tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53089231856976555572024-02-07T21:33:47.935-05:00Your Big Girl PantsWe give you the pants. You put them on.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-49732181136058792282017-02-02T10:59:00.001-05:002017-02-02T10:59:38.183-05:00Testing, 1, 2, 3...<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We're experimenting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm trying to figure out the whole podcasting thing, so this serves as a notice to anybody who is reading that I'll be messing with a few posts over the next couple of days... </span><br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-44880878133800082402015-02-21T22:51:00.000-05:002015-02-23T00:18:48.278-05:00Live-Blogging the Oscars: For Funzies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Switching to new stuff at the top, for your pleasure...</div>
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12:08 - Was fun, but yep, Golden Globes is more fun. I stand by my original: we need either a separate set of categories or a separate award for comedies/action. Good Night :-)</div>
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12:05 - So Birdman wins. Hollywood loves stories about Hollywood. Yawn. This Oscar, aside from the speeches, had no frisson of excitement. I like the drunken revelry of the Golden Globes much, much better. </div>
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So I'm off to bed. I would like to thank the Academy, my dear husband for putting the baby to bed tonight, and my kid Harrison for being so patient with me today. Goodnight!</div>
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11:59 - You're right, Redmayne was a surprise if going by the previous wins theory. That said, <i>My Left Foot</i>. And Juliane Moore is the Julie Andrews I was looking for. </div>
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Okay, I'm not sure about the magic predictions, there, NPH.</div>
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11:53 - Eddie Redmayne! Wow! I don't think many people called that one. I don't want to quote Tropic Thunder here...so I won't. But he hit the standard formula.</div>
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I haven't seen either Birdman or Boyhood, so I can't claim insider knowledge here. It could be either one, or some dark horse candidate.</div>
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Rosamund Pike's husband has to give her serious side eye every morning when he wakes due to that Gone Girl role. </div>
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Julianne Moore wins! Tropic Thunder rule wins again? Lol.</div>
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11:48 - Yeah, I guess <i>Boyhood</i> or <i>Birdman</i>. Those are the two that seem the most like a departure from the usual. Sniper's probably too political, I can't see them giving it to any of the others without more of a trend going.</div>
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You know, it's easier for me to come up with the Gaga side of that earlier analogy than the Julie Andrews side.</div>
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Eddie Redmayne. Yeah, biggest physical challenge. <i>My Left Foot </i>time. - E</div>
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11:43 - "Bitches Be Trippin' Yo", as a title, it really works, and sums up the movie Gone Girl quite succinctly. </div>
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Birdman gets best Director? Did I get that right? I think it's chances are looking up. I'm just glad Wes Anderson didn't get it. Way too twee for my tastes. - M</div>
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11:39 - Why does Oprah's stylist hate her? Arg. </div>
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That was the first for Birdman. Not a good sign, I think, for Best Pic - though Keaton will probably win for actor. But what's gonna win Best Pic?</div>
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Wow. Amazing speech by Graham Moore for Imitation Game Screenplay. </div>
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Yeah, I think the speeches have been less flowery/rambly than usual, and therefore more powerful. The parents thing by JK, the Equal Pay shout out by Arquette, Legend, and now this. All simple, straightforward. Well done.</div>
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Gone Girl really should have been titled "Bitches Be Trippin', Yo." - E</div>
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11:34 - Why does Eddie Murphy even bother to show up to these things if he's going to be all grumpy, strange, and dour?</div>
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Was the Screenplay award the first one of the night for Birdman?</div>
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This is suicide tribute night at the Oscars, apparently. Interesting. For once, I'm not tuning out the speeches. They are very heartfelt and political, a bit more so than usual. - M</div>
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11:26 - What I meant by drag queen is that Gaga is like a lot of performers: she's so much about throwing out show that she can't get to sincerity. I think she was trying to get to sincerity there, but she like can't help but come off like she's inadvertently making fun of the thing to which she's theoretically paying homage. </div>
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Gaga : Julie as Chevy Chase : Bill Murray. Or Madonna : Tracy Chapman. I'm not getting a perfect analogy here. I'll work on it :-)</div>
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Eddie Murphy, phoning it in for two weeks running. - E</div>
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11:21 - Julie Andrews is such a class act, the very opposite of Lady Gaga. Though Gaga has a wonderful voice, she surrounds it with so much distraction that it is hard to remember that. I do like that she toned it waaaay down for the SoM medley though, it was much appreciated. Can one be a female drag queen? That makes my head hurt.</div>
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And Grand Budapest wins again. I lived in the actual Budapest, and as much as I loved it there, I don't get the love for this movie.</div>
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11:16 - I like Scarlett's dress. But the necklace is scary. </div>
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The Sound of Music is the bestest ever. And damn straight, Christopher Plummer was completely smoking hot. And there is something about Julie Andrews that manages to be both earnest and yet completely likable. </div>
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Gaga doing these songs is like a drag queen doing these songs. Or maybe even more meta. Gaga has a gorgeous voice, but she's the opposite of Julie. - E</div>
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11:12 - Agreed on all counts. The song win is clearly a to salve the conscience of the Oscar voters for not giving Selma more noms.</div>
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But Legend's speech was very good and heartfelt. And the orchestra did not try to play him off. </div>
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And I love The Sound of Music. Christopher Plummer was completely smoking hot! - M</div>
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11:08 - John Travolta. Is. Creeping. Me. Out. That chin grab seriously gave me a chill. Poor Idina.</div>
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You GO John Legend! Voting Rights, Criminal Justice, and simply-put. Really nice.</div>
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The thing that bugs me the most about that win is that it was so clearly the consolation prize for Selma. They put it on the Best Picture list as a token. Had they actually valued it, they would have given it ANY of the acting and/or directing noms. - E</div>
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11:05 - I like "Glory" just not as good as "Everything is Awesome". </div>
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John Travolta's toupee is doing him no favors.</div>
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Glory wins. I called it. Happy for Common and Legend though. - M</div>
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10:57 - I loved the Snowden line. "Edward Snowden couldn't be here for some treason." And he came up with it off the cuff. Nice.</div>
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So what we're learning is that everybody has had some Whiplash experience? Or is it just we theater nerds? How could you deliver good Shakespeare while worrying about meter? Or was she one of those memorize the shit first, then add meaning ladies? Pretty sure I've blocked out why mine threw the stuff she threw, but she was all about method, so it probably was not a meter issue. She did do the Gilbert &Sullivan shows... ;-)</div>
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John Legend makes every song he sings sound the same. It's amazing. This song is just not as good as Everything Is Awesome, even though by all rights it should be. - E</div>
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10:51 - Mike Nichols was one of those people I thought was already dead, so I would have never have guessed him.</div>
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I also had a theater teacher who threw things at us. Sometimes for breathing on the wrong words. It was very useful. I never get the meter wrong in a Shakespeare play. Or if I do, I cringe, anticipating an object being thrown in my face. Good times, good times.</div>
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NPH trying to keep it going, throws in a Snowden joke. I think the Oscars really do need a rogue Kanye type to keep things interesting. - M</div>
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10:45 - He'd have gotten the finisher off The Graduate alone, like all Baby Boomers love that movie. But also: Working Girl, Heartburn, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Yes, I put Working Girl first. What. Harrison Ford. Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack, Sigourney Weaver. And that other lady ;-)</div>
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I had a theater teacher who threw chairs. And apples. And clipboards. Really whatever she had handy. I didn't find it her most useful technique.</div>
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I now want to see Benedict Cumberbatch get cast as like a non-period romantic lead. Just to see what he's got in a non-quirky capacity.</div>
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10:40 - Mike Nichols? I would have never called that for the finisher. I totally forgot about Ruby Dee and Lauren Bacall, so I was like, "if not them, and not Williams, then who?" </div>
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I'm a big bust in the Oscar categories so far. I got Arquette, JK and Big Hero 6, like everyone else, so I guess that's something.</div>
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10:34 - ...And the <i>Into the Woods</i> soundtrack is now stuck back in my head. Forever. Meryl is trying so hard not to cry. I wonder if that's about more than one person, or Robin or Mike Nichols in particular. They snuck Robin in the middle - didn't even give it to Bacall. Mike Nichols. That's right. He should be at the end. Jennifer Hudson has the pipes, man. </div>
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Do you think Angelina could handle Shakespeare? She'd be interesting with RDJ. - E</div>
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10:30 - Angelina needs to be in something watchable and good soon. She is very fascinating to watch on screen. You can't train for that. </div>
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Is this the In Memoriam section? I can never remember who died throughout the year. I'm calling Robin Williams for the ending.</div>
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10:24 - Yeah, anybody who saw <i>Girl, Interrupted</i> or <i>Gia</i> knows that lady has some serious rage sense memories. Though she is seriously watchable. The opposite of Gwyneth in about every way.</div>
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Big Hero 6 was based on "geniuses" who couldn't form a cogent plan. Or really any plan. Serious design flaw. </div>
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Into the Woods was beautiful, but looked like it was on a small set. Even in the ads, Grand Budapest looks gorgeous. Lady gets cut off. </div>
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I like the burgundy coat on NPH. </div>
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I don't understand Jessica Chastain's dress. It's weird. - E</div>
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10:21 - Another for grand Budapest Hotel. Blech. </div>
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Big Hero 6 was a very serviceable movie. Just nowhere in the league of the Lego Movie.</div>
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Angelina probably has killed someone. I'm just saying though.</div>
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10:10 - Feast was put in front of a Disney movie, that seems unfair. It was way cutesy. </div>
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Word on the Zoe and Rock. Zoe just had twins. Give it up, she looks fab. She looks way less frail than she did in Guardians, it's a better look. I kept thinking in that movie that there was no way she could kill anybody. Even when Angelina is skinny, that lady seems like she could get the job done. Zoe, not so much.</div>
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Okay, I have seen both Big Hero 6 and The LEGO Movie. And I love Disney. But the LEGO Movie was a better picture. - E</div>
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10:09 - Back after some technical difficulties. Zoe and The Rock look good together. They should do some sort of movie. I don't care who wins the Best animated feature, because the best animated movie wasn't even nominated. - M</div>
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9:57 - This is the other damn thing about the Oscars. If you know who won at the other awards, you know who will win at the Oscars. They are so predictable 9/10 times. And this is not to say Patricia Arquette isn't worthy, just that the other ladies did not, shall we say, look surprised. Meryl and JLo loved the equal pay line. I feel like maybe JLo wouldn't have been so vociferous had she not been sitting next to Meryl, but maybe I'm too cynical. - E</div>
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9:48 - Holy tighty whities, Batman. It's really interesting to me which awards get thrust to science and tech and which get to happen night-of. I think it's at least partially about getting some awards to non-best pic winners. </div>
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And now that I'm thinking about it, maybe instead of comedy/musical, I'd suggest comedy/action. Musicals do get nominated. Comedies and Action movies do not, unless they have hobbits. - E</div>
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9:37 - What about at least a Comedy/Musical category like the Globes? It's criminal how many awesome comedy performances get completely ignored by the Academy, especially because Comedy is harder. Boom, I said it. It is. Anybody who's acted in/directed both knows it. Comedy is harder.</div>
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Speaking of movies people watch - http://www.nerdist.com/2015/02/steven-spielberg-hopes-to-direct-new-indiana-jones-with-chris-pratt/</div>
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I have mixed feelings about Gwyneth. The dress is pretty. I loved her on Glee. I think GOOP is weird and ever so privileged in its basic assumptions, but I have read the thing. She's never been in a movie where I was like: that was a great performance. She barely has chemistry with Robert Downey Jr, who has chemistry with potted plants. Seriously, though, RDJ is awesome. I even watch the Iron Man movies because I love watching him act. - E</div>
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9:33 - I think some type of Critics Choice award would be great. But Oscar would never go for that.</div>
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David Oyelowe-"Now you like him!" LOL!</div>
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I hate Gwyneth Paltrow, but her dress is pretty.</div>
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9:29 - Bwa-ha! Butter Lamp. </div>
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And while we're on this set of categories that only the more intrepid of Oscar devotees have managed to watch, I ask: do we need another award show - one for movies people actually watch - but not voted on as a popularity contest or a kiss-ass contest (people's choice, golden globes)? I watched Critics' Choice this year, and I thought they had an interesting (new) award, for MVP - for an actor who was in a bunch of good movies in interesting parts in a year (Jessica Chastain won). And I thought, well, if anybody should be qualified to give an award like that, it should be the critics, who have seen more movies than most of the Oscar voters.</div>
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9:26 - The Phone Call, really? I haven't seen it, or any of the other nominees in this category, but they had the chance to select Bugaloo and Graham. Just on the name alone, it should have been a shoo-in. Runner-up?- Butter Lamp.</div>
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9:20 - LEGO Movie for the win. Aren't you sad you snubbed them now, Academy snobs? </div>
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First good commercial - Goldbergs and Ferris Bueller. Sigh. Charlie Sheen used to be so hot. </div>
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BTW - for those who haven't multi-watched the Tonys opening I mentioned earlier...</div>
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9:18 - Harrison is still up for whatever reason, and he is clapping along to the "Everything is Awesome" song. It should probably win Best Song, but my guess that will go to "Glory" from Selma, so some Oscar voters can feel better about themselves, and use that to justify the other Selma snubs. I'm also still butthurt from the Lego movie not even getting a best Animated Film nomination. Total highway robbery. A travesty! - M</div>
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9:12 - Botox is especially dumb for actors. Go drunk Polish people! I love that they stopped trying to play him out when he mentioned his late wife. That was at least a nice thing. Shirley Maclaine now looks a lot like Lily Tomlin - am I wrong? She also kind of talks like her now. That's weird. I love me some shiny threads, though. </div>
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This compounding of vastly-different films in one presentation for best pic is very strange. I can't see how it's worth the time saved. I would feel like the love story in The Theory of Everything was way more touching if I didn't know they then divorced. (Spoiler Alert, I guess.)</div>
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Steve Carell makes everything he touches better. - E</div>
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9:09 - Nicole Kidman blathering about being human while looking like a robot. The Botox must go. I'm going to go with Wild Tales for Foreign Film, based on nothing. And it goes to Ida. Go Poland!</div>
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9:02 - Yeah that was a positively embarrassing version of Ring of Fire welcoming Reese on to the stage. Noses are huge with the whole makeup design thing (which is to say, all it looks like Foxcatcher was up for was the nose on Steve Carell). I can't say I'm a Wes Anderson fan, either. So do we think impending director win bc of that wave, or the wave is because no director win? Channing was wearing a lot of makeup. Or maybe my TV is better than I think. Who are these kids? Ah, 60-second films. I'm sure they are all great, but it looks terribly like they cast them to hit every demographic. - E</div>
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9:00 - Having see all of one of the movies that was nominated for Best Costume Design, I firmly believe that Maleficent was robbed y'all. I love the Johnny Cash honky-tonk music that they play to introduce Reese Witherspoon. </div>
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Guardians of the Galaxy for the win for Makeup y'all! Damn. I guess Grand Budapest will sweep all the technical awards. I'm not a fan of Wes Anderson, so I'm not getting all the love. Sigh. It's going to be a long night. - M</div>
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8:55 - Yeah, you love a hate watch. I guess I must, too (coughVanHelsingcough). Hee. The Dependent Spirit Awards. The Revolution will be on YouTube. And Vine. It'll be seriously funny on Vine. Please welcome Jennifer Lopez, and her boobs. If it weren't for the plunging neckline and camouflaged color, I'd like that dress. She is impossibly beautiful, though. PS Chris Pine. He's dreamy. - E</div>
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8:51- Dakota Johnson is a terrible reader off the telepromptor. Not looking forward to seeing 50 Shades next Saturday if this is a reflection of her acting. Who am I kidding? I love a good hate watch! This song is interminable. Adam Levine sucks. I did not call my dad. My father is definitely not watching the Oscars. lol. -M</div>
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8:47 - Yeah, so JK told me to call my parents. I did. I even beat my brother to it. #Winning. </div>
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So I like Dakota Johnson's red dress. Particularly because she's left her hair darker. Adam Levine has a largely unpleasant voice. There, I've said it. - E</div>
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8:44- NPH did a great job with his obligatory song and dance routine. I can't see JK without thinking he's the rapist white supremacist from the tv show Oz. Completely chilling. Now I just think that character is now teaching jazz. Great. But he has his Oscar now, so congrats. - E</div>
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8:40 - NPH, give it up for getting the whiteness out there at the outset. Everybody looks nervous for NPH. Can't decide on these special effects. Maybe more Lucas than Peter Jackson. YAAAS! Jack Black and Sondheim-ish. It was an okay opening. Cute. I'm utterly spoiled by repeated watchings of his Tony openings. You cannot beat his "Let's Make It Bigger" opening. </div>
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Why does everybody love JK hitting that poor boy? I love him from The Closer (yea, I am a girl who loves procedurals, sue me), but geez. Mandi's locked out and will tell me I'm wrong shortly. - E</div>
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8:27 - Michael Strahain is ever so awkward. Just caught up on my Tivo, now LIVE and enjoying the stupid car commercial. CANNOT WAIT FOR NPH. Agree on Lupita. She is just lovely and makes good, fun choices. Gaga, lord. And why oh why did Emma Stone wear that yellow? - E</div>
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8:22 Lupita's dress is everything. That is all. Watching celebrities blather on about nothing in particular is excruciating. But Lady Gaga looks more normal than I've ever seen her...still terrible, but more normal. David Oyelowo in the red suit is ridiculous, but kudos to him for putting himself out there. - M</div>
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8:10pm - and I've already heard one interviewer specifically reference "Ask Her More." Reese Witherspoon did an okay job talking about the idea and about her producing and acting work. And FWIW, I loved her dress, too. - E<br />
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PS <a href="http://www.ew.com/gallery/oscars-2015-red-carpet-fashion/2122008_david-oyelowo?asdf=undefined">David Oyelowo in his red suit</a>. Give it up for a brave choice, and he looks good.<br />
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PPS Felicity Jones looks like a chandelier. Which means somebody's gonna sing that song to her all night.<br />
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So Mandi and I like a good live-blog. And we're thinking about live-blogging the Oscars.<br />
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In the meantime, some fun, Oscar-type reading...<br />
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<li><b><a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/19/lets-rank-neil-patrick-harriss-hosting-gigs">NPH!!!</a></b></li>
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<li><b>So you say you like voting? <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/awards/oscars/2015/ballot/">Option 1</a> and <a href="http://oscars.nytimes.com/2015/ballot/73prbz7m?">Option 2</a>.</b></li>
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<li><b>Do you like a <a href="http://www.fandango.com/movie-news/fandangos-printable-oscar-ballot-748790">printable</a> follow-along ballot? </b></li>
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<li><b>Wanna hear predictions?</b></li>
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<li><a href="http://variety.com/2015/film/news/oscars-2015-predictions-watch-video-1201438341/"><b>From Famous People?</b></a></li>
<li><b>From your favorite <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/13/oscars-predictions-2015-who-will-win">(Entertainment Weekly) magazine</a>?</b></li>
<li><b>From, I dunno, <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/02/20/_2015_oscars_predictions_complete_ballot_with_picks_from_aisha_harris_dan.html">various</a> <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/awards/predictions/feinberg-picks/oscars2182015">and</a> <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/my-2015-oscar-predictions/385655/">sundry</a> <a href="http://time.com/3712257/oscars-2015-predictions-who-will-win/">other</a> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/21/upshot/oscar-predictions-2015.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1">folks</a>?</b></li>
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<li><b>Say, isn't this <a href="http://jezebel.com/protests-over-lack-of-diversity-in-oscars-expected-ahea-1687219430">Oscars looking pale</a>?</b></li>
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<li><b>Ooh, ooh, <a href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/15250/50-years-of-oscar-dresses-best-actress-winners-from-1954-2014">pretty dresses</a>! </b></li>
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<li><b>Too <a href="http://www.people.com/article/spirit-awards-2015-winners">Hipster for the Oscars</a>?</b></li>
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<li><b>This <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/19/monique-blackballed-after-her-oscar-win-director-lee-daniels-thought-so">Oscar</a> Is <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/627899/mo-nique-and-8-more-actors-who-didn-t-get-the-oscar-win-bump">CURSED</a>!</b></li>
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<li><b>But Ladies, <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/19/razzies-2015-who-willshould-win">I Prefer Bad Movies</a>! (Update, we have <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/22/razzie-awards-2015-winners-list-kirk-cameron-cleans">bad movie winners!</a>)</b></li>
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<li><b>...And finally, the one I want to discuss: <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/19/oscars-2015-eddie-redmayne-jk-simmons-more-discuss-their-dream-collaborators">Nominees Discuss Their Dream Collaborators</a>.</b></li>
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<b>First idea to watch for: will they "<a href="http://jezebel.com/campaign-aims-to-bring-less-sexist-coverage-to-tonights-1687297479?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow">Ask Her More?</a>"</b></div>
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<b>1pm</b> - I'm actually kind of shocked at how few of those "<a href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/15250/50-years-of-oscar-dresses-best-actress-winners-from-1954-2014">pretty dresses</a>" from above were actually pretty. So many ugly, ill-fitted, wrong-colored, very-dated choices. I'm interested to know which ones people like. I liked <b>Audrey Hepburn's</b>, and then a looong gap until <b>Shirley Maclaine's</b> in 1984, and then I actually kind of like <b>Cher's</b> craziness (and want to hunt down whomever chose Marlee Matlin's dress and Meryl Streep's sad maternity sack), <b>Jodie Foster's</b> suit in 1992 holds up pretty well, and then there's a lovely string from <b>Reese Witherspoon</b>, through <b>Helen Mirren</b>, <b>Marion Cotillard</b>, (skipping Kate Winslet) <b>Sandra Bullock</b>, <b>Natalie Portman</b> (that's a real maternity gown), and of course <b>Cate Blanchett</b> (who can do no wrong in my book, ever). That's a lot of pale and beige-y dresses where I usually love color, but so many of the dresses/outfits were just the wrong color for the lady that maybe the beige-y and off-white things look best. - Emily<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D5308923185697655557%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D4488087813380008240&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fpmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com%252F2014%252F03%252Fhomer-oscar-selfie__140305015030.jpg%253Fw%253D970%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D5308923185697655557%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D4488087813380008240&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fpmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com%252F2014%252F03%252Fhomer-oscar-selfie__140305015030.jpg%253Fw%253D970%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent;"></a><br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-87462297895634665412014-11-04T20:37:00.004-05:002015-02-21T22:22:04.540-05:00Live Blogging the Mid-Terms, Part II: When Doves Cry<br />
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When doves cry, y'all. - M<br />
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8:40 - Officially delving into the kids’ Halloween candy.<br />
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Asa Hutchinson. There’s a blast from the Clinton impeachment past. Did you hear <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/asa-hutchinson-2014-arkansas-election-111922.html">he loves Billary now</a>? <br />
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Geez, this is a long count. - E<br />
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8:46 - You know what, knock on wood, but this hasn't yet turned out to be the debacle for the Democrats that I thought it was going to turn out to be. I was expecting to need some mind-altering substance to get through this, but so far, it hasn't quite the thrashing I was expecting.<br />
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And a huge fire alarm goes off in Peter Jennings pants on Msnbc. I'm not even kidding. lol<br />
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8:49 - Not touching the pants thing :-P Did you switch to the feel good Dem team (MSNBC)?<br />
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But I will say, that John King (CNN) can expand a map like nobody’s business. Work it, baby.<br />
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To quote vampire Willow, “bored now.”<br />
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8:53 I did switch to Msnbc. I'm over to Fox now, where I was earlier. They started out giddy, but they seem a bit more subdued now. Interesting. I don't think I will be seeing any on air meltdowns a la Rove during the last election. Such a pity.<br />
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8:55 These poor cable news people. They were expecting actual results. I agree, it does make me happy that this hasn't been a tidal wave (she said, vigorously knocking wood).<br />
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9:03 - Looks like the Republicans need three seats to control the Senate. Sigh. We may not know anything until December if Louisiana has to do a run-off. I think everyone on tv is girding their loins for the long slog.<br />
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9:10 - Newt Gingrich. Yes, that's who I need to explain this election to me. Thanks, CNN! <br />
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Meanwhile <a href="http://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/11/4/7158045/what-on-earth-is-happening-on-fox-news-right-now">on Fox</a> -<br />
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Newt is happy. That means I'm unhappy. Flames, on the side of my face.<br />
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Major projection... House is R. Come on, seriously, Wolf? LOL - E<br />
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9:16 - Those are some serious graphics Fox is touting. LOL. Al Franken wins. <br />
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Locally, it looks like Bowser will pull off the DC mayoral race. And it seems, shocker, that the initiative to legalize marijuana will pass. Still no calls on Warner and no calls for the MD governor race yet.<br />
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9:18 - <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dre/politics/election-results-2014?office=senate">D news from the Post</a> - Shaheen won (NH), Peters won (MI), Reed (RI), Coons (DE), Durbin (IL)<br />
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So that's at least good. Because Scott Brown has now lost to 2 women for Senate.<br />
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Weird on VA, MD. I think with MD they just aren't interested, but we'll see.<br />
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9:26 - It seems like the Dems are going into full-blown panic mode in VA. The pre-polling looked great, the exits are fine, but the actual totals are not lining up. It's a lot closer than anyone has dreamed. MSNBC has switched it from "too early to call" back to "too close to call." Not good at all.<br />
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NC is looking surprisingly good for Dems.<br />
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9:30 - I think on a lot of these it's that when the Party thinks it's in the bag, they shouldn't - VA and NC are good examples. In VA it was such a storm of media, and Gillespie has been so shady in his ads. In NC Hagan has run a better race than most - and has <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/08/kay-hagan-obamacare-medicaid_n_5290998.html">run to Obamacare, not against</a>. That was WAY smarter than most Dems have been this cycle.<br />
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David Gergen on CNN with the exact right message on the night: it’s not that one party’s up the other down, it’s that people are disgusted with both. Nail on head. <br />
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Kansas - Pat Roberts did this to himself, 100 percent.<br />
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Earlier commenter - Tapper just made the point on VA polling being wonky in re: Cantor and tonight. - E<br />
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9:41 - They are dancing with calling NC. It seems inevitable that Hagan will win at this point. NC proves their purple bona fides once again.<br />
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As David Letterman just cynically pointed out, gas is less than $3, unemployment is way down, the ranks of the uninsured has shrunk considerably, and the stock market has hit new highs. Why exactly were Democrats fleeing from Obama again? Dems are their own worst enemies when it comes to controlling the narrative and messaging. Again.<br />
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9:45 - Runoff in LA. Expected. May be awhile in limbo on Senate control. <br />
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Im finding some personal happiness that it currently looks like Mike Michaud (D) may beat the truly odious Paul LePage in Maine Governor race.<br />
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Wonkette having some fun <a href="http://wonkette.com/565468/scott-brown-closes-escrow-on-sweet-little-place-in-vermont">predicting Scott Brown's move to Vermont</a> (look out, Bernie!) - E<br />
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9:50 - Yeah, I could probably go to bed now. Unless something dramatic happens in VA, we won't know the outcome of the Senate until December. I'm watching MSNBC right now, and Al Sharpton still looks weird to me all skinny. Do they only break out the holograms on CNN during presidential elections?<br />
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Personhood initiative fails in Colorado. :) And all of the minimum wage hikes have passed so far, which is great news too.<br />
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9:55 - Min Wage is great generally, and bc of D turnout in those states. <br />
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Meant to mention - word on David Letterman. Ds can’t manage to stand up for their own policies, and it causes them to shoot themselves in the foot all the time. Hagan should be instructive - even if she loses - because she has worked it in a still pretty fuchsia state.<br />
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So GA, VA, NC, CO, KS, SD, IA, and AK left in Senate calculations. - E<br />
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10:05 - Minimum wage is interesting, because even in the states where Repubs are winning easily, the minimum wage still passes. I tend to associate it as a Democratic issue, but perhaps it is becoming de-coupled? <br />
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Looks like the MD governor will go to the Dems.<br />
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Marijuana triumphs in DC, but fails in FL. Interesting.<br />
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They are really examining the polling failures in VA. I think in the future they are going to look at the polling assumptions a little more closely. But Fairfax still hasn't come in, which is about a million votes still out there.<br />
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10:15 - The Post has 50 senate for R with lean R races, but they include VA, LA, NC, KS, CO, etc. so if one of those breaks the other way (and LA to runoff)... <br />
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I think Min Wage is a D issue, in that it drives turnout of people who are more likely to vote D, but in red states, the larger populace is still largely red, so it can only do so much - and in an election in which very few Ds in battleground states ran on the economy (SD, NC being exceptions to this rule), Ds weren't poised to scoop up more than the people who were already leaning D - I don't think many D candidates changed anybody's mind....<br />
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Speaking of which, <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/wendy-davis-trounced-by-greg-abbott-in-texas-guv-race-112519.html?hp=l7&cmpid=sf">Wendy Davis lost</a>, but was expected to lose. TX is about ten years away from being purple, and they may have pushed that off a bit with the voter ID changes.<br />
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Interesting kerfuffle over <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/11/fox-news-breaks-exit-poll-rules-198174.html">Fox showing exit polling data</a> that's typically off limits.<br />
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10:23 - They've called the Colorado Senate for the Republicans. Crap. So the R's need one more seat from somewhere to get control. Things just got real y'all. Getting a lot more grim over at MSNBC. Flipping to Fox.<br />
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Texas is going to go purple sooner or later, and even the voter ID can only stave off the inevitable for so long. Until Republicans can solve their demographics problem, it is something that they are going to have to deal with.<br />
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10:39 - Perdue beats Nunn in GA. <br />
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Yes, I think the biggest push in this gerrymandering/voter ID thing has been trying to stave off the inevitable demographics trend. I think some Rs expected the Latino vote to me more malleable for them, but then they moved from the Bush era on immigration to the scary xenophobe era on immigration, and that has compounded the social issue gap between Rs and many Latinos. <br />
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The long game is interesting, let's assume Rs gain the Senate outright. They have spent the last 6 years doing virtually nothing positive, all obstruction. What does an R-led Congress do now? They seem to be backing off of: repealing Obamacare, impeachment, suing the president. What changes in the House now that they don't have a Senate to block whatever hare-brained idea the Tea Party comes up with? And now we're in 2016 race territory, and we sure have a lot of R senators interested in running. How far right can a potential presidential candidate go? Rubio and Paul have already started moderating, what happens to guys like Cruz? Do Ds have the backbone and obstructionist set to be the filibuster party? We certainly don't have a veto override in this new Senate over anything remotely controversial.<br />
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The lack of calls on some of our nearby races are befuddling. I feel like if we are in R tidal wave territory that should have been clearer by now, which means we're in some weird middle ground where the last votes coming in are expected to change things. <br />
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10:49 - his is my last post of the night before I'm off to bed. But it looks like the Senate will indeed flip to the Republicans. Yet somehow it doesn't seem like the red tsunami that the media was predicting happened? Why is that? I think you are correct, Emily, in that they can no longer be the party of No, but will at least try to appear to come up with some reasonable pieces of legislation. This should get interesting. I wonder if the Tea Party's influence wane, or if it will experience a resurgence?<br />
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Your guy Brown is now behind again in MD. <br />
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Warner is finally up in VA. I predict it will go to recount a la McAuliffe and he will pull it off by the skin of his teeth.<br />
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I should wake up to some interesting headlines in the morning. Yeah me! Good night folks!<br />
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11:03 - Yep, it doesn't feel as bad as expected, but certainly it ain't great. <br />
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Kind of morbidly interested to see folks like Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Rand Paul, and Ted Cruz go after each other. Those are some fightin' Rs that aren't afraid to play dirty. <br />
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And I'll be happy when we get to turn the page on this truly disappointing election and move on to a less gerrymandered future. Good night!<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D5308923185697655557%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8746229789563466541&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fjessiejaney.files.wordpress.com%252F2013%252F02%252F07-exaltation-of-doves.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D5308923185697655557%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8746229789563466541&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fjessiejaney.files.wordpress.com%252F2013%252F02%252F07-exaltation-of-doves.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-372734056553338632014-11-04T18:56:00.001-05:002014-11-04T20:53:42.772-05:00Nate Silver Swears It's Gonna Be an Upset... Live-Blogging the Midterms<br />
Live-bloggy blog.... La La La...<br />
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(We're starting at 7pm)<br />
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Not that it's been awhile, but Mandi forgot her login. Man, we're rusty :-) (7:08)<br />
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I forgot how to do this, my brother said work bottom up, so... Holy what now? McConnell already? I need a drink. - E<br />
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7:11<br />
I've blown the dust off, and I'm in! McConnell is back. Bleh. I'm sure the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles must be proud on of their brethren has made it.<br />
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7:17 - that was some high tech white-boarding in NH, CNN. <br />
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Background for tonight:<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/113th_United_States_Senate_Structure.svg/1280px-113th_United_States_Senate_Structure.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/113th_United_States_Senate_Structure.svg/1280px-113th_United_States_Senate_Structure.svg.png" height="324" width="640" /></a></div>
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Senate party standings (as of October 31, 2013): 53 Democrats 2 Independents, both caucusing with Democrats 45 Republicans<br />
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Tonight Rs need 18 seats to gain control of the Senate – mind you, Louisiana will likely go to a runoff, and it’s possible that we won’t know about control tonight (see e.g. <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/2014-midterm-elections-who-will-win-senate?int-cid=mod-latest">here</a>). - E<br />
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7:17 watching the results of the Virginia Senate with bated breath. Right now Gillespie is up, but we all know that rural areas, which skew Republican, tend to vote first. We have to wait for Fairfax and Loudoun to report. But it is too close for my comfort.<br />
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7:32 - On governors: 25 governorships are up for a vote. FL, WI, MA <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dre/politics/election-results-2014?office=governor">are the closest</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/12-most-interesting-midterm-races-of-2014.html">On interesting races</a>.</div>
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Senate races to focus on: GA, KY, VA, NC, NH, AR, CO, LA, KS, SD, IA, AK – and KY has already gone R. (Remember, Rs need 18 in total, 6 to flip sides.)</div>
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Kasich wins OH, pretty expected. I agree on VA, but the numbers were high. I'm honestly still worried about MD because I think a lot of Ehrlich Ds are interested in Hogan. - E</div>
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7:41- They aren't really discussing MD on the networks yet. They are talking about the unusually high African-American vote in Georgia, making the race too close to call. This was the race that invoked Trayvon Martin and "Stand Your Ground" that so many people decried. Maybe it worked after all?</div>
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7:44 - GA is Baby Nunn, where she <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/390418/michelle-nunn-wont-say-if-she-voted-obama-andrew-johnson">wouldn't say if she voted for Obama</a>. She also looks a lot like her dad, FWIW :-)<br />
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Meanwhile, in general election info - White people <a href="http://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/11/4/7154937/midterm-election-voting-black-latino">didn’t have to stand in line today</a>... And <a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/new-barriers-today-ballot-box">21 states</a> have made it harder to vote since the last election.<br />
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The Warner endorsement of Warner in VA should have helped a bit, so it will be interesting to see if the polls change when NOVA is in. - E</div>
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7:53- She does look like her dad. Freaky. They are now saying Georgia and Virginia are "too early to call", rather than too close to call, which probably means they are eventually going to go Dem. They must be examining the exit polling and making sure it lines up. But they are broadly hinting the way they want to call it.</div>
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7:57 - Vamp, NH! Vamp! CNN has a whole bunch of nothing until 8pm... - E<br />
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8:05 - So, per usual, it has been an incumbent's night. Nothing too shocking right now. Your boy Corey Booker managed to pull it off, to no one's surprise.<br />
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8:07 - Phew, Ed Markey and Cory Booker won, those were squeakers… ;-)</div>
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No NH, VA, IL, DE, RI, MD Gov, FL, MA Gov calls – that’s bad news.</div>
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Wow, PA – Corbett goes down, D pickup. Cool, Corbett was terrible.</div>
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At least there’s no hologram yet.</div>
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Self-identified “Independents” are mostly R-leaning men who want to still get laid and/or would prefer to be libertarian but mostly vote R, so I don’t know why we bother classifying them that way. - E</div>
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8:15 - I agree with your identification of the "independent" voter, for the most part. MD they are saying is "too early" to call, which probably means it is a safely Dem at this point.</div>
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8:17 - And I will be vamping for a bit while Mandi gives a baby bath. <br />
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Lindsey Graham is a Tea Party-whupping badass, <a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/11/4/7158197/lindsey-graham-2014">acc to Vox</a> (I'd say it's more like he just said whatever they wanted him to say, moving to the right to appease people, but hey, read your own tea leaves.)...<br />
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Lots of love for Ed Gillespie in the CNN house - they are acting like VA doesn't flip back and forth every election, which I find a bit funny. - E<br />
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8:21 - And we're on the Scott/Crist debates. I say it's Florida, if the man wants a fan, what's the big deal? But that said, it definitely seems like the addendum to the debate rules was hinky. Tough call, but since Scott has terrible policy positions, I'm going with the Fan Man.<br />
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No, Wolf, Congress will not look very different. The Senate may, but the House will be about the damn same (thank you, gerrymandering!). - E<br />
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8:27 - WI Gov race - this guy. This guy right here with his "I support equal pay (except for I repealed it)" - this guy is on my list. It has been so long since we blogged here that I have a lot of pent up commenting. I try to be way less partisan on my baby blog - (<a href="http://7-4-2026.blogspot.com/">shameless plug</a>). - E<br />
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8:32 - VA is solidly purple right now, so the flipping back and forth is not too much of a surprise. But I bet some Republican strategists are gnashing their teeth right now, thinking if only they had put a little more money in that race...<br />
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McConnell taking his victory lap. Blergh.<br />
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Arkansas a Republican pickup. Uh-oh.<br />
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New Thread here: <a href="http://yourbiggirlpants.blogspot.com/2014/11/live-blogging-mid-terms-part-ii-when.html">http://yourbiggirlpants.blogspot.com/2014/11/live-blogging-mid-terms-part-ii-when.html</a><br />
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-41956476347178916882014-06-30T13:50:00.003-04:002014-06-30T13:50:55.516-04:00We're Still on HaitusHi. <br />
<br />
Mandi and I have been busy with real life for quite some time. We're thinking about coming back intermittently. But in the meantime, please enjoy our past work, and we will get around to curating that over time :-)<br />
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Thanks!<br />
<br />
EmilyEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-74286079900356859962013-10-17T08:25:00.001-04:002013-10-17T08:25:29.220-04:00What I Learned from the Crazy Shutdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fabiusmaximus.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/20120321-teaparty-lewis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://fabiusmaximus.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/20120321-teaparty-lewis.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">1. They (Tea Party "Conservatives") Learned Nothing.</span></u></b><br />
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Listen to them, praising Boehner, <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/lesson-learned-here-s-what-conservatives-are-taking-away-from-the-shutdown">going after "Moderate" Republicans</a>, obsessing about how they didn't get any "<a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/don-t-blame-boehner-frustrated-republicans-defend-speaker-in-shutdown-fiasco">bright, shiny objects</a>." <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/10/republican_party_lose_on_government_shutdown_and_debt_limit_the_gop_rewrites.html">Investigating the park service</a>. They didn't learn a thing. They seem to have no clue how the rest of the country and the world view them. They seem to think the only thing wrong was that they lost.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">2. The Press Needs More Wonks, Especially on TV.</span></u></b><br />
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The thing I like best about <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/10/how-the-gop-slowly-went-insane/280614/">this article</a> is how it underlines that when the press cover politics as a horse race, rather than as a political contest that has underlying actual policy and fact ramifications, the easier it is to ignore things that are bats*** crazy. <br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">False equivalence, </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Failure to correct inaccuracies in real time, </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Failure to follow-up on questions that go unanswered or wrongly answered, </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Shallow reporting on process and policy </span></li>
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- these things are really bad for our democracy, because they fail to elucidate the important news. Hire more wonks TV news and Political press/blogs. Now.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>3. The Tea Party Needs Its Credibility Yanked.</u></span></b> <br />
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By the Republicans. Now.<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-23960715330756752332013-10-01T10:20:00.002-04:002013-10-01T10:20:52.910-04:00Just Watch This<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I could not say it better, this is perfection:</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:429383" width="512"></iframe><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 4px; text-align: left;">
<b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-september-30-2013/jon-stewart-s-rockin--shutdown-eve">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br />Get More: <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/">Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow">The Daily Show on Facebook</a></div>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-35456294062852795612013-09-26T12:56:00.000-04:002014-06-30T16:09:59.415-04:00On Losing<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So this one is about why Republicans on the Hill are acting the way they are acting right now. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I worked on the Hill for years. Specifically, for years I worked on the Hill as a Democrat in a government ruled entirely by Republicans. For years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And while I, like most Democrats, hated the 2000 election, and it made me question the fundamentals of American politics, that loss was nothing like getting up every day, going to work, and losing all day long. You think, when you work on the Hill, that you are doing a noble thing, trying to get things done for the American people. And you are. But sometimes, in a democratic republic, your job on the Hill is to go in, make your very best argument, your very best case to your colleagues and the American people, and lose. Every day. That's rough.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's rough when you think you know what is best for the country, believe it whole-heartedly, and just lose, because either you didn't make your case well enough, or you didn't organize well enough, or you were out-spent, or you just did not win enough elections to have the power to do what you fervently believe is best.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But here's the thing: <i><u>that's the gig</u>.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That's the job you sign up for when you work in politics in a representative democracy. Sometimes, you lose. And sometimes, for years, you go in every day, work hard, and still lose. Every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So when I see Republicans on the Hill doing everything they can think of to "win" something, I understand it. But they need to take a step back. Elections, as Senator McCain so eloquently said, have consequences. And they should. But when you lose in politics, it's not like losing in baseball. You don't get to get up the next day and try to win and be able to win. You have to compromise and work together and plan and wait. But we believe in democracy, and the people get to choose.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If it makes you feel better, Republicans, Obamacare isn't what we wanted. "Obamacare" is really based on a Heritage Foundation (very conservative think tank) design. We want single payer. Probably even the president wanted single payer. And that's not what we could do. So we compromised. And the result is a very large law with a lot of very good parts like making it so women don't have to pay more for insurance just because we're women. And making sure you can't be denied health insurance for preexisting conditions. Those are widely-supported ideas. Bipartisan ones, even. And the underlying Obamacare framework is market-driven, which should be attractive to most conservatives (in fact it was, before it was called "Obamacare"). Just ask the actual Socialist in the Senate, Bernie Sanders. He'll tell you he wanted single-payer, not "Obamacare." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And if the prognosticators on the right are correct, then people won't like Obamacare. I doubt it. I suspect that the real reason there is such an urgency in the drive to stop Obamacare is the underlying knowledge that it will be popular, once people get past their pre-conceived notions and actually experience a broader health insurance system with more choices and more competition. And it should, provided that conservatives don't succeed in convincing people not to join, drive down health care costs, considerably. That may take a few years. But it will probably happen. Even Senator Cruz says that it will be popular in less-guarded situations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But that isn't the most important part. The most important part is that in a democracy, sometimes it is the job of legislators and their staff to lose. And to do it graciously, for the good of the country. Fighting a debt limit increase or shutting the government down has real consequences - wide-reaching ones - for our economy and for our people. So we shouldn't do that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Put on those big girl pants and lose graciously, my Republican friends. God-willing, you will live to fight another day. And we need you, too. The country needs all of us to do our best to work better together and find common ground.</span><br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-86240156194889435322013-09-25T17:40:00.000-04:002013-09-25T17:52:45.143-04:00Would You, Could You, in a Fauxlibuster?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m74mv4PgRK1qgjxoyo1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m74mv4PgRK1qgjxoyo1_400.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The lessons Senator Ted Cruz, Harvard Man, gleans from <i>Green Eggs and Ham</i> in re: Obamacare:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Senator Claire McCaskill, Not a Harvard Woman, explains <i>Green Eggs and Ham</i> to Sen. Cruz:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For Good Measure, Senator McCain, U.S. Naval Academy, Explains How "the People" Speak to Sen. Cruz:</span></b><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-33980943708187426062013-08-05T17:04:00.000-04:002013-08-05T17:04:31.692-04:00GOP 2016 Primary Math<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Hey, we should NOT do public primary debates again, because <a href="http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/plouffe-rnc-should-hold-debates-in-sealed-fox?ref=fpb">that was some public Cray-Cray</a> last time, huh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Hey, it really sucks that both <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/media/cnn-to-produce-documentary-on-hillary-clinton.html?ref=business&_r=1&">CNN</a> and <a href="http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/tca-bob-greenblatt-unveils-hillary-clinton-mini-to-star-diane-lane-1200568898/">NBC</a> are doing shows about Hillary, because then people will like her more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. <a href="http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CNN.pdf">Reince Priebus Ultimatum</a>: "pull your Hillary shows or we won't show up for primary debates next time."</span><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-3493713772562164752013-08-02T12:38:00.000-04:002017-02-02T10:53:05.269-05:00Girls<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few brief recent observations about girls and how we raise them...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1.</b> <a href="http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/31/i-do-not-want-my-daughter-to-be-nice/" style="font-weight: bold;">Niceness</a><b>. "</b><a href="http://www.ebony.com/news-views/when-i-stopped-asking-women-to-smile-981#axzz2apTHTa71" style="font-weight: bold;">Smile</a><b>!"</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b><span style="font-size: large;"> - Now, </span><span style="font-size: large;">I counsel both my boy and girl to strive to be nice people. But there is nice and there is "Nice" - the oppressive concept that girls and women must subjugate their own needs for the needs of others.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this probably comes from a place of "let's make it less about looks," but it carries its own problems.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>2. How you dress a child has an </b><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2780978/" style="font-weight: bold;">impact</a><b> on how they play and grow and </b><a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865567072/Toddlers-and-Tears-The-sexualization-of-young-girls.html?pg=all" style="font-weight: bold;">view themselves</a><b>. No, </b><a href="http://www.upworthy.com/80-of-ten-year-olds-have-been-on-a-diet-yes-you-read-that-correctly" style="font-weight: bold;">seriously</a><b>. </b><a href="http://www.livescience.com/21609-self-sexualization-young-girls.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Really</a><b>.</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b><span style="font-size: large;">So pretty please dress your girls and boys to move and play and climb and make mud pies and grow. It's just as important as green veggies. Maybe more so. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like Old Navy. But these toddler girls look clearly movement-hampered by their "skinny" jeans. That has an impact on how they can move, play, and grow.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. <a href="http://www.andrews.edu/~rbailey/Chapter%20one/9040385.pdf">Toys Matter</a>. We all <a href="http://web.mit.edu/2.00b/www/documents/ToyGender.pdf">know that</a>, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/opinion/sunday/gender-based-toy-marketing-returns.html">right</a> (definitely read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/opinion/sunday/gender-based-toy-marketing-returns.html">that last one</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">)?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">They are about practicing to be grown-up and learning things and exploring the world. And we are failing both our boys and girls when we teach them that gender is paramount. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Not to </span><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/05/03/dolls_for_girls_science_and_legos_for_boys_the_toy_aisle_is_still_sexist/" style="font-size: x-large;">turn your gut</a><span style="font-size: large;">, but here goes:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From - http://www.change.org/petitions/target-stop-segregating-your-toy-aisles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From - http://www.sparksummit.com/2012/02/02/toy-aisle-action-project-lets-make-shoppers-think/</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mayakimora.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/toys-r-us.jpg?w=490" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://mayakimora.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/toys-r-us.jpg?w=490" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From - http://mayakimora.wordpress.com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iiMuekrFi09C6wKo3RR9wJhjhCTJ_zNFgaCvw04fh-v1CqzrLCMc6fl-uqX5mdp3fsV57rQsSrOHjbMNKICGFDMzzrchZndJMGScZg_Gb5gZZ_JpmgIIvPxniEcjeZ4qZaKUeQZwpvg/s320/boys+toys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iiMuekrFi09C6wKo3RR9wJhjhCTJ_zNFgaCvw04fh-v1CqzrLCMc6fl-uqX5mdp3fsV57rQsSrOHjbMNKICGFDMzzrchZndJMGScZg_Gb5gZZ_JpmgIIvPxniEcjeZ4qZaKUeQZwpvg/s640/boys+toys.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From - http://sociology101cibjnf.blogspot.com/2011/04/gender.html</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/opinion/sunday/gender-based-toy-marketing-returns.html</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bemoreblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/girlscloud1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://bemoreblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/girlscloud1.jpg" height="417" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maggienotmargaret.com/2011/04/01/boys-want-to-do-battle-girls-want-to-love-at-least-thats-what-marketers-think/">Words</a> in girl toys.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Here, <a href="http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/15401">feel a bit better</a>:</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://cuusoo.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/d1911/25620/62809/bf6cb/3c03c/e9a1a/2a445/52e1b/thumb640x360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cuusoo.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/d1911/25620/62809/bf6cb/3c03c/e9a1a/2a445/52e1b/thumb640x360.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<li><b style="font-size: x-large;">And <a href="http://www.lettoysbetoys.org.uk/toysrus-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/">also</a>.</b></li>
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<a href="http://www.lettoysbetoys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/toysrusv2-1-580x434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lettoysbetoys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/toysrusv2-1-580x434.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...And one of my favorite sites, <a href="http://www.amightygirl.com/">A Mighty Girl</a>.</span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-74705317135876611942013-06-11T11:13:00.000-04:002013-06-11T11:24:53.609-04:00"Cheer Up, Donkey!" Follies<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So these scandals (real and totally trumped up alike), and a general sense of foreboding at the likely results from uber-gerrymandering of the House for the foreseeable future have left </span><span style="font-size: large;">me in my political sad place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I need a pick-me-up. You probably do, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some things to cheer us up...</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Hey, <a href="http://www.corybooker.com/">Booker's In</a>.</span></u></b> <span style="font-size: large;">That's some good news. Not up on your Cory Booker?</span><br />
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<a href="http://troll.me/images/willy-wonka-gene-wilder/running-for-office-against-cory-booker-good-luck-with-that-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://troll.me/images/willy-wonka-gene-wilder/running-for-office-against-cory-booker-good-luck-with-that-thumb.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Cory Booker, a Primer -</b> </i></span><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">He's Good at Explaining Democratic Beliefs.</span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Excelled During/After Hurricane Sandy, <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/11/05/cory-booker-sandy-tweets/">Using Twitter as a Rapid-Response Tool</a> (go read <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/11/05/cory-booker-sandy-tweets/">the article</a>, it's pretty darn funny). </span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/12/cory_booker_food_stamp_challen.html">Did a Week on Food Stamps</a>. <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121208013204-86654142--snapchallenge-day-4-reflections-december-7-2012">Shared All the Pain</a>. -</span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Has Some Super-Hero Tendencies.</span></b></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/13/nation/la-na-nn-cory-booker-saves-woman-20120413">Saves a neighbor (an older woman) from a burning house</a> -</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">For Mandi -</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/booker-rescues-dog-cold-article-1.1248324">Saves a cold dog</a> -</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>In Summary:</u></span></b><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Elizabeth Warren Is Busily Kicking Butt and Taking Names for Average Americans.</span></u></b><br />
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<a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Twitter-@MattTaibi-Warren-President-Someday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://legalinsurrection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Twitter-@MattTaibi-Warren-President-Someday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">On the Wide Disparity Between Increases in Worker Productivity and Minimum Wage Increases:</span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">On Banks Not Being Prosecuted, While Individuals Are:</span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">On Federal Regulators Protecting Banks Who Broke the Law in Foreclosures:</span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">On Students Being Charged Nine Times the Interest Rates of Big Banks Because... They Are a Bigger Risk?</span></b></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">In Summary:</span></b> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNYIh6bMwcsVMBIefA-4XKAOoTCSQ8hiFZt19yk4udDiD-OZUfzC4m1f1gvO8yX5n-kjbqNeVjTKdIN279Za4GzCYCzZ9SHUe4RmUGgEgOcOalo2g4JBWh9JviV_SkYFPNUEi95uJeeMl/s1600/ElizabethWarren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNYIh6bMwcsVMBIefA-4XKAOoTCSQ8hiFZt19yk4udDiD-OZUfzC4m1f1gvO8yX5n-kjbqNeVjTKdIN279Za4GzCYCzZ9SHUe4RmUGgEgOcOalo2g4JBWh9JviV_SkYFPNUEi95uJeeMl/s640/ElizabethWarren.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>3. Oh, and <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/10/190398339/with-nod-to-texts-from-hillary-guys-clinton-joins-twitter">Hillary Joined Twitter</a>.</u></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/06/10/hillarytweets102way_wide-0d11e0d953aaea30455178b3873380d672494782-s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/06/10/hillarytweets102way_wide-0d11e0d953aaea30455178b3873380d672494782-s4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She's made one tweet... and 368,122 followers later (in less than one day)...</span><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-68268404083215416202013-05-01T10:18:00.000-04:002013-05-01T10:18:33.671-04:00I'll Give You A Conspiracy Theory<br />
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<a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/images/jim-inhofe-values-voter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/images/jim-inhofe-values-voter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Senator Inhofe wants to <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/inhofe-gun-conspiracy-theory.php">limit the purchases by the U.S. Government of ammunition</a> based on a whacked-out conspiracy theory that the government is buying up all the ammo. <a href="http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/articles/2012/federal-law-enforcement-agencies-buy-ammunition.aspx">The NRA said this was not true</a>. <br />
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The NRA.<br />
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I have now had it with the crazed "government is coming to get us" thing from people who claim to be patriots. <br />
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It's dangerous to gin up people who are already prone to believe the worst of the government and whose common denominator is a love for weapons. It's bizarre for a Senator in a representative democracy to demonize the government. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, Conspiracy Brother Senator ("<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Hoax-Warming-Conspiracy-Threatens/dp/1936488493">climate change is a hoax!</a>" "they're coming to get your ammo!"), you want a conspiracy theory? </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Have You Heard the One About How <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/03/11/us/politics/democracy-tested.html?_r=0#/#smallstate">Conservative Voters Are Ridiculously Over-Represented</a>?</u></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/04/18/1887341/the-senators-who-supported-background-checks-represent-nearly-two-thirds-of-americans/">Seriously</a>:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Senate is rigged. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's rigged against highly-populated states. Why? because that's the only way the low-population states would join the union. So has this problem gotten better or worse over time?</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/files/2013/04/senate_disproportionate_23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/files/2013/04/senate_disproportionate_23.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/18/you-cant-understand-whats-happened-to-the-senate-without-these-two-graphs/">Worse</a>. It's gotten worse. <b>51 Senators can now represent fewer than 20 percent of Americans.</b> That's crazy. That's not representative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know conservatives love founding fathers, so <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2011/01/alexander-hamilton-speaks-out-iii-two-senators-per-state-regardless-of-population.html">let's see how Alexander Hamilton felt about this one</a>:</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Every idea of proportion and every rule of fair representation conspire to condemn a principle, which gives to Rhode Island an equal weight in the scale of power with Massachusetts, or Connecticut, or New York; and to Delaware an equal voice in the national deliberations with Pennsylvania, or Virginia, or North Carolina. <b><span style="font-size: large;">Its operation contradicts the fundamental maxim of republican government, which requires that the sense of the majority should prevail.</span></b> Sophistry may reply, that sovereigns are equal, and that a majority of the votes of the States will be a majority of confederated America. But this kind of logical legerdemain will never counteract the plain suggestions of justice and common-sense. It may happen that <span style="font-size: large;"><b>this majority of States is a small minority of the people of America; and two thirds of the people of America could not long be persuaded, upon the credit of artificial distinctions and syllogistic subtleties, to submit their interests to the management and disposal of one third.</b> </span> <b><i>[Emphasis mine.]</i></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...But Emily, that anti-democratic deal was struck so long ago, what have conservatives done to us lately?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why don't we take a look at <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/11/republicans-gerrymandering-house-representatives-election-chart">what gerrymandering has done</a> to the votes of Americans over the last little while?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't build in a false equivalence, here, people. Yes, Maryland and Illinois shouldn't look like that. But take a look at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_congressional_apportionment">the sheer number of representatives</a> from the states in this graphic - </span><br />
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FL - 27<br />
WI - 8<br />
PA - 18<br />
OH - 16<br />
VA - 11<br />
NC - 13<br />
MI - 14<br />
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<b>107</b><br />
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IL - 18<br />
MD - 8<br />
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<b>26</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">We have a 4:1 ratio here - sheer political congressional gerrymandering on the right is over four times the problem that it is on the left right now.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are real ways that real people have rigged and are actually rigging the system. Right now. And Senator, they are rigging it mostly <b>for your side</b>. There are real ways that American people could be better represented through reasonable, fundamental changes in the system. Why don't we talk about those some time?</span><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-82590595157106948662013-04-17T00:19:00.001-04:002013-06-25T19:43:53.236-04:0010 Things That 90 Percent of Americans Agree On<br />
<a href="http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/manchin-concedes-that-background-checks-will-not-get?m=1">Color me angry</a>. The Senate is about to fail to pass even the compromise version of legislation to improve background checks for gun purchases.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Joe Manchin tells me "we will not get the votes today" expanded background checks to fail in Senate. Try again he says.<br />
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyO/status/324487269052452864">April 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
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So as a sort of follow-up to my "<a href="http://yourbiggirlpants.blogspot.com/2013/01/10-things-that-are-more-regulated-than.html">10 Things That Are More Regulated Than Guns</a>" post, I decided - <i>on this day of the Senate vote on a compromise, bi-partisan, non-universal background check bill</i> - to take a look at some things that are as popular with Americans as universal background checks for gun purchases...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Presidents in Wartime.</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">President George W. Bush, <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/116500/presidential-approval-ratings-george-bush.aspx">the week after 9/11/01</a>. Also George H.W. Bush <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/behind-the-numbers/2007/07/approval_highs_and_lows.html">the week after the Persian Gulf War started</a>. Truman only got to a meager <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/behind-the-numbers/2007/07/approval_highs_and_lows.html">87 percent on the verge of V.E. day</a>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. The Sun.</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">89 percent of Americans <a href="http://allenergysolar.com/90-of-americans-support-solar-power-industry-development-so-whats-up-with-congress">support solar power</a>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Recycling.</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;"> 92 percent of Americans <a href="http://www.bagtheban.com/assets/content/bag-recycling-signage-testing.pdf">reuse their plastic bags</a>. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Turkey.</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;"> 88 percent of Americans <a href="http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/history/history.html">eat turkey at Thanksgiving</a>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Tricking and Treating.</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">87 percent of Americans <a href="http://www.thehersheycompany.com/newsroom/news-release.aspx?id=463828">participate in Halloween</a>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Coffee.</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">90 percent of Americans <a href="http://www.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm">consume caffeine every day</a>. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. You Scream, I Scream... </span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">90 percent of Americans <a href="http://www.californiadairypressroom.com/node/356">eat ice cream regularly</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/say-ernie-would-you-like-some-ice-cream-sherbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/say-ernie-would-you-like-some-ice-cream-sherbert.jpg" width="386" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Mounties, eh?</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/gallup-poll-90-percent-of-americans-have-negative-view-of-iran/">91 percent of Americans approve of Canada</a>. 87 percent have a negative view of Iran.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Marriage.</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">90 percent of Americans <a href="http://krieger2.jhu.edu/magazine/f09/f1.html">Are Projected to Marry in their lifetimes</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXRpmvJv949rmGGH-ViYx5UH8wFE-xBAwICBtqmjY3XCI69-hw2QFr3XIA_CfYqk_h4ReVFH3sRVmmSp_shiAwDAU1sva-LqsUd2Uzui4vAHvjx29V6D49SN2OM-60ONYQ5FyErzi9hU/s1600/mawwiage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXRpmvJv949rmGGH-ViYx5UH8wFE-xBAwICBtqmjY3XCI69-hw2QFr3XIA_CfYqk_h4ReVFH3sRVmmSp_shiAwDAU1sva-LqsUd2Uzui4vAHvjx29V6D49SN2OM-60ONYQ5FyErzi9hU/s400/mawwiage.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...and...</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. <i>90 Percent of Americans Support <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/07/us-usa-guns-poll-idUSBRE9160LW20130207">Universal Background Checks for Gun Purchases</a>.</i></span></b> <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">...So now, tell me: <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/04/democrats-scramble-gun-bill.php?ref=fpb">who do you love</a>, Senators? Because 90 percent of us are about to be pretty darn angry at you if you can't get this job done.</span></b><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-72284692510321776952013-04-08T01:22:00.000-04:002013-04-08T09:43:19.520-04:00Leaders Wanted. Apply Within.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"There go my people, I must find out where they are going so I can lead them."</span></b></div>
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This is one of those moments when I just wish Democrats in Washington would get the ovaries to lead rather than follow. <br />
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Because that tendency to follow is what I think is going on with the status of gun control legislation in Washington right now. <br />
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I don't know when it happened, but at some point Conventional Wisdom in D.C. moved to the point where almost nobody bothers to make an actual argument in politics anymore. If the theory on the Hill is, "you can't beat the NRA," then nobody on the Hill even tries, and every pundit in the book places his/her bets on the people losing to the NRA. <br />
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I understand it's harder work to actually persuade people than to manipulate the rules so that you don't have to do that (gerrymandering, passing congressional seats down in a family so everybody knows the name to vote for instead of learning about candidates, then using the many benefits of incumbency to hold onto a seat without actually having to do much for it). But the easier thing is not automatically the right thing to do.<br />
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I've been outright amazed at the extent to which the Republicans seem to be eager to disenfranchise voters rather than try to persuade them in their response to this last election. <br />
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But now I'm sadly <b>not amazed</b> at the fact that despite <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_162-57564386-10391739/9-in-10-back-universal-gun-background-checks/">91% approval ratings for universal background checks</a> for gun sales that Democrats aren't even trying to get that job done (no, I don't count the bill <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/04/08/pat-toomey-gun-controls-unlikely-savior/">Manchin and Toomey</a> are working on to except family sales and hunters), seemingly out of fear of losing Red-State Democratic Senate seats. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/statemap512.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/statemap512.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/">2012</a>: By Blue and Red States</td></tr>
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Conventional Wisdom in D.C. can get incredibly group-thinkish and stupid. And it sometimes misses important points, like the fact that there is no such thing as a red state or a blue state. Red State/Blue State thinking is shallow and doesn't pay attention to the actual facts on the ground. What we have are tendencies, generally grouped by where people choose to or end up living - city and inner-suburb versus rural and outer-suburb. If you look at the county maps for any recent election you'll see that I'm right. And the balance of those populations in a state or district is what makes it considered a "Red" or "Blue" state or district. And those balances are changing as we speak.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/countymaprb512.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/countymaprb512.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/">2012</a>: By County - Those little Blue Areas are where all the cities are.</td></tr>
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The whole Red State/Blue State idea gets even sillier as a premise when you map it by population instead of land area (because really, the land isn't what's voting, is it?):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/countycartrb512.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/countycartrb512.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2012/">2012</a>: County votes, based on population instead of land area. Mind blown?</td></tr>
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...And if you think voters always vote their assigned color and won't change their mind based on poor arguments or poor behavior, you have only to look at the last election to see that "Red" states go "Blue" when the Republican running says something incredibly stupid. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">But what I take from all of that information is that when people actually know what a candidate stands for, they tend to vote based on that information.</span></b> I'm looking at a situation in which we are early in an election season and the poll numbers look good. And I'm seeing Democrats on the Hill just give up. And that is infuriating to me. <br />
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I get that money and numbers and organizing are important. But since when did actually making a good, cogent, concise argument for what you believe become passé? When did it become okay to read the polls and govern based on them rather than, you know, leading based on one's morals and convictions? Because I simply do not believe that a majority of elected representatives actually thinks we shouldn't have universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons. I just think they're too chicken to stand on their convictions and fight for them everywhere.<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">A Brief Corollary:</span></u></i></b> The run on gay marriage support is this kind of pathetic show to me. The majority of elected Democrats and a good number of elected Republicans have probably personally supported gay marriage for quite some time. It was/is only the political will that has been/is lacking. I heard people go after Senator Portman for changing his mind based on his son. But what choice has the Republican Party left its people? They are engaged in a multi-year sprint to as far right as their little legs will take them, and the only openly-acceptable reason to hold a non-right-wing-fringe view on any social issue is a personal one. Nobody says boo about Dick Cheney supporting gay marriage. Same with Ken Mehlman (though you'll notice he waited until he wasn't RNC Chair before coming out). In the same way that Democrats are pretending to have epiphanies left and right on gay marriage, more Republicans will probably start talking about their gay friends and family members in the next couple of years. <br />
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The larger issue here is the fact that rather than leading and persuading and treating the American people like grown-ups, politicians are running around panting after poll numbers on every subject and waiting to see where the wind and the crowd are going, then pandering with all their might. And in the gun control fight it's even crazier, because even WITH positive poll numbers, and loads of solid evidence and argument on their side, politicians and pundits are maintaining that nothing will ever change in the "gun rights" racket. <br />
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And part of it feels like a guy thing (guys don't want to vote against wars, they don't want to vote against defense spending, and they don't want to vote against guns - fear of being seen as girly, I guess).<br />
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I guess politicians are betting that the NRA is more powerful and more likely to remember than parents and people who would like to see us live in a safer country. We'll see.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gun Control Leaders Wanted. Apply Within.</span></b><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-65099032805669062802013-03-27T10:57:00.001-04:002013-04-08T10:11:04.172-04:00Gay Marriage Follies<br />
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So. Many. Gay. Marriage. Memes.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">1. Icons as Gay Married:</span></u></b><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/dbgMIBh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://i.imgur.com/dbgMIBh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/599317_10151502586417346_452370548_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/599317_10151502586417346_452370548_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAzLzI2LzFjL2Zyb2Rvc2FtZXF1LmQ0MTQyLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/170615a1/9e4/frodo-sam-equality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAzLzI2LzFjL2Zyb2Rvc2FtZXF1LmQ0MTQyLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/170615a1/9e4/frodo-sam-equality.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAzLzI2LzQyL211cHBldHNlcXVhLjljYjQ2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/36b46c5b/45d/muppets-equality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAzLzI2LzQyL211cHBldHNlcXVhLjljYjQ2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/36b46c5b/45d/muppets-equality.jpg" /></a></div>
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...and of course...<br />
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<a href="http://carlamfranklin.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/bert-ernie-equality.jpg?w=600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://carlamfranklin.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/bert-ernie-equality.jpg?w=600" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">2. Meme as Political Argument:</span></u></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t.qkme.me/3q86mt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://t.qkme.me/3q86mt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sally Ride. She came out after she died.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/Xg6cA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/Xg6cA.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/campaign_print/production/media/209/largesquare.jpg?1343761643" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/campaign_print/production/media/209/largesquare.jpg?1343761643" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know, I don't usually include swearing, but this was so funny I had to add it.</td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">3. Gay Marriage Is Fabulous!</span></u></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, too funny to pass up.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/campaign_print/production/media/70/mediumsquare.jpeg?1341066973" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/campaign_print/production/media/70/mediumsquare.jpeg?1341066973" width="312" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/F/C/5/gay-bridal-registry-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/F/C/5/gay-bridal-registry-sign.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">4. Being Anti-Gay-Marriage Is Stupid/Hypocritical:</span></u></b><br />
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<a href="http://dbspsychology.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/gaymarriagememe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://dbspsychology.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/gaymarriagememe.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ct.fra.bz/il/fz/se/i60/2/2/16/f_52c07c5316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ct.fra.bz/il/fz/se/i60/2/2/16/f_52c07c5316.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, <a href="http://jessicavalenti.tumblr.com/post/42612393836/shhhh-no-one-tell-fox-news-that-the-wedding-kiss">it happened</a>.</td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">5. SCOTUS and Gay Marriage:</span></u></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally wrong Court make-up, but funny sentiment.</td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">6. Facebook Picture Haters:</span></u></b><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">7. Fun with Equal Signs:</span></u></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Gay Easter!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martha Stewart's <a href="http://mashable.com/2013/03/27/brands-marriage-equality-facebook/">contribution</a>: "Equality is sweet."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty sure Rothko didn't intend it this way, but <a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/519296-red-equal-sign">here it is</a>.</td></tr>
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<b>Love is good. That is all.</b></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-2265249383213454362013-03-18T07:44:00.000-04:002013-06-25T19:19:08.756-04:00Arithmetic: A Memo to CPAC<br />
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So we've heard from conservatives now. And as much fun as that was, I feel like it's important to underline something. <br />
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Conservatism has become all about division. I don't think it was always that way, and I don't think the philosophical roots of conservatism have to lead to that conclusion. But right now, conservatives want to separate the country into good guys and bad guys. Then they want to say only the "good guys" matter, and still call themselves patriots and still win elections. And the only way that actually works is if there are few bad guys or you cheat in elections. <br />
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The current "conservatives" think a whole lot of American people are bad guys.<br />
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<li><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The lower-income 47 percent of Americans whom conservatives maintain "take" from the government</span></u></b> (setting aside, for the moment, the fact that pretty much everybody "takes" and "gives" different things to the government depending on your definitions and parameters, let's just look at the math).</li>
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<li>Depending on which conservative you ask: <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Some subset of women and men who use birth control/women and men who are pro-choice.</span></u></b> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/us/politics/americans-divided-on-birth-control-coverage-poll-finds.html">64 percent of Americans</a> support the Obama birth control coverage mandate. <a href="http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/01/09/more-and-more-pro-life-americans-support-abortion-rights/">64 percent of Americans support <i>Roe v. Wade</i></a> - including a third of those who self-identified as "pro-life."</li>
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<li><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">People who don't want civilians to be able to buy assault weapons.</span></u></b> <a href="http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/14/16510092-poll-majorities-favor-assault-weapons-ban-background-checks?lite">55 percent of Americans support an assault weapons ban</a>. Women favor one by almost 20 percentage points over men, and more women vote.</li>
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<li><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">People who believe in, and would like to address, climate change.</span></u></b> <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/07/poll-more-americans-convinced-climate-change/1899487/">84 percent of Americans</a> say that climate change is "definitely" (50 percent) or "probably" (34 percent) happening, and most want to do something about it.</li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323384604578328230512080550.html">Chris Christie</a>.</span></b> Chris Christie has a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/02/20/sky-high-approval-for-chris-christie/">74 percent approval rating</a>.</li>
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<li><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">People who are not religious</span></u></b> (<b>and</b> <b>maybe people who are not Christian</b>, depending on which conservatives you ask). <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/Unaffiliated/nones-on-the-rise.aspx">Pew says</a> the number of Americans who openly do not believe is significantly on the rise, and now makes up 20 percent of Americans (disproportionately young people).</li>
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I'm sure I'm missing some, but this is a good enough place to start. I could make a list of the people that Democrats or liberals say are bad guys, and maybe I'll do that next. But the truth is that there are elected Democrats who are openly anti-gun-control, pro-life, and very rich. And I didn't even include the whole "non-white" thing - there are clearly conservatives who think non-white people are bad guys, but I don't think I even need to get to that. </div>
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Mathematically, when you say all these groups of people are bad guys - not just that you disagree with them, but that they are morally wrong - which with the exception of climate change, conservatives have said about all of these groups of people - then you are going to lose in fairly-run popular elections.</div>
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It's not the quality of the messaging, in other words. It's the message.</div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-3800771786174380922013-03-15T13:26:00.000-04:002013-03-15T13:29:42.167-04:00But Seriously, Let's Ban Some Guns<br />
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It looks like there is impressive progress on universal background checks for guns. And that's great, that needs to happen. Now. But it's not enough.<br />
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I'm going to put in this summary by Rachel Maddow of what happened in Newtown. It's tough to listen to, but if we want to protect our kids and stop this from happening again, let's take off the blinders, step away from the talking points, and listen to what actually happened. <br />
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Then let's try to learn from it about how to prevent it from happening again.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">1. Universal Ammunition Background Check</span></u></b> - We know Adam Lanza got his gun from his mother. I haven't heard anyone talk about how he got the ammunition, but a universal background check on ammunition (<a href="http://www.ctmirror.org/story/18688/blumenthal-wants-background-checks-ammunition-buyers">as proposed by Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal</a>) would help set up more red flag points for stopping people from loading up on ammunition in anticipation of a killing spree.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">2. Crisis Training for Teachers and Students</span></u></b> - more kids probably would have died if Newtown's teachers hadn't had lockdown training. We prepare for fires, why not for other crises? The more we can <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2012/12/20/conn-shootings-prompt-school-officials-consider-more-active-response-intruders/EZdfW0HQ6DYlkL4DPpMKCI/story.html">make crisis management routine</a>, the better off we will all be in a crisis. Putting kids into closets, placing black paper over the windows in the classroom, closing the doors, playing dead - these actions all helped save some kids and teachers in Newtown. <br />
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<a href="http://onemillionmomsforguncontrol.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/WhiteHousememe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://onemillionmomsforguncontrol.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/WhiteHousememe.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">3. Ban High-Capacity Magazines</span></u></b> - as Maddow says, in 5 minutes, Lanza fired 152 bullets. He had to reload 4 times. If he only could get his hands on 10-round magazines, he would have had to load 14 times. That's 10 more times for him to screw up and be stopped, or for the cops to get there, or for the shooter to decide to kill himself sooner. And I'm reasonably sure more children would have survived. So while I'm sure it's neato to shoot high-capacity rounds at a range (couldn't you just buy a damn Wii, people?), what we are talking about is making killing people harder. I just can't understand the priorities of somebody who thinks the former is more important. I also can't understand the viewpoint of anybody who thinks a civilian has any business owning high-capacity magazines. I think it's criminally-negligent that we haven't done this already.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">4. Ban Assault Weapons.</span></u></b> If we ban them, there will be fewer produced. There will be fewer available. It's important to pair this with universal background checks and cracking down on straw purchases and providing the BATF with more resources, but in concert with those things, an aggressive assault weapons ban would have made it less likely that Lanza would have had access to the Bushmaster assault weapon he used to mow down children while they hid in terror under their desks. Ban them. Now.<br />
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And lest we should forget, the argument against these actions that would make Newtown less likely to happen again by the Gun Manufacturers and their front group of the NRA is this:<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-902826018586190162013-03-04T16:20:00.001-05:002013-03-04T16:20:55.613-05:00Watch This. Pretty Please.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QPKKQnijnsM" width="560"></iframe>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-52539906820471820782013-03-01T14:19:00.000-05:002013-03-01T15:11:18.698-05:00Top 5 Reasons the Sequester Sucks<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. We the People <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100497393">don't want it</a>.</span></u></b> 51 percent say it's a bad idea (only 21 percent say it's a good idea) in the NBC/WSJ poll, 62 percent say it would have a negative effect on the economy in the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/02/26/National-Politics/Polling/question_9896.xml?uuid=t5vEAH_AEeKmcQMHOS3o3g">WaPo/Pew poll</a>, and both polls say more people <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/02/26/National-Politics/Polling/question_9900.xml?uuid=0AjBZH_AEeKmcQMHOS3o3g#">will blame Republicans</a> in Congress than the President (both men and women, btw) for the sequestration actually happening. A separate <a href="http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1144a12OntheBrinkofSequester.pdf">ABC/Post poll</a> that just came out yesterday said 52 percent disapprove of the way the president is handling the economy, but 67 percent disapprove of the way the Rs are handling the economy.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. It hurts real people.</span></u></b> A lot of them. Indiscriminately. People who already got smacked with the payroll tax hike. <br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2013/02/28/10-industries-that-will-be-hurt-most-by-the-sequester"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10 Industries That Will Be Hurt Most by the Sequester </span></b></a>- ones that build things for the government and provide transportation and education and social services. Meaning that for a whole bunch of people on the fighting edge of surviving the down economy, everything will get harder. This after the payroll tax hike. So how much consumer confidence are those people going to have right about now? Summary: </li>
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<li>Defense.</li>
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<li>Public schools. </li>
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<li>Road, bridge and tunnel construction. </li>
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<li>Remediation and environmental cleanup. </li>
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<li>Guns and ammunition. </li>
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<li>Colleges and universities. </li>
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<li>Steel framing. </li>
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<li>Public transportation. </li>
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<li>Airports. </li>
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<li>Social services facilities. </li>
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<li><b><a href="http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/03/01/el-erian-sequester/"><span style="font-size: large;">It's not just about government workers</span></a> </b>(who are mostly hard-working and important, but they are not the whole picture and Rs tend to dismiss them as a small group - <a href="http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/03/01/Biggest-Winners-and-Losers-in-the-Sequester-Stalemate.aspx#page1">they aren't</a>): </li>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Government activities have large multiplier and network effects; those of the vast majority of private companies do not. As such, <b><i>the extended effects of blunt actions -- such as the sequester -- tend to be sizable and quite unpredictable. </i></b> This is particularly concerning at a time when the country has emerged from the global financial crisis still structurally impaired; when income and wealth inequalities have already worsened considerably; and when unemployment remains way too high and joblessness is getting embedded more deeply in the structure of the economy (particularly among the most vulnerable segments of the population)." <b><i>[Emphasis mine.]</i></b></blockquote>
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<li><b><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/01/military-famiies-impact-sequestration-childcare"><span style="font-size: large;">It will hurt military families</span></a> </b>(and come on, haven't they had it hard enough recently?).</li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">But Emily, give me specifics.</span></b> Okay, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/57-terrible-consequences-sequester/story?id=18551994">here you go</a>.</li>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Let's talk about "indiscriminately."</span></u></b> I say indiscriminately, and I mean it, because the ability for politicians and administrators to control where the cuts will hit is limited, but there's another side to this. <br />
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In reality, by focusing on cuts rather than raising taxes, we will be hurting the very people who keep taking it on the chin in this economy. The people we need to be spending money to rev up our long-term economic growth. The people who make daily decisions about whether they can afford to buy more stuff. <br />
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You know, consumers. <br />
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So we're hurting more vulnerable people and directly causing them to have less money to choose to spend. Great decision. Real long-term thinking there.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. It's Chicken-S*** in the extreme.</span></u></b> Indulge me in a Soap Box Moment: I mean, Really. Just friggin' DO YOUR JOB. Yes, nobody can tell you what to cut, and when you ask the public what to cut, they don't want to cut anything. But that's because they don't know the details of what we spend and what we waste and which spending works the best - is most effective. Congress and the President, in contrast, DO have that information, and in theory, the ability to discern which cuts and tax hikes would be most effective. They have just been CHOOSING not to do it. So this is one big political ploy, an attempt to get budget cuts while pretending that they are not choosing which ones or to cut anything at all. Dude, we can see you. We are mostly smart enough to realize what you are doing. My three-year-old is more subtle. DO YOUR JOB.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. It will hurt the economy.</span></u></b> Don't take my word for it. <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100501341">Ask Ben Bernanke</a>. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/26/news/economy/budget-cuts-jobs/index.html">Ask the CBO</a> (Congress' own budget analysis office) - they say it could cost 800,000 jobs, and seriously hurt economic growth. That's stupid. Why do that? <br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-69928122884955249882013-02-18T08:40:00.003-05:002013-02-18T08:51:49.969-05:00Presidents Day Follies<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be clear: pretty sure most people who read this can name more than 5 :-)</td></tr>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-81180204517308942722013-02-14T12:57:00.000-05:002013-04-08T10:08:48.372-04:00Happy Cray-Cray Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alright. The crazy has become too much. I must comment.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Dear Wayne LaPierre:</span></u></b> <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/13/stand-and-fight/">Stop trying to make <b><i>Mad Max</i></b> happen</a>. <b><i>Mad Max</i></b> is not happening. You know how in law they say when you don't have the facts or the law on your side you should pound the table? You, sir, are pounding the table. And everybody but the way-paranoid-fringe knows it. Stop. This is about children and safety. This is about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and violent people. <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/nra-obama-magazines-middle-class.php">This is not a video game</a>. You are the thing standing in the way of our progress as a society on gun violence. Stop being the problem. Sincerely, Emily<br />
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P.S. Let's listen to the incredibly sensible, thoughtful Senator Durbin on the subject.<br />
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<i>(If you can't watch the whole thing, listen to what the Maryland cop says at about 5:40.)</i></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Hey, let's just all agree to NEVER do an immediate SOTU response, 'mkay?</span></u></b> You can do something the next day if you like. But the immediate response is never on target, it's never anywhere close to the gravitas of the actual thing, and it makes <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/colbert-rubio-water-speech.php?ref=fpnewsfeed">prominent</a> party leaders <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/25/bobby-jindal-response-pan_n_169710.html">laughing stocks</a> for <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/dorsey/bill-clintons-democratic-response-to-reagans-85-state-of-the">stupid reasons</a>. Just say no.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. What in God's Green Earth is going on in the <a href="http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/Disorder_In_The_Court">Wisconsin Supreme Court</a>?</span></u> </b>Can somebody please step in and end the madness? If justices are <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/justice-bradley-sought-more-security-long-before-incident-with-justice-prosser-7o8p2n5-191072701.html">physically abused</a> by other justices, I think we've hit the impeachable point. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hagel, in an actual war. Unlike Senator Cruz, <br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Let's Do Some <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/senate-dems-warn-still-no-60-votes-for-hagel-confirmation.php?ref=fpa">Political Math</a>: Chuck Hagel Is a Republican.</span></u></b> Obama is a Democrat. Everybody and their dog knows that we need to make defense spending cuts. Even the Defense Department says so. It's easier to make that case as a Democratic President if you have a Republican Defense Secretary. So while <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/harry-reid-blasts-gop-over-chuck-hagel-block-87659.html">all this show</a> is very entertaining, let's not pretend that anybody has an actual problem with Hagel except for Senator McCain. And Senator McCain's problem with Hagel is personal (and understandable, Hagel was a personal friend of McCain's who basically climbed aboard the Obama Train in 2008). But everybody else is just fighting the idea of a Republican Defense Secretary calling for defense cuts - especially one with actual combat experience who might be, you know, widely credible.<br />
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<b><i>(Context: Senator Nelson is a measured, gentle guy.)</i></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. The Tea Partiers at FreedomWorks <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/panda-hillary-clinton-sex-tape-freedomworks-matt-kibbe-dick-armey">did WHAT</a>????</span></u></b> Buy a clue, people. Then buy some common sense, decency, and respect for women. That is all.<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-49580411643866380772013-01-25T13:41:00.004-05:002013-03-01T15:27:09.802-05:00Friday Follies: #Hillary2016<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Bubba DNC Speech - </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. For Mandi :-) -</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Badass Hill - </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Hillary 2016 - </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Girls Rule - </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Blood Clot, Schmud Schlot - </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Benghazi Hearings - </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. YBGP!</span></b><br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-47945002584625637362013-01-23T07:30:00.000-05:002013-01-23T09:19:21.942-05:00Regularly-Scheduled Programing?<br />
So Mandi and I are going to be posting sporadically for awhile. We're both pretty busy right now, and we're experimenting with time management and priorities.<br />
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Here are a couple of stories I've found interesting to tide you over:<br />
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">VA GOP takes advantage of a civil rights leader going to the Inauguration to <a href="http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/21/16630863-virginia-republicans-move-for-permanent-majority?lite">ram through an awful redistricting plan</a>. </span></b> Gov. Bob "Forced Ultrasound" McDonnell says <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/01/bob-mcdonnell-condemns-dirty-trick.php?ref=fpnewsfeed">he doesn't think that's a good way to do business,</a> but <a href="http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/22/16646480-virginia-gov-would-really-like-everyone-to-stop-talking-about-gops-sneak-redistricting-now?lite">refuses to say</a> whether he'll sign the plan.</li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/01/also_unicorns.php?ref=fpblg">Best. Link. Title. Ever</a>. </span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://swampland.time.com/2013/01/18/house-republicans-cave-on-debt-ceiling-brinkmanship/">What the GOP Did at Their Retreat</a>:</span></b> tried <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/01/house_republican_williamsburg_retreat_gop_leaders_decided_that_they_had.html">to convince the Tea Partiers how colossally stupid it would be cause the country to default</a>. Will it stick? My guess is that <a href="http://yourbiggirlpants.blogspot.com/2013/01/5-things-we-could-change-to-make.html">The Hastert Rule is toast</a> on anything important, because the Tea Partiers cannot be counted on - even by the GOP - to do what's in the best interests of the country in an actual vote.</li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/lautenberg-booker-may-need-spanking-86576.html?hp=r11">Sen. Lautenberg Would Like to Spank Mayor Booker</a>.</span></b> He can't get no respect. I gotta tell you, I thought <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/01/booker-on-senate-run-thats-my-intention-154024.html">Booker's tone was a bit patronizing</a>, and now Lautenberg has doubled-down on patronizing back. That said, Lautenberg is getting pretty old. And clearly Booker cannot beat Gov. Christie right now, which is his only real other option for moving up to a national platform for his clearly telegenic self.</li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-12-13/the-worst-ceos-of-2012#r=rss?campaign_id=bw.bs.taboola">The Worst CEOs of 2012</a>. </span></b> AKA "Ways the Market Doesn't Solve Problems." I'm still not really clear on what a "Good CEO" looks like these days to people like Business School Profs, but I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have the same definition.</li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/bill-clinton-to-democrats-dont-trivialize-gun-culture-86443.html?ml=po_r">Bubba to Gun Control Advocate Community</a>: </span></b>Don't be jerks. Okay, what he really said was closer to don't be patronizing about "gun culture," but it's implicit.</li>
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<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/01/reid-mcconnell-filibuster-ultimatim.php">To Cop Out or to Grow Some Ovaries</a>?</span></b> Do it. Fix the Filibuster. We really do want you to, guys. And just for clarification: Fix = Reinstate the Stand Up and Talk Filibuster.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...Not like this.</td></tr>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-46701421624701148882013-01-21T07:30:00.000-05:002013-01-21T07:30:05.317-05:00Happy MLK Jr./Inauguration Day!<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com0