Reason Morning Links: A Second Solyndra Surfaces, Rick Perry Says Iran Plot Requires Tougher Border Security, Angry Rich People Refuse to Donate to Campaigns

• Even though the Iran assassination plot was like something out of a Leslie Nielsen movie (RIP), and even though the Mexican cartel member recruited for the job was actually a DEA agent, Rick Perry is using it as an excuse to call for a border fence, which he previously pooh-poohed. 
• Reuters: "A number of financial advisers say their wealthy clients have told them they will not make political contributions this year, many for the first time ever." Why? Because they are not getting what they paid for! 
• Fetus Fight continues: Obama says he'll veto any bill that restricts insurers from covering abortions.
• Is SunPower Corp. the next Solyndra? Possibly!
• How bad does it suck to be a corporate recruiter during a recession? This bad. 
• Forty police officers in Acapulco resign. 

Reason.tv: "Ravers vs. The Man: CA Bans LED Gloves and Pacifiers"

Comments

[Suki]

Good morning Links!

[$6M RoboTorso]

Shut up Suki, you're still dead.

[$6M RoboTorso]

Still. Dead.

[Troy]

I always thought that bulge in her pants was suspicious.

[Suki]

Nope and you are old news.

[My Myself and I]

I say we put it to a vote. Reasonoids, what say ye? Suki: dead or alive?

[Suki]

Lots of spare time during your Occupy Somewhere sit-in?

[tarran]

Only the hand that animates the sockpuppet is alive. The puppet is dead.

The hand belongs to a bad writer named John Tagliaferro.

Suki, being a figment of John's imagination, is not alive.

[MNG]

Suki was not dead, John T. was just "away" for a while.

[My Myself and I]

Ah, rehab. Got it.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

The final word on the situation.

[Suki]

Operation Hackerazzi:

A Florida man has been charged with hacking into the e-mails of dozens of people, including Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansson and Mila Kunis, in a computer invasion scheme that targeted Hollywood celebrities, according to documents released Wednesday.

Christopher Chaney of Jacksonville hacked Google, Apple and Yahoo e-mail accounts beginning last November and December, then hijacked the forwarding feature so that a copy of every e-mail received was sent, "virtually instantaneously," to an e-mail account he controlled, according to an indictment handed up Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles.

[Abdul]

The word "hero" seems too small to describe this man.

[John]

Isn't he the guy that gave us the naked pictures of Scarlett Johanson? If so, where can I donate to his defense fund?

[Abdul]

He's like Julian Assange, only more important and not a douche.

[Groovus Maximus]

But probably just as translucent and pasty.

[Suki]

Can't really tell from his TMZ image.

[Suki]

She has plenty of appealing BDSM images out there in addition to the private stuff. Google images is your friend.

He has not been arraigned as of the time of the reports out there. A "Free Cheney Fund" sounds like a great idea!

[John]

BDSM images? From where?

[Suki]

I used some of them to decorate my blog post on this. Try The Google "BDSM Scarlett Johanson".

[John]

I will do that.

[R C Dean]

But not, I trust, at work.

[Suki]

The images were not nude, but that Google search is probably not safe at most places of work. However, I used only work safe images on that post.

[Ted S.]

It's OK to break into other people's property if it makes me horny!

[JW]

Who will avenge him? The Internets NEED him!

[Suki]

The "Free Cheney" ball is rolling!

[Fist of Etiquette]

This isn't 9:00AM.

[Bee Tagger]

At what point do we blame management (you)?

[Suki]

You need to oil your time machine, FoE.

[Fist of Etiquette]

It's a doomsday machine, and it really wouldn't help this situation. Or would it?

[$6M RoboTorso]

Biden: Passing Obama's jobs bill means less rape

Jackson, Jr: Obama should 'declare a national emergency,' add jobs with 'extra-constitutional' action
Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. told The Daily Caller on Wednesday that congressional opposition to the American Jobs Act is akin to the Confederate "states in rebellion."

Jackson called for full government employment of the 15 million unemployed and said that Obama should "declare a national emergency" and take "extra-constitutional" action "administratively" ? without the approval of Congress ? to tackle unemployment.

"I hope the president continues to exercise extraordinary constitutional means, based on the history of Congresses that have been in rebellion in the past," Jackson said. "He's looking administratively for ways to advance the causes of the American people, because this Congress is completely dysfunctional."...

[Spoonman.]

If only that would make Jackson slightly in danger of losing re-election.

[STEVE SMITH]

STEVE SMITH HAVE STIMULUS PLAN: HIKER IN DAISY DUKE SHORTS.

[Nice Band Name]

Low levels of public safety personnel, rising crime and the nationwide recession is like a "mixture for cancer" in the city of Flint, Vice President Joe Biden said

Mixture For Cancer

[Brett L]

Every time they send Biden out to speak, I wonder what they are hiding that is so much more damaging than letting Crazy Uncle Joe Talk into a hot mic.

[JW]

because this Congress is completely dysfunctional."...

It's hard to argue with that statement.

[Rich]

You can watch Jackson here.

First Bev Perdue calls for elections to be suspended, then OWS, now this. It's gonna get *real* interesting soon.

[P B]

I hate to sound like Alex Jones but ...

[0x90]

One question, Jesse: you say you want to employ 15M unemployed @ ~40K per; how many unemployed do you think you'll have the day after implementing your idea?

[Quetzalcoatl]

I don't think he reads Hit & Run, you may have to send the question to his office.

[Jesse Jackson Jr.]

Oh, I read Hit & Run.

My answer is: RACIST!!!!!1!!!!!

[P B]

So Rep Jackson is in favor of the federales forcing people to work regardless of desire or legality. That doesn't sound like freedom to me.

[Anonymous Coward]

congressional opposition to the American Jobs Act is akin to the Confederate "states in rebellion."

The stupid is strong in this one.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

Mighty, even.

[Prison Warden]

Unemployment rate is 0% here!

[MNG]

GOPer: WTF, extaconstitutional action is only for wars and shit, not economic emergencies!

[The Art-P.O.G.]

You do make a good point about slippery slopes.

[Pol Pot]

RACIST!!!

[Joe M]

It's okay as long at the "right people" are in charge.

[Rev. Blue Moon]

I think it's really neat that a guy named Jesse Jackson is advocating in favor of slavery by invoking the Confederacy.

[o3]

keep the NNSA fully funded !

NNSA is responsible for the management and security of the nation's nuclear weapons, nuclear nonproliferation, and naval reactor programs. It also responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad. Additionally, NNSA federal agents provide safe and secure transportation of nuclear weapons and components and special nuclear materials along with other missions supporting the national security.

http://nnsa.energy.gov/

[sloopyinca]

Hey ozone, isn't the NNSA kinda redundant with, oh I don't know, the fucking Navy and Air Force? Looks like just another civilian employee make work program.

[o3]

the NNSA's mission spans the entire nuke force, regardless of branch, plus international stockpile security & decommissioning. this is well beyond any service branch

[John]

I agree with you on this one. WTF are they cutting the NNSA? They are a great organization and exactly the kind of thing the feds should be doing.

[sloopyinca]

Aw, shit. You're right. I had overlooked that part of the Constitution that created them.

[John]

You might want to look up the part about create a navy and army and provide for the common defense. Last I looked nuclear weapons and securing them were part of the common defense.

I didn't write the Constitution I just read it.

[sloopyinca]

I would have to look at strictly offensive weapons as an "Uncommon" kind of defense.

IME, a common defense means a militia. Unless, of course, people want to defend predominantly overseas by attacking nations that have not once attacked us (Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, Somalia, the Balkans, Grenada, Panama, etc) or by incurring into nations without permission (Pakistan, Yemen, Libya, etc). Fuckhead neocons may look at that as defense. A sane person views it as offense.

[Raston bot]

How do you measure effectiveness? How effective is the NNSA at securing FSU's nukes? How overpaid are the bureaucrats at the NNSA?

[Gray Ghost]

Isn't it duplicative with stuff that the individual services, the Department of Energy, and the Atomic Energy Commission already do? Never mind groups like NEST, and the technical departments of law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

At a certain point, I'd think you'd need to wonder just how many government agencies you need to do the same thing? Which is a different question than asking whether that thing is worth doing or not.

[Fatty Bolger]

There are a handful of areas where I wouldn't object to a little duplication.

The management and security of nuclear weapons is one of them.

[cynical]

Duplication is terrible in bureaucracy, since each agency will just expect the other to do the actual work.

[$6M RoboTorso]

San Antonio's Top Chef Texas tariff: 200 grand paid to show for foodie exposure
...The Express-News also quotes Lindsey Brown with the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, who says that Houston declined an offer of $120,000 to film a single episode here.

They wanted us to underwrite the cost of (one) episode and they were not going to give us any editorial influence for what was shot. ... We just felt it wasn't worth what they were asking. They could go out to Beaumont and film oil barracks for all we know. We would have no say what that segment or episode would look like."...

[Spoonman.]

Derricks. Oil derricks.

[$6M RoboTorso]

Hey, I'm just copying and pasting. Besides, it's a San Antonio newspaper.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Why would a food show be interested in oil derricks? Were they truffle oil derricks?

[Quetzalcoatl]

Why would a food show be interested in oil derricks? Were they truffle oil derricks?

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Grapeseed oil.

[sloopyinca]

Is "Grapeseed Wrath" a decent band name?

[Quetzalcoatl]

I'm not feelin' it.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

Has anyone used "Wolves of Self-Reliance" yet?

[db]

As an engineer who has spent some time in the power industry, I feel it is time for me to stake out my claim to the best engineer band name ever:

Full Load Rejection

[Scooby]

Oil barracks are where the teams of roughnecks sleep when they're not working.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

DADT.....

[Bee Tagger]

Rick Perry is using it as an excuse to call for a border fence,

Can't blame a guy for wanting to sleep better during debates the night.

[Y Szass]

Pam Casey, a dog-groomer from Indianapolis, said she initially supported Perry but switched to backing former Godfather's Pizza chief executive Herman Cain after learning about Perry's immigration policy.

However, after sampling a Godfather's Pizza she switched to backing Mitt Romney.

[Bee Tagger]

Quit shilling for Tombstone!

[BakedPenguin]

Hell, one of those Totino's frozen pizza crackers is better than Godfather's.

[Suki]

Who cares if you like it, Cain made the company a success.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Popeyes Chicken is a success too, but god help you if you eat it.

[Restoras]

Lunch today!

[Apple]

Popeyes kicks KFC's ass.

[sloopyinca]

Church's, bitch!

[ChrisO]

No, god help the other people in my office if I eat it.

[James Ard]

Boy is living on those 99 cent Totinos. They've switched back to the messy but tasty flaky crust. They went on a stretch using crappy crust and almost lost their best customer.

[BakedPenguin]

They were my favorite breakfast food in college.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

They're back to the good stuff? Excellent! They lost me for the same reason.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

I still remember their jingle from when I was a kid: "Godfather's Pizza, the pizza you can't refuse!"

[Kevin]

I still remember their jingle from when I was a kid: "Godfather's Pizza, the pizza you can't keep down!"

I fixed it for you.

[Bee Tagger]

Is SunPower Corp. the next Solyndra? Possibly!

Pretty clever move from the Obama administration: have so many scandals in play at once that the media doesn't have a chance to focus on any of them.

[Groovus Maximus]

It's the plate spinning strategy: have the press focus on so many plates that the spinner can keep moving furtively and unobtrusively.

I look forward to the plates crashing all at once.

[Quetzalcoatl]

A wild Scandal appears!
Liberal Media uses Ignore.
It's super effective!

[Devil's Advocate]

LOL. Sadly, now all I want to think about is other government-inspired Pokemon.

+100

[$6M RoboTorso]

The 5 Most Badass Teams of Famous People To Ever Join Forces

[Troy]

I think that is sort of lame. the 1992 US Olympic Dream team was not on there.

[John]

There is one important thing about the Iranian terror plot Reason is conveniently failing to mention. The Reason line has always been that the Southern border is no threat and Mexican drug gangs would never work with terrorists. Apparently that is not true. Maybe it didn't work so well this time. But that doesn't mean it won't in the future.

[Tim]

The ATF meanwhile, has teamed up with Mexican Drug gangs and actual people are dead because of it. More than Iran can bboast of.

[John]

The fact that these gangs apparently are willing to work with terrorists and the Iranians makes fast and furious that much worse.

[Troy]

are willing to work with terrorists

OK. I am confused. Which terrorists are you talking about? DEA? ATF? Al Qaida?

[Aqua-Assualt Rabbit]

But the drug gangs didn't work with the Iranians - a DEA informant worked with a used car salesman from Corpus Cristi.

[John]

And no one else in the Zetas other than the informant worked with them? It was just one guy?

[Suki]

Seems like the perception that Mexican drug rings will work with the Iranian government in terror plots is greater than what they are willing to do in reality. The DEA is playing off of this myth to nab cheapskate terrorist wannabes who want someone else to pay for their terrorist toys.

[John]

I hope you are right. But it is not clear that you are. So what that the Zeta was a DEA guy. If the rest of the gang approved of what he was doing, then the next time the Iranians just have to get lucky enough to find a Zeta not on the federal payroll.

[sloopyinca]

Or, perhaps the next Zeta who starts talking to his coworkers about working with AQ will end up with a Cuban Necktie because they figure he's a DEA stooge.

I think my scenario is a lot more likely than yours, John.

[John]

Why would they assume any person who wants to work with the Iranians is DEA? I think your scenario is wishful thinking. You are assuming they are both rational and actually afraid of us. I think they are neither.

[Lost_In_Translation]

The zetas are in it to make money, not get killed. Dealing drugs makes lots of money. 1.5 mil for an international assassination is a laughable departure and would use alot of resources that could be making 10's of millions dealing drugs.

[John]

LIT You assume criminal organizations are like corporations. They are not. They much more lose associations of people held together by the threat of death. Not every Zeta crew makes huge money. And even if they all do, these are not phi beta kappas here. It is hardly a given that Iranians couldn't get them to do business. And ten or twenty million dollars is nothing to a sovereign government.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Tell that to the fucking mafia. Threat of death was only one tool. The bigger tools were cash in the right hands. And the first rule was to protect the family, not pursue ideological crusades.

Carrot and fucking stick asshat.

[robc]

not pursue ideological crusades

There was a bit in Snow Crash about that. While the Mafia might have abstract goals, they would pursue concreate actions to avoid getting lost in an ideological crusade.

[sloopyinca]

Gee, I don't know. Maybe because virtually every plot that is "uncovered" involves a DEA, ATF or FBI agent pushing for others to commit or support terrorist acts. Name me one foiled terror plot where our agents weren't the ones pushing some hapless turd to turn his thoughts into actions. Now, flash forward to some lowly Zeta functionary at the quarterly meeting, saying "hey guys! I just met this Iranian who's gonna pay us a ton of money and give us the bomb!"

Yeah, not suspicious at all.

[John]

The Zeta was a DEA guy. The Iranian agent wasn't. And if it is your position that the Iranians didn't do this, fine. Lets see. Maybe they didn't. Then no big deal. If they did, it is a very big deal.

[sloopyinca]

A big deal? Larry, Moe and Shemp could have been more discrete. Fucking Shemp!

[Gray Ghost]

Why would they assume any person who wants to work with the Iranians is DEA?

Because otherwise, why would they want to work with Iranians? The Zetas aren't in the U.S. terror business. They've actually taken great pains to not target U.S. citizens, otherwise there wouldn't be such a gigantic delta between the Juarez murder rate and the El Paso murder rate. (I know about the statistical bullshit that the El Paso area LEO pulls with crime rates; my point is that even if you lump in garden spots like Sunland Park, NM, you still don't get within an order of magnitude of Juarez's problems.) I see the most likely reason for that is that the cartels really do not want to incite U.S. domestic opinion to stamp them out. It would be interesting to know what happened to the guys who shot the ICE agent on the road from Monterrey/San Luis Potosi, as well as the guys who (allegedly) shot that newly married guy, jet-skiing on the Falcon Reservoir. Nothing good, I'm sure.

So, why work with Iranians? To run heroin? I suppose, but it is difficult to see the Zetas (or any of the other Mexican/Colombian/Peruvian narcotics cartels) allowing outsiders to place uninspected contraband within their pipelines. Unlike you, I think the Zetas, et al, are extremely rational, in the same way the Viet Cong, circa 1959 were rational. Mexican cartels don't need Iranian expertise to run a U.S. terror campaign, should they choose. They are already running one within Mexico, and if not doing well, are at least causing no end of chaos.

What could the Iranians provide that the cartels don't already have? Bodies? No, I don't see the cartels lacking manpower. Technical expertise? Perhaps for some exotic ordnance---EFPs, etc---but otherwise, the cartels are awash in cash, probably more cash than Iran. Ordnance? No, the cartels can get whatever they wish from the Army. Which is one reason I think you see the Mexican Navy on so many busts of cartel leaders. WMDs? Maybe, but that would be insanely counterproductive, for both parties.

No, I'm going to rely on Occam's Razor and assume, until further information is disclosed, that this is yet another FBI entrapment sting, utilizing an informant who will say whatever he's told in order to not go to jail. And preying on an idiot, absent-minded used car dealer. All in order to satisfy several agendas: distract people from Fast/Furious etc., push for more govt' spending on the border, and, potentially, expand the Al-Awalki doctrine a little closer to home.

[John]

Grey Ghost,

You are assuming they are a tightly controlled organization run by rational people. They are not. They are a loosely run organization run by homicidal lunatics. Why work with the Iranians? Cash money homey, that is why.

Is that a smart thing to do? Probably not. But who ever said these people were smart? You are basically saying we shouldn't worry because the Mexican drug gangs, the kind of people who cut off heads for a living, are too smart and rational to do that. Do you really think that is a good bet?

[Gray Ghost]

John, they make billions. Billions, with a fucking B. Amado Fuentes used to use 747s to ship in cocaine. Now they use submarines (o.k., semi-submersibles) to ship the shit in by the ton, when they aren't shipping in tons of meth and pot through cross border tunnels. Why would they shit all over that, in order to make 1.5 million from some shit-head used car dealer who says he knows a guy in Iran?

A guy who knows as much military history as you should know that homicidal does not necessarily = stupid. Which is why I brought up the Viet Cong today, and mentioned the Mongols yesterday in a similar topic. The cartels do the "sack of heads on the dance floor" stuff in order to sow terror. They feel that such terror gives them a competitive advantage in gaining exclusive distribution, and ironically, privacy concerning their activities. (Google how many reporters have been killed in Mexico in the last 5 years.) That, and they probably have more than a few crazies at the lower levels in their organization for whom this Santa Muerte worship shit is its own reward. I think the benefits of such terror are outweighed by the desire it causes in Mexican society to stamp them out, but I wouldn't call their tactics irrational. Who knows, maybe it's a Beast Rabban type tactic by the Zetas' eventual successor?

In any event, what is the evidence that Iran was even involved in this? We have an indictment against an alleged member of their Quds Force---who I note is not in custody, nor is likely to be, assuming he even exists---and we have some bank accounts that idiot was drawing on to pay the informant, accounts that are allegedly controlled by Iran. Do we have communications from Iran to any of these guys? Do we have any plans to ship explosives into the U.S.?

[John]

the mafia made billions with a b and did lots of stupid and completely irrational shit, especially in Sicily. You are giving these people way too much credit.

And those are all good questions. If we can't prove that Iran was actually behind this, then that is it. There is no problem. But if we can, we have to do something about it.

[Gray Ghost]

If we can't prove that Iran was actually behind this, then that is it. There is no problem. But if we can, we have to do something about it.

I agree with you here. The "something about" I'd propose is providing a face-saving way for the Iranian PTB to take care of the problem themselves. Let them know that we'd be all right with their having a corruption trial a few months later that results in the execution of the leadership of the Iranian guy's cell, that sort of thing. While leaking an "official" position paper advocating El Dorado Canyon-type strikes on governments that sponsor bombings on US soil. Wikileaks has to be good for something... In short, the sort of stuff we used to do when dealing with the Soviets and their clients.

That said, while reality is far stranger than anything in fiction, and people are irrational by nature, this still smells more like fake plot entrapment bullshit than a serious threat from Iran.

[John]

I am saying we invade them. At most I would launch a bombing campaign for a few weeks and put a few cruise missiles right at their leadership as a way of letting them know that this kind of thing will not be tolerated. And certainly, I would give them a face saving way out of it if I could. But they would have to understand that this shit is not going to be tolerated and the people responsible would have to be held accountable.

[Monty]

Color me conspiracy. Not sure the Iranian dude is even real.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Which leads me to believe we need to round up all used car salesmen.

[Chupacabra]

Just outlaw used cars.

No Cash for [Terrorist] Clunkers!

[Brian D]

"The Reason line has always been that the Southern border is no threat and Mexican drug gangs would never work with terrorists. Apparently that is not true."

How do you figure when the 'Mexican drug gang' representative is actually a DEA agent?

"Maybe it didn't work so well this time. But that doesn't mean it won't in the future."

This is the same justification for Net Neutrality regulations. "Maybe what we're suggesting could happen has never actually happened yet. But we need to create these regulations to ensure that what has so far never happened never will (probably... maybe.)"

[John]

People trying to come across the border and blow shit up is not analogous to net neutrality. All they have to do is get lucky once.

I will tell you what, let me take an old gun that jams most of the time and wear a thick pair of glasses so I can't see real well. And then come and take a shot at you every morning as you are walking to your car to go to work. What is the big deal? I can't see and my weapon sucks. Why worry about it?

[Cabeza de Vaca]

Wow John, that is a stupid analogy even for you.

[John]

How is it a stupid analogy. Iran actively plotted to kill Americans. They only failed because they were incompetent.

How is that any different than me taking a shot at you and missing because I am a lousy shot?

[Raston bot]

So how much should we spend to make us all safe? How tall should the fence be? How should we reroute all our emails through a .gov server for proper review?

[John]

More than zero which seems to be the Reason position.

[Rhywun]

Trying to stop Mexicans who want in is about as great a waste of time and money as trying to stop Americans from ingesting drugs. In other words, be prepared to spend a fuck-ton of money and tolerate a non-trivial number of associated corpses because that's what a "border fence" gets you.

[John]

Yeah we should legalize drugs and put the Zetas out of business. But sadly that isn't happening anytime soon.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Yes it was. But it was kinda cool somehow.

[Greg]

Shoot at me every morning? Isn't that sort of a different question? I don't read about one of these things falling apart nearly that often...

[John]

Okay, every year on your birthday. The point still stands.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Ah, the traditional John shooting day. Remembered with nostalgia of those who lived through it. Thank god he was such a bad shot.

[Suki]

Wasn't the last time they tried to attack us across a land border via the Canadian border?

[Brian D]

"I will tell you what, let me take an old gun that jams most of the time and wear a thick pair of glasses so I can't see real well. And then come and take a shot at you every morning as you are walking to your car to go to work. What is the big deal? I can't see and my weapon sucks. Why worry about it?"

Are we talking a point-blank range shot, or a sniper shot from 1000 meters in the dim pre-dawn light? If it's the latter (and Iranian used car salesmen making large monetary transfers to DEA agents in an attempt to assassinate a foreign diplomat falls under this category for 'chances of success'), then fire away.

[John]

You say that until the first bullet cracks by your head.

[Matrix]

Really, we should just annex Mexico.

[John]

I am not sure what we should do. But if the Mexican drug gangs ever team up with the Iranians, we have a real problem.

[Mexican Drug Gangs]

Thanks for helping us thrive U.S. drug policy!!! We love unintended consequences!!!

[Troy]

Hmmmm...... I don't think Mexican drug gangs have an incentive killing their customers. It seems, generally, if you stay out of their way, they leave you alone. Now Iran's motivation for killing us is pure douchebaggery.

Where I think there would be some cooperation would be if there was $$ to be made. Mexican drug gangs are experts at getting around the border patrol. So maybe Iran might sub-contract to the Zetas to get something into the united states, like say a nuclear bomb. But even then, the Zetas aren't going to want a well established drug route to go up in smoke, unless there was enough money to be made.

[John]

The Iranians are a national government. They have plenty of money. And the Zetas are a group of homicidal lunatics who smuggle drugs for a living. I don't think betting on them being either smart or cautious is a very good bet.

[Suki]

This needs to be pitched to Rockstar Games.

[R C Dean]

Already done. I forget the name of the game, but its out there.

[Gray Ghost]

Already done. I forget the name of the game, but its out there.

Call of Juarez, I think. Not sure if Ubisoft pulled it after the brouhaha.

[Troy]

Who do you bet is a better businessman, a Mexican Cartel leader or your average stupid fuck in in congress? Better in the sense of knowing how economics works, like supply-and-demand, and how to calculate losses into a business model.

Yeah yeah yeah, a member of congress is a pretty low bar to cross but still.

[John]

They are not great businessman. They are lunatics who get rich from being lunatics and their product being illegal. You don't join the mafia because you are smart or a great businessman. You join because you have no other choices and you are a willing to kill people.

[Joe M]

Sorry, but you're just wrong. Drug dealing is a tricky business, and you have to be smart to do well in it.

[Troy]

They are not great businessman.

Shitty businessmen that makes BILLIONS of fucking dollars. Ok, John, what ever you say. I should only hope to succeed eh...er..... fail to that extent.

[John]

Sure you can if you can kill your competitors and have a government granted monopoly on the product via prohibition.

[sloopyinca]

Meh, sounds like PG&E.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Really, we should just annex Mexico.

There's a reason we didn't, though, after the Mexican War--because it's been a thoroughly corrupt, dysfunctional mess ever since they broke away from Spain. We took what we needed and left the rest to them.

[Fluffy]

My line has always been that there is no way - no policy, no effort, no initiative - that can ever make you completely safe from determined efforts of small groups of less than 20 men to kill a lot of people, if those men want it badly enough.

Nothing. You could have the security apparatus of fucking Oceania and it still wouldn't make you completely safe.

I also assert that in the course of pursuing the absurd chimera of attempting to make yourself completely safe, you are likely to do some utterly absurd, disproportionate, and Kafkaesque things, like try to conquer half the Middle East or subject citizens to searches every time they leave their homes to travel or build a fucking giant wall for thousands of miles.

Thanks for confirming my hypothesis, Rick Perry.

[John]

Sure you are not going to be completely safe. But at the same time, is your position that it is perfectly okay for foreign countries to actively plot to kill Americans on American soil? If it is not okay, what do you plan to do about a country that does?

You will never be perfectly safe Fluffy. But if you find out that I plan to ambush you outside your home and beat the shit out of you, do you not do anything about it because doing something would be hard and you will never be safe anyway?

This is not an abstract question. Assuming Holder is not lying (and he may be) but assuming he is not, Iran actively plotted to kill Americans in Washington. The Reason position seems to be that we just do nothing because we can't be safe anyway. That strikes me as fucking nuts.

[Clich? Bandit]

The last time I checked the people of Tonga were not a target of terror attacks. Now, perhaps the best way to make us "safer" is stop kicking ants nests as opposed to trying to wall out every ant and still be able to go to the mall.

[John]

The people of Spain, Bali, Sweden, France, and Norway are and have been. They aren't kicking anything.

[Clich? Bandit]

Aux Contraire Mon Frere. Europe and the EU has poked many an ant hill in the middle east.

[John]

Bullshit, the EU does nothing but suck up to the fucking Arabs. Face facts, they don't fucking care. Being nice them is not going to cause them to stop hating us or trying to kill us. In fact it will just embolden them.

[Clich? Bandit]

My understanding here is that "them" may very well hate us, sure. And that "them" have existed for over 1000 years. And that "them" only started to actively attack us in the last 40-60 or so. So to me it seems something has changed. Now, is it the "them" that we hear all the time are barbarians who hark back to the pre Battle of Hastings days? Or is it something else?

[Clich? Bandit]

By the way, I am no happy shiny people person. I just think that punishing me and the rest of the american people because our own government is dumb as a fucking bag of hammers does NOT increase our safety. Chickenhawks (or whatever the name is these days) are blind to the fact that fighting fire with fire does not always work. Try some water.

The Japanese actively launched a full scale war against us and now 60+ years later they wouldnt concieve of the idea...ask yourself why that is. And if your answer is "Teh Bomb" then we are going to have to part ways on this topic.

[Trooper Jones]

Are you so fucking stupid that you don't know that all of those countries - except Bali which isn't a country - have troops in Afghanistan?

Incidentally, the Swedish and Norwegian special forces are quite good.

[stonewyrm]

Maybe the Iranian president delcared the ambassador a bad guy, and used car dealers are as close as they can get to drones?

If we can kill anyone we dislike anywhere in the world, everyone should be able to, right?

[Underpants Gnome]

"there is no way - no policy, no effort, no initiative - that can ever make you completely safe from determined efforts of small groups of less than 20 men to kill a lot of people, if those men want it badly enough"

Absolutely true. Now ask two questions:

What could Iran possibly gain from a messy, public assassination of the Saudi Arabian ambassador in DC?

Could the US government/Obama admin further its own goals by creating a "terrorist plot" narrative that plays on all the most paranoid fantasies of the most bellicose Americans?

And the answer "Iran is crazy!" isn't sufficient. They're not going to provoke a war with NATO troops on two of their borders.

This is not the work of Iranian intelligence. This is the plot of a book by a mediocre political thriller writer.

[John]

The answer is I don't know. I don't read the hearts and minds of the Iranians. But just because it seems stupid to me doesn't mean the Iranians wouldn't do it.

You guys seem to never have any faith in government except in the case of the Iranian whom you are convinced only act rationally and in their own interests. Other governments do stupid shit, why wouldn't the Iranians? Was it smart or rational for Kadafi to blow up a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie or blow up a nightclub in Berlin? Not really but the Libyans still did it didn't they?

Is this a Reich-stag fire set by Obama? Maybe but I doubt it. It being a set up by Obama seems less likely than it being the Iranians doing what they have been doing for the last 30 years, sponsoring terrorists and waging war on us.

[Underpants Gnome]

I do think Iran is calculating and rational enough to do a cost benefit analysis of this kind of operation, and decide against it.

I don't think that it's any kind of big conspiracy false flag. My guess - a few FBI types overreaching to enhance their career, a small time turd thinking he can get rich and be a big shot, and an administration that ran with it because they look at everything in terms of how it plays in domestic opinion polls and want to look competent and tough in the election season.

[kilroy]

This

[Bradley]

This shit is getting ridiculous. It's like they're plagiarizing the narrative from RED DAWN.

[Restoras]

Isn't it time for a remake?

[juris imprudent]

Prescient or just a lucky guess?

[Fist of Etiquette]

But this year, they're doing less and some are using the money they earmark for political contributions to pay off mortgages on vacation homes or to invest in alternative assets like gold, he said.

Hey! Paying down personal debt and investing in gold isn't helping the economy, you rich bastards! That's a de facto contribution to the Republican candidate.

[Suki]

+1

Awaiting the "fairness" legislation forcing individuals who donated to Democrats in the past to donate equal amounts to a federal fund for the rest of their lives.

[Abdul]

Your feel-good story of the day: Asperger's girl nominated for Homecoming Queen as a joke. End's up winning the crown.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/tee.....en_rssfeed

Also, she will be first homecoming queen without an STD.

[Groovus Maximus]

Also, she will be first homecoming queen without an STD.

You really have been a vein of comic gold lately.

[John]

+100

[Brett L]

You seem to think a woman with Aspbergers would face the same trouble getting laid that you did. I am doubtful.

[Quetzalcoatl]

It's true. Amy found Sheldon, after all.

[Abdul]

All i'm saying is that one of the advantages of Asperger's syndrome is that you don't go looking to fix the damage that your daddy did by not buying you a princess barbie dream house by pulling a train with the soccer team.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

No self-respecting "sochie" girl is going to pull a soccer train. It's football, or nothing.

[sloopyinca]

She wasn't an Asspie, the kid had autism.

There's a big difference, insomuch as a kid with autism making bullies look stupid is a good story, and any story involving an Asspie winning anything is a bad story...because Aspergers "syndrome" is a load of bunk.

[Abdul]

Sorry to burst your bubble, sloopyinca.

"Rachel has a form of autism called Aspergers Syndrome."

Read more: http://www.nbcactionnews.com/d.....z1aflgOx6D

If it's any consolation, she's also a ginger, so we can all hate her on those grounds alone.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

No, no. Asperger's is real. Most of the people claiming to have it, on the other hand...

[Red Rocks Rockin]

No, no. Asperger's is real. Most of the people claiming to have it, on the other hand...

I think the reason people think it's bunk is because you typically see that claim made by socially dysfunctional nerds who self-diagnosed themselves.

"HOW CAN YOU SAY I'M AN ASSHOLE I HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER!"

The Sheldon character on Big Bang Theory would be considered a cuddly Aspie, but in real life it's more likely that anyone like him is just a narcissistic prick with unresolved mommy issues.

[Jon Schaffer`s Right Hand]

That is our word!

[Rhywun]

Erm... no it's not.

[Waitrass]

Would you like some ass pie with your ass burger?

[Brett L]

My experience in IT/Engineering leads me to conclude that whatever the cause of Asperger's Sydrome is, it is a very effective description of a number of co-occuring traits and behaviors.

[Apple]

Heaving Asperger's desn't mean you can't be hot (Heather Kuzmich), it just means you're probably not hot.

[Apple]

Trust me, you don't want Heaving Asperger's.

[Tim]

The sun needs a really big bailout.

[Quetzalcoatl]

It already got one. It was directed by Darren Aronofsky.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

I thought that was Danny Boyle.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Well now I just look ridiculous.

[John]

The best and the brightest

Funny, Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel just can't remember a darn thing about White House involvement in the $535 Department of Energy loan to bankrupt solar company Solyndra.

In an interview with Chicago radio station WLSAM on Tuesday, now-Chicago Mayor Emanuel said that, while he can't remember anything about Solyndra because he's so terribly focused on being mayor of Chicago, the investment had nothing to do with "warning signs."

http://dailycaller.com/2011/10.....ing-signs/

[Abdul]

When you've been involved in that many shady backroom deals, they all kind of blend togehter.

[John]

I love the "investment has nothing to do with warning signs". That is right up there with the woman from California yesterday claiming she didn't know there was a Constitutional issue with banning one kind of music. My God these people are stupid.

[Herman Cain]

+999

[Suki]

+1
(Monk wanted that number rounded out)

[John]

Isn't it actually +666

[Michele Bachmann]

Yes.

[Adrian]

+334

[John]

Newt [Gingrich] was at his most outrageous and undisciplined, notably when he said: 'If you want to put people in jail, I want to second what Michele [Bachmann] said, you ought to start with Barney Frank and Chris Dodd.' Ah, yes, let's focus on jailing those we disagree with. This is America?"
http://online.wsj.com/article/.....TopOpinion

Gingrich really said that? Wow. That makes me almost want to vote for the guy.

[Bee Tagger]

Yes, he said it. He even followed it up with a forceful rebuke of the the Fed.

[John]

I got to give Newt credit. That is fucking awesome.

[o3]

its awesome to jump in the same boat as bachmann ?

[John]

yeah because it is true you fucking nitwit. You judge arguments by their veracity not their source. But you have no idea about that because you are retarded and you are a liberal, which is a redundancy anyway.

[o3]

so what criminal charge(s) should be brought against dodd & frank? are these federal or state charges? and where is the trial venue? >ur arguments will be judged by their veracity & not their source john.

[John]

Federal charges for taking bribes in return for putting favorable language into legislation. And also criminal obstruction charges for covering up the true condition of Fannie and Freddie for all of those years.

[Chupacabra]

No way that's Urine. It writes like an adult.

[Troy]

You bet. We play pirates. I get to board her and poke her with my oar.

[Rich]

Gingrich will never be president, but he is fun to watch. He is quite smooth and seems to be enjoying himself.

[Suki]

He is great on occasion. The occasions when he remembers to talk like a conservative.

[Elspeth Flashman]

+1

[cynical]

I don't think people should go to jail for their opinion, e.g., their opinion that they should collude with criminal executives to facilitate activity that will eventually trigger the worst global economic problems since the Great Depression.

/sarcasm

[P Brooks]

It's truly a sign of the greatness of this nation that voters can select people who have not the faintest notion of how the government actually works to run it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, but they know how government works. But republicanism is just so time-consuming and inefficient. People are even allowed to disagree! It's savagery! Barbarism! Somalia!

[Government is MEDICINE]

how the government actually works

Government is like Medicine, mmmmmm-good in properly prescribed doses by expert Libertarian doctors. Minarchist told me so.

Now take yer medicine.

[Anonymous Coward]

good in properly prescribed doses by expert Libertarian doctors

Wars, executions and taxes are demonstrably not panaceas.

[Matrix]

Forty police officers in Acapulco resign.

En Anglais, por favor

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Translate button: learn to love it.

[Ice Nine]

His French/Spanish sentence hung my translate button.

[Groovus Maximus]

So, that's what you're calling it these days. I need to keep up on the latest euphemisms.

[Suki]

Google Chrome is your friend.

[P Brooks]

Really, we should just annex eradicate Mexico.

Why fool around?

It's our world, and we get to decide who lives in it.

[Matrix]

Mexico gave us the taco. No way I want to eradicate the place.

[Seria Slee]

Allowing Mexico to acquire a nuclear weapon is unacceptable.

[JW]

At least seize the agave fields first.

[Pro Libertate]

We must save the agave, the food, bullfighting, and the various ruins. I say give it to Disney.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Disney can have the ruins. But they better keep their feelthy fucking hands off the agave and the bullfighting.

[Pro Libertate]

Disney tequila and Disney toreo--how could they go wrong?

[Chinese Apparatchiks]

"Family friendly" Mezcal and Toreo? I don't want to live in that world.

[Pro Libertate]

They'll remove the bulls' legs and replace them with wheels. The bull will be placed on a track, and the kids--dressed in the Mickey or Minnie toredor costume, will stand in a padded booth and push a button that will perform a ver?nica, a pic, or place a banderilla (depending on the package his parents purchased). The speaker will play a recorded crowd shout of ?Ol?!, even if the kid blows the suerte.

Tequila will be replaced by a malt beverage of the same name. The agave fields being long ago replaced with corn fields to make ethanol with.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

The agave fields being long ago replaced with corn fields to make ethanol with.

It's a small world, after all...

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Oh, and Chinese Apparatchiks? Stupid joke handles.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Why not Chuck E Cheese?

[Pro Libertate]

Puh-lease.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

I would kind of like to see a combination of bull-fighting and skee-ball. Almost aspires to Calvinball status.

[Ice Nine]

Han renunciado 40 polic?as en Acapulco

Too late, Riggs; they already beat that article to death over at "Razone - Golpe y Corre".

[J.B. Say what?]

Newest econ Nobel prize winners
At a dinner with Sims, when I was just coming out of graduate school, I made some mention of aggregate demand. He asserted that there was no such thing.

More wood thrown on the Keynesian funeral pyre.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

One quibble: they weren't "old, nice, simple models". They were mega-stoopid and arrogant assumptions that human beings are sheep to be herded.

[Free Market Aggression]

human beings are sheep to be herded

In "Free" (LOL!) Market captialism, that is so true.

"[The Native Americans] didn't have any rights to the land...Any white person who brought the element of civilization had the right to take over this continent."

~Ayn Rand
West Point Military Academy graduation speech, March 6, 1974

"Man is born an asocial and antisocial being. The newborn child is a savage. Egoism is his nature. Only the experience of life and the teachings of his parents, his brothers, sisters, playmates, and later of other people force him to acknowledge the advantages of social cooperation and accordingly to change his behavior."

~Ludwig Mises
Omnipotent Government, p. 241

The "Free" in FreeMarket? is false advertising.

There is an iron fist behind the "invisible hand."

The Iron Fist Behind the Invisible Hand
http://www.mutualist.org/id4.html

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Hey, Pale Heathen: Does it hurt when you shit twigs?

[John]

Ripper:Have you ever seen a commie drink a glass of water?
Mandrake:Well, no I... I can't say I have, Jack.
Ripper: Vodka. That's what they drink, isn't it? Never water?
Mandrake: Well I... I believe that's what they drink, Jack. Yes.
Ripper: On no account will a commie ever drink water, and not without good reason.
Mandrake:Oh, ah, yes. I don't quite.. see what you're getting at, Jack.
Ripper:Water. That's what I'm getting at. Water. Mandrake, water is the source of all life. Seven tenths of this earth's surface is water. Why, you realize that.. seventy percent of you is water.
Mandrake: Uhhh God...
Ripper:And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids.
Mandrake: Yes. chuckles nervously
Ripper: You beginning to understand?
Mandrake: Yes. chuckles. begins laughing/crying quietly
Ripper: Mandrake. Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure grain alcohol?
Mandrake: Well it did occur to me, Jack, yes.
Ripper: Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation? Fluoridation of water?
Mandrake: Ah, yes, I have heard of that, Jack. Yes.
Ripper: Well do you now what it is?
Mandrake: No. No, I don't know what it is. No.
Ripper: Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?
reply to this

[John on the john]

shitting all over with nothing serious to say....typical

[Old Mexican]

Re: White Imbecile,

You would be crying like a little wussy girl once you get your fat-ass in the mud, trying to catch a squirrel to eat, if being on your beloved "original affluent society."

Like a little girl.

[OldMex Reduced to Absurdity]

OM, do you or do you not approve of abstract lines on the surface of Mother Earth that prevent movement of her children?

[Old Mexican]

Re: White Imbecile,

OM, do you or do you not approve of abstract lines on the surface of Mother Earth that prevent movement of her children?

WI: Waaa! I broke a nail while chasing my food! I hate this "original affluent society!" I wanna go home! Waaa!

Like a little wussy girl, girly-man.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Chasing squirrels requires tactics, even for a dog. WI would stick to grubs most likely.

[J.B. Say what?]

Thanks for that wonderful link.

The only coherent theory I can pull from the Hercule Triathalon Savinien *hallowed be his name* style ranting, is that we should get rid of specialization and machines.

You must also be an advocate for mass starvation?

But hey, at least the survivors could all gambol along the fruited plains.

[Ramsey]

Obama's approval ratings shoot through the roof!

http://www.theonion.com/video/.....-wa,26349/

[Gimlet]

Female rapists drugged male hitchhikers, 'collected semen for rituals'

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/new...../news.aspx

Why the need to drug them first?

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Yoogliness.

[Troy]

Female Rapist eh? I suppose if she looked like Janet Napalitano, that would be scary.

If she looked like Natalie Portman, she would only need to make an appointment.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

No appointment required. Walk-ins welcomed.

[Fluffy]

Who would make Portman make an appointment?

If there's even a chance that Portman will show up, you need to install a trap door in your office to flush out whatever deadbeat is taking up your time whenever Portman chooses to show up.

Bzzzzt! Ms. Portman has arrived.

"Thanks."

(Pushes button, subordinate falls through trap door to alligators.)

"Send her in."

[Troy]

Who would make Portman make an appointment?

Good point. I'd dump your ass into the aligators in less than a heartbeat to give Portman my sample.

[Ice Nine]

Female Rapist eh? I suppose if she looked like Janet Napalitano, that would be scary.

It certainly would be if she raped like Janet Napolitano.

[Lost_In_Translation]

So they didn't have to worry about the men calling them later for a second date?

Sounds like an incidence of Snusnu

"The mind is willing, but the flesh is weak and spongy"

[JEP]

"Can't we just cuddle!?"

[John Thacker]

Obama says he'll veto any bill that restricts insurers from covering abortions.

A more precise statement being "Obama says he'll veto any bill that restricts insurers from covering abortions on plans subsidized by the federal government, claiming that the government money won't be spent on the abortions, it will be the other premiums.

[John]

^^This^^ That was a dishonest post by Reason.

[Fluffy]

This is a stupid distinction.

It's like saying we have to stipulate that all seniors who receive social security must sign a waiver saying they won't give any money to their grandchild if they need an abortion.

The insurance subsidy is a shitty element of a shitty overall program, but it's a benefit that goes to a recipient so that they can buy insurance. It's not a federal subsidy of abortion if the recipient chooses to buy an insurance plan that covers abortion any more than social security checks are a subsidy of orange juice if senior citizens buy orange juice.

When you assert that it is, you're just buying into the deliberate and conscious plan leftists have to endlessly expand federal power by leveraging each and every transfer payment these fuckers make into greater federal control. "We give people student loans, therefore we can tell you what your admissions policies have to be" and shit like that. Don't be saps.

[Abdul]

End Fungibility Now! #OWS

[Fluffy]

By that definition of fungibility, we should immediately move to end all private donations to churches, end all private expenditure on political speech, etc.

The federal money permeates all financial transactions now - every last one. All money everywhere is tainted. Your checking account is insured by the FDIC, if nothing else.

Therefore we must immediately ban all private expenditures for things that the federal government can't directly make its own expenditures.

Fungibility is not infinitely elastic and if you try to act as if it is, you won't like the results.

[Abdul]

My joke was that you're bascially right. The Hyde Amendment and similar actions really don't do much to discourage abortions because money is fungible. Demanding an end to fungibility is the kind of addle-brained demand that an OWS protestor would make.

[Clich? Bandit]

Hey, I lol'd

[John Thacker]

The insurance subsidy is a shitty element of a shitty overall program, but it's a benefit that goes to a recipient so that they can buy insurance. It's not a federal subsidy of abortion if the recipient chooses to buy an insurance plan that covers abortion any more than social security checks are a subsidy of orange juice if senior citizens buy orange juice.

Well, presumably the insurance plan would cost less if it didn't cover abortion.

Nothing in the bill prevents people from buying a separate, abortion-only or supplementary coverage with their own money. It only prevents bundling into the subsidized plan.

So I don't think that your analogy of Social Security holds at all.

The analogy to student loans affecting admissions policies holds much better. Or the analogy to food stamps, which are required to be spent on food, and particular types of food at that.

I would prefer that all transfer payments be straight cash. But this program isn't straight cash to start with; there are already tons of restrictions on what it can be used for (and mandates that drive coverage up).

[cynical]

If school vouchers are implemented, is it unconstitutional for them to be used to purchase education in religious schools?

[nicole]

Nothing in the bill prevents people from buying a separate, abortion-only or supplementary coverage with their own money. It only prevents bundling into the subsidized plan.

But if your original plan was subsidized, then that's giving you extra money to buy the supplementary or separate coverage.

Seriously, Fluffy is right about the fungibility problem.

[Lord Humungus]

Wait, what about the presidential order he promised er, Bart Stupak?

[Troy]

mmmmmm..... Can Reason TV go to more Raves and do stories about those cute things those Ravers wear on their arms?

[Pro Libertate]

I have a cunning plan to resolve the political debate over fencing off Mexico. Make it a work of art. The funding should go through the NEA only, and it should be faced with marble. The Great Wall of America.

[Prevent Free Movement]

If libertarians are against regulating the surface of the earth with abstract lines and demarcations, then why are they for regulating the surface of the earth with abstract lines and demarcations if somebody calls it "private property?"

[John]

Ripper:
Have you ever seen a commie drink a glass of water?
Mandrake:
Well, no I... I can't say I have, Jack.
Ripper:
Vodka. That's what they drink, isn't it? Never water?
Mandrake:
Well I... I believe that's what they drink, Jack. Yes.
Ripper: On no account will a commie ever drink water, and not without good reason.
Mandrake:Oh, ah, yes. I don't quite.. see what you're getting at, Jack.
Ripper:Water. That's what I'm getting at. Water. Mandrake, water is the source of all life. Seven tenths of this earth's surface is water. Why, you realize that.. seventy percent of you is water.
Mandrake: Uhhh God...
Ripper:And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids.
Mandrake: Yes. chuckles nervously
Ripper: You beginning to understand?
Mandrake: Yes. chuckles. begins laughing/crying quietly
Ripper: Mandrake. Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure grain alcohol?
Mandrake: Well it did occur to me, Jack, yes.
Ripper: Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation? Fluoridation of water?
Mandrake: Ah, yes, I have heard of that, Jack. Yes.
Ripper: Well do you now what it is?
Mandrake: No. No, I don't know what it is. No.
Ripper: Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?

[John the Baptist]

The River Jordan of hilarity.

Especially when confronted with the contradictions of half-wit libertarianism, who simultaneously believe:

(1) Libertarians don't like abstract lines on the earth that prevent movement of free people.

(2) Libertarians do like abstract lines on the earth that prevent movement of free people.

[John]

What is this fluoridation that you speak of?

[John Reduced to Absurdity]

Funny shit at a place called reason.

Do you or do you not approve of abstract lines on the surface of Mother Earth that prevent movement of her children?

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Do you or do you not approve of abstract lines on the surface of Mother Earth that prevent movement of her children?

Abstract lines don't prevent movement, in case what's going on at the Rio Grande has escaped your attention.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Drink!
Mazeltov!

[Old Mexican]

Re: White Imbecile,

If libertarians are against regulating the surface of the earth with abstract lines and demarcations, then why are they for regulating the surface of the earth with abstract lines and demarcations if somebody calls it "private property?"

Hey, everybody! White Imbecile's house is up to grabs! After all, his property is nothing more than an abstraction!

So where was your address, again?

Or: shut the fuck up, idiot.

[Troy]

We need more Black Adder references. Thanks.

[Pro Libertate]

I used to just say, "I have a cunning plan" and wait for a response, but if I do that, I sometimes forget what my cunning plan was, because it is usually a while before a Blackadder fan shows up.

[Elspeth Flashman]

+1

[Quetzalcoatl]

Reporting for duty!

[Clich? Bandit]

Percy, it looks like you swallowed a plate.

[Gray Ghost]

Have at it.

Though it doesn't have, "So let me get this straight. You're saying that something which you have never seen is slightly less blue than something else which you have never seen?"

What a great series (counting 1-4) that was. With one of the finest ending episodes in all of television

[nicole]

True that, Gray Ghost. I think it's about time for a full re-watching.

[Ice Nine]

I have a cunning plan to resolve the political debate over fencing off Mexico. Make it a work of art. The funding should go through the NEA only, and it should be faced with marble.

Naaa. The beaners would just tag the shit out of it.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Just their side though.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Just look at what the Palestinians did to that lovely installation that the Israelis put up around the West Bank!

[MNG]

+1 PL, pretty funny

[Pro Libertate]

It's an artistic tribute to our Mexican hermanas and hermanos, representing the years of norteamericano oppression. The lack of unguarded doors will symbolize the many who've lost their lives trying to get into the U.S. The white marble will symbolize the purity of Mexican virtue. The oil poured over the side will salute Mexico's oil wealth.

Really, it's all in the presentation. When the president dedicates this new work of art, he'll make the speech in Spanish and apologize for taking California and Texas.

[MNG]

It's a great idea. Reminds me of my idea of how the left can get more stimulus money passed: run all the money through the military, call it a plan to rebuild American military bases, to make them state of the art places for our men and women in uniform. The GOP would love it.

[Pro Libertate]

Yes. Image is everything.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Reminds me of my idea of how the left can get more stimulus money passed: run all the money through the military, call it a plan to rebuild American military bases, to make them state of the art places for our men and women in uniform.

This was actually done during the last stimulus; quite a bit of MILCON was funneled through using stimulus dollars.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Say "cunting" plan. You'll get a lot more immediate interest.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

stoopid squirrels...

[P Brooks]

Just as long as your "cunning plan" doesn't involve signing your own death warrant, you should be okay.

[Elspeth Flashman]

+1

[Geo Metry Earth Measure]

Do libertarians approve of abstract lines on the earth that prevent movement of free people, and are enforced by violence?

[o3]

of course they approve. otherwise all them fur-in statists will overrun our corporatist utopia

[MNG]

Some don't I've talked to, they mention "lines on a map" with mocking scorn.

Others do and they support minarchism. As I've told them anarchist like you are the karma that awaits them for calling anyone who believes in slightly more government than they "slaver!"

There's always someone out there who might want less government than you...

[Fluffy]

Well, no. Not really.

With regard to this particular question (I won't respond to this douche directly any more but I'm happy to respond to you) my problem with the abstract national line on the map is precisely that it conflicts with MY abstract line on the map.

Since I have concluded that private property is just, I have also concluded that telling me that I can't let Jose on my property because he's not a "citizen" is unjust. When the concept of "citizenship" contradicts the concept of "property", AFAIAC property wins.

So as a libertarian I don't really "have a problem with abstract lines on a map". I love them. But I love MY line so much that when you come around wanting to draw additional lines I get pissed off.

[John]

If you can't stop people from entering your territory, you are really not a sovereign. Many Libertarians are trans nationalists who reject the nation state. It makes White Indian's post especially stupid and tin eared.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

What's amusing is White Indian's characterization of "abstract lines" as if they're some kind of force field--the equivalent of a vampire that can't cross a threshold if they haven't been invited inside.

[Quetzalcoatl]

On that note, I thought that Let the Right One In was a much better title than Let Me In.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

Yes it was. [Oath sworn] Hollywood!

[Fluffy]

No matter how many new names you make up, I will Ignore them all.

Behold the power of Chrome.

[Fluffy]

So it appears that China is about to either enter recession or completely implode.

But The Truth told me that China's brilliant new Third Way had eradicated the business cycle! This cannot be!

[Chinese Apparatchiks]

And we would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddlin' Austrians.

[John]

My neighbor works for the world bank and is a China worshiper. I got into a drunk discussion/argument with him a few months ago predicting China was going to implode. I will try not to gloat too much.

[Pro Libertate]

The reasons for China's recent success and the reasons it will not continue to succeed (unless things change there dramatically) are all pretty obvious. It's amusing to watch people fawn over Chinese authoritarianism, not realizing that their success is 80% about lifting the boot a little and 20% about having cheap labor. Also, Hong Kong.

Here's a decent Forbes article on the topic.

[Abdul]

See also: Japan, 1981 to whenever Black Rain came out on VHS.

[John]

What I don't get is that they seem to want China to succeed. Since China is a horrible repressive government, I want it to fail so that that model isn't seen as a way to be. I can't understand why you would cheer lead for it so much.

[Pro Libertate]

I'd like China to succeed, too. As a liberal, free-market society. They'll get there, but it's not going to happen soon.

And yes, we've heard this all before. In my lifetime, the Soviets were kicking our ass, the Arabs, the Japanese, the Chinese, even Europe.

[Troy]

Germany is slowing down:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15291553

Isn't Germany and France supposed to be the engines dragging the rest of Europe along?

[Raston bot]

I hope it takes Jim Rogers' daughters with it!

[Lord Humungus]

Venezuela: Mimes Tackle Traffic Chaos
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....01465.html

A part of Venezuela's capital is giving dangerous drivers the silent treatment, sending mimes into the streets to do what police alone have not: tame the lawless traffic.

About 120 mimes dressed in clown-like outfits and white gloves took to the streets of the Sucre district this past week, wagging their fingers at traffic violators and at pedestrians who streaked across busy avenues rather than waiting at crosswalks.

[Elspeth Flashman]

1. Mimes are better if they're naked.
2. Makes me think of the movie "Blow Up" at the ending.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Mimes are better if they are crushed by a cartoon steamroller until they're 2 dimensional.

[Lord Humungus]

I loved Blowup - until the last 5 minutes.

[JW]

That's a target rich environment.

[Lord Humungus]

MONSTER TRUCK RALLY!

Now with Mimes!

[kinnath]

Unix creator Dennis Ritchie dies aged 70
Pioneering computer scientist Dennis Ritchie has died after a long illness.

Mr Ritchie was one of the creators of the hugely influential Unix operating system and the equally pioneering C programming language.

That's two; who's three?

[John]

If I were Bill Gates or Paul Allen I wouldn't leave my home until we knew.

[Sal Paradise]

Or Ken Thompson

[MNG]

Reed Richards?

They already killed off Johnny, so why not RR?

[kilroy]

Thank you Mr. Ritchie and RIP.

[MNG]

I love how the WaPo has both of these headlines on the same page today:

Herman Cain moves ahead in new poll

Republicans increasingly see Romney as the 'inevitable candidate'

[John]

LOL You don't understand MNG, the media and the "insiders" whoever they are, choose the nominee. The voters have no say in this.

[MNG]

The hilarity is that the poll which has Cain "surging ahead" is of GOP VOTERS, so the other headline only makes sense if it reads "Republicans (at least those whom we at the Post like and talk to) increasingly see Romney as the 'inevitable candidate'

[John]

Its like two papers in one.

[Gimlet]

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) Fires up the Kool-aid Party:

http://www.startribune.com/pol.....76818.html

[kilroy]

I hope Kool-aid Party sticks.

[John Thacker]

What, no mention of the trade bills?

Between them and the word that a deal is coming on farm subsidy cuts over ten years, there's some nice news stories.

Note that the cuts are still one third less than what both the President and the House Republicans wanted, because the Senate Democrats are frustrating the President's agenda.

Honestly, Obama with a completely Republican Congress could be better than electing Romney with a Republican Congress.

[John]

Does anyone else know that Hugh Laurie is a fantastic musician? I had no idea. My wife bought me his New Orleans record and it is great. The guy is a serious piano player and a very good singer. Who would have thought?

[Pro Libertate]

He's amazingly talented in a variety of things. I read his novel (The Gun Seller), which was pretty good.

[John]

He really is a Renascence Man. Fucking bastard.

[Rhywun]

I heard he's a good speller, too.

[Quetzalcoatl]

He used to play piano and sing on A Bit of Fry and Laurie.

[Pro Libertate]

I still want a House episode--when they decide to wrap things up, which I think will be sooner rather than later--where Stephen Fry and some of the Blackadder cast show up. It can be a dream sequence or whatever they want, so long as they do it.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

I wouldn't put it past 'em. They've shown they're not above the sly reference (I liked House alluding to Mike Tomlin during a conversation with Omar Epps' character Foreman).

[Pro Libertate]

They do quite a bit of that. Him ripping on Brits regularly, the Sherlock Holmes references, which are blatant, and I think there's even been a couple of indirect hits on Blackadder.

[nicole]

He also does all the piano playing (and singing) on Jeeves and Wooster, it's very fun. And The Gun Seller was great.

[Zeb]

Ever watch "A bit of Fry and Laurie"? He had some good musical bits on that show. It's a great show in general, though the last season does get a bit too political in a predictable boring way.

[Au H20]

Jeeves and Wooster, my friend. That show was amazing. Also... what does it say about Stephen Fry that he was both Laurie's and Rowan Atkinson's best man at their weddings?

Also, idea: Laurie as the next Doctor Who. He'll be done with House by the time Matt Smith is done, he'll have plenty of money, he's British (they all grew up on Who) and we need an older Who in the vein of the original series. Plus, if you've ever seen him in full on Wooster mode, he can play funny (he came up in England as a comic actor on shows like Blackadder and A Little Bit Of Fry and Laurie. He also apparently dated a young Emma Thompson while at Cambridge)

[Lord Humungus]

Families Don't Depend on the Minimum Wage
http://online.wsj.com/article/.....on_LEADTop

Last month, MIT professor Paul Osterman wrote in the New York Times that 20% of American adults are employed at "poverty-level wages." He said minimum wages should be raised if the economy is to grow and prosper (the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25, but it is as high as $8.67 in Washington state). Similarly, CNN.com and the Washington Post ran pieces recently on the importance of raising the minimum wage to get more cash to the working poor.

We do have serious poverty in our economy, even more so in this lingering recession. And everyone favors the rising real wages and living standards that come with productivity advance and economic growth. But advocates of a higher minimum wage put the cart before the horse. A growing economy generates good jobs; higher wages don't grow the economy. And the overwhelming evidence is that higher minimum wages reduce the availability of jobs at the lowest end of the job market.

[Rhywun]

Oh, it's 1 in 5 now?? The graffiti I've been seeing courtesy of our friends who are occupying Wall Street says "1 in 6".

[Lord Humungus]

Will 'Occupy Wall Street' movement fizzle out?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/o.....50744968/1

Another factor is how the government responds. The initial news flashes from Wall Street came after the NYPD's heavy-handed response. Which presents a conundrum for the protesters: What if nobody notices? Provocations grab headlines, but this isn't Moammar Qaddafi vs. The People. Sure, nobody would have cared much about anti-globalization protests in the 1990s had it not been for a few shattered Starbucks windows in Seattle. But Middle America has little tolerance for Molotov cocktails and tear gas. A riotous spasm could backfire on the nascent movement.

What are we left with? A growing (perhaps) movement with much media interest, unclear goals and a relatively narrow demographic makeup. I don't doubt the sincerity of the protesters, but I do wonder about their staying power. After all, not every occupied traffic roundabout is meant to be Tahrir Square.

[Lord Humungus]

Banks turn to demolition of foreclosed properties to ease housing-market pressure
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....ml?hpid=z2

A handful of the nation's largest banks have begun giving away scores of properties that are abandoned or otherwise at risk of languishing indefinitely and further dragging down already depressed neighborhoods.

The banks have even been footing the bill for the demolitions ? as much as $7,500 a pop. Four years into the housing crisis, the ongoing expense of upkeep and taxes, along with costly code violations and the price of marketing the properties, has saddled banks with a heavy burden. It often has become cheaper to knock down decaying homes no one wants.

[John]

Instapundit asks and I am not sure, but didn't this happen in a Rand novel? I can't remember. Any objectivists out there who can answer that? If it did, the world is really beyond parody.

[Fluffy]

Not that I remember.

It's similar to many Great Depression episodes where the feds went out there and bought agricultural produce for the purpose of destroying it, to prop up prices. Driving herds of cattle over cliffs deliberately, stuff like that.

It's also reminiscent of a Global Warming Spoof novel (can't remember the author) where after carbon dioxide production is pulled way back, there's a mini Ice Age and the people of Milwaukee have to break up and burn abandoned houses to keep warm.

[Lord Humungus]

the book was Fallen Angels (Niven, Pournelle & Flynn)

[Lost_In_Translation]

Shovel ready jobs

[Red Rocks Rockin]

I actually told a friend of mine that if Obama was bound and determined to spend money on "shovel-ready" jobs, he should start be demolishing a lot of the homes that were built during the housing bubble. There was no way most of them were going to be sold and retained at the prices the banks were asking for, even at reduced prices. The income/debt/purchase price ratios were too far out of whack to allow it to happen.

[Elspeth Flashman]

+1

[Clich? Bandit]

Holy Hell! I must admit, during the cash for clunkers debacle I nearly cried watching perfectly good cars being destroyed. Now this...If they price would fall to real market levels this problem would be solved. Landlords who rent them out, low income but good credit risk people can get a start, or FUCK EVEN THE LUMBER IS WORTH SOMETHING.

Shit is getting bad.

[Quetzalcoatl]

They should at least be charging people to demolish the house for entertainment.
$5 for a window, $100 if you want to set it on fire.

[0x90]

Jackson suggests hiring 15M unemployed @ 40K.

BLS & Census data being the hodgepodge it is, I could get this wrong, but some quick figuring, based on 2008 census data, indicates there were ~140M earners making than 40K, and ~80M making less than 20K.

I'd be curious to hear any reasoning by which this would not potentially cause a great number of people to quit their jobs in order to qualify for his program. Employing 95M people (80M <20K earners, who would double their income, + 15M unemployed) works out to 3.8T, and the entire 145M (all <40M + 15M unemployed) to around 6.2T.

2008 US GDP was around 14.6T.

[Eric F.]

You are completely ignoring the multiplier.

[0x90]

Do you mean the multiplier which factors in the effect, upon GDP, of enticing millions of previously-productive workers into moving into federal make-work jobs; jobs which are ultimately paid for by taxing that same GDP?

[Red Rocks Rockin]

What's even better is when you do the math:

$40K/year=$769/wk
$769/wk=$19.225/hr

So essentially, he's just pushing the $20/hr salary meme.

[Eric F.]

I CAUGHT THE RUSH REFERENCE!

[James Anderson Merritt]

I read AB74 and didn't see any mention of pacifiers, LED gloves, or other rave paraphernalia. Where did anyone get the idea that AB74 prohibits such thing, or how will the government extract that interpretation from the law's text?

[James Anderson Merritt]

Or should I be examining a different law altogether?

I will say that Ma's tactic of putting anti-rave provisions in an AGRICULTURAL bill seems pretty slimy. You would never know what the law is about from its dry, formal title. (Though the "may be cited as" title is more informative.)