Something you won't hear about on FOX News, AM radio, etc...

So far, it looks like Mitt Romney is the frontrunner for the GOP nom (which at this early date means absolutely nothing). Politics is old hat for the Romney family. His father, George, ran for president in 1968, but lost the nomination to Richard Nixon. What is rather interesting is that George Romney was born in Mexico, rather than in the U.S. Now, it seems that because his parents were U.S. citizens (though they were polygamists who fled to Mormon colonies in Mexico), that allowed him to run for president. But seriously, if the so-called 'birthers' can make such a big stink about Obama's origins (yes, he was born IN FUCKING HAWAII and has the birth certificate to prove it, that is widely available all over the web), then why not question George Romney's origins? And would this make them hypocrites if they indeed supported his son Mitt, even though his grandparents actually FLED this country because they did not respect it? I'm sure if a Democrat did this, they'd be called 'traitors' or worse.

Here's the straight poop from Wikipedia:

Romney's grandparents were polygamous Mormons who fled the United States with their children because of the federal government's opposition to polygamy. His maternal grandfather was Helaman Pratt (1846–1909), who presided over the Mormon mission in Mexico City before moving to the state of Chihuahua and who was the son of original Mormon apostle Parley P. Pratt (1807–1857). Romney's uncle Rey L. Pratt (1878–1931) would in the 1920s play a major role in the preservation and expansion of the Mormon presence in Mexico and in its introduction to South America. Romney's parents were Gaskell Romney (1871–1955), who was not polygamous, and Anna Amelia Pratt; they married in 1895 in Mexico. A more distant kinsman was George Romney (1734–1802), a noted portrait painter in Britain during the last quarter of the 18th century.

George Wilcken Romney was thus born in Colonia Dublán, Galeana, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua – one of the Mormon colonies in Mexico – on July 8, 1907, to American parents.<1><6> George had three older brothers and would gain two more brothers and a sister. Gaskell Romney was a successful carpenter, house builder, and farmer who headed the most prosperous family in the colony.

The Mexican Revolution broke out in 1910 and the Mormon colonies were endangered in 1911–1912 by raids from marauders, including "Red Flaggers" Pascual Orozco and José Inés Salazar. Young George heard the sound of distant gunfire and saw rebels walking through the village streets. The Romney family fled and returned to the United States in July 1912, leaving their home and almost all of their property behind. Romney would later say, "We were the first displaced persons of the 20th century."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Rom...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Romney...

Oh, and Mitt himself was born in Detroit. Or so they tell us.

He's already been vetted by both the Secret Service AND the FBI. And I'm pretty sure they know more and have more access to information than Orly Fucking Taitz!

Living beings have sex. Period. That's the way nature works.

Religions long ago have found that using abstinence to try to control people is incredibly effective. The wingnuts picked up on the idea. No wonder our society is so fucked up about the topic.

U.S. Deports Lou Dobbs

CNN Host Had Been Living Illegally In Country Since 1961

WANTAGE, NJ—Acting on anonymous tips from within the Hispanic-American community, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on Wednesday deported Luis Miguel Salvador Aguila Dominguez, who for the last 48 years had been living illegally in the United States under the name Lou Dobbs.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, federal agents stormed the undocumented immigrant's home in an evening raid just hours after the 64-year-old newscaster suddenly announced that he was resigning from CNN, and immediately placed him on an Aeromexico flight departing from Newark Liberty Airport.

"Mr. Dominguez did not come quietly, but in the end he came," said Sam Whitlock of the U.S. Border Patrol, who was injured during the arrest. "He pulled a knife on me, like they will, and swore a bunch in Spanish and spit on us when we finally managed to grab him by the serape and throw him against a wall. But the important thing is that he's now back where he belongs."

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/u_s_d...

It's all due to the "loudness war":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/softwar...

Essentially, mastering engineers over-compress (or 'limit') all the sound on each song so that there are few quiet spots, and very little dynamic range. Often times, they clip the hell out of it too, so all the louder high/low frequencies are chopped right off. The result sounds mashed together, causing listener fatigue and, in the longterm, sheer boredom. But it's all done to make a particular song as 'loud' as the previous one on the radio, mp3 player, etc. All it really does is make the music sound just plain awful.

Furthermore, after all that compression on the mastering end, the songs get played on radio stations that utilize TONS of compression. And fans convert the songs into low-bitrate mp3 files, which compress the songs even more.

But music doesn't have to be so 'loud'. The recently-released Beatles remasters sound amazing. The Abbey Road engineers used very little limiting/compression, to give it a very natural, organic sound. The goal was to make it sound as close to the original analog master as possible. In addition, Apple Corps. and EMI packaged them in very attractive CD digipack sleeves (to make them look more like tiny LPs), and packed the booklets with rare photos and complete liner notes. The result? Millions of copies sold, when everyone is crying that nobody is buying music anymore.

Other artists, such as Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Donald Fagan, have been quite vocal about the use of excessive limiting.

There are many, many reasons why music is in a slump right now, and 'piracy' is not even one of the main reasons (how does one explain how Radiohead started selling even more CDs after their stuff was leaked/given away on the internet?). The 'loudness war', though, is a very big reason.

Here's a link that explains more:

http://turnmeup.org /

It explains why most music sucks these days.

You can also see how your favorite bands/albums rate on loudness:

http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/

Sarah Palin has joined LinkedIn. And guess what? She's interested in "job inquiries."

The former Alaska governor has posted her resume on the professional social-networking web site LinkedIn. The service boasts over 45 million users who connect and refer colleagues. Instead of using the Facebook term "friends," LinkedIn users have "connections." Palin had over 500 connections as of Saturday evening.

The URL for Palin's LinkedIn profile uses "/governorpalin" despite the fact that Palin resigned from her job as Alaska's governor in July 2009.

The University of Idaho is the sole education entry on Palin's LinkedIn profile. She does not list the four other institutions she attended before earning her degree.


Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/18/s...


http://www.linkedin.com/in/governorsarahpa...

Backstory:

Savvy coders exploited the RNC’s failure to lock down aspects of their code and created a platform where you can add Michael Steele to any web site.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/brand-hack-... /

He does a walk-on at my blog:

http://hammerandsteele.com/?u=http://ltrad... /

Added to DU:

http://hammerandsteele.com/?u=http://www.d...

Or do it to your favorite site:

http://hammerandsteele.com /

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and John Malone's Liberty Media Corp are interested in NBC Universal, according to a report by CNBC, citing sources.

Cable company Comcast Corp has been widely reported to be in talks with NBC Universal parent General Electric Co to buy a controlling stake in the broadcast, cable and movie company.

(snip)

News Corp, which owns the Fox TV network and the Wall Street Journal, had been seen as a less likely bidder, analysts have said, because taking a stake in NBC might raise antitrust concerns with the U.S. government.

Liberty Media has been seen as possible bidder for a minority stake in NBC Universal because of its history of taking minority stakes in big media companies.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNew...

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Will. Never. Happen.

I just checked in to my Twitter account, and I follow a few token cons, along with the usual likeminded people.

One of those is Glenn Beck, along with StopBeck:

http://twitter.com/stopbeck

And I noticed him carrying on and on about Chachi being a fan of his, as if his cred goes up when some has-been actor admits to being a fan.

Curious, I checked out Chachi's page:

http://twitter.com/thescottbaio

And needless to say, he's gone Beck-style crazy. Totally off the reservation. Not to mention a total douchebag:



2. @blakeshelton, Now I know why my wife & step-daughter likes you. You are also a tell it like it is guy. Love thatabout 2 hours ago from web

3. http://twitpic.com/l2gd7 - thescottbaio is real. "Is this car green enough"? lolabout 4 hours ago from TwitPic


7. People say that "I'm going against the Grain" Growing up I was taught the Conservative way WAS "The Grain" People w/ huge values was THE WAYabout 8 hours ago from web

8. @stopbeck, yes, I am Scott Baio. I also LOVE Glen Beck, so you prob. shouldn't follow me. Take careabout 8 hours ago from web

9. Then tomorrow I'm sending out packages to our spec. needs families. (winter coats 4 kids) But I bet you won't blog about that, huh????about 8 hours ago from web

10. Hey peeps, I'm going to dinner. You wanna blog about that too.about 8 hours ago from web

11. P.S. AND if you have to engage "this D list actor" YOUR WORDS, you are more pathetic than you realize. Life is great, well mine is anyway.about 9 hours ago from web

12. Funny how liberals are all free and open to shit UNTIL Conservatives say something THEY don't like. Suggestion to libs, DON'T Follow meabout 9 hours ago from web

13. Awe I'd love for Ren to be on Meet the Press, She is sharp.about 9 hours ago from web

14. Scott Baio is NOT a Republican, Scott Baio IS a Conservative. RT that.about 15 hours ago from web

15. She is a true southern girl (also 1/2 American Indian) and can def. square off with any lib. You guys called Bush far worse, so just chill.about 15 hours ago from web

16. Also my wife has the same freedoms as you and I, so therefore she CAN call whomever she wants a "Shitfuck" you don't have to like it.about 15 hours ago from web

17. Only to have these libs try to go public with MY REPLY TO THEIR NASTINESS.... That's okay because every dog will have their day. unfollow meabout 15 hours ago from web

18. So funny how I tweet MY thoughts and libs jump all over me after they disrespect ME, then I DM them in private them to be a good guy.about 15 hours ago from web

19. Hey people last time I checked I have the right to freedom of speech, Libs may hate that but I DO HAVE MY RIGHTS TOO, Now go Blog that!!!!about 15 hours ago from web

20. @gwenhayes, yeah and Michael Vick still plays football. What's ur point? They both are losers.6:38 PM Oct 9th from web

21. Someone said that the best thing about the cash for clunkers is, now most of the obama stickers are GONE!!!!! YES YES YES!!!!!!!6:27 PM Oct 9th from web

22. Wife calls Obama a "Shitfuck" and I believe she's right.12:22 PM Oct 9th from web

23. Rush is going off on Obama for winning the "Dumbbell" Prize. The is a sad day for Americans.11:34 AM Oct 9th from web

24. @blakeshelton you were on same flight awhile back w/ my wife & step daughter from Nashville. My step daughter was peeing her pants over you12:46 AM Oct 9th from web

25. Getting ready to have dinner with Chris, yes the blue lagoon guy.5:46 PM Oct 8th from web

26. I have BB most of the day while Ren works on her foundation stuff. We will take a walk and maybe play tennis.11:21 AM Oct 8th from web

27. Finally I can hit the hay, long day.12:38 AM Oct 8th from web

28. Getting ready to make dinner for the fam. Pork chops, greens, red potatoes.7:26 PM Oct 7th from web

29. I actually went grocery shopping after golf. I'm bringing home flowers to Ren. I never do that, she's not feeling well today.5:15 PM Oct 7th from web

30. I have almost 1800 followers and still not verified?????? How long does it take? Geesh3:29 PM Oct 7th from web

31. It's Wed. I guess I will play golf. Life is Good.11:51 AM Oct 7th from web

32. http://twitpic.com/kjtlv - Bailey fell asleep watching Snow White IMG00658.jpg8:44 PM Oct 6th from TwitPic

33. Brett Farve is a Genius.8:41 PM Oct 6th from web

34. Ren is sending me out 1st thing in the morning to buy BB Snow White on DVD. And maybe I won't have to watch that mermaid for a day or so.1:00 AM Oct 6th from web

35. http://twitpic.com/kecnv - Bailey with My hat2:50 PM Oct 5th from TwitPic

36. http://twitpic.com/kdynh - Scott Baio & Dr. Phil1:09 PM Oct 5th from TwitPic

37. Great night with Dr. Phil hosting the Iraq Star event. Great cause for our wounded troops.12:01 AM Oct 5th from web

38. Came home from the car show to the smell of pumpkins. Candles, it's that time of the year that Ren will burn those things until Christmas.4:40 PM Oct 4th from web

39. http://twitpic.com/k73q1 - Daddy's Girl IMG00647.jpg10:58 PM Oct 3rd from TwitPic

40. Yes, I'm a little giddy tonight as I holed out on the golf course today from about 165 yards.(non golfers, I put it in the hole from 165yds)10:05 PM Oct 3rd from web

The Michigan Democratic Party is all up in arms over reports of their rivals giving away alcohol to underage students in exchange for campaigning during a weekend conference on Mackinac Island. But let's be real; how else did they pink elephantexpect the GOP to get gaggles of college kids to stump for their candidates?

The event occurred over the last weekend in September, just as a contentious budget battle raged in the state's capital. At the time, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer put out a video statement blasting the GOP's choice to put on the conference when a budget needed passing in Lansing within a few days of that weekend:

While they're partying on Mackinac Island this weekend, the fate of our school kids, our police and firefighters, our unemployed, our college students who are looking forward to the promised scholarship, is hanging in the balance. But do the Republicans care about that?

(more)

http://blog.buzzflash.com/analysis/921

This topic has been moved by the moderator of this forum.
It can be found at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

“I am not a member of any organized party,” Will Rogers famously quipped. “I am a Democrat.” Then there were those old jokes about Democrats forming “circular firing squads.”

But these days, it seems like Republicans are the ones duking it out with each other … or at least examining where they are and where they should be headed after recent electoral drubbings.

Mainstream Republicans are looking at the loudest of the conservative voices — Sarah Palin and the most prominent of the talk-show types (Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, et al) — and concluding that the GOP needs to do something different if it’s to succeed.

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/200...

While direct comparisons between Rep. Alan Grayson’s (D-FL) now-infamous “Die Quickly!” screed and Joe Wilson’s “You lie!” don’t hold much water, the two incidents do share one thing in common. They have both given new meaning to the phrase “money quote.”

Grayson wasted no time in putting up a fundraising plea at Daily Kos, one that has raised over $70,000 so far. He has also spent the hours since then doubling, tripling, and googlpling down on his remarks to anyone who will have him on. The phone at Grayson’s office is ringing off the hook, and when I reached them, they declined to give an updated estimate.

(snip)

The Republican National Congressional Campaign Committee is hoping they can surpass the Democrats’ oppo-fundraising feat, and have set up an anti-Grayson website called “AlanDisgrayson.com” to raise money for his eventual opponent. A source within the NRCC ballparks the amount raised from the site at a couple hundred dollars, but sats that the site went live late yesterday, and he expects it to get much more promotion today

http://www.mediaite.com/online/money-quote... /

A couple hundred dollars?!? The GOP's really raking in the loot!



(Edit to change headline, so people will actually read and comment)

Source: Huffington Post

Republicans are calling on freshman Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) to apologize for denigrating their party's health care plan on the House floor, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) thinks they ought to look in the mirror instead.

"Apparently Republicans hold Democrats to a higher standard than they hold members of their own party," Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference on Thursday. "There's no reason for Mr. Grayson to apologize. If anyone should apologize, everyone should apologize."

(snip)

Pelosi said she holds everyone in Congress to a high standard of discourse, but she argued that health reform is too important to be "distracted" by Republican efforts to force an apology from Grayson.

"Points have been made. Now it's time to take the debate to health care," Pelosi said. "This is urgent and we won't be distracted from our course of action."


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/p...

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Wow, Pelosi is indeed growing a spine. Good for her.

Nobody likes to bring this up, but McCain went against regulations and cooperated with the NVA. He also denounced the U.S. to better his own situation.

Of course, the Democrats are too polite to bring this up. But if this were Kerry four years ago, well...