Tonight on The Independents: FreedomWorks Sues Over Surveillance, Obamacare Exemptions Continue, Canada Does Debt Reduction, Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne Talks Bitcoin, Judge Napolitano vs. Drone Strikes, Stolen Bull Semen, and More!

Watch The Independents! It's coming at you on the Fox Business Network at 9 p.m. ET, with a midnight repeat. You should tune in! Matt Welch is still out to sea, so tonight's episode will once again feature yours truly sitting in the middle chair, along with super-host Kennedy and super-co-host Kmele.

Tonight's episode will kick off with FreedomWork CEO Matt Kibbe talking about his organization's participation (along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul) in the newly announced lawsuit against the National Surveillance Agency's mass surveillance operations. Panelists Ben Domenech of The Transom and the Heartland Institute and all-around awesome historian Thaddeus Russell will join the show to talk about how the law splits political coalitions and what it might mean for 2016. They'll stay on board to discuss the latest Obamacare delay and America's sagging press freedom ranking.

The second segment will feature Fox Business host John Stossel previewing his next show and discussing Canada's blessedly boring budgets.

Later in the show we'll talk to Judge Andrew Napolitano about the president's assertion of power to launch drone strikes against American citizens.

Patrick Byrne, the freedom-loving CEO of Overstock.com will be on to talk about his company's move to become the first major retailer to accept Bitcoin. 

Other topics on tap include the science behind friends with benefits, sexy name changes, and stolen bull semen. You want to watch! 

Comments

[SIV]

Bring back Moynihan

[Almanian!]

seconded - I treasure the odd appearance on RedEye

[fish]

I treasure the odd appearance on RedEye

What's Bob Costas have to do with this?

[fish]

Oh...."on".... RedEye.....not "of".

Disregard.

[Almanian!]

still +nice

[Lady Bertrum]

Moynihan's weird giggling is endearing, but his pallor concerns me. I assume he'll go into diabetic shock at any moment.

He looks like a sickly, giggling vampire.

[fish]

"Stolen Bull Semen"

There's your band name.

[Heroic Mulatto]

all-around awesome historian Thad Russell

No, he isn't.

[Paul.]

No love for Tim Cavanaugh, and now this? You're just hate hate hate. Hate!

[Heroic Mulatto]

Yeah, pretty much.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Did you click the Thad Russell link?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Did you click this link?

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Yeah...I think I win this one.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Hab SoSlI' Quch!

[Notorious G.K.C.]

You call *that* an insult?

I fert in your general direction!

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Hey, what happened to the Thaddeus Russell link with the chick? Did I imagine it?

[Cytotoxic]

1)Why do you hate Russel?

2)Why do you hate Cavanaugh?

[Heroic Mulatto]

1.) This.

2.) The reasons are too many to list.

[Corning]

I think he was more right about that thrift store song then you are.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Really? I don't know what alternate universe you and Russell hail from, but I'm curious as to what is Superman's origin story there.

[Paul.]

Other topics on tap include the science behind friends with benefits

The science is it promotes everyone's well-being. The end. No more discussion.

[Almanian!]

So, what you're saying is that the science is settled.

Interesting...

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I may have to run a, uh, experiment to see for myself.

But unfortunately I think all out female libertarians here are attached.

[kibby]

I'm not. But I'm also old. & pretty much celibate at this point.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Old? Like 70s? 80s? Or are you our first Centenarian Hit 'n Runner?

[kibby]

Old for him. I do hope to still be frequenting Hit & Run in my twilight years, though.

That's the saddest life goal ever, wow.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

When it comes to this kind of arrangement the mileage on the car isn't as important as the bodywork.

And no, I'm not proud of myself for using that metaphor.

[kibby]

It's a very apt metaphor though.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Well two regular commentators here at Hit & Run met, got married, and now have two kids.

So don't give up hope?

[Episiarch]

She could also always go to bar, get hammered, and go home with some jerk. Hey, don't you go to bars, Serious? And you're a jerk! I'm having one of those thoughts with pictures...

[Lady Bertrum]

Sometimes romance develops with shared interests like, oh, libertarianism and Latin. hint, hint.

[kibby]

I SEE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO. STOP THAT.

[Lady Bertrum]

How would you say 'want to be my fuck buddy' in Latin? Because, apparently, it's good for mental health purposes.

[kibby]

I'll bet Catullus has a poem about it!

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I am a jerk but I don't mix well with the bar/club scene. I don't like places so loud that the person can't hear what I'm saying.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

"What makes you think I want to hear you talk?"

[Agammamon]

What if they don't *want* to hear what you're saying?

[Paul.]

Well two regular commentators here at Hit & Run met, got married, and now have two kids.

So don't give up hope?

If there was ever a reason to give up hope, you just provided it.

[Lady Bertrum]

But unfortunately I think all out female libertarians here are attached.

Is lap63 attached? Nikki is engaged.

I'm not only married I'm also old by H&R standards (40). So, yeah.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I had no idea lap63 was a woman. It's hard telling with the gender neutral handles.

But yeah, Kaptious also has a boyfriend and I can't think of anyone else at the moment.

[Lady Bertrum]

*sigh* All the good ones are taken. I'm sure kibby will get grabbed up soon. 😉

[kibby]

I pity that poor person.

[Episiarch]

We already pity Fist of Etiquette! How about him? Plus he has the jerk thing going for him too, just like Serious! And unlike Serious, he isn't a teenager, which is probably a huge plus. Unless you're a high school teacher, in which case Serious is probably perfect.

Man, matchmaking is fun! Now I see why chicks love it so much!

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I'm 22, but under Obamacare I'm still a child. I don't suspect Kibby is into pederasty.

[kibby]

Epi, you are quite literally the last person on the planet I would trust to make a match for me.

[Episiarch]

It's not about trust, kibby, it's about faith.

[kibby]

Oh, I have great faith in you. Faith that you would feed me to wild dogs for your amusement.

[Episiarch]

Ok, good, we're off to a good start then.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Does the K stand for Kate? Because the Taming of the Shrew parallels would be pretty cool. Ahem:

I am he come to tame you Kate. And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate conformable as other household Kates.

[kibby]

Pshaw, Kate. Such common names are beneath me.

It would be rad to be able to make Shakespeare references with my name, but as it stands I get some comic book ones. Also perfectly acceptable.

[Episiarch]

Klownbaby?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Kara Zor-El?

[kibby]

...Stop being such a goddamned nerd.

[Episiarch]

Way to blow it again, Serious. What did we tell you about that pocket protector?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Wait, I'm right? In my defense you indicated you read Batman comics, which is DC, so I just thought of the most obvious K name in that line, Supergirl.

[kibby]

I was going to throw in a Battlestar Galactica reference, but I thought it'd be too easy to guess. People usually get it from that, never from Supergirl.

NERD.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

**tips top hat** I've never actually read comics, but I did watch the Batman and Superman animated series as a kid.

[Agammamon]

Kandi?

[Raven Nation]

Well, there is IFH but she's geographically inaccessible for most on HnR.

[Raven Nation]

I'm also old by H&R standards (40)

Oh, thank you SO much!

[Sevo]

..."I'm also old [...] (40)"...

Ha, I say! Ha!

[Lady Bertrum]

40 - Old enough to know some, young enough to guess the rest. Unless, of course, you watch a lot of porn then you don't need to guess about anything

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

If we were to do a poll where each regular posted their age, what do you think the average would be? I would think it higher than the 35.

[kibby]

I'm inclined to agree with this. I just automatically presume that everyone here is above that age until I hear otherwise.

[Episiarch]

I'm younger than Kennedy, if that helps.

[kibby]

You're older than the sun & more terrible than the collapse of the universe. Don't lie.

[Episiarch]

The sun?!?

[kibby]

Not old enough to convey your terrible age?

[Episiarch]

Remember, kibby, as Fernando said, it's not how you feel, it's how you look.

[Lady Bertrum]

I'm younger than Kennedy, if that helps.

Then you must be a fetus in utero because Kennedy is younger than Dorian Gray.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

She only looks young because she consumes the souls of the young conservatives/libertarians and stores their life force in her earrings, which are horicruxes.

Why do you think they had that awkward millennial panel on a few weeks back?

[Raven Nation]

Wow: that kind of imagination suggests you should consider writing - perhaps horror novels?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Hmmm, a horror story with libertarian themes? Could work, but I'm not much of a creative writer.

[Lady Bertrum]

Why do you think they had that awkward millennial panel on a few weeks back?

I was embarrassed for your generation. You and Irish (who I believe is also an infant) could have done a better job.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Thank you, Lady B. It was especially tough to watch because of that one smug looking douche in the suit that was desperately trying to act adult and grown-up.

The other two panelists were awkward but you can tell they were just nervous.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Yeah you're ancient.

*rolls eyes*

[LarryA]

old by H&R standards (40).

ROTFLMAO

[LarryA]

I've been married longer than that.

[Paul.]

My condolences.

[Paul.]

But unfortunately I think all out female libertarians here are attached.

Both of them?

[Paul.]

Consensus!

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

1000 days till the 2016 general elections. Let's try not to fuck it up this time.

[Cytotoxic]

Yeah they'd better not support some loser like Romney. Man it would be embarrassing to have supported that guy.

[Hugh Akston]

Best comment of the day, Tulpy. Keep 'em coming!

[Almanian!]

Hello, shitfacktory!

/The Gobbler

[Heroic Mulatto]

Superman is a dick.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Babies are dicks.

[Agammamon]

Always has been.

http://www.superdickery.com/in.....w=category

[John]

How did Kennedy get so MILFy cute?

[Tman]

You think she's milfy?

I just go with hot. I don't put her in Milf category, partially due to the fact that it makes feel old.

And she is quite attractive. Hubby is a lucky dude.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I've seen her in person before, she does not look like a woman who's had two kids.

Good for her.

[fish]

Doesn't that qualify her as "MILFY"?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

No, because she looks 10 years younger and you wouldn't immediately think she's had children.

[fish]

But you know she has.....

Look she wasn't born in Kenya!

[Episiarch]

She actually looks quite young. Again, good for her. I wonder what effect different earrings would have...

[Tman]

Easily one of the most attractive Gen X celebrities on television, IMO. Add in the libertarian part and she reaches Unicorn status amongst my generation.

[Heroic Mulatto]

She is an immortal Lizard Person hybrid created by the Illumanti?

[fish]

See if they'll create one for me.

[Corning]

Heavy make-up.

[Cytotoxic]

I haven't watched The Indies because I don't have the channel. Is it good? What are its ratings like? I think it's pretty cool that Reason basically has a show on Fox.

[Bam!]

How do you feel about dangling earrings and random on-the-street interviews?

If you like them, you should watch.

[Dweebston]

The only MotS interviews worth my time were Bill's on Red Eye, but he's left now and taken some of the light out of my world.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

"But the problem here is not just that Paul's attack on the NSA is a mistake that if successful would, like most of the senator's foreign policy views, result in a dangerous U.S. retreat from its global responsibilities, but that virtually no one ? including his most likely rivals for the Republican presidential nomination ? is speaking up to distance themselves from Paul's stand or to put forward a different foreign policy vision that would be more in tune with the GOP's traditional support for a strong defense and American interests around the globe....

"Though his views are more popular than ever, the assumption that Rand Paul speaks for most conservatives on foreign or defense policy is still untrue. But unless mainstream Republicans find someone other than [Peter] King to publicly challenge Paul, the impression that the senator is the voice of the GOP on security issues will start to take hold. Savvy Republicans know that they will never win back the presidency by running to the left of Hillary Clinton on national security, thereby allowing a liberal and her party to look like responsible centrists. Though it is two years until the 2016 primaries, the push back against Paul can't start early enough."

http://www.commentarymagazine......ce=twitter

[Calidissident]

"Savvy Republicans know that they will never win back the presidency by running to the left of Hillary Clinton on national security,"

Exhibit A as to why I absolutely despise the "left-right" dichotomy.

[PapayaSF]

Do "savvy Republicans" really know that? Seems like a clever move to me. "Bring the troops home, secure the border, and bomb the crap out of anyone who attacks us" sounds like a winning platform to me.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I wonder how many times Peter King had to suck Tobin's dick before he'd agree to perform this clumsy attempt at a hatchet job.

[Anonymous Coward]

Though the metadata collection program has been shown to be both legal and necessary for tracking down leads about terrorist threats...

I must have been asleep. Did FedGov finally present evidence that spying on American citizens are America's closest industrial rivals has thwarted a terrorist plot?

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

So they're saying that Hillary is going to sell herself as a responsible centrist by promising to spy on Americans?

[Sevo]

"So they're saying that Hillary is going to sell herself as a responsible centrist by promising to spy on Americans?"

And bomb anyone who makes jokes about her piano legs.

[Paul.]

She sold herself as a responsible centrist by supporting the PATRIOT act. Why not?

[Paul.]

Oh, and the creation of the TSA, there is that.

[Cytotoxic]

Though it is two years until the 2016 primaries, the push back against Paul can't start early enough."

Sucks for you because that isn't happening for a long time and it won't be enough. Rand Paul's foreign policy positions are the only ones selling in the GOP market and Rand Paul is one of the only people with the credibility to sell anything. The only person who could challenge him for TP spiritual leader is Cruz, and I doubt his FP views are that different from Paul.

[montana mike]

Peter.fucking.King...I doubt this fucking idiot can tie his own shoes.

[Pro Libertate]

Okay, so I tried to watch this last week. My FiOS subscription doesn't include Fox Business News, and I tried to watch online at the network's website, and it just buffered the whole show. Options?

[Episiarch]

Fuck you?

[SIV]

This works:

http://www.zenex.tv/foxbusiness11

[Surly Chef]

Lou Dobbs!

[wareagle]

Paul's attack on the NSA is a mistake that if successful would, like most of the senator's foreign policy views, result in a dangerous U.S. retreat from its global responsibilities,

so criticizing a domestic spying program = being isolationists? No one says we shouldn't spy on other govts but, damn, that is quite a leap and from a publication that leans right.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

It's the kind of publication that, when someone says, "let's not get involved in the war in East Dorkistan," they hear, "let's just leave Hitler alone and let him kill everyone."

[Notorious G.K.C.]

And Rand Paul is just one umbrella away from being Neville Chamberlain.

[wareagle]

if everything is considered a threat, doesn't there come a point when that essentially means nothing is a threat? Hmmm

[Surly Chef]

War is peace.

[Anonymous Coward]

Ignorance is Strength.

[Ska]

I can't believe it's not butter.

[Surly Chef]

You know because the US was there repelling Nazis in Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands. Standing vigilant in the Ardennes and the skies over London. No wait, we "let" all of that happen and took no overt action until directly attacked by one of Hitler's allies.

[Killaz]

Being there are not, it was going to happen. Germany had yet to fully shoot its wad, a few million dead Americans in the mix would have been a very satisfying cum shot for them.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Not to light the Plopper signal, but here's Woody Allen's famous Commentary subway scene.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Anyway, the last time I saw so much white stuff was in Toronto's City Hall.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

http://instantrimshot.com/

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

INTERDEPENDENTS DISASSEMBLE!

[Dweebston]

Is that really their tagline? Who workshopped that, Ron Burgundy? Even tongue-in-cheek it's stale as the last loaf of artisinal pita at a farmer's market.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

"To Infinity and Beyond!"

[Dweebston]

"The Independents: Giving the Other Other Side of the Debate."

"The Independents: No Talking Points, Just Pointless Talk."

"The Independents: The Fox Roundtable News Show Without Greg Gutfeld."

[Episiarch]

"The Independents: By Grabthor's Hammer, I shall avenge you!"

[Sevo]

If TV requires subjects presented as if the audience has an attention span of 5 seconds, maybe that isn't the medium to get the point across.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

"The Independents: We're Not Just Republicans Who Like to Smoke Pot (But We Do Smoke Pot)"

[Dweebston]

Kennedy & company seem more like the wine-swilling whiskey-sipping tequila-shooting coke-snorting variety of sinners.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

DEPENDENTS ASSEMBLE!!!

Oh wait that's the Maddow thread. My bad.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

It's time to call it like it is.

Is that like "calling balls and strikes"? Cause that hasn't worked out so well for us

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Maine Governor Opposes Drug Used to Reverse Heroin Overdoses

"It's a drug that's been widely used since the 1960's to reverse the effects of an overdose...The life-saving drug is called Naloxone, and some lawmakers want to make it available to heroin addicts, opiate users, their families and first responders. Governor LePage won't comment on the Naloxone bill until it reaches his desk. But a DHHS spokesman told the committee the LePage administration is opposed to this bill for some of the same reasons it opposed it last time. The governor says Naloxone creates a false sense of security for drug users."

http://www.wgme.com/news/featu.....vwVAmeYZhg

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

People are never going to learn to dose heroin properly if you just save their lives every time they fuck up. It's like letting kids use calculators on a multiplication test.

[Sevo]

Yeah, and how do you expect funeral parlors to stay in business?!

[sarcasmic]

I voted for LePage and I'll vote for him again. He gets it right on most economic issues. On other things, not so much.

[JeremyR]

Canada's immigration policy of only essentially only letting in middle class people from Asia and Europe goes a long way to why their economy/budget is better.

That's actually the funny thing, I think many people in the US would be glad to emulate Canada's policies on a lot of things - immigration, health care, military. But nope, can't do it.

[Bam!]

Canada's budget and economy are better because they learned their lesson back in the 90s.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

It's a tad easier for Canada to control immigration. The only land boundaries they have are with the US, and the only other country they even have a narrow water border with is Kalaalit Nunaat.

[Ted S.]

They have a water border with France.

[Sevo]

I'll pass on the "health waiting lines".

[Calidissident]

Clearly, we would have a balanced budget, 4% unemployment, and 5% GDP growth if it wasn't for Mexicans crossing the border.

[Cytotoxic]

In the real world, Canada lets in all kinds of people from around the world including poor people. Our immigration policy, while far better than America's hyper-restrictionism, is still too tight and that holds us back.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Pennsylvania SoCon Group Warns About Gambling

"The Corbett administration is pushing to add Keno (video gambling) to the state Lottery, potentially placing the machines in diners, taverns and pizzerias around the state. Keno is a very addictive form of gambling. A national expert was forced to admit under questioning from the Senate Finance Committee that Keno is blamed for causing more gambling problems in other states than the traditional Lottery.

Regardless of the state's desire for added revenues, legalizing Keno would be a significant expansion of gambling in scope and type. Simply put, it would place one of the most highly addictive forms of gambling just around the corner from millions of Pennsylvanians. It will intrude on our lives and lifestyles with Keno monitors and mesmerized gamblers taking up prime space in restaurants and taverns."

http://www.pafamily.org/index.php

[Sevo]

..."Keno is a very addictive form of gambling."...

Yep, why I've seen Keno players stggering around shouting 'just one more and then I'll quit!'

[John]

Talk to any personal bankruptcy attorney. A good number of people are degenerate gamblers. It is worse than heroin. Some people have the money to use drugs. But gambling takes it all no matter how much you have.

It is more than a bit ironic that our government wages the drug war because drugs are addictive yet is actually in the gambling business.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Don't worry John, the group is not just against government gambling, but is also into using government to prevent gambling generally:

"In an alarming trend, three states have legalized some form of Internet gambling, including New Jersey and Delaware on our own border.We are asking for your help to spread the word about this threat.

This week, Pennsylvania State Rep. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) introduced legislation that would ensure that Pennsylvania does not become next on the list of states that have put casinos on every iPad, smartphone, and laptop in the state.

It doesn't take an expert to know that putting real-money gambling on every Internet-connected device throughout Pennsylvania is a bad idea. Ask any mother or father whose 10 year old has ordered something from Amazon or spent money in a game like Candy Crush without first asking permission ? it's just not possible to prevent a curious kid or a determined teenager from losing money that they don't have.

It is common sense that allowing every Internet-connected device in Pennsylvania to become a virtual casino is a bad idea, particularly for the young and for those who can least afford to lose money."

http://thecapitolwatch.com/201.....h-of-kids/

[John]

They are just protecting the monopoly they granted their cronies. Making competition illegal is all that is. There are casinos in PA. And they paid good money for that legislature.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Of course, the number of people who play games of chance who develop problem gambling, like the number of people who try heroin who develop serious addiction, is small:

"In the United States, the percentage of pathological gamblers was 0.6 percent, and the percentage of problem gamblers was 2.3 percent in 2008.[34] Studies commissioned by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission has shown the prevalence rate ranges from 0.1 percent to 0.6 percent.[35] Nevada has the highest percentage of pathological gambling; a 2002 report estimated 2.2 to 3.6 percent of Nevada residents over the age of 18 could be called problem gamblers. Also, 2.7 to 4.3 percent could be called probable pathological gamblers.[36]

According to a 1997 meta-analysis by Harvard Medical School's Division on Addictions, 1.1 percent of the adult population of the United States and Canada could be called pathological gamblers.[37]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.....Prevalence

[Sevo]

John|2.12.14 @ 8:42PM|#
"Talk to any personal bankruptcy attorney. A good number of people are degenerate gamblers."

John,
I don't doubt this, but I doubt it is:
1) Caused by a medical condition as in "addiction".
2) In any way reduced or prevented by gov't actions, sort of like that drug war you mention.
Wanna bet on something? Hold on a minute, here ya go! Double or nothing? Sure.

[John]

People are degenerates. They just find different outlets. The point is the hypocrisy of state governments that wage war on drugs in the name of stopping addiction while at the same time running a numbers racket and taking a piece if casino earnings. If you believe in the conception of addiction, which states clearly do, gambling is by any objective measure more addictive and more damaging than drugs.

Yes I get it that you don't buy into the addiction. Neither do I. My point was about those who do.

[montana mike]

Keno used to live in Montana when I moved here, kind of like poker tables. It is more fun live (see bingo) than sitting in front of a video version. The state makes a lot more from gambling now days. To their credit they have a fantasy football contest, I enjoy that.

[Acosmist]

Considering that casino gambling in PA was supposed to get rid of property taxes entirely, and that...sort of didn't happen at all, there are legit reasons to wonder how this latest thing will screw over PA.

[John]

Generation retard

Majoriy of young people think astrology is a science

http://slashdot.org/story/198065

[Winston]

Damn Christfags

[Calidissident]

I wonder what percentage who said "yes" thought "astrology" was "astronomy"

[John]

Maybe but that doesn't make me feel any better about it.

[SIV]

The survey question make it clear that astrology=horoscopes before asking if it is scientific.

[sarcasmic]

When it says Tonight on The Independents: A Naked Kennedy Rides in on a Donkey (And we don't mean Democrat) I'll check it out. Until then, meh.

[The Bearded Hobbit]

You're missing out. I'm not a big fan of the talking heads-type shows but this one is watchable.

... Hobbit

[Sevo]

..."this one is watchable."...
Did they ever get around to busting that slimy little commie's chops?

[The Bearded Hobbit]

BTW, if you're still reading, Aroostook County rules.

... Hobbit

[sarcasmic]

Actually, it doesn't. But thank you for playing.

And hobbits don't have facial hair.

*groan*

[The Bearded Hobbit]

At least one does!

I was born in Presque Isle.

... Hobbit

[montana mike]

When it comes to potatoes, Idaho would disagree beard, but what do I know.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Wired Magazine Study on Which Features of Online Dating Profiles Are Most Popular

"Buried in all that data were some surprising facts about how to optimize your dating profile. If you're a gay man, pose outdoors?48 percent of the profile pics of the most popular gay men on OkCupid were snapped outside. (It was 80 percent in Atlanta!) Selfies are acceptable for women (45 percent of top-ranking straight women used them, as did 4 percent of lesbians), but not so much for men. Enroll in a yoga class and learn to surf?they're the most popular activities for men and women alike, so either desirable singles are super mellow or it's aspirational, and everyone wants to be mellow. Mentioning cats is fine, but mention "my cats" and you're a weirdo. The data shows that lesbians appreciate nice legs, gay men prize nice arms, and straight women and men are looking for flat stomachs above all else."

http://www.wired.com/design/20.....g-profile/

[Notorious G.K.C.]

And if you really want to get the ladies excited, mention your Dungeons and Dragons gaming group.

[Don Mynack]

I laughed.

[jesse.in.mb]

I mean I like nice arms, but I'm more impressed by nice legs. Top-heavy with chicken legs is just silly looking.

Good to know about outdoor pictures.

[Francisco d Anconia]

INDEPENDENTS ASSEMBLE!

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlI9I-FhVME

[Episiarch]

You need to do something about this premature...uh...assembly problem you have, Frankie.

[kibby]

He keeps claiming it's to give us time to prepare: use the wc, grab a drink, etc.

[Episiarch]

I think I can figure out when to change my Depends, thank you very much.

[kibby]

Aw, are we at zero days without an accident again? I'm so proud of you!

[Episiarch]

It's a daily struggle.

[Francisco d Anconia]

It's a call to arms. 10 minutes to change the channel, pee and get another drink.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Oh and to give Serious time to post the music.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Thank you to the guys who showed the Zenex link - let me see if it keeps going.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The show has been on since 5:30? It must have been, since there are all these comments here already.

[Sevo]

You think anyone watching a show?

[kibby]

We were talking about you behind your back.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Well at least you chose an interesting and dynamic topic of discussion.

[Fist of Etiquette]

HANDS OFF OUR PENISES. H.O.O.P.

[Episiarch]

Hoop earrings? Again? COME ON.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Sonic the Hedgehog ring earrings tonight.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Our special guest is a cardboard cutout of Peter Suderman.

[Episiarch]

I wonder if the shit-eating grin is painted on.

[GILMORE]

"Steak"..."Bull Semen" = GET IT?

[jesse.in.mb]

Hehe "huge and swelling"

Rand's a pervert!

[Bam!]

Some can pull off hipster glasses. This guy can't.

[All-Seeing Monocle]

I think it's kibby's uncle.

[Fist of Etiquette]

His sideburns are getting away from him.

[Episiarch]

Only Kirk can rock sideburns of that power and magnitude.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Third season quality sideburns.

[Rhywun]

Ugh I hate that shit.

[GILMORE]

WITNESS THE SHIT EATING POWER OF SUDERMANS GRIN

[Ska]

Just choked on some ecig vapor.

AND IT HURTS.

[Rhywun]

I can't take my eyes off this guy's specs.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Kibbe (not Kibby) is good, but since they got Ron Paul to do an interview can they one day get Rand?

[jesse.in.mb]

I think teachable moment was on a SOTU drinking game list a few years ago. Can I drink now?

[Byte Me]

I think there's a penalty for missing it the first time. So now you have to drink a lot.

[jesse.in.mb]

As long as it doesn't have to be rum. I get handsy with rum.

[Rhywun]

I get pukey with rum.

[Episiarch]

Something tells me jesse gets handsy on water.

[jesse.in.mb]

Surprisingly not. I've been described as "timid" before.

But not with rum.

[GILMORE]

Don't you only get glasses like that if you've designed a Doomsday Machine?

[kibby]

Are you saying he's incapable of doing so?

[Fist of Etiquette]

What's that on Suderman's collar? It looks like he holds the rank of 1st lieutenant.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Animal Hero, First Class.

[Episiarch]

He was promoted to Chief Security Officer after Tasha Yar was thankfully killed.

[Fist of Etiquette]

That's a position not a rank. So I guess lieutenant, junior grade.

[GILMORE]

Suderman looks like his jacket AND tie are both clip-on

[Fist of Etiquette]

A topical perfect storm?

[Bam!]

There's a medication for injunctive relief.

[Episiarch]

It's shit-eating grins all around!

[kibby]

You must be in heaven.

[Episiarch]

It feels more like Applebee's, to be honest.

[GILMORE]

Kmele =

RULE FOR OPEN COLLAR = V-Neck t-shirts. Please. You're the only one who's keeping any semblance of propriety on the show...

[Ted S.]

In the 70s, they wore open collars without any shirt underneath.

[GILMORE]

I forgot the Burt Reynolds exception.

Actually, I do that too. I wear my pelt with pride.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The NSA is watching me masturbate? Booooooooooooor-ing.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

I suppose the professor is the person without the tie.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Ah, Thad Russell.

[Derpetologist]

OT: A few years ago, I read an article on CNN that said the Antarctic would warm by 2?C in 20 years or so. In parentheses, they wrote that this was a 35.6?F temperature rise. Whatever twit wrote the article didn't know the difference between a temperature change and a temperature. I wrote in to correct them, but got no response. Been very skeptical of the media's take on it ever since.

[Episiarch]

I can't tell if Suder-Man's Flowbee broke halfway through or if he's doing his best Alfalfa impression.

[Fist of Etiquette]

He doesn't have to try anymore. He landed a husband already.

[SIV]

"It's funny because it's true"

[jesse.in.mb]

I'd tap this Domenech fellow.

[Rhywun]

His perma-smile is kinda mesmerizing, isn't it.

[Episiarch]

This is disturbing; the objectification of the men is outdistancing the objectification of the women. What's this world coming to?!?

[kibby]

Paradise?

[kibby]

I like this guy's voice.

[All-Seeing Monocle]

Looks like he got a two-fer with the voice.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Yeah let's not make it weird everybody.

[kibby]

Too late.

[jesse.in.mb]

It's not as good as Youseff's from the other day, but I agree.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Coming up next, Moses comes down the mountain to talk to The Independents.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Have I mentioned I like Stossel?

[Bam!]

We don't get enough credit card offers in the mail, they actually think we'll seek them out?

[Byte Me]

There were some...uh...slaves that knew about Jeffersonian Impulses...
(he had Jungle Fever)

[BiMonSciFiCon]

An ad for Healthcare.gov? Not the target market.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Syracuse just squeaked by Pitt.

[montana mike]

on a miracle shot

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Thank you Stossel for telling Kennedy what we've all wanted to say to her.

[Episiarch]

Way to MALE GAZE Kennedy, Stossel, you pig.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Check *your* privilege, Stossel.

[Fist of Etiquette]

When your wealth sits around the capital, it sits arooooooound the capital.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

They'd be even richer if they had spent more. /Krugman

[Episiarch]

Victory for austerity? Sounds like a victory for donuts and moose meat.

[montana mike]

Moose is actually quite tasty.

[Snark Plissken]

A M??se once bit my sister...

[Notorious G.K.C.]

O Canada, your parsimonious land
You cut down the government's demands

[Episiarch]

I'd be more apathetic if I weren't so lethargic, Kennedy.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You try to keep on the government's ass when Duck Dynasty is on.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Damn money? Let's not curse the money, Kennedy.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Okay, it's past Stossel's bed time.

[Episiarch]

That's funny, I thought he just got up.

[Byte Me]

The Mustache never sleeps.

[kibby]

His mustache is ready to party, though.

[Ska]

Better moustache - Stossel or Magnum PI?

[kibby]

Hmmm...that's a difficult question. I think it may require some serious scientific study.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Nope, it's Magnum. Stossel would have to do this to Ed Schultz or Chris Hayes to win.

[Ted S.]

1970s Alex Trebek.

[montana mike]

free mustache rides

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Stossel doesn't sleep, he waits.

[All-Seeing Monocle]

What the hell was that segment even about? Darnit, government just spends too darn much. And how about airplane food, huh, what's up with that?

[Bam!]

It was about promoting Stossel's show.

[Lady Bertrum]

"Deficits don't matter!" - Dick Cheney

The public knows we'll grow our way out of debt like we did in the '90's, so free shit. Why cut?

And this will be controllable until it isn't any more.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Could I adopt a soldier and, when he's patched up, have him adopt me in exchange, taking out my enemies and so on?

[All-Seeing Monocle]

Would the make commercials more interesting.

[Episiarch]

I wonder when Suder-Man was able to stop giving himself shock treatments. Probably pretty recently.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The guy on the end is picking up what Suderman is laying down.

[GILMORE]

possible discussion of the certification gimmick?

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Why is the certification even necessary? There's no disincentive to employment!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Obama has been legislating more from the executive than he ever did from Congress.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Present.

[kibby]

Well, he does have a phone & a pen. What's he supposed to do if not that?

[BiMonSciFiCon]

I blame this on FDR and the 1930s Supreme Court.

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

Monopoly on violence!

Drink!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ford did okay without taking taxpayer moneys.

[Ted S.]

Will Judge Napolitano actually answer any questions, or will all of his "answers" actually be questions?

[GILMORE]

THANK YOU SUDERMAN

But you need to clarify - its not just the extension that's 'probably' illegal on its own = its the claim that they have some kind of power to punish SOME who take advantage of the advantage who may hire/fire people to meet any given status...

[GILMORE]

...or as Domenich(?) pointed out - the bullshit 'certification' game specifically asks people to LIE, or face penalties; which is effectively 'buying' political endorsement of a bad policy.

This needs more coverage so that more people understand how craven this particular element is

[Fist of Etiquette]

Yeah. Can't we pay off the rankers?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Better yet, droning them.

[Episiarch]

What Kmele said. As usual.

[kibby]

Geez, stop drooling. It's embarrassing!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Why don't you just marry him.

[Episiarch]

I doubt it's legal where he lives. Maybe I should stalk him instead.

[Fist of Etiquette]

As far as I know that's legal everywhere.

[Byte Me]

Land of the (46th) Free and the Home of the Brave Freaks Out Over Snowstorms.

[Bobarian]

Brave? Isn't that euphemism for Redskin?

Racist.

[Episiarch]

Thaddeus makes good points but he might be more smugly annoying than I am.

[Bobarian]

Don't sell yourself short.

[x4rqcks3f]

Everyone laughed at that Constitution joke. It was a doozy.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

If I had a nickel everything a woman asked me that.

[kibby]

You would owe women over three million nickles?

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Like that one guy said, there are censorship problems in the US, *and* the 46 number is probably crap.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Good guests.

[Episiarch]

AIGGHHH WAYNE ALLEN ROOT

[Rhywun]

AAIIIEEE NEW YORK

[Episiarch]

AIGGHHH VERMONT TEDDY BEAR

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

*Allyn

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

*ALLYN, sorry

[SIV]

Obama's old classmate from Columbia.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

"We're New York - we just love business!"

[Bobarian]

To serve business.

It's a cookbook!

[Rhywun]

"You lie!"

[GILMORE]

Maybe during the commercial break someone will help Suderman put on his Big Boy clothes and comb his hair, finally.

[kibby]

Do you people miss Matt yet?

[All-Seeing Monocle]

Matt who?

[GILMORE]

Jesus, are you kidding? I YEARN. I ACHE.

[SIV]

I miss Moynihan.

[Lady Bertrum]

I miss Nick.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I miss Lucy.

[Episiarch]

DON'T TALK ABOUT LUCY

[Rhywun]

Dude, the makeup people were like "Faux hawks are in now" and he's gonna (try to) work it to the end.

[Episiarch]

I covered this upthread.

[GILMORE]

The makeup people are laughing their tits off, then.

[Lady Bertrum]

Poor grooming does seem to be a common characteristic of libertarian men. (except Kmele)

[Bam!]

You can buy sex from your frigid wife for a teddy bear. Who knew?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Or you can hump the bear.

[Bobarian]

Anatomically correct teddy bear.

[Lady Bertrum]

There's still time to score big with The Big Hunk of Love Bear @vermontteddybear.com

[Episiarch]

The only thing bull semen has ever done for me is activate my gag reflex.

[Bobarian]

I think it was the applicator that made you gag.

[Bam!]

No one wants to touch bull semen.

[Fist of Etiquette]

So suddenly cow jizz is worthy of a Fox Biz show?

[Byte Me]

It's "late" night and libertarian. Anything goes.

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

Cows don't have jizz.

[Fist of Etiquette]

They do after Episiarch has a few drinks in him.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

What's so shocking about farmers having bull semen? You can tell these guys are city people.

[x4rqcks3f]

He'd pay more than $75k to get it back? I don't think his business will last.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

So just who was the first person to look at a cow, notice its udders and then decide to drink the white stuff that came out?

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

Presumably one of the billions of human beings who were starving to death in the olden days.

[SIV]

A hungry person.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Yes, but can you milk a dead cow? You'd think a hungry person would have killed it and eaten the meat.

[SIV]

Ever try to kill a cow with your bare hands?

[Fist of Etiquette]

False advertising.

[Episiarch]

Suder-Man made a funny!

[GILMORE]

This is why no one takes libertarians seriously.

Suderman's haircut.

Also, the bull semen jokes.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

SEXY CRABTREE DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT RICHARD SHERMAN!

[Episiarch]

U MAD BRO?

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

This is where anyone who knows anything about ranching or cattle laughs at the urbanites who don't understand the economic importance of high-quality semen.

[Bobarian]

Anyone an expert on semen rustling?

[montana mike]

this^^^

[Fist of Etiquette]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Kmele is getting laid right now as we speak.

[GILMORE]

Oh, but the 'licking county' really elevated the level of discourse.

[Bam!]

Those ASPCA ads got to that Russian billionaire.

[Fist of Etiquette]

What about all the new Sochi Korean restaurants?

[jesse.in.mb]

I'm sure there's plenty of pig asshole around to grill. They'll be fine with that.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Kmele is overcompensating.

[Episiarch]

I bet you love Russian billionaires, Kennedy. I BET.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

That reminds me: two more weeks until the season premiere of The Americans.

[Episiarch]

I enjoy the show but its premise is absurd on its face. The whole point of sleeper agents is that they are...sleepers. Active agents trying to be sleepers with a family is ridiculous.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Yeah, my thoughts too. They also play loose with the chronology. But still, well-acted and entertaining. Plus the actress that plays Nina is incredibly good-looking.

I'm looking forward to it.

[Episiarch]

I see that we like the same things about the show.

[Bobarian]

A good enter point?

I can think of multiple enter points, and they're all good.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Let me guess, the Judge has a problem with something the government is doing. Again.

[kibby]

Are you willing to bet on this?

[Bam!]

Odds on the Judge mentioning "constitution" in his first sentence?

[Byte Me]

1:1

[Fist of Etiquette]

Suddenly I have the urge to purchase a lot of aluminum.

[SweatingGin]

My favorite part about that is that they felt the need to explain the advantages of aluminum over steel.

[Byte Me]

Those bricks will be worth more than their weight in crisp 100 1,000 dollar bills.

[x4rqcks3f]

Aluminum is apparently the only infinitely recyclable material...

[BigT]

Au and Ag would disagree.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Obstacles? The disposition matrix disagrees.

[kibby]

Uh, when did he dye his hair? I feel like I'm in an episode of Boardwalk Empire.

[SweatingGin]

The judge actually has Benjamin Button Syndrome.

[kibby]

Fitzgerald reference! Bathtub gin for you!

[Episiarch]

He's Italian. We molt our grey hair periodically.

[kibby]

You're hardly a normal specimen. I don't think regular folk do that.

[Ska]

My dad is 72 and still has a greasy black brick of tight curls. We all have fucking amazing hair.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

I was thinking the same thing.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Suderman is Nucky Thompson? Foster is Chalky White?

[kibby]

I want to punch Suderman in the face half of the time, so sure.

Kmele can be Chalky pre-season 4, when he was still awesome.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Kennedy is Sally Wheat, Matt is Jimmy...

[Episiarch]

That would mean Matt isn't on the cruise, but is actually dead.

Oh, sorry, spoilers.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

He shouldn't have tried to usurp Nick.

[kibby]

Matt is certainly NOT Jimmy. Jimmy was all bad decisions & limping.

I want to make him someone from NYC because they're all my favorites, but he's too old for Charlie & Meyer & doesn't really fit for AR. This will require some pondering...

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

The Judge can be Manny Horvitz. Nick is Nucky, Matt is Eli, Suderman is Doyle.

[Fist of Etiquette]

He's Van Alden.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

"My name is Nelson Van Alden. Take off your nightgown."

[Episiarch]

Suderman is Mickey Doyle.

[kibby]

YES. One hundred percent.

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

And where is the other half of him? This paleo stuff must be the shit.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

**Mickey Doyle laugh**

[Bam!]

Judge increasingly reminds me of the muppet Statler.

[GILMORE]

This is one serious fucking delay. I'm just getting judge now.

[All-Seeing Monocle]

http://www.zenex.tv/foxbusiness11

[All-Seeing Monocle]

FUCK YEAH! GO! GO! GO!

[GILMORE]

Who's feeling the Judge as a redhead?

....

I think it kid of undermines the gravitas.

[GILMORE]

...kind of....

[All-Seeing Monocle]

Agree. I actually want to see a powdered wig.

[GILMORE]

AND GAVEL! TO BEAT SUDERMAN WITH

[GILMORE]

...while screaming "THIS IS AN ADULTS ONLY SHOW!"

[The Bearded Hobbit]

Go for it, Judge!

... Hobbit

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

The Judge would make a great permanent panelist...

[BigT]

He should have his own show!! Oh, wait...

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

If it lives only for a while, Tiberias, it still has lived.

Though I kind of like the freelance Judge who pops up here and there to spank statists.

[SIV]

Hell yeah

[x4rqcks3f]

"The president made these guidelines up themselves."

Not unless he got them from an madlib

[BigT]

The President read this off his teleprompter himself.

FIFY

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Hey Judge, you dummy, don't you know the Constitution only applies to Republicans? Sheesh do I have to spell it out to you?

[Fist of Etiquette]

You pay the host government to take care of the guy for you. Duh.

[Bobarian]

King Barack the first?

[Fist of Etiquette]

The second of his name.

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

Why haven't I heard this before about the 12-person team trailing Al-Awlaki? As though the story needed to be more repellent.

[SweatingGin]

Indeed, very interesting story to hear on that.

[Don Mynack]

Here's some related background:

http://www.theatlantic.com/pol.....an/264028/

[All-Seeing Monocle]

Jesus, the fucking bear again?

[GILMORE]

as a member of the World's Saltiest Cynics Society...

... all this 'constitution' bullshit is meaningless in context, since all the state has to do is simply decide to target and kill anybody who happens to be hanging out with the 'American citizen enemy' guy, hit them with the old hellfire, and call any consequences 'collateral damage'.

Just another example of why - as per an earlier comment re: the recent vanishing of a Pakistani drone critic - once we've made exceptions to one set of basic rules of law and civil liberties, they ALL go to shit posthaste. Because they become mere *inconveniences*

[Cytotoxic]

We haven't made any exceptions before Aliki was killed. That was just war.

[GILMORE]

I'm not sure I see your point - We've already aced one US Citizen, no one squawked, so now its just a debate about the technical issues (and Diplomatic 'permission') as far as I can tell...

[Fist of Etiquette]

Now they're all on the same side of the table. It's weird.

[Episiarch]

Whoa, was this guy overstocked on teeth?

[kibby]

I scared my cat by laughing so hard at this.

[Episiarch]

It's a legitimate question! The real question is whether he paid in Bitcoin, though. Put your money where your mouth teeth are, buddy.

[x4rqcks3f]

Taking it where?

[Bam!]

Business reason for accepting BitCoin: Free advertising.

[GILMORE]

yes, but for any company like overstock.com, anything that speeds turnover is a godsend.

[SweatingGin]

As more places pull Targets and lose a bunch of credit card numbers, I think taking a payment method without risk of identity theft becomes and advantage, too.

[x4rqcks3f]

Taking it where!?

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

Deflationary bitcoin bonuses for Overstock employees. Hmmm.

[SweatingGin]

If my work offered bonuses in BTC (or part of pay), I'd jump on that.

[Bobarian]

I wonder what the IRS would do with that?

[SweatingGin]

ruin it?

Probably treat it like vested stock options.

[GILMORE]

Suderman = please take note how adults dress, then go look at a howdy-doody episode, then look in the mirror, and understand what is so very wrong with your current 'ensemble'

[Episiarch]

I think he's going for the Pee-Wee Herman look. They have a whole section at Men's Warehouse.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

The secret word is "fun".

[Episiarch]

Holy shit, I just realized Nick is Jambi.

[x4rqcks3f]

So much for his limited government stance...

[SIV]

I'd never buy anything from Overstock.com.

[Fist of Etiquette]

How about Overshoppe.com?

[The Bearded Hobbit]

Sorry, I missed the intro, who is this guy?

... Hobbit

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

He's the guy who's wearing Milton Friedman's tie while ordering his company to accept Bitcoin.

[Lady Bertrum]

Patrick Byrne was voted worst CEO of the year in 2006 after Overstock.com failed to earn a profit for 6+ years.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Isn't there competition Amazon and eBay? Hard market to compete in.

[Lady Bertrum]

Lack of profit was just one element of his shittyness. He's also Steny Hoyer's cousin. So there's that.

[Episiarch]

If only they could have gotten David Byrne instead.

[All-Seeing Monocle]

He should try to be more like Bezos?

[GILMORE]

Is there some @#(*$)@(# rule libertoids can't just wear a freaking suit??

God, just when I thought that guy was normal, he reveals he used to dress like an extra on Battlestar Galactica...

[Fist of Etiquette]

He's the beginning of the Alliance.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Hey, it's Martin Lawrence.

[The Bearded Hobbit]

Good for him for normally saying, "Fuck ties". So glad I'll never have to wear one of the fuckers again.

... Hobbit

[Bam!]

One of those teddy bear girls looks way too young to be a wife.

[Episiarch]

Exactly.

[Bam!]

Red Cross has released a guide on what to do when faced with a charging Kennedy.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Make yourself appear big by raising your arms and yelling? And then maybe, if you're man, assert dominance by pissing on the ground.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Let freedom ring. In lieu of your alarm clock.

[The Bearded Hobbit]

It's not "President's Day" it's "Washington's Birthday", fuckers!!

... Hobbit

[BigT]

Abraham Lincoln would take umbrage at that.

[The Bearded Hobbit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington's_Birthday

They kept the name.

... Hobbit

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Lincoln was absolutely the bestest President ever. They should have *more* monuments to him.

[Fist of Etiquette]

And, Suderman won't be here.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Three best (least destructive) presidents:

1. Grover Cleveland

2. William Henry Harrison

3. ???

[Fist of Etiquette]

David Palmer.

[PapayaSF]

Coolidge! Maybe #1.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

D'oh, forgot Silent Cal! Yeah, he's neck and neck with Cleveland. But I mean Cleveland was pretty close to libertarian with his stubborn resistance to government spending and inflationary policies.

And he even gave land back to the Native Americans while opposing imperialism.

[Dr. Frankenstien]

John Hanson

[Calidissident]

Anyone's thoughts on the 5 worst? I'll ask that we exclude Lincoln from discussion, simply because I do not want this to become another Civil War debate.

My list, in no particular order

Wilson
FDR
Jackson
Johnson

After that, I'm debating between Buchanan, Bush II, Obama, Carter, and Nixon

[GILMORE]

LOOK! A GUY WHO KNOWS HOW TO DRESS!

[Fist of Etiquette]

AH! Lou Dobbs.

[Episiarch]

Did Kennedy just can Suder-Man? "Two days is enough, Peter."

[kibby]

Aw, Kennedy. We'll have to makeshift an Independents thread again on Friday. With any luck it won't be a child porn one, though.

[Episiarch]

You know, I'm getting more used to Lou Dobbs.

AIGGHH MIKE HUCKABEE

[~Knarf Yenrab~]

Aaand now I know how to pronounce Amity Schlaes' name. Such a great show.

[BigT]

Lou Dobbs!! Obama is ruling by fiat! Who knew??

[Bobarian]

Ahhh DOBBS!

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Awesome - Lou Dobbs and Mike Huckabee - I bet y'all will be watching attentively.

And Jedediah Bila.

[GILMORE]

DOBBS!! MY EYES!!! BURNNNNNN

[Fist of Etiquette]

Despite the message, I don't think the Live Stream will begin soon.

[kibby]

It really all depends on how you define "soon". In the grand scheme of things, if there isn't another until Monday, that could be quite soon.

For us, with miserable short lives, it's a bit of time to wait.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I don't feel, I think. I'm a man.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ha! With that needed misogyny out of the way, the Live Stream started! The extra time was apparently for Kennedy to change into that green outfit she had the other night and to bring back the lady in red and Professor Sweater.

[GILMORE]

Where is the alleged, 'live stream'? for next time, that is.

[kibby]

It's linked on the FBN site for the show.

[kibby]

Hardly.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Tonight's show was taped, so how would there be a live stream?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Tape. No one uses tape anymore. It's all digital. Like my prom night.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

It's an idiom!

Or is it metonym?

[GILMORE]

Unpossible. They would have given Suderman decent CGI attire if that were the case.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Well, I took a lot of Zenex*, and now I'm tired. Good night!

*Get it? Sounds like Xanax.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Via Radley Balko, the Headline of the Day: Police cite AK-47 wielding Banana

Beaumont police were called to Eastex Freeway near Highway 105 Saturday morning by people complaining about a man dressed as a banana holding an AK-47.

Derek Poe, owner of Golden Triangle Tactical, told 12News Saturday that it was part of the store's grand opening after moving locations from Parkdale Mall.

Poe said the man in the banana suit was holding an AK-47 across his back with the barrel pointing down and holding a sign with an arrow pointing toward the store. He said this idea was to attract customers to the store.

A Beaumont police spokesperson said officers temporarily detained the 18-year-old and found he had the rifle with a drum magazine attached with at least a 50-round capacity. The spokesperson said the teen was cited for violating a city ordinance that prohibits soliciting in and alongside roadways.

Sgt. Rob Flores said police also gathered the necessary information on the weapon and completed paperwork for consultation with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office concerning possible future criminal charges related to his display of the firearm.

The charges are daunting, but the man is confident he'll win on a peel.

[paranoid android]

The AK-47 didn't even have a banana magazine! That's just doing it wrong.

[Snark Plissken]

Duh, it's called a clip. Don't you watch TV?

[GILMORE]

Tonight was pretty thin on substance for me... at least in the sense that I couldn't stop bitching about the Male Clothing Failures we have for hosts.

I really think this whole "Certification" bullshit the admin has made Treasury pull needs a full explication for the public...such that people realize =
THERE IS NO FORCE OF LAW/LEGAL PENALTY for actually taking the delay and firing people or changing hours to achieve whatever financial situation is most favorable for your business.! The certification is a *pure bullshit scheme* to allow the admin to pretend that their mandates *are good for jobs*. Its bullshit on like 3 different levels...

And as noted - not only is the delay itself *probably not legal*, but this added conditional nonsense about 'how you should only take the delay 'IF' you certify....? ZERO LEGAL BASIS WHATSOEVER.

Sort of like the 'Drone killing' debate = this issue of 'once you start ignoring *some* laws'? (like "extrajudicial killings?") THEY ALL GO TO SHIT? This is an example of that, writ large.

The fact congress can't fucking stand on its own legs and call bullshit is simply appalling. What the hell do these GOP fucks DO with their time?

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Linda Greenhouse, the unduly-influential NYT journalist who specializes in the Supreme Court, thinks the Little Sisters of the Poor are part of a theocratic plot by "schoolyard bullies" to pick on the poor beleaguered federal government. Ramesh Ponnuru smacks Greenhouse with a ruler for getting her facts wrong about the nuns' case.

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....sh-ponnuru

[GILMORE]

Just to clarify something in case I'm *not* screaming bloody murder enough about this...

http://www.nationaljournal.com.....n-20140210

"Officials said businesses will have to attest that they're not cutting employees *just to qualify for the additional delay* but noted that businesses are still free to cut their workforces for economic reasons"

Let's make that clear, shall we?

As long as its *economic reasons*, its OK!

....yet, they're suggesting that, somehow, Obamacare is *itself* not the source of any "economic" reasons.

When the ACA imposes $2-3K *per employee* penalties for non-compliance, TELL ME HOW TAKING THE DELAY AND/OR AMENDING YOUR STAFFING TO MEET REQUIREMENTS is in any way NOT an 'economic' reason, please?

is anyone else following what unbelievable mendacious bullshit this it? And they imply that if you 'lie' on the 'certification'... oh, there's a penalty for THAT*!

(*one does wonder exactly how exactly they're going to determine what constitutes a lie in a political world where words increasingly have no meaning)

Please, if I'm off my rocker here, tell me.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Well, there must be some mechanism for punishing Obama's...eh, I mean, the People's treacherous bourgeois class enemies.

No matter, I'm sure if your business let's the DNC wet it's beak a little with a donation you'll get a waiver and the IRS won't bother you.

[GILMORE]

I was more curious for how they determine how anyone is actually "Lying" when they certify how Awesome the ACA is for business. Or why they would bother looking for said, 'liars'.

[GILMORE]

For all my smashing my head against the wall, 'Chris Stirewalt' @ Fox summarized the issue extremely clearly in the below =

http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....n-firings/

"Obama officials made clear in a press briefing that firms would not be allowed to lay off workers to get into the preferred class of those businesses with 50 to 99 employees. How will the feds know what employers were thinking when hiring and firing? Simple. Firms will be required to certify to the IRS ? under penalty of perjury ? that ObamaCare was not a motivating factor in their staffing decisions. i.e. To avoid ObamaCare costs you must swear that you are not trying to avoid ObamaCare costs.

You can duck the law, but only if you promise not to say so."

Taken with the Treasury caveat that "economic reasons" are completely acceptable... its clear that there is NO WAY to prosecute someone for 'lying' about this? There is no 'threat'. They don't care. They *want* people to lie.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

If anyine like Reason tries to give examples of the law's harm to employment, a Congressional committee will summon some of the business presidents and brandish the form they signed:

"Were you lying, or telling the truth?"

"I told the truth, master, I didn't reduce the number of my employees because of Obamacare?"

"So it's the Koch stooges who are lying?"

"Yes, master, not a lick of truth in what they say!"

[Warrren]

What happens if a company that has, say, 97 employees and was going to hire five more but then doesn't?

[GILMORE]

"Warrren|2.13.14 @ 2:33AM|#

What happens if a company that has, say, 97 employees and was going to hire five more but then doesn't?"

No one is asking that question, so there is no answer, so there is no data, so you can't claim its happened.

Contrarily, however! = they are setting up a system to 'help' EVERYONE confirm that the ACA is awesome and isn't killing jobs.

Weird how that works, right?