The Morning Rant: Minimalist Edition

The idea of an all-powerful government that ignores our rights protected by the United States Constitution used to be an academic exercise for the vast majority of us. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the rule of law was paramount, and stories of the clearly guilty being freed or never found guilty because of overreach by government agents was troubling for the obvious reason, but in some ways reassuring, that eventually (to paraphrase Longfellow) the mills of justice grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.

But that's not true...maybe it never was! The insanity of the police state executing searches whenever they want, based on personal desires or the needs of the Deep State^TM has come to the fore with a vengeance. President Donald Trump is being persecuted by an unaccountable law enforcement apparatus under the control of the ruling party currently occupying the halls of power.

But the enemies of the State include not just its most important and conspicuous interlocutor (Trump); the enemies of the State include anyone with the temerity to stand in the way of the natural progression of totalitarianism. That means you! And the Weaver family, and the Bundy family, and the Branch Davidians and dozens of others who stood up to government overreach and were exposed to the full might of the United States government.

But the nobility or benignity of their actions is not justification for the case against the government. It is a hugely important concept in our once marvelous legal system that the rights of the accused are protected no matter what. So the principled law breaker and the rapist and the murderer and the church-funds embezzler are granted the same protections.

Except of course if the State wants to send you to jail...

Police Used a Baby's DNA to Investigate Its Father for a Crime

If you were born in the United States within the last 50 or so years, chances are good that one of the first things you did as a baby was give a DNA sample to the government. By the 1970s, states had established newborn screening programs, in which a nurse takes a few drops of blood from a pinprick on a baby’s heel, then sends the sample to a lab to test for certain diseases. Over the years, the list has grown from just a few conditions to dozens.
The blood is supposed to be used for medical purposes—these screenings identify babies with serious health issues, and they have been highly successful at reducing death and disability among children. But a public records lawsuit filed last month in New Jersey suggests these samples are also being used by police in criminal investigations. The lawsuit, filed by the state’s Office of the Public Defender and the New Jersey Monitor, a nonprofit news outlet, alleges that state police sought a newborn’s blood sample from the New Jersey Department of Health to investigate the child's father in connection with a sexual assault from the 1990s.
Crystal Grant, a technology fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union, says the case represents a “whole new leap forward” in the misuse of DNA by law enforcement. “It means that essentially every baby born in the US could be included in police surveillance,” she says.

This is unbelievable on so many fronts that it is difficult to choose where to start!

First, what are the rights of the newborn's parents to refuse blood testing? Why are those blood samples saved after testing is complete? Why can the police go on fishing expeditions into medical records without clear evidence and a warrant signed by a judge?

The lesson is clear; none of our medical records are safe from government search. In fact, any time our personal data are in hands other than our own we must assume that the government will access them at their leisure. And that includes supposedly private genetic testing for any number of reasons...genealogical research, genetic testing for disease markers, etc.

Most of us are 29, or fast approaching that age...how many of our blood samples are peacefully sitting in laboratory freezers, waiting for some overzealous jackbooted thug of the government to demand testing because of some 30 year old cold case sitting on his desk? Never mind those pesky rules of evidence and chain of custody...

The government is our enemy, and any accommodation is anathema to a free society. That means we should think long and hard about where our personal information is, and how much of it we release to third parties, most of whom are passive agents of the state. Medical laboratories, health departments, hospitals, genealogical companies, doctor's offices...all have the potential to provide the authoritarians in power with evidence against us, and there is nothing we can do about it.

Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 sponge

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:00 AM (LvTSG)

2 Hmmm, that FBI is starting to look like a bad idea.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:01 AM (dNqv+)

3 Commenting present

Posted by: Skip's phone at August 16, 2022 11:02 AM (mabrp)

4 Top Ten?

Posted by: BunkerintheBurbs at August 16, 2022 11:03 AM (aXaSz)

5 FBI... KGB... At this point, what difference does it make?

Posted by: davidt at August 16, 2022 11:03 AM (oTZbj)

6 At least we know that any sample from Hunter biden is safe.

Posted by: Blue Hen at August 16, 2022 11:03 AM (cY9wR)

7 Hmmm, that FBI is starting to look like a bad idea.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:01 AM (dNqv+)

That's it! FBI...."Fuckin' Bad Idea"

Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:04 AM (AwYPR)

8 They collect DNA from everyone in the Armed Forces too.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at August 16, 2022 11:04 AM (Y5qcH)

9 At least we know that any sample from Hunter biden is safe.
Posted by: Blue Hen at August 16, 2022 11:03 AM (cY9wR)

Every crack baby matches Hunter's DNA .

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:04 AM (RH1Zb)

10 Written before or during the last thread, CBD?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:05 AM (dNqv+)

11 6 At least we know that any sample from Hunter biden is safe.
Posted by: Blue Hen at August 16, 2022 11:03 AM (cY9wR)

Considering Hunter sprinkled his DNA around like a garden hose, that is saying something.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at August 16, 2022 11:05 AM (N39Ws)

12 Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:05 AM (dNqv+)

Shit...did I miss a good point?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:06 AM (XIJ/X)

13 Hmmm, that FBI is starting to look like a bad idea.
Posted by: Aetius451AD

SNORT!
I really wonder what could possibly have been your first clue...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 16, 2022 11:06 AM (grhND)

14 it is very satisfying to receive text messages from the local GOPe asking my vote in the upcoming florida primary. I reply go EASTWOOD YOURSELVES GOPE
cathartic this

Posted by: paulnjax at August 16, 2022 11:06 AM (O1n6R)

15 I think I missed the military DNA collection by a few years.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 16, 2022 11:06 AM (EYMuX)

16 G A T T A C A

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:07 AM (I/doM)

17 Has anyone in the MSM asked McConnell how it feels being the most hated politician in DC? If not, someone should.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at August 16, 2022 11:07 AM (m7R0k)

18 17 Has anyone in the MSM asked McConnell how it feels being the most hated politician in DC? If not, someone should.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at August 16, 2022 11:07 AM (m7R0k)

=========

"It pays well."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:07 AM (LvTSG)

19 G A T T A C A
Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:07 AM (I/doM)

Love that movie.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:07 AM (RH1Zb)

20 Neil Oliver said it well. Tucker did a great job, too. We're a totalitarian state. Life will become hell under Garland.

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (VuQO/)

21 Shit...did I miss a good point?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:06 AM (XIJ/X)

No, but I think it dovetails very well with the idea of government trying to renegotiate the deal between ceded freedoms and liberty and the citizenry needing to push back against that.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (dNqv+)

22 So may dystopias coming true at once. It's almost funny. All those sci-fi vision, all predicting the future but none of them quite seeing the whole picture.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (XvPQV)

23 G A T T A C A
Posted by: Lizzy

Prophetic movie, unfortuately.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (grhND)

24 Hmmm, that FBI is starting to look like a bad idea.
Posted by: Aetius451AD

The FBI has turned out to be much more dangerous to the citizenry that the inter-state crime, also known as The Mob, that they were supposedly so desperately needed to defend against. After all, avoid the girls and playing the numbers, and you could largely avoid The Mob. Avoid the pill mills today in the rural areas and you still can.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (sH61M)

25 "Overreach"? I'm sick of that term. It sounds like I reached across my aunt at the Thanksgiving table to grab the rolls.

It softens the totatarian impulse that drives that act.

Posted by: Tom C at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (oXfO0)

26 That's it! FBI...."Fuckin' Bad Idea"
Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:04 AM

Shut 'er down, folks.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (RkC6l)

27 My body, my choice???? Hahahahahaha, I crack me up.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (Vr12I)

28 ...any time our personal data are...

Kudos for correctly using the plural verb "are" for the plural noun "data." Other than that, I got nothing. Your main point is 100% correct and AFAICT we are 100% helpless to do anything about it.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (nfrXX)

29 When I came to Texas I was surprised at the number of lakes here.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 16, 2022 11:09 AM (44ww/)

30
If only there was a "cloud" for blood samples!

The Cloud is a near mystical place, where all your data can be safely and permanently stored: protected from any who might try to steal or misuse it.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 16, 2022 11:09 AM (5NkmN)

31 25. It's meant to

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:09 AM (VuQO/)

32 Just a footnote to a reference from the previous thread:

"Remember the Raisin" was one of the early battle cries in the War of 1812 where, at the Battle of Frenchtown where the French-aligned Indian tribes massacred British wounded at the River Raisin.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:09 AM (LvTSG)

33 hiya

Posted by: JT at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (T4tVD)

34 28 ...any time our personal data are...

Kudos for correctly using the plural verb "are" for the plural noun "data." Other than that, I got nothing. Your main point is 100% correct and AFAICT we are 100% helpless to do anything about it.
Posted by: Oddbob at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (nfrXX)

=========

My dad, a statistician of some note, uses the correct verb agreement for data in casual conversation. He's the only person I know in the real world who does it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (LvTSG)

35 " You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them - and the implication is unlimited.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (Vr12I)

36 "But that's not true...maybe it never was!"

I'm more skeptical than ever about all the official narratives I've heard over six decades.

Posted by: For gp, The Action IS The Juice at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (qpX6U)

37 It's virtually impossible to keep the govt from getting your DNA. The only thing you really have some semblance of control over is the legal chain of custody.

Even being questioned by the police could yield your DNA if you drink anything or lose a hair in their office.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (Y5qcH)

38 hiya
Posted by: JT

Whoa, JT could have taken the time to read the content!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (grhND)

39 The government is our enemy, and any accommodation is anathema to a free society.
----------------

First time?

Posted by: insurgens ad opus at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (DQba3)

40 But we need to "reform" the Eff.Bee.EYE, and keep the majority of all the other un-Constitutional and useless t best except for kickbacks (!) and mostly destructive agencies formed in the past 150+ years, because reasons.

"Mr [whoever], tear down this bureaucracy!"

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (llON8)

41 Since we will probably never be able to shut down the FBI , I still suggest we start a competing investigative agency.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (RH1Zb)

42 Should definitely avoid using those DNA testing services. Ultimately though we will be reliant more on sheer volume than secrecy.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (b2nrj)

43 It astonishes me that people who would never trust you with their credit card or access to their bank account willingly, happily give up genetic information to companies for the purpose of "knowing where I came from."

Social media is a poison. Geneaology companies which harvest your DNA for some nebulous gratifaction are agents of the state. Prescriptions for any sort of anti-depressant are evidence that you are not in control of your emotions and must be denied your Second Amendment rights.

Short of a combination of full-on revolution / Nuremburg trials / mass executions, there is no stopping this government's tyranny. And there is neither the willingness nor the ability to make it so.

And this doesn't even begin to address the over 70% of people in this country who can't even spell 'constitution,' let alone tell you what it says.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (AW0uW)

44 "" You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them "

More like a mission statement.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (1n+EO)

45 Remember the Raisin" was one of the early battle cries in the War of 1812 where, at the Battle of Frenchtown where the French-aligned Indian tribes massacred British wounded at the River Raisin.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:09 AM (LvTSG)

They were toast.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 16, 2022 11:12 AM (EYMuX)

46 22 So may dystopias coming true at once. It's almost funny. All those sci-fi vision, all predicting the future but none of them quite seeing the whole picture.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (XvPQV)

Like the blind men and an elephant.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:12 AM (b2nrj)

47 hiya

Posted by: JT at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (T4tVD)

Ahem!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (XIJ/X)

48 It's virtually impossible to keep the govt from getting your DNA. The only thing you really have some semblance of control over is the legal chain of custody.

We've come a long way from "secure in our persons, houses, papers, and effects".

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (sH61M)

49 Since we will probably never be able to shut down the FBI , I still suggest we start a competing investigative agency.
Posted by: polynikes

I wonder if we could get them to name it something like "U.S. Marshalls"... naw, how would the U.S. Marshalls charter be different from the FIBBERs one?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (grhND)

50 " You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them "

More like a mission statement.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (1n+EO)

Nothing to kill or die for.
Above us only sky.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (AiZBA)

51 'dozens of others who stood up to government overreach and were exposed to the full might of the United States government.'

How many people beside me think we should hit Biden, Garland, Wray, etc. with similar force and scope if/when we get back into power?

I think anything less guarantees the end of our rights.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (qVln6)

52 Hey, isn’t possible to just change your dna? Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Lia Thomas at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (uPhXj)

53 35 " You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them - and the implication is unlimited.
Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (Vr12I)

I don't think they were even trying to imply it was a figure of speech. They want on to describe lease-everything (like software as a service but for all property) as the lifestyle of the future.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (b2nrj)

54 Also, give some imagination to the full possibilities of DNA testing. Do you have a genetic trait that makes you aggressive? Assertive? Able to be successful in a competitive field?

Is there a genetic trait that makes you independent or self- sufficient?

Or Republican?

"Social Credit"? You haven't really thought it through.

Posted by: Tom C at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (oXfO0)

55 "how many of our blood samples are peacefully sitting in laboratory freezers"

They keep mine in that drawer with the spent batteries, orphaned keys, old matchbooks and paper clips. Even without preservation, still a biohazard.

Posted by: For gp, The Action IS The Juice at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (qpX6U)

56 I'm more skeptical than ever about all the official narratives I've heard over six decades.

Posted by: For gp, The Action IS The Juice at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (qpX6U)

Exactly! I am questioning everything now.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (XIJ/X)

57 >>Remember the Raisin" was one of the early battle cries in the War of 1812 where, at the Battle of Frenchtown where the French-aligned Indian tribes massacred British wounded at the River Raisin.

Sounds more like a call to breakfast.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (ZLI7S)

58 That WNBA promo on the sidebar. Against my better judgment, I clicked and watched in horror

The promo clips -- presumably chosen to make the game look exciting -- looked like a bunch of drunks stumbling around. These are the best female players we have? They are slow, awkward, and simply cannot play basketball. A decent team of 12-year-old boys would destroy them.

Another thing that stuck me is how they try to use "sex appeal" to market the game. You gotta be kidding me. Look at all those made-up glamour shots of players. Who is that aimed at? Men? Lesbians? For a league that's oh so woke and feminist and anti-men, they sure try really hard to attract the male gaze.

Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (iFTx/)

59 This is a complicated question and part of it comes from the need to revise the 4th Amendment. When people talk of a 'Living Constitution', there are certain clauses that are written broadly enough to encompass a changing society--not to add rights that were not there but to buttress the right in light of technological changes. The Kyllo case is one where thermal imaging was used against a house to determine whether the residents were growing pot. The question is whether a warrant was needed because literally the thermal imaging could see through walls and curtains. Justice Scalia for the majority declared it did need a warrant because it used equipment that exceeded the natural senses of humans. This was despite the fact that the imaging only indicates heat escaping the house (so no trespass from the street). Scalia argued the 4th's reasonable clause should require a warrant because it used informational technology beyond the normal human senses to breach privacy of the home. So, the original text of the 4th should use the objective reasonable clause to determine whether a search or not occurred using unaltered natural perceptions of the officer.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (CXr4y)

60 51 'dozens of others who stood up to government overreach and were exposed to the full might of the United States government.'

How many people beside me think we should hit Biden, Garland, Wray, etc. with similar force and scope if/when we get back into power?

I think anything less guarantees the end of our rights.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (qVln6)

Ideally yes but realistically not going to happen from the federal government. Could have post-war trials or something.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:15 AM (b2nrj)

61 Michael Crichton wrote a book about DNA, it was more a series of stories woven together exploring DNA tech/uses/misuses.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:15 AM (I/doM)

62 Pretty soon , if not already, criminals will be taking a lot of different DNA with them to deposit at the scene.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:15 AM (RH1Zb)

63 Some of you have probably seen this, others maybe not. Link below is to a roughly half hour long video on using DNA of relatives, freely given to genealogy companies, to find a killer. If you don't want to invest half an hour the bottom line is as long as some of your relatives are giving DNA samples away you can be traced using that in combination with publicly available information about you.

https://youtu.be/KT18KJouHWg

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (wTP6A)

64 They were toast.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 16, 2022 11:12 AM (EYMuX)
=================
Frenched toast

Posted by: Vermont Maple Syrup Battalion at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (jqPhM)

65 For a league that's oh so woke and feminist and anti-men, they sure try really hard to attract the male gaze.

Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (iFTx/)

Not working.

Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (AwYPR)

66 Your main point is 100% correct and AFAICT we are 100% helpless to do anything about it.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (nfrXX)

I wonder whether there is a legal basis for us to demand the return or destruction (yeah...sure I would trust them!) of all blood samples taken by laboratories for whatever reason?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (XIJ/X)

67 What is most frightening to me about all of this is that so many people are not just OK with it - but encourage it.

I'm an attorney. Almost all of the other attorneys in my office are leftists. I keep my political viewpoint well hidden at work.

Our office isn't just attorneys, we are all litigators. and, not just litigators, we mostly defend state and municipal employees when sued for things like violations of free speech, excessive force, malicious prosecution, etc. So, we are all fairly well versed in these constitutional issues.

And yet, my colleagues see what is going on at the federal level and think it is not just OK, not just acceptable, but correct and morally and legally right and they want to see more of it and they want it to be more aggressive.

Because I keep my viewpoint hidden, I don't challenge them to explain how they rationalize this. But these are generally otherwise decent, well-informed, well educated people and they are cheering on the Stasi tactics of our gov't.

I can honestly now say that I now know how the NAZI's gained and kept power and how the holocaust happened. It is truly frightening.

Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (ky+MF)

68 I remember when Rick Perry was running for POTUS and people gasped and clutched their pearls when he said he wanted to make the government insignificant in our lives.

We need more of that attitude and soon.

Posted by: NR Pax at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (4olE8)

69 It astonishes me that people who would never trust you with their credit card or access to their bank account willingly, happily give up genetic information to companies for the purpose of "knowing where I came from."

--

It astonishes me too. My brother is big into geneology and has done his DNA thing with one of those companies, got one for my dad, and has tried for years to get me to do it as well. The sole reason I do not is because I do not trust the government. If they want your DNA, privacy will be damned and the companies doing these tests will cough it up...likely under federal threat. It's where this has been headed for a long while. There is no protection from overreach.

That's not to say I don't appreciate the abilities of DNA to catch rapists and murderers because I do. But as we can see, we're rolling down that slippery slope pretty quickly.

Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (sVtYq)

70 On the one hand, blood tests are an extremely powerful and useful tool in medicine. An incredible amount of information is contained in a sample of blood. Most of us probably don't think twice about them when we get our blood routinely tested for kidney or liver function.

On the other hand, as we have just witnessed in this case, that information can be used against us.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (YIVH2)

71 >>" You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them - and the implication is unlimited.

Correction -- IIRC, it was: " You will own nothing, you will have no privacy, and will love it"

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (I/doM)

72 Exactly! I am questioning everything now.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM

Bans on maple syrup on French Toast. Shaken Manhattans. No stone shall remain unturned!

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (a3Q+t)

73 53 35 " You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them - and the implication is unlimited.
Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (Vr12I)

I don't think they were even trying to imply it was a figure of speech. They want on to describe lease-everything (like software as a service but for all property) as the lifestyle of the future.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:14 AM (b2nrj)

Oh, I agree. What disturbs me most is that people on our side do not pause to consider those words.Sort of like when Obama and his beard said that he was going to " Fundamentally transform America". Too many just chalked it up to mere political verbiage, without reflection. In my opinion.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (Vr12I)

74 DNA from Covid tests.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (I/doM)

75 68 I remember when Rick Perry was running for POTUS and people gasped and clutched their pearls when he said he wanted to make the government insignificant in our lives.

We need more of that attitude and soon.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (4olE

=========

That's why he was my guy, even after the Oops moment.

I voted for him in the AL primary in 2012, after he had dropped out of the race.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (LvTSG)

76 How many people beside me think we should hit Biden, Garland, Wray, etc. with similar force and scope if/when we get back into power?

I do. I want 3am no-knock SWAT raids, with the perps' faces jammed into the pavement. But that isn't going to happen, for several reasons:

1. "That's not who we are," i.e., in-kind retribution isn't the American way and only leads us further down the road to dictatorship.

2. Who's going to raid the bastards? What organization can a GOP POTUS rely on to drag Stinkfinger away in chains?

3. Massive, burn-the-cities down protests from the left, aided and abetted by stand-aside local LEOs, which can only be silenced by the immediate release of whomever is taken prisoner.

I could go on. . .

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (AW0uW)

77 66 Your main point is 100% correct and AFAICT we are 100% helpless to do anything about it.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (nfrXX)

I wonder whether there is a legal basis for us to demand the return or destruction (yeah...sure I would trust them!) of all blood samples taken by laboratories for whatever reason?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (XIJ/X)

Assuming you didn't sign any paperwork I think the argument could be made. There might not be a law that specifically addresses it, but other property law or common law could cover it.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (b2nrj)

78
First, what are the rights of the newborn's parents to refuse blood testing?

My daughter lived in New Jersey. She consented to the first test which put her through hell on earth. False positive for cystic fibrosis. For two weeks she was inconsolable.

When her second child was born she refused the test. I know now why the test came back hot. Every person - of whatever religion - should be very concerned about this test.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (jE276)

79 I wonder if we could get them to name it something like "U.S. Marshalls"... naw, how would the U.S. Marshalls charter be different from the FIBBERs one?
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 16, 2022 11:13 AM (grhND

Texas Rangers.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (RH1Zb)

80 I watched a documentary on Jonestown last night and then did some research of my own. Despite the official narrative that led a "religious cult," the truth was that religion had little to do with it. He and his followers were die-hard communists and Jonestown was commie commune. And what eventually happened is what happens to all commie societies: misery, gross mismanagement, fascism, and eventually death and destruction. The official narrative is a lie. How much you wanna bet the David Koresh narrative is also a lie?

Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (iFTx/)

81 2. Who's going to raid the bastards? What organization can a GOP POTUS rely on to drag Stinkfinger away in chains?

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (AW0uW)

Theoretically you establish a new department of personally loyal people to go wreak terror on the others.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:19 AM (b2nrj)

82 71 >>" You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them - and the implication is unlimited.

Correction -- IIRC, it was: " You will own nothing, you will have no privacy, and will love it"
Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (I/doM)

Thanks. A very good correction.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:19 AM (Vr12I)

83 Ethan Hawke started off making weepy dramas, but turned a corner and made absolute must-see bangers. Gattaca is the corner, because it is a weepy drama absolute must-see banger.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 16, 2022 11:19 AM (44ww/)

84 Bans on maple syrup on French Toast. Shaken Manhattans. No stone shall remain unturned!

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (a3Q+t)

Emperor Dildo has spoken!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (XIJ/X)

85 Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (LvTSG)

He fooled you. Rick Perry was one of those guys who became rich while in office.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (RH1Zb)

86 ...But these are generally otherwise decent, well-informed, well educated people and they are cheering on the Stasi tactics of our gov't.
...
Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (ky+MF)

There is a logical inconsistency or two in there. I don't think they are decent or well-informed from what you're saying.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (XvPQV)

87 Continued,
The previous iterations of 'search' standards on reasonableness including the trespass std. that allowed wiretapping under Olmstead. The later Katz std. which created the reasonable expectation of privacy std, and the proposed by Justice Alito, the mosaic theory of a search.

The Katz standard has been effectively undermined by modern computer technology and that has been made worse by the idea that any information shared with another individual or institution is fair game for a search without a warrant. As the costs of a search goes down, the likelihood that a lot of people will be caught in the web government searches increases. Here, a warrant has to specify the particular things to be searched and where they are found but ironically, no such limitation occurs with government and commercial databases. So, police use general snooping techniques to spy on a huge number of people and algorithms then chose the likely one. This is similar in the real world to a general warrant which was specifically prohibited and cannot be regarded as reasonable.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (CXr4y)

88 "I am questioning everything now."

Ever since I took that epistemology course, it's hard to believe in anything enough to fight for it.

Posted by: For gp, The Action IS The Juice at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (qpX6U)

89 I wonder whether there is a legal basis for us to demand the return or destruction (yeah...sure I would trust them!) of all blood samples taken by laboratories for whatever reason?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (XIJ/X)
==============
More protection might come from a statute limiting uses of medical information, and also saying those limitations may not be waived and any waivers previously signed are without force and effect.

Every time you enter a medical office patients sign away confidentiality protections as a condition of receiving medical care. That practice should end.

Of course, the Feds do not obey the law anyway, so (one wonders) what's the difference?

Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (jqPhM)

90 I wonder whether there is a legal basis for us to demand the return or destruction (yeah...sure I would trust them!) of all blood samples taken by laboratories for whatever reason?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (XIJ/X)

If you're ever arrested...and finger printed...I'm pretty sure FBI gets those prints...Don't think they're supposed to, legally.

Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (AwYPR)

91 85 Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (LvTSG)

He fooled you. Rick Perry was one of those guys who became rich while in office.
Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (RH1Zb)

===========

K. Instead we got Mitt Romney, so whatever.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (LvTSG)

92 84 Bans on maple syrup on French Toast. Shaken Manhattans. No stone shall remain unturned!

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (a3Q+t)

Emperor Dildo has spoken!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (XIJ/X)

Biggus. Biggus Dickus.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (Vr12I)

93 Theoretically you establish a new department of personally loyal people to go wreak terror on the others.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy

Only allowed to operate between sundown and sunup.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (qfVDK)

94 Here it is: https://tinyurl.com/dvwcdda8

Welcome To 2030: I Own Nothing, Have No Privacy And Life Has Never Been Better

Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to my city - or should I say, "our city." I don't own anything. I don't own a car. I don't own a house. I don't own any appliances or any clothes.

It might seem odd to you, but it makes perfect sense for us in this city. Everything you considered a product, has now become a service. We have access to transportation, accommodation, food and all the things we need in our daily lives. One by one all these things became free, so it ended up not making sense for us to own much. . .

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (I/doM)

95 76. I think we're over as a free country

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (VuQO/)

96 I can honestly now say that I now know how the NAZI's gained and kept power and how the holocaust happened. It is truly frightening.

Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (ky+MF)

As a follow up to that, they obviously have 100% faith and trust in gov't (when a dem is in power) and I don't think any revelation of wrongdoing would ever shake their 100% faith and trust in gov't (when a dem is in power).

So, if Merrick Garland says Trump is guilty of treason - without presenting any evidence, no amount of evidence proving otherwise will convince them that Trump is innocent.

Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (ky+MF)

97 2. Who's going to raid the bastards? What organization can a GOP POTUS rely on to drag Stinkfinger away in chains?

-------

Outsource it to Putin.

/only half-joking

Posted by: ShainS -- Welcome to the boneyard, it gets worse here every day at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (WtAgB)

98 If you're ever arrested...and finger printed...I'm pretty sure FBI gets those prints...Don't think they're supposed to, legally.
Posted by: BignJames

If you've ever had a concealed handgun license, they have them.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (qfVDK)

99 That's why he was my guy, even after the Oops moment.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (LvTSG)

Yup. He was spot-on with that comment, and in retrospect it was prescient.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (XIJ/X)

100 That's why he was my guy, even after the Oops moment.

I voted for him in the AL primary in 2012, after he had dropped out of the race.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:17 AM (LvTSG)

Same, in the WA primary. I didn't want McCain, though I did want Sarah Palin. In several sense of the word.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (XvPQV)

101 Ahem!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

You're a dressmaker ?

Posted by: JT at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (T4tVD)

102 Correction -- IIRC, it was: " You will own nothing, you will have no privacy, and will love it".

And you know, if they could provide a Logan's Run world of constant entertainment and leisure, people would go for it. But, as we know, there simply doesn't exist that much wealth and excess productivity to provide that.

And even if it did exist, the providers would - of course - want a little something extra. Which would piss off the non-providing leisure/party class, and we'd be right back where we are now.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (sH61M)

103 This is unbelievable on so many fronts that it is difficult to choose where to start!

You don't mean that. It is not only believable, it is expected.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (QSjkU)

104 Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (iFTx/)

It started as a religious cult but Jones subsequently rejected 'God' because he said he was God . And you are correct that Koresh did the same thing.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (RH1Zb)

105 So, if Merrick Garland says Trump is guilty of treason - without presenting any evidence, no amount of evidence proving otherwise will convince them that Trump is innocent.
Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (ky+MF)

Well we don't have to rely on them "coming to their senses", which probably isn't going to happen.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (b2nrj)

106 90 you need to be fingerprinted for a few professional licenses, too, btw

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (VuQO/)

107 99 Yup. He was spot-on with that comment, and in retrospect it was prescient.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (XIJ/X)

=========

I got his autograph in one of his books at a Ted Cruz event in 2016. He wrote: "Freedom! Rick Perry"

It tickled me.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (LvTSG)

108 This makes me think of the Ring tv show amazon is reportedly considering or producing. A wacky, American's Home videos kind of program where footage from Ring (kind of on the nose there amazon, re Tolkien) cameras will be used from various subscribers.

Now, I am sure the legal technicalities were observed in the contract for the service, but would any of the people if they really understood what they were signing up for have gone for this? Some maybe, but I bet quite a few would not.

Which is why I hate service agreements and why I would never have a Ring.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (dNqv+)

109 Leftists know their ideas aren't the most popular.

They just want people to believe they are.
Posted by: davidt at August 16, 2022 10:59 AM (oTZbj)

Small nit to pick. It's not that they want people to believe they are. It's that they want people who don't believe they are silent or dead.

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (pm2hp)

110 "I am questioning everything now."

Ever since I took that epistemology course, it's hard to believe in anything enough to fight for it.

How do you know you really took that course?

Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (/NCI4)

111 it is very satisfying to receive text messages from the local GOPe asking my vote in the upcoming florida primary. I reply go EASTWOOD YOURSELVES GOPE
cathartic this
Posted by: paulnjax at August 16, 2022 11:06 AM (O1n6R)

Not voting for MAGA candidates in primaries is the sure-fire way to ensure that voting doesn't help. If you vote right in the primary and the GOPe candidate wins, then you can types-deletes to your heart's content. Fortunately that hasn't happened much this year.

Posted by: Ian S. at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (ZGrMX)

112 98 If you're ever arrested...and finger printed...I'm pretty sure FBI gets those prints...Don't think they're supposed to, legally.
Posted by: BignJames

If you've ever had a concealed handgun license, they have them.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (qfVDK)

You need to be fingerprinted to get an engineering license in Texas.

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (wTP6A)

113 95 76. I think we're over as a free country
Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (VuQO/)

Maye getting there. The time may come when commenting, like we do here, is really sticking your neck out.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (Vr12I)

114 94 Here it is: https://tinyurl.com/dvwcdda8

Welcome To 2030: I Own Nothing, Have No Privacy And Life Has Never Been Better

Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to my city - or should I say, "our city." I don't own anything. I don't own a car. I don't own a house. I don't own any appliances or any clothes.

It might seem odd to you, but it makes perfect sense for us in this city. Everything you considered a product, has now become a service. We have access to transportation, accommodation, food and all the things we need in our daily lives. One by one all these things became free, so it ended up not making sense for us to own much. . .
Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:21 AM (I/doM)

_____________________________________

I watched a documentary on Jonestown last night and did some of my own research. This idiot is describing a more modern version of Jonestown. We all know how that turned out. If you own nothing, you have nothing, and you are nothing.

Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (iFTx/)

115 >>I wonder whether there is a legal basis for us to demand the return or destruction (yeah...sure I would trust them!) of all blood samples taken by laboratories for whatever reason?

Doesn't matter since chances are some of your relatives voluntarily gave DNA to one of the Ancestry/23AndMe sites.

They don't have to have much of the population (under 20% I think?) to identify you via your relatives.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (I/doM)

116 110 "I am questioning everything now."

Ever since I took that epistemology course, it's hard to believe in anything enough to fight for it.

How do you know you really took that course?
Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (/NCI4)

==========

The smart bomb who taught the course destroyed everything. There's nothing left.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (LvTSG)

117 I do. I want 3am no-knock SWAT raids, with the perps' faces jammed into the pavement.
================
We absolutely promise. Solemn word given. We will act, and do so immediately! You can count on the Republican Party.

Posted by: Zombie John McVain at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (jqPhM)

118 Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to my city - or should I say, "our city." I don't own anything. I don't own a car. I don't own a house. I don't own any appliances or any clothes.

It might seem odd to you, but it makes perfect sense for us in this city. Everything you considered a product, has now become a service. We have access to transportation, accommodation, food and all the things we need in our daily lives. One by one all these things became free, so it ended up not making sense for us to own much. . .

====

In other words, we'll literally become pets. Might as well throw us in the "comfortable home setting" cage with Roddy McDowell and prop a sign in front of the bars that says, "Earth Creature in His Natural Habitat."

Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (sVtYq)

119 >>Our office isn't just attorneys, we are all litigators. and, not just litigators, we mostly defend state and municipal employees when sued for things like violations of free speech, excessive force, malicious prosecution, etc. So, we are all fairly well versed in these constitutional issues.

>>And yet, my colleagues see what is going on at the federal level and think it is not just OK, not just acceptable, but correct and morally and legally right and they want to see more of it and they want it to be more aggressive.

No offense to you particularly as you seem to get it but in my experience some of the dumbest "experts" in their supposed field of expertise are lawyers. I have a few highly credentialed lawyers in my family and we all hear them bleat daily on the tube or in print and a large number of them, perhaps the majority, seem downright ignorant of the law let alone the Constitution or they just choose to ignore both.

The issue of a presidents ability to declassify is a perfect example. This isn't a debatable topic, the facts are well established, and yet supposedly highly skilled and extremely well paid lawyers are still arguing about it.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (ZLI7S)

120 The military took our blood for DNA in case our remains needed to be identified.

That's how they got my DNA information. They were supposed to safeguard that information, but I believe that like I believe Obamacare was going to save me $2500 a year and I could have the physician I choose.

Posted by: Adirondack Patriot at August 16, 2022 11:25 AM (lf83v)

121 I got tangled, talking about the 2012 and 2008 campaigns. Apologies for my confusion.

As for 2012, Bill Whittle got me all fired up and I was on the Romney bandwagon....though I did support Perry through the nomination process.

I still prefer Perry to that fucking Romney cuck.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:25 AM (XvPQV)

122 Doesn't matter since chances are some of your relatives voluntarily gave DNA to one of the Ancestry/23AndMe sites.

They don't have to have much of the population (under 20% I think?) to identify you via your relatives.
Posted by: Lizzy

You've done every thing you can to stay under the radar, and a snot nosed cousin fucks you over.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:25 AM (qfVDK)

123 So may dystopias coming true at once. It's almost funny. All those sci-fi vision, all predicting the future but none of them quite seeing the whole picture.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (XvPQV)

Jon-a-than! Jon-a-than!

Posted by: Count de Monet at August 16, 2022 11:25 AM (4I/2K)

124 This isn't a debatable topic, the facts are well established, and yet supposedly highly skilled and extremely well paid lawyers are still arguing about it.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (ZLI7S)

Lawyers love to argue

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (XvPQV)

125 The two party doctrine really should not apply to information that one would want to keep secret such as bank accounts, phone numbers called, and so on and for that reason, should require at least a subpoena directed at the individual, not the organization holding such data. Even under the expectation of privacy banner, one does not willingly share your credit card, banking, and other such sensitive information with random people off the street. Therefore the two party doctrine undercuts the expectation of privacy and the 4th Amendment particularity requirement by excluding a chance to defend one's privacy in court (which an organization will care less about) and requiring one to live like a hermit with their cash under a bed in order to keep financial and communications private.

Justice Alito argues instead, we should go to a mosaic theory whereby government actions become a search requiring a warrant when we can reasonably determine whether the government seeks to target an individual by using multiple ways of searching for that particular individual by cross collating data among databases that refer to that individual.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (CXr4y)

126 I must have missed a coordinated lefty message bulletin, because DU has several threads on Social Security for some reason? In 1975, my boss said, "Social Security won't be worth a damn when we retire." She is six years older than me. This horse shit about “Social Security is going to end” has been going on a long, long time. It won’t end unless this country lets the Reptilicans end it.

If we lift the cap on payroll contributions, SS will be solvent in perpetuity.

Amen! IMO, there should be a floor rather than a cap. You don't start to pay until your annual income reaches a minimum amount.

Agreed. That's a scam to get us to privatize Social Security rather than getting rid of the caps Kudos to Ralph Nadar for spelling out to me, in particular, what a scam this is. No financial plan is funded decades in advance like US Social Security. It’s a wonderfully run program.

Posted by: Intrepid Democratic Underground AoS Liaison at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (JCZqz)

127 When an animal goes feral you shoot it to protect the non-feral. Here we are thanks to Manhattan Priviledge.

Posted by: Puddinhead at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (NsE9F)

128 64 They were toast.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 16, 2022 11:12 AM (EYMuX)
=================
Frenched toast
Posted by: Vermont Maple Syrup Battalion at August 16, 2022 11:16 AM (jqPhM)

Can't sous vide that shit can ya...

Posted by: BIG RAISIN at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (BgMrQ)

129 I vaguely recall the government getting one of those "What racial background do I have" DNA testing sites to give them data from the *relative* of a suspect to ID him as the culprit.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (ESjRY)

130 Show me the man and I will show you the crime and make up the proof.

A Democanazi 2022

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (u4CEu)

131 124 This isn't a debatable topic, the facts are well established, and yet supposedly highly skilled and extremely well paid lawyers are still arguing about it.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (ZLI7S)

Lawyers love to argue
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (XvPQV)

=========

No they don't.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (LvTSG)

132 Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to my city - or should I say, "our city."

Is "our city" like "our democracy"?

Posted by: Ian S. at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (ZGrMX)

133 So may dystopias coming true at once. It's almost funny. All those sci-fi vision, all predicting the future but none of them quite seeing the whole picture.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (XvPQV)

Jon-a-than! Jon-a-than!
Posted by: Count de Monet at August 16, 2022 11:25 AM (4I/2K)

Rollerball might a 'better case scenario' compared to what we're looking at now.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (XvPQV)

134 No they don't.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (LvTSG)

They also love contradiction

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (XvPQV)

135 I still prefer Perry to that fucking Romney cuck.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:25 AM (XvPQV)

Yes hindsight is a hell of an eye-opening drug .

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (RH1Zb)

136 There is a logical inconsistency or two in there. I don't think they are decent or well-informed from what you're saying.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:20 AM (XvPQV)

What I mean is that they are up on all current issues (as well informed as one can be from mainstream media only). As far as decent - if you didn't know their political positions they are the kind of people you would generally get along with, like, trust your kids with, enjoy as neighbors, etc.

Just average people. That is what is so frightening. If well educated people (particularly well educated in constitutional law) can side with the fascists - how can we expect the average low-information citizen to understand what is going on?

If people you otherwise would consider "decent" can support such fascism, you can begin to understand how the average German was fine with what the NAZIs were doing. That is what is very frightening to me.

Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (ky+MF)

137
I do not see how voting harder will fix anything

Posted by: Yo! Ultra MAGA at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (uW2OD)

138
Every time you enter a medical office patients sign away confidentiality protections as a condition of receiving medical care. That practice should end.
Posted by: Huck Follywood

Remember Medical *ETHICS* says you can lie to patients when doing research.
Now square that circle with 'do no harm'.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (grhND)

139 I know now why the test came back hot. Every person - of whatever religion - should be very concerned about this test.
Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (jE276)

Will you explain, please, why the test came back hot and what does religion have to do with it?

Posted by: Emmie at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (6RgRK)

140 126 Agreed. That's a scam to get us to privatize Social Security rather than getting rid of the caps Kudos to Ralph Nadar for spelling out to me, in particular, what a scam this is. No financial plan is funded decades in advance like US Social Security. It’s a wonderfully run program.
Posted by: Intrepid Democratic Underground AoS Liaison at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (JCZqz)

=========

I say we let people keep the money and invest it the way they want. They could stuff it in their mattresses.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (LvTSG)

141 121 I got tangled, talking about the 2012 and 2008 campaigns. Apologies for my confusion.

As for 2012, Bill Whittle got me all fired up and I was on the Romney bandwagon....though I did support Perry through the nomination process.

I still prefer Perry to that fucking Romney cuck.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:25 AM (XvPQV)

Fred Thompson!

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (dNqv+)

142 90 you need to be fingerprinted for a few professional licenses, too, btw
Posted by: CN

But I don't need to be fingerprinted to say Hiya, right, CBD ?

Posted by: JT at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (T4tVD)

143 Is "our city" like "our democracy"?
Posted by: Ian S. at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (ZGrMX)

Or "our community". Every time I hear that I want to vomit.

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (wTP6A)

144 141
Fred Thompson!
Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (dNqv+)

==========

Back in 2015, my ideal was Rick Perry hiring Newt Gingrich for debate prep.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (LvTSG)

145 137
I do not see how voting harder will fix anything
Posted by: Yo! Ultra MAGA at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (uW2OD)

Vote, especially at local and state levels. But also buy guns, ammo, food and water.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (XvPQV)

146 My gosh! Did you realize the WNBA 2022 playoffs start tomorrow? Where do the flies time?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (a3Q+t)

147 I can haz young Jenny Agutter?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (1n+EO)

148 The eugenicists may be more interested in "breeding out" certain traits, like strong independent smart people's genetics. Those strong people have a habit of exposing the corrupt.

DNA on record for most Americans? Yeah, a permanent record ... given the gestapo approach of the Junta, and their "genocide" during plandemic, not hard to imagine some dystopian future ... we already have the mad scientists.

though actually, neither Gates nor Fauci nor Birx lead the hard science, but they are in the machine as facilitators.

Posted by: illiniwek at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (Cus5s)

149 Fred Thompson!

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (dNqv+)

Fred was "my guy"...then...

Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (AwYPR)

150 If you're ever arrested...and finger printed...I'm pretty sure FBI gets those prints...Don't think they're supposed to, legally.
Posted by: BignJames

If you've ever had a concealed handgun license, they have them.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (qfVDK)

You need to be fingerprinted to get an engineering license in Texas.
Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (wTP6A)

And to renew your CPA license. Probably any professional license in Texas, like cosmetology and massage too. Inherently dangerous people.

Posted by: Count de Monet at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (4I/2K)

151 My daughter lived in New Jersey. She consented to the first test which put her through hell on earth. False positive for cystic fibrosis. For two weeks she was inconsolable.

When her second child was born she refused the test. I know now why the test came back hot. Every person - of whatever religion - should be very concerned about this test.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (jE276)

-------

Interesting. My initial reaction to this post was to jokingly wonder how reliable these blood tests were (given what we know with "The SCIENCE!" driving the COVID & "Vaxx" hysterias and seeming randomness of the PCR false positives), and ask Muldoon to weigh in.

Posted by: ShainS -- Welcome to the boneyard, it gets worse here every day at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (WtAgB)

152 145 137
I do not see how voting harder will fix anything
Posted by: Yo! Ultra MAGA at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (uW2OD)

Vote, especially at local and state levels. But also buy guns, ammo, food and water.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (XvPQV)

=========

State level is where voter integrity measures originate.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (LvTSG)

153 Lawyers love to argue
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (XvPQV)

=========

No they don't.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (LvTSG)[./i]

That's the Contradictions Department. Two doors down on the left.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (AiZBA)

154 They'll Build Their City
- On Rock 'N Roll !!!!!!

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (Vr12I)

155
They don't have to have much of the population (under 20% I think?) to identify you via your relatives.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM

My sister did the Ancestry DNA test. I get tired of scrolling before her list gets to the end. Even though a lot of the names are pseudonyms there were a lot of names I recognized.

Between her DNA and my grandsons NJ DNA, I've decided to live a law abiding life. For now. You get to a certain age and a life sentence doesn't seem so bad. /s

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (jE276)

156 Fred Thompson!
Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (dNqv+)

I literally gave money to him and volunteered to support him. The GOPe torpedoed him and he did not have Trump's money or quirks. I liked him, very much.

Also, everyone I give money to seems to lose. Dunno what that says about my luck or my judgement...

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (XvPQV)

157 The whole "we used 23 and me" or some other DNA ancestry site was always laughable. We are such sheep.

Posted by: Indignatio Vindacatorem at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (VcwXV)

158 That's how they got my DNA information. They were supposed to safeguard that information, but I believe that like I believe Obamacare was going to save me $2500 a year and I could have the physician I choose.
===

You CAN have any physician you want as long as it is a third world nurse practitioner.

Posted by: Obamacare Exchanges at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (u4CEu)

159 They identified the Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War via DNA testing after his family requested it.

We may never have an Unknown Soldier again.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (BsxTL)

160 76

1. But it is who I am.

2. Well. You have a point. You'd have to find a wild goose chase for the DC, Uniparty law enforcement types to get them away from DC. Then bring in a National Guard from a loyal state. For security.
3. Let them burn their cities for a few days. Then declare a national emergency and send in troops.

Just winging it here.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (qVln6)

161 Or "our community". Every time I hear that I want to vomit.

Forced collectivism. The implication that you owe something to the State. Call it duty, call it patriotism, call it whatever. It always comes down to a forced sense of collectivism and the idea that you owe a piece of your labor to somebody else.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (sH61M)

162 When her second child was born she refused the test. I know now why the test came back hot. Every person - of whatever religion - should be very concerned about this test.

A factoid from Our Sunday Visitor: "90% - The amount legal abortions decreased in Portland after a court there eliminated exceptions for fetal defects."

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (AW0uW)

163 156 Also, everyone I give money to seems to lose. Dunno what that says about my luck or my judgement...
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (XvPQV)

=========

Start giving money to Democrats?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (LvTSG)

164 >>Lawyers love to argue

Oh I understand all too well. But when simple facts are a source of a debate rather than the actions taken by people it becomes a farce.

I'm sick of lawyers trying to twist the law to suit their arguments rather than debating the actions of people in relation to the law and the Constitution.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (ZLI7S)

165 104 Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (iFTx/)

It started as a religious cult but Jones subsequently rejected 'God' because he said he was God . And you are correct that Koresh did the same thing.
Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:22 AM (RH1Zb)
________________________

Yes and no. The documentaries mostly whitewash the commie angle, but the truth is even when Jones was young be was fascinated by Marxism and greatly admired Lenin and Stalin. His "religious" sermons were always laced with commie bullshit. But I do agree that at some point he completely abandoned the religious angle and went Full Commie.

Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (iFTx/)

166 You need to be fingerprinted to get an engineering license in Texas.
Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:23 AM (wTP6A)

To keep out the rogue HVAC repairmen like Harry Tuttle.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (44ww/)

167 Lawyers love to argue
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:26 AM (XvPQV)

=========

No they don't.
----------------
They like to bill hours.

Posted by: Puddinhead at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (NsE9F)

168 Seems like the only way to right things is for the entire world to be burned to the ground.

The Day of the LORD's wrath and what He must do is making a whole lot more sense than it ever used to.

Posted by: Miss Issippi at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (sI15f)

169
Welcome To 2030: I Own Nothing, Have No Privacy And Life Has Never Been Better

Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to my city - or should I say, "our city." I don't own anything. I don't own a car. I don't own a house. I don't own any appliances or any clothes.

Are they going to call the city Omelas?

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (ESjRY)

170 The issue of a presidents ability to declassify is a perfect example. This isn't a debatable topic, the facts are well established, and yet supposedly highly skilled and extremely well paid lawyers are still arguing about it.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (ZLI7S)

as has been said before, it's very difficult to get a man to understand something when he's being well paid not to understand it.

but as to the larger topic, most people are, and always have been conformists. They want to be told what to do, what to think, and they will follow those orders slavishly because it would never occur to them to do anything us. People like us here, who actually try to think for ourselves, are pretty rare. Especially today.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (trdmm)

171 147 I can haz young Jenny Agutter?
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (1n+EO)

*perks up*

Is that an option?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (XvPQV)

172 Are they going to call the city Omelas?
Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:30 AM (ESjRY)

Hey, they only tormented ONE child instead of murdering thousands every year in the womb. Very advanced society.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (XvPQV)

173 And to renew your CPA license. Probably any professional license in Texas, like cosmetology and massage too. Inherently dangerous people.
Posted by: Count de Monet at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (4I/2K)

The sheriff who took mine told me he sees it a lot for Real Estate agents and Home Inspectors because their jobs take them inside people's homes.

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (wTP6A)

174 Things could be worse. You could be a Canadian under my rule.

Posted by: Justin Trudeau at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (u4CEu)

175 Fred was "my guy"...then...
Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (AwYPR)

I had a really good gut level feel on the guy. I also had a 'He may not be taking this seriously or be determined' read. I think both were true.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (dNqv+)

176 149 Fred Thompson!

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (dNqv+)

Fred was "my guy"...then...
Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (AwYPR)

Heh. He threw out the first pitch at my kids' little league season one year. He was sorta "my guy", too.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (906pl)

177 113. We know we're being monitored

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (VuQO/)

178 171 147 I can haz young Jenny Agutter?
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (1n+EO)

*perks up*

Is that an option?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (XvPQV)

=========

I learned that the reason Peter Sellers had to drop out of the movie Kiss Me, Stupid was because he had just married Agutter and she was sexing him into heart attacks too much.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (LvTSG)

179 >>You've done every thing you can to stay under the radar, and a snot nosed cousin fucks you over.

Yeah, and that little ancestry company that they gave their DNA to? It got bought out by a mega-corp for who-knows-what purpose:

New York, December 4, 2020 -- Blackstone (NYSE:BX) today announced that private equity funds managed by Blackstone ("Blackstone") have completed their previously announced acquisition of Ancestry from Silver Lake, GIC, Spectrum Equity, Permira, and other equity holders for a total enterprise value of $4.7 billion. Current Ancestry investor GIC will continue to retain a significant minority stake in the company.

Ancestry is the global leader in digital family history services, operating in more than 30 countries. The company has over 3.6 million subscribers, with annual revenue of over $1 billion. The company harnesses the information found in family trees and historical records to help people gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Ancestry also operates a market-leading consumer genomics business, which informs consumers about their heritage and key health characteristics. . .

Posted by: Lizzy at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (I/doM)

180 I'm glad Fred Thompson isn't here to see this, the business gotten out of control.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (44ww/)

181 Welcome To 2030: I Own Nothing, Have No Privacy And Life Has Never Been Better

Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to my city - or should I say, "our city." I don't own anything. I don't own a car. I don't own a house. I don't own any appliances or any clothes.

Are they going to call the city Omelas?

Posted by: 18-1
===

BARTER TOWN!

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (u4CEu)

182 State level is where voter integrity measures originate.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (LvTSG)

And they die with us.

Posted by: Supreme Court of PA at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (aX0CW)

183 171 147 I can haz young Jenny Agutter?
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (1n+EO)

*perks up*

Is that an option?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:31 AM (XvPQV)

https://tinyurl.com/5t4rky2d

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (dNqv+)

184 My gosh! Did you realize the WNBA 2022 playoffs start tomorrow? Where do the flies time?
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (a3Q+t)
===============
Now, complete with rainbow flags and nonstop Brittney Griner appeals.

Posted by: Not watching? You homophobe!! at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (azqDg)

185 156 Also, everyone I give money to seems to lose. Dunno what that says about my luck or my judgement...
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (XvPQV)

Keep the money for yourself, or give it to a person in need.

Posted by: Miss Issippi at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (sI15f)

186 I learned that the reason Peter Sellers had to drop out of the movie Kiss Me, Stupid was because he had just married Agutter and she was sexing him into heart attacks too much.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (LvTSG)

A man's got to die of something. I'd take it.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (XvPQV)

187 Welcome To 2030: I Own Nothing, Have No Privacy And Life Has Never Been Better"

it doesn't even occur to her that she's talking about living as a slave in a totalitarian dictatorship.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (trdmm)

188 I literally gave money to him and volunteered to support him. The GOPe torpedoed him and he did not have Trump's money or quirks. I liked him, very much.

--

Same here. The first time I ever gave money to a political candidate was Fred Thompson. I met him while he was on the campaign trail. I supported him in the primary and was so disappointed when he dropped out.

Of note at this time was that I got my first glimpse into the bias that oozed out of Fox News. Something I hadn't picked up on prior. It was really obvious they did what they could to torch his campaign and I never looked at them the same way again.

Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (sVtYq)

189 Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:24 AM (ZLI7S)

There are idiots in every profession. I'm met idiot medical doctors, for instance (and I consider an MD much harder to obtain than a JD). And, law schools are just a factory churning out new layers all the time. It takes a lot of effort to fail law school. and, there are enough law schools that no matter how bad you did in college or on the LSAT, you will get in somewhere.

As far as lawyers arguing on declassification - generally statutes are poorly written and thus subject to different interpretations (even if the intent of the statute is obvious). And, there are always judges willing to pretzel read any statute to get the result they want. I'm not an expert on declassification and don't pretend to be.

And, just because someone is a lawyer doesn't mean they are experts or even knowledgeable about all the law. There's simply too much of it. I'm fairly knowledgeable about what I do, but I'm ignorant of entire swaths of other types of law. Corporate law, for instance.

Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (ky+MF)

190 "For the good of the State."
----
The six most terrifying words of the English language.

Even more terrifying than, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (YIVH2)

191 "Are they going to call the city Omelas?"

I would have to leave.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (1n+EO)

192 Rick Perry campaigned for Dukakis in 1988. I think he switched to GOP in 1990.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (RH1Zb)

193 185 156 Also, everyone I give money to seems to lose. Dunno what that says about my luck or my judgement...
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM (XvPQV)

Donate to McConnell! Donate to McConnell!!

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (trdmm)

194
Interesting. My initial reaction to this post was to jokingly wonder how reliable these blood tests were (given what we know with "The SCIENCE!" driving the COVID & "Vaxx" hysterias and seeming randomness of the PCR false positives), and ask Muldoon to weigh in.

Posted by: ShainS -- Welcome to the boneyard, it gets worse here every day at August 16, 2022 11:29 AM

I think the 'marker' they're looking for is in the Ashkenazim Jewish bloodline. A lot of very early childhood disease including cystic fibrosis.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (jE276)

195 I learned that the reason Peter Sellers had to drop out of the movie Kiss Me, Stupid was because he had just married Agutter and she was sexing him into heart attacks too much.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (LvTSG)

There are FAR worse ways to go.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (dNqv+)

196 Theoretically you establish a new department of personally loyal people to go wreak terror on the others.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead!

Who do you hire? How do you know they're loyal? Will there be enough competent people to staff it? Oh, and good luck not seeing it tied up in legal maneuvers and ever getting funded.

I'm going to be blunt: The infestation is too far gone. I once described the situation of a house fully infested with termites, eaten out top to bottom, and some damn fool thinks a new coat of paint and some remodeling will save it. No. The house has to be burned down.

You literally can salvage nothing of the current Executive branch agencies. Everybody has to go! No ever allowing them back in government in any capacity! And that's not going to be able to be done in "regular order". That's just the sad facts of the matter. I respect those of you who are still trying to operate within the system, I really do. I suppose the last futile measures are needed to establish that. But make no mistake, they are futile.

Posted by: Brother Tim...as the man said, the die is cast at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (OUMaO)

197 it doesn't even occur to her that she's talking about living as a slave in a totalitarian dictatorship.

They all dream of leisurely serfdom under a benevolent monarch. The only problem being, benevolent monarchs are extremely hard to find.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (sH61M)

198 I learned that the reason Peter Sellers had to drop out of the movie Kiss Me, Stupid was because he had just married Agutter and she was sexing him into heart attacks too much.

--

Maybe you mean the gorgeous Lynne Frederick? He was never married to Agutter.

Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (sVtYq)

199 Normal people: Hey these SF stories from last century really give us some lessons on how we should NOT structure society!

The governing class: Hey these SF stories from last century are a hell of a blue print. Too bad they had all those scantily clad attractive women but we can drop that part anyway.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (ESjRY)

200 Perhaps the only reason AoSHQ will be spared the Hammer one day are the Pet, Gardening, Art and Book Posts and Threads. Gives us a nice NPR cover/vibe.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (Vr12I)

201 My dad, a statistician of some note, uses the correct verb agreement for data in casual conversation. He's the only person I know in the real world who does it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:10 AM (LvTSG)

The word data can be shorthand for "set of data" in which case "is" or "says" would be perfectly fine. And because it doesn't have an "s" it sounds agreeable to everyone's ear so we all accept it. Like how almost everyone agrees to say "the media claims" and not "the media claim".

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (pm2hp)

202 198 Maybe you mean the gorgeous Lynne Frederick? He was never married to Agutter.
Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (sVtYq)

=========

Actually, it was Britt Ekland.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (LvTSG)

203 "Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to Chuy Ace's city - or should I say, "cruelty city." I don't own anything. I don't own shelves. I don't own Crocs. I don't own any falling TVs or any Vespas.

It might seem odd to you, but it makes perfect sense for us in this city. Everything you considered a product, has now become a service. We have access to Marco Rubio's garbage, pudding cups, flaming skulls and all the things we need in our daily lives. One by one all these things became free, so it ended up not making sense for us to own much. . ."

Posted by: Ian S. at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (ZGrMX)

204 benevolent monarchs are extremely hard to find.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (sH61M)

They also don't tend to last.

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (pm2hp)

205 187. For the people in control, it's a good thing. They get to 3xempt themselves like pols.

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (VuQO/)

206 191 "Are they going to call the city Omelas?"

I would have to leave.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (1n+EO)

Yes. The sad part is, I think we have been presented with that choice numerous times and we have kept right on, keeping on. I have no easy answers, but it pricks at me.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (dNqv+)

207 My initial reaction to this post was to jokingly wonder how reliable these blood tests were

Science has been slowly going to shit since the end of the Cold War. Presumably the older the blood test the more accurate it likely is.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (ESjRY)

208 I had a really good gut level feel on the guy. I also had a 'He may not be taking this seriously or be determined' read. I think both were true.

I remember that. His 2008 campaign was rather lackadaisical and low energy. He died not that long after (2015), so perhaps ill health played a role.

It is surprising that Jeb! took that as a template for his 2016 run.

Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (/NCI4)

209 Also, everyone I give money to seems to lose. Dunno what that says about my luck or my judgement...
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards

I'm sorry. I refuse to give money to someone who ca grift more in a day than I make in a year.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (qfVDK)

210 187 Welcome To 2030: I Own Nothing, Have No Privacy And Life Has Never Been Better"

it doesn't even occur to her that she's talking about living as a slave in a totalitarian dictatorship.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (trdmm)
_________________________

Or even worse: she does realize but is happy about it. I once thought that, despite all the philosophical bullshit and history to the contrary, that man's natural mental state -- not necessarily his actual physical state -- was to yearn to be free. Humans would always prefer freedom and personal choice over slavery or being controlled. Right? At least that's what I thought. Now I'm not too sure. There are very many people out there who are not only willing to be controlled and subjugated, but seem to actually enjoy it.

Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (iFTx/)

211 146 My gosh! Did you realize the WNBA 2022 playoffs start tomorrow? Where do the flies time?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 16, 2022 11:28 AM (a3Q+t)

-------

I'm surprised Beijing Biden hasn't made it a National Holiday.

Posted by: ShainS -- Welcome to the boneyard, it gets worse here every day at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (WtAgB)

212 Fred Thompson!
Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (dNqv+)

I was all in for Teh Fred! back in the day. And look what 'we' ended up with.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (AW0uW)

213
Whether it's raiding a former President for no discernible reason besides the raw exercise of political power, or stealing baby blood for the State's weird Justice Rituals, the fact is: these things happened, and nobody will ever be in trouble for them.

When it's come to the time that we are discussing (read: "complaining about") things like this... You are already living in a lawless, wholly unaccountable police state.

We are past "leaps forward" in the police state. We have leapt forward. It's ovah.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (IXpV7)

214 Yes. The sad part is, I think we have been presented with that choice numerous times and we have kept right on, keeping on. I have no easy answers, but it pricks at me.

At a certain level the left realizes they can't let people have a choice to leave.

Imagine they created their dystopia in Europe while Heritage America still existed. People would see which is better - just like the USSR vs Heritage America.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (ESjRY)

215 I apologize for the mixup between Agutter and Ekland. Here are pictures of both to make up for it:

https://tinyurl.com/49ssem73

https://tinyurl.com/yw8df563

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (LvTSG)

216 209 Also, everyone I give money to seems to lose. Dunno what that says about my luck or my judgement...
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards

Ditto.. Though I wouldn't recommend donating to Trump right now.. My guess is they monitor that

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (bs+z0)

217 I'm sorry. I refuse to give money to someone who ca grift more in a day than I make in a year.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (qfVDK)

I also used to give money to single mothers, working their way through college...some of them made more than 6 figures.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:38 AM (XvPQV)

218 There are very many people out there who are not only willing to be controlled and subjugated, but seem to actually enjoy it.
Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (iFTx/

98% of them look like thumbs.

Posted by: Miss Issippi at August 16, 2022 11:38 AM (sI15f)

219 I was all in for Teh Fred! back in the day. And look what 'we' ended up with.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (AW0uW)

No shit.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:38 AM (dNqv+)

220 Every medical record is computerized by our medical providers, and we have exactly no idea where and how that information is disseminated and shared. The more we move to corporate, or government run medical systems the more likely it becomes that all those fancy HIPPA protections are worthless. This idea, worthless protections, is readily extended to the emerging plans to track every economic transaction for its carbon emissions value and cap your ability to buy food, goods, or travel if you hit a limit. The bedrock notion that we have inalienable rights, be it our blood or the freedom to pursue happiness are being unilaterally converted into tenuous privileges doled out or pulled back by a radical democracy, ever increasing, that is rapidly devouring our constitutional republic. If that happens that radical democracy will do whatever it wants whenever it wants as long as they have the power to do that. And they intend to give us all the privileges we can handle, good and hard.

Victor Davis Hanson discussed these ideas on Life, Liberty, and Levin.

https://tinyurl.com/mr33vpz2

Posted by: Lost In Space at August 16, 2022 11:38 AM (FF+On)

221 >>it doesn't even occur to her that she's talking about living as a slave in a totalitarian dictatorship.

It's such an easy life!! Just don't -- no, stop it, ignore that person over there being dragged away by Morlocks. . .

Posted by: Your oblivious Eloi pal at August 16, 2022 11:38 AM (I/doM)

222 Fox was all in on McCain during the 2008 Primary, Romney in 2012. They also employed Shep Fairy to do the hysterical Katrina reporting. All of these things were clue bats. There were more.

And if I remember Liz Cheney was a regular commentator for quite some time.

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (pm2hp)

223 There are very many people out there who are not only willing to be controlled and subjugated, but seem to actually enjoy it.

Thinking for yourself is hard.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (ESjRY)

224 I'm preferring the Judge Dredd dystopia .

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (RH1Zb)

225 215. She's an old lady now based on her TV work

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (VuQO/)

226 Perhaps the only reason AoSHQ will be spared the Hammer one day are the Pet, Gardening, Art and Book Posts and Threads. Gives us a nice NPR cover/vibe.
Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:35 AM (Vr12I)

I don't think you can fully judge a site like AoSHQ without looking at the positive qualities of the people in it. The Horde has a long-standing tradition of existence to its members and to the community at large.

Posted by: One of the Cobs at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (4I/2K)

227 Now I'm not too sure. There are very many people out there who are not only willing to be controlled and subjugated, but seem to actually enjoy it.
Posted by: Elric Blade at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (iFTx/)

Most of the world, I'd say, for almost all of human history. What made America so exceptional from the start is that We were different; we didn't just have different ideas, we were a different kind of people than those that stayed back in Europe, happy with Emperors and Kings. Our founders knew that very well, but we've forgotten.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (trdmm)

228 I remember that. His 2008 campaign was rather lackadaisical and low energy. He died not that long after (2015), so perhaps ill health played a role.

It is surprising that Jeb! took that as a template for his 2016 run.
Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:36 AM (/NCI4)

He withdrew due to a cancer diagnosis.

Posted by: Emmie at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (6RgRK)

229 COVID PROVED THAT MOST AMERICANS WILL ACCEPT A POLICE STATE IF NOT DEMAND IT.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (u4CEu)

230 There are very many people out there who are not only willing to be controlled and subjugated, but seem to actually enjoy it.

Posted by: Elric Blade
-------------------
People sold themselves into slavery in Rome in order to keep a roof over their head and get food.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (CXr4y)

231 225 215. She's an old lady now based on her TV work
Posted by: CN at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (VuQO/)

========

And Joan Bennett is dead, but she was still a major hottie in the 40s.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (LvTSG)

232 I'm going to be blunt: The infestation is too far gone. I once described the situation of a house fully infested with termites, eaten out top to bottom, and some damn fool thinks a new coat of paint and some remodeling will save it. No. The house has to be burned down.

You literally can salvage nothing of the current Executive branch agencies. Everybody has to go! No ever allowing them back in government in any capacity! And that's not going to be able to be done in "regular order". That's just the sad facts of the matter. I respect those of you who are still trying to operate within the system, I really do. I suppose the last futile measures are needed to establish that. But make no mistake, they are futile.
Posted by: Brother Tim...as the man said, the die is cast at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (OUMaO)

Agreed that it's unsalvageable. Having a gang of loyalists takes time and needs to be built up separately outside of office. You still need a gang of loyalists to actually disband bureaucracies though. If you just try to tell them they're disbanded without anything to back it up, you get overthrown instead.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (b2nrj)

233 Britt Eckland does a very seductive scene in The Wicker Man. With a wall, if memory serves, while Edward Woodward was on the other side. It was bizarrely sexual.

Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (sVtYq)

234 My theory. They expected to the raid on Monday to produce some smoking gun that would end Trump based on some weakass informant's wild tails that most people would laugh at and disbelieve on it's face. This has been the pattern for all of the Trump persecutions.

The smoking gun came up goose eggs and led to the lame press meeting by Garland on Fri. Now, all the leaks to make it seem stronger and dragging their feet on real information will drag this to the mideterms.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (Y5qcH)

235 Just looking through my inbox, I have so much spam from Donald Trump and it made me think.

We shouldn't be giving money to anyone wants to have control or be in charge. They need to earn that privilege instead of buying it.

Posted by: Miss Issippi at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (sI15f)

236 We are past "leaps forward" in the police state. We have leapt forward. It's ovah.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (IXpV7)

NOTHING IS OVER!

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (pm2hp)

237 At least that's what I thought. Now I'm not too sure.

There are very many people out there who are not only willing to be controlled and subjugated, but seem to actually enjoy it.
Posted by: Elric Blade

That's only because government is nice right now.
Stop the EBT cards and see where they are.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (qfVDK)

238 But I don't need to be fingerprinted to say Hiya, right, CBD ?

Posted by: JT at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (T4tVD)

Fingerprinted AND read the content first.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (XIJ/X)

239 Judge Dredd was fair. I would trust him a hellova lot quicker than the fucking FBI. And he wasted bad cops on the spot.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (QSjkU)

240 It's such an easy life!! Just don't -- no, stop it, ignore that person over there being dragged away by Morlocks. . .
Posted by: Your oblivious Eloi pal at August 16, 2022 11:38 AM (I/doM)

[George becomes furious when he discovers the Elois' passive nature] What have you done? Thousands of years of building and rebuilding, creating and recreating so you could let it crumble to dust. A million years of sensitive men dying for their dreams, for what? So you can swim, and dance, and play... You, all of you, I'm going back to my own time; I won't even bother to tell of the useless struggle and their hopeless future, but at least I can die among men!

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (dNqv+)

241 Generally major bureaucratic reform was accomplished at swordpoint.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (b2nrj)

242 Of course Uncle Sugar already has my DNA, because military, but I'm still unwilling to do 23&Me and give it up to Bill Gates. That whole business is about data gathering.

Posted by: Hawkpilot at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (F1mV0)

243 Thinking for yourself is hard.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (ESjRY)

It is. Freedom means you could make a mistake, starve, go without. I've came to the conclusion that most people, regardless of political orientation, want security. The only freedoms they want are freedom from want and the unknown.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (sH61M)

244 You literally can salvage nothing of the current Executive branch agencies. Everybody has to go! No ever allowing them back in government in any capacity! And that's not going to be able to be done in "regular order". That's just the sad facts of the matter. I respect those of you who are still trying to operate within the system, I really do. I suppose the last futile measures are needed to establish that. But make no mistake, they are futile.
Posted by: Brother Tim...as the man said, the die is cast at August 16, 2022 11:34 AM (OUMaO)

Agreed.
Mentally, I've resolved myself to living like an outlaw. Just a quiet one, so far. But I intend to die trying if it comes to it.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (XvPQV)

245 We are past "leaps forward" in the police state. We have leapt forward. It's ovah.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (IXpV7)

NOTHING IS OVER!
Posted by: ...

WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR?

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (qfVDK)

246 I learned that the reason Peter Sellers had to drop out of the movie Kiss Me, Stupid was because he had just married Agutter and she was sexing him into heart attacks too much.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:32 AM (LvTSG)

Ray Walston said that Wilder spread the rumor among cast and crew that he was gay and it absolutely ruined any joy he might have had in doing the movie.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (AW0uW)

247 People sold themselves into slavery in Rome in order to keep a roof over their head and get food.
----------------
Today its called welfare.

Posted by: Puddinhead at August 16, 2022 11:42 AM (NsE9F)

248 246 Ray Walston said that Wilder spread the rumor among cast and crew that he was gay and it absolutely ruined any joy he might have had in doing the movie.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (AW0uW)

=========

Wilder could be a major dick, it is known.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:42 AM (LvTSG)

249 Fox was all in on McCain during the 2008 Primary, Romney in 2012. They also employed Shep Fairy to do the hysterical Katrina reporting. All of these things were clue bats. There were more.

And if I remember Liz Cheney was a regular commentator for quite some time.
Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (pm2hp)

As C5 would say, to be fair they also had a number of conservative personalities and their website was only news organization that reported positively on Trump , including correcting the false stories run by the other outfits.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:42 AM (RH1Zb)

250 And Joan Bennett is dead, but she was still a major hottie in the 40s.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (LvTSG)
==

Quite a few women look very good into their 50s.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 16, 2022 11:42 AM (u4CEu)

251 But I don't need to be fingerprinted to say Hiya, right, CBD ?

Posted by: JT at August 16, 2022 11:27 AM (T4tVD)

Fingerprinted AND read the content first.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (XIJ/X)

I think a cavity search is in order.

Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2022 11:43 AM (AwYPR)

252 Britt Eckland does a very seductive scene in The Wicker Man. With a wall, if memory serves, while Edward Woodward was on the other side. It was bizarrely sexual.
Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (sVtYq)

Nothing bizarre about it

I still remember that song and that scene to this day.
Temptation, frustration...

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:43 AM (XvPQV)

253 LOL... Dr. Jill has covid

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:43 AM (bs+z0)

254 190 "For the good of the State."
----
The six most terrifying words of the English language.

Even more terrifying than, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 16, 2022 11:33 AM (YIVH2)

French too...

"for the good of the state, what has been done, has been done...ah, so you have found yourself some good fortune, good day D'Artagnan"

Posted by: Cardinal Richelieu at August 16, 2022 11:43 AM (BgMrQ)

255 250 And Joan Bennett is dead, but she was still a major hottie in the 40s.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (LvTSG)
==

Quite a few women look very good into their 50s.
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 16, 2022 11:42 AM (u4CEu)

=========

I learned the Bennett's husband murdered her agent because he caught them in what was most likely the pair returning from an illicit tryst.

Her career silver screen career never recovered, though she did well for herself on stage and television for a long time afterwards.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:43 AM (LvTSG)

256 But I don't need to be fingerprinted to say Hiya, right, CBD ?
Posted by: JT

Fingerprinted AND read the content first.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

I think a cavity search is in order.
Posted by: BignJames

That escalated rather quickly.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (qfVDK)

257 LOL... Dr. Jill has covid.

If they can't stop the CnC and First Lady from getting the 'rona, I'd suggest they just stop trying.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (sH61M)

258 As you know, we've all gone crazy. Latest example . . .

"It also matters for non-binary and trans birthing people": NBC highlights transgender man's struggle to get abortion access

https://bit.ly/3CclEuQ

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, I Survived the Mar-A-Lago Raid at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (FVME7)

259 Ray Walston said that Wilder spread the rumor among cast and crew that he was gay and it absolutely ruined any joy he might have had in doing the movie.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:41 AM (AW0uW)

Billy Wilder actively served the forces of evil and I mean that literally.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (XvPQV)

260 5 FBI... KGB... At this point, what difference does it make?
Posted by: davidt at August 16, 2022 11:03 AM (oTZbj)

KGB was smarter.

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (H8QX8)

261 Posted by: Miss Issippi at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (sI15f)

Not that I advocate EVER giving to the useless GOP but what is the plan to overcome the hundreds of billions of free advertising the Uniparty gets?

Trump did it because he is a historic communicator, probably the likes of which the living world has never seen. I noted this back in 2015 btw. Also said he loved this country. I got ripped apart for both claims.

Next guy won't have that and he won't have Trump's money. People take for granted what Trump achieved in beating back the establishment for a moment in the sun. But that is human nature. It is human nature not to notice such things.

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (pm2hp)

262 Agreed that it's unsalvageable. Having a gang of loyalists takes time and needs to be built up separately outside of office. You still need a gang of loyalists to actually disband bureaucracies though. If you just try to tell them they're disbanded without anything to back it up, you get overthrown instead.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead!

Which is actually my point: We're effectively needing to disband our entire government...and that only ever happens at gunpoint.

God help us all.

Posted by: Brother Tim...as the man said, the die is cast at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (OUMaO)

263 She's an old lady now based on her TV work

Speaking of old ladies, I see Jane Seymour has taken time off from promoting skin care products to pimping for some online solitaire game.

She's still a GILF, albeit moving into Stepford territory.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (AW0uW)

264 Just looking through my inbox, I have so much spam from Donald Trump and it made me think.

We shouldn't be giving money to anyone wants to have control or be in charge. They need to earn that privilege instead of buying it.

Posted by: Miss Issippi
==

Those are not from Trump. Those begging emails are from the RNC/RNCC/RNSC the WINRED.

Nothing to do with Trump other than fraudulently using his name to grift. Look at the very bottom of each email in the very tiny fine print; WINRED.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (u4CEu)

265 "The revolution is successful. But survival depends on drastic measures. Your continued existence represents a threat to the well-being of society. Your lives mean slow death to the more valued members of the colony. Therefore, I have no alternative but to sentence you to death. Your execution is so ordered, signed Kodos, Governor of Tarsus IV."
– Kodos, 2246 ("The Conscience of the King")

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (dNqv+)

266 Quite a few women look very good into their 50s.

Jennifer Connelly is 51, and looked beautiful in TGM. Of course, a WEE bit of enhancement may have been involved.

Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (/NCI4)

267 >>And, just because someone is a lawyer doesn't mean they are experts or even knowledgeable about all the law. There's simply too much of it. I'm fairly knowledgeable about what I do, but I'm ignorant of entire swaths of other types of law. Corporate law, for instance.

That's a very good point and goes to a huge part of the problem we are faced with on a daily basis. Just because you are a lawyer with expertise in one area doesn't mean you know the law about everything. And yet we are barraged with lawyers giving their expert opinion on things they have no better understanding of than anyone else. Leftist TV is famous for this approach.

For over a week the country has been bombarded with news that Trump took classified documents. That is false. A president can declassify any document he wants at any time without anyone's permission and there is no procedure or ceremony. It's a perk that comes with the big red button, the big house and the fancy jet.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (ZLI7S)

268 This country is collapsing right under our nose, and at this point, I'm just sitting back and enjoying the ride.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (XSRBF)

269
1939: "Your papers, please."
2022: "Your chromosomes, please."

Posted by: DB at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (geLO8)

270 Look at the East Germans who were helpless after the wall fell and wanted to return to the miserable but sustainable life they had .

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (RH1Zb)

271 I apologize for the mixup between Agutter and Ekland. Here are pictures of both to make up for it:

https://tinyurl.com/49ssem73

https://tinyurl.com/yw8df563
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (LvTSG)

I watched a movie last night that I think co=starred Agutter altho I don't think I would have recognized her. "Sometimes, Always, Never." Quirky and a bit dark but unique and enjoyable.

Posted by: LASue at August 16, 2022 11:46 AM (Ed8Zd)

272 Britt Eckland does a very seductive scene in The Wicker Man. With a wall, if memory serves, while Edward Woodward was on the other side. It was bizarrely sexual.

The movie was brilliant in so many ways.

At the time the scene seems out there and bizarre...but by the end of the movie you figure out why.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:46 AM (ESjRY)

273 People sold themselves into slavery in Rome in order to keep a roof over their head and get food.
----------------
Today its called welfare.

I'm old enough to remember when people who had to use food stamps were ashamed of it.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:46 AM (AW0uW)

274
LOL... Dr. Jill has covid

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:43 AM (bs+z0)

Probably from that cheap dress she was wearing yesterday that looked like it came from a secondhand strip mall shop in Wuhan, China.

Nick Adams has a side by side pic of her in that dress next to a pic of Melania.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 16, 2022 11:46 AM (jE276)

275 I apologize for the mixup between Agutter

Agutter plays a nun on a PBS series Call the Midwife.. Pretty good show

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (bs+z0)

276 Jennifer Connelly is 51, and looked beautiful in TGM. Of course, a WEE bit of enhancement may have been involved.
Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (/NCI4)

She is starting to get that stretched look. One of the great beauties though.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (dNqv+)

277 257 LOL... Dr. Jill has covid.

If they can't stop the CnC and First Lady from getting the 'rona, I'd suggest they just stop trying.
Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (sH61M)

Why can't they say this is over.

Posted by: m at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (GkGYg)

278 Ditto.. Though I wouldn't recommend donating to Trump right now.. My guess is they monitor that
Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM (bs+z0)

LOL, if there's any kind of list, I gotta be on them all. I'm out here using my real name, after all.

Just consider me to be a large, bald canary in the Coal Mine of what used to be America

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (XvPQV)

279 As C5 would say, to be fair they also had a number of conservative personalities and their website was only news organization that reported positively on Trump , including correcting the false stories run by the other outfits.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:42 AM (RH1Zb)

I was done being C5 fair with Fox when they tried to destroy his campaign. But honestly I've hated them since they stopped letting Malkin fill in for O'Reilly which has got to be 2003. Now *that* woman is the real fucking deal. You can count the real deals on one hand.

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (pm2hp)

280 I'm old enough to remember when people who had to use food stamps were ashamed of it.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:46 AM (AW0uW)

This.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (dNqv+)

281 275 I apologize for the mixup between Agutter

Agutter plays a nun on a PBS series Call the Midwife.. Pretty good show
Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (bs+z0)

=========

Dolley watched that. She liked it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (LvTSG)

282 I'm old enough to remember when people who had to use food stamps were ashamed of it.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing

I also remember when they couldn't get better food than people who worked for a living.

Posted by: Brother Tim...as the man said, the die is cast at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (OUMaO)

283 I used to donate blood. At one point, I recall seeing them take a drop of my blood and put in on a card for reference, so my DNA is out there and probably already on some Gov't database. So even if you were born before the 1970's is it likely that in some way, you DNA is out there in a database.
Every do DNA for ancestry purposes? Police use that all the time.
I had a friend whose daughter was pulled over for a minor traffic violation in LA. She had a presciption for pain pills, but had a couple in her purse for emergencies. The police confiscated it, took her in, fingerprinteed her, took her DNA for their database, and then released her. Did they remove her DNA and fingerprints from the system when she proved she had a valid prescription? Hell no. Once it's in, it's in forever...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (ynpvh)

284 I'm old enough to remember when people who had to use food stamps were ashamed of it.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:46 AM (AW0uW)

Me too. Now days they take pride in their parasitic life. And demand your respect for their uselessness.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (QSjkU)

285 Billy Wilder actively served the forces of evil and I mean that literally.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (XvPQV)

How so?

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (AW0uW)

286 I apologize for the mixup between Agutter and Ekland.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:37 AM

Distinguishing between which of those two is sexing you to death seems a rather important distinction to make, rather like distinguishing between Prometheus and Covenant, no?

#BeBetter

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (a3Q+t)

287 I was done being C5 fair with Fox when they tried to destroy his campaign.

I couldn't help but notice they cooperated with the 2020 steal just as much as every other network.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (sH61M)

288 This country is collapsing right under our nose, and at this point, I'm just sitting back and enjoying the ride.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp

Welcome to the dark side.
Let It Burn isn't for everyone.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (qfVDK)

289 Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (XvPQ

LOL... Right.. I use my real first name

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (bs+z0)

290 268 This country is collapsing right under our nose, and at this point, I'm just sitting back and enjoying the ride.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (XSRBF)

Living where you do, your options seem limited Wyatt. I admit that I am insulated here from so much that you have to endure.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (Vr12I)

291 Politics is politics but I really hope nothing happens to Jill or Joe. What happened to comity, I always say. At the end of the day we're all Americans with respect for the Constitution and on another.

That's what I always say.

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (pm2hp)

292 Speaking of old ladies, I see Jane Seymour has taken time off from promoting skin care products to pimping for some online solitaire game.
...
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (AW0uW)

Not the point you were making but you mean to tell me that people can go online to play a game by themselves? Guess I should not be surprised but somehow I am.

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (wTP6A)

293 Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:47 AM (XvPQ

LOL... Right.. I use my real first name
Posted by: It's me donna

You parents named you It's?

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (qfVDK)

294 The movie was brilliant in so many ways.

At the time the scene seems out there and bizarre...but by the end of the movie you figure out why.
Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:46 AM (ESjRY)

One of the saddest commentaries on our current culture is to compare that version of the Wicker Man to "The Bees!!! The Bees!!!"

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (trdmm)

295 I couldn't help but notice they cooperated with the 2020 steal just as much as every other network.
Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (sH61M)

More so. The traitor SHOULD be hated more than the honest enemy- although we seem to be short on 'honest' enemies.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (dNqv+)

296 170 The issue of a presidents ability to declassify is a perfect example. This isn't a debatable topic, the facts are well established, and yet supposedly highly skilled and extremely well paid lawyers are still arguing about it.
Posted by: JackStraw

but as to the larger topic, most people are, and always have been conformists. They want to be told what to do, what to think, and they will follow those orders slavishly because it would never occur to them to do anything us. People like us here, who actually try to think for ourselves, are pretty rare. Especially today. Posted by: Tom Servo
-------------------------------
Hence, Locke gets it--people are social animals as well as individuals. Ideally, representative government allows for expertise to be used for those not caring about government but it cannot force an idea of civic virtue on people unwilling to take that burden. Even Adams backed off his famous statement that the a Constitutional Republic requires a virtuous citizenry as he became disillusioned by post Revolution behavior. But, without a virtuous citizenry, republics ultimately decay because certain people want money, recognition, power, and or sex.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (CXr4y)

297 You parents named you It's?
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (qfVDK)

LOL

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (bs+z0)

298 Next guy won't have that and he won't have Trump's money. People take for granted what Trump achieved in beating back the establishment for a moment in the sun. But that is human nature. It is human nature not to notice such things.

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (pm2hp)

I agree that it is highly unlikely there will be another GOP candidate that can dominate the news and get as much free press as Trump did and work the news/media the way Trump did.

I'm not sure the money - in terms of running a campaign - is as much of an issue. If I'm not mistaken, Trump didn't end up using much of his own money for his campaign.

And, quite frankly, I've always suspected Trump has far much actual money than he claims. Almost all of his holdings are extremely leveraged. I doubt he has access to even remotely as much liquidity as people think.

Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (ky+MF)

299 297 You parents named you It's?
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (qfVDK)

LOL
Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (bs+z0)

=========

Your parents named you LOL?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (LvTSG)

300 Not the point you were making but you mean to tell me that people can go online to play a game by themselves? Guess I should not be surprised but somehow I am.

It is rumored that MANY people go on line and play with themselves.

Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (/NCI4)

301 I'm old enough to remember when people who had to use food stamps were ashamed of it.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing

I also remember when they couldn't get better food than people who worked for a living.

Posted by: Brother Tim...as the man said, the die is cast
===
Those will be known as the RACIST TIMES my friends.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (u4CEu)

302 This country is collapsing right under our nose, and at this point, I'm just sitting back and enjoying the ride.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp

Welcome to the dark side. Let It Burn isn't for everyone.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (qfVDK)

Exactly why I refuse to get nostalgic for all the old songs, symbols, and customs. Its gone. No need for me to prolong the grieving. I got done fretting it a long time ago.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (sH61M)

303 Old and busted: Trump lied about feebb thieving his passports

New Hotness: They took them, but It was an honest mistake!

Posted by: runner at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (eisI8)

304 As far as the FIB is concerned, the more I read the angrier I get.
They murder with impunity, then get promoted for it, and have been doing it for DECADES.
They do the bidding of their political masters, and Congress has even exposed some of the purposeful abrogation of laws committed by the FIB, yet punishment is NEVER forthcoming.

I will...stop there, and just, say, I hope some day Justice is served to them in the same way they have meted it out.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (ynpvh)

305 It is rumored that MANY people go on line and play with themselves.
Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (/NCI4)

***

It's true

Posted by: Hunter Biden at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (flINI)

306 You parents named you It's?
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (qfVDK)

LOL
Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (bs+z0)

=========

Your parents named you LOL?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

*Snort

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (qfVDK)

307 300 Not the point you were making but you mean to tell me that people can go online to play a game by themselves? Guess I should not be surprised but somehow I am.

It is rumored that MANY people go on line and play with themselves.
Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (/NCI4)

Usually the online component of single player games is all about the DRM and making sure the game is not pirated. Now it is also about microtransactions. Feh.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (dNqv+)

308 Can anyone explain the story on the plea deal the Trump Intl. CFO is agreeing to regarding diverting income? Who filed the complaint I do not believe it was the Trump org itself?

Posted by: Jen the original at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (a6pEw)

309 196
'You literally can salvage nothing of the current Executive branch agencies.'

I deny this. You get your hands around their money and I'll bet you're surprised how fast their loyalty comes back to you.
Particularly, if you have a god-awful punishment in place for the non-cooperative.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (qVln6)

310 >>>Living where you do, your options seem limited Wyatt. I admit that I am insulated here from so much that you have to endure.

Posted by: kraken

Two more years until retirement, then we're leaving this awful city. To be honest, the state is pretty awful anymore, too.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (XSRBF)

311 I'm from the Government and I'm here to help.

Posted by: Merrick Garland at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (cJKQk)

312 257 LOL... Dr. Jill has covid.

**
I've noticed that none of these DC elites ever get really sick or die from it.

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (H8QX8)

313 Professional political analysis . . .

CBS News@CBSNews
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney "faces a crucible politically" in her reelection bid in tomorrow's primaries, @costareports says, but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run.

"This is a moment that's a reckoning for the Republican Party."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, I Survived the Mar-A-Lago Raid at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (FVME7)

314 >>But, without a virtuous citizenry, republics ultimately decay because certain people want money, recognition, power, and or sex.

I'll just take money and sex.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (ZLI7S)

315 234 My theory. They expected to the raid on Monday to produce some smoking gun that would end Trump based on some weakass informant's wild tails that most people would laugh at and disbelieve on it's face. This has been the pattern for all of the Trump persecutions.

The smoking gun came up goose eggs and led to the lame press meeting by Garland on Fri. Now, all the leaks to make it seem stronger and dragging their feet on real information will drag this to the mideterms.
Posted by: sniffybigtoe at August 16, 2022 11:40 AM (Y5qcH)

They did it because they could. The United States is a totalitarian shithole. I've come to terms with it and am peace with it.

Posted by: Trump poisoned my cat at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (nMx88)

316 It is rumored that MANY people go on line and play with themselves.

Isn't that OnlyFans' business model?

Posted by: Ian S. at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (ZGrMX)

317 313 CBS News@CBSNews
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney "faces a crucible politically" in her reelection bid in tomorrow's primaries, @costareports says, but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run.

"This is a moment that's a reckoning for the Republican Party."
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, I Survived the Mar-A-Lago Raid at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (FVME7)

==========

"She lost a House race in a small state. This means that she is presidential material."
-Morons

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (LvTSG)

318 Two more years until retirement, then we're leaving this awful city. To be honest, the state is pretty awful anymore, too.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp

Come to Texas. Outside of the major cities, it's down right peaceful.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (qfVDK)

319 292 Speaking of old ladies, I see Jane Seymour has taken time off from promoting skin care products to pimping for some online solitaire game.
...
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (AW0uW)

Not the point you were making but you mean to tell me that people can go online to play a game by themselves? Guess I should not be surprised but somehow I am.

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at August 16, 2022 11:49 AM (wTP6A)

She still looks pretty good for being in her 70's...she did "Live and Let Die" when she was, I believe, 18 or 21, back in 1973...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (ynpvh)

320 300 Not the point you were making but you mean to tell me that people can go online to play a game by themselves? Guess I should not be surprised but somehow I am.

It is rumored that MANY people go on line and play with themselves.
Posted by: Archimedes at August 16, 2022 11:50 AM (/NCI4)
===

The Deuce You Say!

Posted by: Jeffy Toobin at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (u4CEu)

321 >>>Exactly why I refuse to get nostalgic for all the old songs, symbols, and customs. Its gone. No need for me to prolong the grieving. I got done fretting it a long time ago.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling

I have a flagpole outside the house. Flew the colors every day. I don't do that anymore.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (XSRBF)

322 Britt Eckland does a very seductive scene in The Wicker Man. With a wall, if memory serves, while Edward Woodward was on the other side. It was bizarrely sexual.
Posted by: Lady in Black at August 16, 2022

***
It was with the wall, with a haunting melody called "Willow's Song" which would have made the scene incredibly sensuous even if Britt had been clothed. (Though I have heard stories that they used a body double.) The last time Wicker Man ran on TV, the channel cut the entire scene. I guess it was asking too much for them just to blur her out?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (J2vNu)

323 I've noticed that none of these DC elites ever get really sick or die from it.

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (H8QX

How many world leaders or elected officials died from this plague? I mean if we lost 8 million people or whatever, you'd think it would include elected officials.

I mean Herman Cain died from it. But we all know the story on him. He certainly doesn't "count".

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (pm2hp)

324 I will...stop there, and just, say, I hope some day Justice is served to them in the same way they have meted it out.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (ynpvh)

'God will give me Justice.'

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (dNqv+)

325 312 257 LOL... Dr. Jill has covid.
**
I've noticed that none of these DC elites ever get really sick or die from it.
Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (H8QX

That's...unfortunate.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (ynpvh)

326 Your parents named you LOL?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

*Snort
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (qfVDK)

***

Your parents named you snort?

Obligatory

- also, the sock works-

Posted by: Hunter Biden at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (flINI)

327 Billy Wilder actively served the forces of evil and I mean that literally.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (XvPQV)

How so?
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:48 AM (AW0uW)

Every film he makes works to corrupt and tear down 'normal' conventions. Normalizing infidelity, glamorizing it, as well as homosexuality, transvestitism, corruption of the legal system, corruption of the press, cowardice, underage romance with an older man...his body of work is poison with a candy coating

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (XvPQV)

328 I have a flagpole outside the house. Flew the colors every day. I don't do that anymore.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (XSRBF)

Took Ours down and put up the white supremacist Betsy Ross flag

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (bs+z0)

329 That's a very good point and goes to a huge part of the problem we are faced with on a daily basis. Just because you are a lawyer with expertise in one area doesn't mean you know the law about everything. And yet we are barraged with lawyers giving their expert opinion on things they have no better understanding of than anyone else. Leftist TV is famous for this approach.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:45 AM (ZLI7S)

Look at everyone who opines on "climate science". Almost none have any real background in the science at issue.

I forget who first made this point - but it is valid - when you read a newspaper article about something you have intimate knowledge about, you notice the reporter gets tons of stuff wrong and/or doesn't understand what he is reporting about. But then you turn to another section of the paper and assume the reporting there is accurate and true.

I've had a bunch of different cases I've worked on in the news. The news almost always gets the facts and issues wrong. If they can't get that stuff right, why would I assume they are getting anything right?

Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (ky+MF)

330 CBS News@CBSNews
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney "faces a crucible politically" in her reelection bid in tomorrow's primaries, @costareports says, but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run.

Cheney/McCain 2024: "Two Tons Of Fun"

Posted by: Ian S. at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (ZGrMX)

331 >>>Come to Texas. Outside of the major cities, it's down right peaceful.

Posted by: rickb223

My oldest spent a year at the University of Dallas. Didn't like the school but really liked Texas. As did I. They opened a Raising Cane's not too far from Philly and Kyle lost his mind with excitement.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (XSRBF)

332 I have a flagpole outside the house. Flew the colors every day. I don't do that anymore.

Never owned a flagpole, but I'm a big fan of the garden flag. Way, way back in the day - I used to fly the various patriotic hangings like that.

Haven't done that since the Patriot Act. It's all Molon Labe and Gadsden Flags.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (sH61M)

333 308 Can anyone explain the story on the plea deal the Trump Intl. CFO is agreeing to regarding diverting income? Who filed the complaint I do not believe it was the Trump org itself?
Posted by: Jen the original at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM (a6pEw)

I'm pretty sure this is all part of the NY AG's effort to Get Trump. They wanted the Trump CEO to agree to help them take down Trump; but instead it looks like he said "fine, 100 days in jail, I don't care." (he's 75 years old now) Significant point - he is NOT required to give testimony against Trump as part of this deal.

So they went after the big fish, tried to use a small fry as bait, and in the end all they walked away with was a small sentence for a small fry.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (trdmm)

334 I'll just take money and sex.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (ZLI7S)

If you have money, the sex automatically follows. It is known.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (AW0uW)

335 are there any good States left

Posted by: DB at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (geLO8)

336 303 Old and busted: Trump lied about feebb thieving his passports

New Hotness: They took them, but It was an honest mistake!

Posted by: runner at August 16, 2022 11:51 AM (eisI

Nothing honest about that organization.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (ynpvh)

337 Wyatt, I still fly the flag, out of stubborness.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:56 AM (Vr12I)

338
Two more years until retirement, then we're leaving this awful city. To be honest, the state is pretty awful anymore, too.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:52 AM

Check carefully which states tax pensions. PA doesn't, some states only over a certain amount, some states the whole thing. A recent conversation with a former Philly detective retired in FL and he said there's no inflation escalator. Pension is fixed.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 16, 2022 11:56 AM (jE276)

339 Remember when it came out the FBI was controlled by Whitey Bulger one fall guy guy got punished. People like Bob Mueller got off scot free.

Oh, and Tagg Romney and Hunter Biden were grifting in Ukraine with Whitey's nephew. Because of course they were.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2022 11:56 AM (ESjRY)

340 She still looks pretty good for being in her 70's...she did "Live and Let Die" when she was, I believe, 18 or 21, back in 1973...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022

***
In '81, she did the definitive Cathy the sociopath character in the TV miniseries of East of Eden along with Timothy Bottoms. To this day, despite Steinbeck describing Cathy as a blonde, I still see Jane in my mind's eye.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 16, 2022 11:56 AM (J2vNu)

341 >>>Took Ours down and put up the white supremacist Betsy Ross flag

Posted by: It's me donna

I'm probably going to purchase a Gadsden flag, just because the Gestapo denounced it.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:56 AM (XSRBF)

342 308 Can anyone explain the story on the plea deal the Trump Intl. CFO is agreeing to regarding diverting income? Who filed the complaint I do not believe it was the Trump org itself?

Posted by: Jen the original
--------------------
The CFO did not declare the free use of a Trump organization paid apartment in NYC as income. That is what the guy was initially investigated about so I am not sure about the diverting income statement unless he did the lease as a Trump Organization CFO and then lived in it rent free which would have diverted income from the Trumps.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (CXr4y)

343 My oldest spent a year at the University of Dallas. Didn't like the school but really liked Texas. As did I. They opened a Raising Cane's not too far from Philly and Kyle lost his mind with excitement.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (XSRBF)

I love Raising Cane's, especially their sauce. Just had some this weekend.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (trdmm)

344 are there any good States left
Posted by: DB at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (geLO

***

Drunkeness

-sock still works-

Posted by: Hunter Biden at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (flINI)

345 My oldest spent a year at the University of Dallas. Didn't like the school but really liked Texas. As did I. They opened a Raising Cane's not too far from Philly and Kyle lost his mind with excitement.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp

It's so quiet on our road, if I see three vehicles a day, I'm bitching about the traffic.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (qfVDK)

346 That world existed. It can happen. For psychological reinforcement if nothing else, it is worth remembering. But also note how we got from there to here. That is the value of history.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (dNqv+)

347 If you were born in the United States within the last 50 or so years, chances are good that one of the first things you did as a baby was give a DNA sample to the government. By the 1970s, states had established newborn screening programs, in which a nurse takes a few drops of blood from a pinprick on a baby’s heel, then sends the sample to a lab to test for certain diseases. Over the years, the list has grown from just a few conditions to dozens.
The blood is supposed to be used for medical purposes—these screenings identify babies with serious health issues, and they have been highly successful at reducing death and disability among children. But a public records lawsuit filed last month in New Jersey suggests these samples are also being used by police in criminal investigations.
++++
Two key items from this for me:
1. Mission creep is real. If information is available, tyrants will want to use it in new ways. It is dangerous and destructive and actual data protection - with teeth, including serious prison sentences - needs to be passed and enforced.
2. The X-Files remains the most realistic show ever made about the government and law enforcement.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (WWh8n)

348 "Old and busted: Trump lied about feebb thieving his passports

New Hotness: They took them, but It was an honest mistake!

Posted by: runner"

To be fair, he may have had the nuclear launch codes written down in them.

Posted by: Ripley at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (MxEKc)

349 >>>Check carefully which states tax pensions. PA doesn't, some states only over a certain amount, some states the whole thing. A recent conversation with a former Philly detective retired in FL and he said there's no inflation escalator. Pension is fixed.

Posted by: Divide by Zero

I wanted to go to Arizona, but they tax the hell out of pensions. I could move further west in PA. I just want out of Philly.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (XSRBF)

350 >but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run.

she can launch it, but it'll blow up once it clears the tower

Posted by: DB at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (geLO8)

351 316 It is rumored that MANY people go on line and play with themselves.

Isn't that OnlyFans' business model?

Posted by: Ian S. at August 16, 2022 11:53 AM (ZGrMX)

I'm reminded of a scene from "Max Headroom", where the ratings are being monitored. the Sex channel has high ratings for about 2 minutes before they start dropping off precipitously...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (ynpvh)

352 nothing like "I couldn't win a WY senate seat and I just got crush in my House Primary"

"and my dad is Darth Vader"

"and I'm a totally entitled white blue haired ugly cow"

to begin a campaign with

gonna need a bigger bumper sticker

Posted by: REDACTED at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (us2H3)

353 Not that I advocate EVER giving to the useless GOP but what is the plan to overcome the hundreds of billions of free advertising the Uniparty gets?

Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:44 AM (pm2hp)

good points, but I just don't see the justification of paying for my own election day torture. Let the left throw their money at the wind. We aren't overcoming this mess at the ballot box. We need to be saving our own money for the hard times ahead, when America collapses under the weight of the yoke of our transgression.

Posted by: Miss Issippi at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (sI15f)

354 Fox was all in on McCain during the 2008 Primary, Romney in 2012. They also employed Shep Fairy to do the hysterical Katrina reporting. All of these things were clue bats. There were more.

And if I remember Liz Cheney was a regular commentator for quite some time.
Posted by: ... at August 16, 2022 11:39 AM (pm2hp)
********
People changed because of Trump derangement syndrome. McCain and Romney were always weak. I remember when Ann Coulter insisted that we choose Romney and Christie.

Trump helped to put a magnifying glass on the milquetoast Republicans that would sell their principles so easily because of their blind hatred of him.

Probably the best thing I read today

Posted by: redridinghood at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (NpAcC)

355 IMO, there are about a dozen good states left. Most of them undesirable to the urban woke locusts. There is a corelation in that.

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (Vr12I)

356 >>>I love Raising Cane's, especially their sauce. Just had some this weekend.

Posted by: Tom Servo

Heaven in a package.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (XSRBF)

357 but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run
==

"if" ha ha

"set her up to launch a presidental run" its like watching a used car salesman working a rube.

To participate in the misinformation business, you gotta let a lot of important stuff go.

Posted by: either intellect or soul or both at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (b3kJj)

358 Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (XvPQV)

I knew there was a reason they put that unnecessary Christmas dance scene in Stalag 17.

Posted by: polynikes at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (RH1Zb)

359 327 Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (XvPQV)

=========

The book on Wilder I'm reading now, by Joseph McBride, has a funny underlying contradiction that McBride never realizes is there.

He's an older screenwriter who had some level of personal relationship with Wilder, even visiting the set of The Front Page. He praises Wilder endlessly for getting things past the censors during the Hays Code era and then immediately decries the cultural space after the Hays Code office fell as too crass to appreciate the subtle wit of Wilder. Wilder worked because he was in a "repressive" culture, and his cultural cache fell once that "repressive" culture got replaced by a permissive one. The avant garde became the garde, and the garde hated what was created.

The funniest part is what he calls the neo-puritans, his students of today who don't recoil at Kim Novak being a prostitute, but do recoil when she says she wants a good man and a good home. It's like John Cleese complaining about modern day Britain.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (LvTSG)

360 Your parents named you LOL?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison

-------

Commander Data named his daughter, the Soong-type android he constructed, LAL.

Posted by: ShainS -- Welcome to the boneyard, it gets worse here every day at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (WtAgB)

361 If you have nothing to hide why are you afraid?
-70% of people

Posted by: Joe Xiden at August 16, 2022 11:59 AM (blHKE)

362 333. Thanks Tom. Did the guy actually embezzle money from the company?

Posted by: Jen the original at August 16, 2022 11:59 AM (a6pEw)

363 28 ...any time our personal data are...

Kudos for correctly using the plural verb "are" for the plural noun "data."
Posted by: Oddbob at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (nfrXX)
----
Concise Oxford Dictionary
data
n noun
1 facts and statistics used for reference or analysis. Philosophy: things known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning.
2 the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer.
ORIGIN: C17: from Latin, plural of datum.
USAGE: In Latin, data is the plural of datum and, historically and in specialized scientific fields, it is also treated as a plural in English. In modern non-scientific use, however, it is often treated as a mass noun, similar to a word like information, which cannot normally have a plural and which takes a singular verb. Sentences such as data was collected over a number of years are now widely accepted in standard English.

Posted by: Ciampino - in common usage it is a Collective Noun at August 16, 2022 11:59 AM (qfLjt)

364 350 >but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run.

she can launch it, but it'll blow up once it clears the tower
Posted by: DB at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (geLO

Can't even think of a liz cheney presidency without triggering a gag reflex.

Posted by: Miss Issippi at August 16, 2022 11:59 AM (sI15f)

365 Probably the best thing I read today was from Amy Curtis

https://tinyurl.com/3ezcdbr5

Posted by: redridinghood at August 16, 2022 11:59 AM (NpAcC)

366 "it doesn't even occur to her that she's talking about living as a slave in a totalitarian dictatorship."

The Pied Piper in reverse, leading the children back into the city, with Siren Songs of a wonderful life.

Posted by: illiniwek at August 16, 2022 11:59 AM (Cus5s)

367 Raising Cain's

The sauce is good, the chicken is nothing special.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 12:00 PM (dNqv+)

368 Every film he makes works to corrupt and tear down 'normal' conventions. Normalizing infidelity, glamorizing it, as well as homosexuality, transvestitism, corruption of the legal system, corruption of the press, cowardice, underage romance with an older man...his body of work is poison with a candy coating
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:54 AM (XvPQV)

Interesting, though I've not watched enough Wilder to comment more thoroughly; I've only ever seen Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot, One, Two Three and The Emperor Waltz. The writer Sam Staggs made the point that when Wilder dropped co-writer Charles Brackett and took up with I.A.L. Diamond, all of his cynicism and perversity - which Brackett had kept in check - were unleashed and resulted in nothing but bad movies.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 12:00 PM (AW0uW)

369 Every time a RINO cuck is ousted they are automatically a presidential contender in the eyes of the MSM.

Posted by: Joe Xiden at August 16, 2022 12:00 PM (blHKE)

370 313 Professional political analysis . . .

CBS News@CBSNews
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney "faces a crucible politically" in her reelection bid in tomorrow's primaries, @costareports says, but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run.

"This is a moment that's a reckoning for the Republican Party."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks
-----------------------
Good information is out there but using the infotainment media is always a dead end for any kind of analysis. People are put on programs to play a part in advancing a narrative--not to actually engage in analysis or inform people.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2022 12:00 PM (CXr4y)

371 Raising Cain's

The sauce is good, the chicken is nothing special.
Posted by: Aetius451AD

Fist bump.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2022 12:00 PM (qfVDK)

372 People changed because of Trump derangement syndrome. McCain and Romney were always weak. I remember when Ann Coulter insisted that we choose Romney and Christie. ...
Posted by: redridinghood at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (NpAcC)
++++
They didn't change.

Suddenly coming in to a ton of money (like winning the lottery) doesn't change you, it just makes you and everything you do bigger. Donald Trump had the same effect. He was the equivalent of a windfall profit for the political class, and thus those people merely amplified what they already were.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2022 12:01 PM (WWh8n)

373 are there any good States left

Look at any population density map, and get a general idea of total population vs population in the cities greater than 250K. Add into the dreaded city total any college town. That'll give you a clue, but its not perfect.

If a state is more than 50% Urban, avoid it.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 12:01 PM (sH61M)

374 Nood. ace/Chuy.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 16, 2022 12:01 PM (dNqv+)

375 368 Interesting, though I've not watched enough Wilder to comment more thoroughly; I've only ever seen Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot, One, Two Three and The Emperor Waltz. The writer Sam Staggs made the point that when Wilder dropped co-writer Charles Brackett and took up with I.A.L. Diamond, all of his cynicism and perversity - which Brackett had kept in check - were unleashed and resulted in nothing but bad movies.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 12:00 PM (AW0uW)

========

Diamond did co-write Some Like It Hot.

Brackett was a conservative, and the break in their professional relationship was, apparently, when Brackett defended HUAC.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang at August 16, 2022 12:01 PM (LvTSG)

376 348 "Old and busted: Trump lied about feebb thieving his passports

New Hotness: They took them, but It was an honest mistake!
Posted by: runner"

To be fair, he may have had the nuclear launch codes written down in them.
Posted by: Ripley at August 16, 2022 11:57 AM (MxEKc)

They looked at the countries he had been to, reoganized the letters, and found it read "I Have Nuke Codes"...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia at August 16, 2022 12:01 PM (ynpvh)

377 So when the IRS adds 87,000 agents to demand all your bank records, they will see everything you paid for. Extortion will surely happen. "Pay us or we'll leak that you bought XYZ which would be really embarrassing". But the real reason is they will uncover any contributions to opponents of the junta, and get you banned.

Posted by: Dennis Keating at August 16, 2022 12:02 PM (1tGL6)

378 I just voted for Harriet against Liz. I'm not stupid enough to believe this will change anything - Liz will continue to be a vindictive, corrupt jackbooted thug - but maybe the national media will forget Wyoming exists again, which is the way I like it.

Posted by: screaming in digital at August 16, 2022 12:03 PM (cCMfA)

379 >but points out that if Cheney loses, it could set her up to launch a presidential run.

she can launch it, but it'll blow up once it clears the tower

Posted by: DB at August 16, 2022 11:58 AM (geLO

-------

Make Trebuchets Great Again!

* Is reminded of a great scene in the old TV series Northern Exposure *

Posted by: ShainS -- Welcome to the boneyard, it gets worse here every day at August 16, 2022 12:03 PM (WtAgB)

380 342. Thanks Whig. I remember the lease and jet deal but what I read yesterday was “ funneled money from the company “ . The first should have been tax evasion but yesterday s write up made it sound like he embezzled. Of course who can actually believe media stories.

Posted by: Jen the original at August 16, 2022 12:04 PM (xjP1d)

381 The writer Sam Staggs made the point that when Wilder dropped co-writer Charles Brackett and took up with I.A.L. Diamond, all of his cynicism and perversity - which Brackett had kept in check - were unleashed and resulted in nothing but bad movies.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 12:00 PM (AW0uW)

Yeah, a good writing partner makes a big difference. But I do put the blame on Wilder. I was doing a mini film festival and going through his films and it just struck me of how many times just normal morality was undermined or mocked. Everyone else is just laughing and I felt like I had the 'They Live' glasses on while no one else did.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 12:05 PM (XvPQV)

382 The funniest part is what he calls the neo-puritans, his students of today who don't recoil at Kim Novak being a prostitute, but do recoil when she says she wants a good man and a good home. It's like John Cleese complaining about modern day Britain.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating the destiny machine with Fritz Lang

53 years ago today, Woodstock.began. Now the whole culture is countered.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, I Survived the Mar-A-Lago Raid at August 16, 2022 12:05 PM (FVME7)

383 They expected to the raid on Monday to produce some smoking gun that would end Trump based on some weakass informant's wild tails that most people would laugh at and disbelieve on it's face. This has been the pattern for all of the Trump persecutions.

The smoking gun came up goose eggs and led to the lame press meeting by Garland on Fri. Now, all the leaks to make it seem stronger and dragging their feet on real information will drag this to the mideterms.
Posted by: sniffybigtoe
==
I think this pretty much correct. Except they had a choice to make when the got nothing. Press conference, apologize, was based upon what we believed to be reliable information but now wrong, or double down. They doubled down. You see they believe he's the boogie man and they have to take him out. If they can't get him "legally" they'll do the Lee Harvey thing. And tell themselves, it was for the good of the Country, and the world.

Posted by: i can feel it coming in the air tonight at August 16, 2022 12:06 PM (crxfj)

384 53 years ago today, Woodstock.began. Now the whole culture is countered.

Because now the Woodstock culture is in charge.

Posted by: Once More With Feeling at August 16, 2022 12:07 PM (sH61M)

385 So when the IRS adds 87,000 agents to demand all your bank records, they will see everything you paid for. Extortion will surely happen. "Pay us or we'll leak that you bought XYZ which would be really embarrassing". But the real reason is they will uncover any contributions to opponents of the junta, and get you banned.

Posted by: Dennis Keating at August 16, 2022 12:02 PM (1tGL6)

-------

They'll go Full Brave Sir Justin on their political enemies & seize all their assets.

[And then many said agents will suddenly start disappearing -- hence the need for them to be willing to use deadly force.]

Posted by: ShainS -- Welcome to the boneyard, it gets worse here every day at August 16, 2022 12:09 PM (WtAgB)

386 44 "" You will own nothing, and will like it" is not a figure of speech to them "

More like a mission statement.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 16, 2022 11:11 AM (1n+EO)
----
Well that well-known character in the Lee Child stories, Jack Reacher, has nothing but his clothes, a billfold, passport and foldable toothbrush. No suitcase, backpack, nada.

Posted by: Ciampino - The Killing Floor is the best book at August 16, 2022 12:10 PM (qfLjt)

387 HIPPAA - we told you not to let the government control medical info, but you believed the govt overlords when they said it was for your own good...

Posted by: ama at August 16, 2022 12:12 PM (ez10z)

388 213 You are already living in a lawless, wholly unaccountable police state.

Correctomundo. Our choices now are:
1 learn to be police state drones
2 Declare our independence and negotiate our withdrawal from this lovely union
3 Fight

I have a strong preference for 2. And before some well meaning moron interjects that it won’t work, as usual, let me just prespond that we owe it to our family and ourselves to try

Posted by: FIB = KGB at August 16, 2022 12:14 PM (YTBIQ)

389 I'm a bit past 29, but here is another place to consider a compromise of your DNA. I had to provide a few drops of blood blotted onto paper to get a life insurance policy back in the '90's. I asked the nurse what would happen to those samples after any tests were run. She didn't have an answer...

Posted by: Dino58 at August 16, 2022 12:26 PM (LVPff)

390 81 2. Who's going to raid the bastards? What organization can a GOP POTUS rely on to drag Stinkfinger away in chains?

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 16, 2022 11:18 AM (AW0uW)

Theoretically you establish a new department of personally loyal people to go wreak terror on the others.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at August 16, 2022 11:19 AM (b2nrj)
----
The Deplorables Militia which will be well-regulated.

Posted by: Ciampino - There would be shortage of members at August 16, 2022 12:28 PM (qfLjt)

391 This brunette has done a bit of acting in the past, is literate and can read from a script or teleprompter so she believes - correctly - that she is qualified to sit at a national news desk and thinks that CBS should give her a call if they want to boost ratings:
https://is.gd/xZbPC2

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2022 12:36 PM (WWh8n)

392 Meanwhile over at RedState, writer Mike Miller is still a Trump-hating asshole!

Posted by: Tracy at August 16, 2022 12:41 PM (x58Cx)

393 Look at everyone who opines on "climate science". Almost none have any real background in the science at issue.

I forget who first made this point - but it is valid - when you read a newspaper article about something you have intimate knowledge about, you notice the reporter gets tons of stuff wrong and/or doesn't understand what he is reporting about. But then you turn to another section of the paper and assume the reporting there is accurate and true.

I've had a bunch of different cases I've worked on in the news. The news almost always gets the facts and issues wrong. If they can't get that stuff right, why would I assume they are getting anything right?
Posted by: Mehive at August 16, 2022 11:55 AM (ky+MF)

----

Gell-Mann amnesia.

Posted by: Interesting Times at August 16, 2022 12:44 PM (ieN7O)

394 This has been my biggest worry for years, the fate of the right to privacy and right against self incrimination, given technological advances over the years.
At a minimum, the end of the individual protections of government workers, and punishments of up to death for misuse of information.
More practically, this should be addressed by SCOTUS immediately, while expanding greatly on the scope of whatever trial they choose, followed by heavy clarification and restrictions by Constitutional amendment.

Posted by: From about that time at August 16, 2022 01:05 PM (4780s)

395 none of our medical records are safe from government search
They're not safe from anyone. Leaving hacking aside, note that almost all privacy policies have an escape clause that your data may be released to "improve service", which means anything anyone wants it to mean.

Posted by: markedup2 at August 16, 2022 01:38 PM (TD4D6)

396 "22 So may dystopias coming true at once. It's almost funny. All those sci-fi vision, all predicting the future but none of them quite seeing the whole picture.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at August 16, 2022 11:08 AM (XvPQV)"

Not too long ago, I saw a Venn diagram meme with the most well-known dystopias and how they overlapped. In the center, was a simple message: You Are Here.

Says it all, really.

Posted by: Saber Alter at August 16, 2022 02:10 PM (py1gx)

397 @Mehive-
You said, "Because I keep my viewpoint hidden, I don't challenge them to explain how they rationalize this. But these are generally otherwise decent, well-informed, well educated people and they are cheering on the Stasi tactics of our gov't."
Michael Savage said it best. Liberalism is a mental disease."
DefendUSA says, "The symptoms include feelings of superiority because others get squashed for not going along. The wearing of RCG's (Rose-colored glasses) to hide the actual facts..." And then they call you the c-word when you show them the gov't gave the facts!!!

Posted by: DefendUSA at August 16, 2022 03:25 PM (QwnRn)

398 "our rights protected by the United States Constitution"
But there's the problem. The Constitution never protected our rights. It merely enumerated them.

THE PEOPLE have to protect the rights. As people so often do, though, they began to lose their zeal and began to assume that the mere presence of the Constitution would do the work. And then... it all falls apart in time.

Posted by: GWB at August 16, 2022 05:41 PM (IlupC)

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