Gotta read it to the end - whammo!

I'm glad to see Whittle getting exposure via a major conservative website.

I'm glad to see Mr. Whittle's been writing more lately- he rocks.

Pain? I'll give you pain!

So imagine my delight, ten minutes later, to see the hallway door melt away as room was filled with unicorns! Little cartoon unicorns, each with a silky mane of bright blue or green or pink . . . and when they giggled — which was continuously — they would lift up their little tails and rainbows would emerge. And in that one wonderful moment as my eyes rolled back and the white-hot light faded away and vanished — in that blissful instant I suddenly understood with perfect clarity the whole Hope and Change thing. I had gone from the horrible, nasty, mean Republican America to the other America. And it’s a much better place, it really is.

That alone makes this article worth reading -- then it gets better.

The problem with passing a kidney stone is that you sometimes pull the urinal off the wall in the process...

re: #5 Fat Jolly Penguin

Much better ..

Ahhhh, Dilaudid.

I've passed a kidney stone....very very painful.

Kidney stones are gods way of helping males understand childbirth!

re: #9 jorline

I've passed a kidney stone....very very painful.

Kidney stones are gods way of helping males understand childbirth!

How did we know that one was coming?

re: #10 Bobibutu

How did we know that one was coming?

Now you don't have to worry any longer...it's over and done with.

re: #9 jorline

I've passed a kidney stone....very very painful.

Kidney stones are gods way of helping males understand childbirth!

I'll pass on that, thanks.

I think Bill Whittle is one of the most elegant and creative writers on the Internet and is indeed a hidden treasure. His writings touch the root of any issue he discuss with superb clarity and makes me want to write like that myself. He has a keen insight on Human Nature.

re: #11 jorline

Now you don't have to worry any longer...it's over and done with.

In all due respect - yes.

Also, I'm not pregnant.

LOL!

re: #12 Moe Katz

I'll pass on that, thanks.

LOL..now all we need is buzz to hit the thread and we'll have pun all night.

WHY WHY WHY?! Is the democrats' involvement not being reported? Please tell me why?

Why didn't John McCain smack Obama with these facts?

Chris Dodd and Barney Franks are in it up to their armpits! Please, somebody, bring this out so that people can see it!

Yeah, I just finished J. Denton's When Hell was in Session. It's basically ruined my life.

Whenever I feel myself starting to slack off, anywhere, work, tennis court, awkward phone call with relative, this little voice that sorta sounds like Eric Cartman whispers: Sure, you've got it tough, but what would Jeremiah Denton do?

And that makes me feel all small and insignificant, but it keeps me busy.....very busy.....

I had intermittent pain for two and a half years from an undiagnosed kidney stone. Nasty sharp pain seeming to come from my gut. Finally was identified by ultrasound and I had it broken up by sound waves. What a relief!

No Dilaudid for Barney Frank.

After watching the debate tonight, I have finally made my choice!

[Link: zod2008.com...]

re: #17 Intrepid

WHY WHY WHY?! Is the democrats' involvement not being reported? Please tell me why?

Why didn't John McCain smack Obama with these facts?

Chris Dodd and Barney Franks are in it up to their armpits! Please, somebody, bring this out so that people can see it!

There is a debate coming that centers around the economy. I've been amazed at McCain's ability to make the guerrilla attack that you didn't see coming. So, I've asked that same question, and posted it here, but again I've been convinced - let the 'ol guy do his thing.

re: #6 elevenbravo1969

The problem with passing a kidney stone is that you sometimes pull the urinal off the wall in the process...

A friend of mine who passed one said, "It's like pulling a piece of barbed wire out through your d-ck".

re: #9 jorline

I've passed a kidney stone....very very painful.

Kidney stones are gods way of helping males understand childbirth!

My hubby had one once - they actually gave him a pregnancy test LOL!

I think they ended up not charging for it.

And still no gas in Charlotte! I'm debating on whether to head out now for a look-see at the neighborhood gas stations, or wait until 5am or so.

Great (and funny) piece by Whittle - haven't had a kidney stone, but otherwise did the whole catheter and drugs and crap he did when they discovered the prostate cancer - and the clot that went into my lung as a result of the cancer "bursting through the sack".
Trust me folks, it ain't HALF as funny as Whittle writes about it - even though he does acknowledge all that pain.
That he could write a very accurate and telling piece, and a funny one at that, is a testament to his greatness as a writer and my lack of same!

re: #22 cliffster

There is a debate coming that centers around the economy. I've been amazed at McCain's ability to make the guerrilla attack that you didn't see coming. So, I've asked that same question, and posted it here, but again I've been convinced - let the 'ol guy do his thing.

I've seen that a couple of times too - it's always unexpected, and oh, so satisfying!

re: #17 Intrepid

The reason why probably that Senator McCain didn't mention the dems role in this mess is that he needs their votes to get the first aid bill passed. Once that's done? He might start hammering those points. Unfortunately the game has to be played right now.

re: #25 Caliredst8r

And still no gas in Charlotte! I'm debating on whether to head out now for a look-see at the neighborhood gas stations, or wait until 5am or so.

The gas shortages are not a trivial thing.

re: #17 Intrepid

WHY WHY WHY?! Is the democrats' involvement not being reported? Please tell me why?

Why didn't John McCain smack Obama with these facts?

Chris Dodd and Barney Franks are in it up to their armpits! Please, somebody, bring this out so that people can see it!

As was pointed out on the previous thread, the deal's not done yet.

re: #25 Caliredst8r

And still no gas in Charlotte! I'm debating on whether to head out now for a look-see at the neighborhood gas stations, or wait until 5am or so.

What part of town are you in? Dry up here in Cornelius.

re: #29 Syrah

My wife's car has an eighth of a tank, and mine has a quarter of a tank. Luckily I don't have to work this weekend!

The best article I've read in a *very* long time.

Do you want to know what my honest-to-God first thought was when the pain got manageable enough to be able to hold a thought? I tell you: I thought of John McCain. And I’ll tell you what hit me the hardest: not his pain lasted for five years when mine lasted for four hours. But to add to that raw fear, lying in filth and knowing that those footsteps in the hall would bring not relief but more pain . . . my God!

Damn, Bill. You make me laugh, then I click to the next page and you smack me upside the head with a clue bat. But this was incredible perspective- thank you so much. You are a great gem- please continue with your writing.

Do you want to know what my honest-to-God first thought was when the pain got manageable enough to be able to hold a thought? I tell you: I thought of John McCain. And I’ll tell you what hit me the hardest: not his pain lasted for five years when mine lasted for four hours. But to add to that raw fear, lying in filth and knowing that those footsteps in the hall would bring not relief but more pain . . . my God! When I think about those men on those fields from Bunker Hill to Baghdad, lying there for hours, awaiting rescue and relief that often simply never came . . . I end up — and I don’t expect any of you to actually believe this — I end up grateful for those few hours.

Wow!

re: #28 BlueCanuck

The reason why probably that Senator McCain didn't mention the dems role in this mess is that he needs their votes to get the first aid bill passed. Once that's done? He might start hammering those points. Unfortunately the game has to be played right now.

I wonder if the Dems might be more inclined to cooperate in fixing this mess if they new that Republicans had the balls to call them on their involvement in creating it in the first place.

The Dems are playing the Republicans for dupes.

I think a man can only imagine the pain of childbirth women endure until he passes a kidney stone (which is very tiny in comparison to a baby)

Great segue on page 2 into McCain's pain and korporation comparisons. Very entertaining article.

I live down in the Johnston Road/Park Road area.

I will say this, though: half way through the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln had a plan to buy the slaves. He would give the south a chance to end the war early by compensating them — with Northern cash — for the market value of the slaves that they held. It was a monstrous sum, but he thought it was necessary. So he wrote: “Certainly it is not so easy to pay something as to pay nothing; but it is easier to pay a large sum than it is to pay a larger one. And it is easier to pay any sum when we are able, than it is to pay before we are able.”

/better than 618,000 dead

re: #25 Caliredst8r

And still no gas in Charlotte! I'm debating on whether to head out now for a look-see at the neighborhood gas stations, or wait until 5am or so.

We just got a shipment here in Mid TN late last night - surely, you guys are next!

re: #12 Moe Katz

I'll pass on that, thanks.

Me too...pain is unbearable.

re: #24 reine.de.tout

My hubby had one once - they actually gave him a pregnancy test LOL!

I think they ended up not charging for it.

LMAO...Happened to me on the morning of my 50th birthday.

God has a lousy sense of humor.

re: #40 Intrepid

Supposedly Charlotte was supposed to get a huge shipment today, but apparently none made it to my area.

re: #43 Caliredst8r

Supposedly Charlotte was supposed to get a huge shipment today, but apparently none made it to my area.

What are are you in

re: #40 Intrepid

We just got a shipment here in Mid TN late last night - surely, you guys are next!

We saw 3 gasoline trucks from Utah on the interstate here in the DFW area. Have no idea what that was all about. They were headed west.

re: #26 realwest

Great (and funny) piece by Whittle - haven't had a kidney stone, but otherwise did the whole catheter and drugs and crap he did when they discovered the prostate cancer - and the clot that went into my lung as a result of the cancer "bursting through the sack".
Trust me folks, it ain't HALF as funny as Whittle writes about it - even though he does acknowledge all that pain.
That he could write a very accurate and telling piece, and a funny one at that, is a testament to his greatness as a writer and my lack of same!

Hey RW...good to see you.

re: #36 Syrah

I wonder if the Dems might be more inclined to cooperate in fixing this mess if they new that Republicans had the balls to call them on their involvement in creating it in the first place.

The Dems are trying to playing the Republicans for dupes.

That's probably what's going on right now. Remember most republicans were former business men. While most democrats were former lawyers.

/whose going to have the last laugh?

re: #30 Dar ul Harb

As was pointed out on the previous thread, the deal's not done yet.

I'm still trying to figure out why the DOW was up today.

/must be saving up for Monday

re: #44 astronmr20

Trouble! lol Do you mean where do I live?

re: #26 realwest

The ambian worked like a charm last night zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Thanks

John McCain has new ads out with Obama stating "I think Senator McCain is absolutely right..." Attaboy.

re: #49 Caliredst8r

Trouble! lol Do you mean where do I live?

Yes. I am in the Charlotte area too. Cornelius. No gas here. Where are you located/ what is your 20/ what part of town do you live in.

re: #48 Killian Bundy

I'm still trying to figure out why the DOW was up today.

/must be saving up for Monday

Ah I see my transaction got through finally. ;)

...and when he came back he gave me a shot of Dilaudid, which is the name I will give to my first child, male or female.

A humor like no other, Whittle is one of my favorite essayists. The man is a gem, and I'm not saying that just because he may be lurking here. I've turned liberals on to his writing.

Didn't know he edited "Shootout." I should really pay more attention to credits.

re: #50 jorline

The ambian worked like a charm last night zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Thanks

Be really careful with that stuff.

re: #26 realwest

I *cringe* at the word "catheter". As a woman, I just can't fathom that level of bodily intrusion. But I guess that a man would feel the same way, too!

/NO TUBES BEING STUCK UP INTO OUR PRIVATES!

(except as needed, of course)

I had a very tough friend of mine who had 12 broken bones and survived a motorcycle accident that left him with pins in his spine. He had a Kidney stone pass and said he would rather go through that again than have another Kidney stone. He said he was reduced to a crying baby, helpless and unable to function as a human. I sent him the link to this article.

re: #52 astronmr20

Ah, okay, see my #38.

Interesting development on Intrade.

First reaction to the the debate was that McCain shot up 4% points.

Now its back to where we were before again.

Seems like the Intrade traders are betting that the distorted media coverage of who won and lost (CNN: "It's obvious Obama won") will tend to work in Barry's favor with undecideds.

Ahhh... gotcha.

Good luck! I have a half tank, but need to head to Richmond tomorrow. Supposedly there is some around greensboro, so I'll take 77 to 40/85 instead of just 85.

Some Obama mouth is on Greta saying Obama has won every poll stating he won the debate. Would those be scientific polls? Nope.

re: #17 Intrepid

WHY WHY WHY?! Is the democrats' involvement not being reported? Please tell me why?

Why didn't John McCain smack Obama with these facts?

Chris Dodd and Barney Franks are in it up to their armpits! Please, somebody, bring this out so that people can see it!

Because the crisis d'jour has to get through committee first. Frank controls that committee. After, he's fair game.

re: #54 Noam Sayin'

A humor like no other, Whittle is one of my favorite essayists. The man is a gem, and I'm not saying that just because he may be lurking here. I've turned liberals on to his writing.

Didn't know he edited "Shootout." I should really pay more attention to credits.

This one's so good- I'm sticking it in my favorites.

re: #55 astronmr20

Be really careful with that stuff.

I hear you, thanks.
When your loaded with prednisone, sleep is always welcome. What's one more side affect.

kidney stones

/drink lots of water

re: #64 jorline

Ouch. Good luck.

re: #60 astronmr20

Good luck! Luckily my wife and I have bikes! It might come to that.

re: #63 Sharmuta

This one's so good- I'm sticking it in my favorites.

I keep saying something similar every time I read one of his articles. I got to the point where I just check his site almost every other day.

re: #59 rednaxela

How many real undecideds are there, though? I mean, seriously? Can't be many...

Most people have already made up their minds.

re: #63 Sharmuta

This one's so good- I'm sticking it in my favorites.

Read his book.

re: #67 Caliredst8r

Good luck! Luckily my wife and I have bikes! It might come to that.

Heh.. same here. Been biking to the office all week. Have to be in Springfield, mass by Wednesday though. Won't be biking that one!

I've actually been glad to see so many bikes on the street lately. People need to exercise more and spend less on gas.

/no I am not a moonbat!

re: #47 BlueCanuck

That's probably what's going on right now. Remember most republicans were former business men. While most democrats were former lawyers.

/whose going to have the last laugh?

If the Dems don't give a rats-ass about what happens to the country, they have the advantage. The Republicans care, so the Democrats are holding the future of the country hostage with an economic gun to its head, threatening to pull the trigger if the Republicans don't cave.

I trust the Dems to be evil.

re: #25 Caliredst8r

And still no gas in Charlotte! I'm debating on whether to head out now for a look-see at the neighborhood gas stations, or wait until 5am or so.

You might want to try the web sites of some of your local TV news shows. Here in Atlanta we've got the same problem, and at least one of the channels is posting messages from people about who has gas and where it's cheapest.

re: #52 astronmr20

Yes. I am in the Charlotte area too. Cornelius. No gas here. Where are you located/ what is your 20/ what part of town do you live in.

As far as I have seen, there is gas in Durhan/RTP area... although when I came back from the Outer Banks last weekend, I was only allowed to put $50 worth in the tank. But that was closer to the Outer Banks area.

Bill whittle did an essay on why using the word "imperialist" is so ridiculously stupid. It is probably the best thing I have ever read on the web. It's buried in his archives somewhere. I have actually used his ideas in arguments with moonbats, with stunning results.

re: #65 Killian Bundy

/drink lots of water

Wives tale, KB.

For the last ten years all I've had is water, nothing else...well maybe one six pack a year of beer. I drink a lot of water...go figure.

re: #63 Sharmuta

It was great.

re: #74 PAgirlinNC

As far as I have seen, there is gas in Durhan/RTP area... although when I came back from the Outer Banks last weekend, I was only allowed to put $50 worth in the tank. But that was closer to the Outer Banks area.

Yeah.. I have enough to get to Durham, but if there is none in Durham I'll be screwed! That's why I'll head through greensboro first... if gboro does indeed have gas.

re: #66 astronmr20

Ouch. Good luck.

Thanks

Good article.

"So imagine my delight, ten minutes later, to see the hallway door melt away as room was filled with unicorns! "

This took me right back to when I was a young passenger in a car accident, I will always remember that feeling as the injection melted away the pain and I started giggling. It's a great storyteller that makes you laugh, then cry and laugh and think.

Seriously,

Everyone should spend some time reading through Bill's essays. Brilliant.

Beer

re: #78 astronmr20

Yeah.. I have enough to get to Durham, but if there is none in Durham I'll be screwed! That's why I'll head through greensboro first... if gboro does indeed have gas.

I'm pretty sure if you get to Durham/RTP you will be fine. But do what you need to. It might probably change at the drop of a hat.

If a couple of Luntz's "undecided" voters don't turn out to be democrats who gamed his screening process, I'll eat my hat.

re: #76 jorline

Wives tale, KB.

For the last ten years all I've had is water, nothing else...well maybe one six pack a year of beer. I drink a lot of water...go figure.

But did you drink lots of water.

/you'll have to admit hydration helps

re: #75 astronmr20

If you find the article please post it here.

re: #84 PAgirlinNC

I'm pretty sure if you get to Durham/RTP you will be fine. But do what you need to. It might probably change at the drop of a hat.

Hopefully won't hit any more snags on the way to Mass.! I'm traveling for work. Never dreamed that my work might be affected by a gas shortage in the United States.

re: #87 neocon hippie

If you find the article please post it here.

Will do

re: #77 Thanos

He's truly a treasure.

re: #86 Killian Bundy

But did you drink lots of water.

/you'll have to admit hydration helps

I drink a couple quarts of Cranberry juice a week, but that's probably a wive's tale too.

Kissinger chimes in Weekly Standard Blog-- says he was misquoted by O.
--just reported on Fox- no linky

re: #78 astronmr20

Yeah.. I have enough to get to Durham, but if there is none in Durham I'll be screwed! That's why I'll head through greensboro first... if gboro does indeed have gas.

Wouldn't the AAA have info like that?

re: #59 rednaxela

Interesting development on Intrade.

First reaction to the the debate was that McCain shot up 4% points.

Now its back to where we were before again.

Seems like the Intrade traders are betting that the distorted media coverage of who won and lost (CNN: "It's obvious Obama won") will tend to work in Barry's favor with undecideds.

As far as I'm concerned any one who is 'undecided' at this point in time is dumb as dirt and therefore, probably will vote for Obama.

re: #91 Thanos

I drink a couple quarts of Cranberry juice a week, but that's probably a wive's tale too.

No- cranberry juice is extremely good for urinary problems.

re: #87 neocon hippie

If you find the article please post it here.

Here it is.

He takes on the idiocy of leftist/ Democrat mantras like "no blood for oil, coexist, and imperialism."

Brilliance.

Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality."

Reported by Stephen Hayes
[Link: www.weeklystandard.com...]

re: #96 astronmr20

Uh... astronmr?

re: #96 astronmr20

Here it is.

He takes on the idiocy of leftist/ Democrat mantras like "no blood for oil, coexist, and imperialism."

Brilliance.

Whoops-

Link:

[Link: www.ejectejecteject.com...]

What are kidney stones made of?

/one of my now dead cats had kidney stones, almost killed him, but a skilled feline surgeon gave him six more months to sit in the window and look outside, on top of his already long life

re: #71 astronmr20

People need to exercise more and spend less on gas.

Yes, we need to pass a law.

/

re: #99 astronmr20

I thought that was the one.

I was too lazy to go look for it.

Thanks.

re: #96 astronmr20

Eh? No linky.

re: #102 Noam Sayin'

I thought that was the one.

I was too lazy to go look for it.

Thanks.

Yeah;

his site is tough to find stuff on. That's my only complaint. I actually se google to find Whittle articles I'm looking for.

But seriously; that one made a big impact on me. It's impossible to argue with.

re: #103 NomadOfNorad

Eh? No linky.

[Link: www.ejectejecteject.com...]

re: #103 NomadOfNorad

Okay, you fixed that error already.

re: #91 Thanos

I drink a couple quarts of Cranberry juice a week, but that's probably a wive's tale too.

/pomegranate juice trumps everything and it's in your local grocery store if you look

Those of you reading Bill Whittle's "seeing the unseen" part 1 need to read part two as well. It eviscerates the notion that GWB is an idiot.

re: #107 Killian Bundy

Agrolabs "Naturally Pomegranate" is the most concentrated I've found. Claims to have 15 pomegranates in one ounce. I find this stuff at Sam's Wholesale. And Acai juice seems to be a big deal now too.

I've been reading Whittle for years. His book of essays is well worth the price and can be bought from Amazon. So glad to see him writing again. He has a rare gift.

I think that overall this debate will play out better for McCain. Obama's grimaces and aloofness, sounding like some college professor, is not going to go down too well in places like PA and OH.

Oblahma: "President Bush recently sent…blah blah blah"

Oblahma: "Bush administration reversed course on this and we have made progress…blah…blah…blah"

I couldn't believe my ears, just turned on C-SPAN to see if they were rebroadcasting and sure enough--Oblahma is COMPARING what he would do to what Bush is doing now. He's attempting to hold up President Bush as an EXAMPLE if he were president in negotiating with rogue countries. OMG! Kinda screws the McCain/Bush mantra.

re: #8 formercorpsman

Ahhhh, Dilaudid.

My husband was prescribed Dilaudid once, for a cervical injury. He had to go on an out of state business trip, despite his extremely painful situation. The baggage handlers stole his prescription right out of his checked baggage.

12 years later, he has never checked a bag since.

Bastards.

re: #105 astronmr20

[Link: www.ejectejecteject.com...]

I think I've read, and bookmarked, that article already. Some time ago. Nice find, though.

Switching to CNN, just to make myself a better person

re: #25 Caliredst8r
Hey, try 4:00AM - seriously - the only time "my" cab driver could get any here in Matthews and he said that by 4:30 the gas lines were back to a hundred cars or more!

re: #116 realwest

Hey, try 4:00AM - seriously - the only time "my" cab driver could get any here in Matthews and he said that by 4:30 the gas lines were back to a hundred cars or more!

Is that your driver from islamabad? The one I used once?

What's his take on Pakistan these days?

re: #46 jorline Hey jorline, good to see you too - sorry it took so long to answer but I've been back on the prior thread, giving McCain advice............for free! LOL!
Y'all gonna try one of those Ambiens tonight?

Candidate for Quote of the Night: [Barack Obama] - "I have a bracelet too"

pretty much sums up his evening.

time to bed down for the night. Thank you, Charles, for all your hard work tonight!
The Phillies are playing on Saturday - I mean the Phillies are gonna win on Saturday!

re: #118 realwest

Hey jorline, good to see you too - sorry it took so long to answer but I've been back on the prior thread, giving McCain advice............for free! LOL!
Y'all gonna try one of those Ambiens tonight?

I won't touch the stuff. Seen what it can do.

(If you are in a lot of pain or recovering from an illness, etc, it's okay.. but I highly dis-recommend it for simple insomnia)

re: #91 Thanos

I drink a couple quarts of Cranberry juice a week, but that's probably a wive's tale too.

Save your receipts. Years ago, I worked for a Urologist who would send those patients, who he had recommended using cranberry juice, a letter for the IRS that allowed them to use cranberry juice as a medical deduction!

For real....

re: #86 Killian Bundy
Hey Killian - hydration ONLY helps if you have the catheter already in! Seriously.

re: #122 SummerSong

Save your receipts. Years ago, I worked for a Urologist who would send those patients, who he had recommended using cranberry juice, a letter for the IRS that allowed them to use cranberry juice as a medical deduction!

For real....

That's cool and all, but what about Jim Beam as a medical deduction? Blood thinner, or something

re: #121 astronmr20

I won't touch the stuff. Seen what it can do.

(If you are in a lot of pain or recovering from an illness, etc, it's okay.. but I highly dis-recommend it for simple insomnia)

I know someone who has beat back from such hard-core addiction that she can now take Ambien like candy, with no effect at all.

re: #122 SummerSong

I hope they weren't audited.

re: #117 astronmr20
Don't know if he's the same guy (we actually have too, one who's name starts with "I" and one who's name starts with "M") "I" is a US Citizen - naturalized before - way before - 9/11 and he isn't planning on making his annual trip "home" to see his Mom and family and Mr M gets too worked up over the corruption for me to ask until we finish the ride -seriously, the more he talks about it while driving, the faster he goes! They both talk about a "Culture of Corruption" and a history of corruption (though they don't use those terms) and don't think the jihadists have any real chance to get into power. Also neither one thinks ANYONE can gain control of the NW Frontier Provinces.

re: #124 cliffster

:) They were liberal, but not stupid. LOL

Well all y'all it's been grand as usual, but I GOTTA get some sleep here!
I hope you all have a GREAT EVENING/EARLY MORNING and that I get the chance to see you down the road.

re: #126 rw in san diego

It was quite a few years ago (decades). This group of Urologists believed strongly, that cranberry juice offered a substantial benefit to their patients with recurrent urinary infections.

In the five years that I was there, no one was ever challenged about the deduction. At least not that I was aware of (and I would have been aware of it).

re: #17 Intrepid

WHY WHY WHY?! Is the democrats' involvement not being reported? Please tell me why?

Why didn't John McCain smack Obama with these facts?

Chris Dodd and Barney Franks are in it up to their armpits! Please, somebody, bring this out so that people can see it!

a. Because the bailout is still being negotiated, as I mentioned in the last thread, you don't "win friends and influence people" by publically attacking them. Remember, the weasels that caused this mess are still guarding the henhouse.

b. Because McCain was trying to win over Democrats that don't like Obama. Partisan attacks (even if factual) don't help that way.

c. This was the "foreign policy" debate, there is still an "economic policy" debate where this could happen.

re: #122 SummerSong

Save your receipts. Years ago, I worked for a Urologist who would send those patients, who he had recommended using cranberry juice, a letter for the IRS that allowed them to use cranberry juice as a medical deduction!

For real....

For real, over the counter medical items (even if prescribed by a physician) are not tax-deductible. I would think by any interpretation of the IRS guidelines, cranberry juice would count as an over-the-counter "drug".

[Link: www.irs.gov...]

You may not deduct funeral or burial expenses, health club dues, over–the–counter medicines, toothpaste, toiletries, cosmetics, a trip or program for the general improvement of your health, or most cosmetic surgery.

re: #124 cliffster

That's cool and all, but what about Jim Beam as a medical deduction? Blood thinner, or something

Nope (see link above).

Pharmaceutical ethanol does, by the way, have at least one legitmate medical purpose, which is to counteract the effect of methanol or ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning.

So if you get billed for using it IV in a hospital, you could probably deduct that.

/Just ask your nurse to pour the Jim Beam into your IV bag.

The economy needs more cranberry juice!
(And far less democrats).

Had to wear a catheter for a week once. Got so attached to it I gave it a name: Willa.

If you ever need a catheter, insist on the small size. Seriously, it's no time to be macho.
LOL!

re: #37 merrytexas

I think a man can only imagine the pain of childbirth women endure until he passes a kidney stone (which is very tiny in comparison to a baby)

I believe these posters, who say they are women, would disagree.

I don't know which is worse but I do know it's not tiny compared to anything. Imagine the worst pain you've ever felt without passing out, then have it last as long as 2-3 days. (unless of course you are able to seek medical attention). That's just the pain of the stone moving to your bladder.
After that you have the fun of feeling it passing out of your bladder. A much larger tube but more -- intimate -- shall we say. There's even a special thrill for the lucky ones if it gets stuck and blocks the tube. (which is what you actually feel when the stone is traveling from the kidney to the bladder -- the pressure from urine unable to be excreted from the kidney).

Just thought you might like to know the realities. Personal experience if you haven't guessed.

re: #138 jcw46

I believe these posters, who say they are women, would disagree.

I don't know which is worse but I do know it's not tiny compared to anything. Imagine the worst pain you've ever felt without passing out, then have it last as long as 2-3 days. (unless of course you are able to seek medical attention). That's just the pain of the stone moving to your bladder.
After that you have the fun of feeling it passing out of your bladder. A much larger tube but more -- intimate -- shall we say. There's even a special thrill for the lucky ones if it gets stuck and blocks the tube. (which is what you actually feel when the stone is traveling from the kidney to the bladder -- the pressure from urine unable to be excreted from the kidney).

Just thought you might like to know the realities. Personal experience if you haven't guessed.

Heh! Now I can brag to my wife! Of course I only had kidney stones twice but she had three kids, so she still may be ahead of me. Or however you measure these pain things.

good evening all! i'm curious about the price tag of $2k. i also live in LA and my 5 hour visit to emergency was a bit over 18k. should i ever have another kidney stone, i have my "morphine, morphine, morphine...." chant at the ready. it was an experience i would never wish upon anyone. can't even imagine how our future president survived his ordeal. what a guy!

I just spent almost an entire week perusing an awesome site called Damn Interesting it's a collection of short essays, started out in 2005 by this guy, Alan Bellows, reminded me of Bill Whittle, and seeing as how things were slow, I posted a link the other day to one of my favorite oldies from Whittle's site, 'forty-second Boyd' aka 'Pope John and the Supersonic Monastery', so for those of you not familiar with Whittle's essays, you might want to give this one a shot...

And for the rest of you, I should warn you, DI is so damn addictive... One of my favorites is John Frum and the Cargo Cults another would be Jonathan Swift's death prank, titled, The Extraordinary Astrologer Isaac Bickerstaff, hilarious stuff, Mincemeat aka The Man Who Wasn't There, -the first terrorist attack in the US -Terror on Wall Street, India's faux-dead, the lake that went down the hole and so many more amazing articles, I just had to share this here... Btw, in the comment section, there's one regular in particular you must check out, Radiatidon (Don), his tidbits just stay with you, you'll see... enjoy, -G

The “kidney stone” theory is good.

But, what the democrats forgot to tell us was they cleverly picked the most weak and susceptible victims, such as gout victims and injected them with calcium oxide to induce the kidney stones prior to a "major event."

The patient went into terrible pain. Ambulances and other specialists to "arrived" and took them into intensive care.

This ran up a huge medical bills caused upheaval during a time of war and distracted the families from more important activities such as vetting Presidential candidates.

Then the dems proceed to tack on expense after expense to the bills to justify there treatment of the victims.

Then the victims became debilitated and went on to become a ward of the State. The State chopped them up and used them for body parts.

re: #36 Syrah

I wonder if the Dems might be more inclined to cooperate in fixing this mess if they new that Republicans had the balls to call them on their involvement in creating it in the first place.

The Dems are playing the Republicans for dupes.

Bingo !
no shit sherlock
and all the other cliche's

when are the Republicans going to stand up finally ?

at this rate, we're all going to have to write our reparation checks in Ebonics

re: #54 Noam Sayin'

A humor like no other, Whittle is one of my favorite essayists. The man is a gem, and I'm not saying that just because he may be lurking here. I've turned liberals on to his writing.

Didn't know he edited "Shootout." I should really pay more attention to credits.

I KNOW he is lurking here. He (other than Michelle Malkin) is the only internet "star" that has returned a personal email. His was short but very eloquent. I love this man and am so glad he is on our side. The left has many good writers however, to find a treasure like Bill Whittle whose real job is in the midst of the dhimmie masses is really revitalizing.

I have read most of his essays and find him not only talented in ways I will never know but, he had a depth of conviction that few ever do. He is the kind of guy I would love to sit down and have a beer (actually many beers) and talk for hours on end. I could learn and maybe even hone my skill at moonbat punching. Oh well, I will just have to settle for Tribes, Sanctuary, Deterrence, Strength, Power, Responsibility, Trinity, Magic, Victory, History, Confidence, Courage, War, Empire, Freedom, Honor and all the more recent posts to his site ejectejecteject.com. To sit and spend hours reading these essays is some of the best time you can spend on the net. He cuts through the BS and puts to words what I have felt but, could not say and make sense to anybody else.

God Bless Bill!

re: #8 formercorpsman

Ahhhh, Dilaudid.

But isn't that what Mr. Blakely was given prior to amputation in Master and Commander? It didn't seem to do him any good.

A banker from a healthy bank says that the bailout is BS:

[Link: scconservative.wordpress.com...]

Go vote.

[Link: www.cnn.com...]

CNN is conducting a poll of who won the debates, their base has McCain at 26% at the moment. Lets fix that.

And that unicorn paragraph is great, Whittle, but didn't you steal it from Jibjab.com? Obama riding unicorn with rainbows shooting out of its a**:

[Link: sendables.jibjab.com...]

re: #147 right Brain

Like Fox, which has 80% saying McCain won, a biased sample.

Wow. I just now read this article. Best description of physical pain I have heard. I've had kidney stones, split tooth, and the one that had me seriously thinking that death was a good option, ulcers leaking hydrochloric acid into my peritoneal cavity. I know this is a dead thread but where else would I make a comment like this?

I love this..

Here was my second thought: I would like to kiss the hand of those evil, greedy, horrible KKKorporations that made and tested Demerol and Dilaudid and the ultrasound sensor and clean needles and sterile IV bags and all the rest of it. I know they’re the villains of courtroom novels and Michael Moore movies and thus are wicked, greedy, soulless Nazis — but if I met a single one of them I would kiss their hands and feet in gratitude. And it did not elude me, when that blinding light finally went out and I felt good again, that my Moral Superiors who protest and vilify these companies at every turn have not — in point of fact — ever done a single thing to relieve my pain or anyone else’s

F the left.

Every decision we make is based on a risk/reward calculation. If we take away the consequences of risky behavior, we will see more of it. And if there’s a money-back guarantee for greedy and stupid decisions, we’re in real trouble, because there is only so much money in the bank but supplies of greed and stupidity are endless.

Wisdom. The left abhor that kind of logical talk.

re: #55 astronmr20

There are some risks that are involved with that class of drugs. Basically, it may not put the whole brain to sleep. You run the risk of sleep driving, etc. when you use them. Also, the amount of drug you need to get the result will increase over time and you will have to taper down to get off it. Like anything drug that interacts to modify the brain chemistry, you should use it very, very, carefully and be closely monitored. Seroquin is an anti-psychotic that is used off label for insomnia. It works, but it also has a nasty side effect profile. You use it on an ongoing basis only with a high degree of risk. A fairly risk free thing you might be interested in trying is tryptophan. While it got pulled from your local drug stores after some asshole of a Japanese manufacturer failed to purify the product prior to sale, it is available from some people in USP state. It is an amino acid precursor to melatonin and seratonin. Being an essential amino acid, you are reasonably safe in taking the dosage that is given. The one thing you really do not want to do is to get on the treadmill of I need a drug to wake up and a different drug to go to sleep.

I had several kidney stones and can attest to the pain. You break out in a cold sweat, get nauseated, and feel like you are going to have an explosive case of liquid diarrhea. Not all at once, but it comes in waves and you know that something is quite wrong but can do nothing about it. The screaming? Yep. Lots of nasty words that the ER staff didn't like. The amazing thing is that some ERs know how to handle pain while others just dabble in reducing the pain. The ERs that know how to handle the pain reach for the morphine. That stops the yelling pretty fast when you've been knocked flat. The little tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder is what gets jammed up and a kidney stone doesn't have to be very large for it to block that tube.

That being said, if anyone urinates and sees blood in their urine (urine looks like tomato soup) run to your nearest hospital and get checked out. That's how they discovered kidney cancer in me. Otherwise it was totally asymptomatic and often kills the person who has it in late stages.

re: #17 Intrepid

WHY WHY WHY?! Is the democrats' involvement not being reported? Please tell me why?

Why didn't John McCain smack Obama with these facts?

Chris Dodd and Barney Franks are in it up to their armpits! Please, somebody, bring this out so that people can see it!

Infuriating. Democrats and their disinformation machine have won the war for reality. The history of this crisis for my lifetime will now be: "Republicans caused economic collapse by deregulation, allowing their rapacious Wall Street cronies to rape America. McCain injected presidential politics into a devastating national crisis in a desperate political stunt."

McCain refused to defend his party at the critical moment. Calling himself a maverick is vain and repulsive. Only others should do that.

McCain refused to strike against slander, he refused to stand up for Republicans. Millions were watching and listening and the moment passed. Therefore, the party of lies, the party of surrender, the party of bureaucratic tyranny, may actually get their creepy surrogate elected.

Maybe they deserve to win.

imagine a stone the size of a grapenut passing through your urinary track...then imagine that stone has jagged, razorblade sharp spines all around it.

yeah, thats what it feels like....

I danced for an hour after I passed my kidney stone.

I pray none of you ever have to go through this.

re: #155 joan

Infuriating. Democrats and their disinformation machine have won the war for reality. The history of this crisis for my lifetime will now be: "Republicans caused economic collapse by deregulation, allowing their rapacious Wall Street cronies to rape America. McCain injected presidential politics into a devastating national crisis in a desperate political stunt."

McCain refused to defend his party at the critical moment. Calling himself a maverick is vain and repulsive. Only others should do that.

McCain refused to strike against slander, he refused to stand up for Republicans. Millions were watching and listening and the moment passed. Therefore, the party of lies, the party of surrender, the party of bureaucratic tyranny, may actually get their creepy surrogate elected.

Maybe they deserve to win.

I feel your emotions as well. My biggest gripe against GWB is he seems to plod on oblivious to the flak, and never speaks out in anger at the lies and smears flung at him. Most Republicans seem to fit this mold. How can the voters see how duplicitous the Donkey party is if it's never pointed out. I suppose though when you have 95% of the media in this country spinning what you say into something else you didn't say, it's impossible. The MSM is corrupting the electoral process, and it stinks.

I'm having a UTI right now that I can feel in my kidneys. I was afraid it was a stone. But since the AZO works, as does the Macrobid, I think it's just an infection

re: #156 lefty201

imagine a stone the size of a grapenut passing through your urinary track...then imagine that stone has jagged, razorblade sharp spines all around it.

yeah, thats what it feels like....

I danced for an hour after I passed my kidney stone.

I pray none of you ever have to go through this.

They wrongly named them stones. Boulder or mountain is more like it.

re: #157 HDrepub

You make an excellent point. "Resistance is Futile. You Too Will Be Assimilated." One reason Reagan was so hated by media and the left was that something in his personal style, his presence, could slice right through the fog of lies and reach the people unfiltered. They hated him. Palin has that potential, it is also why she is so hated. Hope she is not homogenized and pasteurized into a caricature--she has the makin's....

re: #145 tai-pan

no, poor devil; it was laudanum

re: #160 Joan

You make an excellent point. "Resistance is Futile. You Too Will Be Assimilated." One reason Reagan was so hated by media and the left was that something in his personal style, his presence, could slice right through the fog of lies and reach the people unfiltered. They hated him. Palin has that potential, it is also why she is so hated. Hope she is not homogenized and pasteurized into a caricature--she has the makin's....

I noticed that quality in Palin when she spoke at the convention. She was able to deliver those zingers with a disarming smile. She has a natural gift, now if they will let her be herself and use it to its maximum potential.

He certainly accurately describes the pain one feels when you have a stone . Stones can also scare the shit out of you if you do not know what it is. I have been drinking way more water then a human needs to survive since the one, and hopefully only stone I had about 10 yrs ago. Morphine was the answer for me that day, and plenty of it.

re: #154 Perplexed
I just passed a kidney stone on September 14. And yes, you are correct. Get checked right away for brown/reddish urine. It's a bad, bad, bad sign. Let me help you all envision what the pain is like. Picture yourself sitting in church and you have to urinate real bad. You can't excuse yourself to use the restroom until the service is over - because God said so. Now imagine this service lasting over five hours. That, my friends, is my interpretation of the pain associated with passing a kidney stone.

I also didn't have health insurance. But on September 14, after five hours of this, I was at the point of sticking a gun in my mouth or taking a trip to the emergency room. They took very good care of me and in return I'll have to give them over $14, 000. (Note: the CAT scan was $7,000.)

So please, drinks lots of water and buy health insurance.

re: #151 FrogMarch

I love this..

Here was my second thought: I would like to kiss the hand of those evil, greedy, horrible KKKorporations that made and tested Demerol and Dilaudid and the ultrasound sensor and clean needles and sterile IV bags and all the rest of it. I know they’re the villains of courtroom novels and Michael Moore movies and thus are wicked, greedy, soulless Nazis — but if I met a single one of them I would kiss their hands and feet in gratitude. And it did not elude me, when that blinding light finally went out and I felt good again, that my Moral Superiors who protest and vilify these companies at every turn have not — in point of fact — ever done a single thing to relieve my pain or anyone else’s

F the left.

It is amazing what the failure to use an encyclopedia can do to a human brain, and that line of thought is a striking example of it. This patient was treated with a synthetic Opiod (Demerol) and when this was not enough also with an Opium derivative (Dilaudid), and instead of wanting to know the source of his relief he offers to virtually sell his soul to those who provided the treatment. In his blind devotion he does not get to see the fact that the civilization which produces these substances is sick enough to seriously attempt to exterminate the Opium plant, due to whose evolutionary symbiosis with our species his nervous system is receptive to them.

Still, the story of this patient in fact is a striking model for what is happening to the economy: Natural abundance is being turned into artificial scarcity by corporations, which have turned mature customers into blind devotees. In some cases it is so bad that it has made these affected by it incapable to deal with freedom: With unlimited access to opiates, this patient would be incapable to find the dosing appropriate for the compensation of his pain. Respectively: Provided with unlimited resources for growth, this economy would still be incapable to find the growth rate appropriate for the compensation of poverty. This patient is hysterical. This economy is hysterical. And so on.