Open Thread
8 07 2009And now for something completely different.
“Before we ever exchanged ambassadors, we exchanged goods,” Obama said at a US-Russia business forum in Moscow, which he addressed as part of a state visit to the Russian capital.
“Along the way you gave us a pretty good deal on Alaska. Thank you,” Obama said to laughter from the audience.
The United States purchased Alaska in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars in gold after the government of Russia’s Tsar Alexander II determined it was losing money on the colony.
That’s it. I just thought that was nice. It made me smile.
Enjoy the open thread.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:14 PM
104 OMG Says: July 8th, 2009 at 7:30 AM
While people celebrate around me I can’t feel the excitement, in fact I feel dread. Can you imagine, if the Republican primaries were held today, Palin would win the top of the ticket!
Not necessarily so…
In states with open primaries, anyone can vote in the primary. But…until a general election, any other elections such as runoffs for primaries, you would be required to only vote for the same party’s runoff ballot. Meaning: if you voted in the first primary and selected an “R” ballot, if any of the races wound up in a runoff, you would only be able to vote in the “R” runoff.
So…it might be possible that the bailin’ 1 could be defeated – it would have to be a mighty big turn-out in open primaries to happen though But the downside is, you can’t help the ‘other side’ by voting for their candidate to get thru.
In 2007 GA primary’s, they were open. I was not about to let a thievin’ idjyot get another term in one local position, so I voted for only that one position as a…gasp“R” in the primary.
Info on open primaries, including states info:
http://www.fairvote.org/?page=1801
Primaries: Open and Closed
Last Updated: 02/2008
Open primaries (or pick-a-party) are those in which voters of any affiliation may vote for the slate of any party.
Closed primaries are those in which only the voters affiliated with a party may vote in its primary.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Sondra, before I forget, thank you for your service. The women I know who have served are an amazing bunch of ladies, and knowing them, I don’t think Palin could hack it, either.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:16 PM
JHop,
Excellent letter, but one question. Am I reading this wrong, or did you leave out a “not” in the first sentence:
In Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., the U.S. Supreme Court held that an “opinion privilege” does exist in a matter of libel. 497 U.S. 1 (1990). As such, Ms. Grimes, as well as the Anchorage Daily News, is liable for defamation.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:19 PM
would you mind posting your comments in the forum for jhop, so she doesn’t have to hop back and forth? It would make it easier and quicker for her to read and revise.
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,7570.0/topicseen.htmlst
July 8th, 2009 at 6:23 PM
good hint there Zyggy. Let’s keep that in the forum.. away from prying eyes.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Jhop – pls note that Anchorage Daily News clearly identifies editiorials, see http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/
The AK Voices entries http://www.adn.com/opinion/akvoices/ are identified as guest opinion bloggers.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:23 PM
also, too, so that JHop has an easier time of it!
July 8th, 2009 at 6:26 PM
I’m interested in the timing of Andree’s case to the quitting. It appears something happened – just another reschedule, since the judge quit? Are those Yahoo emails that cc: Todd about to come out?
July 8th, 2009 at 6:26 PM
lol too late ripley, we posted links, but it would be easier on jhop to get all the comments in one spot.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:28 PM
linda – good call on the “not”
July 8th, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Gee-whiz-willikers! CIA admits it lied to Congress!!!!! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/08/panetta-acknowledged-cia_n_228321.html
Like we didn’t already know that….
Panetta Acknowledged CIA Misled On Interrogation Policy: Dem Lawmakers
CIA Director Leon Panetta told lawmakers in a recent briefing that the intelligence agency he heads misled Congress on “significant actions” for a “number of years,” a group of Democrats revealed on Wednesday.
In a letter written to Panetta on June 26 by seven Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee, the CIA chief is urged to “publicly correct” an earlier statement he made in which he insisted that it was not agency policy to mislead Congress.
***snip***
July 8th, 2009 at 6:48 PM
I haven’t had time to review all of the comments. GO GET ‘EM JHop!
For thos of us in CA – I do not agree that we should avoid the Reagan Library on Aug. 8th. I think we should organize a big protest. Our signs could be the long list of LIES told by Buttercup (as outlined on Sullivan’s blog).
Signs with “Suck it up, Buttercup -also, too” or “Who flies 12 hours in labor with DS baby?” “QUITTER!”
Possibilities are endlesss. CA pups – anyone with me?
July 8th, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Quote from: zyggy on Today at 06:55:27 PM
“jhop, I didn’t glean from the article that Shannyn was a homosexual, but Joann purported her to be a prostitute. Maybe I’m wrong here, but I want to make sure all the eyes are dotted and the tees are crossed. =)”
I dont know. Can someone else tell me or give me an opinion or just affirm zyggy? I assumed it was homosexual, based on other comments I have read on mudflats. But I dont know what “down by the docks” or however she wrote it means, in terms of Alaskan innuendo.
I would like to be right. Either way, its defamation per se – it still involves her sexuality. But can someone tell me what she is implying in the editorial?
July 8th, 2009 at 7:06 PM
There was a picture of her on one of the crab boats from that TV show “Deadliest Catch”. They may be implying that there was something untoward there.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Down by the docks could also imply something to do with theft, if the DHS and Customs record is to be considered.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Or smuggling. I wouldn’t read sex or sexuality into it, if I were you.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Lori, because it is you, I might change my mind on that RLibrary thing.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:10 PM
problem child –
i dont read DHS at all. my office mainly does human rights/immigration law, we work with them all of the time. i dont think she was referring to DHS.
i do think it has something to do with sex. i just dont know what exactly….
thoughts?
July 8th, 2009 at 7:10 PM
New Open Thread up. I agree with you Lori. Count me in!!
July 8th, 2009 at 7:12 PM
465 ValleyIndependent Says: July 8th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
InJuneau, there are lot of us disenfranchised old-style conservative Republicans these days. When the party decided it wanted to be a bunch of free-spending voyeurs instead of being fiscally conservative and keeping the government out of everybody’s private lives, it was time to go.
Plus, the local leadership wants to politicize everything (school board, planning commission, utility coops, you name it), has been caught more than once disappearing other candidates’ campaign signs, and they like to engage in nasty whisper campaigns and other tactics I don’t care to be associated with. The original local Republican Women’s Club would eat their young if it would serve them politically. (There’s a second one now I won’t disparage because the few people I know in it are nice.)
Anyway, thanks to the local Dems who let me go to their functions and to Mudflats for letting me hang out here. What I’ve learned, and wish I could better communicate, is that the good people on all sides really want the same things, we just differ on how to get there. Pooling all our ideas and having some constructive discussions about how to make good things happen just seems a lot more constructive than worrying about what party people are in.
___________
This is why I like reading your comments, VI. You can see the forest and the trees. Keep on truckin’.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:16 PM
eeek – got filtered by the spam guard
Jhop – pls note that Anchorage Daily News clearly identifies editiorials, see http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/
July 8th, 2009 at 7:18 PM
@jhop
The AK Voices entries http://www.adn.com/opinion/akvoices/ are identified as guest opinion bloggers.
My point is that it is inaccurate to call the Grimes piece an editorial and that it might give adn an oppurtunity to diss your letter.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Jhop – pls note that Anchorage Daily News clearly identifies editiorials, see http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/
do i refer to it as an “article” anywhere? i can’t find what you are talking about. i tried to be conscientious of that.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:20 PM
can i call it an op-ed instead? would that be more accurate?
one way or another, it doesnt matter. the adn is hosting the defamatory piece.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:21 PM
@jhop – your letter’s first line reads:
With all due respect, I am writing in response to an editorial that your paper recently published.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:23 PM
no, i know, i purposely called it an editorial throughout. but i am going to change it to op-ed.
would that be better?
July 8th, 2009 at 7:23 PM
@ jhop – if you substitute “guest blogger opinion” for editorial, adn can not respond that your are inaccurate (IMHO).
July 8th, 2009 at 7:25 PM
#466 Seagull Junker Palin Says:
Curiouser – I believe it was Sarah’s CHOICE to hire her own atty. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. The joke is that these folks fall for the meme that she has to pay either way. The fund trusty thingy (unless it’s ruled ILLEGAL) will pay.
————–
Thanks, Seagull. The worst part is the article was doing a good job until it got to reason to quit #5. The article seemed to commiserate with her about the horrendous personal financial burden from all those darn legal bills.
I sent the Times editor a letter, including a link to the Trust and an excerpt that funds could be used by Palin and her family without stating how they were spending the money. [Fingers crossed]
July 8th, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Note that the Reagan Library site http://tiny.cc/d568d does not show her scheduled next month. Condoleeza Rice, yes, but no SP. They do have clips of Huckabee’s June lecture — which was “sold out” with only 1000 attendees…well, you have to admit that’s more of an audience than the Lake Lucille speech….
July 8th, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Did anyone see/post that Shannyn Moore made the paper in a good way today also? Here’s the link – one nasty remark that I’ve rebutted, I may need help here…
http://www.adn.com/3437/story/858172.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=7812911#Comments_Container
July 8th, 2009 at 8:23 PM
I would like to thank everyone for all the information in this thread. You guys rock!!!
JHop…you are amazing and I want to thank you for all you have done and continue to do. It truly helps us all to get advice from people “in the field” so to speak so we not only understand better, but who we all can learn from.
Many of you folks have offered opinions and help based on your area of expertise and it is greatly appreciated. I can’t think of everyone right now, but you know who you are and we all appreciate your efforts!
July 8th, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Sauerkraut, my belated humble thanks. (I had to unexpectedly rush out for a bit.) I like reading your posts as well, and always enjoy it when I run into fellow mudpuppies on other blogs.
JHop, marvelous effort. You are a great addition to the mudflats community.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:58 PM
SP gets per diem for going fishing… because The Guv performed a ceremonial bill signing in Kotzebue.
http://community.adn.com/node/142220
Oh, did I imply something wrong?
I meant Buttercup efficiently combined business with pleasure, i.e., politics as usual.