Rand Paul’s Personal Federal Budget Cuts Half a Trillion Dollars

A recipe for eternal war
Wingnuts • Views: 36,520

It didn’t get much notice, but Tea Party “libertarian” Rand Paul (R-AquaBuddha) released his personal federal budget yesterday; I have to give him some credit for being specific about what he would cut, unlike most Republicans, but this budget is a real hoot.

Congressman Paul proposes to cut spending by more than half a trillion dollars. Right away, not over the course of a decade.

“How in the world is that possible?” you ask. Simple! By radically changing American society, of course.

Paul’s budget cuts:

  • Legislative Branch - 23%
  • Judicial Branch - 32%
  • Agriculture - 30%
  • Commerce - 54%
  • Military - 6.5%
  • Education - 83%
  • Energy - 100%
  • Health and Human Services - 26% (includes huge cuts in the FDA and NIH)
  • Homeland Security - 43%
  • Housing and Urban Development -100%
  • Dept. of Interior -78%
  • Justice - 28%
  • Labor - 2%
  • State Department -71%
  • Transportation - 49%
  • Corps of Engineers -27%
  • EPA - 29%
  • General Services Administration -85%
  • International Aid - 100%
  • NASA - 25%
  • National Science Foundation - 62%
  • Office of Personnel Management - 12.3%
  • FCC - 22%

Within these broad categories and government branches, Paul wants to gut and completely eliminate numerous programs as well. For example, he wants to slash the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by 36%.

It’s very telling that vaunted libertarian Rand Paul can only find 6.5% of the military budget worth cutting, while totally eliminating foreign aid and nearly eliminating the State Department.

It’s almost as if he realized that when he gets rid of all peaceful and diplomatic engagement with foreign countries, we’re going to need a huge military force.

Jump to bottom

368 comments
1 Stanghazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:41:17am

Idiotic. Grandstanding. Waste of paper.

He’s supposed to be working for the people, not wasting their time.

2 wrenchwench  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:43:10am

Does he speak for the Tea Party?

3 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:43:24am
Within these broad categories and government branches, Paul wants to gut and completely eliminate numerous programs as well. For example, he wants to cut the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by 36%.

This is amazingly telling as to who owns Rand Paul. NOAA is one of the largest sources of climate data and research in the world.

It is also amazingly telling about how much he doesn’t know about how the nation works. He wants to get rid of DOE, likely because it funds so much science he does not want to hear, but fails to realize that all of those military research projects he likes are done by DOE labs like Los Alamos, Lawrence Berkeley, and APL.

It is also telling how he wants to completely remove all urban planning and social projects. Without HUD - which does need a serious overhaul and a lot MORE funding if it is to function properly, we will have millions on the street. I wonder what that will do for crime rates if the already disenfranchised truly have nothing by the millions…

The man is a lunatic and a monster.

4 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:43:50am

I’d like to note that the NSF and all the other science research he’s cutting all produce more than their investment dollars in value for private industry and research. Cutting them would hurt the economy, and private industry does not, and will not, do basic science research.

So as well as being just dumb, that part is contradictory to his stated goals; it’ll result in lower GDP and thus, lower tax revenue, increasing budget problems.

Of course, this is true of any number of the things that he’s suggesting cutting. This would be an economic disaster.

5 BishopX  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:45:33am

Anyone know why he wants to cut the dept of labor by 2%? I would think things like the national labor relations board and OSHA would be the first to get the axe.

6 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:45:44am

And of course, cutting education by 83% means shifting even more of the burden to local governments, thus insuring that the poor get an even more raw deal out of our education system since local schools are funded by property taxes.

Of course, hell, in his party, you can become president, or a vp nominee, or a congressperson without knowing the first things about science, mathematics, economics, history or basic grade school topics.

7 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:46:30am

re: #5 BishopX

Anyone know why he wants to cut the dept of labor by 2%? I would think things like the national labor relations board and OSHA would be the first to get the axe.

Yeah, I’m looking for a typo there.

8 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:48:01am

His plan and Ryan’s plan are really not so far apart, either. The GOP really has mainstreamed this sort of economic lunacy.

9 MarkAM  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:48:11am

Some of this seems quite arbitrary, but some of it is war on the poor and on the environment.

One item that leapt out: cutting the Indian Health Service by 46% because there’s fraud and waste and equipment is lost or stolen. Talk about taking it out on the victims.

Reprehensible.

10 mojo9  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:48:42am

re: #5 BishopX

yeah, that dang OSHA just goes into the plants and stirs up shit anyway///

11 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:49:46am

I hope his budget, to the letter, is made the law of the land. If we’re going over the cliff anyway, we might as well get a good running start so we can do some fancy-ass acrobatics on the way down.

12 mojo9  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:50:02am

actually, just cut it all and put everything into the military. America, Fuck Yeah!!!

13 Stanghazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:51:17am

How many unemployed people with these idiotic cuts create?

14 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:51:20am

Army corps of Engineers?

Yeah, that’ll work out great. Who needs dams anyway?

15 ElCapitanAmerica  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:51:41am

@Charles

“It’s almost as if he realized that when he gets rid of all peaceful and diplomatic engagement with foreign countries, we’re going to need a huge military force.”

Hahaha. Classic comment Charles, well done.

16 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:52:33am

re: #10 mojo9

As Rand told us during the election, sometimes accidents just happen, and its wrong to investigate them and try to blame the innocent employer.

17 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:52:41am

re: #12 mojo9

actually, just cut it all and put everything into the military. America, Fuck Yeah!!!

Or the other way around - just make everything the government does a part of the military, with a guy* in a smart uniform with shiny brass buttons in command.

* a white guy, of course.

18 BishopX  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:53:04am

re: #7 Decatur Deb

The typo is in the .pdf as well, but talks about eliminating most of the DoL as well:

The proposal exempts the Employment and Training Administration (including UI benefits), Mine Safety and Health,
Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, this
proposal eliminates all other Department of Labor programs.

My guess is that UI benefits are large enough that the rest of the DoL is about 2%?

Also Paul apparently favors moving the coast guard and nuclear functions of the DOE into the DoD.

19 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:53:35am

So to summarize Rand Paul’s vision of America.

America invests nothing in building industry through innovation in a technological world.

America collapses through unchecked AGW.

On the way to that collapse, the poor get much much poorer and have no place to live… or food subsidies… or education that might get them out of that position.

Crime sky rockets…

But hey, at least you don’t need to serve “those people” in your place of business…

Science is gutted, but we have a huge military that doesn’t have new toys because science is gutted, thus insuring that the technical gap shrinks and we loose our edge.

Millions of stable useful gov’t jobs evaporate adding to competition for jobs in a recovering but strained economy.

The middle class totally collapse under the strain.

Briefly large corporations with no loyalty to America get rich before taking their assets overseas.

Ignorant racist hicks get to scoff at those less fortunate until the consequences of this lunacy hit them - but then they will blame the Jews no doubt.

America becomes a total has been empire choking on the ashes of its decay.

Did I mention that this man is a monster and a lunatic?

OH and he is a senator too.
FUCK.

20 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:53:50am
Education -83%
National Science Foundation - 62%
NASA - 25%

Sure, that’ll end well. So who’s taking bets on when we start seeing an exodus of Americans moving to China and India for better jobs/education?

21 Charles Johnson  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:53:54am

Eliminate education and social programs, eliminate all foreign outreach, and keep military funding at its current level.

Sounds like a recipe for eternal war.

22 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:53:56am

I’m surprised he didn’t eliminate the IRS.

23 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:54:10am

National Science elimination? I never was a big fan of medical progress anyway. It might keep my parents alive longer.

24 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:55:04am

re: #4 Obdicut

This would be an economic disaster.

I’m pretty sure everyone knows this budget proposal is just insanity.

25 mojo9  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:55:31am

re: #22 darthstar

exactly! what happened there?

26 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:55:31am

re: #22 darthstar

I’m surprised he didn’t eliminate the IRS.

Good point.

27 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:56:09am

Ah, what the hell. Why not just cut every department by 100%, except for salaries, staff allocations, and healthcare for Republican politicians?

28 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:56:27am

I think Harry Reid should give Rand Paul’s budget an up or down vote. I want to see what Senators support this idiocy.

29 researchok  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:56:31am

re: #21 Charles

Cut education and social programs, eliminate all foreign outreach, and keep military funding at its current level.

Sounds like a recipe for eternal war.

Holy war.

30 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:56:39am

re: #24 Killgore Trout

But it keeps people talking about him. He needs to maintain a high profile for his 2016 presidential campaign.

31 webevintage  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:56:57am

re: #13 Stanley Sea

How many unemployed people with these idiotic cuts create?

He does not care.
They will have to just pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and start a business of their own or something like that.

32 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:57:08am

We don’t really need a state department to help us when we go abroad. Who needs to see more of the world than here and Canada, anyway?

33 mojo9  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:57:09am

23% for legislative is a good start though!

34 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:57:33am

re: #21 Charles

Eliminate education and social programs, eliminate all foreign outreach, and keep military funding at its current level.

Sounds like a recipe for eternal war.

Well it solves the housing problem for the poor now doesn’t it? Particularly if they don’t have the best weapons.

It is such a perfect disaster, and he already hates non-whites so much, you have to wonder if it is his vision to simply send them to die in a war with someone.

35 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:57:54am

Do you suppose he knows what the Army Corps of Engineers does, anyway?

36 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:58:06am

re: #22 darthstar

I’m surprised he didn’t eliminate the IRS.

You’re missing the bigger picture. If you combine Ryan’s idiocy of only taxing labor with this garbage from Rand Paul, you still need the IRS. Somebody’s got to extract payment from the poor and middle class while the rich sit on their ass.

37 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:58:20am

re: #32 EmmmieG

Who needs to see Commieada, for that matter?//

38 mojo9  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:58:32am

re: #30 aagcobb

ah,hahahaha. no, Hell no.

39 Amory Blaine  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:58:39am

What a fucking moron. On some level I wish America would get exactly what these teabaggers want.

40 wrenchwench  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:58:42am

Here’s one small part of the Department of Energy, which Paul thinks we need none of:
National Nuclear Security Administration

Defense
Nuclear Nonproliferation
Naval Reactors
Emergency Operations
Infrastructure and Environment
Nuclear Security
41 jaunte  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:09am

re: #30 aagcobb

But it keeps people talking about him. He needs to maintain a high profile for his 2016 presidential campaign.

He’s putting himself in Bachmann territory in a very public way.

42 bubba zanetti  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:10am

re: #35 EmmmieG

Do you suppose he knows what the Army Corps of Engineers does, anyway?

They prevent real estate developers from filling in creeks that are in the way.

43 wrenchwench  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:17am

re: #22 darthstar

I’m surprised he didn’t eliminate the IRS.

They now supply the funds for his salary.

44 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:19am

Judicial branch %32.

In India court cases can take generations, sometimes being resolved after all the originators are dead.

Yeah, sounds good to me. Justice delayed is justice I don’t have to pay for, right?

45 researchok  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:27am

re: #35 EmmmieG

Do you suppose he knows what the Army Corps of Engineers does, anyway?

Dr Paul is proof that even a good education can’t cure stupidity.

46 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:28am

re: #5 BishopX

Anyone know why he wants to cut the dept of labor by 2%? I would think things like the national labor relations board and OSHA would be the first to get the axe.

Must be a mistake. I assume that the dept. of labor is responsible for enforcing regulations like child labor laws? Any Rand supporter I’ve come across thinks that any children who “choose” to work 15 hour days in squalid conditions for slave wages should be allowed to do so.

47 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:43am

Heck, he proposes to leave most of the EPA intact. Did I not read recently that Newt Gingrich wants to abolish it altogether?

48 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:59:59am

He’s only cutting the military budget by 6% because all of the people his budget would kick out on the street have to find work somewhere…military recruitment free-for-all!

49 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:00:28pm

re: #24 Killgore Trout

I’m pretty sure everyone knows this budget proposal is just insanity.

The problem seems to be that most people, in the media at any rate, seem to be treating Paul Ryan’s proposal as though it’s substantially less insane. But at least Paul has actually detailed how he will drive the US off a cliff. Ryan has simply stated that he will definitely be driving the US off a cliff, but hasn’t even had the decency to point out substantially how he’ll be doing it— except for cutting the fuck out of Medicare and Medicaid, tax breaks for the rich, and raising taxes on the middle class.

Yet Ryan’s ‘plan’ gets called “audacious” and ‘daring’ rather than “A fraud” and “horrifying”.

50 Sionainn  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:00:44pm

re: #11 negativ

I hope his budget, to the letter, is made the law of the land. If we’re going over the cliff anyway, we might as well get a good running start so we can do some fancy-ass acrobatics on the way down.

Upding for the visual.

51 Amory Blaine  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:00:53pm

He put 6% military cut in there so he can say “look I cut the defense budget”.

52 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:01:04pm

No more international aid, especially not to Israel, but not to anybody just to make double damn sure Israel doesn’t sneak in there.

Fuck those Australians and their floods. There were Jews living in Brisbane anyway.

53 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:01:34pm

re: #40 wrenchwench

Here’s one small part of the Department of Energy, which Paul thinks we need none of:
National Nuclear Security Administration

Yeah that is what they do at places like Los Alamos… and many of the other national labs - as well as develop all sorts of stuff that drives our industry.

Ohhh that’s right, the first computers built themselves… The submarines and aircraft design themselves, and new batteries, forms of energy and ways out of the current energy and climate crisis magically appear through libertarian pixie dust.

Fucking morons.

G-d Damn FUCKING morons.

54 Sionainn  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:01:38pm

re: #13 Stanley Sea

How many unemployed people with these idiotic cuts create?

Oh, don’t worry about that. There are plenty of jobs in the private sector.
///

55 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:01:42pm

re: #13 Stanley Sea

How many unemployed people with these idiotic cuts create?

That’s fine. They’ll find real jobs in the private sector, because with lower taxes, employment will ZOOM!!

//I think that’s the concept.

56 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:02:04pm

re: #41 jaunte

You say that like its a bad thing. Remember, crazy to us is a red blooded, patriotic real American to the Tea Party

57 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:02:08pm

This is something I used to say during the Bush years, but I think it bears repeating and I definitely think someone needs to explain this to Rand Paul: America needs the rest of the planet a lot more than the rest of the planet needs America.re: #44 EmmmieG

Judicial branch %32.

Well, I do think the SCOTUS would be good without Thomas, Alito, and Scalia…

58 Amory Blaine  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:02:54pm

re: #55 SanFranciscoZionist

That’s fine. They’ll find real jobs in the private sector, because with lower taxes, employment will ZOOM!!

//I think that’s the concept.

Those must be those “permanent jobs” the GOP keeps rattling on about…

59 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:03:10pm

re: #35 EmmmieG

Do you suppose he knows what the Army Corps of Engineers does, anyway?

Or that it has two entirely separate funding streams?

60 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:03:18pm

PEOPLE PLEASE

You guys are attacking this plan to turn the US into a militant group of ignorant isolationist xenophobes ruled by a new class of robber barons without even giving it a chance!

61 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:03:39pm

re: #32 EmmmieG

We don’t really need a state department to help us when we go abroad. Who needs to see more of the world than here and Canada, anyway?

We had someone here once, in the midst of a discussion about immigrants learning English, say that he would NEVER go to a country where he didn’t speak the language fluently.

62 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:03:41pm

re: #53 LudwigVanQuixote

Yeah that is what they do at places like Los Alamos… and many of the other national labs - as well as develop all sorts of stuff that drives our industry.

Ohhh that’s right, the first computers built themselves… The submarines and aircraft design themselves, and new batteries, forms of energy and ways out of the current energy and climate crisis magically appear through libertarian pixie dust.

Fucking morons.

G-d Damn FUCKING morons.

I think you’ll find that all those things were created through the genius of the private sector.

Nothing to do with state universities performing primary research.

Nope.

63 Amory Blaine  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:04:01pm

re: #60 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Since you put it that way….I’m on board!!!

64 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:04:02pm

re: #35 EmmmieG

Do you suppose he knows what the Army Corps of Engineers does, anyway?

They waste money!

Eat it, I think.

65 wrenchwench  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:04:04pm

re: #53 LudwigVanQuixote

Yeah that is what they do at places like Los Alamos… and many of the other national labs - as well as develop all sorts of stuff that drives our industry.

Between closing Sandia and Los Alamos, he might as well give New Mexico back to Old Mexico, because we’ll be broke and cost too much for the Feds to support.

66 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:04:11pm

Well, he is keeping the FCC mostly in tact, so we won’t have to worry about people saying “fuck” on TV or having a wardrobe malfunction…

67 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:04:17pm

re: #52 Alouette

No more international aid, especially not to Israel, but not to anybody just to make double damn sure Israel doesn’t sneak in there.

Fuck those Australians and their floods. There were Jews living in Brisbane anyway.

Well he does have snappy zombie cult followers who chant Rand Paul in an unnervingly slow manner.

Fucking zombie sheep. How ironic they were a GOP icon.

68 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:04:43pm

re: #24 Killgore Trout

I’m pretty sure everyone knows this budget proposal is just insanity.

I have seen many, many, rightwingers - many of whom call themselves “moderates” - who think this type of budget is EXACTLY what we need.

69 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:04:44pm

re: #60 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

PEOPLE PLEASE

You guys are attacking this plan to turn the US into a militant group of ignorant isolationist xenophobes ruled by a new class of robber barons without even giving it a chance!

Can I be a robber baron?

70 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:05:35pm

re: #48 gehazi

Service guarantees citizenship. Would you like to know more? /

71 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:05:50pm

re: #69 darthstar

Can I be a robber baron?

Get to the back of the line. I was here first.

72 Summer Seale  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:05:55pm

Did anyone notice if he’s cutting his own salary by 80-100% and all his benefits as well? I didn’t, but I am asking…

73 brennant  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:06:24pm

Perhaps these guys got together to make the budget:

Youtube Video
74 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:06:31pm

re: #61 SanFranciscoZionist

We had someone here once, in the midst of a discussion about immigrants learning English, say that he would NEVER go to a country where he didn’t speak the language fluently.

That was the problem with Iraq - the Bush administration listened too much to all those so-called experts in the State Department, that told them that invading Iraq would take longer than “weeks, not months.”

Oh. Wait…..

75 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:06:39pm

I really am surprised that the EPA is only cut by 29%. That’s odd.

76 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:06:39pm

re: #44 EmmmieG

Judicial branch %32.

In India court cases can take generations, sometimes being resolved after all the originators are dead.

Yeah, sounds good to me. Justice delayed is justice I don’t have to pay for, right?

This is exaclty is why Avos calls “what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is yours,” the way of Sodom.

When I call them the Gomorrah Old Party, there is no hyperbole. They fit the definition to the mishna.

77 mojo9  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:06:41pm

re: #66 darthstar

yeah, cause that just makes me cringe everytime that happens.

78 wrenchwench  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:06:43pm

Here’s one reason to defund the Dept. of Energy: it’s the home of one of the many dreaded Crescent Logos:

Image: NCT_Logo_202x131.JPG

79 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:07:33pm

re: #70 lawhawk

Service guarantees citizenship. Would you like to know more? /

OK that was brilliant. Only here, there is no government service and whiteness guarantees citizenship.

80 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:07:53pm

re: #69 darthstar

Can I be a robber baron?

Got a few million to fund a fan club/political party with?

81 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:08:14pm

re: #75 EmmmieG

I really am surprised that the EPA is only cut by 29%. That’s odd.

Newt wants it cut 100%

82 wrenchwench  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:08:28pm

re: #72 Summer

Did anyone notice if he’s cutting his own salary by 80-100% and all his benefits as well? I didn’t, but I am asking…

I think he’s figuring it will happen because he’s asked permission to keep his eye surgery business going.

83 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:08:36pm

Why Commerce 54% and Labor 2%?

84 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:08:43pm

re: #65 wrenchwench

Between closing Sandia and Los Alamos, he might as well give New Mexico back to Old Mexico, because we’ll be broke and cost too much for the Feds to support.

NO you can join the army, be given less than optimal equipment and sent to fight for the oil profits of folks like him. If you survive they will make you a junior member of the franchise.

85 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:09:11pm

re: #81 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Newt wants it cut 100%

They’ll settle on -80%. The GOP believes in compromise.

86 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:09:18pm

I notice he didn’t touch Sarah Palin’s coveted “Department of Law” either.

Seriously, though…that stupid cocksucker actually published this? Mitch McConnell’s jowels are probably going to want to have a word with him. Dude’s fucking crazy.

87 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:09:18pm

re: #69 darthstar

Can I be a robber baron?

Sorry, those positions have been filled. Can I interest you in a part-time position as an isolationist xenophobe?

88 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:09:26pm

I’m also surprised that the Department of Education is allowed continued existence.

(Although, for all the good it seems to be doing, I would vote we eliminate it and replace it with Jamie and Adam.)

89 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:09:29pm

I don’t understand the appeal of living in a third world nation for these folks.

90 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:09:40pm

re: #75 EmmmieG

I really am surprised that the EPA is only cut by 29%. That’s odd.

The numbers are semi arbitrary. He doesn’t want to appear too radical. His real war is on the poor and the educated.

91 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:09:56pm

re: #80 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Got a few million to fund a fan club/political party with?

Just give it to me out of the 6.5% of the military budget…there have to be a few off-setting costs.

92 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:10:15pm

re: #89 calochortus

I don’t understand the appeal of living in a third world nation for these folks.

FREE MARKETS SOLVE EVERYTHING!!!11!1!1

93 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:10:34pm

re: #87 Slumbering Behemoth

Sorry, those positions have been filled. Can I interest you in a part-time position as an isolationist xenophobe?

I’d rather be an abused serf.

94 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:10:36pm

re: #90 LudwigVanQuixote

Not to mention that its pretty easy to throw out numbers when you know no one will actually come close to implementing this budget.

95 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:11:13pm

re: #84 LudwigVanQuixote

NO you can join the army, be given less than optimal equipment and sent to fight for the oil profits of folks like him. If you survive they will make you a junior member of the franchise.

The first man grabs a rifle, the second man grabs the rifle when the first man dies. Now die for the glory of the company store!

96 TedStriker  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:11:13pm

re: #14 EmmmieG

Army corps of Engineers?

Yeah, that’ll work out great. Who needs dams anyway?

Rand Paul hates black people…

///dripping

97 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:11:22pm

re: #89 calochortus

If you can afford to live in a walled-off, heavily guarded community, you won’t even notice the squalor everyone else has to live in.

98 webevintage  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:11:22pm

re: #83 EmmmieG

Why Commerce 54% and Labor 2%?

Because he just pulled those numbers out of his ass I bet….

99 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:11:39pm

re: #75 EmmmieG

I really am surprised that the EPA is only cut by 29%. That’s odd.

Very odd. Like the Department of Labor, you’d think that would be at the head of the line to the chopping block.


It’s almost like his choices are random - without any consideration for ramifications OR even consistency with his stated beliefs. Well, random except that the Defense Department should mostly be spared, because the worst of all possible outcomes is that the Republicans would lose their “the Dems want us to lose to the terrorists” battering ram.

100 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:11:57pm

re: #88 EmmmieG

I’m also surprised that the Department of Education is allowed continued existence.

(Although, for all the good it seems to be doing, I would vote we eliminate it and replace it with Jamie and Adam.)

Someone has to foot the bill for printing the homeschooling textbooks.

101 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:11:58pm

re: #68 Talking Point Detective

I have seen many, many, rightwingers - many of whom call themselves “moderates” - who think this type of budget is EXACTLY what we need.

YEah, Hot Air readers were all really excited about Rand’s budget too. They believe this stuff on some level but not really. When it comes right down to it they know that abolishing the EPA and FDA would be a really bad idea. They would never want to live in a country without clean drinking water and safe food and medicine. If Rand Paul were to become president I don’t think he’d have the guts to sign his own budget. He can toss this around now because it gets the wingnuts all excited and there’s no danger of his budget becoming reality.

102 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:12:13pm

The specifics of the Labor (non)cuts, by the way:


In recent years, the Department of Labor has expanded substantially, with a large of amount of the increased funding coming from the expansion of unemployment benefits of up to 99 weeks. While this proposal exempts unemployment benefits from receiving funding cuts, the program will need to be reformed in the future, including a re-evaluation of the emergency unemployment benefits, as well as the extended unemployment benefits that provide up to 99 weeks – or nearly 2 years of unemployment benefits. Many economists have warned that prolonged unemployment benefits can increase unemployment duration by delaying individuals’ incentive to search for work.

The proposal exempts the Employment and Training Administration (including UI benefits), Mine Safety and Health, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, this proposal eliminates all other Department of Labor programs

Of course, I’m not really sure what the “other DoL programs” are and he doesn’t bother specifying why they should be cut.

103 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:13:51pm

If this garbage ever became law, we’d become Haiti or Somalia in a matter of weeks.

BRB, thanking whatever exists out there that this has no chance in hell of ever becoming reality.

104 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:13:54pm

Speaking of Evil Government Regulations…

My daughter just read The Jungle.

Do you supposed I should serve sausage tonight?

105 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:13:57pm

re: #92 Lidane

FREE MARKETS SOLVE EVERYTHING!!!11!1!1

Umm, sure. Silly of me to forget that.

Maybe free marketeers should offer to trade places with someone from a third world country and see how much they actually enjoy it.

106 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:14:19pm

re: #101 Killgore Trout

The free market will ensure our food and medicine is safe, because who wants to kill off their own customers? Other than the tobacco industry, of course.///

107 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:14:19pm

re: #93 darthstar

I’d rather be an abused serf.

Again, sorry. We’re all out of potato sacks and riding crops.

We do have an opening for Doomsday Sandwich Board Stenciler, but it requires three years experience. Interested?

108 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:14:24pm

re: #102 gehazi

The specifics of the Labor (non)cuts, by the way:

Of course, I’m not really sure what the “other DoL programs” are and he doesn’t bother specifying why they should be cut.

FLRB and everything else protecting the right to collective bargaining.

109 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:15:24pm

re: #104 EmmmieG

Speaking of Evil Government Regulations…

My daughter just read The Jungle.

Do you supposed I should serve sausage tonight?

Of course you should.

110 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:15:32pm

re: #104 EmmmieG

Speaking of Evil Government Regulations…

My daughter just read The Jungle.

Do you supposed I should serve sausage tonight?

Soon you could well be serving as sausage

111 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:16:04pm

re: #108 Decatur Deb

Should have guessed.

112 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:16:19pm

re: #102 gehazi

The specifics of the Labor (non)cuts, by the way:


Of course, I’m not really sure what the “other DoL programs” are and he doesn’t bother specifying why they should be cut.

Bankruptcy programs, COBRA, other forms of unemployment servies, etc.

Here is a rundown.

[Link: www.dol.gov…]

113 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:16:19pm

re: #103 Lidane

If this garbage ever became law, we’d become Haiti or Somalia in a matter of weeks.

BRB, thanking whatever exists out there that this has no chance in hell of ever becoming reality.

It has a much better chance than it did in October.

114 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:16:56pm

re: #107 Slumbering Behemoth

Again, sorry. We’re all out of potato sacks and riding crops.

We do have an opening for Doomsday Sandwich Board Stenciler, but it requires three years experience. Interested?

Nope…I’ll just be a roaming vagabond then…Kind of like a Mad Max without the guns, and not mad, and not named Max.

115 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:17:25pm

re: #105 calochortus

They wouldn’t mind a bit as long as they got to live in a fortress with armed guards keeping the riff-raff at arms length. There are people on the Right who actually think we need some third world level poverty to give people an incentive to work.

116 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:17:39pm

re: #113 Decatur Deb

It has a much better chance than it did in October.

Which is what happens when you go full retard, as the GOP have done.

117 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:18:17pm

Hey, slashing the DoL budget means no one to enforce Child Labor Laws, so no wonder we wont need much of a DoE, the kids will all be at their day jobs anyways.

118 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:18:42pm

re: #114 darthstar

Oh, I get it. You’re angling for my job, are you? You’ll get my Interceptor when you pry it from my cold, dead hands, you job stealing bastard!

119 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:18:54pm

re: #114 darthstar

Nope…I’ll just be a roaming vagabond then…Kind of like a Mad Max without the guns, and not mad, and not named Max.

The life of a riever really sucks—could I interest you in a nice crusade?

120 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:19:49pm

re: #114 darthstar

Nope…I’ll just be a roaming vagabond then…Kind of like a Mad Max without the guns, and not mad, and not named Max.

Sane Darthstar?

121 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:19:50pm

re: #119 Decatur Deb

The life of a riever really sucks—could I interest you in a nice crusade?

Crusade? Gee, that sounds like it requires more commitment than I’m willing to make right now…can I think about it?

122 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:20:04pm

It really is interesting that this budget proposal shows that Republicans are very focused on splitting off the Defense Department from national defense and security.

My guess is that part of it is that the State Department doesn’t quite have the automatic ginormous link to private sector enterprises like the Defense Department does with weapons manufacturers - but I wonder if there isn’t some deeper ideological reason as well.

Perhaps any distrust of experts who actually study other countries and cultures with the basically lubrul mistaken impression that knowing more about other people enhances your chances of success when interacting with them?

123 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:20:33pm

re: #121 darthstar

Crusade? Gee, that sounds like it requires more commitment than I’m willing to make right now…can I think about it?

You can cross that Bosphorus when you come to it.

124 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:20:42pm

From the section on “Other Independent Agencies”

. Further, PBS has produced many hit television shows that will be able to produce revenue for continued broadcasting; as it is, public dollars are subsidizing the creation and growth of lucrative brands that generate millions of dollars of merchandising revenues.

The American taxpayer deserves better.

The American taxpayer deserves better than their public dollars invested in creating lucrative brands that ultimately generate more money than was invested in the first place?

How can such a sentiment conceivably be attested to as deficit cutting?

125 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:21:18pm

Once Upon A Time, in a kingdom without an FDA, there was a drug called Thalidomide. Doctors prescribed it to pregnant women who were feeling tense (a condition often brought on by being pregnant) or having nausea (also brought on by pregnancy). Babies were born with birth defects.

In the United States of Camelot, where a Knight (ess) named Frances Oldham Kelsey working at the FDA had blocked the drug, it had been distributed only in clinical trials. She was given a medal by the King, JFK.

Just saying.

126 webevintage  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:21:30pm

Listened to this on NPR earlier today regarding the Affordable Health Care Act and small businesses:

In his State of the Union address last night, President Barack Obama singled out Jim Houser, a small business owner from Oregon, who is taking advantage of a tax credit in the new healthcare reform law. It provides businesses with fewer than 25 employees a break for insuring their employees.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Missouri saw small business sales surge by nearly 60 percent, with nearly 40 percent of those companies previously uninsured. Several other major insurance companies have also seen their small business sales increase. Ron Rowe of Blue Cross Blue Shield tells us how they built a marketing campaign around the tax credit.

[Link: hereandnow.wbur.org…]

No transcripts, but you can listen to the story at the website.

127 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:21:32pm

re: #117 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Hey, slashing the DoL budget means no one to enforce Child Labor Laws, so no wonder we wont need much of a DoE, the kids will all be at their day jobs anyways.

He probably wants to repeal those laws anyway…it infringes on freedom! Freedom!

128 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:21:36pm

re: #120 iossarian

Sane Darthstar?

Delighted Darth - roaming the badlands and wishing people a good day, and could you spare a glass of water and maybe a piece of bread?

129 JeffM70  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:23:21pm

Once upon a time when I was younger and naive I, too, thought slashing government was easy. Who needs HUD or a Department of Education? I mean, who better to handle those issues better than each state, who know their own problems? Then as I got older I realized the financial burden would fall on the states to fix these problems, meaning they would have to raise taxes. But these days states have a hard enough time balancing their budgets without the added onus of picking up the federal government’s slack. Some of the smaller and/or poorer states, like Maine where I live, probably could never replace lost federal funds even in the best of economic times, let alone in our current economic mess.

I outgrew that naive fantasy. Rand Paul still takes it seriously. Sad.

130 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:23:27pm

re: #125 EmmmieG

Commie. You would sacrifice FREEDOM over a few babies?

131 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:24:10pm

re: #128 darthstar

Delighted Darth - roaming the badlands and wishing people a good day, and could you spare a glass of water and maybe a piece of bread?

I think I’ll be “Cowardly Iossarian”: sneaking around the shanty towns and stealing steaming apple pies from people’s windowsills.

But I’ll be in league with “Tough Guy LVQ” and so no-one will be able to stop me, though they will feel pity mingled with disgust whenever they see me slink away into the sewers.

132 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:24:56pm

re: #130 aagcobb

Freedom freedom freedom oy! Freedom freedom freedom oy!

133 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:24:59pm

re: #128 darthstar

Delighted Darth - roaming the badlands and wishing people a good day, and could you spare a glass of water and maybe a piece of bread?

Let me know how that works out, but I got a spare hockey mask and loincloth when you need it.

134 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:25:14pm

re: #129 JeffM70

I outgrew that naive fantasy. Rand Paul still takes it seriously. Sad.

Sadder still, enough people still take it seriously enough to elect a Rand Paul.

Want a drink, now?

135 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:25:19pm

re: #101 Killgore Trout

YEah, Hot Air readers were all really excited about Rand’s budget too. They believe this stuff on some level but not really. When it comes right down to it they know that abolishing the EPA and FDA would be a really bad idea. They would never want to live in a country without clean drinking water and safe food and medicine. If Rand Paul were to become president I don’t think he’d have the guts to sign his own budget. He can toss this around now because it gets the wingnuts all excited and there’s no danger of his budget becoming reality.

I don’t visit Hot Air much - but the libertarians I encounter are true believers. They actually believe that we’d have a cleaner environment, for example, if the damn environmentalists would just get out of the way. Any form of government intervention creates “boondoggles” and “unintended consequences.” To some extent, there is a basic truth to that last part - boondoggles and unintended consequences do occur with government interventions - but they actually believe in the alternative “free market” road to libertarian Shangri-La.

And seriously, I have seen many self-identified “moderates” who just lap up this libertarian government-bashing like my dog laps up the pan drippings when I roast a chicken.

136 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:25:49pm

re: #133 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Let me know how that works out, but I got a spare hockey mask and loincloth when you need it.

Heh…you wear the same pajamas I do. How weird is that?

137 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:26:15pm

re: #131 iossarian

I think I’ll be “Cowardly Iossarian”: sneaking around the shanty towns and stealing steaming apple pies from people’s windowsills.

But I’ll be in league with “Tough Guy LVQ” and so no-one will be able to stop me, though they will feel pity mingled with disgust whenever they see me slink away into the sewers.

If you can buy or steal a misericord, just hang about the battlefields looting the wounded. Pickings should be good.

138 webevintage  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:26:16pm

re: #124 gehazi

Further, PBS has produced many hit television shows that will be able to produce revenue for continued broadcasting; as it is, public dollars are subsidizing the creation and growth of lucrative brands that generate millions of dollars of merchandising revenues.

Why do libertarians and Republicans hate Sesame Street?
Because that maybe the only PBS show that can generate revenue.

If Paul thinks he is gonna be able to take away one of the few ways Americans can actually enjoy BBC shows without horrible editing he will be surprised the uprising of Anglophiles all over this great nation. We are LEGION and we are obsessed. Don’t mess with our PBS.

139 Fenris  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:26:33pm

The real shocker for me was the 25% cut for NASA. Houston tea parties went into a complete uproar when NASA’s 2011 budget had cuts to the Constellation Program. We even had one LaRouche kook base a large part of her platform on “saving NASA” in my district. Paul the elder even coauthored a letter complaining about the cuts (conveniently ignoring that NASA would be getting an budget increase in $6 billion over the next five years.)

Make up your mind, Pauls. Do you want to “save NASA” or knock off a quarter?

140 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:26:40pm

re: #6 LudwigVanQuixote

And of course, cutting education by 83% means shifting even more of the burden to local governments, thus insuring that the poor get an even more raw deal out of our education system since local schools are funded by property taxes.

Of course, hell, in his party, you can become president, or a vp nominee, or a congressperson without knowing the first things about science, mathematics, economics, history or basic grade school topics.

My bet is that there’s a TP/social conservative meme that holds the DOE responsible for interfering with teaching creationism and the Bible in schools.

141 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:26:41pm

re: #136 darthstar

Heh…you wear the same pajamas I do. How weird is that?

I am gravely disappointed…

142 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:26:58pm

Mission accomplished!

143 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:27:22pm

Am I imagining thing or am I seeing new colors?

144 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:28:10pm

re: #137 Decatur Deb

If you can buy or steal a misericord, just hang about the battlefields looting the wounded. Pickings should be good.

I will also possess a grappling hook and some throwing stars.

D&D level 9 thief right here baby!

145 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:28:49pm

re: #143 Gus 802

Am I imagining thing or am I seeing new colors?

Do you mean colors never before seen by man?

146 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:29:09pm

No matter what Republicans say, the Giffords shooting was NOT political…except…

In the days leading up to his attempt to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), alleged shooter Jared Lee Loughner researched political assassins and punishments he could face for murder, an examination of his computer has found.

The Internet-browsing history on Loughner’s computer indicates that the 22-year-old visited websites that contained information on political assassins, solitary confinement and the process and effects of lethal injections, the Washington Post reported Wednesday, citing law enforcement sources close to the investigation.


147 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:29:14pm

re: #139 fenrisdesigns

Don’t tell me what the Tea Party stands for! We stand for everything and nothing! We stand for tax cuts and deficit reduction! We stand for war and isolationism! We stand for saving Grandma from death panels and Medicare cuts!

But in seriousness, I’m not sure anyone outside of local Houston Tea Parties really cares about NASA.

148 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:29:30pm

re: #145 Obdicut

Do you mean colors never before seen by man?

Nah. It’s probably the new monitor.

149 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:29:53pm

re: #144 iossarian

I will also possess a grappling hook and some throwing stars.

D&D level 9 thief right here baby!

Caltrops and oil pouches man. Caltrops and oil pouches.

150 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:30:48pm

re: #143 Gus 802

Am I imagining thing or am I seeing new colors?

Been messing around with the Resonator again, Dr. Tillinghast?

151 TedStriker  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:31:08pm

re: #131 iossarian

I think I’ll be “Cowardly Iossarian”: sneaking around the shanty towns and stealing steaming apple pies from people’s windowsills.

But I’ll be in league with “Tough Guy LVQ” and so no-one will be able to stop me, though they will feel pity mingled with disgust whenever they see me slink away into the sewers.

Yeah, but who runs Bartertown?

152 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:31:44pm

re: #150 Slumbering Behemoth

Been messing around with the Resonator again, Dr. Tillinghast?

Stimulating the pineal gland aint in the Bible!

153 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:31:45pm

re: #148 Gus 802

Yay for you. How much?

154 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:31:56pm

re: #149 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Caltrops and oil pouches man. Caltrops and oil pouches.

Hahaha. I was trying to remember the word for caltrops. Couldn’t think how to google for it: “pointy things for throwing under people’s feet when they are chasing you”.

Plenty more tricks in my burlap sack!

155 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:31:57pm

re: #151 talon_262

Yeah, but who runs Bartertown?

My SON runs Bartertown!!!

156 Sionainn  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:32:00pm

re: #146 darthstar

No matter what Republicans say, the Giffords shooting was NOT political…except…

There goes his insanity plea.

157 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:32:03pm

re: #151 talon_262

Yeah, but who runs Bartertown?

You know damn well who!

158 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:32:45pm

re: #153 Slumbering Behemoth

Yay for you. How much?

Got the DVI to work this time. That Samsung junk didn’t work right. I picked up an Acer G235H for 159 at Microcenter. 23 inch widescreen.

159 JeffM70  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:32:56pm

re: #139 fenrisdesigns

The real shocker for me was the 25% cut for NASA. Houston tea parties went into a complete uproar when NASA’s 2011 budget had cuts to the Constellation Program. We even had one LaRouche kook base a large part of her platform on “saving NASA” in my district. Paul the elder even coauthored a letter complaining about the cuts (conveniently ignoring that NASA would be getting an budget increase in $6 billion over the next five years.)

Make up your mind, Pauls. Do you want to “save NASA” or knock off a quarter?

That’s how it is with the Tea Party. They want reduced government spending, but not on things that are important to them.

160 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:33:11pm

So, another campaign season that we cannot sit through.

“And we had thought that our hard climb out of that cruel valley led to some cool, green, and peaceful, sunlit place but it’s all jungle here, a wild and savage wilderness that’s overrun with ruins.”

—Eldridge

161 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:33:29pm

re: #22 darthstar

I’m surprised he didn’t eliminate the IRS.

Need to beef it up to chase down all those middle and lower class scofflaws. Since they’re poor they’re obviously criminals as well…

//

162 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:33:40pm

re: #152 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Stimulating the pineal gland aint in the Bible!

Neither is avocado.

163 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:33:43pm

re: #154 iossarian

Hahaha. I was trying to remember the word for caltrops. Couldn’t think how to google for it: “pointy things for throwing under people’s feet when they are chasing you”.

Plenty more tricks in my burlap sack!

At my house, those are called “My Little Petshop” dolls.

164 Amory Blaine  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:33:58pm

Hmmmm. Somethings missing…Where are his SSI and Medicare numbers?

165 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:34:01pm

re: #162 darthstar

Neither is avocado.

The Devil’s Fruit!

166 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:34:16pm

re: #132 gehazi

Freedom freedom freedom oy! Freedom freedom freedom oy!

That would make a nice chain gang chant. Sing it!

167 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:34:18pm

re: #156 Sionainn

There goes his insanity plea.

Yeah, that’s gonna be hard to reconcile with the idea of a poor loon who barely knew what he was doing.

168 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:34:22pm

re: #152 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

PRYING OPEN MY THIRD EYE!

169 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:34:32pm

The most consideration that this budget proposal deserves is a beer & a shot.The cheapest whiskey available so that it burns all the way down.

170 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:35:34pm

Now I have to get used to this new monitor. It’s like getting new glasses. Plus it’s so much brighter.

171 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:35:38pm

re: #158 Gus 802

Ooh, fancy. Congrats.

172 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:36:01pm

re: #162 darthstar

Neither is avocado.

Avocado comes from an Aztec word for ‘testicle’ that was mispronounced by the Spanish.

The more you know!

173 Mark Winter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:36:14pm

Florida and NOLA will be thrilled. But who needs NOAA anyway when you can use the hurricane forecasts of Cuba for free?

174 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:36:25pm

re: #171 Slumbering Behemoth

Ooh, fancy. Congrats.

Thought it was kind of cheap, er, affordable. It’s pretty nice so far.

175 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:36:28pm

re: #170 Gus 802

Now I have to get used to this new monitor. It’s like getting new glasses. Plus it’s so much brighter.

turn down the brightness…and push the monitor back a foot or so.

176 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:37:02pm

re: #172 Obdicut

Avocado comes from an Aztec word for ‘testicle’ that was mispronounced by the Spanish.

The more you know!

Great…so I love eating testicles? Thanks.

177 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:37:08pm

re: #164 Amory Blaine

Hmmm. Somethings missing…Where are his SSI and Medicare numbers?

Under Health and Human Services, but he (sanely!) realizes he cannot simply cut Medicare willy-nilly.

The Department of Health and Human Services is the largest department in the federal government. The department includes programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other entitlement programs. HHS, and the programs within, remains one of the government’s largest challenges – and among the largest contributors to our fiscal crisis.

In fact, Medicare alone has a $38 trillion unfunded liability, and will continue to grow until it eventually consumes all government outlays. Unfortunately, there are a number of individuals who have failed to set aside savings, or have failed to plan adequately based on the assumption that they would be eligible for certain entitlement programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. These programs need to be reformed, not necessarily just cut, and therefore, this proposal does not include most of the mandatory spending at the HHS. However, because the department is so large, it would have been negligent to avoid other areas which can provide much needed government savings. This proposal takes most of the agency’s discretionary programs back to FY2008 levels, and makes further reductions to the Public Health Service programs

178 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:37:10pm

Ohh and cutting NIH… Because you know diseases cure themselves…

Who needs cancer or AIDS or virology research, or flu vaccines anyway?

With OSHA gutted, who needs cutting edge prosthetic research? After all, more work place fatalities mean fewer amputees.

And besides, the NIH is full of biologists who teach the heresy of evolution.

179 Fenris  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:37:28pm

re: #147 gehazi

But in seriousness, I’m not sure anyone outside of local Houston Tea Parties really cares about NASA.

Agreed. Every local Party’s subject to special pleading, jumping through just the right mental hoops to make exceptions for itself. Much like how Ron Paul, that bastion of transparency and responsible spending, had no qualms asking for stimulus money for projects in his district. Politely, of course.

180 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:37:53pm

re: #176 darthstar

How ‘bout dees… aw, never mind.

181 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:38:02pm

re: #140 oaktree

My bet is that there’s a TP/social conservative meme that holds the DOE responsible for interfering with teaching creationism and the Bible in schools.

What I’ve seen is that we were better off before the advent of pubic education. The argument is that literacy rates were quite high before 1850. Never mind that those rates don’t include anyone who wasn’t white, and that the definition of “literate” meant that you could mark an “X” on a piece of paper when asked to sign your name. Of course, the ability to do any math wasn’t a factor - nor was the ability to read. And of course, even in the 18th century, there were some publicly funded schools, and many of the founders did advocate for federal funding of education.

Of course, the government interference, by insisting on that ridiculous notion of a separation of church and state does make the notion of public education that much more of a communistic plot.

182 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:38:51pm

re: #175 darthstar

turn down the brightness…and push the monitor back a foot or so.

Yeah. I’ll have to adjust this or it will burn my eyes out.

183 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:40:19pm

re: #180 Slumbering Behemoth

How ‘bout dees… aw, never mind.

Thanks to this thread, I’m now a failed robber baron who couldn’t get work as an abused serf and has become a cheerful vagabond who goes around wishing people a good day and enjoys eating testicles. The internets are really a dangerous place for one’s reputation.

184 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:40:36pm

re: #177 gehazi

Under Health and Human Services, but he (sanely!) realizes he cannot simply cut Medicare willy-nilly.

Cutting Medicare would be political suicide. The solution is to focus on cutting services for anyone who is poor, because (1) they are members of the “parasite class,” and (2), they vote at much lower rates.

185 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:41:23pm

re: #184 Talking Point Detective

Cutting Medicare would be political suicide. The solution is to focus on cutting services for anyone who is poor, because (1) they are members of the “parasite class,” and (2), they vote at much lower rates.

Who said anything about letting the poor vote? Do you know how much government money is wasted on letting poor people vote?
///

186 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:41:37pm

Heh. “pubic education.”

One of my better typos.

Actually, now that I think about it, they’d probably be against pubic education also.

187 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:42:18pm

re: #184 Talking Point Detective

Cutting Medicare would be political suicide. The solution is to focus on cutting services for anyone who is poor, because (1) they are members of the “parasite class,” and (2), they vote at much lower rates.

Oh agreed. There’s a particularly nasty bit right after that along those lines…

One way to combat illegal immigration is to remove the benefits our country provides to non-citizens. The Health Resources and Services Administration provides funding for 1,645 free health clinics for migrant workers all over the United States, contributing to the incentives for illegal immigrants to take advantage of our country and its taxpayers. These clinics are an unnecessary burden, and do not serve the interests of Americans.

188 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:42:28pm

re: #115 aagcobb

They wouldn’t mind a bit as long as they got to live in a fortress with armed guards keeping the riff-raff at arms length. There are people on the Right who actually think we need some third world level poverty to give people an incentive to work.

Sorry for the delay here-phone call.
Anyway, the trouble with barricading yourself in is that you still have to breathe the air, drink the water and eat the food. And having to live surrounded by armed guards is not my idea of freedom.

189 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:44:13pm

OK through my knowledge of inter-dimensional warps, I can present this footage from Kentucky in the year 2083…

Youtube Video

Oh and here is Texas in 2083, the local TP candidate is making a campaign speech:

Youtube Video
190 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:44:58pm

re: #187 gehazi

Oh agreed. There’s a particularly nasty bit right after that along those lines…

What’s amazing is that they are convinced that cutting health care services to illegal immigrants is taking the moral high road. They actually do believe that.

Denying healthcare to a sick child is the way to discourage illegal immigration.

191 Stanghazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:45:23pm

Great photos from Boston.com “The Big Picture” of the Egyptian protests.

I swear, you need to visit Boston.com OFTEN. Their photo spreads are amazing, no matter the subject.

[Link: www.boston.com…]

192 dragonfire1981  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:46:03pm

It’s stupidity like this that makes me seriously consider moving back to Canada.

193 gehazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:46:13pm

re: #190 Talking Point Detective

It’s what I like to call the “go die in a ditch” theory of health care reform.

194 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:46:43pm

re: #131 iossarian

I think I’ll be “Cowardly Iossarian”: sneaking around the shanty towns and stealing steaming apple pies from people’s windowsills.

But I’ll be in league with “Tough Guy LVQ” and so no-one will be able to stop me, though they will feel pity mingled with disgust whenever they see me slink away into the sewers.

Are you quoting the Stalkers? I haven’t seen them in a while… How are they doing?

195 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:47:41pm

re: #189 LudwigVanQuixote

So not much changes, really.

/apologies to all my beloved Lizards in the South.

196 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:47:54pm

re: #94 calochortus

Not to mention that its pretty easy to throw out numbers when you know no one will actually come close to implementing this budget.

True, but then again he is opening his “barter” for big cuts anyway.

197 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:48:00pm

re: #191 Stanley Sea

Egyptian police get their uniforms from the sets of old US sci-fi movies?
Image: bp6.jpg

198 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:48:54pm

re: #190 Talking Point Detective

Doesn’t help with herd immunity either.

199 TedStriker  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:49:09pm

re: #156 Sionainn

There goes his insanity plea.

Nothing says “you’re fucked” more than premeditated murder and attempted murder…

200 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:49:33pm

re: #192 dragonfire1981

It’s stupidity like this that makes me seriously consider moving back to Canada.

I’m going to Montreal in March for a few days. It may turn into a reconnaissance mission. It’s fucking cold in Montreal - but that “smoked meat” they have up there combined with this libertarian extremism may just get me to think seriously about a move.

201 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:50:48pm

re: #196 LudwigVanQuixote

True, but then again he is opening his “barter” for big cuts anyway.

I’m sure it is. I’m waiting for conservatives to offer cuts to things that will really affect them, personally, in a significant way. So far its mostly “I’m willing to live with cuts to that guy’s programs”.

202 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:51:09pm

re: #156 Sionainn

There goes his insanity plea.

Heh…that’s exactly what I said earlier over at dKos when I saw it posted.

203 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:52:14pm

re: #192 dragonfire1981

It’s stupidity like this that makes me seriously consider moving back to Canada.

Start walking north.

204 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:52:20pm

re: #194 LudwigVanQuixote

Are you quoting the Stalkers? I haven’t seen them in a while… How are they doing?

‘fraid not. I have only bothered to check out their lair once, a long long time ago.

205 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:52:49pm

re: #198 Slumbering Behemoth

Doesn’t help with herd immunity either.

Denying healthcare to children with infectious diseases is particularly effective. Hopefully, they’ll infect other illegal immigrants. And if they infect a few working poor on food stamps or seniors on Medicare - so much the better. Kill two birds with one stone - discourage illegal immigration and reduce that “unfunded entitlement spending.”

206 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:53:08pm

re: #204 iossarian

‘fraid not. I have only bothered to check out their lair once, a long long time ago.

Life’s too short to let them matter.

207 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:53:41pm

Well here is something from my college days that completely sums up how I feel right now.

Youtube Video
208 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:54:00pm

re: #206 darthstar

They tolerate support for genocide of Muslims. Not really any point in visiting a place like that. Might as well check out Stormfront.

209 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:54:29pm

re: #205 Talking Point Detective

Fuck! Sarah Palin was right, we will have death panels.
/

210 Buck  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:54:31pm

re: #186 Talking Point Detective

Heh. “pubic education.”

One of my better typos.

Actually, now that I think about it, they’d probably be against pubic education also.

Could have been worse, it could have been a billboard:

[Link: adweek.blogs.com…]

211 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:56:23pm

re: #210 Buck

Could have been worse, it could have been a billboard:

[Link: adweek.blogs.com…]

That’s hilarious, especially given that the website is “SouthBendOn.com”.

“Bend on”, fnarr fnarr.

212 Surabaya Stew  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:57:21pm

re: #208 Obdicut

They tolerate support for genocide of Muslims. Not really any point in visiting a place like that. Might as well check out Stormfront.

And Stormfront would at least be upfront about their desires, unlike the staulkers who (aside from being hurt and angry at Charles and us Lizards for not being nuts like them) don’t seem to have much of a point to make.

213 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:57:24pm

re: #211 iossarian

That’s hilarious, especially given that the website is “SouthBendOn.com”.

“Bend on”, fnarr fnarr.

I think that’s SouthBendOH, as in Ohio, home of Congressman Boner.

214 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:58:31pm

re: #213 darthstar

I think that’s SouthBendOH, as in Ohio, home of Congressman Boner.

Are you in your new place yet, or is that just a weekend resident or summer place, or something like that?

215 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:58:47pm

re: #201 calochortus

I’m sure it is. I’m waiting for conservatives to offer cuts to things that will really affect them, personally, in a significant way. So far its mostly “I’m willing to live with cuts to that guy’s programs”.

What else is new?

If the average GOP is mine is mine and yours is yours, the leaders are mine is mine and yours is mine.

216 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:59:03pm

Unfortunately for Rand Paul and the whole Tea Party, the clue train left the station back in november.

They seem to think that this election was some sort of mandate to implement everything from tax cuts and impeaching Obama to outlawing abortion and cutting regulations on businesses. What they don’t get is that it is only about the economy and always has been. People were voting out democrats because they don’t feel that the economy is improving fast enough.

These cuts would only make the unemployment situation much worse. Businesses don’t start hiring or investing in equipment because their taxes were just lowered. They start hiring and buying equipment/materials when they sense that consumer demand is rising. Consumers aren’t going to go out and demand more products when they don’t have a job.

The GOP/Tea Party needs to get serious about the economy and this kind of bullshit isn’t going to work. Tax cuts don’t necessarily create jobs. Cutting education and science isn’t going to help competitiveness either (not to mention the anti-science/anti-intellectual attitude in general). And what good is a healthy economy if we suffer from cancer, birth defects, food borne pathogens, or tropical diseases exacerbated by the lack of regulation.

I predict that the GOP/TP will waste the next 2 years trying to pass a social agenda that most people disagree with and trying to pass an economic agenda that won’t substantially improve anything and then be absolutely perplexed when they lose bigtime again.

217 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:59:44pm

OK. The DOW hit 12000 today and they’re partying in Davos.

218 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:01:05pm

re: #217 Gus 802

Speaking of which:

Arab leaders talk about the need for reform, and don’t blame the Jews for their problems.

Holy shit.

[Link: www.reuters.com…]

219 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:03:52pm

re: #217 Gus 802

OK. The DOW hit 12000 today and they’re partying in Davos.

Isn’t that something to be happy about?

220 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:04:00pm

re: #218 Obdicut

Speaking of which:

Arab leaders talk about the need for reform, and don’t blame the Jews for their problems.

Holy shit.

[Link: www.reuters.com…]

The sudden realization that a lot of times the problems we encounter are of our own making. It will be interesting to see what kind of reform that Saudis are referring to. I don’t see much change in Egypt at this time. Tunisia yes.

221 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:04:05pm

re: #218 Obdicut

I sense a tear in the fabric of the universe.

222 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:04:42pm

re: #219 Walter L. Newton

Isn’t that something to be happy about?

for the have-a-little-mores, absolutely!

223 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:04:53pm

re: #219 Walter L. Newton

Isn’t that something to be happy about?

Yes. Why do you axe? ;)

224 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:05:05pm

re: #201 calochortus

I’m sure it is. I’m waiting for conservatives to offer cuts to things that will really affect them, personally, in a significant way. So far its mostly “I’m willing to live with cuts to that guy’s programs”.

starve the beast!

225 Romantic Heretic  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:05:26pm

re: #22 darthstar

I’m surprised he didn’t eliminate the IRS.

In his future there won’t be any taxes to collect. Or he’ll have the Army do it.

Such a system worked well for centuries. For the guys at the top.

226 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:05:49pm

re: #181 Talking Point Detective

What I’ve seen is that we were better off before the advent of pubic education. The argument is that literacy rates were quite high before 1850. Never mind that those rates don’t include anyone who wasn’t white, and that the definition of “literate” meant that you could mark an “X” on a piece of paper when asked to sign your name. Of course, the ability to do any math wasn’t a factor - nor was the ability to read. And of course, even in the 18th century, there were some publicly funded schools, and many of the founders did advocate for federal funding of education.

Of course, the government interference, by insisting on that ridiculous notion of a separation of church and state does make the notion of public education that much more of a communistic plot.

I also think our population has shifted in occupation quite a bit since the 18th century. A lot less people working in agriculture, a slackening in low skill labor requirements, and a much greater need for educated professionals in a wide area of specialities.

227 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:05:56pm

re: #218 Obdicut

Speaking of which:

Arab leaders talk about the need for reform, and don’t blame the Jews for their problems.

Holy shit.

[Link: www.reuters.com…]

Maybe Hillary put the fear of God into them after all.

228 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:06:11pm

re: #192 dragonfire1981

It’s stupidity like this that makes me seriously consider moving back to Canada.

are you kidding me? You’ll miss all the fun!

I know a welder, he promised me he’ll help me uparmor my GTI when America descends into chaos :D

229 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:07:15pm

re: #143 Gus 802

Am I imagining thing or am I seeing new colors?

you’re seeing new colors, all monitors lose color gamut as they age ^^

230 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:08:16pm

re: #222 WindUpBird

for the have-a-little-mores, absolutely!

re: #223 Gus 802

Yes. Why do you axe? ;)

Well… every time the stock market goes up or reaches some milestone, I have noticed a number of people indicating that that is good, an indication of a recovering economy.

But then again, I also see people sort of making snide asides every time the stock market goes up or reaches some milestone.

Confusing at times… yes?

231 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:08:23pm

re: #229 WindUpBird

you’re seeing new colors, all monitors lose color gamut as they age ^^

Now I’m afraid to look at some of my previous graphics work. Might be over saturated. D’oh!

232 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:09:31pm

re: #230 Walter L. Newton

re: #223 Gus 802

Well… every time the stock market goes up or reaches some milestone, I have noticed a number of people indicating that that is good, an indication of a recovering economy.

But then again, I also see people sort of making snide asides every time the stock market goes up or reaches some milestone.

Confusing at times… yes?

Ah. OK, I fess up. It was semi-snide because it hit 12000 post SOTU. :)

233 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:09:59pm

re: #232 Gus 802

Ah. OK, I fess up. It was semi-snide because it hit 12000 post SOTU. :)

I credit Bachmann.

234 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:10:32pm

re: #233 SanFranciscoZionist

I credit Bachmann.

I credit Eddie Munster!

//

235 Kragar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:11:14pm

re: #233 SanFranciscoZionist

I credit Bachmann.

The Founding Fathers established the Stock Exchange in the Constitution.

236 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:11:16pm

Interesting poll in light of this issue:

between @ 50-70% of Americans oppose cutting government in funding for the arts and sciences, aid to farmers, homeland security, military and national defense, anti-poverty programs, Medicare, Social Security, and Education.

[Link: www.gallup.com…]

The only majority number for cuts: @ 60% favor cutting foreign aid - a minuscule portion of the federal budget.

What’s amazing is that Republicans think that they can convince the public of their rationale for drastic cuts in areas like, say in education, 67% of the public is in opposition to cutting.

They are extremely confident in their propaganda machine, and in their ability to channel fear and anger. I wish I were as confident that they will fail.

237 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:12:10pm

re: #233 SanFranciscoZionist

I credit Bachmann.

You’re nuts :)

238 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:12:58pm

L’Oreal stocks did climb today.

//

239 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:13:38pm

re: #218 Obdicut

From that article - this is pretty grim news for Mubarak:

Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal, former intelligence chief who also served as ambassador to Britain and the United States, told Reuters Insider television he was not sure about Mubarak’s future.

“In Egypt, I really can’t say where this is going to go,” he said in an interview.

“Whether they can catch up as leaders to what the population is aiming (for) is still to be seen,” he said.

They’re looking into the mirror and seeing the end of their autocratic regimes and are now grasping at straws hoping to find a way to sustain their power while providing a relief valve from the unrest. Just as the Algerians went ahead and bought a ton of wheat to try and quell pricing issues there, the Egyptians and others may try similar methods, but the problems boil down to lack of economic opportunities, higher food costs, and disenfranchisement.

Lift the lid a little, and there’s a cauldron waiting to boil over.

Then again, this is the situation facing the Middle East in 2005 - during the height of the Cedar Revolution when it seemed like the teetering regimes were going to give way. Maybe this time the outcome will be different.

240 abbyadams  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:13:48pm

re: #13 Stanley Sea

That was my initial thought, too. I guess he expects them to all join the army.

241 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:13:49pm

re: #217 Gus 802

OK. The DOW hit 12000 today and they’re partying in Davos.


What drove the gains? Is it the result of real gains by various companies (such as higher then expected returns), or is it more a case of inflated expectations speclation?

242 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:14:10pm

re: #236 Talking Point Detective

Poll after poll finds that people want low taxes and generous benefits.

If only we taught a little critical thinking in school.

243 canuckistan  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:14:27pm

re: #13 Stanley Sea
How many unemployed people with these idiotic cuts create?

Assuming that most of that govt money goes to wages, and the average wage is $35,000, you get: 500e9/35000 = 14 million jobs lost, overnight. That would double the unemployment rate to ~ 20%, which coincidentally, was the rate during the great depression.

244 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:16:17pm

re: #241 prononymous

What drove the gains? Is it the result of real gains by various companies (such as higher then expected returns), or is it more a case of inflated expectations speclation?

Bloomberg is reporting…

Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks rose, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average above 12,000 for the first time since June 2008, after the Federal Reserve maintained stimulus measures and new-home sales topped projections.

245 tnguitarist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:16:42pm

re: #21 Charles

Eliminate education and social programs, eliminate all foreign outreach, and keep military funding at its current level.

Sounds like a recipe for eternal internal war.

That’s more like it.

246 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:19:19pm

re: #226 oaktree

I also think our population has shifted in occupation quite a bit since the 18th century. A lot less people working in agriculture, a slackening in low skill labor requirements, and a much greater need for educated professionals in a wide area of specialities.

Absolutely - I have made that argument many times, but it makes no difference with these ideologues.

They are bound and determined to prove that public education is stealing money from people who earned it to educate the children of the “parasite class,” who only become complacent and fat with their sense of entitlement.

The hatred of public education runs deep. No matter that our attainment of global economic preeminence was built on having a well-educated work force and coincided with the advent of public education. They are over-joyed by the statistics that in some areas, 50% of public schools students fail to graduate - becuase it confirms their hatred. Of course, in districts where the % of students who live in poverty is under 10%? (I forget the exact number - it’s somewhere between 10-20%), our schools compare favorably to top-ranked countries like Finland - but none of that matters.

Plain and simply, public education is given money to poor people, and thus is to be hated.

I’m also told that anyway, pursuing knowledge in fields such as art or history, for example, is a waste of time.

247 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:20:04pm

How far does Hubble see?

13.2 billion years.

248 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:20:47pm

The James Webb scope will be past 20 billion.

249 tnguitarist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:22:38pm

re: #248 Gus 802

The James Webb scope will be past 20 billion.

Then we can see the langoliers chomping away at the edge of the universe!

250 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:23:02pm

Dennis Kucinich sues over sandwich

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has filed a lawsuit against a House of Representatives cafeteria over dental injuries he says he sustained three years ago when he ate a sandwich containing olives that were not pitted.

251 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:23:17pm

re: #247 Gus 802

God just made it look that way to test the faithful. The stars more than 6,000 light years away aren’t really there.///

252 Interesting Times  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:23:41pm

re: #247 Gus 802

How far does Hubble see?

13.2 billion years.

Hubble is a plot by Satan and secular humanists to indoctrinate our youth.

/Texas SBOE

253 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:24:23pm

re: #252 publicityStunted

Hubble is a plot by Satan and secular humanists to indoctrinate our youth.

/Texas SBOE

Astronomy only leads to homosexuality and atheistic Communism!

//

254 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:24:40pm

re: #242 calochortus

Just promise the people to balance the budget while cutting taxes by eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and foreign aid. Works every time.

255 Varek Raith  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:25:40pm

Yeah, well, at least in Rand Paul’s world the Japanese didn’t take Iwo Jima from us…
Or something.
?
/My head asplode

256 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:25:51pm

re: #159 JeffM70

That’s how it is with the Tea Party. They want reduced government spending, but not on things that are important to them.

Keep your filthy gubmint hands off my Medicare and Social Security!

/teabagger

257 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:26:27pm

re: #254 aagcobb

Yeah, it gets people elected, but actual evidence does suggest it doesn’t solve the problem… I know. Details, details.

258 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:26:58pm

re: #214 Walter L. Newton

Are you in your new place yet, or is that just a weekend resident or summer place, or something like that?

I’m all moved in, Walter…thanks for asking. Running the dogs along the harbor, beach or around the neighborhood every morning at 7am. I actually think I’ve lost a little weight in the last two weeks as well due to the demand for more and longer walks now that the boys smell the salty air all.the.fucking.time.

259 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:27:25pm

Oooh, Rand Paul is on Cavuto explaining his budget. I wish it were funnier.

260 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:27:53pm

re: #244 Gus 802

Bloomberg is reporting…

So it looks like the continuance of the recovery that has been happening for a while now. But unemployment is still low. If they don’t get it under control it could hurt consumer confidence and demand, slowing growth.

I have not yet heard a realistic GOP/TP plan for job growth. Do they have even an unrealistic one?

261 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:27:59pm

re: #258 darthstar

I’m all moved in, Walter…thanks for asking. Running the dogs along the harbor, beach or around the neighborhood every morning at 7am. I actually think I’ve lost a little weight in the last two weeks as well due to the demand for more and longer walks now that the boys smell the salty air all.the.fucking.time.

That sounds wonderful… ok… now back to our regularly scheduled snarking :)

262 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:29:26pm

Anything Paul likes gets rolled into Defense for some reason. Anything he doesn’t like (Bureau of Reclamaition, Indian Affairs) goes ‘poof’.

263 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:29:30pm

re: #260 prononymous

So it looks like the continuance of the recovery that has been happening for a while now. But unemployment is still low. If they don’t get it under control it could hurt consumer confidence and demand, slowing growth.

I have not yet heard a realistic GOP/TP plan for job growth. Do they have even an unrealistic one?

“The market will provide.”

It does have the benefit of being brief, and easy to comprehend.

264 Stanghazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:29:32pm

BreakingNews

Hundreds of Bolivians chew coca to protest UN drugs treaty that bans ancient tradition - BBC [Link: bbc.in…]

265 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:30:04pm

re: #263 iossarian

“The market will provide.”

It does have the benefit of being brief, and easy to comprehend.

…And wrong.

266 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:30:21pm

re: #264 Stanley Sea

BreakingNews

Hundreds of Bolivians chew coca to protest UN drugs treaty that bans ancient tradition - BBC [Link: bbc.in…]

Why do I always miss the really fun protests?

267 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:30:29pm

re: #173 Mark Winter

Florida and NOLA will be thrilled. But who needs NOAA anyway when you can use the hurricane forecasts of Cuba for free?

Those aren’t hurricanes. It’s God trying to get rid of gays brown people black people heathens all that pesky global warming by sending wind and rain down to cool things off. =P

268 Randy W. Weeks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:31:37pm

Did Rand consider any consequences of his proposals beyond “spends less money”?

Oh, and did he cut Medicare money paid to doctors? I seem to remember him whining about “doctors should be able to make a good living” when that came up earlier.

Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.

Paul/Bachman (or Bachman/Paul) 2012!!!

269 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:32:12pm

re: #260 prononymous

So it looks like the continuance of the recovery that has been happening for a while now. But unemployment is still low. If they don’t get it under control it could hurt consumer confidence and demand, slowing growth.

I have not yet heard a realistic GOP/TP plan for job growth. Do they have even an unrealistic one?

The GOP mainly has a plan of reducing spending and cutting corporate taxes. None of these are going to pass for the next two years. Right now it’s all in investors hands and also dependent on how much credit is released to smaller investors. I’m thinking specifically with regards to commercial real estate but it can include other investments such as production. This is still a traditionally slow time of year regardless. The ball is in the private sectors court.

270 brennant  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:32:45pm

Why did I just watch Cavuto?

271 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:35:18pm

re: #264 Stanley Sea

BreakingNews

Hundreds of Bolivians chew coca to protest UN drugs treaty that bans ancient tradition - BBC [Link: bbc.in…]

In other news, hundreds of peppy Bolivians get home fro the rally and finally find the energy to clean out the garage.

Can’t fail!

272 Romantic Heretic  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:35:33pm

re: #209 Slumbering Behemoth

Fuck! Sarah Palin was right, we will have death panels.
/

Yes, but the GOP death panels serve a higher purpose whereas Obama’s death panels are meant to destroy freedom. /

273 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:36:43pm

re: #270 brennant

Why did I just watch Cavuto?

Latent masochist tendencies?

274 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:36:43pm

re: #268 LoneStarSpur

Did Rand consider any consequences of his proposals beyond “spends less money”?

Oh, and did he cut Medicare money paid to doctors? I seem to remember him whining about “doctors should be able to make a good living” when that came up earlier.

Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.

Paul/Bachman (or Bachman/Paul) 2012!!!

If he did, he didn’t share his thoughts with us. Cavuto was dismissive of the possibility of harm and they both agreed that big spending was more horrific than anything that could possibly happen if spending is cut.

Medicare reimbursement? Not discussed.

Idiot indeed.

275 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:38:27pm

re: #270 brennant

Why did I just watch Cavuto?

To keep track of what weird memes are being promulgated, just like I did. But I hit my limit at 20 minutes and have moved on. Or turned off. However you’d like to put it.

276 sproingie  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:38:29pm

We keep electing people into government whose overriding philosophy is that government cannot work and must be abolished.

There is only one inevitable outcome for a nation so completely insane.

277 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:38:46pm

I think it’s odd that we try to tell people that they can’t chew on a leaf from a naturally growing plant.

278 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:39:29pm

re: #270 brennant

Why did I just watch Cavuto?

They forced you to.

279 brennant  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:40:54pm

re: #278 Walter L. Newton

They forced you to.

I walked from my office to the TV to see Rand Paul talk about his budget. What I got was Cavuto leg-humping Rand Paul. I turned it off and walked back to my office.

280 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:41:34pm

re: #276 sproingie

We keep electing people into government whose overriding philosophy is that government cannot work and must be abolished.

There is only one inevitable outcome for a nation so completely insane.

To quote Roy Zimmerman: “Government is the problem, not the solution. Vote for us, and we’ll prove it.”

281 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:41:47pm

re: #279 brennant

I walked from my office to the TV to see Rand Paul talk about his budget. What I got was Cavuto leg-humping Rand Paul. I turned it off and walked back to my office.

Thank goodness… hopefully no Cavuto cooties rubbed off on you… take a shower… that helps.
//

282 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:42:38pm

re: #269 Gus 802

The GOP mainly has a plan of reducing spending and cutting corporate taxes. None of these are going to pass for the next two years. Right now it’s all in investors hands and also dependent on how much credit is released to smaller investors. I’m thinking specifically with regards to commercial real estate but it can include other investments such as production. This is still a traditionally slow time of year regardless. The ball is in the private sectors court.

I would be particularly wary of a recovery driven by real estate. It may be driven by the real need for new homes, factories, stores, etc. Or it could be driven by this sort of speculative “now might be a good time to invest, with prices so low”. The first scenario you’d expect to see accompanied by hiring construction workers and new employees.

284 calochortus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:45:28pm

Time to go see why my staple gun is failing to fling staples. I suspect a weak spring. Not that I have another to replace it with, but I’ll do my humble best.

286 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:46:19pm

re: #283 SanFranciscoZionist

Love and family is such a terrible fucking thing to have to look at.

287 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:47:19pm

re: #282 prononymous

I would be particularly wary of a recovery driven by real estate. It may be driven by the real need for new homes, factories, stores, etc. Or it could be driven by this sort of speculative “now might be a good time to invest, with prices so low”. The first scenario you’d expect to see accompanied by hiring construction workers and new employees.

That’s why I said commercial as opposed to residential. It will be some time before we start seeing much movement in the residential market.

288 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:47:49pm

re: #285 Ericus58

ignorant rubes

Apparently they’ve now taken it down, after getting a lot of annoyed calls. Apparently the people of Arkansas feel that it’s all right for their children to see that Elton John has reproduced.

289 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:48:27pm

re: #283 SanFranciscoZionist

And in other news, an Arkansas grocery chain has put up a ‘family shield’ to protect viewers from the sight of Elton John and his parter with their baby on the cover of US Magazine.

Wow…I never knew Elton was pregnant. He showed as much as Sarah Palin did. ///

291 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:49:29pm

re: #289 darthstar

Wow…I never knew Elton was pregnant. He showed as much as Sarah Palin did. ///

Plus he sang at the wedding for the leader of the Republican Party.

//

292 Jack Burton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:50:30pm

re: #189 LudwigVanQuixote

OK through my knowledge of inter-dimensional warps, I can present this footage from Kentucky in the year 2083…


[Video]

The DC commute in 2083

Youtube Video
293 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:50:51pm

re: #277 Gus 802

I think it’s odd that we try to tell people that they can’t chew on a leaf from a naturally growing plant.

While I sympathize with this sentiment, when I hear this from my buddies over a bowl I jokingly encourage them to try some hemlock or foxglove.

294 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:51:58pm

re: #293 prononymous

While I sympathize with this sentiment, when I hear this from my buddies over a bowl I jokingly encourage them to try some hemlock or foxglove.

People will do that too. Of course that’s like a “final act”.

295 Randy W. Weeks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:53:23pm

re: #291 Gus 802

Plus he sang at the wedding for the leader of the Republican Party.

//

Mad Man Across the Water

That song? ;)

296 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:53:42pm

Kabloom!

Eric Boehlert

Glenn Bck has a Jewish problem: Hundreds Of Rabbis Call On Murdoch To Sanction Beck, Demand Apology from Ailes; [Link: bit.ly…]
297 shiplord kirel  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:53:53pm

re: #283 SanFranciscoZionist

And in other news, an Arkansas grocery chain has put up a ‘family shield’ to protect viewers from the sight of Elton John and his parter with their baby on the cover of US Magazine.

OH NO! A homo-sek-shul entertainer? WE’RE DOOMED! It’s communism, I say, COMMUNISM! This is what comes from throwing GAWD out of the classroom! That, and abolishing local censorship boards. Oh, and mixing the races and giving womenfolk the vote.
///

298 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:57:05pm

re: #297 shiplord kirel

OH NO! A homo-sek-shul entertainer? WE’RE DOOMED! It’s communism, I say, COMMUNISM! This is what comes from throwing GAWD out of the classroom! That, and abolishing local censorship boards. Oh, and mixing the races and giving womenfolk the vote.
///

And selling toys on Sunday!!11ty

//

299 shiplord kirel  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:58:45pm

re: #298 Gus 802

And selling toys on Sunday!!11ty

//

That too! ‘Specially all them metrosexual socialist multicultural toys they have now. What ever happened to good old fashioned cap pistols?

300 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:59:25pm

re: #294 Gus 802

People will do that too. Of course that’s like a “final act”.

I feel that people should be allowed to take their own lives. I just don’t think that “it’s natural” or “it’s a plant” should be confused with “it is good for you”. I’m sorry if that’s not the point you were making, but I most certainly would try to discourage someone from eating nightshade, for example.

301 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 1:59:54pm

re: #299 shiplord kirel

Pah. Wuss. Everyone knows the only real Muraken toy is the Lawn Dart.

Image: lawn-darts.jpg

302 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:00:12pm

re: #299 shiplord kirel

That too! ‘Specially all them metrosexual socialist multicultural toys they have now. What ever happened to good old fashioned cap pistols?

I got one this past Christmas. It seem the oriental dollar stores still sell them, and my girlfriend got me one. Don’t know why, but it was cool to piddle with it.

303 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:02:42pm

re: #300 prononymous

I feel that people should be allowed to take their own lives. I just don’t think that “it’s natural” or “it’s a plant” should be confused with “it is good for you”. I’m sorry if that’s not the point you were making, but I most certainly would try to discourage someone from eating nightshade, for example.

My point wasn’t that it’s good for you but that it’s naturally occurring. Humans have constantly ingested the good and the bad both natural and man made. In this case we have an organization telling the people of Bolivia to stop chewing on Coca leaves while we in the USA are free to consume gallons of Jack Daniels or Everclear whenever we wish. People are effectively allowed to consume whatever they wish even if it’s harmful for them.

304 Ericus58  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:04:33pm

re: #301 Obdicut

Pah. Wuss. Everyone knows the only real Muraken toy is the Lawn Dart.

Image: lawn-darts.jpg

Heh. We kids lost ours when my Dad found us throwing them at a target painted on a piece of plywood… one of my younger brothers told him that I was going to make him stand against it with balloons around him like at the circus and I was going to pop the balloons with the lawn darts….

Gee, I promised that I wouldn’t spin him….

305 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:06:41pm

re: #301 Obdicut

Pah. Wuss. Everyone knows the only real Muraken toy is the Lawn Dart.

Image: lawn-darts.jpg

Here I thought it was a bottle of rubbing alcohol from the medicine cabinet, a book of matches, and a robust ant mound.

//Model of F-100 Super Sabre to simulate attack optional.

//

306 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:07:14pm

re: #303 Gus 802

Ok, I mostly agree. I just don’t apply the natural/plant distinction. I feel that people should also be able to consume synthetic substances like LSD if they so choose.

307 prairiefire  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:07:27pm

re: #299 shiplord kirel

That too! ‘Specially all them metrosexual socialist multicultural toys they have now. What ever happened to good old fashioned cap pistols?

I can remember the gun powder smell from going after a strip of caps with a hammer. Good times.

308 freetoken  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:07:40pm

re: #247 Gus 802

That was the big astro news of the day.

[Link: www.nasa.gov…]

309 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:09:34pm

re: #305 Gus 802

Here I thought it was a bottle of rubbing alcohol from the medicine cabinet, a book of matches, and a robust ant mound.

//Model of F-100 Super Sabre to simulate attack optional.

//

Plastic army men, a half-cup of dad’s black powder from his muzzle-loader horn, a can of mom’s Aqua-Net aerosole hairspray, and a box of kitchen matches…(oh, and jumping in the pool afterward doesn’t hide the fact that eyebrows, once singed, still have those balls of melted hair on the ends and mom picks up on that pretty fast.)

310 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:11:08pm

re: #309 darthstar

Plastic army men, a half-cup of dad’s black powder from his muzzle-loader horn, a can of mom’s Aqua-Net aerosole hairspray, and a box of kitchen matches…(oh, and jumping in the pool afterward doesn’t hide the fact that eyebrows, once singed, still have those balls of melted hair on the ends and mom picks up on that pretty fast.)

Lysol made a great flame thrower.

//

311 Varek Raith  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:11:31pm

re: #304 Ericus58

Heh. We kids lost ours when my Dad found us throwing them at a target painted on a piece of plywood… one of my younger brothers told him that I was going to make him stand against it with balloons around him like at the circus and I was going to pop the balloons with the lawn darts…

Gee, I promised that I wouldn’t spin him…

I can’t can possibly foresee and negative consequences.
Have at it!
/

312 Varek Raith  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:12:29pm

re: #311 Varek Raith

I can’t can possibly foresee any negative consequences.
Have at it!
/

313 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:12:40pm

Image: 20080704122747_g9_0902.jpg

314 reine.de.tout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:13:12pm

re: #305 Gus 802

Here I thought it was a bottle of rubbing alcohol from the medicine cabinet, a book of matches, and a robust ant mound.

//Model of F-100 Super Sabre to simulate attack optional.

//

re: #309 darthstar

Plastic army men, a half-cup of dad’s black powder from his muzzle-loader horn, a can of mom’s Aqua-Net aerosole hairspray, and a box of kitchen matches…(oh, and jumping in the pool afterward doesn’t hide the fact that eyebrows, once singed, still have those balls of melted hair on the ends and mom picks up on that pretty fast.)

I’m ROFL.

You guys - I had 3 younger brothers, no sisters - gawd, the stuff boys get into.

316 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:14:39pm

re: #296 Gus 802

Glen Beck’s exterior monologue continues!

… Van Jones is a terrorist, Obama wants to murder your grandmother, George Soros collaborated with the Nazis as a 14-year old, Frances Fox Piven is a lefty commie traitor, whoops, I apologize, shouldn’t have said that about Soros, the Cat in the Hat is an evil satanist …

317 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:16:34pm

re: #315 Killgore Trout

Fox Nation goes Birther: Friend Says Hawaii Gov Told Him There Is No Obama Birth Certificate: Daily Caller

They never stopped going birther.

318 freetoken  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:16:41pm

re: #315 Killgore Trout

There’s no idiocy too stupid that it can’t be repackaged and sold to again.

319 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:18:57pm

re: #318 freetoken

There’s no idiocy too stupid that it can’t be repackaged and sold to again.

Comment from the link…

jihadazzkicker [Moderator] 45 minutes ago
No one really knows where this guy came from, his life is a lie. I want to know who really funded this guy, it takes money. There is a puppet master, or a puppet country who funded this egg head. He talks big, that’s it, he has NO experience in anything but A kissing.

320 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:19:07pm

Ok… all of LGF… prepare to bow, prostrate yourselves, and get it on, the original Lizard King himself… direct for the all dead band tour…

Jim Morrison… my rock and roll hero when I was growing up.

Image: 100_0021_jim.JPG

321 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:19:15pm

There is a puppet master, or a puppet country who funded this egg head!!11ty

//

322 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:21:48pm

More birtherness at Fox Nation…

Arizona to Pass 2012 Eligibility Law

From there it links to World Nut Drooly.

Ay caramba.

323 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:23:48pm

re: #322 Gus 802

More birtherness at Fox Nation…

Arizona to Pass 2012 Eligibility Law

From there it links to World Nut Drooly.

Ay caramba.

Some comments…

ladyrottweiler 41 minutes ago
In theory, it’s a good idea; in practise, not so sure — although it should be the FIRST item one presents to their respective party to even be seriously considered as being able to run for President.. …and then posted where it can be seen, with as little as possible redacted (sp) and then only to keep certain matters private — like legitimacy.

fsafron 2 hours ago
What, a remarkable state Arizona is! I hope and pry for other states to fallow this admirable example of how this country need to be. WE AMERICAN’S COME FIRST!!! NOT LAST!! YOU DON’T LIKE IT?? THEN GET THE HLL OUT OF THE USA!! MAKE SURE OBAMA BIN BUSTER LADEN!! SHOW ONE’S AND FOR ALL HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE!! I LOVE ARIZONA!!

324 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:24:59pm

re: #315 Killgore Trout

Denial logic: there is no BC, therefore Obamas’s birth never happened. So all this is not happening! Whew!

/

325 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:25:18pm

re: #323 Gus 802

The second one has to be a happy lefty jester.

326 Stanghazi  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:25:56pm

re: #315 Killgore Trout

Fox Nation goes Birther: Friend Says Hawaii Gov Told Him There Is No Obama Birth Certificate: Daily Caller

Celebrity Journalist: I Never Spoke to Hawaii Gov About Obama Birth Certificate

Read more: [Link: www.foxnews.com…]

Already debunked.

327 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:26:00pm

re: #325 iossarian

The second one has to be a happy lefty jester.

Could be.

One’s and for all! //

328 (I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was)  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:26:19pm

Libertarian Dunce Stossel’s State of the Union: [Link: townhall.com…]

329 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:28:20pm

re: #327 Gus 802

Could be.

One’s and for all! //

MAKE SURE OBAMA BIN BUSTER LADEN!!

You never know, I guess.

TTFN…

330 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:29:33pm

All this birther stuff is just like all the Bush election results were for the left. It’s just the TP scrambling for any possible reason that he might not be a legitimate president. Not very effectively I might add, in either case. They should just get over it, one can look impotent AND stupid for only so long.

331 Fozzie Bear  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:29:54pm

It’s time for me to seriously consider moving abroad. Shit is getting too politically unstable here.

332 elizajane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:31:33pm

re: #5 BishopX

Anyone know why he wants to cut the dept of labor by 2%? I would think things like the national labor relations board and OSHA would be the first to get the axe.

My first thought as well, coming in late here. I think that’s an error and he really wants to cut Labor by 200%.

Would that be a hidden tax, and if it was on labor, would it matter?

333 Gus  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:31:44pm

Klunk…

Ted Haggard: I’m Probably What The Kids Call ‘Bisexual’

In a new GQ profile, Rev. Ted Haggard addresses the continued assumptions that he’s gay, following revelations years ago that the prominent evangelical had a drug-fueled sexual relationship with a gay male former escort: “I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual.”

But, he told GQ’s Kevin Roose: “I’m 54, with children, with a belief system, and I can have enforced boundaries in my life. Just like you’re a heterosexual but you don’t have sex with every woman that you’re attracted to, so I can be who I am and exclusively have sex with my wife and be perfectly satisfied.”

The profile provides a few other tidbits about Haggard, who resigned from the New Life Church and from his position as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after he admitted to the affair with his male meth dealer, who was also a prostitute…

334 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:33:22pm

re: #333 Gus 802

Klunk…

Ted Haggard: I’m Probably What The Kids Call ‘Bisexual’

He’s what my kids call “a dipshit”.

335 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:33:41pm

re: #333 Gus 802

Klunk…

Ted Haggard: I’m Probably What The Kids Call ‘Bisexual’

So remember this kids: If you ever find yourself snorting meth from the butt-crack of a male whore, you could be bisexual.
Image: the_more_you_know2.jpg

336 elizajane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:33:47pm

re: #333 Gus 802

Klunk…

Ted Haggard: I’m Probably What The Kids Call ‘Bisexual’

“…after he admitted to the affair with his male meth dealer, who was also a prostitute…”

So NOW he’s doing the “enforced boundaries” thing? Great. Who’s enforcing them for him?

337 Fozzie Bear  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:36:33pm

I’m probably what his kids call a satanist. Fuck off, Haggard.

338 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:42:10pm

re: #337 Fozzie Bear

You might be a satanist if…

339 makeitstop  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:45:02pm

Holodeck! Cool.

340 TedStriker  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:46:38pm

re: #328 000G

Libertarian Dunce Stossel’s State of the Union: [Link: townhall.com…]

I thought Stossel was still sane…what happened?

341 Fozzie Bear  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:48:17pm

re: #340 talon_262

I thought Stossel was still sane…what happened?

He’s a libertarian.

342 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:50:55pm

re: #328 000G

Libertarian Dunce Stossel’s State of the Union: [Link: townhall.com…]

Townhall.com, where you don’t even need a pulse

343 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:51:26pm

re: #331 Fozzie Bear

It’s time for me to seriously consider moving abroad. Shit is getting too politically unstable here.

NO

It’s JUST STARTING TO GET GOOD!

344 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:52:45pm

re: #343 WindUpBird

NO

It’s JUST STARTING TO GET GOOD!

Where is Duke now that we need him?

345 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:53:42pm

re: #344 Decatur Deb

Where is Duke now that we need him?

Uncle Duke!

346 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 2:54:28pm

re: #336 elizajane

“…after he admitted to the affair with his male meth dealer, who was also a prostitute…”

he’s sort of the Walmart of gay concubines, you can get your meth and your shameful hump on all at once

347 spiderx  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 3:32:03pm

if you abolished the energy department you would be putting the country at danger from a nuclear waste spill. Among other things the energy department does they manage our nuclear facilities.

these tea party people don’t have a lot of sense

348 Jaerik  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 3:35:16pm

Awhile back, a guest on Beck’s show said “I’ve been on food stamps and welfare and nobody helped me out.” No one called him on the absurdity of that sentence at the time.

The dream of coming from nothing and making something of yourself is a great one, but it subtly betrays its own narrative. It often implies you did have help, however minimal, in the form of things like public education.

But the human brain is very good at whitewashing past history to make your argument better now.

It requires a good deal of mental self-discipline to seriously ask yourself what would have happened to your personal narrative of success had someone carried out your own 100% cut to education say, 50 years ago.

349 sproingie  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 3:43:55pm
Just like you’re a heterosexual but you don’t have sex with every woman that you’re attracted to

Just like you’re a bisexual but don’t have sex with every male prostitute meth dealer you’re attracted to, just the occasional one now and then, see?

350 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 3:45:09pm

re: #340 talon_262

I thought Stossel was still sane…what happened?

He started believing his own bullshit. Stossel hasn’t been sane in years.

351 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 3:46:29pm

re: #333 Gus 802

Klunk…

Ted Haggard: I’m Probably What The Kids Call ‘Bisexual’

No, he’s what the kids call a self-righteous asshole who’s still in denial.

I have friends that are bisexual. They don’t act like Ted Haggard.

352 sagehen  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 3:52:01pm

Even with all these cuts, it only reduces the deficit by 1/3. Does he intend to get the rest by selling off Guam and Puerto Rico? Or should we start talking about raising raxes?

353 sagehen  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 3:58:57pm

re: #330 prononymous

All this birther stuff is just like all the Bush election results were for the left. It’s just the TP scrambling for any possible reason that he might not be a legitimate president. Not very effectively I might add, in either case. They should just get over it, one can look impotent AND stupid for only so long.

Balance Fairy Alert!!

You’re ignoring that the left actually had evidence to bring to bear on their Bush election dispute.

[Link: www.usccr.gov…]

354 Jaerik  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 4:01:28pm

re: #351 Lidane

No, he’s what the kids call a self-righteous asshole who’s still in denial.

I have friends that are bisexual. They don’t act like Ted Haggard.

This is all wrapped up in the assertion that sexual orientation is purely a behavioral choice. That’s what this all comes down to.

Entertaining the possibility that it’s innate calls into question the integrity of the religious argument, which is deeply threatening at the institutional level.

And at the personal level, if forcing yourself to have sex with women while being attracted to men doesn’t make you straight, it makes folks like Haggard hypocritical, horrible people by definition.

It’s why each and every argument against gay rights can eventually be traced back to this core assumption. There’s no logical alternative for them.

355 Ming  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 4:02:31pm

I certainly admire Rand Paul’s seriousness about cutting the budget. But I’m not sure he’s thought everything through. For all I know, it’s possible that the efforts of the State Department have (so far) prevented all-out war between Israel and Iran’s “front troops”, Hamas and Hezbollah. If Sen. Paul really thinks the State Department is unnecessary, he should explain that viewpoint to the rest of us. But I believe Senator Paul is light-years ahead of those who say that more tax cuts will solve all our problems.

356 Fozzie Bear  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 4:08:40pm

re: #355 Ming

At some point we have to admit it is lunacy to never consider raising taxes as a valid part of the toolbox of things we could do to deal with the deficit/debt problem.

357 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 4:11:35pm

re: #335 darthstar

So remember this kids: If you ever find yourself snorting meth from the butt-crack of a male whore, you could be bisexual Iggy Pop.
Image: the_more_you_know2.jpg

358 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 4:12:06pm

re: #355 Ming

I certainly admire Rand Paul’s seriousness about cutting the budget. But I’m not sure he’s thought everything through.

yeah, you think??

359 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 5:24:57pm

re: #355 Ming

But I believe Senator Paul is light-years ahead of those who say that more tax cuts will solve all our problems.

Just curious - who would it be that says that?

360 Pacific moderate  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 6:22:22pm

If we’re into abolishing federal agencies, why not start with the DEA?

361 Lidane  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 7:30:54pm

re: #355 Ming

I certainly admire Rand Paul’s seriousness about cutting the budget. But I’m not sure he’s thought everything through.

He’s not serious. It’s all just a bunch of grandstanding bullshit.

Also, he didn’t think any of this through at all. If his cuts went into law, we’d become a Third World nation in a matter of weeks.

362 Roadkiller  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 8:46:04pm

Kind of like the old joke about 500 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean…

A good start.

363 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 8:49:05pm

re: #355 Ming

I certainly admire Rand Paul’s seriousness about cutting the budget. But I’m not sure he’s thought everything through.

He doesn’t have to think it through. He’s an ideological zealot who probably hasn’t really ‘thought’ about how to solve the countries problems in a long time, if ever. You don’t have to think when you believe.

364 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 8:50:24pm

re: #362 Roadkiller

Kind of like the old joke about 500 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean…

A good start.

There’s another old joke about how everybody hates lawyers until they need one.

365 Eclectic Infidel  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 9:41:48pm

Cut education by 83%!

More dumb Americans. God Bless America!

366 Querent  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:20:05pm

re: #45 researchok

Dr Paul is proof that even a good education can’t cure stupidity.

i regret that i have but one upding…

367 Stephen T.  Thu, Jan 27, 2011 8:01:53am

re: #6 LudwigVanQuixote

And of course, cutting education by 83% means shifting even more of the burden to local governments, thus insuring that the poor get an even more raw deal out of our education system since local schools are funded by property taxes.

Of course, hell, in his party, you can become president, or a vp nominee, or a congressperson without knowing the first things about science, mathematics, economics, history or basic grade school topics.

Disenfranchisement. As far as I can see it, it is the current goal of the GOP and Tea Party. The Republican Party cannot gain ground with certain minor demographics that are going to change to major demographics soon. Namely, Blacks, Hispanics, Women, and the young. Since they cannot change their philosophy without loosing their current base, the only way to guarantee future wins is to eliminate these demographics from voting. The Young will grow up eventually, but if you cut education so that the poor cannot learn and then institute literacy tests for voting, you eliminate the black vote. If you label the children of Hispanic immigrants “anchor babies” and have them deported you eliminate the Hispanic vote. The inclusion of (obviously moronic) women as pundits (Palin, Bachmann, Coulter), and some men will see to it that their wives, daughters and mothers cease to vote.

368 Claire  Thu, Jan 27, 2011 9:37:44am

re: #367 Scarecrow237

if you cut education so that the poor cannot learn and then institute literacy tests for voting, you eliminate the black vote. If you label the children of Hispanic immigrants “anchor babies” and have them deported you eliminate the Hispanic vote. The inclusion of (obviously moronic) women as pundits (Palin, Bachmann, Coulter), and some men will see to it that their wives, daughters and mothers cease to vote.

WTF? Are you hallucinatory? How do you get from A to B on any of these?

Or is this a joke. I really can’t tell sometimes.


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