Friday Open Thread [7.18.14]
You know, Israel has a right to defend itself. I don’t think they are threatened much by four boys on a beach, but hey, if Israel’s security is enhanced by mowing those boys down, so be it. The real reason I am just ambivalent towards the whole Israel-Palestinian saga at this moment is the best demonstrated by the cheering of the Israelis in the video above. There are monsters on both sides of this conflict. The Israelis cheering are monsters. The Palestinians cheering suicide bombings are monsters. Neither side is interested in peace. Both sides want war. And I am to the point where I say let them fight it out. Only I don’t want to be funding either side. Let’s cut off all aid to Palestinians and Israel.
At this point, I am pretty certain that if the entire combined population of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza just simply disappeared like in HBO’s Leftovers, the world would be an undeniably better place instantaneously. Although I suppose we would then have new people fighting over the Holy Land.
Some polling goodness:
GEORGIA–GOVERNOR–Landmark Communications: Jason Carter (D) 49, Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 41.
OHIO–GOVERNOR–Public Policy Polling: Gov. John Kasich (R) 45, Ed Fitzgerald (D) 44.
GEORGIA–SENATOR–REPUBLICAN RUNOFF–Public Policy Polling: Jack Kingston (R) 47, David Perdue (R) 41.
GEORGIA–SENATOR–REPUBLICAN RUNOFF–InsiderAdvantage/Fox5/Morris News: Jack Kingston (R) 46, David Perdue (R) 41.
MISSISSIPPI–SENATOR–Public Policy Polling: Sen. Thad Cochran (R) 40, Travis Childers (D) 24. 31% are still undecided and another 5% going to Reform Party candidate Shawn O’Hara. Reform Party? Perot? That’s still around? Wow.
ILLINOIS–GOVERNOR–We Ask America: Bruce Rauner (R) 51, Gov. Pat Quinn (D) 39.
MICHIGAN–SENATOR–NBC News/Marist: Gary Peters (D) 43, Terri Lynn Land (R) 37.
MICHIGAN–GOVERNOR–NBC News/Marist: Gov. Rick Snyder (R) 46, Mark Schauer (D) 44.
MICHIGAN–SENATOR– EPIC-MRA: Gary Peters (D) 45, Terri Lynn Land (R) 36.
MICHIGAN–GOVERNOR– EPIC-MRA: Gov. Rick Snyder (R) 46, Mark Schauer (D) 43.
COLORADO–SENATOR–NBC News/Marist: Sen. Mark Udall (D) 48, Cory Gardner (R) 41.
COLORADO–GOVERNOR–NBC News/Marist: Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) 49, Bob Beauprez (R) 43.
NEW HAMPSHIRE–SENATOR–NBC News/Marist: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) 50, Scott Brown (R) 42.
So, more locally – any insights on the tied vote and split of the 9th District Democrats over a candidate to replace Walker? Lots of Democratic bickering down here, with those trying to keep the district a strong conservative Dixiecrat area vs. those trying to make it actually be a little like a Democratic District.
My thoughts on the 9th are as follows: since Rebecca Walker basically showed outright contempt for the Democratic / democratic process by filing and then withdrawing and thus preventing a primary, no deference whatsoever can be paid to whomever her supposed choice is. I encourage the 9th RD to conduct a de facto primary between multiple candidates. Have those candidates campaign for committee member votes and have the election in late August (before the date for party nominations). And it goes without saying that Delaware Liberal would seek the complete and total defeat of any idiot / traitor who wants the district and the Democrat nominated to be conservative. If that is truly their feeling, they are free to leave the Democratic Party at once and join the party that actually represents the hateful views they have.