Althouse: At the Windswept Café...

May 16, 2013

At the Windswept Café...

... find a place in the shadows.

72 comments:

Anonymous said...: Glad the weather is finally nice. We'll be up in Wisconsin to finish flipping a house or two, emptying a storage unit, and transporting a life sized Hans Solo in carbonite back to Florida to await his fate with the release of the new Disney flicks. Maybe even take in a day or two of sailing on the big waters you have up there. At any rate it'll be a nice road trip. maybe we'll do cross over and do Hiway 61 all the way up. Did you know there is an actual 'Crossroads' at the conjunction of 49 & 61? Guitars on a pole no less. Natchez is very cool if you're into houses and architecture. Especially ante bellum. Road Trip!; 5/16/13, 6:21 PM
alan markus said...: The Clinton sex scandals have been "the gift that keeps giving". For some reason, I think this IRS/Tea Party thing will have the same effect.

IRS Official in Charge During Tea Party Targeting Now Runs Health Care Office; 5/16/13, 6:24 PM
lemondog said...: Breaking News......

A humanitarian disaster:

Now Venezuela is running out of toilet paper; 5/16/13, 6:24 PM
Chef Mojo said...: Nice picture, Meade.; 5/16/13, 6:25 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: @Alan

Check out her pix on drudge. Dana Carvey can play her on SNL.

Why are lib women so friggen ugly? don't they hsve aby self respect?; 5/16/13, 6:28 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: Have any

Sorry. New phone with Android. I miss my iphone.; 5/16/13, 6:29 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: @lemondog

What is it with commies and no toilet paper? This reminds me of the FSU.; 5/16/13, 6:31 PM
pm317 said...: It is gorgeous today!

So what else happened today? Oh, yes. Obama is so third world that he asked the marines to hold an umbrella for him. He should go to Kenya and run for office there next.; 5/16/13, 7:01 PM
edutcher said...: You look as if you were enjoying it immensely, Madame, but, by all means, step into the light and warm yourself.

Chef Mojo said...

Nice picture, Meade.

ditto.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

@Alan

Check out her pix on drudge. Dana Carvey can play her on SNL.

Good Lord, that is spooky, but who do they use in place of SATAN?

Why are lib women so friggen ugly? don't they hsve aby self respect?

They hate men and think that justifies them looking like something out of Tales From The Crypt.; 5/16/13, 7:13 PM
mesquito said...: I won't be satisfied until I see very senior people led away in cuffs.; 5/16/13, 7:40 PM
Bob Ellison said...: That picture brings "White Bird" to my mind.; 5/16/13, 7:46 PM
rhhardin said...: The sideyard has photogenic shadows in the morning.; 5/16/13, 7:47 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: What does it mean when both Meade House camras blink.; 5/16/13, 7:49 PM
66 said...: The fisheye is still cool, but it is on the cusp of getting old.; 5/16/13, 8:30 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Hey, Bob Ellison--

What you need is good lovin'.; 5/16/13, 8:32 PM
khesanh0802 said...: Just saw a photo of a Marine standing in the rain holding an umbrella over Obama's head. It irritated the hell out of me.
Any decent officer would be embarrassed to be in that position. First, you look out for the troops - don't make them stand in the rain unless you are standing in the rain with them. To me that says everything about Obama's egocentric lack of leadership. He has absolutely no sense of the responsibilities of command.; 5/16/13, 8:39 PM
wildswan said...: There is a Crossroads which is those two roads 49/61 but there is no there there. However there is a Blues Museum in the nearest town which is very good. It has pictures of all the blues guys, posters with biographies. It has a guitar made out of a gas can Nearby is a blues cafe which has music but I was there on a rainy spring morning so I don't know what it's like. These days anybody good at the blues would have a contract and be in Memphis at least, if not New York. But the town has tremendous prestige as a center of the blues so there are young people and street musicians there in the summer. Anyhow you get something by driving up those roads, those roads with flat fields stretching away to a line of trees which is the Mississippi, that there is no other way to get.
Also the Blues Museum is only 12 miles from the town, Greenville, where those civil rights guys were shot and buried in the levee. In the Blues Museum they explain what these levees were all about, the engineering part, I mean.
Turn left at the crossroads and follow the sign to the old railroad depot if you like the blues. Natchez has an old plantation house that only got the roof and two bottom stories finished before the Civil War broke out and then there was no money for the other four stories. The inside has four stories of scaffolding.; 5/16/13, 8:40 PM
edutcher said...: khesanh, wash your eyes out with this:

Scandalous Hat Trick

Mr. President, when it rains it pours, but most Americans hold their own umbrellas. Today in the Rose Garden you dismissed the idea of a Special Counsel to investigate the IRS scandal. With that, your galling political hubris shined bright in the midst of today’s dark clouds.

Mr. President, how can we trust your Justice Department to conduct an independent investigation when there is a systemic violation of the Hatch Act throughout your administration?

Surely you are aware that the Hatch Act prevents certain federal employees from engaging in political activity. Specifically, it’s illegal for these federal employees to engage in action in support of or in opposition to a political party, a candidate for partisan political office, or a partisan political group.

Yet that is exactly what’s happened within the IRS, the Justice Department, and in the Benghazi cover-up. This scandalous hat trick is on your watch. It is not believable that you knew nothing about Obama administration actions in dealing with these scandals. And in regards to Benghazi, when you should have taken appropriate action to save American lives – for instance by calling in the Marines – you were AWOL. Just weeks before the election your team scrubbed the Benghazi talking points in 12 different versions, lied to the American people about some YouTube video being to blame for the deaths of brave Americans who put our country first, and you prove Michael Barone right when he writes, “What actually happened in Benghazi was out of sync with the Obama campaign line.” That’s why you all did what you did. Pure raw politics were at play during a horrific time of loss.

For more evidence of Hatch Act violations right under your nose, simply consider DOJ’s “massive and unprecedented intrusion” into the free press. Do you think they picked up some political talk when tapping the phones in the House press gallery?

Your team is out of control. Those who cannot remember the past and learn from it are doomed to repeat it, and that is exactly what is happening. Look back exactly 40 years ago this week and apply that disheartening chapter of American history to the team you’ve chosen and lead today.

Some of us warned America; we cautioned voters in 2008 that a community organizer with no executive experience and no sense of accountability would be a very poor choice for the nation’s top management position.

Mr. President, you said today that you have “complete confidence” in the Attorney General. America doesn’t. Eric Holder needs to appoint an unbiased Special Counsel to investigate the illegal political action of this administration. And then Eric Holder needs to resign.

Most Americans see ominous dark clouds looming beyond the White House Rose Garden, Mr. President. They’ll roll away only when light is shined on the Obama administration’s antics, and America will only recover when you cease avoiding responsibility in this mission of yours to fundamentally transform America. For that to happen, the press had better learn from their experiences of being duped and provide a deserving public fairer, more intelligent coverage.

Speaking of coverage, glad you finally called in the Marines… shame it was just to hold your umbrella.

- Sarah Palin; 5/16/13, 9:11 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: Typical Palin statement. one really good slam.

Speaking of coverage, glad you finally called in the Marines… shame it was just to hold your umbrella.

But then she ruins it by making an unsupported and inflammatory claim. There was no tapping (as far as we know now) of phones.

Do you think they picked up some political talk when tapping the phones in the House press gallery?

This is why she'll never be taken seriously outside her base.; 5/16/13, 9:23 PM
Sydney said...: Can you see Canada from there? I'm thinking it might be time to move there.; 5/16/13, 9:23 PM
rcommal said...: I am feeling very sad and sorry tonight, and I am feeling very frustrated and sorry tonight. Seriously.

Different situations, conflicting solutions, at the same time.

I am confounded by shadows and winds. And I am stuck between doing/saying more/less.

: (; 5/16/13, 9:29 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Now that you mention the Hatch Act...

Wasn't there something about Sibelius asking money from CEO's?

This administration is rotten to the core.; 5/16/13, 9:40 PM
Christy said...: I would love a sidebar cloud here at Althouse with the commenters for each post. You wouldn't, probably, but it would save me time.; 5/16/13, 9:42 PM
edutcher said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/16/13, 9:49 PM
edutcher said...: Bill, Republic of Texas said...

Typical Palin statement. one really good slam.

Speaking of coverage, glad you finally called in the Marines… shame it was just to hold your umbrella.

But then she ruins it by making an unsupported and inflammatory claim. There was no tapping (as far as we know now) of phones.

At the time she wrote that, the belief the phones had actually been tapped was out there. She was going on what appeared to be reliable info.

Do you think they picked up some political talk when tapping the phones in the House press gallery?

This is why she'll never be taken seriously outside her base.

No, she's already been taken seriously by the general populace. The 2 words she uttered a couple of years ago galvanized the ObamaTax opposition. It's the big reason support for it is down to 35%.

"Death panels" ring any bells?

Going after her over what even a respected writer like Pam Geller believed to be the facts (not that what turns out to be the case isn't spooky enough) maybe says more about your dislike for her than her own credibility.; 5/16/13, 9:52 PM
KCFleming said...: I am sad for you, rcommal.

I pray your storm is over soon.; 5/16/13, 9:57 PM
MadisonMan said...: rcommal, I hope tomorrow is better.

I was given a book tonight to read. My task for when grading is done.; 5/16/13, 10:02 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "I would love a sidebar cloud here at Althouse with the commenters for each post. You wouldn't, probably, but it would save me time."

I think that's the kind of thing that makes the page load slowly. I avoid a whole lot of widgets that seem like nice features for this reason. It's very important.; 5/16/13, 10:04 PM
wuyu said...: Have you been looking to update your game or music library? Is your holiday shopping list bumming you out because you're strapped for cash?
arm2teeth.com/FIFA-13.Gold; 5/16/13, 10:10 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Obama is still raising money... having used the trappings of the most embedded agency for his personal purposes.

I'm wondering, what else have they been up to.

This can't be all there is ... there's probably more.; 5/16/13, 10:10 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Stay out of the widgets... please.; 5/16/13, 10:11 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Different situations, conflicting solutions, at the same time.
I am confounded by shadows and winds. And I am stuck between doing/saying more/less.

Talk to someone... it helped me enormously when I needed it.; 5/16/13, 10:13 PM
Sorun said...: Suddenly famous: Sarah Hall Ingram; 5/16/13, 10:18 PM
David said...: Beaufort, South Carolina is over the moon for Candice Glover. America's happiest seaside town is now orgasmically delirious. In a chaste and decorous way, of course.; 5/16/13, 10:19 PM
Bob Ellison said...: Diabetes sucks.; 5/16/13, 10:20 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: You realize that if a governor did what Obama stands accused of doing that governor would not stay governor for long.

Btw, thanks to garage for inadvertently pointing that out earlier today.

You know something its really bad when its defense leads to a clarification of the inequity.; 5/16/13, 10:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Does No One Else See the Ducks? Low to the Ground, Sure: Anger, Yes.; 5/16/13, 10:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Blogger rcommal said...

I am feeling very sad and sorry tonight, and I am feeling very frustrated and sorry tonight. Seriously.

I wish I had the Power to Alleviate. I appreciate your Commentary, and Hope that Good returns to You.; 5/16/13, 10:34 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Suddenly famous: Sarah Hall Ingram

We shouldn't be surprise when they reward someone with a promotion.

They want that person to repeat that higher up in the... food chain... dam, I was doing so well too, I could not help myself.

Its Meade's fault.; 5/16/13, 10:42 PM
Anonymous said...: It is confounding / amazing / mysterious that there are People here that I have never met that end up in my Prayers at Night. Not to Change them: I Really Want Good Blessed Things to Bless Them.

Let the Cynics fire away but Politics are / is Not Everything, and Not even the Most of Things.

Thank you Althouse for this Dysfunctional Yet Supporting Family.; 5/16/13, 10:43 PM
yashu said...: yashu says: what betamax said.; 5/16/13, 10:49 PM
William said...: I saw Obama before the Marine came out with the umbrella. It was a light, splattering rain. It looked like he was being shat on by nature. And this while he was being questioned about various misdeeds. The optics were terrible, and he really needed that umbrella. Having the Marine do it was a klutz move though. The shat upon appearance, the lame cover up--Obama's press conference was plagued with obvious symbolism.; 5/16/13, 10:53 PM
yashu said...: This is so, so creepy.

As part of the auditing process, the IRS asked the Leadership Institute for “copies of applications for internships and summer programs,” and a list of all interns and students selected in 2008. Additionally, the IRS sought “information regarding where the interns physically worked and how the placement was arranged,” and wanted to know where the interns and program attendees were employed afterwards. (LI has published the timeline of the investigation and the details on its website.)

It is not the only known instance of the IRS seeking information about conservative students. Kevin Kookogey, who founded a conservative mentoring program for high-school and college students in Tennessee, told National Review Online the IRS asked him to “identify the students I’m teaching and what I’m teaching them” as part of his application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.; 5/16/13, 10:54 PM
William said...: Also, the other day, Limbaugh pointed out that Obama's half brother in Kenya got his charity approved post haste. Limbaugh said that the half brother was the best man at Obama's wedding. Limbaugh pointed out that the guy had twelve wives and had a history of domestic violence. That's the first time I had ever heard of Obama's half brother, and his dubious domestic history. I feel certain that if the best man at Romney's wedding had several wives we would have heard a great deal about it.; 5/16/13, 11:02 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/16/13, 11:15 PM
Tim said...: It's extraordinarily ugly, and sad, what Obama voters have surrendered in exchange for a government check or promise of some ill-define liberal fantasia.

They've destroy, or very nearly so, a 200-plus heritage of independence and self-reliance for all kinds of stupid, pointlessly stupid, third-world governance so they might, somehow, live at someone else's expense and make the world conform to "everyone gets a trophy" no matter how miserable their failures are.

Sometimes, honest to God, I feel like I moved to a foreign nation.

Seriously.; 5/16/13, 11:27 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I don't know that the extent to which this is a violation of everything we hold to be true will reach the low information radar.

It is very likely that these crimes will go unpolished.; 5/16/13, 11:28 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: unpunished.; 5/16/13, 11:29 PM
Tim said...: "I feel certain that if the best man at Romney's wedding had several wives we would have heard a great deal about it."

Is there any doubt, whatsoever?

I mean, Romney farts and stains his underwear, and the media would have called for a EPA investigation of an allegedly "gross violator."

Obama could sodomize kindergartners from Sidwell Friends on the South Lawn at noon and...crickets.

NOTE: I am not accusing Obama of that - only that if he did, the media would pay no never mind.; 5/16/13, 11:31 PM
Tim said...: "It is very likely that these crimes will go unpolished."

Oh, they're polished all right.

Polished right out of existence.

Rubbed past the vanishing point.

Erased.; 5/16/13, 11:33 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: We've always had small groups of people unwilling and right down hostile to the point of going to jail, because they don't believe the government can legally compel them to pay taxes.

In one fell swoop, Obama will be responsible for swelling the rolls of the malcontents... which, agree with them or not, are going to use these abuses as a defense.; 5/16/13, 11:46 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Nice twist Tim.; 5/16/13, 11:49 PM
Tim said...: "In one fell swoop, Obama will be responsible for swelling the rolls of the malcontents... which, agree with them or not, are going to use these abuses as a defense."

Yes, that's a problem.

Abuses of power breed cynicism.

You'd think those who believe government can give you a blow job while grilling you a bone-in rib-eye with a nice Cabernet, free of charge, would pay more attention to those abuses breeding more cynicism.

Because, you see, someone has to pay the bill.

However, I'm more concerned about those who think they can get goodies at someone else's expense.

As long as those people are a majority, I can't concern myself too much with people who refuse to feed the parasites, no matter how lame or stupid their excuses might be.; 5/16/13, 11:57 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: ... find a place in the shadows.

Yea... add Obamacare to the mix and the incentives to live your life within the bounds of the laws seem harder and harder to justify.; 5/16/13, 11:59 PM
Tim said...: Thank God for sports.

They're a nice diversion from the ongoing, seemingly never ending series of train wrecks destroying the nation.

It hurts to watch.; 5/17/13, 12:00 AM
Tim said...: "...and the incentives to live your life within the bounds of the laws seem harder and harder to justify."

"Going Galt" will take on meanings unimagined by Rand.; 5/17/13, 12:02 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: As long as those people are a majority, I can't concern myself too much with people who refuse to feed the parasites, no matter how lame or stupid their excuses might be.

I can't quibble with that.; 5/17/13, 12:02 AM
Known Unknown said...: The world is a strange, sad place sometimes.; 5/17/13, 12:20 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people... - IRS abuses.

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent - Obamacare.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection... - Benghazi.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers... - While not guarding the border, Obama freed criminals in the country illegally in the name of budget sequestration.; 5/17/13, 12:26 AM
Tim said...: "He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people... -"

He, and his family, vacation far better than King George III ever did too.; 5/17/13, 12:34 AM
Tim said...: EMD said...

"The world is a strange, sad place sometimes."

So, if we're gonna legalize Gay Marriage, mebbe we should legalize Gay Prostitution first?

What color would the light be?

Lavender?; 5/17/13, 12:38 AM
Dante said...: Abuses of power breed cynicism.

They breed cynicism, and they split people on ideological lines. It's good for the press, it's good for blogs, it's good for growing politics, but it isn't good for the people.

Great point.; 5/17/13, 1:35 AM
Dante said...: Tim gave me another thought. Sorry if this is obvious to others:

Abuses of power breed cynicism.

This is another part of the decline. The descent into disorder of the belief of America. I have never considered that the destruction of American ideals/health/power was a source of power, but that too is what is going on.

OK, I'm a bit slow. But I can be taught. . .

I'm on the wrong team, though.; 5/17/13, 1:51 AM
Aridog said...: khesanh0802 said...[re: USMC eblisted man holding umbrella for CIC]

Any decent officer would be embarrassed to be in that position. First, you look out for the troops - don't make them stand in the rain unless you are standing in the rain with them. To me that says everything about Obama's egocentric lack of leadership. He has absolutely no sense of the responsibilities of command.

Obama sees everything, USMC enlisted men included, as implements to be used and unworthy of respect. Check him out with furniture he doesn't own. [Yeah I am aware other POTUS have done it ... but he makes it common ... he seems to think it is cool]

edutcher said...

Mr. President, how can we trust your Justice Department to conduct an independent investigation when there is a systemic violation of the Hatch Act throughout your administration?

You worked as a "Fed" for a while, as I did, ... didn't you notice that the Hatch Act seemed to apply only to the civil service grades GS-14 and below? How could you possibly separate SES positions from politics? Then SES was created from senior civil service grades [which they replaced] it was specifically to make them political and eliminate any necessity for job oversight specific skills.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

Typical Palin statement ... There was no tapping (as far as we know now) of phones ... This is why she'll never be taken seriously outside her base.

Ahem...all government phones are "tapped" per se...it was the non-government phone contacts they sought...in order to tap them, etc. Government executives now establish outside phones and email pseudonyms. They fear the immensity of the creature they've created themselves.

If you are military or a "Fed" just try to suggest and implement [if you have said authority] a voluntary organizational reduction in staff or regulations and see what happens...what you get next. I did that and I can tell you there is no reward for any good deed if it shrinks even a tiny corner of government. The KISS principle is blasphemy in government....try to use it and you paint a target on your own back. However, it is actually a lot of fun....for a while.

Next, I am definitely outside Palin's base .... I despised her and said so here circa 2008 [and got roundly thumped for it], but I'm much more favorable now to her now, as she actually seems to have cured the things I dispised and learned to represent rather than demigogue and make things up ... which is a flaw of Obama's I despise. A politician who can really change and develop is rare, so I value them....Palin has become one I value.; 5/17/13, 6:42 AM
MadisonMan said...: Beaufort, South Carolina is over the moon for Candice Glover.

Got to love a small town.

I was born in a small town. But I don't live in a small town. Gonna die in a small town? Doubt it.; 5/17/13, 7:03 AM
Sydney said...: The most disturbing thing about all of these scandals is that they so clearly demonstrate that these agencies can operate outside the law with impunity. Innocent until proven guilty? Not if the IRS is your accuser.

So many of the IRS victims realized that what was going on was wrong and outside the norma and sometimes downright illegal, but even when they hired lawyers they got nowhere. I am now suspecting that the phrase "everyone commits three felonies a day" is right, and that we are the mercy of these lawless bureaucrats. Doesn't that mean we are living under tyranny?; 5/17/13, 7:09 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/17/13, 7:22 AM
pm317 said...: I fell in love with this country because even the highest office holders/politicians at least did their own thing -- no special treatment and no special entourage but Obama calling the marines hold umbrellas is jarring. Why couldn't he hold his own umbrella?; 5/17/13, 7:34 AM
Unknown said...: Obama is confused by umbrellas.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/09/obamas-maneuver-a-federal-umbrella.html

Sorry I'm working from my iPad and making links is a pain.; 5/17/13, 8:02 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Why couldn't he hold his own umbrella?

What I notice how easily and consistently Obama accomplishes his distracting psych ops.

Stay focused.; 5/17/13, 8:07 AM
pm317 said...: @Lem, this is what happens when he holds his own umbrella.. and this is by no means psyops.

Thanks wyo sis for the reminder.; 5/17/13, 8:18 AM
Hagar said...: I do not know, but I think with today's technologies, they might be able to go back and recover some conversations if they know the time and location a call was made.
Not exactly a "tap," but then we see that every sentence needs parsing and consideration as to its meaning.; 5/17/13, 8:21 AM