GOP Spent More Than a Million Dollars to Launch a Disastrous Website

Politics • Views: 7,021

Unbelievable. The Republican Party’s pathetically inept new website actually cost them more than a million dollars to set up: Entering digital age an expensive proposition for GOP.

And for that $1.4 million, they got a website that crashed continuously on its launch day, had almost no real content, was mocked across the blogosphere, allowed trolls and Ron Paul idiots to post antisemitic images, and violated several basic principles of good web design. Excellent work, GOP.

The Republican National Committee shelled out $1.4 million dollars over the last six months for Web sites and services, much of which was spent on gop.com, the party’s major Web presence that was unveiled this month, new Federal Election Commission expense reports show.

The figure is far higher than what experts estimate it should have cost, and five times the amount its Democratic counterpart spent to host and maintain democrats.org.

The biggest disparity seems to be bandwidth costs–the RNC paid Smartech Corp., a Republican-focused hosting firm, more than a million dollars, plus $22,000 to Eloqua, compared to the DNC’s $203,000 to Sprint, Switch and Data and Servint Corp.–despite the fact that the two sites’ traffic, which determines bandwidth usage and, largely, hosting costs, was the same.

But the design of the site itself was costly, too. In the months prior to the October 13 launch of gop.com, the committee paid $328,000 to 11 firms for Web development. (The Democrats, which did not completely overhaul their site during that time period, spent $45,000 on Web development.)

And when the GOP’s graphics-laden product was unveiled, many of the main sections appeared missing or broken, including one advertised as listing future party leaders, which showed up blank.

Smartech Corporation has been taking big money from the GOP for years:

2004
In the 2004 election cycle (2003-2005), the Republican Party paid:

SMARTECH CORPORATION $2,275,081 (153 expenditures) for internet services, computer consulting, email programming, website services, web hosting, email services, wireless services, internet consulting, domain registration, and network consulting.

2006
In the 2006 election cycle (2005-2006), the Republican Party paid:

SmarTech Corp. $8,539 (2 expenditures) marked “Paid for by transfer from RNC”

SMARTECH CORPORATION $3,320,066 (245 expenditures) for equipment, domain registration, web hosting, web services, email programming, data storage, internet connection, internet services, in-kind phone services, computer programming, database programming, license fees, video services, online video streaming, software purchase, training, office supplies, airfare, transportation, meals & lodging, sales tax, etc.

In the 2006 election cycle (2005-2006), the National Republican Congressional Committee paid:

SMARTECH CORPORATION $2,228 (41 expenditures) for “Generic Web Hosting”.

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563 comments
1 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:17:12pm

Averbeck is an asshole.

2 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:17:34pm

Well, the DNC uses Sprint, which means that they know quality in communications when they see it.

/employer promo

3 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:17:38pm

Who the heck keeps on kicking this his way?

4 wiffersnapper  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:18:20pm

Epic Fail.

5 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:19:11pm

now that is teh suxxorz. I can't believe that they are paying this much for that crap. Hell there are probably 20 people reading this now who could do better for less.

6 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:20:50pm

$328,000 and 11 firms for web development alone and for that? What in the world is wrong with them?

7 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:21:46pm

What another epic fail.
It's not that hard to price out services...
And get, competitive bids...
Well, except for the GOP...

8 Danny  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:22:13pm

Spreadin the wealth?

9 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:22:21pm

Smartech Corp makes a shitty website and laughs all the way to the bank.

10 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:22:32pm

re: #6 Gus 802

$328,000 and 11 firms for web development alone and for that? What in the world is wrong with them?

Mostly, likely Smartech has a "friend-of-a-friend relationship" with some GOP decision makers.

11 jaunte  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:23:25pm

Cashing in on the internets since 2000.

Jeffrey Scott Averbeck is president and CEO of SMARTech Corporation and also operates tAirNet Group, Inc.. Averbeck, who now works a consultant for the Republican National Committee, said "he backed into the political work when he was asked to help resolve an Internet problem" for the RNC in 2000.


[Link: www.sourcewatch.org...]

12 bratwurst  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:23:45pm

re: #2 Dark_Falcon

Being from Kansas City, I have no choice but to upding that.

13 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:24:32pm

That's an insane amount of money to spend on a series of tubes.

14 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:26:38pm

re: #10 Dark_Falcon

Mostly, likely Smartech has a "friend-of-a-friend relationship" with some GOP decision makers.

So much for oversight.

15 baier  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:26:46pm

I work in digital advertising and I have to tell you that a party that spends that much money on that website has no business running a a government.

16 Danny  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:27:12pm

FBV, you talking about the Freakanomics story on ABC?

17 SeaMonkey  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:27:25pm

More fiscal responsibility from the GOP.

18 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:27:49pm

re: #15 baier

I work in digital advertising and I have to tell you that a party that spends that much money on that website has no business running a a government.

Hop on the horn to Gingrich.

19 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:27:51pm
'Politics today is getting people to get up and do something.' More than 1 million volunteers and 6 million e-mail and letter-writing activists have signed up for the Republicans this year over the Web.

"All those people make a good test bed for sophisticated database marketing techniques. 'When we send out an e-mail,' Averbeck says, 'I can tell immediately how it was received -- whether it was opened, forwarded, or discarded. We have code in the e-mail that shows me.'"

This explains why I keep getting various forms of mail from Republican groups addressed to [My first Name] McCain.

Hint: My last name is not McCain, and not knowing who I am is not a way to get money out of me Michael Steele.

20 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:28:41pm

re: #12 bratwurst

Being from Kansas City, I have no choice but to upding that.

And I thank you for that. Though I don't like the DNC, its good to know that the company I work for does quality work.

21 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:30:32pm

re: #15 baier

I work in digital advertising and I have to tell you that a party that spends that much money on that website has no business running a a government.

Then you won't want to read this.

Obama Spent an Amazing $84 Million on Stimulus Website

22 borgcube  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:30:32pm

Yikes! We set up websites that interface with pharmacy management systems, provide real time prescription histories and more to both providers and patients, manage complete workflow solutions, handle VOIP communications, offer automated patient compliance and dosage scheduling through various means, complete paperless document management, custom business reporting, and a whole lot more...for $6800 complete with a measly $500 monthly charge!

We must be the biggest dopey business idiots alive. I need to contact Smartech for advice.

23 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:30:48pm

And their jobs page has broken links at the bottom of the page:

[Link: net.gop.com...]

Scroll to the bottom and click.

The page cannot be found

24 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:31:44pm

This story is on the website, but it is not about the website.

Shovel-Ready And Unworthy

It should have been.

25 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:33:11pm

I'd have done it for $20k and I wouldn't have used php.

26 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:33:30pm

Knocking on heaven's door.
GNR.

27 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:34:40pm

re: #21 NJDhockeyfan

Then you won't want to read this.

Obama Spent an Amazing $84 Million on Stimulus Website

The Washington Times has no credibility, and that story sounds like a complete crock.

28 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:34:46pm

OK, how about one with pictures?
LOL!

29 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:35:20pm

re: #27 Charles

The Washington Times has no credibility, and that story sounds like a complete crock.

Checking now. Looks like the 84 million wasn't for the website. It was for the entire Recovery Board.

30 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:35:21pm

re: #21 NJDhockeyfan

Then you won't want to read this.

Obama Spent an Amazing $84 Million on Stimulus Website

I think that could be better sourced.

31 bratwurst  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:35:53pm

re: #20 Dark_Falcon

While Sprint HQ in the KC area looks like a prison, I recognize how important they are to my old hometown and I support them whenever possible.

32 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:35:58pm

re: #29 Gus 802

Checking now. Looks like the 84 million wasn't for the website. It was for the entire Recovery Board.

That sounds more reasonable. The story is crap.

33 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:36:33pm

ot: We took Kasey and Chewey on a walk today, here's the results

The video is not fully processed yet, so it's going to improve later tonight, and they are getting quicker at Youtube, they already nuked the ELP soundtrack.

34 baier  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:37:04pm

re: #21 NJDhockeyfan

That is just amazing to me. I've worked with blue chip companies and they would blush at that kind of waste. I saw some beta web pages for major companies that were outstanding that did not cost near that amount. I don't work on the design side, by the way, but I'm shocked.

35 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:37:36pm

*head spinning*

This isn't true? It's a hoax?

36 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:37:47pm

re: #34 baier

That is just amazing to me. I've worked with blue chip companies and they would blush at that kind of waste. I saw some beta web pages for major companies that were outstanding that did not cost near that amount. I don't work on the design side, by the way, but I'm shocked.

It's amazing because it's NOT TRUE.

37 irving  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:38:08pm

It's another indication of something that's bugged the snot out of me about the Republicans for years now - the abject lack of attention to basic details. McCain's campaign was full of flat-out bad stagecraft. Obama's campaign made some blunders, too, but McCain's seemed really glaring - and they were repeated, which was a shocker. I still can't decide if Obama actually ran a good campaign or if it just looked good in comparison to McCain's efforts.

It's nice and all to say that you're a party of limited government, but as a rule I suspect people would prefer a limited, efficient, functional government, not a small broken one. At this rate, I suspect it's the Republicans that are going to end up small and broken...

38 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:38:11pm

Over $1mil for hosting.

HOSTING..

[Link: www.alexa.com...]

[Link: www.alexa.com...]

That's some epic lulz right there. I bet if LFG was online for 500 years the hosting bill wouldn't approach $1 mil.

/Fiscal conservatives!

39 WindHorse  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:38:21pm

re: #35 MandyManners

hey...come on... it was under $900 trillion...

40 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:38:46pm

*gasp*

41 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:38:58pm

re: #35 MandyManners

It's probably pretty close.

42 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:39:37pm

re: #39 WindHorse

hey...come on... it was under $900 trillion...

Hell, I'll out-bid that shit.

43 WindHorse  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:40:26pm

re: #42 MandyManners

blink-blink...

44 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:40:40pm

re: #38 negativ

Over $1mil for hosting.

HOSTING..

[Link: www.alexa.com...]

[Link: www.alexa.com...]

That's some epic lulz right there. I bet if LFG was online for 500 years the hosting bill wouldn't approach $1 mil.

/Fiscal conservatives!

dammit, LGF.

Yes, I played WoW. And Everquest, too. Talk to your fully-grown, nominally adult kids about MMORPGS, before someone else does.

This message brought to you by the Partnership for an MMORPG-Free America.

45 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:40:41pm

People!

That Washington Times article contains absolutely no documentation that the Obama administration spent $84 million dollars on a website!

Please. This is an excellent example of why you should NEVER trust the Washington Times.

46 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:40:52pm

The dictionary at the pogo.com Scrabble game confuses me. It will no recognize 'turd', or 'ho', but just accepted 'swive'.

47 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:41:06pm

Even the serious content makes me want to run away.

Paul Lambert, a resident of Shelby County, Alabama is running for the House of Representatives in Alabama's 6th Congressional District.

He is married and the father of ten, home schooled children and a small business owner.

Lambert believes wholeheartedly that the God that gave us life, gave us liberty, and that both should be protected from all acts of tyranny. This demands a literal interpretation of the Constitution of the United States in the spirit and intention of the founding fathers.

Lambert's platform includes protection of the unborn, protection of our second amendment rights, and protection of both state and national sovereignty.

Lambert also favors abolishment of both the federal reserve and the IRS, as well as repealing the 16th amendment, the USA PATRIOT act, and the war powers act.

Sounds like a Paulian.

48 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:41:57pm

re: #9 NJDhockeyfan

Smartech Corp makes a shitty website and laughs all the way to the bank.

They're not going to be laughing much longer, I don't think - I just hope this story gets picked up by more blogs, more outlets. I'm very happy to have come across that link here and even happier it's been blogged about. I put the link on my little site, hopefully this bit of outrage will actually make a positive difference.

49 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:42:13pm

re: #45 Charles

People!

That Washington Times article contains absolutely no documentation that the Obama administration spent $84 million dollars on a website!

Please. This is an excellent example of why you should NEVER trust the Washington Times.

Still looking. I'm pretty sure it was for all of this:

SUBTITLE B — RECOVERY ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BOARD

50 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:42:28pm

Can anyone tell if they are using heavily modded commercial forum software like IPB or vBullitin or if it's a custom job? Parts of it feel familiar but I can't really tell, particularly not without having registered and posted from it and stuff.

If it is a custom job, why?

51 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:43:16pm
The Republican National Committee shelled out $1.4 million dollars over the last six months for Web sites and services, much of which was spent on GOP.com


re: #29 Gus 802

Checking now. Looks like the 84 million wasn't for the website. It was for the entire Recovery Board.


How much on the web site?

52 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:44:00pm

And the "website feedback" page still has "What up?" on the dropdown menu, under "Discuss".

53 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:44:04pm

re: #43 WindHorse

blink-blink...

Is that you, Jar-Jar?

54 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:44:08pm

re: #51 Racer X

How much on the web site?

Don't know.

55 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:44:11pm

re: #48 akarra

They're not going to be laughing much longer, I don't think - I just hope this story gets picked up by more blogs, more outlets. I'm very happy to have come across that link here and even happier it's been blogged about. I put the link on my little site, hopefully this bit of outrage will actually make a positive difference.

I just submitted it to reddit.

56 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:44:20pm

re: #50 Conservative Moonbat

Can anyone tell if they are using heavily modded commercial forum software like IPB or vBullitin or if it's a custom job? Parts of it feel familiar but I can't really tell, particularly not without having registered and posted from it and stuff.

If it is a custom job, why?

It looks like a mish-mash of several open source packages to me.

57 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:44:50pm

re: #45 Charles

People!

That Washington Times article contains absolutely no documentation that the Obama administration spent $84 million dollars on a website!

Please. This is an excellent example of why you should NEVER trust the Washington Times.

Here's another good example.

58 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:45:07pm

re: #55 Conservative Moonbat

I just submitted it to reddit.

I'll go vote it up immediately - I had put it on Stumbleupon and Propeller before. Thanks!

59 bratwurst  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:45:54pm

re: #57 negativ

As we saw earlier today, some people are willing to believe ANYTHING as long as it is negative about the current President of the United States.

60 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:45:57pm

re: #58 akarra

I'll go vote it up immediately - I had put it on Stumbleupon and Propeller before. Thanks!

It's in the politics subreddit.

61 Ojoe  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:46:06pm

I could have done a better job on my i Mac G-4 with "i Web."

Orans-may.

Notice that I did not link to the Modern Whig Party !

LOL

62 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:47:06pm

re: #60 Conservative Moonbat

duh, link:

[Link: www.reddit.com...]

63 WindHorse  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:47:11pm

re: #53 MandyManners

(I was channeling Nancy P.)

;)

64 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:47:21pm

re: #60 Conservative Moonbat

It's in the politics subreddit.

I found it even before you posted, you'll notice a comment underneath yours. Also: someone else upmodded it already - that's again making me pretty happy.

65 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:49:27pm

Can't believe no one's said "good enough for government work" yet.

66 SeaMonkey  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:49:28pm

New Majority's headline: Bolton: Israel must bomb Iran

Except that he didn't really say that.

67 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:49:49pm

re: #51 Racer X

How much on the web site?

Here is an article that says they are spending $18M to redesign the website. No mention of the initial cost.

$18M Being Spent to Redesign Recovery.gov Web Site

68 avanti  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:50:54pm

re: #51 Racer X

How much on the web site?

9.5 million, but it's a big ass site.


link...

69 Irenicum  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:51:47pm

OT/
Well, on this relatively quiet Friday night, how about some hot whale sex! Or at least the battle for it. Don't worry, this is the BBC here, so the analysis sounds more like someone describing a golf match than anything else. An amazing video onetheless.

70 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:51:59pm

Am I missing something?

GOP spends $1.4 million on "web sites and services."

Democratic Party spends $84 million on a "recovery board"?

Is that right?

71 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:53:23pm

re: #70 Racer X

Am I missing something?

GOP spends $1.4 million on "web sites and services."

Democratic Party spends $84 million on a "recovery board"?

Is that right?

By "board" I take it to mean the kind people sit on.

72 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:54:12pm

$1.4 M is chickenfeed in Washington.

73 [deleted]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:54:13pm
74 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:55:11pm

re: #67 NJDhockeyfan

Even if this is true -- which I seriously doubt -- the website that's intended to manage the multi-trillion dollar stimulus program is a MUCH larger project that the GOP's website, with much more serious security issues and management issues, and probably a large staff of administrators. There is no comparison at all.

75 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:55:32pm

Hot Airheads are all wound up again tonight...


I’m feeling rather sedicious myself, tonight.

paragon27x on October 23, 2009 at 9:59 PM


,,,

I love being so seditious. It’s so sexy.

HornetSting on October 23, 2009 at 10:03 PM


...


You moonbats want to see sedicion?

Do you WANT TO SEE SEDITION!?!?

Keep pushing. I WILL SHOW YOU FIRST HAND what that words REALLY means. You have know idea.

Pass commie healthcare and try to kill my parents.

I’ll demonstrate EXACTLY what SEDITION is.

I dare you.

Hell at this point I WELCOME it.

The Ronin Edge on October 23, 2009 at 10:04 PM


...


ht tp[Link: oathkeepers(dot)org...] (link redacted - ed)

elduende on October 23, 2009 at 10:10 PM


...

elduende on October 23, 2009 at 10:10 PM


Thank you. I happen to be one. (an Oathkeeper - ed)

MikeA on October 23, 2009 at 10:12 PM


...


MikeA on October 23, 2009 at 10:12 PM

These Marxists are in it for keeps, it never hurts for us to remember the oath. (Oathkeepers - ed)

elduende on October 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM


...

Let me clear something up for you libs. The most dangerous enemy of all is the one you leave nothing to lose. If you do that to some 75,000,000 gun owning true belivers of the conservitive heart of this country, you will find yourselves the rulers of a nation of ashes.

MikeA on October 23, 2009 at 10:11 PM


...


Seig Heil, mien Fuhrer!

GarandFan on October 23, 2009 at 10:33 PM


...


If this be sedition you scrawny commie little punk worm, how about you and Obama make us obey you, jack?

Because who you gonna get to get us into line?

The military? The police?

They’d turn on you worthless little turds on a dime, because they’re with us. They’re with America.

And what else do you have? The Gangster Disciples and the Latin Kings? How many divisions do they have?

NoDonkey on October 23, 2009 at 10:34 PM


...
Lot's of Oathkeepers posting at Hot Air these days.

76 baier  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:55:36pm

re: #36 Charles

It's amazing because it's NOT TRUE.

Yeah, I saw NJ's follow up after I posted. Like I said, I don't do design, I'm on the marketing side, but it struck me as amazing.

77 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:56:39pm

Washington Post:

The executives, who have given advice to Recovery.gov's designers, say it will be difficult for the site to duplicate with top-down reporting requirements what the company does in a bottom-up way with its search engines. With so little harmonization between federal, state and local financial methods, developing a standard reporting system is unrealistic, they say.

Instead, they urge Devaney's office to dig up information that it can post without waiting for the October reports, because as gradual as the spending has been, there will still be billions of dollars going out the door in the coming months.

"They need to get data up. People get so worried about getting the product right, instead of just getting it out there," said Onvia Vice President Eric Gillespie. "Just put it out there and let people react to it, and it will get better and better over time."

But Devaney is being more methodical, saying he wants to settle on the right approach to the site before spending a lot of money on it. His office, which is funded by $84 million in stimulus funds and has about 30 people devoted to the site, helped organize an online dialogue late last month to solicit ideas that drew 1,600 participants, and is now sifting through the many pitches it has received from tech companies offering their services to help develop the site.

He is confident that the site will live up to its billing. "We have four and a half years to turn this thing into its final product," Devaney said. "My intent is not to have people come once and never come back. I want it to be good enough that the citizens who look at this site become the eyes and ears for the [inspector generals] and see things that normally an IG would have to stumble across."

78 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:56:53pm

Looks like we experiencing a thread hijack.re: #74 Charles

Even if this is true -- which I seriously doubt -- the website that's intended to manage the multi-trillion dollar stimulus program is a MUCH larger project that the GOP's website, with much more serious security issues and management issues, and probably a large staff of administrators. There is no comparison at all.

Here is the RAT Board Solicitation showing the requirements for the upgrade:

Also SMARTRONIX, INC. AND RECOVERY.GOV 2.0:

[Link: www.smartronix.com...]

79 KT Smells like Roses and Ranbows  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:57:07pm

re: #75 Killgore Trout

Tighten up the formatting on that crap. You stink.

80 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:58:14pm

re: #79 Killgore Trout Stinks

Pretty much...
Socky's Stink?
LOL!

81 Izzy Dunne  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:58:23pm

listing future party leaders, which showed up blank.
Am I too cynical when I point out that this just might be correct?

82 avanti  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:58:32pm

re: #74 Charles

Even if this is true -- which I seriously doubt -- the website that's intended to manage the multi-trillion dollar stimulus program is a MUCH larger project that the GOP's website, with much more serious security issues and management issues, and probably a large staff of administrators. There is no comparison at all.

Exactly, it's very big site, tracking billions of dollars. Just click on the Data, Data & More Data link and spent a few hours digging if you like.

83 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:58:34pm

re: #73 MikeySDCA

GOP: Cluelessness incarnate.

and the Democrats are doing a bang-up job with things, yes?

84 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:58:50pm

re: #77 NJDhockeyfan

That's right -- a staff of 30 people and a gigantic project that involves potentially millions of people, and trillions of dollars.

Why are you trying to promote this as being somehow equivalent to the GOP site?

It's. Not. Even. Close.

85 Danny  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:58:51pm

re: #79 Killgore Trout Stinks

Tighten up the formatting on that crap. You stink.

Hey, you could probably get a high-paying job at SmarTech.

86 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:59:09pm

If I am reading that right they gave $84M in stimulus funds to create the website and in July gave an additional $18M. Am I wrong?

87 Irenicum  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:59:17pm

OT again/
Charles, you might like this. BNP's Griffin complains that Question Time was more like a "lynch mob" than a normal Q&A. Funny that, since during the actual Q&A he had nice things to say about a leader of the KKK. I guess he has discriminating taste about which lynch mobs he likes and doesn't like. What an asshole. And a dangerous at that.

88 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:59:44pm

Also - is the GOP site using taxpayer money or is it from private donations?

Because I'll bet a dollar that the Democratic Party's "Recovery Board" web site IS getting taxpayer funding.

89 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:59:47pm

re: #86 NJDhockeyfan

If I am reading that right they gave $84M in stimulus funds to create the website and in July gave an additional $18M. Am I wrong?

The 84 million is for the "whole office."

90 jaunte  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:01:05pm

re: #75 Killgore Trout

Hot Airheads are all wound up again tonight...

Must be the birthday celebration:

Happy Birthday, World!
According to James Ussher, the world was created on October 23, 4004 BC.
So happy 6012th birthday, world![Link: www.ooblick.com...]
91 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:01:16pm

re: #77 NJDhockeyfan

which is funded by $84 million in stimulus funds


Oh fuck me harder.

92 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:02:35pm

re: #84 Charles

That's right -- a staff of 30 people and a gigantic project that involves potentially millions of people.

Why are you trying to promote this as being somehow equivalent to the GOP site?

It's. Not. Even. Close.

I don't think it's equivalent at all. The GOP obviously wasted a lot of money. I also think we got hosed on the recovery.gov website.

/Just one lizard's opinion.

93 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:02:54pm

re: #88 Racer X

Also - is the GOP site using taxpayer money or is it from private donations?

Because I'll bet a dollar that the Democratic Party's "Recovery Board" web site IS getting taxpayer funding.

Most of that kind of thing has been DNC funded so I wouldn't count on it.

94 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:04:05pm

re: #75 Killgore Trout

That one from Ronin is probably that xenophobe bigot who got banned here. I won't mention their website.

95 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:04:24pm

re: #91 Racer X

which is funded by $84 million in stimulus funds

Oh fuck me harder.

Hey, they created 30 jobs!

96 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:04:36pm

OK. I won't try to talk you people out of equating the Recovery.org site with the GOP.com site any more. Go ahead and freak out.

97 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:05:06pm

re: #73 MikeySDCA

GOP: Cluelessness incarnate.

Current controlling party - over $1 trillion above and beyond the already huge budget. Afghanistan slipping out of control. Banking industry basically nationalized, and Feds now own the automotive industry. What is that, cluefullness?

98 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:05:11pm

re: #84 Charles

That's right -- a staff of 30 people and a gigantic project that involves potentially millions of people.

Why are you trying to promote this as being somehow equivalent to the GOP site?

It's. Not. Even. Close.

It's not even close to the same thing, but it is still ridiculous.

99 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:05:25pm

re: #75 Killgore Trout

Well, swell. I like that 'how many divisions do they have' line. I assume he knows who he's quoting?

100 Pepper Fox  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:06:03pm

What did you expect from a party of people who probably don't even own a computer.

101 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:06:43pm

Eh, a million here, a billion there.

It's Stimulus™ dammit!

102 bratwurst  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:07:05pm

Wow, we have a thread that has broken into a chorus of "But look at what Obama and the liberals do!" Please note the date and time, this is a historic first.
/

103 Noam Sayin'  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:07:06pm

I'd 'a done it for half that.

Then paid Charles $200K to throw something together.

104 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:07:28pm

re: #89 Gus 802

The 84 million is for the "whole office."

They don't want to hear that, obviously.

105 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:07:41pm

re: #95 NJDhockeyfan

which is funded by $84 million in stimulus funds


Hey, they created 30 jobs!

It's only 84M, so don't be such a...

106 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:08:30pm

re: #98 BryanS

It's not even close to the same thing, but it is still ridiculous.

You know, back when people were flipping out about the money spent on Palin's campaign wardrobe, what I said was, "It's not an unreasonable amount of money, but if they had her getting the stuff at Macys they would save a chunk of change, and it would look good. Mrs. Thrifty, Just Like You, Goes to Washington.

Shopping smart on something like this would probably get them a better product, and it would be something to talk about, even on the site--applying sound fiscal policy across the board.

107 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:08:42pm

re: #94 Thanos

That one from Ronin is probably that xenophobe bigot who got banned here. I won't mention their website.

There was a user named "The Ronin Edge" here, and this weirdo is now blocked.

108 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:09:21pm

re: #104 Charles

They don't want to hear that, obviously.

Guess not. The 18 million is for a 5 year period. I'm looking at the original solicitation here.

109 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:09:23pm

Youch! The unusable website that cost a small fortune and Obama's ten pages of history in less than 24 hours. I think this goes well beyond the usual BAD DAY.

EPIC FAIL!

"Doesn't anyone here know how to play this game?"

110 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:09:38pm

re: #96 Charles

OK. I won't try to talk you people out of equating the Recovery.org site with the GOP.com site any more. Go ahead and freak out.

I'm not freaking out, and I agree it's apples to oranges. However I suspect they allocated too much for recovery.org (knowing how these things work they will be billed for actual services rendered in the end, not for the amount they allocated) That said, it's a tu quoque "they do it too!" argument in this particular thread.

111 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:09:47pm

re: #109 SteveC

Youch! The unusable website that cost a small fortune and Obama's ten pages of history in less than 24 hours. I think this goes well beyond the usual BAD DAY.

EPIC FAIL!

"Doesn't anyone here know how to play this game?"

I think they think they're winning.

112 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:09:48pm

The only thing I have against the recovery.gov site is the url ends in .aspx.

I don't like the idea of government being dependent on Microsoft technologies.

113 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:09:57pm

re: #100 Pepper Fox

What did you expect from a party of people who probably don't even own a computer.

My. My.

How's the air up there on Mount Olympus?

114 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:10:04pm

I think the point here is, unbelievably huge amounts of money are being spent for unbelievably small return. Why do we want government workers or contractors in control of any more than is absolutely necessary?

115 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:10:27pm

re: #107 Charles

There was a user named "The Ronin Edge" here, and this weirdo is now blocked.

The website I was referring to is "Bulldog and Ronin" just so you don't make a mistake there.

116 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:10:58pm

re: #21 NJDhockeyfan

Then you won't want to read this.

Obama Spent an Amazing $84 Million on Stimulus Website

Sorry but after reviewing some information that story is bunk.

117 Ramona  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:11:09pm

re: #9 NJDhockeyfan

Sounds like SmarTech is pretty Smart to me. Can't have put in much time or energy and look at the money they made . . .

118 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:11:21pm

re: #112 Conservative Moonbat

The only thing I have against the recovery.gov site is the url ends in .aspx.

I don't like the idea of government being dependent on Microsoft technologies.

I'd much rather have competent ASP programmers doing it than the clowns who programmed the GOP site.

119 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:11:56pm

re: #109 SteveC

"Doesn't anyone here know how to play this game?"


re: #111 SanFranciscoZionist

I think they think they're winning.


"Doesn't anyone here know how to read a box score?"

120 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:12:05pm

$2.5 Trillion Dollar deficit. This year alone.

*golf clap*

121 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:12:59pm

re: #120 Racer X

$2.5 Trillion Dollar deficit. This year alone.

*golf clap*

Just...just...

122 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:13:08pm

re: #106 SanFranciscoZionist


Shopping smart on something like this would probably get them a better product, and it would be something to talk about, even on the site--applying sound fiscal policy across the board.

They probably had to do security checks on all the web devs and jump through tons of red tape which like contributed to the cost. A friend of mine did webwork for the Army and the legal requirements for implementing new technologies was absurd.

They probably had to pay to have the website tested to ensure it could withstand a (literal) nuclear attack.

123 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:13:12pm

re: #115 Thanos

It was "Dr Bulldog and Ronin."

Their latest post is titled "Commies Pass Amendment to Give ACORN Regulatory Authority Over Financial Institutions"

124 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:13:42pm

re: #120 Racer X

$2.5 Trillion Dollar deficit. This year alone.

*golf clap*

It's only money.

125 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:14:08pm

re: #120 Racer X

$2.5 Trillion Dollar deficit. This year alone.

*golf clap*

The Democrats are outdoing even the Republicans? Who would have guessed?

126 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:14:28pm

re: #124 NJDhockeyfan

It's only money.

Yeah but, WHOSE money?

127 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:14:55pm

The gop.com site sucks. And that sucks.

128 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:14:56pm

re: #123 Thanos

It was "Dr Bulldog and Ronin."

Their latest post is titled "Commies Pass Amendment to Give ACORN Regulatory Authority Over Financial Institutions"

When did that happen?

129 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:15:01pm

re: #123 Thanos

It was "Dr Bulldog and Ronin."

Their latest post is titled "Commies Pass Amendment to Give ACORN Regulatory Authority Over Financial Institutions"

I reviewed this one's comments, and it's almost certainly the same person who posted at Hot Air.

130 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:15:05pm

re: #124 NJDhockeyfan

It's only money.

We can just print more.

131 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:15:30pm

re: #124 NJDhockeyfan

It's only money.

A little of it mine, a little of it yours, and suddenly it's not "only money" anymore.

132 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:16:21pm

I absolutely ADORE how the best thinking the GOP intelligentsia can come up with is always the equivalent of "but the other guys are just as bad as we are, and sometimes even worse!" Mike Judge's "Idiocracy" was a documentary, not a comedy.

133 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:16:51pm

re: #100 Pepper Fox

What did you expect from a party of people who probably don't even own a computer.

Oh, they have them, all right. They're just not comfortable getting under the hood of them. John Cole's take of spending 12 hours installing Windows 7 has freaked me into waiting until I can allot a similar chunk of time to it.

134 Danny  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:17:06pm

re: #126 MandyManners

Yeah but, WHOSE money?

It's the government's money. That's why tax cuts always "cost the government."

135 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:17:47pm

re: #129 Charles

I reviewed this one's comments, and it's almost certainly the same person who posted at Hot Air.

They also have a Lionheart shtick going - if a muslim commits a crime anywhere in the US and there's a newstory on it then they will usually make a post about it using derogatory terms like "[bigoted word]"

136 Irenicum  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:17:57pm

More Griffin saying nice things about David Duke during Question Time. And then an interesting piece from the Guardian about how having a national stage mainstreamed Jean Marie Le Pen of the National Front infamy. I hate British, French, etc. Nazis.

137 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:17:58pm

re: #124 NJDhockeyfan

It's only money.

Only tax money, is what they think.

138 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:18:24pm

re: #132 negativ

I absolutely ADORE how the best thinking the GOP intelligentsia can come up with is always the equivalent of "but the other guys are just as bad as we are, and sometimes even worse!" Mike Judge's "Idiocracy" was a documentary, not a comedy.

Say hi to Keith Olbermann for me ;)

139 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:19:26pm

Now I remember when we had emailed about this pair of bigots in the past, it resulted in in that filter...

140 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:20:32pm

re: #100 Pepper Fox

What did you expect from a party of people who probably don't even own a computer.

Piss off.

141 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:20:39pm

re: #133 The Sanity Inspector

Oh, they have them, all right. They're just not comfortable getting under the hood of them. John Cole's take of spending 12 hours installing Windows 7 has freaked me into waiting until I can allot a similar chunk of time to it.

I won't be upgrading anything to Windows 7, but will get Windows 7 only when a computer needs replacing. I've avoided Vista like the plague, and upgrading Windows XP requires wiping and reinstalling everything.

142 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:20:40pm

re: #139 Thanos

Now I remember when we had emailed about this pair of bigots in the past, it resulted in in that filter...

Yep. They've found a new home at Hot Air.

143 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:21:13pm

re: #125 BryanS

The Democrats are outdoing even the Republicans? Who would have guessed?

Not such a shock, if you hail from a certain era. The spendthrift ways of Reagan and W. were disappointments, but no one really expected anything more restrained from the Dems. "Fiscally responsible Democrats" sounds like an oxymoron, almost ungrammatical, to anyone who remembers the last time they controlled Congress.

144 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:21:15pm

*Racer X is not a member of the GOP. Never has been.

GOP = Fail
Democratic Party = More Fail
The Average American = Screwed

I don't enjoy pointing this out.

145 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:21:19pm

re: #115 Thanos

"Ronin": every man's a hero in his own dreams.

146 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:21:43pm

re: #128 SanFranciscoZionist

When did that happen?

I don't know, and I'm not going to read the post to find out, they are both idiots.

147 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:22:13pm
By the way that loser from Oregon (who is unemployed) Killgore Trout from Little Green Footballs is trolling this website looking for “hateful” comments to post on a LGF thread. Here’s one for you Killgore – “You suck and I hope you get a serious STD”.

Hilts on October 23, 2009 at 11:09 PM


Hello.

148 Irenicum  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:22:18pm

re: #132 negativ

Mike Judge as in King of the Hill? Cool!

149 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:23:19pm

re: #141 BryanS

I won't be upgrading anything to Windows 7, but will get Windows 7 only when a computer needs replacing. I've avoided Vista like the plague, and upgrading Windows XP requires wiping and reinstalling everything.

I have XP64 on my desktop and Vista on my laptop. I haven't had any problems with either one.

150 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:23:43pm

re: #147 Killgore Trout

By the way that loser from Oregon (who is unemployed) Killgore Trout from Little Green Footballs is trolling this website looking for “hateful” comments to post on a LGF thread. Here’s one for you Killgore – “You suck and I hope you get a serious STD”.
Hilts on October 23, 2009 at 11:09 PM

Hello.

Once again, they're proving how irrelevant LGF is by watching every comment posted here.

151 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:23:58pm

re: #147 Killgore Trout

I'm not "unemployed" I just don't have a job.
/Well, at least I see a difference

152 bratwurst  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:23:58pm

OT:

Greatest Windows 7 cross promotion to date:

[Link: www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp...]

153 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:24:34pm

re: #100 Pepper Fox

What did you expect from a party of people who probably don't even own a computer.

Guess what, you gosh-darn elitist psrson?

WE HAVE HIGH-TECH AND WE BREED.

154 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:24:39pm

re: #144 Racer X

Hey Racer X: who were the folks who lived near Austin? - if you remember.

I was following the music thread, and had a question. I got to Austin exactly once, went to Antone's on the wrong night, and didn't get to see Earl King. So if anybody wants to tell me what he and his band were like was, I'd love to know.

155 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:24:41pm

re: #126 MandyManners

Yeah but, WHOSE money?

Just a bunch of emoolah borrowed from China.
Don't worry, be happy.

156 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:24:51pm

re: #92 NJDhockeyfan

I don't think it's equivalent at all. The GOP obviously wasted a lot of money. I also think we got hosed on the recovery.gov website.

/Just one lizard's opinion.

Do you at least have some professional web coding experience to back up that opinion?

157 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:25:07pm

re: #141 BryanS

I won't be upgrading anything to Windows 7, but will get Windows 7 only when a computer needs replacing. I've avoided Vista like the plague, and upgrading Windows XP requires wiping and reinstalling everything.

Looking at new laptops and netbooks in the Electronics section today. I had lust in my heart.

Needed vittles, though.

158 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:25:07pm

re: #151 Killgore Trout

I'm not "unemployed" I just don't have a job.
/Well, at least I see a difference

You seem to be finding work to do.

159 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:25:14pm
elduende: They (Oathkeepers-ed) are locked and loaded,awaiting orders!!:)

canopfor on October 23, 2009 at 11:04 PM

160 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:25:21pm

re: #124 NJDhockeyfan

It's only money.

Thats about $7 billion a day. Hmm if you had that much money in $100 bills you could carpet about 190 acres with that much cash. Every day.

161 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:25:39pm

re: #141 BryanS

I won't be upgrading anything to Windows 7, but will get Windows 7 only when a computer needs replacing. I've avoided Vista like the plague, and upgrading Windows XP requires wiping and reinstalling everything.

I envy you. My XP machine died after only a couple of years. The next machine had Vista which, after a lot of annoying bugs, I soon fell out of love with.

162 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:26:24pm

re: #143 The Sanity Inspector

Not such a shock, if you hail from a certain era. The spendthrift ways of Reagan and W. were disappointments, but no one really expected anything more restrained from the Dems. "Fiscally responsible Democrats" sounds like an oxymoron, almost ungrammatical, to anyone who remembers the last time they controlled Congress.

The Clinton years really were, IMHO, the best possible outcome. If Barry O' had a Republican Congress, I think we could achieve significant improvements on the budget as well. Republicans would want to sound fiscally conservative and not grant the Dem in the white house new money for social programs. Heck, we could even reform education, social security, etc. Obama's veto would be hanging out there to prevent the obnoxious social conservatives from putting too much of their priorities into the bill.

163 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:27:06pm

Concerned abou the flu? Well, now that most of you are home from work and it won't hurt the economy, say goodbye to your next hour.

164 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:27:08pm

re: #158 SanFranciscoZionist

I make some money sometimes too. Surplus of work (I have about two year's worth of cellos laying around), but not enough money. The economy is bouncing back. Maybe I'll make some sales this X-mas.

165 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:28:08pm

I'm not playing this game of "Democrats waste money too." For me, the immediate issue is that the GOP is wasting money and resources that could be used to recruit solid candidates and build a real web presence.

Those of us who've worked hard for the GOre: #151 Killgore Trout

I'm not "unemployed" I just don't have a job.
/Well, at least I see a difference

As SanFrancisoZionist said, it's work, and I think it's important work. Thank you.

166 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:28:12pm

re: #154 pdc_lgf

Hey Racer X: who were the folks who lived near Austin? - if you remember.

I was following the music thread, and had a question. I got to Austin exactly once, went to Antone's on the wrong night, and didn't get to see Earl King. So if anybody wants to tell me what he and his band were like was, I'd love to know.

Must have been another Lizard.

167 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:28:31pm
Just an aside, there also seems to be a war going on against Hotair. It’s being waged by a liberal site called LGF. Comments here are being monitored and cut and pasted on his site, (along with a please donate button on every post in addition to abundance of Amazon links).

scalleywag on October 23, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Hello.

168 Danny  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:29:12pm

re: #164 Killgore Trout

I make some money sometimes too. Surplus of work (I have about two year's worth of cellos laying around), but not enough money. The economy is bouncing back. Maybe I'll make some sales this X-mas.

You build cellos?

169 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:29:19pm

re: #165 akarra

As SanFrancisoZionist said, it's work, and I think it's important work.


Ya can't eat work.

170 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:29:32pm

re: #165 akarra

Oops, I accidentally pasted something I had copied while typing out a thank you to Kilgore and hit "send."

Thanks again Kilgore.

171 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:29:42pm

re: #149 NJDhockeyfan

I have XP64 on my desktop and Vista on my laptop. I haven't had any problems with either one.

I have Vista on my game development laptop, and I've found it to be an unreliable pile of crap. It runs my dev tools slower than my previous (much slower) machine, it hangs for no reason, constantly hits my hard drive, it has issues with my tablet drivers, it has issues with video drivers, it crashes more often than my old XP machine as well.

I liked XP though. Boring and reliable!

172 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:29:49pm

re: #138 cliffster
He said to tell you, "sup?"

173 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:30:00pm

re: #168 Danny

You build cellos?

I restore old cellos. Some violins too. I stay away from basses and violas.

174 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:30:11pm

re: #147 Killgore Trout

By the way that loser from Oregon (who is unemployed) Killgore Trout from Little Green Footballs is trolling this website looking for “hateful” comments to post on a LGF thread. Here’s one for you Killgore – “You suck and I hope you get a serious STD”.
Hilts on October 23, 2009 at 11:09 PM


Hello.

That vermin sounds like it could be carrying a lulu of an STD - be careful not to breathe over there.

175 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:30:15pm

re: #170 akarra

Cheers.

176 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:30:21pm

re: #149 NJDhockeyfan

I have XP64 on my desktop and Vista on my laptop. I haven't had any problems with either one.

Vista sucks balls. Perhaps your one experience has not been bad, and I know there are many who have not had serious issues. But they are the exception. There is a reason businesses have been refusing to upgrade to it from XP, forcing MS to keep pushing out the support date for XP and allowing business computer suppliers like Dell to charge a premium to downgrade to XP. Vista's networking is a disaster.

177 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:31:17pm

re: #167 Killgore Trout

Hello.

Where are those?

178 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:32:27pm

re: #166 Racer X

Quite rightly so. Stepped away from the computer, and it was too late.

179 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:32:43pm

re: #177 Gus 802

Follow the links, Hot Air.

180 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:32:45pm

re: #157 SteveC

Looking at new laptops and netbooks in the Electronics section today. I had lust in my heart.

Needed vittles, though.

We have two Acer Aspire Netbooks at home. Cool little machines (that come standard with XP and not Vista!) I recommend them. I've gotten a lot of games to behave quite well on them, most older 3d accelerated games from the early 2000s will run on them.

181 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:32:58pm

re: #156 WindUpBird

Do you at least have some professional web coding experience to back up that opinion?

Nope. Do I need 'professional web coding experience' to comment on the government spending too much money? I am not a pimp but I can see paying $2.6 million to train Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly on the job is waste. I am not a general but I can see that the Pentagon who spent $998,798 to ship two 19-Cent washers is wasteful.

182 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:33:29pm

re: #179 Killgore Trout

Follow the links, Hot Air.

Oh, right, thanks. It's linked on the date/time stamp.

183 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:33:47pm

re: #162 BryanS

The Clinton years really were, IMHO, the best possible outcome. If Barry O' had a Republican Congress, I think we could achieve significant improvements on the budget as well. Republicans would want to sound fiscally conservative and not grant the Dem in the white house new money for social programs. Heck, we could even reform education, social security, etc. Obama's veto would be hanging out there to prevent the obnoxious social conservatives from putting too much of their priorities into the bill.

You know what they called that state of affairs during the Clinton years, don't you? "Gridlock". And just take a wild guess as to which party was blamed for it.

Clinton ran budget surpluses a few years, gotta give him that. But it's scary to think that it was because the government was taxing us faster than it could spend the $$$.

184 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:34:05pm

re: #161 The Sanity Inspector

I envy you. My XP machine died after only a couple of years. The next machine had Vista which, after a lot of annoying bugs, I soon fell out of love with.

I installed--and am running now while I post here at LGF--a dual boot Linux on my Vista lappy. I very rarely, if ever, touch my Vista install. If I really need Windoze, I pull up my VMware of XP.

185 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:35:01pm

re: #168 Danny

You build cellos?

Two years' worth of cellos is approximately 0.937 cellos.

186 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:35:03pm

re: #183 The Sanity Inspector

You know what they called that state of affairs during the Clinton years, don't you? "Gridlock". And just take a wild guess as to which party was blamed for it.

Clinton ran budget surpluses a few years, gotta give him that. But it's scary to think that it was because the government was taxing us faster than it could spend the $$$.

We were taxed then at roughly the same rate as we are now.

187 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:36:28pm

The brain-damaged freak at 'jumpinginpools' is really cranking up the crazy tonight.

[Link: jumpinginpools.blogspot.com...]

188 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:37:20pm

re: #181 NJDhockeyfan

Nope. Do I need 'professional web coding experience' to comment on the government spending too much money? I am not a pimp but I can see paying $2.6 million to train Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly on the job is waste. I am not a general but I can see that the Pentagon who spent $998,798 to ship two 19-Cent washers is wasteful.

I'd say you do, otherwise you have no frame of reference for what costs what amount of money when it comes to web development, and your opinion holds less weight than say, our esteemed host, who coded from scratch the very website we're communicating on. Your examples make no sense. We're not talking about some bizarro red herring or $50,000 Pentagon toilet seats, we're talking about a really real government program that is extremely complicated.

189 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:38:10pm

re: #171 WindUpBird

I have Vista on my game development laptop, and I've found it to be an unreliable pile of crap. It runs my dev tools slower than my previous (much slower) machine, it hangs for no reason, constantly hits my hard drive, it has issues with my tablet drivers, it has issues with video drivers, it crashes more often than my old XP machine as well.

I liked XP though. Boring and reliable!

I've been running debian sid for 8 years with only a few hiccups that come now and then from running the unstable branch. Never anything I couldn't work around.

I don't get why people put up with windows. If Linux is over your head get a Mac.

190 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:38:12pm

re: #169 Killgore Trout

Ya can't eat work.

I've noticed. You hanging in there?

191 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:38:14pm

re: #180 WindUpBird

We have two Acer Aspire Netbooks at home. Cool little machines (that come standard with XP and not Vista!) I recommend them. I've gotten a lot of games to behave quite well on them, most older 3d accelerated games from the early 2000s will run on them.

I have my eye on an HP touch tablet on eBay.

192 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:38:53pm
193 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:39:48pm

re: #189 Conservative Moonbat

I've been running debian sid for 8 years with only a few hiccups that come now and then from running the unstable branch. Never anything I couldn't work around.

I don't get why people put up with windows. If Linux is over your head get a Mac.

Can't do Linux or Mac, I'm a windows game developer. I need Windows games to work on my machine in a native environment. The Mac also doesn't support the two art tools that are critical for my continued business solvency. ;-)

194 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:39:55pm

re: #181 NJDhockeyfan

I am not a general but I can see that the Pentagon who spent $998,798 to ship two 19-Cent washers is wasteful.

The one and only conspiracy theory that I more or less believe is that budgeting for $500 hammers, especially in an environment where absurd inefficiency is taken as read, is a really good way to get the money to pay for the things you want to keep off the books.

195 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:39:59pm

re: #185 negativ

Two years' worth of cellos is approximately 0.937 cellos.

So now you are a Cellologistican?

196 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:40:11pm

re: #186 cliffster

We were taxed then at roughly the same rate as we are now.

IIRC there were no real surpluses, they screwed with the EI and Medicare numbers - bunch of smoke and mirrors. I think one year they almost broke even.

197 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:40:33pm

re: #187 Charles

The brain-damaged freak at 'jumpinginpools' is really cranking up the crazy tonight.

[Link: jumpinginpools.blogspot.com...]

It looks like he hasn't had his fill of attention - linkbait is addictive.

OT: Re: supporting a blog, Slate magazine, for all those concerned. I'll add that blogging is thankless work for many, and I'm really grateful people have the guts to make their voices heard for the most part.

198 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:41:20pm

re: #183 The Sanity Inspector

You know what they called that state of affairs during the Clinton years, don't you? "Gridlock". And just take a wild guess as to which party was blamed for it.

Clinton ran budget surpluses a few years, gotta give him that. But it's scary to think that it was because the government was taxing us faster than it could spend the $$$.

Gridlock is fine by me. And reducing the deficit can only happen if the government taxes us faster than we can spend it. W was the worst president we could have had for the economy. Clinton was good for the economy in large part becauseoff gridlock. If candidates ran on a platform of gridlock, I think I could vote for them.

199 MandyManners  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:41:33pm

GEORGE SOROS.

200 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:41:48pm

re: #191 SteveC

I have my eye on an HP touch tablet on eBay.

oh cool! I have a Wacom Cintiq 15X (LCD tablet) but I thought about getting an older tablet PC as a digital sketchbook. haven't decided if it'd be worth the $$$ or if I'd just use it as a toy, but I want one 8-)

201 Gearhead  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:42:40pm
...violated several basic principles of good web design

The red gives me a headache. I did a (rather simple) site with red and tested it on a brighter monitor. It looked like crap. Had to rethink all the colors so it wouldn't look garish.

And I may have to loan them my copy of Don't Make Me Think.

202 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:42:41pm

re: #147 Killgore Trout

I like the putting the word hateful in quotes the best.

They are the first people to denounce anyone whose words can be spun to imply, even tangentially, a position they deem uncool.

Or to play the "six degrees of thug" game.

I really liked the story about "Obama's thugs" at the Philly voting place, and the "coverup" and "whitewash" when the summary judgementss were dropped.

Turns out, the Bush Justice Dept went after two or three guys, and charged exactly one of them with a civil complaint, sought an injunction - after the fact. That was the whole thing. Michelle Malkin went on about "Obama's thugs" and milked it for all it was worth.

I read the crap over there to get a head start on knowing what sort of hyperventilating nonsense is gonna come down the pike next.

203 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:42:51pm

'jumpinginpools' has 20 top commenters ranging from 5 comments to 45. He must get a least 15 web hits a day.

204 Sam N  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:44:02pm

re: #91 Racer X

If the website ends up doing its purpose by the end of Obama's administration, I don't care if it cost a billion dollars. If not it will be a strong point against Obama, regardless of the cost. An efficient model for government transparency is extremely important for reigning in spending. If he succeeds I see such a system saving far, far more than its cost in a matter of months. If successful, this is a model that should be applied to all but the most sensitive (intelligence) of government programs.

205 Gearhead  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:44:25pm

re: #187 Charles

The brain-damaged freak at 'jumpinginpools' is really cranking up the crazy tonight.

[Link: jumpinginpools.blogspot.com...]

Taking your word for it. Not giving the loon any click traffic.

206 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:44:31pm

re: #200 WindUpBird

oh cool! I have a Wacom Cintiq 15X (LCD tablet) but I thought about getting an older tablet PC as a digital sketchbook. haven't decided if it'd be worth the $$$ or if I'd just use it as a toy, but I want one 8-)

Older Tablet PCs are plentiful on eBay, set you back about $200.

207 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:45:05pm

re: #205 Gearhead

Taking your word for it. Not giving the loon any click traffic.

It's a Google cache link -- I never use direct links to sites like that.

208 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:45:05pm

re: #205 Gearhead

Taking your word for it. Not giving the loon any click traffic.

You're not, it links to Google's cache of the site. ;)

209 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:45:23pm

re: #203 NJDhockeyfan

'jumpinginpools' has 20 top commenters ranging from 5 comments to 45. He must get a least 15 web hits a day.

Even though he's very hateful and awful and I want nothing to do with him, I will never put anyone down for not getting traffic online. I admire people who can get an audience, for the most part (obviously the "gentleman" in question I do not admire).

210 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:45:34pm

re: #203 NJDhockeyfan

'jumpinginpools' has 20 top commenters ranging from 5 comments to 45. He must get a least 15 web hits a day.

FEAR THE POOL!

///X47

211 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:45:56pm

Now I know for certain that Hoffman is the Bircher preferred candidate for NY23 - RSM traveled there and is posting from his campaign office.

212 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:46:36pm

re: #187 Charles
This is when you know you're really in their heads...

And Charles is leaving comments on our open threads insulting us, including using the same phrases and linking to himself.


The Koskidz used to do the same thing. Nice.

213 Gearhead  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:46:57pm

re: #207 Charles

It's a Google cache link -- I never use direct links to sites like that.

I forgot you do that. Duh!

Still taking your word for it.

214 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:47:33pm

re: #190 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm squeaking by.

215 Ramona  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:47:39pm

re: #65 The Sanity Inspector


Can't believe no one's said "good enough for government work" yet.

Waiting for you to do the honors.

216 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:48:31pm

re: #199 MandyManners

GEORGE SOROS.

Soros calls Wall St profits ‘gifts’ from state

The big profits made by some of Wall Street’s leading banks are “hidden gifts” from the state, and taxpayer resentment of such companies is “justified”, George Soros, the fund manager, said in an interview with the Financial Times.

“Those earnings are not the achievement of risk-takers,” Mr Soros said. “These are gifts, hidden gifts, from the government, so I don’t think that those monies should be used to pay bonuses. There’s a resentment which I think is justified.”

217 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:48:51pm

Smartech: "You signed a contract. We know it smarts, but send the check."

218 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:49:23pm

re: #189 Conservative Moonbat

I've been running debian sid for 8 years with only a few hiccups that come now and then from running the unstable branch. Never anything I couldn't work around.

I don't get why people put up with windows. If Linux is over your head get a Mac.

The reason people put up with Windows is that you can't buy a Mac for $400 at Wal Mart.

219 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:49:33pm

re: #214 Killgore Trout

I'm squeaking by.

Good luck. My husband is looking for work, and we're pretty squeaky ourselves right now. Better days are coming. They always do.

220 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:49:36pm

re: #212 Killgore Trout

This is when you know you're really in their heads...

Charles, when you get out of their head, you're gonna need to be decontaminated. And give me those shoes, they're heading for the BIOHAZARD bag.

/Nice shoes, man, too bad we can't salvage them for you.

221 Racer X  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:49:42pm

re: #204 Sam N

If the website ends up doing its purpose by the end of Obama's administration, I don't care if it cost a billion dollars. If not it will be a strong point against Obama, regardless of the cost. An efficient model for government transparency is extremely important for reigning in spending. If he succeeds I see such a system saving far, far more than its cost in a matter of months. If successful, this is a model that should be applied to all but the most sensitive (intelligence) of government programs.

I'm with you 100% - if it works, then great job Mr. President.

But I have strong doubts

222 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:51:18pm

re: #218 negativ

The reason people put up with Windows is that you can't buy a Mac for $400 at Wal Mart.

No, but you can buy a Mac mini for $600 from their web site or from Best Buy.

223 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:51:34pm

re: #218 negativ

The reason people put up with Windows is that you can't buy a Mac for $400 at Wal Mart.

Or you're a gamer. We haven't ALL gravitated to the 360 yet!

224 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:51:34pm

re: #211 Thanos

Now I know for certain that Hoffman is the Bircher preferred candidate for NY23 - RSM traveled there and is posting from his campaign office.

Then I was right from the first to support Scofalazza. If you let Robert Stacy McCain take up space in your office without kicking him out in short order, you're not someone I'm voting for.

225 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:52:23pm

re: #219 SanFranciscoZionist

Hang in there. It looks like things are turning around.

226 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:52:35pm

re: #224 Dark_Falcon

Then I was right from the first to support Scofalazza. If you let Robert Stacy McCain take up space in your office without kicking him out in short order, you're not someone I'm voting for.

Scozzafava :)

227 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:52:41pm

re: #218 negativ

The reason people put up with Windows is that you can't buy a Mac for $400 at Wal Mart.

Or if you like to build your own computer. I've built two so far.

228 avanti  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:53:18pm

re: #204 Sam N

If the website ends up doing its purpose by the end of Obama's administration, I don't care if it cost a billion dollars. If not it will be a strong point against Obama, regardless of the cost. An efficient model for government transparency is extremely important for reigning in spending. If he succeeds I see such a system saving far, far more than its cost in a matter of months. If successful, this is a model that should be applied to all but the most sensitive (intelligence) of government programs.

When it first went up, the right was mining it to misquote a lot of silly project proposals that never got approved or sounded fishy. i.e. the "garage door" that turned out to be for a big ass aircraft hanger. I think letting the public see where the monies going, and thus being able to comment is a nice way to catch some bad idea's.

229 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:53:20pm

re: #191 SteveC

I have my eye on an HP touch tablet on eBay.

If it's a tx1000 series, save yourself piles of frustration and avoid it.

This is a motherboard problem, not a wifi adapter problem.

230 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:54:14pm

Heh. The 'jumpinginpools' moron is totally losing it.

231 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:54:32pm
allowed trolls and Ron Paul idiots to post antisemitic images... (SMARTECH CORPORATION)

Are these the same guys that set up the Obama campaign website that allowed all those crazy community blogs to be set up? Or was that some other stupid company?

232 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:54:48pm

re: #230 Charles

Heh. The 'jumpinginpools' moron is totally losing it.

What?

233 [deleted]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:54:54pm
234 Danny  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:55:00pm

re: #230 Charles

Heh. The 'jumpinginpools' moron is totally losing it.

Can you be more specific?

235 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:55:02pm

re: #204 Sam N

I do embedded work. I work with guys who do large-scale applications work. Even embedded work can become very complicated. Applications work ten times more so. You can do the best, tightest top-down design on a huge project, like the WH site, and there will still be massive disconnects. The protocols change, the platforms change, under your feet. If you ramp up staffing too quickly, then you discover that half the folks you hired were the wrong people. It's enormously intricate, frustrating work.

With embedded work, at least the problems stay well-defined. For large scale applications work, that's not true. I say all this to indicate that spending tens of millions of dollars to do what the WH wants done is not a sign of waste or mismanagement. Particularly, since the thing, if done properly,, has to scale cleanly, over the long haul. I'd cut them some slack.

236 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:55:03pm

re: #222 BryanS

No, but you can buy a Mac mini for $600 from their web site or from Best Buy.

Not that Mac needs any additional recommendation, but my last comp I bought in 2005, and it was a $350 Compaq Presario from Wal-Mart. I enjoyed gaming with it at first but it wasn't the greatest computer from the start, and I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

I had money saved. Am using a $1500 iMac with a 24'' screen now. You have no idea how happy I am.

237 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:55:48pm

re: #230 Charles

Heh. The 'jumpinginpools' moron is totally losing it.

I'd argue he never had it to begin with.

238 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:55:51pm

re: #229 negativ

If it's a tx1000 series, save yourself piles of frustration and avoid it.

The TC1100

239 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:56:27pm

Smartech: We can't find any language in the 73,000 pages of specifications where you stated it actually had to work for us to get paid.

240 Gearhead  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:56:31pm

re: #233 Cato the Elder

I still can't get over that anyone would willingly publish a picture of himself like that. Hungover, pasty-faced, pimply mouth-breather.

Evidently, you've never heard of Facebook...

241 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:57:38pm

re: #225 Killgore Trout

Hang in there. It looks like things are turning around.

I don't usually like to be pessimistic, but it may be a long time before things turn around. Japan went through a similar real estate/financial crisis in the 90s. They still haven't recovered, and they refer to the period of no growth/deflation as the "lost decade". They had "zombie banks" which were unprofitable institutions propped up by government, not lending any money because they had none to lend, but continuing to sap resources from the taxpayers. Sound at all like "too big to fail" banks? And the feds encouraged failed banks to merge during this latest crisis, creating even bigger "too big to fail" banks. I don't think we're out of the clear yet.

242 Bagua  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:57:53pm

re: #233 Cato the Elder

I still can't get over that anyone would willingly publish a picture of himself like that. Hungover, pasty-faced, pimply mouth-breather.

On his site he claim it is a picture of an autistic friend of his that you are commenting about.

243 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:57:57pm

Sorry for my OT but someone emailed me a nice ode to little girls:

What is a Little Girl?

Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with
a little bit of angel shine about them and though it wears thin sometimes,
there is always enough left to lasso your heart.

A little girl can be sweeter, and badder, oftener than anyone else in the
world. A girl is innocence playing in the mud, beauty standing on its head,
and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.

Girls are available in five colors -- black, white, red, yellow or
brown...yet Mother Nature always manages to select your favorite color when you place your order.

God borrows from many creatures to make a little girl. He uses a song of a
bird, the stubbornness of a mule, the slyness of a fox, the softness of a
kitten and, to top it all off, He adds the mysterious mind of a woman.

A little girl likes new shoes, party dresses, small animals, dolls,
make-believe, dancing lessons, ice cream and tea parties. She is loudest
when you are thinking, the prettiest when she provokes you, the quietest
when you want to show her off and the most flirtatious when she absolutely must not get the best of you again.

Who else can cause you more grief, joy, irritation, satisfaction,
embarrassment and genuine delight than this combination of Eve, Salome and Florence Nightingale?

Just when your patience is ready to crack, when your dreams tumble down and the whole world is a mess she can make you a king when she climbs on your knee and whispers, "I love you best of all."
~~~

244 [deleted]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:58:05pm
245 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:58:07pm

That post I mentioned upthread titled "Commies Pass Amendment to Give ACORN Regulatory Authority Over Financial Institutions" looks like it will be a panty-twisting OOTD by next week, it's based on a Maxine Waters reg to allow community agencies and groups input into the regulatory restructure, it passed the house today.

That said, it's time I went upstairs and tivo'ed through Dollhouse. Back later.

246 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:58:43pm

re: #223 WindUpBird

Or you're a gamer. We haven't ALL gravitated to the 360 yet!

This is the exact reason why I still have a use for Windows. Everything else here is Arch, though for frightening, unknown reasons that I maybe should see a doctor about, over the past few days I've been feeling an urge to check out openSUSE 11.2.

247 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 8:59:58pm

re: #233 Cato the Elder

I still can't get over that anyone would willingly publish a picture of himself like that. Hungover, pasty-faced, pimply mouth-breather.

I'm posting a picture of my scars on Sunday - but NOT my face!

/U-G-L-Y! I ain't go no alibi, I'm ugly!

248 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:00:07pm

re: #241 BryanS

However true or not true, I think the people you replied to were looking for a little optimism. And to them I say, things will get better.

249 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:00:53pm

I deleted my post -- no point in giving this troglodyte any more attention.

250 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:01:53pm

re: #249 Charles

I deleted my post -- no point in giving this troglodyte any more attention.

Sounds like the type who sucks attention up with a straw.

251 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:03:31pm

re: #247 SteveC

I'm posting a picture of my scars on Sunday - but NOT my face!

/U-G-L-Y! I ain't go no alibi, I'm ugly!

And the playground at Argonne Elementary School comes rushing back to me...

252 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:04:10pm

re: #233 Cato the Elder

Charles, please delete my #233 above and also this comment.

According to "Jumpinginpools",

That picture happens to be of Joseph Chicoine, an autistic 20-year old college student who is a friend of my brother and I [sic].

Of course, I assumed it was the blog owner. I don't want to be accused of making fun of an autistic person. Not that I could know that from looking at "JIP's" sad excuse for a blog.

253 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:04:39pm

re: #242 Bagua

On his site he claim it is a picture of an autistic friend of his that you are commenting about.

Which, of course, I had no way of knowing. I've asked Charles to delete my comments.

254 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:05:08pm

re: #241 BryanS

They didn't close down the zombie banks?
Did they raise taxes?

255 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:05:34pm

re: #211 Thanos

Now I know for certain that Hoffman is the Bircher preferred candidate for NY23 - RSM traveled there and is posting from his campaign office.

Yep, that seals it.

Hoffman doesn't have a chance to win, by the way. The Republican base has handed this congressional seat to the Democrats.

256 SteveC  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:05:56pm

re: #251 SanFranciscoZionist

And the playground at Argonne Elementary School comes rushing back to me...

Forgive me, I have young nieces. They eat that stuff up.

You ought to hear them howl with laughter when I start singing "Great green globs..."

257 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:06:48pm

re: #248 cliffster

However true or not true, I think the people you replied to were looking for a little optimism. And to them I say, things will get better.

Despair is a waste of time, but not having a realistic view of the state of the economy is harmful. And I have to say it is still brutal out there and there is a real possibility of a "double dip" or "L shaped" recovery. As much as conservatives dig against the stimulus bill not resulting in immediate spending, the fact is the spending will kick in at precisely the time we need the extra kick to prevent the double dip scenario. My criticism is we are spending money we do not have, so we can pretty much count on a weak economy for at least a decade, if not more.

Yes, things will get better, but it's always wisest to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

258 Sam N  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:07:19pm

re: #235 pdc_lgf

Thanks for pointing out some of the detailed specifics regarding the costs, maybe NJDHockeyFan will find it informative. I'd upding it if I had the capability. I don't mind spending the money to accomplish the goal, although I agree with Racer X that there needs to be results. I'm just not quite as pessimistic.

259 simoom  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:08:44pm

re: #75 Killgore Trout

Hot Airheads are all wound up again tonight...

I just took a gander too:

[Link: hotair.com...]

Nitwit in Chief

I read an interesting analysis this morning that in effect said the Obama displays all of the traits of a person that was fatherless…

[Link: hotair.com...]

Fatherless, spoiled brat. Fool. Egotistical. Corrupt. Disrespectful. Delusional. Just a few of the traits anyone would admire in a dictator.

/sheesh


[Link: hotair.com...]

Pajamas Media: Obama has doubts on Constitution in senior paper

[Link: hotair.com...]

Hm, goes along with his opinion on the Constitution.

Obama College Thesis: ‘Constitution is Inherently Flawed’

/lol


[Link: hotair.com...]

We are going to need a Joe McCarthy to wade through the Pinko Wake left from the Obama Czars.

This “shadow” government the liberals tried to pin on GW Bush has come to fruition in the Obama administration.

[Link: hotair.com...]

Jeez, we really have a punk President.

[Link: hotair.com...]

We have Al Capone for a president.

[Link: hotair.com...]

Pres. Obama, everything you say is a lie. You never answer any questions directly. When challenged, you act like a mob boss instead of the leader of the free world.

The only reason I have been able to accept the fact that a majority of people view this with a ‘eh…no big deal’ attitude is the fact that Scripture states people will be allowed to have delusion (believe the lies).

Obama is an evil man. Most of his administration is comprised of evil people. Evil forces will compel evil men to do evil acts.
That is not my opinion. That is just fact. To deny it is to be…DELUSIONAL.
Kind of convenient isn’t it?

[Link: hotair.com...]

The Child King is getting all wee wee’d up.


[Link: hotair.com...]

Thus, the only check on Federal Power, is FEDERAL seperation of powers… which is not working. The Supremes are AFRAID to even look into whether Obama is Elibable under the Natural Born Citizen Clause (as he was born a dual citizen)… and the Dem controled Congress will not really go against Obama…

But the Founders were very smart… they did give us the Second Amendment for just this type of situation.

/birther and revolution advocate - all in one post.

[Link: hotair.com...]

Yes, I know. Our Founding Fathers were granted valuable wisdom in their day. Very soon our Founding Fathers’ wisdom will be put to the test.

/agreeing with the revolutionary

260 Bagua  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:09:46pm

re: #253 Cato the Elder

Which, of course, I had no way of knowing. I've asked Charles to delete my comments.

Of course, that is assumed! Just giving you a heads up.

261 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:10:08pm

re: #258 Sam N

If they don't get results, then they deserve mucho opprobrium. But it's going to take years to develop that site.

The developers and managers who are scarier are the ones who promise to deliver something quickly.

262 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:11:10pm

re: #259 simoom

Those comments are unbelievable, and they know people are watching. Just amazing.

263 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:12:42pm

re: #253 Cato the Elder

Which, of course, I had no way of knowing. I've asked Charles to delete my comments.

At the same time, it says something about pointless meanness...

264 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:12:43pm

re: #254 pdc_lgf

They didn't close down the zombie banks?
Did they raise taxes?

No--that was what caused their lost decade. This Forbes story sums up the issue nicely.

Japan did almost exactly what the US is now doing--near permanent 0% interests, expand the money supply, bailouts of failed banks.

265 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:13:08pm

re: #262 akarra

Maybe the comments are ramped up on the vileness scale because they know people are watching?

266 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:14:44pm

The neocons got together with the economists and globalists tonight at Columbia University for a Conference on Peace through Reconstruction. Man, look at that all star lineup plotting out the new world order.
/

267 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:14:45pm

re: #265 pdc_lgf

Maybe the comments are ramped up on the vileness scale because they know people are watching?

Nope, don't think so. They post such vileness because they see absolutely nothing wrong with it. That's how far gone they are.

268 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:15:00pm

Ahh, Texas. It's 54 degrees outside and one of my neighbors has his fireplace going.

From the smell of it, I'd say he's burning zombie corpses. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's one of the only ways to be sure.

269 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:15:12pm

re: #264 BryanS

But we are closing banks down. They kept the banks propped up. How did they manage deflation alongside expanding their money supply?

What was their tax policy?

270 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:15:46pm

re: #268 negativ

Ahh, Texas. It's 54 degrees outside and one of my neighbors has his fireplace going.

From the smell of it, I'd say he's burning zombie corpses. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's one of the only ways to be sure.

Texas is indeed quite nice for the first time in a long, long while.

271 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:16:16pm

re: #268 negativ

I think you might be the guy I was looking for, before. You ever get to Antone's in Austin?

272 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:16:29pm

re: #259 simoom

With this and KT's last one, I have more than enough for the next HACOTD thread. Hot Air is totally out of control.

273 webevintage  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:16:56pm

re: #245 Thanos


That said, it's time I went upstairs and tivo'ed through Dollhouse. Back later.

hahahaha
That's how I watch it too.
I'm still not sure if I like it...but I really hate to give up on Joss.

274 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:17:20pm

re: #265 pdc_lgf

Maybe the comments are ramped up on the vileness scale because they know people are watching?

I'm thinking that, but if they really think through what they're doing, it's not bright. I've said awful things here and there and I'm sure there's plenty on my blog that could be used against me, and the thing is, I'm watching out to make sure I don't say anything inappropriate.

I'm arguing for something really basic, that isn't even common decency: at what point do you want a persona that people might actually want to talk to and engage? It doesn't make a lot of sense to spew hate all the time, because you never know when people might wonder "hey, what if that guy disagrees with me?"

275 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:19:33pm

www.gop.com from my web browser:

Image: gop103.png

276 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:20:22pm

Lest anyone think that "Jumpinginpools" himself is not a mental midget, here some samples of his prose:

Does this mean that Mike Huckabee wants to smitten [sic] all of the evil Muslims?

The Conservative Party of New York has become the vocal point [sic] of discussion all across the United States [sic] political scene [...]

[...] the party has a lot of downfalls [sic] on the local levels, while their highest levels of success are in statewide, congressional wide [sic], and federal wide [sic] elections.

I am not smearing, I am just telling the downright [sic] truth.

JIP, just for you, I'm offering a one-time 50% discount on editing services. You're hoaxing getting attention from the likes of Rush Limbaugh, for a day or so at least, so you might want to buff up your English.

277 Ojoe  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:20:29pm

Down with both major political parties. Pffiibbittth.™

Good night all.

278 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:20:30pm

re: #274 akarra

I see your point. But they don't want fresh recruits. It's an in-group trying to intimidate the rest of us, with tacit threats of violence.

It's like the 2nd Amendment fake controversy. I'm all for the second Amendment. But I don't feel my liberty being enhanced, if civilians with assault weapons are showing where I'm hanging out.

279 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:20:41pm

Clicking on the top banner to go home doesn't work. Isn't that a webdev 101 thing?

280 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:22:12pm

re: #270 cliffster

Texas is indeed quite nice for the first time in a long, long while.

Tonight we sat through about 15 minutes of horizontal rain at a football game. Buckets of rain and wind that was breaking umbrellas. The game went on even through the worst of the storm. Soaked completely. Couldn't tell the kid's number from the layer of mud on the jersey.

281 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:22:23pm

re: #276 Cato the Elder

Lest anyone think that "Jumpinginpools" himself is not a mental midget, here some samples of his prose:

JIP, just for you, I'm offering a one-time 50% discount on editing services. You're hoaxing getting attention from the likes of Rush Limbaugh, for a day or so at least, so you might want to buff up your English.

I didn't know that about Huckabee...
///

282 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:22:29pm

re: #269 pdc_lgf

But we are closing banks down. They kept the banks propped up. How did they manage deflation alongside expanding their money supply?

What was their tax policy?

We're not closing down some of the biggest failures--think any institution that still has significant TARP money--AIG, Citi, BoA.

Their tax policy was to cut taxes. Here's another link to a more detailed look at the comparisons between the US and Japan, focused on learning from Japan' mistakes.

We are doing things a little better than Japan by allowing as many failures as we have, but we've converted many of the losses into public debt we cannot afford.

283 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:23:20pm

re: #277 Ojoe

Down with both major political parties. Pffiibbittth.™

Good night all.

Let me guess, you recommend the Whigs :?)

284 Ojoe  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:24:00pm

re: #283 BryanS

Yes. LOL.

Goodnight again.

285 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:24:04pm

re: #276 Cato the Elder

Lest anyone think that "Jumpinginpools" himself is not a mental midget, here some samples of his prose:

JIP, just for you, I'm offering a one-time 50% discount on editing services. You're hoaxing getting attention from the likes of Rush Limbaugh, for a day or so at least, so you might want to buff up your English.

"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." Andrew Jackson.

286 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:24:41pm

re: #285 Mich-again

"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." Andrew Jackson.

And that can only think of one way to misuse it.

287 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:25:01pm

re: #285 Mich-again

"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." Andrew Jackson.

sweet

288 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:25:53pm

re: #278 pdc_lgf

I see your point. But they don't want fresh recruits. It's an in-group trying to intimidate the rest of us, with tacit threats of violence.

It's like the 2nd Amendment fake controversy. I'm all for the second Amendment. But I don't feel my liberty being enhanced, if civilians with assault weapons are showing where I'm hanging out.

Fair enough - I'm going to give the matter a bit more thought, because being online seems to bring another set of incentives into play (i.e. acting like a troll on Digg could make one popular, for instance).

289 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:26:57pm

re: #285 Mich-again

"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." Andrew Jackson.

re: #286 Cato the Elder

And that can only think of one way to misuse it.

Such a mind would lack both experience with language, and knowledge of how truly well spoken people talk. But enough about Sarah Palin...

290 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:29:06pm

re: #289 Dark_Falcon

Such a mind would lack both experience with language, and knowledge of how truly well spoken people talk. But enough about Sarah Palin...

You ain't from around here, is you?

291 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:30:19pm

re: #263 cliffster

At the same time, it says something about pointless meanness...

Actually, it says something about a blog owner who puts up a random picture without 'splaining what it's all about.

Anything you put on your website is public and subject to mockery. If you don't want it mocked, tell us why.

292 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:30:32pm

re: #282 BryanS

Thanks for the information. I'll look at the link. Clearly, the situation ahs to be managed. Unfortunately, there's no appetite whatsoever to do what Paul Volker wants - reinstate some form of Glass-Steagall (that's my very limited and highly imperfect understannding). Congress won't go for it.

To me, this thing is a salami-slicing exercise. Regain transparency, one thin slice at a time. It's too soon for me to form an opinion of how well the situation is being managed, or how well it will be managed going forward.

So far, Obama resisted the calls to nationalize the banks, and extend the gov't reach into the situation even frther than his administration did.

293 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:30:50pm

Tonight at Fox News: 10 Reasons for Moral Outrage.

6. Darwinism is taught as fact while Creationism is excluded from the American classroom.

294 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:31:01pm

re: #279 Conservative Moonbat

Clicking on the top banner to go home doesn't work. Isn't that a webdev 101 thing?

Clicking on the top banner left side where the site graphic is does indeed take you home, just as it does at 90% of all the sites I have ever visited. Why you think clicking on the grey in the center of the banner should work the same is beyond me, it doesn't at most other places either. :p

295 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:31:44pm

re: #291 Cato the Elder

Actually, it says something about a blog owner who puts up a random picture without 'splaining what it's all about.

Anything you put on your website is public and subject to mockery. If you don't want it mocked, tell us why.

I am not convinced he's telling the truth about that picture. It's easy to make up something to make someone else look bad.

296 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:32:44pm

re: #293 Charles

Tonight at Fox News: 10 Reasons for Moral Outrage.

Yeesh.

297 simoom  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:33:57pm

Just finishing up that Hot Air thread (I ran out of space :P):

[Link: hotair.com...]

Obama’s guilty of Derelection of Duty as Commander in Chief and President of the United States of America;
He has also failed to uphold his oath of office.
And his puppetiers are supporting his negligent behavior. He would be fired from any regular government job, with this incompetent and negligent attitude.
What does it take for a full fledged impeachment?

/impeachment

[Link: hotair.com...]

No wonder He thinks he is God.
The One’s last two targets were a lame duck president and Juan McLame. Ha Ha Ha

After a fancy prep school, Affirmative Action in college, needy crowds of poor who worshipped him, then adoration in his jobs, a Nobel…Sudden collision with reality…starting now.

Ack, ran out of space again and most of my comment got eaten :P. I need one more post to record a totally racist exchange at the bottom of that thread.

298 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:35:22pm

re: #293 Charles

10 Reasons for Moral Outrage

Its should say Morel Outrage as in mushrooms. Kept in the dark and fed bullsh*t.

299 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:35:31pm

re: #291 Cato the Elder

Actually, it says something about a blog owner who puts up a random picture without 'splaining what it's all about.

Anything you put on your website is public and subject to mockery. If you don't want it mocked, tell us why.

You are free to mock whomever you like. You can mock a cancer patient's bald head if you like. It's a free country. Like I said, one might wonder about pointless meanness, no matter how much you know about a situation.

300 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:35:37pm

re: #292 pdc_lgf

Thanks for the information. I'll look at the link. Clearly, the situation ahs to be managed. Unfortunately, there's no appetite whatsoever to do what Paul Volker wants - reinstate some form of Glass-Steagall (that's my very limited and highly imperfect understannding). Congress won't go for it.

To me, this thing is a salami-slicing exercise. Regain transparency, one thin slice at a time. It's too soon for me to form an opinion of how well the situation is being managed, or how well it will be managed going forward.

So far, Obama resisted the calls to nationalize the banks, and extend the gov't reach into the situation even frther than his administration did.

It's a tough call whether government intervention has been worse than the malady we were going to go through. The Bush admin started by allowing Bear-Stearns to fail, but the consequences of that was to precipitate so many other failures. The bubble had been burst, and our policies were to not allow the collapse of the entire financial sector of the economy. I think the choice was made that a lost decade or two of stagnation was better then Great Depression #2.

301 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:36:04pm
2.Our entertainment industry glamorizes sexuality yet is held unaccountable despite the rising rate of out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies.

Personal Responsibility!11!

302 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:36:05pm

re: #293 Charles

Tonight at Fox News: 10 Reasons for Moral Outrage.

6. Darwinism is taught as fact while Creationism is excluded from the American classroom.

7. Scientists wont admit the sun revolves around the flat earth and that mankind was sublimely created in Gods image. (well except for those nasty fallen angels breeding with human sluts and making giants and other nasty shit...what?)

303 akarra  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:36:08pm

re: #297 simoom

I thanked Kilgore above, and I definitely want to thank you for bringing this extremism to light.

304 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:36:43pm

A lovely, cool Friday evening in Austin. We finally got some huge rain in the Lake Travis watershed and it is up 10 feet in the 36 hours. So we are only 25 feet down. Up to 9.5 inches of rain in some spots.

Still, the water that entered the lake in the past two days equals Austin's water use for a year. Good!

Two year drought, replaced by massive flooding. And we need two more of those frog stranglers west of town. Texas weather. We only got 1.5 inches in town.

305 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:37:06pm

re: #301 Varek Raith

Personal Responsibility!11!

To heck with personal responsibility! I'm pointin' fingers!

306 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:37:33pm

re: #293 Charles

Tonight at Fox News: 10 Reasons for Moral Outrage.

Oh, come on, you're kidding?!?!

307 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:37:55pm

re: #294 ausador

Clicking on the top banner left side where the site graphic is does indeed take you home, just as it does at 90% of all the sites I have ever visited. Why you think clicking on the grey in the center of the banner should work the same is beyond me, it doesn't at most other places either. :p

depends on your browser. It doesn't work in Iceweasel (rebranded firefox) konqueror (the parent of safari, or opera all on linux.

308 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:38:17pm

re: #301 Varek Raith

Personal Responsibility!11!

I like to say that with an accent.

"Pershonal reeshponsibility."

//

309 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:38:19pm

re: #293 Charles

It's an outrageous outrage.

310 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:39:02pm

re: #306 austin_blue

Oh, come on, you're kidding?!?!

Unfortunately he's not. All ten of the reasons are as retarded as the one Charles quoted.

311 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:39:41pm

re: #309 Sharmuta

It's an outrageous outrage.

Magnanimous in its magnanimity.

312 freetoken  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:39:48pm

re: #293 Charles

Kind of says it all, doesn't it...

313 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:40:05pm

re: #271 pdc_lgf

I think you might be the guy I was looking for, before. You ever get to Antone's in Austin?

Antone's sounds vaguely familiar. But then again, nearly all my experiences in Austin can best be described as "sounding vaguely familiar".

314 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:40:25pm

re: #309 Sharmuta

It's an outrageous outrage.

Our outrage at that outrage is outrageously outrageous!eleventy-one!1
///

315 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:40:33pm

re: #310 BryanS

Unfortunately he's not. All ten of the reasons are as retarded as the one Charles quoted.

This is why I don't have cable. I'd throw a brick through my flat screen if I watched this bullshit.

316 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:40:46pm

re: #312 freetoken

Kind of says it all, doesn't it...

He also said:

3. Moral relativism continues to reign in our public schools even though a nation reaps the results of such relativism with unprecedented greed on Wall Street.

He used the g-word! Greed!

//Commie!

/

317 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:41:17pm

How much does it cost to start a new 24-hour cable news station? I did a little Googling but I can't figure out where to start.

318 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:41:51pm
319 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:42:06pm

re: #300 BryanS

I think we're converging to a state of violent agreement with one another. Given my track record, you might want to re-evaluate your position.

I looked at he link.

Take-away #1: "I suspect that the current capital injections in the US and Europe may not eradicate the payment uncertainty unless they are accompanied by sufficiently stringent asset evaluations."

Take-away #2: "Although suspension of mark-to-market accounting may temporarily calm the panic, it may also enable and seduce bankers to hide their toxic assets from regulators and market participants. If bankers hide bad assets, zombie firms will persist and the payment uncertainty will remain, setting the stage for very low long-term economic growth in the coming years."

The financial industry resists both these things - mightily.

320 simoom  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:42:48pm

re: #297 simoom

Hopefully this all fits:
[Link: hotair.com...]

add a smidgeon of The Bell Curve,mix in a little of Men Among the Ruins and voila, Failure Provencal.Bon appetit…

/at least one poster calls him on it


[Link: hotair.com...]

Huh? Please tell me you aren’t using The Bell Curve to refer to Obama.

[Link: hotair.com...]

Um..no I’m refering to you silly.If you can find a library that hasn’t been closed due to budget cuts do yourself a favor and read a few books.Preferably ones without pictures.

[Link: hotair.com...]

Seriously, I’m wondering what you are actually trying to get at here. Are you suggesting Obama is less intelligent because he is black? If you aren’t, that’s cool – I was under the impression that the bell curve discussed (in the aggregate) differences between intelligence for different races, but if you’re referring to something else, just say so.

[Link: hotair.com...]

Wow… trying to say the BELL CURVE is RAAACIST?

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

It has to do with intelligence, and how prevalent that level of intelligence is… ie… there are very few people at the top or bottom of the curve… many more at the middle of the curve…

But apparently… you belong to the FAR Left side of said Bell Curve…

/another idiot joins in and supports the first post


[Link: hotair.com...]

For christ’s sake, from the very first paragraph of your own link:

Much of the controversy concerns Chapters 13 and 14, in which the authors wrote about the enduring racial differences in intelligence and discuss implications of those differences.

I never claimed, and don’t claim, that The Bell Curve is racist. But it is bullsh*t, and completely anti-conservative, to ascribe an individual’s stupidity to aggregate group statistics. I thought that was the meaning of inevitable’s post, and I explained that pretty clearly in my last comment.

The book The Bell Curve is not known for the general concept of a normal distribution; that’s been around for centuries. It is widely known for its discussion of aggregate racial statistics. So like I said before, I don’t see why you would use it to describe Obama.

/Go lone-sane-guy-on-Hot-Air!

Funny how people like you see EVERYTHING through the prism of Race.

Sooo… is it YOUR assumption that someone must be talking about the BOOK the Bell Curve? And it is YOUR assumption that it is some sort of attack on his ethnicity, WHEN HE IS HALF WHITE? And therefore would be a Wild Card at best even if you took that Book at its Premise?

The only Racist I see here, is you.


There's one more post by the decent guy after this but I can't fit it. Here's the link:
[Link: hotair.com...]

321 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:42:48pm

re: #293 Charles

Tonight at Fox News: 10 Reasons for Moral Outrage.

Outrage alone won't do anymore. It has to be moral outrage.

And the mome raths outgrabe...

322 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:43:18pm

re: #317 cliffster

How much does it cost to start a new 24-hour cable news station? I did a little Googling but I can't figure out where to start.

Cap Rupert Murdoch or Geoge Soros and get all their money...

And yes, /// obviously...

323 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:43:19pm

re: #299 cliffster

See my reply to "Jumpinginpools" on his own site.

324 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:44:11pm

re: #320 simoom

Wow! The Bell Curve is racist!

325 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:44:17pm

re: #321 Cato the Elder

Well, would the alternative be immoral outrage? Is that relative-morality outrage, or absolute-morality outrage?

326 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:44:23pm

re: #318 negativ

"Rev. Bill Shuler is pastor at Capitol Life Church in Arlington, Virginia."

That's right -- one of America's main cable news networks is promoting creationism.

327 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:44:26pm

re: #315 austin_blue

This is why I don't have cable. I'd throw a brick through my flat screen if I watched this bullshit.

Cable TV is going to die a slow death anyway. More and more content is available through the internet. I hardly need my television anymore.

328 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:45:14pm

re: #325 pdc_lgf

Well, would the alternative be immoral outrage? Is that relative-morality outrage, or absolute-morality outrage?

I think most outrage these days is of the hypocritical variety.

329 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:45:30pm

re: #326 Charles

That's right -- one of America's main cable news networks is promoting creationism.

That's the real outrage.

330 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:45:46pm

re: #322 austin_blue

Humor me for a moment please. Do you get over to Antone's?
Ever see Earl King? It was one of my dreams, but it's too late now.

331 simoom  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:45:56pm

re: #320 simoom

Oops, I missed the link before that last comment. The one that starts with:

Funny how people like you see EVERYTHING through the prism of Race.

Here it is:
[Link: hotair.com...]

332 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:45:59pm

re: #301 Varek Raith

2.Our entertainment industry glamorizes sexuality yet is held unaccountable despite the rising rate of out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies.

Personal Responsibility!11!

I used to work at a bar with a nightclub in the back. The owner had this idea that since Thursdays were slow we could open the club for teenagers. Parents would drop the kids off and pick them up later. The kids weren't allowed to leave until the parents arrived.

Now when I was a teenager we danced together but in a respectful way. I was shocked at the way the teenagers were dancing at that club...girl bending over while the guy rubbed his crotch on her ass, simulating sex on the dance floor, guys or girls rubbing other girls tits. These were 13-16 year olds. When I asked the DJ where they learned how to dance like that, he replied "MTV."

333 theheat  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:46:23pm

re: #293 Charles

Actually, almost all his points are part of a well-established, tiresome, fundie freakout. All the usual talking points are there. This isn't exactly unexpected, being as he's a pastor.

"The community of faith is, in large measure, quiet and complacent."

I disagree strongly. Lately, they never STFU. Ever. For, like, even five minutes. And, hell, there's still the War on Christmas to defend this year.

These people are inexhaustible. I don't think atheists have anywhere near the stamina or sustained paranoia of these people.

334 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:46:45pm

re: #319 pdc_lgf

I think we're converging to a state of violent agreement with one another. Given my track record, you might want to re-evaluate your position.

I looked at he link.

Take-away #1: "I suspect that the current capital injections in the US and Europe may not eradicate the payment uncertainty unless they are accompanied by sufficiently stringent asset evaluations."

Take-away #2: "Although suspension of mark-to-market accounting may temporarily calm the panic, it may also enable and seduce bankers to hide their toxic assets from regulators and market participants. If bankers hide bad assets, zombie firms will persist and the payment uncertainty will remain, setting the stage for very low long-term economic growth in the coming years."

The financial industry resists both these things - mightily.

Yeah, the financial industry wants to blame mark-to-market from the crisis, but without it, things would have been able to get even worse than it did before the bubble popped.

335 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:47:33pm

re: #334 BryanS

I'm telling you, Chief, rethink your position if you agree with me!

336 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:47:50pm

1. Our forefathers acknowledged our creator God in the Declaration of Independence, but we are forbidden to acknowledge him in our public schools.

Our forefathers went on to write something else, commonly known as the Establishment Clause. Google it.

2.Our entertainment industry glamorizes sexuality yet is held unaccountable despite the rising rate of out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies.

Actually, teen pregnancies are dropping, last I heard.

3. Moral relativism continues to reign in our public schools even though a nation reaps the results of such relativism with unprecedented greed on Wall Street.

I taught for three years in public schools. I don't think I ever saw anyone teach 'moral relativism'.

4. 39.8 million people live below the poverty line in America -- over 14.1 million of them are children -- yet close to 100 billion pounds of food is wasted each year.

Hey, something that doesn't make me want to kick you! OK, we each agree to be careful with the leftovers, and take a bag to the food panty, 'kay?

5. There have been over 50 million abortions since Roe vs. Wade became the law of the land with the vast majority being for no other reason than simple birth control.

I agree, birth control should be easily accessible, and teenagers especially should have access to excellent and truthful education about the need for and best means of birth control. We seem to be in agreement about lots of thing.

6. Darwinism is taught as fact while Creationism is excluded from the American classroom.

Please go back to that Google page about the Establishment Clause.

7. More Christians were killed for their faith in the 20th century than in the entire history of Christianity.

Possibly. although God knows they were trying hard in the seventeenth century, and deserve an honorable mention, despite the disadvantage of working with inferior weaponry and means of mobilization.

8. A cross erected in 1934, at a WWI memorial site in the Mojave Desert, is currently at the center of a debate over whether or not its presence violates the Constitution.

If it's on public land, quite possibly. We solved that problem here in San Francisco, and the cross still stands. Google that too.

9. The Ten Commandments have been taken from our court houses.

Sigh. Lemme try this again. There's this part of the Bill of Rights...that's the addenda to the Constitution, OK...

10. The community of faith is, in large measure, quiet and complacent.

You should have been at my school's pep rally today. You've never heard such a noisy community of faith. I had a headache for hours.

337 simoom  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:48:34pm

re: #324 Sharmuta

Wow! The Bell Curve is racist!

Particularly when you're trying to use it as evidence that the President is intellectually inferior.

338 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:49:11pm

re: #310 BryanS

Unfortunately he's not. All ten of the reasons are as retarded as the one Charles quoted.

You know, if you need someone to help you with your list of things to be morally outraged about, you may not be looking hard enough. I usually have several by the time I get to work in the morning. (I buy the paper on the walk to the bus stop.)

339 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:49:13pm

re: #333 theheat

These people are inexhaustible. I don't think atheists have anywhere near the stamina or sustained paranoia of these people.

Is that anything like Ross Perot's "You people"?

340 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:49:33pm

re: #333 theheat

I don't think atheists have anywhere near the stamina or sustained paranoia of these people.

With the possible exception of Bill Maher, atheist, anti-vaxer and winner of the 2009 Richard Dawkins Award for Snot-Nosed Dogmatism. He never shuts the fuck up, either.

341 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:49:35pm

re: #333 theheat

Actually, almost all his points are part of a well-established, tiresome, fundie freakout. All the usual talking points are there. This isn't exactly unexpected, being as he's a pastor.

I disagree strongly. Lately, they never STFU. Ever. For, like, even five minutes. And, hell, there's still the War on Christmas to defend this year.

These people are inexhaustible. I don't think atheists have anywhere near the stamina or sustained paranoia of these people.

Oh no. I forgot about the War on Christmas. The whining is going to be worse than ever this year.

342 avanti  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:50:24pm

re: #321 Cato the Elder

Outrage alone won't do anymore. It has to be moral outrage.

And the mome raths outgrabe...

Well, there are two or three I could agree with out of the ten.

343 Fenris  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:50:56pm

That's incredible. My site's kindasortaprobably better than theirs, and I didn't pay a cent to make it.

344 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:51:10pm

re: #341 Charles

Oh no. I forgot about the War on Christmas. The whining is going to be worse than ever this year.

And yet we are all forced to listen to Christmas music starting now and going straight through to Christmas. Yep, there's a war on, all right. On my nerves.

345 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:51:48pm

re: #330 pdc_lgf

Humor me for a moment please. Do you get over to Antone's?
Ever see Earl King? It was one of my dreams, but it's too late now.

Several times, at his old joint on Guadalupe. But I used to see Earl a lot when I was living in New Orleans. Kind of a fixture there. Great bluesman.

346 theheat  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:53:14pm

re: #341 Charles

Which is why I enjoy October and Halloween so much. November 1st rolls around, and I have to cover my ears to drown out the shrieking of all these WoC defenders. I get one month of fun followed by two months of WoC hysteria. Hardly seems fair.

347 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:53:50pm

re: #338 SanFranciscoZionist

You know, if you need someone to help you with your list of things to be morally outraged about, you may not be looking hard enough. I usually have several by the time I get to work in the morning. (I buy the paper on the walk to the bus stop.)


LOL
If the Letters to the Editor in the SF Chronicle doesn't top your Blood pressure at over 300 then you aren't alive..I loved the daily outrage...
Weee!

348 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:54:13pm
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told citizens Wednesday to limit their showers to three minutes because the country is having problems supplying water and electricity.

"Some people sing in the shower, in the shower half an hour," he said during a televised cabinet meeting. "No kids, three minutes is more than enough. I've counted, three minutes, and I don't stink."

I disagree Hugo, you do stink.

349 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:54:21pm

re: #344 Cato the Elder

And yet we are all forced to listen to Christmas music starting now and going straight through to Christmas. Yep, there's a war on, all right. On my nerves.

I blame President Ulysses S. Grant.

/

350 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:54:34pm

re: #344 Cato the Elder

And yet we are all forced to listen to Christmas music starting now and going straight through to Christmas. Yep, there's a war on, all right. On my nerves.

Oh, come on. Don't you want to join me in a rousing chorus of "Santa Got Run Over By A Reindeer"?

Do you know, there is substantially less Christmas schlock and fuss made at the Catholic schools I've taught at than at the public ones?

351 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:54:43pm

re: #335 pdc_lgf

I'm telling you, Chief, rethink your position if you agree with me!

Heh...now I'll throw a wet blanket on the good feelings :) The Dems were the cause of the most recent asset bubble through well intentioned policies designed to increase housing affordability. Problem is banks were forced to make loans they did not want to make--risky sub-prime loans to people who may not actually be able to afford the payments. To mitigate their risks, they turned to securitizing those loans. It was like crack for bankers--once that took off, the train wreck was in motion. All the pumping of money into housing caused prices to skyrocket. Once the bubble burst, everyone gets hurt because even responsible home buyers will find their home prices falling, often cases to less than what they paid for them.

352 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:54:59pm

re: #344 Cato the Elder

And yet we are all forced to listen to Christmas music starting now and going straight through to Christmas. Yep, there's a war on, all right. On my nerves.

At one of my previous jobs my coworkers has Christmas music on the entire frelling workday!
/I literally went insane.

353 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:55:03pm

re: #348 NJDhockeyfan

I disagree Hugo, you do stink.

You're stealing Kilgore's line.

354 avanti  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:55:03pm

re: #341 Charles

Oh no. I forgot about the War on Christmas. The whining is going to be worse than ever this year.

Most of those bitching would be shocked by the pagan origins of many of the Christmas traditions. Heck, even the Dec 25th date.

355 simoom  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:55:44pm

re: #341 Charles

Oh no. I forgot about the War on Christmas. The whining is going to be worse than ever this year.

It's already begun :o.

[Link: www.politico.com...]

Politico: Christmas myth dogs Obama

The White House Historical Association has been receiving calls and emails about an alleged Obama decree that the Christmas trees in the White House would now be known as "holiday trees." And artists submitting designs for ornaments on the Blue Room tree were not allowed to depict Christian themes.


[Link: www.factcheck.org...]

Q: Are the Obamas doing away with the White House "Christmas" tree and banning ornaments with religious themes?
356 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:55:59pm

re: #344 Cato the Elder

And yet we are all forced to listen to Christmas music starting now and going straight through to Christmas. Yep, there's a war on, all right. On my nerves.

Quite Concur. If stores played only 1/3 Christmas music, I wouldn't mind much. But all Christmas music gets old real fast.

357 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:56:18pm

re: #353 Mich-again

You're stealing Kilgore's line.

My apologies to Kilgore.

358 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:56:32pm

re: #351 BryanS

Heh...now I'll throw a wet blanket on the good feelings :) The Dems were the cause of the most recent asset bubble through well intentioned policies designed to increase housing affordability. Problem is banks were forced to make loans they did not want to make--risky sub-prime loans to people who may not actually be able to afford the payments. To mitigate their risks, they turned to securitizing those loans. It was like crack for bankers--once that took off, the train wreck was in motion. All the pumping of money into housing caused prices to skyrocket. Once the bubble burst, everyone gets hurt because even responsible home buyers will find their home prices falling, often cases to less than what they paid for them.

Now it was my understanding that those policies were intended to prevent loans from being denied to qualified borrowers on a racial basis. What went wrong?

359 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:56:42pm

re: #350 SanFranciscoZionist

Oh, come on. Don't you want to join me in a rousing chorus of "Santa Got Run Over By A Reindeer"?

Its Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. Get your carols straight.

360 Varek Raith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:56:52pm

re: #352 Varek Raith

has -> had.
PIMF

361 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:57:00pm

The evangelical church is not going "quietly into that good night" mores the pity.

This is their last shot, unless they somehow subvert the country and put their beliefs into law they know they are doomed to fade into semi-irrelevance on the political scene. They didn't invest three decades of effort and hundreds of millions of dollars to get nothing from it, they are pissed, rightly so.

They should blame the politicians that pandered to them and promised them that the new revival of biblical changes was always just around the corner. Unfortunately they seem to be blaming everyone who isn't one of them, we have all become RINO's in their eyes.

362 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:58:15pm

re: #355 simoom

When all else fails, make shit up and send an email out about it. Must reply to 10 friends within 20 minutes!

363 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:58:28pm

re: #356 Dark_Falcon

Quite Concur. If stores played only 1/3 Christmas music, I wouldn't mind much. But all Christmas music gets old real fast.

Well, Halloween is right around the corner, so christmas music will be playing nonstop pretty soon. Why the heck does that have to start so soon? Right after Thanksgiving was long enough.

364 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:58:37pm

re: #356 Dark_Falcon

Quite Concur. If stores played only 1/3 Christmas music, I wouldn't mind much. But all Christmas music gets old real fast.

I'm planning to go nowhere without my iPod this season. I start to jump out of my skin about two days after they start with the schlock.

365 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:59:00pm

re: #358 SanFranciscoZionist

Now it was my understanding that those policies were intended to prevent loans from being denied to qualified borrowers on a racial basis. What went wrong?

Quotas.

366 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:01:13pm

re: #361 ausador

we have all become RINO's in their eyes.

Rhinos or tick birds one.

367 Killgore Trout  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:01:26pm

re: #357 NJDhockeyfan

No apologies required. We all stink sometimes.

368 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:01:38pm

re: #363 BryanS

Well, Halloween is right around the corner, so christmas music will be playing nonstop pretty soon. Why the heck does that have to start so soon? Right after Thanksgiving was long enough.

Used to be after Thanksgiving. Most of this is promoted by the retail associations. Half the news in my experience during the holidays used to be retail sales projections.

369 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:01:51pm

re: #345 austin_blue

I have a bunch of his stuff. He's had a pretty wide range. Lucky you.
I was at Antone's once. The FBI raided the place. They were actually sitting at tables with FBI jackets on - as in garments with "FBI" emblazoned on them in large yellow letters. Never found out what the story was. I will trouble you no more with my mental meaderings on this topic.

370 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:02:08pm

73% of GOP Voters Say Congressional Republicans Have Lost Touch With Their Base

President Obama told an audience at a Democratic Party fundraiser Wednesday night that Republicans often “do what they’re told,” but GOP voters don’t think their legislators listen enough to them.

Just 15% of Republicans who plan to vote in 2012 state primaries say the party’s representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing Republican values.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% think Republicans in Congress have lost touch with GOP voters from throughout the nation. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided.
These numbers are basically unchanged from a survey in late April.

371 theheat  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:02:43pm

re: #364 Cato the Elder

Have faith, dear Cato. I hear "A Palin Family Christmas" is in the works. Moosemeat roast, cocoa and marshmallows on a wolf rug by the fire, followed by chasing grizzlies on snowmobiles waving American flags.
//

372 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:02:43pm

re: #354 avanti

Most of those bitching would be shocked by the pagan origins of many of the Christmas traditions. Heck, even the Dec 25th date.

Our Pilgrim forefathers celebrated Christmas by getting up and going to work. They wanted nothing to do with such a papist foolery. Now, I have no problem with a nice, lavish, Victorian/German Christmas, but I wish that these folks would bear in mind that it is not some sort of primal American obligation.

Ann Coulter once commented that saying "Merry Christmas" is like saying 'Fuck you'. I appreciated her honesty, but it is a hell of thing to do to a perfectly nice holiday.

373 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:03:53pm

re: #359 Mich-again

Its Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. Get your carols straight.

OK--Grandma...Santa...but someone got run over by a reindeer. Right?

374 lurking faith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:04:23pm

re: #358 SanFranciscoZionist

Now it was my understanding that those policies were intended to prevent loans from being denied to qualified borrowers on a racial basis. What went wrong?

Activists (*ahem* like ACORN *ahem*) started crying racism loudly and intimidating lenders who refused to make mortgage loans to unqualified minorities. And by unqualified, I mean very low income, down to and including the chronically unemployed.

375 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:05:22pm

re: #371 theheat

Have faith, dear Cato. I hear "A Palin Family Christmas" is in the works. Moosemeat roast, cocoa and marshmallows on a wolf rug by the fire, followed by chasing grizzlies on snowmobiles waving American flags.
//

The grizzlies are waving American flags and driving snowmobiles? Alaska is shtarker than I imagined.

376 Fenris  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:05:27pm

What? I like my weeks or months off. I put them right next to my guns and the boxful of apple pies.

377 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:05:38pm

re: #371 theheat

Have faith, dear Cato. I hear "A Palin Family Christmas" is in the works. Moosemeat roast, cocoa and marshmallows on a wolf rug by the fire, followed by chasing grizzlies on snowmobiles waving American flags.
//

These grizzlies on snowmobiles with the American flags - will they be chasing them in helicopters?

378 theheat  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:05:56pm

re: #372 SanFranciscoZionist

Ann Coulter once commented that saying "Merry Christmas" is like saying 'Fuck you'. I appreciated her honesty, but it is a hell of thing to do to a perfectly nice holiday.

She's so full of Christian martyr crap. That's total bullshit.

379 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:06:15pm

re: #364 Cato the Elder

I start to jump out of my skin about two days after they start with the schlock.

The worst ones are the rock and roll Christmas songs. Just dreadful all of them.

380 lurking faith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:06:26pm

re: #376 fenrisdesigns

Mmmm... apple pie.

381 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:06:57pm

re: #380 lurking faith

Mmmm... apple pie.

I had apple pie for breakfast this morning.

382 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:07:56pm

re: #372 SanFranciscoZionist

Our Pilgrim forefathers celebrated Christmas by getting up and going to work. They wanted nothing to do with such a papist foolery. Now, I have no problem with a nice, lavish, Victorian/German Christmas, but I wish that these folks would bear in mind that it is not some sort of primal American obligation.

Ann Coulter once commented that saying "Merry Christmas" is like saying 'Fuck you'. I appreciated her honesty, but it is a hell of thing to do to a perfectly nice holiday.

Anne Coulter is an awful person--the Micheal Moore of the right.

383 theheat  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:07:56pm

re: #377 Cato the Elder

Real men don't need helicopters. Nossir. They use private planes.

384 lurking faith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:08:24pm

re: #381 NJDhockeyfan

I had apple pie for breakfast this morning.

OK, committing a deadly sin here.

(Envy, in case some of you wondered.)

385 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:08:37pm

I'm watching a show about lions. I don't care who you are, a lion will kick your ass.

386 yael  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:08:50pm

re: #377 Cato the Elder

As one who grew up in interior Alaska, I can affirm than any grizzlies that are not in hibernation long before Christmas are crazy and starving. Stay out of their way was the advice of natives who knew well of what they spoke.

387 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:09:38pm

re: #199 MandyManners

GEORGE SOROS.

George Sorrows?
(what made him sad?)

/

388 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:09:42pm

re: #373 SanFranciscoZionist

OK--Grandma...Santa...but someone got run over by a reindeer. Right?


Sadly enough, it was the former. link

389 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:10:28pm

Every year I compile a list of my most and least favorite Christmas songs.

390 bratwurst  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:10:33pm

re: #379 Mich-again

The worst ones are the rock and roll Christmas songs. Just dreadful all of them.

The Kinks "Father Christmas" is a notable exception:

391 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:10:45pm

re: #386 yael

As one who grew up in interior Alaska, I can affirm than any grizzlies that are not in hibernation long before Christmas are crazy and starving. Stay out of their way was the advice of natives who knew well of what they spoke.

I bet they have a hard time juggling the snowmobiles & flags when they are stark raving mad.

392 Dave Brown  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:11:20pm

Is anyone paying attention?...

"Iranian site prompts U.S. to rethink assessment"
Tehran set to open Qom nuclear facility to inspectors amid concerns over its role

By Joby Warrick
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 24, 2009
[Link: www.washingtonpost.com...]

"VIENNA -- Early Sunday, if all goes as planned, U.N. nuclear inspectors will travel to a military base near Qom, Iran, for a first look at one of the country's most closely guarded nuclear secrets. Inside bunkers dug into the side of a mountain, the visitors will be escorted through a nearly completed uranium plant that Iran's president has termed "very ordinary."

But less than a month after its existence was publicly revealed, many U.S. and European intelligence officials say they are increasingly convinced that the site was intended explicitly for making highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.

The Qom site has undermined one of the U.S. intelligence community's key assessments of Iran's nuclear program: the assumption that Tehran had abandoned plans to enrich uranium in secret, according to two former senior U.S. officials involved in high-level discussions about Iran.

A landmark U.S. intelligence assessment in 2007 concluded that any secret uranium-processing activities "probably were halted" in 2003 and had not been restarted. Other key judgments of the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate, including the view that Iran has suspended research on nuclear-warhead design, are also being reevaluated in light of new evidence, the two former officials said.

"Qom changed a lot of people's thinking, especially about the possibility of secret military enrichment" of uranium, said one of the former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the assessments remain classified."

393 Fenris  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:11:25pm

re: #381 NJDhockeyfan

I'm more of an apfelstrudel man myself. None of the glazed pop-up toaster crap with Pop-Tart filling, either, but a traditional Tirolean wrap with plenty of rum and only a sprinkle of sugar. Mother, you have spoiled me.

394 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:12:00pm

re: #385 cliffster

I'm watching a show about lions. I don't care who you are, a lion will kick your ass.

I'm recording Tropic Thunder tonight.. I saw it last summer and laughed my ass off..It is wicked funny...
When I stop laughing tonight I'll get all serious and shit...Damn..Funny movie

395 theheat  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:12:11pm

re: #391 NJDhockeyfan

They don't hate riding snowmobiles as much as ice skating.

396 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:12:16pm

re: #351 BryanS

Heh...now I'll throw a wet blanket on the good feelings :) The Dems were the cause of the most recent asset bubble through well intentioned policies designed to increase housing affordability. Problem is banks were forced to make loans they did not want to make--risky sub-prime loans to people who may not actually be able to afford the payments. To mitigate their risks, they turned to securitizing those loans. It was like crack for bankers--once that took off, the train wreck was in motion. All the pumping of money into housing caused prices to skyrocket. Once the bubble burst, everyone gets hurt because even responsible home buyers will find their home prices falling, often cases to less than what they paid for them.

Everyone was to blame. The Dems didn't *force* the banks to make subprime loans. Many didn't. What happened was the Wall Street Playaz repackaged the subprimes that were generated as financial instruments that were purchased by others that were betting that home prices would increase. When the crash inevitably came, people were holding (and still are) paper that that has an indefinite value, but is still on their books. Asset? Poison? Until the shakeout settles down, nobody has any idea what those instruments are worth. And the Dems most definitely did *not* invent those instruments.

397 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:12:19pm

re: #374 lurking faith

Activists (*ahem* like ACORN *ahem*) started crying racism loudly and intimidating lenders who refused to make mortgage loans to unqualified minorities. And by unqualified, I mean very low income, down to and including the chronically unemployed.

Actually there is some truth to this--and Obama was actually involved in advising on a lawsuit by ACORN against Citibank. Basically the lawsuit was a political ploy to gum up a merger they were trying to do. Once Citi bank acceded to ACORNS demands, the lawsuit was dropped and their merger went through. The side "benefit"--Citi bank became heavily involved in the subprime mortgage market from that moment on.

398 Silvergirl  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:12:28pm

We need more Halloween songs. There's Monster Mash and the theme songs for The Addams Family. My favorite is Rockapella's Zombie Jamboree

399 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:12:48pm

The intellectual giant over at "Jumpinginpools" is showing his mental prowess in full flower tonight.

400 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:14:27pm

re: #399 Cato the Elder

The intellectual giant over at "Jumpinginpools" is showing his mental prowess in full flower tonight.

The cortex is a terrible thing to waste.

//

401 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:14:33pm

re: #389 SanFranciscoZionist

Every year I compile a list of my most and least favorite Christmas songs.

What was your most favorite song of 2003?

402 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:14:39pm

re: #358 SanFranciscoZionist

re: #351 BryanS

I partially agree. But the loans to poor and lower middle class folks cannot account for the totality of what happened. There just not enough of such homeowners to put it on them. Furthermore, the shifty loans premised on an ever-rising real-estate market encouraged risks across the board.

As for Glass-Steagall: "The final bill resolving the differences was passed in the Senate 90-8 (one not voting) and in the House: 362-57 (15 not voting). The legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999." Obviously, both parties were culpable.

What generally gets overlooked is that it was Clinton who had the distinction of being the only president with a truly lassaiz-faire trade policy. What happened between us and China was directly attributable to his policies. Or lack thereof. Lots of presidents talk a free-trade game, but he was the first one to be absolutely oblivious to our national interests.

The idea that the market would somehow magically police itself, and punish fraud, started in the Reagan Administration.

403 lurking faith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:15:06pm

re: #379 Mich-again

The worst ones are the rock and roll Christmas songs. Just dreadful all of them.

Quite concur. (Although I do actually rather like Natalie Merchant's version of "Children, Go Where I Send Thee.")

The thing that really drives me up a tree is that, after months of nothing but Christmas music, the day after Christmas or even on Christmas day in the evening, you can't find any. And yet if you're like a lot of families, your holiday lasts a few days because you have to celebrate with multiple branches of the extended family. But you get no more music, no more tv specials, no nuthin'.

404 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:15:18pm

re: #369 pdc_lgf

I have a bunch of his stuff. He's had a pretty wide range. Lucky you.
I was at Antone's once. The FBI raided the place. They were actually sitting at tables with FBI jackets on - as in garments with "FBI" emblazoned on them in large yellow letters. Never found out what the story was. I will trouble you no more with my mental meaderings on this topic.

Clifford had a tendency to fund his club by selling pot. Went to prison for it. He claimed he needed to do it to make the music happen. Subsidizing, if you will.

405 ssn697  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:15:33pm

will there come a day (again) where I can say I am a Conservative without that meaning I am an anti-evolution dumbass? I long for the day that being a Conservative does NOT mean I am stupid. I really miss that.

At 47, I really hope the day comes where Conservative does not mean religious zealot.

406 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:16:01pm

re: #401 cliffster

What was your most favorite song of 2003?

I have no idea, I don't do them by year. Just a shifting list of personal favorites. Last year, the new addition was the Willie Nelson song from "A Colbert Christmas".

407 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:16:37pm

re: #405 ssn697

I long for the day that being a Conservative does NOT mean I am stupid. I really miss that.

Same here.

408 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:16:50pm

re: #390 bratwurst

The Kinks "Father Christmas" is a notable exception:


[Video]

As is the Eagles "Bells Will Be Ringing"

409 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:17:00pm

re: #404 austin_blue

Clifford had a tendency to fund his club by selling pot. Went to prison for it. He claimed he needed to do it to make the music happen. Subsidizing, if you will.

And money laundering. It was a weird time. Clifford Antone? Really?

410 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:17:36pm

re: #404 austin_blue

It was absolutely one of the best venues I've been in. By the time I got their, he was out of prison. It's a shame that he was messed up in that sort of thing.

411 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:17:50pm

re: #403 lurking faith

Quite concur. (Although I do actually rather like Natalie Merchant's version of "Children, Go Where I Send Thee.")

The thing that really drives me up a tree is that, after months of nothing but Christmas music, the day after Christmas or even on Christmas day in the evening, you can't find any. And yet if you're like a lot of families, your holiday lasts a few days because you have to celebrate with multiple branches of the extended family. But you get no more music, no more tv specials, no nuthin'.

That's why they invented TIVO and CD players.

412 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:18:31pm

re: #396 austin_blue

Everyone was to blame. The Dems didn't *force* the banks to make subprime loans. Many didn't. What happened was the Wall Street Playaz repackaged the subprimes that were generated as financial instruments that were purchased by others that were betting that home prices would increase. When the crash inevitably came, people were holding (and still are) paper that that has an indefinite value, but is still on their books. Asset? Poison? Until the shakeout settles down, nobody has any idea what those instruments are worth. And the Dems most definitely did *not* invent those instruments.

But they were sued into making subprime loans (a la citibank). No, the Dems didn't invent the instruments, but they made quotas for subprime loans. The mortgage backed securities was the method banks developed to unload the loans they didn't want to make. Once they realized they could make beaucoup bucks doing that, they were off to the races.

413 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:18:36pm

re: #405 ssn697

will there come a day (again) where I can say I am a Conservative without that meaning I am an anti-evolution dumbass? I long for the day that being a Conservative does NOT mean I am stupid. I really miss that.

At 47, I really hope the day comes where Conservative does not mean religious zealot.

Then don't accept the label. It starts with you.

414 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:20:03pm

re: #406 SanFranciscoZionist

I have no idea, I don't do them by year. Just a shifting list of personal favorites. Last year, the new addition was the Willie Nelson song from "A Colbert Christmas".

The greatest Christmas song of all time? A song that expresses the deepest feelings in a soul..a yearning for home with the most bittersweet lyrics ever penned by man...
I'll be home for Christmas..

415 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:20:08pm

re: #411 NJDhockeyfan

That's why they invented TIVO and CD players.

Every year we watch "Miracle on 34th Street". The original.

416 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:20:17pm

My reddit submission for this is being downvoted like crazy just because it's LGF

LGF has got to be the worst ultrazionist scum astroturfing site ever!

I haven't seen a submission from there on reddit for the longest time. Let's try and not break the trend!

I blame Paulians

417 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:21:21pm

The worst rock and roll Christmas song of them all is Bruce Springsteen's version of Santa Claus is Comin to Town. He always sounds constipated when he tries to sing.

418 Fenris  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:21:22pm

re: #416 Conservative Moonbat

My reddit submission for this is being downvoted like crazy just because it's LGF

I blame Paulians

On the bright side, we're fair and balanced as can be now. Both the ultraleft and ultraright hate us now.

419 lurking faith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:21:33pm

re: #403 lurking faith

Quite concur. (Although I do actually rather like Natalie Merchant's version of "Children, Go Where I Send Thee.")

Oops; forgot the obligatory linky!

420 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:21:46pm

re: #405 ssn697

You can say it now. They changed - they didn't change conservatism. Conservatism is an honorable and honest system.
All that's happened is that some schmucks hijacked the brand-name.

421 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:21:55pm

re: #414 HoosierHoops

The greatest Christmas song of all time? A song that expresses the deepest feelings in a soul..a yearning for home with the most bittersweet lyrics ever penned by man...
I'll be home for Christmas..

That's a good one. I also like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

And, of course, "Christmas Time For The Jews", a song that goes a long way to make up to me the many indignities rendered on Chanukah by its unfortunate timing.

422 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:21:55pm

re: #416 Conservative Moonbat

My reddit submission for this is being downvoted like crazy just because it's LGF

I blame Paulians

link:
[Link: www.reddit.com...]

423 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:22:12pm

re: #406 SanFranciscoZionist

I have no idea, I don't do them by year. Just a shifting list of personal favorites. Last year, the new addition was the Willie Nelson song from "A Colbert Christmas".

Actually I'm looking forward to Bob Dylan's new album, "Christmas in the Heart". All proceeds go to charity in perpetuity.

He's sounding a bit like Satchmo these days.

424 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:22:18pm

re: #409 cliffster

And money laundering. It was a weird time. Clifford Antone? Really?

Clifford was Clifford. He was a true believer in the music. An odd duck. But his club produced some of the finest nights in Austin.

She Who Must be Obeyed has played there, and I have pictures to prove it. Kind of a shrine in this town.

425 Charles Johnson  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:22:26pm

Barrett Brown has a bad habit of baiting crazy people.

[Link: trueslant.com...]

426 yael  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:22:43pm

re: #415 SanFranciscoZionist

We watch that one on Thanksgiving Day and the Alistair Sims version of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Day. Love them both.

427 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:22:47pm

re: #424 austin_blue

Who She?

428 lurking faith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:23:45pm

re: #418 fenrisdesigns

On the bright side, we're fair and balanced as can be now. Both the ultraleft and ultraright hate us now.

We got both kinds: Country and Western!

429 simoom  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:24:03pm

re: #398 Silvergirl

We need more Halloween songs.

Here's one:

430 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:24:08pm

re: #424 austin_blue

Clifford was Clifford. He was a true believer in the music. An odd duck. But his club produced some of the finest nights in Austin.

She Who Must be Obeyed has played there, and I have pictures to prove it. Kind of a shrine in this town.

You can't throw that out there without providing the pictures to prove it..

431 avanti  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:24:09pm

re: #396 austin_blue

Everyone was to blame. The Dems didn't *force* the banks to make subprime loans. Many didn't. What happened was the Wall Street Playaz repackaged the subprimes that were generated as financial instruments that were purchased by others that were betting that home prices would increase. When the crash inevitably came, people were holding (and still are) paper that that has an indefinite value, but is still on their books. Asset? Poison? Until the shakeout settles down, nobody has any idea what those instruments are worth. And the Dems most definitely did *not* invent those instruments.


Frontline did a great story on the collapse, and blamed it on unregulated derivative trading that started during the Reagan years, with Greenspan's blessing. In the Clinton years, a push from a gal that was concerned about the risk was shut down and then quit.
The market is still unregulated, trades are made of "black boxes" full of loans, no one knows the quality or cares as long as they make money trading them.
Once home values crashed, the value of the mystery boxes went with them. BTW, Greenspan was a fan of Ayn Rand, and total deregulation of the market.
With derivatives, there is no record keeping or regulation, it's gambling, pure and simple, with the banks money.

432 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:24:29pm

re: #423 Cato the Elder

Actually I'm looking forward to Bob Dylan's new album, "Christmas in the Heart". All proceeds go to charity in perpetuity.

He's sounding a bit like Satchmo these days.

I heard some clips from it. He sounds really bad on the songs I heard.

433 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:25:08pm

re: #402 pdc_lgf

re: #351 BryanS

I partially agree. But the loans to poor and lower middle class folks cannot account for the totality of what happened. There just not enough of such homeowners to put it on them. Furthermore, the shifty loans premised on an ever-rising real-estate market encouraged risks across the board.

As for Glass-Steagall: "The final bill resolving the differences was passed in the Senate 90-8 (one not voting) and in the House: 362-57 (15 not voting). The legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999." Obviously, both parties were culpable.

What generally gets overlooked is that it was Clinton who had the distinction of being the only president with a truly lassaiz-faire trade policy. What happened between us and China was directly attributable to his policies. Or lack thereof. Lots of presidents talk a free-trade game, but he was the first one to be absolutely oblivious to our national interests.

The idea that the market would somehow magically police itself, and punish fraud, started in the Reagan Administration.

You bring up some good points. Regulation of mortgaged backed securities would have reigned in much of the excess money out there, but it was chairman Barney Frank who was the biggest obstacle on the house finance committee in reigning in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's leverage. As "government sponsored entities" those two provided the lubricant for the bubble in the non low income side of the market. The Dems blocked multiple attempts by George W Bush and the Republicans to reign them in. But to be fair, the Republicans opposed regulation, and you are right in that repealing Glass-Steagall was a mistake.

434 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:25:10pm

re: #416 Conservative Moonbat

Really? I can go to the JCC tomorrow and tell the guys I'm ultrazionist scum? I'm kvelling. Bigtime.

435 Silvergirl  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:25:57pm

re: #423 Cato the Elder

Actually I'm looking forward to Bob Dylan's new album, "Christmas in the Heart". All proceeds go to charity in perpetuity.

He's sounding a bit like Satchmo these days.

Funny. I read a review on that today.

I realize Dylan has spent fifty or so years confusing everybody, and never fails to keep us guessing; he’s a paradox wrapped in a bunch of word play, delivered to us by the most unorthodox voice in popular music. Of course that’s all well and good, this is Bob Dylan and he’s an icon. After all, Blonde on Blonde should be taught in schools and his impact on music and culture is undeniable; pretty much anything he does should be given the benefit of the doubt. Everything, that is, except Christmas in the Heart, which would best be used as a soundtrack to a George A. Romero film that involves zombies trapping a bunch of music fans in a shopping mall on Christmas eve with this unmerciful album on repeat, and the only way to shut it off is to get past the hordes of the undead.

436 metrolibertarian  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:25:58pm

re: #416 Conservative Moonbat

My reddit submission for this is being downvoted like crazy just because it's LGF

I blame Paulians

The Paultards will only upding things on reddit if it involves criticism of Israel and the Fed, combined with a mandible straining blowjob of a title for their dear leader.

437 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:28:11pm

re: #431 avanti

Frontline did a great story on the collapse, and blamed it on unregulated derivative trading that started during the Reagan years, with Greenspan's blessing. In the Clinton years, a push from a gal that was concerned about the risk was shut down and then quit.
The market is still unregulated, trades are made of "black boxes" full of loans, no one knows the quality or cares as long as they make money trading them.
Once home values crashed, the value of the mystery boxes went with them. BTW, Greenspan was a fan of Ayn Rand, and total deregulation of the market.
With derivatives, there is no record keeping or regulation, it's gambling, pure and simple, with the banks money.

The source of the next crash if not reigned in, no doubt.

438 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:28:18pm

re: #433 BryanS

Well, I used to follow the stuff some. I actually thought repealing G-S was a good idea at the time. What can I say? - I was young.

439 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:28:47pm

re: #425 Charles

Barrett Brown has a bad habit of baiting crazy people.

[Link: trueslant.com...]

LOL:

[...] meanwhile, several prominent conservative bloggers and newly-minted Johnson foes such as Hot Air headliner Ed Morrissey and actual cartoon character Pam Geller [...]

440 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:29:32pm

re: #437 BryanS

The source of the next crash if not reigned in, no doubt.

Dollar cost average your money, and you will be just fine...

441 Silvergirl  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:30:04pm

re: #429 simoom

Here's one:

I'll take it. Yes! Thanks.

442 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:30:44pm

re: #423 Cato the Elder

Actually I'm looking forward to Bob Dylan's new album, "Christmas in the Heart". All proceeds go to charity in perpetuity.

He's sounding a bit like Satchmo these days.

Sorry to break your heart..Dylan's new album sucks...
Yup..These album proceeds go to charity...Such they should.It's the least he could do...
Have you ever noticed that Tm Petty and Dylan are interchangeable?
Dylan could sing ' Hey don't come around here no more..' Perfectly...
Has anyone seen Tom Petty and Bob Dylan in the same room at the same time? Didn't think so...
/

443 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:31:29pm

re: #440 cliffster

Dollar cost average your money, and you will be just fine...

Not so sure about that. My parents were thinking that, and now that they want to retire, they are finding it's a crappy time to do that.

444 freetoken  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:31:45pm

re: #439 Cato the Elder

[...] and actual cartoon character Pam Geller [...]

445 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:32:11pm

re: #442 HoosierHoops

There's actually some pictures of that. They're tough to look at.

446 lurking faith  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:32:13pm

re: #425 Charles

Barrett Brown has a bad habit of baiting crazy people.

[Link: trueslant.com...]

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Especially:

God, I wish I wrote about video games instead of all this crap.
447 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:32:51pm

re: #412 BryanS

But they were sued into making subprime loans (a la citibank). No, the Dems didn't invent the instruments, but they made quotas for subprime loans. The mortgage backed securities was the method banks developed to unload the loans they didn't want to make. Once they realized they could make beaucoup bucks doing that, they were off to the races.

You might want to check that first statement. Not true. Banks were sued for denying loans to otherwise qualified black applicants equivalent to similar white applicants who got loans. Big difference.

Link:

[Link: answers.yahoo.com...]

448 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:32:57pm

re: #425 Charles

..meanwhile, several prominent conservative bloggers and newly-minted Johnson foes such as Hot Air headliner Ed Morrissey and actual cartoon character Pam Geller..

Bwahahaha.

449 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:33:03pm

re: #379 Mich-again

The worst ones are the rock and roll Christmas songs. Just dreadful all of them.

With an exception made for Goo-Goo Dolls "Better Days". That song is a very good Christmas song, and one that actually deals with the spirit of the season.

450 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:35:04pm

re: #432 NJDhockeyfan

I heard some clips from it. He sounds really bad on the songs I heard.

Bad? Compared to what?

His voice is his voice. Some can take it, some can't. Not everybody loved Louis Armstrong, either.

But anyone who thinks he can't or could never sing, please listen to this:

Genius.

451 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:35:31pm

re: #443 BryanS

Not so sure about that. My parents were thinking that, and now that they want to retire, they are finding it's a crappy time to do that.

If you are looking to retire soon, most of your money should be in very safe investments. Stocks in any form don't qualify. A lot of people don't know that. A lot of people don't realize that they have to look out for themselves way more than most people think they do. Lots of friends and family members of mine are in the same place. It sucks, but maybe it's a lesson learned.

452 Fenris  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:35:45pm

All things considered: great way to end the day. I think I was finally able to break a three-week-long curse of sorts with my photography, after three attempts at developing a film went awry. That's what happens when the students forget to exchange the fixer.

Either way, gonna purchase paper tomorrow.

453 sagehen  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:37:35pm

re: #136 Irenicum

More Griffin saying nice things about David Duke during Question Time. And then an interesting piece from the Guardian about how having a national stage mainstreamed Jean Marie Le Pen of the National Front infamy. I hate British, French, etc. Nazis.

Griffin, edited and improved:

454 Mich-again  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:37:48pm

re: #452 fenrisdesigns

That's what happens when the students forget to exchange the fixer.

Note to self... Don't forget to exchange the fixer.

455 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:37:49pm

re: #449 Dark_Falcon

With an exception made for Goo-Goo Dolls "Better Days". That song is a very good Christmas song, and one that actually deals with the spirit of the season.

Goo Goo Dolls is good stuff. Right now, listening to Better Days. Thanks for the prompting.

456 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:38:21pm

re: #293 Charles

Tonight at Fox News: 10 Reasons for Moral Outrage.

The guy who wrote the article is the son of one of the original radio evangelists.

457 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:38:34pm

re: #450 Cato the Elder

Here are samples from the album.

458 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:41:36pm

re: #447 austin_blue

You might want to check that first statement. Not true. Banks were sued for denying loans to otherwise qualified black applicants equivalent to similar white applicants who got loans. Big difference.

Link:

[Link: answers.yahoo.com...]

Yes, that was the lawsuit claim--based on safe harbor quotas established by congress, Citibank was accused of not making enough loans in the Chicagoland area due to discrimination. The settlement that was agreed upon was that Citibank would increase the number of subprime loans it would underwrite. Curious enough, the lawsuit happened right when Citi was trying to go through a merger. This was a shakedown nuisance lawsuit.

459 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:42:05pm

re: #450 Cato the Elder

Just one small point. Mr. Armstrong hit every note I've heard him sing. More generally, he was in total command of his voice, as a musical instrument.

460 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:42:24pm

re: #455 cliffster

Goo Goo Dolls is good stuff. Right now, listening to Better Days. Thanks for the prompting.

Happy to be of service.

461 Fenris  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:42:36pm

re: #454 Mich-again

Note to self... Don't forget to exchange the fixer.

Good student.

462 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:43:38pm

re: #451 cliffster

If you are looking to retire soon, most of your money should be in very safe investments. Stocks in any form don't qualify. A lot of people don't know that. A lot of people don't realize that they have to look out for themselves way more than most people think they do. Lots of friends and family members of mine are in the same place. It sucks, but maybe it's a lesson learned.

Can't put any of your 401k into cash/money market at most companies--you either have to invest in stock funds or bond funds. Both took a beating.

463 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:44:07pm

Rosanne Cash's new album, "The List" is really damn good.

I reserve coment on the googoo dolls

464 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:44:18pm

re: #425 Charles

Barrett Brown has a bad habit of baiting crazy people.

[Link: trueslant.com...]

Mad King Charles :)

465 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:46:02pm

re: #462 BryanS

Can't put any of your 401k into cash/money market at most companies--you either have to invest in stock funds or bond funds. Both took a beating.

That's true. But you can move it into an IRA where you have more flexibility. Water under the bridge though. Your folks got screwed, and they are among the millions.

466 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:46:12pm

re: #457 NJDhockeyfan

Here are samples from the album.

I've already heard them. It's Dylan being Dylan.

He's, like, pushing seventy. And he sounded seventy when he was seventeen. He's an American original self-modeled on Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, and his work is priceless. If you don't like gravelly voices, take a pass.

He's having a merry old time, by the way. Johnny Cash would be proud.

467 austin_blue  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:47:39pm

re: #458 BryanS

Yes, that was the lawsuit claim--based on safe harbor quotas established by congress, Citibank was accused of not making enough loans in the Chicagoland area due to discrimination. The settlement that was agreed upon was that Citibank would increase the number of subprime loans it would underwrite. Curious enough, the lawsuit happened right when Citi was trying to go through a merger. This was a shakedown nuisance lawsuit.

But that had nothing to do with the CDOs, other instruments, and tranches that have gotten us to where we are today. That occurred because of the deregulation of the banking industry. Disaster, to let the instruments become the profit center of a speculative bubble.

468 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:49:08pm

re: #458 BryanS

There is also the issue of spectacular, willful mismanagement at Fannie Mae. They were the clearing-house for a lot of the nasty assets.

When this debacle first happened, lots of fans of monocausal explanations were blaming this all on "helping the poor" programs. We all know it's just not that simple.

It's going to be a steep uphill climb, for anyone in the current administration to bring in the sunlight that's the best disinfectant - as the saying goes. The financial industries, like China, know they have us by the throat and private parts. It's gonna take years for us to wriggle free - presuming that we keep trying.

469 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:49:18pm

re: #466 Cato the Elder

I've already heard them. It's Dylan being Dylan.

He's, like, pushing seventy. And he sounded seventy when he was seventeen. He's an American original self-modeled on Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, and his work is priceless. If you don't like gravelly voices, take a pass.

He's having a merry old time, by the way. Johnny Cash would be proud.

Did you see the Woody and Leadbelly track I posted earlier tonight?

I just found this one today.

470 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:50:34pm

re: #459 pdc_lgf

Just one small point. Mr. Armstrong hit every note I've heard him sing. More generally, he was in total command of his voice, as a musical instrument.

So is Dylan. Of Highway 61 Revisited he wrote "the songs on this specific record are not so much songs but rather exercises in tonal breath control."

But there is no disputing tastes.

471 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:50:50pm

re: #466 Cato the Elder

I've already heard them. It's Dylan being Dylan.

He's, like, pushing seventy. And he sounded seventy when he was seventeen. He's an American original self-modeled on Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, and his work is priceless. If you don't like gravelly voices, take a pass.

He's having a merry old time, by the way. Johnny Cash would be proud.

Johnny Cash & Dylan were buddies back in the day. I am not knocking his voice. He's done some classic singing in his career. I just think he sounds bad in the sound bites I listened to for this album.

472 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:52:47pm

re: #466 Cato the Elder

I've already heard them. It's Dylan being Dylan.

He's, like, pushing seventy. And he sounded seventy when he was seventeen. He's an American original self-modeled on Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, and his work is priceless. If you don't like gravelly voices, take a pass.

He's having a merry old time, by the way. Johnny Cash would be proud.

Did you just compare Bobby to Leadbelly? I swear I'm calling your local PD.
/I'm still laughing from the end of Tropic Thunder..Damn funny movie.. I'm teasing you Cato...Nice to see you

473 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:53:05pm

re: #341 Charles

Oh no. I forgot about the War on Christmas. The whining is going to be worse than ever this year.

It's about half-past time someone started bitching about the War on Halloween. When I was a wee lad, Halloween was friggin' awesome. For about a week or two leading up to it, people would buy and/or make all kinds of spooky stuff and decorate their houses with it. Standard pseudo-Pagan stuff: witches on brooms, hunch-back black cats, silhouettes of rickety Victorian mansions on a hilltop backlit by a full moon. Ghosts made out of wispy fabric. Various depictions of vampires, coffins, mad scientists' labs, graveyards.

Adding to the awesomeness of it all was good old Tee Vee. Every franchise on every network did a Halloween episode. Scooby Doo was always sort of ghouls-and-goblins spooky, but they ratcheted it up a notch for Halloween. There was a Fat Albert Halloween Special. IT WAS THE GREAT FRICKIN PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN, fer pete sake. And the best part was that all these shows that usually came on during the mid-day or after-school hours had their Halloween specials aired at NIGHT. On HALLOWEEN. Because that's when the cool spooky stuff happens. Even when you're 7 or 8 you know it's just pretend, but it still feels special and sort of magical.

Now, you've got parents freaked out that spooky imagery will damage their precious little snowflake... all the while completely oblivious to the fact that probably 75% of that spooky imagery was originally invented by kids sitting around brainstorming and using their imaginations. Dumber still are the religious types who object to it on religious grounds, thereby instantly displaying a profound lack of insight into their own beliefs and an utter ignorance of their church's history.

And that's really what Halloween is about. It's a time to use your imagination and turn your front porch into a haunted crypt, or a mad scientist's laboratory, or the bridge of the USS Enterprise. It's to blur the boundary between the Twilight Zone and the regular world for a while, and to share that experience with your friends... you know, the way we used to before we realized that a 6 making a finger-gun and yelling "bang!" was a deadly threat to national security.

Today, my employer handed out a memo announcing a costume contest to take place at work on Friday, Oct 30. The last sentence of the memo was, "Please note that all costumes must conform to corporate dress code policy."

Nobody can tell whether that was written by someone with a rich sense of irony, or by someone with none whatsoever. It wasn't signed "Scott Adams", so the mystery remains.

474 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:53:55pm

re: #467 austin_blue

But that had nothing to do with the CDOs, other instruments, and tranches that have gotten us to where we are today. That occurred because of the deregulation of the banking industry. Disaster, to let the instruments become the profit center of a speculative bubble.

The Dems explicitly supported the creation of mortgage backed securities. And the Dems actively opposed the regulation that would have prevented the catastrophe. The Dems opposed any reigning in of Fannie and Freddie--the primary enablers of the bubble.

475 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:54:00pm

re: #469 Conservative Moonbat

Did you see the Woody and Leadbelly track I posted earlier tonight?

I just found this one today.

Totally cool! No, I hadn't seen the post. Just coincidence. Thanks!

476 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:54:35pm

I saw Paul Simon and Bob Dylan on tour together. Paul Simon had his great voice, great songs, and his signature 1000 piece band. His show was amazing. Just awesome. Along comes Dylan, having to follow it up. Dylan can't sing, can't play guitar, can't blow the harp. But the crowd was spellbound for the length of his show. Strange thing, music.

477 Silvergirl  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:55:32pm

re: #473 negativ

Now that was one fun rant. I agree wholeheartedly.

478 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:56:04pm

re: #468 pdc_lgf

There is also the issue of spectacular, willful mismanagement at Fannie Mae. They were the clearing-house for a lot of the nasty assets.

When this debacle first happened, lots of fans of monocausal explanations were blaming this all on "helping the poor" programs. We all know it's just not that simple.

It's going to be a steep uphill climb, for anyone in the current administration to bring in the sunlight that's the best disinfectant - as the saying goes. The financial industries, like China, know they have us by the throat and private parts. It's gonna take years for us to wriggle free - presuming that we keep trying.

Yes. As my most recent post pointed out, the Dems failed to support any effort to reign in Fannie or Freddie.

And Fannie and Freddie are now wholly owned government entities. We all own the housing catastrophe now!

479 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:57:23pm

So the DNC and GOP both spend big money on websites?

Makes me actively want a new socialist party...

480 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:57:47pm

re: #394 HoosierHoops

I'm recording Tropic Thunder tonight.. I saw it last summer and laughed my ass off..It is wicked funny...
When I stop laughing tonight I'll get all serious and shit...Damn..Funny movie

You owe it to yourself to buy or rent the DVD solely for the purpose of listening to the actors' commentary track.

481 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 10:59:06pm

re: #474 BryanS

The Dems explicitly supported the creation of mortgage backed securities. And the Dems actively opposed the regulation that would have prevented the catastrophe. The Dems opposed any reigning in of Fannie and Freddie--the primary enablers of the bubble.

Concur.

482 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:01:33pm

re: #476 cliffster

I saw Paul Simon and Bob Dylan on tour together. Paul Simon had his great voice, great songs, and his signature 1000 piece band. His show was amazing. Just awesome. Along comes Dylan, having to follow it up. Dylan can't sing, can't play guitar, can't blow the harp. But the crowd was spellbound for the length of his show. Strange thing, music.

Dylan used to be able to play guitar. I think arthritis got to him. In his early folk days he was a great finger-picker.

(sorry, I was raised on this stuff)

483 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:02:25pm

re: #470 Cato the Elder

The younger Dylan was. The older, drug-addled Dylan - not so much. The newer incarnations - no opinion.

Some of the musicianship on Blond on Blond is appalling. Specifically, the bass. I understand that Mr. Dylan liked getting through a given cut in a few takes. Lots of musicians favor that.

I saw him on TV a couple of times, when every melody was reduced to a sequence of two notes, located a fifth apart.

He's a brilliant man, in any event.

If you get a chance, and care to do so, listen to Youssou N'Dour's version of Chimes of Freedom Flashing. It made me appreciate just how good a song it is.

484 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:02:34pm

On a side note, my very Filipino suggestion for healthcare reform: Make it prepaid!

/because yes, we luuurrrve texting. :D

485 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:03:03pm
486 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:03:59pm

re: #412 BryanS

But they were sued into making subprime loans (a la citibank). No, the Dems didn't invent the instruments, but they made quotas for subprime loans. The mortgage backed securities was the method banks developed to unload the loans they didn't want to make. Once they realized they could make beaucoup bucks doing that, they were off to the races.

You need to look again at what percentage of the actual defaults in late 2008 were sub-prime loans, you are getting suckered into chaseing a red herring. I personally know dozens of normal "white collar" people here in Florida that had gotten involved in "flipping" real estate. Invest they told me, buy a few houses, paint them and re-sell them, make thousands, housing prices are going up 10% or more per year!

People bought condos as soon as the ground for the development was purchased because it was cheaper to buy them before construction started, by the time the building was actually built you could sell your unit for a big profit.! It was all true, it worked for over ten years, you simply couldn't lose money in real estate if you tried. Institutional investors and pension plans fueled the housing bubble with billions and billions of dollars in loans, they couldn't lose either.

The fact that housing prices were becoming so high that very few people could afford them anymore without "fudging the paperwork just a bit" was overlooked. It was a safe bet to loan people the money who maybe could not really afford it, who if they had any setback in their finances would have to default. After all the asset (the house) would be worth more every single year, a lot more, and they could always refinance based on their equity in the home, equity the didn't pay for, but simply got by sitting there as the home prices went up.

When we had a crisis of confidence, when prospective new home buyers started turning away and saying "I can't afford that", the entire house of cards collapsed. Seriously, sales dropped, and then kept dropping, long before the bubble burst, that is what made the bubble burst.

Blaming this on the sub-prime market is incorrect and means you have been reading the wrong pundits for information. The vast majority of defaults in dollar value terms have been in speculative realestate investment, not in primary homes. The two aren't even close in monetary losses to investors, not by a couple of orders of magnitude. Wall Street and plain old average greed superseding common sense did this. Not disadvantaged borrowers of certain ethnic persuasions, hell you might just as well blame the "evil penny-pinching Jew bankers", since they had absolutely nothing to do with it either, even though a lot of people blame them also.

487 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:04:25pm

An eco-hysterical friend of mine just told me we're running out of water.

I said no, we're not - and when the ice caps melt there'll be lots more of it, anyway...

488 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:04:42pm

re: #476 cliffster

I saw Paul Simon and Bob Dylan on tour together. Paul Simon had his great voice, great songs, and his signature 1000 piece band. His show was amazing. Just awesome. Along comes Dylan, having to follow it up. Dylan can't sing, can't play guitar, can't blow the harp. But the crowd was spellbound for the length of his show. Strange thing, music.

Music is like wine..Everyone can disagree and still be right..
Music reaches into our very soul...We all love music...Every man women and child loves music...I think we are born to sing a song..
I'm not so sure...Would I prefer to hear Deathcab for cutie in the studio..Or hanging in a southern Juke joint on a Saturday night with Bobby Rush just blowing up the joint...

489 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:05:17pm

re: #487 Cato the Elder

An eco-hysterical friend of mine just told me we're running out of water.

I said no, we're not - and when the ice caps melt there'll be lots more of it, anyway...

And not a drop to drink because it'll all be polluted.

/IT'S EVERYWHERE!

490 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:05:32pm

re: #487 Cato the Elder

An eco-hysterical friend of mine just told me we're running out of water.

I said no, we're not - and when the ice caps melt there'll be lots more of it, anyway...

Yeah, Cato. Salt water. Enjoy drinking that.

491 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:06:40pm

re: #486 ausador

The markets are primarily perception and self-fulfilling prophecy games. Doom and gloom are extremely contagious.

492 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:07:39pm

re: #490 Sharmuta

Yeah, Cato. Salt water. Enjoy drinking that.

Desalination!

/the more you know

493 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:07:45pm

re: #487 Cato the Elder

An eco-hysterical friend of mine just told me we're running out of water.

I said no, we're not - and when the ice caps melt there'll be lots more of it, anyway...

If you've got an economical desalinization process and a way to get the water to Kansas.

494 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:08:06pm

re: #490 Sharmuta

Yeah, Cato. Salt water. Enjoy drinking that.

Nope. The ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica and all land areas of the north are fresh water. From rain. The freshest on the planet, in fact, going back thousands of years.

Don't bullshit a bullshitter.

495 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:08:15pm

re: #490 Sharmuta

Ah c'mon. You scared me so much, I went just now and tried the taps in the bathroom. Nothing to worry about. The toilet flushes fine, too.

496 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:08:56pm

re: #494 Cato the Elder

Nope. The ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica and all land areas of the north are fresh water. From rain. The freshest on the planet, in fact, going back thousands of years.

Don't bullshit a bullshitter.

Then it mixes in with the saltwater when it flows down to the oceans...

497 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:09:20pm

re: #492 laZardo

Desalination!

/the more you know

I learned about that in elementary school.

498 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:09:40pm

re: #492 laZardo

Desalination!

/the more you know

not economical
costs a lot of money
will result in severe water rationing at best

The best bet is still to fix the climate change problem before it happens by taking drastic measure NOW.

499 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:09:41pm

re: #476 cliffster

Dylan can't sing, can't play guitar, can't blow the harp.

OK, you can say what you want about his voice. If you maintain those last two opinions, I invite you out to the parking lot where we can settle this like gentlemen.

500 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:10:27pm

re: #494 Cato the Elder

Nope. The ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica and all land areas of the north are fresh water. From rain. The freshest on the planet, in fact, going back thousands of years.

Don't bullshit a bullshitter.

Bullshitting under cover of darkness, when Ludwig is fast asleep...

501 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:11:29pm

re: #494 Cato the Elder

Nope. The ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica and all land areas of the north are fresh water. From rain. The freshest on the planet, in fact, going back thousands of years.

Don't bullshit a bullshitter.

And when it melts you think it will stay fresh water?

502 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:11:44pm

re: #499 Cato the Elder

OK, you can say what you want about his voice. If you maintain those last two opinions, I invite you out to the parking lot where we can settle this like gentlemen.

Hey, I said he held us all spellbound. All 50,000 of us. What more do you want???

503 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:13:18pm

re: #486 ausador

Yes, house flipping/speculative investments are also a cause. But the liquidity for the housing market was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both of which were encouraged by Congress to keep increasing leverage and mopping up mortgage backed securities .

The speculation has cut way back, but the foreclosures are still happening--banks do not like to foreclose on people's homes for a number of reasons. It's expensive, and in a down-turning market the lender will likely recognize a loss . Even now, there is a backlog of yet to be foreclosed houses because the banks cannot afford to take the losses.

504 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:13:20pm

re: #499 Cato the Elder

OK, you can say what you want about his voice. If you maintain those last two opinions, I invite you out to the parking lot where we can settle this like gentlemen.

I'll bring the beatbox!

505 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:13:25pm

re: #499 Cato the Elder

If Dylan can't play the harp, then the only human being who ever could play it is Stevie Wonder. Dylan is a fine harp player. What's better, is he's got his own style. There are a handful of guys in the whole world, who could say that.

It's an amazingly difficult instrument to make more than momentarily interesting.

His guitar playing was in service to his material.

506 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:13:30pm

re: #498 Conservative Moonbat

not economical
costs a lot of money
will result in severe water rationing at best

The best bet is still to fix the climate change problem before it happens by taking drastic measure NOW.

And how do you rate the chances of that happening?

507 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:13:45pm

re: #502 cliffster

Hey, I said he held us all spellbound. All 50,000 of us. What more do you want???

Dylan is a lot like the quote about the Velvet Underground. Everybody who really gets into him starts writing songs. His influence goes way way way beyond his audience.

508 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:14:36pm

re: #498 Conservative Moonbat

not economical
costs a lot of money
will result in severe water rationing at best

The best bet is still to fix the climate change problem before it happens by taking drastic measure NOW.

Hey, the Swedes are saving the planet one package of oatmeal at a time.

STOCKHOLM — Shopping for oatmeal, Helena Bergstrom, 37, admitted that she was flummoxed by the label on the blue box reading, “Climate declared: .87 kg CO2 per kg of product.”

“Right now, I don’t know what this means,” said Ms. Bergstrom, a pharmaceutical company employee.

But if a new experiment here succeeds, she and millions of other Swedes will soon find out. New labels listing the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the production of foods, from whole wheat pasta to fast food burgers, are appearing on some grocery items and restaurant menus around the country.

People who live to eat might dismiss this as silly. But changing one’s diet can be as effective in reducing emissions of climate-changing gases as changing the car one drives or doing away with the clothes dryer, scientific experts say.

I wonder what a can of baked beans rates on the global warming scale?

509 Silvergirl  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:14:37pm

I've been a Dylan fan from back when I was washing dishes and my brother swept the floor and used the broom handle as microphone to sing Rainy Day Women. I hated Country music and had not discovered Johnny Cash, but made an exception for Nashville Skyline. I have Blood on the Tracks memorized. His voice turning into a croak has not bothered me, and he does not sound the same at 70 as he did at 17. If I were forced to listen to his Christmas Album on a loop I'd be foaming at the mouth insane probably the third time through.

510 yael  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:14:42pm

re: #490 Sharmuta

A bit of techno news to alleviate the gloom a little.
Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway and a lot of other useful stuff, is developing a water purification system for village level operation that runs on the principle of the Stirling engine.

The box will turn water contaminated by viruses, bacteria or arsenic into clean drinking water. "It will make 1,000 liters of water a day, enough for 100 people, and it will do it for five years with no filters, no membranes, no disposals," predicts Kamen.
511 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:15:19pm

re: #482 Conservative Moonbat

Dylan used to be able to play guitar. I think arthritis got to him. In his early folk days he was a great finger-picker.

(sorry, I was raised on this stuff)

Please! ( I'm only here to tease you)
Dylan can't play... Simple chords..Brilliant words..He moved a generation..
I could play better than Dylan when I was 14...But Dylan is a genius...
Music is magic.. I always was blown away that Paul McCartney can't even read sheet music yet is one of the greatest musician of all time...That dude can't even play 5 flats on a piano on a read..And yet has written the best songs ever..You can't even get on an elevator without listening to a version of Yesterday... Just magic...I love music...

512 cliffster  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:15:38pm

re: #507 Conservative Moonbat

Dylan is a lot like the quote about the Velvet Underground. Everybody who really gets into him starts writing songs. His influence goes way way way beyond his audience.

He wrote 20% of the songs recorded in the 20th century. Yes I made that up. But it seems like every time you heard a song before 1990, it was written by Dylan.

513 BryanS  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:16:10pm

re: #498 Conservative Moonbat

not economical
costs a lot of money
will result in severe water rationing at best

The best bet is still to fix the climate change problem before it happens by taking drastic measure NOW.

Depends on what those drastic measures are. I like the idea of pumping SO2 through a garden hose into the upper atmosphere as they talked about on 20/20 tonight :) A lot cheaper than stifling our economy with draconian energy taxes and policies.

514 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:16:26pm

If we all take a few buckets of water from the ocean home with us and pour them down the sink then we wont have to worry about the oceans rising anymore. Geez people, whats so hard about fixing these global warming problems...

/ stolen from another moron's posting

515 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:16:49pm

re: #501 Sharmuta

And when it melts you think it will stay fresh water?

If we harvest it, yes.

Anyway we're not running out of water. It's pouring from the sky where I am right now.

516 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:16:50pm

Tangled up in blue 2003-11-25

518 Randall Gross  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:17:58pm

Sidenote:
All ice at either pole is fresh water. You could tow Icebergs to ports and melt them for fresh water. The melt-water pools atop the arctic icecap are fresh water, I know because I've drunk out of them off Pt. Barrow. Where do you think the polar bears get their water from? That's the main reason they will have to migrate back ashore if the ice pack melts.

520 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:18:36pm

re: #501 Sharmuta

And when it melts you think it will stay fresh water?

Oh, and I see you're downdinging jokes now. How very PC of you.

521 laZardo  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:18:38pm

brb lunch.

522 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:18:50pm

re: #517 NJDhockeyfan

BDS is still alive in Canada.

Protesters burn an effigy of George W. Bush on Rene Levesque Blvd. in front of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal Thursday, October 22, 2009 during visit and luncheon speech by the former United States.

Jackasses. Even when he quietly shows to give a speech, they go bonkers. Both the far-left and far-right need to get a life.

523 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:18:55pm

re: #515 Cato the Elder

If we harvest it, yes.

Anyway we're not running out of water. It's pouring from the sky where I am right now.

It's too late in the evening for me to argue the point with you, however, I don't think you're fully appreciating the situation. When natural sources of fresh water are gone due to climate change, it might make a bit of a difference to some people.

524 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:19:54pm

re: #512 cliffster

Music is a peculiar thing. Miles Davis kept paring back his keyboard accompaniment. Finally, he took over the chore himself. I cannot figure out how someone whose music I revere could play that ghastly keyboard stuff he did.

There's a saying: brilliance does what it must; genius does only what it can. How a genius hears his or her own music is not how I hear it.

525 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:20:00pm

re: #515 Cato the Elder

If we harvest it, yes.

Anyway we're not running out of water. It's pouring from the sky where I am right now.

Same here. I've seen a few people who have plastic barrels beside their house to collect rain & dew from the roof. There are lots of ways to get water. I have a well for my house.

526 Silvergirl  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:20:06pm

re: #520 Cato the Elder

Oh, and I see you're downdinging jokes now. How very PC of you.

Humor, like fun is not overrated.

Silvergirl, still perplexed over Sharmuta's one time comment that fun is overrated.

527 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:20:31pm

re: #520 Cato the Elder

Oh, and I see you're downdinging jokes now. How very PC of you.

Would you prefer me to downding you on your Sarah Palin comments?

528 socrates died for your sins  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:21:02pm

Hey LGF'ers I never post here but I've been a member and a lurker for some years, and though I hope the republicans can pull it together, they seem to be on the wrong side of everything these days and net neutrality is one that they really shouldn't be messing with: [Link: www.dailyfinance.com...]


Maybe you could give this some attention Charles, there's a lot of misinformation about what this is and what it does.

529 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:21:06pm

Freeper moment.

530 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:21:12pm

re: #526 Silvergirl

Silvergirl, still perplexed over Sharmuta's one time comment that fun is overrated.

I said that? Are you sure I wasn't joking?

531 Silvergirl  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:21:58pm

re: #530 Sharmuta

I said that? Are you sure I wasn't joking?

One can never be sure of motives and intent, but you seemed serious at the time.

532 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:22:25pm

Nite lizards. Stay scaly.

533 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:23:52pm

re: #518 Thanos

Sidenote:
All ice at either pole is fresh water. You could tow Icebergs to ports and melt them for fresh water. The melt-water pools atop the arctic icecap are fresh water, I know because I've drunk out of them off Pt. Barrow. Where do you think the polar bears get their water from? That's the main reason they will have to migrate back ashore if the ice pack melts.

Recovering water from Arctic icebergs would be cost prohibitive. I doubt that many Texans would want to pay the price per gallon to water their grass lawns.

534 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:24:02pm

re: #531 Silvergirl

One can never be sure of motives and intent, but you seemed serious at the time.

I'm pretty sure it was tongue in cheek.

535 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:24:59pm

re: #527 Sharmuta

Would you prefer me to downding you on your Sarah Palin comments?

Your downdings are your responsibility. I find your lack of humor amusing.

536 Digital Display  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:25:20pm

re: #528 socrates died for your sins

Hey LGF'ers I never post here but I've been a member and a lurker for some years, and though I hope the republicans can pull it together, they seem to be on the wrong side of everything these days and net neutrality is one that they really shouldn't be messing with: [Link: www.dailyfinance.com...]

Maybe you could give this some attention Charles, there's a lot of misinformation about what this is and what it does.

Huh? Don't know you..But you bring up a very good point.. I have no doubt that Charles will be posting about net neutrality in the future..Very interesting and complex subject...

537 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:26:10pm

re: #530 Sharmuta

I said that? Are you sure I wasn't joking?

Damn, now you've killed my friday buzz too.

Shame on you Sharmuta...you see what happens when you go throwing around serious comments like that? :p

538 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:26:28pm

re: #529 Gus 802

Freeper moment.

How so? I just see a lurker making a post on an issue of interest. The post is well within bounds. He does ask Charles to cover something, but the topic is legit and the request properly respectful. And furt- ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD!

539 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:26:35pm

re: #526 Silvergirl

Humor, like fun is not overrated.

Silvergirl, still perplexed over Sharmuta's one time comment that fun is overrated.

There is no fun in Islam.
--Ayatollah Khomeini.

Nor in political correctness, whatever the "side" being promoted.

540 pdc_lgf  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:26:57pm

re: #532 NJDhockeyfan

G'night. I'm done too. Thanks scaly folk, for a very pleasant evening. Specially Cato, for inducing me to have at reading the Highway 61 Revisited liner notes

541 Velvet Elvis  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:27:33pm

re: #536 HoosierHoops

Huh? Don't know you..But you bring up a very good point.. I have no doubt that Charles will be posting about net neutrality in the future..Very interesting and complex subject...

I sent Charles a drunken email asking him to post about net neutrality. I'm not sure that helped.

542 Sharmuta  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:28:19pm

re: #535 Cato the Elder

Your downdings are your responsibility. I find your lack of humor amusing.

Perhaps it's not my sense of humor, it's that the joke wasn't funny.

543 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:30:18pm

re: #538 Dark_Falcon

How so? I just see a lurker making a post on an issue of interest. The post is well within bounds. He does ask Charles to cover something, but the topic is legit and the request properly respectful. And furt- ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD!

Oh, I was just being snarky about the right winged panaceas.

I've done some graphics work for geologists and environmental firms and have seen the damage that can be done to underground aquifers. I was just amazed at the flippant attitude regarding water sources.

544 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:31:05pm

It's raining here therefore there is no drought.

//

545 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:31:24pm

re: #543 Gus 802

Oh, I was just being snarky about the right winged panaceas.

I've done some graphics work for geologists and environmental firms and have seen the damage that can be done to underground aquifers. I was just amazed at the flippant attitude regarding water sources.

Fair enough.

546 Cato the Elder  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:32:16pm

re: #542 Sharmuta

Perhaps it's not my sense of humor, it's that the joke wasn't funny.

You downding for unfunny jokes? My, my.

Good night, all.

I am against hysteria in all its forms, whether palmed off by George W. Bush or Al Gore.

547 yael  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:34:52pm

re: #543 Gus 802
For those who think Kamen's village scale water purification is too low-tech
Science Daily has some interesting comments on desalination combined with nuclear power generation.

Low-Temperature Evaporation (LTE) desalination technology utilizing low-quality waste heat in the form of hot water (as low as 50 Celsius) or low-pressure steam from a nuclear power plant has been developed to produce high-purity water directly from seawater. Safety, reliability, viable economics, have already been demonstrated. [India] has recently commissioned a 50 tons per day low-temperature desalination plant.
548 Cheechako  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:36:51pm

re: #544 Gus 802

It's been raining here for days therefore there is no drought.
Oh yah, I live in the rainforest.
//

549 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:37:58pm

re: #546 Cato the Elder

I am pro Hysteria!

550 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:38:56pm

re: #544 Gus 802

Is that sorta how if I coast downhill in neutral for a mile or two, that means my GTI gets 200 MPG?

551 Gus  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:39:41pm

re: #548 Cheechako

It's snowing here so AGW must not be true!

Here, let me link to a Wattsupwiththat web blog masking as science to prove my point.

//

552 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:43:07pm

re: #466 Cato the Elder

I've already heard them. It's Dylan being Dylan.

He's, like, pushing seventy. And he sounded seventy when he was seventeen. He's an American original self-modeled on Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, and his work is priceless. If you don't like gravelly voices, take a pass.

Meanwhile, an entire generation of headbangers goes "that guy has a gravelly voice? Really?"

553 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Fri, Oct 23, 2009 11:49:39pm

re: #246 negativ

This is the exact reason why I still have a use for Windows. Everything else here is Arch, though for frightening, unknown reasons that I maybe should see a doctor about, over the past few days I've been feeling an urge to check out openSUSE 11.2.

I have no use for Linux, sorry. :D I root for Linux from the sidelines (Linus Torvalds lives here in Oregon now!) and celebrate my friends who can fulfill all their computing needs with it, but until Linux becomes the standard platform for PC gaming, I can't do anything with it.

Also, GIMP sucks. Open-source champions like to pretend it's the equal to Photoshop. It is not. They are huffing spot remover.

554 BryanS  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 12:00:01am

re: #553 WindUpBird

I have no use for Linux, sorry. :D I root for Linux from the sidelines (Linus Torvalds lives here in Oregon now!) and celebrate my friends who can fulfill all their computing needs with it, but until Linux becomes the standard platform for PC gaming, I can't do anything with it.

Also, GIMP sucks. Open-source champions like to pretend it's the equal to Photoshop. It is not. They are huffing spot remover.

Linux does great for a number of server applications. I use Linux for my desktop at work and laptop for personal use. But you are right in that fanboy-ism gets out of control. GIMP is great if you do not do enough graphics to want to pay for commercial products. Open Office works well enough for me--again, enough so that I don't want to pay for MS Office.

555 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 12:49:11am

Does anyone have the email address for the GOP's IT department handy? I'll can offer them a real bargain, instead of a $1,000,000 I'll code them a site that sucks just as hard for only $500,000. Heck I'll even translate it into english for them after my North...uhh...Korean sub-contractors are done with it.

556 SixDegrees  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 2:10:48am

re: #293 Charles

Tonight at Fox News: 10 Reasons for Moral Outrage.

Oops - they sort of let the cat out of the bag by filing this topic under "moral" outrage. I thought creationism was supposed to be science, not religion...

557 [deleted]  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 5:01:37am
558 right_wing2  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 8:01:56am

How many billions did the Dems spend to launch a disasterous presidency under a man who's less qualified to be in the office than my cat is to fly with the Thunderbirds?

The Republicans were very poor stewards of our tax dollars. It's sad they tried to blow slightly less than the Dems would have, rather than cutting the 15-20% of the federal budget that should be eliminated.

559 William of Orange  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 9:04:08am

Just read that Mayor Bloomberg of New York is coughing up close to 100 million dollars for his re-election.

(An astonished Frisian says wot...) WOT!!???

100 million!!! Do you realize how much community work can be financed with that?? Where does that money come from? Is Johnny Taxpayer the scapegoat here? What kind of looney tunes election is this? They are shelling out dough like it's monopoly money!!

560 jaunte  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 9:22:01am

re: #559 William of Orange

With his net worth, ($16 Billion) it looks like he will just buy his way into office.

The sum easily surpasses what other titans of business have spent to seek state or federal office. New Jersey’s Jon S. Corzine has plunked down a total of $130 million in two races for governor and one for United States Senate. Steve Forbes poured $114 million into his two bids for president. And Ross Perot spent $65 million in his quest for the White House in 1992 and $10 million four years later.

“I have never seen anything like this — it’s off the charts,” said Jennifer A. Steen, a lecturer in political science at Yale who has studied self-financed candidates for the last decade. “He’s in a league of his own.”

Mr. Bloomberg has used his wealth, estimated at $16 billion, to establish what appears to be insurmountable financial dominance in the race.

He has spent at least 14 times what his Democratic rival in the race, William C. Thompson Jr., has: $6 million. A Thompson campaign spokeswoman on Friday called the mayor’s spending “obscene.” [Link: www.nytimes.com...]

561 Larisa  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 9:46:24am

re: #1 MandyManners

And a criminal. If only Congress was interested enough in locating the WH missing emails from the Bush admin.

Oh and this is my first comment (waving).

562 Jason97m  Sat, Oct 24, 2009 2:22:36pm

I could have built that bad of a website for half the cost! (sarc)

563 XopXproxyX  Sun, Oct 25, 2009 1:30:16am

re: #56 Charles

It looks like a mish-mash of several open source packages to me.

Open source?! The GOP is utilising communism!


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Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
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Detroit Local Powers First EV Charging Road in North America The road, about a mile from Local 58's hall, uses rubber-coated copper inductive-charging coils buried under the asphalt that transfer power to a receiver pad attached to a car's underbelly, much like how a phone can be charged wirelessly. ...
Backwoods Sleuth
3 days ago
Views: 190 • Comments: 1 • Rating: 4