ClosetLuddite's Blog

ClosetLuddite Commented on Leahy Becomes First Senator To Demand Lieberman's Ouster From Homeland Security Committee by Greg Sargent

2008-11-14T19:37:03Z

Which is better, money pipe or pole?

Woohoo! (Hey it's Friday, give me a break!)

ClosetLuddite Commented on Report: Indictment Drafted In Blackwater Shootings by Zachary Roth

2008-11-14T19:08:36Z

None of it but I needed to say all that before it melted my keyboard ;-)

ClosetLuddite Commented on Leahy Becomes First Senator To Demand Lieberman's Ouster From Homeland Security Committee by Greg Sargent

2008-11-14T19:06:06Z

Don't hold back, Pat. Tell us what you _really_ think!

I hope Joe The Schmoe gets his dick stuck in the elevator door on his way down to Purgatory.

ClosetLuddite Commented on Report: Indictment Drafted In Blackwater Shootings by Zachary Roth

2008-11-14T18:49:01Z

Not even the corrupt and over-secretive administration that not only allowed this corporation to survive, but thrive? Not even the administration the oversaw the erosion of our civil rights, the denial of due process and equal protection under the law? Not even the administration that shredded the Bill of Rights and Constitution right in front of us as we did NOTHING TO STOP THEM?

Oh, right! We did do something! We voted!!

I think blaming Blackwater is naive. We The People have a hand in this through inaction. The Congress has a hand in this through cowardice. The Executive has a hand in this through an unwillingness to provide mandated self-oversight (read DOJ being subsumed by politics).

Blackwater is a symptom of a corrupt and corrosive administration unwilling to regulate itself not a cause of freedom's disappearance.

ClosetLuddite Commented on Obama Meeting With McCain On Monday by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-14T15:08:04Z

Hey now! Some of are happy in our closets!

As Tweetie would say, "HA!"

PS the only closet I'm in is the anti-technology one and that's only 'cause I'm a technology contractor and it would be bad for business to confess my hatred of all things modern...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Election Central Morning Roundup by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-14T14:19:16Z

I think Josh is right. Discounting for the moment that she'd probably make a pretty good SS, what incentive does she have to do it? She gives up Senator-For-Life status for what amounts to a short term contract. From the incoming administration's perspective there's no up side either. She doesn't bring any more to the table than Richardson (maybe less) and doesn't flash "non-partisan" like Hagel would.

That and as KO mentioned last night, she wouldn't be able to go to Kosovo ever again...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Breaking: Obama Worked Out This Morning, Reporters Couldn't See Him by Greg Sargent

2008-11-13T20:23:54Z

Touche sir!

:-)

ClosetLuddite Commented on Breaking: Obama Worked Out This Morning, Reporters Couldn't See Him by Greg Sargent

2008-11-13T19:05:00Z

Why would you want to change your ass? You have a perfectly nice ass!

ClosetLuddite Commented on Reports: Obama Sees Closing Gitmo As Top Priority, But Huge Hurdles Remain by Greg Sargent

2008-11-12T16:51:45Z

Clearly because the standards and thresholds for evidence and cause (show me the body!) are far below what any legitimate court would demand.

The International Criminal Court would turn quite a few of the Gitmo detainees loose and we don't want that to happen so we keep them in limbo.

Hate it, don't hate it, but I think that's why...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Fineman: Obama And Durbin Want Lieberman To Stay As Homeland Security Chair by Greg Sargent

2008-11-12T15:31:37Z

Dollars to doughnuts Greg posted this simply to stir up shit! I bet he and Josh are laughing their asses off watching us twirl our undies into a Gordian knot over a dumbass comment by a dumbass commentator about a dumbass (that last dumbass would be Lieberman. Can't get through an entire post without at least a _little_ snark).

Is it Friday yet?

ClosetLuddite Commented on Fineman: Obama And Durbin Want Lieberman To Stay As Homeland Security Chair by Greg Sargent

2008-11-12T15:09:45Z

This just in: Obama will appoint Harry Shearer as Secretary of the Absurd.

Really! It's true!

Come on! Take a step back and imagine how silly we all look leaping at any shadow or dancing light like under-medicated Republicans.

Can we at least wait until we get something more solid than "some guy on some talk show said..." before we conclude that Obama has lost his mind/spine/way/mandate/advantage/whatever?

ClosetLuddite Commented on Fineman: Obama And Durbin Want Lieberman To Stay As Homeland Security Chair by Greg Sargent

2008-11-12T14:59:13Z

I heard it the same way. I was surprised Fineman said it so matter-of-factly. I suppose that's where the idea comes from that there's some truth behind his wild-ass guess that Obama is signaling anything in particular. He's usually much more equivocal.

It's still speculation and even if it's very emphatically stated, it's simply speculation.

ClosetLuddite Commented on Fineman: Obama And Durbin Want Lieberman To Stay As Homeland Security Chair by Greg Sargent

2008-11-12T14:54:37Z

He was stating his opinion. On an opinion show. As far as I know he was not acting as an Obama surrogate nor is he a designated or authorized spokesman for the transition.

My point is since when does what Howard Fineman says on KO translate to Obama policy?

ClosetLuddite Commented on Election Central Morning Roundup by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-12T14:26:10Z

Yeah and the Bush-ites clearly abdicated their duties and responsibilities didn't they.

Yet another steaming pile for Obama to clean up.

ClosetLuddite Commented on Obama Team Bans Lobbyists From Transition; Mulling Reversals Of Bush Exec Orders by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T20:49:44Z

"We expect that we can accelerate the process of confirmation in the Senate,"

Well with two Senators running the show, I should hope they could count on their old buddies for a little rhythm!

That and chances are they'll nominate palatable choices.

I do like the "No Lobbyists" mantra though! He made a point of it during the campaign and by golly he's following through from the looks...

ClosetLuddite Commented on It's Official: Full Dem Caucus Will Vote On Lieberman's Fate by Greg Sargent

2008-11-11T20:36:40Z

Someone reassure me that firedoglake isn't just an email and phone number collection scam. It doesn't say anywhere what they are going to do with your information and doesn't promise not to share it or resell it. There is no privacy disclaimer. Y'all ain't gettin' my info that easy!

Just call me paranoid...

ClosetLuddite Commented on It's Official: Full Dem Caucus Will Vote On Lieberman's Fate by Greg Sargent

2008-11-11T20:25:41Z

"...wrong sire of history..." (emphasis mine)? Are you saying history is a bastard? Are you saying fuck history?

Oh...

Oh, _side_...

Oh...

Nevermind...

:-)

ClosetLuddite Commented on Does Obama's Statement Help Or Hurt Lieberman? by Greg Sargent

2008-11-11T17:35:02Z

Make it stop? Greg's right here! How Obama traverses the space between being a Senator and being President (and particularly how he massages the Congress) ultimately foretells the relationship his Whitehouse will have with Congress.

That and what the hell else are we going to blog about? It's not like these stinkin' Senate races are generating 50pt headlines at the moment...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Poll: Matthews Running Behind In Potential 2010 Senate Run, But Might Have A Shot by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T17:28:57Z

Those guys would be GREAT! I would love it if they ran. One of the best sources for snark is the blatant cognitive dissonance displayed by the knee-jerk right those idiots represent.

As a very astute poster on this site once noted, in order to recognize irony and dissonance there must be cognition. When it goes unrecognized, there's a wonderful opportunity for deep, meaningless snark :-)

ClosetLuddite Commented on Poll: Matthews Running Behind In Potential 2010 Senate Run, But Might Have A Shot by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T17:14:39Z

I agree completely. It's a rare to see anyone else with the obvious passion not just for the theatrics of politics but also for the issues. As much as he's annoying as hell sometimes, it refreshing to see someone who is so genuinely into it.

He does wear it on his sleeve a bit tho...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Obama Spokesperson: He Doesn't "Hold Any Grudges" Against Lieberman, Won't Take Position On Whether To Oust Him From Committee by Greg Sargent

2008-11-11T17:00:41Z

Hmmm the on-the-record position is that they refuse to take a position...

Is this the "deliberate haste" we've all been reading about?

ClosetLuddite Commented on Poll: Matthews Running Behind In Potential 2010 Senate Run, But Might Have A Shot by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T16:56:58Z

Jon Stewart for Senate!

Sign me up I'm all about it!

ClosetLuddite Commented on Obama Spokesperson: He Doesn't "Hold Any Grudges" Against Lieberman, Won't Take Position On Whether To Oust Him From Committee by Greg Sargent

2008-11-11T16:53:54Z

It's interesting that Obama (a Democrat) dealing with Lieberman (caucusing with the Democrats) is considered "bipartisan". That there is an issue of partisanship between them is disconsonant...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Poll: Matthews Running Behind In Potential 2010 Senate Run, But Might Have A Shot by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T16:41:55Z

Tweetie for Senate! Woohoo!

He'd be an interesting addition to the rolls. But could he keep his show?

ClosetLuddite Commented on Election Central Morning Roundup by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T16:39:31Z

Personally I like those segments. She's doing what we all need to do when formulating an opinion. We start with a premise and then try to get opposing points of view so we can temper (or to overuse the overused, nuance) our conclusion. It's the thesis, antithesis, synthesis thingy we all learned about in third grade philosophy right?

What, you didn't take philosophy in third grade? Elitist!

:-)

ClosetLuddite Commented on Election Central Morning Roundup by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T14:49:34Z

Did anyone see KO's Special Comment on Prop 8 last night? I thought it was a pretty good non-denominational denouncement of disingenuous fear mongering by the religeroti...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Election Central Morning Roundup by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T14:43:48Z

*ahem* insert "all" after "After"

When are we going to get a "preview"... Oh... Nevermind...

ClosetLuddite Commented on Election Central Morning Roundup by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T14:42:27Z

After it's not what you know or who you know it's what you know about them...

PS Drive safe!

ClosetLuddite Commented on Election Central Morning Roundup by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-11T14:12:36Z

That small twinge of contentment in how last week's vote turned out is brought to you today by the letter V and the number 11.

Thanks to all the veterans here and elsewhere that make voting possible at all :-)

ClosetLuddite Commented on Terry McAuliffe Files For Virginia Governor In 2009 by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-10T20:06:09Z

But wouldn't the immense projection of energy (comprised solely of electrons and neutrinos since nothing positive could possibly come out of his head) overwhelm the senses (and sensors) and thus render the whole event moot?