It’s going to be a scorcher this week, if the weatherman is to be believed.  The end of the week is going to usher in 100 degree weather.   Out of town visitors and Civil War participants need to use extreme caution outside.  Hydration is critical!

 

136 Thoughts to “Open thread…………………………………………..Monday, July 18”

  1. Starryflights

    Sarah Palin Movie Debuts to Empty Theater in Orange County
    By Conor Friedersdorf

    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/sarah-palin-movie-debuts-to-empty-theater-in-orange-county/241983/

    Haha!

  2. I never understood what the movie was all about. Did she have it made or did someone else decide to document her life? It seems odd to me. Is she even that interesting?

  3. Starryflights

    I don’t know. Somebody thought it would be a good idea to pit a Sarah Palin movie against the last Harry Potter on opening weekend.

  4. Harry Potter is a hard act to follow. Sarah better be killing a bunch of grizziles and casting magic with her halibutt club. I would hope there was a voice over — someone else’s– if I had to watch the film.

  5. clueless

    Check out the huge flags on the Old County Courthouse. It looks great.

  6. Big Dog

    Muy caliente !!

  7. Big Dog

    Not feeling very good — not sure if it is the heat/humidity or the
    sinking stock market today — or both.

  8. Well, I survived my sooper sekrit mission into the hills of North..um….Carolina. Yeah…that’s it. North Carolina.

    Adventures were had. Beaver Sharks were fought. Drownings avoided. Waterfalls fallen down. Hypothermia attempted. Zips were lined. Horses were ridden. Nieces were engaged. Babies were adored. Booze was imbibed. Food was gluttoned. Bacon was candied.

    Mmmm…good times. Glad its only every couple of years. Whew!

    I’m bAAAaaaaack……

    1. What did you really do, Cargo? You said you had been deployed.

  9. @Moon-howler
    I “deployed” on a sooper sekrit mishun to North Carolina. Vacation. I was pretending…..

    So, the above is what I really did. Those Beaver Sharks are dangerous! White water was rafted. Creeks were tubed. Jambalaya was devoured. Scotch was drunk, as were we.

  10. marinm

    @Cargosquid

    While you were partaking in yer secret squirrel mishun to North Cackalacky did you subvert this sign?

    http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-story-hacked-department-transportation-road-sign-impeach-obama-nc-110718,0,881228.story

    Hope you had some fun.. Now pay more taxes. People sitting at home playing Xbox are depending on you.

  11. So tell us where you really went? Did you camp, stay in a cabin? etc etc. Where in NC?

  12. Channel 4 news: a vet is giving a bald eagle mouth-to-mouth resusitation. UFB.

  13. Morris Davis

    “Stress Related Condition Incapacitates Bachmann; Heavy Pill Use Alleged”

    That’s the headline at The Daily Caller, a conservative online publication (the wife of Justice Thomas works there).

    http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/18/stress-related-condition-incapacitates-bachmann-heavy-pill-use-alleged/

  14. Steve Doocy is hard up for news. I swear, I am telling the truth. There is some controversy over a ‘breast feeding doll’ and its appropriateness. Doocy is out on the street asking a mom and her 14 year old daughter if the doll being discussed inside on the show is appropriate. The 14 year old girl looks like she wants to fall through the sidewalk.

    Does Doocy not realize how inappropriate is question is to this kid? What does she think? She probably wants lightning to strike Doocy so she can escape. Geez. What a dunderdolt.

  15. Big Dog

    http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/293371

    The money stops but the now unfunded mandates continue.

    Shame on the Virginia General Assembly for this farce.

  16. Big Dog

    http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/293429

    Don’t be fooled – a large part of the state “surplus” comes from

    keeping revenue but passing expenditiures down to

    local jurisdictions. Any GA incumbent who attempts to pat themselves

    on the back for a this “surplus” needs to be kicked in the butt.

  17. Big Dog

    http://www.denverpost.com/littwin/ci_18479804

    “Catastrophe” may be too mild a word for what is about to happen.

  18. Starryflights

    Cain: I would attack Iran to protect Israel
    GOP presidential hopeful met Monday with Israeli ambassador

    By Ben Birnbaum

    The Washington Times

    Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said Monday he would
    attack Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons or to
    respond to aggression against Israel.

    Asked if he agreed with former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton’s
    contention that the “only realistic alternative … is to use force
    preemptively against Iran’s nuclear weapons program” since diplomacy
    has failed, Mr. Cain said he did, with one caveat.

    “There would be some other pieces of information I would need before
    I gave that order, but I’m saying that would be Option B,” Mr. Cain
    said during an interview with editors and reporters at The
    Washington Times.

    “Option A is, ‘Folks, we are not going to allow you to attack
    Israel‘ … If they call my bluff, they already know — they will know —
    what Option B is.”

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/18/herman-cain-i-would-attack-iran-if-messes-israel/

    Great, just what we need, another neo-conservative in the WH.

  19. Big Dog

    “Moody’s Investor Services placed its ratings on five Aaa rated
    states on watch for downgrade, saying if U.S. government’s rating
    was lowered these states would face cuts as well.”
    WSJ 7-19-2011

    Virginia is one of the five.
    Do the local folks raging to slash the Federal government realize
    Virginia gets back far more in dollars than it sends to Washington?
    Do they even care? Talk about job killers!

  20. Cargosquid

    Stayed at the Nantahala Village near Bryson City. We had cabins/condos. About 40 people were there. I still don’t know whose kid was whose, there were so many. My nieces and nephews have been busy.

    I highly recommend it. Very nice place to stay.

    1. Was it a family reunion? If yes, do they all think like you? Do you shoot each other if you disagree? @ Cargo

  21. Cargosquid

    @Big Dog
    That’s all and good but it just means that we’re on the gov’t teat. So we’re dependent upon our fellow citizen’s money for jobs. Actually, on borrowed money for jobs and it could all crash.

    I would rather have private industry in the ascendant. Let’s make America attractive to private jobs again.

    1. Govts do not have teats. They are not female mammals.

  22. Cato the Elder

    Moody’s will downgrade unless they see 4T in cuts, regardless of whether the ceiling is raised or not. Not only will they downgrade UST, but the states, any debt held by Fan and Fred, Farm Credit banks, and anyone who has any exposure to any of it (which means everybody).

    1. @Cato, was that fact or opinion? How come they haven’t done it before? I think that is a scare tactic.

  23. Big Dog

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59262.html

    An honest and candid article on the debt issue and the long term
    failures of both parties and their leadership.

  24. @Big Dog
    I don’t think they care. Party above country.

  25. Raymond Beverage

    Big Dog :http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2011/jun/14/TDBIZO1-report-federal-spending-lifted-virginia-ec-ar-1106416
    The Tea Party and its minions are clearly “job killers” in Virginia.

    I have asked this question some TEA Party folks, and still no answer: if Virginia is so, so bad with those evil, evil BPOL and M&T taxes on business, then why oh why has for the last six months Virginia been rated in the Top 10 for where to start/expand a business, and recently rated best place? Of course, I do support efforts by Local Governments to adjust tax rates for the Small Business as was done by Manassas City Council for the BPOL….in these tough times, it assists them in remaining in place benefiting consumers and government.

    Moon, you called it right though…the Party is everything.

  26. Cargosquid

    @Moon-howler
    Yes, it was a family reunion. And no, we don’t shoot each other. Heck, I get along with you….and you’re not family.

    My sister is a bleeding heart liberal. I am actually unsure of the politics of the rest of the clan.

    My oldest brother, surprised me by asking, “Tea Party?” and smiling when I said, “of course.” He’s actually been very apolitical, though very conservative. My other brother is a Republican. He lives in New Orleans, well, actually, Kenner, Lousiana. The rest is a mixed bag. I’m the political and gun nut in the family. My nieces don’t “approve” of guns for a variety of reasons and their husbands like to to keep the peace. My nephews are a mixed bunch. Only one is a gun enthusiast. His father, now that I think about it, likes to shoot, but, is not the 2nd Amendment activist that I am.

    As for government not being a female mammal, you’re right. Females can’t do what the government has been doing to us….well, not without some items from a certain store in Manassas…..

    (Can you believe that “Manassas” is not in the spell check dictionary? Bill Gates is definitely a Yankee…..)

  27. It sounds like an interesting mix and like it is amazing someone isn’t coming home pushing up daisies. I am not sure what a bleeding heart liberal is. Does that mean your sister cares about her fellow man??????

  28. Wolverine

    Yeah, to Hell with those Jews. If Iran decides it wants to drop the bomb on Israel, we’ll just light a few candles, say some words of regret, and erect a new addition to the Holocaust Museum on the Mall.

  29. Pat.Herve

    The US does not need to get involved in another conflict in the Middle East, at my expense.

  30. Pat.Herve

    Cut, Cap and Balance has passed the house.

    Amazing that some feel that we need a constitutional amendment so that 536 elected officials can do what everyone else tries to do – live within their means. Do I need a law that says that I should not eat that Ice Cream sandwich in my freezer?

  31. Wolverine

    The word “need” should be applied to the Jews in Israel, don’t you think, Pat?

  32. punchak

    You shoulda heard Cantor perform on the (so called) Hill today!

    Eyes blazing, lip snarled, grand gestures (only w/ his right arm, tho), loud as’ell.
    Quite a show!

  33. Cato the Elder

    Moon-howler :
    @Cato, was that fact or opinion? How come they haven’t done it before? I think that is a scare tactic.

    Nope, that’s what they said. Go back and read the releases from last Thursday and Friday when they put us on negative watch. They warned of a 50% chance of a downgrade, which gives them some room to walk it back. It remains to be seen if they actually have the balls to do it or not (I’m guessing not).

  34. punchak :

    You shoulda heard Cantor perform on the (so called) Hill today!

    Eyes blazing, lip snarled, grand gestures (only w/ his right arm, tho), loud as’ell.
    Quite a show!

    I am so sorry I missed it. He is quite the blazer isn’t he? He reminds me of a mad Johnny Appleseed or something.

  35. @Wolverine

    I don’t think Pat is suggesting that we help Iran do nefarious deeds to Israel. I think he feels he is middle easted out…like most of us. I would like to not be at war in the middle east. There are other ways to support Israel.

  36. Big Dog

    http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/293456

    Wish our representatives were “…as focused on saving
    the country as saving themselves.”

  37. Cargosquid

    Cantor said the two sides were too far apart to get a deal that could pass the House by the Treasury Department’s Aug. 2 deadline — and that he would consider moving a short-term debt-limit increase alongside smaller spending cuts — Obama began to lecture him.

    “Eric, don’t call my bluff,” the president said, warning Cantor that he would take his case “to the American people.” He told Cantor that no other president — not Ronald Reagan, the president said — would sit through such negotiations.

    Hmmmm…..Cantor is willing to compromise. Why isn’t the President? What’s wrong with a short term raise so that we have more time for the Democrats in the Senate to get their collective act together and finally put forth a budget plan?

    1. Cantor is not willing to compromise. Short sheeting the deal is not compromising. Cantor just wants to buy more time. More time will cost him. Cantor isn’t winning the public opinion race.

  38. Cargosquid

    Oh, I forgot. What heatwave?

    For those of us from the Real…um, the Deep South….this is normal weather. We can handle it. Why not everyone else?

  39. punchak

    Talk about heat!

    I’m totally steamed about the decision to place the Dulles airport Metro station above ground. Only ONE voted for it. We’re ending up with a second-, maybe third-rate airport for the capital of the United States of America! This was a once in a l ifetime opportunity to do something right.

    I’m sobbing. What a lost opportunity – won’t come back – ever!

  40. Cargosquid

    So, what’s wrong with more time? Oh, that’s right…..the Senate might actually have to make hard decisions. Lets demonize the Republicans because the Democrats and the President don’t want to make reasonable decisions about short term raises and fixing this with real cuts, not fake cuts 10 years out.

    Where’s the actual Democrat plan? What have THEY decided to cut? At least the Ryan plan put numbers on paper? All we’ve heard from the President are platitudes and entreaties to “compromise,” which in Democrat speak is, “Give up all of your principles and do it our way.”

    They say that they are going to cut 4 trillion over 10 years. Let’s take them at their word. Ok, what will be cut? And since the CBO states that if current plans are followed, we will have 1.5 trillion in deficits per year for the foreseeable future…..does that mean we will cut 250 billion from the INCREASED spending? So, lets face it…there are NO cuts.

  41. Cargosquid

    The historic, first Tea Party Presidential Debate is going to be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Thaddeus McCotter, and Gary Johnson have accepted our invitation and will be there to answer your questions. Rusty Humphries and S.E. Cupp will be covering this historic debate live on Twitter and national radio in front of over 2.5 million Americans. This groundbreaking debate has been put together by TheTeaParty.net and can be viewed live at http://www.140townhall.com

    Email from the Blaze, Beck’s site.

  42. They are all out trying to conservative each other. Frankly, I think they all need a reality check except maybe Johnson. I like to see them keep digging a hole. They are burying themselves with the general population.

    One of these days some of them are going to wake up and understand that the cheers, crowds and adulation is coming from a small percent of the American voter.

  43. Bachmann is perhaps the most ridiculous and that is saying something considering Rick Santorum and Herman Caine are in there. Bachmann thinks Dodd-Frank is one of the biggest job stealers. Hello Michele. What planet are you from? Yes, let’s do crash 2008 all over again and see if we can get it right this time.

    She is just dangerous. I didn’t realize she was so ridiculous.

  44. Gov. Johnson is a statesman. The rest are politicians.

  45. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    Moon-howler :
    Bachmann is perhaps the most ridiculous and that is saying something considering Rick Santorum and Herman Caine are in there. Bachmann thinks Dodd-Frank is one of the biggest job stealers. Hello Michele. What planet are you from? Yes, let’s do crash 2008 all over again and see if we can get it right this time.
    She is just dangerous. I didn’t realize she was so ridiculous.

    And this, folks, is all you need to know about why unemployment is at 9.2%

  46. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    Starryflights :
    I don’t know.

    got that right!

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