2012 Conventions; Tampa & Charlotte

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Originally Posted by deep

It is a good place marker, it is a sign.
When Romney does not win, they will refer to this.
They will say nominating a non-Christian cultist that was soft on abortion and gay rights, and a money changer > is why God allowed Obama to win a second term

GOP blew it, they had a true God fearing man in Santorum.

I'm depressed because you're probably right.

[BigMacPhisto]

I've prognosticated since the beginning of the year as to what the Fox News spin on the Romney-loss will be. And it will be three things:

1 - Romney wasn't conservative enough. Obviously, this holds no water. He's pretty much running to the right of Bush for Christ's sake. But that's what they'll believe considering they think they're the silent majority. That he failed to show strong differences between himself and Obama. In John Kerry's case, this mode of thinking was correct, but certainly not in Romney's.

2 - Romney was a dull candidacy that didn't inspire anyone. This will get about double the air time as #1 and will usually be coupled with it on Fox News.

3 - This is the biggie and the most obvious. The conservatives will complain that the public is uninformed, and Fox News (of all places!) will be the ones to state this case ad nausea. In fact, I already found an article earlier this spring written by Bill O'Reilly that made that exact case. This will ultimately be their big excuse after they raise the Tea Partiers hopes only to see a huge loss in November. "It's not that the rest of the country isn't with us, it's that they're misled by propaganda!"

[Moonlit_Angel]

Pretty much, yeah. It has been really funny watching the GOP and the Fox News types and such trying to build up enthusiasm for Romney. You know after he loses they'll eventually drop him like a hot potato and try and find someone much more tied to the base.

That Palin strippers story is just all sorts of wrong on so many levels. Ick.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Originally Posted by BigMacPhisto

I've prognosticated since the beginning of the year as to what the Fox News spin on the Romney-loss will be. And it will be three things:

1 - Romney wasn't conservative enough. Obviously, this holds no water. He's pretty much running to the right of Bush for Christ's sake. But that's what they'll believe considering they think they're the silent majority. That he failed to show strong differences between himself and Obama. In John Kerry's case, this mode of thinking was correct, but certainly not in Romney's.

2 - Romney was a dull candidacy that didn't inspire anyone. This will get about double the air time as #1 and will usually be coupled with it on Fox News.

3 - This is the biggie and the most obvious. The conservatives will complain that the public is uninformed, and Fox News (of all places!) will be the ones to state this case ad nausea. In fact, I already found an article earlier this spring written by Bill O'Reilly that made that exact case. This will ultimately be their big excuse after they raise the Tea Partiers hopes only to see a huge loss in November. "It's not that the rest of the country isn't with us, it's that they're misled by propaganda!"

He can run to the right of Bush all he wants, but he can't run from his record... that's what they'll spin it as.

Funny thing is... I'm gonna vote for Obama again, but if Governor Mittens was running instead of Candidate Mittens, I'd probably vote for President Mittens.

I'm not voting for the Big O because he's done such a good job... he hasn't. I'm voting for him because the other option sucks.

[U2DMfan]

Me too. But not even because of Mitt 'Snake Oil' Romney.

But because having a Republican President empowers those goons from the Tea Party.
They will control the whole show. Divided Government (balance of power) is one thing we need that we can accomplish (or simply maintain). The congressional Republicans will have no choice but to play a little ball (see: Clinton's 2nd term).

And I say this as someone that is somewhat fiscally conservative.
So really, I think it's not such a bad thing to lose the congress to Republicans. What we don't need is rubber stamping lunacy via Romney pacifying those those Tea Party clowns.

[Irvine511]

Originally Posted by deep

Who built them ^ ??

that's pretty funny.

[Irvine511]

Originally Posted by BigMacPhisto

I've prognosticated since the beginning of the year as to what the Fox News spin on the Romney-loss will be. And it will be three things:

1 - Romney wasn't conservative enough. Obviously, this holds no water. He's pretty much running to the right of Bush for Christ's sake. But that's what they'll believe considering they think they're the silent majority. That he failed to show strong differences between himself and Obama. In John Kerry's case, this mode of thinking was correct, but certainly not in Romney's.

2 - Romney was a dull candidacy that didn't inspire anyone. This will get about double the air time as #1 and will usually be coupled with it on Fox News.

3 - This is the biggie and the most obvious. The conservatives will complain that the public is uninformed, and Fox News (of all places!) will be the ones to state this case ad nausea. In fact, I already found an article earlier this spring written by Bill O'Reilly that made that exact case. This will ultimately be their big excuse after they raise the Tea Partiers hopes only to see a huge loss in November. "It's not that the rest of the country isn't with us, it's that they're misled by propaganda!"

they'll blame the liberal media. they always do. for everything.

[financeguy]

Wow, is the election over? Must have missed that.

[PhilsFan]

Originally Posted by INDY500

Sarah Palin Strippers Flown to Tampa to Give Republicans Lap Dances For RNC Weekend





Capitalism.

I actually met her once. Did an interview at a media entity I used to be employed at. She's a Lakers fan, which bugged me.

[Irvine511]

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

So what will all the douchey religious nut jobs who always blame the gays and our all around lack of morals for hurricane strikes say when a hurricane hits Tampa right as the Republicans get to town?

some of them have their hands full and probably won't be saying much:

Rev. Grant Storms, critic of Southern Decadence, convicted of obscenity for public masturbation
Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 6:59 PM

By Paul Purpura, The Times-Picayune

The Rev. Grant Storms, the former "Christian patriot" pastor whose marches against homosexuality at New Orleans' Southern Decadence festival briefly put him in the national spotlight, was convicted of obscenity Wednesday, for exposing himself while masturbating at Lafreniere Park last year. In his confession, he described public masturbation as "a thrill," but authorities debunked suspicions that he was a pedophile.

Storms, 55, who lives in Metairie, declined to comment after the conviction. Judge Ross LaDart of the 24th Judicial District Court, who presided over the daylong trial because Storms waived a jury, did not even break to deliberate. He promptly found Storms guilty of the single count of obscenity. He sentenced Storms to three years of probation, citing no evidence of a criminal history.

LaDart also ordered Storms to be evaluated, apparently psychologically. The judge noted that in Storms' confession, he admitted that Feb. 25, 2011, the day he was arrested, was the third time that week that he masturbated in Lafreniere Park.

"Lafreniere Park is a public place," LaDart said in announcing the verdict.

"Lafreniere Park is a place that was chosen by this defendant to engage in a history of masturbation."

Storms declined to testify. His attorneys, Brett Emmanuel and Donald Cashio, did not overtly deny their client masturbated in the park but argued he never exposed his penis. The exposure was a necessary element of the obscenity charge.

In his confession, Storms told Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Sgt. Kevin Balser he had taken a break from his grass cutting business to sip a beer in the park, where he said he became "horny." He said he put his hands into his underwear, but he never exposed himself.

"Why do you go to the park and do this, as far as masturbating?" Balser asked Storms hours after the arrest.
"I don't know," Storms responded. "I guess a thrill."
"So it's a thrill-slash-fantasy for you?" Balser asked.
"Yes," Storms said.

The incident immediately raised speculation that Storms was a pedophile, because he masturbated with children nearby. Assistant District Attorney Seth Shute shot those allegations down outright Wednesday, saying in opening statements that detectives found no evidence of child pornography on his computer or cell phone, and there was "never a shred of evidence (showing) that Mr. Storms was masturbating to children."

Apparently attempting to explain to police why he exposed himself, Storms confessed that as a grass cutter, he carried a "pee bottle" with him, and on the day of his arrest, he sipped a beer in his van and then had to urinate. He did it in the bottle, instead of walking to a park restroom. However, Detective Donald Zanotelli testified he searched Storms' van and found no bottles with urine in them.

Following his arrest, Storms provided an impromptu press conference for local television reporters, accusing the Sheriff's Office of suggesting he was a pedophile and calling detectives "maniacal" and "coercive." But he admitted to have watched pornography that day and to putting his hands in his pants. "I apologize deeply for my inappropriate, sinful actions," he said tearfully, describing himself as "disoriented and confused."

The press conference came back to haunt Storms, as Shute used a recording of it as evidence Wednesday. "It begs the question: What is he apologizing for?" Shute said.

The exposure appeared to be incidental. Shute's key witness was Maria Soto, an Hispanic nanny who at times needed help from an interpreter to testify. She said she was taking three children to Lafreniere for a picnic when she parked in a shady spot next to Storms' minivan. She got out of her car and happened to see him doing the deed as he reclined in the driver's seat, wearing a hat that partially covered his face.

She said he saw her and immediately covered his penis with his other hand. Emmanuel, Storms' attorney, challenged her claim of seeing the penis, asking her at one point if she had ever seen a man masturbate. She became angry. "That's embarrassing for you to ask me that," Soto told him.

Storms received national media attention in 2003, for his leading his small congregation through the French Quarter during the annual gay festival, Southern Decadence, admonishing homosexuals and calling the city of New Orleans a "prostitute" for allowing the event that generates tourism dollars. A Bourbon Street merchants association at one point went to court to get a restraining order barring Storms and his followers from using bullhorns. National news media converged on New Orleans in 2003 to cover his protests.

Grant Storms, Anti-Gay Louisiana Pastor, Convicted Of Obscenity For Masturbating In Public

raise your free hand if you're surprised.

[Moonlit_Angel]

I also saw a story about some politician who just recently got arrested in...Minnesota, I believe, for being caught in a situation with a 17 year old boy. I'll have to try and see if I can hunt down that article.

[MrsSpringsteen]

Originally Posted by Moonlit_Angel

I also saw a story about some politician who just recently got arrested in...Minnesota, I believe, for being caught in a situation with a 17 year old boy. I'll have to try and see if I can hunt down that article.

I read something about that too, it was supposedly consensual (well automatically NOT with a minor) sex at a rest area. I don't know if he knew him or if it was just that anonymous type of thing.

[deep]

the reason this is not all over the media? he must not be a Republican.

[deep]

"The only way I can lose this election is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy"

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_1...wont-drop-bid/

[MrsSpringsteen]

Originally Posted by deep

the reason this is not all over the media? he must not be a Republican.

I think he is, not sure

[kellyahern]

Originally Posted by MrsSpringsteen

Does anyone know how they decide where it's going to be? Why would you have it in FL in August? Not to mention how freaking hot and humid it is.

Plus the area where the convention center is is flood prone during severe thunderstorms.

We had thunderstorms this week that already blew over a bunch of their tents.

[INDY500]

One plus on a potential storm in Tampa is the Occupy folks will get a much needed shower.

[MrsSpringsteen]

Well if the occupy people are there and get a shower, I hope Romney has an ironclad hair net Actually I think his hair is certified Cat 5 hurricane proof.

Seriously though, it's looking bad as of this morning, lots of rain at least. I hope for the best. That east coast hurricane last summer scared the hell out of me and we were just lucky that it wasn't as bad as was predicted. I can't imagine living in a place with constant hurricane risk.

[Moonlit_Angel]

Yeah, times like these I'm glad I live in a landlocked state. Here's hoping things calm down *Crosses fingers*.

[U2DMfan]

I hear ya...but I'd rather have a hurricane season that comes and goes somewhat quickly than a tornado season, thunderstorm season and massive stretches of heat causing drought conditions and damaging fires all overlapping each other over the last 4 months.

Thanks Global Warming, it's been fun stuff these last two summers!
Still, I wouldn't want to have to deal with hurricanes either.

In other news...Wednesday's schedule has been released. Here are the big names.

Mitch McConnell (KY)
Senator John McCain (AZ)
Governor Jeb Bush (FL)
Senator Rob Portman (OH)
Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN)
Condoleezza Rice
VP nominee Rep. Paul Ryan