The witch on the block.
I tend to disengage from the news on the weekends, except for the usual NPR, which is way too high-minded to cover a story like this.
And it was in my back yard!
UPDATE, via Kos and Detroitist: Oh, of course she was an alternate delegate to the GOP convention.
(Order your Amazon through me and I earn 4 percent. Click the “powered by Amazon” logo.)
jcburns said on November 1st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
In times like these, people cling to their religion and candy.
moe99 said on November 1st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I was just getting ready to post it myself, but you beat me to it! Do you know her?
nancy said on November 1st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Oh, hell no. One of the DetNews reader forum contributors called her a “known basket case.” But unknown to me.
James said on November 1st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Heh.
Here’s another trick. Quite a treat.
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 1st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Manana, Dia de los Muertos! At the very least, tip your cap to a cemetery as you drive by — as a noted local tombstone says:
Young people all as you pass by,
As you are now so once was I.
As I am now you soon will be,
Prepare for death and follow me.
My dust is smoldering back to dust,
My soul returned to God.
May those who read know soon they must
Lie cold beneath the sod.
Oh, Monster death why blast so soon,
The flower that just began to bloom?
But boast thou now, we’ll not complain,
For Sarah soon shall rise again.
Then in that resurrection morn,
We all shall meet her in the sky.
From our cold graves dark and forlorn,
We’ll bask in scenes that never die.
(Concord Cemetery, Licking County, OH)
Dexter said on November 1st, 2008 at 8:18 pm
She looks a lot like the “new” Roseanne Barr…yep! No doubt about it…the witch is Roseanne’s evil twin!
Tom Waits sang:
Did you hear the news about Edward?
On the back of his head he had another face
Was it a woman’s face or a young girl?
They said to remove it would kill him
So poor Edward was doomed
The face could laugh and cry
It was his devil twin
And at night she spoke to him
Things heard only in hell
But they were impossible to separate
Chained together for life
Finally the bell tolled his doom
He took a suite of rooms
And hung himself and her from the balcony irons
Some still believe he was freed from her
But I knew her too well
I say she drove him to suicide
And took poor Edward to hell
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 1st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
RIP Studs Terkel, bard of Chicago, heir of Sandburg and Algren, Altgeld’s inheritance and disciple of Debs and Darrow — http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-1101edit1nov01,0,1764839.story.
He would have loved seeing a President Obama.
Dexter said on November 1st, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Yes, he’s gone. I knew him a little bit. I met him several times and he told the editor of The Progressive (magazine) to write a story on my brother and me after we had driven to Madison for a 1984 picnic on the Lafollette homestead.
( The story was written by Molly Teuke and appeared in the Progressive Party newsletter a few weeks later)
The picnic was attended by a mostly intellectual crowd and when Studs found out I was a factory hand and my brother a high school J teacher, he talked to us a good long while. I met him earlier at Solidarity Day in D.C. He stood beside the parade route by a folding table, with two lovely assistants aiding him, and of course the ubiquitous mic in hand.
His signed, personally inscribed copy of “Hard Times” he sent me after my congratulatory letter for his Pulitzer remains a prized possession. I loved that man.
http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/features/21269/rebel-yell
Suzi said on November 1st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
something fitting about Studs passing on Halloween.
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 1st, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Ah, opposite the Newberry Library — Bughouse Square, “To understand how important Bughouse Square is to Terkel, you only need to know that it is the place he has chosen to have his ashes scattered.”
(You could call it Washington Square, but what fun would that be?)
moe99 said on November 1st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
“Microtargeting?
11.01.08 — 8:54PM
By Josh Marshall
Sounds like that vaunted GOP microtargeting machine might be ready for a bit of a tune-up. From TPM Reader QG …
Interesting anecdote and probably a testament to ground organization. I have no idea what this means. Friday night (which happens to be the start of our Sabbath) my wife answered the phone to hear a man stating he was from the McCain-Palin campaign. He asked who she was supporting. She replied that we will vote for Obama. He replied with “but he’s a f—–g n—er!”. Before I get to my wife’s response I’ll first have to say that I understand desperation and I also understand that this pitch may actually work for a few people. I also understand that there are people who are whack-jobs phone-banking for both sides. But here are some facts:
My wife and I are Black. Citing the fact that Obama is a f—-g n—er as a way to sway our vote may not be a great idea. My wife and I live in Maryland… Baltimore, MD…. One of the most African American areas of Baltimore Maryland. How on earth did our phone numbers get on to a McCain volunteers phone bank list of potential voters to be calling at this stage in the game? We have never received a call from the Obama campaign.
Just weird. Not sure what to make of it… but that’s not a good sign of organization. If it did anything it made us want to donate more. BTW, the rest of the call went downhill from there. My wife prayed for forgiveness after the call.”
moe99 said on November 1st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Oh, and Republican Representative from Utah, Chris Cannon, tried to hire an Oxford don who had a computer program that could compare Ayers’ book to Obama’s book and determine if the same person wrote both. Cannon backed out when the Oxford don told him he would release the data no matter what the result was.
http://tinyurl.com/5trzug
Hate that pesky truth stuff.
moe99 said on November 2nd, 2008 at 1:19 am
Nancy, have you seen “My Damn Channel?” with the Wasmopolitan Calvacade of Recorded Music?
http://www.mydamnchannel.com/explore.aspx?channel=59
Steph said on November 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
This is too good, Nancy! I’m stealing it for Facebook. Hope you don’t mind!
Suzi said on November 2nd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Moe, I hope your wife kicked that caller’s ass, telephonically speaking, that is.
Interesting John Dean commentary on Republicans here:
http://writ.lp.findlaw.com/dean/20081031.html
“Republicans rule, rather than govern, when they are in power by imposing their authoritarian conservative philosophy on everyone, as their answer for everything. This works for them because their interest is in power, and in what it can do for those who think as they do. Ruling, of course, must be distinguished from governing, which is a more nuanced process that entails give-and-take and the kind of compromises that are often necessary to find a consensus and solutions that will best serve the interests of all Americans.”
Dean writes more on the dangerous personality traits of authoritarian leaders (McCain) and their faithful followers (Palin).
alex said on November 2nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Hmmmm…
This sound familiar? Jeff TMMO broke the story first:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5063279.ece
Deborah said on November 2nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Wow, you learn something everyday. I live a few blocks east of Bughouse Square in Chicago. I had no idea it was called that or had the history it has of being a place for “soap boxers” and free speech. COOL! It’s been one of my favorite little parks since I moved here five years ago. It’s beautiful in the spring when the budding trees bloom. Knowing Stud Terkels ashes will be strewn there will make it even more special. Thanks Jeff (tmmo) for mentioning this interesting fact.
Gasman said on November 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
This mad cow Shirley Nagel is increasingly the face of the Republican Party: mean, nasty, irrational, and white. So much for the Country First nonsense.
“Look you little bastard, I don’t care if you are only four! Unless you come to your senses and support John McCain right now, there will be no candy for you! You look like a little Arab anyway! Get off my lawn!”
Another fine God-fearing, patriotic supporter of McCain/Palin.
moe99 said on November 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Suzi,
The writer about the phone call was someone from Josh Marshall’s site (he’s the fellow behind http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com ) who was identified as QC. I Probably should have italicized it rather than put quotation marks around it to try and keep the attribution clear, as I am neither male, nor black.
Ricardo said on November 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Now, a face is matched to the story. If you put up 10 photos of women including hers, and asked me which one was the Republican, I would pick her out every time.
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Gas . . . again, you’re confused — Country First refers to the buttons on your DeSoto tuner in the dashboard above the slideout ash tray and built in lighter.
McCain supporters know to program in country-western music stations first, with classic rock programming in the middle, and NPR stations last, ironically to the furthest right.
So “Country First.” Hank Williams Jr., Tim McGraw, Lee Greenwood, Minnie Pearl, Yakov Smirnoff. Got it? If your DeSoto is in good enough shape, you can still see frosted into the glass of the pane, along with the Hz numbers, in front of the orange post that slides with the tuner knob, the distinctive trefoil-in-circle design that marks the Civil Defense frequencies. I’m sure Kenneth is keeping close track of those frequencies . . . but Country First!
Kind of like “Branson or Bust” on the RV.
brian stouder said on November 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
A real-life parable to ponder, as Tuesday night approaches:
In the cubic-money/corporate ego/jet-set/Euro-centric/global mercantile world of Formula One racing, the young Lewis Hamilton, in only his second year in F1 at McLaren-Mercedes, came into the last race of this season this afternoon with a 7 point lead, in his bid to become the youngest person ever to win the World Championship…ALL he had to do was finish 5th or better at Inter Lagos in Brazil today, and then no matter what the fellow holding second place in the standings (Felipe Massa) did, Hamilton would win the title.
Did I mention that Lewis Hamilton is black? That he is the FIRST black driver in that sport in any case, let alone that he would be the first non-white guy to actually win the Formula One championship? That he has been subjected to rank racism here and there, over the past two seasons?
http://machochip.com/2008/02/mclaren-racing-car-driver-lewi.php
In today’s race, the fellow in second place in the standings (Massa) was crusing toward the race win, and Hamilton was running 4th with 7 laps to go, crusing toward the season championship…and it began to rain.
One by one the frontrunners, including Hamilton, ducked into the pits to put on rain tires…but others did not – and Hamilton fell to 6th place with 2 laps to go. The fellow in 5th, that Hamilton simply HAD to pass if he was going to win the championship, opted to gut-out the now rainy race with his regular slicks on, and pulled further and further ahead. It was all slipping away from Hamilton right before our eyes.
The white flag flew, and as the final lap went down, Felipe Massa cruised to the race win, and his Ferrari pitcrew and family went wild with celebrations, as the World Championship was in Massa’s hands at that moment….but the rain had picked up, and Hamilton closed on the fellow ahead of him (who opted not to pit for wet weather tires), and took 5th place literally on the last corner of the last lap, of the last race of the whole season, and took the checkered flag, and with it the World Championship.
On that last lap, I went from concern, then angst, then resignation, and then exuberabt happiness!!, and then simple relief.
Just sayin………
Suzi said on November 2nd, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Oops, sorry Moe, too much multi-tasking and blog-skimming. I think I Knew those facts about you from previous posts, but that slipped my mind after reading that anecdote. So let me rephrase that, I hope the woman who took the call kicked the caller’s racist ass.
Sorry about that.
Gasman said on November 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Today’s quote is vintage fare from Adlai Stevenson. It is remarkable how little things have changed since Stevenson inveighed against Nixon in his contest with Kennedy. He said:
“The elephant has a thick skin, a head full of ivory, and as everyone who has seen a circus parade knows, proceeds best by grasping the tail of its predecessor.”
Thus goes the lead pair of our current national elephant herd.
Dexter said on November 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 am
It’s a bitch to be worrying about stuff all the time.
As you news hounds know, it’s been a very violent, murderous summer and fall in Chicago. During The Fest, several innocents were murdered just returning to Loop garages to drive home.
Many drive-bys and plain murders in the ‘hoods…more than “normal”, statistically.
Now we have hundreds of thousands of mostly unticketed people coming to Chicago for the party tomorrow.
Several members of my family will be ticketed and will be there, and upwards of a million people will be pressing to catch a glimpse of the first African American president.
It should be joyous…but that’s a whole lot of people in one place all crammed together….
basset said on November 3rd, 2008 at 8:39 am
>>On that last lap, I went from concern, then angst, then resignation, and then exuberabt happiness!!
you mean they finally found a way to make F1 interesting? good for them.
Cup racing’s just about as bad, high-speed advertising parade with android drivers… I’d rather see ARCA or outlaw sprints. our ARCA race here in Nashville is moving from the big new speedway back to the fairgrounds half-mile next year, will be a lot better show.
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 am
Ah, Sunday afternoon, and one last crop of basil off the bush, for a final Ham & Basil Quiche.
No, you can’t have any, it’s all gone (last piece went into the Lovely Wife’s lunchsack).
brian stouder said on November 3rd, 2008 at 9:51 am
you mean they finally found a way to make F1 interesting?
All I can say is – thank heavens the last race of the year wasn’t on the other side of the world; if I had groaned and complained and then shouted and cheered as I did at two in the MORNING instead of two in the AFTERNOON – I think Pam would have whacked me over the head with a frying pan!!
Good God Almighty!! What a race!! I think McLaren/Hamilton almost played it TOO cool – by half! Those last few laps – and especially the LAST lap – the progression of feelings was amazing – by turns happy, and then somewhat concerned (as rain began), and then increasingly concerned, and then alarmed (when Hamilton pitted BEFORE Massa did!), and then upset (when Hamilton fell to 6th!), and then almost dejected (when the gap widened and widened), and then wondering how McLaren/Hamilton would deal with the recriminations of yet another World Championship snatched up by Ferrari, and then……..PURE JOY!!!!
To be honest- it made it all the more enjoyable to see the images of the Ferrari pits going FROM jubilant celebrations TO crestfallen disbelief!! (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!)
And of course, Bernie Ecclestone now is thinking of revising the F1 points system..!! Of all the things they need to address, that one would be well down on my list (although I’d agree with a point for pole and for fastest lap)
It is hard to put into words WHY Formula One is beguiling, but that race – one for the ages – captured more than a little of its timeless allure.
MichaelG said on November 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 am
I watched it and I’m still not sure if Glock let them (Hamilton and Vettel) by or whether they passed him straight up. It was a good race for once though so much of the drama resulted from external factors. I’m still not the F-1 fan I was thirty years ago. Don’t know if I will ever be.
moe99 said on November 3rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1103/p09s02-coop.html
Nice story about a conservative who went canvassing for Obama.
Scout said on November 3rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
moe99 – I loved that story too – I sent it out to my entire email list!
beb said on November 3rd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Shirley Nagel has achieved unintented international fame today when Keith Olbermann picked her as Worst Person in the World. He didn’t mention which party she was supporting, as it wasn’t as important as her total douchiness.
Shirley Nagel — you’re fifteen minutes of fame has just started. When you catch up with Joe the Plumber, remind hin that his time has run out.