01PM|#

Wow.

David Wolman|2.24.12 @ 5:44PM|#

When I got the job I was told there would be no math.

a professor of women's studies|2.24.12 @ 6:23PM|#

Math has no applicability to the real world, unlike what I teach.

|2.24.12 @ 5:00PM|#

Romney would raise Medicare eligibility age.

I know people who will howl with rage when they hear this. Because they are anxiously waiting to get their Free Medicines!

|2.24.12 @ 5:02PM|#

No. the howl you would here is from the insurance companies anxiously waiting to dump their older and less profitable customers onto medicare.

Invisible Finger|2.24.12 @ 6:25PM|#

The older and less profitable customers are the still the most profitable voting bloc for public officials.

Fatty Bolger|2.24.12 @ 5:45PM|#

Maybe, but this seems to be gaining acceptance.

Invisible Finger|2.24.12 @ 6:25PM|#

Yes, like unions they are willing to sacrifice people too young to be eligible for acceptance into the group to take the hit.

Barry Zuckercorn|2.24.12 @ 5:02PM|#

"The State Department is worried about Syria's WMD stores."

Those are balls. When photographed at this angle they look like landscapes, but those are balls.

db|2.24.12 @ 5:57PM|#

I should have scrolled down.

Ice Nine|2.24.12 @ 5:03PM|#

(Like the Thai cockfighting trainers who became infected after giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to their sick fighting birds.)

That would have been bizarrely interesting to see - especially when the chicken's little bitty lungs exploded from a human mouthful of vigorously insufflated air.

RoboCain|2.24.12 @ 6:12PM|#

They usually just blow in the roosters face.

Rich|2.24.12 @ 5:08PM|#

Afghans: Still pissed!

Damn. Hope nobody urinates on a dead protester.

Old Mexican|2.24.12 @ 5:13PM|#

But what about the Aghans? Are the Aghans still pissed as well?

|2.24.12 @ 5:17PM|#

They're pissed Aghan and Aghan.

db|2.24.12 @ 5:57PM|#

It was much better than "Cats."

Xenocles|2.24.12 @ 5:15PM|#

I liked the Afghans better when they were just blankets.

Afghan Hound|2.24.12 @ 5:18PM|#

What am I, chopped liver?

Afghan Whigs|2.24.12 @ 5:42PM|#

What are we...unlistenable musicians?

|2.24.12 @ 6:22PM|#

Ha-haw!

Koreans|2.24.12 @ 5:42PM|#

Yes. Delicious chopped liver.

Loki|2.24.12 @ 5:34PM|#

Of course they're still pissed it's Friday.

Afghan social calender
Sunday: Riots, angry because of [circle all that apply: Muhammed cartoons, western decadence, korans burned, teh jooz, other:___________]
Monday: Looting, enraged
Tuesday: Arson, incensed
Wednesday: more riots, apoplectic
Thursday: Throw acid in school girls' faces, pissed off
Friday: more looting, still pissed
Saturday: Harvest poppies for opiates (seasonal), mildly enraged (gotta take it easy once in a while, right?)

sir lurks-a-lot|2.24.12 @ 10:25PM|#

god help me, i laughed

Capitalisms|2.25.12 @ 11:16AM|#

Now googling 'two marines one protestor'

Slap the Enlightened!|2.24.12 @ 5:15PM|#

England - no longer dreaming.

Gus|2.24.12 @ 5:17PM|#

HEY, EVERYBODY: You know how Mormons "baptize" dead people who weren't Mormons — including Holocaust victims — because Mormons believe they have a right to choose Mormonism for the deceased? And you know how the Mormon Church says that being gay is a choice? The same church that doesn't think you should have a choice about being posthumously baptized? Well, now you can choose homosexuality for dead Mormons! Just go to www.AllDeadMormonsAreNowGay.com, enter the name of a deceased Mormon or ask the site to find a dead Mormon for you, andâ€”presto! — that dead Mormon gets to have a gay afterlife!

Gus|2.24.12 @ 5:19PM|#

Fuck!

http://www.alldeadmormonsarenowgay.com

Loki|2.24.12 @ 5:37PM|#

Is there a way to get one to be Satan's bitch? I've heard he's single again since he broke up with Saddam...

|2.24.12 @ 5:56PM|#

The right way to go about it would be to gay marry dead Mormons against their will.

So you have someone with ability to marry someone hold a service where they marry, I say you start by marrying Brigham Young to Abraham Lincoln.

If they don't like gay people holding ceremonies to gay marry Mormons, then...

So, they shouldn't pronounce them gay--gay marry them instead!

|2.24.12 @ 5:25PM|#

OK, so who can top this for diversity? Put your ipod on random. What are the next 5 songs that come on.

sloopy's and mine were:

Alwayz Into Somethin' - NWA
Breaking The Law - Judas Priest
Poor Little Buttercup from HMS Pinafore
Love ->Building on Fire - Talking Heads
409 - Beach Boys

Slap the Enlightened!|2.24.12 @ 5:36PM|#

Try this one...

Loki|2.24.12 @ 6:11PM|#

Dream On - Aerosmith
Duel of the Fates - John Williams
The Kill - 30 seconds to Mars
There's Something Weird in the Fridge Today - Weird Al Yankovic
Master of Puppets - Metallica

nicole|2.24.12 @ 6:11PM|#

Very few things in general can top Love --> Building on Fire. Especially in context. I hope y'all were singing loud!

Charlotte Sometimes|2.25.12 @ 10:45AM|#

"Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping" - Grouper
"Vanished" - Crystal Castles
"Firestarter" - The Prodigy
"Gerudo Valley" - The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra
"Always With Me" (from Spirited Away) - Carl Orrje Piano Ensemble

|2.25.12 @ 12:22PM|#

Ok, I tried it with my phone... but it came up with 2 selections from "the Backyardigans" and a couple from "Sesame Street".

So let's just pretend that it landed on Nas, AC/DC, Linda Ronstadt w/ Nelson Riddle, Aerosmith and Maynard Ferguson.

They're all on there too... but I have small kids now, so it's all "The Wiggles", all the time.

Charlotte Sometimes|2.25.12 @ 1:15PM|#

LMAO, Cyto--the first time I tried I came up with "S.I.M.P." (from Phineas and Ferb) and the Pokemon Christmas Medley. I have several playlists for my kids :)

db|2.25.12 @ 4:34PM|#

Blue Öyster Cult - Career of Evil
Van Ha[gar]len - Get Up
They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul
The Doors - Peace Frog
The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds

A Serious Man|2.24.12 @ 5:26PM|#

Happy birthday, Edward James Olmos.

|2.24.12 @ 5:29PM|#

"That’s the kind of balance you need," said Geithner. "Why is that the case? Because if you don't try to generate more revenues through tax reform, if you don't ask, you know, the most fortunate Americans to bear a slightly larger burden of the privilege of being an American, then you have to -- the only way to achieve fiscal sustainability is through unacceptably deep cuts in benefits for middle class seniors, or unacceptably deep cuts in national security."

Go die in a fire Timmy

http://www.weeklystandard.com/.....31859.html

Loki|2.24.12 @ 5:39PM|#

Does he consider himself to be "one of the most fortunate Americans"? I think I know the answer already considering he's a known tax evader.

Geithner|2.24.12 @ 5:44PM|#

America is privileged to have me, and everyone else born to the ~~overlord kleptocracy at the highest echelons of the public bureaucracy~~ conscientious servants of the public good.

|2.24.12 @ 5:47PM|#

That a tax cheat would say that with a straight face is just appalling. They really don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks.

Night Elf Mohawk|2.24.12 @ 5:51PM|#

It's such a privilege that they want to tax the fuck out of you when you say you want out.

Staying is a privilege. Having a passport is a privilege. They're just so fucking kind to us it makes me weep.

Sevo|2.24.12 @ 5:35PM|#

Nothing about "New York to release ratings for 18,000 teachers"?
Well, in the no kidding bucket: "union objects"
http://www.latimes.com/news/na.....3183.story
Seems teachers can't be rated by this system, and if you tried another, I'd bet the union would claim they couldn't be rated by that system, either.
Nothing about whether the dead-beats can be fired.

Killazonthrun|2.24.12 @ 5:39PM|#

Today, calling it the “worst thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Fairey pleaded guilty in the related criminal case, which was opened back in 2009 after he admitted to submitting false images and destroying others during his legal battle with the news organization. Apparently he now faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison, and $250,000 in fines for contempt of court, with his sentencing date set for July 16th. Do you think this means no new posters for Obama’s reelection campaign?

Holy shit. I hate the part of the art world that idiot represents more than anyone, but to make a criminal case out of it where the tax payers have to fork out his room and board for six months? That is just stupid.

Arthur C Phartsi|2.24.12 @ 5:46PM|#

No, that's Performance Art.

R|2.24.12 @ 5:47PM|#

It only became a criminal case when the dumbass "submitt[ed] false images and destroy[ed] others" (also known as destruction of evidence and tampering with evidence).

That was rather stupid on his part.

Killazontherun|2.24.12 @ 5:56PM|#

I understand that. I object to that being a good reason to be put someone in jail. Jail is a disgusting institution that should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Loki|2.24.12 @ 5:52PM|#

I would think the "worst thing he's ever done" would be that infantile HOPE poster.

|2.24.12 @ 5:50PM|#

that sounds just awful. Lemme know if you ever get together for a quiet drink somewhere.

*outright, prolonged laughter*

|2.24.12 @ 6:00PM|#

"Afghanistan: deadliest day of Koran violence"

Why are we still in a country populated by troglodytes that place the value of a religious relic above peace and human life? And why give accolades to the Wuss-in-Chief who should have scolded the Afghanis and told them to get their priorities straight rather than giving that miserable apology?

Andy Warhol|2.24.12 @ 6:07PM|#

Recently back from the dead, I have been researching into the most current taboos to puncture, and I have an idea for a follow up to my epic 'Empire.'

I'm going to take a copy of the Koran, sit it out on the ground in a rough patch of nature, and film it for an entire year as it fades, withers and eventually disintegrates. I'll condense the film into a three hour piece. Will the art world still recognize my genius, or are they so far gone down the route of politically correct nihilism they'll accuse me of committing a sacrilege? Only one way to find out!

Invisible Finger|2.24.12 @ 6:22PM|#

Romney would raise Medicare eligibility age.

What a surprise - age raised for anyone born AFTER the baby boomers are unaffected by the age raise. God forbid the ME generation take a hit what with their houses going down in value.

GILMORE|2.24.12 @ 6:50PM|#

The State Department is worried about Syria's WMD stores.

Well, shit... it's an election year. Gotta rustle up some new existential threat to world peace! Plus, Arabs *love* it when we keep intervening in their domestic issues.

Good think Russia's massive nuclear stockpiles are so well managed and protected. Otherwise... that might be a problem!

Coeus|2.24.12 @ 7:01PM|#

Jezebel decides to slut shame a Koch:

http://jezebel.com/5888159/maj.....with-women

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 7:27PM|#

Why is this surprising? The Kochs donate to the ACLU and public television, both libertine institutions.

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 7:44PM|#

Guy dresses like zombie Mohammed in Halloween parada. Guy attacks the zombie. Judge acquits attacker, saying to the victim:

"...I challenge you sir to show me where it says in the Koran that Mohammad arose and walked among the dead....In many other … Arabic speaking countries...it can be punishable by death and it frequently is in their society....

" Then what you have done is you have completely trashed [Muslim observers'] essence, their being. They find it very, very, very, offensive.

I’m a Muslim, I find it offensive. I find what’s on the other side of this [sign] very offensive ["only Mohammed can rape America"]. But you have that right, but you’re way outside your bounds of first amendment rights."

http://volokh.com/2012/02/24/c.....t-parader/

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 7:49PM|#

This was in Pennsylvania.

Video (showing shadow of attacker and victim):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP-X3hpCfR8

The "Zombie Pope" was left alone, of course.

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 7:50PM|#

I should say alleged attacker.

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 8:54PM|#

PS - maybe he isn't a Muslim, just a right-not-to-be-offended type.

Coeus|2.24.12 @ 7:53PM|#

I'm gonna wear my mohammad stick figure t-shirt tomorrow. Fuck these guys.

Coeus|2.24.12 @ 7:58PM|#

Russell says:
Well, the article says that it was a District Judge. I am going to assume that mean a magisterial district judge which is the lowest court in PA. It handles summary offense, preliminary hearings and small claims cases.

There is no requirement to be a licensed attorney to run for this position. All one has to do is pass a test showing a basic understanding of the law. For example, the two magisterial districts that cover my home township are currently sat by two former police officers.

So, it is entirely possible this judge, Mark Martin, has an imperfect understanding of the law.

Russell

You poor bastard. Time to move.

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 8:03PM|#

Let us not pick on lay judges. There are plenty of legally-trained people who care as little about free speech as he does. The attacker's lawyer praised the judge and said it was what he [the lawyer] would have done:

http://jonathanturley.org/2012.....-a-doofus/

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 8:04PM|#

"[the alleged attacker's] counsel, R. Mark Thomas who called this lecture “a good dressing down by the judge. The so-called victim was the antagonist and we introduced evidence that clearly showed his attitude toward Muslims. The judge didn’t do anything I wouldn’t have done if I was in that position.”"

cw|2.24.12 @ 8:09PM|#

Well, thank Allah he's not a judge.

Coeus|2.24.12 @ 8:50PM|#

Let us not pick on lay judges.

Actually, it was the fact that both of the judges in his town were cops.

cw|2.24.12 @ 8:07PM|#

But you have that right, but you’re way outside your bounds of first amendment rights.

Uh, contradiction much? I thought a judge's duty was to protect individual rights, whether (I'd say especially if) they are offensive.

I challenge you sir to show me where it says in the Koran that Mohammad arose and walked among the dead....In many other … Arabic speaking countries...it can be punishable by death and it frequently is in their society....

And your point? Who gives a shit what some other country's laws are in regard to offensive speech? You interpret U.S. law, numbnuts.

This should have been an opened-and-closed case.

cynical|2.24.12 @ 11:08PM|#

I think some people owe Oklahoma an apology.

Coeus|2.24.12 @ 8:59PM|#

Fuck all of the cop apologists who pull the "legislator's fault" card.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Narcotics agents and prosecutors on the front line of Oklahoma's war against methamphetamine sought a seemingly simple fix: limit access to a key ingredient of the powerful stimulant by requiring a doctor's prescription to buy it.

http://www.policeone.com/drug-.....the-books/

Eduard van Haalen|2.24.12 @ 9:15PM|#

And the obligatory corporation-baiting: Profit-hungry pharmaceutical companies versus heroic cops and prosecutors fighting the Scourge of Meth.

Yes, let's limit inconvenience cold-sufferers, make them get a doctor's note saying "she has a cold" before they can get certain cold medicines.

Don't have a note from your dr. saying you have a cold? Well, then, how do we know you're not going to make meth with your pills?

Why not require people who buy paint thinners to have a note from someone in authority that they want to use them for a legitimate purpose, not to inhale them?

Don't get me started on kitchen knives - there's an epidemic of people cutting themselves, do you think people should just buy knives without a permission slip?