It seems the GOP is so out of ideas they would do this.

Endorsing the swine flu is almost as bad as palling around with the insurance companies, which I'm looking froward to seeing.

Heh. Sadly not too far from the truth.

Bacon burger

Ham on cheese on rye

Canadian Bacon and Pineapple on Pizza

Pigs in a blanket

Miss Piggy.

Ron Paul on H1N1

Of course the Fox story about the Obama daughters is bogus...
Obama Girls Get Swine Flu Shots

The vaccinations are bound to raise questions about whether the Obama girls were given special treatment. The administration is grappling with questions about why the vaccine is not more readily available. Officials, including the secretary of heath and human services, Kathleen Sebelius, say the holdup is with the manufacturers, whose production process has been slower than anticipated.

Of course people are complaining anyways.

I didn't see the word Onion when I first clicked on it and didn't think anything was out of the ordinary.

I love the line "Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who urged residents of his state to continue not washing their hands" - classic onion...

Can't wait 'til swine flu debates the mumps in that televised debate,,,

/

re: #5 Killgore Trout

Ugh.

"The national emergency is to condition the people..."

"The story is that 1,000 people have died of H1N1. Possibly that's true..."

"The government gets more power to quarantine people..."

Pandering to his nutty base.

I hope I get swine flu.

From Maddox, so naturally it's NSFW.

Letter to the editor...
Comics ‘commie' tool?

After reading Friday's “Dennis the Menace” strip, it occurred to me that Barack Obama's fellow commies in the media are using comics as a tool to remake the U.S. into a Maoist state. It is obvious that having Dennis “volunteer” is the first step toward state-sponsored “activities” for children and then state camp indoctrination. Remember the Khmer Rouge child soldiers?

If the ever-vigilant Michelle Bachmann is right, these same camps will later be used to house all conservatives and Tea Baggers that are to be rounded up by black militants and ACORN activists for opposing Dear Leader Obama. And Dennis spraying water in Mr. Wilson's face? That's a thinly veiled threat about coming elder euthanasia programs that will be part of Obama's takeover of health care.

Wake up, America. Watch Glenn Beck. He can explain all of this much better than I can. Sarah Palin/Joe Wilson in 2012.

Yes, it's real.

Oh...and for all this talk about NY 23 this week, I immediately assume they're talking about New York Route 23- a highway I've traversed many a time on both the NY and Massachusetts state lines- wether taking in a minor-lague ballgame, going to one of my uncle's favorite pizza places, visiting a tourist railway, seeing various realtives' gravestones or even driving to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Just as worthwhile for seeing the foliage as the Mohawk Train (route 2) in Massachusetts.

I haven't seen an electoral map of the state of NY, so I don't know if the 23rd distict is anywhere near NY Route 23.

re: #7 Nanook37

You didn't quote the whole thing.

" Other prominent Republicans opposing Obama's declaration of emergency include Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who urged residents of his state to continue not washing their hands, and radio host Rush Limbaugh, who made a point of dying of the virus during his show on Wednesday.

I am not a Rush fan by any meaning of the word, but I think that was a bit over the top if you ask me

Ixnay on the ushRay eathday sentence.

re: #12 Fenway_Nation

Mohawk Train Trail (route 2) in Massachusetts.

.

Freudian slip typo.

re: #13 Bubblehead II

Read more of The Onion. It's par for the course.

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Alex Jones must be pissed about all the competition he's facing lately.

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Letter to the editor...
Comics ‘commie' tool?

Yes, it's real.

Wake up, America. Watch Glenn Beck. He can explain all of this much better than I can.

This is what happens when irony creeps up and bites ya on the ass. What a dimwit that guy is.

Holy friggin' crap...what an unwieldy jigsaw piece of upstate NY the 23rd district cover. I thought for sure it would encompass somewhere further downstate like Dutchess or Rockland county.

re: #17 Slumbering Behemoth

Alex Jones must be pissed about all the competition he's facing lately.

I figure it's a cross-promotional type of deal. Beck et al are the gateway drugs.

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Reminds me of a Flaming Carrot comics story where some communist dictator type takes over and Flaming Carrot and his friends have to rebel against him. One of the things he does is ban Hagar the Horrible comic stips, because "He is horrible!"

re: #19 Fenway_Nation

Holy friggin' crap...what an unwieldy jigsaw piece of upstate NY the 23rd district cover. I thought for sure it would encompass somewhere further downstate like Dutchess or Rockland county.

"We're very pleased with the new shape of the 23rd district," said committee chair Geraldine (Gerry) Mander. "It looks like a fluffy bunny. Aw."

I thought this was pretty funny too:

Did Schwarzenegger drop 4-letter bomb in veto?

A straight reading of the guv's letter laments "the fact that major issues are overlooked while many unnecessary bills come to me for consideration," and concludes, "I believe it is unnecessary to sign this measure at this time."

But a vertical read of the far-left-hand letters in each of the missive's eight lines offers a more blunt explanation: "I f- you."

Schwarzenegger's press secretary, Aaron McLear, insisted Tuesday it was simply a "weird coincidence."

Here's the image of the veto memo:
[Link: www.sfgate.com...]

It's an indication of where we are nowadays that, when I read an Onion headline, I'm momentarily uncertain as to whether it might be true.

re: #13 Bubblehead II

You didn't quote the whole thing.

" Other prominent Republicans opposing Obama's declaration of emergency include Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who urged residents of his state to continue not washing their hands, and radio host Rush Limbaugh, who made a point of dying of the virus during his show on Wednesday.

I am not a Rush fan by any meaning of the word, but I think that was a bit over the top if you ask me

I didn't quote the whole thing intentionally - I thought the Jindal thing was funny, I didn't think the Rush part was particularity funny - which again is typical classic Onion. When you are trying to do a bunch of jokes in a small amount of text some of them are not going to be funny.

re: #13 Bubblehead II

re: #14 bosforus

To be fair, I think they had some article where the occupants of an ACLU office were burnt to death by a schizophrenic neo-nazi and ignored Rudy Gulliani's order to evacuate because they didn't want to be seen as endorsing Mayor Guliani's infringement of the neo-nazi's right to free expression.

re: #19 Fenway_Nation

It's one of the largest geographic districts in the nation - and certainly in the Northeast. But it isn't exactly gerrymandered and at least generally conforms to county boundaries, unlike some of the other districts in NY. NY-8, NY-10, and NY-11 come to mind (carving up Brooklyn and NYC like you wouldn't believe).

re: #24 peterb

The Onion: Next Week's News Today.

re: #26 Fenway_Nation

[Link: www.theonion.com...]

Here's an Onion-like story I stumbled across: Team Sarah is trying to help The Iowa Family Policy Center (Right to Life) raise enough $$$ to pay Sarah's speaking fee.

[Link: politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...]

If she was planning on running for office wouldn't she just go to Iowa for free??

re: #26 Fenway_Nation

Yeah, The Onion spans the spectrum from good political satire to outright cartoonish, for which I am most grateful!

re: #23 simoom

Can't get too worked up over that...

A) It's kind of funny
B) Didn't one of the state reps tell Ahnuld to 'kiss my ass' prior to the veto? Not classy, but not entirely unprovoked, either.
C) If it were me adressing pretty much anything to a San Franfreakshow pol, I'd make sure there was a big gooey glob of my phlegm enclosed.

Talk about fake but accurate!

re: #26 Fenway_Nation

My "ixnay" comment was in hopes in quelling any comments that might go down that road and become inappropriate.

re: #22 subsailor68

re: #27 lawhawk

Yet NY Route 23 runs nowhere near it.

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Letter to the editor...
Comics ‘commie' tool?

Yes, it's real.

That has to be a parody.
Please

I can get to LGF at work but The Onion is blocked as an impediment to productivity.

re: #36 doubter4444

That has to be a parody.
Please

There were about 7 out of a dozen comics on the local page that day that had volunteering themes. If they only knew...

Its obvious that Obama is only against swine flu because he is a sekrit muslim!

///

re: #37 flywheel

I can get to LGF at work but The Onion is blocked as an impediment to productivity.

Now that's irony!

re: #37 flywheel

I can get to LGF at work but The Onion is blocked as an impediment to productivity.

Shows what they know.

re: #37 flywheel

I can get to LGF at work but The Onion is blocked as an impediment to productivity.

They got it half-right.

Off Topic but interesting:

Fox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith apologized for a "lack of balance" following a political report where the Republican candidate for New Jersey governor was interviewed and the Democratic incumbent wasn't.

re: #37 flywheel

I can get to LGF at work but The Onion is blocked as an impediment to productivity.

Bummer. Request a removal of the block and tell them it keeps your moral up.

A couple of my favorite Onion articles from many years ago

Death Star to open Day Care [Link: www.discospock.com...]

and Study Reveals: Babies are Stupid [Link: www.onion.demon.co.uk...]

re: #44 bosforus

Bummer. Request a removal of the block and tell them it keeps your moral up.

or your morale.

re: #44 bosforus

Bummer. Request a removal of the block and tell them it keeps your moral up.

I think the LOLCat Bible would keep my moral (and morale) up better than the Onion ;)

re: #47 bloodstar

I think the LOLCat Bible would keep my moral (and morale) up better than the Onion ;)

Oh noes!!!

re: #44 bosforus

Bummer. Request a removal of the block and tell them it keeps your moral up.

There actually is an online form for such requests. I'll get on it right away.

re: #45 Nanook37

A couple of my favorite Onion articles from many years ago

Death Star to open Day Care [Link: www.discospock.com...]

and Study Reveals: Babies are Stupid [Link: www.onion.demon.co.uk...]

Animal-Rights Activists Release 71,000 Cows Into Wild

re: #46 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

or your morale.

Yeah, let's go with that one. Not sure it's doing much for my morality.

re: #49 flywheel

There actually is an online form for such requests. I'll get on it right away.

Vaya con Dios!

re: #50 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Supreme Court Overturns Car

re: #47 bloodstar

1 Ceiling Cat iz mai sheprd (which is funni if u knowz teh joek about herdin catz LOL.)
He givz me evrithin I need.

2 He letz me sleeps in teh sunni spot
an haz liek nice waterz r ovar thar.

3 He makez mai soul happi
an maeks sure I go teh riet wai for him. Liek thru teh cat flap insted of out teh opin windo LOL.

4 I iz in teh valli of dogz, fearin no pooch,
bcz Ceiling Cat iz besied me rubbin' mah ears, an it maek me so kumfy.

5 He letz me sit at teh taebl evn when peepl who duzint liek me iz watchn.
He givz me a flea baff an so much gooshy fud it runz out of mai bowl LOL.

6 Niec things an luck wil chase me evrydai
an I wil liv in teh Ceiling Cats houz forevr.

re: #52 bosforus

Excuse me,
¡Vaya con Dios!

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Letter to the editor...
Comics ‘commie' tool?

Yes, it's real.

They're going all Dr. Strangelove on us. :D

CHILDREN'S ICE CREAM?!?!?!?

re: #54 wrenchwench

LMAO! Brilliant.

re: #57 Sharmuta

LMAO! Brilliant.

The link. Lest ye think Ai be steelin the wurdz ov Ceiling Cat.

re: #54 wrenchwench

Heh.

Ezekiel 25:17
Den Sam Jackson said: Teh walkies of the Ceiling Cat beliefer iz fightins an stuff by lotza unfair gredy aholes an George Boosh. Mani cheeborgrz 2 teh beliefer cat cuz of bein nice n stuff 2 helpin kitties thru teh scary plaice. He gud beliefer cat and finden losted kitties an such. Ceiling cat gonna pwn demz who fuk wit my budz. U kno mai name iz Ceiling Cat whe I'z scartchin yo ize out n such. (dere be sum despurting bout dis line, but dis as gud as any Ceiling Cat seeds, so et stayin)

Genesis 19

Lot iz all "doodz, srsly, crash on my couch." Den He called up teh taco bell ann tey gave it to hiz kitteh.4 All teh drunc doodz went to Lotz place fer teh LOLz5 Teh drunc guyz says to Lot, dood, letz see teh guyz in ur place, we herd dey liek VISIBLE BUTTSEX!

6 Lot goez outside n close teh cat flap.7 He sayz, "oh snap, don't do dat! ewww growss!"8 Lol U can hit my hot daughterz whu r virginz. Let me get em n we kan PENIS GOES WHERE? them. But don't do theze doodz, they iz in mah house.9 Aw no fanks. We iz gonna hit ur door an hav lemmon party. ur gonna get raped fisrt.

Nation's Morons March On Washington State

OLYMPIA, WA—With random cries of "Enough is enough," "Do something now," and "Huh?" thousands of the nation's biggest morons descended on Washington State this week, some 3,000 miles from their intended destination of the nation's capital.

The march, which had no discernable goal or message, and no official organizers, began at approximately 8:45 a.m. in front of what the morons called the National Mall, but was actually the courtyard outside the Olympia Public Library.

"More government accountability, and transparency, and accountability!" shouted grade-A moron Tammy Caldwell, 37, addressing no one in particular. "On behalf of me, and all the [morons] who came here today, listen up, greedy Washington fat cats: We're not going anywhere until each and every one of our voices is heard."

"To the Lincoln Memorial!" added Caldwell, pointing to a nearby monument dedicated to the memory of Washington State governor John Rankin Rogers.

re: #56 WindUpBird

They're going all Dr. Strangelove on us. :D

CHILDREN'S ICE CREAM?!?!?!?

I'm still seeing that letter as a student put-on. Remember, Hunter
Thompson was a U of L grad.

re: #58 wrenchwench

And if that isn't a hoot, check out Exodus 34:2 and following, also known as the 10 Commandments.

Congressman Steve King tells NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell he should either apologize to Limbaugh or make the same criticism to Fergie and JLo.

WTF or heh, I can't decide.

re: #58 wrenchwench

The link. Lest ye think Ai be steelin the wurdz ov Ceiling Cat.

I had no idea an lolcat Bible existed. The things you learn at LGF...

re: #58 wrenchwench

The link. Lest ye think Ai be steelin the wurdz ov Ceiling Cat.

That's just too funny.

Another New World Order plot is uncovered...
Halloween: The Redistribution of Candy Wealth

Every year children of all ages dress up and celebrate Halloween. And every year, Communism is alive and well in every country that celebrates it.
...
Dissent against trick or treaters is not tolerated. You will be ostracized as a crazy, child hating, anti Halloween ideologue, and the media will probably run stories of you. How dare you not give candy to little children!

Hmmm, that sounds oddly familiar to what's happening in our country today. If you dare to have your own opinion of the proposed Communist Healthcare plan, and you stand up for what you believe in, you are deemed a racist, Nazi, and an Astroturfer. Some fear retribution, loss of employment, alienating others, so they quietly protest in their homes, but they are afraid to stand up in public. The same is for those who don’t want their houses toilet papered, egged, or worse. So instead of saying No to Free Candy Handouts, they comply to the threats of the candy dictators.

Yes, it's real.

re: #47 bloodstar

I think the LOLCat Bible would keep my moral (and morale) up better than the Onion ;)

I would join a church if this was the bible translation they used.

" Boreded Ceiling Cat makinkgz Urf n stuffs

1 Oh hai. In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem. "

Those are great. I wonder how my favorite verse comes out...

Micah 6:8
"he has showded u, o kittehs, wut iz gud. An wut doez teh lord want from yuz? 2 be nais, 2 luv givin 2nd chansez An 2 walk humbly wif ur ceilin cat, srsly."

William

re: #64 wrenchwench

WTF or heh, I can't decide.

Lol!
"I don't think anything Limbaugh said was offensive."

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Another New World Order plot is uncovered...
Halloween: The Redistribution of Candy Wealth

Yes, it's real.

hahahahahahaha
That's priceless.

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Another New World Order plot is uncovered...
Halloween: The Redistribution of Candy Wealth

Yes, it's real.

Is the SEIU trick-or-treating this year? These people must spend all
their time in a closet with a can of pepper spray.

Rifqa Bary back in Ohio

[Link: edition.cnn.com...]

re: #64 wrenchwench

A real WTF? Our tax dollars at work.

I sure hope they put together a congressional committee to question the local bartender the next time he refuses to sell me another beer.

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Another New World Order plot is uncovered...
Halloween: The Redistribution of Candy Wealth

Yes, it's real.

No frickin' way that's real! I don't want to believe it.

re: #67 Killgore Trout

And because entitlement is becoming a way of life, millions of people will go door to door, demanding that strangers fulfill their candy needs.

Bwahahaha!

re: #75 bosforus

No frickin' way that's real! I don't want to believe it.

it's not real

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Another New World Order plot is uncovered...
Halloween: The Redistribution of Candy Wealth

I made a few comments about Halloween being a communist holiday last year, but I was joking. I guess I shouldn't be surprised some people are nutty enough to really believe it.

re: #73 Thanos

Not sure if you saw my comment earlier, but loon watch has a write up on the cult Rifqa joined:

[Link: www.loonwatch.com...]

re: #77 albusteve

it's not real

It's some darned good writing, whatever it is.

Hmmm...I want to post a link about something, but I'm not sure wether or not I already did on the same topic (this isn't a blogpimp, either) earlier this month. Is there any way to go back and check the spinoffs beyond the 7 day span or should I just post it again?

Proof of Ceiling Cat

Awgooments For Ceiling Cat

Thees awgooments ar in ur computer, teechin ur mind bout teh Ceiling Cat. They ar gud.

...

Telljunt Dezynr

Can says "Oh Hai"? Liek who maik teh littrboxz? Liek who putin niec smelly new littr? Sum catz, riet? Nawt jus anny catz, riet? Reeel smarty catz, meee-ooowww! Can has rubs bellie? Nawt jus anny catz, riet? Niec rubs can has Ceiling Cat. Ceiling Cat has niec littrboxz first anna clumpy littr. Tehn youse catz can has one. Youse skratch, youse sqwat, den youse pee, den youse cover. Niec skratch.

Oh Hai, lookey here! Nawt jus anny littr clump. Who can has maded this niec clumpy pee? Nawt jus anny catz, riet? Must be reeel smarty catz, riet? See? Lookey? Sniffz. Clumpz. Taht splanes it. Ceiling Cat teh Telljunt Dezynr uv reel niec clumpy pee. Ceiling Cat sez so. Srsly. K'Thnxbai.

...

Eeridoosibul Complexitee

Der iz sum fings dat iz so complicatd dat dey had tu be creeatd, cuz if yu taeks wun pees off, dey not wurks anymoar. Liek, der iz teh sofa, an it iz gud fr sleeping. But if yu taeks teh pillow off, it not gud anymoar! Cleerly, teh sofa cood not evolv. LOLZ. If yu finks teh sofa evolvd, yu iz stoopid. we wearz nawchoes kaythnxbai

re: #81 Fenway_Nation

Try using the LinkViewer- you should be able to search for any spinoff link.

Well, just got the Kids' big Christmas present ordered, my shopping is now mostly done.

re: #82 wrenchwench

That. Is. Awesome.

re: #78 Sharmuta

I made a few comments about Halloween being a communist holiday last year, but I was joking. I guess I shouldn't be surprised some people are nutty enough to really believe it.

It's a Paulian site. They are nutty beyond anything we can even imagine.

re: #73 Thanos

re: #79 Sharmuta

And the Pam predictably has her knickers in a twist about it.

*snip*

"Rifqa then arrived back to Ohio on Tuesday October 27’th. Upon her arrival came a new set of restrictions that her parents and Muslim attorneys have been trying to impose on her from the beginning…solitary confinement! While Rifqa was being protected in Florida, they repeatedly tried to separate Rifqa from other Christians that she leaned on for strength and encouragement. Rifqa’s Muslim parents have been saying from the beginning that they don’t believe that Rifqa became a Christian on her own accord, rather they believe that her real problem is that she has been brain washed by other people through facebook and over the phone."

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Another New World Order plot is uncovered...
Halloween: The Redistribution of Candy Wealth

Yes, it's real.

Christmas: The Redistribution of Tube Sock and Flannel Shirt Wealth.
/And The Prolific Redistribution of Fruit Cake Horrors

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Instead of giving out candy, why don’t you educate people about economics, taxes, big government, and maybe give them a copy of the US Constitution.

Good luck with that..

re: #83 Sharmuta

Geez- how long was that there? I ususally use the top-rated links @ the top of the page.

re: #90 Fenway_Nation

The linkviewer is right next door to the flippy triangle for the top rated links, Hon.

re: #89 Mich-again

Want to get your house egged or TPed October 31st? Follow this handy step by step guide:

1) Hand out copies of the Constitution for Halloween instead of candy.
2) Wait.

re: #74 Slumbering Behemoth

Want to see your tax dollars at work?

Costco to accept food stamps nationwide

Now riddle me this, If they are eligible for food stamps, just how in the heck can they afford a membership at Costco?

re: #92 Sharmuta

Candy Constitutiuons.

/printed on fruit rollups?

re: #88 Slumbering Behemoth

Christmas: The Redistribution of Tube Sock and Flannel Shirt Wealth.
/And The Prolific Redistribution of Fruit Cake Horrors

My oldest girl's birthday is in January. She knows all about gift redistribution.

re: #89 Mich-again

A few years ago I was caught off guard by Halloween. I had no candy in the house and the first little girl knocked on the door dressed as a princess. I panicked an put a small handful of pistachios in the little girl's bag. She turned to her mom and said, "I don't want pistachiooos!"
I don't think a pocket Constitution would go over much better.

Here's the link I was agonizing over (I did post something earlier this month about it, but it went largely unnoticed).

Navajo Code Talker Willard V Oliver Passes at Age 88

"I did not realize that until the code talkers were recognized that all the victories back during the war came about because of our Diné language," he said.

"Sometimes I think about it," he said. "Why did the government want to use our language when throughout BIA school we would get our mouth washed out with soap when they caught us speaking Navajo?

"I am proud to be a code talker," he said. "And I know we counted for something great, and that we fought to maintain our freedom and for our sacred land."

Hey, great news everybody. The Cash for Clunkers program, which handed out up to $4500 discounts for car purchases, only cost the taxpayers $24,000 per car!

And didn't generate significant increases in sales.

Huzzah!

re: #98 SixDegrees

I was with some auto dealers today and wondered if any of the ones that participated in the Cash for Clunkers program would ever see dime one from the feds.

re: #98 SixDegrees

Hey, great news everybody. The Cash for Clunkers program, which handed out up to $4500 discounts for car purchases, only cost the taxpayers $24,000 per car!

And didn't generate significant increases in sales.

Huzzah!

Best of all, it helped bury people further into debt for a depreciating asset. Just like Uncle Same!

re: #98 SixDegrees

It helps if you read your comment in Professor Farnsworth's voice. You forget about the tax dollar waste for the moment.

re: #93 Bubblehead II

Now riddle me this, If they are eligible for food stamps, just how in the heck can they afford a membership at Costco?

A $50/year membership fee isn't all that unaffordable, really.

re: #102 Slumbering Behemoth

A $50/year membership fee isn't all that unaffordable, really.

Frankly, I'd prefer they bought from such deep-discount vendors whenever possible. nothing pisses me off more than the gas station convenience store with the WIC/Food Stamp stickers on the window. US taxpayer dropping $7.00 a quart for old milk!

re: #98 SixDegrees

Hey, great news everybody. The Cash for Clunkers program, which handed out up to $4500 discounts for car purchases, only cost the taxpayers $24,000 per car!

And didn't generate significant increases in sales.

Huzzah!

I was just reading about this at Am Thinker as you posted...the BO admin has been very quiet about this and hardly touted the 'success' of C4C...nobody has been on the TV shows or in the papers...looking at the numbers, it appears to be a bust...if not, why don't we celebrate and do it again?

re: #101 ArchangelMichael

It helps if you read your comment in Professor Farnsworth's voice. You forget about the tax dollar waste for the moment.

LOL!

re: #96 Killgore Trout

A few years ago I was caught off guard by Halloween. I had no candy in the house and the first little girl knocked on the door dressed as a princess. I panicked an put a small handful of pistachios in the little girl's bag. She turned to her mom and said, "I don't want pistachiooos!"
I don't think a pocket Constitution would go over much better.

Well, here's a heads up:
Halloween is upon us.
Go now, buy candy.

Does Focus on the Family fund abortions?

As it happens, Focus on the Family provides its employees health insurance through Principal, an insurance company that covers "abortion services." A Focus spokeswoman confirmed the fact that the organization pays premiums to Principal, but declined to comment on whether that amounts to an indirect funding of abortion.

Even if the specific plan Focus uses for its employees doesn't include abortion coverage--and I'm assuming it doesn't--the organization and its employees still pay premiums to a company that funds abortions. If health reform proposals have a fungibility problem, then Focus does as well. And if they don't think they do have a fungibility problem, then it would be interesting to hear why they think the set-up proposed in health reform legislation is so untenable.

Come to think of it, how many surviving members of the Tuskeegee Airmen or 442nd Infantry regiment are still with us? These guys (and the code-talkers) would've had every reason in the world to proverbially 'sit this one out' given how they had been wronged and marginalized, but they put their asses on the line for this country because they believed in something greater than themselves.

Seems like a far cry from today...

re: #96 Killgore Trout

A few years ago I was caught off guard by Halloween. I had no candy in the house and the first little girl knocked on the door dressed as a princess. I panicked an put a small handful of pistachios in the little girl's bag. She turned to her mom and said, "I don't want pistachiooos!"
I don't think a pocket Constitution would go over much better.

you're generous...I would never part with my pistachios

re: #96 Killgore Trout

A few years ago I was caught off guard by Halloween. I had no candy in the house and the first little girl knocked on the door dressed as a princess. I panicked an put a small handful of pistachios in the little girl's bag. She turned to her mom and said, "I don't want pistachiooos!"
I don't think a pocket Constitution would go over much better.

Just hand out Ziploc bags full of sugar.

re: #106 reine.de.tout

Well, here's a heads up:
Halloween is upon us.
Go now, buy candy.

Not this year. I'll make my mortgage payment with about $75 left in my account this month. I'm going to turn off the lights and hide.

re: #102 Slumbering Behemoth

re: #103 Guanxi88

Ok, I jumped the shark on that one. You are both correct. $50.00 a year isn't really all that much and being able to buy in bulk at a discounted rate is in fact a wise use of limited (Government supplied) funds.

My bad and my apologies.

re: #111 Killgore Trout

I'm going to turn off the lights and hide.

If you won't, the electric company will.

re: #108 Fenway_Nation

Come to think of it, how many surviving members of the Tuskeegee Airmen or 442nd Infantry regiment are still with us? These guys (and the code-talkers) would've had every reason in the world to proverbially 'sit this one out' given how they had been wronged and marginalized, but they put their asses on the line for this country because they believed in something greater than themselves.

Seems like a far cry from today...

Our town lost Sherman Rose (Airman) a year ago. A mural of him, his
students, and a P-51 is opposite our convention center.

re: #97 Fenway_Nation

Here's the link I was agonizing over (I did post something earlier this month about it, but it went largely unnoticed).

Navajo Code Talker Willard V Oliver Passes at Age 88

The Navajo tend to be very patriotic Americans. Last time I was on the reservation, I took photos of a Veterans' cemetery that had tons of US flags all over it. The Code Talkers are passing on as fast as the rest of the WWII veterans.

re: #103 Guanxi88

People who buy their groceries at gas station convenience stores are either crazy, suicidal, or have no car and live a very long way from anything else.

re:

re: #108 Fenway_Nation

Come to think of it, how many surviving members of the Tuskeegee Airmen or 442nd Infantry regiment are still with us? These guys (and the code-talkers) would've had every reason in the world to proverbially 'sit this one out' given how they had been wronged and marginalized, but they put their asses on the line for this country because they believed in something greater than themselves.

Seems like a far cry from today...

well said...and as an aside, just today I was at a very remote saloon out in the boonies and two Native Americans, a man and a woman, were speaking to each other in their native tongue...it was beautiful and I'd never heard that before...I could not help but stand there and eaves drop a bit

re: #116 Slumbering Behemoth

People who buy their groceries at gas station convenience stores are either crazy, suicidal, or have no car and live a very long way from anything else.

I do my Xmas shopping at 7-11.

re: #117 Baier

How'd I do that?

re: #119 Walter L. Newton

I do my Xmas shopping at 7-11.

A pair of panties folded to look like a rose?

re: #98 SixDegrees

The Cash for Clunkers program, which handed out up to $4500 discounts for car purchases, only cost the taxpayers $24,000 per car!

That's some pretty creative math they do there.

re: #119 Walter L. Newton

I do my Xmas shopping at 7-11.

Who doesn't love getting Nachos and a pack of smokes for the holidays.

re: #120 Baier

re:

Like that.

re: #124 Walter L. Newton

re:

Like that.

I broke LGF!

re: #121 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

A pair of panties folded to look like a rose?

That was you at the bar after the Christmas party?

re: #112 Bubblehead II

No apologies necessary, I think. It wasn't like you were being an ass about it.

I think a better Costco related question is: Why the hell did they stop selling Hebrew National hot dogs at their little food court thing?

The new ones are tasty, but they hit my gut like a ton of lead. I can't eat them.

Now THIS is an endorsement you Guy Lizards will enjoy.

You're welcome.

re: #64 wrenchwench

Congressman Steve King tells NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell he should either apologize to Limbaugh or make the same criticism to Fergie and JLo. WTF or heh, I can't decide.

Wow, tell me again how Rush Limbaugh is the not the head of the GOP.

re: #115 wrenchwench

The Navajo tend to be very patriotic Americans. Last time I was on the reservation, I took photos of a Veterans' cemetery that had tons of US flags all over it. The Code Talkers are passing on as fast as the rest of the WWII veterans.

there were Comanche code talkers used in WW2 also...a terrific story of all included

re: #115 wrenchwench

re: #115 wrenchwench

The Navajo tend to be very patriotic Americans. Last time I was on the reservation, I took photos of a Veterans' cemetery that had tons of US flags all over it. The Code Talkers are passing on as fast as the rest of the WWII veterans.

I first heard about the code-talkers in a short Reader's Digest article...probably 15 or 20 years ago. From their own accounts, they needed very little encouragement to enlist after Pearl Harbor- some of them even lying about their age.

I stumbled across a Memorial Day parade for Veterans of the 4 tribes (Navajo, Apache, Hopi, Zuni) on a reservation in Arizona. Some of the Veterans marching in the parade with Mini-14s slung over their shoulders would break ranks, put on armbands identifying them as tribal policemen and relieve the Policemen working the parade route and traffic control.

re: #126 Walter L. Newton

That was you at the bar after the Christmas party?

My attorney has me advised me to exercise my 5th amendment rights.

re: #128 Sharmuta

Now THIS is an endorsement you Guy Lizards will enjoy.

You're welcome.

good god, what a freak

re: #122 MinisterO

That's some pretty creative math they do there.

Probably. A lot of people are interested in seeing the program fail. Looks like it worked...
GM seen posting sales gain

Cost Cutting, 'Clunkers' Help Auto Retailers Avoid Losses

re: #128 Sharmuta

Is that real?
The book I mean :)

re: #128 Sharmuta

I... um... there's this... uh... I lost my train of thought.

re: #133 albusteve

good god, what a freak

I read about this when she first published the photo. She yanked it the next day, and started whining about how she wasn't a slut, despite what the bulk of her comments claimed.

I would have preferred she just own it.

re: #135 Rightwingconspirator

Is that Are they real?
The book I mean :)

That's what you meant to ask and you know it... :P

/

Want bizaare? Luap NOr is actually Anti Obama H1NI response just like the parody

[Link: www.chron.com...]

re: #116 Slumbering Behemoth

People who buy their groceries at gas station convenience stores are either crazy, suicidal, or have no car and live a very long way from anything else.

I buy my groceries at a gas station, you insensitive clod!

/

re: #135 Rightwingconspirator

Is that real?
The book I mean :)

Yes- the book is real.

re: #134 Killgore Trout

Probably. A lot of people are interested in seeing the program fail. Looks like it worked...
GM seen posting sales gain

Cost Cutting, 'Clunkers' Help Auto Retailers Avoid Losses

No to mention that the Obama administration was also trying to get "clunkers" off the road. They got almost 700,000 such cars destroyed.

re: #129 MinisterO

Wow, tell me again how Rush Limbaugh is the not the head of the GOP.

Don't know if you guys saw the Der Spiegel interview with Charles Krauthammer, but the interviewer suggested that he might very well be the de facto leader of the GOP.

Sadly, that could be somewhat true. Meanwhile, Krauthammer called Obama naive regarding foreign policy. Of course, he said the same of Clinton in 1999 while predicting disaster in Kosovo.

Krauthammer's one of the people I'm going after in my next book. It's going to be an easy book.

re: #139 Thanos

Want bizaare? Luap NOr is actually Anti Obama H1NI response just like the parody

[Link: www.chron.com...]

Luap Nor is anti-everything.

re: #135 Rightwingconspirator

No.

re: #115 wrenchwench

The Navajo tend to be very patriotic Americans. Last time I was on the reservation, I took photos of a Veterans' cemetery that had tons of US flags all over it. The Code Talkers are passing on as fast as the rest of the WWII veterans.

I had an album of Navajo war songs. Some were a hundred years old,
one was about Korea. It was all very seamless.

Wrong Link...

[Link: latimesblogs.latimes.com...]

re: #20 Guanxi88

Beck et al as gateway drugs! I'll remember that. Couldn't have said it better myself!

Bishops to issue fatwa as Catholics take to the streets and rampage against HBO

Well- sort of.

re: #134 Killgore Trout

Probably. A lot of people are interested in seeing the program fail. Looks like it worked...
GM seen posting sales gain

Cost Cutting, 'Clunkers' Help Auto Retailers Avoid Losses

Mike DiGiovanni, GM's executive director of global market and industry analysis, also told reporters that the payback from the government's Cash for Clunkers rebates that depressed U.S. auto sales in September should be over.

"We're through that for the most part," he said during a sales preview discussion. "We think it paid back in August and September."

what does this jibberish mean in your opinion?...imo this does not resolve the debate at all

re: #141 Sharmuta

Yes- the book is real.

Well, that book is real, but it is not the one she was holding in the original pic.

re: #151 Slumbering Behemoth

Well, that book is real, but it is not the one she was holding in the original pic.

She apparently tweeted the pic of her with Max's book.

re: #127 Slumbering Behemoth

Thanks.

Don't know about the hot dogs. Been years since we shopped there.

(Empty Nesters)

re: #142 Baier

No to mention that the Obama administration was also trying to get "clunkers" off the road. They got almost 700,000 such cars destroyed.

Hooray! And if you were the owner trying to sell such a car a-la putting it in your driveway or by the side of the road with a 'FOR SALE' sign in the window and a phone #, you would've been competing directly with a $4500 subsidised rebate from the Gov't!

'Choice & Competiton' as Nancy Pelosi would say [never mind that your competitot can undercut you, write it's own laws and regulations on the fly, etc etc]

/Or maybe it was 'jobs jobs jobs' San Fran Nan said...I can't keep track

re: #116 Slumbering Behemoth

People who buy their groceries at gas station convenience stores are either crazy, suicidal, or have no car and live a very long way from anything else.

In Detroit, the latter is often the problem. All of the major grocery stores have pulled out of the city over the years, and very large tracts of it are referred to as a "food desert," with party stores being the only place to buy food, and things like fresh meat and produce nowhere to be found unless you count what they shove across the counter at BK or McD's. And there's no public transportation to speak of, either, so in many cases people are simply shut off from access to what so many people take for granted - fresh food at reasonable prices.

re: #152 Sharmuta

re: #151 Slumbering Behemoth

It's okay I was just riffing on "Are those real?". J/K

Drat. I'm too busy to hang out here this evening (EST), but not busy enough to keep from being bored. *sigh*...L8r.

re: #156 Rightwingconspirator

re: #151 Slumbering Behemoth

It's okay I was just riffing on "Are those real?". J/K

They aren't virtual. I think the question is "are those organic or man made?"

Good Afternoon Honcos!
Sharm: Somebody said once that men should have b00bs.. They appreciate them so much more than women..
*wink*

re: #154 Fenway_Nation

Hooray! And if you were the owner trying to sell such a car a-la putting it in your driveway or by the side of the road with a 'FOR SALE' sign in the window and a phone #, you would've been competing directly with a $4500 subsidised rebate from the Gov't!

'Choice & Competiton' as Nancy Pelosi would say [never mind that your competitot can undercut you, write it's own laws and regulations on the fly, etc etc]

/Or maybe it was 'jobs jobs jobs' San Fran Nan said...I can't keep track

I agree it is BS, but it was stated goal of the program to get those cars off the road.

re: #143 Barrett Brown

And what exactly has 0bama done to prove that he isn't naiive when it comes to foreign policy?

Iran? Honduras? Russia? Israel?

re: #142 Baier

No to mention that the Obama administration was also trying to get "clunkers" off the road. They got almost 700,000 such cars destroyed.

According to Edmunds, the delta created by CfC was more on the order of 150k. The remaining cars would have been traded in/sold in the normal course of events, without the CfC incentives.

re: #143 Barrett Brown

Just to clarify as I sort of muddled that comment: what I meant to write is that Krauthammer is, sadly, among the most capable and articulate of the conservative punditry at this point. I didn't mean to imply that he's actually the effective voice of the GOP, as he's obviously not; Rush and Beck and others of their ilk clearly have far more influence.

re: #160 Baier

I agree it is BS, but it was stated goal of the program to get those cars off the road.

But they didn't find the weapons of mass destruction so the program was a failure. //

re: #163 Barrett Brown

Just to clarify as I sort of muddled that comment: what I meant to write is that Krauthammer is, sadly, among the most capable and articulate of the conservative punditry at this point. I didn't mean to imply that he's actually the effective voice of the GOP, as he's obviously not; Rush and Beck and others of their ilk clearly have far more influence.

I could think of worse people to be de facto voices..

re: #159 HoosierHoops

Good Afternoon Honcos!
Sharm: Somebody said once that men should have b00bs.. They appreciate them so much more than women..
*wink*

Just for you, Hoopster.

Meghan won't ever drown.

What Does the Public Know?

Well-Known: Public Option, Sotomayor
Little-Known: Cap & Trade, Baucus

re: #155 SixDegrees

That flat out sucks. I live quite close to a lot of things and, knowing the truth of what you posted, I never take my proximity to such sources for granted.

re: #149 DaddyG

Obviously a show written for morons, by morons.

re: #163 Barrett Brown

There is a definite lack of reasonable pundits on the right. We're flooded with fringers like beck and malkin and coulter, when we need much more reasonable people like CK and David Frum (and Meghan McCain?) to articulate real conservative principles, and not this theocratic parody of "conservatism" that we're getting spoon fed to the right-wing masses.

re: #160 Baier

I agree it is BS, but it was stated goal of the program to get those cars off the road.

Huh? I thought the stated goal was to give the auto industry a shot in the arm...

re: #166 Fenway_Nation

Just for you, Hoopster.

Nice pic...The Pacer's play tonight in Atlanta.. Half the team has injuries...It won't be pretty tonight.

re: #155 SixDegrees

In Detroit, the latter is often the problem. All of the major grocery stores have pulled out of the city over the years, and very large tracts of it are referred to as a "food desert," with party stores being the only place to buy food, and things like fresh meat and produce nowhere to be found unless you count what they shove across the counter at BK or McD's. And there's no public transportation to speak of, either, so in many cases people are simply shut off from access to what so many people take for granted - fresh food at reasonable prices.

Why did grocery stores leave?

Lizards, I need your help. I am so pissed right now. I just got off the phone with my son, and I'm hyperventilating. He told me that his wife "doesn't believe in vaccinations." I screamed DON'T YOU DARE RISK THE LIVES OF MY GRANDKIDS! YOU TAKE THEM TO A CLINIC THIS INSTANT!

Anyway I came here and clicked on "Resources" but did not find a list of sites for pro-vax. I told my son that I was sending him a bunch of links explaining how dangerous it is not to vaccinate his kids, MY GRANDKIDS.

I did not know my daughter-in-law was this nuts. I don't like to interfere in my kids' family matters BUT DAMN IT, MY GRANDKIDS' LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

re: #150 albusteve

I think he's saying that the cash for clunker program encouraged people to buy so those looking for a new car all jumped in at once. When the program ended sales slowed down temporarily but they're picking back up again.

re: #162 SixDegrees

According to Edmunds, the delta created by CfC was more on the order of 150k. The remaining cars would have been traded in/sold in the normal course of events, without the CfC incentives.

C4C was just a simple scam to redistribute taxpayer money to people that had no reason to deserve such a deal...of course I wanted it to fail, but how could it if the consideration to get junkers off the road is supposedly the main reason for doing it...and now, after depressing the market in such an unnatural fashion sales are picking up?...good grief, what an interpretation of success

Newspaper Circulation since 1990

Ouch.

re: #161 Fenway_Nation

And what exactly has 0bama done to prove that he isn't naiive when it comes to foreign policy?

Iran? Honduras? Russia? Israel?

Well, my main point is that Krauthammer is in no position to call into question anyone else's grasp of foreign policy. Having recently read through a decade of the fellow's columns, I've discovered him to have been even more hilariously wrong in his predictions than even Thomas Friedman, who himself declared Putin to be a great reformer back in 2001.

As for Obama, has he perpetrated some foreign policy disaster that I've missed? And would you compare him unfavorably to any of our last several presidents in that regard?

re: #149 DaddyG

Bishops to issue fatwa as Catholics take to the streets and rampage against HBO

Well- sort of.

The comedian seems fairly stupid, but the show's apologist is even worse.

re: #175 Alouette

Tell him to take her to an old cemetery and show her all the tombstones of infants and children who died very young, and in great numbers, before there were vaccines.

re: #172 Fenway_Nation

Huh? I thought the stated goal was to give the auto industry a shot in the arm...

re: #172 Fenway_Nation

Huh? I thought the stated goal was to give the auto industry a shot in the arm...

It was meant as a stimulus, as well as to get 'clunkers' off the road.

re: #175 Alouette

{Alouette}. I will try to find some links for you, but in the meantime, here is LGF's tag viewer:

Anti-Vaccine
Medicine

bbiaw

re: #181 Ojoe

Tell him to take her to an old cemetery and show her all the tombstones of infants and children who died very young, and in great numbers, before there were vaccines.

I already told him that diptheria and whooping cough are coming back in the UK and Canada, and that his kids MY GRANDKIDS could die.

A blast from the deep past: Anyone remember the Standing Room Only debates?

[Link: www.library.arizona.edu...]

re: #185 Alouette

Actual tombstones are convincing beyond words.

re: #173 HoosierHoops

I don't think I've ever set foot in Indiana, but I kinda had that shot pegged as quintessential Indiana- small town symbolized by the water tower & buildings in the background, vital transportation crossroads embodied by the locomotives and passionate about hoops, symbolized by the by the court in the foreground.

I don't normally read that much into pictures of...say...Bettie Paige in her prime.

Alouette-

From the James Randi Forums, this link has additional links to pro-vax sites.

re: #182 Baier

It was meant as a stimulus, as well as to get 'clunkers' off the road.

Where exactly was the 'stimulus' if the dealers- already troubled by slumping sales- are left holding the bag for the $4500 rebate?

re: #174 MandyManners

Why did grocery stores leave?

Lots of different reasons. A few of them: high crime; high insurance; high taxes; widespread poverty; a mandatory "living wage" ordinance forcing them to pay roughly $14.00 per hour (somewhat less, if they offered full medical benefits); open hostility from some quarters who insisted that the chains were another example of white folks exploiting black folks; high utility rates...all manner of negatives that had a huge impact on a business with a razor-thin profit margin to begin with, even in lucrative markets.

re: #175 Alouette

Charles' link to the WSJ on vaccinations.

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

Tags.

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

re: #179 Barrett Brown

Well, my main point is that Krauthammer is in no position to call into question anyone else's grasp of foreign policy. Having recently read through a decade of the fellow's columns, I've discovered him to have been even more hilariously wrong in his predictions than even Thomas Friedman, who himself declared Putin to be a great reformer back in 2001.

As for Obama, has he perpetrated some foreign policy disaster that I've missed? And would you compare him unfavorably to any of our last several presidents in that regard?

getting his ass kicked by Putin and the Honduras switcheroo could be considered disasterous for them...was this a trick question?

re: #191 SixDegrees

Lots of different reasons. A few of them: high crime; high insurance; high taxes; widespread poverty; a mandatory "living wage" ordinance forcing them to pay roughly $14.00 per hour (somewhat less, if they offered full medical benefits); open hostility from some quarters who insisted that the chains were another example of white folks exploiting black folks; high utility rates...all manner of negatives that had a huge impact on a business with a razor-thin profit margin to begin with, even in lucrative markets.

I'd get the hell out, too.

re: #190 Fenway_Nation

Where exactly was the 'stimulus' if the dealers- already troubled by slumping sales- are left holding the bag for the $4500 rebate?

Dude, I'm not arguing with you. My point is that Obama doesn't see this as a failure, in fact he believes it was a raging success. Personally, I think it was idiotic and I think helping the car companies is a huge waste of precious resources.

re: #179 Barrett Brown

So far, 0bama's demonstrated a willingness to hold a dialogue with thugs and despots with zero preconditions while ignoring or even chiding our allies. In fact, I think he even campaigned on the latter...

re: #189 Sharmuta

Alouette-

From the James Randi Forums, this link has additional links to pro-vax sites.

OK thanks.

OT: Mitt Romney announced that he is not endorsing ANYONE in the NY-23 race.

Score one for sanity.

re: #175 Alouette

Lizards, I need your help. I am so pissed right now. I just got off the phone with my son, and I'm hyperventilating. He told me that his wife "doesn't believe in vaccinations." I screamed DON'T YOU DARE RISK THE LIVES OF MY GRANDKIDS! YOU TAKE THEM TO A CLINIC THIS INSTANT!

Anyway I came here and clicked on "Resources" but did not find a list of sites for pro-vax. I told my son that I was sending him a bunch of links explaining how dangerous it is not to vaccinate his kids, MY GRANDKIDS.

I did not know my daughter-in-law was this nuts. I don't like to interfere in my kids' family matters BUT DAMN IT, MY GRANDKIDS' LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Breathe.

Do you know what it is she has against vaccinations?

Need to know that to start finding counterpoints.

re: #197 Alouette

OK thanks.

It's my pleasure. Why shouldn't we let those nice folks at the Randi forums do the research for us? ;)

re: #175 Alouette

What does he want to do?

re: #196 Fenway_Nation

So far, 0bama's demonstrated a willingness to hold a dialogue with thugs and despots with zero preconditions while ignoring or even chiding our allies. In fact, I think he even campaigned on the latter...

Don't forget shaking hands with Khadafi.

Here's CDC on H1N1

[Link: www.cdc.gov...]

and their page on infant immunizations

[Link: www.cdc.gov...]

re: #196 Fenway_Nation

So far, 0bama's demonstrated a willingness to hold a dialogue with thugs and despots with zero preconditions while ignoring or even chiding our allies. In fact, I think he even campaigned on the latter...

Oh, and his non-handling of the deaths of Iranian citizens at the hands of ShortShit.

re: #202 MandyManners

Don't forget shaking hands with Khadafi.

If only we had elected John McCain!

oooh wait...McCain praises Gaddafi

IOKIYAR!

re: #204 MandyManners

Oh, and his non-handling of the deaths of Iranian citizens at the hands of ShortShit.

did he ever explain his higher tech, less expensive missile defense for the Poles and Czechs?...I don't recall...Putin slapped him from here into next year on that one...support with dealing with Iran?...hahaha!...swing anda miss

Still snowing...

re: #205 WindUpBird

If only we had elected John McCain!

oooh wait...McCain praises Gaddafi

IOKIYAR!

what's McCain got to do with any of this?

re: #175 Alouette

CNN has a special section devoted to answering questions, concerns, etc. (geared for the United States...) here's the link... Sanja Gupta has repeatedly stated how imperative it is for children (especially young children) to get the vaccination...(here in Canada there have already been a number of children who have died -- one was a hockey player, in top physical health, etc.)

re: #207 Walter L. Newton

Still snowing...

heh...just wait bro

re: #175 Alouette

I did not know my daughter-in-law was this nuts. I don't like to interfere in my kids' family matters BUT DAMN IT, MY GRANDKIDS' LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Alouette--
You're getting a lot of good info from the lizards, but DIL's attitude
isn't based on rationality, and probably won't yield easily to reason.
The hard answer is to find the basis of her fear and gently unwind it.
In the meantime, insist on a high level of surveillance. While vax is
the way to go, staying on top of every sniffle will get the kids to
good modern corrective medicine. Be a PITA.

re: #195 Baier

Dude, I'm not arguing with you. My point is that Obama doesn't see this as a failure, in fact he believes it was a raging success.

OK...I read it as you supporting it, instead of offering up the prospective from the WH.

And there's been an ongoing 'Cash for Clunkers' program for locomotives as well...it offers various railways up to an 80% subsidy on the purchase of 'green goat' or 'genset' locomotives for every older locomotive they strike from the roster.

The catch is, the older locomotives don't have to be scrapped. In fact, there have been instances of large railways like the BNSF retiring dozens of 30-40 year old SD40s in anticipation of an order of locomotives, selling the SD40s off to a leasing company and then immediately leasing them back because the new locomotives aren't being built fast enough.

The other problem is that the 'gensets' and 'green goats' still have some flaws that need to be worked out and are of relatively low horsepower (2000 HP maximum) and only useful in yard or local service, not reigonal or long-distance road service.

re: #208 albusteve

what's McCain got to do with any of this?

It's an example of how your opinion is outside the mainstream. The implication that Obama has failed because he shook hands with Khadafi, when in actuality both parties are willing to be diplomatic.

Personally, I'm not afraid of diplomacy. I agree with Barret Brown above, I don't consider diplomacy a failure.

re: #214 WindUpBird

It's an example of how your opinion is outside the mainstream. The implication that Obama has failed because he shook hands with Khadafi, when in actuality both parties are willing to be diplomatic.

Personally, I'm not afraid of diplomacy. I agree with Barret Brown above, I don't consider diplomacy a failure.

what diplomacy are you referring to?...and I've not mentioned Khadafi

re: #214 WindUpBird

So...0bama being courteous to Ghadaffi or tHugo Chavez should overshoadow his being dismissive and snide to Gordon Brown or John Howard?

/Jayzus J-damn Christ, we have the prime ministers of Canada and France using more forceful and unambiguous language against despotic and terrorist-sponsoring regimes than this administration.

re: #215 albusteve

what diplomacy are you referring to?...and I've not mentioned Khadafi

Maybe it was Mandy who said that. And I'm referring to Obama meeting Khadafi face to face. Diplomacy!

"Diplomacy: The art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states."

Crank up the outrage generator:

Obama inks defense bill with hate crimes provision

Trumpeting a victory against careless spending, President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a defense bill that kills some costly weapons projects and expands war efforts. In a major civil rights change, the law also makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation.

The measure expands current hate crimes law to include violence based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. To assure its passage after years of frustrated efforts, Democratic supporters attached the measure to the must-pass defense policy bill over the steep objections of many Republicans.

I fully expect the usual suspects to be outraged. Stacy McCain is likely red in the face as we speak.

re: #217 WindUpBird

Maybe it was Mandy who said that. And I'm referring to Obama meeting Khadafi face to face. Diplomacy!

"Diplomacy: The art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states."

what's that got to do with being on the wrong side of the Honduras issue or folding like a napkin to Putin?

re: #216 Fenway_Nation

/Jayzus J-damn Christ, we have the prime ministers of Canada and France using more forceful and unambiguous language against despotic and terrorist-sponsoring regimes than this administration

Don't you think that is quite intentional? In the big picture, one of the worries/complaints about the previous approach to foreign policy was that the continuous burden on the US to play the "cop" in these situations meant that our allies often got a free ride from taking on the harder responsibilities. It would be very much in keeping with the goals of multilateral and international peace-keeping to encourage nations like Canada and France to play the harder line than they have in the previous decade or two.

Let me try that last post again since it has a ph number in it, and those usually get yanked:

Where can I get more information?

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
[Link: www.cdc.gov...]
* American Academy of Pediatrics
[Link: www.aap.org...] External Web Site Policy
* The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
[Link: www.vaccine.chop.edu...]
* Immunization Action Coalition (IAC)
[Link: www.immunize.org...] External Web Site Policy
* Every Child By Two
[Link: www.ecbt.org...] External Web Site Policy

re: #218 Sharmuta

Crank up the outrage generator:

Obama inks defense bill with hate crimes provision

I fully expect the usual suspects to be outraged. Stacy McCain is likely red in the face as we speak.

so what exactly is a hate crime and how is it different from a crime?

re: #222 albusteve

so what exactly is a hate crime and how is it different from a crime?

I prefer love crimes.

re: #218 Sharmuta

Crank up the outrage generator:

Obama inks defense bill with hate crimes provision

I fully expect the usual suspects to be outraged. Stacy McCain is likely red in the face as we speak.

Several house republicans voted against the entire bill because of that one section, Bohner included. Way to support the troops guys.

re: #218 Sharmuta

Way ahead of you, Sharm.

If 'Hate Crimes' are a federal case, then so should making false claims along those lines.

re: #223 bosforus

I prefer love crimes.

so does the Gangster of Love

re: #216 Fenway_Nation

So...0bama being courteous to Ghadaffi or tHugo Chavez should overshoadow his being dismissive and snide to Gordon Brown or John Howard?

/Jayzus J-damn Christ, we have the prime ministers of Canada and France using more forceful and unambiguous language against despotic and terrorist-sponsoring regimes than this administration.

John Howard? The guy-who-is-not-in-office John Howard? And it's a lot easier for Canada to talk big, they're not exactly a superpower. Forceful language is great when it's useful, but if it's actually counterproductive to our goals, what good is it?

Here we go

“I cannot vote for the Defense Authorization bill with this hate crimes legislation attached to it, this is radical, social policy. It’s offensive to me and a lot of my members, that’s why I will vote no and will urge my colleagues to vote no,” Boehner said at his weekly press conference.

re: #224 Conservative Moonbat

Several house republicans voted against the entire bill because of that one section, Bohner included. Way to support the troops guys.

why was it imbeded?...why not a stand alone vote?...to weak?...I hate that shit...what's hate crime got to do with funding troops, or vice versa?

re: #227 WindUpBird

Downding for that, asshole.

Canada's military has suffered more per-capita casualties in Afghanistan than the US or UK. Whatever their feelings are on the matter, they've more than earned their right to speak out.

Don't you ever fucking forget that.

re: #219 albusteve

what's that got to do with being on the wrong side of the Honduras issue or folding like a napkin to Putin?

So is Russia not involved in negotiations with Iran?

re: #231 webevintage

So is Russia not involved in negotiations with Iran?

that's not an answer, that's a question

re: #222 albusteve

so what exactly is a hate crime and how is it different from a crime?

One thing I've read several times (last in a comment by iceweasel) that makes a lot of sense to me is that a hate crime is both the actual crime and an act of terrorism, because it is designed (and actually works) to scare the population into following certain political or moral or religious believes the perpetrator has. Say, gay bashing is both an assault and an attempt to scare gays into hiding using violence, thus terrorism.

re: #233 suchislife

I'm not sure it is terrorism (though I guess it could be), but there is an element of making a social statement that goes along with the classic "hate" crimes.

re: #222 albusteve

A gay man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street: wrong place/wrong time.

A straight man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street; wrong place/wrong time.

You can't see which is the more heinous crime?

re: #219 albusteve

what's that got to do with being on the wrong side of the Honduras issue or folding like a napkin to Putin?

What would you have proposed Obama do differently when it came to Russia? Talk tough, order them to do something against their interests and have negotiations shut down? Should we invade Georgia? Should we have ourselves another Cold War? Pine for those old days of Reagan, when Rocky beat Ivan Drago...

You seem to want magical results from Obama immediately on everything. As if he were a genie, and that he can just wave his magic wand, wiggle his nose and thaw out Russian relations overnight. I suspect your confirmation bias against Oabam is overwhelming.

re: #222 albusteve

so what exactly is a hate crime and how is it different from a crime?

The perpetrator in a hate crime targets the victim because of their membership in a certain group. As the crime's motive itself is deemed damaging to the individual, the group they are a member of, and society as a whole, the penalty is more severe.

re: #230 Fenway_Nation

From today's news:

at 17:24 on October 28, 2009, EDT.
Jonathan Montpetit, THE CANADIAN PRESS
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A bloody week for coalition forces in Kandahar got worse Wednesday when a Canadian soldier was killed and two others injured by an improvised explosive device in the ever-hostile Panjwaii district.

Lt. Justin Garrett Boyes, 26, of 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Light Infantry based in Edmonton, Alta., was only 10 days into his second tour in Afghanistan when his foot patrol was struck by the blast 20 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city.

Boyes was leading a platoon tasked with mentoring Afghan National Police officers at the time of the explosion. The two other casualties were treated at the Role 3 Hospital at Kandahar Airfield and are listed in good condition.

re: #228 Conservative Moonbat

Here we go

It's hard to see this as "radical social policy" in any light. I don't care much for the legislation myself, because the crimes it covers are already crimes, and the pressure for every self-identifying group to carve out it's own "special" protections seems to me to lead inevitably toward a Federally-controlled criminal system, with state powers usurped.

But "radical social policy"? I don't think so. This is a mouthful of buzzwords intended to deflect and inflame, not to stake out a rational, thoughtful position. Is there something wrong with arguing that such legislation inevitably weakens Federalism and moves control of the legal system farther away from the citizens affected by it?

re: #233 suchislife

One thing I've read several times (last in a comment by iceweasel) that makes a lot of sense to me is that a hate crime is both the actual crime and an act of terrorism, because it is designed (and actually works) to scare the population into following certain political or moral or religious believes the perpetrator has. Say, gay bashing is both an assault and an attempt to scare gays into hiding using violence, thus terrorism.

so who decides that?...how does one determine the difference between a stick-up and terrorism?

re: #233 suchislife

Also, I read that one important goal of hate crime legislation is that to distinguish these crimes and record them explicitly sheds some light on how prevalant they are, where and how they occur.

re: #235 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

A gay man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street: wrong place/wrong time.

A straight man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street; wrong place/wrong time.

You can't see which is the more heinous crime?

Motive?

re: #235 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

A gay man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street: wrong place/wrong time.

A straight man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street; wrong place/wrong time.

You can't see which is the more heinous crime?

It's a matter of intent but I know arguing this is pointless.

re: #240 albusteve

Well, did you read the proposed hate crime legislation?

re: #232 albusteve

that's not an answer, that's a question

Sorry.
It sounded like you were inferring from your question that Russia has stepped back and gone back on whatever deal they made. I was just asking since I had not heard that, but thought this were still moving along.

re: #235 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

A gay man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street: wrong place/wrong time.

A straight man is beaten to death because he is walking down the street; wrong place/wrong time.

You can't see which is the more heinous crime?

It would only be a hate crime in this example if it could be proved that anti-gay bias motivated the killing.

re: #179 Barrett Brown

Well, my main point is that Krauthammer is in no position to call into question anyone else's grasp of foreign policy. Having recently read through a decade of the fellow's columns, I've discovered him to have been even more hilariously wrong in his predictions than even Thomas Friedman

True dat. And being more wrong than Friedman is quite the feat.

(I guess it's not really Friedman's fault though. He's just getting his insights from the wrong cabdrivers...)

re: #227 WindUpBird

Oh...and 0bama had alot to say about John Howard and Australia's troops when Howard was still PM.

re: #230 Fenway_Nation

Downding for that, asshole.

Canada's military has suffered more per-capita casualties in Afghanistan than the US or UK. Whatever their feelings are on the matter, they've more than earned their right to speak out.

Don't you ever fucking forget that.

You have 100% avoided my point, puffing up your chest like a ruffled rooster because you know I'm correct. They're not a superpower. They. Are. Not. Our country is most of their economy. They are DEPENDENT on us. A dependent. Like a child. No matter how many troops they lose, that doesn't magically make them a superpower.

So don't you ever forget that. A prost to masculine bluster!

re: #249 WindUpBird

I don't think any dependent is 'like a child'.

re: #246 simoom

It would only be a hate crime in this example if it could be proved that anti-gay bias motivated the killing.

So, anti-gay made it more heinous.

thanks!

re: #251 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

What do you think about the idea that attempted behavioral change through terror is an additional crime?

re: #251 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

So, anti-gay made it more heinous.

thanks!

Yeah, but your example was all things being equal, in which, a hate crime did not occur in either of your two scenarios.