A.M. Links: Joe Biden Weighs 2020 Presidential Run, Oakland Fire Death Toll Climbs to 36, Russia and China Veto U.N. Truce in Aleppo

• 

  White House / Flickr.com

  Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

• The death toll from the Oakland warehouse fire currently stands at 36.
• "The revelation of a phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last Friday startled leaders and diplomats in Washington, Beijing and beyond. In her first comments on the call, Tsai sought to dampen those fears."
• Russia and China have vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have imposed a seven-day truce in Aleppo.
• A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced 15 people to death for allegedly spying for Iran.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

Kmele Foster has a race.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

We all have a race, FoE. And it's the duty of every American to think about that fact at least three times an hour every day of our lives.

[commodious got a stew going]

Have you checked your privilege today, comrade?

[Groovus Maximus]

These euphemisms...

[Rufus The Monocled]

Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

Why does it take people so long to get into shape?

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

[Rich]

Top o' the mornin', Rufus!

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Did you just say hello to yourself?

[Rufus The Monocled]

Maybe I did.

What's it to you?

/pops pistachio in mouth.

[Citizen X]

That's, uh, a hell of a euphemism.

[But Enough About Me]

D00d!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Terrible.

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

Perfect.

[Brett L]

I'm looking forward to seeing all the white professional ladies with advanced degrees talk about how great he's going to be for women, and then just post compilation on compilation of Creepy Uncle Joe touching women who are obviously not okay with his touch.

[Rufus The Monocled]

The GOP should start knocking those out before his run even begins.

[Libertarian]

Are you nuts? Late October would ensure it's still fresh on election day.

[Cyto]

The democrats tried a similar strategy by attacking candidates like Rand Paul early and often... hoping for a Trump candidacy.

That didn't go so well for them.

Of course it might be that this strategy was combined with an historically bad candidate...

[John DeWitt]

It's cute that you think they'll care about that.

[Brett L]

They won't. I just like to push their cognitive dissonance back in their face. Its payback for pumpkin spice and pearl clutching.

[Certified Public Asshat]

You should mix it up a bit and also throw in his slightly racist comments as well.

[Libertarian]

At least the interns will be safe -- they're too old for him.

http://www.thegatewaypundit.co.....tle-girls/

[gaoxiaen]

Grab em by the whatever. The blue party can play the same game- in a Trans-Am.

[Radioactive]

hahahahahahahahahahaha....bozo Joe for prez...too fucking funny

[Red Rocks Dickin Bimbos]

To be fair, he would have had a better chance of winning than Hillary the Lich Queen.

[Charles Easterly]

Hillary the Lich Queen

Consider this appropriated, Red.

- And thank you.

[gaoxiaen]

+1 Borg

[SimonD]

It's funny how so many people have come up with the same description for Mrs. Clinton independently. (the Lich Queen). I've used the same term in other forums, and have seen it used in another different one by two or three people.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

265) The Hebrews' basic law was 10 commandments that any child could learn. An elaboration was provided in the books of Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy?fairly dry reading but possible to get through in a day by an educated reader.

The law of Athens was posted in a stoa in their main marketplace, available to read by every citizen who passed by. They also developed a common law with cases accessible in the archives, possibly located in the Stoa of Zeus, also in their main marketplace. One clerk was sufficient to man the archives.

The law of medieval Iceland, the entire thing, was read out loud over the course of one day at the annual summer meeting of the Althing.

The Napoleonic Code of 1804 contained 35 Titles; an 1827 English translation of the whole Code ran to 627 pages. Although later elaborations for civil procedure and commercial law were also issued in the coming years, an educated reader can read this in a few days.

The basic law of the United States is the US Constitution at 4,543 words (including the 27 amendments it's 7,591 words). However, the US Code of Laws includes 54 Titles published in 356 volumes, and more than 10,000,000 words in length. No one is sure how many criminal offenses the code contains, but even the lowest estimates are more than 3,000.

[Tonio]

Somebody's numerophilia is in overdrive today.

[UnCivilServant]

What he does with his numbers is nobody's business so long as it's not hurting anyone.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

When I count sheep before going to bed I often have to use scientific notation.

[UnCivilServant]

Does that mean that you live in New Zealand? Or that you live in Scotland?

[Citizen X]

In those cases, "counting sheep" is certainly a euphemism.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

It was a typo, he meant 'mount sheep'.

[Charles Easterly]

When asked what he thought he was doing, he replied "We calls it 'Helping the sheeps over the fence', ossifer."

[Injun, as in from India]

Somebody's numerophilia is in overdrive today.

+ 3.141592.....

[thrakkorzog]

Hey there.s no shame going with pi. But 7 will drive you crazy.

[Libertarian]

That's not a rational response.

[UnCivilServant]

*contemplates imitating swiss servitor*

*decides against it*

[Zero Sum Game]

It is transcendental.

[Mike Laursen]

And, yet, if you are enough of an insider there are no rules at all!

[gaoxiaen]

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Even if the IRS gives you bad advice. Fuck mens rea, pay up or go to jail.

[Pro Libertate]

Now throw in the regulations.

[UnCivilServant]

Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

Far, far away from here... or maybe a brisk jog down the street.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Just for fun, I checked his age. Biden will be 78 in 2020.

[UnCivilServant]

I couldn't find the best way to work that in.

[Princess Trigger]

Millennials have gandpa issues?
Is this the hip new Democratic Party we've been waiting for?
Finally, a cool prez.

[jack sprat]

oh oh, at that age he might say something inappropriate.

[Rich]

Finally, a cool prez.

[Mike Schmidt]

"Aw, Christ, now everyone will be growing their own herb," said a visibly upset Biden, adding that he was "raking it in" before D.C. voters approved "that horseshit" Marijuana Legalization Initiative in a ballot measure last November. "Don't get me wrong, Uncle Joe is slinging the dankest nugs in town. But who's going to call me up for an eighth of Purple Trainwreck if they can just grab some buds from their own homegrown stash?"

[gaoxiaen]

Buy a shotgun or GTFO.

[Holger da Dane]

Party of sciencerich old white dudes!

[I can't even]

Way to highlight the shallow Democrat talent pool Joe.

[commodious got a stew going]

Run Sanders and they're only one old man short of a lemon party.

[Mickey Rat]

By that time, all he will be capable of doing is doddering.

[gaoxiaen]

That's a feature, not a bug.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Russia and China have vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have imposed a seven-day truce in Aleppo.

Probably because they didn't even know- Well, you get the joke.

[UnCivilServant]

They didn't want to have to sit there and explain to the UN why it was ineffective?

[Bee Tagger]

Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

It will be an honor to lose to Kmele.

[colorblindkid]

Kmele 2020! "Never Fly Coach"

[gaoxiaen]

Or with a soccer team.

[Nunya]

Too soon.

[Nunya]

Too soon.

[Flakfizer is Ballet, Jr.]

Russia and China have vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have imposed a seven-day truce in Aleppo.

"What what WHAT??" - Gary Johnson

[John DeWitt]

Well, despite being a laughing stock in terms of foreign affairs, at least Gary picked a VP that didn't completely sabotage the ticket.

[Citizen X]

Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

...from the law, from child support obligations, or from the guy trying to repo his Trans Am?

[Injun, as in from India]

What are the odds Joe Biden will kick the bucket before 2020?

[Citizen X]

I think the odds are slightly higher that he will fake his own death in some sort of evasive shenanigan.

[gaoxiaen]

Not good enough.

[Lord Humungus]

something doomcock something of doom

Sizing up: women prefer slightly larger penises, new study reveals

Researchers from the University of California and the University of New Mexico provided women with 33 different-sized 3D penis models made of rigid, odorless, blue plastic (they were blue "to minimize racial skin-color cues") to choose from. In total, 75 women, ages 18 to 65, took part in the study.

When asked to select the model which represented their preferred penis size in a long-term partner, the average response was 6.3 inches (16cm) in length and 4.8 inches (12.2cm) around. For a one-time sexual experience, the average plastic penis the women chose was slightly larger ? 6.4 inches (16.3 cm) long and 5.0 inches (12.7cm) in circumference.

Previous studies had presented women with 2D, flaccid penises, so this is the first research to provide hard evidence that women's ideal penises are slightly larger than average penis size.

[Lee Genes]

Yeah, well, that's just like your opinion man....

[gaoxiaen]

Prominent veins add points.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

So are studies like this a waste of money, or is their value in codifying folk wisdom?

[Crusty Juggler]

It's just an excuse for researchers to dick around.

[Swiss Servator]

*narrows gaze*

[gaoxiaen]

At homo's crotch. NTTAWWT.

[Groovus Maximus]

If there's nothing wrong with it, self-evident it will be, no?

[Nunya]

SJWs are humorless ice cucks. Unnecessary his suffix may be, it is worse to include it nowadays.

[UnCivilServant]

These "Studies" are conducted by people who want to call themselves scientists, but can't actually think of things to test that extend the base of human knowledge. They can't even conjure up the competence to check the work of others by testing the replicability of other tests.

[MikeT1986]

So, what you're saying here is the results of this test made you mad?

It's okay, some people have to deal with insecurities. Don't blame yourself for that.

[Swiss Servator]

Somewhere, one of these "researchers" is telling the guy on the next bar stool "Hey, I got paid to show women plastic schlongs!"

[Brett L]

The actual research is that women who were comfortable selecting a larger plastic penis were also more likely to accept a drink, and the subset who chose the largest plastic penis were most likely to accept more than one drink and have sex with said researchers.

[Lee Genes]

Interesting method to find the best targets.

[Groovus Maximus]

Generally, in the grifting arts, the preferred nomenclature is, "Mark."

[gaoxiaen]

I prefer "students' mothers".

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Punchline to a joke:

...and I sold my thermos to a woman for $150!

[Libertarian]

Oh sure, show 75 women a bunch of dildos and it's called a "study." I try to get one opinion on my member by a younger relative and I have to live in a tent in the woods.

[FreeToFear]

"Hard evidence"... well played, Guardian

[Libertarian]

"In total, 75 women, ages 18 to 65, took part in the study."

You wrote "study" but my eyes read "party."

[Rich]

Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

See Joe run. Run, Joe, run!

[Lord Humungus]

Got a spare 85 bucks? Nordstrom will sell you a leather-wrapped rock

That's right folks, Nordstrom is selling a "Los Angeles-area stone" wrapped in "vegetable-tanned American leather" for $85. Online, Nordstrom touts that the item's meaning, whether "a paperweight," "a conversation piece" or "a work of art" is all up to you.

As one can imagine, once news of this rock hit the Twitterverse, the jokes and comments starting pouring in.

[UnCivilServant]

Wait, I have goathide scraps on the front porch and I'm sure I can find rocks nearby. I'll sell for $70!

[Citizen X]

Why... why do you have goathide on your front porch?

[Brett L]

They used to have a goat.

[UnCivilServant]

It's also an enclosed proch used for storage.

The other goat got away and is terrorizing shoppers...

[Citizen X]

This is not a comforting answer.

[UnCivilServant]

"The other goat" comment was a joke.

The actual answer is "I don't know why I have goathide, or the half a cowhide, or abrasive grit, or the typewriter, or the plywood, but I do know where the old computers came from"

[FreeToFear]

So it's easier to craft armor, duh

[WTF]

Apparently too difficult to craft a working link.

[FreeToFear]

Thought I was up to the task of HTML on my phone, apparently not...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/.....961663.jpg

[Chipwooder]

"vegetable tanned"??? What the hell?

[UnCivilServant]

It's not some modern fad method.

Vegetable tanning uses tannins (a class of polyphenol astringent chemicals), which occur naturally in the bark and leaves of many plants. Tannins bind to the collagen proteins in the hide and coat them, causing them to become less water-soluble and more resistant to bacterial attack. The process also causes the hide to become more flexible. The primary barks processed in bark mills and used in modern times are chestnut, oak, redoul, tanoak, hemlock, quebracho, mangrove, wattle (acacia; see catechol), and myrobalans from Terminalia spp., such as Terminalia chebula. Hides are stretched on frames and immersed for several weeks in vats of increasing concentrations of tannin. Vegetal-tanned hide is not very flexible and is used for luggage, furniture, footwear, belts, and other clothing accessories.

It's as opposed to chrome tanning. Vegetable tanning never really went away because it provides a different product. It's just slower and more expensive, so chrome tanning has the market share these days where the specific properties selected for are different.

[Chipwooder]

Fair enough. I've just never come across the phrase before, and it sounded like some kind of vaguely-greenie hipster thing.

[Libertarian]

"Vegetable-tanned leather"

So even vegetarians will feel okay buying these rocks?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Important question... how does this rock work for keeping away tigers, because my rock has an impeccable track record.

[gaoxiaen]

Not as good or cheap as a sock full of sand.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The revelation of a phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last Friday startled leaders and diplomats in Washington, Beijing and beyond

Yeah, that's what did it.

[SugarFree]

Adult Sex-Toys Repackaged and Sold for Children to Play With

[Rich]

Good Lord.

[Citizen X]

Sometimes the only difference between children's toys and adult toys is location.

[jack sprat]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12......html?_r=0

[jack sprat]

Sorry, meant to describe- electoral college voter as saying not voting for Trump. Getting typical NY Times commentators unsurprisingly all excited .

[Just a thought not a sermon]

When was the last unfaithful elector? 1970? Also, for a protest vote, Kasich seems like a pretty weak choice, but whatever.

[robc]

1970? That isnt a presidential election year.

Since then we have had faithless electors in:
1972 John Hospers
1976 Ronald Reagan
1988 Lloyd Bentsen
2000 Abstain
2004 John Edwards

So 2004 is your answer.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Good Lord, somebody thought John Edwards was a good idea?

[robc]

He voted Edwards for Prez and Veep. Its assumed to be a mistake. Clearly someone to dumb to be allowed a regular vote, much less an electoral college vote.

Minnesota, so there ya go.

[ant1sthenes]

Then, isn't that more accurately described as a brainless elector, not a faithless elector?

[robc]

What you don't see on that list is someone voting for the opposing party candidate (with a possible Hospers exception, but you know what I mean).

[Lord Humungus]

University's 'Whiteness Forum' takes 'critical look at whiteness'

Students at Cal State San Marcos on Thursday hosted a "Whiteness Forum" as part of a communications class they are enrolled in, setting up more than a dozen displays that highlighted what they contend is how white privilege has oppressed people of color in a variety of ways.

A "white beauty standard" display stated "we are studying the white hegemonic ideals of the beauty industry." Another asked "who does whiteness say that you are," noting "whiteness studies" is defined as "the study of the system of white dominion in our society with a focus on ideologies of white supremacy as collective, rather than white individuals."

A "Make America White Again" display included an image of Donald Trump's baseball hat and argued his campaign has led to a wave of hate crimes.

[Lee Genes]

And they paid for the privilege.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

"A "white beauty standard" display stated "we are studying the white hegemonic ideals of the beauty industry." "

Where is all the white woman at?

[Injun, as in from India]

Fools. Damned fools.

Paid for with our tax dollars.

[Groovus Maximus]

HazelMeade hardest hit. Preferably with a shovel.

[Jerryskids]

So who's qualified to take a critical look at whiteness? It seems to me the height of white privilege to have white people examining themselves self-critically, but wouldn't non-whites critically examining whiteness be some sort of racial appropriation? It's not like white people would dare to be presumptive enough to examine the realities of blackness or men the issue of femininity or straight people the essence of gayness so how can anyone not white give a valid opinion on whiteness? But at the same time, a white person examining whiteness is the proverbial fish explaining water - being white makes you blind to all that whiteness encompasses.

Regardless, I'm protesting this critical look at whiteness as a microaggression on a multitude of levels and am hereby registering my shock, disgust, outrage, and offendedness that such a thing could take place. Shame! Boo! Not cool, man! Not in my name!

[Charles Easterly]

Excellent, Jerryskids.

[John DeWitt]

The more they tighten their grip on derp, the more everyday people slip through their fingers.

[gaoxiaen]

It's like Hallie Berry doesn't exist.

[Lord Humungus]

SFO adds therapy pig to greet travelers

SFO's Wag Brigade allows SPCA animals certified by the Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program to greet and comfort hurried travelers as they arrive, depart, or languish through a layover. LiLou is the program's first pig.

According to the SFSPCA, "At a minimum, AAT pets must be solicitous and fully comfortable with handling. In other words, pets must be interested in and eager to approach people and accept handling, regardless of the person's age, gender, race, size, mobility equipment usage, and apparel." LiLou nailed her training and is now dispatched to the airport once a month.

"I can see that she is happy showing off her tricks and getting her praise," LiLou's owner, Tatyana Danilova told USA Today. "It also brings positive emotions to me seeing that we can do something good for the community and bring more smiles in some unconventional way."

holy anti-Muslim!

[jack sprat]

New Rosie O'Donnell gig?

[Juvenile Bluster]

Lena Dunham.

[commodious got a stew going]

I doubt very many travelers are fully comfortable handling her.

[Brett L]

Yeah. I was going to say. Is this actually a way to suss out highly religious Muslims trying to blend?

[Rich]

"The revelation of a phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last Friday startled leaders"

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.

Ah, HA!

[SugarFree]

Unfunny Human Provided Wider Audience To Disappoint

[Crusty Juggler]

Her fine appearance outweighs her lack of humor.

[SugarFree]

I sure hope they have her obviously gay husband on the show.

[Crusty Juggler]

He is going to be portrayed by Elton John's wardrobe.

[truthy]

The Hog and Pony show.

[Citizen X]

Lindy West is one of American culture's most invaluable voices

[citation fucking needed]

[UnCivilServant]

That was a typo. It was meant to be 'unvaluable'

[Sir Hunter Killer Greymouth I]

You misspelled "repellant"

[Tonio]

Who?

[Groovus Maximus]

Ah, there you are, Tonio! Sincere apologies for calling you a, "dolt," which is demonstrably not true. I didn't fully read who was responding to my comment, and thought you were someone else. Again, apologies for the mistake, and I regret my error.

[John DeWitt]

wtf? This is the internet. Don't apologize here. Just double down.

[GOML!]

I literally don't know who she is. (Not being hipster, I really don't know.) Should I google or not bother?

[GOML!]

I literally don't know who she is. (Not being hipster, I really don't know.) Should I google or not bother?

[SugarFree]

Do not Google.

[RBS]

Lindy West is one of American culture's most invaluable voices. Thousands of us turn to her for unflinching, incisive cultural criticism and shattering wit.

That's as far as I got.

[UnCivilServant]

In your blockquoted text, I got as far as the first two words and went "Who?"

[commodious got a stew going]

There are thousands of us! Thousands!

[John DeWitt]

*dozens

[commodious got a stew going]

Sure, but even "thousands" is kinda silly. There are thousands of lots of niche groups. Lindy West's fans are probably outnumbered by bronies.

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

THOUSANDS--oh, commode did it already.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Jesus, another 'Girls' type of nonsense is coming to TV?

[Crusty Juggler]

Girls can be funny (similar to Tina Fey's character and 30 rock, Lena Dunham's character is often the foil for reality/humor); there's nothing funny about Lindy West.

[UnCivilServant]

Someone included a bit from that show in a video and the sheer insufferabl tone of that scene told me I didn't want to go near the source of the content.

[Crusty Juggler]

It would be easier for you to tell us when you do enjoy something.

[Citizen X]

He likes caramel and, apparently, dismembering goats.

[UnCivilServant]

He likes caramel and, apparently, dismembering goats.

You forgot Columbo and honey-based booze.

[Mike Schmidt]

Columbo is awesome. And mead is pretty good as well. You're my new favorite.

[UnCivilServant]

I do - people just ignore those comments.

[Certified Public Asshat]

I need to know now, what are uncivil's hobbies?

[UnCivilServant]

Video Games, tabletop Warhammer 40k, writing, and snarking on the internet.

I actually picked up the leather to try my hand at bookbinding. I never got around to actually binding any books.

[Certified Public Asshat]

Can we add fat asses to that list, just to spice it up some?

[UnCivilServant]

I don't have room for donkeys. I wouldn't even have the space for the goats I'm accused of having personally dispatched to the hereafter.

[Chipwooder]

That may be true. However, no way am I going to sift through the chaff of dimwitted young women being bankrolled by well-to-do families in Brooklyn to find any buried comedic bits.

Generally speaking, there is no form of life more vapid than mid-20s upper middle class white girls.

[Crusty Juggler]

I did not say you should watch it; I don't watch it, I have watched it. It is not transcendent television, but from what I have seen it can be humorous.

[Lee Genes]

Because everyone likes a loud, opinionated person who tells you how bad you are.

[Groovus Maximus]

For some reason, The View seems to be still something of a ratings getter.... Go fig.

[Lee Genes]

Well there's no rape-rape....

[Lord Humungus]

Researchers Confident Mysterious Pair Of Mummified Knees Belonged To Queen Nefertari

Italian archaeologists discovered the plundered tomb of Queen Nefertari in Egypt's Valley of the Queens in 1904, and amid the debris, they found a pair of mummified knees.

Now, for the first time, researchers have conducted a broad array of tests on the knees and say they are confident they belong to Nefertari, who was the wife of Pharaoh Ramses II and one of the most famous of Egypt's queens.

The knees, which are housed at the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy, have long been presumed to belong to be hers. But Egyptologist Joann Fletcher from the University of York tells The Two-Way that until now, there was plenty of reason for skepticism.

[Rich]

Mummified Knees

Nice band name.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

But it will be tough for them to cover Walk Like an Egyptian.

[Rich]

+1 How'd you get so funky?

[Crusty Juggler]

Disco Tut.

[thrakkorzog]

Was He born in Babylonia.?

[Lord Humungus]

It's great when a woman does it... or so I've been told

Reports: LCPD officer on leave after opening door nude for pizza delivery

A Las Cruces police officer was cited for indecent exposure last month after a woman delivered a pizza to his home and he answered the door naked, the Sun-News has learned.

The officer has been identified as William Gonzalez, 28, who was off duty when the Nov. 3 incident occurred, according to reports from the Las Cruces Police Department that were released this week in response to a public records request from the Sun-News.

Gonzalez, a five-year veteran of LCPD, was "immediately" placed on administrative leave after the incident, LCPD Chief Jaime Montoya said Friday. Gonzalez has not returned to duty.

"It is truly sad that an employee knowing right from wrong still does wrong against all reason, it is also sad that an employee will put a fellow employee in a tough position of having to inform a supervisor of misconduct," Montoya said in a statement.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

As a former pizza deliverer, I can say this is against the pizza delivery code. Just deliver the damn pizza and get your tip. People don't order pizza because they feel like dressing up.

[Rufus The Monocled]

I would have laughed it off.

But I'm weird like that.

It's all Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa to me.

[Nephilium]

So... just the tip?

[Chipwooder]

Definitely against the Repo Code, too.

[Brett L]

"It is truly sad that an employee knowing right from wrong still does wrong against all reason, it is also sad that an employee will put a fellow employee in a tough position of having to inform a supervisor of misconduct,"

Yeah, almost as tough as beating down mouthy pregnant women, but somehow that gets done.

[Volren]

Is it sad that this barely even registers with me anymore for "terrible shit police do"?

I mean flashing her obviously was not good but at least no one got shot.

[commodious got a stew going]

It's always serious business when an officer unholsters.

[Libertarian]

So..............was his penis blue? Seriously, the delivery gal should have been suspicious when he ordered a 6.4 inch sausage pizza.

[goneGalt]

Suspicious? Nah, he probably told them to "hold the pepperoni."

[Lord Humungus]

'Christmas bulb bandit' squirrel steals 150 colorful bulbs in 24 hours

A Seattle woman whose home was targeted by a Christmas light-stealing "bulb bandit" said she eventually caught the culprit on video -- a neighborhood squirrel.

Margaret Rican said the "Christmas bulb bandit" stole more than 150 bulbs from her outdoor decorations in the space of 24 hours before she managed to catch the thief on video.

A video Rican posted to YouTube shows the squirrel running while holding a yellow Christmas bulb, while a second video shows the small animal jumping into a tree while carrying a blue bulb. A third video shows the squirrel repeating the jump, this time with an orange bulb.

[The Late P Brooks]

Nothing left to cut!

"There is this meme that we're some bloated, giant organization," he said. "Although there is a little bit of truth in that .?.?. I think it vastly overstates what's really going on."

Work said the board fundamentally misunderstood how difficult it is to eliminate federal civil service jobs ? members of Congress, he added, love having them in their districts ? or to renegotiate defense contracts.

He said the Pentagon is adopting some of the study's recommendations on a smaller scale and estimated it will save $30 billion by 2020. Many of the programs he cited, however, have been on the drawing board for years or were unrelated to the Defense Business Board's research.

You cannot expect the Pentagon to spend money efficiently. That's crazy.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Given the way government frames these things, I assume that's $30 billion over 10 (25?) years?

[Mike Schmidt]

This is the crazy shit that stood out to me:

The data showed that the Defense Department was paying a staggering number of people ? 1,014,000 contractors, civilians and uniformed personnel ? to fill back-office jobs far from the front lines. That workforce supports 1.3 million troops on active duty, the fewest since 1940.

So nearly one person at a desk for every active troop?! Nope. No way we can save any money there...

[Lord Humungus]

Shoppers forced to flee and take refuge in their cars after angry goat terrorises store and attacks pensioner

The grumpy animal began its reign of terror by pressing its face up against the glass shop front, before turning its attention to innocent customers.

According to reports, the creature was loose for half an hour outside a Eurospar in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland and forced shoppers and staff members to take cover.

The store's managed Jonathan Smyth, told Mirror.co.uk: "It's just something you didn't expect.

"I turned around and there was a goat with this big eyes starring right at me.

"He held eye contact for about 30 seconds."

Jonathan described how the animal stared at him before running around the car park and eating all the baskets of plants left outside the shop.

[Citizen X]

"That goat has devil eyes!"

[SugarFree]

"Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?"

[MikeT1986]

I mean, I could go for some butter.

[Brett L]

In America, if a goat mad dogs you for 30 seconds in a public place, you get to kill him with your trusty pistol. True Fact.

[Rich]

Angela Merkel calls for Germany BURKA BAN saying 'the full veil is not appropriate here' in astonishing U-turn

"The full veil must be banned wherever it is legally possible," she said

Oh. Well, never mind.

[Flakfizer is Ballet, Jr.]

Yeah, this will definitely save her job.

[Groovus Maximus]

Yes, quite an about face....

[Libertarian]

How can you tell?

[Rufus The Monocled]

What the hell?

When she opened the floodgates she had to have known this was going to be a problem - or at least I reckon her advisors did - no?

I think these people are irresponsible and out of their minds. You can't do shit like this. 'Hey come in! Free stuff! Oy by the way, remove that burqa.'

[Rufus The Monocled]

Oh.

Jesus Murphy today.

Heh. Imagine an Irish Jesus.

[Lee Genes]

It makes perfect sense if you understand that Merkel is first and foremost arrogant.

She knows what's best for everyone.

[Citizen X]

So, a bog standard politician, then?

[Lee Genes]

Most politicians actually have a little fear for their jobs. She's on par with Feinstein and Cheney.

[ant1sthenes]

Is she going to get around to banning mass rape?

[Crusty Juggler]

The Pentagon wastes money and there's nothing anyone can do about it

[CatoTheChipper]

'Cancel order!': Trump says Boeing's contract for new Air Force One ...

A sign of things to come???

[Lee Genes]

It's Totally Not What It Sounds Like

One of the biggest misconceptions about feminism is that it's a movement for women, by women, and made up of women in opposition of men. In truth, not only should feminism should benefit everyone, as it works to dismantle all systems of oppression, but it shouldn't be based on this binary gender thinking in the first place. Not only men and women exist, and they're not opposites in a binary.

But a lot of the ways in which anti-feminists conceptualize feminism is based on this untruth about women versus men. And in order to address those specific misconceptions, I'm going to speak from that place. Non-binary people may recognize themselves in these experiences as well, but those experiences (especially insofar as erasure is concerned) are unique, and I'm not qualified to speak on them.

....

Feminists don't want to destroy or oppress men: They want to destroy toxic masculinity, to let people of all genders see how damaging it is to all of us.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

" not only should feminism should benefit everyone, as it works to dismantle all systems of oppression, but it shouldn't be based on this binary gender thinking in the first place"

Perhaps a different name for the movement, then?

[Griffin3]

How about humanism? And then, they could call their fund-raising arm, "The Human Fund".

[Chipwooder]

"Money For People"

[Brett L]

Feminists don't want to destroy or oppress men: They want to destroy toxic masculinity, to let people of all genders see how damaging it is to all of us.

Definition of "toxic masculinity": Any male quality a feminist doesn't like at the moment

[John DeWitt]

Not being a passive pussy is toxic.

[Brett L]

Unless a feminist wants a man to come on to her in a bar. Then she's looking for an assertive man who knows when and how to challenge her boundaries respectfully.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Trudeau approves.

[Lee Genes]

It must be unintelligible derp then.

[commodious got a stew going]

Feminists don't want to destroy or oppress men: They want to destroy toxic masculinity

Uh-huh. Yet you've defined "toxic masculinity" to encompass all masculinity. Some men outperforming all women in nearly every aspect of life, due to greater genetic variability? Toxic. Men expressing their sexuality in lewd or provocative ways? Toxic. Merely flirting? Toxic. Commonplace jocularity between men? Toxic. Enjoying or playing contact sports? Toxic. Drinking? Toxic.

[CatoTheChipper]

Leaving the toilet seat up? Toxic.

[Lord Humungus]

STEVE SMITH HEAL AMERICA ONE RAPE AT A TIME

Can Bigfoot Heal America?

Over Thanksgiving weekend I retreated to the Olympic Peninsula, land of the chainsaw Bigfoot sculpture. Who says there's no work for unemployed loggers? The sculptures are everywhere?often bulky, hairy monsters, which must be easy to carve. Or occasionally more animated figures like one at Ocean Beach where a smiling wooden Sasquatch is running while toting a surfboard. A surfin' enigma!

If Bigfoot tends to make himself scarce in real life, he's alive and well in popular culture --and controversy. America has been said to have entered a "post-truth" era with fake news flourishing on social media. If so, one can expect this new America will be springtime for Bigfoot, a changed climate in which he will thrive.

The recent presidential election did not escape Bigfootism. Not long before Election Day, former presidential candidate and Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee said on Fox News (where else) that more people believed in Bigfoot than believed in Hillary Clinton's honesty (14% for Bigfoot, 11% for Hillary). That could explain why the Olympic Peninsula went bigly for Donald Trump. No mention, though, of how many people still believe in Mike Huckabee.

[Lord Humungus]

Hillary Clinton's voters say they were holding their noses just as much as Donald Trump's were

And as it turns out, as many Clinton voters say they were holding their noses in the voting booths as Trump voters who say the same, according to a new poll.

The George Washington University Battleground Poll, from bipartisan pollsters the Tarrance Group (R) and Lake Research Partners (D), shows 24 percent of Clinton voters said they were "reluctant" in their vote for Clinton, vs. 20 percent of Trump voters. Three-fourths (75 percent) of Clinton voters said they were "definite" in their decision to vote for her, while 79 percent of Trump supporters said the same.

So at least according to these numbers, more of Clinton's voters had very real qualms about casting their ballots than Trump's.

The numbers, of course, are within the margin of error, but the fact that they are even close is notable, given the narrative (which again, I've reinforced myself) about Trump's apparently unprecedented liabilities.

[John DeWitt]

At least they weren't racist, though.

[John DeWitt]

At least they weren't racist, though.

[Lord Humungus]

Men could boost sperm quality by exercising, research shows

The researchers, from Urmia University in Iran, concluded that exercise can improve markers of oxidative stress, which is linked to things such as smoking and unhealthy lifestyles and can damage sperm.

They said: "The present study adds to this body of evidence and shows seminal markers of inflammation and oxidative stress improved significantly after 24 weeks of MICT, HICT or HIIT, and these changes correspond with favourable improvements in semen quality parameters and sperm DNA integrity.

"These results further indicate that MICT was more beneficial in improving markers of male reproductive function, compared to HICT and HIIT. These observations suggest that the intensity, duration and type of exercise training could be taken into consideration when investigating reproductive responses to exercise training in men."

The researchers found that the benefits for sperm started to tail off within just a week of stopping the exercise programme.

Lead author of the study, Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki, said: "Our results show that doing exercise can be a simple, cheap and effective strategy for improving sperm quality in sedentary men.

[jack sprat]

I'm noticing a trend in your posts today.....

[Lord Humungus]

It's all up from here!

[Lee Genes]

Laurence Lessig Versus The Electoral College

Yes, the Constitution creates an inequality because of the way it allocates electoral college votes. A state like Wyoming, for example, gets 3 electoral votes with a population of less than 600,000, while California gets 55 electoral votes with a population of more than 37 million. Thus, while California has a population that is 66x Wyoming, but only gets 18x the electoral college votes.

But the real inequality of the electoral college is created by the "winner take all" (WTA) rule for allocating electoral votes. WTA says that the person who wins the popular votes gets all the electoral college votes for that state. Every state (except Maine and Nebraska) allocates its electors based on WTA. But that system for allocating electoral votes is not mandated by the Constitution. It is created by the states. And so that raises what should be an obvious and much more fiercely contested question?why isn't WTA being challenged by the Democrats in this election?

[Lee Genes]

The strongest argument about why it isn't is an argument of reliance (some people gussy this up to a point about "the rule of law" but that's just confused rhetoric): The election was waged assuming WTA; it's not fair now, the argument goes, to change the rule for how electors will be counted.

No doubt, it is unfair to the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. They spent money in reliance on the existing system. But that's not the only "unfairness" at stake here: What about the unfairness being felt by the millions of voters whose votes were effectively diluted, or essentially disenfranchised? Why doesn't their harm also weigh in the balance?

It's perfectly clear that the Attorney General of New York or California could walk into the Supreme Court tomorrow, and ask the Court to hear the case. Delaware tried to do this exactly fifty years ago, but the Court ducked the question. But based on that complaint, were I a citizen of California, I'd ask my current AG (and future Senator) why hasn't CA done the same thing? And were I a citizen of New York, I'd ask my AG the same. Why are these big states standing by quietly as their voters are essentially silenced by the unconstitutional inequality?

[robc]

So he expects the AG's of CA and NY to try to give more EC votes to Trump?

[Apple]

Exactly. He's talking about two states where WTA clearly benefited the Democratic candidate.

[FreeToFear]

Unserious moron goes through all this analysis and then conveniently ignores that Johnson would have gotten an electoral vote in California and Texas and Clinton would still have lost

[Jerryskids]

You can argue all you want after the fact that a 58-yard field goal should count for more points than a 31-yarder but don't expect the NFL to go back and change the scores on past games.

And let's not overlook the fact that people who squawk about the EC in this way are implicitly championing the idea of a purer national democracy over the idea of a federal republic. Let's not forget that, while California does indeed have more people than Wyoming, Wyoming and California are each one single sovereign state. A 300-pound man gets the same one vote a 110-pounder gets, are you going to argue that's not fair? Just because one state is bigger than another doesn't mean their votes should outweigh the smaller.

[CatoTheChipper]

A sixty-year-old guy with a PhD who's paid a million dollars in taxes gets the same vote on how taxes are spent as an eighteen-year-old, unemployed welfare mom.

You think that's fair?

[Brett L]

What's the PhD in?

[End Child Unemployment]

*opera applause*

[robc]

If every state used the ME/NE method, Romney would have won in 2012.

Well, except that electioneering would change under that system.

I personally think it would work better. Just like the electoral college puts a damper on fraud by limiting the damage to a single state, using the ME/NE method limits the damage to a single district (plus the 2 statewide votes).

The biggest thing is that states stop becoming out of play, as within nearly every state are districts that would be in play. I am pretty sure Clinton won the 3rd district in KY, for example.

[Lee Genes]

Each state is free to use the method it chooses. Lessig is arguing that the Supreme Court should force a particular method because it suits his preferred outcome.

[robc]

I understand that, I am just arguing that I happen to think every state switching to that method would be a good idea.

[Brett L]

Right. The important thing is that we don't change the rules to redecide the current contest.

[MikeT1986]

States are afraid to do it on their own and lose their electoral leverage. Winning Ohio by 51% is valuable currently, not so much if it's proportional or district based.

That's another question, do we do SMD FPTP districts, or PR MMD states?

[robc]

Right. I think the change would have to be done by constitutional amendment. NE and ME can get away with the experiment, as they are small and in may increase the time a candidate spends in their state. But the big states like being WTA.

[MikeT1986]

As a reformed Political Scientist it would be fascinating to see how it would change electoral strategy. The concept of a battle ground state would likely change. If we do it district based with the 2 senators worth of EC voters that would leave smaller states functionally winner take all and make small changes there very powerful.

As I said, would be interesting and we'd have a lot of debate over system.

[robc]

It would lead to a suburban strategy, I think, as the rural and inner city votes are pretty set.

But as suburbs are spread out, I think it would lead to more national campaigning and ad buys. And the networks would have to wait longer on calling EC votes, as they could still call the overall states, but would have to wait for the district by district results.

[SFC B]

If the goal is to get more attention focused on the issues that matter to a state qua state then isn't the best course of action going to depend on the individual state? If CA voters want more focus from presidential candidates then the state's best bet is to actually divvy up their votes. As-is, since the state is wholly noncompetitive, the GOP candidate has no need to pander for CA votes, and the Dem candidate can just take their 55 votes for granted. However, if CA were to go, say, 60/40 and award the CA popular vote winner 60%, the runner up 40%, suddenly it becomes something where the GOP candidate might make some real appeals to CA voters.

[R C Dean]

And so that raises what should be an obvious and much more fiercely contested question?why isn't WTA being challenged by the Democrats in this election?

I thought I saw an analysis that going to Congressional districts for EC votes would have netted the Repubs about 10 more EC votes in a recent elections.

[robc]

Sounds right. Like I said above, Romney would have defeated Obama, but that was an extreme case. Obama would still have won over McCain.

[Mickey Rat]

Just because something is not mandated by the Constitution does not mean it can be made into whatever the Democrats need it to be right now.

The state legislatures actually have a considersble amount of discretion over how their states choose electors, and the Dems do not control that many states.

[Juvenile Bluster]

The death toll from the Oakland warehouse fire currently stands at 36.

And here's CNN opinions: Why to embrace 'Nanny State' after Oakland fire

In a world of disasters, this one is so tragic because it was so preventable. Almost every aspect of the Ghost Ship -- its existence, its design, its crowd capacity, its fire (or, actually, lack of) protocols, its materials -- was one regulatory violation after another.

There is no better time than now to state the obvious: All those business regulations that get people so upset exist for a reason. Having regulations sets safety and protection as a priority and establishes a norm for all businesses that those priorities should matter as much as their profits. In order to earn money from a paying public, businesses must abide by a few rules put in place to protect that public. Rules of conduct for businesses separate the mishaps from the tragedies.

It gets dumber from there.

[Domestic Dissident]

Yeah, those poor kids obviously died because far right wing northern California doesn't have enough health and safety regulations. They would still be alive if all those ratfuckers would just shut up and let Obama and his worshipful bureaucracy dictatorially ram through a few more regulations.

[robc]

one regulatory violation after another.

So, ummm, why was it operating then? The regulations were in place.

[John DeWitt]

We need common sense regulatory reform.

[CatoTheChipper]

I think it's George Bush's fault ... because deregulation or something.

[Volren]

So essentially they flagrantly violated a shitton of regulations and had been doing so for a while, but clearly more regulation would have prevented the fire.

[Tonio]

"Never let a crisis go to waste."

[Chip the Chipper]

Usually fire inspectors are paid off.

[FreeToFear]

Because tort law is totally incapable of doing all of those things...... oh wait

[Apple]

On NBC (I think) they were interviewing two of the ladies who lived there and made it out of the fire. The reporter asked them if they knew the place had no smoke alarms or sprinkler system. It was obvious from the looks on their faces they knew perfectly well and chose to live there anyway. One of them said, "What you have to understand about the Bay Area is that housing is really expensive." Okay, so move! I mean, they sell paint in Arkansas and Michigan too. Fresno, even.

[ant1sthenes]

On the one hand, fire regs (when enforced) probably do more good than harm, and the fire is a reminder about why a lot of those rules are not just mindless bureaucracy, but good practice. It's also a remind that torts don't resurrect the dead, and that business owners are not hyper-rational optimizing Randian genii, but lazy stupid assholes like everyone else who will happily kill their customer now, and regret it and be destroyed by it later.

On the other hand, unchecked nannyism is part of the reason that people can't afford to stay or work anywhere other than a deathtrap. Like most other products, regulations have decreasing marginal utility, and CA is well into the negative utility range.

[Brett L]

Right. And if the landlord fixes up the property so it isn't a dump and a fire trap, his taxes go up so high he can't rent it to the current tenants. And then he's the asshole.

[Lord Humungus]

The 4 essential facts about Islam you really need to know

Since its founding, Islam has not only promoted but benefited from women's rights.

Contrary to popular belief, the Quran forbids forced conversions to Islam.

Islamic belief requires Muslims to respect the Bible and the Torah, since both contain the word of God.

In the Quran, God preaches universality and tolerance for all cultures and traditions.

more detail in ze link

[UnCivilServant]

Four "facts" as misunderstood by someone who failed to do the research.

[Lee Genes]

Sarah is a staff writer for Identities at Mic. She writes about religion, race, sexuality and where it all intersects with culture. She occasionally performs stand up comedy and is incredibly defensive for Kanye West.

'nuff said

[Chipwooder]

I'm totally going to take the word of a would-be comedian over the mullahs who spend their ENTIRE FUCKING LIVES memorizing the Koran.

[Rufus The Monocled]

5 - It was an expansionist religion looking for converts by the sword from the onset.

[John DeWitt]

They were really friendly early on, though. When they didn't have the strength to conquer by the sword.

[Brett L]

These are all true in the way that the Devil quotes scripture. If you squint at things just right, it can be made true. For example, AT its founding Islam gave far more rights to women than the local beliefs at the time. So yes, since its founding until maybe the 18th century that was probably true.

[I can't even]

So we just ignore all this stuff?

http://www.thereligionofpeace......lence.aspx

[Tonio]

Pro-tip: Anyone who leads with "facts about [whatever] you need to know" may be safely ignored.

Also, the difference between textual Islam and Islam as actually practiced. See, also, Christians and Deuteronomic prohibitions on dress.

[robc]

Don't you mean Jews and Deuteronomic prohibitons on dress?

[AddictionMyth]

The 4 essential facts about Truympkinism you really need to know

"We must kill them or they will kill each other!"

"How do you defeat the temptation of the devil? By dropping bombs on it!"

"The problem is that Islam has a problem!"

"But their religion demands they kill people in the name of their religion!"

[Drave Robber]

The Amazon CloudFront distribution is configured to block access from your country.

I commend your knowledge of geography. Most progs aren't even aware of my country.

[ant1sthenes]

"According to the Quran, it is acceptable for Muslims to lie about the tenets of Islam to non-Muslims to better position themselves to conquer gullible infidel populations".

[Lord Humungus]

After 8 Years of Expanding Them, Obama Insists That Presidential War Powers Are Limited

Anticipating that Donald Trump might try to fulfill his promises to "bomb the shit" out of terror groups and do a "hell of a lot worse than waterboarding," President Obama released a report on Monday summarizing his administration's views of the legal barriers and policies limiting the president's military power.

The 61-page report calls for trying terrorism suspects in civilian court and explains at length why no future president could legally torture detainees. It lays out the administration's self-imposed limits on military operations ? and declares that a 2001 resolution Congress passed in the wake of 9/11 is not a blank check to go to kill alleged terrorists wherever they are.

"It clearly reads like an explanation, a textbook that's left for the next person," said Naureen Shah, director of the Security With Human Rights Program at Amnesty International. "Here are all the things you cannot do."

But in trying to defend Obama's legacy, the report paints a picture of an administration far more restrained than it was in practice.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Here's the difference, I think, when it comes to comparing Bush and Obama (who pretty much have the same foreign policy record sans Iraq invasion). Bush had the decency to not pretend about his record. Obama is now proceeding to whitewash his crappy foreign policy record just like, well, a typical progressive.

[Volren]

I don't think I will ever really understand the progressive ability to lie and mislead with such complete shamelessness.

[Rufus The Monocled]

And that's a good thing. You don't want to enter such a mind and soul.

[WTF]

So, Obama is admitting that his extra-judicial assassinations of American citizens by drone was illegal?

[Jerryskids]

Is this that report he started working on back in 2012 when it briefly looked like Romney might win the election? The guide for Presidential powers as they should be interpreted only after he left office? Fuck off, nobody gives a shit about your advisory opinion as to what Presidents other than Yourself should or shouldn't do.

[Ken Shultz]

Three of my favorite Joe Biden quotes (in no particular order):

1) About then Senator Barack Obama:

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," he said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."

2) "I said, 'Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony here, walk out and put that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house,'" Biden said.

3) "In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You CANNOT go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent ... I'm not joking."

If the media didn't already know who Joe Biden was, they might conclude from these statements that he;s part of the alt-right.

[Volren]

The consolation for me if he does run and wind up winning is the return of those great Uncle Joe articles in the Onion.

[The Grinch]

Biden/Clinton 2020

Make senility great again.

[Groovus Maximus]

+1 "Stand up, man.....oh, wheelchair? Oh bless your heart!"

[Ken Shultz]

To me, he's like a well-intentioned, wealthy Archie Bunker.

He grew up with some antiquated ideas about race, and he lives in such a wealth and class bubble that he doesn't realize how racist his ideas really are. Intellectually, he's against racism, but he's just as racist as the people he wants to condemn. And like Archie Bunker, he thinks racism isn't racism if you believe what you say about race is true . . . and you mean well.

"The first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean"?!

Before Biden met the Obamas, I doubt he knew any black people.

[AddictionMyth]

Russia and China have vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have imposed a seven-day truce in Aleppo.
A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced 15 people to death for allegedly spying for Iran.

Trump will fit right in.

[Lord Humungus]

Recent movie I saw: All Is Lost

Surprisingly good, considering it's a 77 year old Robert Redford pottering around on a sinking sailboat. Also the lack of dialogue was a bold move. It's essentially a one man play on the seas, and what the character will do to survive. Recommended since it kept me gripped.

[Crusty Juggler]

You lost all credibility when you insulted the body of Scarlett Johansson.

#Neverforget

[Lord Humungus]

Hey I wouldn't kick her out of bed... I just don't understand why she was voted the sexist woman alive.

[Lord Humungus]

*sexiest...

damn that's funny

[Groovus Maximus]

Only with a shovel. Either way.

[Libertarian]

I share your opinion.

[Lord Humungus]

Trailer

also I'm questioning my idea of taking sailing lessons next summer.

[Tonio]

Do it. You don't have to do deepwater/offshore. There are plenty of places where you can have a great sailing day and never be more than a mile or two from shore. Safety gear, safety gear, safety gear...

[Libertarian]

There can never be enough movies about sailing. I've never understood the veritable dearth of movies on 18th and 19th century sailing ships/explorations/whaling etc. There is just soooo much material there.

[commodious got a stew going]

Why isn't this a movie?

[Raven Nation]

Saw that when it first came out. We liked it although my wife was not overly impressed with the ending.

[Lord Humungus]

Agree on that. It certainly wasn't the best movie evar! but I went in with low expectations.

[Raven Nation]

We didn't know what to expect. I'm no movie expert, but it strikes me that the "one person only" movie must be one of the hardest things to do well and Redford did it very well.

[commodious got a stew going]

I confused Robert Redford with Red Forman. Was trying to picture ninety minutes of Kurtwood Smith sinking into the ocean.

[Lee Genes]

Dude, let's commission a study to find out how we could save some money.

Oh wait, it's that bad? Bury that shit before we lose our jobs.

The Pentagon has buried an internal study that exposed $125 billion in administrative waste in its business operations amid fears Congress would use the findings as an excuse to slash the defense budget, according to interviews and confidential memos obtained by The Washington Post.

Pentagon leaders had requested the study to help make their enormous back-office bureaucracy more efficient and reinvest any savings in combat power. But after the project documented far more wasteful spending than expected, senior defense officials moved swiftly to kill it by discrediting and suppressing the results.

[Cynical Asshole]

The Pentagon has buried an internal study that exposed $125 billion in administrative waste in its business operations

I'm surprised they only found $125 billion dollars worth of waste. I'm guessing they weren't looking very hard.

[Brett L]

The problem was that this was supposed to be the whitewash "study".

[CatoTheChipper]

It's just the low-hanging fruit. Money that could be saved without breaking a sweat.

[AddictionMyth]

How are my lilttle anarcho-frankentrumpkensteins this morning?

[UnCivilServant]

When you find what site they're on, go hang around there.

[AddictionMyth]

I turned over a rock and look what I found:

[Domestic Dissident]

Is your shitty rock and roll book done yet, Weigel?

[The Late P Brooks]

In order to earn money from a paying public, businesses must abide by a few rules put in place to protect that public.

Otherwise, SOMALIA!!!!1!1!1

[AddictionMyth]

I kind of feel bad for Nikki Haley. She will have to defend Trump's warmongering at the UN. Will she join China and Russia in their veto of every peace deal? I can't imagine.

[Cynical Asshole]

Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020."

"Old Diamond Joe's got to get back into that sweet crib at 1600 Pennsylvania. I've got too much of the good shit stashed somewhere in the basement to move it all out when I have to leave next month, so I've got to do whatever it takes to get back in there. I just have to hope Trump doesn't get his hands on it before then." /The Onion's version of Joe Biden

[Mike Schmidt]

+1 "This is a big fucking deal."

[Ken Shultz]

"President-elect Donald Trump said the latest Air Force One order should be canceled, citing the high costs of converting the Boeing Co. jumbo jet for presidential use.

"Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion," Trump said Tuesday on Twitter. "Cancel order!"

http://www.bloomberg.com/polit.....costs-rise

+1 to Trump

[CatoTheChipper]

People need to get a grip about Trump's phone call with Taiwan.

In the 1990s, Hillary urged the Clinton Administration to intervene militarily in Serbia. Bill Clinton obliged, and as commander-in-chief ordered up an aerial bombing campaign upon Serbia. In the course of this campaign, the US military bombed the PR Chinese embassy in Belgrade, killing three Chinese. Perhaps it is relevant to note that PR China opposed military intervention by the US in Serbia. The Clinton Administration said, "Oops, sorry, we didn't mean it," and claimed that the CIA had given the wrong street address for the Chinese embassy. About a billion Chinese don't buy that story, and believe that the US intentionally murdered three innocent Chinese people.

Contrast this with Trump's offense against Chinese sensibilities: he took a phone call from a lady in Taiwan.

[Sevo]

"Joe Biden: "I am going to run in 2020.""

Yep, that's the reason the D's lost. They just needed a high-quality, well-spoken candidate like crazy old Uncle Joe.

[John DeWitt]

Do they have any candidates who are not eligible for full Social Security benefits?

[CatoTheChipper]

Biden has worked for government his entire life. I doubt he has enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits.

[Lord Humungus]

Why are so many Democratic operatives cynical, soulless hacks?

The political style of Democratic operatives like Emanuel and Brock is characterized by a focus on opposition research and propaganda, an obsessive pursuit of political cash at nearly any cost, and occasional sops to the liberal base when it can't be avoided. Instead of trying to build genuine enthusiasm among the working class with integrity and simple, good policy, they would attack the enemy and essentially dupe people into voting Democratic with psychological tricks, massive ad campaigns, and coordinated use of social media.

The Democrats need better, more honest operatives. Party hacks who actually believe in the ideals the party was built on. People like Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic governor of Virginia.

This is a guy so obsessed with party politics that he once left his wife and hours-old infant in the car while he dropped in on a fundraiser. (He's also got a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease.) Yet as governor, he has worked diligently to get ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion in his state, and more importantly, used his pardon power to restore voting rights to 13,000 ex-felons.

[Crusty Juggler]

The Democrats need better, more honest operatives.

Better sure, but more honest like...Lee Atwater and Karl Rove?

[Chipwooder]

" Re-enfranchising felons not only guarantees Democrats several thousand votes come election time..."

Hah, didn't this guy get the memo? Felon voting totally isn't promoted by Democrats just to pad their vote totals! Oh, and this was fun too:

"Now, much of Media Matters' output is still worthwhile"

[I can't even]

So they are saying McAuliffe isn't a cynical, soulless hack? Good one.

I remember when there were liberals around who actually seemed to believe what they were saying. Paul Tsongas was a genuinely sincere liberal. Daniel Patrick Moynihan actually did research and believed what he was saying.

Maybe that's explains the Democrats' empty bench - there is no room for new blood and ideas with the nasty hacks who run the party.

[Libertarian]

I ran across a volume of Moynihan's letters earlier this year. The one that really caught my eye was his ridicule of some whiny Harvard undergrads who were complaining about how bad they had it in life. This was in the early 70s! Regret not buying the book. Would Moynihan have a place at the Dem table in 2016? Hell no.

[commodious got a stew going]

-1 Negro Family

[Citizen X]

The Democrats need better, more honest operatives.

Okay, sure.

Party hacks who actually believe in the ideals the party was built on.

Alright. I'm still with you so far-

People like Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic governor of Virginia.

-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahaHAHahha wut

[CatoTheChipper]

Because Democrats equate spending money with accomplishing objectives. Want better education results? Spend money on education. Want better outcomes for poor children? Spend money on welfare. Want better health care outcomes? Spend more money on health care. Want better national security? Spend more money on military.

Want to win elections? Gotta spend more money.

[Tornado35235gsg35423ttg3gt3g3g]

Ryan Cooper is the worst kind of prog.

Terry really? isnt he under investigation? leaving child and mother in car to attend fundraiser seems like a prick move too. And what is with liberals cheering success of expanded medicaid?

Anyway some doozies from Ryan

- climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity
- wants to tax couples earning a total of 100K....10K more dollars on top of what they currently pay due to analysis paralysis...basically people get bogged down making decisions therefore the government needs to do it for them and he consider this helping people
- was cheering the death of bitcoin (good call!)

[Free Society]

Russia and China have vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have imposed a seven-day truce in Aleppo.

Why the fuck would ANYONE want a truce? The Islamist rebels are losing, the war can only become a thing of the past if it ends. The western powers seem content to drag it on as long as necessary. I suppose because it's something they can milk for social signalling purposes. There is no rational "national interest" basis for anyone to be supporting the freedom fighters Islamist insurrection.

[AlmightyJB]

Who's "we" bitch. You got a mouse in your Mickey?

"That is a made-up alibi," Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michele Sison told the council.

"We have not reached a breakthrough because Russia has been more focused on preserving its military gains than helping Aleppo's citizens," she said. "We will not let Russia string along this Security Council while waiting for a compromise from the Russians that never seems to come."

[Free Society]

Is that a response to me or a poorly placed comment?

[SimonD]

Why are so many Democratic operatives cynical, soulless hacks?

Because they're Democrat operatives?