Saturday Open Thread [2.8.14]

In a bit of good news for freedom of speech, Beau Biden's office has withdrawn its subpoena to find out who Peaceful Rioters for Wilmington, Delaware is. The relevant bit:
“They decided it wasn’t essential to the investigation and that’s a good thing,’’ MacRae said. “They have to be very discriminatory when they seek private information like that.’’ Joseph S. Grubb, the chief New Castle County prosecutor, said Biden’s top supervisors decided this week to withdraw the subpoena because the information would not further the criminal case – not because of criticism or opposition. “The investigation kind of took a turn,’’ Grubb said. “It’s proven less likely there’s a relevant connection’’ between the creators of Peaceful Rioters and the Hockessin-area missives about top county officials.
Translation: We got caught in a fishing expedition and we're trying to put a good face on our backing out of this strategy.
The Olympics Suck

The Olympics Suck

I don't want this to sound like a "things were great when I was a kid, and now they suck" post, but the Olympics were great when I was a kid and now they suck. Seriously. The Olympics used to be awesome. It was Jim McKay's 'Wide World of Sports" on the steroids. Literally (Yes, I'm looking at you East Germany.) They showed all the sports including biathlon. Not because it looked like an American might medal in biathlon, but because when else were yo going to be able to see biathlon? Now its all skating and snowboarding. They'll cut away to bobsled in order to set up a Lola Jones puff piece, but that's about it. Back in the day, it was amateurs who did it for the love of the sport, (Do you believe in miracles?!?). Now it is millionaire snowboarders making pretend snowboarding is a sport while they drink Mountain Dew on the medal stand to fulfill the terms of their endorsement contracts. (Do you believe in cross-promotions?!?)
I wonder if Chris Coons thinks Jamie Dimon deserves a raise, or to be in jail?

I wonder if Chris Coons thinks Jamie Dimon deserves a raise, or to be in jail?

Sentor Coons, this is what a Senator sounds like:
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said today at a Senate Banking Committee hearing that JPMorgan chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon’s 74% pay raise to $20 million for the year “raises questions about whether our enforcement strategy is working or if it’s so bad that it makes banks more likely to break the law.” His bank paid over $20 billion in fines and compensation to homeowners this year to settle regulatory actions and lawsuits. The hearing on data security and financial stability brought four senior financial regulators and one senior Treasury official in front of the committee and provided a forum for yet another strong critique by the populist Massachusetts senator of what she sees as fundamentally weak regulation of the country’s largest banks. In particular, she once again called for more criminal cases that could result in jail time — as opposed to the enforcement actions and civil cases that can be brought by the regulators Warren was criticizing.

Friday Open Thread [2.7.14]

The American Nazi Party had more than 4,000 followers on Twitter, and at least two of were influential conservative and Republican organizations (I don't call them 'think tanks' because thinking is the last thing that occurs there): The Cato Institute and the Heritage Foundation. Yesterday, after being discovered, they quickly unfollowed the Nazis and apologized. But, why where they following the Nazis in the first place? Trying to find new ideas?
Delaware Political (Almost) Weekly: Feb. 1-7, 2014

Delaware Political (Almost) Weekly: Feb. 1-7, 2014

While it's possible that, under the right circumstances. first-term D Rep. Trey Paradee could be vulnerable, his opponent doesn't appear to be much of a threat. R Peter Kramer has filed to challenge Paradee. Click here to learn a little more about Kramer.  "Keep More With Kramer". Presumably both money and 'personal freedoms'. For low-income voters, that's "Keep Poor With Kramer".  BTW, did any of you actually get a 'kindergarten diploma'? Or would you even remember it if you did? Kramer did, and he does. Or at least, says he does. Also, did you notice how his mission statement just...stops? Maybe he'll add more as he thinks of it. BTW, I notice that he didn't mention that the family company for which he works (J. S. Kramer Inc., a construction company) has gotten serious money from state and federal contracts for institutional construction. Guess that's money that he doesn't want given back to the taxpayers.  He's outraged about spending as long as spending that benefits the family business continues.  I can provide links if you need a sure cure for insomnia. I, for one, don't.

Thursday Open Thread [2.6.14]

PPP does some interesting polling in Alaska, finding that Hillary Clinton leads Sarah Palin in a matchup for President (44-43), with Palin still having pretty awful approval ratings (39% approve). Alaskans overwhelmingly approve of legalizing pot for medical purposes (74-22) and by a smaller, but still majority margin for recreational use (55-39). I'm especially interested in the polling for a referendum measure that looks to repeal Senate Bill 21, the Oil and Gas Production Tax which provided a big tax cut to carbon energy companies. This was a controversial thing and right now Alaskans say they will vote to repeal 43-31%. People do know when they are being screwed over for special interests and maybe if more of these had to be voted upon by taxpayers, there'd be fewer efforts to pad the pockets of the people paying for elections. The caveat, of course, is who knows what will happen with the special interests ramp up their fear and loathing campaigns.

Wednesday Open Thread [2.5.14]

What fresh hell is this? Teen killer George Zimmerman is boxing rapper DMX in some celebrity thing. Seriously, I don't get it. Zimmerman has already told the world that he was powerless against a teenager who weighed less than he did, and was armed with only Skittles. Now he wants to fight a rapper. I guess he thinks there is more money and more notoriety at stake, but who does he expect to actually root for him here? There's a petition to stop the fight, but frankly I hope DMX kicks his ass.