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Hasan Had Communications With Pakistan, Lawmaker Says

Hasan Had Communications With Pakistan, Lawmaker Says

Commented Nov 13, 2009 at 22:17:08 in World

“I get it. With $92k/yr income and very low expenses, this guy was able to get 2 handguns and ammunition only thanks to international terror networks operating out of Pakistan. Makes sense.”

aspiecelia replied on Nov 13, 2009 at 23:49:16

“Yes, it wasn't that he was chatting with the engineers who are always online in India and Pakistan like I did. They were always asking me radical Muslim questions like, "Do you know where I could get a job in your country?" These guys are very polite and respectful unlike a lot of men online, in fact I have told many people they are about the only ones I wanted to chat with for that reason. It couldn't be that he had a relative or friend that was poor or that he was supplying aid for war victims to buy food of course not. It has to be something evil. Of course the fact that he was looking for a wife could very well mean he was saving to buy a home and that might be why he lived frugally. Or maybe since he was trying to get out of the military he thought he might need it. No, it always has to be some evil purpose to those who can not see anything but hate. I worked with a doctor in Nome AK who lived in such a crappy place his toilet froze every winter. Now, it is very likely he sent his money somewhere just before he was about to commit suicide by proxy as would be typical suicidal behavior.”

HWBII replied on Nov 13, 2009 at 23:33:32

“Sanity. Thanks.”
Alexios Marakis Assaulted:  Greek Orthodox Priest Attacked By Marine Reservist In Fit Of Anti-Muslim Hysteria

Alexios Marakis Assaulted: Greek Orthodox Priest Attacked By Marine Reservist In Fit Of Anti-Muslim Hysteria

Commented Nov 11, 2009 at 00:54:39 in Politics

“The Fourth Crusade is reborn.”

SFA replied on Nov 11, 2009 at 03:45:28

“Lost the First Three”

xsm941f replied on Nov 11, 2009 at 01:23:34

“Remember how white guys with crew cuts from Buffalo were targeted after Oklahoma city. Does anyone see the irony?”
O'Reilly Debates Atheist Richard Dawkins, Calls His View Of How To Teach Science

O'Reilly Debates Atheist Richard Dawkins, Calls His View Of How To Teach Science "Fascism" (VIDEO)

Commented Oct 10, 2009 at 09:38:51 in Politics

“Hey, you're off by about 3700 years or so on Tut.”

FeO2E replied on Oct 10, 2009 at 10:57:07

“ok...but that doesn't disprove my point”
Dan Froomkin's Firing Leaves <i>Post</i> With Glut Of Neocons

Dan Froomkin's Firing Leaves Post With Glut Of Neocons

Commented Jun 19, 2009 at 17:50:02 in Media

“Toles is available on NYT.”
GOP Leader Calls On Burris To Resign, Lawmakers Seek Perjury Investigation

GOP Leader Calls On Burris To Resign, Lawmakers Seek Perjury Investigation

Commented Feb 15, 2009 at 22:19:27 in Chicago

“Some people here are writing about how Burris is a good man. They have short memories. When he was IL AG and trying to run for Gov, he tried very hard to have a man (Cruz) whom he knew to be innocent executed. The Asst. AG in charge of the case resigned in protest, but Burris kept going in order to not seem soft on crime. There was very little ambiguity about this case. Burris knew what he was doing. He's not a good man.

That said, if he somehow ends up winning the primary, I'd vote for him rather than a republican.”

IllinoisVoter replied on Feb 16, 2009 at 00:30:18

“I am sorry but I will not vote for this man under any circumstances. As they ran the stories
twenty years ago at the Wheaton Journal day after day Bill the ad guy would come in
with way too much empty space and once again I would hit the till for a newpaper
no one wanted to talk about. The Dugan trial still hasn't happened almost twenty five
years after the murder of a child and we no longer have a daily paper in Whetaon
but innocent men are no longer on Death Row and I want to thank the editors, writers,
and staff of the late Wheaton Journal for this. Roland Burris as a government offical
was willing to kill innocent men and hasn't won any Illinois election since. That
somwhow winning the primary next February is not going to happen if those of us
who watched this story unfold keep telling the truth.\”
Democrats Whisper About Plan To Eliminate Burris From 2010 Race

Democrats Whisper About Plan To Eliminate Burris From 2010 Race

Commented Feb 13, 2009 at 17:19:55 in Chicago

“Why dump on all the politicians equally? A year ago we had two very good senators here, and we till have one. We could get someone much better than Burris.
That said, if Burris wins the primary I'll still vote for him, because his votes so far look ok and no Republican's votes would be.”
Senate GOP Assumes Franken Beat Coleman

Senate GOP Assumes Franken Beat Coleman

Commented Jan 14, 2009 at 15:12:41 in Politics

“For somebody who's into 'fax' you sure have trouble with 'facts'. The 400 non-counted absentees were NOT 'agreed' to be improper. After Coleman turned down Franken's offer to count all 1350, Coleman started unilaterally vetoing ballots, as was allowed by a peculiar MN SC decision. Franken responded in kind. So far as I know, not one of those ballots was excluded by agreement. For either side to get some of these ballots counted does not require 'changing their mind' since they were excluded unilaterally by the other side.

As for Coleman's list of 600+, election judges have gone over about 100 so far and found exactly one which seems likely to have been excluded improperly. Is 1% 'most or all' by your definition?”

BassMent replied on Jan 14, 2009 at 16:39:54

“You got that right, doc.

The disinformation on the MN recount has reached mythological status. This was the cleanest, most thorough and most transparent recount effort in modern history. Both parties had the opportunity to hand-check every ballot and officially log their opinions of each and every one. There's no evidence that any ballots were double-counted. It's all nonsense at this point, and Coleman is just coming off as a sore loser (like the GOP senator who blocked the hearing on Obama's Treasury nominee today... it's all just sour grapes, and it's so childish you don't know whether to laugh or cry).”
Coleman And Franken Make A Deal

Coleman And Franken Make A Deal

Commented Dec 24, 2008 at 10:37:50 in Politics

“As it happens those assertions aren't right. The disputed ballots seem rather evenly distributed over DFL and R counties, no obvious large advantage either way. You can check that on a STrib site, which shows the counties which have separated the uncounted absentees.

The reason it's thought that Franken has the advantage is that there was a major DFL absentee push and there was one poll that showed F doing marginally better among absentees than overall. That's good evidence, but not overwhelming.

They are in envelopes, but the only ones that have a chance to be counted are in SIGNED envelopes. Both sides have good lists of voters by party. So they have a very strong idea of who each vote will be for.
That's why the process set up sounds unworkable.”
Schakowsky Confirms: She Will Run For Obama's Seat

Schakowsky Confirms: She Will Run For Obama's Seat

Commented Dec 11, 2008 at 12:52:29 in Politics

“me too”
Minnesota Election Could Be Decided Friday

Minnesota Election Could Be Decided Friday

Commented Dec 10, 2008 at 15:28:39 in Politics

“wjousts- You don't get it. I agree that the procedures of democracy can be ultimately more valuable than the particular outcomes, even life-and-death outcomes. What I'm saying here is that the procedures of democracy should be followed. What you're advocating (dropping the procedures because you're bored) could only make sense for a candidate who didn't believe the results were important for real human issues. Who'd want a candidate like that anyway?

mh01 at least agrees that the policies followed by a government matter, although putting what seems to me a perverse religion-based emphasis on one of the issues.”
Minnesota Election Could Be Decided Friday

Minnesota Election Could Be Decided Friday

Commented Dec 10, 2008 at 13:54:05 in Politics

“The headline is misleading. We really don't know what's in those absentee ballots, or even whether there are about 250 of them or about 750. A decision will be made on Friday which may affect the election results. Despite the spins of the campaigns, we aren't sure which way it will affect the results, and we certainly don't know whether it will be decisive.

On another question: somebody here has proposed that Franken drop out of an election which he may have narrowly won "because he's the bigger man". This assumes that elections are about the sort of things Rod B thinks they're about. Most of us (and I think this includes Franken) think this senate vote matters because it will decide things like how many children are left to die due to our terrible health care system. Pretending that doesn't matter and dropping out of the legitimate process to look high-class wouldn't be being a "bigger man". It would be being a self-interested coward.”

GQB replied on Dec 10, 2008 at 16:55:17

“Gore dropping out (not fighting 'til the last drop of blood) was the high road.
And it put the country on the low road.

Fight on, Al.”

mh01 replied on Dec 10, 2008 at 14:17:20

“And others would say this vote matters because it will influence, however minimally, how many unborn babies are slaughtered by our abortion industry. Quite a few more, i submit, than children left to die due to lack of health care.”

wjousts replied on Dec 10, 2008 at 14:11:23

“The most important factor here is democracy. By your logic a benevolent dictatorship would be okay with you? Franken didn't win, nobody did. The best thing for democracy is not and the perception of democracy in America is not to drag this on for months until the supreme court finally decides it. The best thing is to fix the problems that lead to these situations in the first place.”
Franken: Ballots Missing In Senate Recount

Franken: Ballots Missing In Senate Recount

Commented Dec 04, 2008 at 09:53:38 in Politics

“I don't understand all the comments about the rotten MN system, just like FL, etc. The system and the people have worked smoothly, the paper trail has allowed any initial mistakes to be fixed. It's really been impressive.
Until now. It's clear that 133 ballots are in fact missing. These voters signed in and were counted on election day. The voting place- Ward 3, Precinct 1, is the same one that made news on election day by strenuous and somewhat successful efforts to prevent students from voting. Given that coincidence, I believe fraud (theft of ballots) is more likely than accidental loss, although usually accident would be more likely.
If MN does the obvious right thing, which is to use the initial count in this precinct, then their system will be vindicated, a model for everyone else. If they screw this up, it will show that even the best system can break under a crude assault.”

swift goat pet for truth replied on Dec 04, 2008 at 10:36:32

“I agree. This is way better than Florida.”
Franken's Position Looks Surprisingly Good, New Political Study Shows

Franken's Position Looks Surprisingly Good, New Political Study Shows

Commented Nov 17, 2008 at 20:37:32 in Politics

“Unfortunately the Dartmouth study assumes that nearly all POTUS undervotes are unintentional. The official hand audit of 5% of MN precincts shows that's very far from the case. Franken may have really won, but the Dartmouth study isn't relevant evidence, post-audit.”
Franken's Position Looks Surprisingly Good, New Political Study Shows

Franken's Position Looks Surprisingly Good, New Political Study Shows

Commented Nov 17, 2008 at 20:34:45 in Politics

“64k votes would have left GA as a runoff. It wouldn't even have given Martin a plurality. It's upsetting, but not as consequential as what you say.

Just one more reason to contribute to Martin in the runoff. We have a chance to fix this.”
Obama's Replacement: Blagojevich Mulls Senate Pick

Obama's Replacement: Blagojevich Mulls Senate Pick

Commented Nov 06, 2008 at 00:28:15 in Chicago

“Schakowsky would be great. Brilliant, quick clear. She's got m vote.”
Palin Tax Records: Read Full Documents

Palin Tax Records: Read Full Documents

Commented Oct 03, 2008 at 23:58:09 in Politics

“I spent some time involuntarily in a federal institution. One of my colleagues was a former governor, I believe of WV. He had been invited to join us because he had failed to pay his federal income tax.

just sayin'”
McCain Gambles In Effort To Regain The Offensive

McCain Gambles In Effort To Regain The Offensive

Commented Sep 24, 2008 at 18:25:38 in Politics

“Democrats are using too many syllable again. Apologies for the caps, but here's the meme:

MCCAIN BLINKED!”

LarsGruber replied on Sep 24, 2008 at 18:31:25

“If the problem is really that bad, the best thing we could do is debate as planned, and make the topics include the Bush Bail Out.”
During Economic Crisis, McCain Camp Talks Streisand And Lohan

During Economic Crisis, McCain Camp Talks Streisand And Lohan

Commented Sep 17, 2008 at 16:12:19 in Politics

“He's not ahead anymore. The average of the 4 trackers has BO ahead by 2% as of today. The trend is that way, butI agree it's a bummer that it's close.”
Growing Diversity In

Growing Diversity In "Swing Counties" Favors Obama

Commented Aug 10, 2008 at 23:12:03 in Politics

“I strongly support Obama, but this article is mathematically confused. Electoral votes are decided by state, not by county (partial exceptions, ME and NE). So the distribution of different groups between counties has no effect on which way the state goes. Current polling shows a modest advantage for Obama. Changes in public opinion or possible systematic polling errors could change that one way or the other. Sloshing voters around between counties within states doesn't.”

neesy08 replied on Aug 11, 2008 at 00:51:40

“i think what the article is saying that in these counties, the electoral college could be to obama's advantage. minorites are registering democratic more than republican (smart, aren't they), so that could change the EC to obama's favor during the election in nov”
Are Obama And McCain Ebbing Or Flowing?

Are Obama And McCain Ebbing Or Flowing?

Commented Jul 16, 2008 at 14:42:42 in Politics

“Check the RealClearPolitics (conservative) site. Of the last 29 polls, by some 20 different pollsters, 29 show an Obama lead. Things can change, we don't know what will happen if Bush starts or encourages war with Iran, etc. But meanwhile the Obama lead is absolutely unmistakable and statistically significant. The odds of 29 polls in a row coming up for one candidate by chance are about 4 in a billion.
What are you talking about when you say you 'don't see' a lead?”
Nuclear Weapons Obama's Focus In New Ad

Nuclear Weapons Obama's Focus In New Ad

Commented Jul 15, 2008 at 14:22:18 in Politics

“As a physicist involved in nuclear arms issues for decades, I've been puzzled why Obama had not been advertising this move earlier. For a freshman Democratic senator coming into a Republican Congress, this was the single most important politically attainable legislation Obama could have pushed, and as an Illinoisan I was extremely proud that he did. Sure the program has been around for years, but Bush had deliberately cut it, leaving a huge hole in our security. It was ripe for a bipartisan fix, but most senators had trouble focusing on something so wonky and un-sexy, compared with wars or big porky weapons systems.”
Lieberman Predicts Attack Will Come Early In Next Presidency

Lieberman Predicts Attack Will Come Early In Next Presidency

Commented Jul 01, 2008 at 09:56:25 in Politics

“20% odds in the market, last I saw.

But if McCain is still down in Sept., a smallish bombing campaign gives him a great chance to posture as an enthusiastic warrior, while putting Obama in a tough spot. It might backfire politically, but if the alternative is a sure loss, I think they will take the gamble.

Obama will have a chance if he stands up the way he did at the start of the Iraq war. If he mumbles his way to some vague support, he'll lose because even people in the middle will lose respect for him.”
Obama Gives Media A Critical Valentine During Victory Speech

Obama Gives Media A Critical Valentine During Victory Speech

Commented May 10, 2008 at 22:37:45 in Politics

“Those of us in Illinois have heard Obama give very similar speeches for several years. The central claim of this post is based on an imaginary fact.

Also, how does a net win of over 200,000 votes and +11 delegates translate into a "Tie"? Is that because the two states split, the smaller one going to HRC by 1.2 % and the bigger one going to BHO by 14.3%?”