Cruz/Trump Bromance Is Over, Martin O'Malley Under Fire for Furniture Purchases, Woman Suing Twitter Over ISIS: A.M. Links

• Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump took turns insulting one another, Ben Carson looked confused and stoned, someone called Edward Snowden a traitor… that's right, another GOP presidential debate has come and gone. (Check out commentary from the Reason peanut gallery here.) 

• Planned Parenthood has filed a federal lawsuit against the Center for Medical Progress, which in 2015 released a series of undercover videos targeting the organization. 
• Chicago has released video of the 2013 police shooting of black teen Cedrick Chatman. 
• A Florida woman whose husband was killed in Jordan is suing Twitter for "giving a voice" to the Islamic State. 
• Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley is being investigated over sketchy furniture shopping. 
• Not far from Columbine, Colorado, two teen girls have been arrested for allegedly plotting to carry out a mass shooting at their high school.  

New at Reason: 

Brickbat: Speak No Evil
By Charles Oliver

Yes, Partisanship Can Be Frustrating, but It's Better Than the Alternative: Calls for national political "unity" are problematic.
By David Harsanyi

Jefferson Staters Keeping Up Fight in California: At Sacramento rally, rural residents say Legislature has ignored their issues.
By Steven Greenhut

Marco Rubio's Sweet Protectionism: The 2016 hopeful gives the feds cover to keep propping up Big Sugar.
By Veronique de Rugy

Movie Review: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi: Director Michael Bay at what might be his best in a tale of dismal military ineptitude.
By Kurt Loder

The Best & Worst Moments of the South Carolina GOP Debate: The "free traders" went at it again last night.
By Justin Monticello and Zach Weissmueller

The 'Official Donald Trump Jam' Meets The Shining: Come vote with us…
By Paul Detrick

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and don't forget to sign up for Reason's daily updates for more content.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

... that's right, another GOP presidential debate has come and gone.

In a less correct sense, didn't America win last night's debate?

[Swiss Servator]

Addition by subtraction?

[Juvenile Bluster]

In that the debate hall wasn't destroyed by a tornado with the candidates still inside, America did not win.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

"Chicago has released video of the 2013 police shooting of black teen Cedrick Chatman."

With friendly stick people superimposed over the alleged parts.

Hello!

[Lord Humungus]

sketchy furniture shopping? /that's how I read that at first

[Fist of Etiquette]

Was he decorating for Downtown Abbey?

[Zeb]

"Downtown Abbey". Is that the name of your favorite prostitute?

[Rich]

As opposed to sketchy furniture shopping?

[Lord Humungus]

touche

[Lord Humungus]

damn I need more than 5 hours of sleep...

[Fist of Etiquette]

Planned Parenthood has filed a federal lawsuit against the Center for Medical Progress, which in 2015 released a series of undercover videos targeting the organization.

For unplanned transparenthood.

[Florida Man]

*polite clap*

[Citizen X]

Quit being such a transplanned cisparenthood shitlord, Eugene.

[Illocust]

Slate writer posts abortion article arguing against regulation. Completely fails to realize it's the exact same argument as the one used against gun regulation.

http://www.slate.com/articles/....._laws.html

[d3x / dt3]

You are forgetting the first rule about Slate:

Do not read Slate

[Illocust]

I read slate so I won't live in a bubble. Jezebel has to terrible of a format for me to use their website, plus I'd probably shoot myself within a week.

[d3x / dt3]

Well, we here commend you for your selflessness!

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

I wonder if they're actually in the bubble.

[Jerryskids]

I read Ann Coulter's Twitter log last night. I don't want to hear any whining about the suffering you've endured trying to come to grips with how insane people view reality.

[Illocust]

With the exception of Amanda Marcotte when she was on XX, I try not to read people that will make me furious on a regular basis. It's not good for my mental health, even in the name of expanded horizons.

[Frankjasper1]

Yep this at least the last half. I don't know who the Amanda Marcotte is. I need to just avoid the derp.

[Crusty Juggler]

I don't know who the Amanda Marcotte is.

She is a hit and run favorite! You need to change that. You need to learn. Your long weekend mission, if you choose to accept it, is to read ten Marcotte articles, while sober, and then report back to us on Tuesday.

Godspeed.

[Trshmnstr, terror of the trash]

Why? Why are you trying to kill him?

[Citizen X]

Dude, that is mean.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Can we have an exception for Dear Prudie?

[Illocust]

Oh Prudie totally doesn't count as part of the rest of Slate. It is its own little world that just happens to be accessed by the Slate main website.

[Old Man With Candy]

Not since they did the Prudie Change. The new one is pretty dim.

[invisible furry hand]

I'm not allowed to anymore - Slate geoblocks furriners

[greasonable]

I'm sure 'stralia lobbied on your behalf to spare you the pain.

[Florida Man]

What? Why?

[invisible furry hand]

Its explanation is that advertisers spend cash on Slate to reach Americans, not devastatingly amusing and intelligent Australians, so the ads don't subsidise us (and presumably advertisers want more information on the traffic viewing their ads so they can better assess ROI). So we are offered a few free articles and then the chance to pay for Slate's clickbait and Prudie.

[Florida Man]

That seems short sighted. What if you visit America, immigrate here, have the same product/service in your country? At least you've got reason...sorry I'm not good at cheering people up.

[commodious spittoon]

She's not obligated to pay Slate any mind. She should be cheering us up.

[Tonio]

They are getting pilloried in the comments. Heh.

[Frankjasper1]

Haha what is being said?

[Tonio]

That the argument they are making would also apply against additional regulation of guns if they were applying consistent principles.

[Frankjasper1]

Well that is refreshing.

[Tonio]

Meh. There are lots of conservatives who monitor Slate and it's unlikely that those comments, factual though they be, will have any influence. Remember - narrative over facts, every single time.

[Frankjasper1]

Very true. Everytime they want "common sense" gun regulations, i follow up with how about some "common sense" abortion regulations?

[Root Boy]

Most progs are reliably inconsistent on principles. It's a principle of theirs.

[Akira]

My favorite maneuver is to get them on a tirade about how nobody should even get to touch a gun without a background check, psychiatric evaluation, paying thousands in fees, buying liability insurance, taking hours and hours of government-mandated training... Then ask them why it's such a big deal to ask for an ID to vote if all those restrictions are perfectly fine for another natural and constitutional right.

[Mr Lizard]

Ya that was serously cut and paste

[Just a thought not a sermon]

138) If there's one sin in modern life that seems to be unforgiveable, it's racism. But is racism really such a big deal?

Take my stepfather. He grew up in a small town in Iowa where I don't think there were any African-Americans. When we moved to Texas when I was a little kid, and later to North Carolina, he found aspects of the local black dialect and fashion sense to be comical, and often made mild jokes along those lines (still does, too). My mom and siblings all just roll our eyes. If you asked him I doubt he'd say he's racist?he's not in the KKK, he thinks blacks should have the same rights to work or vote or whatever as whites. But I bet a lot of people if they heard his jokes, would brand him as a racist.

So does this make him a bad man? He worked hard for 40+ years to support his family, and never hurt anybody, black or white. I don't think his little jokes ever did any harm. And if I heard a black man making little jokes about whites, I wouldn't hold it against him. I might even laugh, if the joke was good.

[d3x / dt3]

He is obviously a horrible, horrible person. He violates safe spaces and probably triggers so many memories of feeling mildly uncomfortable. He cannot be allowed to engage in hate speech.

Have him report to one of the re-education camps at once.

[Citizen X]

re-education camps

Oberlin?

[Zeb]

Places like Oberlin are more for initial indoctrination than for re-education. I don't think they would know what do do with some old dude who has funny ideas about the Negroes, other than kick him out.

[Private Chipperbot]

He is a racist to the perpetually offended.

[Monty Crisco]

who isn't?

[Juvenile Bluster]

My father-in-law is much the same way (born and raised, and lived his entire life in the Piedmont Triad area of NC). Does not make him a bad man in the least.

Only issue I have is when he makes those jokes around my kid, since I know what will happen if she ever repeated them at school.

[Illocust]

Racism is bad in the same way as disliking cheerleaders is bad. In a perfect world you would see every person as an individual, but that's straight up not practical. You should strive for it where you can, but as long as you don't harm someone because of your views you will be in the 'good enough' category.

[Florida Man]

Eh. People hate me, I hate em back, who cares if everybody lives and let lives.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

I make racist and stereotypical jokes all the time - and I'm not racist no matter what the race hustlers, SJW and punditards say.

[Free Society]

I guess we'll have to take you at your word, wop.

[Citizen X]

It's ok, we don't expect any better from Canuckians. You keep on doing the best you can, ya hoser!

[Zeb]

Yeah. It's just funny sometimes.

A lot of people seem to think that simply using certain words or expressing certain thoughts is in and of itself racist. Which is utter bullshit. How you treat people is what matters. Not what words you find funny.

[sarcasmic]

Q) Ever wonder why you never see any black men at a square dance?

A) Because every time someone yells "Hoedown!" he thinks his woman been shot.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

I never tire of that one.

[What's that smell?]

What's the difference between a park bench and a black man?

The park bench can support a family.

[greasonable]

Boring troll is boring.

[What's that smell?]

its a joke cum-stain

[sarcasmic]

Q) Why don't blacks and Mexicans marry?

A) They're afraid their kids will be too lazy to steal.

[Unreconstructed (Sans Flag)]

I once told that joke to a Mexican coworker. His response (after his laughter subsided) was to run across the shop to retell the joke to our black coworker.

[Zeb]

Well, there's racism and then there is racism. I don't think that somewhat racist attitudes like your stepfather displays are a terribly bad thing. All else being equal, I'd rather those attitudes not exist. It certainly doesn't on its own make someone a bad person. And I think trying to change all of the casual racists out there would be counterproductive at best. If peopel would just stop making a big deal out of it, I think it would disappear even faster than it has been.

On the other hand, there is "hard" racism where people actively treat different races differently, or worse yet, want to use force to enforce their ideas about how different races ought to be treated. That's definitely a bad thing.

[Root Boy]

True. It's deeds not words. Lincoln usually gets slammed because of some racist things he said, but he also believed no man should own another's labor and therefore helped to end slavery. It's not hard to comprehend that.

I think the same thing is true about the "Southern Strategy". May or may not be as true as current democrats say, but if Repubs aligned with racist southern whites, did it result in the return of Jim Crow, or was it more along the lines of giving the government loving southern dems a way to vote for bigger military budgets and such. Only thing they argue about now is whether voter ID laws are racist.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

It's no different than if your stepfather made fun of hillbilly speak. I don't expect anyone to be bothered by that, even if he were black making fun of white hillbillies. Dave Chappelle got a lot of mileage out of his square white character/dialect. We all laugh at the fashion sense of Koreans, don't we?

I guess I'd only feel something's wrong if he made fun of non-white dialects - mocking Khoisan languages, "me-so-solly!", etc. - but didn't think there was humor in making fun of those weird Norwegians or Swedes and their fucked up language. Then I'd start thinking that race plays into his thinking.

[Bee Tagger]

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley is being investigated over sketchy furniture shopping.

Those wooden pencils at Ikea are for writing down the location of the furniture, not for doodling.

[Lord Humungus]

Lupica: There's just no 'value' to Ted Cruz and his criticism to 'New York values'

"Everybody understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal and pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage," he said. "And focus on money and the media." This was right before Trump turned and calmly took him apart again for insulting the city the way he has.

Ted Cruz, who only comes here with his hand out, has decided that the most diverse city the world has ever known is filled with people who all think alike. He sounds in these moments like as slow a thinker as we have ever had run for President.

If you are dumb enough to think that New York values are some sort of handicap in this presidential season, then you are as dumb and tone deaf as Jesse Jackson was calling the city "Hymietown," as dumb as Gerald Ford was when he gave this paper the most famous front page in its history, the day he effectively told New York to drop dead.

[UnCivilServant]

New York City 'values' suck.

[Zeb]

And is a pretty meaningless concept. Government policy doesn't define the values of a community and New York is a big and diverse place, even if it is run by a bunch of lefty authoritarians.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Whatever his other faults, Gerald Ford was eminently correct in not bailing out what at the time was a deadbeat city. Also, he never used the phrase "drop dead", that was entirely the New York Post's phrasing.

[d3x / dt3]

"Come visit NYC: the smug asshole cousin of America!"

[BiPolarMoment]

I'm walkin' here!

[Root Boy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-DZtXC3P0c

[Brett L]

"New York City? Git a rope."

[Crusty Juggler]

Mike Lupica is a five-foot tall, high-pitched voiced having, whiney troll. He epitomizes NYC?

[Monty Crisco]

He does. I would like to lock him in a chemical toilet and set it on fire.

[Brett L]

That's horrible. I'm jealous I didn't think of it.

[Jerryskids]

the most diverse city the world has ever known

And that's the exact "New York Values" we're talking about. Donald Trump called 9/11 "the worst thing ever", and I have no doubt he meant that literally. They call the NYPD "New York's Finest" with no hint of sarcasm because, I think, that really is as good as it gets in New York. New Yorkers are famous for not caring what other people think of them (what the fuck you lookin' at?) - although all the outrage over the "New York values" seems to indicate they're pretty damn thin-skinned and care a great deal - but not caring what other people think out here in the real world is just another way of saying "your opinion of me has no meaning to me because you have no meaning to me. I don't care what you think because I don't care about you." Out here in the real world not caring what people think is not being tough and brave and bold, not caring what people think is being a heartless, selfish, inconsiderate asshole. And you assholes are proud of being assholes.

[Just say Nikki]

Out here in the real world not caring what people think is not being tough and brave and bold, not caring what people think is being a heartless, selfish, inconsiderate asshole.

Wait...so...Trump is an inconsiderate asshole?

[Citizen X]

Well, i'm shocked.

[Rhywun]

I'm confused - if I do care what people think I'm "pretty damn thin-skinned" but if I don't care I'm a "heartless, selfish, inconsiderate asshole".

Way to stack the deck.

[Mr. Flanders]

My thoughts exactly. Mindless drivel from Jerryskids.

[Bill Dalasio]

Out here in the real world not caring what people think is not being tough and brave and bold, not caring what people think is being a heartless, selfish, inconsiderate asshole.

Not really. Sometimes, what people think is just plain idiotic. And why should I let someone else's idiocy cast a veto over my life? If I'm acting like an asshole, I'm doing so regardless of what other people think of me. If everyone approves of the inconsiderate asshole, they're still an inconsiderate asshole. What other people think seems to me a pretty shallow standard of being a decent person.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Chicago has released video of the 2013 police shooting of black teen Cedrick Chatman.

Friday document dump.

[Swiss Servator]

Getting to be a regular Chicago occurrence.

[invisible furry hand]

Police union claims victory as The Hateful Eight struggles at box office

[Juvenile Bluster]

And RooshV claimed victory over Star Wars, saying his articles lost the movie millions.

One is about as smart as the other.

[Free Society]

I didn't see what Tarantino said that was so awful. He basically spoke of that one particular incident in the context of it being a murder and that those particular cops involved were getting away with it, whichever one it was i don't remember. Unfortunately though, his words filled every police union rep's vagina full of sand and they acted like he was trashing the whole profession. Wouldn't break my heart if had actually done that, but he didn't.

[Root Boy]

He's always going to say something to piss someone off somewhere. Agree or disagree, but seems like small beer for a boycott. NYC has murderous cops and murderous thugs. Don't like neither.

Hope to see H8ful 8 soon.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

139) The mask drops in this article on Slate, where the author discusses the "moral hazard" of using geoengineering to fix problems that might be caused by global warming. He discusses some genuine problems (i.e. there might be unforeseen effects from various geoengineering solutions, or different countries might prefer higher or lower temperatures), but essentially the article boils down to geoengineering "let[ting] humans off the hook." Even worse, the "fossil fuel industry, say, might double down on geoengineering since it could, in principle, offer the industry a few more years with its existing business models." What the author really means is that people should suffer for their environmental sins, and geoengineering solutions would prevent that punishment from ever occurring.

[Illocust]

I saw that one, and felt the need to comment. Unfortunately, I can only comment from my home computer, so I can't respond to any of the follow ups. But yeah, author is an idiot.

[Frankjasper1]

I like how they think the fossil fuel industry is dieing. What would it even be replaced with? Wind? Solar? They dont like nuclear.

[Illocust]

Wind and solar. I know a couple. Very smart people, tend to do their research, but incredibly gullible. They don't understand what the problems are, so they just believe very smart people will figure it out given the right incentive. I've tried to explain the issue a couple times, but they know I'm not a believer so I get the polite smile and nod.

[Frankjasper1]

The easiest is that the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. Plus they take massive amounts of land and maintenance.

[Illocust]

And they respond Germany has done it, and they have less sunshine than we do.

[UnCivilServant]

Germany went from nuclear to lignite power.

[Frankjasper1]

Because germany has solar doesn't mean that they are getting a significant portion of energy from it.

[WTF]

No, Germany attempted to sort of do it, and it didn't work out very well.

[Free Society]

Germany went from having one of the most competitive energy markets in Europe to being the second most expensive in Europe (maybe the world I don't remember). Right behind Denmark.

[Jerryskids]

they just believe very smart people will figure it out given the right incentive

You know, I believe that, given the right incentives, you don't need really smart people to figure out how to deal with the "global warming" problem. You just need somebody to figure out what the real problem is. As JATNAS points out, some people think the real problem is that human beings have been naughty and all must be spanked. Some see the problem as we're producing too much CO2 and the only answer is to stop. Some see the problem as people getting worked up over nothing. If you look at every problem as a nail, you're going to look at every tool as a hammer.

[Tonio]

What the author really means is that people should suffer for their environmental sins, and geoengineering solutions would prevent that punishment from ever occurring.

^This. The sin of pride.

[Je suis Woodchipper]

it's probably much cheaper to bioengineer ourselves than geoengineer the planet.

[Root Boy]

plenty of stupid articles on just that topic (bioengineering), but I don't agree it would be easier.

[OneOut]

And if a fewmistakes were made getting the process down perfect it's not like the engineers have Tulpaed up the entire planet.

[ant1sthenes]

Same logic with ecigs and condoms, there is no difference between the christfags and enviroweenies and pubhealthers.

[contrarian]

+1 giant vapor cloud

[Emmerson Biggins]

And passing a global carbon tax to intentionally lower the mean temperature of the entire earth on isn't geo-engineering?

What a shallow dumbass.

[Swiss Servator]

Planned Parenthood has filed a federal lawsuit against the Center for Medical Progress, which in 2015 released a series of undercover videos targeting the organization.

Not sure they want to go through the discovery process...not a bright move by PP.

[Old Man With Candy]

Not sure they want to go through the discovery process

Depends on the judge. PP could be well-protected by a ruling that the discovery requests other than the most basic ones can be quashed.

[Notorious UGCC]

I think it's about deterring potential critics from doing what CMP did.

[Lord Humungus]

Canadian charged with smuggling drugs into U.S. by sled

Authorities say a Canadian man was arrested while pulling a sled carrying more than 82 kilograms of prescription pills across the border into the United States.

The U.S. Attorney's office says Cedrik Bourgault-Morin was apprehended early Wednesday after he crossed the border from Quebec along a railroad line into Vermont.

Prosecutors say Bourgault-Morin was wearing white camouflage and Border Patrol agents were alerted to his presence when he triggered a sensor.

Prosecutors say agents found 300 vacuum-sealed bags of Xanax pills in a duffel bag on the sled. Xanax is an anti-anxiety medication. They say the pills had a street value of US$1.6 million.

[Juvenile Bluster]

It's not true Canadian unless the sled was pulled by a moose.

[Citizen X]

This was one of the least necessary subplots of 'Twin Peaks.'

[Crusty Juggler]

That's a damn, fine bag of Xanax.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Lemme try and re-enact the scene:

"Beep!"

"Tabernak de chalice!"

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Isn't Xanax an anti-anxiety medication? This seems like a strange drug to sell on the street. Is it really expensive, maybe?

[Citizen X]

You know how people constantly say things like "take a chill pill"? Well, Xanax IS the chill pill, and it is in high demand.

Also, it's only legally available by prescription, because we can't have folks taking whatever pills they want just to FEEL good.

[AlmightyJB]

Better to be stressed.

[AlmightyJB]

It's similar to valium. A seditive. Yes, very popular. Why, can you get some:)

[Mr Lizard]

Crush it, mix with corona, and take the rest of the night off. And no hangover

[Just say Nikki]

Isn't Xanax an anti-anxiety medication? This seems like a strange drug to sell on the street.

Someone needs to try more drugs.

I mean, Xanax is weak shit though.

[Citizen X]

Hey, it saved my marriage in a couple of rough patches.

[Fist of Etiquette]

A Florida woman whose husband was killed in Jordan is suing Twitter for "giving a voice" to the Islamic State.

ISIS killed Florida Man?

[Just a thought not a sermon]

"ISIS killed Florida Man?"

I'm picturing this song accompanied by a Buggles video.

[Florida Man]

Ssh. She just thinks they did.
/ducks around corner

[Mr Lizard]

For every Florida man you kill (or dies through their own antics) there are 10 more jackasses to take their place.

[Citizen X]

The top thirty or so causes of death for Florida Men all involve one form or another of autodarwination. Daesh doesn't even crack the top two hundred.

[Swiss Servator]

"Hold my beer and watch me....get beheaded"?

[Bee Tagger]

Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump took turns insulting one another

I prefer to think that we are the ones who should ultimately feel insulted.

[Lord Humungus]

Researchers: There's No Such Thing As A Mid-Life Crisis

It brings to mind that longstanding stereotype about the guy who impulsively buys the red sports car or dumps his wife for a younger girlfriend.

But researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada now say a mid-life crisis isn't real? it's just a myth!

They followed a group of high school students for 25 years and a group of college students for 14 years.

The participants were all asked the same question at different ages: How happy are you with your life?

They found that as the people aged, they became happier and more secure.

Interestingly, those who were married and in good health were happier than younger participants who were unemployed.

[UnCivilServant]

I notice they stopped just before the classic midlife crisis ages. The oldest the respondants would have been would be 43 or so. Midlife crises are stereotypicalle keyed to late 40s early 50s.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

They win, because mid-life is late 30s, those crises you refer to would be mid 2nd half of life crises.

/technically correct, the only, best kind of correct

[d3x / dt3]

The science is settled!

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

There's no mid-life crisis because of climate change.

[greasonable]

I might argue that life crises aren't necessarily tied directly to happiness per se. To a large degree, I think it is just shifting of priorities as we change in capabilities, physical and mental, while we realize our finances allow for things that we couldn't do when we were younger. Some people express that by buying things they wish they could have bought when they were younger. Others express it by making social choices they were not able to accomplish when they were less confident.
Nor are they going to be chronologically synchronized either, so you wouldn't be able to look for a certain age for the spike. Similarly, different people are going to tack at a different rate, with more responsive people making smaller changes over a longer period of time, while more stubborn people reach a more sharply defined inflection point.

[Overt]

Yeah, I said the same below (damn you). I think the "mid life crisis" is shifting later because people have delayed starting a family to later in life, and are closer to 50 when kid-related bills are tapering off. Interestingly, the mittigating factor is the ease of college loans which let a parent kick their kid to the college-debt curb and reap the financial security for themselves.

[Overt]

I always figured that the "Mid Life Crisis" was people who are finally financially secure looking at the choices they had to make when they were financially un-secure and deciding to make new choices. Usually around this time, bills associated with kids were tapering off and men have entered their peak earning years. So instead of buying the sensible honda civic, they can now afford the corvette (or pick your flavor). And yes, in many cases, they would look at the hotties they couldn't attract/afford as a 20 yr old and choose to play that game.

In other words, it isn't older men coming to grips with their imminent death, but instead fulfilling their 20's fantasies that they can finally afford.

[Rhywun]

Interestingly, those who were married and in good health were happier than younger participants who were unemployed.

Let me get my fainting couch.

[Illocust]

"Planned Parenthood has filed a federal lawsuit against the Center for Medical Progress, which in 2015 released a series of undercover videos targeting the organization. "

Oooo boy, this could have some real fallout. I think libs have completely forgotten what its like to be on the outside edges of power looking in. 'Course, it doesn't really matter to them because the people currently in power aren't going to ever be in that position again. It will be their sons or daughters.

[Private Chipperbot]

No lawyer here, but wouldn't discovery be troubling for PP? Would they have to open books re: profits, selling bits, donations, etc.?

[Illocust]

PP is franchised, so it is possible that the folks suing aren't the ones doing the selling. I'd think they'd have trouble with standing under that argument, though.

Also, remember that Global Warming guy that was arguing his opponents should be prosecuted only to turn out he was guilty of double dipping on funding. People can get secure in their positions. Everyone around them accepts the way their organization is run, so they don't realize how deep of shit they'd be in if the rest of the world knew.

[The Last American Hero]

Not to mention having the videos get replayed over several new cycles each time there is a new development in the case.

[Lord Humungus]

Auckland Council bans mermaid tails from public pools

An announcement on the Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre Facebook page tells visitors: "We wish to advise our customers that ALL mermaid tails and fins are no longer permitted in any Auckland Council leisure facility.

"The ban is in response to the dangers associated with the products: They hinder the ability for children to move their legs while swimming [and] they promoted prolonged under-water swimming which can lead to shallow water black-outs."

Mermaid tails are an aquatic device that mimic the body of the mythical creature. The user slips into the fin as if putting on pants. Their legs are bound together within the tail device.

[Elspeth Flashman]

You know what else leads to black-outs?

[Citizen X]

Whippits?

[UnCivilServant]

Squirrels in power substations?

[WTF]

Warty?

[Lord Humungus]

A night with Warty? Or a few seconds with Warty?

[Lord Humungus]

curse you, WTF

[straffinrun]

Michael Sam being drafted?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

My love-making.

/hits Venus Flytrap gong.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Putting the Rufus in Ruffies?

[Crusty Juggler]

White Russians?

[Mr Lizard]

Dinner parties at Warty's?

[The Last American Hero]

The Scorpions?

[Lord Humungus]

German wartime bombing?

/the correct answer

[Citizen X]

All you people mentioning Warty are wrong. Warty uses a combination of saline drips and drug cocktails to ensure that his "guests" CAN'T black out.

[Lord Humungus]

If you tried to squat as much as Warty can, it would be impossible not to black out

[DEATFBIRSECIA]

The 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests?

[Elspeth Flashman]

All good answers, however the answer I was seeking was simply tequila. Tequila causes blackouts.

[OneOut]

Noit doesn't and guns don't kill people either.

Drinking tequila causes blackouts. And pregnant women. And car wrecks and fights and a number of things i can't remember.

[WTF]

What about whale tails?

[Swiss Servator]

ALLOWED

[Cdr Lytton]

Rikki, Cleo, & Emma have a sad.

[Bee Tagger]

The civil suit accuses the defendants -- the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress and a fake fetal tissue procurement company called "BioMax"-- of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Oh no, a RICO suit. Poor Adriana.

[d3x / dt3]

Exactly what the creators of the RICO statute had in mind!

[WTF]

When they passed it they assured us it would only be used against organized crime!

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

"Not far from Columbine, Colorado, two teen girls have been arrested for allegedly plotting to carry out a mass shooting at their high school."

Pay inequality and global warming. This is what happens when you do nothing now.

[Tonio]

Since they are female, they will inevitably be painted as victims and the blame shifted to the partiarchy. Let's see...PTSD by proxy due to proximity to that HS caused them to want to re-enact...

[AlmightyJB]

They were trying to impress boys.

[Tonio]

Good one, JB! Poisoned by penis-envy.

[Banjos]

Only a sexist like you would insist that females have agency and are responsible for their actions.

[Lord Humungus]

How Switzerland Hopes To Prevent Refugee Sex Attacks: With This Cartoon

The traditionally inert, neutral and quite homogeneous nation of Switzerland is not used to having cultural integration issues, which is why it has been watching recent events across the German border (and elsewhere in Europe) with sheer terror. And in order to preempt any possible outbreaks of refugee violence against women, or in general, ahead of the Lucerne carnival starting on February 4, Switzerland is getting ready.

According to Blick, the department of Health and Social Services will use the following Austrian cartoon flyer dubbed "Ground Rules" which will be distributed to incoming migrants ahead of the noted Swiss carnival with hopes it will make it clear what is and isn't permitted. It lays out various instances of accepted behavior such as kissing and praying, while making it clear that punching women and children in the head is frowned upon in polite society.

[straffinrun]

I'm guessing they didn't use Tom and Jerry.

[Irish ?s ESB]

Aren't there like 15 refugees in Switzerland? They haven't really taken any in. This seems like a panic move since when you have that small a population, integration is bound to be way easier.

[Free Society]

They haven't taken in nearly as many as Germany, but they do have sizable Muslim minority. Enough to where some people felt the need to place a ban on new mosque construction.

[kbolino]

Enough to where some people felt the need to place a ban on new mosque construction

They banned minarets, not mosques, as far as I know. Whether anyone will construct a new mosque without a minaret, I don't know.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

If it's all anecdotal then why are governments going to great lengths with such PSA?

[commodious spittoon]

To assuage their horribly racist native citizens.

[Swiss Servator]

The traditionally inert, neutral and quite homogeneous nation of Switzerland is not used to having cultural integration issues

4 official languages, three parts of the country that are more or less oriented toward a neighbor, home to a shit-ton of multinational business, banking, etc...."inert"..."homogeneous"? Feh.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

I didn't take Switz. for being homogeneous.

[Ivan Pike]

We can call Swiss "Lord Homogeneous"

[Cdr Lytton]

So no homo?

[Florida Man]

Shut up and take your accusation of whiteness!

[commodious spittoon]

I think "inert" is code for "politically uninteresting," and "homogeneous" is code for "very white."

[Free Society]

4 official languages, three parts of the country that are more or less oriented toward a neighbor, home to a shit-ton of multinational business, banking, etc...."inert"..."homogeneous"? Feh.

That was my thought. Unless you count all European cultural and ethnic groups as one group, Switzerland is very cosmopolitan. The Swiss tend to speak more languages than most other Europeans, even beating the Dutch whom are very multilingual.

[Free Society]

"These migrants are just like you and me. Please ignore the fact that we need to educate them on how to not rape and beat women and children at random. "

[Marshal]

The Shining huh. So Reason will be forgoing their tut-tutting over hyperbolic language from now on?

How will they replace the content currently spent whining about whether community animosity toward police actually constitutes a war?

[Tonio]

Shorter Marshal: "Waaaaaaaahhhhhh."

[Marshal]

Tonio life summary:

"I'm a useless douchebag".

[Lord Humungus]

Those don't look like carrots...

Border officers find ton of pot in fake carrots

These aren't the carrots Bugs Bunny was chomping on. U.S. border officers seized more than a ton of marijuana stuffed into fake carrots tossed in with the real thing, officials said.

Officers in Pharr, Texas, on Sunday found 2,493 pounds of suspected marijuana concealed within a commercial shipment of fresh carrots entering from Mexico.

"Once again, drug smuggling organizations have demonstrated their creativity in attempting to smuggle large quantities of narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border," Port Director Efrain Solis Jr. said in a statement.

[Notorious UGCC]

"These aren't the carrots Bugs Bunny was chomping on."

Are you sure about that?

[OneOut]

It adds a new dimension to the concept of edibles.

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

"Once again, drug smuggling organizations have demonstrated their creativity in attempting to smuggle large quantities of narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border," Port Director Efrain Solis Jr. said in a statement."

Ah, the old squeezing the balloon problem, again. Squeeze it here, and it expands over there. Human ingenuity (the market) is a great thing. Wouldn't we be better off letting the market work its wonders?

[invisible furry hand]

America, you have failed Sean Penn yet again

'I have terrible regret': Sean Penn says he failed in his goal to spark drugs policy reform from El Chapo interview and reveals he isn't scared for his life as he breaks silence on controversial meeting

[Elspeth Flashman]

We'll try harder next time?

[Irish ?s ESB]

"I thought I could change US drug policy by surreptitiously meeting with a mass murderer," the moron wailed, as America began to suspect I Am Sam was a documentary.

[Crusty Juggler]

You never go full retard.

[Florida Man]

Forrest Gump, charmed the pants off Nixon, that ain't retarded.

[Cdr Lytton]

"I thought I could change US drug policy by surreptitiously meeting with a mass murderer,"

Penn's been a busy man. He met with Obama too?

[Root Boy]

Even Sean Penn knows Obama has no power, stymied at every move by those meddlesome Republicans.

[OneOut]

I find it amaing that el Chapo who certainly is no dummy or else he could not have built and run such a large company and eluded punishment fro LE or the competition for so long, would make such a stupid move as to let Peen meet with him.

Even if Penn didn't knowingly let the Feds track his movements he couldn't possibly prevent it and I have a sad that el Chapo didn't grok that.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Single, double, triple, quadruple face palm.

What a fucken dolt.

[Lord Humungus]

National Review: Trump Won

As for the other leaders, Cruz had perhaps his best debate. The "birther" exchange showed that a good debater can mix knowledge with humor, and he sliced and diced Trump more effectively than any candidate in the race.

But then he endured two withering attacks ? first from Trump on the "New York values" question and then, later, from Rubio who dumped a massive amount of opposition research on Cruz in one devastating minute. Finally, I like angry Rubio. As someone said on Twitter, you can make a smart person angry, but you can't make an angry person smart. If he can slow down his delivery just a bit, then his natural eloquence is powerful when he makes a forceful argument. His argument on gun control was outstanding, as was his critique of the Obama/Clinton foreign policy.

So far, it's a Trump/Cruz/Rubio race, and this debate didn't knock Trump from the top. He won, but his chief competitors performed well. The next few weeks will be interesting indeed.

[OneOut]

Cru just showed that if you're going to insult someone make sure it's someone who isn't going to vote for you anyway.

Trump is the one who insulted all Iowans who are first to the polls.

[Rich]

RNC member urges party to rally against Trump

"You've got a situation here," he added, "that when someone is listening to this, either a conservative or a Democrat, or a Republican, or an independent, there are things that are said on that stage and in the media, that if your child was doing that, you'd put that child over your knee and spank them. You know it, and I know it."

"Oh, you'd better believe *that's* a paddling'!"

[Marshal]

When Clinton tried to parse the word "is" I asked why America accepts answers from the President we wouldn't accept from 4 year olds. Supporters weren't even embarrassed by it.

[straffinrun]

When she started parsing what the meaning of jizz is, she lost me.

[Marshal]

That wasn't parsing, that was ignorance and confusion.

[Citizen X]

No, it's more of a kickin'.

[Banjos]

The majority of Trump supporters are not supporting Trump as much as they are just giving the middle finger to what they perceive to be the establishment. If the RNC wanted to successfully sabotage Trump, all they would have to do is endorse him.

[Lord Humungus]

Obama administration set to announce moratorium on some new federal coal leases

The Obama administration is preparing to announce sweeping changes in the way federally owned coal is mined and sold in the United States, including a moratorium on some new coal leases and a review of how taxpayers are compensated for coal taken from government lands, according to officials and activists briefed on the plans.

The White House is expected to unveil the new policies on Friday, three days after President Obama promised reforms to federal energy policy in his State of the Union address.

The moves?which are certain to draw fierce opposition from the coal industry and politicians from Western states?appear aimed at addressing a glaring contradiction in U.S. energy policy, which simultaneously promotes the sale of federally owned coal even as it seeks to limit greenhouse-gas pollution from coal burning.

[Swiss Servator]

"All of the above" energy policy...

[Lord Humungus]

The Biggest Dinosaur Ever Found Is On Display in New York

"Every time we think we've found the biggest one, someone finds a bigger one," Mark Norell, an AMNH paleontologist and curator, told me at the preview. "We are getting close though, I think."

Along those lines, it seems that the last few years have been particularly fruitful in terms of titanosaur discoveries. Traditionally under-explored regions like South America have turned out to be goldmines when it comes to these large animals, which were an incredibly successful and worldly group of Goliaths during the Cretaceous.

"We think the titanosaurs originated in the southern continents, in Gondwanaland," Norell explained. "That's why we find them in India, in Australia, in Africa, South America, and Antarctica."

[Crusty Juggler]

The American Museum of Natural History? More trashy New York City values infecting society.

[Swiss Servator]

Pfft. Give me the Field Museum any day!

[Crusty Juggler]

Let's not get started on Chicago values. Ditka, Malort, corruption, Richard Kimble, dying the lake green - I could go on, sir.

[WTF]

Like the fucking Metropolitan Museum of Art - do you realize how much foreign crap they have in that place? And don't even get me started on Lincoln Center, it's all Beethoven, Mozart, Puccini - not a damn American among them!

[Rhywun]

"Iitanosaur"? What are they going to call the next one they find that's even bigger? It doesn't really get any bigger than "titan".

[invisible furry hand]

"Perhaps, the rudeness that you perceived in me was triggered by the disrespect that I perceived in you by your presumption that you could use our facilities and be waited on for free."

Cafe owner explains business costs to entitled idiot

[Lord Humungus]

China Stocks Enter Bear Market, Erasing Gains From State Rescue

Chinese shares fell into a bear market for the second time in seven months, wiping out gains from an unprecedented state rescue amid waning confidence in the government's ability to manage the country's markets and economy.

The Shanghai Composite Index sank 3.5 percent to 2,900.97, falling 21 percent from its December high and sinking below its closing low during a $5 trillion rout in August. Friday's decline was attributed to persistent investor concerns over volatility in the yuan and a report that some banks in Shanghai have halted accepting shares of smaller listed companies as collateral for loans.

[Lord Humungus]

you know who else something something

Angry Bavarian politician takes bus full of refugees to Merkel

An irate local politician from Germany's southern state of Bavaria took a bus carrying 31 refugees to Chancellor Angela Merkel's office in Berlin on Thursday as a protest against her open-door refugee policy.

The Syrians, escorted by police, arrived after a 550-kilometre trip outside Merkel's office, where a dozen German protesters, unconnected with them, were chanting "Merkel must go" in protest at her line on immigration.

Peter Dreier, head of the southeastern town of Landshut, acted on a threat he made to Merkel last year when he said his municipality could no longer cope with the number of arrivals.

"I think that we have to ensure the humane treatment of these refugees," Dreier said upon his arrival in the capital, travelling on the bus with the refugees.

"On this scale and within such a short time we simply can't guarantee that any more."

[Tonio]

Nice.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

I fight it odd that the refugees/migrants have already taken to throwing rocks at people and police. They JUST arrived.

All they seem to know is chaos.

[invisible furry hand]

I've always found it odd that in more, er, troubled areas of town the locals throw things at ambulances. Cops I get, but nice people trying to save lives?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

In one video they were throwing at transportation trucks.

Wtf?

[Root Boy]

Maybe that was at the chunnel and they wanted to stop the trucks to sneak aboard?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Whatever it was, if I were - and that's just me - in a new country I'd observe the customs and rules of the new land and place to the best of my abilities out of pure respect.

[Root Boy]

Oh for sure. Illegals rioted in some Italian town because wifi wasn't good enough. I'd be with Pegida or Marine Le Pen if I lived in Europe. Fuck that invasion being hand held by the politicians.

[ant1sthenes]

Goddamn you Canadians and your ruthless adherence to the doctrine of politeness.

[UnCivilServant]

"Look, we dun capped him for reason. Don't need some white morality saving his ass."

[Florida Man]

troubled areas of town

You mean tribe areas?

In Spain I was having lunch with some Australians and we were chatting and because I love food I asked if there are aboriginal restaurants in Australia. I guess it's a sensitive subject because I was subjected to a round table diatribe about how aborigines have more rights that white people and they can't live in houses because they burn the floor boards for heat and so forth. It was kind of an awkward meal after that.

[invisible furry hand]

You mean tribe areas?

Um, no. I was thinking of some of the shittier suburbs in Sydney (lots of welfare, low educational levels etc). Not a black or white thing.

I'm sorry you met arseholes, and I can't pretend that I haven't heard this collectivist crap too. Most Indigenous Australians are urban and live lives pretty indistinguishable from their neighbours. The ones who live in regional and remote areas, however, often enjoy the full range of racist bullshit from white people, and the usual ills that flow from 40 years of shitty government policies and welfare money (they, rather brilliantly, call it "sit-down money").

[Florida Man]

I'm just breakin' balls. I know you're one of the good uns. It was kind of a surreal moment. I did not realize I was stepping into a touchy subject. I thought "food, that's a universal topic". Oops.

[invisible furry hand]

Ow, my lady-balls!

Well if you ever make it down to this side, I'll do you a kangaroo fillet and take you to the footy

[Florida Man]

Awesome. I'll get there eventually. I like to travel but I'm trying to get debt free first.

[UnCivilServant]

Think about it, Aboriginal food would consist of stuff that lived in Australia naturally - you don't want to be eating that.

[Rhywun]

Psst... their called "indigenous peoples" now.

[Drake]

I think I linked this yesterday. It is amazing to me too. Just show up and start assaulting your hosts with rocks and clubs. Amazing too that a French guy was carry a concealed weapon. Some kind of off-duty cop I assume.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHX5jsomq_U

[WTF]

Yeah, he was a cop. You could tell he was not an American cop, because he didn't start shooting immediately while multiple additional cop cars rolled up for backup.

[Drake]

I bet the locals would have been quite pleased with that reaction.

[WTF]

No doubt.

[Free Society]

I would've shot him. But I guess when you factor in a lack of self-defense rights I can see how some people would be hesitant to do so.

[commodious spittoon]

"On this scale and within such a short time we simply can't guarantee that any more."

Our only fault is that we just care too much.

[Citizen X]

You know what other German politician packed members of outgroups into public transit and took them to a second location?

[Swiss Servator]

Bismarck?

[Irish ?s ESB]

"Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump took turns insulting one another, Ben Carson looked confused and stoned, someone called Edward Snowden a traitor... that's right, another GOP presidential debate has come and gone. (Check out commentary from the Reason peanut gallery here.) "

Yeah, I'm done watching these. I remember about a year and a half ago when it looked like there might actually be an interesting debate between Paul, Cruz, and various establishment politicians about the direction of the Republican party, but now it's just retards braying at each other while Ben Carson naps in a corner and people wonder how Kasich is still polling high enough to be on the main stage.

[Citizen X]

If our own Alice Bowie is any indication, Kasich is rocking it with the large and powerful Brain-Damaged Stomatized Elderly Urban Progressive demographic.

[Drake]

Fuck you cancer. Fuck you right in your malignant, metastasizing, abnormal ass. You killed my dog yesterday.

[Tonio]

Sorry, buddy.

[Citizen X]

Sorry for the loss of your friend. Does it help to know that Joe Biden is on that shit?

[Swiss Servator]

*narrows gaze*

[Drake]

Thanks guys.

I work for a medical company and plan my own revenge.

[OneOut]

Some years ago I lost the most beautiful and intelligent Golden Retreiver to ever walk the earth after 14 years of mutual adoration.

Nothing made that dog happier than pleasing me. I could actually talk to that dog in English and she showed signs of understanding that would compete with a 3 or 4 years old human.

I cried like a baby for days and still mist up a little when I see another Golden.

I feel for you.

[tarran]

Dude... I'm so sorry!

[Hamster of Doom]

My condolences.

[WTF]

Sorry for your loss, I know how tough that is.

[Cdr Lytton]

Ah geez. That sucks. I'm sorry Drake.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/dog_paradox

[Drake]

Pretty good. A 5-year old Mastiff so not a perfect fit but as the sedative was taking affect, she decided to give her crotch a good licking.

[invisible furry hand]

I'm sorry for your loss, but you gotta be proud of that. Attagirl!

[Sevo]

That's just flat tough to take. For whatever it's worth, you have my best wishes.

[Just say Nikki]

Sorry to hear this, Drake. But it seems like your dog was in pretty good rule-of-three company this week.

[Notorious UGCC]

I'm very sorry to hear that.

[bacon-magic]

Sorry for your loss, my last dog died of cancer too(apparently pitbulls are prone to cancer, my doggie was the most loving, loyal & selfless friend I had)

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

Sad to hear that. And only 5 years old? Shit.

[Lord Humungus]

Crude dive deepens as market braces for more Iranian oil

Brent crude futures plunged more than 4 percent to fresh 12-year lows on Friday as the market braced for increased Iranian oil exports, with the lifting of international sanctions possible within days.

Brent and U.S. crude oil were on track to close lower for a third consecutive week, down roughly 20 percent from their 2016 highs.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could issue its report on Iran's compliance with an agreement to curb its nuclear program during a Friday meeting in Vienna, potentially triggering the lifting of Western sanctions.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Information only counts as "facts" if it supports the proggie narrative

[Sevo]

SF's housing 'crises' is largely self-inflicted; restrictive zoning, nimbys by the bushel, and mostly rent control. So in order to encourage building new units, you'd remove some of the restrictions and regulations, like, oh, this new 'ruling':

"Mission District gets new development rules ? for 15 months"
[...]
"San Francisco's Planning Commission on Thursday approved interim controls that will require some developers to provide information on how their proposed projects might affect the larger neighborhood's economic diversity."
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/.....760198.php

And, for the jackpot:
"Certainly there are going to be different opinions, but we'd like those opinions to be supported by facts,"
Bull
.
.
.
.
shit.
The fact is that rent control removes rental units from the market, so I think they have in mind certain sorts of 'facts', like proggie-approved 'facts'.

[UnCivilServant]

Nuke the site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

[Lord Humungus]

FiveThirtyEight: Are We Headed For Another Recession?

The second category of doomsayers argues that there really are reasons to worry right now. Or at least one reason: China. China's stock market tumbled to start the year, and, depending on whose interpretation you believe, its economy is either gradually slowing or falling off a cliff. The turmoil is reducing Chinese demand for everything from oil to luxury goods and is threatening to destabilize global financial markets.

The question is how much of a threat China's struggles pose to the U.S. economy as a whole. The answer is clearly not "none," but it might well be "not much." U.S. exports to China are relatively modest, and our financial systems aren't particularly interconnected. A broader global slowdown would surely pinch, but the rest of the world has been struggling for more than two years now and the U.S. recovery has stayed on course.

None of this is to say that a recession isn't coming. If there's one truism in macroeconomics, it's that we're really bad at predicting recessions. But that failure works in both directions ? a vocal subset of economists has been forecasting a collapse for six years. One day, they'll be right. But I'm guessing that day won't come in 2016.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley is being investigated over sketchy furniture shopping.

This is comforting. I would hate for a criminal to win the Democratic nomination.

[Swiss Servator]

Zing!

[Lord Humungus]

It's time to unleash America's airpower in Afghanistan

President Obama's desire to avoid large new ground commitments in the Middle East is, in many respects, understandable, given the experiences of some 15 years of war. At present, however, the modest number of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan operate with one hand tied behind their backs ? at a time when Afghan forces, though fighting hard, are struggling. That should be changed. We should unleash our airpower in support of our Afghan partners in the same way that we support our Iraqi and Syrian partners against extremists.

At present, U.S. and NATO airpower in Afghanistan is used only to attack validated al-Qaeda targets, to counter specific individuals or groups who have attacked coalition forces previously and to respond directly to attacks on coalition forces. According to leaders on the ground, U.S. and NATO forces are otherwise not allowed to attack Taliban targets. The situation appears to be in flux in regard to Islamic State elements, but through 2015, they too could be targeted only under narrow circumstances.

[Irish ?s ESB]

"At present, U.S. and NATO airpower in Afghanistan is used only to attack validated al-Qaeda targets, to counter specific individuals or groups who have attacked coalition forces previously and to respond directly to attacks on coalition forces."

I didn't know Doctors Without Borders facilities met those criteria.

[UnCivilServant]

They were a legitimate target under clause O-0/p(s) of the rules of engagement.

[ant1sthenes]

I don't think that was carried out under the AUMF, it was a cost saving measure mandated by Obamacare.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

It's a good thing President Obama ended that war in Afghanistan, amirite?

[Citizen X]

The rising of the seas began to slow, and our nation began to heal.

[Lord Humungus]

Exclusive: RNC member urges party to rally against Trump

Redfield went on to lament "the tenor of the discussion amongst these candidates reducing our label," and "the disrespect in many cases for ethnic minorities in the United States, but also religious factions in the United States, we have to draw the line. Because sooner or later, somebody has to pick up the pieces."

"You've got a situation here," he added, "that when someone is listening to this, either a conservative or a Democrat, or a Republican, or an independent, there are things that are said on that stage and in the media, that if your child was doing that, you'd put that child over your knee and spank them. You know it, and I know it."

The RNC's meeting comes at a time of widespread consternation in the highest ranks of the party, with many officials wrestling with the question of whether to rally against Trump. While many attending this week's meeting expressed profound discomfort with the idea of Trump being the party's nominee, others said it was incumbent upon them to unite around the eventual nominee ? no matter who it is. "Please rally around whoever happens to be our nominee," Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal told RNC members at a Thursday lunch.

[Illocust]

OMG, why won't the plebes listen to us! Why would long term ignoring their demands cause them to vote for the guy that listens to them!

Seriously, dumbshit, all those things you say on the campaign trail to get elected. If you followed through with them this wouldn't be happening. Hell you could probably kill Trump momentum right now by fighting Obama in Congress.

[WTF]

Makes me think maybe they really would rather see Hillary elected than support Trump.

[Illocust]

Hillary has been around long enough that they are probably friends with her. They at least no how to bribe her to get what they want. Trump may go to their cocktail parties, but he doesn't owe any of the party members for his current position. He'll do whatever the fuck he wants and wave his dick in their face if they complain about it. Of course, they want Hill to win.

(No, this is not an endorsement of Trump's policies)

[Root Boy]

I'm sure some of the establishment would help fund Hillary if Trump is running. She's the easiest palm to grease since LBJ probably.

[RAHeinlein]

Apologies for the Friday sappiness - Wikipedia impact at 15:

https://15.wikipedia.org/

[straffinrun]

I loved that.

[Greg Buls]

Ted BARELY qualifies for naturalization - forget natural born status. Everything he said in the debate about the issue was weasel-words; his debate lies answered in FULL:
http://trumpcampaignanalysis.blogspot.com/

Protections against divided loyalties:
1. American mother
2. American father
3. Born in America
4. No foreign ties or allegiances

Ted gets 1 of the 4, but he's 'natural born'? Is that what the founders intended? Their intentions weren't _crystal clear_, but we do have this (From Congressional Research Service):
"In 1825, in a significant and widely recognized work on the Constitution, William Rawle specifically noted that the term "natural born citizen" as used in the Constitution would include "every person born within the United States ...whether the parents are citizens or aliens...."
Anchor babies have a stronger claim to eligibility than Ted does.

[Swiss Servator]

Hey Tonio!

Looks like we have a customer over here.

*frantically begins unrolling foil*

[Citizen X]

I think Tonio is busy being in a slapfight with Marshal upthread yonder.

[Tonio]

"One of us, one of us..."

[commodious spittoon]

Oh my God, a real, live birther. I thought you guys were a myth.

[WTF]

Shh, don't scare him away!

[Florida Man]

*Sets out bowl of birth certificates*

Come on fella...

[Trshmnstr, terror of the trash]

*slowly grabs net while maintaining eye contact*

It's okay... We're not going to hurt you, we've got a very nice place for you to stay. There is all the tinfoil you could ever want!

[Crusty Juggler]

I had no idea! Ted Cruz must be deported immediately.

Hey, how did you find out, Greg? Are you a foreigner, like he is? Just in case, deport Greg, too. He knows too much.

[Sevo]

NOOOOO!
Keep him in protective custody until we learn the 'secrets'!

[Irish ?s ESB]

I for one am absolutely terrified that Ted Cruz might have loyalties divided between America and the despotic wasteland that is Canada. This will prevent him from exercising his duties in the result of a US/Canada war and don't even get me started on his refusal to condemn human rights abuses in Ontario.

[commodious spittoon]

Imagine an American president spending more time administering to Canada.

Not that I wish ill on Canada, but we should be so lucky.

[WTF]

The fucker will probably serve poutine and timbits at the White House.

[commodious spittoon]

I like gravy... and fries. The cheese curd thing is a little weird, but I'm nothing if not adventurous. Maybe it's not so bad.

[Just say Nikki]

You can always opt for the frites sauce instead.

[Citizen X]

He'll have another beer summit and serve nothing but Labbatt's! And he'll put salt in his!

[WTF]

The horror....the horror.

[Just say Nikki]

Ted BARELY qualifies for naturalization - forget natural born status.

LOL. So what do birthers think naturalization requires?

[commodious spittoon]

A colonic, probably.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

It's aboot time someone called this monster out, eh?

[greasonable]

Lets parse that quote a bit..
"would include" does not preclude others being included, such as "penguins not taxed"

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

It's never been settled in the Supreme Court.

Honestly. Do people actually believe Cruz being born in Canada means he wouldn't have America's interest at heart?

C'man.

He's American.

[greasonable]

<davidAttenboroughVoice?And thus we see the birth mother has rejected the chick, who must now find another place for comfort</davidAttenboroughVoice?

[RAHeinlein]

Preet on cybersecurity threats today on CNBC:

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/14.....orrow.html

[Swiss Servator]

+1 woodchipper question?

[Cdr Lytton]

Put superglue in the chipper's ethernet port to keep Skynet from taking them over.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

PREEEEEEEEET!

Tweet, Preet! Preet, Tweet!

Sing my little rockin' bird. SING!!

[commodious spittoon]

Lloyd "Carl" Fields was among five people killed in the "lone wolf" attack at the police training center by Jordanian police officer Anwar Abu Zeid.

Lone wolf, you say? In other words, not terrorism.

[Drake]

Well, they were at work...

[WTF]

Clearly, there are too many guns on America's streets.

[UnCivilServant]

I know, I have trouble driving without running over a discarded assault rifle with that thing that goes up!

[WTF]

Hey, it's the shoulder thing that goes up, which makes it especially dangerous. You're lucky those rifles don't jump up and shoot you!

[Sevo]

From the folks who brought you Solyndra (and continue to subsidize the Tesla):

"U.S. Proposes Spending $4 Billion to Encourage Driverless Cars"
[...]
"The Obama administration is proposing to spend nearly $4 billion in a decade to accelerate the acceptance of driverless cars on U.S. roads and curb traffic fatalities and travel delays."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/ob.....Technology

Which raises the obvious question:
WHY???

[RAHeinlein]

I haven't researched, but my working hypothesis is this is driven by insurance industry and government interests around surveillance/monitoring. The "driverless" car has sexy concept appeal, but the real goal are easy intermediate technologies (e.g. governing and monitoring devices) that are essentially already available (ex: in-drive from State Farm, which hasn't been well-received).

Rally the hipsters and cool technology crowd around "driverless" and then create mandates for other systems as part of the stepping stone approach to achieve.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

^So much this. Why would you want a secretive, self-driven car unless you have something to hide? And it's safer, too! For the children! You don't hate children, do you?

[Tonio]

But while the national security and suveillance complex loves this idea, local PD's and city governments are shitting themselves over the lost revenue from speed traps, red light cameras, DUI's, etc.

[Tonio]

Also, hugely ironic given the robo-cab episode from Heinlein's novel Between Planets.

[Illocust]

So they can take credit for something that was going to develop on its own. As it was one of the biggest time savers and seismic changes in transportation was going to be completely privately funded. Government couldn't have that.

[Citizen X]

Central planners learned their lesson from missing out on regulating the shit out of the late '90s tech boom. I imagine that if Gingrich and Clinton et al. hadn't devoted all of their time and effort to punching each other in the dick, i'd be typing this comment into some variant of Netscape over a dial-up connection.

[robc]

Nsascape

[robc]

They are losing space to the private sector, they need something.

[Root Boy]

Probably late as usual, but saw this good column on Flint's water supply (haven't heard that fat turd filmaker speak of it):

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....ic-pattern

While it's mostly a deserved hit piece on Dems, I liked this paragraph:

A healthy society has many competing centers of power: governments (federal, state, and local in the U.S. model), businesses, civil society, churches, political parties, interest groups, professional associations, unions, etc. In an unhealthy society, government becomes a kind of cancer, metastasizing into every nook and cranny of society.

[RAHeinlein]

Good piece and excellent quote.

[Frankjasper1]

Michael Moore was calling for arrest of the governor.

[Root Boy]

The only Republican, as pointed out in the article.

[Illocust]

Nice article. I wouldn't say all Democrat parties are a problem, but the ones in heavy Union town with single party rule for over thirty years are. I think we'll hear more and more of this as time goes on. News doesn't have to go through Dem gatekeepers to reach national levels anymore, and the surge of economics in places like Texas is making these cities no longer the only game in town. I really don't know if it will change anything, though.

[Root Boy]

No, I think the typical Dem city has too many natural constituencies for them -- Unions obviously, plus minorities usually make up a lot of city employees, so they vote their pocket books. Plus there is no opposition left over. In Chicago and DET and Bmore there is no conservative base, so it's left vs. more left.

Who's going to replace Rahm -- some corrupt school union guy probably.

[Tonio]

Apparently Moore has been bloviating about the water problems, but I don't know if he's being honest enough to lay the blame with decades of democratic leadership.

[Domestic Dissident]

Wal Mart is closing almost 300 stores, half of them in the U.S.?

Sure looks like yet another indicator that the Block Yomomma "recovery" continues to be the worst since the Great Depression.

[Tonio]

Progs will cheer about that, of course. I'm sure they believe that those jobs will move to virtuous mom-and-pop businesses in their communites. And absolutely no sympathy for the poor people who will demonstrably suffer because of this.

[ant1sthenes]

Look, they get to feel smug for a few moments. Isn't that what's really important?

[paigepark4587]

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[ammyth786]

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[Ammy40]

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[Dalia10]

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[Ammy410]

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[renascameron1123]

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[algeria]

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[Branton99]

Tutu app store is the most effective application store Tutuapp APK ought to have the ability to alter GPS location.

[Holly458]

unannounced in random cities for hours. Snapchat Online documents previously this month, although the product.