Guard Dog

Well I read it in USA Today, all the news in 100 words or less. I didn't know the details other than it was a controversy. And Obama really should know better by now. Don't pick sides in inter-party fights. PS I hate you right now: http://m.mlb.com/gameday/rays-vs-athletics/2016/07/23/448327#game=448327,game_state=final,game_tab=

There is a big hubbub this morning in the California Senate race to replace Barbra Boxer. There are two candidates, one is an black woman, the other is a Hispanic woman. If you look at their careers and voting positions they are practically interchangeable. Either would be a Barbra Boxer clone in the Senate. Obama endorsed the black one and now everyone is calling it racism. I don't pretend to know what is in Obama's mind so I can't say of it was or wasn't. But you'd think after this much time in politics he'd have learned when to keep his mouth shut to avoid a controversy.

Rays are up 3-1 in the bottom of the 9th in Oakland. The lost 4-3 just 3 at bats later. Now I see they are talking to the Dodgers about trading Longoria & Archer. It's enough to drive a man to drink.

I can't remember if I posted this or not:

I disagree with my esteemed board colleague redneckdevil. I have been voting for the lesser of two evils since my first presidential election I actually got to vote in in 1992. Small wonder that when voting for the lesser evil you are still electing evil. In this race there are three candidates on the ballot in all 50 states. My conscience forbids me from voting for Trump for several good reasons and hell will freeze solid before I ever cast a vote for the likes of Hillary Clinton. I like and believe in Gary Johnson despite his chances. So that makes my choice a simple one.

Probably not

Well the democrat convention released it's list of speakers and already someone is pissed off: http://ijr.com/2016/07/656814-blistering-letter-from-philly-police-has-clinton-camp-on-defense-over-dnc-speaker-lineup/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=partners&utm_campaign=bencarson&utm_term=prm6 In other news a new ad from Johnson/Weld: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsf03EaxUPE

Irony is my favorite form of humor!

I suspect you've been disappointed for a long time now!

My circle of friends is pretty small not counting the people I know on the internet. I'm still not convinced half of you are real . By and large The folks at the VFW are supporting Trump. But that isn't because they like him. Far from it. It's because they dislike Hillary more. It's understandable. Democrats in general are a hard sell to veterans. The people I know at work are split 50-50 but again it is not so much support of one as intense dislike of the other. That is what led me to say this election will see more negative votes cast than any in our history. The one who is hated the least will be the 45th President. When they ask me who I'm voting for they say something to the effect of "I like him a lot but he can't win". And I tell them they are right but only because people think that.

Hastur you are too new for anyone to take that much enjoyment in seeing you eat crow!

Well, all I can say is if he pulls that trigger and fires a 7.62mm into the propellant stem of a rocket propelled grenade... Pence, you're up to bat!

Dennis Green passed away. What a shame!

Val, I know EXACTLY what the LP is and what it isn't. Probably better than you realize. My association with them has not been limited to voting when all the other options are unpalatable. I actually ran for office in Florida in 1996 as a Libertarian candidate. If I were to describe their organization in those days I would use words like "dysfunctional". Things have improved since. These days it is becoming something it has never been in it's entire 45 year history; an actual political movement. Not a big one by any means. and not one ready to become a national player. Far from it. It still has a a lot of pseudo-anarchists, 50 year old adolescents, and folks who are single issue "legalize all drugs maaaaannn" members. But it also has a higher percentage of people who genuinely believe an oppressive, heave handed government that has completely broken free from it's constitutional checks is a serious danger to our lives and liberties. Now the Republicans might agree with that notion for the most part. They want to government to leave business alone and stay out of churches and gun closets. But then they turn around and ask that same government to stop a gay couple from getting married or a college kid watching TV from smoking a joint. The Democrats might be ok with the latter two choices but they seem to believe we should all be humbly supplicating ourselves to an almighty government for every other decision in life. The Democrats believe the government should tell us what we can watch (FEC vs Citizens United), what radios shows we can listen to (The Fairness Doctrine), what websites we are permitted to visit (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fec-chair-warns-that-conservative-media-like-drudge-report-and-sean-hannity-face-regulation-like-pacs/article/2548163) what books we are permitted to read (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/9729383/Catcher-in-the-Rye-dropped-from-US-school-curriculum.html) where our kids are permitted to attend school, what they lean, and of course making sure they are not learning from their parent. Basically they dream of a world where 1984 is a history book rather than a work of fiction. Both major parties are dreaming of using the apparatus of government to solve all they see as problems but only one party is talking about, as Reagan reminded us, that the government IS the problem.

This one is pretty good too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80S-cnNN4fo @Bruce: this thread or the next one will be enough. We won't need two. Remember, likely as not this whole drama will be settled between 8 PM and 12 PM Eastern Time. The western states are seldom a surprise. Hillary will win California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Trump will win Alaska. So when the polls close in the Mountain Time Zone that will pretty much be it.

Johnson/Weld has a new commercial out. I think it's their best one yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98mT-dIpo68 Anyone else sick of Republicans and Democrats yet? You do have other options you know.

I tried brewing beer a while ago. I never could get the carbonation right. It was always flat or more like beer flavored champagne. I gave up.

I went on Amazon and ordered a 9 piece 20V Milwaukee power tool set and a Black and Decker workmate today. I'm closing on the townhouse next week. It's going to be very busy over the next few weeks.

Very sorry Tale. I know he was your buddy.

I agree. Both that it isn't a big deal and that the media is making a lot of it. Curiously the media said not a word when Barack Obama did it... twice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M6x1H08aFc&feature=youtu.be

Bruce, what is your opinion? Do you think this is a big deal?

Well, that might be a bad example. A lot of lies were told by both Hillary Clinton and the administration surrounding that incident. And there is no question they left those men to die. And only because their politics were more important than American lives. That is something that should not be dropped... ever. Not as long as Hillary Clinton seeks public office. But you are right in the sense they are hammering on some things that are old news. But not this thing.

If that were true they'd still be pushing hard against gay marriage. They seem to be mostly backing off on that front. The sooner they get off that hill the better they'll be. At this point that would be like the Panthers still insisting they can still beat the Broncos and win the Super Bowl.

The New Yorker ran a decent article about Johnson & Weld: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/gary-johnson-the-third-party-candidate There is a little snark in it but it is the New Yorker after all.