Betsy DeVos Ekes It Out, Policing Speech, Obama Goes Kite Boarding: P.M. Links

• 

  Alex Milan Tracy/TNS/Newscom

  If you haven't heard yet, Betsy DeVos will be President Trump's Education Secretary after all.

• The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has released a fascinating report on Bias Response Teams. FIRE's major finding is that the cops are heavily involved in BRTs.
• New Orleans hit by powerful tornado.
• The Justice Department is appealing a judge's halting of the travel ban, on national security grounds.
• Trump already golfing.
• Meanwhile, Obama is kite-boarding with Richard Branson.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

If you haven't heard yet, Betsy DeVos will be President Trump's Education Secretary after all.

Grizzlies on notice.

[Hayeksplosives]

One of my (otherwise rational) acquaintances from church posted this on her Facederp page when the confirmation went through:

"Really?!?!? So I don't have kids, but I'm seriously concerned about how the education of my nieces and nephews will be affected."

I am tempted to link her Thomas Sowell's editorial in the Spectator in which he says:

"If she becomes Secretary of Education, the stranglehold of the teachers' unions and the educational bureaucracy on the education of millions of students will be in jeopardy. If her nomination is rejected, millions of children from low-income, inner-city families will lose a chance to escape a painfully failing system."

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

Send it already.

[Hayeksplosives]

Done! Thanks for the prodding.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Classic mistake, Hayek, classic mistake. You may be a skilled linguist but even a blademaster cannot stand alone against a peasant riot out for blood.

[TheZeitgeist]

...cannot stand alone against a peasant riot out for blood.

Thought that's what the minigun was for.

[Hayeksplosives]

I'll take a burger, fries, a shake, and two of them minigun thangs.

[Homple]

Whatever happens, we have got
The Maxim gun, and they have not.

...Hillaire Belloc, 1898

[commodious rebrands]

Don't shirk on sharing the response now.

[Hayeksplosives]

This is what I got after hours of silence.

"I believe we can save the system without putting someone with the following traits in charge:

- No public school education experience. She has neither worked in the system nor been been educated by it. Even her children attended private schools.
- She has a poor record of education reform in Michigan where even former state schools superintendent (and charter school advocate) Tom Watkins is quoted as saying "People are making a boatload of money, and the kids aren't getting educated." in reference to Michigan charter schools.
- Has little to no grasp, as demonstrated during her confirmation hearings, of the federally mandated rights of students with special needs.
-Has clear conflicts of interest that, to date, she has indicated she has no intention of resolving."

I asked her what exactly does she think the SecEd does. And pointed out that Massie's bill would go a long way toward "Saving the System."

[Charles Easterly]

Lee beat me to it.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Done! Thanks for the prodding.

That's all it takes? Uhhh...'sup?

[Hayeksplosives]

To be frank, the fact that I am home from work early with cocktail in hand doesn't hurt either.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

I'm taking notes.

[Rufus The Monocled]

You did the right thing.

/taps bum.

[Col. Chestbridge]

These euphemisms are sometimes rather confusing.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

I wouldn't even go that far. Secretary of Education is arguably one of the most useless cabinet posts for a largely pointless cabinet department that is largely toothless. Most educational policy is resolved at the state and local level; hell, even Common Core implementation was left up to the states as to how to execute it. The post is nothing more than a resume-padder for

Ever since Carter established the department, educational performance in this country has become steadily worse regardless of who's in charge. The only real solutions are to fold federal educational offices back into Health and Human Services were they belong (begging the question that such an office is even necessary), or get rid of it entirely and let states and school districts resolve educational policy according to their needs. That goes for Homeland Security, too--get rid of it and put that shit under the Dept of Defense, and get rid of the offices that are redundant.

What's so baffling is that the left invested so much emotion and political capital into fighting DeVos's confirmation when there are far more important posts they could have focused on, like State and AG, or chimping out about the visa suspension when he put in a government hiring freeze and neutered Dodd-Frank, which for liberals should have far more important implications because they'll impact actual Americans. Trump really has broken their moral fortitude if they can't even prioritize their fights correctly.

[Lurk Diggler]

Should have just told her to support vouchers then she doesn't have to worry about what the public schools are like.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

From the Congressional Research Service:

http://bit.ly/2koRgoH

Obama issued 19 immigration bans; six for Bush. Democrats issued more than Republicans.

Oh look, my shockey face.

[PBR Streetgang]

This can't be. Is this one of those fakenewz things I keep hearing about?

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

I imagine sending this to my prog friends would be met with outright disdain. I truly believe any counterpoint to their agenda will be dismissed and later destroyed. This is why governments have censored or burned down or destroyed literature, art, architecture for all of human history to the present.

Truth is an inconvenience to power.

[Col. Chestbridge]

It's only more if you use alternate maths. And everyone knows alternate maths are a tool of Putin.

[BigT]

Interesting.

Obama's immigration bans are much more narrowly focused than Trump's 7-nation ban. Then again, Obama's are all judgment calls, not clearly delineated. So they could be completely arbitrary.

Obama:

Suspending the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of aliens who are determined to have engaged in certain conduct as to Iran and Syria (e.g., facilitating deceptive transactions for or on behalf of any person subject to U.S. sanctions concerning Iran and Syria

[BigT]

And Hillary and Obama should be kept out:

uspending the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of
aliens who are determined to have "contributed to the situation in Libya" in specified ways (e.g., engaging in "actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability" of that country or may lead to or result in the misappropriation of Libyan state assets)

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Grizzlies on notice.

While bruins roam?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Oh, I get it. Good one.

[Hayeksplosives]

Timely lynx!

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Alt text?

This is not our Rico Suave!

[Hayeksplosives]

He wanted to leave for happy hour a minute early, but that doesn't explain the alt-text...maybe someone should check on him.

[Fist of Etiquette]

FIRE's major finding is that the cops are heavily involved in BRTs.

They're the most important part of any thought policing team.

[Charles Easterly]

You are correct, Fist. Of the 232 institutions surveyed in FIRE's report, 167 identify the officials or offices that receive and review reports of offensive speech. The majority of these institutions' BRTs include student conduct administrators, but a shocking 42 percent list law enforcement personnel among their BRT members: in other words, literal speech police.

[Fist of Etiquette]

New Orleans hit by powerful tornado.

Trump better haul ass down there.

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

God hates the Chocolate City (and trailer parks)

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

George W. Bush did it.

[Charles Easterly]

If I tie in your post with Lee's post should I arrive at "Good work, Brownie"?

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

Your choice, Chuck, your choice.

[Charles Easterly]

Dang it.
I misquoted the former president when he was in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina:.

Fudge.

[Hangin' with Agent Cooper]

Donald Trump doesn't care about black people.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Meanwhile, Obama is kite-boarding with Richard Branson.

WHILE ROME BURNS.

[AlmightyJB]

Looks like they're having a little too much fun.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The twitters don't reach the island.

[Juice]

Any naked models on their backs?

[Not a True MJG]

Didn't even need to look at the byline.

[Not a True MJG]

Also, what's the deal with bylines? Journalists can't come up with a better word for that line? Their whole profession is words!

[AlmightyJB]

They should change it to trumpline.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

If you haven't heard yet, Betsy DeVos will be President Trump's Education Secretary after all.

I hear it as a great disturbance in the Forces. As if 50 million voices all cried out at once and were then silenced encouraged to cry harder.

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

And it sounded a little bit like this. Never gets old.

[esteve7]

Such a freakout over Devos. Progs can never admit the other side is legitimate. No, Devos can't just have a different belief in how best to educate children, SHE HATES CHILDREN!

Jesus Fucking Christ.

[Col. Chestbridge]

I find the hysteria over DeVos combined with the relative silence about Sessions quite disheartening.

[Hayeksplosives]

Agreed.

I figure the reason DeVos is getting more hate dumped on her is that she is a woman, and educashun is a womyn's issue that she's on the "wrong" side of. Many of my school chums wanted to major in Elementary Education because they couldn't master more than 7th grade studies themselves.

What happened to the days when WWII vets taught history and science (and life) in high schools? I've heard the stories from friends who were hugely influenced by those teachers.

Now the 4 year education programs and unions and histeria filter out the people i'd like to see as teachers.

[Not a True MJG]

Most of those vets are dead now.

[Pan Zagloba]

It's not like America is short on wars, though!

[Hayeksplosives]

Well, yeah. But what I mean is that type of person, someone who has life experience outside the education system. They'd have to prove proficiency in whatever they taught, like chemistry or literature, but that could be shown with a portfolio, exams, and a student teacher internship.

Funny, nobody on the left ever seems to say "We need more men in education." But we need more men in education.

[Conchfritters]

Well, you can have a Phd in economics, and you will never get hired as an econ teacher at any public school. That is literally true. They haven't had any classes on cultural diversity, intersectional pheminism, and man splanning, and therefore shouldn't be teaching econ to kids, I guess.

[Hayeksplosives]

Ridiculous, isn't it?

They make exceptions in very limited cases, like in communities where they want more Native American teachers they let a NA friend of mine with a chemical engineering degree become a high school chemistry teacher after a 6 month teaching primer.

But not for the rest of ya!

[Gadfly]

Private schools can be more lax, which might be contributing to the furor over DeVos and the school choice movement as a whole. I once taught Calculus and Pre-Calc for nearly a year (technically as a long-term sub) with no more credentials or training than a degree in engineering.

[Scarecrow Repair & Chippering]

It's because DeVos directly affects the teacher unions, but police run amuk don't affect any organized group. Concentrated power is more important than vast diffuse power.

[Gadfly]

What happened to the days when WWII vets taught history and science (and life) in high schools? I've heard the stories from friends who were hugely influenced by those teachers.

Now the 4 year education programs and unions and histeria filter out the people i'd like to see as teachers.

You've answered your own question. Life experience and a high school degree used to be sufficient to become a teacher, but like any guild the teachers unions have increased the credential requirements with an eye towards reducing the supply of teachers and inculcating a conformity of views.

[american socialist]

This

[Libertarian]

Vanity Fair film critics agree!

"That is not an exaggeration in any sense," tweeted Vanity Fair film critic Richard Lawson, who fired off a series of tweets early Tuesday arguing that DeVos' confirmation would be deadly for "queer and other at-risk kids" ? because of DeVos' support for voucher programs.

Meaning voucher programs will lead to more suicides. Betsy DeVos's policies will kill children. That is not an exaggeration in any sense.
? Richard Lawson (@rilaws) February 7, 2017
"Voucher programs will create systems in which queer kids have literally zero access to support apparatus bc they are in religious schools," Lawson wrote. "Meaning voucher programs will lead to more suicides. Betsy DeVos's policies will kill children."

[Hayeksplosives]

Do they even hear themselves? Get used to 8 years of Trump.

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

At this rate, people will get the 22nd amendment repealed to keep him in until death.

[PBR Streetgang]

I wonder if Lawson is like Al Franken and Elizabeth Warren? Complains about school choice and the death of public education, but sends their own children to private schools.

[Chipwooder]

Aren't they all like that? Are there any children of prominent politicians who go to DC public schools?

[Gene]

Suicidal LGBT Teen : Trump is Hitler, I'm gonna KILL MYSELF

Vanity Fair Journalo: He is, we understand *shouts from atop corpse of LGBT teen*

[SimonD]

They just can't help seeing things through their authoritarian glasses, can they? I guess it never occurs to them that the 'queer kids' don't HAVE to go to religious schools (or that religious schools may have counselors also).

[american socialist]

Why is the assumption that queer students need support? Why can't they choose to go to a public school if so?

I also don't think public schools are necessarily great for queer support

[Episteme]

And why can't that queer kid just take the same voucher and go to that Fame school instead, to go all Glee on us or something?

[Juice]

Yes, school choice means being forced to go to a school you don't like. Oh wait, that's the way it is now.

[Col. Chestbridge]

Since not everyone visits the AM Links: The continuing adventures of the brand-new Danger 5, the five-person team of skilled operatives that definitely maybe actually has five people in it:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three will be posted in tomorrow's AM Links. Stay vigilant; kill Hitler.

[Pan Zagloba]

Say what you will about the replacement team, they didn't require the sit-down gun.

[Col. Chestbridge]

Well in fairness I really don't like to use it...

[Chipper Morning Wood]

They better not get blinded with weaponized syphilis.

If you don't get this joke, you have not seen The Tick pilot on amazon.

[Col. Chestbridge]

Saw it, thought it had a few great jokes but was otherwise underwhelming.

Which is too bad, because all of the actors/actresses they got were top-notch. And I really do like the Tick universe.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

It has potential. The guy playing The Tick was spot on.

[Col. Chestbridge]

Yep! Patrick Warburton. He played/voiced The Tick in the last show, if I remember correctly.

If you haven't seen The Venture Bros., I highly recommend checking that out. He voices the bodyguard and is fantastic.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

+1 Guild of Calamitous Intent

[BakedPenguin]

As a coincidence, I watched the Original Tick series (my first time seeng it), VB, and a few Seinfeld episodes where he played Elaine's boyfriend all in a row.

[Col. Chestbridge]

+1 "This is Puddy"

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

Keep it up.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Trump already golfing.

WHILE ROAM BRUNS.

[Libertarian]

They should just leave the garbage on the ground as a statement about how much leftists really care about the environment.

Sanitation crews work to remove massive amounts of garbage from DAPL protest camp before spring thaw

http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/.....54433.html

[Jerry on the sea]

Did you make it to Glastonbury this year and did you get to the Greenpeace field? If you missed it, you missed out. Despite the mud it was the best year yet.

[Juice]

People just leave their chairs and tents and such behind? WTF?

[Cdr Lytton]

Trumpie doin a heck of a job. Not even a month with a R back in the White House and NOLA is getting hammered again. When will there be justice?

[Chipwooder]

At this point, the inhabitants of New Orleans really should have gotten the message from God/Allah/Mother Gaia/whoever that they're really not supposed to be living there. Get a clue, for crissakes!

[Hayeksplosives]

Let's rebuild our devestated city right back in this lakebed below sea level!

What could possibly go wrong?

[Trigger Hippie]

King of Swamp Castle: One day, lad, all this will be yours.

Prince Herbert: What, the curtains?

King: No, not the curtains, lad.

King: I built this kingdom up from nothing. When I started, all I had was swamp! Other kings said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built it all the same, just to show 'em! It sank into the swamp, so I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. I built a third one. It burned down, fell over, and then it sank into the swamp. But the fourth one stayed up! And that's what you're going to get, lad--the strongest castle on these islands!

[Juice]

I moved out over a decade ago.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education...

Bias in and of itself.

[Juvenile Bluster]

"Individual Rights" is just code for white supremacy!

[Fire Dalmia (DoM5k)]

DOG WHISTLE!!!!!

[Fire Shikha]

Ummm...yeah. Individual rights is a Western construct. The only rights you have is what the government allows you to have. Stay woke

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Well, it IS a western construct.

[Heroic Mulatto]

-1 Yang Zhu

[Charles Easterly]

Unrelated to Chipper's original intent: Mohism and another opportunity I shall take to (re)mention and suggest the movie Battle of the Warriors.

I think there more than a few H&R commentators who might enjoy this movie for what it is, especially fi the viewer(s) do not expect a pleasant ending.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Trump already golfing.

Oh, now it's time for Team Blue to get irrationally mad about the President playing golf. Whoop-de-doo.

[jcw]

HOW MANY VACATIONS IS THIS? I've always been pretty whoop-de-doo about it, but I always thought it was discussed in a weirdly frequent manner in this place. Maybe since a different team is involved we won't hear about his Trump's endless vacations?

[John]

Obama vacationed more than any President in history. And did so in really luxurious fashion almost to the point of it being just a fuck you to the country. If Trump does the same, he should be criticized too.

[jcw]

Okay, sounds good.

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

I don't really care how luxurious his vacations are as long as he doesn't do it on the public dime. Not a lot can be done about the very costly security entourage, however.

[Volren]

Secret Service gotta party.

[Viking1865]

It's not really the vacation aspect, because POTUS isn't ever really on vacation, but W would fly to a ranch he already owned. The Obamas seemed to be on a mission to visit every exclusive destination in the world on the taxpayer's dime.

Obviously a drop in the bucket in terms of federal spending, but if Trump just goes to Trump Tower or the place in FL he's got, I do consider that a material difference to picking all the fun spots around the globe and attempting to check them all off the list.

I mean, I had heard Trump isn't even taking his Presidential salary, it would be really cool if he was also funding the costs of his travel out of pocket. I'm sure the media would have reported such a commitment to cost savings.

[Episteme]

Obama vacationed more than any President in history.

In his defense, Obama reminded folks that the besainted George Washington never even stepped foot in DC during his two terms!

[BakedPenguin]

Didn't Obama play more golf during his presidency than Tiger Woods?

But Trump BAD MAN! BAD!

[jesse.in.mb]

Tiger Woods

When was Tiger Woods' presidency?

[Libertarian]

In Soviet Russia, club swings at you!

[PBR Streetgang]

Heh

[Chipper Morning Wood]

President of Forbidden Poontang. Not anything you would be interested in, Jesse.

[american socialist]

To be honest i was actually glad obama played golf and went on vacation so much --> less time to screw around

[Fist of Etiquette]

The Justice Department is appealing a judge's halting of the travel ban, on national security grounds.

No one else at DoJ wants the old presidential ax, eh?

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

New Orleans hit by powerful tornado.

Clearly New Orleans is built on top of a Hellgate,

[Chipper Morning Wood]

This explains so much.

[jesse.in.mb]

Every time I've been there it's been all shellfish gumbo, public drunkenness, sodomy and blended fabrics. Truly a modern Gomorrah

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

Don't look back, Jesse!

[jesse.in.mb]

But...gumbo!

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

With a side of salt pillar.

[jesse.in.mb]

There's no Biblical evidence that happens to menfolk.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

So true. Gotta go, I'm late to the STL bbq cook off.
*parts the Mississippi

[Enough About Palin]

That's artisinal salt pillar

[Episteme]

"Tonight on Access Hollywood: video of a dehydrated Donald Trump licking Lot's wife...and you'll never guess where!"

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

Mmmmmmmm gumbo. *looks back and turns into salt
*bacon-magic kicks in...turns back into salty bacon

[Chipper Morning Wood]

In that order?

[jesse.in.mb]

Pretty close, yeah. There is probably a cheeseburger at the Clover Cafe in there after public drunkenness, which also offends Jehovah, but it's optional.

[Chipwooder]

You forgot about all the urine in the gutters

[Juice]

And the puke!

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

blended fabrics.

You'd think they'd want something that would breath easier.

[jesse.in.mb]

Smartwool?

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Good choice! They kept my feet warm and dry in the thirty degree, rainy weather today.

[jesse.in.mb]

I wore a Smartwool tshirt out into Death Valley once upon a time. Kept me cool and dry while sweating and then dried quickly after it rained. I'm a fan of the stuff.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Smartwool is the only thing I put on my feetsies during wintertime.

[Juice]

I just went to their website to check them out. Some socks are $50 a pair. Ha! Yeah.

[jesse.in.mb]

Their stuff is pricey but worth it for certain things (and in very limited quantities).

[DRM]

New Orleans!
Home of pirates, drunks, and whores!
New Orleans!
Tacky overpriced souvenir stores!

If you want to go to Hell, you should take a trip
To the Sodom and Gomorrah on the Mississip!

New Orleans!
Stinky, rotten, vomiting, vile,
New Orleans!
Putrid, brackish, maggoty, foul.
New Orleans!
Crummy, lousy, rancid, and rank,
New Orleans!

[Episteme]

Today we Mandi Gras, for tomorrow we die!

[Dr. Fronkensteen]

I blame Bush. er the Republican president. You didn't have God trying to wipe out the gays during the Obama administration.

[Hangin' with Agent Cooper]

Clearly New Orleans is built on top of a Hellgate,

FIFY.

[That's A Bingo!]

Meanwhile, Obama is kite-boarding with Richard Branson.

You're suppose to suck up to politicians before they get into office, not after.

[waffles]

Obama is so cool!

[AlmightyJB]

He's cooler now that he's not president.

[OneOut]

Nothing cooler than a 50 plus year old with his cap on backwards.

[Ted S.]

Betsy DeVos Eeks It Out

I think it's TEAM BLUE who are screaming, not Betsy DeVos.

[American Memer]

Ekes*

Unless that was a pun about her going "eek" at how close the vote was...

[Chipper Morning Wood]

If it was Shakford, I would say intenational pun. But it's not Shakford.

[CE]

I think improving the nation's spelling needs to be her first assignment!

[Some Chick from OH]

^This! THANK YOU! Also, s/b "Shackford."

[BakedPenguin]

Shackleford. Rusty Shackleford.

[waffles]

Trump is going to have to hit the links much more than that if he's ever going to compare with Barack "mulligan" Obama.

[Ted S.]

The Chaney family of East New Orleans survived the tornado, but just barely.

Kimberly Chaney was trying to record it

Stupid bitch.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

The Justice Department is appealing a judge's halting of the travel ban, on national security grounds.

If only they could settle things in the Old Way. Your best fighter against theirs.

[AlmightyJB]

Appealing to the 9th circuit. Why not just have Nancy Pelosi decide?

[CE]

Why tick off Arnold then?

[John]

http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/.....54433.html

Sanitation crews work to remove massive amounts of garbage from DAPL protest camp. They care so much about the environment, they had to destroy it to save it.

[Mazakon]

Thomas Massie Introduced a One-Sentence Long Bill to Abolish the Department of Education

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced a bill (HR 899) Tuesday that contains just one single sentence "The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2018."

Eliminating the federal role in public education has been a conservative cause going all the way back to Ronald Reagan, and under the Trump administration, the libertarian-leaning congressman senses the time might be right to revisit this issue.

"Neither Congress nor the President, through his appointees, has the constitutional authority to dictate how and what our children must learn," Massie said in a press release.

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

Massie rocks

[Hayeksplosives]

How cool it would be to have Massie as Rep and Paul as Senator.

Aside from the whole, ya know, living in Kentucky part.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Kentucky is a very scenic state.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

They also have great college basketball and bourbon, as well as Raylen Givens.

[Viking1865]

>as well as Raylen Givens.

He's such a great character. Like, if he was real, Reason would have 50 articles a week about him, but he's just so much fun on TV.

[Hayeksplosives]

Unfortunately, I've only been to Louisville for a work trip. Going to the local pubs in the industrial part of town was a cultural experience, for sure.

But touring Churchill Downs was nice.

[Chipwooder]

Well, in its favor, Kentucky has a lot of natural beauty.

[Enough About Palin]

It also has the beauty of being centrally located.

[BigT]

Fast women and beautiful horses .... er...

[Rufus The Monocled]

Massie is the man.

[CE]

Why not 2017?

[Episteme]

After today, will all the Democrats sign on as co-sponsors as a Hail Mary to get rid of DeVos?

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Trump already golfing.

The government can run itself, that's why the founders enumerated such powers to the 4th branch.

[John]

http://pjmedia.com/parenting/2.....ng-images/

A mother from Queensland, Australia, delivered her fourth child by C-section, which is fairly routine these days. What's remarkable is that Sarah Toyer, 24, assisted in the delivery of her son?via C-section!

Toyer, whose three other children?Jay, 4, Ruby, 3, and Wyatt, 2?were all born by C-section, wanted to be more of a participant in the birth of her fourth baby. She explained to Babble that her first pregnancy failed to progress, which led to an emergency C-section. "I felt like my body failed at giving birth and felt so robbed after going through so much just to end up having a C-section," she said.

Don't fuck with Australians. They are even more nuts than Americans. Just leave them alone.

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

That's up there with the Russkie who performed his own appendectomy in Antarctica.

[True Scottsman]

I disagree, the doctor performing his own appendectomy had a choice between performing surgery on himself or death, this crazy lady assisted in her own c-section to assuage some sort of guilt that she couldn't give childbirth naturally.

[Hangin' with Agent Cooper]

THE DINGO DELIVERED YOUR BABY!

[Briggie]

The tears are delicious. From my Facebook feed.

Gloves are off. Betsy Devos was confirmed as secretary of education.

Our democracy has failed us, the people. Every single one of you should be furious. Regardless of your political stance.

She was undoubtedly and unquestionably unqualified for this job. Not a single one of you would take your pet to a mechanic or your car to a vet.

I saw first hand, thousands of people call their senators. Write, fax, call, email, and let our representatives know.

They valued money in their pockets and partisan politics more than their constituents and the will of the people.

I hope every single one of you votes in our mid terms, and I hope you remember this moment. Remember when the people we elected to represent us or that the "majority" of us elected - failed us so amazingly.

Get mad, get active, and don't give up.

You cannot tell me you aren't into politics, because politics is what keeps us from violence. Politics is what we do as a democracy and a civilized people.

Education is the fountain from which all other jobs spring. Teachers are parents, guardians, and safe keepers of our future. Public schools are where 80% of our kids get their education.

Our REPUBLICAN government just sold our future for a coin purse.

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

From mine:

Person 1: I sure hope we are wrong about her. For all of our sakes.

Person 2: You're a product of private schooling. This is great.

Person 1: I am. But it shouldn't be the default. Good public education should be. Best case scenario would be that more power would be put in the hands of the state.

And there you have it.

[Krabappel]

Seriously, fuck that hypocrite.

[Michael]

...politics is what keeps us from violence...

I believe the only proper response to this is, "Get away from me, you fucking lunatic."

[american socialist]

Why do they think public schooling would go away? Unless of course they think public schools suck to begin with.

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

Hahahahah, keep 'em coming.

[Raven Nation]

I always love the accusations about money influencing votes. So, the people that voted contrary to your position knew you were right, were going to vote the way you wanted, but then someone waved money in their faces and they switched votes.

Compare with esteve7 above at 4:31pm.

[Pro Libertate]

What qualifications did Clinton or Kerry have for State? I actually have a long list of such questions, plenty for both parties. It's one thing when we vote for someone without experience, but it's another thing altogether to appoint and confirm such people. DeVos does represent a massive change in policy, which may actually require an outsider, but Education isn't State or Defense.

[Viking1865]

No Democrat has ever been unqualified for the office they are running or nominated for. Ever. In 2008 we needed a fresh perspective instead of that old warhorse McCain, and of course he was going to die in office which would put Palin in. Then in 2016 we needed a savvy Washington insider, and how dare you question her health, she's in perfect physical condition you sexist pig.

[PBR Streetgang]

From Mine: (long post just an excerpt on the necessity of public education via some anecdote about Ben Carson's parents:
"It made there children proof read over and over until they understood exactly what they were reading".

[Volren]

Response pretty much writes itself there.

[american socialist]

apparently they don't understand there vs their

[Hangin' with Agent Cooper]

Or thar!

[american socialist]

"I saw first hand, thousands of people call their senators. Write, fax, call, email, and let our representatives know.

They valued money in their pockets and partisan politics more than their constituents and the will of the people."

Because thousands of people called their senators --> equals the will of the people?

[Hangin' with Agent Cooper]

Pauline Kael wrote her senator for damned sure!

[american socialist]

Why do progressives think whatever they think is the will of the people?

[american socialist]

Briggie is that person a GOP voter or a prog?

[CE]

Congress-people are actually pretty good at analyzing what the voters actually care about. Calls and emails and faxes are laughed off. No one in a safe district is going to lose their seat and their pension over a vote for the Ed Sec two, four or six years prior.

[Juice]

Our democracy has failed us, the people.

Ha!!

[Lord_at_War]

You cannot tell me you aren't into politics, because politics is what keeps us from violence. Politics is what we do as a democracy and a civilized people.

Remind this person that "politics" is simply a by-product of "government"- which is the sanctioned violence by the will of those same "civilized people". Then remind this person who actually killed Tamar Rice and Eric Garner--- and which Party controlled the Government responsible for their deaths...

Expect a lot of "But..., But...," stuttering- and then a "unfriend"!

[The Late P Brooks]

Another entry in the I once was lost, but now am found genre of political penitence.

For years, as a conservative radio talk show host, I played a role in that conditioning by hammering the mainstream media for its bias and double standards. But the price turned out to be far higher than I imagined. The cumulative effect of the attacks was to delegitimize those outlets and essentially destroy much of the right's immunity to false information. We thought we were creating a savvier, more skeptical audience. Instead, we opened the door for President Trump, who found an audience that could be easily misled.

The news media's spectacular failure to get the election right has made it only easier for many conservatives to ignore anything that happens outside the right's bubble and for the Trump White House to fabricate facts with little fear of alienating its base.

Unfortunately, that also means that the more the fact-based media tries to debunk the president's falsehoods, the further it will entrench the battle lines.

Whoever this guy is, he's sorry for destroying civilization with his propaganda and disinformation. Pray for his soul, America. Redeem him.

[Pan Zagloba]

Huh, an unexpected upside of Trump presidency - "I used to be a Libertarian, but then I saw the light" articles will leave libertarians alone and use GOP instead?

[Juvenile Bluster]

Probably not. After all, Hillary wins if all those GayJay votes go to her. And they were clearly hers by right.

[Ted S.]

The news media's spectacular failure to get the election right has made it only easier for many conservatives to ignore anything that happens outside the right's bubble and for the Trump White House to fabricate facts with little fear of alienating its base.

Lefties project.

[cavalier973]

It's Charlie Sykes, if anyone is interested.

I thought it might have been Glenn Beck.

[John]

That was my first thought. Beck is David Brock level nuts.

[cavalier973]

Glenn has already been saying something like this.

[Chipwooder]

who the hell is Charlie Sykes?

[Raven Nation]

According to his Wikipedia page, he was a Young Democrat who gradually morphed into a conservative because he was pro-life. However, his most recent book is How the Right Lost Its Mind so...who knows.

[Doctor Whom]

the fact-based media

The what?

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

The what?

[Volren]

So is he saying he lied for years about the media being biased and having double standards and it is and always has been fact-based?

Or he thinks that it would be better for his audience to have kept unquestioningly believing lies and spin from a biased media if it means they wouldn't have believed lies and spin from Trump?

[american socialist]

Yep because the media is so honest

[CE]

Mostly just stamping their feet over the fact that the news media organizations can't steer the public as much as they used to.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Meanwhile, Obama is kite-boarding with Richard Branson.

Unequivocally the dopest president in history, doesn't make him great per say, doesn't change the fact though.

[jesse.in.mb]

Adding Richard Branson to just about anything ups its cool factor.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Aw, man, the squirrels ate my joke involving Richard Branson, Lena Dunham, Rachel Maddow, and a Smart car.

[Not a True MJG]

Didn't HW skydive in the last decade or so? Given his age, I think that happens to be quite "dope."

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

For sure I thought of HW but that's not dope so much as very manly.

[Lord_at_War]

Unequivocally the dopest president in history

You forgot Obama's favorite letter-- the I!

Unequivocally the dopiest president in history.

[cavalier973]

After each obstructing senator spoke twice, and assuming no supporting senators wished to debate the matter, debate would be automatically concluded, because obstructing senators would no longer be permitted to speak. Then, once debate on a matter is closed, a final vote on the matter ? in this case the confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee ? would take place.

[Ted S.]

Enforcing the two-speech rule would thus turn current practice on its head and force obstructing senators to do all the work to maintain the filibuster. It would require them to monitor the floor 24/7 for days and weeks on end to continue the debate.

So much this. I'm not oppposed to the idea of a filibuster, but it ought to be a real, no-foolin', Jefferson Smith-style filibuster.

[Viking1865]

Yeah if you're gonna read the phone book, you need to actually be reading the phone book.

[OneOut]

Depends.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Oh look, more shockey face. Quebec shows Canada's universal public system is a piece of crap reason #3949595:

"The radiologists are confusing several things to mask the fact they are mostly trying to protect their lucrative private practices," Barrette said Monday, adding that he had made clear his intentions to bring ultrasounds under the public plan as early as June 2015. "They're taking patients hostage because they're greedy."

Naturally. Let's fuck over people who can afford to get timely services because 'unfair' and greed'.

And American progressives are big enough ignorant assholes to want this crap.

http://news.nationalpost.com/n.....ltrasounds

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

Despicable. Please share more of these as they come.

[Mazakon]

Christie Brinkley, 63 to return to Sports Illustrated with her two daughters

Warning: Possible Autoplay

[cavalier973]

Nice euphemism!

[Libertarian]

Twosomes are kinky.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

I prefer a Christie onesome, but I am an old fashioned kind of guy.

[Libertarian]

What are you guys going to do if Lena continues to lose weight and gets hot???

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

Dieting and exercise might tighten up the body, but it don't fix ugly.

[Pan Zagloba]

Contact Justice Society of America, because that would mean we are on Earth-2?

[Password: pode$ta]

What is wrong with you?

Jesus Christ, ever heard of a trigger warning?

[Charles Easterly]

I agree with P:p with regards to this matter of you linking to such pictures, CJ - #2.

Off topic, what is the situation regarding the first CJ?

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Charles, I'm #2 because I'm the shit.

[AceDroman]

"First is the worst, second is the best"

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

O.o

*pours bleach into eyes*

x_x

[Chipper Morning Wood]

She looks fucking amazing. And all natural. Don't fuck up your face with botox, ladies.

[Libertarian]

The weeping you're hearing is coming from Billy Joel's house.

[Raven Nation]

I caught a lot of the documentary Last Play at Shea which included a lot of background on the Joel-Christie marriage and divorce. One of their kids basically blamed the business manager (one of Joel's childhood friends) for wrecking the marriage. Apparently he stole/embezzled a huge amount of money which led to massive tensions in the marriage and then divorce. I tend to think that money factors put pressure on existing faultlines rather than causing them, but it was still a pretty damning indictment of the manager.

[Chipwooder]

Makes sense. They apparently have remained close friends ever since the divorce

[John]

http://www.thegatewaypundit.co.....hed-video/

Maxine Waters condemns Putin's recent invasion of Korea.

[cavalier973]

*Facepalm*

[Pan Zagloba]

We don't know that Putin wasn't involved in the 1950 invasion!

I mean, he claims to have been born in 1952, but, can we accept such claims at face value?

[BakedPenguin]

What's a Korea?

[Libertarian]

She took a hit off Nancy "I can't work with President Bush" Pelosi's joint.

[Citizen X - #6]

Meanwhile, Obama is kite-boarding with Richard Branson.

Christ, what an asshole.

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

Is he doing the backwards ball cap thing again?

[Citizen X - #6]

Wearing he draws low so you can see the top four inches of his boxers.

[The Late P Brooks]

Betsy DeVod eeks

I hope she jumped up on a chair and pulled her skirt up.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Rule 34?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Paging the enforcement arm of Rule 35!

[The Fusionist]

University of Iowa decides *not* to have a Bias Response Team

"[Chief Diversity Officer Georgina] Dodge said the UI abandoned its plans for a formal bias response team due to concerns that similar campus teams around the country were negatively affecting academic freedom and free speech. UI officials decided a "sounding-board" approach would be better, according to a recent news release.

"The new team, which will be dually housed in the Student Care and Assistance Office and the Center for Diversity and Enrichment, will give students a place to bring concerns and work with professionals to identify problems and craft a response plan.

"Being an informal group, the team can't investigate complaints or concerns and can't discipline or issue punishments, according to the university. If an issue potentially violates UI policy or constitutes a crime, team members will refer the student to the appropriate office.

"Dean of Students Lyn Redington said the goal is to preserve free speech and the exchange of ideas while acknowledging that comes with the risk of offending."

[AlmightyJB]

"that comes with the risk of offending."

So she's basically Hitler.

[Scarecrow Repair & Chippering]

Well, probably Eva, unless she's trans, or cross, or something.

[Fire Dalmia (DoM5k)]

Betsy DeVos Eeks It Out

::narrows gaze::

[AlmightyJB]

I'll be in my bunk

[Personal Liberty]

Trump gets laughs when he offers to 'destroy' a Texas state senator's career.

I thought I heard Trump say, "Will it" not "We'll" destroy his career. It's makes more that he would say "Will it" destroy his career because asked that piece of shit traitor Sheriff for the name of the State Senator and the asshole Sheriff hesitated to say the name.

[jesse.in.mb]

New Jersey...Men: Two men arrested after sex act on store display

Two men were arrested and charged with engaging in lewd behavior on a display bed at Bed Bath & Beyond during regular business hours.

At a Bed Bath & Beyond? These bitches are basic.

One or both of the men apprehended by police were found to be infected with scabies, a contagious skin infestation caused by a microscopic parasite that burrows beneath skin. The arresting officers were exposed to the mites, according to police reports.

What the...

Because the two men were found to be suffering from a health condition, their identities are protected [...HIPAA], officials said. However, police said they were not Bed Bath & Beyond employees.

The officers were treated at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center and released, though they were on leave for a few days to avoid contaminating the Clifton Police Department's offices, according to the record of the incident, which also said the booking station had to be fumigated by exterminators to prevent any spread of scabies.

Important life lesson. If you plan on getting arrested for lewd public acts, make sure you have an infectious skin parasite so they can't release your name.

[The Fusionist]

WTF?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

He said "Always have an infectious skin parasite, just in case!"

Safe sex.

[Citizen X - #6]

However, police said they were not Bed Bath & Beyond employees.

Well THAT'S certainly a relief.

[jesse.in.mb]

Homosexuals? In my downmarket homegoods store!?

It's more likely than you think.

[waffles]

I'm literally shaking.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

I'm literally shaking.

Samesies.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

If you shake it more than three times, your just playing with it.

[Citizen X - #6]

Is that what the "Beyond" part means? Scabies?

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

+1

[Citizen X - #6]

I've never had 'em, but i'm pretty sure you never get just one scabie.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

I am living in a town of less than 30,000 people. It has a high proportion of gays. Some say we are the San Fran of the midwest. I like the antique stores and the one gay bar is a great place to pick up chicks(they go there to dance).

[jesse.in.mb]

the one gay bar is a great place to pick up chicks(they go there to dance).

Sigh.

[Pan Zagloba]

He's just trolling you, jesse. Be strong!

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

I am not.

[jesse.in.mb]

Our shitty little local gay bar slowly became a mixed crowd bar because women thought it was cool and transgressive to go there and then straight guys showed up to hit on the straight women who wanted to be there because they wouldn't be bothered by guys but then were annoyed that they weren't being attended to. As the proportion of people ended up more and more straight, fewer and fewer gay guys showed up and then there was nothing actually appealing about it because it was just another mediocre local bar. Now I have to drive 30+ minutes in any direction to go to a gay bar.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

Sorry to hear that. If it's any consolation most of the guys around here don't want to be seen there so this bar still leans heavily gay.

[jesse.in.mb]

Yeah. It's happening at different rates all over the world. And it isn't wrong or anything, the incentives all make sense. The worst was seeing some chick show up on grindr near me with a "I'm just here to find some new gay besties!" profile.

Also, sometimes you accidentally hook up with a straight guy in a bathroom at Lafittes in Exile in NOLA. Telling someone you're straight and just wandered in to take a piss is less convincing when you're fully erect.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

When I was in a band we were offered good money to play down there. 1 dickhead couldn't do it, the rest of us were on board. Great place to party and be violence free. Plus no one hits on you unless you're asking for it. The drag show is awesome.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

More for you, sir. *tips hat and then grabs some boobies

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

In reply to Jesse.

[Not a True MJG]

At a Bed Bath & Beyond? These bitches are basic.

I assume they had been doing it at Walmart on the reg and no one noticed.

[Episteme]

Well, that story went...beyond...quickly.

[The Late P Brooks]

DeVos was confirmed when the Vice President cast the tie-breaking vote.

Republikkkin lawlessness! Close the LOOPHOLE!

[Doctor Whom]

I know people who are freaking out over that aspect. Fucking Constitution, how does it work?

[CE]

Constitutional Crisis!

[Sandusky's Kids]

Wow Drumpf is already golfing. I'm just so shocked. I'm literally shaking.

[AlmightyJB]

That's where all the best deals get made.

[John]

Drumpf. That is so clever. How did you think of that? Did it just come to you or did you spend a lot of time on it?

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

That one's been floating around the leftie sites for awhile. However, my personal favorite is Twitler.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

Twitler is hilarious.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Sarcasm, John boy.

[GILMORE?]

My favorite rebuttal to people complaining about DeVos is, "So what does the Secretary of Education DO, exactly?" and watching them sort of mumble incoherently about how uh, its like really important and stuff, even though they find themselves admitting that almost all education is locally-funded and controlled.

[Doctor Whom]

When I asked someone that, he muttered something about allocating federal aid to school systems. We totally need a Cabinet-level department to do that.

[Episteme]

At the very least, phase it back into Health and Human Services (the former Department of Health, Education, and Welfare).

Similarly, you could recombine the former Department of Commerce and Labor (although I'd take those two along with Transportation and Housing & Urban Development and mix the sub-elements into two new departments, probably one focused on infrastructure and one on personnel development).

As part of a reform of a VA, I'd move the Secretary of Veteran Affairs out of the Cabinet and down to the level of the services Secretaries (moving the offices and a reduced staff to the DoD).

[BigT]

mix the sub-elements into two new departments, probably one focused on infrastructure and one on personnel development

Prisoners and guards. That's where those folks belong.

[jack sprat]

^This
Apparently she is going to take away all the money from public schools with a wave of her magic wand.
Why do you hate da chidrenz?

[jack sprat]

Oops, I forgot to add and give it to the Muslim hating creationist schools instead. Because THAT is what she can do.
*Sponsored by Koch bros industries

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

Oh but you see she bought the position. Because greed or something and she's totally going to get that money back she donated.

[Krabappel]

You know who else bought a position?

[Pan Zagloba]

Every purchaser of Kama Sutra?

[Krabappel]

*stands and claps*

[Hangin' with Agent Cooper]

If of a certain political party, kill children. Duh.

[GILMORE?]

This is supposed to be a sob-story =

he retired California prison guard, a self-described "Democrat leaning toward socialist," was stunned when her husband casually mentioned during a lunch with friends last year that he planned to vote for Trump ? a revelation she described as a "deal breaker."

"It totally undid me that he could vote for Trump," said McCormick, 73, who had not thought of leaving the conservative Republican before but felt "betrayed" by his support for Trump.

"I felt like I had been fooling myself," she said. "It opened up areas between us I had not faced before. I realized how far I had gone in my life to accept things I would have never accepted when I was younger."

Who would have thought a Socialist Prison Guard was such a *control freak?*

[AlmightyJB]

So she's single now then?

[The Grinch]

After your date she can sodomize you with a plunger.

[AlmightyJB]

Oh sure they tell you that and then they make you pay extra

[The Fusionist]

Your knowledge is surprisingly detailed...

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Hey, somebody has to sand that plunger handle. Unless you enjoy splinters.

[Libertarian]

Plot twist: he didn't vote at all, he was just tired of being married and this was the easiest way out

[Rufus The Monocled]

There's nothing less sexy than a 73 year-old who still thinks like a baby prog.

[John]

he retired California prison guard, a self-described "Democrat leaning toward socialist,"

Is there a more appropriate career for a socialist than prison guard? I sure can't think of one. Can you?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Prisoner?

[Krabappel]

Slave?

[The Fusionist]

They're trying for a "both sides" narrative, but I wonder...

"The Reuters/Ipsos poll of 6,426 people, taken from Dec. 27 to Jan. 18, shows the number of respondents who argued with family and friends over politics jumped 6 percentage points from a pre-election poll at the height of the campaign in October, up to 39 percent from 33 percent. (See graphic: tmsnrt.rs/2jLSU36)

"Sixteen percent said they have stopped talking to a family member or friend because of the election - up marginally from 15 percent. That edged higher, to 22 percent, among those who voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton."

That's the one time they mention partisan differences among respondents.

I suspect there's a partisan gap in the other figures as well.

[The Fusionist]

I guess "Trump is divisive" is a better narrative for the media than "Democrats freak out."

[Scarecrow Repair & Chippering]

One of my bucket list entries is to fly to Australia, and when they ask if I have a criminal record, look surprised and ask if that is still a requirement.

But better than that would be to become a college student again and report hundreds of bias incidents daily, to spend so much time doing it that when they flunk me out, I can shame them by showing I was upholding the proudest proggie traditions by reporting the university itself being unproggies and shamefully politically incorrect.

It would be fandamtastic to walk around campus and reporting every single person I met for looking at me or each other cross-eyed, for uttering the slightest perceived slurs, and generally turning their own system into a shambles and daring them to act against me.

[The Fusionist]

Atheist activist Michael Stone opines on his blog, Progressive Secular Humanist:

"Theocracy alert: New Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is a radical Christian extremist who wants to use American schools to advance "God's kingdom."...

"Commenting on DeVos' nomination [back in Novemner], Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said:

"'The decision to appoint DeVos to this post signifies a serious attack on public education. As the top education official in the United States, she can be expected to do everything in her power to take taxpayer money from public schools and send it to private religious schools.'"

[John]

Look Eddy, worshiping government is totally not the same as worshiping God. He is all rational and humanist.

[jack sprat]

I KNEW IT! Why didn't they stop her?
Oh for the love of Sweet Jesus why didn't they....oh wait.

[SoCal Deathmarch]

A Primer for Robby Soave:

How to change a flat tire on a modern automobile:

1. Locate the spare tire in the trunk of your automobile. The spare tire is often referred to as a "donut". Remove spare from trunk.
2. Locate the jack and lug wrench inside the trunk of your automobile. This is a metallic device, usually with a screw mechanism, that is designed to lift your auto off the ground.
3. Loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire with the lug wrench by turning them in a counter clockwise direction (Lefty Loosie Righty Tighty!).
4. Insert the jack underneath the auto adjacent to the flat tire. Make sure the auto is on flat stable ground and the jack is lifting the auto by its frame. There is typically a sticker on the jack to show you the correct placement. Using the opposite end of the lug wrench (it's a dual tool) screw the jack in a clockwise direction to lift the auto.
5. Remove the already loosened lug nuts and pull the flat tire off the hub.
6. Place the spare tire on the hub and hand tighten the lug nuts.
7. Lower the auto to the ground by screwing the jack in a counter clockwise direction.
8. Tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench by turning the nuts in a clockwise direction. Torque down the lug nuts fully by using a star pattern.
9. Drive to nearest Starbucks, order a Venti Chai-Latte (non dairy), and text your fellow beta-males about how mechanically gifted you are.

[AlmightyJB]

Call local car dealer and have him bring you new car. Continue to destination.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

Now show him how to write a libertarian minded article.

[Citizen X - #6]

1. Do whatever you want, just don't hurt anybody else.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

#Bash the fash

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

Smite the right

Whack the anti-black

Bludgeon those curmudgeons

[GILMORE?]

the last one was gold

[Chipper Morning Wood]

When has Robby ever hurt anyone, other than that all you can eat place that serves fruit sushi?

[John]

http://pjmedia.com/blog/uc-ber.....r-failure/

Even America's biggest pro cop hack, Dunphy, isn't buying the Berkeley PD's excuses for not arresting anyone during the anti Milo riots.

[GILMORE?]

I've heard a bunch of lefties say on the Twitters that "Destruction of Property" is a perfectly legitimate form of protest (when the black bloc types were being criticized)

ORLY? Say European Muslims

A man arrested by police for attacking soldiers with a machete outside the Louvre museum in Paris last week said he wanted to damage paintings and "avenge" the Syrian people, a judicial source said on Tuesday.

Abdullah Reda al-Hamahmy confirmed his name, his age of 29 and his Egyptian nationality to investigators after initially refusing to speak, the source said.

He was carrying spray paints in his backpack and said he wanted to damage the paintings at the world-famous museum, the source said, adding that the suspect's statements should be taken with caution.

The suspect also spoke of wanting to "avenge the Syrian people", the source said, referring to the civil war in that country in which hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced.

Hamahmy was shot several times on Friday after attacking soldiers as he cried "Allahu Akbar" in what French President Francois Hollande described as a terrorist attack.

Thankfully, the Mona Lisa does not now have a mustache.

[John]

There is so much irreplaceable art in that place. How long before one of these animals does real damage? Or if not there, across the Seine at the Orsey or up the street at the Orangerie? They want to destroy our civilization.

[Libertarian]

Okay, okay, you've been to Paris. Stop with the humble bragging.

[John]

No. I have just looked at a map. Seriously, how long before they want to blow something like that up?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Did you cry when the invasion of Iraq led to all thover museum and art artifacts being lost?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Is "thover" even a word? WTF, autocorrect.

[John]

When I heard about it sure. But it was mostly theft not destruction

http://www.independent.co.uk/n.....15067.html

Meanwhile ISIS is destroying irrepacable Roman and Assyrian ruins all over the place. And the same people who were so shocked by the theft at the Museum are not saying a God damned thing.

As a matter of fact, I can't recall you saying shit about it. Is destroying art okay as long as sacred Muslims do it?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

ISIS is a bunch of fuckheads. Of course that is terrible. I just have a problem when you extrapolate ISIS to all of muslimgood.

[John]

I just have a problem when you extrapolate ISIS to all of muslimgood.

What does that have to do with the Iraqi Museum. And yes, I know Muslims are sacred and wonderful. We all got the memo.

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

He also wants all of the muslims to kiss the nape of his neck and slobber all over his dick, we got it.

[Pro Libertate]

I'm a little surprised that more art and architecture hasn't been destroyed. Keep thinking some nut is going to blow up a pyramid.

[John]

I have to admit, I would kind of like to see the nut who blows up a pyramid. That is a pretty terrifying power and while tragic, would be pretty amazing to see.

[The Fusionist]

The alien energy which the pyramids focus would zap any would-be vandals.

[Pro Libertate]

I don't think the Great Pyramid could be destroyed very easily, but it could be damaged quite a bit.

[Pan Zagloba]

Man, now I'm picturing ISIS after they take over Egypt.

"So..."
"Yeah. Ahmed, any ideas?"
*shrug*
"Fuck it, paint it black and put shahadah on it."

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Cue Montage with Stones' "Paint it Black."

[Pan Zagloba]

"And if anyone asks, they were built by Amr ibn As when he took Egypt from the Romans."

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

I'd impost her, if you know what I mean.

[Pan Zagloba]

What is beyond nutpunch?

Frenchman describes brutal 'police rape'

Theo said he was sodomised with a truncheon, as well as racially abused, spat at and beaten around his genitals.

He has undergone emergency surgery for severe anal injuries, and has been declared unfit for work for 60 days. He remains in hospital, where he spoke to his lawyer.
...
He said one officer proceeded to pull his trousers down and rape him with a truncheon.

"I fell on to my stomach, I had no strength left," he said.

He was then sprayed with tear gas around the head and in the mouth and hit over the head, he said.
....
A lawyer for the officer facing the rape charge said any injury inflicted during the operation was accidental and his client had "never wished at any time to cause any injury to the victim".

A police union chief, Yves Lefebvre, told AP the rape charge was lodged "to calm or to stop a violent outburst".

[Pan Zagloba]

Of course, this being France,

Unrest was reported in the neighbourhood over the weekend and continued on Monday evening. Reports said a dozen cars were set on fire, rubbish bins burned and arson attempts made on two restaurants. Twenty-four arrests were made.

At least target the donut shop!
Actually, I'm not sure if donut thing works across the oceans, but it's true in Canada.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Getting worked over by the police is pretty standard in Europe.

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

This is a local story, yes?

[Ted S.]

+1 Abner Louima

[Lee wishes he made the list...]

any injury inflicted during the operation was accidental

It was a million to one shot, doc!

[Enough About Palin]

Zurik: 'Snapper barons' raking in riches from public resource

Blanchard is criticizing a federal program, unknown to most taxpayers, that allows a handful of businesses and fishermen to make millions off a government resource - creating what some fishermen call "Lords of the Sea."

Blanchard says they "took a natural resource that belongs to everybody in the United States and just gave it to a few, and told them you're the only ones who can do it."

Each Gulf state controls the waters out to nine miles. Beyond that are federal waters, where this program comes into play.

[Dr. Fronkensteen]

The catch share program? Considering your other option is a tragedy of the commons and overfishing I'm not sure this is really a problem.

[Episteme]

Mmm...red snapper...that's very tasty!

https://youtu.be/1RUBEXtWLdE

[Stormy Dragon]

What gets a Trump staffer into the dog house:

White House rattled by McCarthy's spoof of Spicer

More than being lampooned as a press secretary who makes up facts, it was Spicer's portrayal by a woman that was most problematic in the president's eyes, according to sources close to him. And the unflattering send-up by a female comedian was not considered helpful for Spicer's longevity in the grueling, high-profile job in which he has struggled to strike the right balance between representing an administration that considers the media the "opposition party," and developing a functional relationship with the press.

"Trump doesn't like his people to look weak," added a top Trump donor.

[american socialist]

I can't stand the word problematic

[John]

Me either. I hate it almost as much as I hate the word grok.

[Pro Libertate]

I don't understand your antithesis to grok. I mean, it's Heinlein.

[Bacon-Magic et tu Reason?]

Which all the millennials are reading. If only it could be condensed down to a you tube video.

[Chipper Morning Wood]

John will never grok the word "problematic," and will always find problematic the word "grok."

[John]

I don't really see why that is a problem. I wouldn't want people who worked for me to look weak either.

And that is assuming it is even true. There is not a single bit of information in there that is not from an anonymous source.

[Viking1865]

Top Trump donors John. It must be true. You can trust the WaPo.

[Lurk Diggler]

I have little faith any of these insider reports are legitimate. The left likes to believe their clowns matter.

[Enough About Palin]

Sanitation crews work to remove massive amounts of garbage from DAPL protest camp before spring thaw

CANNON BALL, N.D. - Last week, we showed you all the garbage that was left by Dakota Access Pipeline protesters at the Oceti Sakowin Camp.

Now, we're showing you where all that trash will end up.

Sanitation crews are working hard to dispose of six months' worth of garbage from a community the size of Wahpeton or Valley City. The mountains of debris need to be moved before the spring thaw occurs.

Making a dent in the immense amount of trash being hauled out of the Oceti Sakowin protest camp is being hindered by the weather. All the garbage that was left behind is now frozen into massive chunks of junk.

In a month, all this trash could become toxic.

"Standing Rock Environmental Protection Agency and Dakota Sanitation are working together to try and advert an environmental tragedy," says Tom Doering, Morton County Emergency Manager.

It's estimated it will take 250 trucks filled with litter to clear the camp.

[John]

I am sure none of that leeched into the ground water or anything. I bet they polluted the ground water more in that protest than the pipeline ever could.

[Sandusky's Kids]

Was it really about the environment or capitalism or something? I'm almost positive these are the people who enjoy the outdoors the same way they love science.

[Krabappel]

"I fucking love hiking!"

*sits on couch posting on the internet and twitters all day*

[Pan Zagloba]

It's estimated it will take 250 trucks filled with litter to clear the camp.

See what damage the pipeline did already?

[Sandusky's Kids]

How is that much fucking trash is possible?

[GILMORE?]

hundreds of people, six months

[Episteme]

What part of "leave your campsite cleaner than you found it" don't these fuckers understand? They're supposed to line up a few paces apart before and walk the length of the camp they leave so that they don't miss any trash!

[GILMORE?]

Anybody seen this movie "The Lobster" (2015)?

yea, nay?

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Is it porn?

[GILMORE?]

you tell me

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2703471385

[Pan Zagloba]

Kurt Loder did.

[GILMORE?]

thanks!

After many bizarre experiences at the hotel (therapeutic crotch-dancing and, for masturbators, preventive hand-roasting), David falls in with the Loners. He's attracted to a sweet woman (Rachel Weisz) who is also nearsighted. She asks him to bring her dead rabbits. What's not to love?

I think that's at least a "thumbs up" of some kind.

[DOOMco's Ref Chipper]

I enjoyed it.

[The Late P Brooks]

Sanitation crews are working hard to dispose of six months' worth of garbage from a community the size of Wahpeton or Valley City. The mountains of debris need to be moved before the spring thaw occurs.

Just bulldoze it into a pile, douse liberally with diesel fuel, and torch it.

[John]

That is a great idea except that I think all of the protesters have left.

[Juvenile Bluster]

But maybe they might come back to protest the use of diesel fuel in the fire!

[Libertarian]

"douse liberally"

I see what you did.

[Episteme]

Just bulldoze it into a pile, douse liberally with diesel fuel, and torch it.

Alright, but once we've done that to the crowd of protestors, what do we do with the trash that they've left?

[american socialist]

If i was running for POTUS...one of my campaign promises would be 16 weeks paid vacation for federal employees because they are noble public servants

Here is my reasoning

1. Ill win the federal government vote
2. Federal employees will have less time to screw around since they are on vacation
3. Everyone else would start to hate them

[Volren]

This reminds me of the blubbering about "government shutdowns" every time the Republicans acted like they wouldn't pass a debt ceiling increase.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Also acceptable: Congress now meets only one afternoon in June, for 4 hours.

[Fire Dalmia (DoM5k)]

The first hour will be dedicated to a mandatory roll call.

[BigT]

I'll promise 52 weeks of vaca and win 50 states.

[Mongo]

Prof. Irwin Corey died -- 102 years old!

We used to see him in mid-70s skin magz like Oui frolicking with the poon.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Meanwhile, Obama is kite-boarding with Richard Branson.

this is a better use of Obama's time.

[Zero Sum Game]

The Democrats keep saying DeVos bought her DoE cabinet seat. If that is so, then it might be the first time that a problem with education was solved by throwing money at it.

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

Zing!

[one true athena]

heh. But it seems fitting even if it were true, since the entire Department was bought by the NEA in the first place.

[Zero Sum Game]

Because it's 2017 and every zinger deserves its own image macro:

For all your shit-posting needs.

[Hayeksplosives]

Just used it. Thanks!

[Slammer]

Thanks!

[Fire Dalmia (DoM5k)]

Seriously, how has that headline not been corrected by now.

This place has really gone to shit under KMW's watch. We all expect this kind of amateurism from Gillespie, but I expected better from her.