Open Thread – Brian O’Lantern!
Jack Schmack. We’ve got a Brian O’Lantern! This awesome creation came from “Mudflatter A” (no relation to “U.S. Representative A” of Corrupt Bastards Club fame). I met her about a month ago and she already had it all planned out – a vegetable homage to the great ungulate that is the Mudflats mascot.
I feel confident in saying that Brian would like this pumpkin a lot, probably as a late afternoon snack. Back in the days of film cameras, I snapped a shot of a moose eating a jack o’ lantern my neighbor had left on the porch. The hole on the top was large enough to fit the entire nose and upper jaw of the moose. While attempting to take its first bite from the side of the pumpkin, in this odd position, it was startled by … me and my camera. So, it raised up its great antlered head and swung around to look at me, with the pumpkin still stuck on it’s face looking like a big “Rudolph the orange-nosed moose.” I tried to find the photo so I could scan it, but whatever shoe box, or photo file, or album it’s in, I couldn’t, so the virtual story will have to do for now.
Have a wonderful Halloween everyone! If anyone has any fun political costume shots, or jack o’lanterns, send me an email at akmuckraker(at)yahoo(dot)com. There have to be a few you-know-whos out there somewhere!
[More Mudflats quilt squares coming soon!]
What a creative & artistic bunch here at MF! I’m in the peanut gallery enjoying the heck out of all of these creations and ideas!
And a Muddy Halloween to all!
Happy Halloween, Brian – you look great on a pumpkin! And thanks to Mudflatter A for creating and sharing.
Perfect pumpkin! Will you feed this to Brian once the holiday is past?
I also, too look forward to more quilt squares and the stories behind each one.
Geoff Dunn has another article up on HuffPost about “Going Rouge” and mentions our own AKM.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/going-rouge-skewers-palin_b_340806.html
His article mentions that the book will only be available through the OR website, not in stores. It is paperback, $16.00 and they take PayPal, so it was quite easy to order.
We live quite rural and anyone who tricks-or-treats out this way must have transportation, so we don’t get too many ghosties and goblins, but I always look forward to those who do come knocking. I hope the rain will stop for an hour or so this evening. Happy Halloween to all.
Fabulous pumpkin Mudflatter A ! The only thing I can do with a pumpkin is to make soup and the pumpkin is looking none too pretty when it’s all over.
Happy Halloween Everyone !
I personally don’t care for the trick n’ treating of the evening because I live in a neighborhood with no little kids. ( don’t know why there are none. sorta spooky really) We do however have young teens. I don’t know where they come from because I never see any little children growing up to become teens. Perhaps they’re ageless vampires. Dunno. But either way, I don’t answer the door. They’re obnoxious and loud and tend to shove each other around roughly. ( i know- I sound like the cranky lady that shakes her fist and shouts “Get off my lawn ya dang hoodlums!” )
So tonight I’ll be catching Shannyn and ignoring the door. (dang hoodlums)
For everyone being festive today, Happy Happy !
Brian looks great on a pumpkin. Great work!!!!!!!!!
Happy Halloween everyone and don’t forget that the Christian Broadasting Network (CBN) has warned you in advance that witches have cast spells on your candy.
Sigh.
$arah dropped out of the Iowa event…….where’s the money go now?
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091031/NEWS09/910310329/-1/LIFE04
AND Dede Scozzafava dropped out the the NY 23 Race.
SJK – I was just on my way here to post about Scozzafava dropping out. Without doubt , folks are going to have to get behind Owens. A win for the conservatives would be a very bad thing. It’ll be like giving them wings and an arrogance that’ll beat what we’ve seen so far.
If I lived there I’d be so pissed that these people, “the conservatives” came into my district and hijacked my local election.
Pumpkin Brian is so clever! I have no doubt real Brian would have no problem eating pumpkin Brian.
I would think that with Scozzafava stepping out out of the race, it would be a hands down win for the dems. I can’t even believe Hoffman has a chance against Owens. But, as BG said, it would be bad if the conservatives win- especially with a Palin endorsement.
What a handsome pumpkin! It seems to glow all on its own.
My guess is Dede did not step down, but was threatened and forced out!
Hey Mudpuppies……..Curiouser left this comment over at Celtic Diva’s blog. Is there someone we know who can check into this stuff to see if it is legit? Celtic Diva says she knows little about these type dealings. Plus I think she does so much just to keep on top of the dang ethics complaint shenanigans.
Any help out there? (I’ll add one more link from Curiouser in the next post. I’m trying to stay out of moderation.)
“Sarah’s confusing way of listing the properties also doesn’t help as neither ASLS number was traceable in the public records. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to search the property records.
I’ll try to simplify and clarify.
Sarah’s property ownership listing (PDF page 7, 4th item) is false based on AK public property records. Sarah, the Hansons, Tod Richards and Ron Richards are not partners in the property. Todd is the sole owner if his quitclaim deed represents a valid interest.
Would APOC investigate? If Sarah is falsifying public reports for personal reasons, the public needs to know. The public records back up her other property listings. Strange that just the joint ownership with the Hansons has the dead fish smell.
Here’s the correct link: click on the left column items to see the recorded documents.
http://dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/reco...
In a sale, Grantor = Seller and Grantee = Buyer.
The Deed is the ownership document.
Most AK real estate transactions use a Warranty Deed.
Quitclaim deeds transfer or “quit” any interest in real property. The grantor may not be in title at all, so the grantee cannot assume that the grantor has any real interest to convey. Quitclaim deeds are sometimes used for transfers between family members, gifts, placing personal property into a business entity, or to eliminate clouds on title, or in other special or unusual circumstances. They are most commonly used in divorce when one spouse gives their property interest to the other.”
here’s the other link:
http://homebuying.about.com/od...
Happy Pumpkin Day everyone! I’ve got a street full of little ones who should be all decked out tonight. Even have a “birthday boy” next door turning 4. It’s nice to have kids around.
Now I have to go find my blue wig and the dog costume.
============
Some how I think DeDe was forced out by a rabid pack of outsider Xstains running over the local rethugs. It will either be popcorn or adult beverages on Tuesday night.
LOL!! Cute pumpkin! I am sure Brian will love it. The yrs I lived in Minnesota the whitetails always seemed to get the pumpkins before harvest( and we would have to buy one for the kiddos to carve) LOL!!
BuffaloGal Are you in NY 23? Your perspective would be appreciated.
My take: I understand this election is a bit of an anomaly- a safe GOP district since the Civil War (circa 1861 to 1864, not the recent one ‘tween Sarah and Newt
) Even FDR lost every election in NY 23!
A very weak Dem fall guy (apparently strong politicians don’t like to lose!) vs.Hoffman, who knows and cares nothing about NY 23 issues.
It’s a coup by the right wing against the GOP, and no one other than the far right wing need apply to be a GOP candidate in the future. In the long run, its a big set back for the GOP and Newt (who is a worthless tool), as in Wingnet v. Dem, the Dems will win 90% of the time outside the “Deliverance Belt”.
Can anyone cite another instance in which a major party candidate has dropped out of a Congressional election 3 days before the polls open?
I think this is big and would appreciate the perspective of others on one of the smartest and most civil politicial sites around!
(I’m clueless about real estate dealings)
this is the first post from Curiouser……..
“Another APOC related question: Is there any way to question whether APOC staff review and verify property listings. I wonder if the two lots listed with the Hansons is accurately disclosed or so listed to dispel the affair rumor. Based on AK property records, Todd may be the sole owner of Plat 79-2, Tract E as Carolyn Hanson, Ron Richards and Tod Richards gave Todd Palin quit claim deeds on 3/12/03. (Brad Hanson is not shown as ever having an interest in the property.) I suppose it’s possible the quit claim deeds were for only a portion of the property. A warranty deed is shown on the property in 2004…from Robert Hutchings to Erich Napflin. I don’t know what, if anything, that means for Todd. Quit claim deeds can be sketchy.
AK records show Carolyn Hanson and the Richards have a current interest in Plat 76-2 Tract E…but not Todd Palin.”
Bystander @18 – I’m not in the district but your perspective is pretty much the way I’m seeing it. This seems to be the way the extreme right conservatives are rolling. Find small districts where they can bully their way in and entrench themselves. Our job as we go forward will be to get the word out about this movement. Start identifying the players who are part of it and making this stuff known. I would imagine they will lose a lot of votes if the truth starts getting out there. I agree with you – this is big.
Re NY District 23 – How can someone run for Congress from a district he doesn’t live in? I’ve heard several times that Hoffman does not live in District 23.
Anyone?
how interesting………
This is being said by ‘the other crazier McCain’…….
“Friday afternoon, when word got around that NRCC was pulling its resources out of Dede Scozzafava’s campaign, I overheard a guy explaining to a buddy what Team Hoffman’s basic strategy had been from the start: “Kill Dede and we win.”
Simple, brutal and true: The 23rd District is overwhelmingly Republican, and the Hoffman people knew that if Scozzafava couldn’t get Republican votes, she couldn’t win. Once it became apparent to Republican voters that Dede was a guaranteed loser, the momentum shift to Hoffman was inevitable.”
Hoffman looks like he couldn’t fight his way out of a fishbowl. He even stumbled in an interview trying to remember the district (23) he was running in. I’m sorry, but this should be a no brainer, I can’t believe the antics going on there.
Man, am I bumming about the NY-23 news. Thanks y’all for your good insights. It is big. I just said to Mr. Terps, before off to work he went, if Scozzafava had had more *time* to get more info out there, things might have been different. She didn’t have a network of NY Bloggers she could get rallied up for her. Pity. I used to be a Republican, but what drove me from them was the very same anti-abortion, anti-gay crap. I got tired of people telling me I WASN’T a Republican if I was pro-choice. So, I got so sick of it I left.
I would LOVE to have a viable, reasonable Republican party, but those far-right-wingers scare the crap out of me. Gosh two craps in one post.
Make that three.
So, what’s gonna happen? Either the Democrat wins, or the seemingly very inexperienced Hoffman wins. If he does, what does he know about process, and how effective will he be as a representative for the District?
And his actually winning will not be as hard to swallow as all the gloating the Becks, Limbaughs and Plains will be doing. That will be unbearable.
We gotta not let this happen at the national level. How? Right now, I don’t know. But we gotta make sure the minority, and they are the minority, does NOT rule. (or worse, becomes the majority).
Hoffman is an idiot millionaire who knows nothing about the issues. He’s been bankrolled by Washington conservatives teabaggers) who “want to take back their country”. I’m voting for Owens but would have been ok with Dede S., too.
Owens had a shot with the vote being split between her and Hoffman but probably won’t have one now. But who knows how the Dede voters will go. She’s probably more of a blue dog democrat than a Republican so some people who would be turned off by the Palin, Beck, Limbaugh endorsements might swing towards Owens.
Probably the best hope is that there isn’t time to change the ballots. Scozzafava would still be on it, and do they have absentee ballots that have already been filed?
Re: the NY23 election – I agree – if there had been more time for the bloggers to get in there we could’ve done something. I think this has got to serve as our warning. So much about their movement is coming to the surface now which gives us something to work with. Many of us had no clue what was going on with these radical conservatives 8 months ago but we’ve learned a lot since then. Most folks have no idea what their true agenda is. Education is going to be the key. And we have to do it without sounding like tin foil hat activists. Clear, logical, good facts that are proveable, and a voice of reason.
We’ll figure it out. ( except…for right now , I sort of need a nap)
Usually this time of year the Morning- type Talkshows will have Guests on to do fancy pumpkin carvings as part of the theme and show off their talents.
The really intricate ones will be lit from the inside so that you get a real 3-D effect. It’s really quite amazing. They are truly Artists… just working with a different medium as their canvass.
A quick Google search came up with this guy who did a step-by-step tutorial from start to finish and you see the final product and what tools you need.
http://www.villafanestudios.com/pumpkins.htm
It’s a little late to start this year.. But…you have a whole year to plan and practice.
Oh, please continue to look for Brian the pumpkin-nosed moose. I’ll bet that photo is fabulous.
On another note: to preserve your pumpkin, spray with Clorox Clean Up Cleaner with bleach or an equivalent. This preservation tip comes from http://www.extremepumpkins.com/pumpres.html a really interesting site.
Now Newt is endorsing Hoffman too (what was that he said about defending local control?). The Christian Taliban strikes again. The GOP has let this zealot faction claim the majority in their party. It has been years in the making but it seems to be here to stay. I remember more than twenty years ago, the Christian conservatives (through the Moral Majority) were trying to get anti-abortion as part of their platform (at the time I scoffed at the very thought–wasn’t their something about “separation of church and state” in some official document….). Slowly but surely the GOP let the religious, self-righteous right claim more and more of the party until it is what it is today: the party of intolerance. Those loyal to the current “conservative’ movement are a far cry from T. Roosevelt’s, Ike’s or even Reagan’s GOP. While using lower taxes and reining in government spending as their (false) rallying cry, they are slowly but surely trying to impose their moral judgment on the country of the free and the brave (?). They are no different than any other extremist movement who want to tell others how to live and in NY-23 how to vote.
Oops…”their” was meant to be “there” in the seventh sentence in my rant above. My Bad!
From what I’m hearing it’s not the anti gay, anti abortion talking points that are making a difference in this election. It’s “taking back the country, forced healthcare, lower taxes, less government” that Hoffman is using to his advantage.
Just in case people are taking notes for the 2012 election.
Here’s a second pumpkin carver who has been doing it for over ten years and he has a lot of the past creations archived. As he noted, some of these were done by others and sent in to him. Quite a list to browse. These are more of the ‘ lit-variety ‘.
http://www.tagyerit.com/pumpkin.htm
Dede S. dropping out of the NY-23 race is an astonishing (though not really surprising) development! Hoffman’s chances to win have certainly increased and it’s hard to see it otherwise in a solidly Republican seat.
Palin will be crowing about this – and it will probably translate to an increase in her speaking fees! $100k? HA! Not for Sarah “King-Maker” Palin!
I find it an interesting strategy for the GOP to take though. Throwing its support to the far right of the Republican party seems hardly a winning formula. Given that only about 20% of the country even identify themselves as Republican anymore – how can moving further right recapture the moderate and independents?
It’ll be interesting to see how this all shakes out. I think Newt had no choice but to back Hoffman – but I think he’s right – embracing the Far Right is not a good thing for the GOP in the long run.
Forgot to post how the quilt was beautiful; and the Brian O-Lantern. Many artistic people up there!
As far the Hoffman victory, am sure SP is feeling very self-satisfied about this. This Tuesday will be interesting. In fact these next few weeks are going to be pretty intense with the Sarah saga. Buckle your seat belts.
rebekkah – I know and you’re right, it will absolutely be a saga! I am so sick to death of this woman, why won’t she go away????
Oh that’s right – she’s a freeloading, recklessly ambitious clown who will stop at nothing to gain power, influence…..oh no, wait, got that backwards…..to gain MONEY, power and influence.
In the spirit of Halloween and all that is scary and in the interest of learning to better understand the personalities within the extreme conservative party, I want to post a few videos this afternoon. Some you may have seen already but they deserve a 2nd, 3rd look. We are dealing with voters that have been truly indoctrinated and brainwashed. They grew up in these churches and “free thinking” is not at all part of the upbringing.
This one is the “Palin’s Churches and the Holy Laughter Anointing” The churches filmed are part of the movement her church is involved in. There is text info within the video that makes connections to the preachers involved and Palin’s churches, both in Wasilla and Juneau.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_CkZWTvKBc&NR=1
Oh my! I need a Life! Does anyone else feel like that? Alaskan bloggers could write Letters to the Editor of the NY-23 district local newspaper. (Good chance of being printed because of our relation to Palin.) Have it respectable, short, and non-damaging to Palin’s reputation, to win over some of the moderate Republicans, and fence straddlers, maybe equating something about our experiences of letting outsiders come rule local politics. Maybe just an intriguing question? or a short two liner, to get people thinking. (?)
32 swe123 Says:
October 31st, 2009 at 10:11 AM
From what I’m hearing it’s not the anti gay, anti abortion talking points that are making a difference in this election. It’s “taking back the country, forced healthcare, lower taxes, less government” that Hoffman is using to his advantage.
* ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** *
It’s probably a combination of both. I bet you anything that plenty of Republicans felt Scozzafava was fiscally conservative enough for them but could not bring themselves to support someone who would not just come out and say “abortion is wrong” and “I would never allow same-sex marriage in MY city/district/state”.
I think that’s part of the distorted messages that Scozzafava didn’t have $$$ and time to clear up to her voters. And it’s sad, sad, sad, to think this election is probably going to be won by the person with the most money and the best manipulative (if not outright lying) campaign, rather than the person who would do the best job for the people of the district.
It is indeed a wake up call for us all. The minute the TV ads hit the airwaves, we must get our rebuttal facts researched and organized and easily referenced at the drop of a hat for anytime we have casual conversations with friends and co-workers. Heck, we should probably carry several copies of a flyer with all the facts we can muster on one page.
This is an unconfirmed report, just a comment I read on a comment thread on a story about Hoffman. The site was a conservative site, so the comments were generally positive about the guy, but one said something like ‘he’s just what we need. He wants to start & end school with prayer and remove books about evolution from school libraries’.
If true, Hoffman is the scariest Halloween monster I can think of right now.
I haven’t been a follower of Leah Burton’s God’s Own Party? blog … but maybe … maybe I should start reading.
So the GOP nominee was a WOMAN named Dede and Sarah decided to SUPPORT Hoffman, a MAN instead. Wasn’t it Sarah who said back on October 4 last year at a rally “There’s a place in Hell reserved for WOMEN who don’t SUPPORT other WOMEN.”
#14 Say No to Palin in Politics – Thanks so much for bringing my question to the flats. It would be great if there’s a RE person or anyone here who would like to chime in on this.
Does anyone recall the National Enquirer claim that SP had an affair with Brad Hanson? Palin’s proof that there was no affair was to say that Brad Hanson was still married and the Palins and Hansons remained friends and even own vacation property together. There’s evidence…her financial disclosure form.
Well, they may indeed still be friends but I think the public records tell us they don’t own vacation property together. Proof of the friendship vanishes. The public property record story is that Todd Palin (not Todd & Sarah) bought (possibly worthless property) from Carolyn Hanson, Tod Richards and Ron Richards on March 12, 2003.
The public records website has a disclosure that all transactions may not be included, etc. The whole story won’t be known without an investigation into the actual real estate documents. We do know that Palin expects her spoken and written word to be accepted without verification.
Is there anyone willing to give printouts related to Tract 79-2, Lot E to APOC and ask them to investigate?
Here’s the link again:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff/sag/PlatDocs.cfm?SelectedPlat=79-2&SelectedLot=&SelectedBlock=&SelectedTract=%20%20%20E&SelectedApt=&District=301
It sounds very much like the moderate Republicans in that district may vote for the moderate Democrat over Palin’s conservative pick.
If Dede dropping out gives the race to the Democrat, then Palin’s crowing will be short lived. And her reputation as political poison will be even more firmly cemented in place.
And how typically hypocritical of Newt.
Here is a prophecy given at Palin’s Wasilla church , Jan 7 of this year. (wonder where $P was that day) Mary Glazier is the leader of the spiritual warrior group that Palin was in for a number of years. You can hear in this speech the rabid dedication that will be behind bringing in conservative politicians. It has nothing to do with political policy. This type of speechifyin and “prophecy” is going on in all of these extreme churches. The members will do exactly as told . If they’re to vote for Hoffman, so be it. No questions asked. ( Mary Glazier has said publicly that Palin is like Esther of the bible. I have a recording of that somewhere)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWvCUIdT3QU
I’m posting this to help us get a handle on where they’re coming from. I think it’s important to know and understand if we want to educate others. This stuff is not going to be believed easily.
Hmm.
So Dede dropped out.
Her name is still on the ballot, right? That makes her name a “none of the above” option. And don’t they have mail in ballots and voting early? Could be she’s got votes already she’s pulling away from Hoffman.
How many Republicans will vote for her anyway rather than for Hoffman simply as a protest? (There must be some Republican voters that aren’t stupid sheeple.)
Could the Dede votes force Hoffman and Owens into a runoff?
Just sayin’ this may not be the end of things.
A lost of interesting observations about NY 23.
My conclusion:
Even if Hoffman wins NY23 and the far right “crows”, in the long term it will be poison for the GOP- no moderate GOP candidate will survive and the 20% who identify GOP will shrink to 10-15% when being a wingnut is mandatory.
mlaiuppa: let’s hope you are right! I know I would certainly have voted for the Dem over the teabagger if I were a moderate Republican.
It seemed more likely that the Dem would win when Palin endorsed Hoffman, effectively splitting the Republican votes and giving the Dem the advantage. Now that Dede has dropped out – do we think that would make a big enough impact for the moderates to swing to Hoffman? It seems likely doesn’t it? But then again, the 2008 general election showed the moderates’ distaste for Palin….so I think this one will be close.
I am waiting for the results with baited breath =)
The withdrawal of Dede Scozzafava has left NY23 residents in a quandry –
do they vote for Hoffman (C) who is not a resident, not familure with the area and only because he “believes” the way they do? He failed to win the Republican primary, changed parties now runs as Conservative, and even if caucus’s with the Repubs – his voice will be limited as a “subset of the minority”
Do they vote for Bill Owens (D) who seems to be fairly middle of the road, independent and retired military. Believing in pro-choice and civil union for gay couples may be the downfall for the conservative R’s to check his box. Yet would be representing the area as a member of the Majority.
I find it “amusing” that [snip] quote from http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/78098.html
> Political parties must stand for something,” Palin said on her widely viewed Facebook page. “When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of ‘blurring the lines’ between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race.” <
Yet here again, we see a Republican switching parties to gain or maintain a seat, with her support ~~~
NY23 – I certainly hope you vote for someone with knowledge and will benefit your area to the best of their ability. Political compromise is a necessity to accomplish advancements in our society, good or bad – that is the reality. Do you want representation or do you want someone that just votes NO?
As of today, according to the Des Moines Register, $arah has ” Officially ”
declined to speak in Iowa…. as per their source.. saying ” not now “.
“An Iowa social conservative group said Friday that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin declined its invitation to headline a fall fundraiser in Iowa next month, but noted the Republican’s desire to address members another time.”
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091031/NEWS09/910310329/-1/LIFE04
However.. in the future if ” Show Me the Money Sarah” can get those Fundraisers, PACS and sheeple to empty their wallets sooner and to get on the same page ( it really IS Their fault )… who knows what might happen.
Between now and then maybe she can practice putting ‘ lipstick on a Pig ‘… the locals will get a kick out of that…. IF… she comes.
Think ‘ Beauty Pageant Days’… this could be her talent portion.
I think Dede is just suspending campaigning. She says her name will remain on the ballot. So there could still be plenty of Rs voting for her.
http://www.dedeforcongress.com/news/read.aspx?id=73
(And yay, I just got my first 4 trick-or-treaters! Pink poodle, a witch, a ballerina and a brown bear.
A comment on Bree’s post had someone post a link to the interview that the
UK Guardian did the other day with Levi. That was the one with the audio link.
The UK Guardian has a reporter in Anchorage now and as per the story they said the interview was conducted in Rex Butlers Office. It’s a fairly long story.
The interviewer gives his interpretation of the series of events rather than just Levi’s answers to questions. It’s definitely a positive story for Levi.
And who knows…. maybe there will be additional ones from the UK Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/oct/31/ed-pilkington-interview-levi-johnston
There he is. Brian O’Brian. Lit up again. tsk tsk.
LOL, bubbles! I love it when you do your accents.
From Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight:
Scozzafava’s Supporters Like Obama, Dislike Hoffman and Owens
“Consider the Siena poll out this morning, which has all sorts of useful cross-tabs. Scozzafava’s supporters in this poll:
– Have a favorable view of Barack Obama by a 64-31 margin.
– Have an unfavorable view of Hoffman 15-57.
– Have an unfavorable view of Democrat Bill Owens, 19-50.
The reality is that a lot of Scozzafava’s ex-supporters, many of whom don’t like either Hoffman or Owens, simply won’t vote. And some of them will still wind up casting their ballots for Scozzafava undaunted, as she’ll still appear on the ballot and may have made herself something of a sympathetic figure.”
http://www.themudflats.net/2009/10/31/open-thread-brian-olantern/?#comment-143910
big goof at #51. Here’s the link to Nate Silver:
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/
So far we got a little pink butterfly, a mini-Darth Vader, penguin, and a few assorted goblins. I noticed there seem to be less trick-or-treaters this year for this area.
Stories like this one just make me happy to have such a good guy in the White House! This is about a young girl from the next town to me:
“Xanthe Plymale has an unusual name (pronounced zan’-thee). Last January, she also had an unusual idea. She sent her second-grade class project to the White House and President Barack Obama. Xanthe, as a second-grader, sent her Flat Stanley to the White House along with a four-page letter.
Last week, eight months later, her project came back with a personally signed letter from the President. The envelope from the White House also included autographed photos of the President and his family, and the family dog, Bo.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For those of you who are not familiar with Flat Stanley, he’s from a story about a young boy who got flattened by a falling bulletin board. Kids make their own Flat Stanleys, mail them to other places and follow their adventures as a reading and writing project. Our school librarian did it last year with the third grade, and Stanley got to visit some exciting destinations which were marked on a big map. But, none of our Flat Stanleys came back with a picture and letter from the President! How cool is that????
http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S1220556.shtml
I certainly hope every one of Dede’s supporters vote for Owen, she got screwed.
“Dede Scozzafava, a lifetime Republican, and the former Mayor of Gouverneur, was driven out of the race by Doug Hoffman’s out-of-state money and Doug Hoffman’s dirty tricks. This might explain why she declined to endorse Doug Hoffman in her resignation:
I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. ”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/bias-media-dirty-tricks-a_b_341141.html
First trick-or-treaters here also, too – another Darth Vader, a ballerina, a witch, and a mini pumpkin!
BuffaloGal – Could you post those two messages and the links to the videos at HuffPost on Geoff Dunn’s latest piece? My messages have been put into moderation and not posted for the last month. I even changed my e-mail address, but it recognizes my ISP and rejects me…….and I can’t think of a dang reason why as none of my comments were nasty, cussing, or anything.
Anyway, I think those videos need to go really viral and maybe more will pick up on them from the HuffPost viewers who don’t come to the AK blogs.
The religious right is becoming very powerful at a fast pace and we all must somehow get word out and do whatever we can to support Democratic candidates in any/all races, whether in our districts or not.
There are so many lies being promoted. My daughter came back from town and was telling me that standing in line, she was scanning the covers of what she calls the *cheap-shot-sheets* like the National Enquirer, and several said things like “Obama Orders: Get Beck” and things of that nature that are obvious lies. Those who buy that sort of publication are often lower-educated and will belief the tripe.”
I just don’t know how to fight some of this and it scares me where some of this is headed.
I imagine they’ll do a poll now to see what folks are going to do with their vote. Let’s hope for the best. Please let Owen win.
Let it also be a reminder that we have got to be paying attention to the races in our own states! Work hard to drive support away from right wing wackos to at least moderate Repubs if it’s a repub state.
And be prepared for this to happen again.
BTW…..one of the false smear ads against Dede came from an Arkansas politician. And their ‘grassroots backers’ came from as far away as CA to help work on the campaign for Hoffman. That’s how they’re going to play the game.
GreatGramma……..I’ve found Huffpo haven’t accepted my comments either, I got kinda ticked off trying to comment on AKM’s last Article, it wouldn’t even show they were waiting approval, nadda, I tried more than once too, saying different things, nothing terribly offensive, no cuss words either. I don’t get it.
GG2C ( whom I now think of as GG- I B !) – I will try to post to FB if I can remember my password. Good idea. Thanks!
As I posted earlier today on the Brian Pumpkin thread – I have a neighborhood of nasty halloweeners. As of 6:30PM EST, I had the first group kick at my front door. ( i’m considering throwing a handful of dried northern beans into their bags ) I envy those of you who are welcoming cute Cinderellas and nice little Ninja Turtles. I want the adorable ones too!
Hmm. Yes. That’s what I heard. She suspended her campaign. She didn’t withdraw from the race. And she did not endorse the carpetbagger.
So her name remains on the ballot. (Not to mention mail in and any early voting.)
So the Republican ballot is split any way you look at it.
A vote for Dede is a none of the above or a vote against Hoffman. Whatever. The effect will be the same.
Personally, I think she was stupid to suspend her campaign today. She only had three days to go. What was the point?
BG – So sorry you have those nasty kids kicking at your door! If I had that sort come to my door, I probably would turn off all the lights and play *gone*, or I’d throw the northern beans AT them, not into their bags .
Just reading the full Guardian article, heck, they scooped a better story than any of the US media. I loved the note by the author, lol, to me it was a little reminder that IF there were affairs, Tank knows about them, yeppers. Maybe Levi can’t make a serious charge like that but I bet Tank can prove it if it did happen. I take that as a shot across the bow.
It’s also clear, they’ve had him save the dirt and not say too much early on. Save the ammo for the right time, don’t spill the beans all at once, be strategic about it. I bet he gets fair parental rights ironed out and just to insure it stays that way, he plans on keeping the big dirt ammo if needed.
It’s obvious Scarah knows she’s now in hot water and she’s turned it over to Van Flea, gotta pay for damage control, more dang legal fees. We know she’s got to be seething mad! I’m not sure Todd would be mad for the same reasons, it’s not like Levi is asking for money or anything unreasonable. But for Scarah, oh, the humiliation, she loses control and she hates to lose.
I’m sure he’s in good hands, and Scarah knows her cats out of the bag, Levi has shared the dirt with the right people which should keep him safe, in a sane world anyway. Watch your back Levi, I wouldn’t call Scarah sane.
Just in case you missed the full article…..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/oct/31/ed-pilkington-interview-levi-johnston
“Tank works as a private detective doing criminal work and what he calls infidelity cases.”
[.....]
“Between them, the two men act as Johnston’s bodyguards, media agents, advisers, mentors, guardians and priests all rolled into one. It’s obvious from the way Johnston interacts with them that he depends on them. “No ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers!”, Tank barks before we start the interview, and Johnston dutifully obeys, only rarely falling into the monosyllables for which he is notorious.”
I just had the fright of my life! Earlier today we got a call from an 800 service. We didn’t answer it because we couldn’t identify it and it has been our experience that these callers generally don’t leave a message. I noticed while at the height of our trick or treater traffice that we did, indeed, have a voice mail. So I just listened and heard . . . just thinking of it frightens me . . . Sarar Palin’s voice!! My reaction was a very loud Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! that I’m sure was heard down the street (the temp is very warm here today so our door is open to the screen door and the windows are down on the screen door). I hope I can sleep tonight free of nightmares. Everyone send a prayer. BTW she was stumping for Chris Christy.
Earlier in the day I got a call identified as “Holland Law” which I answered. It was Rudy Guiliani (sp?). Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
Happy Halloween!!!!!
Ugh…I’ve spend the last hour arguing with friggin redneck idiots on our local news website who are so gung ho for Hoffman. I swear I can’t stand it and if I have to do it much longer I’m going to eat the entire bowl of candy I have left.
Day 2 :
Ahh it’s Day Two. At least there is a Day Two. The aftermath of a battlefield always seems to have a slow mist rising from it as if a call to fallen souls from Heaven.
The beach after a storm smells fresh and and hints at a crisp invitation for renewal to the swimmer, wanderer, or the newly lost. And somewhere stranded between those metaphors, lies the silhouette of yesterday’s efforts. So as today begins, the canvas I walk into is absent color but not without hope. A grainy oil painting telling today’s story, dapples of oil applied with brush strokes for highlights and half tones, all in grey scale.
I had alot of time to think about Samson last night and this morning. I arrived to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at 3:00 pm to begin a shift of 19 hours watching the heart-lung machine as Samson had been placed on ECMO late last night.
The night was restless as different scenarios and “what-if’s” comingled with my dreams and rose to the surface faster and more furiously than the bubbles rising and convoluting from the ocean floor that I was swimming over. Certainly his age (25) and outward appearance of great strength and invincibility, made me wonder when whatever felled this oak tree, would eventually turn towards me, see past my shadow, and begin to lay waste.
Time to wake up and go…
Memories of a book I had read as a child surfaced, of Walter Reed and his tremendous courage as he studied the origins of yellow fever, eventually drilling down to the mosquito (Aedis Egypti) as the only plausible vector, and summarily allowing one to infect him- thus proving his theory. So of course the question of potential risk versus sacrifice was tabled for discussion.
Discussions of the soul. When Ben Hur tosses caution to the wind, and clutches his mother to his arms and body, a mother ravaged with leprosy thus subjecting himself to the dreaded disease, yet freeing him of something far worse, cowardice and indifference, that was a discussion that may not always set you free, but recognizing courage in yourself if only for a moment, well that goes a long way. But enough of that.
The question of risk and possible infection is something that each attending Nurse, Physician, Respiratory Therapist, and a whole slew of medical support personell, must ask themselves before comitting to rendering hands on care to what is suggested be- a potential deluge of critically ill patients.
So everybody showed up, unvaccinated because of a dearth of supply and government parcelling, totally cognizant that the high frequency oscillator that was being used to keep Samson’s lungs compliant, was also an open sytem aerosolizing the virus into the surrounding room air ensuring everybody’s exposure. Essentially a microbial mist of potential contamination was rising and released to all attending to Samson’s care.
That was our collective Ben Hur moment. We flinched, but we all showed up and stayed.
trisha I was really hoping the holloween candy thing was a spoof????No one could be that crazy could they??
What would they say about texas chili or any chili for that matter???
Someone is quite the artist
Leenie17 This is not the first time President Obama has answered someone who sent the flat Stanley.During the campaign there was an article about him taking flat Stanley to work with him and he also sent it back with a note..He was the only one of a number to answer and follow thru in a timely manner