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A.M. Links: French Police Kill Suspected Mastermind of Paris Attacks, Russia-France Plan Joint Anti-ISIS Operations, Obama Vows to Veto House Bill on Syrian Refugees

Damon Root | 11.19.2015 9:00 AM

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  • Credit: Jean Jullien

    French authorities have confirmed that Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks, was killed during Wednesday's raid in Saint Denis.

  • Russia and France are planning joint operations against ISIS.
  • President Obama has vowed to veto a House bill that would impose new screening requirements on Syrian refugees entering the United States.
  • "An independent autopsy shows a Tennessee man died in Mississippi police custody because he was hog-tied for an extended period and not because he took LSD, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday."
  • Owners of New York City taxi medallions have filed suit against the city, claiming NYC ruined their businesses by allowing Uber to enter the marketplace and compete with them.
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates has won the National Book Award for nonfiction for his book Between the World and Me.

New at Reason

  • Brickbat: The Science Is Settled By Charles Oliver
  • Paris, Fear, and Freedom It is in times of fear when we need to be most vigilant about our liberties. By Judge Andrew Napolitano
  • How the Federal Government Funds Endless Wars Republicans and Democrats join together to spend more money. By Veronique de Rugy
  • Bad Ideas for Combating the Islamic State GOP candidates offer solutions that are redundant, meaningless, or reckless. By Steve Chapman
  • Americans Refuse to Understand What Happened in Paris Missing in many media accounts of Paris terrorism was any reference to France's bombing of Syria or that France is Syria's former colonial overlord. By Sheldon Richman

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NEXT: 'The Court Has Listened to Hip Hop for Decades'

Damon Root is a senior editor at Reason and the author of A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution (Potomac Books).

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  1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    Russia and France are planning joint operations against ISIS.

    First stop: Berlin!

    1. Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer   10 years ago

      Hello.

      "French authorities have confirmed that Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks, was killed"

      Which one is he again? They all look alike.

      1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        I'm very surprised they didn't just kill the second-in-command. Those seem to be much easier to get.

        But what is this "mastermind" bullshit? He got a handful of retards to go kill some people at some places where there were lots of people using guns and regular old explosives, it's not like he was using sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads or firing particle-beam weapons from his underground moon lair. A moderately intelligent chimpanzee could have masterminded that intricate nefarious scheme in about 20 minutes.

        1. Apple   10 years ago

          According to a Paris Match reporter on CNN, dude couldn't have been the mastermind, because the plan was too advanced not to have come from the top. Heh.

          1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

            Well, you're talking about CNN, and I did specify moderately intelligent chimpanzees.

            1. LouiseGraham   10 years ago

              I'm making $86 an hour working from home. I was shocked when my neighbour told me she was averaging $95 but I see how it works now.I feel so much freedom now that I'm my own boss.go to this site home tab for more detai....

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        2. OneOut   10 years ago

          But they had to set their watches together.

          1. Timrekgrun   10 years ago

            Syncronize Swatches!

    2. Lee G   10 years ago

      Next they'll be going after Shazam

  2. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Now I can finally jack off:

    Embarrassed by Selfie Sticks, A Young Man Invents Extra-Long 'Selfie Arms'

    1. sloopyinTEXAS   10 years ago

      Finally! Now perverts can use the stall three toilets down to click pics instead of having to sneak in the next one.

    2. Elspeth Flashman   10 years ago

      You know who else needed extra long arms?

      1. commodious spittoon   10 years ago

        Vincent Adultman?

        1. pan fried wylie   10 years ago

          you try puttin in a double at the business factory without em.

      2. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

        Warty for the reach around? Wait he doesn't give reach arounds... or does he?

        1. Bobarian (Would Chip Her)   10 years ago

          He reaches around... to tear your dick off.

          1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

            'catly

      3. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

        Inspector Gadget?

      4. Rich   10 years ago

        Gerald Bull?

        1. Ice Nine   10 years ago

          That was great.

      5. Atanarjuat   10 years ago

        Stretch Armstrong?

      6. Elspeth Flashman   10 years ago

        Your mom?

        1. Jimbo   10 years ago

          Foul! No Asking and Answering your own question.

      7. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        King Edward I?

      8. bacon-magic   10 years ago

        STEVE SMITH?

    3. The Shrubber's Woodchipper   10 years ago

      Yeah, that's not embarrassing.

  3. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    President Obama has vowed to veto a House bill that would impose new screening requirements on Syrian refugees entering the United States.

    But what if the screening was to weed out those with rightwing voting tendencies?

    1. Hamster of Doom   10 years ago

      Common sense voting laws.

    2. Jerryskids   10 years ago

      If only Congress had the power of the purse or something that outweighed the power of the pen.

  4. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Mother Discovers Venomous 'Erection-Giving' Spider Eggs In Her Iceland Bananas

    A mother-of-two was shocked to find venomous spider eggs in bananas she has bought for her children.

    Samantha Frampton, 24, found Brazilian Wandering Spider eggs infested in the bananas imported from Colombia - which has a lethal bite that can kill a human in just two hours.

    Samantha carefully wrapped the bananas in a plastic bag and left them outside, but is now worried her house may be infested.

    The Brazilian Wandering Spider's venom is currently being studied for use in erectile dysfunction treatments - as it can give male victims a painful four-hour erection.

    1. Monty Crisco   10 years ago

      This is like some article written by Agile Cyborg....

    2. wareagle   10 years ago

      and like the commercial says, see a physician for an erection lasting more than four hours.

    3. Rich   10 years ago

      "Bite me!"

    4. Hamster of Doom   10 years ago

      She put them outside. As opposed to, I dunno, setting the bag on fire. Moving would also be an appropriate option.

      1. Caput Lupinum   10 years ago

        I doubt spiders native to the tropics will live long if kept outside in Iceland in November; although, living in Iceland, throwing them in an active volcano would be appropriate.

        1. Hamster of Doom   10 years ago

          There's no call for rationality here.

          1. Hamster of Doom   10 years ago

            By which to say, I find the latter solution to be easily the most effective measure yet suggested.

            1. Krabappel   10 years ago

              Agreed. Throw those little fuckers into the caldera of Fjorgabjordajellablarkaflorgen

        2. dan'o en barrel   10 years ago

          Its unlikely the spiders would survive the ethylene gas anyways. When I worked in produce there was a book's worth of stories about crazy shit in banana boxes- but in each case the critter was dead on arrival.

          1. Chinny Chin Chin   10 years ago

            Shipping bananas is a complex thing, huh?

            Easiest thing in the world is to get an environmentalist to stop eating bananas... simply by explaining the expense in getting them to market.

    5. Elspeth Flashman   10 years ago

      Headline, to give more clarity should have been" Icelandic mom discovers venomous "erection-giving" spider eggs in her Columbian bananas" because otherwise it sounds as if the bananas were grown in Iceland. /pedantic rant over.

      1. Citizen X   10 years ago

        Bananas ARE grown in Iceland, in geothermally-heated greenhouses. The lack of sunlight for much of the year is a problem, though.

      2. Tonio   10 years ago

        Watch yourself, buddy. ENB may be fast, but if Root lands one on you you're going to hurt.

      3. BigT   10 years ago

        "Bone"-anas?

        1. Jimbo   10 years ago

          Bone-anus?

    6. R C Dean   10 years ago

      Why anyone is surprised to find Brazilian Wandering Spiders this far afield, I can't say.

      1. Jimbo   10 years ago

        I also wonder...

  5. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    ...claiming NYC ruined their businesses by allowing Uber to enter the marketplace and compete with them.

    The remedy? Total collapse of the medallion system.

    1. sloopyinTEXAS   10 years ago

      The cab cartel and the police union run that city. You're more likely to see a law pass making it legal to kill Uber drivers on the spot than you are to see the medallion scheme disappear.

      1. Juvenile Bluster   10 years ago

        You're more likely to see a law pass making it legal to kill Uber drivers on the spot

        They're going to make medallion holders part of the NYPD?

      2. Rhywun   10 years ago

        The cab cartel and the police union run that city.

        I think in the pecking order, these are below the SEIU, the teachers' union, and the health worker union.

    2. Atanarjuat   10 years ago

      "Gentlemen, we've gotta protect our phoney-baloney jobs!"

      1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

        Harrumph.

    3. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      Those cab drivers do not want to drive to Queens.

      1. Whahappan?   10 years ago

        And God-dammit, The Law should prevent anyone else from doing it too!

        1. R C Dean   10 years ago

          Pretty much. 98% of the laws in this country boil down to "Nobody should be allowed to do what I don't want to do."

      2. MSimon   10 years ago

        Could they drive to Straights? or maybe Cisburg.

  6. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Obama Vows to Continue to Close Gitmo

    Obama said that the rhetoric around Guantanamo "alienates Muslim-Americans" in the same way that the rhetoric around refugees does, and said the detention center "has been an enormous recruitment tool for organizations like ISIL."

    "We can keep the American people safe while shutting down that operation." The population has been "reduced drastically," with the bulk of transfers happening in the Bush administration.

    "We have reduced that population further, and I expect that early by next year we may even have fewer than a hundred people at Guantanamo."

    1. sloopyinTEXAS   10 years ago

      Sweet! Maybe we'll get around to actually trying those people after more than a decade, too.

      Unfortunately nobody thought to ask that follow-up.

    2. Rich   10 years ago

      "I expect that early by next year we may even have fewer than a hundred people at Guantanamo."

      Hey, and some economists expect that the Fed may raise interest rates in December.

      1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        "I expect that early by next year we may even have fewer than a hundred people at Guantanamo."

        The detainees are hunger-striking again?

        1. R C Dean   10 years ago

          "You want to starve yourself? OK. We'll just leave your meals here: Eat them or not. Up to you."

    3. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      When President Obama makes a promise, President Obama keeps a promise. That is fact.

      1. expat   10 years ago

        Only the bad ones. He seems particularly bad a keeping the good ones.

        1. Bobarian (Would Chip Her)   10 years ago

          Has he made any good promises?

          1. Doctor Whom   10 years ago

            If you like your plan, you can keep your plan, period.

            1. Doctor Whom   10 years ago

              Also, he will get us out of Afghanistan by 2014.

              1. Citizen X   10 years ago

                Don't forget "the most transparent administration ever."

    4. wareagle   10 years ago

      it is curious that the acts of radical Muslims never seen to "alienate Muslim-Americans." Why is that.

      1. Zeb   10 years ago

        Probably largely because the radical Muslims aren't the government of their home country.

    5. some guy   10 years ago

      Wait. Obama promised to close Gitmo immediately upon entering office. Since we know Obama doesn't lie, Gitmo must already be closed and reality is lying.

    6. Chinny Chin Chin   10 years ago

      Obama said... the detention center "has been an enormous recruitment tool for organizations like ISIL."

      Will he venture to guess the number of terrorists who have enlisted as a result of his inability to keep his campaign promise?

  7. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    "An independent autopsy shows a Tennessee man died in Mississippi police custody because he was hog-tied for an extended period and not because he took LSD, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday."

    Who are you going to believe? Some lawyer with his own agenda or trained law enforcement officers with nothing to gain by lying? Also, drugs.

    1. Elspeth Flashman   10 years ago

      You working for the defense team there? Nice argument.

    2. R C Dean   10 years ago

      Seeing as there is no possible way that anyone can be poisoned by LSD, this seems pretty self-evident.

      1. BigT   10 years ago

        "Seeing as there is no possible way that anyone can be poisoned by LSD"

        Is this true? I'm not familiar with overdoses of acid. I thought mental breakdowns were common, possibly leading to irrational risk taking. Nothing more?

        1. Citizen X   10 years ago

          Use of LSD has been linked to an increased likelihood of thinking the Grateful Dead are good. Sounds pretty dangerous to me.

        2. R C Dean   10 years ago

          I'm reading "died because he took LSD" to be a claim that he was poisoned by LSD. They may mean something else.

          However, mental breakdowns and irrational risk taking on LSD are '60s-era urban myths.

          He died because the police killed him. Period.

          1. Heedless   10 years ago

            Unless the manufacturer screwed up the chemistry, the main risk of taking LSD is that you will become extremely tiresome.

          2. OneOut   10 years ago

            "
            mental breakdowns and irrational risk taking on LSD are '60s-era urban myths."

            They may be myths of the 60s but I have first hand experience that they are not myths of the 70s.

            My brother had a complete mental breakdown while experiencing a "bad" trip. He took a tab at the end of a workday only to be told shortly after that they were working overtime that day in a pipe fabrication shop. I will skip the details of what followed immediately after but after a trip to the emergency room he was hospitalized for 30 days. He came out of the hospital a shell of himself mentally, emotionally, and even physically. He improved some over the years but has never returned to his former self.

  8. Illocust   10 years ago

    "Owners of New York City taxi medallions have filed suit against the city, claiming NYC ruined their businesses by allowing Uber to enter the marketplace and compete with them."

    Interesting that they think they have a better chance of beating the city in court than Uber. I'm guessing the city won't fight back because it's not their money. While Uber would drag them kicking and screaming through the spotlight to be pilloried by the public.

    1. Tonio   10 years ago

      The taxi drivers will probably prevail at the local level, but will be interesting to see what happens if this goes to an upstate court, or the feds.

    2. Mickey Rat   10 years ago

      I am thinking that suing the city is actually apporopriate as the medallions were an agreement with the city which has violated it or defrauded the medallion holders by having no power to enforce it.

  9. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    NBC Poll: Americans Support Sending More Ground Troops to Fight Islamic State

    Roughly two-thirds of the country (65 percent) want more troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria to combat IS, which took responsibility for the attacks in Paris, France, last week that killed more than 120 people. When broken down by political party, a majority of Republicans, Democrats, and two-thirds of independents agree on sending more troops to combat the terrorist group.

    President Obama had previously said that putting troops on the ground would be a mistake and stood by his current strategy on fighting IS.

    Since the spring a majority of Americans, 53 percent, feel the the United State government is not doing enough to eradicate the threat of terrorism, which is up from 37 percent in April. Meet the Press Daily's Chuck Todd said that the number was not surprising given the amount of coverage of the recent Paris terrorist attacks.

    1. Illocust   10 years ago

      Haven't we just been getting through articles about how polling is incredibly unreliable in the modern era?

      1. VG Zaytsev   10 years ago

        What do millenial say about it?

      2. Tonio   10 years ago

        And didn't another recent national poll indicate that like 61% were against US BOTG?

      3. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        How many polled would support sending troops to Elbonia or Narnia in the name of fighting terrorism do you suppose?

        1. Jimbo   10 years ago

          Dilbert approves this message!

    2. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

      Has anyone told them about the "nuking from orbit" gambit?

      1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

        I know this is an emotional moment for all of us. I know that. But let's not make snap judgments, please. This is clearly an important religion we're dealing with and I don't think that you or I, or *anybody*, has the right to arbitrarily exterminate them.

        1. Free Society   10 years ago

          Nor an obligation to pretend that this important religion isn't an ideological stain on humanity.

        2. ant1sthenes   10 years ago

          There is a substantial dollar value attached to ISIS.

        3. VG Zaytsev   10 years ago

          Exterminating the religion does not mean exterminating all of the people that nominally follow it.

          1. Free Society   10 years ago

            I think marginalizing the religion is the way to go. It should be made abundantly clear that using Islam as your operating system for politics, economics and every imaginable facet of life, makes you incompatible with the rest of the world. The most successful Muslims should be the ones whom are furthest away from the fundamentals of Islam.

            1. Tonio   10 years ago

              Good luck with that, Freebie.

              1. Free Society   10 years ago

                What luck is needed? You just don't tolerate those undeserving of tolerance. The most insurmountable aspect of this approach is getting western multiculturalists to abandon their fairy tale version of Islam and the increasing severity of Islamic radicalism will do that for us.

                1. Mr. Flanders   10 years ago

                  Sounds like the same tactics used by the progressive P.C. crowd. Don't tolerate those that are undeserving of tolerance.... based on my subjective view which is obviously correct. :/

                  1. Free Society   10 years ago

                    You have it exactly backwards. The progressive PC crowd do tolerate those undeserving of tolerance. The left is well known for it's hypocrisy of claiming to stand for the rights of marginalized groups to the point where the left whitewashes and makes excuses for radical Muslims while those very same radical Muslims would be ruthlessly slaughtering all the marginalized groups were they in a position to do so.

                    1. Mr. Flanders   10 years ago

                      I don't see much tolerance from the P.C. crowd at all. They are completely intolerant of all opposing viewpoints that are not pure. They even go so far as to disinvite speakers that, for the most part, are allies of the P.C. movement on all but one or two points. Na, they're completely intolerant in the name of tolerance, just like what Free Society was suggesting that people should react to people that are believers of Islam.

    3. some guy   10 years ago

      Americans appear to be unique among mammals in that they respond positively to negative reinforcement. There's a dissertation for you.

    4. OneOut   10 years ago

      That may or may not be surprising but what is not surprising is that Hilliary just got her warboner on.

      http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/19/.....is-speech/

      Now many of you cynics here probably think that there is a connection between this new poll and Hilliary's new position on the issue but all of her supporters know that is not true.

      They also know that Wall Street and Mega Banks campaign donation and speaking fees do not influence he positions on the issues either. Those donations are simply their belated way of saying thanks because she helped them rebuild after 9/11 14 years ago.

      1. Akira   10 years ago

        "Those donations are simply their belated way of saying thanks because she helped them rebuild after 9/11 14 years ago."

        I mean, for god's sake, this brave woman was personally laying a foundation for the new stock exchange while under sniper fire!

  10. SIV   10 years ago

    Hey, GOP Fearmongers: Not One Terrorist Act by Refugees in U.S.

    Think reason will ever get around to issuing a retraction?

    1. Juvenile Bluster   10 years ago

      There's something that's made that untrue?

      1. wareagle   10 years ago

        the Tsarnaev boys were children of refugees. And it's a convenient rhetorical tactic to get around the Hasan-from-Fort-Hood type individuals.

        1. R C Dean   10 years ago

          Technically, I believe the Tsarnaev boys were refugees themselves.

          And, no, if there is a distinction between "asylees" and "refugees" its not one that makes a difference.

          1. MSimon   10 years ago

            "asylers"

            1. Hamster of Doom   10 years ago

              They're going to eat our braaaaains.

    2. SugarFree   10 years ago

      Are you being triggered by Reason? Do you need a safe space?

      1. SIV   10 years ago

        Are the voices in your head calling you a cosmotarian again?

        1. SugarFree   10 years ago

          You're the one whining, AM Winston.

          Everyone agreed on the Yik Yak thread that people reading stuff they don't agree with just so they can be outraged by it are idiots. Thanks for offering such dramatic proof of that point.

          1. SIV   10 years ago

            You're the biggest whiner on this blog's comments.

            1. SugarFree   10 years ago

              I see your defensive projection is coming along nicely.

      2. SIV   10 years ago

        Show us on the doll where the Christfag touched you

    3. Palin's Buttplug   10 years ago

      Fuck the GOP and every TEAM RED! asshole that posts here.

      1. Free Society   10 years ago

        You're so wise and your words so measured.

      2. Citizen Nothing   10 years ago

        Strangely, I agree with the Plug on this one. Blind hog, acorn, etc.

        1. R C Dean   10 years ago

          He's halfway there.

          1. BiPolarMoment   10 years ago

            He has an acorn?

    4. Atanarjuat   10 years ago

      How long have Syrian refugees been here? (Too lazy to click for myself)

      1. Citizen X   10 years ago

        The Doumar family's been here in Norfolk since they fled the Ottomans about 130 years ago. One of them's a federal judge, and his uncle invented the ice cream cone.

        1. Lee G   10 years ago

          I always knew you were a better class of car thief X

          1. Citizen X   10 years ago

            Norfolk is the Florida of Virginia.

        2. PBR Streetgang   10 years ago

          A pretty good federal judge too. Had no idea his uncle invented the ice cream cone, cool!

          1. Lee G   10 years ago

            Are you an eastern va resident as well?

            1. Tonio   10 years ago

              I'm not PBR (obviously), but I am close by. Meetup sometime?

          2. PBR Streetgang   10 years ago

            I used to be. Grew up in Petersburg and lived in Chesterfield until 2 years ago. You?

      2. BigT   10 years ago

        Steve Jobs' bio father was a Syrian immigrant.

        1. Citizen X   10 years ago

          Sufjan al-Jobsi?

        2. Hamster of Doom   10 years ago

          Is this an argument for, or against?

          1. spqr2008   10 years ago

            Against, obvii. TEAM ANDROID FUR THE WINZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        3. Krokko   10 years ago

          Major asshole who started a huge cult? They're gonna need a better example...

  11. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    ...Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks, was killed during Wednesday's raid in Saint Denis.

    How's come America only ever gets the second-in-command?

    1. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      America goes for number two because we're the shit.

      1. Citizen Nothing   10 years ago

        The Prisoner taught me that we should take out number six, just to be sure.

      2. Jimbo   10 years ago

        Don't Forget: #2 is first place for losers

  12. Rich   10 years ago

    Univ. of Vermont holds privilege retreat for students who 'self-identify as white'

    the University of Vermont offered the retreat at no cost to its privileged white students, covering all expenses including meals.

    Mighty white of the University!

    1. Brett L   10 years ago

      No Jews or Irish, though, right?

      1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

        I'll tell you from experience, my best friend notwithstanding, there aren't many Jews to worry about at UVM.

    2. SugarFree   10 years ago

      Can you imagine the self-loathing you would have to possess to voluntarily put yourself through this?

      1. Rich   10 years ago

        Lighten up, SF. Perhaps some folks are just white-curious.

        1. Lee G   10 years ago

          It is pretty awesome to be white. Why just the other day I used my privilege to subjugate some uppity minorities, and I wasn't even trying!

          1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

            I recently used my whiteness to get October sun induced skin damage....

      2. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

        What if you're just really into white chicks?

        1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

          On further reflection, it's UVM so it's pretty hard to not find white chicks. So maybe you're really into white chicks with emotional problems?

        2. SugarFree   10 years ago

          Having a race preference in dating is racism. Having a size preference is sizeism. Having a gender preference is homophobia. Having a genital preference is transphobia.

          1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

            what if you prefer a sex position?

            1. SugarFree   10 years ago

              Unless you're being pegged, its homophobia.

          2. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

            Wait, but aren't I also oppressing her and reinforcing my privilege if I bang a black chick?

            1. SugarFree   10 years ago

              Anything you like is problematic.
              Anything you don't like is problematic.
              Anything you have no strong feelings on one way or another is problematic.

      3. Jordan   10 years ago

        Those free meals though...

        1. SugarFree   10 years ago

          Only white people food, so they don't feel uncomfortable. Ham and mayo buffet. Pumpkin spice lattes.

          1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

            It's UVM, so they'll definitely have some granola, vegan shit, and maple syrup.

            1. SugarFree   10 years ago

              Ugh. I hate maple everything. Keep your disgusting tree menses.

              1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

                Have you considered properly digesting sugar?

                1. SugarFree   10 years ago

                  Mr. Poops Funny is coming after me? Really?

                  1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

                    It's Poops-A-Lot, not Poops Funny.

            2. Rich   10 years ago

              vegan shit

              Nice oxymoron.

              1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

                The dining hall had vegan cookies. They bounced surprisingly well for "food" items.

              2. R C Dean   10 years ago

                I was thinking more "redundant" than "oxymoron".

          2. Citizen X   10 years ago

            "Now. Who wants a glass of milk?"

          3. Krabappel   10 years ago

            Ugh is there at least some Sriracha? Maybe you could sneak a bottle in.

    3. Bill Dalasio   10 years ago

      the University of Vermont offered the retreat at no cost to its privileged white students, covering all expenses including meals.

      It would be genuinely funny if they held the retreat at a 5-star resort. In between the pate and caviar plate with champagne and the hot air balloon excursion, they have a serious, heartfelt, five minute discussion about the injustice endemic to the system. Now, come on, Heather, they're serving Johnny Walker Blue over in the ski lift pavilion.

      1. Brett L   10 years ago

        Is that not what they are doing? I don't see them funding voluntary minority empowerment seminars.

        1. Bill Dalasio   10 years ago

          Well, my hope is that a student found a nice way to scam the social justice cadres in the college administration into buying them a vacation.

        2. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

          Someone didn't RTFA...

          The University of Vermont does host a retreat for "women of color" as well but it focuses on building leadership rather than confronting one's own privileges.

          That appears to be the only other retreat, but there is definitely a lot seminar/talks/on campus events.

          1. Rich   10 years ago

            You know who else focused on building leadership rather than confronting one's own privileges?

            1. EMD   10 years ago

              Connie Mack?

            2. Citizen X   10 years ago

              Bernie Sanders?

          2. EMD   10 years ago

            I bet The Women of Color retreat is at the Red Roof Inn downtown.

      2. wareagle   10 years ago

        you mean it's not genuinely funny on its face?

    4. Idle Hands   10 years ago

      I would feel compelled to go only to leave after five minutes in absolute disgust.

    5. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

      When I was there, the racial/social justice idiocy was still pretty minor, but you could tell it was gaining traction. One of the biggest reasons I decided not to be an RA was the new requirement to promote events for this kind of thing (though nothing to the extent of this retreat).

    6. EMD   10 years ago

      Privilege leads to ... privilege.

  13. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    My Grandma, the Sex Worker
    When Dad told me that my grandmother used to be a prostitute, I didn't know whether to believe him. Seven years later, I phoned up Grandma to ask.

    "This was the 50s in Venezuela and, even now, it's still a very conservative, overly religious, misogynist society. Men ruled Venezuela now and they continue to rule it today," Grandma told me. Prostitution has always been rife in Venezuela?so much so that it is entirely legal. How could a country that has always recognized prostitution as a serious profession attach such a social stigma to it? "Sex has always existed?everyone did a lot of things behind closed doors. It wasn't an open society. Prostitution has existed since the beginning of time."

    To many, then and now, prostitution was seen as a way to have a better life. "Caracas was a prostitution hot spot?all the Americans went there to see us. It was almost like a novelty. We weren't even called hookers; we were called 'appointments' in appointment-only brothels. There were two tiers of prostitution: women like us, and women who were on the street. We were high-end, so the money was very good." She was making between 85 and 95 bol?vares fuertes a night, which was the equivalent of about $421 at the time? a small fortune.

    1. Illocust   10 years ago

      Smart woman. Like how she points out the difference between street level and brothels. There is a world of difference between the girl who has to wave down clients and the one who has clients come to her.

    2. sloopyinTEXAS   10 years ago

      Did she know how to warm a sausage?

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qNyTPUTfmkc

  14. SugarFree   10 years ago

    Ta-Nehisi Coates has won the National Book Award for nonfiction for his book Between the World and Me.

    Unleashing a wave of more terrible writers on the world.

    1. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      SugarFree continues the Plundering.

      1. some guy   10 years ago

        There are probably awards for making people vomit in their mouths, but the National Book Award isn't one of them.

        1. SugarFree   10 years ago

          I can only do so much with my white body.

          1. Free Society   10 years ago

            I assume that it's mostly limited to oppressing the nearest brown person.

            1. SugarFree   10 years ago

              I rent their lungs with my tear gas, apparently.

    2. Rich   10 years ago

      Just wondering ... Does his wife get to call him "Ta-Ta"?

    3. Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer   10 years ago

      Thus reaffirming my suspicion and dislike for awards.

      Not the jealous sort, I've seen too many jerk-offs honored it has left me jaded. Sure, why not?!

      1. Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer   10 years ago

        True story. Ole Rufus was a pretty damn good soccer player until the ACL tears started coming. I got my share of scoring titles and MVP's. One year, at a tournament, I basically took on Erin Mills, Ont. by myself in a 2-0 loss. When it came to handing out the award at the end of the game the coach came up to me and said, 'You were by far the most talented player on the pitch and fully deserve MVP honors...BUT, we're giving it to that little guy who played his heart out.' That guy was a close friend of mine and he did play really well. I was happy for the guy but still...I lost out on a FREE MEAL!

        1. Free Society   10 years ago

          You were by far the most talented player on the pitch and fully deserve MVP honors

          That's should have been the end of the story. But instead you got Rudy-ed.

          1. Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer   10 years ago

            Rudy was more inspirational. I was just a sore-loser.

    4. EMD   10 years ago

      Does anyone really care about The National Book Award?

  15. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Nation's largest insurer may exit Obamacare due to losses

    UnitedHealth Group, the largest insurance company in the U.S., on Thursday slashed its earnings outlook, citing "detoriation" in Obamacare, and told investors it may exit the program's exchanges.

    "In recent weeks, growth expectations for individual exchange participation have tempered industrywide, co-operatives have failed, and market data has signaled higher risks and more difficulties while our own claims experience has deteriorated," Stephen J. Hemsley, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group, explained in a press release.

    The release added that, "UnitedHealthcare has pulled back on its marketing efforts for individual exchange products in 2016. The Company is evaluating the viability of the insurance exchange product segment and will determine during the first half of 2016 to what extent it can continue to serve the public exchange markets in 2017."

    bailouts here we come...

    1. Brett L   10 years ago

      I thought those exchanges were guaranteed cost plus.

    2. Mrs. Lemuel Struthers   10 years ago

      Damn you, Humungus.

      1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

        Don't worry, people like you better.

        1. Mrs. Lemuel Struthers   10 years ago

          That's a pretty low bar. 🙂

    3. Spoonman.   10 years ago

      This is a signal to extend the risk-reduction programs beyond 2017.

    4. Lee G   10 years ago

      And United is one of the worst payers.

    5. robc   10 years ago

      Assurant is leaving health insurance biz at end of 2015.

  16. Derpetologist   10 years ago

    I think everyone could use some cheering up. Introducing Colonel-in-Chief Sir Nils Olav. He is a king penguin who is the commander of the Norwegian Royal Guard. He wears a little arm band and inspects the troops.

    1. Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer   10 years ago

      And then we wonder why the terrorists are emboldened and embiggened.

      1. EMD   10 years ago

        You don't think that penguin wouldn't kill a terrorist if he could?

      2. Monty Crisco   10 years ago

        I have found that a noble spirit embiggens the smallest man...

  17. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Aww...Shreek is out of a job:

    NIH to retire all research chimpanzees
    Fifty animals held in "reserve" by the US government will be sent to sanctuaries.

    In a 16 November e-mail to the agency's administrators, NIH director Francis Collins announced that the 50 NIH-owned animals that remain available for research will be sent to sanctuaries. The agency will also develop a plan for phasing out NIH support for the remaining chimps that are supported by, but not owned by, the NIH.

    "I think this is the natural next step of what has been a very thoughtful five-year process of trying to come to terms with the benefits and risks of trying to perform research with these very special animals," Collins said in an interview with Nature. "We reached a point where in that five years the need for research has essentially shrunk to zero. "

    Many advocates of animal research are unhappy with the plan. "Given NIH's primary mission to protect public health, it seems surprising," says Frankie Trull, president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research in Washington DC.

    1. Mrs. Lemuel Struthers   10 years ago

      28 days later..

    2. Krabappel   10 years ago

      "Given NIH's primary mission to protect public health"

      Citation needed.

      1. R C Dean   10 years ago

        I think they mis-spelled "nominal".

    3. BigT   10 years ago

      All these chimps on Soc Sec will tank our future. Put the lil monkeys to work. Comfort animals in children's wards, GOP campaign advisers, HnR trolls.

  18. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    South Side woman launches 'sex strike' to end violence

    CHICAGO - No justice, no sex. A South Side woman thinks sex is the solution to Chicago's violence problem. She is reportedly launching an online petition for a "sex strike."

    April Lawson hopes women will sign up for her cause on Change.org and agree to abstinence until the men of their communities put down their guns.

    The idea of a "sex strike" is the premise behind Spike Lee's soon-to-be released movie "Chiraq."

    Lawson said she was inspired to start the petition because she is tired of the violence in the city and thinks "you have to hit people where it hurts."

    You're doing it wrong...

    1. Atanarjuat   10 years ago

      Actually I think it could work, but you have to have unanimity with these things, and getting all of the hood rats on board seems unlikely.

      Also trigger warning, she's not nearly as hot as the women in the Spike Lee promo they show at first, and may in fact be a long-haired man.

    2. Mickey Rat   10 years ago

      So the guy(s) she is having sex with are vioent criminals?

    3. BigT   10 years ago

      Novel approach...not.

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata

    4. PBR Streetgang   10 years ago

      Now that is thinking outside of the box.

  19. Mrs. Lemuel Struthers   10 years ago

    Nation's largest insurer may exit Obamacare due to losses

    UnitedHealth Group, the largest insurance company in the U.S., on Thursday slashed its earnings outlook, citing new problems related to Obamacare, and told investors it may exit the program's exchanges.

    If UnitedHealth and other insurers decide to exit, remaining insurers will be forced to take on even more high-risk enrollees, prompting them to either raise rates further or exit themselves. That in turn would deprive individuals of choices and remove competition, a key purpose of the exchanges.

    Thanks for the death spiral, Obama.

    1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

      Can you imagine what will happen in 2016 when their is a republican in the whitehouse? All the sudden there will be a million homeless people, mideast is a dumster fire, The affordable care act needs to fixed, economy sucks articles that people have been sitting on for eight years.

      1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

        It will just be the Republican's fault for sabotaging Obamacare so thoroughly that it retroactively caused the decay.

    2. sarcasmic   10 years ago

      Greedy corporations only care about profits, not people. This is why we need single payer. Duh.

      1. Monty Crisco   10 years ago

        The problem is that people are already making this article seriously, and no one of ANY prominence is trying to rebut it...

  20. Idle Hands   10 years ago

    Quarter of men believe they have 'man periods':

    A quarter of British men believe that they experience a monthly 'man period', according to new research.

    As part of a study of 2,412 people (50pc men and 50pc women), male participants were asked if they frequently suffered the same common side effects of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that women experience during their menstrual cycle, including tiredness, cramps and increased sensitivity.

    And whilst 26 per cent of men revealed that they did experience these feelings on a regular basis, perhaps a more shocking statistic is that 58pc of their female partners believed them.

    Furthermore, all female respondents whose partners claimed to experience 'man periods' were asked whether or not they offered any special support to their partners during these times, and 43 pc admitted that they did.

    When asked how they had done so, the most commonly cited ways were "try and cheer him up" (44 pc) and "walk around on egg shells" (39 pc). Of those who didn't believe their partners, 33 pc admitted to telling their partner to "man up".

    1. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      You know, I do just want to be held sometimes, especially on my heavy flow days.

    2. Mrs. Lemuel Struthers   10 years ago

      I believe we call this variation in human emotion, but then I could be wrong because I may be bleeding from my eyes and such.

      1. Citizen X   10 years ago

        Bleeding from your eyes, bleeding from your... wherever.

    3. Idle Hands   10 years ago

      I blame Chipotle.

      1. Mr. Flanders   10 years ago

        +1 Eric Cartman

    4. Lee G   10 years ago

      I weep for my species.

      1. Rich   10 years ago

        You'll feel better in a few days.

        1. Lee G   10 years ago

          *grabs bottle of midol*

    5. Suthenboy   10 years ago

      And thus the pussification of the west is complete.

      No wonder the barbarians are pouring in to rape, loot, murder and plunder. They face no resistance.

      1. Monty Crisco   10 years ago

        I wonder if this ever happened with another civilization?

    6. Slammer   10 years ago

      It's ok, they can carry manpons in their manpurses (satchels/handbags)

    7. EMD   10 years ago

      Remember when Britain ruled the world?

    8. Bobarian (Would Chip Her)   10 years ago

      Any man that has ever lived with a woman has suffered from PMS.

      Women have PMS; men suffer.

    9. R C Dean   10 years ago

      male participants were asked if they frequently suffered the same common side effects of premenstrual syndrome

      Everyone within range of a PMSing female suffers the side effects of PMS.

    10. BigT   10 years ago

      And their cycles oddly correspond to the football on the telly. A great scam! We Americans have a lot to learn.

      Andy Capp!

  21. Juvenile Bluster   10 years ago

    This whole NRA/"Terrorists with guns" thing has made me realize that the left thinks that all Muslims are terrorists just like the right does. But they can't *say* that.

    1. SugarFree   10 years ago

      I doubt that. This is just them arguing in bad faith for gun control. If they had their way, only white male cis-het shitlords would be on that list.

      1. R C Dean   10 years ago

        No question. Still, it does open up some amusing conversational options.

  22. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Tinder CEO boasts about sexual acts ahead of IPO

    Sean Rad, the CEO of Match's high-profile mobile dating app Tinder, is interviewed in a Nov. 18 article in the online and print news service, the Evening Standard. There are few details about the company itself, but Rad goes into great detail about his own sexual accomplishments. That includes his loss of virginity at the age of 17 and the number of women he's had sexual relations with (20).

    His sexual encounters include, according to the article cited in a filing from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Alexa Dell of the family connected to the Texas computing company.

    Rad boasts of his allure, explaining that a "supermodel, someone really, really famous" has been "begging" to have sexual relations with him, according to the article.

    1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

      That includes his loss of virginity at the age of 17 and the number of women he's had sexual relations with (20).

      Neither of those is impressive, particularly if you're trying to have casual sex instead of relationships.

      1. Citizen X   10 years ago

        Yeah. Dude hasn't even caught up to George Costanza yet.

      2. Just say Nikki   10 years ago

        It's funny, if you read the whole story, he's sort of "bragging" about being a nice guy who doesn't fuck every girl, and billing Tinder as a way to find love, not just sex.

        1. Rhywun   10 years ago

          WOULDN'T

        2. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

          I know a lot of people on Tinder, and have done a ton of online dating myself (including my last 2 girlfriends). I don't know anyone using Tinder who also thinks it's for relationships. The consensus seems pretty strongly in favor Tinder being hook-ups only.

          1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

            Tinder is a honeypot for relationships or seems to be for my friends.

    2. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      Psssh I was like, born without my virginity, and I have nailed, like lots of chicks.

    3. Bobarian (Would Chip Her)   10 years ago

      a "supermodel, someone really, really famous" has been "begging"

      Was her name Caitlyn?

    4. R C Dean   10 years ago

      Not clear on why this needs to be filed with the SEC, but sure, whatev.

      1. Citizen X   10 years ago

        "My business is giving ladies the business, and business is booming. So much so that i have to file with the government."

        "We don't really have a form for that, sir."

  23. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Dems asking if oil giants worked together against climate change

    Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., first sent the letter to House members Oct. 29. A source with knowledge of the letter said it has been circulated for weeks trying to find more signatories, but only 18 lawmakers were willing to sign up.

    Jack D'Annibale, spokesman for Lieu, confirmed the letter and said the process of collecting signatures is continuing.

    The letter seeks answers from the top executives at British Petroleum, Shell, Peabody Energy, ConocoPhillips, Chevron and ExxonMobil about possible collusion to hide climate change research. Citing the Union of Concerned Scientists, the letter accuses the companies of working together to deceive the public.

    1. Ivan Pike   10 years ago

      Tobacco settlement, part Duh.

      I guess if you find a strategy that works, you go with it.

      1. Steve G   10 years ago

        test

    2. Jordan   10 years ago

      Hey, remember that time Italy tossed geologists in jail for failing to spot an earthquake and everybody mocked them mercilessly? We should definitely aspire to that.

      /Democrats

  24. Longtorso, Johnny   10 years ago

    This keeps getting tossed about, as if Jewish terrorist groups were killing civilians, and claiming credit (i.e. it actually happened and wasn't just Nazi propoganda) just before WWII.

    What Americans thought of Jewish refugees on the eve of World War II
    The results of the poll illustrated above by the useful Twitter account @HistOpinion were published in the pages of Fortune magazine in July 1938. Fewer than 5 percent of Americans surveyed at the time believed that the United States should raise its immigration quotas or encourage political refugees fleeing fascist states in Europe ? the vast majority of whom were Jewish ? to voyage across the Atlantic. Two-thirds of the respondents agreed with the proposition that "we should try to keep them out."...

    1. Longtorso, Johnny   10 years ago

      That, and the nonzero chance that Syria will round up and systematically gas all Syrians.

    2. MSimon   10 years ago

      Anti Jewish sentiment in America peaked in 1944. Then Eisenhower gave our troops and German troops mandatory inspections of the camps.

      Now a days Jew haters congregate at Zero Hedge.

  25. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

    Hi everyone. I posted this last night, but I wanted to make sure that the early risers got a chance to see it.

    One of the many reasons I haven't been around as much lately is that I've started training for a half marathon. I'm doing a run to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (long time commenters may remember that I've had UC for almost 14 years, including years of medication and 2 surgeries). If you're willing to donate to this cause, I would really appreciate it, and my fundraising page is here.

    I also wanted to thank everyone from the PM Links. It was a great response!

    Maybe someday I'll run a half-marathon for alt-text awareness.

    1. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      someday I'll run a half-marathon for alt-text awareness.

      You would have to promise to donate the money to a cosmotarian cause.

      1. Citizen X   10 years ago

        Funding sex changes for transgender Syrian children?

      2. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

        The cosmotarians can promote whatever they want in the alt-text.

      3. Private Chipperbot   10 years ago

        And wet his pants during the race...

    2. Elspeth Flashman   10 years ago

      Good luck! I hope you have a fantastic race & great results.

    3. Krabappel   10 years ago

      They should call it the Shitty Panties Half Marathon.

    4. MSimon   10 years ago

      Crohn's? Cannabis.

    5. dan'o en barrel   10 years ago

      Crohn's is some serious shit (pun intended.) It does have one positive side effect: My mother in law sometimes balks at the 1 hour drive to our house to visit, though it backfires when she does make the trek because she often occupies our guest room for the whole weekend to delay her return.

      Interestingly enough, she has had much greater relief taking an herbal supplement she buys at whole foods-- significantly better results than she's had even from methotrexate, a gnarly bio-agent with severe side effects and super high cost.

      In all seriousness, thanks for what you're doing. I've always believed that Libertarianism promotes real altruism- a non coerced choice of an individual to give of his/her time and/or treasure to help others. Its impact is far greater than paying taxes for the giver and receiver both.

  26. Rich   10 years ago

    TSA Investigation Finds 73 Workers on U.S. Terrorism Watch List

    TSA acknowledged that these individuals were cleared for access to secure airport areas despite representing a potential transportation security threat.

    However, TSA noted in its defense that *everyone* represents a potential transportation security threat.

  27. Idle Hands   10 years ago

    I don't know if this has been posted here but poop swastika may be real.

    1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

      on a related note remember Keely? Apparently her father is a millionaire and is a faculty member at faculty member at SAIC in chicago where I kid you not "is part of the Multicultural Affairs Committee and the Connectivity Committee of the DAG, and is one of two faculty advisors for the League of Extraordinary Genders. Mullen identifies as trans-feminine and "gender-mobile," prefers "they/them" pronouns, and works to be an ear and an advocate for the wide diversity of student identities at SAIC."

      1. OneOut   10 years ago

        apple...tree

    2. Suthenboy   10 years ago

      Fuckin' liars. The photo just came out because it took them this long to find someone willing to stage it, someone to get their hands dirty, so to speak.

      1. bacon-magic   10 years ago

        You don't seriously believe that SJW's and their ilk would lie??? How dare you sir! /useful idiot

    3. EMD   10 years ago

      So?

      1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

        Umm....

  28. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    The conservative media's effort to discredit Black Lives Matter, one activist at a time

    Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King is back in conservative media crosshairs. And with him, apparently, is the entire Black Lives Matter movement.

    The Daily Caller reported late Monday that charities through which King raised money for anti-police-brutality efforts were never registered as nonprofits.

    It was a legitimate watchdog story (people gave money expecting action and didn't get any), though it wasn't exactly a stunner. King, whose true racial identity was probed in August (a la Rachel Dolezal), admitted earlier this month that he got ahead of himself when he planned to form a national organization called Justice Together that would have chapters in all 50 states and on more than 300 college campuses. He said in a Nov. 7 Facebook post that he would scale down to a single pilot program in Georgia.

    1. wareagle   10 years ago

      black lives does a good job of discrediting itself. The Dartmouth library incident is one example.

    2. MSimon   10 years ago

      Only Black civilians are allowed to kill Black civilians. Because Black lives don't matter to Blacks.

    3. Monty Crisco   10 years ago

      I wonder if the BLM movement CARES that its main guy is white. Seems like that would matter, a la Dolenzal...

  29. Brett L   10 years ago

    I can't find the article on my phone, but I saw where ULA exited bidding on satellite launches because they don't have non-Russian engines and even if they did, the bidding package made cost a larger component of the decision criteria and they can't compete on cost with SpaceX.

    So... We've been bidding these on what? Also mentioned was that SpaceX had to sue the Air Force to be designated a qualified bidder. Even I was stunned at the outright graft of the previous system. Hopefully other companies will get themselves qualified so SpaceX can't become the new guaranteed corporate welfare queen.

    1. Atanarjuat   10 years ago

      so SpaceX can't become the new guaranteed corporate welfare queen

      All part of Tony Stark's evil plan. At least they'll be a (initially) cheaper corporate welfare queen.

  30. Free Society   10 years ago

    Ta-Nehisi Coates has won the National Book Award for nonfiction for his book Between the World and Me.

    "nonfiction"

    1. commodious spittoon   10 years ago

      No, it seems perfectly likely that he hinges his worldview entirely on a few anecdotes about white people being rude.

  31. sarcasmic   10 years ago

    D.C. police framed man imprisoned 27 years for 1981 murder, U.S. jury finds

    Will the cops see the inside of a prison cell? Of course not. But the taxpayers are gonna get reamed.

    1. Juvenile Bluster   10 years ago

      By law, jurors face no limit on how much money they can award Gates in compensatory damages. The dollar figure will be set as the civil trial continues before Chief Judge Richard W. Roberts of U.S. District Court.

      The possibility of a sizable sum for Gates clearly weighed on District attorneys who addressed the jury.

      "We know that given the verdict Mr. Gates is entitled to compensation, but we ask in reaching your decision that you continue to exercise common sense in determining damages that are rationally related," said Joseph A. Gonzalez of the D.C. Attorney General's office, which represented the detectives.

      Bankrupt the damn city.

    2. SIV   10 years ago

      Here's one of the cops who framed him:

      https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-taylor-169a0b72

      1. BigT   10 years ago

        In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king.

        (He's head of Stevie Wonder's security)

  32. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Paul on Syrian Refugees: Can We Afford to Put the World's Poor on Welfare?

    He has put forth legislation that would suspend the issuance of visas to people from countries with a high risk of terrorism.

    In the senator's view, refugees shouldn't be entitled to government benefits amid high unemployment in his home state and while many veterans are "having trouble surviving" on their disability payments.

    "[Disabled veterans] don't understand why we're going to take in the world's poor and put them on our welfare programs," Paul added.

    "Those who want to come here don't have a right to come to America. You don't have a right to be an American citizen."

    1. Rich   10 years ago

      "Those who want to come here don't have a right to come to America. You don't have a right to be an American citizen."

      Whoa. Guess he can "suspend" his campaign.

      1. wareagle   10 years ago

        wait...you mean libertarians are not a groupthink monolith? I am shocked.....

    2. ant1sthenes   10 years ago

      Given that most of our civilization's enemies are supported by plunder of some sort or another (aside from the trust fund babies), I'd say we can't afford it in more than just the financial sense.

    3. Free Society   10 years ago

      "Those who want to come here don't have a right to come to America. You don't have a right to be an American citizen."

      Well... you don't. Immigration is a contractual right, not a natural right.

    4. BigT   10 years ago

      No open borders for Rand.

    5. bacon-magic   10 years ago

      But, but...OPEN BOARDERZ! /you know who

  33. Derpetologist   10 years ago

    I do not think the world would have an a problem with Muslim violence if Muslims took the Amish approach. There are plenty of religions and tribes with odd customs that live in peace because they keep their craziness to themselves.

    Unfortunately, killing people who leave or mock Islam is one of their practices. How can there be peace?

    Countries like Japan and Britain that have been on the receiving end of total war seem are more peaceful afterwards. I really hope it does not come to that with the Muslim world.

    1. Jordan   10 years ago

      Exactly how many terrorist attacks have there been in the West over the past few decades? Talking about total war in that context just makes you sound like a nutjob.

      1. wareagle   10 years ago

        is there a certain number that has to be reached before one can say the radical wing of Islam is a problem? And it's not just the West. These folks have, for decades if not centuries, committed atrocities across the Middle East. When your response to cartoons is homicide, it's hard to consider you civilized. At some point, the Muslim nations will either have to confront the radicals or become like them.

        1. Jordan   10 years ago

          There is a difference between being a problem and being a problem that necessitates mass murder as a response.

        2. Free Society   10 years ago

          At some point, the Muslim nations will either have to confront the radicals or become like them.

          Muslim nations are predominantly radical. The actual terrorists themselves are the tiny minority, but their social support structures span huge proportions of those societies.

          1. OneOut   10 years ago

            That is because they are not radicals within their societies.

            They are the most devout to the basic tenent of their religion/legal/political system which is the world wide expansion submission to Islam.

            1. OneOut   10 years ago

              submission to Islam through violence

      2. Derpetologist   10 years ago

        The US made total war on Japan over an attack that killed about as many as the 9/11 attacks.

        1. Jordan   10 years ago

          Yes, we were attacked by the country of Japan. Al Qaeda is not the Middle East or all Muslims.

          1. Derpetologist   10 years ago

            True, however, a large portion of the world's Muslims sympathize with the cause of jihad.

            My thinking is: don't occupy, don't nation-build, don't fight insurgencies. Wait until the jihadis form an army, like ISIS. Then, attack ruthlessly. Repeat as often as necessary.

            I don't think there is any solution to terrorism. It works because it is small scale. I think blasphemy is the best response though. It would be great if after every terrorist attack, the world was flooded with pictures of Mohamed in bed with a pig. Or even just show a short biography of Mohamed so everyone knows what scumbag he was.

            1. bacon-magic   10 years ago

              +72 virgins for you

            2. spqr2008   10 years ago

              We could always do what the U.S. is alleged to have done when fighting Moro rebels in the Philippines, and dip all the ammo in bacon grease or lard.

          2. R C Dean   10 years ago

            Yes, we were attacked by the country of Japan.

            ISIS claims to be a nation-state. Does that help?

            1. Jordan   10 years ago

              Does it help justify carpet bombing the Middle East? No.

              1. R C Dean   10 years ago

                Howsabout carpet-bombing ISIS territory?

                1. bacon-magic   10 years ago

                  You do know they don't actually have flying carpets, right?

              2. MSimon   10 years ago

                No help is necessary.

                1. BigT   10 years ago

                  Carpet bombing kills too many innocents.

                  We should supply intelligence (like sat and drone pics) and specialized weapons (night vision, comm equip) to friendly groups defending themselves (Kurds etc), and drone kill selected leadership or collections of fighters. And station a hospital ship nearby to treat casualties.

          3. Free Society   10 years ago

            Al Qaeda is not the Middle East or all Muslims.

            And the government of Japan is not Japan or all Japanese. Mr Korematsu might have agreed with me on that.

            However, Al Qaeda has lots of support from Muslims all around the world despite being a "non-state" actor.

            Pew Research (2013): Only 57% of Muslims worldwide disapprove of al-Qaeda. Only 51% disapprove of the Taliban. 13% support both groups and 1 in 4 refuse to say.
            http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/.....st-groups/

            Pew Research (2011): 1 in 10 native-born Muslim-Americans have a favorable view of al-Qaeda.
            http://people-press.org/2011/0.....extremism/

            1. Jordan   10 years ago

              And the government of Japan is not Japan or all Japanese. Mr Korematsu might have agreed with me on that.

              Congratulations. You've articulated a problem with nation states.

              1. MSimon   10 years ago

                Well OK. We just kill the responsible Japanese. The other are collateral damage.

                Or we can take them to court. Once we get an extradition treaty.

        2. sarcasmic   10 years ago

          Total war is how you convince another government to tell its uniformed fighters to stop fighting. That doesn't apply to terrorism. At least not in my mind.

          1. MSimon   10 years ago

            If we are going to go to war with a pretend nation we should only have a pretend war. Now if only we could convince ISIS to play that game.

    2. Free Society   10 years ago

      Countries like Japan and Britain that have been on the receiving end of total war seem are more peaceful afterwards. I really hope it does not come to that with the Muslim world.

      Islamic ideology seems to thrive in the midst of calamity and then grows stronger even as they count the dead.

      1. MSimon   10 years ago

        They have not counted high enough. I suggest remedial math. More bombs.

  34. Rich   10 years ago

    Speaking of white privilege:

    Why Every Actress on The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable Cover Is White

    Yet even for me, a white man, it was impossible to ignore the fact that every one of these women is white ? whether old or young, English, Australian or American. That was appalling.

    1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

      Because the black actresses have better agents?

    2. SugarFree   10 years ago

      Two And A Half Hot Girls, this Fall on Fox

      1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

        That could work if they featured a coke whore living with molly ringwald.

      2. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

        I'm going to need a bit more description on what a "half hot girl" is... Are we talking about a hot midget? Half of a body of a hot girl? An average looking ("half hot") girl?

        1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

          Maybe some kind of Two-Face situation?

        2. SugarFree   10 years ago

          Carey Mulligan only gets a half. Sometimes she's hot and sometimes she looks like she's got a fatal blood disorder.

          1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

            Ah, in that case, this show has promise.

          2. EMD   10 years ago

            I think she's as cute as a button.

    3. Suthenboy   10 years ago

      Appaling...it was appalling. A word that has no meaning.

  35. commodious spittoon   10 years ago

    On the heels of prohibiting civil asset forfeitures earlier this year, a pair of New Mexico senators sue the city of Albuquerque over its continued drunk driving seizures. Not so fast, says the city:

    "Unless the Legislature or a court says very clearly that we're not allowed to do it, then were going to do everything we can to protect our city from repeat DWI offenders," Hernandez said. "As long as we are legally able to do this, we will maintain the program, because we think it's a way to keep our community safe and is legally allowed."

    Apparently protecting your city against DWI offenders doesn't include first convicting them of DWI.

  36. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Trump rises after Paris attacks

    Donald Trump has gained political strength since the Paris terrorist attacks last Friday, according to most of the polls released in the aftermath.

    Trump's gains show him once again confounding Beltway wisdom, where the widespread view was that such a grave event would lead voters to look toward White House candidates who are purportedly more mature and sophisticated than the erstwhile star of "The Apprentice."

    Instead, it seems that Republican voters have found themselves drawn to Trump's emphatic rhetoric.

    "You have voters who are saying loudly and clearly that they want a strong leader to run our country, and that leader is Mr. Trump," the business mogul's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, told The Hill. "Some of the other candidates didn't have that vision. ... They have not had the foresight to predict these problems."

  37. Idle Hands   10 years ago

    Grassley, Reid battle over mysterious leak on Huma Abedin:

    For months, Grassley has maintained that questions remain about Abedin's work as a "special government employee," a status that freed her to work simultaneously at the State Department and as an outside consultant.
    Grassley has also scrutinized Abedin's time sheets, concerned that she was possibly overpaid by the federal government while she was on maternity leave.

    The Iowa senator has publicly said he has a "confidential source" helping his investigation of Abedin.

    Democrats claim they know who that source is and are accusing the State Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) of leaking information to Grassley about Abedin. They say the source is Emilia DiSanto, a former Grassley aide who is now deputy director of the State Department OIG.

    Democrats are pissed because a OIG aid is leaking information from a stonewalled investigation showing instances of public corruption and fraud? No kidding.

    1. SugarFree   10 years ago

      Look... either Hillary gets her a little somethin' somethin' or she gets even worse than she is now. Leave Huma alone. Or else.

    2. R C Dean   10 years ago

      Is an OIG sharing info with Congress even a leak? Or is this more like a whistleblower?

  38. Idle Hands   10 years ago

    Grassley, Reid battle over mysterious leak on Huma Abedin:

    For months, Grassley has maintained that questions remain about Abedin's work as a "special government employee," a status that freed her to work simultaneously at the State Department and as an outside consultant.
    Grassley has also scrutinized Abedin's time sheets, concerned that she was possibly overpaid by the federal government while she was on maternity leave.

    The Iowa senator has publicly said he has a "confidential source" helping his investigation of Abedin.

    Democrats claim they know who that source is and are accusing the State Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) of leaking information to Grassley about Abedin. They say the source is Emilia DiSanto, a former Grassley aide who is now deputy director of the State Department OIG.

    Democrats are pissed because a OIG aid is leaking information from a stonewalled investigation showing instances of public corruption and fraud? No kidding.

    1. Citizen X   10 years ago

      You know who else took a leak on Huma Abedin?

      1. Idle Hands   10 years ago

        A. Weiner?

  39. Matrix   10 years ago

    Maybe this will melt all your cold, apathetic hearts!

    8 Year old boy with Leukemia finds the love of his life

    1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

      ha!

    2. Rhywun   10 years ago

      Actually, I find everyone around him pretending he's "in love" with a 7-year-old girl to be kind of stomach-churning.

      1. R C Dean   10 years ago

        Well, there's one cold, apathetic heart that remains unmelted.

        Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go kick an orphan.

  40. Matrix   10 years ago

    I'm not allowed to go to Paris, now

    Seems like every time they ban something, I want to do it... even though I never had the desire to do so prior to the bans.

  41. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    The Obama Administration Stopped Processing Iraq Refugee Requests For 6 Months In 2011

    Although the Obama administration currently refuses to temporarily pause its Syrian refugee resettlement program in the United States, the State Department in 2011 stopped processing Iraq refugee requests for six months after the Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered evidence that several dozen terrorists from Iraq had infiltrated the United States via the refugee program.

    1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

      An intelligence tip initially led the FBI to Waad Ramadan Alwan, 32, in 2009. The Iraqi had claimed to be a refugee who faced persecution back home ? a story that shattered when the FBI found his fingerprints on a cordless phone base that U.S. soldiers dug up in a gravel pile south of Bayji, Iraq on Sept. 1, 2005. The phone base had been wired to unexploded bombs buried in a nearby road.

      An ABC News investigation of the flawed U.S. refugee screening system, which was overhauled two years ago, showed that Alwan was mistakenly allowed into the U.S. and resettled in the leafy southern town of Bowling Green, Kentucky, a city of 60,000 which is home to Western Kentucky University and near the Army's Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. Alwan and another Iraqi refugee, Mohanad Shareef Hammadi, 26, were resettled in Bowling Green even though both had been detained during the war by Iraqi authorities, according to federal prosecutors.

      1. John   10 years ago

        And just think a self professed Libertarian publication that in every other context operates on the nearly always solid assumption that the government will fuck up anything it tries to do is now totally certain that the government can screen 100,000 or more Syrian refugees and ensure none of them are members of ISIS.

  42. Derpetologist   10 years ago

    It's common to compare jihadis to disgruntled losers who go on killing sprees. However, every culture has disgruntled losers and the rates of terrorism and killing sprees are not uniform. Hell, I'd say a large portion of all people have disgruntled losers at least temporarily.

    What you need for terrorism is a culture that celebrates martyrdom. In the US, spree killers have the incentive of knowing they will become infamous if they kill enough. With Muslim militants, they know they will be called a martyr and have been told they will go to heaven.

    People respond to incentives.

    1. Suthenboy   10 years ago

      Even imaginary ones. Sad.

    2. John   10 years ago

      It occurred to me running this morning that the reason why so many otherwise reasonable Libertarians believe such retarded things about Muslim terrorism is because a Libertarian society has no way to deal with such people. Libertarians operate on the assumption that people either want to respect the rights of others or can be deterred from trying otherwise by the threat of self defense or government action. Religious fanatics are not interested in this world. And they view it as their duty to make the world conform to God's will. So not only are they going to want to restrict the rights of others but also the threat of death or imprisonment isn't going to deter them. So a true Libertarian society is defenseless against a large population of such people. The only way for a free society to deal with such people is to either not let them in in the first place or actively oppress and remove them from society if they are already there. Neither of those things can be done consistent with Libertarian principles.

      1. chipper me timbers   10 years ago

        "Libertarian society has no way to deal with such people. "

        So wrong. The question of self defense is literally the first question libertarians must answer to people who can't understand how anything can work outside of government. Ok maybe ROADZZZ but next protection. There are literally thousands of quotes, essays and even full length treatises on how it works to keep yourself protected in a free society. WTF

        1. John   10 years ago

          I fully understand self defense. But self defense only works if people are deterred by the threat of it. If a group of people in your society are happy to die, self defense is worthless. The point of self defense is not to have to use it. Moreover, self defense doesn't work if you don't know who is attacking you until they do so. My action will beat your reaction every time. Arm yourself with anything you like and unless you are psychic or willing to shoot anyone who gets near you, it won't do you a damn bit of good when faced with someone who doesn't identify themselves and isn't deterred by the threat of death or jail.

          You are providing a perfect example of what I am talking about. Your entire post is just an expression that it is impossible that someone could not be reasoned with or deterred. Sorry, some people can't. And having a large number of such people makes having a free society impossible.

    3. John   10 years ago

      Libertarians can't accept that reality because accepting it means there are limitations to their ideology. So instead they just deny the reality exists. These people are not unreasonable says the Libertarian. They are not motivated by religion. They don't want to cleanse the world in the image of some God. They are motivated by the same things I would be motivated by. They are attacking us because we attacked them or because they don't see any economic opportunity or (the latest idiocy) because we won't take them as refugees. To anyone who understands reality, these claims are insane. They are however, totally rational if you are operating under the delusion that there cannot be such a thing as someone who can't be reasoned with or bargained with or deterred.

      1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

        John - strawman slayer extraordinaire!

        1. John   10 years ago

          How so? If that is not your position, then tell what is. And even if it is not, good for you but explain to me how this isn't the position of people like Chapman and Special Ed and Richman.

          1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

            Dude, there's no point. When you get obtuse like this, I can tell you all day what my position is and you'll tell me I'm wrong. I've done this rodeo before and I don't have the energy to do it today.

            1. John   10 years ago

              If it is not your position, great. And yes I don't mean every Libertarian. My apologies for making that clear. I mean the species of Libertarian who never seems to be able to take these people at their word. That is who I am talking about and there are plenty of them. If you are not one of them, good.

              And I don't see anything obtuse about my post.

              1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

                Basically everything you said that came after "Libertarians believe" is just plain wrong. For example libertarians quite often talk of how you can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into. I'll just leave it at that.

                1. John   10 years ago

                  Sure they do. But when it comes to actually dealing with the implications of that, they completely forget that fact. And the best example of that is how they constantly grope for what they consider reasonable explanations for the motivations of terrorists rather than taking the terrorists at their word.

  43. MSimon   10 years ago

    I once had a group e-mail discussion with Ta-Nehisi Coates. He understood economics perfectly when it came to Prohibition. I asked him why he didn't apply that understanding everywhere else.

    Silence.

    Of course Republicans are just the opposite. They can apply economics everywhere except prohibition.

    It is a wonder.

  44. John   10 years ago

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....ghter.html

    Remember terrorists are motivated by poverty and lack of economic opportunity and revenge for how we are bombing them.

    The son of an enterprising Moroccan, who had bought a dirt-cheap house in the canal-side slums and turned its front-parlour into a thriving secondhand clothes shop, Abdelhamid Abaaoud was sharp and engaging, and his flint-black eyes flashed with zest.

    Yesterday, ruefully recalling how the youthful 'Hamid' had become an emblem of his immigrant community's aspirations, one Serbian neighbour said he always called him 'captain' ? an image enhanced by his jaunty peaked hat.

    After drifting into petty crime and serving a prison sentence, he brought disgrace and heartbreak on his family by journeying to Syria to join Islamic State.

    Worse, he spirited his 13-year-old brother, Younes, away with him to become the jihadists' youngest known recruit. When she learned what he had done, his mother, Badi, 64, sank into a depression and fell ill. Racked with shame, she has since returned to live in Morocco.

    1. Rhywun   10 years ago

      *swoon*

      1. John   10 years ago

        Maybe Rolling Stone will put this guy on their cover.

        1. R C Dean   10 years ago

          Flashing flint-black eyes? Jaunty peaked cap? Bleargh.

          Now, the emblem of his community's aspirations? Somehow, I'm afraid that might just be true.

          1. John   10 years ago

            Mommy look at the poisonous viper I found in the backyard. Isn't he adorable? Can we keep him?

            Is pretty much the mentality of those idiots.

  45. sarcasmic   10 years ago

    No laughing matter: Hillary Clinton campaign 'demands comedy club takes down video mocking her marriage, Monica Lewinsky and pantsuits

    Laugh Factory boss says Clinton aide demanded he take down a video
    Jamie Masada also claims campaign asked for phone numbers of comics
    Video shows 5 comedians mocking the Democratic presidential contender
    They joke about her relationship with Bill Clinton, the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the former Secretary of State going through the menopause

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....laims.html

    Tolerant people do not tolerate intolerant jokes.

    1. R C Dean   10 years ago

      Unfortunately, the Laugh Factory's cojones do not extend to naming names. They won't say who called them from the Clinton campaign.

    2. John   10 years ago

      It is totally different when we do it. Didn't you know that? If some evil Republican had pulled this, it would be a threat to our way of life. But Hillary doing it is totally different.

      1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

        If a Republican did that then they would be intolerant. When a Democrat does it they're fighting intolerance.

    3. chipper me timbers   10 years ago

      She *is* the very reason we have the Citizens United case.

    4. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

      and just think of 4 or even 8 years of this...

      1. R C Dean   10 years ago

        A thin-skinned, vindictive President who will not hesitate to use xir minions to go after uppity proles who don't lick xir boots?

        I don't have to imagine that, Humungus.

      2. MSimon   10 years ago

        Is that all?

    5. Notorious UGCC   10 years ago

      Have they got confirmation for the story yet?

      1. Notorious UGCC   10 years ago

        I mean, it seems so totally over the top, so perfect an summary of all that's wrong with Hillary, that for that reason alone it should be double-checked.

        Maybe it's true and maybe it ain't, but get multiple sources before running with it.

        1. R C Dean   10 years ago

          Very true.

          The fact that they won't give the name of the apparatchik who called justifies skepticism here. Could be that they are ball-less pussies, could be that they are making it up, could be that this is a false flag (although that probably gives the Repubs waaay too much credit).

        2. Notorious UGCC   10 years ago

          "...Jamie Masada needs to tell us who this unnamed "prominent Clinton staffer" is. If he won't, then forget him. He's just some comedy-club owner trying to drum up publicity."

          1. MSimon   10 years ago

            NU,

            Bad publicity for Hillary and publicity for a joke factory.

            Good all around.

          2. Notorious UGCC   10 years ago

            Although this doesn't prove anything one way or another, Mr. Masada takes himself very, very seriously.

            He kind of reminds me of the "as a comic" guy on the old SCTV episodes.

            1. Notorious UGCC   10 years ago

              No, he's better, because Masada puts his money where his mouth is and tries to help the community.

              Of course he's a leftist, it's a guild requirement where he lives.

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