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“Ex-Clinton Aide: Media Tougher On Palin”

Current protein wisdom administrator: Ya think? From CBS News:

CBSNews.com: Your former colleague Howard Wolfson argued that you all unintentionally paved the way for Palin by exposing some of the unfair media coverage that Hillary Clinton received. And, therefore, a lot of the media may now be treating Sarah Palin with kid gloves. Do you agree with that?

Mark Penn: Well, no, I think the people themselves saw unfair media coverage of Senator Clinton. I think if you go back, the polls reflected very clearly what “Saturday Night Live” crystallized in one of their mock debates about what was happening with the press.

I think here the media is on very dangerous ground. I think that when you see them going through every single expense report that Governor Palin ever filed, if they don’t do that for all four of the candidates, they’re on very dangerous ground. I think the media so far has been the biggest loser in this race. And they continue to have growing credibility problems.

And I think that that’s a real problem growing out of this election. The media now, all of the media — not just Fox News, that was perceived as highly partisan — but all of the media is now being viewed as partisan in one way or another. And that is an unfortunate development.

Unfortunate, however, not merely because they are “being viewed” as partisan. Rather, because they demonstrably are partisan.

Not a distinction without a difference, that.

(h/t Tom)

378 Replies to ““Ex-Clinton Aide: Media Tougher On Palin””

  1. Alec Leamas says:

    The kind and quality of the Media scrutiny of Palin, just like the intense attention to her experience, merely serves to draw attention to the lack of scrutiny of Obama. Such is the physics of these things. I assume that the Media can’t help itself (did anyone see the Roundtable on Stephanopolous this morning?) but I think that although they can supply the narrative of the election and the debate itself (i.e. this is a “change” election, and it is about Bush’s sucky economy) with relative impunity, they tend to do Barack a disservice because they leave the great subterranean unknown lying out there – an empty vessel that people are free to fill with whatever they can imagine, and which may likely be worse than what we would find given some real scrutiny.

  2. mojo says:

    They don’t want to dig, because they know they’ll find something.

    My spidey-sense says there’s somebody in the Chi-town machine that has enough on Barry to put him away forever. It’s the only form of control they would ever accept.

    I like to think that somewhere, in some Chicago safe-deposit box, there’s a plastic bag holding a murder weapon with Barry’s fingerprints on it. It’s the romantic in me.

  3. N. O'Brain says:

    “not just Fox News, that was perceived as highly partisan…”

    orly?

    The one outlet that really is fair and balanced.

    Oh, the irony. It burns.

  4. dre says:

    “The media now, all of the media — not just Fox News, that was perceived as highly partisan — but all of the media is now being viewed as partisan in one way or another.”

    Fox in the tank for Rethuglicans? that leaves the rest in the tank for O!.

  5. There’s more to be “tough” about when it comes to Palin. So this alleged toughness is actually fair & balanced, like Fox.

  6. panther girl says:

    I wish it were true Alec (#1). A large portion of the population thinks that because there’s no negative coverage of Obama, he must be perfect. And when the media does say something a teensy bit negative about O!, the whiners cry persecution.

  7. Jeff G. says:

    Yeah, Richard. Nothing to be tough about re: Senator Obama. Move along. Nothing to see here.

  8. RTO Trainer says:

    There’s more to be “tough” about when it comes to Palin.

    Such as?

  9. mgl says:

    There’s more to be “tough” about when it comes to Palin.

    Right. Because there couldn’t possibly be anything interesting about a candidate:

    – Who attended and donated heavily to a racist church for several years;
    – Who has almost nothing to show for his time in the Illinois legislature and the US Senate;
    – Who claims to above partisanship while voting with his party more often than almost any other Senator;
    – Who bought a house for well below market value as a result of a favor from a crook and influence-peddler;
    – Who associated with (and launched his political career in the home of) an unrepentant domestic terrorist;
    – Whose wife’s salary suddenly more than doubled after he won election to the US Senate.

    Nope, no possible reason to get tough here.

  10. B Moe says:

    She thinks God rode dinosaurs, RTO. And feed them books and baby polar bears.

  11. geoffb (JARAIP) says:

    I’m sorry if this is not proper.

    I wrote this two weeks ago at the pub and still think it applies.

    “The outpouring of hate and smears against Sarah Palin. Why? None of the explanations I’ve seen can account for the volume, in both senses, of the vituperation I’ve seen from the Left. Over a VP selection? VP?

    This kind of reaction has to be driven by a primal urge, fear, mortal fear. But what could there be to fear from Sarah Palin as VP in a McCain administration?

    What do she and McCain have in common that they would both agree on and that would cause such distress on the Left.

    What if deep down he wants to clean up the corrupt cesspool that is not only Washington D.C. but many State and City governments also? What if his pick of Sarah Palin is precisely because she took on the corruption in her own party and cleaned house. How would all the sleazy “cold cash” politicians with all the backroom backscratching deals react to a McCain administration turning loose a VP with the job of going after all the corrupt politicos on both sides of the aisle.”

    I think the answer is on TV and the internet daily.

  12. dre says:

    Is Sarah Palin a conservative or is she really a right leaning libertarian?

  13. seebsnews.con says:

    Unfortunate, however, not merely because they are “being viewed” as partisan. Rather, because they demonstrably are partisan.

    EXCUSE me! We prefer the present tense verb= perception to that stogy, reality-based, dust covered set of “facts” you like to paper us over with. You DO know don’t you, that the seriousness of the charge, that objectivity has been replaced with advocacy, precludes any vigorous examination, as our potential victimhood due to the vagaries of perception renders such public scrutiny inappropriate.

    You have SOME nerve!

  14. Comment by geoffb (JARAIP) on 9/14 @ 3:55 pm

    “The outpouring of hate and smears against Sarah Palin. Why?

    Because she’s a moron.

  15. Dan Collins says:

    No, she’s not, Richard. But keep it up.

  16. B Moe says:

    Still waiting on the whip-smart to show up, JG.

  17. thor says:

    Is too!

  18. poppa india says:

    And she’s a moron because Richard said so. No proof needed. I, for one, welcome our new Bennett overlord.

  19. Dick said it. I believe it. That settles it.

    Or something.

  20. Darleen says:

    Dickie’s typing while wearing this. He’s got some mommy issues.

  21. Mark A. Flacy says:

    Because she’s a moron.

    Well, that would explain “pity”. It’s not a good explanation for “hate and smears”, unless people such as yourself like to treat folks that you believe to be mentally disabled that way.

  22. He’s got some mommy issues.

    Maybe he could team up with thor’s daddy issues and they could raise a whole dysfunctional family — the von Trapps of irrational hatred.

  23. Sean M. says:

    Because she’s a moron.

    Incisive commentary there, Richard. You’re like the Dorothy Parker of blog trolls.

  24. le says:

    Bennett holds Palin in contempt because she is a hick.

    Bennett knows he couldn’t be VP, and he is superior to Palin, ergo, she isn’t even close to being qualified[by popular consensus of course, not constitutionally]

    Hey Dick, are you a closet monarchist or something?

  25. dre says:

    “Because she’s a moron.”

    Yo progg idiot her son’s the moron(according to your sociological university produced garbage from 50 years ago) she’ the moose hunter ready to fulfill Jesse’s desire about Obambi with a 45 @ 50 yards.

  26. Dan Collins says:

    She’s going to eat Biden’s lunch in debates.

  27. Darleen says:

    Dickie supports guys who tase kids, too. And racists.

    He’s just an all around kinda guy like that.

  28. Shall we discuss Palin’s policy on forensic exams for rape victims, folks? You know, the one that was reversed by a law sponsored by Joe Biden?

    That’s going to be a fun part of their debate, I betcha. Since the mainstream liberal media elites are so sexist, you know.

  29. SteveG says:

    I can’t wait until Biden goes on the attack against Palin.

  30. Darleen says:

    Dickie

    I’d be careful of all those chain emails you get. You’re going to make some Nigerian minister very happy.

  31. B Moe says:

    Shall we discuss Palin’s policy on forensic exams for rape victims, folks? You know, the one that was reversed by a law sponsored by Joe Biden?

    Nah, just keep saying she is a moron. Eventually it might impress someone.

  32. dre says:

    “Shall we discuss Palin’s policy on forensic exams for rape victims, folks?”

    Where’s that linky thing Dick?

  33. I can see why the Palin-boosters don’t want to talk about the Associated Press story about Palin’s rape kit policy; it’s pretty embarassing.

    After Palin was elected to the city council, Wasilla started charging rape victims for their forensic exams, the only city in Alaska to do so. The Alaska Legislature had to pass a law to prevent Wasilla from doing this. That law was motivated by a provision of Joe Biden’s VAWA.

    But I’m being sexist, elitist, and uppity to mention this, of course, and for that I will surely burn in hell.

  34. Wow, so Biden sponsored a law aimed specifically at “Palin’s policy” in Wasilla, Alaska?

    Prescient little cuss, isn’t he?

  35. B Moe says:

    Funny thing, that article says the policy was reversed by then Gov. Tony Knowles, and doesn’t mention Palin at all.

  36. After Palin was elected to the city council, Wasilla started charging rape victims for their forensic exams, the only city in Alaska to do so

    Evidence that this started “after Palin was elected”, that Wasilla was the only city to charge (Dan’s article says “most” don’t, not that only one does) and that Palin herself had anything to do with implementing this policy?

    Thanks.

  37. B Moe says:

    After Palin was elected to the city council, Wasilla started charging rape victims for their forensic exams, the only city in Alaska to do so.

    Where exactly does it say that, Richard? You aren’t just making shit up again, are you?

  38. B Moe says:

    But I’m being sexist, elitist, and uppity to mention this, of course, and for that I will surely burn in hell.

    No, just a liar making shit up. Where that takes you karmically is really not my concern.

  39. Darleen says:

    The smears oh the smears

    http://iusbvision.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/latest-palin-smear-palin-charged-rape-victims-for-rape-kits-but-when-the-truth-gets-out-the-elite-media-and-the-democrats-will-have-egg-on-their-face-again/

    Knowles tried to tell a reporter that it was complaints from Wasilla that prompted a bill signed into law by Knowles…funny thing, there were no rapes in Wasilla while Palin was mayor.

    There is nothing to indicate that Palin put that into policy or rather CHARGING THE INSURANCE COMPANY for the kits (as a medical expense, just like cities charge you for ambulance rides) was already in place.

    Now, here’s a little overlooked fact:

    But according to a 2004 bulletin published by the NCVC, “[F]eedback from the field indicates that sexual assault victims are still being billed.” Knecht says she’s recently heard from caseworkers in Illinois, Georgia, and Arkansas reporting that rape victims continue to be charged for their forensic exams.

    Illinois? In 2004? Hmmmmmmm.

  40. Evidence that this started “after Palin was elected”, that Wasilla was the only city to charge (Dan’s article says “most” don’t, not that only one does) and that Palin herself had anything to do with implementing this policy?

    (sound of Richard googling like crazy in the background…)

  41. Darleen says:

    Hello, raise your hands if your town charges you for the cities paramedics to transport you to the hospital via ambulance (it’s over $300 in my city)

  42. B Moe says:

    Breaking News! While Obama was a Community Organizer, victims of assault in the communities he organized WERE CHARGED FOR THEIR MEDICAL EXPENSES!

    Families of murder victims HAD TO PAY FOR THE FUNERALS!

  43. lee says:

    Yeah Bennett, the article you linked didn’t say Palin started the practice, just:

    Palin had been in office for four years when the practice of charging rape victims got the attention of state lawmakers in 2000

    That would be an uncharacteristically discrete way of framing it, if she was responsible for the practice.

    What else you got?

  44. Jeff G. says:

    Didn’t we already cover that rape kit canard here?

  45. lee says:

    Yes Jeff, but repetition of the big lie is an important component to implementation of the big lie.

    Expect to see this particular lie to be advanced well into the next decade.

  46. SarahW says:

    Hold it, Bmoe. A forensic rape kit is done for benefit of law enforcement, not the medical needs of the victim. It, and the accompanying examination is an expense properly borne by the state. The latter for a number of reasons – victims are not required to have an exam, and it is in the interest of law enforcement for victims to have an examination, It provides careful documenation of injuries necessary to or useful in successful prosecution.

    Even where there is medical benefit from an injury check or diagnosis of injuries, Insurance may not cover or may only partially cover any exam performed mainly for forensic purposes. It’s bad policy for the state to charge a victim for the costs of obtaining evidence for prosecution. Rape kits and forensic exams should no more be charged to a family than a coroner’s autopsy in a murder case.

    That said, this isn’t a “Palin” policy, at all.

  47. B Moe says:

    It’s bad policy for the state to charge a victim for the costs of obtaining evidence for prosecution.

    I am not arguing whether or not the policy is good or bad. As I understand it, the rape kit is a medical procedure, performed by medical staff in a medical facility. It doesn’t seem unusual to me that these people are paid by the individual or their insurance same as any other medical procedure. I don’t have any problem with working out other arrangements, but I am not shocked or appalled to find the victim charged, is all I am saying.

  48. Mikey NTH says:

    thor and Bennett seem to be close.

  49. N. O'Brain says:

    Gee, Dick is a lying piece of shit.

    Who knew?

  50. SarahW says:

    Bmoe, A rape kit/forensic exam is evidence collection, not a medical procedure done for benefit of a patient. The rought equivalent in another crime might be for police to charge Geico for fingerprinting your car when the window is smashed and your purse is stolen, or your Homeowners for crime scene photographs.

    If an individual ought to pay the price for collection of evidence, it should be a convicted criminal who pays restitution to the state for the costs of catching him.

  51. thor says:

    I’d vote Republican if Richard Bennett was the Veep on the ticket. He looks to be a guy with a lot of executive experience and not just some God-drunk, book burning, fish bait catching, moose molesting hick.

  52. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    Wasilla did not charge the vics directly, they submitted to insurance companies. Whether that is good policy or not is up for debate. I don’t blame cities for looking at insurance companies to reimburse the local hospital, nor the hospital to bill the city. ER is not a free service. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics are not civil slaves.

    Certainly by the time the perp is caught and prosecuted actual restitution can be part of the sentence, but that may come at something like $50/mo.

    Why this is tossed at Palin is clear…it is to be more “proof” that she is a self-hating inauthentic woman.

    Sexist lies against females off the Left reservation is SOP.

  53. SarahW says:

    And in this case, were talking about asking traumatized victims to undergo a completey voluntary, but also rather humiliating exam for the chief purpose of collection.

  54. B Moe says:

    I understand that, Sarah, and I agree with you. But police investigators never charge individuals for their services. Hospitals, doctors and medical assistants always charge. All I am saying is I can understand why victims could be billed, and don’t think it is as outrageous as what the leftards are making it.

    I definitely have no problem billing the state for the process, and think it should be the policy.

  55. SarahW says:

    evidence collection, rather.

  56. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    There’s one problem. Police departments are directly funded by cities/counties, so all investigative work – forensics, etc – are part of their budget.

    Hospitals are not. Unless it is a county hospital, these independent entities are going to bill the government for services.

  57. thor says:

    Comment by Darleen on 9/14 @ 5:52 pm #

    Doctors, nurses, and paramedics are not civil slaves.

    At county they are.

  58. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    If you’re assaulted and are transported to the hospital for treatment, should your ambulance ride be free?

  59. happyfeet says:

    Um. That rape kit thing is from an Associated Press article. That’s pretty weak.

  60. thor says:

    Yes, free, Darleen, you immoral rube.

  61. geoffb (JARAIP) says:

    Maybe I need to be clearer about something.

    When an event occurs (selection of a VP running matein this case) and the response to that event by someone(s) is disproportionate in the extreme to the event, that says more about the motives of those doing the responding than it says about the event itself.

    It also means that there is something there, on the responders side, that is not being revealed and indeed is being actively hidden. As in the reaction to the request to review the CAC files, this selection by itself threatens something that the left needs hidden. What that thing is, is the real question.

  62. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    Like BMoe, I’m NOT disagreeing that the cost of rape kits should be borne by the police agency. That’s a policy decision that each city/county/state needs to examine for themselves. I’m just saying that many cities walk a tight budgetary line, setting aside several thousand dollars a year that could be recouped via insurance might be one policeman or one fireman for that city.

  63. thor says:

    Or some free ambulance rides.

  64. Darleen says:

    Carlsbad, CA

    The Finance department contracts with Critical Care Specialty Billing to bill insurance companies, MediCal, and Medicare for necessary emergency ambulance services provided by firefighter/paramedics in the Fire department to City of Carlsbad residents, visitors and businesses. Critical Care Specialty Billing also bills patients for insurance co-pays. Payment for services can be made either by mail to Critical Care Specialty Billing or in person at the Finance department.

    Base Rate – Resident $618
    Base Rate – Non-Resident $894
    Mileage Charge – per mile $15
    Oxygen Charge $50
    Treat and Release (Assessment) $150

    There’s a lot more cities that do the same, but too many links and this won’t post

  65. happyfeet says:

    I thought the whole point of having a “kit” was so you could have your own doctor do it. Sometimes people who get raped are pretty shaken up and they like their own doctor. Me I would let my insurance pay for the kit to have my own doctor if I had a doctor which I don’t, but I’d rather do that than some county service person here in Los Angeles cause that’s same as government and the government here is very third world.

  66. B Moe says:

    If you’re assaulted and are transported to the hospital for treatment, should your ambulance ride be free?

    No.

    “Williams, who was later released on bond, also was charged with illegally billing Medicare for patient transports that were not medically necessary and conspiring to defraud the government by running a “taxi service” for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.”
    http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2003/05/19/newscolumn1.html

    People routinely abuse Grady Hopital’s public ambulance service also, making vague complaints and then disappearing from the crowded emergency room to avoid paying for a taxi or bus downtown.

  67. happyfeet says:

    Maybe I’m just too sensitive.

  68. Akatsukami says:

    Shall we discuss Palin’s policy on forensic exams for rape victims, folks? You know, the one that was reversed by a law sponsored by Joe Biden? […] The Alaska Legislature had to pass a law to prevent Wasilla from doing this.

    Wow, Biden was a member of the Alaska state legislature? I’ll bet that was a stone bitch taking the train from and to Delaware.

  69. thor says:

    Darleen thinks if there’s a shooting victim and ambulance should arrive to check the pockets of the wounded person. If the person has no money in his pocket then the victim’s foot should be nailed to the ground so that they can only walk around in circles. That way they won’t bleed everywhere. The vultures and bugs will do the rest of the cost-saving job for the tax payers.

    Jesus heals, Darleen, not so much.

  70. B Moe says:

    LOL! You aren’t going to be driving, tonight I hope.

  71. B Moe says:

    Apparently I have a comma gone rogue, be aware.

  72. lee says:

    See?

    Shear repetition.

  73. Darleen says:

    B Moe

    When eldest daughter (now RN) was a paramedic, their ambulances were routinely used as “taxi” service. It was an excellent month that the company collected 40% of their billings. A lot of times she and her partner KNEW the person wasn’t really sick enough for an ambulance and they’d say things to the person like “You know, there might be a real emergency with someone really hurt and we’re not going to be able to respond” and the leech didn’t care. It was their “right” by dialing 911.

    The “entitlement” mentality is rampant.

  74. urthshu says:

    I used to work this field, so a little perspective:
    On alleging a rape, if an ambulance ride is required, it is billed to the patient then reimbursed from victim’s funds – if the charge is substantiated. Rape kits are not billed, at least here in NY. SarahW is correct that it is an evidence-gathering method and it is done even in cases where the victim is not going to press charges. Treatment for injuries is not automatically free but are reimbursed from victim’s funds.

    Other states may have other regs, as is appropriate. The thing to remember is that an allegation of rape is not automatically true nor carte blanche for all medical billing. In the article we have one half of the process noted, but nothing regarding reimbursements from victim’s funds, if any.

    Also it is not a Palin thing.

  75. SarahW says:

    The thing is the “kit” isn’t needed by anybody but the state, in order to prosecute.
    The point about the kit was to thoroughly gather evidence in a comphrehensive standard way.

    Hospital ER or private office, the kit isn’t medical treatment. It’s for forensic use. The state should pay for it like fingerprinting or photographing,

  76. Darleen says:

    TANSTAAFL

    Something the Left never understands. They believe need trumps ability everytime, that one person’s talents enslaves them to the talentless.

  77. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    I agree with you. However, it’s up to each city/state to decide that. It’s the same with witness relocation, victim/witness advocate programs, psychological counseling for victims.

    BTW, police departments are not state financed.

  78. SarahW says:

    Darleen, taxes should cover law enforcement needs.

    It’s not like billing insurance companies makes the test “free”. A person is not required to have insurance in most states, and it’s wrong to ask the insured group to pay for police evidence gathering procedures.

    It may be cheaper for police agencies, and that may have its benefits, but it isn’t appropriate.

  79. thor says:

    Only Leftists get sick and can’t pay their bills. It’s a fact.

  80. SarahW says:

    To clarify by “state” I meant “the state” as in, the government or agents of the government at any level.

  81. dre says:

    So if the state pays for the ID card a voter needs to vote, the proggs are ok with it right?

  82. Darleen says:

    Oh… another thing, psychological couseling provided to inmates

    who pays?

    in my neck of the woods, any therapy given to juvies is charged to parents’ insurance or (most likely) billed to MediCal

  83. thor says:

    Darleen thinks rape victims should surrender their gold coins before they give evidence to the State.

    Do you know how many parades those gold coins will pay for?

  84. Darleen says:

    it’s wrong to ask the insured group to pay for police evidence gathering procedures.

    Then that needs to be argued to each municipality. It’s NOT a given.

  85. SarahW says:

    # 83 “To clarify what I meant by”

    Sheesh.

    Also, still not a Palin thing.

  86. SarahW says:

    Darleen, medical insurance is for paying for necessary medical care. A rape kit can’t ever qualify for that. It provides no medical benefit to the insured.

  87. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    If the person doesn’t have insurance via the rape kit in the Wasilla story, they weren’t charged.

  88. lee says:

    thor thinks someone gives a rats ass what he thinks.

    Pitiful…

  89. thor says:

    Darleen thinks victims of rape and incest should pay for the cost of delivering their Palin-babies. Releasing rapists from our prisons might be a way to stimulate the economy. Obstetricians are big tippers. I just felt a trickle down go up my leg!

  90. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    I agree that a rape kit is not medically necessary, though to assess and record trauma is part and parcel of deciding upon proper medical treatment. A rape kit is just the agency’s “copy” of the medical report long with some forensic collection. The line is blurred.

    Yes, it should be part and parcel of a police agency budget. It just doesn’t have to be.

  91. SarahW says:

    “It’s the same with witness relocation, victim/witness advocate programs, psychological counseling for victims.”

    None of these programs, worthwhile they may be, gathers forensic evidence. They are distiguishable in that important respect, and also in that they provide benefit to the victim, not just the public. (in advocaty of protection of the “the people” and as aid to law enforcement)

  92. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    I apologize if I’m coming off too policy wonkish on this. Just that I and family members are in the thick of it, so I find people like Dickie disengenuous on this at best. The Palinphobics are ELEVENTY!!1!!1 about anything without any good faith in either facts or underlying issues.

  93. urthshu says:

    85 –
    Hold on Darleen.
    I understand you may not value psychological therapies – they’re arguable as to whether tey do good or not – but the thinking behind doing the therapy is to rehabilitate the criminal. That should, hopefully, have spillover benefits to society at large.

    It can be argued, sure, but on that basis. Getting to the root of it rather than piecemeal. If you think prisons ought to be punitive and not rehabilitative, cool, then everything follows from that.

    SarahW – you’re right. Its only keeping in mind the phenom of false allegations that you need. A victim can and even should be billed – at first – and monies ought to be set aside once a crime has been established. Otherwise weirdos with stuff stuck up their bums would just charge the state every time, hmm?

  94. thor says:

    We should not perform operations that are cost ineffective on Leftists members of our society, says Darleen. A Leftist’s child born without a nose doesn’t need a nose, or a ambulance ride. These people need to be taught that noses cost money.

  95. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    Um, psychological assessment of victims IS forensic. Especially the assessment of children who are the victims of abuse.

  96. Darleen says:

    urthshu

    understand you may not value psychological therapies

    Huh? I made no value judgement, I was just pointing out how counties collect fees for those services.

    Indeed, in the cases of juvies, it is a vitally needed service with great outcomes.

  97. urthshu says:

    ah, OK Darleen. I get claim’s like that all the time, though. Lots of skeptics, whom I respectfully disagree with is all.

  98. SarahW says:

    I can at least get you to concede, Darleen, that it is good public policy?

    I would also point out that the rape kit has its own billing code. The extra time to gather and record and prepare the evidence is substantial. The exam related to medical diagnosis or treatment of existing trauma ( broken bones, repair of lacerations, pain medicines, etc etc) are all separate from the costs of a rape kit.

  99. N. O'Brain says:

    “Comment by lee on 9/14 @ 6:46 pm #

    thor thinks someone gives a rats ass what he thinks.

    Pitiful…”

    You can safely ignore the talking pile of shit.

    All the cool kids are.

  100. SarahW says:

    I thought, Darleen, you meant victims referred to counseling, not forensic examinations.

    But forensic exams are not generally billed to private insurance or victims, but ordered and paid for by the state (again, not 50 states, but government).

  101. SarahW says:

    This would be opposed to examinations a lawyer defending a case or trying to prove damages in a civil case, thinks is a good idea. Those private exams, are private.

  102. Darleen says:

    SarahW

    I agree that it is very problematic to have a policy that charges for forensic gathering. It would be good policy to start from the other premise, DON’T bill unless the case is unfiled for lack of evidence. (I wouldn’t make it based on conviction because not all rapes will sustain conviction)

  103. Darleen says:

    urthshu

    Most clients at a juvenile detention and assessment center are not there for heinous crimes (some are and they are another story). Some are just really messed up and/or are from really messed up backgrounds. They need the therapy to function, in conjunction with the first real education they may have ever had.

    But this all costs money.

  104. urthshu says:

    True, it all costs money. Dunno how many juvie halls are wholly private, though. Most seem to be either public or a mix of public/private.

  105. tunnel duck says:

    Money is precious. Children, not so much, says Darleen. There should be a county fee on children, except for Sarah Palin’s special needs child. Precious snow flakes like that are way different than a Leftist’s baby. No fee for snowflakes.

  106. JHoward says:

    Shhh, thor’s about to finally explain leftism — the really glorious parts what Change people’s lives.

    I just know he is.

  107. N. O'Brain says:

    Ooo, look, another pile of talking shit.

    Oh, no, same one wearing Groucho glasses.

  108. N. O'Brain says:

    Comment by JHoward on 9/14 @ 7:18 pm #

    Please ignore the talking pile of shit.

  109. urthshu says:

    Wonder if we can move on from this non-Palin policy to comparing it with socialized medicine outcomes?

  110. dre says:

    “Money is precious. Children, not so much”

    Yo progg you got money in the abortion biz?

  111. JHoward says:

    Sorry, that’s thor-the-libertarian.

    Speekinawich, hammer boi should be delivering wit da good onna E-noom-erated powers bit too. The part on entitlements.

    Comes just before the part on free lunches.

    You go. Sickle hammer boi.

  112. JHoward says:

    Hope springs eternal, N. O’Brain. I swear there’s some damn fine grounds fer collectivism.

    You just wait and see, you just wait and see.

  113. JHoward says:

    I been readin’ me some a dat Eugene Cranberry, he of the sixties radical Lighthouse Manifesto. thor recommended. Dude had some mofo chops back before The Man got to his ass.

  114. tunnel duck says:

    After the Pittsburgh game I will perform a Leftist exorcism on JHo. He’s been talking to piles of shits and reading Calvino lately. Father Collins will convene over the committee of blood and Marxism. Wear your rubbers, these things have been known to get soupy.

  115. Pablo says:

    Releasing rapists from our prisons might be a way to stimulate the economy.

    FREE MICHAEL VICK!!!

    Oh, and shut up thor.

  116. JHoward says:

    In the latter days, Lighthouse Manifesto boyz based in St. Petersburg becausa alla pressure and all, but the earlier days, they were some heady shit down in Maryland and Virginia, what with the “activism”. Ideas, you know, they grow naturally like wild, fertile, carefully nurtured seedlings ‘cept for when you needa make folks see things.

    Boom! Have a nice day!

  117. tunnel duck says:

    Cedric Steptoe. What a name for a wide receiver.

  118. Pablo says:

    I agree that it is very problematic to have a policy that charges for forensic gathering. It would be good policy to start from the other premise, DON’T bill unless the case is unfiled for lack of evidence. (I wouldn’t make it based on conviction because not all rapes will sustain conviction)

    Who’s doing the billing here? It’s the provider, no? And someone is getting the bill, the question is who. So, the bill is going out and the question is what to do with it.

  119. SarahW says:

    But anyway it’s not a Palin thing.

    Saw some interesting links at Patterico to stories about that failtographer for the Atlantic, Jill Greenburg is her name. She seems to lack the discretion many of her important clients might prefer.
    ——————
    Feed a fever? I was feeling low and made chocolate muffins though it took most of the evening.

    I’m up to six chocolate muffins not to mention some chocolate chips that “fell” out of the bag. WHooopsie.

    Remind me never to make muffins again as long as I live. Not when I have no guests to eat them, anyway. If you come over I would make you chocolate muffins.

  120. Alec Leamas says:

    “After the Pittsburgh game I will perform a Leftist exorcism on JHo. He’s been talking to piles of shits and reading Calvino lately. Father Collins will convene over the committee of blood and Marxism. Wear your rubbers, these things have been known to get soupy.”

    I agree 100% with thor/tunnel duck.

  121. JHoward says:

    thor sickle hammer boi, I welcome my purging. It’s for The Cause. Chain me down and tie me up, but whatever you do, make me see.

    Edgie Corriander did. Bitch could sing with violence, back when the 60’s meant something and Benito was yet remembered.

    Corporate football, huh?

  122. Darleen says:

    urthshu

    In my county, the JDAC’s are run by the Probation department. The on-site therapy is provided by the county’s department of Behavioral Health (they do assessments of adult offenders, too). And of course, the JDAC’s have public school teachers, that money coming from yet another county department. Probation also supplies medical techs and RN’s.

    DBH bills MediCal for reimbursement.

    Nationalized medicine scares the beejebus out of me. Soylent Green.

  123. Darleen says:

    mmmmm….. chocolate……

  124. JHoward says:

    thor sickle hammer boi used to get a lot of pinko time.

    So I’ve been told.

  125. tunnel duck says:

    Swedish chicks suffer from nationalized medicine. Soylent Green says Darleeen. Tiger Woods’ wife is Swedish. I bet Tiger is glad the Swedish doctors didn’t eat his wife before he did.

  126. urthshu says:

    Well, with nationalized medicine we won’t be arguing who pays for it, but what to pay for, y’know? I think the rape kits will still fall to law enforcement funds, but who will pay for abortions? Will DS kids be aborted as a ‘cost savings’ measure? Will the health services get a say on who receives prenatal care or sterilizations b/c child services deems them unfit? Who will watch those watchers. Look, I used to work with the fuckers and I don’t want them having that kind of power….

  127. N. O'Brain says:

    The talking pile of shit is also a thief, stealing Jeff’s bandwidth with his idiotic sockpuppetry.

    Sort of a freelance socialist.

  128. Liberal media bias isn’t so much a scandal as it is simply a given, anymore. I’m just thankful that we can route around it nowadays.

  129. happyfeet says:

    I wants a muffin. I made steamed cabbage with my new steamer and it was vile. I should have googled for advice I guess. I wonder if I could have added bacon.

  130. I leave you kids alone for a few minutes while I pop out to Whole Foods for some Bordeaux, brie, and organic mangoes, and then down to Armadillo Willy’s for some nice Texas BBQ, and what happens? You all agree that rape victims were asking for it. No sexism here, I’m glad to see.

    Let’s review the facts, each of which can easily be verified with a series of Googles:

    1. Before Sarah Palin was elected to the Wasilla City Council, the police department bore the costs of the rape kits.

    2. During her tenure the policy was changed, shifting the cost to the victim.

    3. When Sarah Palin was Mayor of Wasilla, the Alaska Legislature passsed a law banning the Wasilla practice.

    4. By that time, Wasilla was alone among Alaska cities in sticking it to the victims.

    5. The Alaska state law brought it into line with VAWA, a federal law sponsored by Joe Biden that made certain federal grants to states conditional on states having laws consistent with VAWA requirements.

    6. Consequently, it’s quite factually correct to say that Joe Biden reached out his hand from Washington, DC, and whooped Sarah Palin upside the head for her inhumane treatment of rape victims.

    You can fully expect the details of this to come up in the VP debate, in which case Biden will mop the floor with Palin. Very politely, of course, because he wouldn’t want to be disrespectful to Palin; she’s a mom.

    BTW, $30/lb for decent French cheese is an outrage caused by the Bush economy.

  131. JHoward says:

    I don’t know, ‘feets, about seventy trillion in unpaid nationalized entitlements is some kinda tasty, if you ask me.

    And Lehman! There’ll be no taxpaid bailouts!

    Boomed Paulson.

  132. lee says:

    I made steamed cabbage

    But…why?

    Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

    Take thors commenting for example…

  133. JHoward says:

    The Richard Charlemagne Roderick Bennett, you ask? None other, I replied.

    Dick is a VAWA expert, having researched it thoroughly. For the libertarianism. Not for the nannyism.

    Nope, not for the loss of rights. Not possible.

  134. urthshu says:

    That Bennett guy’s a fucking loon.

    Liar, too, but loon generally outweighs the liar part ‘cuz nobody expects a loon to tell truth.

    Illiterate, too, I think. Oh, he can spell but not read.

  135. happyfeet says:

    oh. The end goal is the twice-cooked pork dish I like a lot, but I thought I would learn the cabbagey part first. Fail.

    And no no no not really, Sanity Inspector person. Liberal media bias is corruption. These are corrupt people, through and through. MSNBC? Corrupt. New York Times? Corrupt. NPR? Corrupt. Charlie Gibson? Corrupt. If I used my resources at work to my own ends even half as flagrantly as do these corrupt bastards I would be fired.

  136. urthshu says:

    Oh, wait, my mistake.
    Bennett thinks thor is speaking for us, I bet.

    thor is not speaking for us, Bennett. I know he’s saying the victim deserved it and stuff, but he’s joking or something.

  137. happyfeet says:

    Then I would have to eat my cabbage and like it I guess.

  138. urthshu says:

    What happened with the cabbages? Too soaked, I’m betting.

  139. urthshu says:

    Also:
    Cabbage or bok choy or other?

  140. happyfeet says:

    Yes. I just hit the steam button and waited for the ding. Maybe that works for other things, but not cabbage.

  141. happyfeet says:

    This was just plain cabbage, cause that’s how the twice-cooked pork lady does it. I do not think I should be entrusted with bok choy until I prove myself first.

  142. B Moe says:

    I am wondering if thor is speaking for Bennett.

  143. urthshu says:

    Cabbage is like way watery stuff, really. Thats why with cole slaw you always got the puddles. Sometimes, you use kosher salt to draw out the water first, then rinse all that out b/c yuck salty cabbage makes you barf. Sounds stupid, but there it is.

  144. urthshu says:

    Went to chef’s school. Not Mr. Cabbage or anything. I dropped out [hangs head in shame]

  145. Pablo says:

    2. During her tenure the policy was changed, shifting the cost to the victim.

    You’re gonna have to cite that one, Dick. This link deflates your argument, a common occurrence of late. Do try a sourced rebuttal, if you like.

  146. happyfeet says:

    oh. I’m thinking if I shred it it might just cook enough in the wok to be sort of crunchy and tasty the was she does it. I am off topic. Um. Richard sucks.

  147. urthshu says:

    Mr. Cabbage sounds more english mystery show than cooking show anyway

  148. B Moe says:

    You know what else can easily be verified with a series of Googles? The WTC was blown up by mermaids, Dennis Kucinich is a genius, Richard Bennett is an extremely popular name for gay child abusers, and Dick Cheney has a space alien he keeps as a pet in the basement of the White House.

    It’s true, google it.

  149. urthshu says:

    You know – try blanching maybe, then the wok. I’m not looking up cabbage-making, just think it might work.

  150. urthshu says:

    OK – goodnight. More outrage tomorrow

  151. happyfeet says:

    goodnight urthshu. I will have to google this “blanching”, but you knew that.

  152. Mark A. Flacy says:

    Let’s review the facts, each of which can easily be verified with a series of Googles:

    It’s sooooo easy, I won’t provide the links that came up to prove it!

    Bite me.

  153. lee says:

    Ok, that’s it. Mr Bennett repeated the story over and over, and now, for me at least, the story is true!

    So this is the way I read it. Sarah Palin, on assuming dictatorial control over Wasilla, and being a rape victim hater, embarked on a rape victim human rights stripping campaign where in, before charges were even filed, the mayor herself extracted money from the victims wallet for the rape kit.

    Jeez, she really is vile (not unlike a poorly steamed cabbage), and I concede Mr. Bennett sir, McCain made a horrible, horrible mistake selecting the hillbilly skank.

    What do I do now? Vote Obama? Moan, bitch, whine and make up stuff about Palin? Both?
    I await your further words of wisdom and guidance oh wizard!

  154. JHoward, if you ever meet anyone who’s prominent in the Fathers’ Rights Movement, you just ask ’em if Richard Bennett knows anything about VAWA. Or you could just read this. Or you could read this, and then this. Silly person.

    Now to those who say “Yes, it’s bad to charge victims for rape kits, but Palin had nothing to do with it”, kindly read this.

    And tell me why Palin hates women.

  155. N. O'Brain says:

    Comment by Richard Bennett on 9/14 @ 8:07 pm #

    Please, stop lying.

  156. N. O'Brain says:

    WE already have one talking pile of shit here.

  157. happyfeet says:

    Governor Palin is a good person I think. Baracky and M’chelle hate her though cause she isn’t a socialist at all and she’s actually been put in charge of something before..

  158. lee says:

    Really Bennett?.

    How does that make sense in light if this from Pablos link above?

    KNOWLES AND HIS DEMOCRAT FRIENDS HAVE ONE PROBLEM – FROM THE TIME PALIN TOOK OFFICE TILL THE TIME THIS LAW WAS PASSED EXACTLY ZERO RAPES WERE REPORTED TO THE CITY OF WASILLA.

  159. happyfeet says:

    … a whole state, really. Baracky was in charge of the Annenberg’s money but he screwed that up and doesn’t like to talk about it.

  160. JHoward says:

    That’s actually not bad, Bennett. And do find it in yourself to forgive me for not being intimately familiar with your erstwhile body of rather remarkable work. Rocket tennies, that; what was I possibly thinking as it whooshed by.

    So why the bullshit attitude and chronic irrationality elsewhere? Broken clock?

  161. JHoward says:

    Oh and Bennett, we “charge” victims for all kinds of things. It’s called the price of freedom.

  162. N. O'Brain says:

    “At the end of the letter, under the words “Respectfully submitted,” is the signature of Sarah Palin. Unless she made a false claim about the data being accurate to the best of her knowledge, she was aware of the change in billing policy orchestrated by Police Chief Fannon.”

    Liar.

  163. JHoward says:

    Lastly, would Baskerville count, Dick? Funny, he never mentioned you…

  164. lee says:

    Plus, my options as a new Palin hater are narrowed in light of this from the same link:

    But according to a 2004 bulletin published by the NCVC, “[F]eedback from the field indicates that sexual assault victims are still being billed.” Knecht says she’s recently heard from caseworkers in Illinois, Georgia, and Arkansas reporting that rape victims continue to be charged for their forensic exams.

    Guess I’ll have to confine myself to moaning, bitching, whining and making up stuff about Palin.

  165. Pablo says:

    Dick, I’ve met quite a number of people prominent in the Father’s Rights movement, and yet, I don’t think I’ve met you. I’ve been fairly active, Why don’t I know you?

    And how many women in Wasilla were charged for rape kits?

  166. Yes, Steve would count.

  167. N. O'Brain says:

    You’ll notice that the article that Dick cites carefully avoids mentioning if anyone without insurance was, you know, actually charged.

  168. I retired in 2000, Pablo. There’s only so much one man can do.

  169. The article documents the change in policy that occurred during Palin’s tenure as mayor. One can easily imagine a drop in rape reports once it costs $1000 to file complaint.

  170. B Moe says:

    The Huffington Post still doesn’t provide the documentation, it just says it exists. Even if true, I would be disappointed at that method of budget cutting, but I don’t think it would be of a level to disqualify her for Veep.

    Does it disappoint you that Obama hasn’t been subjected to anything close to that level of scrutiny?

  171. JHoward says:

    I began in 2002, Bennett.

  172. JHoward says:

    Care to address 164, Dick? If VAWA is a rights nightmare, how about a state that provides free services under the auspices of, well, control? Conservative?

  173. happyfeet says:

    Richard is trying and trying to rape Governor Palin but he seems to be having trouble. She’s so asking for it though… just look at her. Driving him crazy she is, flaunting it like that.

  174. B Moe says:

    The article documents the change in policy that occurred during Palin’s tenure as mayor.

    No it doesn’t. It provides a link to the Wasilla web site and says the documents are in there, but it doesn’t produce or link them directly.

  175. Pablo says:

    Richard, does Warren Farrell know you? Did Ron Smith know you? Does Jamil Jabr know you? Does Glenn Sacks know you? Does Matt O’Connor know you? Does John Murtari know you? Does Lary Holland know you? Does Rob Pedersen know you?

    Who should I ask for your bona fides?

  176. tunnel duck says:

    Lehman Bro.s – Kapooot! Merrill Lynch – see ya! AIG Insurance – your next! Fannie and Freddie – fire up the printing press!

    The Dollar is collapsing again because everyone knows the Fed will be pissing credit to desperately try and save their buddy’s tails in the banking sector (psst, white collar means white people!).

    Rove You Magnificent Bastard!

  177. Pablo says:

    Oh, and how many women in Wasilla were charged for rape kits?

  178. lee says:

    Wow, off topic but BBC America is broadcasting “My Mums Used to Be Men, a touching story about a girl whose parents are both women who were born male.

    OK, back to that white trash backwoods harpy Palin. I hate her, don’t you?

  179. N. O'Brain says:

    Comment by Pablo on 9/14 @ 9:01 pm #

    Dittoes.

  180. JHoward says:

    Depends on how long thor stayed, Pablo…

  181. N. O'Brain says:

    “OK, back to that white trash backwoods harpy Palin. I hate her, don’t you?”

    No, but I have a feeling that Dick thinks she’s Jewish.

    Or something.

  182. JHoward says:

    Except for the inherent revulsion, of course, neither of our friends can much articulate why Palin scares them so. Deep-seated, I’m thinking.

  183. lee says:

    Oh, and how many women in Wasilla were charged for rape kits?

    Jeez Pablo, weren’t you paying attention? When Palin demanded rape victims pay for the evidence, there was a news article or something and all the girls knew they would be charged a thousand bucks so the scores of rape victims over the next few years all decided they couldn’t swing the cash, so they decided to just let the whole thing go.

    I mean really, if your daughter was raped, would you pay the thousand for a rape kit?

    I think not…

  184. poppa india says:

    #185 She’s from far away, a different cultrure. They’re afraid of the Other.

  185. Bekki says:

    Palin is not only getting more negative press, she is just getting more press in general. Unfortunately, the media has forgotten its role as a reporter of facts and is using it’s power to influence rather than giving us the information we need to make a well informed decision. Let’s elect the ‘best’ candidate to the office, not the most interesting.

  186. Bekki says:

    Palin is not only getting more negative press, she is just getting more press in general. Unfortunately, the media has forgotten its role as a reporter of facts and is using it’s power to influence rather than giving us the information we need to make a well informed decision. Let’s elect the ‘best’ candidate to the office, not the most interesting. http://lifestouches.blogspot.com/

  187. happyfeet says:

    I don’t need any more information I already decided to vote against the socialist I-hate-America guy. This was not a difficult decision really, but the bonus is I get to vote against the media too.

  188. tunnel duck says:

    I hate Sister Sarah because she’s a uneducated Jesus-fascist hick. If you want America to collapse from the weight of the decisions from hick bible-thumpers then you might like her.

    How’s the dollar doing again? The border closed yet? Anyone want a mortgage? $5-trillion of debt in the last 7 years? We can’t even afford our own space station unless we hitchhike rides from the Russians.

    And now you want an even dumber hick in the White House? I can always move to Europe or Russia if things fall into economic Armageddon here. You genital warts will be stuck in the ooze of the hillbilly genitalia. And I’ll laugh. You deserve it.

  189. happyfeet says:

    Oh. I like Governor Palin. She understands energy issues way more better than silly Democrats. Ohnoes our economy is in trouble quick let’s build a windmill.

  190. B Moe says:

    I can always move to Europe or Russia if things fall into economic Armageddon here.

    Solid comedy gold.

  191. geoffb (JARAIP) says:

    There is a smell of fear wafting in from the left.

    Smells like Victory!

  192. JHoward says:

    I love it when all your veins pop out like that, thor sickle hammer boi. It happens when you try to raise the consciousness of an entire planet!

    With a background like yours, I probably would too…

    Anyway, so how about that Annenberg Barry O? How’s his socialist dollar going to be doing? The border wide open yet? Anyone want a mortgage? $75 trillion of entitlement debt in the next 15 years? We can’t even afford our own space station unless we hitchhike rides from the Russians.

  193. Jeff G. says:

    How many rapes were reported before Palin’s tenure, on average per year?

  194. tunnel duck says:

    No big deal if you lie to me JHo, but do you really have to go and lie to yourself?

  195. tunnel duck says:

    Her daughter missed the statutory style by a few months so that wouldn’t qualify as one. Don’t know, don’t care, actually.

  196. JHoward says:

    The lie of free markets, self-responsibility, the private sector, and personal charity, sickle-boi?

    Is there anything you make sense on? Seriously. Because logically deranged and self-hating is probably no way to live. Just guessing here.

    Before you call me a liar again, bitch, tell me what shining alternative you have, you cheap collectivist patsy. Or shut the fuck up.

  197. poppa india says:

    I don’t know much about statutory laws fortunately, but my guess is if her boy friend is about the same age, they wouldn’t apply.

  198. N. O'Brain says:

    Please ignore the talking pile of shit.

  199. B Moe says:

    I must be terribly depressing to be so totally self-absorbed when there is so little self there.

  200. JHoward says:

    Right you are, O’Brain…

  201. B Moe says:

    *It*
    God I hate when that happens.

  202. Darleen says:

    I wonder what Dickie is really going to do with the brie

    considering he’s projecting his misogyny on everyone else.

    In the meantime, actual people who work in the field will just carry on, inspite of the slouchers toward, and coveters of, totalitarianism like Dickie.

  203. tunnel duck says:

    And what if I don’t “shut the fuck up,” what you gonna do? Keep spouting your lies? Ohnoes!

    Adam Smith was a wanker.

  204. tunnel duck says:

    Looks like the Euro was a good buy at 1.37, it’s already trading at 1.44 tonight.

    Just another good old American dollar meltdown.

    How many Bush dollars will we be spending giving free health care to Iraqis this week?

  205. David R. Block says:

    If we want a dumber person in the White House, we could just elect Obama.

  206. Dash Rendar says:

    “Just another good old American dollar meltdown.”

    You underestimate the multi-valent fail safes in the American economy. A weaker dollar means more exports, because goods made in America are cheaper relative to foreign currency, i.e the Euro. Thus, a weak dollar ensures more exporst and results in the 3.3% economic growth of Q2 2008.

    But seriously, where are the Chinese googles, microsofts? Where is much, if not nearly all of the tech innovation being done? Europe? Hardly. Israel has more high tech companies that all of Western Europe combined. The economy is fine so long as we drill for oil, whilst adding 750,000 jobs to the economy and stop the corporate socialism of bail outs.

  207. JHoward says:

    “Here is what we saw firsthand at the White House from late 2002 through 2007: Starting in 2002, White House and Treasury Department economic policy staffers, with support from then-Chief of Staff Andy Card, began to press for meaningful reforms of Fannie, Freddie and other government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs).

    “The crux of their concern was this: Investors believed that the GSEs were government-backed, so shouldn’t the GSEs also be subject to meaningful government supervision?

    “President Bush was receptive to reform. He withheld nominees for Fannie and Freddie’s boards — a presidential privilege. While it would have been valuable politically to use such positions to reward supporters, the president put good policy above good politics.”

    “Where Was Sen. Dodd?”

    Of course, with an O! Administration, none of this would matter any more than it did under Dodd’s most watchful eye. Kings are like that.

  208. Jeff G. says:

    I ask how many rapes in the years prior because I think it fair to ask Palin about this. It could just be that another part of the law enforcement budget covered forensic kits on the rare occasions rapes were alleged.

    If there were an average of, say, 2-3 per year, then the couple grand may have come from petty cash, is all.

    Best to ask Palin herself. The rest is just speculation masquerading as serious criticism. All so some people can pretend Palin is stupid, or hates women, or that she wears the wrong shoes, etc.

    Either do the research or don’t. But I don’t for one second believe Palin was looking to punish rape victims. If you want to accuse her of something, show your work. Otherwise don’t waste my time.

  209. tunnel duck says:

    Thanks for that high school level macro econ overview, dash.

    America, fuck yeah!

    Sarah “the ‘Cuda” Palin, fuck yeah!

    Drillin holes, fuck yeah!

    Breeding moose, fuck yeah!

    Distributing foreign-owned Budweiser, fuck yeah!

    Red Cross Crisis Centers, fuck yeah!

    John Denver, fuck yeah

  210. Darleen says:

    Dash

    Please don’t feel the immoral troll aka thor aka tunnel duck aka drooling asswipe aka worthy of a 5150

  211. Darleen says:

    In another thread I speculated what it means that there is no one….NO ONE showing up from Barry’s early years between college and “community organizer” to happily give testimony of what a great guy he was. It’s just a little strange, ya think?

    http://sweetness-light.com/archive/did-obama-turn-down-a-wall-street-career

    First, it wasn’t a consulting house; it was a small company that published newsletters on international business. Like most newsletter publishers, it was a bit of a sweatshop. I’m sure we all wished that we were high-priced consultants to multinational corporations. But we also enjoyed coming in at ten, wearing jeans to work, flirting with our co-workers, partying when we stayed late, and bonding over the low salaries and heavy workload.

    Barack worked on one of the company’s reference publications. Each month customers got a new set of pages on business conditions in a particular country, punched to fit into a three-ring binder. Barack’s job was to get copy from the country correspondents and edit it so that it fit into a standard outline. There was probably some research involved as well, since correspondents usually don’t send exactly what you ask for, and you can’t always decipher their copy. But essentially the job was copyediting.

    It’s also not true that Barack was the only black man in the company. He was the only black professional man. Fred was an African-American who worked in the mailroom with his son. My boss and I used to join them on Friday afternoons to drink beer behind the stacks of office supplies. That’s not the kind of thing that Barack would do. Like I said, he was somewhat aloof.

    And

    I had MANY discussions with Barack.

    I can tell you this: even though I was an assistant editor (big doings at this “consulting firm”) and he was, well, he was doing something there, he certainly treated me like something less than an equal.

    Funny thing… A journalism/political science major… Writing about finance… Pretending in his book to be an expert on interest rate swaps.

    I remember trying to explain the nuance of these instruments to him in the cramped three Wang terminal space we called the bull pen. In contrast to his his liberal arts background, I had a degree in finance and Wall Street experience, so I knew what I was talking about.

    But rather than learn from a City College kid, the Ivy Leaguer just sort of rolled his eyes. Condescendingly. I’ll never forget it. God forbid he leave the impression that a mere editor like myself knew more about something than did Barack.

    He was like that…

  212. JHoward says:

    Chris Dodd, f&$k yeah! $133,900 from FM&FM
    John Kerry, $111,000
    Barry O!, $105,849
    Hillary Clinton, $75,550

  213. lee says:

    Here is crime stats for Wasilla, but they just go to 1994, and only has a category for sexual assault, which isn’t necessarily rape.

    Interestingly, there was a huge spike in sexual assault in 2002, Palins last year as mayor.

  214. Interestingly, there was a huge spike in sexual assault in 2002, Palins last year as mayor.

    probably all those teenaged boys she, um, did things to.

  215. Dash Rendar says:

    “Thanks for that high school level macro econ overview, dash.”

    You’re welcome. Common sense irritates progs, as, you know, they’re policies run directly counter to reason, cf. thor.

    Note the substance free response.

    Yeah man! Adam Smith is just some dead white guy, fuckem!

  216. Dash Rendar says:

    they’re = their

  217. You all agree that rape victims were asking for it

    You are a liar, Dick.

    A clumsy one.

    Have a nice life.

  218. thor says:


    Comment by Dash Rendar on 9/14 @ 10:36 pm #

    “Thanks for that high school level macro econ overview, dash.”

    You’re welcome. Common sense irritates progs, as, you know, they’re policies run directly counter to reason, cf. thor.

    Note the substance free response.

    Yeah man! Adam Smith is just some dead white guy, fuckem!

    You know a lot about economics, no really, it shows. I wonder if any “proggs” work at Lehman, as economists, maybe.

    Dash, are you a hickonomist?

  219. thor says:

    #

    Comment by JHoward on 9/14 @ 10:22 pm #

    Chris Dodd, f&$k yeah! $133,900 from FM&FM
    John Kerry, $111,000
    Barry O!, $105,849
    Hillary Clinton, $75,550

    What do John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have in common?

    Duuuuuuuuuh answer is a couple of pages deep in the pub.

  220. Jeff G. says:

    It’s like he can’t stop himself. Thread after thread after thread.

    So sad.

  221. thor says:

    If I don’t tell ’em their hicks who will?

    That’s the saddest part.

  222. lee says:

    If you tell people they’re hicks, it’s probably best to use the proper form of they’re.

    It would carry a bit more sting, don’t you know.

  223. thor says:

    You can not just be here at Protein Wisdom and be a B-team sort’a socio-politico carnival barker. You can not claim by rote of sheer wingeredness an elevation of thought. There are candles. There are light bulbs. There a fine feathered animals with webbed feet that go quack, quack. There are even rumors of colical beasts that sport the heads of baboons. We are different.

    This is not a public bathhouse for colical beasts and quackers. I do not care if they wish to show me there triple buns or the fleshy knots behind their ears or their size-ten foot that’s missing two toes or the amusing green stuff that comes from their noses. They bug me. They flagellate. They are freaks.

  224. thor says:

    Thank you, Lee. God probably loves you just a little bit more for imparting that grammar gem.

    Sarah Palin would rip at your ears and send a stinger to your balls, but not God. God loves his little gems.

  225. Dave E. says:

    @ lee #225

    “It would carry a bit more sting, don’t you know.”

    Indeed. If nothing else, this election year has brought out a bumper crop of stupid people highlighting their own stupidity, as they yell…STUPID!

    Glad I went short on irony this year.

  226. thor says:

    I went long on hick-stupids and sold uncovered puts on Palin-hick imploders.

    I’ll be glad when this election is over and the smart people here quit barking how stupid a magna cum laude of Harvard Law is compared to Wasilla, Alaska’s former mayor.

    Want to make that case, sporto?

  227. Pablo: Sacks & Farrell yes, I don’t know them other dudes. My old anti-VAWA letter is one of the classics of the genre, but they mostly hurl feces now. Palin is no friend of fathers, ask Wooten. Now back to our soap opera.

    Mr. Protein wonders if anybody ever gets raped in Wasilla, which sorta makes you wonder why the city would want to bury the costs of prosecution. Are they stupid?

    That’s a rhetorical question, of course. The spike in rape reports after the city stopped sticking it to the poor ladies, predictably. Jesus freaks like sweeping things under the rug, of course.

    So what we have here is evidence of hick ineptitude. Given how the last inept hick president worked out, and admitting he’s MENSA material compared to Palin, how much do have to hate the USA to wish Palin on us?

    Country before party, snowbilly enthusiasts.

  228. thor says:

    “Snowbilly?”

    I really must borrow that word.

  229. thor says:

    #

    Comment by Darleen on 9/14 @ 10:17 pm #

    Dash

    Please don’t feel the immoral troll aka thor aka tunnel duck aka drooling asswipe aka worthy of a 5150

    Yeah, Dash, don’t be feeling my goods, dude.

  230. Victor. says:

    Some of you guys are falling for a classic ploy of the opponents- Defending the Indefensible.

    Palin should just say that it’s a bad policy that, thankfully, didn’t impact a single person in her state. Then she should circle back to Barack and Illinois.

    The media would drop the issue fast and she could score some rhetorical points.

    Hanging your hat on the technicality that no records exist of people being billed for rape kits is a political loser.

  231. Sean M. says:

    So what we have here is evidence of hick ineptitude. Given how the last inept hick president worked out, and admitting he’s MENSA material compared to Palin, how much do have to hate the USA to wish Palin on us?

    So sayeth Dick Bennett, arbiter of all that is sage and urbane, so let it be written. Because he says so.

    Take it from Dick, unless you hate America, vote for Barack “The cost would be, um, uh, the cost, uhh, I can’t hear myself…the cost, and I’m glad you’re fired up…uh, the cost, uh, for breathalyzers…” Obama! Because, otherwise, you might be electing an inept hick who was the Mayor of Alaska. Which is, like, some kind of snowbound village in Montana or something.

    (Oh, and that old guy, Mr. Senator Whatshisname, too. But it’s not like he matters or anything. And it’s surely not like he’s played his hand well by getting Sen. Hopenchange and his surrogates like Dick to run attacks like this against his Veep pick. I’d make a “briar patch” joke here, if I wasn’t certain that it would instantly call down cries of racism.)

  232. I was a McCain supporter until he picked Palin, Sean, so Obama would be surprised to know I’m now one of his surrogates.

    Dick

  233. Sean M. says:

    You know, I scanned Dick Bennett’s blog for a few pages, and I–shockingly(!)–could not find one page where he supported McCain. ZOMG, is it true that someone might lie on teh internets!!?

  234. Sean M. says:

    Provide me with a link from your blog wherein you unequivocally support McCain, Dick. If you can do so, I’ll back off. Dick.

  235. Pablo says:

    Palin is no friend of fathers, ask Wooten.

    I don’t see where Palin has done anything vis a vis Wooten that I wouldn’t have done myself. You see, Wooten is no friend of father’s as it’s guys like him who give the rest of us a bad name. But you’re a friend of fathers? From your homepage:

    I’ve also done a fair bit of political activism, working with California Senator Chuck Calderon (chair of the Judiciary Committee), Assemblyman Rod Wright (Utilities and Commerce committee chair), and Senate president pro-tem John Burton to pass and/or amend a number of measures improving the state of family law. The most notable of these bills are SB 509 on Spousal Support, and SB 542, creating the statewide Department of Child Support Services to improve the process for both payers and recipients of child support.

    Gee thanks, Dick.

  236. B Moe says:

    Obama would be surprised to know I’m now one of his surrogates.

    Not really, there seems to be a lot of you libertarians in his camp. Which is why I have stopped self-identifying as one.

    It’s like he can’t stop himself. Thread after thread after thread.

    So sad.

    What I don’t get is why he keeps abusing himself here, he could be a fucking God at TBoggs.

  237. Is the search function too complicated for you, Sean? Try this page.

    Pablo, most people agree that the statewide child support enforcement system is an improvement over the old patchwork of 58 counties all doing their own thing. The new system has ombudsmen and a dispute resolution process, and is generally a lot easier to navigate than the old one. There is also an advocates oversight board that provides the agency with regular feedback on problem areas that need to be addressed and that sort of thing. If you feel like you can create a better one, Sacramento and Washington await your brilliance.

    As to Wooten, if you’re the type that wants to excuse false allegations of abuse, I wouldn’t be on your side anyhow so don’t worry about it. But you sound like one of the idle beer-drinkers who just wants to complain while others do the work.

  238. B Moe says:

    As to Wooten, if you’re the type that wants to excuse false allegations of abuse…

    He has admitted the allegations, Richard. Repeatedly. On camera. Get some sleep, sober up and let that soak in. They aren’t false allegations if the perp admits it.

  239. thor says:

    Admitted, has he? I think not.

    Easy on the Kahlua and Maxwell House mix there BMoe.

  240. Pablo says:

    As to Wooten, if you’re the type that wants to excuse false allegations of abuse, I wouldn’t be on your side anyhow so don’t worry about it.

    Having been on the receiving end of such allegations, and having gone to the mat to successfully refute them, I can assure you that you’re completely mistaken, again. And as B Moe notes, Wooten has admitted to the allegations. They are not false. See, I’m capable of detecting that little sliver of nuance that appears to sail right over your head. And were I in Palin’s position (which is to say that if he’d done that to my sister and nephew), PAS would be the least of Wooten’s worries because I’d have taken a baseball bat to his fat ass.

    You are not on my side, so I’m not worried. In fact, I’m glad you’re retired because you’re noxious and you have not helped at all.

  241. N. O'Brain says:

    I like this:

    “Isn’t that real feminism?

    Not to Ms. Marsh, who insists that feminism must demand support for women from the government. In this worldview, advocating more federal subsidies for institutional day care is pro-woman; advocating tax breaks or regulatory reform that would help home-based care providers — preferred by most working parents — is not. Trying to legislate away the gender gap in earnings (which no self-respecting economist today blames primarily on discrimination) is feminist. Expanding opportunities for part-time and flexible jobs is “the Republican Party line.””

    So you can’t be a real feminist unless you suck off the government teat.

    That explains a lot.

    From

    Why Feminists Hate Sarah Palin
    By CATHY YOUNG

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122143727571134335.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

  242. N. O'Brain says:

    Oh, and please ignore the talking pile of shit.

  243. Pablo says:

    As for the child support system, I was paying in CA when there wasn’t one at all. The state/county was not involved at all aside from setting the amount in court, and would only have become involved if I didn’t pay. That worked just fine. But I’m sure CA Dads really wanted a new bureaucracy to intrude upon them. Nice job, Dick.

  244. thor says:


    Comment by N. O’Brain on 9/15 @ 5:33 am #

    Oh, and please ignore the talking pile of shit.

    Oh, and please ignore the illiterate human scumbag.

  245. B Moe says:

    There is always hope for Wooten
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4749183.ece

    Admitted, has he?

    Yes, he has.
    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IXj_xxRr50E

    I think not.

    That is your problem.

  246. thor says:

    Comment by Pablo on 9/15 @ 5:31 am #
    PAS would be the least of Wooten’s worries because I’d have taken a baseball bat to his fat ass.

    Officer Wooten might just take that bat out of your hands and plant you next to your daddy, or maybe it’d be your lucky day and he’d just taze ya a few times.

    I’d like to know the alleged crimes you committed against your children and wife. That’d be very revealing I think.

  247. Pablo says:

    Many of the allegations were also sustained in the Alaska State Trooper investigation that got him suspended. Take a gander at this suspension letter (PDF) and especially note the names listed on the letterhead.

    Also note that he admitted tasing the kid to investigators.

  248. Pablo says:

    I’d like to know the alleged crimes you committed against your children and wife.

    None against my kids. But I murdered my first wife, according to her. The court didn’t buy it.

  249. Victor. says:

    Palin has the advantage here, just put her in front of a camera and get her talking about women- the sooner the better.

    You don’t really think that people are ever going to believe that this women is the archenemy of rape victims, do you?

  250. thor says:

    Yeah, Pablo, we already read your wittle winky linkies long ago. That facts therein prove that you’re nothing but a cheap fork-tongued seether who blows things out of proportion so as to have a reason to hyperventilate.

  251. Pablo says:

    thor, you ignorant slut. Do you really think your idiotic spewing has any value whatsoever? Aside from making people laugh at you, that is.

  252. thor says:

    Sister Palin of the Church of Perpetual Blood said she would force raped women to take their rape-babies to term, so yes, get the good Sister talking in front of a camera about why she’d effectively traumatize the victims of rape.

  253. thor says:

    I’m like a half-priced Happy Meal, all about the value.

  254. Pablo says:

    Victor, she’s the enemy of all women, so the narrative goes. No, I don’t think it’s selling. I love the smell of blowback in the morning. It smells like the Vice Presidency.

    Don’t nobody mention Dick Cheney, ok?

  255. Victor. says:

    #253:

    I think you just redefined projectile vomit.

  256. Pablo says:

    Sister Palin of the Church of Perpetual Blood said she would force raped women to take their rape-babies to term…

    Quote, please.

  257. thor says:

    I smell an overnight Paris Hilton-type celebrity who is gonna cause the nation to cringe and the Repubs to be locked out of the White House.

    Smells like a Cracker Barrel meal on Pablo.

  258. thor says:

    Look it up, dumbass. She said adoptions were the preferred solution in cases of rape.

    That’s probably how you see it as well, eh winger.

  259. Diana says:

    Shut up, thor.

  260. thor says:

    Morning, sickness.

  261. Victor. says:

    Paris Hilton

    More like Dorothy of Oz fame, flying ugly monkey with bad teeth is casting you to type.

  262. Pablo says:

    Shorter thor: I’ve got nothing, because I’m lying.

  263. thor says:

    shorter Peeblo: I’m afraid to look.

  264. Mr. Pink says:

    Has anyone else noticed a pattern of left wing people spouting lies on the internet lately? Seems to be some sort of MO or something. Somewhere in hell Saul Alinsky is smiling.

  265. Pablo says:

    I’d love to look, thor. Show me the quote where she says she’d force raped women to carry to term.

    You can’t because it doesn’t exist. You can’t because you’re lying, which is all you have. Which is nothing.

  266. Mr. Pink says:

    Also the tendency to shout how much they hate redneckbarbiegodbanging Palin while decrying the Rove style politics that have so divided us.

  267. SmokeVanThorn says:

    Like a hslf price Happy Meal, alright – fat, greasy, discounted.

  268. Victor. says:

    If Obama is listening to advice that suggest sticking a camera in Palin’s face and getting her to talk to America about abused women and rape victims, the epic fail will be retold for generations.

  269. Pablo says:

    Don’t forget stale, SVT.

  270. thor says:

    Fat, greasy, discounted? Why are you talking about Wall Street, I thought we were talking Happy Meals?

  271. Darleen says:

    So, Dickie Bennett supports a racist who admits to tasing his stepson.

    That’s what PMS gets him…. child abuse by racists is fine and good when it is directed at Rethuglicans.

    Thank you for that clear example of moral bankruptcy, Dickie.

  272. Darleen says:

    Victor

    I don’t think anyone is “hanging their hat” on there were no rapes in Wasilla. The policy of charging insurance companies is/was not unique, even in Illinois, anymore than the myriad of cities around the country that charge for paramedic services (#65 above). It is a budgetary decision, not a political one, no matter the bad faith of Dickie or the other PMS sufferers would have it.

    The fact remains is that Palin is a classic firstwave feminist who has made it on her own and proggs cannot let that stand. She is an afront to them because she kicks down the fence around their reservation.

  273. thor says:

    A racist who tazed his son?

    Pablo? No way! Well I guess he could have.

    What about you, Darleen, how many kids you taze on any given day? “So what if you fell of your bike, I said no free ambulance ride! Zazzzzzzz!”

  274. thor says:

    She made it on her own? She wasn’t hand-picked by McCain? Maybe McCain is the father of Trig. Maybe Sister Palin’s husband and Cyndi McCain ape on each other in a huge hot tub filled with Budweiser.

    In the Larry Craig era of conservatism not a lot can be ruled out from hand waves and shoe taps.

    You Repubs are strange sexual animals.

  275. Victor. says:

    Darleen,

    I get what you have been saying, I just think it unwise for Palin to frame it in those terms. It makes more sense to just generalize it as “bad policy”, and expanding from there into a focus on abused women and rape victims, not budgetary restrains and obligations.

  276. Pablo says:

    Just, wow. PDS in full bloom. Get a shrink, thor. You’re not well.

  277. Lewis Powell says:

    So, Darleen , you put little stock in the reports from the Alaska legislature which indicate Wasilla was the only municipality charging the victim/insurance company for these kits? Well, given the partisan hackery evident in most of your posts, I’m guessing you don’t.

    Darleen’s partisanship notwithstanding, Palin is exactly why we can’t have any more incompetent right wingers in the White House (or near it). The Police chief who initiated this “budget” decision was hand-picked by Palin or the Agriculture Secretary with no experience in Agriculture are examples that this woman appoints morons and idiots to leadership posts.

    “Heckuva job, Brownie” has been the governing philosophy of the past eight years, and here’s what we have to show for it: Unemployment at 6.1%, Wall Street collapsing, deficits soaring, Osama bin Laden still on the loose after killing 3000 Americans, two wars with open-ended commitments, regulatory agencies who can’t or won’t regulate (nice mine safety you got there). Palin’s “loyalty to me first/politics second/governing third” is not what we need, no matter that she’s a MILF.

    Get over your infatuation with her and realize you are putting McCain, not Palin, in the White House.

    PS Darleen, no matter how you slice it, making people pay for investigating a crime is silly….that’s why it’s against the law in Alaska.

  278. happyfeet says:

    Governor Palin is withstanding a level of scrutiny that little Baracky could never survive. Never ever. That right there makes the Baracky people not feel very good about themselves. Sad and angry and angry and sad, all at the same time.

  279. Pablo says:

    So, Darleen , you put little stock in the reports from the Alaska legislature which indicate Wasilla was the only municipality charging the victim/insurance company for these kits?

    Two questions, Lewis.

    1. How many women were charged for rape kits?

    2. Who put the policy in place?

  280. happyfeet says:

    Poor retarded Democrats are worried about agriculture in Alaska. Mercy.

  281. Mr. Pink says:

    Is there any evil an Alaskan Gov. will not sink to? Next she will be for slaughtering anti-war protestors while drinking the freshly squeezed lifeblood of feminists.

  282. Mr. Pink says:

    So is Alaska the new Chicago in terms of dirty politics?

  283. B Moe says:

    Get over your infatuation with her and realize you are putting McCain, not Palin, in the White House.

    Right back atcha’, there, Einstein.

  284. Victor. says:

    Happyfeet,

    I guess there is always hope. Drudge is running a link to an article in the NY Post that quotes Iraqi government officials as saying that Obamid told them he really bad wants America to lose the war for his personal political gain.

    Now granted it’s the post, but they are running with quotes from named sources- so I got to think that Obamid will be forced to respond, and that type of press is worse than 1000 unpaid rape kits.

  285. thor says:

    Yes, everyday there’s new revelations as to the extent of Sister Palin’s zealotry. Firing her ex-brother in-law and denying it. Appointing her sand-box play pals to high office. At cost Rape Kits. Teen Preggos running wild in the streets of Wasilla. Jew-hatin’ speeches at her church with her sitting there bobbing her head. Inflated stories of her earmark reductions. Welfare wildfires all over the Alaska state capital. Bridges to Nowhere she strongly supported then flip-flopped when the heat came down.

    I’m going to Google the Palin news today.

  286. Pablo says:

    Poor retarded Democrats are worried about agriculture in Alaska.

    While Palin’s 85% approval rate includes 75% of Alaska Democrats. Yeah, real men of genius we’re talking about here.

  287. Pablo says:

    Firing her ex-brother in-law and denying it.

    Wooten is still an Alaska State trooper, you fucking moron. Google it.

  288. B Moe says:

    Yes, everyday there’s new revelations as to the extent of Sister Palin’s zealotry.

    Especially if you can’t remember what just happened yesterday.

  289. Pablo says:

    Jew-hatin’ speeches at her church with her sitting there bobbing her head.

    Sarah goes to Trinity? I did not know that.

    O!

  290. happyfeet says:

    Ohnoes I planted corns right here but … they frozed. goddamn Palin.

  291. B Moe says:

    lolfarmerz ftw

  292. Slartibartfast says:

    thor is firmly hooked into all of the unthinking meme generators, that much is clear.

    It’d be encouraging to see some signs that something other than unquestioning, unthinking acceptance is happening on his side of the screen. My breath, it is not held.

  293. Slartibartfast says:

    I’m guessing that either our friend Lewis knows some things about Wasilla mayoral powers and roles that I’m not privy to, or he’s arriving at conclusions through some process other than logical.

  294. happyfeet says:

    I saw that, Victor. Baracky wants to have maximal influence on Iraq’s destiny if he gets to be president, and they’re not buying that. They probably think that would be against their best interests.

  295. Victor. says:

    Lewis,

    You realize you are running against McCain, not Bush, for the White House.

  296. Pablo says:

    @ 294

    ‘feets, you’re a national treasure. :)

  297. Slartibartfast says:

    BTW, $30/lb for decent French cheese is an outrage caused by the Bush economy

    Bennett is clearly just yanking our collective chains. Either that, or his synapses have been cooking off like a bug zapper in deerfly season.

  298. N. O'Brain says:

    Please ignore the talking pile of excretement.

  299. royf says:

    Ohnoes I planted corns right here but … they frozed. goddamn Palin.

     

    LOL! that’s just too good not to be repeated.

  300. geoffb (JARAIP) says:

    #267 Mr. Pink

    “Has anyone else noticed a pattern of left wing people spouting lies on the internet lately? “

    This has been the case from at least since the mid 90’s. Probably longer as “letters to the editor” sections of every newspaper have been like that for a long time.

    That said the number and the level of invective are increasing tremendously. If graphed I’d say we would find a real “hockey stick” look.

    The Left holds the right-wing internet responsible for Kerry’s defeat in 2004 through “Rathergate” and the Swiftboat vets. This time they are out to make sure that won’t happen again.

    It would only take the expenditure of a few million to set up an operation to flood all the right side sites with their talking points everyday. I expect it to get worse and worse.

    The techniques being used have been used on usenet since it started. Signal to noise ratios are getting worse due to the increasing number of trolls.

    If Obama sinks more I expect denial of service and website hijacking attacks to start. Russia and China have, as before, led the way for the left.

  301. keyser soze says:

    How many members of the Alaska legislature are under
    indictment;for the VECO and other scandals. Wasn’t she
    with the Oil commission, at the time, that law was proposed.
    In other words, not Mayor of Wasilla.

  302. Slartibartfast says:

    I suspect there was a question mark implicit in all of that. If I understand it correctly, it was something to the effect that Sara Palin could not possibly have committed this particular immoral act because she was off performing acts of bestiality for cash.

    Which I think is a decent alibi.

  303. Pablo says:

    Actually, given that she quit the commission and then blew the state GOP Chair out of the water for his corruption on that commission, I’d say it’s a feather in her cap.

  304. Dash Rendar says:

    I think thor and his compadres think calling someone a hick endears them to some mythical non-hick, urban sophisticate class of people who drink the right kind of wine, eat the right kind of cheese and give thorcreature a nice cookie after a day of agitating the opposition.

  305. Rusty says:

    Take off for a few days in Robert Traver country and thor turns into a whining little schoolgirl monkey, flinging poo, and brings her friends along. Oh. My! Nothing substantive, but they justb can’t seem to get their hands out of that damned jar!

  306. Rusty says:

    OK. I drove for seven hours straight, so sue me.

  307. poppa india says:

    re: #308 I enjoy seeing the same people who’d be rightfully outraged at a reference to “nigger from the ghetto” all about saying “white trash from the trailer park.”
    BTW, trailer park inhabitants are allowed to vote! At least, for now.

  308. Jeff G. says:

    Somebody needs to tell thor that Karl is now posting over at Patterico’s. But perhaps he already knows and has been preemptively banned.

    Patterico chose Karl over thor, I guess.

  309. geoffb (JARAIP) says:

    datadave is there too I see.

  310. happyfeet says:

    I just wanted to share these two comments from that google data-barge story Drudge linked….

    Well MR Jones has a point. Private pirates (they really do exist) or countries could seize the data centers and steal the data (credit cards) or hold business hostage.

    re: warming the sea, data centers will disturb the native electrons, disrupting the natural life cycle of the electrons there.

    Jonathon Moseley, Raleigh, NC, USA

    These people are losing their minds. Do they realize that the energy dumped off the barges will heat the water and cause secondary ecological impacts? I don’t know if this is a real environmental problem or not, but environmentalists will rebel at the thought.

    Andy, Malvern, USA

    What’s sad is I can’t tell if they’re serious at all. I really can’t tell. Jonathon is kidding. I think. Either way, it reflects indoctrination and it’s not really all that funny anymore.

  311. happyfeet says:

    Thank you for telling me about Karl… I will have to visit him now too but you are still my favorite one. I have been on his emails but with work being so stupid soul-suckingly demandy I haven’t been able to stay caught up.

    Was it me that jacked up the page with my last comment? Sorry. That was just text so it should have been ok. Oh. It was Darleen at #40. I guess it only screws up in FF2 cause in FF3 at home it was fine.

  312. Slartibartfast says:

    I for one wish to apologize in advance to any native electrons for dumping our smallpoxinfested heat blankets on them.

  313. Slartibartfast says:

    Ah. I has seen the name of stoopid, and it is Jonathon Moseley, Raleigh, NC, USA. Maybe one day stoopid and I will meet, and I will laugh and laugh.

  314. Lewis Powell says:

    1. How many women were charged for rape kits?

    2. Who put the policy in place?

    —————————————————————
    1. Zero, which in yout tortured world means it’s fine policy. If I’m going to kill every blue-eyed dude who walks by and none do, then the policy is fine? Also, I’m guessing you call yourself a conservative, yet your brand of conservatism says that governmental functions should be financed by private entities? Charging the private sector (after they paid their taxes) for necessary police functions is not conservatism.

    2. Is this some sort of argument that Palin’s hand-picked police chief put the policy in place (and her initials are on the approved budget) and that somehow washes her hands of it?

    Whatever the strangeness of your questions, the fact remains this is bad policy, used by Palin’s hand-picked police chief untilt he legislature noted Wasilla was the only city in the state doing it, and is what I meant.

    While you get bogged down in silly blog-arguing parsing, my point stands: America has too much governing by people who appoint morons and retards.

    You, Pablo, are celebrating a tax raising, censorship interested, crony-appointing Governor. Two of those things are not conservative and the last is indicative of poor governing. I’m voting for Barr.

  315. Pablo says:

    Re question #1: Lewis, you’re hysterical. Take some advice from this blue eyed dude: breathe deeply. Repeat.

    Re question #2: That’s not an answer.

    Point: Have I ever said I was a conservative?

  316. Slartibartfast says:

    He phrased his answer in the form of a question, Pablo.

  317. Pablo says:

    Jeff, Patterico would ban thor’s ass in a hot minute, Karl or no. He’s always been unwilling to host that sort of nonsense.

  318. Pablo says:

    I wonder if Lewis knows Alex Trebek.

  319. Slartibartfast says:

    Our friend Lewis is building his house of outrage on a foundation of quicksand.

  320. Jeff G. says:

    Pablo —

    Thor knows how to get around bans. HE MUST BE HEARD!

    All you people who believed I somehow stabbed Karl in the back? I’ll be taking your apologies now.

  321. Jeff G. says:

    And yeah, I’m royally pissed.

  322. Slartibartfast says:

    I always thought you were clear about that, Jeff.

    Were you thinking of anyone in particular?

  323. Mr. Pink says:

    What are you angry about? It seems everyone involved in the situation moved on except thor who is still spewing his dementia over your living room table.

  324. Pablo says:

    Pablo –

    Thor knows how to get around bans. HE MUST BE HEARD!

    Patterico appears to be quite adept with the ban stick and his moderation queue is damned sticky, which can be maddening. Even if he does get through, then he’ll get deleted and will eventually tire of having his uh….meanderings nuked into oblivion.

    I don’t get what you’re pissed off about here. Karl took a position he was entitled to take, and you took a position you were entitled to take. Neither of you has done or been forced to do anything you didn’t want to do.

    Karl got a stage here because he was trying to help keep your site propped up when you weren’t available to do it. That this also got him noticed is pretty much a wash in the who owes who category. People noticed him because he’s good at what he does, and you didn’t give him his talent. He was willing to remain here, but only under a condition that you didn’t want to meet. So he left. What’s the problem?

  325. Jeff G. says:

    Oh, all the people who emailed me, or who left the site as commenters, slart.

    Because as those who were around the other night can attest, banning someone who knows how to “borrow” other IPs by tunneling is useless.

    But hey, Mr Pink is right! — everybody wins! Karl, Patterico, thor…. Wait. Somebody’s missing….

    It’ll come to me.

  326. Jeff G. says:

    I don’t get what you’re pissed off about here. Karl took a position he was entitled to take, and you took a position you were entitled to take. Neither of you has done or been forced to do anything you didn’t want to do.

    Karl can do whatever the fuck he wants. So can Patterico. So can thor. So can you. So can I.

  327. Pablo says:

    thor is killing your business, Jeff, and he thinks it’s funny. thor is your problem, regardless of Karl. Karl is a symptom, as are all the rest. thor is the disease.

  328. Pablo says:

    Karl can do whatever the fuck he wants. So can Patterico. So can thor. So can you. So can I.

    Exactly right. Except when it comes to your shit. Then you get to impose parameters.

  329. Slartibartfast says:

    I suppose I can take this moment to make myself perfectly clear:

    This is Jeff’s site. Jeff’s. Not Jeff’s and Dan’s and Karl’s and serr8d’s and whoever else’s. If Jeff decided that, between Karl and thor, he preferred thor, he’d have a perfect right to do so. I’d look highly askance at a decision like that, but that’s neither here nor there. Based on what I know about Jeff, though, I don’t think I could possibly justify concluding that he’d done such a thing unless he’d said it, outright, three times.

    On the other hand, if Jeff had declined to ban thor, and people had made that mean that Jeff had screwed Karl over in favor of thor, well, I can’t reason folks out of a position they haven’t reasoned themselves into. It’s as large of a logical error as the claim that opponents of abortion want women to kill themselves in alleyways because that’s what happens.

    Somehow, at this point in the discussion, the issue of choice magically goes away.

  330. Slartibartfast says:

    …of course, there’s always a third alternative that has people liking Karl and Dan and whoever, posting on the front page, and they left because they’re not getting that anymore.

    Not that it makes much difference to me.

    As far as thor goes, I blame those who continue feeding the troll. Including me, when I forget not to.

  331. Mr. Pink says:

    Well instead of trying to find a way to perma ban thor how about we take up a collection to get him some medication for his bipolar disorder?

  332. Pablo says:

    Slart, DNFTT sounds great in theory, but it never works. Crush the troll works.

  333. Jeff G. says:

    xactly right. Except when it comes to your shit. Then you get to impose parameters.

    Which are easily circumvented, unless I want to spend my nights tracking down all of thor’s posts and deleting them, which I don’t.

    And of course, I was told that wouldn’t be a useful solution. Only a BAN would do. HIM OR ME, BROTHER!

    As if I had that choice anyway.

    Thor is the symptom. Or rather, he was the humidity that provided the excuse to move to a drier climate.

    I asked Karl to please try to stick it out through the elections. He declined, saying he would do other things than blog, so tormented was he by accusations of racism.

    Yes, he can do whatever he wants. But making himself into a martyr is laughable. The Pub just wasn’t big enough for him. Karl cares about Karl. Patterico cares about Patterico. Nothing wrong with that, but it is what it is.

    For what it’s worth, I had to download a plug-in for IP bans, and it hasn’t kept anyone away — not that crazy Michele broad, not datadave… Glad Patterico has the technical chops to ban and moderate better than I do. To the winner goes the spoils.

  334. SarahW says:

    There’s always comment moderation, registration and elite comment mangling clubs.

  335. Slartibartfast says:

    but it never works

    Nothing ever works that isn’t attempted.

  336. Pablo says:

    Which are easily circumvented, unless I want to spend my nights tracking down all of thor’s posts and deleting them, which I don’t.

    It is your prerogative to make that choice, but you will bear the consequences of it as thor continues to do his best to drive your readers away. I won’t be one of them, I assure you. But I recall when and why I stopped going into the comments at LGF: When the signal to noise ratio turned upside down. This is the same reason I’ve mostly abandoned the comments at Hot Air. thor is trying to invoke that dynamic here because pw talks bad about his Messiah. You don’t need mental illness on your blog, is my opinion. YMMV.

    As for IP bans, one isn’t ever going to be enough. Everyone has multiple points of access these days. So yeah, it takes a bit of work.

  337. Slartibartfast says:

    I take that back. I’ve had sex a few times without first setting out to do so.

    I don’t think you can ever count on getting that lucky, though.

  338. Jeff G. says:

    Precisely, Sarah.

    I think I should spend my time turning this place into Fortress America! Learning about all this technology, switching software platforms, adding plug-ins, making long-time commenters register, spending time daily pouring through moderation queues — all to keep one guy away who would have shut up long ago had not he been continuously engaged.

    Blogging should be about keeping people out.

    I’ve been doing it all wrong, concentrating on content with what little time I have. Should have been working on security.

    Ah, whatever. I give a fuck.

  339. Jeff G. says:

    It is your prerogative to make that choice, but you will bear the consequences

    No, I don’t think I will.

  340. Pablo says:

    Blogging should be about keeping people out.

    No, of course not, and I for one have great respect for your commitment to open dialogue and fearless debate. But thor isn’t about debate. thor is only about flinging great piles of deranged shit. thor is about attacks and nothing else.

  341. SarahW says:

    JeffG, I am not about fortresses. I am about win-win. I don’t suggest you try those things, only consider them vs. alternatives.

  342. Pablo says:

    We all bear the consequences of our choices, be they good or ill. At least until President Obama heals us.

  343. Victor. says:

    FWIW, I’ve been site ban before and when it happened they took out the entire ip range in my geographical area. I was inadvertently caught up in the moderators attempt to isolate a specific person, but after a quick e-mail exchange he was able to allow my ip to filter through.

    At least that is how he explained it to me.

  344. Jeff G. says:

    I just snapped at my kid, so frustrated am I by all this.

    That will never happen again.

  345. Slartibartfast says:

    Once upon a time, back when I had my own blog, I attempted to siteban someone.

    Then I had to ban all of the anonymizer IPs that he resorted to.

    Then I had to ban all of the work IPs he then resorted to.

    Then I had to go in and manually edit his comments.

    Then I had to threaten to email his work network admin, and show them copies of what he was posting, and how frequently he was attempting to dishonor my request that he not post comments. That was what finally did the trick, I think. I really have no idea, but the guy worked at a defense contractor, as I do, and they tend to look askance at that sort of thing.

    I suspect Jeff has anticipated this whole sequence of moves, and elected not to follow that path. I can’t say that I blame him, if that’s the case.

    I could be wrong about that.

  346. happyfeet says:

    When nishi felt she was hurting things, she stopped commenting. She didn’t stay and just comment different. If you want to swim with bunnies, you have to grow teeth. And also ears. And a little tail. nishi didn’t want to do that just now I don’t think and for sure thor doesn’t, but there’s still the part where you take responsibility for what you do. It’s hard for me to really apprehend cause thor doesn’t deter me at all, but I think it would be nice if he at least sort of could point to these things that he feels he is accomplishing so people understood him better. People don’t know why, and I think since they can only guess they figure he’s sort of not being very constructive on purpose. thor needs a manifesto I think.

  347. Jeff G. says:

    And a site on which to publish it.

    Let me be the first to recommend Patterico’s.

  348. Diana says:

    Happy … thor can create his very own world somewhere else. It’s the right thing to do. You can go visit.

  349. molyuk says:

    Jeff, the readership will expand again. Give it time.

    I have a good friend who acts very much in meatspace the way a certain commenter acts here. He’s not malicious, even though he often offends people (and takes great joy in so doing). He even occasionally feels bad when he crosses the line with his antics. It’s just that he’s an attention whore. He loves to be noticed. He has the standard class-clown mentality: negative attention is better than being ignored. I’ve learned over the years that the best policy is simply to carry on as though you haven’t noticed him. Attention of any kind just energizes his demons. In other words, DO NOT FEED THE TROLL.

  350. thor says:

    #

    Comment by Pablo on 9/15 @ 11:10 am #

    thor is killing your business, Jeff, and he thinks it’s funny. thor is your problem, regardless of Karl. Karl is a symptom, as are all the rest. thor is the disease.

    In my own defense, if I may, what I do is somewhat valuable. If a right-wing gas-bag has gas jets that either occasionally or redendantly emit propulsions so nauseating and voluminous that when refracted the blowback self-suffocates and/or tears the gassers own psyche to pieces, don’t blame me, nor ban me, nor ask that I be banned. I am not to blame.

    And it’s not simply that anyone can adopt a different IP address using keyboard motor skills and basic knowledge of networking, they can. It’s the acrostics.

    Yes, I’ll admit it. It’s those towering acrostics. Once you’ve been victimized by embedded taunts that you were the last to read and/or discover, that’s a scar that takes gobs of therapeutic time to heal. Which begs the question, does one really want to crane their neck all day reading posts sideways in an effort to protect one’s web site against the deviant nature of anti-social poets? What if the poets use the last letter of their lines, then vertical?

    It’s madness, true bare breasted madness. Their reckoning, their final accounting, and the righteous rectifying of their sins may lie only with the vengefulness of God himself. Lady Shallot’s death to them all!

    Here’s to destroying the Himalayas in their minds and to long poetic passages of time!

  351. thor says:

    To the man they couldn’t hang.

    To love that reveals itself one lover at a time.

    To the poet who stole the bullhorn and sang.

    To making love a few minutes after nine.

  352. BJTexs says:

    Man, it seem like this whole political/blogging season is being sidetracked by snark, innuendo, outright lies, flat out insults, over sensitive mewling and and chest beating taunts.

    It’s sounding like one of my frat parties from the 70’s.

    I’ll be the first to admit that this political season has been the most fascinating EVAH but I’m beginning to wonder, “At what price?” We’ve gone from the “Obama’s a secret Muslim,” to “Obama’s not an American by birth,” to “Michelle said whitey! On film!” to a degree of intellectual investigating that is enamored of rape kit costs and books that were never banned along with trailer trash and backwoods hicks who cling to their guns and religion and aren’t fit to vote, never mind actually “hold office.”

    Now the nature of debate is the debate rather than the issues and we all are more concerned with who’s debating than what we are debating. Not to mention who has authority to do what with their own blog. It’s to a point where Jeff is taking criticism for not wanting to inhibit debate which makes me depressed.

    Instead of rejoicing in some of the very best output of Jeff’s blogging career, timely, topical and deeply provocative, we’re arguing over bannings and hurts and personalities. What finally did it for me was nishi, after stating that she didn’t want to cost Jeff traffic, showing back up in another thread after a week gone and calling the entire commentariat “cudlips” in her very first sentence.

    Is that all there is? I like a good knockdown drag out as much as the other guy but when the other guy does nothing but insult and name call while spouting either talking points warmed over gruel and does it time and again despite the host’s request that they cease is both infuriating and depressing. Too much of it reflects the current political atmosphere of our country which has become toxic and disingenuous.

    Jeff, quite frankly, I don’t blame you for your growing frustration as your vision of intelligent and spirited debate along with off beat humor continues to be tarred and feathered by chest beating and cut and paste talking points and personal outrage. It seems as though we all should be better, every last one of us, but the toxic nature of political debate has infected us to various degrees and whatever vision we had for our community is being eaten away like a village besieged by fire arrows.

    It makes me very, very sad.

  353. thor says:

    I think Jeff, on one hand, relishes the fray, but, day after day, it wears a hole in the super bells.

    Good post BJT.

  354. BJTexs says:

    Thanks, thor and serious question for you: No bullshit, no obscure literary references or faux chest beatings.

    How does it make you feel when the nature and style of your post costs Jeff traffic?

  355. Jeff G. says:

    It doesn’t cost me traffic. It has cost me a number of regulars.

    It isn’t worth it, but I’m stuck. The little bit I make here pays for the few extras we have. So it’s either do this or do without. Or work outside the home — which would mean daycare for my son.

    So I am trapped.

    But I’m leaning toward “do without” as soon as this election is over. And I mean, fully — down to nuking the archives and forgetting this place ever existed. Beats being a fucking babysitter to a bunch of meanspirited adults.

  356. happyfeet says:

    That’s not very plucky.

  357. mojo says:

    Who, moi? YOU TAKE THAT BACK!

  358. B Moe says:

    Which begs the question, does one really want to crane their neck all day reading posts sideways in an effort to protect one’s web site against the deviant nature of anti-social poets?

    You really are a legend in your own mind, aren’t you? You are a fucking sideshow geek, dude. Sitting in a pool of your own piss eating the heads off live chickens. You think people leave because they are intimiated by you? It is because the site of you disgusts and upsets them.

  359. BJTexs says:

    So my question stands, just replace “traffic” with “regulars.”

    I think nuking the whole magilla would be a mistake. There is too much good and important in the archives here and that outweighs the crass, disingenuous and the horrid. You actually managed to put together a site that requires everyone to wrestle with issues and I disrespectfully disagree with thor when he says that this is some kind of right wing echo chamber. In fact my first foray was a LGF but I grew tired of the lack of depth in both postings and commentary.

    Having this perpetual tug of war over who has which rights on a blog between owner and “customers” is unseemly, especially in public. Having a couple of attention whores dominate the discussion without any real interest in engaging debate while going out of their way to chest beat and insult becomes increasingly tiresome and depressing.

    I love the uniqueness of this place; it’s intellectual depth (sometimes too deep for me,) commitment to facts and sourcing, wildly irreverent humor and the intelligence of its commentators. A nuclear option would really be sad.

    Do I have a solution to the frustrations? No, no I don’t. Just sadness.

  360. Dave E. says:

    Nuking the site would be a sad day indeed. I continue to be amazed at the number of otherwise intelligent people here who elect to get down and wrestle with a pig, and then jump up and complain that they are dirty. Particularly with a pig who has become known as one who obviously digs the attention. Remember folks, behavior that is rewarded is repeated.

  361. thor says:

    #

    Comment by BJTexs on 9/15 @ 1:19 pm #

    Thanks, thor and serious question for you: No bullshit, no obscure literary references or faux chest beatings.

    How does it make you feel when the nature and style of your post costs Jeff traffic?

    What? Am I the only one who wants to see cynn and Darleen rip their shirts off and cat fight in the parking lot? No, and when it happens they’ll be more traffic than Jeff’s meager bandwidth allocation can handle. We’ll all have to chip in to keep the lights on for the expense of that mass of download traffic.

    Last I checked when I was 10-years-old I was deservedly beaten like a Ponderosa dinner bell, chanted BMoe and Pablo anyway. This “style” is not always of my making, and you’d recognize that if you were being fair in passing your stylistic judgments.

    I might deserve a time-out occasionally, like so many others here. But that’s that.

  362. cranky-d says:

    Thor has proven himself to be the most selfish of spoiled children. An adult would accept that he has been given a time out and not circumvent it. Instead, thor has decided that he is more important than anyone else, especially Jeff G. I imagine he will feel a sense of accomplishment if/when Jeff G. decides to take the nuclear option.

  363. BJTexs says:

    Last I checked when I was 10-years-old I was deservedly beaten like a Ponderosa dinner bell, chanted BMoe and Pablo anyway. This “style” is not always of my making, and you’d recognize that if you were being fair in passing your stylistic judgments.

    Are you really going to make a chicken and egg argument? you have demonstrated that you relish the insults and chest beatings. You are certainly capable of making an argument and yet you choose to name call and taunt rather than do so. How much is a creation of your own desire for attention and how much is reaction to that desire? How you start and how you respond stylistically is always your choice, regardless of responses. But, as someone once said, this ain’t style court.

    Also I couldn’t help but notice that you really didn’t answer my question in a substantive fashion. Am I to imply that you accept very little responsibility except for the “occasional time out?” How do you feel about it?

  364. Pablo says:

    In my own defense, if I may, what I do is somewhat valuable.

    And yet you’re utterly unable to articulate that value, even with several hundred words of trying.

  365. B Moe says:

    This “style” is not always of my making, and you’d recognize that if you were being fair in passing your stylistic judgments.

    Substance is what I am concerned with. You have none. No substance and someone elses style, tell me again what you have that is so valuable?

  366. Pablo says:

    It doesn’t cost me traffic.

    True dat. The meter is clicking like a motherfucker.

  367. thor says:

    I’m going to mule-kick all your balls. Isn’t that what you really, really want anyway?

    Substance! Style! That ancient breeze is a foul one!

  368. ushie says:

    If we all ignore him, he’ll continue to post, because he feels superior intellectually to us. However, if we skip his posts and do not engage, we’ll all be participating in fine, amusing, even erudite discussions, and will adjust to the toddler screaming out in the street.

  369. thor says:

    Erudite monkeys that cover their eyes, ears and mouth protest too much.

  370. mojo says:

    Gosh, how perspicacious the God of Thunder has become. Not to mention tedious.

  371. cynn says:

    Jeff, never fear! I will bring all my lefty buds over here as soon as they make bond, and you will have hits galore! Discussions aplenty; most of my amigos are college educated credentialed contrarians, and therefore remain permanently unconvinced. So you will have a fresh crop of yippy dogs!

    At any rate, cheer up; I applaud your walking the talk.

  372. Rusty says:

    #374
    Wash your hands first. You’ve been throwing poo.

  373. Trough Gutted says:

    But I’m leaning toward “do without” as soon as this election is over. And I mean, fully — down to nuking the archives and forgetting this place ever existed. Beats being a fucking babysitter to a bunch of meanspirited adults.

    I trust this is frustration talking and akin to you usual retirements? At least, I hope so. As a frequent lurker, I do enjoy the PW experience and would hate for it to go away.

    PS Thor has a point re: Pablo and B Moe. they do tend to shout down the trolls with loud, violent retribution. Some says that encourages the trolls; some says it makes them go away. I say that’s for the dudes who earn their ire to find out. Disagreement is a journey toward self-discovery and, if perhaps they find disagreement to be disagreeable (due to the yelling and insults), then they can go away.

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