Mississippi Senate Race Gets Even Zanier, Common Core Testing Scares Off States, House of Cards Can't Film Inside the U.N.: A.M. Links

A routine conference call between the Cochran campaign and the press "descended into madness."

• 

  Netflix / Youtube

  A routine conference call between Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran's campaign and the press "descended into madness" after being hijacked by activists supporting Cochran's opponent, Chris McDaniel. Just before the call, conservative blogger Charles C. Johnson had tweeted out details of the call asking his followers to "crash it with me." They contend that Cochran is guilty of fraud, though the accusations seem scurrilous so far.

• States are backing out left and right from Common Core standardized testing requirements. The high cost and dubious purpose of the tests has united everyone from conservative think tanks to teachers unions against them. "The federal government has a lot of blame here," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten told POLITICO.
• The United Nations Security Council turned down a request from Netflix's House of Cards to film its upcoming third season inside the U.N. chambers. Russia apparently said no.
• Dinesh D'Souza and Bill Ayers debated whether the United States is a fundamentally good nation on Fox News' The Kelly File.
• Better Call Saul, AMC's spin-off of critically and commercially beloved Breaking Bad, will serve as a prequel, interlude, and sequel to the original TV series.

Follow Reason and Reason 24/7 on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Dinesh D’Souza and Bill Ayers debated whether the United States is a fundamentally good nation…

Good enough to bomb.

[UnCivilServant]

Most individuals in it are fundamentally good. The gestalt, not so much.

[Stormy Dragon]

No, most people are fundamentally nice. The failure to distinguish between nice and good is a common problem in our society.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Hello.

“A world without passports or income tax may be difficult to imagine, but it is a profoundly seductive one. Without border controls, people would be free to live and work where they pleased without regard for imaginary lines on a map and the need to beg the state’s permission simply to exist within a given territory. Human smuggling and migrant deaths would simply not exist. As for income tax, the Government of Canada raises half of its revenues from income taxes?over $120 billion taken from our pockets annually. After World War I, national treasuries came to depend increasingly on taxation of income rather than of trade. But now that they were free to eliminate tariffs as a source of revenue, governments chose to do so not by lowering the rates to 0% but, often, by raising them so high that nothing would get imported at all. The most notorious example was Washington’s adoption of the crippling Smoot-Hawley tariff in 1930 that helped turn the economic slump of 1929 into the Great Depression. All of these terrible policies might have been avoided, or at least attenuated, had it not been for the start of war in 1914.”

http://www.quebecoislibre.org/14/140615-8.html

[wareagle]

I suspect that in the nation Ayers envisions, he would be in some far-off jail if not dead.

[Idle Hands]

Its amazing to me that people like Ayers are so historically illiterate that they think in the society they want to craft they’ll be the rulers and not the first people put against the wall and shot.

[BakedPenguin]

If there’s a candidate for an American Trotsky, it’s Ayers.

Coincidentally, he is one of the most deserving people to receive that fate.

[Raven Nation]

Second. After the advertising executives of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation.

[hamilton]

Share and Enjoy!

[perlhaqr]

++

😀

[Suthenboy]

“Most of these people would be marked for extermination because the psychological shock of what they will see in the future, what the beautiful society of equality and social justice means in practice they will be very unhappy. ”

Ex-KGB agent referring to people like Ayers.

[Vulgar Madman]

Bombing people is ok, if the right people do it.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Bill Ayers was just being anti-government. A Sovereign Citizen type.

[Andrew S.]

Only you could figure out how to turn Bill Ayers into an attack on the right. I’m actually impressed.

[Vulgar Madman]

Don’t feed the meth-freak.

[CatoTheElder]

I thought we had kind of agreed not to feed trolls on Thursday.

[Emmerson Biggins]

I was going to say if that came from a sentient being, I might consider it clever. Since it’ just the output of a perl script, it’s not really.

[Mike M.]

Finding creative ways to attack his enemies is Weigel’s job.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Yes. Just like the FLQ were in Quebec.

Was Ayers part of a group that killed someone? Curious.

Funny that.

Yet, the racist, extremist Tea Party have how many dead again?

[Stormy Dragon]

Dinesh D’Souza and Bill Ayers debated whether the United States is a fundamentally good nation on Fox News’ The Kelly File.

Nations lack agency, so to ask if one is good or bad is a meaningless question. Furthermore, I’m a deontologist, so good and bad are more accurately attributed to actions rather than people.

[trshmnster the terrible]

Nations lack agency, so to ask if one is good or bad is a meaningless question.

Agreed

so good and bad are more accurately attributed to actions rather than people.

Interesting, although I’m not sure I agree.

[Stormy Dragon]

Deontology: specific acts are good or bad, regardless of who is doing them or why

Consequentialism: good or bad is judged based on the results of actions (i.e. the end justifies the means)

Virtue Ethics: good or bad is based on who you are. If you are a good person, your acts and goals are necessarily good. Conversely if you are a bad person, your acts and goals are necessarily bad.

Short version, deontology believes morality is something you do, consequentialism believes morality is something you want, and virtue ethics believes morality is something you are.

Most Americans, unfortunately, believe in virtue ethics.

[perlhaqr]

Hunh. Does deontology recognize the consequences of actions? i.e.: If an action which is normally good actually ends up killing a dozen innocents, does it get recognized as ‘bad’?

I’m really not trying to be stupid or snarky or anything, I just don’t know anything about the subject and am curious if it is rigid or flexible.

[Stormy Dragon]

The boundaries between the three groups can be somewhat fuzzy. If an act is likely to lead to lots of innocent deaths, it’s probably going to end up being considered a bad act, so you could argue whether that’s truly deontologist or consequentialist.

If the dozens of deaths are unforeseeable, then deontology would say the act is still good, consequentialism would say it is not.

Deontologists would argue that since the coincidental results of actions aren’t knowable in advance, consequentialism is useless as a guide for deciding what to do (I could get in a fatal auto accident on the way to work. Does that make it bad to leave the house?). Consequentialists would counter that deontology can be overly rigid because it doesn’t allow flexibility for current circumstances.

[ant1sthenes]

I don’t know if it’s that unfortunate. “Good” and “bad” have a practical usefulness as concepts. A good or bad action has come and gone, but the person who committed that action is quite possibly still around, and the relevant question tends to be how we engage with that person, based on the sort of actions they are likely to take in the future. Our instinct to punish people for things they did in the past exists because it tends to help us prevent them from doing such things in the future. Intuitively, “person who is likely to commit bad actions based on history of bad actions or association with group prone to bad actions or presence of traits linked with bad actions” just gets simplified to “bad person”.

[Stormy Dragon]

I consider it unfortunate because it leads to thinking along the lines of “Americans are good people, good people don’t torture, therefore putting this guy in thumbscrews isn’t torture”.

[Stormy Dragon]

Intuitively, “person who is likely to commit bad actions based on history of bad actions or association with group prone to bad actions or presence of traits linked with bad actions” just gets simplified to “bad person”.

If you’re a deontologist. You attach good or bad to the action, and then use that to decide if the person is good or bad. In virtue ethics, the logic flows the other way. They start by deciding if the person is good or bad, and then use that to decide how to categorize their actions.

[Azathoth!!]

So ‘deontology’ is a longer way to spell ‘idiocy’?

Actions have no agency.

Agency is where ‘good’ and ‘bad’ come in.

Actors can have good or bad motivations.

[Stormy Dragon]

If you’re doing something wrong, who cares how noble your motivations are? It’s still wrong.

[UnCivilServant]

Last bit of shameless self promotion. And some explaination.

I was aiming for a July 4th launch date for the hardcopy release, and I managed to do it by one day.

https://www.createspace.com/4477788

I don’t like the $12 price tag, but the break down is as follows:

There is one price for all distribution channels in a region. No distribution channel may have a price that results in a royalty of $0 or less. For each channel the base price starts at cost of Printing. Then there’s the share for the downstream reseller, and whatever’s left gets split between Amazon and the author at 60/40 (or 40/60 if it’s sold via the CreateSpace eStore instead of Amazon.com).

As a result, out of that $11.99 I get $0.61 for any of the ‘expanded distribution’ sales (anything sold outside of the Amazon network in the US). But if it’s sold at amazon.com, I get $3.01, and if it’s sold via the link I posted above, I get $5.41.

For European sales, I much prefer people buy the eBook, because A: it’s a lower ticket price for them (?2.50 or ?2.99 versus ?6.99 or ?7.99), and B: I get more money (?1.72 or ?2.05 versus ?0.71 or ?0.86). For those downunder, I’d advise going for the eBook.

I’ve bought my reserve of handouts to fulfill the reason special offer.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Wait. Your name really isn’t UnCivil Servant?

[UnCivilServant]

No, I’m afraid not, it’s just a title.

[Rich]

Pshaw. That lame nom de plume isn’t fooling anyone.

[RBS]

SO how do we take you up on your special offer?

[UnCivilServant]

Are any details missing on the other end of the link?

[UnCivilServant]

Okay, at first skim, it may seem like contact details are missing, but they’re there in prose. I figure an @ tends to attract spambots harvesting e-mails, so I broke it up and it kinda blends into the rest of the text, but it’s there.

[SuperDuperParatrooper]

Just bought it (Kindle/e-book format). Last bottle of last year’s mead and the hurricane rolling up the coast=reading time.

[RBS]

No, I figured it out. I promise I do know how to read.

[JW]

Wait, didn’t The Tick do an episode on this theme?

[Andrew S.]

Better Call Saul, AMC’s spin-off of critically and commercially beloved Breaking Bad, will serve as a prequel, interlude, and sequel to the original TV series.

I want it to be a sequel following Saul’s career managing a Cinnabon.

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Hey everyone, I did enjoy Breaking Bad.

[Fist of Etiquette]

They contend that Cochran is guilty of fraud, though the accusations seem scurrilous so far.

Depends, is he pretending to be a small government conservative?

[Swiss Servator, CH verlort :(]

Then he is guilty as charged and shall be whipped and branded with an elephant on his right cheek.

[Lord Humungus]

some people are so nice…

Utah police: woman said meth was a birthday gift

A police report shows Heather Rodriguez was arrested Monday evening after she approached the off-duty officer and displayed a glass pipe.

Authorities say she then told police she was trying to buy methamphetamine for her sister’s birthday.

Records say she also told police the pipe was not hers and she was holding it for a friend.

[PD Scott]

“I know meth is illegal, that’s why I’m asking *you*. You know who deals meth around here, right? God, whoever said cops were helpful obviously never met you.”

[waffles]

Better Call Saul, AMC’s spin-off of critically and commercially beloved Breaking Bad, will serve as a prequel, interlude, and sequel to the original TV series.

History repeats, first as tragedy, then as farce.

[The Late P Brooks]

Obama has put America back to work!

Bow down and praise Him!

[Palin's Buttplug]

+288,000. +267,000 private sector.

Some analyst on CNBC predicted 3.5% GDP growth going forward. The resident conservatives (Joe and Rick) went into a shit fit and called that analyst/fund manager a Stalinist.

There is nothing like a ConMan in denial.

[The Last American Hero]

Wanna put a bet on the upcoming downward revision?

What was revised Q1 GDP? Anybody betting on 3.5% is being either pretty optimistic or shilling for the Lightworker.

[Drake]

If the final Q2 GDP isn’t negative it will be a surprise.

[Michael]

That’s way conservative.

I’m betting 8%.

[fish]

You’re right shreeky?.that Some Analyst guy has it nailed. Does he have a newsletter to which we could subscribe?

[MJGreen]

Hahahahaha, 3.5% growth. Sure thing.

[Suthenboy]

You are aware that the workforce participation rate has been steadily dropping since the chocolate jesus too the reins…right?

As long as that is dropping, everything else is bullshit.

[Drake]

– 523K Full time employees

+ 799K Part-time employees

Fucking awesome recovery Plug! Obamacare is really working wonders for the middle class.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/…..-most-1993

[WhatAboutBob]

Plus the labor participation rate continues to decline. Of course PB is too stupid and dishonest to bring these stats up.

[wadair]

But I remember when 3.5% was merely nominal. Obama has been so bad for the economy that merely average is good news.

[Lord Humungus]

I could see a couple of you nerd-a-lingers doing this:

The Ultimate in Game of Thrones-Themed Weddings

Kerry Ford and Darren Prew won a Game of Thrones wedding by entering a blinkbox competition. We’re talking a rented castle, a rented horse, and over 50 hours of fitting, styling, and theatrical makeup. All creating a wedding party full of characters which would never get along this well in Westeros.

There’s Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow at the center, surrounded by a best man White Walker, an Ygritte maid of honor, and mothers in the forms of Melisandre and Catelyn Stark. Plus, Khal Drogo, and Brienne of Tarth make appearences. It looks like no one in the wedding party is a fan of the Lannisters.

[Andrew S.]

Just be sure to leave when the band starts playing The Rains of Castamere.

[waffles]

NO SPOILERS.

[UnCivilServant]

It looks like no one in the wedding party is a fan of the Lannisters.

Did they stop paying their debts?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Because GoT weddings all turn out well?

[Auric Demonocles]

“NO SPOILERS!”

[UnCivilServant]

Sorry.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I WAS ASKING A QUESTION.

[Auric Demonocles]

When you play the game of no spoilers, you win or you get yelled at.

[UnCivilServant]

To be fair, no one died at Tyrion’s (or shortly thereafter)

[Fist of Etiquette]

NO SPOILERS.

[Andrew S.]

Joffrey killed Dumbledore with Rosebud.

[Gbob]

And the lead character? She was really a man. Who was a ghost the whole time.

[Stormy Dragon]

Jesus comes back to life three days later.

[Apple]

There’s Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow at the center

Marriage between aunts and nephews is a step up from the typical Targaryen union, I guess.

[Apple]

NO SPOILERS.

[Fist of Etiquette]

DAMMIT. You’re lucky I already guessed that.

[robc]

I dont think that has been revealed yet, its just something that everyone has figured out.

[Apple]

To be fair, it’s still just a guess.

[Stormy Dragon]

GRRM Wedding Planner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoBRto_8UII

[Matrix]

Paraplegic Roanoke man on mobility scooter slammed to the ground and arrested by police because he would not stand up when ordered

These gracious heroes were within their rights to execute this thug. He should be thankful and lick their damn boots!

[Swiss Servator, CH verlort :(]

Gee, thanks for the nutshot, Matrix. It is too early to put whisky in my coffee, you know….

[Idle Hands]

its never to early for good whiskey,to quote Mark Twain: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”

[Swiss Servator, CH verlort :(]

I agree, but my Swiss masters may not want me to quaff whilst puzzling over the latest work I have been handed.

[Pope Jimbo]

Well you know you don’t have to drink whiskey out of a quaffer shot glass

[Idle Hands]

The fact that there are people in the comments defending the cops in this instance, while not completely surprising, disgusts me to my core.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Yeah like the guy who said :

“Being disabled doesn’t absolve oneself from obeying the law. I sincerely hope you don’t need those law enforcement officers you so clearly despise. It is clear that someone has an attitude.”

Yeah, but let’s throw a crippled man to the ground. That’ll learn ’em.

Or the one who said he shouldn’t have cussed the cops out.

Such heroes.

[SugarFree]

I sincerely hope you don’t need those law enforcement officers you so clearly despise.

Cop-suckers love to fantasize about you being robbed, raped and murdered for daring to question their One True Love.

[RBS]

Saw a guy at the gym this morning wearing one of these, sums up the mentality pretty well and in t-shirt form.

[RBS]

this

[SugarFree]

As big a fan of unbridled capitalism as I am, I’m still sickened that they sell these in kid’s sizes.

[invisible furry hand]

Won’t someone think of the children and sell an “ass sex, pot and Mexican” t-shirt?

[Idle Hands]

Reason.com: Classically Liberal about
the ass sex, pot and Mexicans since 1968.

[Warty]

I like that one of the SWAT goons is shown with a Steyr AUG. I hope somewhere there’s a SWAT team with enough taste to issue its baboons those.

[PD Scott]

“Don’t Need To Knock
Great gifts and apparel for military soldiers, Special Forces, police, swat or anyone that support the fight against the bad guys. When it comes to busting terrorists and raiding the wrong doers, to preserve justice and freedom sometimes you don’t need to knock!”

Welp, going to go throw up now.

[Suthenboy]

I think that ‘doers’ is supposed to be ‘doors’.

[B.P.]

Okay, that’s funny.

[perlhaqr]

Think baby Bou Bou’s mom would appreciate one?

[Jumbie]

Irony: They got a black kid to model it. It’s like a variation of that horror story where the kid invites the vampire into the house.

[Warty]

So that’s where Tulpa went.

[SugarFree]

There’s always a place for someone with no front teeth that loves to work on their knees.

[JW]

Capitol Hill?

[Andrew S.]

He acknowledged he “might have” called the first officer a word that refers to a female dog, and that he might have uttered an expletive that begins with the term “dumb mother” toward the second. Dodson said that second officer grabbed him and threw him face down on the ground.

Two notes:

1. I love how that paragraph describes the expletives.

2. He was punished for the serious crime of not respecting authoritah. That’s the most serious crime one can commit in this country today.

[Overt]

In Britain they take great pride in their palace guards who don’t even flinch when you are yelling at them and shouting. Is it too much to ask in the US that our palace guards just give you the finger instead?

[MJGreen]

So it was simply assault, straight up. This guy angered the cops, so the cops decided to get physical. Doesn’t sound any different from a bar fight.

[Pathogen]

Well, to be fair.. that cop had seen a lot of spinals, dude.. and was absolutely convinced that that guy fucking walks..

[Pope Jimbo]

Sounds like the cops were just trying to employ world renowned Dr. Emile Schopphausen’s techniques to get him to walk again.

Why the fuss?

[JW]

Paraplegic Roanoke man on mobility scooter slammed to the ground and arrested by police because he would not stand up when ordered

Look, if they had the brains to understand such meaty concepts, such as paralysis, they wouldn’t be cops to begin with.

But, to their tiny cop brains, when angry sounds come out of the face of who they are serving and protecting, all they know is rape and violence and more violence.

[Lord Humungus]

Airports Serving U.S. Tighten Checks on Stealth-Bomb Threat

Scrutiny is being heightened as spiraling conflict in the Middle East prompts an increased flow of western jihadists. Newspapers including the London-based Times cited U.S. officials and security sources as saying the latest threat concerns an alliance of al-Qaeda-inspired terrorists in Syria and Yemen equipped with hard-to-detect “stealth” bombs.

“We have taken the decision to step up some of our aviation security measures,” the U.K. Department for Transport said in a statement today. “For obvious reasons we will not be commenting in detail on those changes.”

[Ted S.]

Not that it needs to be stated here, but it’s really about control, not safety.

[invisible furry hand]

Corrupt Japanese politicians do apologise properly

http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/03/…..l-4785071/

[Ted S.]

He should have committed seppuku.

[Restoras]

If only ours would do that.

[Ted S.]

Budd Dwyer is on Youtube.

[Rhywun]

Needs a trigger warning.

[perlhaqr]

*laughing*

[JW]

Wow. I’ve never seen the whole thing before.

[Rhywun]

Saw it a while back – really wanted to unsee it.

[Longtorso, Johnny]

Lois Lerner, Colonel Mustard and the Blue Screen of Death
…Well, because as I mentioned above, the Blue Screen of Death is an operating system error. The operating system lives on the hard drive. Which raises a question: If Lerner’s hard drive was so thoroughly malfunctioning that no one could even get the data off of it, how was it booting up far enough for the operating system to malfunction? This is not the description of the problem that I would have expected to hear; I would have expected to hear that her computer wouldn’t really boot up at all, perhaps while horrible grinding noises emanated from its innards. In most cases, a computer displaying the Blue Screen of Death is a computer with a hard drive functioning well enough for data recovery. If I were Lerner’s IT support person, I would waste no time in getting the hard drive to a working computer, where I’d connect it as a secondary drive and transfer off all the files, because the Blue Screen of Death is often a harbinger of future hard drive failure. But it was not, in my experience, usually a symptom of the actual failure….

[UnCivilServant]

When I had hard drives die, the BIOS would say it could not read boot device. So, yea, getting far enough to blue screen on boot means that the data isn’t gone yet.

[waffles]

So they know it’s bullshit, we know it’s bullshit. The question is, what can anyone do about it? This administration will never be held accountable for anything.

[Restoras]

They could be prosecuted. But they won’t be.

[Palin's Buttplug]

The head of the IRS was fired. The White House was only involved in your fevered little CT filled mind.

If Boehner that the White House was involved he would grant Lerner immunity to get her to talk.

[Idle Hands]

My boner could make her talk.

[The Last American Hero]

Why did she take the fifth (illegally) if there was nothing to hide?

Why did the computer crash 10 days after the data was requested and why was nobody told until last month? Could it be to stretch this shit out until after the elections and then sort it out when the public is tired of hearing about it?

[Don Mynack]

It wasn’t just her hard drive that “crashed and lost all my emails.” It was also, by incredible coincidence, her assistant Nikole Flax’s, too.

[CatoTheElder]

They know it’s bullshit.
We know it’s bullshit.
They know that we know that it’s bullshit.
We know that they know that we know that it’s bullshit.
They don’t care.

[Lord Humungus]

some local news:

Airplane, Saginaw County Sheriff’s Posse search for pack of wild dogs

By air and by horseback, the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracked a pack of wild dogs running loose in a southwest Saginaw neighborhood.

The pack was observed Saturday attacking a 65-pound domestic dog. The pet died from its injuries, authorities have reported.

It is believed that seven to 12 dogs ? two of which are adult dogs ? are roaming the area, according to the sheriff.

[Ted S.]

Those dogs learned it by watching K-9 “officers”.

[The DerpRider]

I will not admit that when I was in high school, I may or may not have been part of a prank that included gathering a van full of strays in Detroit and letting them loose in downtown Birmingham.

[Rich]

Secretary Arne Duncan has called for “a common-sense middle ground on testing and test prep.”

“A common-sense middle ground”. This is why Arne pulls down the big bucks.

*** bites lip ***

[UnCivilServant]

The Common Sense Middle ground is that the feds stay out of education, and the parents get to choose who teaches their kids.

[invisible furry hand]

Berkeley, California will soon require cannabis dispensaries to give away free weed to low-income medical marijuana patients.

http://drugs.gawker.com/berkle…../+tcberman

[waffles]

They’re limiting access to marijuana!

[hamilton]

Oh, that didn’t take long. Hilarious.

[waffles]

Giving pot to the homeless is really pointless. Nothing about getting high will help their situation. It will make it more tolerable, but it is basically accepting that these people are indigent wild humans who will spend the rest of their days as a parasitic nuisance.

I read a guide to being homeless a fews years back when I was experimenting with different lifestyles and it strongly recommended against smoking pot. Being homeless is super dangerous and being high makes you more vulnerable and more paranoid. Just musing.

[robc]

I thought Pournelle’s future history was overly pessimistic, but the welfare islands are about 5 minutes away.

[perlhaqr]

I would take my chances with BuReloc at this point.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Note the headline: “Berkeley Will Give Free Pot to Those in Need of Weed”

[Longtorso, Johnny]

The Profit Police
…In the entire history of economic thought, nobody has ever been able to demonstrate that there is an objectively “right” price for anything separate and apart from the subjective valuation that happens in the marketplace. Progressives like speeches about diversity, but they loathe the actual diversity of views and desires, especially the idea that prices should be sorted out according to the billions of subjective valuations in the marketplace through a process that nobody is in charge of. (In Dante’s Hell, the engraving reads: “Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.” In Ezra Klein’s Hell, the engraving reads: “Nobody In Charge.”) Implicit in this belief is that most people ? consumers and workers alike ? are too stupid or too weak for us to allow them to act on their own subjective valuations, that we are compelled by . . . justice, efficiency, expert opinion, whatever . . . to substitute our own judgment for theirs. And then all you need is two government studies and a rent-a-philosopher writing in the New York Times to proclaim that there is some real-world basis for your own preferences as compared to those of the rabble on whose behalf you have just deputized yourself to organize the world. ….

[John]

In Ezra Klein’s Hell, the engraving reads: “Nobody In Charge.

So what you are saying is we just need to get Ezra a really strong top. Is Warty available?

[Lord Humungus]

Warty is always available.

[Aloysious]

I laughed. Warty would make little Ezra cry buckets.

[SugarFree]

The Mountain That Posts would split him in half.

[Swiss Servator, CH verlort :(]

Maybe he could just pick him up by an ankle and throw him ala a hammer throw in the Olympics?

“113 meters, a new Olympic Record in dork tossing!”

[Lord Humungus]

Crom Warty laughs at your Four Winds Top Men
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf6mxdri-gQ

[Suthenboy]

“… proclaim that there is some real-world basis for your own preferences…”

That is because my feelings are the ultimate gauge of right and wrong, good and bad. Also, my feelings are superior to yours.

[Rich]

Young adults who exercised vigorously before bed ended up getting better sleep than their peers who reported less strenuous evening activity, a new study found.

The results, based on sleep patterns during a single night, go against the usual advice to avoid being too active before bed.

“Everything you know is WRONG!”

[Ted S.]

Does that strenuous exercise include masturbation?

[Swiss Servator, CH verlort :(]

See “young adults” above….so, yes.

[Rhywun]

the usual advice to avoid being too active before bed

Huh? Unless the “advice” flip-flopped recently, I have always heard that exercise is good before sleep.

[John]

http://cnsnews.com/news/articl…..h-language

A factory in Wisconsin is being sued by the EEOC for requiring its workers to speak English. That is RACIST against Mexicans. Here is how this plays out. The EEOC gets a sympathetic judge to rule for them. The company then is effectively required to hire a certain percentage of Latin Americans or be sued. Once that happens, everyone who works there will be required to speak Spanish since you can’t fire the ones can’t speak English and if you fire the ones who can’t speak Spanish, they being white people can’t sue. Eventually, the company will either go broke or the entire staff will be Latin American. And the people who lose there jobs will have some sneering hipster Libertarian do a “they took our jerbs” routine when they say anything.

We are unlikely to hear about this case on Reason since Reason is all about self righteous anger over the sanctity of freedom of association and contract when it involves the holy trinity of ass sex, pot and Mexican. Anything else, and it is all about vague promises of “we are going to do something about that one day right after we get done with the important issues of ass sex, pot and Mexicans.”

[waffles]

You’re kinda right. Just try getting a construction job in California without speaking Spanish. In the major metro areas, you can’t.

[Rich]

the holy trinity of ass sex, pot and Mexican

Sheesh, John. What’s up with *that*?

[John]

It is snark. Reason obsesses over open boarders, pot and gay marriage. People in Wisconsin getting screwed by the EEOC? Well, they are just not cool enough.

[Ted S.]

I think it’s posters like John who obsess over these things and go nuts any time H&R puts up a story on one of the topics.

They don’t obsess on these things any more than they do on Game of Thrones, video games, or Lou Reed.

[John]

I think you should stop listening to the voices in your head Ted and try harder to understand the point. Let make it simpler for you. Reason never considers that maybe they won’t get all of their wishes at once and perhaps getting open boarders in isolation might not work out so well for them. Further, Reason emphasizes those causes over others they are fashionable and reason loves cool.

[Ted S.]

You’re just the immigartion equivalent of EvH/GKC and his “OMG They’re coming to get the Catholics!” screeds.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Could you give a link to one of those screeds; I would like to refresh my memory.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Nothing?

[John]

Oh really Ted, so the logic of open boarders plus one sided civil rights laws and the welfare state equals very bad things is just a screed? Really? If you don’t have an answer other than “fuck you I don’t care”, and it appears you don’t and neither does Reason which was my point, just admit such and don’t make one up.

[Heroic Mulatto]

The answer, John, is as it has always been: your sacred cow isn’t more sacred than others.

[Fr?ulein Nikki]

Hey John, if you have a moment, could you email me? WWI book-related. Danke!

[waffles]

Well I usually am really really high before I start craving the Mexican ass sex.

[Swiss Servator, CH verlort :(]

*golf clap*

[hamilton]

Actually we should probably design a flag or seal or something around that for the Hampersand Commentariat.

[Auric Demonocles]

Remember, organizing libertarians is like herding cats. Except instead of milk you need to use booze. (Or maybe football.)

[Citizen Nothing]

I once made the mistake of trying to herd libertarians using artisanal mayonnaise.

[Auric Demonocles]

That might work if you tried using it in a similar manner to a cattle prod.

[PD Scott]

Take a stick, attach a slice of deep dish pizza garnished with artisanal mayonnaise to the end. That should do it.

[Jordan]

We are unlikely to hear about this case on Reason since Reason is all about self righteous anger over the sanctity of freedom of association and contract when it involves the holy trinity of ass sex, pot and Mexican.

Red Tony’s gonna Tony.

[John]

The truth fucking hurts. Screaming Red Tony just means I hit a nerve apparently. Glad to hear that I did. If you don’t like being ridiculed, try not being ridiculous.

[Jordan]

Classic projection.

[John]

Oh really. If I am the one projecting, why are you bothered so much? Generally in my experience truthful insults bother us more than lies. Lies are easy to dismiss.

Beyond that, isn’t the case the logical and predictable consequence of open boarders combined with the current state of civil rights law? Looks like it to me. And while we might get open boarders we are sure as not going to get rid of civil rights laws anytime soon. Moreover, why would the people who come here ever agree to give up the right to sue whenever they are not hired?

You tell me what Libertarians offer those people in Wisconsin other than getting fucked out of their jobs and empty promises? If that question makes you uncomfortable, tough shit. The more you scream Red Tony and Projection the more I know you don’t have an answer but are too fucking pig headed to admit it.

[Jordan]

One of us is upset here, and it ain’t me. Now libertarians offer those people in Wisconsin the same thing they’ve always offered: liberty. Abolish the EEOC and civil rights laws.

The fact that voters don’t support that idea is not an excuse to further infringe on liberty.

[John]

You offer them fantasies. Libertarians will never be able to abolish the EEOC. But they sure as hell will help out Progs open the borders.

Even though the practical result will fuck these people, you think they are stupid not to vote for you. Life doesn’t live up to your fantasies and you have to think strategically. Progs do that. Libertarians don’t. That is why Progs win in politics and Libertarians are such born losers.

[Auric Demonocles]

There’s no point in winning if winning means being wrong.

[John]

AD,

You are not going to change everything. So the question, if you can only change a few things, what should you change. Having priorities is not “winning by any means”.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

You’re writing three paragraph screeds and accusing Jordan of being so upset, and in a post about projecting?

Wow.

[wareagle]

so a workplace suggesting that the staff speak a common language troubles you. But John’s the problem.

[Jordan]

so a workplace suggesting that the staff speak a common language troubles you.

It does? Because I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.

[wareagle]

you act like it does. Or maybe it’s a personal thing you have with John. Either way, govt suing a company for suggesting its employees learn the local language seems a curious use of public resources.

[Jordan]

This was why I was mocking John:

We are unlikely to hear about this case on Reason since Reason is all about self righteous anger over the sanctity of freedom of association and contract when it involves the holy trinity of ass sex, pot and Mexican. Anything else, and it is all about vague promises of “we are going to do something about that one day right after we get done with the important issues of ass sex, pot and Mexicans.”

[John]

And that is the point that hurt the most because it is true. Reason would happily fuck the entire country to get a half a loaf on open boarders even if doing that precluded ever making any progress again.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Shorter John: Reason’s priorities should be my priorities!!!!

[trshmnster the terrible]

The irony of this post is not lost on me.

[wareagle]

A factory in Wisconsin is being sued by the EEOC for requiring its workers to speak English.

and once, in its own inimitable fashion, the federal govt treats its mascot d’jour as an incompetent human being. Like it has with regard blacks as little more than feral animals whose only salvation is possible through guilty white liberal benefactors, now the govt pretends that Mexicans – alone among any other immigrants to the US – are incapable of learning English.

[Idle Hands]

Well as my dad says: “if we were bordered with India and educated Indians were coming here in droves to take $90,000 a year gov jobs and doing them for $35,000 there would be a 30 foot concrete wall 50 yards thick manned by .50 cals complete with minefields”, and he’s probably right

[John]

Yes we would. I swear to God if I won the megamillions or become some evil internet billionaire, I would launch a hostile takeover of the Reason foundation and replace every single staff writer with an Indian or Chinese on an H1B VISA.

[Heroic Mulatto]

replace every single staff writer with an Indian or Chinese on an H1B VISA.

So Dalmia is safe.

[John]

Yeah. I would keep her. It would be like the ending to the Mary Tyler Moore Show where everyone got fired but Ted Baxter.

[Heroic Mulatto]

That’s funny. I would write “I lol irl”, but employment of such a phrase should be a capital offense.

[Idle Hands]

Ehh you could replace some of the foreign affairs columnists with a monkey and a typewriter and it would produce more thought provoking, interesting and fleshed out pieces then they currently have.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Reason has long been from the majority libertarian anti interventionist school. Why don’t you try Commentary or the Weekly Standard, which I presume you’ll find more to your liking on those issues

[Citizen Nothing]

Because, no matter how much he denies it, John really wants to hang with the cool kids.

[John]

For sure, but only to more actively despise them.

And Bo, it is not that they are anti-intervention. It is that they are uniformed and boring. They do a huge disservice to their own cause by being so stupid.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

“They do a huge disservice to their own cause by being so stupid.”

Isn’t this concern trolling?

[Stormy Dragon]

Uggh. Accusing someone of concern trolling is pretty much the HandR equivalent of telling someone to check their privilege.

[perlhaqr]

It might well be, but much like invoking Hitler is not always grounds for calling out “Godwin’s Law”, *wasn’t* it actually concern trolling?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Why are you assuming his views? Maybe he’s Richman’s Number One Fan, and can’t stand Moynihan?

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Yeah, right.

[Idle Hands]

lol. Bo you crazy.

[John]

Moynihan is better than Richman. And Young is very good. Richman and Turcille are the worst.

And sure it is concern trolling. But I think there is a need to make a case for non intervention sometimes. The problem with the internationalists is they assume every crisis is Munich. It is not. It would be nice if the people on the other side actually made a decent argument and knew something rather than just muttering the same bullshit naive talking points.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

John, it’s common in libertarian circles to think war is the health of the state and that since defense spending at all rests at best on a utilitarian limited suspension of the NAP that it should really be used ultra sparingly.

[Heroic Mulatto]

it’s common in libertarian circles to think war is the health of the state

What?

No, it isn’t. And I defy you to point me to a mainstream libertarian publication/think tank that argues so.

[Emmerson Biggins]

“mainstream libertarian”

None of those exist. So you win.

[wareagle]

but the difference is, barely educated Mexicans are coming in to do jobs that many Americans find icky AND they’ll do those jobs for less than the natives will.

Businesses get off on cheap and reliable labor that they can mistreat at will because who are the Mexicans going to bitch to. And govt has the opportunity to wrap its tentacles of dependency around a new group. It’s win-win. For everyone but us.

[Idle Hands]

ehh you can’t fault them for coming here and principelly I’m for freedom of movement I just think dismantling the welfare state needs to happen first. But rest assured illegals are already weeping the benefits of the system and paying payroll taxes. However, openly putting these people on the rolls is going to essentially create a plight similar to one blacks are currently in and make it that much more difficult to cull.

[wareagle]

I don’t fault them for coming; if anything, I find the illegal to be the only honest broker in the deal. His motivation is straight-forward. It’s the political class and their enablers in the business world who give me heartburn.

Agree with you on the welfare state. I don’t understand those who see no connection between it and the border problem.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

There’s a huge connection between the welfare state and drugs too, should we hold off on legalization until the former gets significantly curtailed?

[wareagle]

things I didn’t say for $600, Alex.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Logics the same

[John]

What connection is there to welfare and drugs? Last I looked a lot of middle class and rich people used drugs. Getting rid of the welfare state isn’t going to make it harder to end the drug war or vice versa. Opening the boarders in contrast will make the welfare state worse and harder to get rid of.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Addicts use a lot of social services.

[John]

So do non addicts and fat people too. Unless you can show me that legalizing drugs will make more people addicts such that it will be harder to then eliminate the welfare state, you analogy fails.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Almost undoubtedly more people will use drugs if sanctions on them are lifted, and the usual percentage will develop problems with them. When these problems occur the welfare state will pick up the tab in a big way. When media panics hit about rising numbers of meth moms or whatever start becoming frequent the pols are going to create more programs to address it.

Sure, most drug users do and will not have problems and have the welfare state kick in, but that’s true of most immigrants too.

[Idle Hands]

I think that ultimately they should all be dismantled just on a personal level I would prefer that we dismantled the welfare state first, nowhere did I state that I didn’t think we shouldn’t do all these things. Also why are you trying to attack my views without even knowing them its kinda like your being a self righteous douche.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

I apologize if I was wrong to presume that when you criticize Reason’s foreign policy articles that you were doing so because they were too simplistically anti intervention or defense, but that’s usually the case with that.

[Heroic Mulatto]

You realize John, that with current immigration laws legal immigrants (and their sponsors) are prohibited from many benefits that are available for native-born citizens? Read up on the I-134/I-864. Legal immigrants are barred from participation in the Food Stamps program or Medicaid (and many other means-tested benefits funded by the Feds. State benefits vary based on the state’s laws.) until they become citizens. Even the Manhattan Institute acknowledges this. Why would you think it would be any different under a more permissive immigration scheme?

[John]

I do realize that HM. I am aware of welfare reform. However, they are still free to sue under the civil rights laws. And that provision only covers federal welfare not state ones. More importantly, It is my understanding the Chocolate Nixon has pretty much gutted that provision via executive action.

Also, since children born her are citizens, that provision looses a lot of its teeth even if it is enforced. It doesn’t matter if I am eligible as long as my kid is.

[Heroic Mulatto]

And that provision only covers federal welfare not state ones.

And, say, if a state wants to attract low-skilled immigrant labor with generous state benefits, that’s between the state legislature and its citizens; not a concern for Federal immigration policy.

More importantly, It is my understanding the Chocolate Nixon has pretty much gutted that provision via executive action.

That’s news to me and my wife. I can tell you from the many acquaintances we have in immigrationland, that no,. Affidavits of Support and such are still necessary. The perception is that the DoS and NIS have been tougher under the Obama administration than the Bush.

Also, since children born her are citizens, that provision looses a lot of its teeth even if it is enforced. It doesn’t matter if I am eligible as long as my kid is.

So we work under corruption of blood now? If you offer it to a citizen born of native parents, you offer it to a citizen born of immigrants. A citizen is a citizen. It’s hypocritical to single out citizens born of immigrants that way. Still, you can get food assistance through a child, but you can’t get Medicare and the like for yourself.

[Rhywun]

If you offer it to a citizen born of native parents, you offer it to a citizen born of immigrants. A citizen is a citizen. It’s hypocritical to single out citizens born of immigrants that way.

You mean like in Europe, where children of immigrants are basically stateless? Look how well that works out in, say, France.

[Idle Hands]

Also they don’t treat them that badly.

[Zeb]

if you fire the ones who can’t speak Spanish, they being white people can’t sue

Holy fuck, is that really how it works? I just can’t understand the “protected class” thing. Seems to me that if language or ethnicity or race is to be a protected class, then all languages/races/etc should be protected the same, not just the minorities.

[KDN]

Seems to me that if language or ethnicity or race is to be a protected class, then all languages/races/etc should be protected the same, not just the minorities.

Silly libertarian, expecting equal protection to mean what it says.

[robc]

Until WW1, Siebel in Chicago taught their brewing classes in German.

Until about the 1950s, the master brewer at AB held his meetings in German. If you didnt speak German, you could only get promoted so far.

That said, it wasnt mandated they speak in German, they just chose to exclude English-only speakers.

[Longtorso, Johnny]

What’s stuffed in your buns?

Burger King sells gay pride Whopper

[Certified Public Asskicker]

The first ones to enter the gay fast food market.

[invisible furry hand]

God how dull. This is how a corporate shows support for LGBTQ celebrations

[Rich]

“Fabulous!”

[Ted S.]

Or this.

[Idle Hands]

I don’t get why you try appeasing roughly 10% of population by pissing off at least that amount. Politics of any persuasion in business is bad business.

[wareagle]

sure, but it’s good PR for the “right” people.

[Zeb]

Although they didn’t do it deliberately, pissing off some customers seemed to work out well for Chick Fil-A. Maybe this will get more gay-friendly folk to choose BK over McDonalds.

[Idle Hands]

I read they ultimately regretted it because the surge ended and the people who were against it never went back. Although i have yet to see a chick fil-a that wasn’t packed to the gills. Either way I don’t see it being smart from a sales perspective.

[Rich]

“Unbroken” Zamperini dies.

Quite a life. RIP.

[John]

That whole generation is disappearing before our eyes.

[NoVAHockey]

you might want to look into the honor flights to come into DCA. you basically great WWII vets who are going to visit the memorial. I happened to be at a neighboring gate waiting for a flight and got to see one. a former co-worker is active with it.

[John]

I have. My wife does USO stuff. We have done that a few times. It is a lot of fun.

[invisible furry hand]

“After the book was finished, all of my college buddies were dead, all of my war buddies were dead — it’s sad to realize you’ve lost all of your friends,” said Zamperini. “But I think I made up for it. I made a new friend — Angelina Jolie. The gal really loves me. She hugs me and kisses me, so I can’t complain.”

[Citizen Nothing]

Please don’t let Angelina Jolie hug and kiss me when I’m 90.

[invisible furry hand]

C’mon, she promises not to slip the tongue!

[Palin's Buttplug]

They contend that Cochran is guilty of fraud, though the accusations seem scurrilous so far.

Fake scandals have become the calling card of the Tea Party.

[Andrew S.]

Hodor.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Are you denying that McDaniel is trying to gin up a scandal here?

He lost. He can run against the other MS Senator in 2 years (maybe four).

Joe Miller, that really shady TP fuck from Alaska, did not embarrass himself like this.

[Andrew S.]

Hodor hodor hodor.

[SugarFree]

Please don’t feed the troll.

[BakedPenguin]

First off the retarded don’t rule the night, they don’t rule it – nobody does.

They don’t run in packs. While they may not be as strong as apes, Don’t lock eyes with them – don’t do it, it puts them on edge. It might put them into berserker mode and they’ll come at you like a whirling dervish, all fists and elbows

You may be screaming no no no, but all they hear is ‘who wants cake?’

They all do.

[Don Mynack]

I think it’s hilarious that anyone thinks they can win in Mississippi without the black vote, given that blacks are the majority of voters there.

[ant1sthenes]

If political group A loses a very close, and very personally antagonistic race to political group B, and then somebody who was undeniably working for B comes out and says “B paid me to buy votes”, A has close to a 100% chance of crying scandal, it doesn’t matter what the identities of A and B are.

[Longtorso, Johnny]

An Evolutionary Explanation For Why Humans Are Hard-Wired To Drink
…Dudley’s theory suggests that the alcohol concentration of ripe fruit would have served a purpose for both the fruit-bearing plant and the primate. In tropical forests, fruit can be hard to track down. However, the scent of alcohol from ripe fruits travels long distances, and may have helped primates to find their next meal.

Being attracted to the scent of ethanol from ripe fruits would have been evolutionarily adaptive, enabling the primates to find fruit easier. It was also helpful to the plants, because the primates helped to disperse the seeds in the fruit…

[John]

http://www.weeklystandard.com/…..96030.html

Voters support Hobby Lobby decision by a margin of ten points. We are all rapists now.

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Here’s some derp, just for you John:

I’m still fascinated by the fact that this country was founded on the principles of separation of church and state in order to keep different factions of churches from arguing over control of government. Now it seems that the extreme right wants control over our government. Even as a Christian, I am highly concerned about the path this country is headed down. First, a corporation is not an individual and does not deserve the same rights as a typical citizen. Second, although our country seems to be accepting others with different values and religions from our own, there are dangerous extremists who are gaining momentum and becoming more and more closed minded from anything that isn’t a literal translation of the Bible. I have always believed that the Bible is only the human interpretation of God’s word, not actually His word. I think many forget it was still human hands that wrote these words and in fact the words themselves are a human invention in itself. All this craziness is self inflicted ignorance and it’s becoming more dangerous as time moves on.

[John]

Being able to object to the government forcing you to do things against your religion is now “the church running the government”.

[Certified Public Asskicker]

It’s becoming increasingly difficult not to punch people in the face.

All this craziness is self inflicted ignorance and it’s becoming more dangerous as time moves on.

I agree with his self-assessment though.

[John]

Yes it is.

[Zeb]

It really is. I’m not at all religious and think that HL’s objections to certain methods of birth control is silly. But it absolutely is their right to provide whatever insurance they deem appropriate to their employees. My only problem with the decision is that it is too narrow and leaves these mandates in place for other businesses as well.
Now, I’d like to imagine that I could convince some other people that the decision isn’t the horror that people make it out to be, but everyone is so culturally attached to one side or the other that it is practically impossible to get through. I’m going to have to try really hard to avoid political conversation this weekend.

[Rhywun]

it is practically impossible to get through

It helps if you point out the blatant lies of the news media in this case.

[perlhaqr]

No it doesn’t. I’ve lost five ‘friends’ in the last 3 days for doing just that.

[Mercutio]

“Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in public policy.” — Barry Goldwater

[John]

Thanks for making my point you half wit. Having religion guide public policy means just that, setting policy based on religion. That something quite different than LEAVING PEOPLE THE FUCK ALONE and not forcing them to do things that are against their religion.

Maybe you are too dense to understand that. But try hard and maybe it will sink in this time.

[ant1sthenes]

First, people fought over whether abortions should be legal. Then, they fought over whether they should be federally funded. Now, they’re fighting over whether Christians have to personally fund them. I swear, ten years from now, the feds will be mandating that Christian women get abortions, and if the court rules in favor of a woman who objects, the usual suspects will still try to frame it as religions taking away women’s rights.

[Whahappan?]

And that’s with the vast majority of them being misinformed because of the media’s mendacity about the issue. It would be much higher if people had even a basic understanding of the ruling, rather than the impression they get from the lying, shrieking baboons on the left.

If I’m not mistaken John, even you, as well as many other posters here, thought HL was objecting to ANY form of birth control, not just abortifacients. I was listening to Mark Simone on the radio this morning and he was talking to Joy Bahar. She brought up the HL case and was completely taken aback and disbelieving when Mark told her HL had no problem providing 16 out of 20 BC’s, just not the 4 they consider abortifacients.

[perlhaqr]

I certainly thought the same thing until the morning of the ruling, when I read the ruling, so I wouldn’t sound like an idiot when arguing about it on the internet with idiots who hadn’t read it.

And then I sounded like an idiot simply for arguing on the internet about it, but that’s a different problem.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

The left’s favorite economist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7U_oHL_vzg

Mirrors work.

[Ted S.]

The United Nations Security Council turned down a request from Netflix’s House of Cards to film its upcoming third season inside the U.N. chambers. Russia apparently said no.

I seem to recall Alfred Hitchcock having to film exterior scenes of the UN building surreptitiously when he made North By Northwest.

[Longtorso, Johnny]

Your morning butthurt:

If the latest Obamacare lawsuit succeeds, Obamacare is in big trouble
…Another lawsuit is now being pursued, Halbig v. Sebelius, which also poses another potential threat to the Affordable Care Act. Unlike these other cases, Halbig is not rooted in weighty constitutional or political principles. Simply put, it is a nuisance lawsuit that seizes on a sloppy but obvious drafting error to undermine the obvious intent of the new law.

To be a bit more precise, one section of the Affordable Care Act authorizes federal subsidies for health coverage obtained on an “Exchange established by the State under section 1311. ” This key passage should have been written to include all of the exchanges, including the exchanges established by the federal government in 34 states across the country….

[John]

It is my understanding that it wasn’t a “drafting error”. It was specifically put in the law to give states an incentive to create their own exchanges. Congress didn’t think the states would call their bluff. The states did and now it is a “drafting error”. As no, the law says what it says.

And since when is asking the law to be enforced and implemented according to the plain language of the statute a “nuisance lawsuit”?

[Auric Demonocles]

Remember, the Court essentially decided that the replacement of all references to “tax” with “penalty” in regards to the mandate was not deliberate at all.

[John]

Sort of. What they said was “tax” and “penalty” were really the same thing. That was bad. But this would be even worse. This would be saying that Congress can write a law creating an incentive and if no one takes them up on the incentive the courts can just read the incentive out of the law as a “drafting mistake”.

Penaltax was a bad decision but it did have an internal logic to it, albeit a screwy one. The court doing this wouldn’t even have that.

[Auric Demonocles]

IIRC, they made a point to say that a penalty and a tax are different, it’s just that the penaltax doesn’t qualify as a penalty because it wasn’t harsh enough.

[robc]

Even if it was a “drafting error”, congress has the ability to fix it by passing a new law correcting it.

If they choose not to, the courts should assume they meant it.

And if the bills were fucking shorter, they could fucking catch the errors.

[MegaloMonocle]

This right here. Its the Court’s job to read and apply the words on the page, not the words they wish were on the page.

Of course, the Court has already redrafted OCare once, so I expect them to do it again.

[wareagle]

This key passage should have been written to include all of the exchanges, including the exchanges established by the federal government in 34 states across the country….

just because we can’t write a law correctly doesn’t mean we can’t enact and enforce it correctly.

[Rich]

“You know what we intended! Anyway, Executive Privilege!”

[Emmerson Biggins]

Ya shit. Put me in charge of re-interpreting this piece of crap based on how it should have been written instead of how it was actually written and the whole bill will read thusly:

“Pursuant to our power to regulate interstate commerce, no state shall prohibit it’s citizens from purchasing health insurance from a company in a different state. All insurance transactions shall be deemed to take place in the state of the seller. The fucking end.”

[Emmerson Biggins]

damnit.

s/it’s/its/

[perlhaqr]

Hunh. Guess you should have found out what was in it before you passed it, eh Nancy?

[Rich]

Artist Tracey Emin whoops as her “My Bed” fetches over $4 million

*** snort ***

Why, a *child* could do that!

[UnCivilServant]

Who are the people that buy these things?

[Rich]

People who should be paying more taxes.

[Zeb]

People who think it is an investment. The art market is weird. Paintings by well recognized artists are one thing (though the prices some things like that are getting now seem kind of insane too), but I can’t imagine that installation stuff like this is really going to appreciate that much. It just isn’t as permanent as a painting or sculpture. Like a lot of contemporary art, it just seems too personal and of a particular time and place.

[Rhywun]

Suckers.

[JW]

I’m surprised that mongoloids can earn enough money to buy that.

[Drake]

Your tax dollars at work.

Teh National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded Arizona State University a five-year, $20 million agreement to research the effects of climate change and its propensity to cause civil and political unrest.

Any bets on what they will find?

http://www.azcentral.com/story…../12082781/

[Rich]

“Despite the heat, it’ll be all right.”

[wareagle]

“…to research the effects of climate change…”

settled science it seems.

[Suthenboy]

Wait, I thought the skeptics were the paid shills.

[Lord Humungus]

KKK stepping up spread of leaflets in several states

Imperial Wizard Frank Ancona, or president, of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan confirmed Tuesday that the fliers were from a local chapter of the national organization based in Potosi, Mo. Ancona said local chapters are supposed to work within their communities.

“It looks like they are trying to do their job out there,” Ancona said.

But it was a job many residents here didn’t want done. Tallassee Police Chief Jimmy Rodgers said he began receiving complaints Sunday about recruitment packages ? a Ziploc bag containing rocks and a flier ? left in people’s front yards.

[John]

If they can put those damned community newspapers in my yard without my permission, why can’t the KKK put their flyer there?

[Rich]

Hypnosis is being used to fake people out, making them think they’ve had weight-loss surgery.

“When I snap my fingers, you’ll awaken and look like Kate Moss.”

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Warren Sapp is still a miserable asshole.

He left a $0 tip because he was offended the server called him and his group “boys.”

[Stormy Dragon]

You’re right Warren. Boys don’t tip. Men tip.

[Zeb]

I suppose their is the racist connotation of calling a black man “boy”. But that’s not what happened. Calling a table of male people “boys” has a completely different connotation.

[MegaloMonocle]

Well. I’m sure the server learned his/her lesson.

“Good evening, and welcome to Tchochkes! What can I get you assholes? Something to drink? Appetizers?”

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Did the Founding Fathers miss a period? Some claim that documentary research shows there’s no period after “pursuit of happiness.”

“The period creates the impression that the list of self-evident truths ends with the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” [Princeton professor Danielle Allen] says. But as intended by Thomas Jefferson, she argues, what comes next is just as important: the essential role of governments ? “instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” ? in securing those rights.

“”The logic of the sentence moves from the value of individual rights to the importance of government as a tool for protecting those rights,” Ms. Allen said. “You lose that connection when the period gets added.””

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07…..ign=buffer

[John]

She might be right but I don’t think it means quite what she thinks it does. Even if you connect the two, so what? Governments exist to protect our God given rights and can only do so via the consent of the governed. Maybe it is just me but I am not seeing that as an endorsement of the dictatorship of the proletariat Ms. Allen no doubt so desperately wants.

[trshmnster the terrible]

Pack it up, let’s go home! That period was actually a comma, and all of our morals, ethics, and principles are now invalidated!

[Rich]

Fucking flyspecks! Leibniz was right!

[Zeb]

OK, good. SO when is the government going to do more to respect and protect our individual rights?

[hamilton]

The ACLU is saying that the big story that Glenn Greenwald is about to release is that the NSA has been spying on Muslim Americans.

[Andrew S.]

I’d hope nobody would be surprised by that. The NYPD was doing it openly, they couldn’t have been the only ones.

[Palin's Buttplug]

“big story”? Is he a comedian now too?

[John]

I am pretty sure most people assume that.

[Rhywun]

We’re murderdroning them in the Middle East – what’s a little spying at home?

[The Late P Brooks]

We are unlikely to hear about this case on Reason since Reason is all about self righteous anger over the sanctity of freedom of association

And this in some way precludes private employers from sorting their workforce based on language requirements?

[John]

No it doesn’t. But the EEOC certainly does. And I don’t see them going away any time soon. So maybe we should get rid of the EEOC BEFORE we open the boarders instead of the other way around?

[Zeb]

I don’t think we are likely to see significantly more open borders anytime soon either. In fact, most of the big changes I’d like to see don’t seem too likely. So I’ll just keep arguing for what I think is right.

[The Late P Brooks]

Fucking workforce participation rates- how do they work?

[Andrew S.]

What’s a “workforce participation rate”? All I know is that unemployment rate has been going down. That means things are getting far better and everything Obama’s been doing is working, right?

[Palin's Buttplug]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4BwX…..ne2014.jpg

This is the real story.

[BakedPenguin]

First off, the retarded don’t rule the night, they don’t rule it – nobody does.

They don’t run in packs. While they may not be as strong as apes, Don’t lock eyes with them – don’t do it, it puts them on edge. It might put them into berserker mode and they’ll come at you like a whirling dervish, all fists and elbows

You may be screaming ‘no no no!’, but all they hear is ‘who wants cake?’

They all do.

[Lord Humungus]

related:

But hold the celebrations. Another 3 percent of the adult population reported that they are working part-time because they cannot find full-time jobs. This figure remains far above the December 2007 level of about 1.8 percent. In fact, part-time jobs accounted for two-thirds of all new jobs in June. Some economists expect employers to draw on this pool of partially employed workers as the economy continues to expand. Others, however, argue that at least some of these workers will not be able to find full-time work because of their shortcomings or because the economy is shifting toward part-time jobs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07…..ref=upshot

[John]

Others, however, argue that at least some of these workers will not be able to find full-time work because of their shortcomings or because the economy is shifting toward part-time jobs.

See it is your fault you can’t get a job or if not that it is the “economy’s fault”. It is just that America isn’t worthy of Obama and sometimes there is bad luck. It is not that the Chocolate Nixon has royal fucked us. It can’t be that.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Good morning, fuckers. I hate my job.

[Rich]

Aw, what’s the matter, bunky?

[Rich]

Do you hate it as much as Jeff hated his?

[Citizen Nothing]

Well if it isn’t Little Miss Sunshine. A little ass sex, pot and Mexicans should cheer you right up!

[SIV]

She came to the right place!

[invisible furry hand]

But it’s so easy to turn that frown upside down!

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Hey, me too.

[Almanian!]

Why do you hate Kristen’s job?

[Certified Public Asskicker]

I suppose it reminds me how I hate my own job.

Ha! Take that semantics!

[Almanian!]

I haz a sad 🙁

Hope it gets better!

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Probably not, I deal too much with income tax, which means I am forced to think everyday what a stupid exercise it is.

[Almanian!]

*BARF*

I need a trigger warning for the “T Word”….

Maybe “income T-Slur”…

[Kaptious Kristen]

I blame Obama and everyone who voted for Obama. These new managers are causing chaos and craziness. God help me, but I would prefer a bureaucrat be in charge to these goddamn political appointees. I don’t think I can last another two years.

[John]

The Republican politicals were not the sharpest but they were generally serious people. The Obama people seem to be children. It is Pajama Boy’s world Kristen. We just live in it.

[Kaptious Kristen]

I worked here under Bush, too. We had a FSO in charge at the time. These new people are direct from the White House and all they care about is their boyfriend Barry O. Our mission went from “telling America’s story” to “making Obama look somewhat goodish”.

[John]

Wow.

[Suthenboy]

This is no surprise to me whatsoever. It is a cult of personality.

[Almanian!]

Dayum

*thanks God for being in private sector, evil Kocjporashun, despite idiocy it sometimes presents*

[Kaptious Kristen]

We have a week and a 1/2 to complete and launch a project that involves a ton of shit we’ve never done before (providing online classes to users and allowing users to register for one of our web sites). This should really be a two-month timeframe, at least.

Then we’re going to get blamed when the site breaks and/or gets hacked.

[Ken Shultz]

Then we’re going to get blamed when the site breaks and/or gets hacked.

Can’t you just blame the sequester?

[BakedPenguin]

10 days to set up online courses? That is epically stupid.

On the plus side, you’ve just reminded all of us in the private sector why it’s good to be there.

[Jordan]

Meh. It’s government. Nobody will be fired.

[Kaptious Kristen]

It’s government contracting – lots of people could be fired. Especially since it seems like the new managers set us up every single day to fail (see above). Undoubtedly they have their own cronies they want to bring in on the job.

[ant1sthenes]

Too bad you don’t directly work for a bureaucracy, or you could just blame all your failures on a lack of funding.

[Citizen Nothing]

Careful, KK. One of John’s evil Mexicans is plotting to take that jerb of yours at this very moment.

[John]

The Mexicans are not evil. But the EEOC certainly is. But hey, they only fucking a bunch of uncool white people in Wisconsin. So what difference does it make? It is not like they are gay or important or anything.

I troll you guys on this but I really wish you guys would understand how elitist it looks to anyone not in Libertarian hive.

[wareagle]

sounds like Kirsten’s job would be in greater danger from an Indian, dot variety. At least they speak English, albeit at times not that understandably.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Interestingly, we have no Injuns working here. Coupla Vietnamese, a Frog, and an African are our only ferners (on my team – lots of ferners on other teams, like the translations dept 😉 )

[JW]

Tell them that you can’t deliver anything without he dick-to-floor ratio figured out ahead of time.

[Lord Humungus]

I hate mine too…

but at least I can live in my own bubble of music, walks in the woods behind the manufacturing plant, and wasting time here.

And the occasional working from home.

[Almanian!]

*raises toast to fellow plant life – AKA ‘someone who works in a factory’*

[Lord Humungus]

My office is in a factory but thankfully I don’t work on the floor. No air-conditioning!

[JW]

[meekly raises his hand] I like mine. [looks around and sneaks away]

[Suthenboy]

Yeah, I was biting my lip. I find that I have to keep my mouth shut around people when it comes to talking about my life. I really enjoy what I do. it is what I would do if I were independently wealthy and could do as I please.

I find that inspires a lot of jealousy, even from people I consider friends.

[MegaloMonocle]

Yeah, same here.

Only I have no qualms about telling people how much I enjoy what I do for money.

I feel bad for them, because they can’t be me. The least I can do is let them get a little taste of how awesome I am. I’m generous that way.

[Almanian!]

Day four of forgetting what day it is. FINALLY changing the brakes on the Cherokee, getting ready for a little Fourth of July soiree at Casa Almanian tomorrow (renamed from “La Maison Almanian” in honor of ass sex, pot and Mexican[s]).

Happy….whatever day it is, Reasonoids!

*chugs vodka*

[invisible furry hand]

What’s planned for the soiree?

[Almanian!]

Meeting with some of our and the kids’ friends for fun and games in the yard, burgers and dogs, and some adult beverages. And then a fire in the firepit after dark and watching the fireflies float north across the lawn.

It will be relaxing and fun!! Thanks for asking…

[invisible furry hand]

Sounds idyllic. That’s the sort of memory your kids will treasure as adults

[Almanian!]

They’re all pretty much adults – they’ll be joining us for a toddy 🙂

It got really fun when we could play beer pong with the kids and their friends….good times….:)

[Citizen Nothing]

My dad is a Yankee Doodle Dandy, so the Fourth is a double holiday in my family. We always do a deal like yours, Alm. And yeah, it’s a lot of fun when the kids are grown enough to join in the adult revelries. (I’ve got 20-somethings and smaller ones, so I’m doubly blessed.)

[Citizen Nothing]

Actually, there will be five generations of the Nothing family dodging fireworks this year.

[The DerpRider]

I suggest KanJam be added to your beer pong. We had a blast with it camping last week with a group and it is now required to be brought along for parties. It’s very drink friendly as well.

[KDN]

“You must hold your drink while playing, and if you spill any you must finish it and open a new one before continuing.”

[hamilton]

Second this, although I haven’t done a drinking version yet. (oddly).

[wareagle]

fireflies…it’s that time in the NC mountains when they are numerous. And very cool to watch.

[Zeb]

Needs more explosions.

[Ken Shultz]

I clicked on the Cochran link, and it turned out to be a story by The Weigel…

…eeeeeewwwwwWWWWWWWWWW!

Can’t I get a trigger warning or something?!

I mean, I know little Robbie’s new here, but the vets wouldn’t have done something like that to the unsuspecting, right? Or if they did, we’d know they linked to a Weigel story in the blind–as a prank–on purpose.

This is worse than being rickrolled.

[Citizen Nothing]

Wascally Weigel-wolled.

[The Late P Brooks]

Unlike these other cases, Halbig is not rooted in weighty constitutional or political principles. Simply put, it is a nuisance lawsuit that seizes on a sloppy but obvious drafting error to undermine the obvious intent of the new law.

Ho, ho, ho. This makes me laugh. It’s like a small child looking at the checkers board in dismay, saying, “Wait. I wanna take that move back.”

[Almanian!]

So much this. Soooooo much this!

“Do over! Come on! You GOTTA let me have a DO OVER!!!”

*stamps feet*

[Suthenboy]

That is exactly what it is.

[John]

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.c…..pensaries/

Berkley requiring free pot for low income residents.

[The Late P Brooks]

I deal too much with income tax, which means I am forced to think everyday what a stupid exercise it is.

Well, look on the bright side. You’ll always have work.

[Certified Public Asskicker]

That’s what we tell ourselves to feel better. Drinking too.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Are some sexual kinks beyond the pale? Catholic convert publishes book about being gay, Catholic and celibate –

http://americamagazine.org/con…..ve-tushnet

[invisible furry hand]

In terms of saints, my patron saint is Elizabeth of Hungary. People who have shaped my spiritual life also include Dorothy Day and Oscar Wilde ? who did actually die a Catholic and who I personally think will be canonized one day.

Reasonoids, got any popular entertainers who have shaped your spiritual life?

[Raven Nation]

I got two words for you:

Rolf Harris

[invisible furry hand]

Please don’t tell me how he shaped your spiritual life

[Raven Nation]

No, it was a joke. But, shit, I guess it was a big story in Oz? The thing that surprised me was I guess the Brits have no statute of limitations on child molesters?

[Citizen Nothing]

Mark Twain, Murray Head singing “Judas” in JCSuperstar Original Cast Album.

[The Late P Brooks]

If only those deranged teabaggers would stop obstructing the president’s great ideas, we could put all those un- and under- employed people to work building high speed rail projects pyramids. At union wages. With full medical and dental coverage, and a guaranteed benefit pension.

[Lord Humungus]

aww… the poor president

It’s Obama’s presidency, but Bush’s world

After a month that saw Iraq unravel and job growth continue to plod along, while the stock market soared, the central paradox of the Obama years, as historians will undoubtedly view it, has never been clearer. It’s Obama’s presidency, but he’s still governing in Bush’s world.

Obama’s critics will no doubt hear in this an excuse for his stymied agenda and limp approval ratings, but that’s not the point. The fact is that it’s always hard to assign credit or blame for conditions in the country to any president at any one time; the lines demarcating one presidency from the next are like arbitrary and porous borders, freely traversed by longer-term trends that don’t neatly conform to the timelines of our elections.

Did the fault in Vietnam lie with John F. Kennedy (who committed troops in the first place), or with Lyndon B. Johnson (who escalated the war), or with Richard Nixon (who failed to end it)? Did we owe the ’90s economic expansion to Bill Clinton, or did the recovery take root under George H.W. Bush?

[John]

The fact is that it’s always hard to assign credit or blame for conditions in the country to any president at any one time;

I am so sure he was saying that in 2006.

Did the fault in Vietnam lie with John F. Kennedy (who committed troops in the first place), or with Lyndon B. Johnson (who escalated the war), or with Richard Nixon (who failed to end it)?

I guess the Paris Peace accords didn’t happen in Bush’s world.

Is it too much to ask that this clowns get even basic facts correct?

[The DerpRider]

Didn’t Nixon actually end the war?

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Don’t interrupt him; he’s on a roll.

[The DerpRider]

+1 Senator Blutarksi.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

“Ultimately, history will likely record both Bush and Obama as presidents grappling in different ways with the same array of overarching change, at the dawn of a long period of readjustment. We may yet find some national consensus about how to confront it. In the meantime, we might as well settle in.”

Right, and if Obama had adopted that as the theme of his campaign in 2008, he would have been an also-ran, and Hillary would probably have been President by now.

He campaigned on not being Bush, on rejecting the warmongering, civil-liberties-violating, economy-ruining, politically-divisive policies of the Bush years. He was going to be a transformational leader, who reached out to his opponents and created a new climate of civility.

He needs to be evaluated in light of the promises he made.

[John]

Am I reading that correctly Have these people really been reduced to admitting that maybe Bush wasn’t so bad? Really? After all the histrionics of the last 14 years they have been reduced to that? Wow.

[Raven Nation]

Well, there’s always been some cognitive dissonance about Bush. He was a stupid, frat boy who had no idea how to run a baseball team let alone be president but he was also evil and cunning enough to fool the entire Democratic establishment and lure them into supporting the Iraq War and roll them in two successive elections.

Unless Bush really was stupid and Cheney was secretly running things.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Soon we’ll be getting the articles about Why Conservatives Today Have Betrayed the Legacy of Sensible Moderates Like George W. Bush.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Whenever there’s an election and a candidate is making all those wonderful promises, we need to keep in mind that if (as is likely) he violates those promises, his journalistic supporters will publish articles about *of course* he didn’t keep his promises and only ignorant people would try and hold him to those promises.

In fact, why not call up intellectuals before the election and ask, “if your candidate violates his promises, can I get you on record as saying that you’ll criticize him? Or do you think this is just one of those things politicians have to do to get elected?”

[The DerpRider]

I demand Robby Soave change this nom de plume to Rico Suave immediately.

[JW]

The United Nations Security Council turned down a request from Netflix’s House of Cards to film its upcoming third season inside the U.N. chambers. Russia apparently said no.

The good news is that HoC was able to extort even bigger subsidies from the brain-dead pols in MD.

[110 Lean]

They contend that Cochran is guilty of fraud, though the accusations seem scurrilous so far.

scur?ril?ous [skur-uh-luhs, skuhr-]
adjective
1.grossly or obscenely abusive: a scurrilous attack on the mayor.
2.characterized by or using low buffoonery; coarsely jocular or derisive: a scurrilous jest.

Are you certain that’s what you mean?

[SugarFree]

Can I get a “spurious” up in here? Turn Down For What?

[JW]

Please tell me that everyone in that video was found dead afterwards.

[The DerpRider]

Motley Crue off to rough start on final tour. Had some friends go and said it was still a pretty damn good time.

[MegaloMonocle]

Here’s the deal with that nuisance suit.

That’s not a drafting error at all. It was intentional. The feds wanted the states to set up exchanges, but once the feds said they would set one up for any state that didn’t, they had to give the states an incentive to go into their own pockets and pay for their own exchange.

That incentive was: “Oh, if you cheap out and leave it to us feds, your people don’t get the subsidies.”

[trutherator]

“They contend that Cochran is guilty of fraud, though the accusations seem scurrilous so far.”

Rally. The GOP has never played dirty behind the scenes. Why, just look at the 2012 primary season! I don’t know why the tea party people would even think so. When did they ever mistreat Ron Paul supporters, after all?

[trutherator]

“Its amazing to me that people like Ayers are so historically illiterate that they think in the society they want to craft they’ll be the rulers and not the first people put against the wall and shot.”

That’s exactly what happened in Russia. First, the Great Leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, first thing, eliminated all of their closest idealogical fellows, the Mensheviks, and then the anarchists.

After that first Great Leader died , ALL the leaders of the Russian Revolution were *literally* put up against the wall and shot except for the one guy who put them up against the wall and had them shot. Literally.

[Swiss Servator, CH verlort :(]

“If 2S is gonna drink at work, he should DRINK!”

An excellent version of “if you are going to take Vienna, TAKE VIENNA”. I shall adopt it.