Next month, for the first time, candidates for President will address a GLBT (Gay & Lesbian & Bisexual & Transgender) audience, taking questions about GLBT topics and speaking specifically to GLBT issues. These are the Democratic candidates, paying attention to an important constituency. Non-GLBT voters who look to candidates’ treatment of these issues to help determine their choice will find this debate fascinating.
On the GOP side, however, it’s the gay sweaters that get all the attention:
In the final days of his imploding candidacy, John McCain has taken a page out of Richard Nixon’s play book, finding increasingly bizarre explanations for his political failures. Strangest of all: He reportedly feels his handlers forced him to wear “gay sweaters.”
According to one insider, the knit-picking was the crescendo of a tirade by the Arizona senator, in which he blistered aides about the minutiae of the campaign. While many septuagenarians live in a perpetual state of sweater weather, McCain reportedly declared his frustration with being told to don the perceived homosexual outerwear in order to look younger and more approachable.
That GOP, always blaming the gays! And their gay sweaters.
PS Princess Sparkle Pony has an exclusive interview with one of the disappointed, tossed-aside gay sweaters. Bitter, party of one?
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First?
dos
you got the zed. just a tad too late.
Late Late Nite Teddy SF!!!
Is this an appropriate topic for this blog?
TeddySanFran @ 5
Sweaters are never an appropriate topic.
Dang it! Petro cost me the Zed!!!
I let downstairs know, Teddy. I never knew sweaters were gay. Dayam, I gotta get out more.
TeddySanFran @ 5
I don’t know anywhere else we can discuss gay sweaters.
I never even considered that sweaters had a sexual orientation. You learn so dang much from these republicans. It’s mind boggling.
A lot of politicians wear hetero sweaters over their gay ones.
Do they pray the gay out of the sweaters or is it part of the dry cleaning?
Hey Teddy, will any Goopers make it? Like the NAACP debate, where only Tancredo had the audacity to show up!!!
It is July folks! Anyone wearing a sweater is suspect.
CTuttle @ 12
Audacity or courage?
I wonder if these sweaters are gay?
http://www2.victoriassecret.co…..;rfnbr=720
TexB @ 14
Excellent point. Maybe he should put ‘em in the closet.
TeddySanFran @ 5
This is absolutely hilarious (and kind of sad). McCain must really be going “around the bend.”
Golly, I don’t know of any “sweaters only” stores in the West Village. Maybe this is an entrepeneurial opportunity awaiting for the Log Cabin Republicans.
CTuttle @ 7
Sure … blame Canada …
I wonder if anyone let Bill Cosby know – he wears a lot of sweaters, just like Mr. Rogers did.
Blame it on the gay sweaters.
Not on blind support for an insane war.
Not on blind adoration of a renegade president.
Not on being too much of a twisted wingnut.
Not on morphing in six years from the “Straight Talk Express” (pun intended) to a mean, nasty right wing partisan hack.
Not on the Republican Party’s vicious hatred for brown people, who uncharacteristically McCain professes some degree of sympathy for.
Not on being an old, outmoded, obselete, ornery old coot.
No, it had to be the gay sweaters.
Had to be.
If I give her the wool will she knit me one too?
;>)
Liberal Heart @ 11
Unlike Mitt Romney, who wears a Holy Sweater under his gay one.
Loo Hoo. @ 16
Aye Caramba … clean up in aisle 16 … STAT !!!
Petrocelli @ 24
The cotton rib Henley is enough to turn me lesbian.
darkblack @ 22
ICK! He could have been more manly by wearing one of these:
http://www.landsend.com/cd/ind…..c=17179906
Hasn’t TRex occasionally said something about liking sweaters? *g*
Petrocelli @ 24
Gee, Petro, I thought you had more uh ah uh control…
Jane (nyc) @ 18
Were I a gambler, I would have bet my bottom dollar that Bush would use McCain to win over moderate electorates,
then have his people screw McCain’s nomination bid … I just knew this would happen …
TexB @ 14
Interesting point, in my Therapeutic Foster Care classes, they taught us to suspect kids who have a propensity for long-sleeved garments here in Hawai’i, to check for cutting marks or burns! It seems cutting is becoming a serious fad amongst our youth!!!
Drat, Teddy! Just as I was getting ready to go to bed, you hooked me with potentially the most inappropriate topic FDL has ever hosted!!!
CTuttle @ 30
It is. Even among some boys now.
Petrocelli @ 19
Hah, not Canada, You, and specifically, You!!! :P
Google “gay sweater” and you get 1,230,000 hits.
Suzanne @ 28
… so did I … *g*
TexB @ 32
Have you ever experienced it?
Good evening, Lakers.
I just found out that The Hill will be accepting comments on its blog page. Maybe this is a way to get impeachment into the minds of Congress.
http://blog.thehill.com/2007/0…..he-debate/
CTuttle @ 30
My nephew was telling me how many “Emo” kids there are now … they cry and cry … are these the same ones who cut themselves ?
Liberal Heart @ 34
I guess Wikipedia is behind the times, or maybe just not…gay…enough.
Search for “gay sweater,” and they give you
No page with that title exists.
However, all is not lost, for…
You can create this page or request it.
CTuttle, there is something really weird going on with some teens and hurting themselves.
Teddy, how does one know if they have a gay sweater? Is it on the tag at the neck that includes cleaning instructions?
Suzanne @ 41
You know it because the wingnuts stop giving your campaign money.
Liberal Heart @ 25
When I die, I’m gonna reincarnate as one of those sweaters … *g*
CT, my youngest girl was a cutter – she said it was a way of accomplishing one of two things: (l) letting out the inside pain, changing it to a physical pain; or (2) a way of making sure she was not dead inside when she felt nothing.
She has recovered nicely and is now doing well.
CTuttle, there is something really weird going on with some teens and hurting themselves. Liberal Heart @ 34
Sheesh! What did they all say? *g*
Loo Hoo. @ 26
Only if it was pink, and wrapped about his neck and shoulders on the way to ‘wine country’
;>)
The former governor of NJ, McGreevy, was often photographed wearing a sweater and tie in lieu of a suit.
Maybe this where the gay mem was planted in McCain’s brain?
Petrocelli @ 38
I’m not sure about that, but, the way it was explained to me is that the cutting is a form of escapism! I still can’t see how self-inflicted pain could be a form of escapism, but, they’re the experts and are well-informed and experienced!!!
Loo Hoo. @ 40
I know one 12 yr old boy who has cut himself several times. He was in a situation which I (and others) perceived as abusive, but CPS determined there was no problem.
Self-injury is far more common among young girls. Used to be teens, but may also be pre-teens now. We have a lot of young people who do not feel they fit in, who have no strategies for dealing with emotional pain, and who convert emotional pain (scary, unpredictable) into physical pain that they are more familiar with.
I’m not sure it was the gay sweaters that cost McCain his popularity (and the nomination), maybe it was that ugly flak jacket he wore while demonstrating how “safe” that marketplace in Baghdad was..
CTuttle @ 33
Here ya go … friends again ?!!
Suzanne @ 44
That was exactly how they described it! How did you handle it?
neurophius @ 50
don’t forget his accessories – 100 marines and several overhead helicopters – they clashed with his spin big time
Tross @ 37
Hi Tross! We were discussing earlier this evening, that there’s a way to vote on the Speaker’s voicemail tomorrow.
brkily @ 26
Petrocelli @ 51
That’ll work!!! 8-)
“Beware the Ides of March”
“Beware the Gay Sweaters of July”
(noone ever warns you about that one)
Are gay sweaters made exclusively from the wool of gay sheep?
Not to suggest that there is anything inappropriate going on regarding McCain and sheep…
CTuttle @ 52
She was taught new coping skills by a very skilled team of people helping her learn her old skills (cutting) were not working and the new ones would. Was a long hard process but well worth the results.
Suzanne @ 41
When you come home from work, your sweater drawer’s all tidy and smelling of lavender. Unless you’re Chris Matthews — then it smells like English Leather and codpiece.
Tross @ 37
Wow! This is a breakthrough! Maybe, between Nancy’s phone invitation and this type of blog from Capital Hill, we are winning ground. Thanks, Tross, and keep us up-to-date on the other,
CTuttle @ 55
Ghod … you’re so easy … *g*
Something to sweat? Try this on for size… Cascading credit catastrophe ahead —
Or – The Fed is trying to hide the inevitable…
Fed’s Yellen: Inflation decline to be bumpy ride
But they can’t slow-walk this de-nomination through the critics…
Bloggers Downgrade Ratings Agencies
Yep…it is called risk shock.
It’s what happens when they take away the punch bowl. Guess what — no more kool-aid!
Thanks, Teddy.
That’s even better.
neurophius @ 57
N-a-aah !!!
Loo Hoo. @ 60
Hi, Loo. Will do.
neurophius @ 50
Apparently (now, of course, they are talking about it as if they knew all along) Beltway insiders thought something was wrong with his campaign when Old Lord McCain spoke from Baghdad in the black crew neck.
I wonder if the crewneck did ask or did tell?
TeddySanFran @ 59
(freshly worn)
;>)
I wonder if Mitt Romney would approve of Marriott hotels offering gay sweater videos to their guests…
Maybe that is where he would draw the line.
squiddy @ 56
707 !!
Suzanne @ 53
Did you see Graham on Pumpkin’ Head this morning, boasting how many times he’s been to Iraq ?
Petrocelli @ 61
Hey, I’m an easy-going kinda chap, must be the tropical breezes!!! *g*
darkblack @ 67
i think i need nose bleach (if there is such a thing)
I don’t want to sound cruel and awful and horrible, but -some-of the self injury stuff is just plain following the leader. Somehow, for some unknown reason, it became cool…
Not to disrespect the serious cases, but some rock musician along the way made it way cool.
McCain’s sweater drawers probably smell of napalm in the morning.
Liberal Heart @ 25
Hmpff … I’m already a Lesbian … *g*
neurophius @ 68
I love it when anyone threads L-Nite and LL-Nite posts together on a Sunday! I did not see the connection, but there it was.
Petrocelli @ 70
I thought Webb was gonna smack him, he did a nice smackdown of Graham’s views on what the soldiers were trying to tell us!
TeddySanFran @ 76
I’m telling you, Teddy, this gay sweater theme is really something special!
oops
Petrocelli @ 75
Then I owe you an apology, Petrocelli, for thinking you were a man.
Here’s Andrew Sullivan’s take on the debate:
Incidentally, HRCampaign has backed down; Gravel’s been invited and has accepted their invite.
CTuttle @ 77
I was saying just a few days ago, that the Dems should let Webb and some of these new,
bold Congresscritters go nuclear on the Repugs … more of Webb and Schultz please …
Graham seemed unusually strident this AM….
and almost adolescent in his manner.
Have never agreed with his politics but he seemed almost looney on MTP. Maybe he feared the retribution if he couldn’t check off the entire “talking points list?”
Suzanne @ 80
I am, Suz !!! That was a hetero joke …
Suzanne @ 72
Hint O’ wiener, neener neener
;>)
Suzanne @ 80
Bwahahahahaha……….!!!!!!!!
Jane (nyc) @ 83
When they think he might stray, Rove calls him and starts reading aloud from Huckleberry’s secret NSA file. Somebody got that FBI investigation jumpstarted in South Carolina, the one that took down Rudy’s chairman who was touted as a Lindsey primary challenger on the right.
Petrocelli @ 82
It would be nice if Pelosi would use the ‘Nuclear Option’, Impeachment!!! *g*
Isn’t the real story here that McCain has publicly cracked under pressure, blown a fuse, come unglued, gone over the cliff and demonstrated himself to be a deeply flawed candidate who will never be known as a “Comeback Kid”?
Jane (nyc) @ 83
I loved the subtle nuances during the debate … Graham tried to put Webb in his place as a junior Senator and Webb placed his hand firmly on Graham’s shoulder and said rather icily, “Just a minute, friend!”
It was as powerful as an uppercut, only less messy … Go Webb Go !!!
neurophius @ 89
Yeap, and I think that was
boosh’srove’s plan from the git go.TSF,
How do you stay so informed? Knew that little Lindsay was up for election but never thought about his having a primary challenger. That would seem like a waste of Rethug resources.
Oh…..maybe it took the threat of a challenge plus what’s in his file to get him completely on board with the drivel he was spouting.
And to think my BF from college has remarried and has to live in SC … shudder.
neurophius @ 89
My $0.02 is that McCain saw the popularity Bush had being “for the War” and decided to ride that wave
from 2004 and become POTUS. He loses more by changing … either way, he’s toast …
neurophius @ 68
I think they have a specialty shop to sell them on the ground floor.
Suzanne @ 91
So who do you suppose rover favors in this race?
CTuttle @ 88
She’s probably gonna wait until 75% of the country calls for it … then she’s sure of it going through …
neurophius @ 95
Fred Thompson!
neuro, rove has been very very quiet with regard to the ‘08 elections. I wonder (putting on tin foil hat) if he knows something we don’t know?
If it’s Fred Thompson, then who would be his Cheney? —- cause we know ol’ Fred’s not interested in anything but the role…..
Petrocelli @ 96
By that time, the clock will have long since run out!!!
CTuttle @ 100
Actually, if the Dems run with this Tillman story, the impeachment ripple will turn into a Tsunami very quickly !
There is another prominent political leader, who masquerades as a religious leader, named Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles that is often seen wearing such gay sweaters. It was announced over this weekend that he will sell off 600 million dollars in Archdiosese assets to silence the victims off sexual abuse by the various priests he has aided and abetted, covered up, or just outright ignored while they molested small children (500 in this case alone) over several decades. Mahony has chosen to pay off the victims to keep them silent and not have to testify in a court of law that he was complicit in these crimes, and still be able to retain his position in the Catholic Church as Archbishop of Los Angeles. This guy could be Pope someday. The progressive blog community needs to come out and expose this criminal and his activity of hiding the truth. Yet another case of a wealthy and powerful figure feeling they are above the law and using their wealth and social status to buy a free pass. The MSM certainly won’t as it is getting only passing mention in the local news here in Los Angeles despite the victim’s constant protesting in front of the Los Angeles Cathedral for years. It’s time the Cardinal is forced to step down and only something like the progressive blogosphere would recognize the hypocracy here and what atrocity the Cardinal is being allowed to get away with.
This thread has been fun. Thanks, Teddy. But I am fading fast. So, Good Nite everyone!
Jane (nyc) @ 99
Hmmmm, who’s the biggest Neocon Koolaid addict of the crop???
neurophius @ 89
Another real story here is that McCain will never be able to tell his repetitive, idiotic “drunken sailor on shore leave” story about the spending of the Congress he served in — because his own campaign’s blown through almost twenty-five million dollars and is left with about $250,000.
McCain was counting on Bush’s backers to provide him with a 2000-style Bush-type campaign. I am so sure that Bush (and Rove) pulled the plug on the donors after McCain’s budgets and projections were all in place. I am so sure.
neurophius @ 89
Yes. But now he wears sweaters. So his campaign people got fired. Simple!
neurophius @ 102
Nite, Neuro!!!
Petrocelli @ 90
Watching it, I got a really creepy gay-bashing vibe when Webb put his hand on Lindsey. Not that Webb ever would.
Loo Hoo. @ 16
maybe not, but they could be lesbian ……
Jane (nyc) @ 99
LOL !!! Excellent !!!
… methinks Fred will draft Newt … someone more reprehensible than himself, yet powerful enough to unite the flock …
TeddySanFran @ 104
Me too, Bro !
TeddySanFran @ 104
He was dead when he dared to suggest that perhaps torture was inappropriate.
Jane (nyc) @ 92
My fiance would say I stay too informed by spending too much time with my “friends in the computer” and googling — but here’s an article that mentions another possible post-Ravenel (coke guy) challenger.
Lindsey’s in trouble on the right for leading Bush’s immigration fight.
Jane (nyc) @ 99
Fourth Branch isn’t planning on leaving.
Petrocelli @ 90
Indeed! Senator Webb is the most impressive freshman I’ve seen in recent decades. The crazy as crackers Graham was just pitiful in Webb’s shadow. And lucky egregious is his constituent. Maybe Webb would give Speaker Pelosi some wise counsel and encouragement and spine.
CTuttle @ 86
he’s a lesbian trapped in the body of a man ……
(don’t know if this is true or not, i just couldn’t resist using my favorite Sam Peckenpah quote.)
Teddy,
Gosh you’re good! I agreed that the tone between did seem like that. But to me, it seemed almost like Webb was trying to calm LG down…particularly with that “Lindsay’s had a hard year” comment.”
My guess is that Webb knows LG’s under pressure from threats by Rove. Seemed almost as if Webb wanted LG to stop making a fool of himself. LG seems more terrified than actually genuinely passionate about his position on the war.
TeddySanFran @ 107
Graham was being condescending to Webb … the hand on the shoulder was brilliant, I immediately thought of the chat Webb had with Bush when the new Senators went to the White House, when Webb called Bush on his bullying mannerisms.
Petrocelli @ 101
I’m not sure if that is the veritable straw, but, it certainly has legs! I’m more inclined to think Ms. Meirs no-show has more merit, coupled with, Sara’s sorry testimony! Inherent Contempt would put the whole dog and pony show front and center within the national dialog!!!
Never mind for a moment that McCain has no credibility to bank on policy-wise, allegiance-wise, or ‘maverick’-wise. He’s already conceded that he’d whored his ideological positions in the past out of nothing more than pure, naked political ambition. While that might’ve rung in the MSM as some quazi-noble confession of past indiscretions, his Iraq war stance proves he’s no better now, and with human lives as the poker chips.
So I don’t care if he’s a pug, a dem or a martian, he’s still got no chance with people who hold integrity in high regard.
…..and he’s taken to bitching about sweaters he was told to wear. Okay, good luck with that, Dapper John.
Poor Doolittle. His campaign has McCain disease:
Petrocelli @ 110
you mean “Bush/Cheney Lite” ?
fahrender @ 115
LOL !!!
I probably should have said that, to be more clear …
i guess i really can’t decide which is more reprehensible though ….
More silliness from Lindsey.
newspaperbrat @ 114
Gotta say, I would’ve loved to have seen Debbie Wasserman Schultz smack Graham around … she is more brutal than Webb.
newspaperbrat @ 114
Pelosi has spine … she’s playing the waiting game … now, if you’re talking about Reid …
Suzanne @ 120
This is great, because Doolittle’s small change won’t convert to much legal defense fund when he drops out of the race. Notice that most of the debt is to his former 15%er fundraiser, Mrs Doolittle.
TeddySanFran @ 105
Interestingly, Mcain has not run any Ads! WTF!!!
Jane (nyc) @ 116
I think it was a “who has the biggest D*ck” showdown … and Graham forgot to take his V*agra …
Suzanne @ 120
Yea!!!
Pach – “Actually, if the Dems run with this Tillman story, the impeachment ripple will turn into a Tsunami very quickly !”
Who among the Democrats would you think are worth the time and effort of the blogosphere to get busy with emails, faxes and phone calls to launch such a Tsunami? Can’t think of anything I’d rather contribute towards in the new week.
fahrender @ 122
Agreed … barring more skullduggery, any Dem will mop the floor with these guys.
The last straw never knows it is the last straw.
And with that little self-made not-koan, I bid you fine ‘pups g’nite. Mucho early tomorrow with a slightly panicked client. Gotta unsnarl a pretty little proposal that seems to have gone a bit astray.
See you in the afternoon sometime! And thanks for all the fish.
Suzanne @ 120
Isn’t Doolittle more apt to serve hard time than another term anyways???
I’m fading also fellow firepups. Let’s all dream about happier days!
Loo Hoo. @ 73
The last time I saw a friend of mine, a child psychologist, she told me about a study the hospital she works at is/was conducting. When you cut yourself, your brain releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. The study was to see whether ‘cutters’ differed from ‘non-cutters’ in terms of production of, and response to, endorphins.
CTuttle @ 118
The Dems have to attack from many fronts … inherent contempt and Tillman and warrantless wiretapping and …
TeddySanFran @ 134
Nite, Teddy! Mahalo for the Posts, another excellent job!!!
TeddySanFran @ 134
g’nite teddy. sleep well
persiflage @ 136
G’day Matey! Good point! :-)
Now I understand why the Pat Robertson fundies never got on board with McCain. Maybe they knew all along all his campaign sweaters were woven from the wool of…..Tinky Winky!
persiflage @ 136
That makes complete sense according to what I have seen.
Jane (nyc) @ 135
Let’s do! Nite, Jane!!!
Night Teddy. Wasn’t it pie? Where’d the fish come from?
newspaperbrat @ 130
If you mean which nominee, I would say John Edwards, hands down … the man has more sincerity in his pinkie than all the others … and I am not demeaning Hillary or any other … I’m only commenting on what I perceive, as a yogi … the vibrations coming out of Edwards’s persona is pure sincerity …
Time for the midnight market memo — what is going to happen next week?
Hey hey two more days of happy happy.
then
Aw gee is the big tech rally going to fade? Not all at once but the hot money is almost all in. Really, the low end of the new trading range is set by the consecutive highs early in the week. Conviction will give way to concern over two words that start with C. Ch… and cr… …ina and edit…
Have phun kids!
darkblack @ 22
When did “santorum” start channeling Paul Lynde?
Good night SF Teddy and Jane nyc and other wise and sleepy firepups.
OT – am trying without success to locate an email address for reporter Ed Pilkington, a NYC based reporter for the Guardian in the UK. The main site email under his name did not work. He published a recent story on the Pebble Beach Co. defeat before the Calif. Coastal Commission and buried in the piece was an brief aside that Tiger Woods was among the investors in the PBC. I hope he is wrong but am eager to confirm this his accuracy or not sooner than later.
CTuttle @ 119
CT, did you think that Whitehouse tricked Sara into saying what she didn’t want to say? I thought I saw Schumer,
Feingold & Whitehouse exchanging smirks … as in “Gotcha !!!”
>>G’day Matey! Good point! :-)
Hi CTuttle, my transpacific mate!
newspaperbrat @ 131
I think it was Marcy who thought this might be a great idea. Get Keith Olbermann on the Tillman story and the Monday night football types would become educated. There could be some great contributions! Where did I read that Olbermann has the best collection of some type that sportsfans would totally admire?
Tillman could be the breaking point on impeachment.
Must bid you all farewell.
I have a slightly scary procedure tomorrow morning and would appreciate all of your good wishes, prayers, positive energy, etc.
Good night dear friends.
Best wishes, TexB!
G’night. I’m off to the benthosphere.
TexB @ 143
When I hurt myself (and I’m a clumsy one so that’s often) I’ve never felt high. I’ve never known a ‘cutter’ so I have no experience, I’m glad the theory fits in with your experience.l My teen angst resulted only in reams of horrible poetry.
TexB – you have all our best. See you mañana!
Good luck, TexB.
CTuttle @ 88
the “tide” really began to turn last spring when all of those people out in California went to the beach and spelled out “IMPEACH” and had it videoed for Youtube.
the surge is building, and it ain’t in Eye Rack ……
positive thoughts, Tex. and prayers. and faith it will go well.
(waving to any other firepup I might of missed)
newspaperbrat @ 148
emptywheel is a sometime contributor to the Guardian. Perhaps if you wrote to her via TheNextHurrah, she might know how to reach hiim?
… and now, to bed!
fahrender @ 158
And major kudos to SF Teddy for posting so many memorable photographs of that inspiring event!
persiflage @ 136
What were the results? I’m sure that the serious cutters feel this rush.
I’m just suggesting that there is a lot of it being done for “being cool” reasons. (as silly as that seems) I have an 18 year old daughter and she has her friends over a lot. In many of the cases I have seen, it is more like tatoos or piercing. Just the thing to do…
One thing I didn’t like with the Graham & Webb interview…Webb looking all red in the face, ANGRY, and kinda crazy even though he was right…he needs to get a grip in public and be smooth and sure of himself, after all he went to war, didn’t he? And Graham? did he go? He looked like a Pillsbury bisquit before baking.
Petrocelli @ 149
I think you’re right on that count, also what she had told Leahey, of which, his is merely waiting for her written responses before citing her for contempt of congress!!! *g*
Thanks Teddy – great advice and I will email emptywheel stat. Sleep dreams!
LooHoo, again, it gets to intent. What is the intent of the child cutting? The why – with my daughter, it was attempts to cope emotionally with the devastating effects of long term sexual molestation.
Completely different than when she was putting pink dye in her hair one week and blue the next.
squiddy @ 141
HA!
fahrender @ 159
Just seeing how prevalent the word is becoming in daily chats, I can see it building and growing stronger and faster.
Bush dragged out his “Saddam = 9/11″ line last week and was mocked mercilessly … its a matter of time before the MSM falls in line with the growing public opinion.
TDS and Colbert are back tomorrow night … rubbing hands with glee …
Petrocelli @ 133
i hope you’re right but if they don’t go for the jugular it might be vewy, vewy cwose.
CTuttle @ 165
Wasn’t Arlen a sweetheart ?
… running interference for Sara and the GOP …
TDS and Colbert are back tomorrow night … rubbing hands with glee …
woohoo… tomorrow night is gonna be good with all that has happened since they were here before the 4th.
Petrocelli @ 146
from your lips to the Buddha’s consciousness ……
but that’s probably where it came from in the first place, eh?
TexB @ 152
You’ve got it. Best wishes.
fahrender @ 169
Sorry if this has been addressed earlier – but surely the Moyers PBS show the other night on impeachment of both Bush & Darth Cheney has been advanced or am I just overly impressed with what I felt promised at least a clear clarion call for courageous congress critters and their constituents.
fahrender @ 170
I don’t know why Edwards is not using his great ‘Lawyering’ skill to smack down his critics.
Hillary is doing just enough to win the nomination, then she might become more aggressive.
I wish that Kucinich, Dodd & Biden would attack the Repugs and not the Dem frontrunners.
fahrender @ 169
If one of Shrub’s biggest enabler, Peggy Noonan, abandons ship, I think the Titanic will only have Laura, Barney, and Cheney on board when it inevitably collides…!!!
npb, i think we are all hopeful that it has helped raise the consciousness. it was very well done, with both a Dem and a Rep calling for the same thing.
fahrender @ 173
Oh yeah … me and the Buddha … we go way back … *g*
Loo Hoo: What were the results? I’m sure that the serious cutters feel this rush.
I’m just suggesting that there is a lot of it being done for “being cool” reasons. (as silly as that seems) I have an 18 year old daughter and she has her friends over a lot. In many of the cases I have seen, it is more like tatoos or piercing. Just the thing to do…
——————————————–
Sadly I no longer run with the ‘cool’ crowd but I’ll bet your right. Young people want to belong to the group. (If only I’d realised this when I young and thinking myself soooo unconformist, even as I would only wear the ‘in’ brand of jeans). I don’t think the study is complete yet. Although it happens far too much, it takes time to recruit a group of cutters willing to be studied.
Suzanne @ 172
Jon is gonna be great the whole week … the best stories happen whenever they go on vacation …
Colbert’s “Word” will kick some *ss … I wish the Dems would hire these guys to write their speeches/talking points.
newspaperbrat @ 174
It puts ‘Must See TV’ in a whole new light!!! I was a beneficiary of unintended consequences from it! *g*
The congresscritters are gonna be offended by the Moyers show because of Nichols calling them to task for putting party before country. For not upholding their oath sworn to protect the constitution.
spiderpaws @ 163
I think that the democrats need to set some ground rules before they go on the shows. This business of having to shout to have your point heard is demeaning. If the networks/cables want the dems to come on, the rules have to be followed. This looked like a fu*king Fox news interview.
These news shows like the shouting, because everyone involved looks deranged, and the only sensible looking person is the newscaster who says very little. The “news” corporations come out the winner.
STOP IT, DEMS. Make the rules.
spiderpaws @ 164
Webb has multiple decorations from his Marine service in Viet Nam. He got angry, and rightfully so, because Buckwheat was lying his ass off about Iraq and Jim Webb knows it. Jim Webb’s son was deployed to Iraq last September. There are some things that people should get angry about and I think that Webb actually did a remarkable job for not punching out that whiney twit from South Carolina.
Sorry, Spidey, I didn’t mean to rant at you but I almost threw my monitor out the window last night when I watched that clip.
fahrender @ 184
I whole-heartedly concur with ya, Fahrender! I wanted to personally deck the Hayseed!!!
newspaperbrat @ 175
I think having Fein & Nichols on greatly helped the American people understand what is at stake and will provide the impetus for civic action.
Both those gentlemen clarified the issue with such precision and Mr. Moyers asked all the right questions … truly amazing to watch over and over.
Hi, spiderpaws…I was late for the birthday discourse last night. You wouldn’t happen to have any thoughts on Oct. 25 as a natal day, would you? Past year has been unimaginably crazy, for me, and I’d appreciate any guidance as to what’s ahead.
Thanks!
CTuttle @ 182
If Marriot hears your story, they’ll remove p0rn from their hotels and replace it with Moyers’ show !!! *g*
Petrocelli @ 146
I agree 100% with both of these sentiments.
Suzanne @ 167
Oh, god. Suz, I’m so sorry about your daughter and others seriously involved in this.
Oh, yeah. And good evening.
Suzanne @ 183
And I hope their constituents berate them for the same.
CD @ 187
I missed that too, spidey. August 26th for me. And yes, it’s been an insane year all around.
Petrocelli @ 150
Whitehouse is a Mother_ucking Wizard! This man is so smoooth and so smart. He and Feingold and Jim Webb are serious leaders. They actually give me hope.
Petrocelli @ 188
I was beginning to wonder if someone would catch it, Petro, you didn’t let me down!!! ;-)
fahrender @ 173
I concur. Plus, he was smart enough to marry Elizabeth…
CD @ 188
interesting….. my sister’s birthday is the 26th and my best friend’s is the 28th.
Loo Hoo. @ 152
Olbermann carried the story on Friday, leading with it, and then discussing it with both his first and second guests. He also said that he was going to do a complete report on it Monday, which, in Alaska is less than 20 minutes away. Can’t wait till 4:00 pm here.
aliasofwestgate @ 193
Aug 27th, Spidey!!! *g*
Loo Hoo. @ 184
Ordinarily I would agree with you and Spidey (I’m smart enough to nevvuh disagree with any woman) but it is time the Dems represent the growing outrage that the majority of Americans and people all around the world feel, towards this administration.
If enough people shout, more Repugs will switch and Reid will get his flaccid behind in gear and lead the Senate.
Can I get an Amen, brothers ?!!
CTuttle @ 186
What I noticed was Lindsey couldn’t look Timmeh in the eye. Whenever he’d start up spewing the TalkingPoints™, his eyes would move downward, or away and the blinking would start.
Those are BIG tells. L I A R.
Loo Hoo. @ 163
I was a personal care assisstant to a serious cutter. He said it was his addiction. He new he was going to cut himself when he felt a certain “Nervous, panicky, energy,” that he could only discharge with cutting.
spiderpaws – FWIW my sense was Webb was frustrated with the nampy pampy inarticulate Graham and just couldn’t contain himself with the bumbling little toad another nanosecond and to hell with protocol and let it rip. Wish more senators and congressfolks would show their disgust of the gutless officials of both parties. Webb is a giant and I’m still celebrating his electoral victory even if he used to be a star in the rethug party.
On a happier note have you any recent astrological takes on the worst president and vp in our history? I keep hoping Laura will wig out and walk out on the deciderer and take poor Barney with her out the gates of the WH.
Amen, Petro, Amen!!!
fahrender @ 198
Gentlemen…I disagree.. Webb doesn’t have to punch Graham for being an ass, he only needs to expand his chest and show his medals. Graham is obviously a velvet pin cushion and Webb is a warrior…no need to shout about it…we already have one blowhard in the white house, let’s not get Webb saying bring ‘em on. Gentle is the way here, it shows better.
fahrender @ 195
I can just see Feingold, Schumer & Whitehouse chuckling over Beer afterwards … I thought he was brilliant with Alvin, then Lurch … but he was sublime with Sara … her attorney looked a little scared …
Suzanne @ 167
A common feature of these cases.
Suzanne @ 183
I loved it (and so did Moyers) when Fein called congress “invertibrates.”
Petrocelli: AAAAMEN!!!!!
Jaqrat: I didn’t catch that. I’ll watch it again.
The thing with Graham and so many of the Republicans is that they do know how to debate. To believe Webb you’ve got to think. To believe Graham you just have to sit there and let all of that horseshit wash over you, which is what most TV watchers do. That’s why Fuckwad and Chick Daney are still running the show. They can lie with absolute conviction.
If the Dem congress and Senate did the job we pay them to do they wouldn’t be wasting precious time on these dumb shows.
Suzanne @ 171
And Keith will be doing his program on Tillman…
spiderpaws @ 207
I totally understand your view, and if both sides played by the same rules, it is the best way …
but the Dems have to stand up to these bullies … Graham boasting about going to Eye- Raq really got my goat …
CTuttle @ 206
Thank ya, Brother Charles …
jacqrat @ 204
Goodness me, ain’t that the truth!!! *g*
Gonna be some fine TV tomorrow – dayam, I can’t believe I just said that.
Bush’s chart says he will get bolder and crazier in the next few months…expect the unexpected, he has transiting Uranus aspecting his natal Mars. And a very lucky transiting Jupiter aspect that will make him more grandiose and arrogant than we could think possible.
Petrocelli @ 208
Sara is a minnow, and her attorney looked clueless, which makes sense since he is a corporate lawyer.
BigMitch @ 202
I never realized how prevalent it is! Learn something new everyday, if you’re not careful!!! 8-)
Japan had a 6.8 quake, with fatalities:
.
I signed up for YK2 finally – at the last minute and would love to know if any of you intrepid late niters will be there. Been so busy recently I can’t recall if TRex made a decision to be in Chicago after all.
…in fact, he’ll be bustin’ his buttons. Cheney on the other hand could be dealt the health card this fall…we all know what that means.
NPB, I’ll be here at home, hopefully packing up because buyers have been found. I think TRex said he would be going… I think…
spiderpaws @ 207
i defer to your wisdom, ma’am, and i will “agree to disagree”. it’s certainly an arguable point and i will admit that i could be wrong.
with that, folks, i will push away from the keyboard until i have convinced myself that i have gotten some stuff done. see y’all later on.
IMPEACH NOW. it’s the right thing to do.
BigMitch @ 219
Her attorney seemed to realize the unspoken message, that if she steps out of line, his *ss is grass …
When will they mention that Fielding is overstepping the law and is in danger of being reported to the Bar ?
spiderpaws @ 222
as long as he is not pushing buttons…
As for cheeney, Mother Nature is a bitch and his karma will have finally caught up with him.
fahrender @ 225
Guten nacht !
spiderpaws @ 218
If rumors about his private meetings are to be believed, he’s already flown the coop …
spiderpaws @ 218
Panic, as the Tillman tsunami is sighted off shore. Need to wag the dog. Crazy ass mission into Pakistan. News that we are losing in Afghanistan (per British Generals) starts to hit the MSM. W falls off the wagon, or is otherwise caught in embarassing situation, such as yelling, or slapping Laura. Secret plan to cancel elections is revealed.
These are all the kind of grandiose and arrogant things I think are possible of this dim bulb. And you think he will top this?
As my grand-father of blessed memory would say, “Oy gevalt!”
Ask me about tuning in on or nearer your birthdays, it’s hard to get anything right now tho I know you virgos wanna know everything…all in good time, my pretties
Petrocelli @ 225
A lawyer is within the “Bar Rules” if he argues for a novel interpretation of the law, as he believes it should be. This covers at least 90% of Fieldings bullshit. Re: the rest, the Bar does not go after wealthy establishment attorneys.
Petrocelli @ 227
Oh Pach – before you turn in please elaborate on these rumors – sorry to be such a pest but I do so want to catch up on missed posts this busy distracting weekend.
Here’s a birthday for you, Spiderpaws
“July 4. It has been one of the worst years of my long life. Confidence in everything I believe in is being shaken. Events that I used to control, have gone in directions I never imagined and always bad. My old friends shun me. Economically, this past year has been a catastrophe.”
Signed, United States of America
newspaperbrat @ 233
I am not Pach …
Petrocelli @ 234
But all the same — please elaborate on the rumors.
Suzanne @ 222
You’ve found buyers? Or, hoping to find buyers by then???
I have faith they will be found, CT.
spiderpaws @ 206
Totally agree. The newsfolks try to make the dems look deranged by having the wingnuts get the first question or the question after the break. Dems are respectful and get kicked.
Dems need to spell out the rules for a civil debate before they ever agree to appear. This shouting over one another is barbaric.
BigMitch @ 234
I think I see where your boy gets his genius from ...
spiderpaws @ 229
You’re such a Tease!!! ;-)
Petrocelli @ 233
Oh Petrocelli mea culpa and of course you are not Pach – big brat blush – but I do so want to know what you referenced even if I don’t deserve any more patience from you. sigh…
Big Mitch: funny you mention it…the US Chart is incredibly similar to George Bush’s chart. But there is this: the US Mars is now retrograde for a very long time. Mars rules all the warrior stuff and war. It has never been retrograde in the history of the US. Astrologers far and wide read this as a lessening of US power, being overcome militarily by other nations, less focus across the board on anything warlike, a completely different direction for this country.
Yikes … it’s is 4:15 in Toronto and the next wave of
pestsguests come on Tuesday … tomorrow is a big cleaning day … G’nite all !!!Would you like to hear about his 6th grade science project? He went to the courthouse and got the records of 1,000 divorces. Then plotted the sun-signs to see if there were any combinations that were prone to divorce. We ran the numbers on very sophisticated computer program, and the answer was that sun-sign combinations are evenly distributed in divorce cases.
Petrocelli @ 242
Adios, Amigo!!!
Sun signs are onlu one tiny aspect of astrology…there is the moon, Saturn, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. One must take into account where they are in a natal or solar chart.
spiderpaws @ 217
god help us, spiderpaws.
newspaperbrat @ 242
I thought I might have missed the presence of greatness amongst us (Pach) …
… the rumors are that Bush is having private meetings with disparate groups of friends and associates (as disparate as he can muster) and asking them why he is so hated, despised, reviled, etc.
He has cocooned himself to such a degree that his closest advisers know only to tell him what he wants to hear … and to filter out everything else … I have no way of verifying these rumors but I wish those who can, will do so …
BigMitch @ 244
Mitch, could you elaborate? Sun sign combinations – that is a term I am unfamiliar with.
spiderpaws @ 242
Okay, here’s another story about my son. In Kindergarten they wanted to test him to see if he should get into a special program. We were driving along (I was taking him to the testing) and it was the end of February. I told him that I was always anxious as we approached March, because it is named after the god of War, and it seems that wars always start in March. So, when he gets to the test they asked him (orally) vocabulary questions. And one of the words was “Mars.” So he said, “Do you mean the planet or the god of war, after whom is named the month of March when most wars seem to start?” They decided to stop the testing of vocabulary words.
Suzanne @ 220
Thanks for the report, Suzanne. So sorry, Japan.
Sun sign combinations: I am an Aires, my wife is a Pisces. Do Aires Pisces combinations tend towards divorce? (In my case, yes.)
BigMitch @ 243
If it wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t meant to be universally !!!
In Bush’s current state, I would say these are probably just rumors. With the aspects he has, he will never take advice or feel the need of taking it from anyone. He is the decider, understand?
newspaperbrat @ 221
TRex did say he will attend and I will too,npb. Look forward to meeting you!
LooHoo, I freed your response. I wasn’t able to figure out what caught it in the filters.
BigMitch @ 245
For my 6th grade science project, I proved that gravity exists by peeing on my Teacher’s shoe … *g*
The Doctor recommended “strong medication” but my dad thought he said, “strong meditation” !!! :-)
G’nite y’all !!!
spiderpaws @ 246
This is a good astrologers response. But the statisticians response is this: Are people who divorce more or less compatable than people who never got married? A poet’s response is “Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?”
This is the worst sort of demeaning of astrology bigmitch…if you studied any aspect of what it really is you could not be saying what you are saying with any confidence. Please, do some serious research. It is not about sun sign combinations and by the way, April is the god of war month as Aries is ruled by Mars.
Well, time for me to bid another fond adieu to the Lake!!! Aloha Oe!!!
(waving to the leaving pups)
spiderpaws @ 260
I am sorry if I offended you. Wars do tend to start in March, not because of any astrological influence but because it is easier to go on the march in spring than in winter. And April may be ruled by Mars, but March (when Aires begins) is named after Mars. I actually have given some serious consideration (which is different from study) to astrology. I do not mean to demean it, although I do not believe in it. I rather expected my son’s experiment to produce the opposite result. And you may consider that his experiment was not a serious examination of astrology, but I would remind you that he was in the sixth grade.
Good night petro
Many people consider astrology rubbish. So what? However, I take issue with people talking about it in a certain way who know nothing about it. I would never opine on statistics as I know little about the subject.
TeddySanFran @ 128
Boohoooo! Makes you want to just pony-up for Doo-doolittle, don’t it. And wasn’t Julie his accountant! Look at these numbers and you can see that any donation that is given to Johnny Boy will go either to Julie or his legal defense.
“Doolittle reported raising $100,183 from April 1 through June 30…
Doolittle has $74,383 cash on-hand and owes $106,633…
Much of Doolittle’s debt – $76,000 – is owed to his wife, Julie
Doolittle reported paying $30,000 during the quarter to Williams Mullen, the Virginia law firm he hired last year to help him in the Abramoff matter. He also paid about $20,000 to another law firm, Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP, which has handled his campaign finance issues over the years.”
So Julie is getting almost all his remaining cash-on-hand…and he’s got $25K of debt on top of that.
And he’s doling out some $50K to legal firms per quarter.
Makes that $100K look very paltry when it comes to facing Brown…though one has to hope that the Dear Doo-doo stays in the race at least through the Republican primaries!
Mee too. Good night and best to everyone.
Special shout out to Suzanne.
Thanks, LooHoo. About time for me to turn back into a pumpkin, folks. Be back tomorrow night, same bat time, same bat channel
Loo Hoo. @ 254
woo woo loo who – good news and I look forward to meeting you too and Trex as well and other firepups. I was so close last year but got stuck with work crisis so common to nonprofits then and now. Have backup this year. I lived in Chicago for many years and love (but don’t miss) that place except for old cherished friends and institutions including my alma mater at the Art Institute of Chicago. Won’t it be grand if Amb. Wilson returns?
On that happy thought I’m off to sleep and send all good wishes to you intrepid late niters and most especially our high diving diva Suzanne!
Nancy Pelosi’s office is taking calls (202-225-0100) voting for Impeachment of Bush/Cheney. (Say yes or no to the daily poll. It will be forwarded to the Speaker.)
Seems that Nancy has put impeachment back on the table…or at least given it a RSVP to attend dinner ;-)
spiderpaws @ 265
Here’s my take on Astrology:
Thing one: Ancient roots in Jewish mysticism, therefore, not to be dismissed out of hand. (I am Jewish.)
Thing two: Living in Anchorage Alaska, people are painfully aware of the fact that there is such a thing as seasonal affective disorder. Hard to imagine that a person who at, say age 3 months, forms a first opinion of the world at Christmastime, would have the same first, formative experiences as a child whose first experience of the world was roaming in the Summer outdoors.
Thing three: It has nothing to do with gravity.
Thing four: I never met a cop or an EMT or an ER nurse who didn’t believe in the influence of a full moon. (I tried hard to have cases go to the jury in a full moon, when I was a lawyer.)
Thing five: I believe that a woman’s natural cycle is the same in length as a cylcle of the moon. This is an amazing coincidence.
Thing six: The relationship of a particular woman’s cylce to the phase of the moon is likely to influence the phase of the moon that her children are born in.
Thing seven: Let’s oversimplify: Suppose women go nuts during their period. And also in the full moon. For some women, the two influences will coincide and re-inforce each other. For others they will balance each other out. Their children are exposed to very differenct experiences in childhood. Yes, I said “oversimplify.”
Thing eight: Thing 7 was an oversimplification, but the observations have been refined over MANY years, and the tools necessary for doing so was equally available to the ancients as to the modern astrologer.
Thing Nine: Thing 7 effects were probably more pronounced when entire communities engaged in communal rituals regarding menstruation which tended to produe synchronicity. (Google Mikva.)
Thing Ten: I am still not convinced, but I don’t demean astrology.
Good night.
EPU
BigMitch @ 271
BigMitch…I think you’ve hit upon one reason people BELIEVE lunar cycles influence human behavior. But the fact that human (and other Primate) menstrual cycles are approximately 29 days doesn’t mean that this pattern is in synch with the “full moon” (or any other lunar phase).
And don’t forget that women don’t undergo menstruation when they are pregnant. So they won’t be cycling when the moon is full. There are plenty of other things going on that might influence their behavior at that time. The moon is the least of their problems.
Plus “cycles” don’t really conform with birthdate…not every female actually has the child precisely 9 months after the last ovulation.
I could never figureout the rationale that birthdates are used anyway if one is going to talk about some “gravitational” influence. The magnetic field of Pluto, Mercury and Mars are so weak to have no conceivable influence on the epigenetic process in any case. It would be about the effect of a cell-phone in the next city.
Why do Primates have @ 30 day cycles? Well, we do know that some non-human Primates have seasonality in breeding and cluster pregnancies accordingly. Thus they would likely benefit from having some pattern of ovulation that would standardize their cycles to hit an annual benchmark so to ovulate at the same time annually (or semi-annually).
Some Primates (those with dominant alpha males) apparently shift their estrous a little from others in the group so as to make courtship with the dominant male more likely. Others synchronize their estrous (a phenomenon observed in human females that live in close proximity with one another) and this apparently is to PREVENT a dominant male from monopolizing all parentage. This allows courtships with lower ranking males, who are often more attentive and involved in parental care than the alpha male.
It would also increase genetic diversity in the group, and reduce the “ability” of males to ascertain parentage. Thus if all females in a group have an identical estrous cycle (which they would notice appeared with some lunar phase~ not necessarily the full moon) they can reduce the stress in the groups relating to non-mating males…and natural selection would reduce aggressive infanticide by these males as killing infants might eliminate their OWN offspring…rather than those of the dominant male.
In addition the females would see their own menstrual moods shift with a lunar cycle within any particular group. Thus thye moon would appear to be influencing their behavior. This off course would also influence the men as well ;-)
Good morning!
Under the heading of know thine enemy:
Head of FTC speaking on Net Neutrality
this morning – 8 AM Eastern,
C-SPAN2 (30 mins)
egregious @ 275
Morning Egregious!
One last cup of excellent green tea for me and I’m off to the Land of Nod.
(c-span2 schedule just amended to show repeat of
Net Neutrality speech at 8pm EDT.)
darkblack @ 22
That is my favorite picture!
Good morning, pups. The NYT has Kristof on a member of W’s administration who tried to sound the alarm on Darfur and Krugman who says that opponents of universal health care have run out of honest arguments.
http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/
Coffee and tea are ready, and the biscuits are out of the oven. I’ve got to dash — have a wonderful day.
A gay sweater? LMAO!!! Never seen one. Huh. Thanks McCrazy for pointing it out to me. *rolling eyes*
Iirc, the powers that be don’t like multiple urls so I’ll split four into two comments -
The editorial in today’s NYT makes the following observation:
China’s dysfunction has deep roots. The Communist Party leadership has muzzled consumer advocacy groups and the press. The government is also loath to do anything that might hinder the country’s breakneck economic growth. With no public accountability, shoddy companies are allowed to cut every possible corner in their pursuit of business, often under the protection of corrupt government officials.
Substitute “USA” for “China” and “republic party” for “C*mm*nist Party” and I wonder if there might not be a wee bit of snark hidden in there somewhere. ;-)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07…..ref=slogin
And, in a slightly more entertaining (or maybe not) vein, a cri de coeur with which I can definitely agree:
http://news.blogs.nytimes.com/…..t-changes/ :
Mornin’ all!
There’s one or more commenters at the Lake who keep wondering where a report from a particular committee is. Don’t think this is the one they’re looking for but the article paints a pretty bleak picture of reasons why such findings never see the light of day:
http://www.latimes.com/news/po…..ome-center
And lastly, some thoughts on the current “media divide” which produces a range of reactions on my part:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..inionsbox2
Twin car bombings in Iraqi city kill 80
cinnamonape @ 274
I never believed in the stuff until my better half and I started a family.
Now, I wonder…
Why has each child exactly followed their astrological sign’s behaviour pattern since day one out of the womb?
Waccamaw @ 281
I just did this the other day with a news report about Iran’s current Prez trying to silence dissent. It was a disturbing read after replacing “Iran” with “U.S.A.” Amazing…
Please let Pelosi know that immediate Impeachment is the solution. Interesting that Iranians or the Chinese don’t have that option. Yo Dems, there’s a reason they wrote impeachment into the Constitution, and we’re living it!
Waccamaw @ 283
and why doesn’t the latime post a link to the unclassified report they’ve obtained? they could do a real service to let all of us read it too.
selise -
Wondered the same thing myself but another interesting question might be, “Who leaked the declassified report and and for what purposes?”
yo