All Hank, all the time.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Gattigap
It is ridiculously early, and it's difficult to know whether it'll go anywhere, but Adam Reilly in Slate has an interesting historical rundown on Romney's dealing with Mormonism in past races, and a calculation about how he might tackle it this time 'round.


No kidding. In places like SC, the Baptists even look at Presbyterians with a jaundiced eye. Most, I would imagine, wouldn't know what a Mormon was.

Romney should consider things like Big Love to be HBO's campaign contribution for helping push awareness of Mormonism into the cultural zeitgeist, but for many the learning curve remains steep.


Gattigap

Weird. The Houston Press has an article this week about Fundamentalist Mormons moving to Texas in droves. Apparently, they managed to piss off Arizona and Utah big time and have decided that in the middle of nowhere Texas, they can live in polygamous peace.

Last year, at the annual Elgoatarod festival in Eldorado, the locals had a bit of fun with the Moromons, but it seems that everyone's getting a little uneasy about the influx there.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Weird. The Houston Press has an article this week about Fundamentalist Mormons moving to Texas in droves. Apparently, they managed to piss off Arizona and Utah big time and have decided that in the middle of nowhere Texas, they can live in polygamous peace.

Last year, at the annual Elgoatarod festival in Eldorado, the locals had a bit of fun with the Moromons, but it seems that everyone's getting a little uneasy about the influx there.

if Hillary gets elected do you think she'll order ATF to go burn them out?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
if Hillary gets elected do you think she'll order ATF to go burn them out?

Did you read the article? There's a lot of local concern about the compound. All of the houses there are log cabin, except for the first floor: the walls are made of concrete. There's a giant furnace there that they say is supposed to be for the concrete, but locals worry about how it could be really handy for cremation, and Mormons don't cremate cuz they think they need their bodies later on down the line.

Their leader, Warren Jeffs, who is called a prophet, is on the FBI's most wanted list, and he sounds like a charismatic nutjob. The local talk is that he travels with armed followers. Someone who got out of the Church (she was forced to marry her cousin when she was 16) says that Jeffs has instructed his followers to prepare for a war with the government. Another guy who has since left the church says that Jeffs wants to be a martyr.

Seems like it could be a fairly volitile situation.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Did you read the article?

No Lucky guess

[Gattigap]

Washington's scandal of the day is apparently the WSJ's story today reporting that "Federal prosecutors are investigating whether two contractors implicated in the bribery of former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham supplied him with prostitutes and free use of a limousine and hotel suites, pursuing evidence that could broaden their long-running inquiry."

Huh huh. He said "broaden." Oh, you Wall Street punsters!

Sure, there's some general ickiness about the thought of buying girls for a 64 year old man, but notably, investigators are looking into whether this contractor arranged for, ah, "hospitality suites" for other members of Congress or staff members. Oh, we can only hope.

Gattigap

[Not Bob]

IRAN: Wow! I’m not saying you deserved that…

U.S.: Shut up.

IRAN: But you kinda deserved that.

U.S.: Shut up!

IRAN: Infidel. Hey, what’re you - what’s that on my right?

U.S.: …

IRAN: Are you invading Afghanistan?

U.S.: Yup. Hey, you better not be developing nukes.

IRAN: Oh, we’re not.

U.S.: Okay. Because you’re evil.

IRAN: Me?

U.S.: You’re part of an axis of evil. You, Iraq, and North Korea.

IRAN: Really?

U.S.: Oh yeah.

IRAN: We don’t even like Iraq. For godsakes, we just got done with a giant war with them.

U.S.: Nevertheless.

IRAN: And North Korea? I don’t really know those guys.

U.S.: You better not be developing nukes.

IRAN: Well…

U.S.: BAM!

IRAN: What was that!? On the left side?

U.S.: Nothing.

IRAN: It wasn’t nothing. You… you invaded Iraq, didn’t you?

U.S.: Maybe.

IRAN: Not maybe. There you are, right over the fence.

U.S.: Well, we thought they were going to develop nuclear weapons.

IRAN: Were they?

U.S.: Lemme check.

IRAN: …

U.S.: No. No they weren’t. But we thought they were. Let that be a lesson to you.

IRAN: Oh, it will be. I’m frickin’ surrounded now!

U.S.: Yeah.

IRAN: I mean what’re ya gonna do next? Invade Turkmenistan?

U.S.: Possibly.

IRAN: Well, feel free. That guy is nuts.

U.S.: …

IRAN: Let me ask you something. Why didn’t you level North Korea?

U.S.: North Korea?

IRAN: Yeah, you know… the other Axis of Evil country that’s not us.

U.S.: Oh. Well, they have nukes. That basically makes them uninvadable.

IRAN: I see.

U.S.: So the lesson here is “Don’t develop nukes.”

IRAN: Uh……. yeah. Sure. That’s what I’m takin’ away from it.

U.S.: …

IRAN: Man, you really pissed off some of your allies on your way in, didn’t you?

U.S.: They were weak. Who cares? Freedom fries for all!

IRAN: Interesting.

U.S.: Why?

IRAN: Oh, no reason.

U.S.: …

IRAN: Having some troubles over there?

U.S.: Shut up.

IRAN: Insurgency, huh? Man, I hate those.

U.S.: Would you shut up?

IRAN: …

U.S.: …

IRAN: Man, it looks bad. Like you won’t be able to invade anyone else for… what? Like 3 or 4 years?

U.S.: At least. This is not going as planned.

IRAN: What was the plan?

U.S.: Shut up.

IRAN: … at least three years, huh?

U.S.: …

IRAN: …

U.S.: Hey, what’re you doing?

IRAN: Nothing.

U.S.: You’re… you’re developing nukes, aren’t you?

IRAN: No.

U.S.: You are.

IRAN: Okay, yes.

U.S.: A-ha!

IRAN: Just for peaceful purposes, though.

U.S.: Really. I don’t buy it.

IRAN: No, really. We just want to make nuclear power plants. Believe me, the last thing we want to do is take advantage of this pickle you’re in next door in Iraq and next door in Afghanistan and with your fractured alliances and overcommitted military… to develop nuclear weapons and thus ensure that you won’t invade us. Believe me, that’s the last thing on our minds.

U.S.: ….

IRAN: …

U.S.: Now you’re making fun of me.

IRAN: Yeah. We’re making nukes.

U.S.: God damn it!


http://www.felbers.net/fa/2006/04/17...ons-since-911/

[ltl/fb]

Yeah, cutting a bazillion checks for $100 each sounds like a great way to manage oil prices.

It's in the NYT. Senate proposal from the Republicans.

Why aren't the oil companies trying to undercut each other at the pump? It seems like it's a good time to do that, what with all the profits and stuff. Increase market share. Compete. Stuff like that.

[SlaveNoMore]

ltl/fb
Yeah, cutting a bazillion checks for $100 each sounds like a great way to manage oil prices.

It's in the NYT. Senate proposal from the Republicans.

Why aren't the oil companies trying to undercut each other at the pump? It seems like it's a good time to do that, what with all the profits and stuff. Increase market share. Compete. Stuff like that.

From the WaPo:

"Since George Bush and Dick Cheney took over as president and vice president, gas prices have doubled!" charged Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), standing at an Exxon station on Capitol Hill where regular unleaded hit $3.10. "They are too cozy with the oil industry."

She then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) -- even though her Senate office was only a block away...."

Originally posted by ltl/fb
Yeah, cutting a bazillion checks for $100 each sounds like a great way to manage oil prices.

It has a proven track record - remember the great $300 tax rebate check? That fixed everything right up for all Americans, tax-wise.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
She then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) -- even though her Senate office was only a block away...."

Please refer to weed's current sig line.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by ironweed
It has a proven track record - remember the great $300 tax rebate check? That fixed everything right up for all Americans, tax-wise.

Exactly. Because cutting and mailing a bazillion pretty small checks is cost-effective.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
. . .they can live in polygamous peace.

Military intelligence.

Jumbo shrimp.

Microsoft Works.

Dodge Ram.

Polygamous peace.

[SlaveNoMore]

ltl/fb
Please refer to weed's current sig line.

Why? Is that supposed to hurt my feelings or something?

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
From the WaPo:

"Since George Bush and Dick Cheney took over as president and vice president, gas prices have doubled!" charged Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), standing at an Exxon station on Capitol Hill where regular unleaded hit $3.10. "They are too cozy with the oil industry."

She then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) -- even though her Senate office was only a block away...."

Boxer called me last week and said she was afraid of what you'd say if she showed up in a Prius. Some days it seems like she just can't win with you no matter what she does.

BTW, since I'm here among the experts, is it a sign of my limousine liberalism that I found it hard to empathize with the Texas college student on the news this morning who was complaining about how rising gas prices made it oh-so-much-more expensive for her to wait in the McDonalds' drive through line in her idling Chevy Tahoe?

"The gas cost more than my meal," she lamented. I can only imagine what her degree is costing.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Why? Is that supposed to hurt my feelings or something?

No. It's just informative.

Somewhat seriously, how is it that prices and profits are going up at the same time for ALL oil companies? It seems . . . coincidental. OTOH, people seem to want the gas enough to pay the price. Of course, any real change in consumer behavior is going to be delayed because lots of gas is used for commuting, and changing your job, your home, or your car is time-consuming and has high transaction costs. So demand may not be sending the right signals.

Sux for people who drive everywhere. I drive maybe 30 or 40 miles a week, absent a road trip.