Reason Morning Links: Budget Talks Hit Crisis Mode, Japan Plugs Leak, Dramatic Clash in the Ivory Coast

• Budget talks come down to the wire.
• Japan plugs leak that was sending radioactive material into the Pacific Ocean.
• Ivory Coast conflict may be nearing a resolution.
• Here is your latest Palin controversy.
• Donald Trump's poll numbers improving in New Hampshire.

Comments

[Joh[nn]y Lo[n]torso]

The Golden Gays
What happens when four nutjobs all see the same Therapist about their obsession with The Golden Girls?

[Joh[nn]y Lo[n]torso]

Wide Stance Productions presents
The Golden Gays

[SugarFree]

Just for you, Johnny.

[Marshall Gill]

No way in Hell I would click on that link. Even its potential made me trow up a little.

[Marshall Gill]

trow? Throw

[Joh[nn]y Lo[n]torso]

Thanks for the Betty White side nipples, SF.

[rather]

She actually does have nude shots
http://jezebel.com/#!5743787/betty-whites-nude-photos-are-frankly-adorable

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

It's actually quite tame and completely safe. Really.

[Charlie Brown]

Argh!!

[Joh[nn]y Lo[n]torso]

Software firm wants naked web coders
A Buckinghamshire computer software company is looking to recruit female web coders who are prepared to work naked.

Washington Post and CBS receiving money from Obamacare slush fund

[Big Cy]

Is that Lobster Girl in the foreground?

[Ice Nine]

Wouldn't they need, you know, sort of special office chairs?

[SugarFree]

Nah. A supply of disinfectant wipes would take care of it. Or pleasure swings.

[hmm]

Ranger Rick is all over this.

[Quifter]

That's what I do!

[Old Mexican]

Re: Johny Longtorso,

A Buckinghamshire computer software company is looking to recruit female web coders who are prepared to work naked.

Is the company going to provide plastic sheeting for the chair seats? Because, otherwise... Ewwwwww!!!!

[John]

I don't care, Obama is awesome.

http://wizbangblog.com/content.....wesome.php

[deified]

As the stupidest country on Planet Earth, the United States of America demands to be ruled Donald Trump. Vox Populi, Vox Dei.

[Otto]

I've said it previously - if we're going to go broke, we might as well be led by someone who's already had experience bankrupting companies. Since Dubya's had his two terms, that leaves the Donald.

[NV Hooker]

"The government is not going to be shut down -- yet," Reid said .... "There's still air in the tire ...."

"There's still lead in the pencil."

[Brett L]

the Associated Press reported that the Candie's Foundation released its 2009 tax information, revealing that Bristol was paid a salary of $262,500.

Fucking hell.

[Brett L]

Fucking squirrels! Damn your threading this comment.

[Tim]

Maybe if you weren't having martini's for breakfast you wouldn't have these problems. Now put down your blackberry and drive.

[hmm]

Martinis for breakfast saves lives...

[DNS]

Now put down your blackberry and drive.

And the roach clip too.

[SugarFree]

He has a hands-free roach clip app.

[Brett L]

No martinis before lunch. Everyone knows mimosas or bloody marys are the only way to start a day.

[db]

I always loved the 70-year-old ladies stepping out of their RVs at 0630 on Penn State football game days, dressed to the nines, bloody Mary in one hand, cigarette in the other.

[Tim]

There's still pork in the pig.

[hmm]

I'm guessing you live in Arkansas?

[Ice Nine]

Wasn't that in the Bristol Palin thread?

[John]

As long as Timmy can still print money, the party is never over.

[Ben DNS Bernanke]

Party on Timmay! Party on Ben! Run! GET TO THE CHOPPAH!

[Joh[nn]y Lo[n]torso]

Watching the [WI] election results

[Ice Nine]

Um, is it just me or were those Tekka Maki rolls sort of glowing?

[Tim]

Yes! ABC ran a scare piece on ATOMIC TUNA last night. They are on their way from Japan to Washington State this month, by the time they reach our coast they could be MUTATED!

[SugarFree]

Atomic Tuna? Is she back in town? I thought she was going to strip on the West Cost for the rest of the year.

[DNS]

Atomic Tuna? Is she back in town?

If you can't tuna piano...

[TrickyVic]

Atomic Tuna?

Jorma Kaukonen has a new band?

[Rich]

Wow! That's cooler than dancing shrimp!

[hmm]

Spiderman powers here I come!

[SugarFree]

SpiderTunaman powers here I come!

[hmm]

All I need for those powers is a bottle of whiskey and some free time.

[Lord Humungus]

I get more lolz from this political site than any other.

[Almanian]

Two with egg lolz

[DNS]

Lacist!

[Ice Nine]

ATOMIC TUNA last night. They are on their way from Japan to Washington State this month, by the time they reach our coast they could be MUTATED!

I'm guessin' that Shogo Tomiyama is going to be all over that.

[John]

Atomic Tuna. Now that is a great name for a girl band if there ever was one.

[Mike M.]

Looks like the Japanese have just found a faster way to kill all the whales.

[Zeb]

Who knows, maybe Tuna cancer will be the next great delicacy.

[SugarFree]

Lenin Cat

[hmm]

Lenin Cat is so right.

[Red Rider]

Too bad he's on the litterbox of history.

[Phil N. DeBlanc]

"seems like ______________ has lost his mind... it means that there is something wrong with this guy. ... We cannot sit and wait for him to become reasonable."

[The American People?]

Paul Ryan?

[Michelle Obama]

Joe Biden?

[Almanian]

Gary Busey? Meatloaf?

[Otto]

Charlie Sheen?

[TrickyVic]

Mel Gibson

[SugarFree]

Length of A Man's Taint Directly Related To His Fertility

You learn something new everyday. Unfortunately, like in this case, its usually something about other dudes' dicks and balls.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

Don't judge a man until you've measured the length of his taint, or walked a mile in his shoes, or something.

[MNG]

Thank God, I thought you were going to say walk a mile in his taint, and I'm eating breakfast.

[hmm]

Some people need a foot in the taint, so this is clearly not only plausible, but possibly a good idea.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

A foot-long taint? Damn!

[hmm]

According to this study that's a man with Michael Phelps like sperm.

[Almanian]

Say it taint so, pa, say it taint so!!

[The Gobbler]

"A foot-long taint? Damn!"

You can get those on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair.

[Crunchbird]

according to a study published on Friday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives

"Environmental Health Perspectives", my ass!

[hmm]

...and reason comments slow down as people head to the bathroom with the ruler they borrowed from their office neighbor.

[Ice Nine]

Not if they work for that Buckinghamshire software company.

[rather]

lol

[Lord Humungus]

taint that the truth

[Troy]

Sugarfree was the only one smart enough to cite this incredibly important article.

By the way, have you ever tried to measure your own taint? It is a pain in the ass.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

It is a pain in the ass.

Well don't hook the dummy end of the tape measure in your bunghole and it might not hurt so much.

[cynical]

Are you trying to summon the... you-know-who?

[DNS]

Both polls showed that the field remains loose and spread out

Much like The Donald's choices in wives. NTTAWWT. SLD.

[kilroy]

Please wake me! Trump or Romney? Those are really the choices? For fucks sake!

[Tim]

Trump/Palin 2012
Stupid bastard/dumb bitch
Giving us what we deserve.

[John]

I am increasingly convinced it is going to be Bachman. Basically the media has shot their wad on Palin. Bachman is out raising Romney right now. IF Palin doesn't run, Bachman will pick up all of Palin's supporters and become the "anybody but Romney" candidate.

[DNS]

Bachman will pick up all of Palin's supporters and become the "anybody but Romney" candidate.

I hope so. She's smart, witty, an energetic speaker and has courage, something sorely lacking in pols these days. I would sooner vote for The Obama than vote for Mittens.

[John]

Bachman has a ton of balls. I love to watch her slap the media around. And what the media did to Palin they could only do once. They can't pull the same stunt with Bachman. For that reason they are going to have a hard time going after her.

[rather]

And what the media did to Palin they could only do once.

I wish that were true

[Gray Ghost]

And what the media did to Palin they could only do once. They can't pull the same stunt with Bachman.

Why can't they, John? Bachmann's certainly not lacking for interesting quotes.

[John]

Because they will have less credibility this time. The won with Palin because they made such a stink average people who normally pay no attention to politics figured there must be something going on and followed the line. But that dog only hunts for so long. When the media starts eating the furniture over Bachman people are going to wonder "didn't they do this last time?" It won't be as effective.

[Zeb]

And Bachman has the advantage over Palin of actually having been a somewhat successful politician.

[lol]

She's smart too. NE elite law school smart. They have to go with "crazy" 'cause "dumb" ain't gonna work.

[kilroy]

I'd like to see the LP put Rand Paul on the ticket. I don't expect he'd win, but with his Senate seat and past press, I think it'd be hard to exclude him from the debates.

[Slippy Toad]

The LP doesn't put in people that would make sense, they put in Bob Barr.

[generic Brand]

Damn you joke name! You've screwed me for the last time!!!

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

She really needs to find a running mate whose last name is "Robbins".

I can see the bumper stickers now...

[John]

+1000

[John]

Or two running mates Turner and Overdrive.

[kilroy]

Gotta be a Turner-Overdrive out there somewhere.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Make part of the vetting process a willingness to change your name.

[Otto]

Just "Turner" would do. Everyone would write in the "Overdrive" part.

[cynical]

Doesn't she have a massive trove of terrible misinformed quotes to bring up? She might be veep material (if Biden and Quayle count), but there's nothing worthwhile on the presidential field except the long-shots like Paul and Johnson.

[rather]

http://americanpatriotscommiss.....omment-272
"How can a guy this politically immature seriously expect to be president?" - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., assessing John F. Kennedy's chances in the 1960 U.S. election

On several occasions President Kennedy encouraged me to take a lover, an obvious sign he also had some himself.
Pierre Salinger

"Facts are stupid things." - Ronald Reagan, Former U.S. President

"It is white." - George W. Bush, when asked what the White house was like by a student in East London "

Misinformed doesn't seem so bad

[MNG]

Goat meat, the final frontier

Goat is the world's most consumed red meat. Why don't Americans eat more of it?

Goat's milk and goat butter have become supermarket staples, no longer relegated to health-food stores. Yet goat meat sits out on the horizon, with trendspotters periodically informing us that it's the next big thing.

It's no surprise, given that goat is the world's most-consumed meat: almost 70 percent of the red meat eaten globally. Its cultural caveats are few, as it can be kosher and halal as well.

Nutrition-wise, goat meat is a wonder... More good news: Goats represent sustainability, without the curse of factory production. They are browsers, not grazers.

So why has this sustainable, locavore, world-class meat remained below the radar for most of us?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....l?hpid=z10

[John]

Some of the best curry and mexican food I have ever ate was goat. Goats are good eats.

[MNG]

In some ways I am quite provincal and conservative in my tastes, when I saw the question "why don't americans eat more goat" my answer was "because we don't have to."

[DNS]

"why don't americans eat more goat" my answer was "because we don't have to."

Lamb chops? C'mon dood!

[Tim]

Hippies and goats. I wouldn't eat either.

[MNG]

Goats would eat hippies.

[DNS]

Goats would eat hippies.

No, John Rambo would. Remember, he's been trained to eat things that would make a nanny goat puke.

[Cyto]

A kid'll eat ivy too....

[John]

They are just browsers. No different than eating a cow. You are right, beef tastes better. But goat if properly prepared is plenty edible.

[NeonCat]

"Plenty edible" is not exactly a ringing endorsement.

[Old Mexican]

Re: John,

Some of the best curry and mexican food I have ever ate was goat. Goats are good eats.

The best cabrito (baby goat) happens in Monterrey. Nowhere else.

Top. Men.

[John]

I can't eat a baby goat or a lamb. Animals like that have too much natural charm.

[DNS]

I can't eat a baby goat or a lamb.

Pussy.

[Wind Rider]

Some of those have charm too, but some of them could scare a hammerhead shark.

[generic Brand]

Turn in your monocle, good sir.

[Brett L]

But its the cute that makes them taste so good. Baby seal is the tenderest , most flavorful meat in the world.

[Old Mexican]

Re: Brett L,

Baby seal is the tenderest, most flavorful meat in the world.

And those big, beautiful, plush-toy eyes it has just beg to have its head bashed in, I tell you.

[The Gobbler]

I think someone should market baby seal pi?atas.

[Brett L]

If they do, I must have one. My gf would lose her shit when I set her five year old on baby seal pinata with a bat.

[Axman]

I can eat baby goat if somebody else slaughters is.

I did it once to one I bought from a friend. The little thing looked up at me worshipfully as I led it around behind the pole barn. It was all I could do to put a .22 bullet through its head. Ten minutes more of such adoration and I would have given it a name, hugged it, and made it a member of the family alongside our dog.

Made excellent barbecue, though.

[John]

I am too much of an animal lover. I couldn't have shot it.

[TrickyVic]

""I am too much of an animal lover. I couldn't have shot it.""

Sounds like hippie talk. 😉

[Old Mexican]

Re: Axman,

The little thing looked up at me worshipfully as I led it around behind the pole barn.

Yeah, I bet it was the hypno-toad eyes that made you hesitate...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

[Vermont Gun Owner]

That show's been going downhill since season 3.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Growing up on a dairy farm and then going to a very hippie school led to a lot of "But how can you be so pro-meat? You grew up with cows!" My response was approximately "Have you ever worked with cows?"

[Warty]

"Okay, have you ever been around chickens? They are stupid, uncooperative, inconvenient, ill-tempered creatures. They get what they deserve. Fuck chickens."

[Otto]

Whoever you're quoting is absolutely right, but he should have repeated "stupid" for emphasis.

[Warty]

That's a genius by the name of Mark Rippetoe. He lifts weights and insults people, and is awesome.

[Warty]

Oh, and he's a big libertarian, to make him more awesome. Buy his books.

[Phrygian]

http://startingstrength.wikia......k_Rippetoe

funny stuff

[John]

I totally follow the "noble creatures don't deserve to be eaten but non noble ones do" theory. Cows, Chickens, pigs, sheep, full grown deer, dumb animals that are lucky to be ate. Horses, lambs, baby goats and such, can't do it.

[Nick]

John, just convince yourself that eating them pisses off a liberal progressive and you'll be enjoying lamb chops and veal before you know it. Mmmmm.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Having had to deal with those stupid animals makes every burger a delicious revenge-filled bliss.

[The Gobbler]

"Fuck chickens."

But enough about OhioOrrin's hobbies.

[Nick]

My sister went to a small JC in upstate NY and had her NYC roommate convinced hillside cows have longer legs on one side of their body so they can stand on the side of a hill.

The moral, as always: People are fucking stupid.

[TrickyVic]

When I was younger I moved from Arkansas to Colorado. I had people convinced I had to buy my first pair of shoes when I moved.

[Almanian]

@TrickyVic - LOL! That's awesome.

[TrickyVic]

You can get people to believe almost anything. It's all about how you sell it. The pols have know that for centuries.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

So why has this sustainable, locavore, world-class meat remained below the radar for most of us?

Because it tastes like goat?

[The Gobbler]

^^THIS^^

[SugarFree]

I'm busy making Lenin Cats. Does the article mention the fact that goat is a bitch-and-a-half to butcher because it's damn near all bones?

But that said, I'm all for goat meat. Bring it on.

[The Stones]

goat is a bitch-and-a-half to butcher because it's damn near all bones

Hence, Goats Head Soup.

[Otto]

I worked with a Jamaican. She'd often come back from her restaurant with goat.

I demurred about joining her.

[SugarFree]

Goat is delicious. It's a bit gamey and grainy, but a little acid like lime juice clears that up. But the butchering problem leads to a lot of it being cooking on the bone, and like a pig's foot, goats have tons of little bones.

[SugarFree]

*cooked*

[Otto]

Yeah, I remember her usually tearing the meat off a bone. That was part of why I always wussed out.

[Spare ribs]

Really? WTF?

[Hot wings]

I know, right?

[DNS]

So why has this sustainable, locavore, world-class meat remained below the radar for most of us?

PETA. Plus, why would we want to deprive followers of a noted Middle Eastern faith, as well as a number of Vo-Ag students, their love buddies? You think riots over burning a book caused people to lose their heads...

[Zeb]

PETA? Why would People Eating Tasty Animals not want to eat goatmeat?

[mad libertarian guy]

Because TASTY is a pre-requisite.

[Balamer Hon]

Crabs represent sustainability, without the curse of factory production. They are scavengers, not grazers.

[Tim]

Yes but you have to harvest them with tweezers.

[Balamer Hon]

I'm guessing you live in Arkansas?

[Old Mexican]

Re: MNG,

Nutrition-wise, goat meat is a wonder... More good news: Goats represent sustainability, without the curse of factory production. They are browsers, not grazers.

They also destroy saplings.

[Nick]

They destroy everything. Fuck the DR Trimmer Mower. Borrow a goat for one summer and you'll be able to play baseball on that mofo by Labor Day.

[Jersey Patriot]

Jamaican curry goat is awesome, but the number of bones will shred your tongue if you're not paying attention.

[rather]

Eagles eat them tartare

[Agammamon]

Sustainability? WTF? There's a desert in North Africa that begs to differ.

[Zeb]

I've often wondered why there is not more goat available in the US. I am very disappointed by the limited number of animal species that are regularly consumed and commonly available.
Horse meat is pretty good too, but for some weird reason it is not legal in the US.

[Almanian]

This is my favorite thread in quite some time. Well done, goathead Reasonoids

[JD]

It can't be sold legally in most states, but if you aren't opposed to butchering your own then used horses are extremely cheap right now.

[chaussures puma]

sese

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

This seems like a case for jury nullification.

[Ice Nine]

The brute!

[WTF]

He didn't beat that idiot enough.

[CaptainSmartass]

He calls his common-law wife his "life partner". That alone is justification to lock his ass up for 10 years.

[cynical]

Wow, a child molestor and he got his ass handed to him by a paraplegic? I bet he'll have a fabulous time in prison.

[SugarFree]

Get Consider Phelbas as an ebook from Orbit for 99 cents.

[Adonisus]

GREAT book. I love Iain R. Banks' stuff.

[kilroy]

3.5/5

[Trespassers W]

Agreed. It's my least-favorite Culture novel. But it has its good points, like that fat dude with the metal chompers.

[MNG]

I don't know what is worse, that a non-profit that is trying to fight teen pregnancy would pay Bristol Palin so much money or that it would to pay her to be a spokesperson at all (which would kind of be like paying Newt Gingrich to speak out against marital infidelity).

[MNG]

My fav recent Palin story is when Sarah went to Israel and talked about her Israeli flags. Great God that woman is a panderer.

[Tim]

Politicians pander. If pedophiles were a significant percentage of the voting population...

[Abdul]

One of the few funny bits Michael Moore did was send checks to various political campaigns, like "Devil Worshippers for Bob Dole" and "Pedophiles for Pat Buchanan."

They were all cashed.

[Abdul]

One of the few funny bits Michael Moore did was send checks to various political campaigns, like "Devil Worshippers for Bob Dole" and "Pedophiles for Pat Buchanan."

They were all cashed.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

And what about the checks he sent to Democract candidates?

Or would I be terribly surprised if he sent them only to Republicans?

[Jersey Patriot]

Who cares? It's hilarious.

[TrickyVic]

I liked the episode of TV Nation when he basically bribes a politician to pass a law declaring a day, TV Nation day. The Pol wouldn't meet with him until he paid a consultant $5,000. He walked in with assorted gifts. It was funny and sad at the same time.

[TrickyVic]

I think this might be it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHAspJDFJRA

[Abdul]

He sent some to Dems as well and they were along the same lines--"Freedom hating commies for Dukakkis" etc. I don't remember the exact names. It think it was in his movie "The Big One"

[db]

I would totally vote for President Bukkakis.

[mad libertarian guy]

You mean like MJ smokers?

Pols only support what their voters want when that something is anti-freedom.

[John]

Same reason AA pays reformed drunks. People who have made the mistakes are qualified to speak about them.

[MNG]

But isn't she proud she had the kid?

[John]

That is the nature of children. You can make a mistake and end up with one and still be happy you have them. Think about all the people who had children in horrible marriages. Was the marriage a mistake? Of course. But at the same time they still love their kids and wouldn't trade them for anything. It is the paradox of children.

[MNG]

The marriage may have been a mistake, then speak out against bad marriages. What they are asking her to speak out about is teen pregnancy. According to her she is proud she had her baby. I guess she can say "proud I had it, wish the timing had been different" but for it to be analagous to the reformed drunk the person would describe how awful it was to have a kid as a teen.

[John]

Saying "I should have never married that bastard but I am glad I have the kid that resulted" is no different than saying "I should have never had sex as a teenager before I was ready but I am glad I have the kid that resulted from it".

It is the same principle and the same paradox in both cases.

[Newt Gingrich]

I should never have cheated on my wife, but I'm glad to have gotten another wife out of it.

[Tim]

If at first you don't succeed...

[Vermont Gun Owner]

I think she's proud that she didn't have an abortion, meaning she shouldn't have had sex but then she accepted the consequences.

[rather]

John, some days I like you

[rather]

I'm wetter that the Everglades right now.

[rather]

don't use my handle

[Dildo Joke]

Is "handle" what they call those things these days?

[RyanXXX]

Take his wife. Now.

[cynical]

Being proud of your handling of a bad situation doesn't require being proud of being in that situation to begin with, particularly if it was the result of your own mistakes.

And loving one's child is certainly separate from any opinion on the circumstances under which they were conceived, born, or raised.

[MNG]

I'm also pretty sure that AA doesn't pay any reformed drunks.

[John]

There is an entire list of reformed drunks and druggies who have made a living speaking about their past. And yeah, who do you think AA hires as counselors? Reformed drunks.

[MNG]

I think there is a bit of confusion. AA itself afaik is just this loose network of meetings. There are rehab places that follow the AA 12 step model but I don't think AA runs them.

Regardless the reformed drunks tend to speak about how terrible life was when drinking, how great it is now they are not. Bristol says she is proud of having her kid, Sarah has bragged about how they had the kid rather than abortion and such.

[John]

See above. IT is the paradox of children. Whether the child comes from a bad marriage or a youthful mistake, you can still say the marriage or the sex was a mistake and love your kid and be glad you have them.

[Shocked]

Plus they talk about how hard it really is to raise the blessed little child. That can only come from some one who has been there.

There are also speakers who have been responsible for horrible auto accidents and survived.

These messages work better from some one who's been there done that, than some one who hasn't. Which explains MNG's confusion. Just like Obama, many trusted someone, who hasn't been there and done that.

[TrickyVic]

""Same reason AA pays reformed drunks. People who have made the mistakes are qualified to speak about them.""

I don't think Palin speaking is an issue. The fact that they paid her six figures, and only five figures to the acutal cause is the issue.

For the partisans, the fact that she's working for a liberal New York organization should piss them off.

[Old Mexican]

Re: MNG,

I don't know what is worse, that a non-profit that is trying to fight teen pregnancy would pay Bristol Palin so much money or that it would to pay her to be a spokesperson at all[...]

It's their money, MNG.

How about: I don't know what is worse, that govenment steals or that government steals and then squanders MY FUCKING MONEY.

[MNG]

ME: "Why would they pay her to be their spokesperson"

OM "Why? Well why would the government steal from us at gunpoint!"

Dude, tone down the fanaticism.

WTF?

[Old Mexican]

Re: MNG,
The dude who could not read straight.

MNG:"Why would they pay her to be their spokesperson"

OM: "It's their money, dude."

OM: "Why not better ask: what's worse, government stealing from me or government stealing from me and then squandering the money? It's MY money. I did not pay Bristol anything, neither did you, but MY money is being used to fund a FUCKING WAR, and you worry about Bristol??? Get a life, man!"

[MNG]

I can't believe how much the Yankees pay A-Rod.

OM: "I don't know what is worse, that govenment steals or that government steals and then squanders MY FUCKING MONEY."

People can have opinions on how private parties spend their money OM.

[Old Mexican]

Re: MNG,

People can have opinions on how private parties spend their money OM.

Well, you certainly can. It's irrelevant, it won't save the planet from Kang and Kodos, it's a waste of time, it's a way to show your preoccupation with things that matter naught, but you can.

[ChicagoSucks]

I know what's worse, when people treat deadbeat reality-tv show stars as though they were elected officials. How the hell does Palin have an "approval rating"?

[ChicagoSucks]

I know what's worse, when people treat deadbeat reality-tv show stars as though they were elected officials. How the hell does Palin have an "approval rating"?

[kilroy]

The only issue here is the definition of non-profit.

[generic Brand]

All I know is that Bristol Palin looks HOT in that picture.

[chaussures air max]

thank you

[0x90]

"If we start applying that approach, where I've got to get 110 percent of everything I want or else I'm going to shut down the government, we're not going to get anything done this year, and the American people are going to be the ones that suffer."

We were standing in line at the bank, when two groups of masked men -- one in red masks, the other in blue -- burst onto the scene...

[Nick]

I look forward to the day when I suffer through the government not getting things done.

[MNG]

"Ivory Coast conflict may be nearing a resolution."

Is it a continuing resolution?

[Oops Typo]

revolution

[Citizen Nothing]

Nice.

[Old Mexican]

Paul Ryan's budget ain't so hot.

Ryan's "radical" budget would only reduce government spending to 20% of GDP by 2015. Obama wants to cut it to 23%. It is currently at 25%. In other words, there's only a 3 percentage point difference between Ryan's proposal and that of wild spending Democrats. And, this of course is before all the Congressional horse trading that goes on that would surely boost spending levels.

It makes no sense spending the time to look at this proposal in exacting detail. It's government as usual, with plenty of room for favors tucked in for friends and mostly for those who buy themselves Congressional "friendship". If this proposal is even adopted by Congress as a blueprint to start with, the damn thing will only get much worse and will look nothing like its current form, and its pretty bad in this form.

That said, Scott Hodge, president of the Koch-funded, Tax Foundation, thinks the plan is the greatest thing since the ending of the Vietnam War.

Robert Wenzel, EconomicPolicyJournal dot com

[John]

Three percent of every dollar produced by every Joe and Josephine in the country is a hell of a lot of money.

[Old Mexican]

Re: John,
20% of GDP is still a helluva lot of leeching on the productive folk.

[John]

True. But it is less leaching than 23%

[Nick]

John, face it. Any budget that keeps running a deficit is completely unacceptable. Just because the GOP proposal is slightly better than the Dems proposal doesn't mean either are good.

"You wanna lose your right leg or your left leg. Your choice."

[John]

I would rather loose my foot than my whole leg. And you have to start somewhere. Yeah, sure I would love to go back to 18% or smaller. But I would like a pony to. I am not getting either. It seems pretty self destructive and stupid to not do anything just because the best available option isn't good enough.

[0x90]

Is it self destructive and stupid to NOT CONDONE either option? Why must one become a cheerleader for foot-removal?

[Citizen Nothing]

Doctor: We could remove your whole leg, or just your foot.

Patient: Do you have to amputate?

Doctor: No. But we're going to.

Patient: Ok. Foot it is! Whoopie!

[John]

Ok, then do nothing then and watch your leg rot off with gangreen. Whatever you do be sure let the perfect always be the enemy of the good or improvement.

[Spoonman.]

That's the whole point, there's no fucking gangrene. There's no need to chop anything off.

[John]

There is ganggreen. It is called federl spending. It didn't come out of nowhere. It happened because people are short sighted and selfish and want their shit but don't have to pay for it. You people live in some kind of fantasy land where we can wave a magic wand and go back to 1925. Well that isn't happening. A lot of people love big government. And the fuckers vote. You better figure out how to deal with that reality.

[Citizen Nothing]

John -- so you don't think anyone should be saying of the Ryan proposal, "This isn't enough"?
Would there even be a Ryan proposal, or would it be what it is, if there weren't some of us to say "This isn't enough"?

[John]

Sure you can say "this isn't enough" if you also say that it is better than the alternative of doing nothing.

[0x90]

"You people live in some kind of fantasy land where we can wave a magic wand and go back to 1925."

No, that is your characterization. Nobody is saying they expect that to happen; nobody is expecting any fantasy land to materialize. Some simply don't prefer to stand there with a shit-eating grin, just because they've been forced to eat one shit sandwich or the other.

"Sure you can say 'this isn't enough' if you also say that it is better than the alternative of doing nothing."

So it's just the token symbolism that you're after. Not that it changes anything, but it makes John feel better. I find that to be utterly silly.

[MWG]

"Sure you can say "this isn't enough" if you also say that it is better than the alternative of doing nothing."

You'd be absolutely right IF that was the only alternative.

[TrickyVic]

John, one could use your agruement to justify the level of taxes were are paying. At least I'm not paying more.

Not disagreeing with your premise, just sayin.

[The Gobbler]

"federl"

Love the German spelling.

[robc]

Support the Paul proposal instead.

Its much better than the Ryan one.

[generic Brand]

I agree with robc. While I was definitely heartened (can the opposite of disheartened be a word?) by the fact that the mainstream Republicans put out a plan like this, I still think Rand's is better as it also addresses the defense spending.

In a smart world the two plans would be combined, so that we may actually be running a surplus after a few years.

[Nick]

Actually not doing anything shuts the government down for all non-essential services. So, not doing anything is the best solution we can hope for. A few months with people not dying in the streets because the government is home without pay will be a terrific education for everyone not in this room.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Ryan's proposal actually has 13% fewer dollars in spending than Obama's.

[Cyto]

But even that is not the true measure of relevance. 18% GDP is the maximum sustainable figure. Everything over that is irresponsible.

Ryan is in for 2 percentage points of irresponsible (20% GDP vs 18% GDP). Obama's plan is a full 5 points above the threashold.

The part that matters is the amount of expenditure above the sustainable level. On that measure, Obama's budget is two and a half times more irresponsible than Ryan's.

An even better measure would be to calculate how fast the whole thing blows up because of compounding interest on the debt. By that measure Ryan's plan should be several factors less horrible than Obama's.

Note that we are talking degree's of horrific irresponsibility, not about anything actually good.

[cynical]

13% less.

[Mike M.]

You've got to love the left and their talking points. Ryan's budget is irrelevant because it doesn't cut enough, and yet at the same it's brutally savage and will cause women and children to die in the streets. How anyone believes this crap I'll never know.

[Old Mexican]

Re: Mike M.

Ryan's budget is irrelevant because it doesn't cut enough, and yet at the same it's brutally savage and will cause women and children to die in the streets. How anyone believes this crap I'll never know.

Well, the left argues that the "cuts" will leave the streets filled with the decaying and fly-infested bodies of people that were in line to get their food stamps, that's for sure.

As a libertarian, I argue that cutting the deficit from A to B still leaves a deficit of B. That doesn't make Ryan a budgeting genius.

[Brett L]

Had the people dying in the streets argument in a bar last night. They were stupified when I said it would create lots of jobs when the rich people paid not to see the bodies. Apparently, law students of a liberal bent don't believe that rich people would pay not to see the dead bodies of poor people. I proposed a poll, but they shouted it down.

On the plus side, I had them all agreeing with me that police and prosecutorial misconduct would be much less rampant if sovereign immunity were curtailed.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

The bar on a Monday? I was in the lab till midnight. Damn law students.

[Brett L]

Tuesday. And I'll be in your shoes, come August. How dare you accuse me of being a proto-lawyer!

[Citizen Nothing]

Indiana University Law has offered to up my son's scholarship from approximately 85% to a full ride if he skips enrolling for a year.
Now that's a win-win in my book.
(But youth is wasted on the young.)

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Grad school was my backup. It's very weird for me to be here with everyone who was dieing to get in.

[Brett L]

Write the same web apps in the same language for 9 years. I am sooo ready to GTFO of putting data I couldn't give a shit about into some database, taking it out, and building reports. Yes, I'll take a 65% pay cut, but hopefully I won't feel like the opening scenes of Joe vs. the Volcano anymore.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

As for my failure on the day of the week, I am going to use the excuse that the only effect that has on me is whether or not I can drive my car to campus to work all day.

[mad libertarian guy]

I was at a Rush show.

Rush rules.

[Trespassers W]

Calling that a 3% difference is fantastically misleading. It's taking an absolute difference between percentages and pretending that, because the result is a percentage, it's a relative difference.

You wouldn't call the difference between a 5% mortgage and an 8% mortgage insignificant, would you?

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Same point I was making, but you said it better.

[mr simple]

Really? A link to think

[Jess Asken]

Why should "non-essential" government services not be shut down?

[DNS]

Why should "non-essential" government services not be shut down?

If they are deemed non-essential, why have them in the first place? Seems like a great place to start trimming the fat.

Steve: "But I'm on my break!"

Dalton: "Stay on it."

[The American People?]

Because they're nice to have and the Government is paying for them.

[mad libertarian guy]

Permanently, I might add.

The only non-essential function I'm good with is National Parks. That's it.

The rest can kiss my ass.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

"Believing the Chihuahua had bitten her, Barks shot it and went outside. After realizing she was fine, she went back into the residence where, McElrath said, the dog was still acting aggressively -- so she shot it again. The dog then went into its kennel, and the deputy fired the third and fatal shot."

[John]

"McElrath said he had not had problems with the deputy in the past and was surprised by her resignation."

Because shooting dogs is just how they roll. Didn't she know that?

[Citizen Nothing]

There are other ways of fending off a snarling Chihuahua, Bollinger County Sheriff Leo McElrath says, than repeatedly shooting it.
That's some big time, if subtle, snark. Good work AP!

[Tim]

Jules: [All while Honey Bunny is screaming] Tell that bitch to be cool! Say 'bitch be cool'!
Pumpkin: Be cool honey!
Jules: Say bitch be cool! Tell that fuckin' bitch to chill!
Pumpkin: Be cool Honey Bunny!
Jules: Chill that fuckin' bitch out!
Pumpkin: Shut up, Honey!

[Almanian]

Excellent

[Rich]

You can't fool *me*, BSR. That's from The Onion.

Deputy "Barks", indeed.

[Otto]

That's what I thought at first, except the Onion would have written something more clever.

[hmm]

I love the logic. If it was a big dog destroying the property to search is okay, if it's a small dog, not okay.

[hmm]

Hey, it's not like they are experts. I mean shit, hitting a Chihuahua in a kennel after wounding it after missing it ain't fuckin' easy.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

I will say, my mother-in-law has a Chihuahua, and that little fucker is insane. I've definitely had moments where I would have liked to shoot it. But I don't, because it's a fucking 9-pound Chihuahua. As a 6'1", 205 lb. man, I feel relatively confident I can handle the little bastard without resorting to shooting it.

[DNS]

As a 6'1", 205 lb. man, I feel relatively confident I can handle the little bastard without resorting to shooting it.

Provided your toes aren't exposed. Those little vermin have a grip like a lamprey if they get a hold of the oh-so-tender pinky toe.

[Citizen Nothing]

What nobody has mentioned is that Deputy Barks is 3'2" and weighs 67 lbs.

[Otto]

Even if she was a little person, she should have been able to handle Ren without gunplay. I'm taking care of my brother's Yorkie, and it's really not hard to handle a < 10 lb. dog.

[Citizen Nothing]

Are you declaring yourself to be a little person, Otto? NTTAWWT.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

Which would mean she still outweighs the Chihuahua nearly 10 to 1.

[The Gobbler]

Chihuahuas make the best kickin' dogs.

[P Brooks]

Speaking of lulz, a while ago somebody on Bloomberg was saying Max Baucus has come out against Paul Ryan's plan, because it will enrich insurance companies at the expense of honest hard-working Americans.

You can't make this shit up.

[Draco]

"Death to the insurance companies! Death to their Sino-Mexican maquillado Koch-funded executives! Long live the hard working American people!"

Brooks, as long as Cavanaugh has people in the streets to interview, you won't have to make this shit up.

[Shocked]

I work at an insurance company. Don't you know that everyone of us 30,000 people are evul CEOs!

[P Brooks]

Here's a question for the assembled masses:

Since we all know how intensely professional and dedicated AFSCME-certified federal employees are, if the government goes into bipartisanship-induced cardiac arrest will they volunteer to remain at their posts, unpaid, to continue providing the essential services a helpless nation so desperately needs?

[Rich]

I'll say "no". They took an oath, didn't they?

[John]

Actually you are prohibited by law from doing that. It would be a gift of services to the government and those are not allowed. So when the government shuts down, it will be illegal for them to come to work.

[Rich]

OTOH, they *could* write checks to the Treasury to cover the time "missed".

[DNS]

AFSCME

I always read this as AFSCAM. I must be lysdexic.

To answer your question, umm, pubsec union mentality, Mr. Brooks. Seriously though, they couldn't work for free if they want to. In fact, in the event of a partial shut down, "non-essential" (still having a hard time with that one) fed workers are under strict orders not to use any electronic devices issued (like smartphones) or access any government work accounts.

[cynical]

My dyslexic reading was always ASFCME. Better to say out loud, as a taxpayer.

[Almanian]

continue providing the essential services

When did AFSCME start representing the military?

[kilroy]

How much do we save each day the government is shutdown? How many days balance the budget?

[Almanian]

Hey, hey, hey now - we'll have none of that talk here! Move along, move along...

[NoVAHockey]

The talking point of the day is that it actually costs money -- mostly because the fed employees will still get paid.

[Nick]

WHAT?! How will they still get paid? I thought the money won't be distributed.

[NoVAHockey]

back pay. it's not required, just expected. I wouldn't be against it.

[NoVAHockey]

*bet* against it.

[kilroy]

I haven't heard that one. Got a source?

[NoVAHockey]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/....._blog.html

OPM guidance for employees. they got back pay after the 1995 shutdown

[kilroy]

Well fuck me. Thanks for the link, as enraging as it is.

[db]

Falcon Heavy!
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/.....lconheavy/

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20110405

To launch in 2013 or 2014, per Musk. Supposed to carry 117,000 lbm to LEO. Approx $1,000 /lbm to LEO. They're cross feeding propellant from the side boosters to the main engines to allow the main stage to retain most of its propellant after the boosters separate. Can you say "game changer?"

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

It's almost like he's speaking English.

[db]

Sorry, technically I am an ESL poster. Rocket-science-geek is my native language.

[Almanian]

Mamboo dog face to the banana patch!

[Cyto]

I'm either old enough or small enough to get that reference. Either way, it's kinda sad.

[Brett L]

The cross feed is brilliant. Liquid propellant control, and you get to dump empty booster weight.

[db]

The trick is safe separation and isolation, but that problem seems to have been solved in the shuttle program.

I'm not sure if they're sharing both propellant and oxidizer, or only propellant. It's kerosene, so it's way easier to isolate than a cryogenic fuel.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Damn I want to work there. Why do they only recruit structures people here?

[robc]

117,000 lbm

The imperial unit measure of mass is the slug. WTF us lbm when slugs exist?

[robc]

Follow up question: Why are you doing science in imperial units?

[db]

Good point. My habit is to think of chemical production in lbm/min. Next flow sheet I develop, It's all in slugs/shake.

[db]

Sometimes chemical calculations are just easier in imperial.

[Slippy Toad]

db|4.6.11 @ 9:53AM|#
Falcon Heavy!

Fox! Get this guy off me!

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Fuck you. If you're going to keep running out ahead of the group I won't save you. You rot in hell Slippy.

[db]

OK I had to look all that up (never had a Nintendo, only PC games) but it was very funny!

[Vermont Gun Owner]

I looked it up and he is listed in several "10 Most Annoying Video Game Characters" lists.

[P Brooks]

It would be a gift of services to the government and those are not allowed.

Wait, what?

So if I'm walking on a trail in Yellowstone, and I move a fallen tree off the trail, I'm illegal "gifting" my services to the government? Talk about protectionism and job security!

[John]

Pretty much. The reason behind it is to keep contractors from gifting shit in return for business.

[Nick]

And unlike the rest of the world where it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission, the government does not work this way. Better to step over the fallen tree or get around it in some way, just be sure not to "create" a new path.

[db]

Yeah, no "gifts" to the government. The government can only get off when it takes you by force.

[Mike M.]

Commodities continue to skyrocket: gold at $1,458.50 an ounce, Brent crude hits $122.

[robc]

current prices

gold: 1458.69
oil: 109.05 (not brent)

ratio: 13.38, well within the normal zone. gold might be a little low (or oil a little high - 15 is middle of normal zone).

[P Brooks]

should be "illegalLY" of course

[P Brooks]

was surprised by her resignation.

She probably feels she has padded her resume sufficiently to justify jumping into that ICE job she has always wanted.

[XungXoo]

OK, that actually makes a lot of sense dude. Wow.

http://www.anon-tools.no.tc

[Old Mexican]

Here is your latest Palin controversy.

Uh, that ThinkProgress link just grinds and grinds and never stops... I had to close IE a couple of times before I gave up.

I think the controversy is silly. If you want so-called non-profit organizations (a totally bullshit label) to use money differently, then stop giving away tax deductions for calling yourself a "non-profit organization."

[kilroy]

I had to close IE a couple of times before I gave up.

Self-inflicted.

You're right on about the "non-profit" bullshit.

[P Brooks]

I always read this as AFSCAM.

That's much better than "AXME".

[P Brooks]

stop giving away tax deductions for calling yourself a "non-profit organization.

Whuuuuuut?

But how will the poor and underprivileged (not to mention Missus Dole) ever survive?

[P Brooks]

The talking point of the day is that it actually costs money

I'm surprised we haven't heard more of this. I'm sure there are vast costs (unique to government operations) involved in telling people not to come to work on Monday. Similarly, just contemplate the cost of telling them, a few days later, to show up. They cannot possibly be expected to know, unless they receive a notification delivered (with signature required) by FEDEX.

[Brett L]

Yesterday's Dilbert touches on libertarian scofflaws and the engineers who love them. Continues into today's strip.

[Warty]

Gentlemen, how have we never mined the riches of the Oprah message boards?

Hello- So, going through a midlife crisis I guess and thought a polyamorous affair with a couple might spice things up for my husband and me. After my husband spent the weekend with her and me with him (the other couple) he told me on the ride home he told her he loves her. She is my best friend to boot. I love her as a friend and don't want to lose the friendship, but after having heard him say those 3 little words I freaked out.
Mistake from hell. i know he loves me very much, he tells me so, we even have great sex, but have gone through a rough patch and had gotten better over last three months.
What should I do, or not do. is it safe to be platonic friends with this couple or should we just stay far away?

Mmmmmm...delicious.

[Almanian]

Warty, this is excellent. Good catch...

*Add To My Favortites*

[Vermont Gun Owner]

So one of my contacts ripped today and I'm wearing my glasses instead. Perhaps I should just replace the one contact with a monocle?

[robc]

Wearing one contact IS a monocle.

[Almanian]

Second.

"Stealth Monocle - The Monocle for the Twenty-First Century!?"

[Vermont Gun Owner]

This technology will let the Kochtopus infiltrate government.

[Citizen Nothing]

What's the point of a monocle is no one knows you're wearing it?

[Vermont Gun Owner]

What about tinted contacts?

[Otto]

I don't know if they're libertarian owned, though.

[Slippy Toad]

Whether you're a runner, a skier, a cyclist, an outdoors-person or anyone wanting convenience and freedom from glasses, a monocle is the reading lens that is always with you.

Awesome.

[Brett L]

From April Fool's Day. The Toshiba monocle.

[Brett L]

I've been trying to post this since April Fool's day. Monocle of the Future.

[Brett L]

I've been trying to post this since April Fool's day. Monocle of the Future. Apparently the actual page is blocked by the squirrels.

[Almanian]

Snake Plisskin is first in line for one of these

[Nipplemancer]

Cops Pepper spray 8 year old boy

[Nick]

That kid is kinda fucked up, but why can't police detain people (and animals) any more? The use of tazers and pepper spray and guns always seems to be first resort now rather than last.

[Nipplemancer]

RESPECT MAI AUTHORITAI!!11!1!!eLEVENTY!!1 seems to be the only discernible reason

[TrickyVic]

If a parent used pepper spray to control their kid, government would have problem.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

For the same reason we have a problem when some fat slob manages to bag a supermodel.

[TrickyVic]

Because they can?

[Vermont Gun Owner]

Because we want to be the ones nailing the supermodel.

[????? ??????]

Thanks