Fresh meat!

And brevity is the soul of wit.

Too bad more people didn't do this on election day.

re: #3 Sharmuta

Too bad more people didn't do this on election day.

What? Stay Home?

re: #3 Sharmuta

No, more of the MSM failed to do their job and report on BHO. They truly failed to clearly express anything.

Now, the more things change the more they stay the same. BHO's White House is looking very Clinton-like.

Ah, it's late. Nite all!

My problem is that I think too much. May the good lord help us if I could express myself even clearer.

Ya know, if you're going to travel to India - and who the Hell would want to? - at least familiarize yourself with local snack prices!

Will someone please grab the AED? I think I killed the thread!

"Lady, lady, you okay?"

re: #5 calcajun

I don't think the Liberal MSM failed in their mission at all. Their goal was never to inform the public of the truth or let nasty little things like facts slip out.

As for the One's hiring the Clintonistas, what else is he gonna do? The man has no experience at all, and he has no friends.

Just in a partial lurk mode here Wyatt. Catching up on my daily funnies and science articles.

re: #2 calcajun

And brevity is the soul of wit.

no, it's the soul of lingerie.......

/white lace and smoke stockings!

re: #11 BlueCanuck

Just in a partial lurk mode here Wyatt. Catching up on my daily funnies and science articles.

Not a problemo. Just checking. It's 3am in the east, and I'll be hitting the hay soon. Just didn't want to do it after turning everyone off.

re: #7 BlueCanuck

My problem is that I think too much. May the good lord help us if I could express myself even clearer.

maybe if you left out all the "eh"s?

/white smoke

re: #5 calcajun

No, more of the MSM failed to do their job and report on BHO. They truly failed to clearly express anything.

Now, the more things change the more they stay the same. BHO's White House is looking very Clinton-like.

not true: they *very* clearly expressed their unqualified support for the unqualified candidate.......

re: #15 redc1c4

With "tingles" of anticipation!

re: #4 Dotcoman

The argument is out there that many younger and less-informed voters came out for Obama and then saw all the other "entitlements" out there that they could vote for, particularly here in CA.

good night lizards, I'm mostly reading, but sometimes feeling the urge to put my 2 cents in: expressing clearly what they think.........

re: #13 Wyatt Earp

Not a problemo. Just checking. It's 3am in the east, and I'll be hitting the hay soon. Just didn't want to do it after turning everyone off.

i've got contractors at 0dark30 (for me, anyway) in the Am, so i won't be here long either.

(doesn't mean the fruitcup is safe though. %-)

re: #5 calcajun

No, more of the MSM failed to do their job and report on BHO. They truly failed to clearly express anything.

Now, the more things change the more they stay the same. BHO's White House is looking very Clinton-like.

Change means going back to the 90s. Beats the late 70s I guess.

re: #17 Mel Lono

The argument is out there that many younger and less-informed voters came out for Obama and then saw all the other "entitlements" out there that they could vote for, particularly here in CA.

Lefty wants free stuff!

Top anti-drink cop caught drunk driving

TOKYO (Reuters) - A senior Tokyo police official tasked with keeping the city's roads clear of drunk drivers has been arrested for driving under the influence, police said on Tuesday.

The deputy inspector, on his way home from a camping site, was caught late on Monday after bumping into another car and veering off the road, said a police official in Ibaraki.

"He smelled of alcohol and he couldn't walk straight," the official said.

Local media said the arrested official had been in charge of a campaign to stop drunk driving, handing out stickers to bars and restaurants around the city.

"It is inexcusable for a member of the police to have caused this case and we plan to deal with it strictly," Tsutomu Sato, the head of the National Public Safety Commission told reporters.

re: #19 redc1c4

i've got contractors at 0dark30 (for me, anyway) in the Am, so i won't be here long either.

(doesn't mean the fruitcup is safe though. %-)

Around you nothing sacred is safe. With all the bad news coming down the pipe, what can we expect?

re: #20 Outrider

Change means going back to the 90s. Beats the late 70s I guess.

except we're gonna go back to the Carter years...... only this time Iran has nukes.

re: #19 redc1c4

i've got contractors at 0dark30 (for me, anyway) in the Am, so i won't be here long either.

(doesn't mean the fruitcup is safe though. %-)

In heavy syrup? Mmm . . .

re: #21 redc1c4

Lefty wants free stuff!

Well, damn. I mean if you were 24 years old, employed b McDonalds, if employed at all, and still lived with momma.... wouldn't you? ;-)>

re: #23 BlueCanuck

Around you nothing sacred is safe. With all the bad news coming down the pipe, what can we expect?

for me to double the dose?

/two white smokes

(maybe i can get a part in a gum commercial? %-)

re: #10 Dotcoman

Et tu, Brute! Eh?

re: #25 Wyatt Earp

In heavy syrup? Mmm . . .

More like Everclear and syrup.

/and that's all he lets us know at the moment.

re: #19 redc1c4

Red - i forgot to ask. Brea Fire didn't get too close did it?

re: #27 redc1c4

I think that would cause some people here to go off the deep end. Two of you?

/then again sometimes we see double after your fruitcup.

I find it amusing that as I type this, one of the ads is for the book STEALTH JIHAD by Robert Spencer. -S-

re: #29 BlueCanuck

More like Everclear and syrup.

/and that's all he lets us know at the moment.

Dang. I'm down to my last post-appendectomy percocet, too. Wish I could have a beer - or other fine liquor - soon.

re: #24 redc1c4

Not sure, not yet.. bet the I's have it.

re: #5 calcajun

Now, the more things change the more they stay the same. BHO's White House is looking very Clinton-like.

That shouldn't be too surprising, should it? Both Alinsky school- how big of a playground can that be?

re: #35 Sharmuta

That shouldn't be too surprising, should it? Both Alinsky school- how big of a playground can that be?

I think I heard 31 out of 47 were former Clintonians? That's change for ya!

re: #30 Mel Lono

Red - i forgot to ask. Brea Fire didn't get too close did it?

the Sylmar fire was in the same Valley as me, Dude, just on the other side, if that's a good enough hint..... i'm guessing the RPV fire was as close to you as it was to me.

the Brea fire was where i had some NG related friends years ago, but i haven't been in touch for years.

what i found interesting was watching what was obviously a new, and from all appearances an unoccupied development have homes succumb to "spot fires"..... as the reporters were saying, the fires were then over 3 miles away.... embers do fly, but in these times, some of us are suspicious...

if i were a fire marshal/arson investigator, i'd be comparing "spot fires" to foreclosure filings and credit reports.

(yes, i *am* that cynical. %-)

re: #36 Wyatt Earp

I think I heard 31 out of 47 were former Clintonians? That's change for ya!

. . . including an actual Clinton!

Remember when Washington backed Ethiopian troops kicked the Islamic Courts out of Mogadishu? Well, due to the current pirate attacks the international community is considering letting them back into power. Seven hijackings in the last twelve days are going to drive up insurance rates that consumers will have to pay for.

Real Rancher

Heritage Foundation

Podesta modeled the center on the Heritage Foundation, which became the go-to policy-research organization in 1981 when newly elected President Ronald Reagan embraced its conservative ideas embodied in a book called ``Mandate for Leadership.'' Heritage was just seven years old. Soros-backed idea factory
Hey, no fair copying.

re: #38 gmsc

. . . including an actual Clinton!

I actually like that move. If she accepts, I still think it's the end of her POTUS run. I'm probably wrong, but it's a nice thought.

re: #33 Wyatt Earp

Dang. I'm down to my last post-appendectomy percocet, too. Wish I could have a beer - or other fine liquor - soon.

why let that stop ya? %-)

/unless you're on antibiotics..... (they got it before it ruptured, right?)

re: #37 redc1c4

If I was al queda

re: #42 redc1c4

why let that stop ya? %-)

/unless you're on antibiotics..... (they got it before it ruptured, right?)

According to my surgeon, they beat a rupture by a day or so. Scary stuff. Still hurts two-plus weeks later. And I can't play ice hockey again until January. There goes half my season.

re: #33 Wyatt Earp

Dang. I'm down to my last post-appendectomy percocet, too. Wish I could have a beer - or other fine liquor - soon.

#include
;)

re: #39 Rancher

So did Rustler actually get an account yet?

re: #45 gmsc

#include
;)

That. Is. Awesome!

re: #37 redc1c4

RPV was very localized and the wind was blowing it to sea. Not much out there except if the winds had shifted there's the resort being built where Marineland used to be. I did get to see a couple tankers fly over PV, that was cool. They must have doused it quick.

re: #36 Wyatt Earp

I think I heard 31 out of 47 were former Clintonians? That's change for ya!

Change we can believe in!

Well.

/what the [expletive deleted] is happenning?

re: #49 Sharmuta

Change we can believe in!

Change Mange we can believe in!

re: #44 Wyatt Earp

According to my surgeon, they beat a rupture by a day or so. Scary stuff. Still hurts two-plus weeks later. And I can't play ice hockey again until January. There goes half my season.

beating the rupture is good. peritonitis is a *bad* thing.......

did you get a scope or the more traditional slice him open treatment?

as for the drinking, when you can, i think you will find they made this beer for you....... %-)

Bold prediction:

Your truly will point out the increasing brazenness of the Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa while dining with my family around Christmastime this year. This will be followed by some of my more moonbattier relatives scoffing 'Pirates? With _______ (

re: #46 BlueCanuck

So did Rustler actually get an account yet?

I got him registered but he can't pull up the e-mail confirmation for some reason. Maybe I screwed up the address but I don't think I did. I'll e-mail Charles to maybe look into it.

re: #52 redc1c4

beating the rupture is good. peritonitis is a *bad* thing.......

did you get a scope or the more traditional slice him open treatment?

as for the drinking, when you can, i think you will find they made this beer for you....... %-)

I am a bastard, but I hope I'm not arrogant. Too stupid and ugly for that.

They went old school. Sliced me up like a Christmas non-denominational ham, and gave me 12 staples as a gift. Fun, fun, fun!

re: #50 Killian Bundy

Well.

/what the [expletive deleted] is happenning?

Well, for one, you're linking to Genesis songs with really bad videos.

/Plus, Phil Collins doesn't sound quite right

re: #56 gmsc

Well, for one, you're linking to Genesis songs with really bad videos.

/Plus, Phil Collins doesn't sound quite right

I heard they may tour with the original group - Peter Gabriel included.

Did I just get censored?

re: #55 Wyatt Earp

Ouch, that sounds like it sucks. Had mine removed when I was driving cab, just before the Christmas rush. Had to take two weeks off, so missed out on that huge cash grab. Take it easy, it will be worth the wait. The good news is you don't have to deal with that problem again.

re: #57 Wyatt Earp

I heard they may tour with the original group - Peter Gabriel included.

Wait - Peter Gabriel was in Genesis?!?

re: #58 Fenway_Nation

What expression did you try to put in?

re: #59 BlueCanuck

Ouch, that sounds like it sucks. Had mine removed when I was driving cab, just before the Christmas rush. Had to take two weeks off, so missed out on that huge cash grab. Take it easy, it will be worth the wait. The good news is you don't have to deal with that problem again.

Thanks. I went back to work on Saturday, but unfortunately, they don't let detectives wear sweats to work. Real pants have been pulling at the incision, so I have had some pain. The good news is that I lost about seven pounds in the hospital Sweet!

re: #60 gmsc

Yeah, back before he went solo. Best move he ever made I think.

re: #48 Mel Lono

RPV was very localized and the wind was blowing it to sea. Not much out there except if the winds had shifted there's the resort being built where Marineland used to be. I did get to see a couple tankers fly over PV, that was cool. They must have doused it quick.

back when i was young and had a future, and Marineland was open, i got to skin dive (in a wet suit) in the main tank..... it was something they did on a routine basis, and i was just finishing my scuba course at the local YMCA. the patch is likely still at the 'rents house. i took my jet fins with me, and while everyone was flopping arond on the surface, i actually was able to power down to the bottom and look out the windows at people..... (no weight belts)

no need to worry about me & fires until you hear that the Hollywood Hills are burning. %-)

re: #60 gmsc

i see the /sarc tag isnt working again..

re: #63 BlueCanuck

Yeah, back before he went solo. Best move he ever made I think.

I've seen them both - Gabriel and Genesis without - and love them. Together? I'm not sure, but the novelty of it all will draw me in.

re: #61 BlueCanuck

I was just gonna use parenthasees to list the left-wing causes d'jour some of my moonbatty relatives embrace wholeheratedly that they think is more important than highly-organized criminal attacks on international shipping.

re: #63 BlueCanuck

Yeah, back before he went solo. Best move he ever made I think.

I love his solo songs, especially Blood of Eden and Steam.

re: #56 gmsc

re: #56 gmsc

Well, for one, you're linking to Genesis songs with really bad videos.

/Plus, Phil Collins doesn't sound quite right

Peter Gabriel is Genesis.

/but if you prefer Phil Colinns and company staking out the British identity, in no uncertain terms, for the next 50 years, enjoy

re: #55 Wyatt Earp

I am a bastard, but I hope I'm not arrogant. Too stupid and ugly for that.

They went old school. Sliced me up like a Christmas non-denominational ham, and gave me 12 staples as a gift. Fun, fun, fun!

and that's why you're still in pain....... what i thought.

Stone makes damn good beer though, but it might be tough to get back there in the sticks.

re: #68 gmsc

I love his solo songs, especially Blood of Eden and Steam.

Steam is terrific.

re: #64 redc1c4

Most teens had jobs there when I was growing up. Me, I chose to pull weeds for the city, learned to drive a skip loader at sixteen, and it got me to the beach by three.

re: #57 Wyatt Earp

I heard they may tour with the original group - Peter Gabriel included.

/don't lick your chops

re: #70 redc1c4

and that's why you're still in pain....... what i thought.

Stone makes damn good beer though, but it might be tough to get back there in the sticks.

I can find Rogue Dead Guy Ale at some places just outside Philly. I'll wager I can find that somewhere. It'll be my trek of the week! Thanks!

re: #56 gmsc

Well, for one, you're linking to Genesis songs with really bad videos.

/Plus, Phil Collins doesn't sound quite right

best critique of his alleged skills i've ever read.

ona scale of 1 to 10, i give him a "gag".

(Genisis too. %-)

/white smoke

re: #54 Rancher

I got him registered but he can't pull up the e-mail confirmation for some reason. Maybe I screwed up the address but I don't think I did. I'll e-mail Charles to maybe look into it.

Try the re-confirm registration link in the log in box. I think you need to be logged out to see it.

re: #67 Fenway_Nation

I was just gonna use parenthasees to list the left-wing causes d'jour some of my moonbatty relatives embrace wholeheratedly that they think is more important than highly-organized criminal attacks on international shipping.

Here's one for you:

When you can hijack whole countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, and are aiming for Iran and Pakistan, when you call Kashmir your inalienable part, why do you take ire at mere pirates capturing a few a nibbles here and there?

LLL comment at the pirate article I was reading, Iranian grain ship seized as Somali pirates hold world to ransom.

Must've been some wierd formatting deal........

re: #65 Mel Lono

i see the /sarc tag isnt working again..

The first time I ever heard of Genesis was when "Land of Confusion" came out. Ever since that came out, I've always thought of Genesis as Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins.

Well, 3am is my limit. Good night, all. Thanks for (once again) tolerating my nonsense!

re: #76 Sharmuta

We did that. :(

Night Wyatt, weet dreams. I hope your incision doesn't take too much more battering.

Oh the irony. When a consumer is having a tough time financially, he is told that he doesn't qualify for the zero or low-interest loan because he is a risk.

Now we have the auto industry having a tough time financially and they expect to receive a low-interest loan from the tax payers (consumers). Has anyone thought about telling them "Sorry you are just too risky, you don't qualify for a bailout"

re: #83 krycek

Oh the irony. When a consumer is having a tough time financially, he is told that he doesn't qualify for the zero or low-interest loan because he is a risk.

Now we have the auto industry having a tough time financially and they expect to receive a low-interest loan from the tax payers (consumers). Has anyone thought about telling them "Sorry you are just too risky, you don't qualify for a bailout"

only everyone with an IQ larger than their hat size.....

(which leaves out most of Congress, the MSM, and UAW leadership. %-)

bonus points if you know what UAW stands for.....

The Musical Box

/in the beginning, before they were three

re: #77 Rancher

I have an uncle who thinks anyone who has so much as a single-shot deer hunting rifle is going to be the next Timothy McVeigh. He was lecturing me on the evils of handguns on Christmas eve a few years ago with the news on in the background, saying that only the police and National Guard should keep weapons.

I flippantly said something along the lines of how Bonnie & Clyde, the Barkers or Machine Gun Kelley were brazen enough to raid police stations or Nat'l Guard armories back in the day and abscond with the weapons....but couldn't come up with a more recent example than that.

Not even 5 minutes after I conceded that point, an item comes on the news that apparently someone walked into a suburban police station that day and walked away with about two dozen police-issue Glocks from the armory (apparently it wasn't a brazen Bonnie & Clyde type raid, but spoke to incredible incompetence or even complicity on the part of the police to have that happen).

I told my uncle 'Don't worry- I'm sure whoever has 'em will have to pass a background check first'.

re: #84 redc1c4

only everyone with an IQ larger than their hat size.....

(which leaves out most of Congress, the MSM, and UAW leadership. %-)

bonus points if you know what UAW stands for.....

Same as CAW up here in Canuckistan. For some reason their Union leadership always supports the NDP. I know Oshawa where a lot of the union base is tends to go Liberal or Conservative. I remember when one of their union leaders ran as an NDPer and lost to the Conservatives. I guy I was working for at the time wanted to send him a baseball bat after he lost. :)

re: #81 Rancher

Bummer- so close and yet so far away.

re: #86 Fenway_Nation

When I was a kid, one of the corrections screws thought he'd make some extra cash by selling a bunch of Thompson submachineguns from the prison's armory on the local black market. I, unfortunately, only heard about it on the news.

re: #77 Rancher

Operations undertaken by the coalition fleet are fraught with legal difficulties, ranging from restrictive rules of engagement to rights of habeas corpus, as the British Navy discovered when it detained eight pirates after a shootout last week. Yesterday the detainees were passed on to Kenya, where efforts to prosecute them will be closely watched for precedent.

Thanks for the link. I've been following the story and got some good info there. As a Coastguardsman and lawyer, the Law of the Sea has been an enigma to me. In some respects, it limits what nations can do in regards to use of resources, but has nothing to say in this regard. Worth a study. Anybody know where I can get a Grant?

re: #87 BlueCanuck

Same as CAW up here in Canuckistan. For some reason their Union leadership always supports the NDP. I know Oshawa where a lot of the union base is tends to go Liberal or Conservative. I remember when one of their union leaders ran as an NDPer and lost to the Conservatives. I guy I was working for at the time wanted to send him a baseball bat after he lost. :)

well, down here, more and more it stands for "U ain't w*rkin'" so i guess
"Canadians ain't w*rkin" would do.....

they don't agree to some serious restructuring, the joke will come true.

What's in the Fruitcup tonight, red?

re: #90 Mel Lono

Thanks for the link. I've been following the story and got some good info there. As a Coastguardsman and lawyer, the Law of the Sea has been an enigma to me. In some respects, it limits what nations can do in regards to use of resources, but has nothing to say in this regard. Worth a study. Anybody know where I can get a Grant?

the bank..... take them 2 Jacksons and a Hamilton, and tell them you want a Grant. %-)

/white smoke

Whoopi and Sherri Do Not Know the Definition of 'Suffrage' (Video available at link)

For a panel that airs their opinion nationally on regular basis, it is reasonable to expect them to understand basic political terms. Unfortunately, current “View” co-hosts do not. On the November 18 edition of “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg cited an “Advocate” cover headline reading “Gay is the New Black.” Reading the teleprompter, Whoopi stated “some people don’t agree with comparing this to black suffrage,” paused and, in a puzzled state, admitted “I don’t even understand what that word is, suffrage.”

For the record, and to offer Whoopi Goldberg some free elementary school education, the term suffrage according to “Merriam-Webster,” is defined as “the right of voting.”

Sherri Shepherd, who lacks basic information in geography and history, revealed her ignorance in civics and vocabulary. Sherri clumsily tried to define it as “I guess it’s when black people had to, you know, they didn’t want to die for being black.” The other two co-hosts in attendance, Joy Behar (who previously taught English) and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, did not speak up to offer a definition.

The brief exchange follows.

WHOOPI GOLDBERG: The battle for same sex marriage continues. And one of the movement’s mottos is “gay is the new black.” At least that’s what some people are saying. That’s what’s on the cover of “The Advocate” this week. And some people don’t agree with comparing this to black suffrage. I don’t even know if I understand what that word is, suffrage, but I’ll leave it alone, black suffrage.

SHERRI SHEPHERD: I guess it’s when black people had to, you know, they didn’t want to die for being black. They didn’t want to be lynched. They wanted to be able to walk through the front door. They wanted to, you know, you had Jim Crow laws that said you could only, you can not do certain things if you were black.

Related links:
Man Show's classic "End Women's Suffrage" petition
More "End Women's Suffrage" videos
Schoolhouse Rock's "Sufferin' Until Suffrage"

re: #92 Sharmuta

What's in the Fruitcup tonight, red?

yes.

re: #92 Sharmuta

What's in the Fruitcup tonight, red?

Probably exotic ingredients like styrofoam and gasoline.
;)

re: #96 gmsc

Probably exotic ingredients like styrofoam and gasoline.
;)

/that burn long time, fume smell really bad

re: #96 gmsc

Probably exotic ingredients like styrofoam and gasoline.
;)

He's not trying to kill us, just alter our perceptions. Either that or he's part of the lizardoid overlords and. . . . excuse me some one wants into the building.

/white smoke.

re: #94 gmsc

Schoolhouse Rock's "Sufferin' Until Suffrage"

Trivia: The same woman you hear singing in this video, Essra Mohawk, wrote "Change of Heart" for Cyndi Lauper and "Stronger Than The Wind" for Tina Turner.

I am on one of General Motors customer mailing lists. I got a bit steamed when I received an email from their vice president urging me to contact my congressman and voice my support for the bailout. He even provided a link to a GM website with a script in case I needed help finding the words.

I don't feel good about these bailouts.

re: #100 krycek

I think P2B Obama has some money left over from the win.

re: #8 Wyatt Earp

Ya know, if you're going to travel to India - and who the Hell would want to? - at least familiarize yourself with local snack prices!

Actually, India would be a fascinating place to visit. An ancient civilization, that's rapidly dragging itself into the 21st Century. It's not all lepers and beggars in the streets.

Agreed those Dutch tourists were beyond stupid.

Samosas are a tasty snack, even the veggie ones.

Well have to be at a THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION IN A NUTSHELL CLE in 12 hours.

/I suppose I could continue to terrorize you, but why?

re: #100 krycek

I wouldn't be too surprised to see Pinch Sulzburger waiting in line for his bailout.

re: #101 Mel Lono

I think P2B Obama has some money left over from the win.

he gets to keep that, and he's still fundraising.....

you have to admire the audacity of his scam.

(maybe he's actually Nigerian, not Kenyan? %-)

re: #37 redc1c4

the Sylmar fire was in the same Valley as me, Dude, just on the other side, if that's a good enough hint..... i'm guessing the RPV fire was as close to you as it was to me.

the Brea fire was where i had some NG related friends years ago, but i haven't been in touch for years.

what i found interesting was watching what was obviously a new, and from all appearances an unoccupied development have homes succumb to "spot fires"..... as the reporters were saying, the fires were then over 3 miles away.... embers do fly, but in these times, some of us are suspicious...

if i were a fire marshal/arson investigator, i'd be comparing "spot fires" to foreclosure filings and credit reports.

(yes, i *am* that cynical. %-)

Sounds like a definite possibility of financial combustion. (I love that term; deliciously cynical.)

re: #102 Alberta Oil Peon

Always wanted to ride the Darjeeling Toy Train.

re: #95 redc1c4

yes.

Perfect.

re: #108 Sharmuta

Perfect Tommy.

fixed that for ya!

gotta get to bed: the evil one is waking me up before she leaves......

which is different from her waking me up in my chair when she gets up. %-)

/white smoke, weet dreams and modified fruit cup for all!

Night red, keep up the w*rk, or what ever it is you do at times.

/white smoke.

re: #92 Sharmuta

What's in the Fruitcup tonight, red?

re: #95 redc1c4

yes.

No, Yes isn't even at this concert. Who is.
That's what I want to know!

re: #106 Alberta Oil Peon

Sounds like a definite possibility of financial combustion. (I love that term; deliciously cynical.)

DING DING DING we have a winner

re: #112 gmsc

No, Yes isn't even at this concert. Who is.
That's what I want to know!

Heh

re: #114 Sharmuta

Heh

If you like the '60s version of "Who's on first?", you'll love the '80s version!

re: #115 gmsc

Cute, that Abbot and Costello skit have spawned so many copies it's hilarious.

re: #116 BlueCanuck

WHO

re: #117 yochanan

That's right, Who is on first. :D

re: #115 gmsc

If you like the '60s version of "Who's on first?", you'll love the '80s version!

LMAO!

I miss Ronald Reagan and Johnny Carson both.

re: #120 Sharmuta

I miss W already and he's still in office.

re: #10 Dotcoman

As for the One's hiring the Clintonistas, what else is he gonna do? The man has no experience at all, and he has no friends.

On the other hand, he does have some very terrible friends (and "spiritual guides"), so maybe hiring mere Clintonistas should be a relief!

/Then again, maybe not.

Gah, I see with my timezone I'm going to miss a lot of the more juicy threads before they go dead. Is it bad form for me to share here an observation I have formed and built about D.I. supporters?

K.

Physicists for the win!
Also from Bohr:
"Who are you to tell God what to do?"
Addressed to Einstein, after the latter's "God does not play dice with the universe" statement on quantum mechanics.

re: #122 Brit in Japan

It's an open thread. Knock yourself out.

Good morning, afternoon, evening *everyone*!™

Fruitcup is on the buffet -------------------------->
Help yourselves!

Hooray for Fruitcup™!

Morning lol and Lizards. Thanks for the Fruitcup.

Sharmuta! :-)

Erik! :-)

Hooray for the Fruitcup!

Hooray for the.....Indian Navy!?

Morning littleoldlady. Thank you once again for the fruitcup.

Fenway! :-)

BlueCanuck! :-)

re: #129 Fenway_Nation

Go India!

G'Morning, littleoldlady!

The fruitcup is yummy!

gmsc! :-)

re: #129 Fenway_Nation

Hooray for the Fruitcup!

Hooray for the.....Indian Navy!?

As long as ransoms continue to be paid this will not stop. I say that all suspect vessels in that area must be stopped and searched. If they refuse blow it out the water. How the hell do pirates take a Saudi tanker with $100m in crude in this day and age?

re: #86 Fenway_Nation

Your uncle probably had police protection. When we had the ranch nearest town was 15 miles away. Even the town itself had periods when we had no police. Average response time for the State Police was three hours. We had a gas pump at the ranch and sometimes kids would come steal gas. The house got burglarized three times. However when I stayed overnight at the ranch nothing was ever stolen. I can't imagine why.

re: #135 Erik The Red

These days, all they gotta do is get close enough to get on board and overwhelm the crew. I think the crew and officers are encouraged to be passive once the shit hits the fan.

They have the same problems in the Straits of Malacca, too. The pirates can be anyone from gangsters, smugglers, fishermen or even members of the Indonesian Police or Navy.

re: #135 Erik The Red

As long as ransoms continue to be paid this will not stop. I say that all suspect vessels in that area must be stopped and searched. If they refuse blow it out the water. How the hell do pirates take a Saudi tanker with $100m in crude in this day and age?

al-Qaeda marine?

re: #137 Fenway_Nation

Look for actual terrorists to start.

re: #136 Rancher

And I'm sure my uncle would reply 'That's not my problem'

Maybe with a 'You're willing to kill another human being over some gas?' thrown in for good measure.

Oligopoly and the fall of the American automobile industry

I have been meaning to post about this for a while ... it just came back to me in the last few weeks, although there has certainly been plenty to remind me of it over the past several years especially on LGF.

I took community college classes after graduating high school, and in one class I took (can't remember the subject) we had to get together in small groups and prepare a presentation on different topics. My group's topic was defending low tax rates. Somehow I got picked to do the presentation, probably because of my enthusiasm in the discussion (I was a Reagan Republican, after all), although I fumbled it a bit and the other group members had to rescue me.

Anyway, we barely got through the presentation when the instructor, who had been almost brusquely questioning our arguments from the moment we started, actually interrupted us, got up in front of the class, and made an counter-argument for higher taxes. ("What happens if you give money to poor people? They spend it! How does that hurt anybody?")

I remember feeling embarrassed and cowed by the teacher. I didn't have the knowledge (or courage) at the time to stand up to him with an effective rebuttal.

And little did I know that I was watching the Saul Alinsky method at work.

Do not do this for real.

E.D. Hill, Fox Contract Not Renewed. Fired Over Obama Comment?

TVNewser has an exclusive on the final fate of invisible Fox personality E.D. Hill today. Fox has decided not to renew E.D.'s contract, so she will be finally leaving the Fox News Network after being off the air since June.

Some may remember the left-media storm targeting E. D. Hill that occurred back on June 6 when she off handedly said that Barack and Michelle's on stage fist bump was a "terrorist fist jab." The Huffington Post and Media Matters raised a storm of protest and soon after, E.D. Hill lost her Fox show.

Well, it seems to have taken some time, but as TVNewser reports Fox has announced they are not going to renew Hill's contract when it expires early in 2009.

SVP of Programming Bill Shine tells TVNewser that he "chose not to renew E.D.'s latest contract" but noted that "Hill has been a valued contributor to the success of FNC over the years, and we wish her all the best."

Hill officially apologized for the remark soon after the incident in June.

re: #5 calcajun

No, more of the MSM failed to do their job and report on BHO. They truly failed to clearly express anything.

Now, the more things change the more they stay the same. BHO's White House is looking very Clinton-like.

And, seriously, all I can say for that is THANK GOD. The alternative is honestly too horrible to countenance.

re: #144 gmsc

E.D. Hill, Fox Contract Not Renewed. Fired Over Obama Comment?

You WILL be silenced!

re: #72 Mel Lono

Most teens had jobs there when I was growing up. Me, I chose to pull weeds for the city, learned to drive a skip loader at sixteen, and it got me to the beach by three.

Cutting grass for the city. Paper route. Janitorial in two candy shops.

re: #144 gmsc

Personally- I thought she was an idiot for years and this is probably a good move for fox.

re: #145 funky chicken

And, seriously, all I can say for that is THANK GOD. The alternative is honestly too horrible to countenance.

I wonder if they'll be able to double the number of raw FBI files they'll get to peruse. Ah- the Clinton years. Good times, good times.....

re: #145 funky chicken

And, seriously, all I can say for that is THANK GOD. The alternative is honestly too horrible to countenance.

I think it will be different in some key ways. Not even a modicum of support for Israel, hostility to free markets (Clinton was actually pro-NAFTA, etc.), and a willingness to use any methods available to silence the opposition. Clinton for all his faults still respected free speech and all that jazz. Obama and crew and their supporters are by and large very ugly people who mean business and have little respect for the Constitution if they even know what it is.

Imagine you have a dog, and that dog is faced with a javelina. The dog fights the javelina, and successfully defends his territory.

OK, the dog not only needs stitches, but also one of those collar things to prevent them from biting the stitches out.

Isn't having to wear the cone humiliating enough for the dog? Do we really have to take the humiliation to the next level?

re: #94 gmsc

Anyone who doesn't know the meaning of the word "suffrage" should not be allowed to vote.

re: #148 Sharmuta

Personally- I thought she was an idiot for years and this is probably a good move for fox.

You're probably right. I've seen the "fist bump" thing, and to this day think it's one of the stupidest gestures invented, but "terrorist fist bump"?!?

re: #152 The Other Les

Anyone who doesn't know the meaning of the word "suffrage" should not be allowed to vote.

That reminds me of the Tom Green bit where he tried to get people to sign a petition to stop women's suffrage. Some people understood, but most didn't.

I have never heard of javelina, and the first thing that came to mind was that the dog got impaled by a spear that dared intrude into his territory.

re: #151 gmsc

Imagine you have a dog, and that dog is faced with a javelina. The dog fights the javelina, and successfully defends his territory.

OK, the dog not only needs stitches, but also one of those collar things to prevent them from biting the stitches out.

Isn't having to wear the cone humiliating enough for the dog? Do we really have to take the humiliation to the next level?

re: #152 The Other Les

Anyone who doesn't know the meaning of the word "suffrage" should not be allowed to vote.

It means "We suffer, and therefore we rage!"

re: #152 The Other Les

Anyone who doesn't know the meaning of the word "suffrage" should not be allowed to vote.

I can't help but wonder what would've happened if someone had gone on the View as a guest, and said they supported and encouraged black suffrage. Can you imagine their reaction if someone said that black suffrage should occur as long as America is around, and that they supported the expansion of black suffrage around the world?

Ending Women's Suffrage.

re: #154 Sharmuta

That reminds me of the Tom Green bit where he tried to get people to sign a petition to stop women's suffrage. Some people understood, but most didn't.

re: #94 gmsc

Man Show's classic "End Women's Suffrage" petition
More "End Women's Suffrage" videos
Schoolhouse Rock's "Sufferin' Until Suffrage"

re: #158 Erik The Red

Ending Women's Suffrage.

I like that version of the "Ending Women's Suffrage" petition the best. It's at an all-woman school that is supposed to have high standards!

re: #157 gmsc

Oh yes!

re: #155 Tigger2005

I have never heard of javelina, and the first thing that came to mind was that the dog got impaled by a spear that dared intrude into his territory.

You're not that far off . . .

re: #161 The Other Les

Oh yes!

We need to get a fund together to pay the first person who is willing to go on the View, and get all the hosts (each audience member would be a bonus) to sign a petition to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide.

re: #157 gmsc

I can't help but wonder what would've happened if someone had gone on the View as a guest, and said they supported and encouraged black suffrage. Can you imagine their reaction if someone said that black suffrage should occur as long as America is around, and that they supported the expansion of black suffrage around the world?

Actually, a former friend and mentor, when he was starting his fall into the Neonazi sinkhole also decided that Women's Suffrage was a bad idea and must be repealed. He would have to use Whoopi as evidence for his argument.

This has been around for a while but its worth watching again and again. Man I love the bush and am going to miss it when I return to the US next year.
Battle at Kruger

re: #163 gmsc

We need to get a fund together to pay the first person who is willing to go on the View, and get all the hosts (each audience member would be a bonus) to sign a petition to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide.

. . . or quiz them on the record of the Electoral College's football team, or whether it's OK to give a kid interjections without the parent's approval, or . . .

re: #129 Fenway_Nation

Hooray for the Fruitcup!

Hooray for the.....Indian Navy!?

awesome. a couple more of these, please. the Saudis can afford to "hire" Indian Navy vessels to act as escorts for their tankers in these waters....of course, as long as they think the USA will do it for them for free, they won't be willing to deal with the Hindu government, IMHO

I'd like to think Admiral Mullen is only feigning impotence in the face of these pirates in the hopes that others will step up to fill the void.

The Sauds also have plenty of money to arm their tankers and hire retired US Navy and Coast Guard folks to man the batteries. And the wankers in the UN and the OIS won't tear into the Sauds if they kill lots of Somalis.

Good night, all!

Night gmsc. Weet dreams.

Help me- I'm suffraging!

re: #167 funky chicken

It's odd how so many countries with conflicting interests (USA, the Saudis, Russia, Iran, China, India, the EU) could all mutually benefit from a clampdown on the Somali pirates.

re: #124 Sharmuta

It's an open thread. Knock yourself out.

Ok, thanks Sharmuta, here's what I think.

"Creationism" was unknown to me until LGF introduced the subject. So, as usual (I've been a reader for a long time) I would thoroughly read the links in the threads and get up to speed on the subject, then form an opinion.

After a while it seemed to me that there were two kinds of creationism supporters.

1. The True Believers: People who took the Biblical/other story literally and simply discounted the mountains of scientific evidence as faked (He moves in mysterious ways afterall, and this was all a big test of our faith). These people never even try to promote actually teaching the ID stuff in classrooms, but just quietly object in their own way, never even trying to refute the science.

2. The other kind: These posters would post so-called scientific objections, always, always based on misinformation from AiG websites.

It's the second kind I found interesting. Again and again, they will rather feebly regurgitate the same talking points, only for posters like Salamantis, or Charles himself, to reply and demolish the arguments with reams of bona-fide links that cannot be disputed.

Then, when the next bit of creationist news is posted by Charles, it's like someone clicks the reset button and they regurgitate the same old (refuted) arguments again (sometimes thinly veiled in different terms or with different links, yet ultimately sending us back to the AiG).

Now, the way they speak (type?) makes me think they are neither stupid nor possessed of a memory like a goldfish, so I started to think these people are doing this deliberately.

They are consciously, brazenly, disregarding previous arguments on the subject, which only leads me to the conclusion that they are basically being dishonest. They themselves don’t really believe in what they are saying. They know it's a load of tripe.

They know the arguments hold no water, have been systematically destroyed many times before, yet persist in unashamedly vomiting it up again, as if they were fresh.

Why would they be so dishonest? This is my question to you learned lizards. Are they trolls (simply trying to rattle the lizards for a false argument)? Or are they being paid - yes paid – to try and sow false seeds of doubt at every opportunity? What other motivations can you think of?

I guess I understand why Charles would not ban such shenanigans immediately: It's good to have these guys around to constantly destroy, in order to spread the word to those unsure Honest Concerned Christian readers, who understandably worry about that sinister ID crap about how accepting the fact of evolution makes us bad people. But I am wondering why the lizards – us – don't call them out on this dishonesty and ostracise them immediately.

/Then again, many of us do. So how much do they get paid? Is it worth it?

K.

re: #141 Erik The Red

Great article. My favorite bit:

The days of the automobile oligopoly are gone forever, barring the kind of protectionism that would send the world into a global depression. If GM, Ford, and Chrysler are to survive and become self-sustaining, they must adopt structures, practices and a mindset different from those of a member of an oligopoly. The size of the world automobile industry has attracted a host of new entrants, with more certain to come in the decades ahead. But GM, Ford, and Chrysler remain burdened by the obligations incurred to labor and distribution. Unless those obligations are severed in voluntary bankruptcy proceedings, the three companies will remain handicapped in their competition with foreign producers, even those manufacturing in the United States.

It is conceivable that a major company can throw off the habits and mentality of the past. Sometimes companies do renew themselves, cognizant of the evanescence of success and the threat of competitive extinction. That is a challenging task under the best of circumstances, and success is far from certain. Sometimes the change comes via bankruptcy, and new management comes in and changes operations radically. The new boss cajoles or threatens the workforce into leaving old habits and procedures behind. The prospect that the company will fail and be dissolved, with everyone losing their jobs, is the motivation for accepting unwelcome change in these cases.

But if the federal treasury is believed to be on tap, it is much less likely that the Big Three will be able to right their ways, no matter how sincere the intentions of everyone involved. Competitiveness in the global automobile industry is a moving target. Continuous improvement (kaizen) is a way of life now for everyone. Only the lean survive.

I suggest that GM and Ford go ahead and declare Chapter 11, and ASAP. The UAW needs to be put on the hot seat, and Chris Dodd's tirade against the execs coupled with Paulson's sudden decision to become tightfisted with his bailout piggy bank give them the perfect opportunity to do so.

Going bankrupt would allow them to jettison factories and headquarters in Michigan, in addition to the insane UAW obligations. Both GM and Ford have assembly plants outside of Detroit, and I'm sure local/state governments would be thrilled to offer them the same sweetheart incentives that they offered Japanese and Korean automakers when they were competing to win factories for their towns. The Hundai factory in Montgomery, AL has been a huge boon for the economy there, as is the new Kia factory for the Columbus, GA area.

If they are going to do it, they need to get it done ASAP. An Obama administration will force them to keep the UAW contracts as they are, IMHO.

re: #173 funky chicken

Would tend to agree. With all the bailout talks across the whole economy and so many different doomsday scenarios who the hell do you believe? I look forward to 3Woods daily updates as he seems to be less emotional about things.

re: #150 Tigger2005

Which is why I am less afraid with every warmed over Clintonite hack he hires to important positions. Maybe he's only hiring the ones who chafed under the pro-American "moderate" bit that Bill Clinton forced them to wear....but at least they know something about how government works.

The alternative really is folks like Bill Ayers...which is why I say it is too awful to countenance.

Morning Lizards, any fruitcup left?

Good morning, Lizards!

I'm right behind you, rightside!

re: #177 goddessoftheclassroom

Good morning goddess.

re: #172 Brit in Japan

Wow! You should share your opinions more often.

re: #177 goddessoftheclassroom

Good morning!

re: #177 goddessoftheclassroom

Ladies first, please.

Morning rightside, {goddess}. You two enjoying your global warming climate change?

re: #171 Fenway_Nation

It's odd how so many countries with conflicting interests (USA, the Saudis, Russia, Iran, China, India, the EU) could all mutually benefit from a clampdown on the Somali pirates.

Yes, as long as the US taxpayer and the US Navy don't carry the burden for the rest of them for free any more. Like I said, I really, really do hope that Admiral Mullen is crazy like a fox in his statements that the US Navy can't do anything about these losers. My worry is that he is just bowing to pressure from our "allies" in places like Saudi Arabia who have demanded that we don't kill any of the poor misunderstood, suffering muslim pirates.

re: #182 BlueCanuck

Morning rightside, {goddess}. You two enjoying your global warming climate change?

{BlueCanuck}
{Erik The Red}
{Sharmuta}

The snowshowers are kind of pretty--it's like living in a snow globe. As log as there's no accumulation, I don't mind.

re: #174 Erik The Red

Delta Airlines bankruptcy:

[Link: money.cnn.com...]

Delta has shed about one jet in six used by its mainline operations at the time of the bankruptcy filing, and it has cut more than 20 percent of the 60,000 employees it had at that time.

Delta's domestic capacity is down about 10 percent since its bankruptcy, allowing it to fill about 84 percent of its seats on U.S. routes in the most recent month, compared to only 72 percent the month it filed for bankruptcy. That has helped it receive 15 percent more per mile flown by passengers in the most recent quarter, compared to the quarter in which it filed for bankruptcy.

But because Delta was able to emerge from bankruptcy as an independent airline, holding off a hostile bid by rival US Airways, many markets that could have seen significantly less competition and even higher fares now still have a choice of air carriers. That is particularly true in many markets in the East.

Delta, which got its name from its roots as a mail carrier in the Louisiana Delta in the early days of commercial aviation, will have $2.5 billion exit financing to fund operations and a cost structure about $3 billion a year less than when it went into bankruptcy, according to the airline.

Among the moves it made was turning over its underfunded pilots' pension plans to a federal pension agency, while winning concessions on wages and work rules from its pilots.

Shares of its new stock, which is being issued to Delta creditors, started trading on a "when issued" basis last Thursday. It is due to start trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday under its old DAL symbol. Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge Adlai Hardin gave final approval to its reorganization plan last week, after he rejected four final objections filed by bondholders and shareholders who complained that they weren't being treated fairly.

The company had to fight off a takeover effort by US Airways Group (Charts, Fortune 500), which made a $10 billion cash-and-stock offer for its larger East Coast rival. Delta management had to convince creditors that it would become more valuable as an independent carrier than it would in the combination. US Air eventually dropped its takeover efforts in January.

Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein, who testified before Congress as he led efforts to hold off the US Airways takeover bid, is expected to retire as soon as a successor is found. He has said he prefers some from inside Delta.

Delta filed for bankruptcy protection the same day as Northwest Airlines, which is still working to emerge from bankruptcy itself. Low airfares on falling demand for air travel starting in early 2001, coupled with a spike in jet fuel prices, also caused United Airlines and US Air to go into bankruptcy over the last five years.

Among U.S. airlines, Delta trails only No. 1 American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp. (Charts, Fortune 500) and No. 2 United, a unit of UAL Corp (Charts, Fortune 500)., in terms of miles flown by paying passengers.

But it has faced growing competition from low fare carriers, particularly JetBlue Airways (Charts) and AirTran Airways (Charts).

re: #182 BlueCanuck

it is -2C here, a rare heat wave cold snap for my locale. algore is a charlatan.

re: #186 rightside

Ah, heck. We all knew that. He's a democrat after all. Currently -8 here in Balmy southern Ontario.

re: #174 Erik The Red

Would tend to agree. With all the bailout talks across the whole economy and so many different doomsday scenarios who the hell do you believe?

Seeing the news, I'm starting to believe the big 3 (Car manufacturers) are looking at the bailouts given the banks and wanting a piece of the pie. And who can blame them? The threat of mass layoffs is a big motivation for the government. And if the US government resists, the car companies (perhaps with some justification) can claim favouritism.

/And then, who's next?

K.

re: #185 funky chicken

If it can be done in the airline industry than the motor industry must follow the same course. If the fed bails out the big 3 who's next?

I found these election results very intersting, especially CO, CA (more conservative than South Dakota?), and SD

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

re: #188 Brit in Japan

Not just the companies themselves, but the unions want this bailout. Imagine how the colsings and layoffs will effect the unions.

Of course- it's the unions fault, but that's another issue. They'll be pressuring certain people to back this second dose of bullsh*t foisted on the taxpayers.

re: #188 Brit in Japan

We play you guys this weekend. Care to place a same wager on the out come?

re: #192 Erik The Red

We play you guys this weekend. Care to place a same wager on the out come?

Rugby. I am currently in S.Africa and love the game. Boks vs. The Poms on Sat. afternoon

Written by Mitt Romney.
Let Detroit Go Bankrupt

Sharmuta, do you ever sleep? I am having a nice bout of insomnia tonight myself....

Now that the Big 3 CEOs went to Capitol Hill to beg for the bailout, and got stiffed by (IMHO partners in crime) Hank Paulson and Chris Dodd, they have every excuse to say F it and declare bankruptcy. But they need to do it ASAP.

Dodd hollered about their insensitivity to the dangers of global warming, of course. [self deleted]

re: #188 Brit in Japan

Philadelphia:-(

Best part:
The American auto industry is vital to our national interest as an employer and as a hub for manufacturing. A managed bankruptcy may be the only path to the fundamental restructuring the industry needs. It would permit the companies to shed excess labor, pension and real estate costs. The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk.

In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check.

re: #189 Erik The Red

If it can be done in the airline industry than the motor industry must follow the same course. If the fed bails out the big 3 who's next?

ME!

Good morning, ya'll.

re: #193 Erik The Red

Rugby. I am currently in S.Africa and love the game. Boks vs. The Poms on Sat. afternoon

It will come down to the scrums. If Steenkamp's in you got a good chance.

I like games against SA. No funny business. Good luck to you guys, but I think England will steal it. An electronic pint of pale ale on the result?

*Sings "Swing Chariots"*

K.

re: #191 Sharmuta

Not just the companies themselves, but the unions want this bailout. Imagine how the colsings and layoffs will effect the unions.

Of course- it's the unions fault, but that's another issue. They'll be pressuring certain people to back this second dose of bullsh*t foisted on the taxpayers.

The major reason I could get behind the Big 3 bailout? Because that would be 25 billion less that Hank and/or his successor had in the piggy bank to hand out to Goldman Sachs and its friends. At least a Big 3 bailout would have some benefit for middle class US citizens.

shrug...but it will be better for the health of the companies if they go ahead and file now. Screw the UAW. And screw their democrat enablers.

We'll see if the Big 3 CEOs really want to be competitive or not.

Best Monk quote:

I was born vaginally. I was raised cesarean.

Adrian Monk

re: #195 funky chicken

Sleep?

re: #200 Brit in Japan

It will come down to the scrums. If Steenkamp's in you got a good chance.

I like games against SA. No funny business. Good luck to you guys, but I think England will steal it. An electronic pint of pale ale on the result?

*Sings "Swing Chariots"*

K.

Make it a 6 pack and you're on. Steenkamp is on his way home. Smit at hooker. than Beast and Jannie Du Plessie.

re: #196 Bumr50

Philadelphia:-(

?

K.

re: #197 Erik The Red

Best part:
The American auto industry is vital to our national interest as an employer and as a hub for manufacturing. A managed bankruptcy may be the only path to the fundamental restructuring the industry needs. It would permit the companies to shed excess labor, pension and real estate costs. The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk.

In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check.

As I understand it, and I am open to correction, Detroit's labor cost on current employees is roughly in line with their foreign competition. The problem seems to lie in the wildly generous contracts covering past retirees.

Try to cut that, and I predict a flood of sob stories in the media about poor, starving retirees eating cat food.

The concept of saving during the fat years to cover the lean years is unknown in modern society. So antiquated. So...oh, look. A Pony!

re: #194 Erik The Red

Written by Mitt Romney.
Let Detroit Go Bankrupt

Romney goes a little easy on the UAW in that piece. But he's absolutely correct that management needs to get rid of the corporate jets and other stupid perks.

Not that AIG did or anything. [self deleted]

It's good to be a friend of Hank Paulson, apparently.

Good piece in today's WSJ on the bailout: Obama Hears a Giant Sucking Sound.

[T]he really giant sucking sound is the auto sector, getting ready to gobble up whatever hopes Mr. Obama might have had for an ambitious, forward-looking presidency.

He and Nancy Pelosi naturally insist that any "bailout" must hit multiple bogies. They want UAW jobs to be preserved. They want the shibboleth of energy independence advanced. They want "green" cars to please the Tom Friedmans of the world. They want to tell taxpayers they're getting more for their money than just a bailout of Detroit.

All this makes sense to a politician, but not to any practical person, who knows that multiple bogies are bound to be conflicting bogies. You could just barely envision a bailout that wouldn't necessarily be a disastrous waste of money, one that would help Detroit create a competitive cost structure in pursuit of building products that are competitive in the marketplace. But this is just the opposite of what Mr. Obama and his Democrats have in mind.

Prepare to witness, then, the awesome capacity of an unreformed Detroit to consume taxpayer billions with nothing to show for it.

re: #171 Fenway_Nation

It's odd how so many countries with conflicting interests (USA, the Saudis, Russia, Iran, China, India, the EU) could all mutually benefit from a clampdown on the Somali pirates.

Some of them will benefit from spiking prices during a 'crisis'.

Though I don't really see how higher prices would help SA and Iran if they can't ship oil. Russia, I can see how they profit.

re: #197 Erik The Red

Best part:
The American auto industry is vital to our national interest as an employer and as a hub for manufacturing. A managed bankruptcy may be the only path to the fundamental restructuring the industry needs. It would permit the companies to shed excess labor, pension and real estate costs. The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk.

In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check.

Now we are talking! Letting the business focus on the business of making cars...who knew? Until they remember they are a business and the people they employ understand the same thing, the situation will not improve. And if you are not profitable in place A, try place B. The business must become lean to survive.

If you match the quarterly losses with the numbers being kicked around by Congress for the bailout, you understand that any bailout will not do anything but negate the debt of one quarter...maybe not more then 30 days....and then they are back in the same situation. A bailout is a lose-lose proposal.

(Mitt would have been a much better choice for Pres. as he actually has a grasp of the economy.)

A last thought before I go.

Since the inception of the Jewish nation, America has been supportive (in varying degrees, admittedly) of it. I really don't see why a reported 78% of American Jews wanted change.

Sadly, even with Mr. Emmanuel in his position of power, we may now see for once and all whether plucky little Israel really can defeat the combined might of the Mussellmen.

re: #205 Brit in Japan

Philadelphia.

re: #204 Erik The Red

Make it a 6 pack and you're on. Steenkamp is on his way home. Smit at hooker. than Beast and Jannie Du Plessie.

I've just polished off a 6-pack of Japanese Yebisu Red so I'm drunk and nothing henceforth will be admissible. But, yeah, Smit is a World-Cup-winning Captain, so I'm not entirely convicted - err, what? - but I still think England will do it.

"Penalties are our specialty!" - in a bad Obiwan Kenobi impression...

K.

re: #206 razorbacker

I posted a link and excerpt from an article about Delta AL's bankruptcy up thread. A couple of main points:

Among the moves it made was turning over its underfunded pilots' pension plans to a federal pension agency, while winning concessions on wages and work rules from its pilots.

and

Delta filed for bankruptcy protection the same day as Northwest Airlines, which is still working to emerge from bankruptcy itself. Low airfares on falling demand for air travel starting in early 2001, coupled with a spike in jet fuel prices, also caused United Airlines and US Air to go into bankruptcy over the last five years.

Among U.S. airlines, Delta trails only No. 1 American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp. (Charts, Fortune 500) and No. 2 United, a unit of UAL Corp (Charts, Fortune 500)., in terms of miles flown by paying passengers.

I wonder how the UAW bosses felt about Chris Dodd's idiotic rant at the Big 3 CEOs yesterday. My guess is that they are so stupid and arrogant that they were cheering him the whole time. It's possible he did it at their behest to try to divert attention to the union's culpability in all this ... that meme was starting to take hold even among some democrats, which I found interesting.

But now that congressional democrats chose to savage the Big 3 CEOs instead of giving them the bailout, they really should just file bankruptcy.

Good morning folks.

Look for the market to open down, as the over night futures are down between 1.5% and 2% and the Nikkei and Hang Seng had another losing session.

re: #187 BlueCanuck

But I'm in the south!

re: #216 rightside

Oh you poor bastidge. That means you probably aren't used to it then. May I suggest buying some winter woolies?

The sun is arising, and so too must I.

This ailing economy might be a little easier to turn around if America still had the robust manufactering base of the past. An economy based on generating ever-more-esoteric loans and selling each other burgers and fries seems to be prone to catching every llittle bug that goes around.

That said, I actually worked on factory floors in my much younger days.

I hated it like God hates sin.

See y'all later.

re: #215 3 wood

Morning 3wood. What is you're take on bailing out the big 3? Will it happen or will the Fed allow them to sort there own shit out?

re: #212 Bumr50

Philadelphia.

You know a campaign headed by mayor "Nutter", in order to find funds for a "lame-duck" session, is not going to convince many, right?

/Then again, you may be right, everyone jump on the free-money-merry-go-round!

K.

re: #215 3 wood

Good morning folks.

Look for the market to open down, as the over night futures are down between 1.5% and 2% and the Nikkei and Hang Seng had another losing session.

Mornin 3 Wood
Love your market updates - keep em coming.

re: #215 3 wood

Thanks for the update. Probably people taking profit from the up stuff yesterday.

re: #217 BlueCanuck
LOL, I grew up in western NY, so I know snow and cold! As a yoot, I used to drive 10 mins over to the brewers retail in Fort Erie, Ont. to pick up some Molson Brador, XXX, and John Labatt's Extra Stock.

It rarely snows here where I live, and if it does, it's in Jan/Feb. Yesterday there were very light flurries. That's unheard of for this time of year!

Good Morning Lizards!

It is a cold morning up here in CT. 25 degrees when I left the house at 6:00. Highs predicted to be in the mid 30's. It finally feels like Thanksgiving is coming so I changed my avatar to coincide with the season.

I hope everyone is well this morning.

re: #224 Ford_Prefect

LOL, and you probably have "Bert is Evil" bookmarked as well. Morning Ford.

I waded through a lot of the Congressional testimony on the auto bail out, and here's the bottom line, folks.

I saw absolutely nothing in the testimony by the auto makers about changing their business practices to be more competitive. In fact, I read where they said that the think their business model right now is good and competitive.

These people are living in a dreamworld. It's like watching Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares and the owner of a failing restaurant he's helping is insisting the restaurant does not have to change.

Earth to auto companies, you are on the verge of bankruptcy now. What you are doing is not working. Wake up.

OK, so what if we give them the $25 billion, then what? At the rate these companies are chewing through their cash, they will run through that $25 billion by late spring, and then they would be back with their hands out looking for more. And we would be supporting them until the entire country folds up.

There is no good end for this situation, my friends. I say let the auto makers go bankrupt and restructure. That is their only hope of maybe getting their act together.

One big improvement to the situation though, would be if Congress would back off all the EPA restrictions on cars.

well, gonna try to get a little nap before I have to get up for the day.

see you later.

re: #219 Erik The Red

Morning 3wood. What is you're take on bailing out the big 3? Will it happen or will the Fed allow them to sort there own shit out?

It always boils down to votes, and at this point I don't think they have the votes.

re: #215 3 wood

Good morning folks.

Look for the market to open down, as the over night futures are down between 1.5% and 2% and the Nikkei and Hang Seng had another losing session.

The ASX was down only 0.7%

Although the ASX has lost half it's value in the last twelve months.

re: #221 monkeytime

Mornin 3 Wood
Love your market updates - keep em coming.

Very gracious of you to say so, thank you.

re: #226 3 wood

See? That's why people ask you questions instead of me. I just say, "Fuck 'em.".

re: #224 Ford_Prefect

My future in-laws live in Ashford. Are you close?

I want to be warmer, where the hell is the government?

re: #225 BlueCanuck

LOL, and you probably have "Bert is Evil" bookmarked as well. Morning Ford.

I had never seen Bert is Evil before but I just Googled it and that is hysterical. Thanks for the tip.

What's this"Cheney and Gonzalez Indicted" nonsense?

re: #229 Crux Australis

The ASX was down only 0.7%

Although the ASX has lost half it's value in the last twelve months.

Yes, while the losses continue, the volatility seems to be lessening. The VIX (volatility index) was up to 89 just a month ago, now it's down in the 67 point range. Still alarmingly high, but dropping bit by bit.

re: #232 Bumr50

My future in-laws live in Ashford. Are you close?

Ashford is in the Notheast corner of the state. I live more in the center and work more to the west. Of course with the size of CT nothing is very far. Ashford is probably only 30-40 minutes away from where I live.

re: #235 Bumr50

What's this"Cheney and Gonzalez Indicted" nonsense?

It's a wacked out local prosecutor ignoring Federal law and showing boat for the View, KOS and Huff Po crowd. He does not have a leg to stand on.

re: #233 lifeofthemind

I want to be warmer, where the hell is the government?

If Bush hadn't stolen the election in 2000 then Gore would have brought his global warming to the nation. Since he lost he decided to take it and go home to Mars.

///

re: #237 Ford_Prefect

Guy walks into a bar on Mars. Sits down, strikes up conversation with an alien. Alien says "Where you from?" Man says, "Earth." Alien says, "Earth? Really? Do you know Felix Gunderson?...."

re: #226 3 wood

I waded through a lot of the Congressional testimony on the auto bail out, and here's the bottom line, folks.
. . .
There is no good end for this situation, my friends. I say let the auto makers go bankrupt and restructure. That is their only hope of maybe getting their act together.

One big improvement to the situation though, would be if Congress would back off all the EPA restrictions on cars.

And yet another morning during which I appreciate your analysis of things.

I agree with you about backing off the EPA restrictions. For one thing, they are costly to consumers, not the auto industry.

But the 2nd thing - very often regulations stifle creativity. People do indeed want cars that pollute less. If the automakers weren't being RESTRICTED by regulations, perhaps they could become more creative in the pollution solutions and provide better and less-costly solutions. Maybe I'm dreaming, though . . .

re: #235 Bumr50

What's this"Cheney and Gonzalez Indicted" nonsense?

Read the link. Local DA was under indictment for this and that. Lost his election and as a consolation prize got his indictment squashed. Shows what a class act he is by getting a Grand Jury to indict everyone in America who wasn't blogging at HuffPo. More or less.

I do have an idea for saving a lot of money out of the Federal budget. Obama proved that you can work full time at something else (like running for President since day one) and still be a Senator.

Therefore, I say we turn being a Senator into a part time gig, cut off their health insurance and pension benefits, pay them $10 an hour when they are on the clock and a per diem for travel.

At that, it's more than I think they are worth.

re: #239 Ford_Prefect

If Bush hadn't stolen the election in 2000 then Gore would have brought his global warming to the nation. Since he lost he decided to take it and go home to Mars.

///

I was afraid that Algore was coming to town its so cold.

re: #243 3 wood

I do have an idea for saving a lot of money out of the Federal budget. Obama proved that you can work full time at something else (like running for President since day one) and still be a Senator.

Therefore, I say we turn being a Senator into a part time gig, cut off their health insurance and pension benefits, pay them $10 an hour when they are on the clock and a per diem for travel.

At that, it's more than I think they are worth.

YES!

And, cut out their health insurance.

re: #241 reine.de.tout

But the 2nd thing - very often regulations stifle creativity. People do indeed want cars that pollute less. If the automakers weren't being RESTRICTED by regulations, perhaps they could become more creative in the pollution solutions and provide better and less-costly solutions. Maybe I'm dreaming, though . . .

Actually, you can take an older car from the 60's from before all this anti-pollution crap got put in it, tune it up, and it will generally register less emissions than a car from today. I've seen it done.

re: #246 3 wood

Actually, you can take an older car from the 60's from before all this anti-pollution crap got put in it, tune it up, and it will generally register less emissions than a car from today. I've seen it done.

Hm. Didn't know that. And there you have it, folks.

Got to get ready for work. Later.

re: #240 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Guy walks into a bar on Mars. Sits down, strikes up conversation with an alien. Alien says "Where you from?" Man says, "Earth." Alien says, "Earth? Really? Do you know Felix Gunderson?...."

LOL. Morning FBV.

re: #245 MandyManners

Morning Mandy.

re: #249 Ford_Prefect

Funny avatar there.

Hey. Where did everyone go?

Does anyone know if this is still happening today?

re: #251 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Funny avatar there.

Thanks. It seemed festive.

re: #252 Ford_Prefect

I'm here (waving)!

re: #255 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I'm here (waving)!

Ah. There you are. Didn't see you behind that telephone pole.

re: #253 rightside

Does anyone know if this is still happening today?

Heard about that just the other day on the "John Gibson Show" (Fox Radio). He said people hated going there, but, went anyway. I could do a job like that for 31 bucks an hour.

re: #256 Ford_Prefect

Ah. There you are. Didn't see you behind that telephone pole.

Telephones made out of redwoods here.