Open Thread
2 11 2009Here are some sweet treats leftover from Halloween!
And did you know that Butterfinger bars have no trans fat?! Just sayin.
Another Brian O’ Lantern carved by Mr. InJuneau! Nice work!
And then there’s this gem from Fairbanks sent by Mudflatter C!
And apologies to the Mudflatter who sent me a picture of the Sarah Palin costume she saw in a local costume shop. I searched for a long time and can’t seem to find the email… As a matter of fact, while I’m apologizing, I apologize to anyone out there whose email may have gotten “lost in the pile” over the last year. It seems that I just can’t ever seem to stay on top of it all and I know there are things that slipped through the cracks. Mea culpa.
There is a lot going on behind the scene at the forums these days! Here is the latest news from Snoskred our Forummaster:
Forum News – Mudstocks, Christmas Gift Swap, Anniversary Swap update
Santa has dropped by the Forums to organise a Christmas Gift swap – see this thread for all the information you need to sign up.
The Mudflats Anniversary Swap has been held – if you had signed up for the swap please let us know in this thread if you received your card from your swap partner.
AKMuckraker did a sneaky snail mail to participants, postcards arrived as a surprise!
You never know what you might recieve when you sign up for a swap on the Mudflats.
A Washington State Mudstock is in the works for Nov 7th – Zyggy, Pat WA State, GiGi, and Seattlefan have all agreed to meet at 1smartcanerican’s place – If you would like to attend, post in this thread, or click here to contact 1smartcanerican via private message on the forums.
The Anchorage Mudstock is being held in the valley this time at Vagabond Blues in Palmer. It begins at 1:30pm and is likely to last all afternoon, possibly into the evening. People can come and go as it is convenient for them. It will also be held on November 7th and plans are underway to connect the two mudstocks via Skype and possibly a webcam. Jaime from Wasilla is the person in charge of organising this mudstock and you can contact him via this thread, or click here to contact him via private message on the forums.
Illinois has a date set – Nov the 14th, but as yet they have not decided on a location. Mudpups from surrounding states are also very welcome so if you would like to go, post in this thread.
Dallas/Fort Worth has a date – December 5th – still discussing possible locations in this thread.
Juneau is holding a vote to find a good date for their soon to be held mudstock – they are also planning one for late January to coincide with the Central Committee meeting – see this thread.
Discussions are still being held for these areas -
Vermont
Florida
Kentucky
Tri State Mudstock – DE, NJ, PA Western New York area – Buffalo, Rochester and all parts in between
North Carolina
Oregon
California
We have recently added a new rule to the forums, please visit this thread – Important – Regarding Financial Assistance & Donations – for more information.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:19 AM
I can’t get into the forums. I don’t recall my user name or passowrd and it won’t let me sign up again as my email is “already in use” by another member (me).
I wanna do Xmas! Bwaaaaaaaaaaa! Somebody help…
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:23 AM
I am pouting…did not receive any snail mail. And don’t think, you can make it all better by sending one now. Let me revel in my pouting…wish there were smiley faces on the blog… Not really pouting…
Also, the NC Mudstock is a go…It will be held on Dec. 12th at Satisfaction’s Restaurant in Durham, NC. But, there are still a lot of NC/SC and surrounding area mudpups, I have not heard from…DO NOT miss the fun, click on the link above and come join the party! Come on…come all.
There will be cake!
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 AM
1 Paula Says:
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:19 AM
I can’t get into the forums. I don’t recall my user name or passowrd and it won’t let me sign up again as my email is “already in use” by another member (me).
I wanna do Xmas! Bwaaaaaaaaaaa! Somebody help…
________________
Have a password reminder send :
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php?action=reminder
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:03 AM
This Judge has written a tongue-in-cheek list of 10 new rules for President Obama to follow that might better please the Republicans. It’s a good chuckle to start the day, despite the irony behind it’s purpose.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judge-h-lee-sarokin/conservativesrepublicans_b_341098.html
On another positive note to start the day, The Daily Beast is reporting that North Korea is willing to end their silence and now wants talks with the U.S. about its nuclear (aka nuke-yu-ler) program.
Opinions are evenly split in Maine at the moment on the gay marriage issue. It was all settled by a majority to allow it, the Governor supports it, then the ultra-conservatives brought their mouths and money into the state with their scare tactics and riled up those who wouldn’t have cared, rarely ever vote (or been affected) one way or another. DH talked with family this weekend and those who are normally active and interested in progressing the state are having an uphill struggle to compete with the $$ that are hijacking them – same thing that is happening in NY with $P – they want to know why the heck the out-of-staters don’t just leave them alone.
And now I’m off to cook down my pumpkins and get the filling ready for Thanksgiving pies…….um, I can smell the cinnamon and nutmeg already.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:07 AM
Robocalls! Palin?! Last year wasn’t she against them? But now…she’s for them?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/02/palin-robocalls-urge-virginians-to-vote-for-sarahs-values/
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 AM
Another tidbit on a Sarah type Repugnant pol:
http://tinyurl.com/yjsaqsk
You can’t make this stuff up.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 AM
Last year…Palin on robocalls:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/19/palin-says-voters-irritated-by-robocalls/
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:40 AM
Palin robocalls are being funded by the Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition, the state branch of a national conservative group founded by former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed.
Who is Ralph Reed?
He disgraced himself as a crony of Jack Abramoff. In the summer of 2004, emails revealed that Reed’s public relations and lobbying companies had received at least $4.2 million from Abramoff to mobilize Christian voters to fight Indian casinos competing with Abramoff’s casino clients.
“After reading the e-mail, it became pretty obvious he was putting money before God,” said Phil Dacosta, a Georgia Christian Coalition member who had initially backed Reed. “We are righteously casting him out.”
Had Sarah Palin not joined McCain’s ticket, Reed said, the Republican nominee most likely would have fared even worse among religious conservatives.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:42 AM
Saw this on a twitter post this morning . I haven’t seen the Palin/Alice The Goon (Popeye cartoon) connection made before so this started my day with a laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs16kGWWqt8
It has it all – Alaska, “the goon that is feared by all”, the word salad and more!
On twitter it was dubbed, ” video of the first meeting between Palin and McCain”. I’m thinking there might be a metaphorical title that would fit but it’s too early for my brain to go there. Either way, I am now very pleased to have a new name for Palin. “S’arah the Goon”
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:47 AM
Are there any fellow New Englanders interested in one of these soirés? of course alcohol would have to be involved!
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:01 AM
Excellent article in Perrspectives today
10k invested under Repo POTUS over 40 years would have earned 51K, under Dim POTUS 300K.
Lots of graphic from census bureau, article link to NYT. A very heavily footnoted rebuttal to Schrubs little Bro.
“Jeb Bush’s Brother and the GOP Attack on U.S. Capitalism”
perrspectives.com/blog/archives/001656.htm
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:08 AM
In the robocalls, she (who must not be named) says to vote for “Sarah’s values”. Maybe someone should spell out what they are: (Dis)honest…(dis)loyal…integrity (challenged)…working for the betterment of (Sarah’s power and bank account)….just to list a few. I’m sure you all have more.
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 AM
How about a Costa Rican Mudstock? Lounging in warm surf, enjoying mojitos, and swinging through jungle? It would make any moose say, “Si!”
Anyone? Anyone?
penny
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:47 AM
“Sarah’s values”???? Like anything associated with her name should conjure up images of puppies, rainbows and unicorns??? Does this stuff really work? I can’t imagine anyone getting this message saying, “oh, Sarah says I should jump off a bridge so I guess I’d better. After all, she called me personally”. Are these people blind? Too much for a Monday morning and not enough coffee.
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:53 AM
I’m definitely up for the DFW meet! Like someone else above, I have to figure out how to get into the forum, reset password and all that…gonna need more coffee.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 AM
Tried my password thingy -says I never made an answer to my what’s my password hint question thingy (as you can see I am not computer thingy savy).
Bwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I want my thingy back!
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Just file “RoboCallGate” under the heading “Things SP was For Before She Was Against or Vice Versa”
Yes to Bridges to Nowhere and all that pork vs No to Obama’s Stimulus Bill
Yes to Cap and Trade vs No to Cap and Trade
No to RoboCalls as a campaigning strategy vs Yes to RoboCalls!
Speaking of for and against, this appears to be what our ‘pal’ Doug Hoffman will be up against if he should win the seat tomorrow. He will, it seems, either have to break his campaign promises, or watch his district go without what appears to be much needed funding.
In a previous lifetime I was on a board of a not-for-profit organization. Before I got on, I had plenty of comments and criticisms, and actively asked “How come we don’t do this?” and “I think it would be a better idea to do that”. Well, as happens, I got on the board and I found out exactly why some decisions I thought were not the best options were sometimes made. Still didn’t necessarily agree with everything, but I learned the ‘why’ and the reasoning behind everything.
Us outsiders looking in can have plenty of great ideas, but until we walk miles in our representatives’ shoes, we will really never know what they go through, and how their efforts to try to represent us, the little people, can get steamrolled over by other more powerful forces.
There’s certainly still plenty of self-serving senators and representatives in our current Congress, but perhaps things will change if we start electing younger, more diverse people into such positions. I would have no problem with a hockey mom being my representative if she were intelligent, well-informed on issues, and exhibited a willingness to listen to all her constituents, not just those who agree with her own personal ideologies.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:29 AM
For folks who were planning to throw a few dollars to Alan Grayson at some point, today might be a good choice if you can swing it:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/2/799617/-Time-for-a-Money-BombLiveblogging
Grayson is over on Daily Kos and is asking for help to send a message from the progressive community. Shall we ??
We shall! I just dropped a little coin in Alan Grayson’s jar. I figure I’ve gotten at least as much in recuperative value from him. It felt really good. Thanks for posting the link. AKM
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:44 AM
Gee WolfPack #8: Our Sarah putting money before her Christian principles?
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:47 AM
That Palin pumpkin… man, there’s a pumpkin carver out there with real talent.
Palin’s values… I wouldn’t say they are at the level of a… let’s say John Wayne Gacy, but does any intelligent person really want to admit to having values as low as her’s?
As for a NJ/MD/PA/DE mudstock… there’s lots of places within 2 hours of Philly… maybe even Baltimore? Anything down in that corner would be a hike from Buffalo. Now, let’s take a look at my calendar. …
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Ooookay… can’t log into forum. But here’s another suggestion after looking at a map… how about a place at a crossroads… like King of Prussia, PA?
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:51 AM
OT but a must see!
It’s great:
Brad Blog on the 2nd Tea Party Express forming right now:
Tea Party Express II: Rise of the Tea Bags
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7487
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 AM
Hey, I’m going to the Washington state Mudstock- aren’t I?
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:11 AM
Sarah’s values?
Like quitting her job and walking away from any “real responsibilities”?
Like lying?
Like begging the public for money to pay her legal bills….while cashing a check for over a million $ to pay for her new house and lavish lifestyle?
Like Stirring up hate and division?
I guess I’ll just have to say, “Thanks but NO thanks” to those values.
BTW: Awesome pumpkins. Such talent. I ate candy….does that count?
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 AM
14 laprofesora Says: November 2nd, 2009 at 6:47 AM “Sarah’s values”???? Like anything associated with her name should conjure up images of puppies, rainbows and unicorns??? Does this stuff really work? I can’t imagine anyone getting this message saying, “oh, Sarah says I should jump off a bridge so I guess I’d better. After all, she called me personally”. Are these people blind? Too much for a Monday morning and not enough coffee.
______
She only wants you to jump off a bridge if you’ve taken out a life insurance policy with her name as beneficiary.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Muddy;
Could you or maybe Shanny do a post of ‘Sarah’s Principals’ that are being touted in the Virginia RoBo call that’s started there to urge a vote for the Tea Party candidate in the NY-23 ??
Sarah has principals??? Hum…who knew??
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-party/audio-sarah-palin-robocall-urges-virginians-to-vote-for-sarahs-principles-tomorrow/
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:16 AM
Sarah’s values: Definition: She values money. She values lots and lots of money.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 AM
#11 Marnie, Thanks for this link. This is an excellent piece of work proving that Rethugs are bad for the economic health of the USA.
“Jeb Bush’s Brother and the GOP Attack on U.S. Capitalism” perrspectives.com/blog/archives/001656.htm
Last year I carried around the NYT article with the charts showing that the stock market does much better under Dem’s than Rethugs going all the way back to the 1920′ies. It’s just plain old false that Rethugs economics are good to this nation.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Formerwriter– If you’re out there, saw your comments at the end of yesterday’s post on Going Rogue and Going Rouge. The chuckle your first comment caused was that you wondered if AKM was going to “sing” copies of the book. You obviously meant “sign” but the idea of the former was hysterical. That’s what gave me the good laugh.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Sigh …. Florida’s gonna be smack in the middle of this Conservative vs Republican vs Democrat crap next year when the 2010 Mel Martinez seat comes up for election. Still too early to pick who the democratic candidate could be, but we’ve got some good choices. On the Republican/Conservative side, we have essentially Charlie Crist or Marco Rubio.
I know Halloween is over, but Marco Rubio in the Senate is a fright beyond belief. You may as well elect Jeb Bush to the seat ’cause Rubio is politically Jeb’s godson.
So the game begins. Do we try to get the extremist (Rubio) nominated in primaries, thinking the progressive, the as-of-yet-named democrat, will then win the general election? Or do we support the more moderate Crist in the hopes that, if he does win over the democratic candidate, that at least he won’t be bat-shit crazily wed to Bush-style policies?
And to be fair, even Rubio is IMO not as extreme as SP, Michelle Bachmann, or Doug Hoffman. And better qualified. How do those nutjobs get elected?
What to do, what to do?
In the meantime, I just offer out prayers to those voting tomorrow to make your best determination, vote what you believe is really in your best interest, not what some advertisement says is your best interest, and to remember that the vote in this country is NOT a matter of public record – in the privacy of that little booth, you are free to vote for whoever you want, and you do not have to say who you voted for or justify your position.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 AM
If I were McDonnell I would be absolutely furious with Palin. He did not want any help from her and he has made that clear. He believed she was too polarizing. And what does Sarah do, hijack his campaign at the last minute and make it all about her and her ***** (insert Irish swear word) principles!! How utterly obnoxious.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Is it me or has American politics become more about the campaign and who is stumping for whom than about actually doing the work they were elected to do. The party politics have become too much of an issue. What has NY23 and Palin have anything to do with one another?
A Fan from Chicago@29, I saw that too, something we have all done before, but it was a cute slip
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:29 AM
I just read Gryphens story he posted about SP’s robocalls. And he posted an audio clip of the message.
The CNN story, based on some Poll, said McDonnell was up by about 15 points.
So… Sarah inserting Her ‘ Mouth’ into the Election would have no results on the outcome and the winner. ( as it stands now-with that lead ) This was just merely advertising for Sarah.
If this was a very close race with only a 2 or 3 point lead that might really mean something. Because she can turn people off very quickly and send the Election in another direction. Boy… would Bob be mad then!!
The most shocking thing is that the McDonnell campaign were never notified that she was doing it… beforehand. Meg… we know you ( and Sarah) don’t answer Yes or No to all those invites and get back to people about those 1000’s of offers, BUT how about a courtesy call to the Guy whose is actually running IN the Election. Isn’t it His call?
{You could have at least mentioned the Guy’s NAME in YOUR call ..poor taste}
Do you think he might not want to know you have snuck onto His property/backyard/Election overnight and were traipsing all over the place yelling and screaming upsetting the neighbors with your childish behavior..?
However, we know this is not about what McDonnell wants is it. As was reported before, You asked if you could ‘ help ‘ and his response was…
” Thanks,… but No thanks”. You of all people should remember THAT line.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Great talent on the pumpkin carving, WOW!
AKM, I went to my PO Box yesterday and found the postcard–such a pleasant surprise! Thank You!
I heard the robocall on mSNBC a little while ago, and had to laugh at the “Sarah principles”. She has NONE!
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Apparently CNN is now reporting that it was “shared principles”, not “Sarah principles”. Still, both are presumptuous as heck.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 AM
sauerkraut Says:
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Ooookay… can’t log into forum. But here’s another suggestion after looking at a map… how about a place at a crossroads… like King of Prussia, PA?
————
Another PA meetup? Do tell!
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Marnie @ 11
Thanks for that link. I believe that was my first visit to PERRspectives, and I now have their XML feed. I like reading articles where every claim they make is linked to its source (and that’s especially true when right-wing propaganda is debunked in the process).
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I think the only hope this country has is to teach critical thinking skills in school, along with voter education. We need to understand what this country is about (the right to free speech goes hand in hand with the responsibility to tolerate other’s views), and that “she/he is just like me” is NOT a prerequisite for the job of Commander in Chief.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Okay, somebody with AK info help me out with this. Toads sister just lost her house for not making payments for a year from oct. 08 – oct. 09, this same sister was campaigning for Scarah while not being able to make house payments? Apparently she also was the one pictured holding Tr*g while Scarah did her quitting gov while fishing media blitz.
So what’s up with that? This is not the sister arrested for burglary. It is
Kristene Stanford, her hubby is James Stanford. Did he lose his job?
And what’s with Scarah mixing Toads sister’s husband in with Ak gov policy and plugging his employers projects using her office?
What criminally negligent homicide happened that Frank pardoned?
This is a from a commenter’s post on Bree’s blog:
“Governor’s Special Assistant Joe Balash set up a meeting of Palin cabinet members in the Governor’s conference room in Anchorage for James Stanford and other representatives of Stanford’s employer, Thom Fischer of Bellingham, Washington. (Fischer’s Company, Whitewater Engineering was pardoned by Governor Murkowski of a conviction for criminally negligent homicide on Murkowski’s last day in office.)
The reason given by the Governor’s office for the meeting was so Stanford could pitch a wind power project in Southeast Alaska. At the start of the meeting Stanford loudly and proudly stated that he was the Governor’s brother-in-law.
It finally came out that the real reason for the meeting was to have the State force the Four Dam Pool Power Association to help finance Fischer’s hydroelectric project in Southeast Alaska that no one other than Fischer and his crowd wanted.”
Note – Whitewater is now Toll House and they did get their project. Power will be running from Petersburg, AK to Whatcom County, WA by 2014.”
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Rush has such a way with words……….and he’s praising the move, saying it will leave a ‘pure’ party, yeah okay, if he thinks so, lol. More like a party left full of blow hard radicals with no chance of diplomacy. Okay, Scarah, I’m sure you’ll laugh at the beastiality screwing joke because it’s something you’d find funny while it’s being said about someone, but you’d be aghast and find disgusting in reality. So think about who you’re palin around with ms. values and principals in your ‘pure’ party.
“We can say she is guilty of widespread bestiality. She has screwed every RINO in the country. Everyone can see just how phony and dangerous they are. 2010 might be a nightmare for PETA. Tow animals may become extinct: RINOs and Blue Dog Democrats.”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/limbaugh-scozzafava-guilt_n_342535.html
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Remember Alan Grayson? He’s the Rep with the stones to say, “The Republican Health Care Plan: (1) Don’t get sick. (2) If you do get sick, die quickly.” Here’s a link to contribute to his campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/congressmanwithguts?refcode=widget
I don’t think this violates the new rules here at the ‘flats; I’m not asking for money, just providing a link to support a rep who cares about us! Health and peace to all.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Zyx – Sorry I missed you in the treehouse/chat. I was off doing reading. I’m glad you posted the link for Grayson’s fundraising. He was on Daily Kos earlier today asking for folks to help him send a msg by way of a “money bomb”. Hope our efforts helped to make that happen.
Trying not to think about tomorrow’s election in NY23. I saw tell that Owens was raising funds 12 to 1 to Hoffman. Didn’t bother to look further to see if it was true. I figure that, at this point, it’s going to play out as it will and we will learn something from it, regardless.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Apologies all, it seems like the server is being inundated with traffic right now. Not sure what is causing it, but hopefully it will slow down soon. For those missing each other and who can’t get into the chat, try this –
http://www.mibbit.com/chat
put in your username, and put in #themudflats as the channel name.
I will be sending emails to those who seem to be having trouble with their passwords on the forum once the server comes back up – let me know either here in the comments or via my contact page on my blog (see link below) if you need help.
http://www.snoskred.org/contact
We just need some patience with the server right now.. apologies again..
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Good read:
“Editors pose questions in Palin book manuscript”
http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/story/997288.html
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 PM
On a completely different matter, I was able to get into Shannyn’s show on Saturday tor a few remarks on our ex-EvilVP, but I failed to tell her his new nickname:
“I don’t recall” Dick.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 AM
Wow! I love the pumpkins. I’m lucky if I can manage a couple of eyes and a mouth. Mr. InJuneau is obviously ever bit as talented as Mrs. InJuneau.