Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Putin doesn't have to ask.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

at a Hil fundraiser last night, Carl Levin the featured speaker. I asked if he was concerned about the Bradley effect? He asked what that meant. I explained and said that Trump had basically said (w/o naming it as such) the election is way closer than the polls because so many of his people are ashamed to admit they support him.

He said "I wouldn't believe or listen to anything he says." So I explained to the crowd, if they hear someone say they may not vote etc. because it isn't close, they should explain the potential.

Two thoughts: Not "listening" here would be like the French not listening if Hitler said "forget your forts, I'm going through Belgium."

AND, political bloggers know of all these issues and real pols just work the crowd/issues?

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Back when I worked for the Democratic Party, most of a lifetime ago, the elected officials I dealt with ranged from incredibly sophisticated to totally clueless on campaign strategy and tactics. Among the clueless, some were just dumb as a doorknob and would never get it and others had had a safe seat for so long they had the luxury of just focusing on policy and not paying any attention to the campaigns.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Same was true when I worked for a Republican politician.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Fair point. I do not remember him ever being in a race.

His brother, my congressman, is a dick though. Him i do not give slack.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

A 9/11 oral history of those who traveled with POTUS -- worth reading.

Biden 2016
 

Uncle Joe to the rescue.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

I only hope on his way out, he can initiate some sort of comprehensive continuing review program to force Clinton (or Kaine or Biden) to continue on the same path.

And give the vote back to all felons. If a guy does his time, he's completed his punishment. He's a citizen with all the rights of a non-felon. This Scarlet Letter administrative-lifelong-punishment shit is deeply un-American.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

In fairness, however, they do rip the shit out him for his atrocious choice of blush and tanning powder.

Re: Not amusing
 

Thanks for enlightening me about that delightful story. I haven't been that depressed and upset in a long fucking time. Can I unread that? Fuck. Just... fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Save those who are measured in winning or losing the campaign, my experience in the realm suggests there is no greater place to appear to know something, do nothing, and punt the heavy lifting to another like politics. If you're looking for a field near exclusively populated by the 80% of the 80/20 Rule, there's no greater preserve of them than politics.

Law's for the full of shit. Finance for the even more full of shit. But only politics has that amazing mix of the lazy, dumb-as-fuck, and so full of shit they truly cannot tell bullshit from non-bullshit anymore.

It seems mean to hate political sorts. They're too much a special ed crowd.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Actually, we both could have said it better.

People should also not be barred from public housing, or student loans, or any state or federal license* because of a prior conviction for which they have served their time.

ETA: The govt can propose forfeiture of license, or certain other rights, but the convicted person (or plea bargainer) must get a credit - which is set forth explicitly in the sentencing guidelines, just like a "downward departure" for cooperation) - against any time he serves for giving up that right or license. BUT, no -- a person cannot avoid time by paying a larger fine... that'd be abused.

Govt can have your time, or forfeiture of rights/licenses, but not your time plus a "bonus punishment."

Yeah, and while on this soapbox, let's get rid of these fucking retarded sentencing ranges. This "facing 30 years" bullshit is laughable to those who know how the actual guidelines work, and cynically cruel to the poor bastard facing the charges. You can't have an honest plea bargain where one side at the table gets to say he can *technically* put you away for half of your life. See: Aaron Swartz.
_______
*I'd allow people with violent crime histories to be barred from acquiring gun licenses. That seems a reasonable line.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

This.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

I knew plenty of intelligent, very hardworking, and thoughtful people in politics. Really. More than I've seen in law. Those were the Dukakis years here, and he set the tone, and there are plenty of people from that era for whom I developed deep respect.

Not to say there weren't some in politics with a unique combination of moral rot deep into their soul and an equally deep-set aversion to any work more onerous than lifting a glass. But that wasn't my set.