Tonight on The Independents: Red Meat Wednesday, With Rep. Justin Amash, Errol Morris, Nina Kruscheva, TV's Andy Levy, and Katherine Mangu-Ward!

If I can't interest you in tonight's episode of The Independents (Fox Business Network 9 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. PT), then I don't know what.

Leading off the show is a discussion about reforming the National Security Agency with Ron Paul's heir in the House of Representatives, Liberty Movement fave Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan). (See Amash's Reason TV interview here.) The fascinating, sui generis documentary filmmaker Errol Morris will be on to talk about his latest profile of Donald Rumsfeld, The Unknown Known. If that's not quite enough heavy history-of-the-present, how about some sharp analysis of the Russia-Crimea-Ukraine-Moldova situation from Nina Khrushcheva, the international affairs professor and great-granddaughter of you-know-who.

Sold yet? Consider that tonight's Party Panel is none other than Reason Managing Editor Katherine Mangu-Ward and Red Eye libertarian charmer TV's Andy Levy, who will talk about everything from Obamacare delays to Manhattan nukes to Venice Beach drum circles. Oh what's that you say? You want to hear from John Carter Cash about the brand spanking new album he unearthed of his father's (and mother's) 1980s material? Done and done.

It's a great show and you should tell your friends!

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

CUTTING KIND OF CLOSE AREN'T YOU, WELCH?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Ah there he is! There he is! Not as drunk as we were lead to believe. So much the better.

[Fist of Etiquette]

That was on one of the Epix channels earlier this evening. I cannot help but be touched that you honor it.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

No Two Minutes of Hate? Is that not until Friday? We should be due this week, no?

[Matt Welch]

Fortnightly!

[Heroic Mulatto]

Arbor Day song. Next month, Welch.

Do it.

[Matt Welch]

You are not wrong.

[Heroic Mulatto]

You are in for a treat guys.

[kibby]

You use that word but I think you mean something entirely different.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Yes, but the last one was exactly two weeks ago on March 12. I just looked it up.

[Matt Welch]

Except when, uh, we skip a week!

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

We will not forget this, mister.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Arbor Day song. Next month, Welch.

Do it.

[Episiarch]

You'll get the hate when they want to give it to you.

[Ted S.]

I hate you, Grand Muff. You're stupid and ugly.

There. Does that make you feel better? 😉

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Your efforts are appreciated, but they must be directed at Matt, Kennedy, and Kmele.

[Ted S.]

I'm sure Matt agrees that Grand Moff is an object of hate. Right, Matt?

There, is that better? 😉

[BigT]

Not enough quality hate.

We need to up our game!!

[kibby]

I find it very hard to believe that is the issue here.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

I'll up my game, now up yours!

[Francisco d'Anconia]

INDEPENDENTS ASSEMBLE!

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxezTlYuZuk

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Canadian attachment coming!

[Sudden]

Speaking of Canadians, as teh stoopid spreads throughout this country like warty's colorectal tumor, I need a plan B.

Would any of our Canadian brethern be willing to engage in a completely heterosexual and passion-free domestic partnership in order to help a Californian escape the California Juche?

I haven't much to dowry. Hopefully by then a small arsenal, but it will be sans any magazines with more than 10 rounds.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

How are the beaches in Canada?

[Gene]

I got a room or two in my big old farmhouse. If the old lady vetoes that I'm sure she would be cool with the barn.

[Ted S.]

Sold yet? Consider that tonight's Party Panel is none other than Reason Managing Editor Katherine Mangu-Ward

When are you going to have Lucy Steigerwald on? 🙂

[Episiarch]

DON'T TALK ABOUT LUCY

[Soros' Wank-noose]

Lucy S., you mean?

[Hyperion]

How about Lucy vs. Kennedy in caged cat fight?

[Fluffy]

Vs Emily.

[Fluffy]

Vs Emily.

[Hyperion]

Or even better, a 3 way with Virginia Postrel. I will pay per view to see it.

/why there are no female libertarians.

[Ted S.]

Lucy v. Nicole.

[Fluffy]

Vs. Emily.

I intend to continue saying that until there are court orders involved.

[Ted S.]

I figured the squirrels were responsible for the repeats.

[Bobarian]

Fluffy is a squirrel.

[Hyperion]

from Nina Khrushcheva, the international affairs professor and great-granddaughter of you-know-who.

NO! NOT YOU KNOW WHO!

Anyway, I'm watching this time( on my puter, of course). Amash was enough to get my interest.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

"If I can't interest you in tonight's episode of The Independents (Fox Business Network 9 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. PT), then I don't know what."

Well, I am watching a baseball show on the Expos down memory lane with Pascual Perez! Tim Wallach was such a solid 3rd baseman.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Now I get your Dodgers-Expos connection.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Yup. The Montreal Royals were the farm team. My grandfather used to go watch them and Jackie Robinson at de Lormier Downs. Rich baseball history here.

[Matt Welch]

I feel you.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Go out and have a great show.

For Ellis Valentine.

[Ted S.]

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Watched Walk the Line the other night. Pretty good. Of course my thing for Reese Witherspoon might have had something to do with it.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

That was a pretty good movie. Love Johnny Cash.

[Hyperion]

Best thing ever from Cash is his rendition of that Nine Inch Nails song.

[Fluffy]

There's a man coming round taking names
And he decides who to free and who to blame

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Chilling in a beautiful way.

[Gene]

Rusty cage was pretty cool.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Lots of credit to both Witherspoon and Phoenix for doing their own singing.

But you should watch 'Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story' for an appropriate piss-take on music biopic genre.

[Max Power]

"Dewey Cox has to think about his whole life before plays"

[Rufus J. Firefly]

An awesome flick no one watched.

[Ted S.]

Kirk Douglas' character is Young Man With a Horn is supposed to be based on Bix Beiderbecke, except that the character doesn't die at the end. 😐

The Cary Grant version of Night and Day completely omits the fact Cole Porter was gay, and I believe Words and Music similarly omits Lorenz Hart's homosexuality.

[Winston]

Thanks Goodness. Does anyone want to see Mickey Rooney hitting on men?

[seguin]

I loved that movie.

[Fluffy]

Welch!

(Extreme close up)

WELCH!!!!!!!!

[Hyperion]

He should take my advice about losing the bow tie and a goatee.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Prediction: Hoops. BUT these ones will loop in the opposite direction.

[Episiarch]

I predict invisible earrings.

[Episiarch]

GOD DAMN IT

[Francisco d'Anconia]

I'm going with the inside out hoops.

Poohs?

No...ophos.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Nailed it.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Giant hoops.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Is that flag made out of hemp?

[Episiarch]

No Kmele?!? What the hell am I watching for?!?

[kibby]

The delight of interacting with us?

[Episiarch]

Try again.

[kibby]

The delight of interacting with ME?

[Sudden]

Because your tears from missing Kmele will help lubricate the fapping this time, thus sparing you the routine chaffing that accompanies your viewing of The Independents?

[Episiarch]

I have Astroglide for that, dude.

[Max Power]

No Kmele? This is bullshit.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Moynihan can't fill Foster's lapel pin? Suderman? Cavanaugh?

[BigT]

Watched The Dictator with Sacha Baron Cohen, almost burst a lung laughing so hard!!!

[Byte Me]

Subsaharan! Please find me 100 child soldiers.

[Episiarch]

Amash looks like a real-life thinner Peter Griffin.

[Sudden]

So who is the giant chicken he will get into a death match with?

[Fist of Etiquette]

I didn't realize Amash's nose looked that big on TV. I'm not voting for him.

[Max Power]

His hair is not presidential either.

[Hyperion]

This.

I can see why now that it is Rand who has to be the top dog GOP libertarian dude. Cause Massie and Amash are just too nerdy looking.

Although, we've never actually heard Massie speak and he does have that same curly hair that Rand has.... so maybe...

[Sudden]

We just re-elected a guy whose hair is naturally curly.

Its curly from here on out. Until we finally elect that rarest of beasts: the black man with perfectly straightened hair. AKA President Comacho

[Fluffy]

That's Porn Superstar Camacho to you, citizen.

[seguin]

Rand Paul's hair is Augustan. Massie's looks like a scotchbrite pad soaked in crude.

[Fluffy]

I heard a rumor that Amash is secretly Tulpa.

[Episiarch]

Can't be. I think Amash has actually had sex with a woman at some point.

[Fluffy]

So who's Tulpa then?

Schumer?

Graham?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Like the guy, but that's one scary nose.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Jesus, Semites gotta represent somehow.

[BigT]

WTF?? The guy looks like a truck driver. So what. He's Everyman.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You know who else always plugged something he authored?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Token is not there?

[Kmele]

Token?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Bad, cheap South Park reference.

Kmele is enjoyable to watch.

[Kmele]

Good joke (and the resemblance is undeniable), I'm just giving you a hard time.

Out sick tonight -- but so wish I could have been there, great line up tonight.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Oh, it's you.

Thought it could be this 'Mary' chick.

Get well and get back soon.

[seguin]

I will give you three dollars if you wear a shirt with a big letter T on it.

[seguin]

On TV, that is.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

THAT would be epic.

[Winston]

This show needs some spice. How about a discussion of whether or not Putin is the most libertarian world leader right now? On the pro side will be Rockwell, Raimondo and Ron Paul while the anti side will have McCain, Lindsay Graham and Bill Kristol.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Hows abouts we just repeal the mutherfucker?

[Episiarch]

Wait, I didn't realize that Amash was from Almost Canada.

[SweatingGin]

West side of the state. It's Dutch over there. Lots of Calvinists.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Prediction: When section whatever of the Patriot Act expires and is re-upped, it will be made stronger than ever.

[Winston]

You Know Who Else renewed something and made it stronger?

[Hyperion]

Yes, but this administration will NEVER use those new strong powers, so you can relax.

[Sudden]

Like milk?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Either New York is next to be nuked or it's the only city we care about if it got nuked.

[Episiarch]

Well, that and Buffalo.

[BigT]

It's a simple call to the nations largest broadcast center, with a reference to 9/11. What showmanship!! What writing!!

[BigT]

So Amash just lost his Independents virginity!! Some day this will be looked back as a key moment in his career.

[Suthenboy]

Crazy scissors dress again.

Oh, and Amash, unless they are amending the constitution they cannot give the NSA more power. The NSA's power is strictly limited by the constitution. What they are currently doing is not within their power, they are criminal acts.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Between the AM and PM links and TI, there's little room for work and attending to my daughter.

[Soros' Wank-noose]

But, but....we're ALL your daughter, now!

[Winston]

Just send her to daycare. I'm sure the Montreal Daycares will cure her of anglo-libertarian racism.

[Hyperion]

That's why you just blow off AM and PM links, which are totally geh, and join in the movement to make the TI thread the true Late Nite Links thread, because that's all that matters.

[BigT]

Why must one choose? You fit your schedule to catch as many as you can. (Tolerate)

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Notorious GK changed my life forever giving me the link to watch TI.

[Agile Cyborg]

Buy a laptop, install Steam's Gary's mod with some Little Pony/Sonic the Hedgehog addons and let 'er loose. I've seen my daughter literally go genius on that shit and kill hours mercilessly.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I drove past - in sick traffic - the NSA building on my way to Florida. I waved my fist for you guys.

[BigT]

That's some serious driving. I hope you didn't wave more than one finger.

[seguin]

Alleged terrorist and Canadian national has been detained and shipped to Guantanamo today.

[SweatingGin]

Do we still do creepy Katherine Mangu-Ward comments? Haven't seen one of those in a while.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Hush now. You'll wake the Bukkainator.

Memba him?

[SweatingGin]

Woof. Don't know if I do.

Seems vaguely familiar.

[Heroic Mulatto]

He was the pre-registration dude who would write up the bizarre fantasies about the Jacket having orgies with Cathy Young and KMW.

[SweatingGin]

Wow, I did miss those ones. Mostly remember the trolls from the pre-registration.

[Heroic Mulatto]

*pours forty for Hercule*

[BigT]

She needs a stylist.

[Fist of Etiquette]

We're all with you, Andy.

[kibby]

Epi & Andy are clearly best friends.

[Episiarch]

We're what's known as "cocaine buddies".

[Fist of Etiquette]

A snowmance.

[Sudden]

this term is beautiful

[kibby]

That sounds like an amusing combination.

[Episiarch]

Why is Katherine always smirking?!? What does she know that we don't? Is it about Matt?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

If I'd known no Kmele...

Neither would I.

[Derpetologist]

The derp in the Yglesias video is impressive. I see this as a sign of hope. If that bullshit is the best they've got, they're finished.

[Sudden]

Oh how you vastly overrate your fellow 'Murican

[Fist of Etiquette]

Foster wouldn't have tripped over his tongue explaining this, Welch.

[Hyperion]

Does anyone wonder if Kennedy actually thinks she's still on MTV and doesn't really understand what any of this is actually about?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I remember Kennedy being on MTV but I never watched it much.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Because MTV turned to shit when they started playing Rap.

GET OFF MY LAWN!

[Calidissident]

I thought it was when they stopped being a music channel and became a reality TV channel instead

[Soros' Wank-noose]

Ask her about Martin Landau.

[Agile Cyborg]

Does her career on MTV really matter since she's a big girl now? Seriously, Hyp, she's a fuckin' big girl- she's moved on into much more pressing and FAR more cool shit than MTV.

[Hyperion]

she's a big girl now

Well, she has gained a little weight, but I don't mind that.

[Gene]

OK John

[BigT]

She's there about 2/3 of the time. She reads snark with the best, and she's quick.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Are people getting sick or even dying as a result of losing their insurance?

[OldMexican]

I'm getting sick just hearing about it.

Does that count?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Sure. Whatever. I'm only Canadian.

[Fist of Etiquette]

These references are all old. When was this show taped?

[Winston]

These references are all old.

What do you expect from a show with a washed up old MTV VJ?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Wait, where's Kmele?

[SweatingGin]

Who?

[Fist of Etiquette]

The token... anarchist.

[SweatingGin]

Oh, right, the commie from rolling stone.

[Episiarch]

Katherine beat him up and took his lunch money.

[kibby]

He's watching you.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Don't project your fantasy onto me, missy.

[kibby]

I was just referring to him being in the thread. =(

Now I look super creepy, kid!

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Oh, he is? Well I didn't know that. You're not creepy, per se.

[kibby]

I'd ask for a clarification on that, but probably really don't want to know.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Get a room you two! (I've had 5 beers less than last night, but my offer still stands).

[kibby]

Given how quickly that offer fizzled out last night, I think you can probably count it as a lost cause.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Wait, what? Is another sloppy/Banjos real-life slash fic developing before out eyes?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

HM:
Starting here:
http://reason.com/blog/2014/03.....nt_4402840

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

The offer stands on its own merits. I would say that the comments surrounding it fizzled out.

Jesse and I re-evaluated it today, and agree that it is a great idea. He thinks that that it should involve hunting an animal of some sort so that Serious can prove his manhood. I'm undecided on the matter.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Nonsense. The way one proves his manhood is to pen love poetry. In Medieval French. In iambic hexameter.

[kibby]

There will be no French in wooing me. Latin or don't bother. Actually...Italian works, too. Or any number of dead languages.

[Irish]

The only dead language I know doesn't make for very good sonnets. It's stupendous if you want to raise a corpse to do your bidding or commune with an Elder God though.

[kibby]

Does trembling with excitement at this revelation make me weird?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Only dead languages? I wasn't aware that Medieval French had a robust community of native speakers.

And no, Languedoc doesn't count!

[kibby]

I vote no on the hunting -- unless it's a deadly threat, of course.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Call me lazy, but I'm partial to free verse with my poetry. Walt Whitman ftw!

[Heroic Mulatto]

The woman said Latin poetry, bro. Try this, you'll thank me when you're in like Flynn:

Kibby, quod milia multa basiorum legistis, male me marem putatis? Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo.

You're welcome.

[kibby]

& there is the Catullus joke for which I've been waiting!

[Heroic Mulatto]

I was debating between that or an Ovid Remedia Amoris reference, and I went with the former because I was too lazy to look up a juicy quote from the latter.

[kibby]

At least you're honest. Just like mister free verse up there.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia Kibby, sint satis superque.
Quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est,
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.

Better?

[Heroic Mulatto]

It's funny because she was Lesbia

[kibby]

Much better! You could just make your life a hundred times easier & inscribe an apple with "????????".

(I'm presuming the squirrels will eat that Greek, so the transliteration is "kallistei".)

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Haha, that reference I got without having to use Google. So you aren't a lady, you are Eris.

[kibby]

...Maybe.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Well, she did have no husband.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Holy shit! You got Greek past the squirrels.

Are you a witch?

[kibby]

Evidently I am a goddess.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Of chaos and discord. Definitely explains the libertarianism.

[kibby]

You say chaos & discord, I say EXCITEMENT.

The world would be a terribly boring place if everyone agreed on everything.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Indeed

[kibby]

Aw, it's the jar all of us came from!

I'm wondering if the Eris thing explains my overwhelming love for (the most awful) fictional villains...hmmmm.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

On the sixth day God turned to Archangel Gabriel and said: "Today I am going to create a land called Canada, it will be a land of outstanding natural beauty. It shall have tall majestic mountains full of mountain goats and eagles, beautiful sparkling lakes bountiful with bass and trout, forests full of elk and moose, high cliffs over-looking sandy beaches with an abundance of sea life, and rivers stocked with salmon."

God continued, "I shall make the land rich in oil so as to make the inhabitants prosper, I shall call these inhabitants Canadians, and they shall be known as the most friendly people on the earth."

"But Lord," asked Gabriel, "don't you think you are being too generous to these Canadians?"

"Not really," replied God, "just wait and see the neighbours I am going to give them."

[VG Zaytsev]

"Not really," replied God, "just wait and see the neighbours I am going to give them."

No doubt,
The Inuit are
Bastards.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Eris being my 2nd favorite character in the rebooted Wonder Woman comics. 1st being the thinly-designed Wesely Willis as a demigod called Milan.

[Hyperion]

I'm 100% convinced, at this point, that Magu-Ward has to play Ayn Rand on a movie, at some point in time.

[Sudden]

Can I play Nathaniel Branden?!?!?!

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

No, you're Frank O'Connor. I get to be Branden.

[Sudden]

BULLSHIT I ALREADY HAVE A ONE MISTAKE OF A MARRIAGE UNDER THE BELT, ERGO IM BRANDEN

[Hyperion]

Send us your audition.

[Suthenboy]

You have to watch Jay Carney's press conferences to know what the law of the land is. Reading the law will do you no good.

[SweatingGin]

"We have to watch the press conference to find out what's in it."

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Nice to see KMG on TV. Whatever happened to that Veronique de Rugy?

[Fist of Etiquette]

We were born and bred to fear the Soviet Union. No one gives a shit about Russia.

[Episiarch]

In Soviet Russia, Russia shits you!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Finnish-Americans disagree?

[Byte Me]

He (Obama) is still playing defense against Mitt Romney.

THIS. The campaigner-in-chief.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Limbaugh? Never saw a man in a position of such power care so much about a radio guy.

Talk Radio! Remember that movie?

[Soros' Wank-noose]

Remember it? I was an extra in it!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Really?

[Soros' Wank-noose]

Yep. Was in HS at the time. It was the basketball game scene, and was simply blah.

[Winston]

I was an extra in it!

These pretzels are making me thirsty!

[Soros' Wank-noose]

I wish it were that intersting. Hell, it's a Stone film, and not Matt.

[Soros' Wank-noose]

interesting*

[Hyperion]

Do who's the antagonist on this episode? Is Piers Morgan coming on now?

[Hyperion]

Cause, you know, a good Limey beat down can never get old.

[Winston]

Do who's the antagonist on this episode?

The audience?

[Hyperion]

Fucking edit feature.

Hangs head after larger gulp of beer....

[Fist of Etiquette]

"The reward me for addressing my health risks." Meaning they punish you for untended health risks.

[Strapping Young Lad]

Why is Kennedy disguised as a raspberry?

[Byte Me]

Why is Kennedy disguised as a raspberry?

Microagression! Check yo PRIVILEGE, bro!

[Byte Me]

I am formally resubmitting my request that the Stossel article be re-posted so that we may live-thread Stossel on Thursdays.

[kibby]

You'll need to fill out this form in triplicate so we can lose it en route to the fifth floor.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Seconded.

Welch, acknowledge.

[Matt Welch]

Hmmmm.... Interesting idea!

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

That's the polite way of saying no.

[Fist of Etiquette]

WHERE DID EVERYONE ELSE GO?

[Sevo]

Just reading about A-2 groups gloating:
"Second Amendment groups jump on anti-gun Democrat Yee ? "hypocrite" charged with gun trafficking"
http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05el.....afficking/

[Fist of Etiquette]

If they're gonna jizz themselves over every politician who tries to ban for the commoners what he does himself then they're going to run out of swimmers.

[kibby]

Whoa there, buddy. Tone down that enthusiasm!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Rumsfeld looks like a villain on Scooby-Doo.

[Sudden]

I always wondered why he had such a familiar appearance.

Figured it was grandfatherly, but scooby doo villain sounds more accurate.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

And he'd have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those meddling kids.

[Fist of Etiquette]

AH! Matt Welch.

[Episiarch]

Morris is even more of a Muppet than Suder-Man.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Most sociopaths are charming and cooperative.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

The McNamara moment was awesome.

[C. Anacreon]

Any other good live streams tonight? Zenex doesn't seem to be working.

[Episiarch]

Maybe try some Xanax instead. Errol Morris sure seems to have.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

http://www.baqiworld.com/2011/.....ness-live/

[C. Anacreon]

thx

[Hyperion]

We are still in the grip of Rummies evil death claw!

[Fist of Etiquette]

The only person who could talk about Ronald Dumsfeld and put everyone to sleep.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

That segment sucked wet farts.

[Hyperion]

Yeah, WTF was that? Who was that boring old fuck?, something about Rumsfeld. Does he have some other boring shit about Bush and Cheney? If so, can we find out when it's going to be on, so we don't have to watch it?

[Hyperion]

Xfinity streaming is blacking out commercials. Something has to be evil about that. Not sure what, but it's Comcast. It's just evil all the way down. Or stupid. Or both.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Better than those obnoxious Google commercials.

[Strapping Young Lad]

They don't want FBN to make any money.
/conspiracy

[SweatingGin]

It's a plot to keep you from moving a small business to New York so you can use the tax savings for boner pills.

[Hyperion]

That ridiculous, no way I am moving to NY.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Hmm... Finish the Independents and drink bourbon, or drag my fat ass to the gym.

I'll be back for the sexy rerun.

[Fist of Etiquette]

They're thinking relatively speaking booze in Amsterdam is like nothing.

[Byte Me]

Apparently he never saw Eurotrip. There is a fair warning about Absinthe.

[Episiarch]

Yeah, Levy, I'm sure the Praetorian Guard never fucks up.

[Heroic Mulatto]

They need to do like Kimmel and bring back their guests and have them read these "mean posts".

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Some guys just can't handle Amsterdam.

[Suthenboy]

Other than just being always at war with eastasia, can anyone tell me why the fuck we spent so much time in Iraq and are still in Afghanistan and various other Dumbfuckistans plus Africa?

It just goes on and on and no one will say why or what for or what we expect to get out of it.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I linked to Judge Joe Brown last night.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Is Andy Levy about to tell me they guy got lit because the Secret Service is as racist as the rest of us?

[Hyperion]

Well, it's totally cool if our tax payer funded dudes are running around the glove enjoying hookers and blow, while any of us will be thrown in prison for the same behavior. What's the problem? Why are we so ungrateful?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Man, he's looking mean for real.

[Hyperion]

Wait, Judge Judy has boobies? I would be more inclined to believe that she has a penis.

[GILMORE]

The Independents Attire Review, 26 March 2014

We Contain Multitudes-Edition

- Kennedy: Surprises tonight's audience by wearing a pink-doily; one which apparently came as a free-gift with her matching lipstick. We like it! It gives off the appearance of "costume-ry" more than dress, which is a good thing - it wants to *tell a story*; making us suddenly speculate on what the other 2 Independents Tele-Tubbies "natural colors" would be? Which leads us to take a gander at...

- Matty-Watty: Old Pink Reliable returns like that case of herpes you scored in junior high. You can't fight it; you make the best of a bad situation. Is the light blue tie our favorite match? or - setting a lower-bar for success as we are wont to do with Welch - is it "significantly less than revolting"? We actually like this shirt-tie pair best with matt's light-brown suit, and the yellow-purple candy-cane with the darker suits; but hey, anything better than disaster is reason for cheer.

- KMW: This woman could smile the Jesus right out of Pat Robertson. Its like being sucker punched while trying to read the menu. We want to put a hatt on her, give her a martini, and start doing our best Philip Marlow routine, giving her one of those classic "smoosh your heads-together, film-noir-kisses", then being chased in our 1930s Oldsmobile through the Mulholland hills.

- Other Dude: Meh. Perhaps this is an example of why we should be glad Matt is incapable of "normal".

Thank You

[GILMORE]

(*!@#&$*(@& hat

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Protecting manhood and something, something womanhood.

[Episiarch]

HA HA MATT MADE A RAIN MAN JOKE WAPNER

[BigT]

A Left Handed Milk Stout, a Fat Head Oompa Loompa, and now Lagunitas Sucks.

Thank You very much.

[SweatingGin]

By having Mrs. gin have a glass of it, I'm not drinking a bottle of wine all by myself, I'm splitting a bottle of wine.

[kibby]

In a police station? Spill this story, Matt!

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Yeah, definitely. Wapner!

[Fist of Etiquette]

That's what is on television in the afternoon, Welch. Stupid judge shows or women yacking about women interests.

[Hyperion]

Wapner? STFU already, Matt.

[SweatingGin]

Is that lone wacko?

[Derpetologist]

Derp. The final frontier. These are the tales of a Derpetologist. His continuing mission: to explore strange, new fools. To seek out new morons and new half-wit imbeciles. To boldly sigh where no one has sighed before...

? ? ?

Last week, one of my bosses claimed only 2% of employees actually do any work. I was tempted to ask him if he thought the same amount of work would get done if 98% of the workforce stayed home.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

You work in a brokerage office?

I swear, by 10am, the brokers in my office would waltz around with mugs and smug looks after churning the shit out of their accounts.

[Derpetologist]

I work in a plastic bag factory.

Heart-pounding excitement...

[Episiarch]

It's embarrassing when Rhode Islanders act like people from Jersey.

[Derpetologist]

New Jersey: What makes you so special?

[Hyperion]

It's embarrassing for anyone to act like people from NJ, the uncontested worst crap hole in the states.

[Episiarch]

I guess it's only appropriate that I was born there. In Paterson.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Is everyone going to say 'go fuck yourself'? Guests? Join in!

[kibby]

Go fuck yourself.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Go fuck yourself.

[kibby]

YOU FIRST.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

YOU FIRST.

[kibby]

& you call yourself a gentleman...

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I am a gentleman, which is why I insist go after you. Ladies first.

[kibby]

Putting me in the category of "lady" is where you made your first mistake.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Mea culpa. What category should I put you in?

[kibby]

...That's actually an excellent question.

[BigT]

Kibby was pretty quick. That's a big plus in a woman.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I'm pretty sure that go fuck yourself was for the Bill of Rights, not the meathead.

[Suthenboy]

Yeah, that was my take on it as well.

[Episiarch]

The Nuge was on an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. That is all.

[AlmightyJB]

Double Live Gonzo. That is all.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

30gs? He gets three or four like that he has a living, no?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Stay here, Andy? Are they slipping him into Foster's spot?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Please, no. Levy is that guy who thinks he's hilarious, but has no idea how much his timing is off and how stilted his delivery is.

[kibby]

He used to be far more fun. Or maybe being half asleep during Red Eye when I still watched colored my view.

[Heroic Mulatto]

It was probably all E that you dropped, before you watched the show, actually.

Jus' sayin'

[kibby]

Good gosh, I wish! It might have made my soul-crushing job less terrible.

[AlmightyJB]

I do have to like Levy's sarc.

[Heroic Mulatto]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT! Phazyme is going to kick my gas's ass!

[Soros' Wank-noose]

Someone telling a politician to respect the 2A, and the Independents give sympathy to the statist???

[GILMORE]

because the guy was being a dick, and wasn't asking a question.

This is reminiscent of Bo Cara's seeming inability to understand why some people *aren't* given as much shit as others here.

"Not being a dick" trumps a great deal of minor ideological disagreement.

[Soros' Wank-noose]

No, it's not.

Besides, who said he had to ask a question?

And anyone in a governmental position actively working to strip away peoples' rights should be called out on it, even in public.

Or did libertarians suddenly change on this point?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Anyone in a governmental position actively working to strip away peoples' rights should be stripped naked and beaten with sticks until they soil themselves in fear, after which they will be lead to the nearest tree and hanged in public.

[GILMORE]

go fuck yourself

[BigT]

We admire those polite dickheads.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Yeah, I was disappoint.

[Soros' Wank-noose]

Apparently, there's something that I'm not getting about the situation, but I do not believe, for one minute, it has to do with the guy being rude.

[SweatingGin]

Seriously, was the questioner lone wacko? That was his schtick

[GILMORE]

I'm all for Hippy Concentration-Camps.

I mean, just tell them Phish is playing, and they form one themselves!

[Derpetologist]

Like pigs and corn...

[C. Anacreon]

Some day, I will create a business that will be featured on "Manufacturing Marvels."

[Byte Me]

Does anyone else think you could replace the word "Scottrade" with "NSA" in the Scottrade commercial and create some NSA propaganda?

[SIV]

Peter Tosh!

[Episiarch]

"In my professional opinion, we're looking at a full-blown hippie jamfest the size of which we've never seen."

[Derpetologist]

"No Chef, I won't let you go out there!"

"God damn it, I didn't volunteer!"

[Episiarch]

"Hippies hate death metal."

[Derpetologist]

The only good thing to come from The Core was that episode of South Park.

[Byte Me]

What's worse than a drum circle?

Um...more than one drum circle?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

My brother, sister and I were walking around Venice Beach years ago when I found three neatly placed weird counter-culture comic books under a tree. Someone forgot them and so I picked them up. I still have them.

[C. Anacreon]

I always love it when you tell that story.

[Rich]

Of Rufus and his love.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Did you notice that it was overcast? That's probably mid-summer.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

You stole some poor little kid's comic books? You bastard!

[GILMORE]

MOTHERFUCKER!! I WENT TO THE BATHROOM AND THEY WERE GONE!

[BigT]

Were the pages stuck together? They might belong to ... A friend.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Playing the role of contrarian tonight will be KMW.

[C. Anacreon]

The gingham makes her look chesty as well.

[BigT]

Drum circle. They had one at my office to encourage togetherness or something. For real, about 1995.

Major oil company!

[Rich]

Oil drum circle!

[BigT]

Oil slick. It rained.

[Fist of Etiquette]

That was Axel F.

[Episiarch]

Wow, that was a really uncomfortable rendition of Axel Foley's theme song.

[Fist of Etiquette]

No one gives a shit what you say, Mr. President.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Once again, I must ask, what's the difference between the Topical Storm and the rest of the show's format outside interviews?

[Episiarch]

STOP ASKING UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS.

[BigT]

2 minutes.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

"H-h-held a-a-countamabble? Is that the word?"

[C. Anacreon]

It is if Saxamaphone is.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Always plus points for Homer references.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

He gets results, you stupid chief!

[Byte Me]

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Welch drops the F-bomb and a few minutes later pussies out and says "dang"? Weak.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Dissing military decorations? You're gonna get letters.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Whenever Obama takes a swipe at someone I can't help but think of Sylvester whenever he would have his head down and blindly swing his arm at the wind because he was afraid of the giant mouse in the Chester and Spike episode.

[Fist of Etiquette]

PCMatic does none of these things.

[Suthenboy]

That is pretty accurate. If Alexander denies it you can bet it is true. Same for all the other NSA cheerleaders.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Uh, it's just pronounced Krim.

[C. Anacreon]

I don't know about this mesh thing, but I think I did fly on TransVaginal Airlines one time. It was from Budapest to Vienna.

[Episiarch]

It's amazing how Obama, when he talks, says nothing of any substance at any time.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

So glad I don't have to sit through his commencement speech at my alma mater this June.

[Winston]

when he talks, says nothing of any substance at any time.

Perfect for POTUS then?

[Rich]

Martin O'Malley is *at least* as good as O at this.

[Hyperion]

Putin: I learned it from you, USA! I learned it from you!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Wait a minute. This is just Isabella Rossellini in disguise.

[Episiarch]

Only if she says "Frank, I have a part of you with me. You put your disease in me. It helps me. It makes me strong."

[GILMORE]

the best one is ...

...."Hit me...."

[Winston]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KyBdPeKHg

[Fist of Etiquette]

Oh man.

[BigT]

Putin. Rasputin.

Coincidence. I think not.

[C. Anacreon]

Pootin'

[Winston]

Poutine.

Or Putain.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Putte.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Tourne-toi salop.

[Hyperion]

A new cold war. Well, we can never have enough wars, so it's all good.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

So Putin is playing the 'bring back Roman empire' shtick Mussolini used?

[BigT]

All the benefit of broken windows without breaking any windows. Brilliant!!!

[Strapping Young Lad]

I'm sure the bombs will break plenty of windows.
Splash damage = multiplier effect!

[C. Anacreon]

Olga Korbut still looks pretty good at her advanced age.

[AlmightyJB]

I'd hit it but then...

[Hyperion]

Who?

[C. Anacreon]

1972 Russian Olympian, Gold medal in gymnastics

[Suthenboy]

I just noticed....Putin waddles like a duck.

[Winston]

Does he talk like a like a duck too? And doesn't this make him You Know Who?

[AlmightyJB]

What if there was a cold war and no one showed up.

[Hyperion]

We would create some scary terrorists? Just a thought.

[AlmightyJB]

Imaginary Russian terrorist. The possibilities are endless.

[Winston]

So Sean Bean with a scar?

[AlmightyJB]

I was actually thing the possibilities to further piss on our rights would be endless. Although I'm sure the movie cold war remakes would be as well

[AlmightyJB]

Thinking

[Hyperion]

Restore the lost empire. Yeah, that's the ticket, Russians, Stalin didn't murder enough of you last time, so Putin is the answer!

[Derpetologist]

WW2 was a contest between Hitler and Stalin to see who could kill more Russians. Stalin won.

[Sevo]

And the remaining Russians thanked him!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Putin is gonna first assemble The Expendables + Seagal to lead his national army.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Man in Black? You should have gone with Cocaine Blues or Boy Named Sue.

[Hyperion]

Ring of Fire.

[GILMORE]

Don't think twice

yeah, I know its a bob Dylan song. I like his better.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I think Waylon Jennings does the best cover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgD5sY3Wme8

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Sunday Morning Coming Down is another good one.

[Winston]

I thought Segal supported blowing up oil rigs and making lengthy speeches to protect the environment?

[Derpetologist]

Common Core, you say?

It sure is interesting how people managed to learn reading and math 100 years ago in one room schools with teenage teachers and only slates, chalk, and a few books.

[Winston]

Wasn't literacy quite high before the advent of compulsory public schools? And wasn't it higher than today? Or am I wrong? And I wonder if there was higher knowledge of basic arithmetic then...

[Derpetologist]

Illiteracy for whites was in the single digits by 1880. Blacks did not catch up until about 1950.

Illiteracy today is lower than in the past.

[Derpetologist]

Illiteracy for whites was in the single digits by 1880. Blacks did not catch up until about 1950.

Illiteracy today is lower than in the past.

[Winston]

Blacks did not catch up until about 1950.

So while segregated schools were in operation? I wonder how many blacks were in those schools and how their literacy rates compared to the unsegregated ones.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Eh, I don't think you'll get many satisfying answers. It seems the methodology for collecting data on literacy leave much to be desired.

The data in this table for the years 1870 to 1930 come from direct questions from the decennial censuses of 1870 to 1930, and are therefore self-reported results. The data for 1947, 1952, 1959, 1969, and 1979 were obtained from sample surveys; they exclude the Armed Forces and inmates of institutions. The statistics for the census years 1940 and 1950 were derived by estimating procedures.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Rote memorization, spanking and more spanking.

[Irish]

It sure is interesting how people managed to learn reading and math 100 years ago in one room schools with teenage teachers and only slates, chalk, and a few books.

It's estimated that literacy in New England was about 85% at the time of the Revolution.

In modern America, after decades of noble Democrat rule, half of Detroit adults are functionally illiterate.

The best part? According to that article, half of the illiterate adults have high school degrees. Detroit: Where you don't have to know how to read to graduate high school.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Well, I saw plenty of university students barely capable of stringing a sentence together. It was horrid.

[Irish]

Well, I saw plenty of university students barely capable of stringing a sentence together. It was horrid.

I work as a paralegal. Before I got a long term job, I worked for a little while in a temp position doing bitch work that consisted almost entirely of labeling things and filing.

When I left that job, one of the attorneys said they were glad I'd been there because the last several people they'd had working in that position had been awful. Normally I would have taken that as a compliment, but this job was so easy a child should have been able to do it.

There's no way this firm would hire anyone who didn't have a college degree. This means that college graduates were incapable of filing papers or labeling things effectively.

Let that stew.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Oh, I've stewed over such things.

[Suthenboy]

No need. I tutored many in college who were functionally illiterate and seniors. Same for math/science tutoring. They showed up, paid their money and got their degree and nothing happened in between.

[Derpetologist]

College degrees these days are basically just a proxy for an IQ test. I believe it was the Supreme Court that made it illegal to use IQ tests for employment screening.

[BigT]

" Detroit: Where you don't have to know how to read to graduate high school."

America: Where you don't have to know how to read to go to college.

FIFY

[Fist of Etiquette]

Vinyl? I only listen to music on the Victrola.

[kibby]

Ever the hipster.

[Winston]

Pshaw. I use wax cylinders.

[kibby]

Now you're talkin' my language!

[GILMORE]

You're worse than *this guy*

http://alturl.com/bz6da

[Episiarch]

Wow, Johnny Cash's son is a major dork. Why can't he be as cool as Julian Lennon?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Sean is a pretty cool guy too.

[Episiarch]

Sean is a talentless pimply-faced dork who has never done anything that Yoko didn't tell him to do. She went out of her way to make sure Julian got no fucking money, and that Sean got it all. At least Julian has some god damned talent.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Yes. Yes to all those questions about robots Kennedy.

[AlmightyJB]

It needs to make money? No disrespect.

[Fist of Etiquette]

AH! Lou Dobbs.

[Episiarch]

Don't worry, Kennedy, the robots will decide your fate in a microsecond.

[Hyperion]

Will they take our jobs and our women. Well, you know, I was thinking that they will BE our women. Feminists, weep.

[Hyperion]

NO, not Lou Dobbs! Oh yeah, this happens every time.

[Hyperion]

Sebelius.

STFU, you old bag.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

At one point in my life, I was hooked on the APTN channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnGM0BlA95I

[Suthenboy]

Well, now I don't have to take an ambien to get to sleep.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

You're welcome.

[AlmightyJB]

Can someone just do a weekly compilation of Kennedy dirty talk so I can skip all the other crap.

[C. Anacreon]

No aftershow tonite?

[Derpetologist]

They really need to get Marcotte on this show. I predict Twitter would explode as a result.

[Irish]

That would be the greatest hour of television in history.

[Derpetologist]

And possibly the end of the world as we know it.

[Hyperion]

Let's have Joan Walsh on next.

[Irish]

Dream episode: Joan Walsh, Amanda Marcotte, Matthew Yglesias, Rick Santorum, John McCain.

The party panel would be the Rolling Stone Commie and Eric Dondero.

[Derpetologist]

The 4 Horsemen and the Trifecta from Hell.

I like it.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

God yes. I would donate money to Reason if it meant seeing Joan Walsh white-fem-splain to Kmele why cutting spending is a racist dog whistle.

[Derpetologist]

They can change the opening theme to Night on Bald Mountain.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Her head might explode at the cognitive dissonance of seeing a woman and a black guy arguing against progressive orthodoxy with facts and reason on birth control, healthcare, and guns.

[Hyperion]

She would probably call Kmele an Uncle Tom, and Kennedy, well there wouldn't be much she could do, Kennedy would cut her up and embarrass the fuck out of her, which would be all too cool.

[Hyperion]

This is only the 2nd entire episode of TI that I have watched, and it was, unfortunately, the most boring.

[AlmightyJB]

Well then I'm guessing that the first show you saw was the most interesting since boring is par for the course.

[Hyperion]

Do they ever have Nick on? Just curious, I've never seen him on.

[AlmightyJB]

Not sure. I believe that The Jacket is Executive Producer though.

[kibby]

He's been on a couple of times. Whenever he's in the general area, I think.

[Hyperion]

Thanks, I was just curious, since I haven't seen him on.

[BigT]

It is better with Kmele.

Without the comments in real time it would be tough. They are too wonky; need some shwbiz. A running commentary from H&R would be interesting.

[Hyperion]

Have to say one thing for Kmele. During that bizarre episode with Bill Nye, where Nye looked like he went the entire segment without any oxygen((I swear I thought he was turning blue), Kmele is the only one who got even the least bit snarky, with the Solyndra comment.

[Irish]

Bill Nye might actually be mentally unstable.

[Suthenboy]

They could run our comments on a ticker at the bottom of the screen. Not select ones, all of 'em.

[kibby]

If we wanted them to be immediately taken off the air, sure.

[Suthenboy]

OK, then have the naughty bits redacted.

I guess that would result in an endless black ribbon.

[BigT]

Now you're thinking.

Maybe some interspersed Kennedy 'a-hole on the street interviews' to keep it interesting at the breaks..

That's the number.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Liberal gets mugged by reality:

"Nelson's health insurance covered 90 percent of the costs after a reasonable $500 deductible. I'm happy he has such good health coverage. He's my dog. And I'm jealous of him.

"He has the kind of health care that I'd hoped the Affordable Care Act would usher in for those who, like my wife and me, have to buy health insurance on the open market. I'd long been frustrated at how health care shackles people to corporate jobs. I believed this legislation, signed four years ago this month, would free people to pursue their dreams, start new companies and not worry about the health insurance penalty.

"What I didn't count on was that it would make things harder for me and my wife."

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03.....inion&_r=0

[Heroic Mulatto]

Wait. Who the fuck has health insurance for their dog?

[Rich]

They got it when the dog became an Ordained Minister.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

He also solves crime in his spare time.

[Sevo]

Quite common. Vets offer it as an inducement to get your pet in for regular exams.
Pretty sure the actuaries are available from vets' web sites, so they are competitive.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Vets offer it as an inducement to get your pet in for regular exams

That's...Wait...I thi....umm...

Really? People fall for that shit?

[SIV]

A bullet was good enough healthcare for Ol' Yeller.

[Rich]

I know that Obamacare is helping a great number of people.

*** raises hand ***

How, exactly, do you know this?

[Irish]

The same way he knew it would free him from the shackles of a corporate job: He takes it on faith because he is a moron.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Because our friends at Raw Story say so.

pekasus BallsMcKenzie ? 7 minutes ago
I have health insurance for the first time in almost 10 years. I have a $10k debt from a hospitalization last year, and I am going for a loan to fill a manufacturing order at my company. The lender asked about the debt, I explained it. They asked if I had health care now...I do...so they said no problem and overlooked it.

This order is from a large purchaser, so it is only a matter of time before this turns into job creation for others as well.

All thanks to O-care. I'd love to tell my story on Fucks News.

BallsMcKenzie Olderandwiser ? 17 minutes ago
My fianc?'s mother had a stroke at 58 (was healthy as could be, not fat, never smoked/ drank, etc) out of the blue. She had no health insurance. My fianc? is still paying the bills off for her 6 years later (tens of thousands of dollars), since her mother can no longer work because of the stroke. Since the ACA expanded medicare/ Medicaid, her mother is now covered. The ACA is saving lives, and how anybody can be against this is a either pure evil, total ignorance, or a little bit of both. Single payer would be ideal, but it's an absolute miracle Obama got this thing through considering what he and the Democrats were up against.

[Irish]

"Who cares about statistical information about increases in insurance costs? We've got these two anecdotes!"

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Which are very likely not real. OFA has a trolling budget.

[Irish]

Which are very likely not real. OFA has a trolling budget.

I actually have wondered if political activists run fake commenters on websites.

You have to imagine that they do. It just seems like such an easy way to astroturf support that I'd be amazed if they weren't doing it.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Intentions matter more than the truth, so...

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

It's Raw Story, though. Everyone there is already a hardcore true believer except for the occasional libertarian or conservative dissident.

Could it be in these times of doubt and failure they are trying to keep the base motivated?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

The fact that they are all so similar really jumps out at me. Straw men, and then a superficial swipe at Fox News or the Koch Bros. Over and over and over.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Amazing how they can relate these personal anecdotes and then accuse the other side of having a "fuck you, I got mine" attitude.

If you tried to explain to that guy how Obamacare has hurt other people he'll refuse to believe you because you must be, as he said, evil or stupid for opposing the president's glorious healthcare law.

[Hyperion]

That sounds totally believable, because it makes me feel good, and it doesn't sound at all fake.

I'm now a true believer!

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Hey, he said corporatey stuff! I totally believe he owns a manufacturing company.

[Hyperion]

Most progs are members of the 1% who totally want to pay their fair share and then some! Just ask them if you don't believe me!

[Irish]

This one is just stupendous.

I have health insurance for the first time in almost 10 years. I have a $10k debt from a hospitalization last year, and I am going for a loan to fill a manufacturing order at my company. The lender asked about the debt, I explained it. They asked if I had health care now...I do...so they said no problem and overlooked it.

I have $10k of unpaid debt, but someone who might lend me money doesn't give a shit about my debt problems because I have health insurance.

I'm not sure who's lending you this money, but I have a feeling they might be bankrupt very soon.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Unpaid debt? That's the worst kind!

[Irish]

You shut your bitch mouth or I'll kill you dead.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Then you'll have to "pay your debt" to society.

**Drops mic in pitcher of beer and high fives everyone in the room**

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Seriously, though. If that guy were real, wouldn't he be getting interviewed live on MSNBC as we speak?

[Irish]

If that guy were real, every shitty investment in history would be getting financed by whatever moron inexplicably gave him a manufacturing loan.

"You're in debt and wouldn't have enough money for health insurance without government medicare expansion? Clearly you're a wonderful investment!"

[Sevo]

The CA propaganda site is showcasing people who "have their premiums cut in half!" without a shred of evidence.
If the rug merchant claimed that for his goods, the proggies would be all over him.

[Hyperion]

Lies!

Our own beloved PB was on here today, telling us how young single men are getting $500 deductible policies, through the exchanges, for $26 a month.

When I challenged him on this, explaining that single people I work with, who are on a very good group plan, have seen their deductibles rise significantly(I don't know anyone who still has a deductible as low as $500), and if he was suggesting that they drop their group coverage and enroll in the exchanges, he did his usual disappearing act.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I made a reference to him being a coke head (which he was/is), and he hasn't responded to me since. I found the secret.

[Zeb]

That would explain a lot. I've never quite believed that he was just a sock puppet. Coke head seems like a good alternate explanation.

[Sevo]

..."I believed this legislation, signed four years ago this month, would free people to pursue their dreams, start new companies and not worry about the health insurance penalty."...

Hey, sucka! Gotcher unicorns right here! See the pea? Now watch closely! Which cup is the pea under? $5'll get you $50 for the right answer!

[Suthenboy]

""What I didn't count on was that it would make things harder for me and my wife."

And you did not count on that because it wasn't written all over the wall in 10 ft. high letters? Or because no one was screaming warnings at you?

[Irish]

See, the only people saying that Obamacare was going to be a failure were the wrong kinds of people.

Therefore, all right thinkers knew to reject their thoughtcrimes.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

'May I assume?' Media reports about Charlotte, N.C. mayor's arrest spark game of 'name that party'

http://twitchy.com/2014/03/26/.....hat-party/

[Hyperion]

He's playing for the other team, obviously.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

The same thing happened today with Leland Yee (Unidentified-CA).

[Sevo]

Playa,
The Chron finally got around to listing party affiliation, and I guess the comments were enough for them to pull the headline on the editorial about how it was horrible only because 'It showed the Ds in a bad light!'
It is of some satisfaction that the editorial staff is still capable of embarrassment.

[C. Anacreon]

I actually got to know Leland about 15 years ago during a project we were both involved in. He seemed like a really good guy (for a Dem). I was pretty shocked to see all this about him today.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

So he had a real job before politics?

My real gripe here is that he tried to criminalize 5 million legal CA gun owners, and then he gets busted for illegal gun trafficking.

[Sevo]

Pl?ya Manhattan.|3.26.14 @ 11:33PM|#
"So he had a real job before politics?"

Nothing I've seen says he's ever done anything but gobble at the taxpayer trough.
Pathetic as it is for SF politics, it looks like Willie Brown and Rose Pak come out the winners here,

[Sevo]

I've managed to steer clear of the guy only by happenstance, but you might find this interesting:
"Few observers of San Francisco politics are surprised by his arrest on corruption charges."
http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/.....351910.php

This from a newspaper which is pretty much charged in a democracy with keeping 'the people' informed. It seems they are capable of embarrassment, but not nearly enough.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

If I'm not mistaken, that's the same editorial they posted early this morning, with about 50% of the material changed so that it blows the right way in the wind.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

The NBC Bay Area website just changed the article quietly after a few hours of complaints.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

http://www.securitydegreehub.com/police-state/

Is the U.S. a police state?

[Hyperion]

Not at all, comrade, not at all. We must trust in the all powerful and benevolent state.

Don't make me report you, for your own good, comrade.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

INDEPENDENTS DISPERSE

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Celine Dion needs a trigger warning.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

If liking Celine Dion is gay, I don't want to be straight.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

Holy Crap Ray Curtis was no a libertarian cop.

[SIV]

FBI drops links to Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League as resources on "Hate Groups" and "Hate Crime"

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

Black Mother Takes On White Barbie

[Irish]

We've got a deep thinker right here:

how about get rid of the little plastic things all together. allow your kids to interact with humans and animals/nature and to not a give a single fuck about whether an inanimate object has brown or white plastic colouring. Regardless of the skin colour of the doll, its what it does psychologically to the girl, it creates an image that is fucking bullshit it doesn't matter what skin colour it portrays. television, movies, dolls, books..... keep your

[Heroic Mulatto]

Entreprenuralism works too.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Their latest news release was from 2010

[Heroic Mulatto]

They seem to still be in business though.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Grrrrl power!

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

We knew that the rich countries weren't only harming poor countries with their bombs, but with their economic policies. But campaigning in the abstract was difficult ? even in an academic institution. The Fairtrade University idea was a way of tangibly standing in practical solidarity with the people the global economic system would otherwise be harming, while doing something important to most English and Scots people's lives: drinking tea.

But it wasn't only about the producers. It was also about us. Even though the New Labour government of the time thought there was no alternative to neoliberalism, here we were coming together in collective institutions like the Students' Association and university, saying: we're not just consumers, we're citizens, too. Pioneering the concept of being a Fairtrade University was in a small way demonstrating an alternative to the so called 'free market' ideology which was already failing, and which led to the spectacular crash of 2008.

[Irish]

Tim Gee is the author of Counterpower: Making Change Happen, shortlisted for the Bread and Roses Prize for radical nonfiction. He has campaigned with Occupy, Climate Camp, the Traveller Solidarity Network and the National Union of Students amongst others. He works as a grassroots trainer and has an MA in politics from Edinburgh University.

[Sevo]

..."He works as a grassroots trainer and has an MA in politics from Edinburgh University."

Oh, good! Another slimy, self-righteous twit!
I'm sure he'll be griping about 'income inequality' as soon as he finds out he can't afford a nice flat.

[C. Anacreon]

How come that "free market ideology which was already failing, and which led to the spectacular crash of 2008" isn't also mentioned regarding the fact that the stocks have since regained all their value and have even increased in value since then? Would people have regained their money from Occupy?

Another watermelon...

[Calidissident]

I love how delusional the left-wingers who think we've been moving towards laissez-faire capitalism lately are.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

North Korea: Students required to get Kim Jong-un haircut

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Who here doesn't already have that haircut?

[Hyperion]

I wonder if we all will have to get our ears stretched out a couple of meters to look more like our dear leader?

[BiMonSciFiCon]

They're required to get fat, too.

What, no food? Tough luck, feed him to the fogs.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Dogs autocorrects to fogs? What?

[Sevo]

Damn SF app-writers!

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

A gigantic rat measuring 100 cms from nose to tail has terrorised a family in Sweden after gnawing a tunnel into their house and setting up shop in their flat in Solna, northwest Stockholm.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Give him to me, I'd love to bullsyes it with my T-16.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

WTF is a T-16? It had better be some sort of cutting edge firearm!

[SIV]

There is some Turkish thing called a T-14. I think it is a sa .410 shotgun

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

You disappoint me, my friend

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

No, you disappoint me.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I suspected that's what you meant, but I hoped for the best.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

You think I can afford a cutting edge firearm?

[kibby]

Now I see why we need other people to pay for Vegas.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Vegas pays for itself. It's a sure thing.

I'm a social guy, and I typical use eye contact, facial expressions, body language, tone, and inflection to figure out what people are trying to convey.

All I have to go on here is typed words on the internet, but, are you saying the deal is back on?!?

[kibby]

Why are you so into this idea, man? It's a little strange...especially given your comments about little girls.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I lost interest and enthusiasm late last night, and then Jesse messaged me this morning with a pep talk.

You know how 2 smart people have really smart kids? I'm thinking it might work the same way for libertarians...

[kibby]

So we're lab rats, is what you're saying.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

No, lab primates. With sexy results.

[kibby]

I enjoy that this is all being planned despite nobody here knowing much of anything about me outside of superficial stuff.

Are you willing to risk your friend in case I'm barking mad or a serial killer?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I am. Absolutely I am.

/Jim Halpert

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Are you willing to risk your friend in case I'm barking mad or a serial killer?

For a hot libertarian woman that might be worth the risk.

[kibby]

It's your life to put at risk, kid.

Maybe we should, like, skype or something first.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

a 1st date!

[kibby]

When did skyping become a DATE? Holy Hades I must be getting old...

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I once befriended a girl in Philippines because she accidentally Skype called me.

A strange word we live in.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

was her name Lourdes or Pinky?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

No. And if that's a reference of some sort it is not registering with me.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

I just know that's a popular first name.

[kibby]

Pinky is a real name that people give to children that aren't chihuahuas??

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

It's popular in the Phillipine community.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Pinky is a real name that people give to children that aren't chihuahuas??

Apparently.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Even though Skyping would not settle the question of whether or not you are a serial killer it would, at least, put to the rest the issue of whether or not you are what the kids call 'catfishing' us.

So yeah, if you are serious I would be okay with that sometime.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

oh I'm soo excited for you two!!

[Francisco d'Anconia]

oh I'm soo excited for you two!!

I'm going to be sick.

[kibby]

I'll be sure not to be in my Dreadfort-inspired dungeon during it, then. That would give away the fun plot twist!

"Sometime" is good for me.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Well I'll be certainly to keep my eye out for any flayed man symbols in the background.

My email address is linked in my handle now, so if you want to set something up we can do it that way.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

THIS IS AWESOME

[kibby]

Awkward emails ahoy! Once I'm caught up on all these projects.

Why is Archduke so giddy about this? It's freaking me out!

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Plus, I'm Facebook friends with Serious. He's a catch.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

Serious and Kibby sitting in a tree...

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I know right? Shit, or get off the pot.

[SIV]

100 cms? Don't they have meters in Sweden?

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

no. I also like how euro soft drinks are measured in 50cl bottles instead of 500ml

[Sevo]

Well, they were gonna call it 1000mms, but they were afraid of big numbers.

[SIV]

A THOUSAND MILLIMETER LONG RAT!

[Zeb]

We have feet in the US, but we still often say "12 inches of snow" (at least where I live).

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Low-level monster. Lamer than a kobold. One slash with a broadsword and it's dead. Just don't let it bite you.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

An examination of a forthcoming book written by the sign-stealing professor at UC Santa Barbara.

"A Taste for Brown Sugar was Miller-Young's doctoral dissertation. For years, she has been preparing that oral history "research," at taxpayer expense, for publication. She summarizes her work: "Conducting oral histories with current and veteran black adult film actresses active since the 1980s I investigate what forces invite black women to this arena of sex work and how the women theorize their own engagement with the field."...

"With UCSB a willing coconspirator, Miller-Young has leveraged a plum professorship to launder her grubby lasciviousness into respectability. (On the other hand, you have to hand it to her ? talk about recuperating the subjectivity of self-agency in the space of a counter-fetishistic sexual economy that heartbreakingly undervalues female African-American butts!) The logical terminus of this self-aggrandizing faux-freedom fighting is violence against an imaginary terrorist-oppressor, which Miller-Young committed on March 4."

(From *American Thinker*)

http://bit.ly/1pzg85q

[Irish]

I for one am sick of wealthy, middle aged professors being oppressed by 16 year old girls with signs.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I would like to donate to your action committee.

[Heroic Mulatto]

has enabled a pornography fan to impersonate a professor. Having committed an associate professorship and tenure to an unpublished "scholar" who stares up women's crotches at pornography conventions,

Who is Deborah C. Tyler and how does she know so much about my life?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I doubt you're unpublished. The rest is probably true.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Yeah, I usually stare at their asses.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

You didn't think entrepreneurially and decide to make a *career* out of staring at asses!

[Neoliberal Kochtopus]

I swear I wish I was just a *little* bit more dedicated to pulling con jobs. I could be a millionaire.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

That's much classier. I respect my fellow assmen.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

American Thinker*

like calling a fat guy tiny, right?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Organizing for Action opens its own online store, find the perfect outfit for your favorite Obama cultist or child

The baby onesies labeled "Future Volunteer" are a nice touch.

[Sevo]

So the stupid runs in the family:
"Pelosi daughter: If you use the Internet to criticize government programs, you're a hypocrite; Update: Pelosi doubles down"
Yeah, you could say she 'doubles down'.

[Derpetologist]

Yes, because the government invented html, tcp/ip, DNS, modems, the personal computer, and fiber optic cables.

The government also fronted the money to build server farms and string all that cable.

And of course, the most popular websites like Google and Facebook started as government programs.

HERP HERP HERPA DERP!

[Sevo]

I'm sure, to this developing hag, that if money was used in a transaction, it was 'because government!'

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Both of my parents worked on ARPANET. I don't recall them ever being employed by the government.

[Derpetologist]

AL GORE!

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Gore? He was busy failing out of divinity school at the time. Even though the right answer was always "because Jesus".

He has the right an$wer now, though. "because global warming".

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

ARPANET is actually a plot point on 'The Americans'.

**narrows eyes** Which side did your parents really work for?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Ummm, UCLA?

[Sevo]

Just to put all this in perspective, the only person I ever heard comment positively on Pelosi's intelligence was Barbara Boxer.
I think that sums it up.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

You seem pretty dialed in to NorCal politics. Did you work as one of their butlers?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Or rather, they're labeled "Organizer in Training". I think I know what to get Playa for his new kid.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Per the HOA rules, I'm only allowed to burn natural gas in the fireplace.

[Derpetologist]

I believe that Obama's entire career is just a vast conspiracy to sell t-shirts.

[kibby]

Did he steal that idea from Che?

[Derpetologist]

Obama is poised to overtake him.

Kim Jong Un wonders why no one wears the t-shirts he gave away. Maybe he should have had a pizza party instead.

[kibby]

He did -- but ate all the pizza before anybody else could have any.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

"All 17 Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are demanding that Chairman Darrell Issa end his year-and-a-half probe into the Benghazi attacks, which left four Americans dead and have become a catchphrase signifying conservative suspicion of the Obama administration....

"Democrats privately believe that Issa is using Benghazi to try to hurt Clinton's possible presidential ambitions in 2016. "This is all about putting up points against Hillary," complained a Democrat close to the issue. "It's clear what they're trying to do.""

http://www.politico.com/story/.....05085.html

[Sevo]

"Democrats privately believe that Issa is using Benghazi to try to hurt Clinton's possible presidential ambitions in 2016."

Which is certainly reason enough to keep at it. Not to mention that it keeps some D congress life-forms from engaging in worse activities like introducing new bills.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

PROGRAMMING ALERT

Peter Dinklage is the first guest on Letterman tonight.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

About that "Hate Crime" involving the google glass tech reported getting assaulted in the bar.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

*reporter

She certainly isn't the good guy in this story.

[Sevo]

For some reason, she posed for photos for the Chron, and, natch, the Chron published them.
1) She fancies her appearance worthy of 'posing'; it isn't.
2) She seems to believe being recognizable after being such an asshole is a good idea; it isn't.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/art.....348911.php
I'm surprised Google hasn't yanked on her leash.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Wow. It said that she's my age (even though I would have guessed 20 years older).

Why does she talk and act like a teenager? Is that what passes for "journalism" these days?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

WOMP WOMP WOOMMMMMPPPP

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Guns for Yee, not for thee.

[kibby]

Somebody should write this response due tomorrow for me. My brain was perfectly okay to take all the notes but now is unable to compile them into logical sentences.

What good are you people if you don't do my homework?

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

I'm useless.
I never said otherwise.

[kibby]

I appreciate the honesty, but am VERY UPSET WITH YOU.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

I can however teach you about camping

[kibby]

I'm not sure if this is super creepy or not.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

probably creepy.
just ignore me.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I will get an updated entry on "camping" to the urban dictionary within the hour.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Subject?

[kibby]

Erasmus & the Reformation.

At least reading "Julius Excluded from Heaven" was an amusing way to spend some time.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I used to know that for AP Euro but I'd have to restudy the material to write a good paper.

[kibby]

The problem seems to be that I'm entirely over school right now. Blahhh.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

I always thought it'd be fun to teach AP Euro or AP U.S., or like an Econ seminar (book/article focused with a little 101.) for H.S. students.

I couldn't handle the kids who don't care, but it'd be fun to teach the ones who do in a subject I enjoyed.

[kibby]

I almost applied for a job teaching Ancient History to seventh graders because how fun does that sound?

My very low tolerance for shouting kids would probably not have made me a good match, though.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.
QED

[kibby]

How does one "do" Ancient History, though?

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

digging up sites in Turkey. Duh.

[kibby]

Archaeology is a little beyond my talents. I couldn't stomach the idea of sitting through a great number of classes on how to dig holes.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Lesson #1: keep your eyes shut.

Lesson #2: don't trust the German lady.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Even as a hobby?

[BiMonSciFiCon]

That was a response to our German duke.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

digging sites as a tourist is so a thing.

[kibby]

It's a thing if your goal is to be thrown into foreign jail.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

wrong

[kibby]

I see stuff about visiting sites, nothing about digging. Admittedly, I skimmed.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

I'm (very slowly) reading "A Distant Mirror." Which isn't helpful.

I'll show myself out.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Just use the Thomas Friedman column generator. College professors think he's smart.

[kibby]

This is a most wise suggestion. I don't know if it will work for a Renaissance class, though.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

"I was talking to my gondola driver as we cruised the streets of Venice..."

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Streets? Goddamnit, I haven't even started on my bourbon yet.

[Neoliberal Kochtopus]

no see they are fluid streets...the wave of the future.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Yeah, that's what me-as-pretend-Thomas-Friedman meant! The water is flat!

[BiMonSciFiCon]

"Prospect of a nuke going off in Manhattan..."

Someone's seen the Avengers too many times.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

When you see a used car for sale a few thou cheaper than it should be, is it even worth talking to the seller, or is it just a crapped out car he's trying to get rid of?

[Neoliberal Kochtopus]

I am having this same issue! I am shelling out $100 to have a buyer's inspection done by a shop. It may be worth the investment.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

last time I asked for a few days to look at a car like this, the seller told me he had another buyer lined up that night. the next day it was sold.

[Neoliberal Kochtopus]

I put a deposit on mine to hold it. Maybe you can do that. Also, how much under is it and what guide are you using?

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

This is an 05 Sentra 1.8. I saw the posting after hours tonight, but it's listed at $5k.
Should be at least 7k. I was going to call this seller in the morning. It doesn't state if it has a valid safety certificate.

[Neoliberal Kochtopus]

are you basing that "should be" number on experience or one of the books? I find Edmunds gives the "real" number better than KBB or NADA (but insurers still use KBB. Go figure).

meh, maybe he's just motivated to sell it.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

according to Edmunds, it's around the price for "Clean" condition
it's a dealer, not private.
I'll ask if there's a safety. I like the car otherwise, only 81k miles on it.

[dinkster]

How is there not a story on Sen Yee yet?

[kibby]

Wrong letter after his name.

[dinkster]

Well I found the thread and I'm dissapoint that the greatest thing that ever happened only has 28 comments.

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

Why is there never any news out of Bulgaria?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

How is your Bulgarian?

[Archduke von Pantsfan]

poor. this is why Google translate exists.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I'm not staying up much later. Best of luck to poster #700. We're almost there! Drive up Reason.com's ad revenue so I don't have to donate next year!

[montana mike]

700

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Canadian math

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Looks like we came up short. Unless 641 comments = 700 in Canadian comments.