Vox Populi – 6-13-2014

MilesLong : Test

Beatlex : You too AdLib!

AdLib : Have to agree Beatlex, loved that smug Cantor’s smackdown! Have a great weekend!

Beatlex : I have been watching hockey…I am Canadian after all.The Eric Cantor smack down was the best thing I have seen in a long time.It did not wipe the smug grin from his face though.Buh Bye Eric!!

Fergie1 : Well, although I didn’t contribute much, I’m glad that I came to the party. I’ll read more further down at my leisure later on our time. Nite Miles, Harleigh and Ad! Have a lovely weekend friends! Oh yes, and Happy Fathers’s Day to all the Dads. Byee.

AdLib : Night Harleigh! Have a great weekend!

Harleigh : nite all

AdLib : Night Miles, have a great weekend!

Harleigh : Pakistan is the place to watch… 200+ nukes and delivery systems.

MilesLong : Okay, then. Good night, all…

AdLib : Well, I guess it’s that time, to close the Vox bar for the night. Thanks all for a real rousing Vox! Have a great weekend and a happy Father’s Day!

AdLib : Night PPO, have a great weekend!

Harleigh : nite pink, nice nighty! LOL j/k

MilesLong : Nite, Pink…

pinkpantheroz : Time for me to sign out and actually get something done today! Thanks everybody for a great Vox and it’s good to see the new bloods joining the debate. See you all at the Weekend Music thread.

MilesLong : Besides, since Karzai gave the US a rousing Fuck You, President Obama has basically told Iraq to go screw itself. So, the US playing hardliner is a natural.

Harleigh : miles – Of course we did, along with other intel agencies in Europe and certainly Israel. I mean c’mon, We ain’t talkin the Bundy Ranch with redneck baggers with some guns here. LOL

pinkpantheroz : Harleigh, thats the problem with getting re-involved with this Middle east crisis. We don’t for sure know who is who, and who backs them. And, to be honest, the US wouldn’t normally give a shit about some civil-war riddled Arab country if it weren’t for the OIL. Betcha the Oil and Armament lobbies are screaming their heads off at the WH to DO SOMETHING! But I hope that the US stays out of it for so many reasons.

AdLib : Good point Harleigh. Maybe the US did know though. But what would we do if we knew about it ahead of time? And what if our intelligence agencies saw an advantage in this?

MilesLong : Maybe we did, Harleigh… {grin}

Harleigh : I still have not seen or even heard a definitive answer anywhere about how we did not know about a large trained group called ISIS, all newly equipped, matching black outfits, shiny new guns, lots of yellow PU trucks outfitted with large caliber automatic big guns, rockets, mortars and all that training and communications.. . SURPRISE! uh we just conquered your broken country!

Fergie1 : PPO Truth!

pinkpantheroz : I need to get some and try that. Thanks, Miles.

AdLib : Good point, Fergie!

MilesLong : PPO: Also, there’s usually a service manual online in PDF format that will show you how to open a laptop up to clean or replace a part.

pinkpantheroz : No miles, sounds a bit painful!

pinkpantheroz : Early days, fergie, early days!

Fergie1 : Hey Ad, maybe we should be thankful that it’s only coffee PPO is having!

MilesLong : PPO: Have you ever shot some compressed air into the vents?

pinkpantheroz : Miles, can you do that to a laptop? My fan is working more and more.

Fergie1 : PPO – the tyranny of distance and the folks who need their zzzz’s unless they are on the West Coast!

MilesLong : I just took mine apart to clean it Saturday. It was way past time.

pinkpantheroz : Yes, Ad, lesson learned. I also learned a lesson about coffee and keyboards. They don’t mix!

MilesLong : Sneeze, and you miss something…

AdLib : ppo – Hope you’ve learned your lesson, no coffee during Vox.

AdLib : Thanks Kes, have opened it in a window to read after Vox!

pinkpantheroz : Gosh! You go for a coffee and everyone chuffs off. was it something I said?

MilesLong : Nite, Kes…

AdLib : Night Kes, have a wonderful weekend!

kesmarn : And with that, I’ll have to be taking my leave too, dear friends. Have a great weekend, everyone!

AdLib : glenn – Please feel free to contact me, always happy to help and looking forward to it!

kesmarn : This is the link to the article on the bank robbery: «link»

AdLib : Night see! Have a great weekend!

kesmarn : Please do write that article, glenn!

AdLib : glenn – Yes, I assumed so. I’d really enjoy reading about that era in Iran from a first hand experience.

glenn : Good night, all! Ad, I will read the instructions on how to write a post, but I still may be emailing you if I run into problems. G’night.

kesmarn : G’night to all departing Planeteers! I was searching for that article and missed a few as they were leaving!

glenn : Funk–good night. I’m right behind you. Wish I could be right behind you in getting cheeseburgers and ice cream, too. Enjoy!

funksands : Night See

funksands : Fergie good, its probably not the sulfites giving the headaches then

seehowtheyrun : Goodnight FS. Goodnight everyone. I’m out too.

funksands : Night Dbos. Thanks for joining us tonight!

Fergie1 : Oh funk darling – the good stuff of course! Black label!

funksands : Glenn, I bet it’ll come back to you if you set your mind to it.

seehowtheyrun : Buona sera Dbos.

funksands : I’m going to toddle off myself. Big day tomorrow grabbing a ferry to go get ice cream and cheeseburgers. Mmmmm

Dbos : Adios mi Amigos

glenn : Ad and Funk–I’ll see what I can put together. I’ve been meaning to go through my pictures, so that will “jog” my memory. You do realize that I left Iran in 1978, so it has been a long time.

seehowtheyrun : Good night Fergie.

MilesLong : Later, Murph…

Fergie1 : Good night to all those departing for the evening. This time diff. is a bummer! BRB myself by which time you may very well have all gone!

Dbos : See ya Murph

funksands : Please

AdLib : Night Murph! Well done on a long week’s work that’s shown many dividends! Have a great weekend!

funksands : Glenn, I demand a post!!

Dbos : Not as much as we poured into the stupid war there

funksands : Night Murph

AdLib : glenn- That’s what I would have thought. a personal remembrance of what it was like then. Not political but social. Would be great to read!

seehowtheyrun : Good night, Murph.

funksands : Fergie, you drinking the good stuff or the cheap stuff?

MurphTheSurf3 : It has been a long week in blogging world. So nce to see such life here and elsewhere on our Planet. Please keep inviting those you know to visit our Virtual Neighborhood!

kesmarn : I’ll see if I can find the link on the bank robbery.

glenn : ‘Night Murph. Have a good weekend. So nice chatting with you again!

funksands : Gag

Fergie1 : My drink of choice? VODKA and anything. Although time has a way of taking away the enjoyment. Instead of a buzz, it’s an unwelcome headache! Where one it was possible to have five and feel just “fine”, now two and it’s curtains! I’m a child of the 60’s as many of you here know. San Francisco graduating class of 1968! Those were heady days!

seehowtheyrun : It’s just sickening that the media is running to the architects of the Iraq war for their advice and opinions.

kesmarn : Supposedly there are plans to revaluate the Iraqi currency. They allegedly took only big bills because those will be the ones affected.

MurphTheSurf3 : Well on that note…I am going to fold my tent.

funksands : Glenn, I think that would make it even better. Honest.

glenn : G’night Sabreen

MurphTheSurf3 : ALL….I think we need to turn to someone who can explain all of this us…a guru of international relations….Dic k Cheney! Just saw him quoted at length on CNN…

funksands : Kes, wow, I hadn’t heard that. What the hell is that kind of cash doing in a bank? That smells fishy to me. No bank in the US would every have even a sliver of that much cash on hand.

Dbos : good night sabreen

seehowtheyrun : Goodnight Sabreen, have a great weekend!

kesmarn : Good night, Sabreen! Stay well!

funksands : Right. It’s madness. Who were the people that flew planes into the WTC? Who funds all of the Sunni jihadists around the globe? We just ignore it.

AdLib : Night Sabreen! Have a great weekend!

glenn : KT–g’night. Sleep well.

kesmarn : funk, I read today that ISIS picked up $3.5 billion by robbing the bank in Mosul. That’s some hefty funding right there. Not to mention tanks and helicopters they captured.

glenn : Funk and Ad–If I did write a post regarding my experiences in Iran, it would not be very political. I was there in 1976-1978 and wasn’t paying much attention to politics at the time. At the time, I was just trying to make life as “normal” as possible in a foreign country. I did have some bizarre experiences, though.

Sabreen60 : Well, I’m out, too. Everyone have good and healthy week. Good night.

Harleigh : dbos is right stay out. While iran is sucking up all the news cycles Iran will be cranking out some nukes if they haven’t already and that would stop any threats of military attacks, and they know it. Israel will gobble (or is it gobeles?) up the last of gaza and west bank.

Fergie1 : The demise of Cantor. Don’t know, could never abide the man, but it may not be good for the country as a whole. Apparently he and Joe Biden were able to “talk”. That surprises me though. Those GOP pollsters are pretty useless!

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk- and yet both are supposedly our friends.

AdLib : Night KT! See you over the weekend for the music thread!

funksands : Kuwait (by some accounts) has funneled almost $1 billion directly to Sunni insurgent groups in Syria over the last year. Kuwait has been the jihadi laundromat for years.

MurphTheSurf3 : Nite KT

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk- so for the Saudis, the entire region in flames is better than a strong Iran.

glenn : dbos–You are correct; nothing in that part of the world is as it seems–and even if it seems one way, it’s only temporary. Let the Muslims and Arabs sort it out. They understand each other so much better than we ever could.

Sabreen60 : Good night KT. Until the next time….

AdLib : glenn – You could be right but what encourages me is that our governments are now talking about collaborating on Iraq. That is more cooperation than Obama has gotten from Repubs!

MilesLong : Nite, KT…

kesmarn : G’night, Homie! Sleep well!

seehowtheyrun : Sweet dreams KT!

funksands : Night KT

Fergie1 : oops, hit button too fast!

funksands : Murph, if Iran ever got a nuke, I think the Saudis would beat the Isrealis to the punch.

KillgoreTrout : Well good people, this has been a very interestin (and fast) VP tonight. I got’s to hit the hay. Hope to see ya on the music thread tomorrow and Sunday! Sweet dreams all!

Fergie1 : So much: Iraq what a nightmare with the ISIS. School shootings – horrendous. Something must be DONE!

funksands : Murph, the Saudis consider Iran to be their greatest enemy. I don’t think they’re terribly concerned about instability in the region. We’ll alway protect them

AdLib : Dbos – Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want US military involvement in Iraq but the idea of Iran seeking to work with us there is very fascinating to me.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk…so are we seeing the sunni and shia chess pieces move into position for an all out holy war against each other?

Sabreen60 : KT, Well I certainly hope you don’t end up the same way.

MilesLong : The Iranians are a whole lot smarter than the GOP.

kesmarn : Dbos and glenn — interesting that you’ve both compared the Iranians to the GOP.

funksands : Murph, ostensibly it is to protect Sunnis against other corrupt branches of Islam and non-believers

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk….but does the instability in the entire region serve them…and where do the Iranians fit into this…infidels?

AdLib : Sabreen, ain’t gonna happen. No RWNJ can win a GE in the US, America doesn’t elect extremists as Presidents. Idiots occassionally, but never extremists.

funksands : Murph, those countries are run by their version of our right-wing militias. They are the most extreme of the extreme and their wealth gets funneled to anyone that will fight against the infidels

glenn : Ad–Not sure if we can redefine our relationship with Iran. I look at the political leadership there as very much like our gop here. If President Obama is for it; they’re against it. Therefore, if the US is for it, then Iranians are against it. However, if we were able to redefine our relationship, I agree, what a positive force that would be!

KillgoreTrout : Without the orthodox religion…of course.

KillgoreTrout : Sabreen, if the rwnjs win in 2016, I may have to go the route of Deitrich Bonhoeffer.

Dbos : Ad stay away from every situation in this part of the world ;nothing is as it seems, alliances are not really alliances as we know them just convenient temporary situations; kinda like the republicans in congress; stay away from them too

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk- what is the purpose served by Saudi, Kawaiti, and Qatari money invested in ISIS.

Fergie1 : Those warm greetings have made my day – thank you. It’s really great to see all of you.

AdLib : glenn – I second Funk’s request, would love to read about your experiences in Iran!

kesmarn : Sabreen, that might be the wisest course.

Sabreen60 : kes, If a RWNJ wins in 2016, I might cut and run.

funksands : Sabreen, the Saudis and Kuwaitis are funding nearly all of the jihadi extremism on the globe right now and its like we just pretend not see it. Crazy.

MurphTheSurf3 : Hi there Fergie…

AdLib : Hey Fergie! Nice to see you!

AdLib : glenn – Well, we did put the Shah in power in Iran and they were an ally…but that led to turning the nation against us. Maybe this is the opportunity to redefine our relationship with Iran?

funksands : Glenn? Please tell me you are going to write a post about your time in Iran???? Pretty Please???

glenn : Hi Fergie–good to see you, even if it is only momentarily.

KillgoreTrout : Hey Fergie! Gday!

Sabreen60 : Hiya Fergie!

MilesLong : Hey, Fergie…

funksands : Hey Fergie!

seehowtheyrun : Hi Fergie1

kesmarn : Hey, Fergie! Good to see you

funksands : KT, I agree wholeheartedly.

kesmarn : If only Obama had longer than a couple more years. I shudder to think how much ground could be lost if some RWNJ gets into the White House.

funksands : Most of Isis’s money comes from the Saudis, Kuwaitis, and Qataris

Fergie1 : A big “HI” to all – old and newbies! It’s 2:08 Sat pm here in Melbourne. Sorry folks I’ll be in and out doing “stuff” but wanted to say greetings. Can’t catch up with all the great conversation so I’ll just lurk for the minute!

glenn : Ad–we have worked with Iran militarily before. The reason I was in Iran for two years was because we sold them F-14’s and my husband worked for Grumman.

KillgoreTrout : Religion is NOT saving us, or the world at large.

KillgoreTrout : funk, America is suffering from a very real spiritual sickness and I don’t mean a lack of religion. We all know that there is too much religion in this country’s politics and media.

Sabreen60 : Funk, Someone tweeted that Saudi Arabia should fight. After all, it was Saudi terrorists who caused 9/11.

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad Lib- all of which might help explain Israeli silence.

funksands : Ad, the Saudis would lose their f-ing minds if we did that. I wonder if we have the balls to do it.

AdLib : Murph – Iran and the US working together militarily? As I said to Murph, might not the end result of this terrible situation be a more positive situation in the region? It’s in Iran’s and our interest to stop ISIS and have stability in Iraq. SO the dividend may be dissolving away the Great Satan BS and being able to have dialogues and negotiations on many important issues.

pinkpantheroz : BRB – coffe!

seehowtheyrun : I read that story too Sabreen. It’s disgraceful.

funksands : Sabreen, KT these are signs of a nation that’s really lost its way.

Sabreen60 : Funk, I also read a story about the poor doing time because the court fees accrued. The crimes they committed were really BS crimes. Somebody stole a $2 bottle of beer and ended doing jail time because he couldn’t pay the fees. And woman died in jail after being locked up for 48 hours. She couldn’t pay the court fees because her kid was constantly truant.

glenn : Murph–the only good thing I see is McCain microwaving his head. I’d pay to see that! Maybe on HBO right after Hannity gets waterboarded!

KillgoreTrout : kes, the sad reality of the American economy is production for war. The late president Eisenhower warned us of the Military Industrial Complex.

funksands : I’ve never understood why we are so pathological about the Shi’ites? I mean I get it after the hostage situation, but Iran has never invaded another country, they’ve had the same border for 2000 years. Its the Sunnis and their splinter groups like the Waahabis that are the crazies. Kuwaiti Waahabi Sunnis fund nearly 90% of the radical madrassas around the world

seehowtheyrun : I agree Dbos. Let Iran and other countries in the region take care of it.

AdLib : Sabreen – The sad fact is of course, we should never have invaded a country that did not want to be invaded. We forced our agenda on them our, insisted they do as we told them, what a colossal waste of our nation’s treasure, both lives and money. I don’t blame the Iraqis for not being who Bush tried to program them to be, I blame Bush for causing all of this.

Dbos : Iran is picking sides let the take care of it; they don’t want the fanatics in charge they are just like the tea party they eat there own.

kesmarn : The one consistent thing, KT, is that arms and supplies are always being sold somewhere. Must be great to have no soul and own stock in Halliburton, Lockheed-Martin, et al…

KillgoreTrout : funk, that’s downright Dickensian!

MurphTheSurf3 : Consider how things change if the U.S. and Iran work together on this. How it could effect Israeli Security. How it could affect Russian influence in the area. How it could cause McCain to microwave his head.

glenn : PPO and Sabreen–my sentiments exactly. We gave them weapons, training, and they aren’t willing to fight for their country, why should we? Let the oil-rich Arab countries use their resources and people for a change.

KillgoreTrout : funk, that is criminal! In the 21st century, that should not be happening.

KillgoreTrout : The irony of Iran even thinking about working with us is incredible. We sold Saddam wmd so he could beat Iran in the Iraq/Iran war. Fucking insanity.

AdLib : Funk – I wonder though, if Iran was to move for closer relations with the US, might not there be more of a path to address Syria?

funksands : KT, I saw a story recently that around 25% or so of the prison population in local jails are there because they can’t pay their court fees.

MurphTheSurf3 : another report….Irania n Revolutionary Guard to be assisted in coordinating attacks by U.S. air power.

glenn : Murph–I just hate to see us get involved in that region again. How many lives and how much money are we willing to risk if the Iraqis themselves aren’t willing to fight ISIS/

AdLib : Murph – That’s what I’m thinking too, ISIS may have gotten a media bump that over-exaggerates its power simply because there has been no resistance to date. But now that they’ve gone too far, if major powers rally against them, they may find that holding up newspaper clippings about how powerful they are won’t protect them against superior forces and firepower.

pinkpantheroz : glenn, I, for one, don’t think the US should get involved at all. If the Iranians are worried, let THEM do the deed and kick ISIS out of Iraq. They are a major military power next door. Oh, and where’s saudi Arabia in all this, with thier huge army and Air Force. There are enough military options right there in the region to let the US stay right out of it.

Sabreen60 : AdLib, I understand what you’re saying. It’s just hard for me to understand who we gave up blood and treasure to train an army who decides, for whatever reason, that they aren’t going to fight for their country – or against their country for that matter. I mean WTF?

kesmarn : Sorry — cat hit send! …in Al Maliki’s government who are working with ISIS.

KillgoreTrout : If we stopped arresting, trying and jailing people for victimless crimes like drug posession, maybe more resources could be spent on eradicating illegal guns and ammo suppliers. Of course, that would make too much damn sense here in the wild west!

kesmarn : The third possibility of why the Iraqi national troops ran was suggested in an article that I read today — that they were ordered to stand down. That there are insiders in Al Maliki

Dbos : Sunis had this goofy land under a dictator named Saadam we took him out; they are battling for the soul of Iraq now literally ; and the fanatics will win. This all on us ;STAY OUt of that situation.

funksands : Ad, I’m afraid only a re-do of the partition of the Ottoman Empire after WW1 will undo this calamity

KillgoreTrout : That would be a great step forward pink. The problem is that ammo is really hard to control. Great enforcement efforts would be needed. It would be like the war on drugs, as long as there is a demand, there will always be someone willing to supply that demand. I think the effort would be worthy though.

funksands : Ad, I think your hypothesis could have some merit if Syria wasn’t a failed state in the middle of civil war. That throws a bit of wrench into a good thought.

MurphTheSurf3 : Glenn- we have an aircraft carrier squadron 6 hours from the Persian Gulf- I do not know what intervention looks like but I suspect that we will be a presence.

AdLib : Sabreen – For me, the issue is, did they run out of fear…which makes no sense when you far outnumber your adversaries but it is possible, or did they run because of political reasons, because they don’t want to risk their lives for a leadership that sees them as enemies?

Sabreen60 : Oh I agree Funk. I was just saying that the Kurds are in this, too.

glenn : Murph–do you think the US should intervene in Iraq? Shouldn’t we let it be a regional solution?

AdLib : So Funk, might it not turn out to have been better for the region to have ISIS as a threat that brings Iran and others together with the US to stand against their common enemy. And if that enemy is not as pervasive as they appear, might they not also be easier to slap down than would appear right now. SO in the end, even though innocent people die either way, maybe the course of events in that region could head in a more constructive direction in the aftermath of this?

pinkpantheroz : Yes, KT, so right, but I still think that control of the ammo could be the answer. Guns without ammo are just bits of metal.

MurphTheSurf3 : Editorial from Iranian Newspaper….ISI S, which considers itself the embodiment of the Islamic Caliphate, declares the kingdom of God wherever the group flies its black flag. But as ISIS’ power grows its schism with other Islamic groups may pale compared to the reprisals it will face from government powers. Mosul is ISIS’ signature victory so far, its biggest achievement. But the price of victory could be a giant target on their backs. This could be the moment when regional and international powers like the United States, Iran, Saudi Arabia decide to intervene against ISIS.

KillgoreTrout : OK, guerillas. The NVA knew well in advance that we we were leaving.

funksands : Sabreen, the Kurds are simply being opportunistic. There is no way that Isis could take over these towns without the tacit approval of the majority Sunni locals

Sabreen60 : AdLib, There seems to be three factions, including the Kurds. But the fact is 30,000 Iraq troops ran away from a few hundred rebels. After we taxpayers spent billions to train them, they cut and run. Just like the South Vietnamese did before we pulled out.

glenn : Ad–oops–damn mouse pad. I was just thinking if you substitute Sunni for t/party, then you have the insurgents in our country.

AdLib : ppo – This is the thing I was trying to bring up in my article today, anticipating blowback. If ISIS was to cut off the water supply to Baghdad, it might be a massive tactical mistake, rallying the Sunnis in the military to crush them for threatening their families like that.

KillgoreTrout : pink, it never should be. There are reportedly 300 million guns in America. Trying to stop gun violence by getting rid of guns is like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, trying to ward off the north Atlantic ocean!

glenn : d–great minds think alike. I was just thinking if you substitute

funksands : Ad, I think that’s it. There’s already been a tremendous amount of sectarian violence in W. Iraq. All that ISIS is doing is coming in an tipping the scales.

AdLib : glenn – That’s the key, if no one is opposing a marauding army of fanatics, their power can become exaggerated…hm m…kind of like the Tea Party?

pinkpantheroz : Ad, if ISIS capture Samara, they can turn off Baghdad’s water at the Dam. That’d cause some mayhem!

Sabreen60 : Here’s PBO’s statement on Iraq. I didn’t read the questions asked by the jackals. «link»

funksands : Ad, im more of a bath salts guy myself

glenn : Ad and Kes–but if no one is opposing them, then 700 armed people have a lot of power.

AdLib : Sabreen – Yes but my question is, are they Sunnis taking off their uniforms after deciding they won’t fight for their Shia leaders who are oppressing them and cutting them out of power?

pinkpantheroz : Ad, don’t forget the terrain. Only a couple of roads, so easily attacked.

kesmarn : I agree, AdLib — the numbers just don’t add up.

funksands : The ISIS forces may be small-ish, but they have a lot of sympathetic helpers in W. Iraq

seehowtheyrun : So true Miles.

MurphTheSurf3 : KT- the remnants of the Vietcong.

AdLib : Kes – I think it’s a bit of a scheme going on, as you mentioned, the goal of raiding banks and maybe acquiring more power may be bringing some in the Iraqi government to collude with ISIS but come on, only 700 people can take over and hold all the cities in Iraq? It doesn’t make sense. Even the high estimate ( I think exaggerated) of 7,000 seems insufficient.

glenn : kes–thanks. I’ll let you know if I do.

MilesLong : PPO: Mass murder is America’s New Normal.

KillgoreTrout : Murph, what local insurgents? NVA or gorillas?

pinkpantheroz : Is the issue of guns and shootings a bit too raw right now?

kesmarn : Maybe you should, glenn! I’d read it!

glenn : Kes–my sisters and I used to say the same thing–we could write a book.

Sabreen60 : AdLib, I watched Rachel last night and she showed pictures of uniforms in the streets that Iraqi soldiers and taken off and ran out of Dodge. Did you read PBO’s statement?

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad….this is shade of the fall of Saigon when the N Vietnamese hung back while local insurgents tested it defenses…

kesmarn : AdLib, I also read that some Kurd and (I think) Shia forces had retaken Tikrit. So maybe the ISIS forces aren’t able to hold cities they’ve already taken…?

glenn : Harleigh–where in South Fl do you live? I lived in the Keys until three years ago when I came up here to GA to be with my daughter and granddaughter.

KillgoreTrout : That’s OK Harleigh, you can say FUCKS!

Harleigh : Glenn – I raised hell my whole life until I was 50 and settled down with my wifw here in south floriduh. They always told us these were our golden years. Lyin Phucques!

kesmarn : Wow…glenn, you could write a book! That’s amazing.

AdLib : From what I’ve heard today, this ISIS force may only be around 900 strong, maybe up to 7,000 but I don’t believe that report is as accurate. The reason they’ve been so successful is that the 30,000 Iraqi Armed Forces has many Sunnis who are refusing to fight to protect the Shia government. But if they protect Baghdad as is expected, there will be a sudden halt to ISIS and the perception of them as being so powerful.

seehowtheyrun : The first she asked me if I had any pot, I was thinking WTH?????

KillgoreTrout : Sabreen, it’s time, it’s time. Use a vaporizer though. Much easier on the lungs!

Sabreen60 : Damn See – I thought my comment scared everybody away. Go Mom-in-Law

glenn : Kes–when you grow up with a mother who had been married three times by the time you were 16, you learn to go the other way. After I left home, she got married three more times. I was very careful to whom I gave my virginity, and have never regretted it.

seehowtheyrun : Go for it Sabreen. I don’t smoke anymore, it bothers my throat, but my Mother-in-law does, and she’s 93.

KillgoreTrout : Talking about getting older, I’m having two athaletic supporters made, one to worn around each knee!

Sabreen60 : Ok, I’ll just put this out there. I haven’t a joint in years. Now that I’m on Medicare, maybe it’s time.

pinkpantheroz : BRB.

Harleigh : I have Iranian army rifles for sale! Never fired, dropped once.

kesmarn : glenn, you had good judgment from an early age.

AdLib : Funk – So which brand of airplane glue do you prefer? My favorite brand has an oaky after-smell.

glenn : Hey Harleigh–I was born in the same year as you. Not as much of a hell-raiser, though. Got pregnant with my first partner. The good news is that we were married for 43 years before he passed, and raised a wonderful daughter.

KillgoreTrout : pink, the irony of that is off the charts!

pinkpantheroz : Murph, I’m betting that Israel is very quietly gearing up to defend itself against whoever tries anything. I just think it is so ironic that the state that labelled the US as ‘the Great Satan”, is now gettin so nervous about Iraq, that they are proposing talks. I betch every eye in the sky from Istanbul to qatar is looking at what’s going on. Hopefully, it being a Middle East problem, all the Middle Eastern countries will get together and do something about it. Yeah, Riiiight!

MilesLong : War is a great for-profit endeavor for the military and the media…

KillgoreTrout : Israel HAS to be cautious. They are the only real US ally in the entire middle east!

AdLib : Murph – Israel is probably both concerned and relieved, as long as there’s a possibility of Iran and Iraq in conflict with each other, they’re out of the cross hairs. On the other hand, a radical Islamic terrorist state is scary. On the whole, I’d bet they’d rather have Iran and Iraq at each others’ throats.

Sabreen60 : Murph, et al It seems the Chickenhawks are in rare – or maybe usual – form. Calling for boots on the ground in Iraq. And the media has the audacity to call on the critters that lied about Iraq for analysis.

funksands : Ad, if you are new to it, a highly concentrated dose of THC hitting your stomach all at once can really impair your judgement, but otherwise you are correct

glenn : Murph–one of the things I admire about Israelis is that they always do what they think is right for Israel and the hell with everyone else. So, it’s hard to say where they’d be in this. Do they “favor” Sunnis over Shiites? Hard to say.

seehowtheyrun : I don’t know. I’m wondering if they’re waiting to see what happens. Maybe it’s all too chaotic still.

KillgoreTrout : Wow H, 23 schools?

Harleigh : Born in 48, was 13 in 1961 when I lost my virginity and never regretted that. Falling in love tim after time in 7 states and 23 schools from K thru college was awesome

kesmarn : Maybe just sitting back, waiting until all the dust settles? — Israel, that is?

seehowtheyrun : glenn: I saved a bunch of those shoulder pads. I was going to make a quilt out of them, but then I thought better of it and threw them away.

Sabreen60 : Cool Miles. I love music and have been dancing practically all my life.

MurphTheSurf3 : See how….wonder why?

seehowtheyrun : Murph: I think Israel has been remarkably quiet on Iraq.

KillgoreTrout : pink, quite true. Too much thulane in the wormwood. I tried a bottle of Lucid brand, made from the original recipe, with a lower thulane content. Wow! Very potent stuff. 136 proof.

kesmarn : funk, there is nothing weird about kielbasa.

glenn : Funk–c’mon those padded shoulders in the 80’s were awesome!

MurphTheSurf3 : Glenn, Kes, Funk, Ad…where is Israel in all of this…what is going on in their heads?

AdLib : Funk – I heard about the quality control issue, especially on edibles. Some folks are getting much higher than they anticipated, not knowing what to expect. As opposed to alcohol where people can die from an overdose…and get hostile. You overdo it on pot and you’re only in danger of overdosing on Taco Bell.

MilesLong : Sabreen60: R&B and the height of Disco in the club, R&B, Jazz and Rock on the radio.

Sabreen60 : See – a young’en

glenn : Sabreen–I came of age in the late 60’s, with a husband and a 3-year-old by the time I was truly of age–21.

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad- the kind of boxed thinking that typifies narrow minded GOP. What will they do?

funksands : Uh……no. Don’t be a weirdo

Sabreen60 : Miles, I bet it was. Being on a college campus in the late 60’s (in DC no less) was a lot of fun. What was your play list?

kesmarn : There goes my cheapo vodka,funk. That does sound delicious, though. Do you think a piece of locally made Polish kielbasa would work just as well? It’s pretty garlicky.

seehowtheyrun : I came of age in the late 70’s.

pinkpantheroz : KT, I have, but Absinthe has lived with a bad rep for years, unjustified. Properly distilled absinthe is perfectly fine. It was the bathtub version in the early 20th Century in Paris that did the damage.

funksands : I came of age in the 80’s :l Not so awesome

seehowtheyrun : I don’t know. I’m finding things like old envelopes, torn, with a phone message on them.

MurphTheSurf3 : Kes- yes, we are in a period of major realignment with the radical islamic forces identified more and more with the Sunnis and therefore despised by states like Iran.

glenn : Murph–that’s way too sober. That sounds to me like Washington is “propping up” a government. Is that really what we want to do AGAIN? And, who is “Washington”? I mean, is it Congress who wants to do this, or PBO?

funksands : Kes, take a bottle of decent Vodka (Absolut, Stoli, Grey Goose etc) Peel a clove of garlic and stuff (don’t cut it!) it into the bottle. Seal it and stick it in your cupboard for a month. Pull it out and use it in your bloody mary. Unbelievable. Don’t use cheapo vodka though, because the sulfites turn it green and dissolve it.

AdLib : Murph – Yes, this is what came to mind about the ISIS attack, Iran is very scared of having an enemy on its border again…and the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Perhaps this looks bad now but if it brings Iran closer to the US and the bargaining table on Nukes, etc.?

kesmarn : You might need those very same items again, See?

MilesLong : Sabreen60: I was a club and radio DJ in the 70s, now THAT was fun!

seehowtheyrun : WHY do I keep things like post-it’s with old shopping lists on them?!?!?!

KillgoreTrout : AH, what a wonderful time to meet the world. I wouldn’t change a minute of it.

seehowtheyrun : I’m going through the old mail and some other REALLY important stuff.

Sabreen60 : Oops. Accident. I came of age in the late 60’s early 70’s. Need I say more?

kesmarn : Murph — talk about jihad making strange bedfellow. Iran and the U.S. — allies now??

funksands : Ad, the biggest problem has been the problem that everyone knew about and was expecting: Quality control. That’s going to get ironed out with proper regulations.

seehowtheyrun : I love a good Bloody Mary.

Sabreen60 : KT, I came of age in the late 60

KillgoreTrout : pink, ever try real absinthe? Ooooo! be careful! That’s some potent shyte.

kesmarn : YES! A good bloody Mary every time, funk! With celery.

Dbos : Still here; just glad to be back and listening for a while

AdLib : So talking about this, pretty smooth roll out of legal pot in CO, all the fear mongers are really depressed.

MurphTheSurf3 : May I toss in something sober…? “From Reuters- just hit my alert screen. ANKARA, June 13 (Reuters) – Shi’te Muslim Iran is so alarmed by Sunni insurgent gains in Iraq that it may be willing to cooperate with Washington in helping Baghdad fight back, a senior Iranian official told Reuters. The idea is being discussed internally among the Islamic Republic’s leadership, the senior Iranian official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Officials say Iran will send its neighbor advisers and weaponry, although probably not troops, to help its ally Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki check what Tehran sees as a profound threat to regional stability, officials and analysts say.

KillgoreTrout : Moderation is the key, Miles. I recently spent time with my mom, and her 78 year old neighbor is dying to try some weed. This is in Mass and it will soon be available, medicinally. The neighbor lady cracked me up. She wants to have a “pot party.”

funksands : Anyone here like a good Bloody Mary?

funksands : You guys are cracking me up

pinkpantheroz : KT, the only green drink for me, apart from that artificial beer on St. Patrick’s day, is a glass of blonde beer with a shot of Vok Blue caracao poured in. Turns brilliant green with a white foam, tastes like lemonade,a dn has a kick like a mule. I invented it and call it a Shamrock. 2-drink limit!

seehowtheyrun : Yes, Kesmarn. it’s gorgeous, and it will last for years.

AdLib : Harleigh – Power bonging with oxygen? Just watch it when you light the bowl!

funksands : KT, my dad has an incredibly potent crop coming in this year. He’s been refining it over the last several years.

kesmarn : See, I’ll bet that teak chaise is MUCH prettier than the cheap stuff too. Well done!

MilesLong : I don’t necessarily do any drugs, I just used to like how some of them smelled…

Sabreen60 : Harleigh

Harleigh : When I hang out at the gym it’s with a bong over by the free oxygen tanks!

AdLib : glenn – Many here know my favorite, the pomegranate martini, shaking it up now for the Vox folks here.

MilesLong : KT: Not much any more.

funksands :

seehowtheyrun : Adlib: Me too.

KillgoreTrout : Sabreen, with all of my years in the fast lane, a good two mile walk a day is about my limit!

Sabreen60 : Oh Funk! How could you? gah!

seehowtheyrun : Kesmarn: It’s going to be great. Not in stock. I went to all the cheap stores, which weren’t so cheap for the junk they were selling, so I went to a better store. Small business, teak furniture from a sustainable plantation, and it was on sale, so not much more than the cheap stuff. I can’t wait to take a nap on it!

AdLib : seehowtheyrun, glad it worked out for today!

KillgoreTrout : Weed Miles! Just joking.

funksands :

MilesLong : KT: ?

Sabreen60 : KT, You’re a year older than me. Yea!! But I do hang out at the gym – doctor’s orders.

KillgoreTrout : Miles, ever consider a bit o the green?

glenn : Ad–Olives or onions? Not a drinker, so I think that is a choice for martinis.

funksands : Ad, I’ll get started

seehowtheyrun : Hi glenn, nice to meet you too.

kesmarn : Sabreen, some awesome pix of the Prez and FLOTUS there on the reservation. Thanks!

seehowtheyrun : yes, Sabreen, you can call me See.

funksands : Sabreen, for you: «link»

seehowtheyrun : Hi Ad lib! I’ve just finished a crazy work period, and I haven’t had a Friday off in a few months. Glad I could stop by.

KillgoreTrout : Vodka or gin, shaken or stirred?

Harleigh : AGE!? I’m a 66 year old balding lardass honkey from the hood!

pinkpantheroz : Talking about Native Americans, should Washington change its moniker?

MilesLong : Allergic to alcohol, but I’ll gladly be the designated driver…

KillgoreTrout : Hey, did anybody see the bear in the hammock last week? Too funny!

seehowtheyrun : Thanks Murph. Good to be here.

AdLib : Okay then, who’s mixing the martinis around here?

Sabreen60 : I meant to post this link, but I forgot – happens when you get old! PBO with Native Americans. «link»

seehowtheyrun : Hi FS. I finally got a Friday off, so I drop in here.

kesmarn : Wow… that sounds like a great day, See — especially the chaise lounge part of it!

glenn : seehowtheyrun–n ice to meet you.

funksands : 58 and raining here today. No hike tomorrow

seehowtheyrun : Kesmarn: I pressed send too fast. How are you?

seehowtheyrun : Kesmarn: It’s been a great day. I had the day off, the weather is wonderful. I cleaned my patio and ordered a really nice chaise lounger for it! Now I’m going through the junk mail.

kesmarn : Now, boys (said Mrs. Cleaver) we have two radically different stories here on the age issue…

funksands : Hey see! Nice to see…you… (lame)

AdLib : Hey seehowtheyrun, great to see you at Vox!

Sabreen60 : Hiya See! Can I call you “See” for short?

pinkpantheroz : Hey, seehow. welcome. we’re just jawing in general at the moment until Adlib tells us the next new subject

AdLib : Kes – Just started driving lessons!

MurphTheSurf3 : See How they Run….welcome to you….so good of you to join us.

funksands : Kes, I have met Ad, and he is far far far older than I am

Harleigh : Thanks for the welcome folks, I remember all y’all LOL

kesmarn : Hey, seehowtheyrun! How’s your Friday going?

KillgoreTrout : My favorite (well one of them) was once asked what his advice to humanity would be, and Mr. Vonnegut answered…”BE NICE!”

funksands : LMAORPTFCIMCASTC OF!!

MurphTheSurf3 : funk – you may be the youngest chronologically but you are way ahead of me in things techy and economic.

kesmarn : funk, AdLib is a mere child — a prodigy, yes — but still a child. So you might be tied for the youngest title.

seehowtheyrun : Hello everyone!

KillgoreTrout : Murph!

pinkpantheroz : Miles, it can’t. I’d be glued here all the time and get nothing done. Weekly is great! Just think of the anticipation when 7.pm Friday comes around!

Sabreen60 : Funk, were you talking to me re what kids are calling it? If so, we called in hand-dancing in my neck of the woods since the 60’s.

MurphTheSurf3 : KT Vox a Poppin! LMAOROTF

glenn : Funkk–I hope you’re wrong about the lunacy, but I believe you’re right. Oops, I sound just like a rwnj–reality is what I hope and believe it is.

KillgoreTrout : Hey Harleigh! Nice avatar!

MilesLong : I’m curious. Is there any way the chat room here can be open 24/7?

funksands : I think I’m the youngest here. I like that.

pinkpantheroz : Murph, than ks for the kudos. I do feel a heap younger than my years suggest!

MurphTheSurf3 : Harleigh….I now know who you are. We engaged at HP several times in spirit discussion. Glad to have you here.

funksands : I remember at least 3 of those handles Harleigh

KillgoreTrout : Wow, this is VOX a POPPIN!

glenn : Harleigh–nice to meet you.

funksands : Hey Harleigh

Sabreen60 : Welcome Harleigh!

pinkpantheroz : Welcome, Harleigh! Don’t worry about that kind of stuff here. Noe we don’t have fans to begin with, and the only moderation is of bad manners and ad-hominem attacks. Go for it, mate!

AdLib : Hey Harleigh! Great to see you at Vox! Welcome!

funksands : Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

MurphTheSurf3 : Harleigh- welcome to the Vox at Planet!

KillgoreTrout : Damn Miles! My mom is going to be 85 in September! I’ll be 60 in August! I feel like a whipper snapper. (is that one word or two?)

Sabreen60 : Funk, I’m not lifting yet. Still just spinning and treadmill. Oh, and hand-dancing a little

funksands : Yes Glenn, I do. It will be a nightmare. Utter lunacy.

MurphTheSurf3 : PPO- same comment as to Miles, you guys write young

AdLib : Talking about Repub possibilities for 2016, anyone see the video of Christie on the Tonight Show dancing. Wow, it was amusing but how desperate is that guy? He’ll be performing in a circus soon, maybe as The Incredible Lying Man.

funksands : Sabreen, it will peak with him as President and her as presumptive President. Everyone needs to decamp to their bunker after November 2016…

glenn : Funk–do you think we can have more seriously unhinged behavior in this country than we do now? OMG!

MurphTheSurf3 : Miles…are you really nearly 85? You write like someone a lot younger…

Harleigh : Hi guys! Talk of Bush cabal war crime trials at the Hague got me banned from Huffnpuff! LOL That happened 6 times since that site started and we were fans. I was usually banned having around 2000 fans each time, once when I inquires why they responded that Powell and Rice are two of merikas most beloved politicians! LMAO When I asked for which office they refused reinstatement. over the years there I was hrholmes, badlib, gtidriver, librldem, rgateman, and finally back to harleigh. What a long strange trip it’s been huh?

pinkpantheroz : Miles, I ain’t that far behind!

MilesLong : PPO: You outa be better looking, I’m going on 85 years old!

Sabreen60 : Funk, do you think it’ll be worse than with PBO?

MurphTheSurf3 : Miles…hah hah….PPO…Yuc k Yuck!

KillgoreTrout : Miles, brothers from a different mother?

pinkpantheroz : Murph, yes, we used to be taken for each other in the other place. Bu I think mine’s cuter! blush

MilesLong : Murph: Twin sons of different mothers…

KillgoreTrout : OK, who let Orville Redinbacher in here?

kesmarn : glenn! Good to see that you overcame the evil spirits in your computer that were blocking your comments.

funksands : Hey Sabreen, hows your back?

funksands : Crime and Punishment… ha ha, you are killing me

Sabreen60 : kes, I’m well. Hope you are too!

MilesLong : Funk…

MurphTheSurf3 : Miles and Pink- do you two know that you have the same avatar?

funksands : Hi Dbos, Miles, Kes

KillgoreTrout : Sabreen, in that district, he almost has to be!

AdLib : Hi Kes, great to see you!

Sabreen60 : Hey Funk!

kesmarn : Hey, dBos! How are you?

funksands : Ad, Hillary as President will lead to some seriously unhinged behavior in this country. I think we have to go through it to “shed our skin”, but I’m not looking forward to it.

MilesLong : Adlib…

AdLib : Hey Miles! Welcome!

MilesLong : Hey, Murph…

Sabreen60 : KT, yeah you’re right. I did read where he worked for Clinton. But I’m thinking he’s probably a Blue Dog.

kesmarn : I think it was “Crime and Punishment,” funk. I won’t say for whom. No, seriously — they were very cute. But there were 150 of them!

MurphTheSurf3 : I see that MILES has joined us. Howdy!

Dbos : Hello everyone

pinkpantheroz : KT and mMiles, you’re right. We won’t have no truck with Socialist crap, but don’t touch my Social Securiy, Medicaiad and my new cover through the ACA!

MurphTheSurf3 : OK I am back….phone calls!

KillgoreTrout : Hey HOMIE!

AdLib : glenn – Since again there won’t be a good reason to vote for a Repub in 2016, I expect the whole campaign will be negative, all about why people should vote against the Dem (probably Hillary)?

kesmarn : Hey, Sabreen, how are ya?

funksands : Kes, 3 Hours? What were they dancing? WW2?

glenn : Hey Kes! I made it to Vox!

KillgoreTrout : Sabreen, I’d worry more if he worked for them!

Sabreen60 : Kes is in the house!

MilesLong : Hi, Glenn!

KillgoreTrout : For sure Ad! NANANANANANANANA NA! I’m not listening to you! NANANANANANANA!

MilesLong : There is nothing in the makeup of a Republican that’s reality-based.

kesmarn : Good Friday the 13th, fellow Planeteers! Just home from the Fave’s dance recital. 3 HOURS…

funksands : “bootstraps for thee, not for me”

AdLib : KT – Try to tell a Repub that Ayn was on public assistance and they will stick their fingers in their ears and hum.

glenn : Hi Miles. Good to see you here on the Planet. I used to read your posts on that other-site-that- won’t-be-named- here.

funksands : Alright I’m back.

MilesLong : Just got off the air.

Sabreen60 : Hey Miles!

KillgoreTrout : Hey it’s Miles (glad to see ya) Long! What’s up?

MilesLong : Jeb has too many gun-related skeletons in his closet…

Sabreen60 : KT, I don’t know. If contributes articles to the Washington Times, he’s kinda suspect. WT is the biggest RW rag in the DC Metro area.

pinkpantheroz : Hey there, Miles-keep it short- Long!

AdLib : And isn’t Jeb Bush ruled out now of any shot at 2016 since immigration is supposedly the issue that sunk Cantor with Repubs?

KillgoreTrout : pink, I think it all depends on what’s being done and what’s being taught!

MilesLong : PPO: Nothing really. They two of them are simply another case of Ego far in excess of talent.

KillgoreTrout : I’m sure you’re right Sabreen. Hypocrisy, thy name is tea bagger!

pinkpantheroz : KT, what’s the old saying: ‘those that can, do. those that can’t, teach” So now we have two Professors fighting to be elected. What am I missing here?

glenn : Ad–not so sure the gop is frightened of the t/party as they are seeing their power slip away to t/party hands. And the “smarter” ones know that if the t/p takes over,then the gop is doomed for sure. Oh well, I guess I just proved your point, didn’t I? If Rand Paul runs, do you think the new mantra will be “anyone but a Dem” like “anyone but Obama”?

Sabreen60 : KT, They know, I’m sure. It just goes with the rest of their hypocrisy.

KillgoreTrout : Oh, a “Latter Day Saint?”

KillgoreTrout : I wonder if Brat and his fellow Libertarians know that Ayn Rand was on public assistance in her latter years.

KillgoreTrout : Thanks Sabreen. I hope Trammel isn’t a DINO!

AdLib : SO now that the GOP is (wrongly) frightened of the Tea Party, any bets about a Tea Partier winning the 2016 Repub nom for President? Maybe Rand Paul?

AdLib : KT – As Brat Jesus said, “Blessed are the makers for they shall inherit the Earth.”

Sabreen60 : Kt, Yep. His website needs a little work. «link»

KillgoreTrout : I love it Ad! Perfect Stewart/Colbert humor.

KillgoreTrout : Exactly Ad. A Randian Jeebus would blow up his own low income housing project!

AdLib : KT, yes he is. I think it was Jon Stewart or Colbert who noted, “That must be a bad college if all the professors are looking for another job.”

KillgoreTrout : Isn’t Brat’s dem opponent also a professor at the same college?

AdLib : So according to Brat (waiting for a Tea Partier named “Jerk” to be elected in another RW district), Jesus would blow up a church that wasn’t built to his exact design? Jesus of Fountainhead?

Sabreen60 : Please excuse all the typos. My fingers are working faster than my brain as usual.

glenn : All–brb

KillgoreTrout : Well done Sabreen!

Sabreen60 : KT, I totally agree. I wish voted was required as it is in certain South American countries. BTW, we voted today! Thank you Maryland!

AdLib : glenn – Absolutely, we should all be aggressive in encouraging others to vote and encourage others. If Cantor can be beaten in his district, who knows which other sitting Repubs could be defeated?

glenn : KT–LOL–a Randian/Jeebus!

KillgoreTrout : That’s true Ad. He wants a Randian/Jebus.

Sabreen60 : yes, glenn they do.

AdLib : Sabreen, I read an article about Brat and he has a twisted, Dominionist view of Christianity, that it should be merged with Capitalism and if Jesus was around today, he wouldn’t believe in helping the needy, he’d believe in self-sufficiency . Really, that’s what this nutjob believes!

KillgoreTrout : When I see the outright dangers people in other countries face, just to go out and vote, knowing they could be KILLED by doing so, it makes me ashamed of so many of my fellow countrymen/women .

Sabreen60 : PPO, absolutely. But his guy Brat definitely would love it we became a theocracy. Plus, he believes every last RWJN talking point.

glenn : Sabreen–thanks for the info. My reading of the news has been “hit or miss” this week. That, apparently, was one of my “misses.” But they do teach at the same university, right?

glenn : Ad–with all the new members here on the Planet, and your skills of persuasion, we should make sure we reiterate every day in every way we can, how important it is to GOTV.

KillgoreTrout : For sure Sabreen. Rand was a self professed ATHEIST!

AdLib : ppo – If we work hard to change the Governorships and legislatures in swing states especially, like FL, MI, PA, OH and WI, when the new census is done in 2020, Dems would be in a position to redraw districts so they are not as slanted to the Repubs and Dem districts and competitive districts will rise and the tortured drawing of Repub-safe districts will evaporate and leave Repubs in the minority they should be.

pinkpantheroz : Sabreen, I agree. It also give me the irrits that ‘faith’ has any place in politics.

Sabreen60 : glenn, No, Brat is suppose to be an economics teacher. Trammell teaches sociology, I believe.

KillgoreTrout : Well Ad, the smart ones anyhow. Who was it that said “Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people?”

Sabreen60 : AdLib, I understand that Cato (I believe) gave $500,000 to the college where Brat teaches so he can teach a class about Ayn Rand and Libertarianism. Still don’t know how you justify being a Christian and a follower of Ayn Rand.

glenn : Sabreen–I agree; I’m not thrilled with Dem organizations, either. If indeed it is true that the Dems are the ones who helped defeat Cantor; then it makes sense to me that if they got organized and pointed out Brat’s deficiencies, and if pubs stayed home and let the t/partiers vote; then Dems would have a good chance of taking that seat. Isn’t Brat’s opponent also an economics professor at the same university?

AdLib : ppo – Absolutely, we should use the extremism of the TP to rally a big GOTV effort with Dems and Indies but I don’t agree that they represent a large population. Their influence is magnified by gerrymandering and sparsely populated states like Wyoming having as many Senators as CA and NY. In truth, the majority of Americans have a negative view of the TP.

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad Lib- but to make 2020 count the way it should we have to hold the GOP at bay in the Senate races and in Governors seats (and their associated legislatures)

KillgoreTrout : Ad, that’s the nasty thing about Brat. He’s a religious nutbag AND a Randian. Sounds pretty TP to me.

pinkpantheroz : Ad, can you please explain how redistricting will change the landscape? Can’t they gerrymander that as well?

Sabreen60 : glenn, I’ve heard some not-so-good news coming out the DCCC that they don’t think Trammell has got a chance in District 7. Therefore, folks on Twitter are asking people to donate to Trammell. I’m not feeling thrilled with Democratic organizations.

AdLib : And it wasn’t lost on me that Brat kept claiming it was a religious miracle and thanks to God (that he beat a Jew).

AdLib : Murph – Exactly but it is a house of cards that will collapse in the next redistricting… hate to say we have to wait until 2020 but until the GOP can rightly take its place as a minority party but that may be what it takes.

pinkpantheroz : the increasing dominence of the TP is getting a bit scary. Imagine a load of ignorami trying to run the country? We need to get out the vote, and I, for one, even from as far away as I am, is urging my friends to GETV, Pronto!

KillgoreTrout : glenn, we can dream! From what I hear, that’s a pretty solid red district.

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad Lib- the GOP as the permanent minority party in the population while rigging the laws too magnify their influence

AdLib : Hey Sabreen! That is very enlightening and makes enormous sense! Really appreciate the insight!

glenn : Sabreen–I hope the Dems are just as organized about voting for the Dem candidate opposing Brat. Wouldn’t it be great to see Brat defeated, too?

Sabreen60 : KT, that’s right. In Virginia, voters are not required to register for a particular party. It’s an open primary.

MurphTheSurf3 : In the flurry of the howdies I just want to repeat: <b>Did you all know that with the loss of Cantor…..every GOP member of the House is a WHITE CHRISTIAN….and in the Senate it is all but ONE, Scott. </b>

AdLib : Murph – That is exactly the article I had planned to write this week and might next week, the longer the Tea Party has influence, the weaker they will be as a national party because of their anti-Latino and anti-women policies.

Sabreen60 : Welcome Dbos!

MurphTheSurf3 : Howdy Do Dbos and Sabreen!

KillgoreTrout : Hey Sabreen! Great point. The election didn’t go by voter registration party affiliation.

AdLib : Hey Dbos!

glenn : Hi Dbos–nice to “meet” you.

glenn : Hiya Sabreen!

MurphTheSurf3 : Did you all know that with the loss of Cantor…..every GOP member of the House is a WHITE CHRISTIAN….and in the Senate it is all but ONE, Scott.

Sabreen60 : Hiya Planeteers! I read the comments and it seems that politics is subject of interest My hubby’s cousin lives in Lousia County (Cantor’s District) and said that Dems held meetings and decided to vote for Brat. I don’t know many, but seems to believe a lot. Also, if you get a chance take a peek at The Obama Diary. There are many wonder pictures of President Obama at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Of course the MSM didn’t cover it.

KillgoreTrout : Hey Dbos!

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad- the right wing anti-immigrants in the GOP have seized upon Cantor’s loss to kill any support for reform….furthe r marginalizing the GOP…

Dbos : Mc cain wanted to bomb the jihadists ; goofy comment the Iranians are fighting with the government; so he wanted to bomb the people other than Iran; this man is wandering around the USA making showing what a fool he is.

KillgoreTrout : Not to sound like too much of a conspiracy theorist, but I can’t help seeing the assassinations of both Kennedy brothers as an attempted and possibly successful coup.

KillgoreTrout : glenn, that’s just it, I haven’t actually seen anything other than a landmark defeat. I sometimes just wonder about things like this.

AdLib : Murph – True, tools they are! I think what we’ll see over the next couple of years is broader support for Dems but more intense support for the RW nutjobs in the shrinking red districts. A stronger concentration of RW extremists in smaller and smaller areas as Latinos and others dilute them as a percentage of the population.

MurphTheSurf3 : ALL- “I have the feeling that when Cantor is shaking hands in crowd he is wearing one of those see-through gloves that nurses wear and he till has an aide spraying Germ X on him at regular intervals. He think we are nasty.” Quote from an interview on election night from a voter.

glenn : KT–you have a point, but I truly hate sounding like the t/partiers themselves; seeing a conspiracy in everything. On the other hand, progressives and Dems not taking the crazies seriously has led to some serious consequences.

KillgoreTrout : glenn, in a word? Fanaticism! Political and ideological fanaticism. As I said, I’m simply speculating.

MurphTheSurf3 : Glenn- Just watch Cantor walk, speak or even just stand there- it’s gonna piss you off if you are an ordinary guy….and that’s Cantor constituency.

KillgoreTrout : Knowing how radical the big guys in the TP are, I wouldn’t say a coup of some sort is beyond the realm of possibility.

glenn : KT–not to belabor the point, but what makes you think there is some sort of coup going on–other than the t/partiers being themselves?

AdLib : KT – If the Tea Party was resurgent, why did they lose so hugely against Mitch McConnell, even more establishment for a longer time than Cantor?

MurphTheSurf3 : KT and AD- With the GOP we cannot be fooled by these Tea Party and Establishment labels…the puppet masters remain the same.

KillgoreTrout : Call it a hunch!

glenn : Murph–perhaps some of those who voted for Brat were unhappy gop. But it seems to me that the gop is always unhappy about something; so what’s the difference? Oops! wrong phrase!

KillgoreTrout : I’m not as sure about that as you are Ad.

AdLib : KT – The problem with pundits and politicians is that every little thing that happens, they exaggerate into having great meaning. Consider, Tea Party candidates have lost a a number of primaries to mainstream Repubs, one Tea Partier wins one race, in a particularly RW district and suddenly, “The the Tea Party is back in power!” Nope, one election and district defines nothing else.

KillgoreTrout : Not that I know of glenn. I’m just speculating. I will say though, if there is some sort of coup going on, why would the perpetrators care about a little thing called voting laws or election rules?

funksands : Folks I have to step away for a bit. Hope to be back soon.

MurphTheSurf3 : funk- I wonder how many of those were unhappy GOP.

pinkpantheroz : Back soon. Coffee break!

glenn : KT–that “election fraud” meme worries me some. Is there any proof of that?

funksands : Murph, the 2012 opponent of Cantor got 42% of the voter. Powell got 158,000 votes. That seems pretty good.

glenn : Funk–or we could just take McCain’s salary and use that to help some refugees.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk- yes, there was some Dem crossover but the district has so few Dems that the impact was small.

KillgoreTrout : Murph, the article did not elaborate on what that “supposed,” money was spent on. How about election fraud?

funksands : Glenn, we should buy them each a house and $20k in seed money along with a “Welcome Neighbor” cake.

pinkpantheroz : funk. I don’t understand what you’re saying. It’s the Iraqis who are fighting this fight. The US should leave them to it. Oh, riiight, it’s not the people of Iraq at all, is it? It’s the OIL! Well, of course Send In The Drones!

funksands : Murph, I buy that argument. I also think that quite a few Dems, thinking their candidate had not hope against Cantor voted for his opponent in the primary

MurphTheSurf3 : KT- What was that dark money spent on? Not ads, not polling, not event, not campaign pros, it was a real grass root effort.

glenn : Funk–are you talking about–gasp–imm igrants? That just cannot be, dontcha know?

KillgoreTrout : Exactly funk!

funksands : KT, ah yes, the “both sides” folks. Its a convenient rationalization for doing nothing and excusing sitting on your ass while radicals burn you country to the ground.

KillgoreTrout : Murph, I read an article that said there was possibly a lot of “dark money,” helping Brat along. He had, officially only 200k, and Cantor had 5 mill! Say WHAT? Supposedly that dark money came from, who else, the Kochs.

MurphTheSurf3 : Iraq- we have an aircraft carrier squadron 10 hours from the Persian Gulf right now- we will do enough to show that we did not abandon Malicki, but there will be three countries where there now is one in 6 months.

glenn : PPO–thanks

funksands : Glenn, yes we should open our doors to any and all war refugees from Iraq. That should be the level of our involvment.

KillgoreTrout : That would make a lot of new independents and that could seriously fuck up the dems in 2016.

MurphTheSurf3 : KT- I happen to know someone in Va. He says that Brat had virtually no TP identification/a ffiliation and very little backing but that Cantor was despised. ANYONE but ERIC had become a mantra- how bad can a economic professor for a fine liberal arts college be? Cantor was holding fund raisers in DC on election day. He was virtually invisible in his district and hiss manner of speaking and carrying himself was so condescending and arrogant that he could no longer be stomached. He saw himself as the Speaker of the House Presumptive….

pinkpantheroz : Glenn, if you do it, be sure to isolate the pad bit by Alt. F9.

glenn : All–so is there anyone here who thinks we should be involved in Iraq in any way?

KillgoreTrout : I agree Ad, but I think the GOPTP is really convincing people that BOTH parties are causing all the shyte.

funksands : Can you believe that Obama is squandering all of the gains in Iraq our troops bled for? The nerve of that guy.

funksands : Ad/Murph thanks for your open eyes, but please let my stuff lead you on your own journey.

KillgoreTrout : No doubt pink. And especially with all this new trouble brewing in Iraq.

AdLib : I was going to write an article on this before Iraq went crazy but the defeat of Cantor by a Tea Party Brat sets the table for a Tea Party candidate winning or strongly influencing the positions of the 2016 GOP candidate and that would assure a Dem victory.

glenn : PPO–oh, I didn’t even know that was an option; I’m just technologically “stunted”. I’ll do that tomorrow.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk- I admit you have turned me on to what I am thinking of as advanced Keynesian theory.

funksands : The extremes of both wings of the parties are the ones that are politically active, the vast middle is disgusted, cynical, lazy and uninvolved. Mid-terms exacerbate the problem

KillgoreTrout : Murph, the seeming ease in which Brat toppled Cantor and many of the nutbags saying Cantor was too moderate. The right is still moving even further right. If that’s possible.

pinkpantheroz : KT, I fear you will be found correct. Imagine the current crop of useless pollies we have now. Now figure in the coup and we could end up with a huge crop of useless, Dangerous pollies. tha USA can’t and musn’t let that happen.

AdLib : Funk – I’m keeping an open mind myself and genuinely becoming smarter about this thanks to you!

MurphTheSurf3 : KT- what is leading you to think this re. the TP.

funksands : Thanks Ad. Murph, I’m enjoying dissecting the critique of MMT article you linked to me.

glenn : Murph–thank you. I am so touched that you reached out to me to tell me how you missed my presence here on Vox.

KillgoreTrout : Murph, I just envision some grand, underground TP movement to oust any and all incumbents. A Coup de tat if you will.

pinkpantheroz : Glenn, I hate those pads, so bought a mouse and plugged it in the side and it’s so much better.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk- and you don’t? We know differently, do we not.

funksands : Murph, you simply have more important real stuff to be worried about.

MurphTheSurf3 : Glenn- such a pleasure to have you back!

AdLib : Funk! Great series of articles! Will be adding a comment to your latest!

MurphTheSurf3 : funk- then what the heck am I….peasant in the mud.

glenn : Funk–mostly. I still have trouble using a mouse pad, as opposed to a mouse. And the keyboard is a lot smaller, so I may make a lot of mistakes when I get “jazzed up” about a comment.

funksands : Ad, he seems like he’s trying fill an empty hole inside…

funksands : Murph, aspiring novice

AdLib : ppo – I believe there was a study that compulsive hating can turn you into a hateful old man. McCain responded that he hated that study.

MurphTheSurf3 : FUNK- the macro-eco master.

funksands : Hi Pink!

KillgoreTrout : All of them!

pinkpantheroz : Hey, funk!

MurphTheSurf3 : KT- all of who? house, senate, governor?

funksands : I see Glenn has figure out her gizmo!

KillgoreTrout : All of them Murph. Is there some grand conspiracy afoot among the baggers?

AdLib : So apparently, there may not be more than 900 ISIS fighters and the Iraqi Armed Forces have 30k forces. They may not want to fight for their Shia leader who hates them.

pinkpantheroz : KT, I think they very much are, but what kind of GOP will we get if the TP’ers prevail? I’m worried for the country looking at how many are already buggering things up.

glenn : Okay, got it. I thought it was something like that. It’s just like we’ve never traded anything for POWs, either, right?

MurphTheSurf3 : KT, I meant which of the incumbent are you thinking of?

KillgoreTrout : glenn, nobody really knew what winning would look like. And we still don’t know. Ain’t that a bitch!

MurphTheSurf3 : KT which one?

MurphTheSurf3 : Glenn, we won it just like we won the war in Vietnam. Simple.

glenn : Murph, since you’re the history expert here, can you tell me how we “won” the war in Iraq?

KillgoreTrout : OK folks, are in the incumbents in real trouble, on the right?

pinkpantheroz : Ad, maybe it’s all those concussions he suffered that’s made him the way he is.

KillgoreTrout : Funny stuff pink, thanks for the link!

AdLib : ppo – McCain never met a plane he couldn’t crash.

pinkpantheroz : Ad, good Idea, but a complete waste of a Multi-squillion aircraft. He’d prang it before he’d get half way!

AdLib : I know, why don’t we agree to go to war again in Iraq if McCain agrees to go to war again with the military and fly a plane over Iraq.

pinkpantheroz : KT, «link»

KillgoreTrout : Would that be an Idle Half Bee?

KillgoreTrout : I gotcha Ad.

AdLib : ABC, 123, Eric the half a bee.

AdLib : KT – Just trying a little system something this weekend by not using the sidebar for Vox. I was parodying the old song, “Insane in the Membrane”, meaning brain.

KillgoreTrout : Oooops. I missed that one. No matter.

pinkpantheroz : Sorry, KT, Monty Python moment!

KillgoreTrout : Half a Bee?

AdLib : Murph – McCain blew almost everything that was handed to him. Amazing he’s still a Senator.

glenn : hey murph; hey kt–I’m so glad to be back on vox! I’ll brb

pinkpantheroz : Well, we gotta have a chat about ‘poor’ Eric the Half a Bee!

KillgoreTrout : What’s up pink? Hope all is well down under?

AdLib : ppo – Great to hear but you and all our members are all just as sharp. Great to have such clever new members!

pinkpantheroz : Hey, KT, good to see you.

MurphTheSurf3 : Glenn…YOU PASSED the TEST!

glenn : PPO and Ad–haven’t been able to follow much of the newbies posts, but from what I’ve seen, you’re right, they’re great. Lots of interesting new input.

KillgoreTrout : Hey folks! Who’s membrane? What happened to the sidebar?

MurphTheSurf3 : McCain- the thing to keep in mind that he has spent his life trying to undo his failed missions in the skies over Vietnam.

pinkpantheroz : Ad, I’ve been following the great posts this week from the newbies and to be honest, they’re REALLY good. It’s a bit intimidating

glenn : Ad–Yea! I made it!

AdLib : GLENN!!!!

AdLib : They’ll be here!

glenn : testing

pinkpantheroz : hey, Ad. where’s everyone gone?

AdLib : Hey PPO! Welcome to you too!!!

pinkpantheroz : Hey, glenn I see you’re back without those gremlins!

pinkpantheroz : HI! Welcome to all new posters and Huffugees.

AdLib : Don’t forget to say “Hi!” or “McCain in the Membrane!” when you arrive!

AdLib : Vox Populi, our live chat about the week’s events begins tonight at 7 pm PDT on our Vox Populi page, located under Live Events. So much to talk about, hope to see you then!