Overnight Open Thread (2-26-2015)

Quote of the Day

Jerry Taylor of the Cato Institute tells a story about Julian Simon, the late and great economist. He was at some environmental forum, and he said, "How many people here believe that the earth is increasingly polluted and that our natural resources are being exhausted?" Naturally, every hand shot up. He said, "Is there any evidence that could dissuade you?" Nothing. Again: "Is there any evidence I could give you - anything at all - that would lead you to reconsider these assumptions?" Not a stir. Simon then said, "Well, excuse me, I'm not dressed for church."

I love that story, for what it says about the fixity of these beliefs, immune to evidence, reason, or anything else.

Three Questions All Democrats Must Answer

1. Should Joe Biden stop touching women without consent?

2. Is Elizabeth Warren Native American?

3. Is it okay that Bill Clinton participated in vacations with a pedophile?

The Clinton Foundation Scandals, Explained

That sounds pretty sketchy, but at least the foundation didn't accept any foreign donations while Hillary was secretary of state. Right?

Not exactly. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the Clinton Foundation accepted millions of dollars in foreign government donations while Hillary was serving in the State Department. Most of those donations were technically allowed due to the many exemptions included in the so-called "ban." However, at least one of those donations-$500,000 from the Algerian government-violated the ban, and was not reported to the State Department's ethics office.

Oh, that sounds pretty bad.

Yeah.

Wow. The Clintons have been in politics their entire lives. They must know how bad all this looks.

Yep.

Maybe they just don't care?

Maybe.

Has Hillary even tried to defend herself?

Nope. Her aides have repeatedly declined to comment.

Is anyone else defending her?

Not really.

AG Holder Gives ATF Power to Confiscate Property

Further, the department claims that forcing the ATF to go through a judicial process in order to seize property requires too much time and money.  Whereas an "uncontested administrative forfeiture can be perfected in 60-90 days for minimal cost [.] the costs associated with judicial forfeiture can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars and the judicial process generally can take anywhere from 6 months to years." In other words, affording judicial process to Americans suspected of engaging in criminal activity takes too long and costs too much.

Trolling Russia; Advanced Level 1

The Great Right Wing Scam Machine

I've been saying for a while now that too many scammers and opportunists have been taking advantage of the Tea Party and conservative grassroots. I said so again a couple weeks ago when guest hosting on Bill Bennett's radio show and I got a lot of grief for it. Well, here's the latest proof. The folks at Rightwing News have a new report out showing that grassroots donors have been bilked of tens of millions of dollars that never went to the candidates they thought they were helping.

Bad Day For PolitiFact

Just Because: The Specials - Ghost Town

You Had Me at Pansexual

Reaching Peak Acronym

Open House is a safe space for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Flexual, Asexual, Genderf-k, Polyamourous, Bondage/Disciple, Dominance/Submission, Sadism/Masochism (LGBTTQQFAGPBDSM) communities and for people of sexually or gender dissident communities. The goals of Open House include generating interest in a celebration of queer life from the social to the political to the academic. Open House works to create a Wesleyan community that appreciates the variety and vivacity of gender, sex and sexuality.

The Secret Lives of Lads

Also We Know What You're Thinking

Random True Facts

Yahoo group. That is all.

Come on be a smartie and join the yahoo group party! For the children.

And my lo-fi Twitter spew.

Tonight's post brought to you by Catwoman and the Kittens:

Notice: Posted by demand of the shyster contract lawyers of AceCorp LLC. Please e-mail things plus $1 for S&H to maetenloch at gmail. Otherwise send them to CAC. Happy-fun ball is neither happy, fun, nor a ball. Discuss.

posted by Maetenloch at 10:00 PM

| Access Comments