One last note on the issue of candidate vetting.  In the aforementioned DPUD post, IVD finally gets around to saying this:

I get the nation's mood. Throw the bums out, all that.  Perfectly fine. I love the idea of new blood and strong primary challenges so that incumbents are either (1) thrown out for a better option or (2) scared into believing that they're not invincible. 

HOWEVER.....

I would prefer that candidates be vetted.  Would it be so much to find candidates who don't think homosexuality is a social disease or identity disorder? Or someone who's had a job in the past 10 years that didn't revolve around suing people? I really don't think that makes me an establishment RINO, but if it does, I'll gladly be one.

Now this is the way to approach the issue.  In fact, if IVD had used this as his original post, I would have mostly agreed with him and the discussion could then have revolved around the best way to get candidates vetted in the current environment.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at 09:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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This post at dpud, and some of the comments, really bother me.  Not because there is disagreement on the issue of whackjob Tea Party candidates, but because the 'establishment types' seem to think it's fine to mischaracterize (to the point of outright lying about) their opponents' positions.

Look, if I want to listen to a bunch of lies about my positions, I'll read the NYT or watch MSNBC.  I don't need that bullshit on an otherwise excellent blog.

The real issue:  The situation within the GOP is so chaotic that the Tea Party has gotten a few shady characters nominated.  There is a legitimate debate to be had on the vetting of candidates, and whether the 'throw the bums out' movement has gone too far.  I'm all for having this debate and would be willing to do so in a respectful fashion if only those on the other side of the issue would stop lying about my position.

Attempting to use Paladino's homophobic comments to tarnish  the Tea Party as anti-gay is incredibly dishonest.  Making an outright assertion that Chris Christie would never have gotten elected in this environment is a bald-faced lie.  Saying that (paraphrasing) 'if the GOP had vetted candidates better it would have been viewed as a power move'  is complete crap.

Those who believe in a more cohesive, top-down approach to GOP candidates need to start making their points honestly, or I (and many others like me) are going to lump them in with the MSM and tune them right the fuck out.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at 08:32 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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You know you've become a pop culture icon when you get spoofed by Sesame Street.

(via TMZ, although it should be on every site in existence soon, I figure.)

Posted by: Hermit Dave at 04:28 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I just finished rebuilding the side gate to our back yard.  Here are before and after photos:

Yeah, it's not perfectly square.  Considering the ground is uneven, the post sunk in the concrete (which I didn't try to replace, just stripped and waterproofed) is tilted, and I only used hand tools, it's a pretty good job.

I wish I had Steamboat McGoo's wood shop, but I don't have the space.  Not only would it be much easier to get stuff fitted perfectly, jobs would take about half the time.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at 07:01 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I added a new blogroll category for 'fake internet friends'.  These are blogs of other folks who, like me, comment at doubleplusundead, but don't post there.  They also tend to focus on stuff other than the usual politics, as frankly, reading about the same old shit for the 100th time gets pretty damn boring.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at 06:51 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Obama has used a pocket veto on HR 3808.  For those not familiar with this issue, see this post at Denninger's place.  Read the comments too, as Denninger has one of the best forum communities going.

Given the huge pending problem with the way in which mortgage titles have been recorded, this veto was incredibly important.  Hell, even the statement at whitehouse.gov sounds Presidential:

Today, the White House announced that President Obama will not sign H.R. 3808, the Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010, and will return the bill to the House of Representatives.  The Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 was designed to remove impediments to interstate commerce.  While we share this goal, we believe it is necessary to have further deliberations about the intended and unintended impact of this bill on consumer protections, including those for mortgages, before this bill can be finalized.

Notarizations are important for a large range of documents, including financial documents.  As the President has made clear, consumer financial protections are incredibly important, and he has made this one of his top priorities, including signing into law the strongest consumer protections in history in the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  That is why we need to think through the intended and unintended consequences of this bill on consumer protections, especially in light of the recent developments with mortgage processors.

The authors of this bill no doubt had the best intentions in mind when trying to remove impediments to interstate commerce.  We will work with them and other leaders in Congress to explore the best ways to achieve this goal going forward.

I feel like I'm in Bizzaro-World, with a real President or something.  Knowing Obama, this will last all of about 15 minutes, but at least he got a very big one right.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at 04:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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