Fairweather

Rachael said it. I believe it. That settles it.

[video:youtube]CWv1t42ByMQ

"This startling graphic, from The Rachel Maddow Show Tuesday, shows a massive spike of 2.5-magnitude or larger earthquakes, starting last year..."

money for nothin and the chicks for free

Prole, you are the last person here who should be reprimanding anyone for playing a "two-party grudge match." Fucking hilarious. As for Woodrow, well, yes he used his new-found power against organizers and socialists like Debs--or anyone else who spoke out against his war of choice. More importantly, anyone who challenged his authority to conduct the war. (Harding, an evil Republican, released him BTW.) Sorry, I'm not due for another read of Das Kapital or the Manifesto for a long, long time. In any event, I don't think Marx was an evil man. But I think his ideas on how societies ought to organize are so easily corrupted by evil men--like Lenin--that they should be studied only with the absolute highest level of cynicism. Ditto 3.2 versions like Gramsci. In short, I reject the (your) notion of a post-modern world. Whether you are, in fact, a communist who now claims Lenin was merely practicing "state capitalism," or whether you believe in some rehash version that calls itself "cosmopolitan" or "communitarian" or whatever, I don't really care. Moderately-regulated capitalism (and private property) is firmly rooted and will remain so for a long, long time to come. Don't like it? Move your ass to Cuba.

I think Rand Paul is actually trying to sue Obama over it, and every Republican I know is outraged. I certainly don't hear Harry or Nancy howling over BHO's surveillance programs. And while I support the ACLU on this--and salute their efforts--you'll have to forgive me for being a little skeptical of this selective outrage campaign. Their lack of enthusiasm for the 2nd Amendment comes to mind.

You're supposed to ride up the road--and then over and down the Fawn Ridge trail to Buck Creek. Then Skookum Flats or White River Rambler back to your car. Anyhow, you're right--the view is awesome and the lookout now has a caretaker in the summertime.

Sure, you've all been "uncomfortable" about the activity itself--but loathe to admit your emperor has no clothes.

Now there's an old, tired left-wing boogey man. Hey, kinda like you!

I love the way American leftists like you harp on about free speech and the press even as you look the other way when "your guys" are at the helm. An early father of modern American liberalism, ole Woodrow Wilson comes to mind with his Espionage and Sedition Acts. And who can forget FDR's court-stacking scheme? Things you never bothered to read about--or have willingly "forgotten." And now, of course, your guy is e-snooping on us all for God-knows what reason and nary a peep from complete tools like you. Are these the leftist "traditions" you are referring to? You also seem to lack a basic understanding of a social pact that married unions to the Democratic Party. It's no real secret that unions have representation via the Democrats--the pact was constructed in just this way. And it's all part of the essential tension you can't seem to stand. Well, buddy, grow up--it's supposed to be this way. And God help us all if morons like you & yours gain any more power than you already have. You've shown a real knack for using it to intimidate and silence opposition, and your comments here are a reflection of this. May I suggest Cuba--and a leaky boat.

He's already answered the larger question here in past threads. I just wish his belief system afforded the same freedom of political expression that ours does. He probably fancies himself more of a Trotskyite or a Gramscian in any event.

No need for you to defend comrade Prole. He is quite capable of standing up for himself. Well, sort of.

Yer obviously not one of them educated commies. Don't worry, it's most definitely not a deal-breaker.

Not sure if you just don't get the historical reference--or just don't get it, period. My guess is the former--and the latter. Either way, your political ideas are going nowhere.

No, posting someone's name on an anonymous board without their permission is bullying. Compredes?

Ya get what ya give. Strange you haven't figured this out after all these years.

Trip: Suntop Lookout - Date: 2/15/2014 Trip Report: Just ahead of the storm, Pope and I booted and snowshoed to the Suntop lookout on Saturday. The first mile was bare, the rest of the road is deep and getting buried deeper by the minute. Started snowing hard when we arrived on top, and kept snowing on the way down. This is a good avy-safe workout worth about 3200' of gain. Just remember to cut left into the woods when you get to the final 600 feet as the spiral road crosses steep, open terrain. As usual, we had the whole thing to ourselves.

I'd say a cold winter and lend-lease had more to do with it than this fantasy of a perfect political system you and Prole seem so enamored with. Especially since Stalin was killin his own faster than even the Germans could manage. Gotta love the 100-year handjob you & the American Left have been giving the old Bolsheviks though. Fortunately for the rest of us, you're not very good at it.

Pretty much nailed it. I'd just add one thing:

Born and raised here. No use for commies like you. So fuck off.

A nice sentiment, for sure. But Seattle has far too many Fellow Travelers.

The solution is easy: eliminate all of the forums except Olympic and Mount Rainier.

Naw, Rob's always been the lapdog/jellyfish. You're the ropegun, apologist, and, far too often IMO, password provider during his increasingly-frequent off-his-meds bannination periods. Not sure your thesis re unions and average pay by state is valid. Could be, but we'd have to superimpose COLAs by state for a true picture. In any event, the argument that collective bargaining stands in the way of more equitable pay-for-performance (and in-demand subject matter skills) seems pretty strong, IMO. Wisconsin will provide a laboratory in the years ahead, so we'll have to wait and see. As for your "isn't improving their lot a better solution than dragging public employees down into the same swamp" argument, well, I couldn't agree more. This is why we need to un-elect the social theorist you & yours put in office, and replace him with someone who understands economics.