I betcha all just HATE it when I am right, eh?? :D

Michale

Michale

It showed him as a human being... :D

Michale

What was it about this article on Biden that you found so appealing?

I'm not quite sure what to make of the whole thing...

I'll read it later this evening ...

It's actually a great piece.. I found myself actually LIKING Biden.. :D

Michale

So, we're agreed.. Democrats and Republicans are the same.. :D

Well, I certainly vehemently disagree with that statement.

For example, Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown are definitely not the same, not by a very, very long shot.

Do you give Brown no credit for the proposition that eliminated the state's budget deficit?

I'll read it later this evening ...

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/joe-biden-profile-103667.html#.Uw830-NdWek

:D

Michale

Heh.

My beef with the Ferengi is that the are comic relief, nothing more.

If they were relegated to that role, I probably wouldn't have much of a problem with them..

But a galactic power?? A threat???

Puuu-leeeeesseeee

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone not following Ferengi dress codes..."

I'm looking for the downside.... :D

Oh, right -- Republicans never do this sort of thing, right? I mean they give the lion's share of the credit for the 1980s to the Democrats who were running Congress and not that B-movie guy in the White House... what's his name... slips my mind.

So, we're agreed.. Democrats and Republicans are the same.. :D

From what I hear, Crist is up in the polls over the GOP governor... so who do you think's going to win?

Honestly, I don't follow state politics that much. But I DO know that Crist is nothing but an opportunist, a politician's politician and as such doesn't DESERVE to win...

But things are one WHALE of a lot better than they were a few years ago. But my point is, I just don't think ANY politician can be blamed or credit all that much with the cyclical nature of the economy. Brown had to oversee some very tough budget years. I don't blame him for it, and if we get some very rosy budget years, I'm also not going to think it's entirely to his credit.

If only you were the norm around here. Or of the Left.. :D

Michale

Everything's not peachy keen, and even Gov. Brown does some incomprehensible things at times.

But things are one WHALE of a lot better than they were a few years ago. But my point is, I just don't think ANY politician can be blamed or credit all that much with the cyclical nature of the economy. Brown had to oversee some very tough budget years. I don't blame him for it, and if we get some very rosy budget years, I'm also not going to think it's entirely to his credit.

-CW

From what I hear, Crist is up in the polls over the GOP governor... so who do you think's going to win?

:-)

-CW

Oh, right -- Republicans never do this sort of thing, right? I mean they give the lion's share of the credit for the 1980s to the Democrats who were running Congress and not that B-movie guy in the White House... what's his name... slips my mind.

I mean, please.

-CW

Now THERE's something I should have put in today's bit of satire. Wasn't it a Ferengi religious thing that all of their women had to always appear in public naked?

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone not following Ferengi dress codes..."

OK, sorry, just couldn't resist...

-CW

"The Ferengi have taken over the ship!"

Heh.

-CW

And the ONLY possible caption for that photo:

"Smell my finger!"

Heh.

-CW

I mean, seriously, look at things.

The US has absolutely ZERO credibility in the world. Third rate tin-pot dictators are laughing at the lines in the sand, Russia is throwing it's weight around, China is becoming the dominant military force in the Pacific and now the US is cutting it's military to PRE-WWII levels...

Do you see anything to be optimistic about???

Michale

But, when you look at it, really the ONLY possible good that Democrats have going for them is obamacare..

And if THAT is the best shot at "good" their is, then Democrats are in REAL trouble...

On the Republican side, I don't see any potential leader stepping up and fixing this country...

Things suck right now and there really isn't anything good on the horizon..

Except for FIRST CONTACT, of course. :D

Michale

Actually, in real life, I am a pretty happy CupIsAllFull(OfBeer) kinda guy... :D

I only play a depressing cynic on the Internet. :D

Michale

"Touche"
-Jake, TWO AND A HALF MEN

ROFL :D

Michale

Have to admit, that made me laugh.. :D

I assume you mean about Bush..

But I am willing to wager that you completely agree with the first part of that.. :D

Michale

Considering how you see the world, I'd have to agree with you. No wonder you need to provide laugh lines with movie quotes.

There hasn't been a single politician who has done a selfless act for the good of the country since Bush decided to torture terrorists for intel..

Oh, that's just great ... don't get me started ...

Obama draws a line for the Ukraine government against using the military against it's citizens and the Ukraine government promptly steps over that line and uses military against it's citizens.

Obama's Rice warns Putin not to use troops in the Ukraine and Putin promptly starts massing troops on the Ukraine border...

Does anyone get the feeling that no one on the planet is paying attention to Obama anymore??

Michale

BREAKING NEWS
Putin puts troops in western Russia on alert, Russian news agency reports
http://www.france24.com/en/breaking/20140226-putin-puts-troops-western-russia-alert-military-drill-reports/

Michale

That makes for really REALLY crappy leadership..

In such an environment, I don't think ANY amount of cynicism is "extreme"...

Michale

Considering the actions of politicians, I think my skepticism and cynicism is VERY healthy.. And very warranted..

There hasn't been a single politician who has done a selfless act for the good of the country since Bush decided to torture terrorists for intel..

Name me ONE selfless act committed by ANY politician that served the American people at the expense of themselves and/or their Party/Agenda..

Not ONE single example exists..

Considering that, I don't think my cynicism is extreme at all...

Michale

Because I know that there is ALWAYS a hidden (or not so hidden) agenda and most of the "success" is nothing but spin...

I'm so glad I don't live in your world.

I mean, nothing wrong with a little skepticism and healthy cynicism, but that can be taken to the extreme, you know.

Can you imagine if a Republican had said something like that???

Michale

When it comes to the "success" stories from ANY Political Party, I am always cynical..

Because I know that there is ALWAYS a hidden (or not so hidden) agenda and most of the "success" is nothing but spin...

Michale

Cheers!

Michale

Can't find a poll that addresses that so obviously it's not an issue here in FL... :D

Michale

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't JUST the Gov Republican??

I mean, wasn't the Senate/House leadership all Democrat???

So, how much of the problem was the Republican Gov and how much was the Dem Senate/House???

It's like when the Left try to elevate Clinton to god-hood because of the great things that happened under his Presidency..

But how much of it was due to his Presidency and how much of it was due to the GOP controlled House/Senate???

The devil, as they say, is in the details...

Michale

Don't have time to answer every comment just now, but about CA...

First, let me preface this with a general comment. Since the governors have been in DC recently (and on the airwaves), I've noticed the "dueling stats" game that they always play. You know: "Our state is 1st in the nation in X, therefore my party and my leadership are genius!" along with "Ah, but in my state X is down/up to Y percent, the biggest change in all the states! My party obviously shows better leadership than yours!"

The entire country went through a recession. The states were hit hard. They are bouncing back. But how much of this (good or bad) can be laid at the feet of a Democratic or Republican governor? So, I'm skeptical of the whole debate.

OK, having said that (ahem) allow me to provide an update on the Golden State. Under Republican leadership, our economy crashed, our budget went off a cliff, and life was terrible. Now that a staunch Democrat is in control, the economy's doing great, our budget woes have been solved, and everything's coming up roses.

Heh. See how easy it is?

Anyway, under Brown the budget has gotten under control, but this is largely due to the improving economy. We used to have deficits that were larger than most state's entire budgets. We don't anymore. The budget picture is improving so much that all the slash-and-burn that was necessary in the past few years (we have a balanced budget requirement) is now over, and many cuts are beginning to be restored (in education, for instance). But we're still not back to where we were before the crash.

As for the public opinion polling, my guess is that it'll continue to improve over the next year. Californians don't pay a whole lot of attention to our state government in general (and not much to national politics either), so there's a lag in perception time.

And, to prove how easy statistics are to manipulate, if 40% of Californians think things are getting worse, well... look at the national numbers, which I believe are something like 65/30 on the wrong track/right track question. Which means Californians are something like 25% MORE optimistic than the country as a whole. So how is that not a good thing?

I mean, honestly, how is Florida's governor doing in the polls these days... hmmm? How many Floridians think things are getting better in your state?

:-)

Gotta run, more later.

-CW

I just realized how insulting it is to refer to our host as a Ferengi....

Going to go back to the tried and true "Grand Poobah".... :D

Michale

It wasn't meant to be. It was meant to illustrate a point.

That people who hold a certain opinion that is not supported by anything other than political ideology, said opinion will color their entire outlook..

You really must get over your Bush obsession, by the way.

Funny. That's what I kept telling ya'all for YEARS!!! :D

Truer words have never been spoken, by you. :)

I calls 'em as I sees 'em... :D

I'm not sure you could tell a real Californian, Michale, if one stepped up and slapped you across the face.

I doubt things have changed THAT much.. :D

On the other hand, the way things are going in CA (where are we going and why are we in this handbasket???) it's entirely possible.. :D

Michale

I'm not sure you could tell a real Californian, Michale, if one stepped up and slapped you across the face.

Truer words have never been spoken, by you. :)

I would be very interested in his honest take on whether life in California is the up and coming paradise that Brown/Bradley would have us believe??

What paradise? Your take on the links is amusing.

You have implied that Bill Bradley doesn't live in California.

Your analogy with Bush and the 9/11 attacks was not amusing.

You really must get over your Bush obsession, by the way.

What's that supposed to mean?

I mean, I was born and raised in San Diego, so that makes me a Californian.. But I haven't lived in California since 1986, so I am not the best authority.. That's why I said that polls of actual Californians are quite relevant, my beef with polls notwithstanding..

However, we are graced with a Grand Nagiss who resides in California as we speak..

I would be very interested in his honest take on whether life in California is the up and coming paradise that Brown/Bradley would have us believe??

Or is it over the hill and on the way to the rocks below, as the polls and the facts seem to indicate...

What say you, Nagiss?? :D

Michale

Put another way..

Let's say you read a HuffPo piece where someone is trying to make a point and says "Of course, many of the problems we faced in this country are exacerbated by Bush's engineering of the 9/11 so-called 'terrorist' attacks...."

Wouldn't you have a problem taking ANYTHING that person says seriously??

I know I would... :D

I am sure you can produce a dozen links that say California is coming up poppies..

Just as I am sure you realize I could produce dozens of links that show California is heading for a cliff...

My links would have the added credibility of showing how REAL Californians feel...

Michale

What's that supposed to mean?

Here is the FULL quote from the first link I provided:

Solving the state's long-term drought problems, exacerbated by climate change, involves a medley of moves including conservation, storage, and conveyance. Which will not be worked out in some two-dimensional political campaign.

You should think long and hard on that for more than a moment. It's good advice as a two dimensional debate on any blog will not solve anything, either.

Once again, you couldn't be further from the truth if you actually put some effort into it.

Here's another link to improve your understanding:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/jerry-browns-new-budget-s_b_4571390.html

Fortunately for you, there are countless more where that one came from.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/sites/all/files/images/BhUxHIIIAAAUhZX.jpg-large.preview.jpeg

How is THAT for crappy timing, eh?? :D

Michale

Sorry.. With that one sentence the ENTIRETY of the so-called facts of that commentary are called into question.

The idea that California's drought problem is caused by Human Caused Global Warming (Yet There Hasn't Been Hardly ANY Warming) has already been THOROUGHLY debunked by REAL science, not the psuedo-religious "science" favored by the enviro-extremists/terrorists..

Do every day Californians feel that they are better off??

Well, fully 40% say that they are WORSE off than they were a year ago...

And THAT is laid fully and completely at the feet of the Democrats who are running California into the ground..

In other words, it ain't Bush's fault... :D

But let's get a Californian's perspective.. Well, you just GOT a Californian's perspective, but let's get it from one who actually LIVES their now... :D

Michale

Here's a great link for you Re. California politics which will lead to many more enlightening articles on the subject.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/california-elections_b_4757149.html

You're welcome.

We'll discuss the seriousness of your link after Brown wins another landslide election.

Thanks! It was a great game. If the NHL was like that, I'd probably still be a fan.

Once again, the spin that California is recovering is completely devoid of any reality and is laid to rest by the facts...

Democrats have obviously gone with the tactic that, if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit... :D

Michale

... huge economic meltdown

Huh?

You're going to have to keep up with what's happening in California or risk looking like someone who is lost behind the curve, so to speak. Ahem. :)

Yea!! All the problems that California is in, the huge economic meltdown, the water issues..

That's ALL on Democrats...

And if anyone spouts off with "CLIMATE CHANGE!!!" I will certainly taunt you a second time...

:D

Michale

Good call.. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

Jeeeze, I try NOT to believe the yahoos who claim Obama is out to destroy this country...

But when our POTUS does crap like this, it's hard not to..

Michale

But as a LEO type of guy, I thought you'd buy their argument?

I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with what occurred if it was on the way to an emergency or if there were special circumstances..

But the guy was just being driven to work.. There was absolutely NO REASON for deBlasio to do what he did. Or, more accurately, to have his security detail do what they did.

It's just another example of an elitist politician scumbag doing something illegal just because he can...

As I said, I know I am right because, if it had been Christie in the back of that limo, we would ALL be on the same page...

But the real reason it'll never happen can be summed up in one word: water.

Watch "Chinatown" for more details.

I gotta watch a MOVIE!!!???? Bummer.. :)

Which brings up the movie reference. I will let Michale provide it, from the movie "Demolition Man."

Michale? That's your cue....

"I have, in fact, perused some newsreels in the Schwarzenegger Library, and the time that you took that car.."
"Hold it. The Schwarzenegger Library?"
"Yes. The Schwarzenegger Presidential Library. Wasn't he an actor when you...?"
"Stop! He was President?"
"Yes! Even though he was not born in this country, his popularity at the time caused the 61st Amendment which states..."
"I don't wanna know. President..."
-Demolition Man

Ya know, ya'all take all the fun out of it when ya REQUEST movie references!! :D

Michale

Oh, and congratulations on that hockey gold, dontcha know?

:-)

-CW

Hey, c'mon, we haven't had a B-movie actor as governor for YEARS now. And at least this one could never have become president (for which the rest of the country thanks its lucky stars, I am sure), unlike Ronnie.

Which brings up the movie reference. I will let Michale provide it, from the movie "Demolition Man."

Michale? That's your cue....

:-)

-CW

As for DeBlasio (I really have to learn to spell and capitalize his name correctly, one of these weeks...), the cops said "we are highly trained in defensive driving, and security is a big factor with the governor."

What I heard, of course was, "we like driving really fast," but that's just me...

But as a LEO type of guy, I thought you'd buy their argument?

As for splitting CA... sigh....

There are only really two intelligent ways to split CA, and that's just into TWO states: east/west or north/south.

Now, north/south would be the most obvious, if you looked at a map and if you were aware of the animosity between LA and SF. Look at the Dodgers/Giants, just for starters.

But a better fit politically would be to separate the coastal areas from the rest of the state, roughly on east/west lines (use some of the coastal mountain ranges as a border, perhaps). The central San Joaquin Valley is enormous, and it is full of farmers who are pretty conservative. Likewise the mountain regions to the east, and the northeast corner of the state. But the coasts are mostly liberal (not true everywhere, but a general rule of thumb). The problem with this split, though, is that it would leave most of the people in the liberal part of the state, while peeling off some land in the east (after all, San Diego, LA, San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland are all on the coast).

But the real reason it'll never happen can be summed up in one word: water.

Watch "Chinatown" for more details.

I think the state water board explicitly was given the power to veto any proposal to split the state, in fact.

It'll never happen. Never. It's fun to think about, but it just ain't gonna take place, even if the citizens vote for it. That's my personal take on it. Watch and see if I'm not right.

And that's just for splitting it in TWO. Splitting it in SIX is just insanity. For one, the other states would never allow it (think about it: we'd get to have ten additional senators!). It'd be seen (rightly) as a huge power grab.

-CW

WHY is it a bad idea??

I would think Progressives would be all for pen'ing up Conservatives and Republicans and Right Wingers and keep them away from "decent folk".... :D

Personally, I can see the logic in it..

If you live in an area far removed from your state capital and your leaders cater to their own Party and actively work to screw you over just because you voted for the other guy.....????

Or if a State Government caters to one major city and ignores the needs of the rest of the state, as is the case in New York....

Isn't the creation of a new state logical??

I mean, other than I think it would be really kewl, I am not advocating either way..

But I DO see the logic of the Pro-Secession groups..

What's the logic of the Anti-Secession groups??

Michale

I await some obscure movie reference.

Richard Pryor convinced us to vote for "NONE OF THE ABOVE"

My favorite line in the entire movie is when Ray conjures up the StayPufft Marshmallow Man,"Hey he's a good guy,a sailor in N.Y."

"Egon, this reminds of me of the time you tried to drill a hole thru your head."
"That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me."

:D

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-harold-ramis-dead-20140224,0,2259309.story

Considering reports of ANOTHER program that was outed and got pulled....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/02/23/license-plates-guns-news-federal-government-column/5759933/

..... I don't think we can chalk this up to some bureaucratic idiot that is ignorant of how Americans are...

I think we're seeing a real pattern. While I don't have a problem with a National License Plate tracking system (it would be an invaluable tool) I can understand how boneheaded it is to float that particular trial balloon when Domestic Surveillance is such a hot button topic...

Just one more piece of evidence that supports the theory that our Democrat so-called "leaders" are utterly and completely out of touch with average mainstream Americans...

Michale

Like I said, I'se aim to please.. :D

This is going to be the problem in Ukraine. Putin REALLY needs Ukraine to join the new EuroAsian Union that Putin is pushing.

The Pro Democracy people in Ukraine want to join the European Union..

Thanx to our POTUS, the US simply has absolutely NO credibility on the world stage anymore when it comes to pushing our strategic interests.

Obama has already issued his Ukraine "red line" and I am sure that Putin got a good laugh over that..

There is absolutely NOTHING to stop Putin from sending in Russian troops to insure that events in Ukraine go Putin's way.. I predict we'll start seeing news reports of Russian "advisers" in Ukraine within the next 3-5 days...

Here's the wild-card.

Our dear leader might feel he is pushed into a corner and lash out irrationally to show the world that he CAN be tough..

It's going to be an interesting week in Ukraine..

Michale

Another Left Wing fanatic finds that the vast majority of Americans simply don't like ideological fanatics preaching how bad America is and how lousy Americans are..

This is simply why Leftist media personalities will never be as popular as O'Reilly, Hannity or Limbaugh..

Michale

Oh jeezus, I really have to pay attention when I read!!!

Chalk it up to being up at 0130 with a stack of laptops to work on 7 high..

Me culpa....

Michale

Aha!! Yer not going to catch me again..

The cat WASN'T on the Nostromo with Ripley in ALIENS...

It was ALIEN..

The Nostromo had already been destroyed by the time ALIENS happened.. :D

Michale

So, if a cop does it, it's not illegal??

If the guy in the back seat had been named Christie, the Left would have been apoplectic, no?? :D

The cat's name, of course, was "Jones" or more affectionately, "Jonesy". You're welcome.

Oh yea, that's right. :D

I thought it was "Little Shit"...

It's like my dog. I am sure she thinks her name is "Dammit Athena" :D

Michale

dailycaller.com/2014/02/10/gun-stun-gun-control-activist-swears-he-forgot-he-was-carrying-gun-while-visiting-school/

Ya gotta love the irony... :D

To be honest, I didn't. It's "Aliens" not "Alien."

It's also "word" not "work" but I didna wanna be nit picky :D

Actually, I missed the ALIEN part.. My bust.. :D

Nice "Picard" in there, too. Intentional, or a Freudian slip?

Actually, every since Joshua brought it up...

fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/071/d/1/hoisted_by_his_own_picard_by_wytrab8-d5xv9z7.jpg

.... I can't get it out of my head.. :D

"What was the name of the cat who was on the Nostromo with Ripley in 'Aliens'?"

Little Shit...

"And you, you Little Shit, are going to stay here."
-Ripley, ALIENS

:D

Every once in a while, someone comes up with a plan to split CA up. They never work, and this one won't either. Trust me on this one...

But what's your opinion on it? Do you think it's a good idea??

The cat's name, of course, was "Jones" or more affectionately, "Jonesy". You're welcome.

-CW

You mean this isn't a Star Trek blog? Oh, man, I must have wandered into the wrong place or something...

Heh.

Got a link for that gun/school story? I love irony, even at the expense of the left, you know that.

Nice "Picard" in there, too. Intentional, or a Freudian slip?

As for Dubya, I have always said that he is to be praised for his non-political ex-presidency. (Cheney, on the other hand...). If he wants to paint rather than build houses for the poor, that's just fine with me. I actually was kind of impressed -- he appeared in the last few weeks of Leno's show, and he gave Jay a portrait of him he had painted. It wasn't Rembrandt, but then again it wasn't all that bad either, so who am I to judge? He seems to enjoy it, and I'd actually like to see one of his O'Keeffe homages. But then, I originally was going to major in fine arts myself (with physics as a dual major), so maybe I've just got a soft spot for painters...

As for Ukraine, I was going to type "it's not partisan, yet, until Obama takes a stand on it and the Republicans do their knee-jerk 'what Obama is for is wrong' reaction." So thanks for confirming that.

[6] -

To be honest, I didn't. It's "Aliens" not "Alien."

I am 'fessing up to this because I just this week sneered at the Asimov quiz in my local paper, which had the following question:

"What was the name of the cat who was on the Nostromo with Ripley in 'Aliens'?"

To which I smugly responded (to my wife, who is the real expert on Ripley, I might add) "In 'Aliens,' the Nostromo was a cloud of radioactive dust!"

So, speaking of being hoist on my own 'Picard' as it were...

As for the FCC thing, fund a freakin' survey through the Columbia School of Broadcasting or something! Pretty boneheaded, I agree, but it could have just been a non-partisan bureaucratic idiot that came up with the idea, just to give the benefit of the doubt here.

[7] -

Every once in a while, someone comes up with a plan to split CA up. They never work, and this one won't either. Trust me on this one...

[8] -

Oh, please. A cop was driving. My only question was: was DeBlasio wearing his seat belt? A Dem gov in NJ proved how not putting a seat belt on can be very dangerous with cops driving, so I'll only castigate DeBlasio if he was seatbelt-less.

[9] -

"Romney's going to win! I heard it on Fox News!"

There's a LONG time before the election... too long to be counting pre-hatched chickens...

LizM [11] -

I have no recollection of that moment in history, Chris. None, whatsoever.

BWAH hah hah! I just bet you don't, eh?

Funny, I remember it quite well. I even remember the Czech goalie's name: Hasek. To be fair, he was the real reason they won gold. The Czechs were brutally outplayed by the US, Russia, and (yes) Canada, but Hasek did not let that puck in the net, no matter WHAT was happening on the rest of the ice!

:-)

But, like I said, congratulations this year, and good luck tomorrow night!

Paula [12] -

Well, the Fairness Doctrine might have been a wonderful thing, if it still existed today. I'm not against the concept, mind you, I'm just accepting reality, that's all.

But it's long been my contention that the media of today is nowhere NEAR as partisan as what Americans got for most of their history, and that the Cold War "we're all in this together" phase of media being polite and non-confrontational was merely an abberration -- a moment in time that is over.

Michale [13] -

No, there's an older concept here: the airwaves belong to ALL Americans. The government regulates them, but they also control them to a certain extent. This is why network broadcast TV doesn't have hardcore porn on at 10:00 at night.

But I'm not a gigantic fan of the FD. I am a MUCH bigger fan of another rule Reagan threw out -- the 7/7/7 rule. This dictated that any corporate entity was not allowed to own more than 7 newspapers, 7 radio stations, and 7 TV stations (I think, doing this from memory, might have been "7 AM stations and 7 FM stations" even). To put this another way, I think Clear Channel is a MUCH bigger threat to the American public than Fox News.

Paula [14] -

Basic history:

http://02e1390.netsolhost.com/broadcastownershipreg.html

-CW

"One is honored to be of service."
-Robin Williams, BICENTENNIAL MAN

:D

Michale

So Chris -- never mind!!

It forces people to do things that they should not be forced to do in the name of SOMEONE's concept of "fairness"..

Put it another way...

How many car dealers would there be if they HAD to sell every car on the market??

How many small businesses would there be if they were forced to sell/service EVERY possible item in their chosen field??

Ridiculous, iddn't it?? :D

Michale

Some people, of course, wish for a return to the days of the "Fairness Doctrine," but the reality is that we've moved beyond that now.

I have heard others express similar sentiments but not ever heard the explanation. Can you explain what was "wrong" with the Fairness Doctrine and why we're beyond it?"

Thanks.

I have no recollection of that moment in history, Chris. None, whatsoever.

Nothing on Ukraine? I know foreign affairs aren't really the blog's bailiwick, but they deserve a mention more than the protests at the Olympics.

I disagree.

What would you like to mention about the Ukraine?

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/02/20/218707/with-voters-still-skeptical-dozens.html

There ya go...

It ain't gonna be pretty for Democrats or the Obama Administration..

SHELLACKING PART DUEX

Michale

You can add DeBlasio to the list... :D

CBS 2 Exclusive: De Blasio’s Caravan Caught Speeding, Violating Traffic Laws
Embarrassment Comes Just Days After Mayor Announced New Traffic Safety Initiative
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/02/20/cbs-2-exclusive-mayor-de-blasios-caravan-caught-speeding-violating-traffic-laws/

Are Democrats BORN with an innate DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO trait?? Or is it something that is learned?? :D

Loks like DeBlasio's honeymoon with the press is over... :D

"Live by the spin, die by the spin" I always say :D

Michale

Plan to split California into six states gains ground
http://news.yahoo.com/plan-split-california-six-states-gains-ground-222139687.html

Thoughts???

I mean, ignoring that the chances of this happening is slim and none and Slim just logged off, what are your thoughts about the idea itself??

Michale

It's more of a partisan blog on Fridays, and I don't really see a partisan split on Ukraine. At least, not yet.

ASK and ye shall receive... :D

Hmmm... that last work might be "asleep," doing that from memory...

:-)

Close enough.. It's the effort that counts.. :D

For the record, you nailed it. It was "away" and not "asleep"... :D

The second idiotic notion for what the government should be doing came from the Federal Communications Commission, who decided to take it upon themselves to conduct a "survey" of news organizations across the country. This survey would be looking for how news editors make decisions on what to run, with particular attention being paid to expose bias. Since the F.C.C. licenses broadcast stations, this is a monumentally bad idea. Some people, of course, wish for a return to the days of the "Fairness Doctrine," but the reality is that we've moved beyond that now. Meaning the F.C.C. has no business delving into how editorial decisions are made. None. There are plenty of academic studies on news bias out there, for one, and if a new study is needed then this is the route it should take: let an academic institution conduct it, not the people who have the power to deny broadcasting licenses. Thankfully, the program was halted (once exposed in the media), but once again -- who authorized this idiocy in the first place?

I know, right!??

This has got to be the dumbest idea of ALL the dumbest ideas there ever was...

Democrats need to quit acting like Democrats accuse Republicans of acting..

It makes things REALLY confusing...

Michale

You can prove anything you want if you only look at a small slice of data...

The "study" only used one small slice of data. Coincidentally, it was the one small slice that "proved" what they WANTED to prove...

Put another way..

I can "prove" that Weigantia is a complete Star Trek blog. I can do this by ONLY examining the posts that deal with Star Trek.

You see how that works?? :D

In other news from the Wild West, a Republican state representative in Colorado left a hearing on concealed handgun permits, but he apparently left a handbag behind... with his loaded handgun in it. The jokes just write themselves, on that one.

I can do you one better. Did you hear the one about the California Gun Control activist who pushed for harsher penalties for being caught with a gun at school?? The law made it a felony instead of a misdemeanor to have a gun on school grounds. The activist was promptly busted with a gun on school grounds..

Not only does he look like an ass, but he will have to forfeit his carry license...

I just love it when activists are hoisted by their own Picard and proven to be the hypocrites that they are... :D

And finally, to end on this Western theme we seem to have moseyed into, George W. Bush is now channeling his inner Georgia O'Keeffe by creating paintings of animal skulls. Make of that what you will.

Com'on!! The guy has more integrity in his little pinky that our current crop of "leaders" (Left OR Right) have in their entire bodies!!

Let the guy enjoy his retirement, eh?? :D

Democrats have positioned themselves as the party which cares about women.

Eliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, Bill Clinton...

Like dynamiting fish in a barrel.. :D

YoYo,

Nothing on Ukraine? I know foreign affairs aren't really the blog's bailiwick, but they deserve a mention more than the protests at the Olympics.

I know, right!?? :D

But we really don't have to worry about Ukraine..

Obama rode in on his white horse and proclaimed that "there will be consequences" if Ukraine don't get their act together..

I am sure that the government of Ukraine and Putin had a good laugh over that...

That's the problem when our POTUS throws out ultimatums and then refuses to back them up..

Eventually, people just laugh at our POTUS and then just ignores him...

The danger here is that Obama might have to do something REALLY drastic to prove that he CAN back up his ultimatums..

As to Ukraine itself??

Putin is simply trying to rebuild the old Soviet empire...

Unfortunately, we don't have a POTUS with any regional (or world) credibility that can stop Putin from doing just that..

We're going to see a lot more Ukraines between now and 2016...

Remember, you heard it here first...

Michale

NBC's finally (on its obscure sports network cable channel) running live events. But overall, they still suck.

Congrats on all the good hockey news! A while back, I watched late-night (live!) hockey with a Czech woman (and my wife, of course) when the Czechs won gold. I learned what a big deal hockey is that year, when a tiny little country showed Canada, Norway, Russia, and the US how to play the game.

:-)

As for Rahm, well, I just enjoy reaching out to Chicago and giving him a little kick every now and then. Petty of me, I know, but there it is.

Heh.

YoYo -

It's more of a partisan blog on Fridays, and I don't really see a partisan split on Ukraine. At least, not yet.

Michale -

For your benefit, here's the real quote I was ripping off in MIDOTW:

"Have IQs just dropped sharply while I was away?"
-Ellen Ripley, "Alien"

Hmmm... that last work might be "asleep," doing that from memory...

:-)

-CW

I think y'all should just try to get over Rahm Emanuel. Before y'all give hypersensitivity whole new meaning, you know. :)

For those watching the Olympics (or trying to, in and amongst the soap opera that is NBC's coverage, and the accompanying forty bazillion commercial breaks)

If they gave out medals for coverage of the Olympic games, then Canada would get yet another gold. Heck, we'd sweep the podium!

:-)

Seriously, though, kudos and many thanks to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), SportsNet, and The Sports Network (TSN) for their consistently brilliant and live coverage of the games. Did I mention that we get to see live events at two in the morning? Sorry. Heh.