Newt Gingrich: My Passion for My Country Compelled Me to Fool Around

He certainly doesn’t lack gall
Wingnuts • Views: 29,643

Newt Gingrich says he just felt so incredibly passionate about the U. S. of A. that it, well, sort of spilled over into serial cheating on his wives. That’s just how passionate he is, dang it. Can you blame the randy old silver-haired coot?

And sadly, there are probably a lot of people who will fall for his lines, just like his wives did, because he’s wrapping it all up in very public Christian repentance. Retch.

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523 comments
1 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:52:54pm

Behold, the power of the ego.

2 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:53:55pm

It's amazing at what one can attribute to one's love of country.

3 laZardo  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:54:25pm

Anyone who denies that this is conservatism in action has to be deluded beyond belief.

4 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:54:37pm

I guess his passion for his country also causes him to be a gigantic dickwad.

5 jamesfirecat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:54:39pm

My passion for my country caused me to speed, when I see those beaming red lights how can my heart not be filled with American pride as I think of the Red White and Blue which are our nations colors and hit the gas pedal to fly towards my destination just like the resplendent bald eagle takes flight above our nation?

6 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:54:57pm

That man will say literally ANYTHING for a vote.

7 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:55:35pm

"Yes, my passion for my country forced me to fuck around on my first wife when she got cancer with the woman who became my second wife, then forced me again to fuck around on her when she got MS with the woman who became my third wife.

But God has forgiven me, and that's all that matters! Now vote for my, you brainless peons!"

Truly, the man is an inspirational American. By "inspirational," I mean "full of shit."

8 Ojoe  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:55:49pm

Sorry, but in my book cheating on your marriage partner disqualifies you for any office of public trust.

9 jaunte  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:57:16pm

Newt "Poe's Law" Gingrich

10 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:57:57pm

re: #8 Ojoe

Well, I don't believe it disqualifies a candidate, but to make excuses built around a profession of patriotism is off the hubristic scale.

11 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:58:00pm

re: #3 laZardo

Anyone who denies that this is conservatism in action has to be deluded beyond belief.

I don't think it's the conservatism that's in action.

12 Lidane  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:58:11pm

Bill Clinton was never that brazen, even when he was defining "is".

Also, Charlie Sheen called and told Newt to tone down the crazy talk.

13 jaunte  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:58:33pm

re: #11 SanFranciscoZionist

It's the Berlusconi model.

14 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:58:45pm

re: #8 Ojoe

Sorry, but in my book cheating on your marriage partner disqualifies you for any office of public trust.

I actually would not go so far as that.

But trying to convince me that it's a REASON to vote for you is pushing it.

;)

15 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:58:48pm

Honestly, if Newt actually said "Listen, I acted like a jerk to my past wives. I screwed up big time and I Was not the man of values I portrayed myself as and I Was a huge hypocrite." I still would despise the guy on the issues but I would respect him a lot more as a man. Newt's the kind of guy who lectures us all about "personal responsibility" on the campaign trial but then cheats on his wife when the cameras are off. All adultery is wrong but I have a special problem with people like Newt who still act self righteous after being caught.

16 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:58:56pm
17 Ojoe  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:59:00pm

re: #10 freetoken

It's off the scale all right.

18 sagehen  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:59:25pm

to quote my dad:

"God may forgive you, but your mother never will."

19 Ojoe  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:59:33pm

re: #14 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm sorta old fashioned I guess.

20 recusancy  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:01:05pm

re: #3 laZardo

Anyone who denies that this is conservatism in action has to be deluded beyond belief.

It's a microcosm of modern conservatism.

21 engineer cat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:01:50pm

now, now, newt just needs to learn to exhaustively market test his every utterance like mitt does

22 jamesfirecat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:02:18pm

re: #8 Ojoe

Sorry, but in my book cheating on your marriage partner disqualifies you for any office of public trust.

Anyone can make a mistake once.

When a man makes the same mistake... and does it with two different women (and not just cheating on the same women with multiple partners, but leaving one for another only to cheat on her as well) well then I start to see a pattern forming....

23 jaunte  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:03:22pm

re: #20 recusancy

It's a microcosm of modern conservatism.

Just picked up from a Boehlert tweet: Cheaters prospering:
[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

24 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:03:35pm

re: #15 HappyWarrior

Honestly, if Newt actually said "Listen, I acted like a jerk to my past wives. I screwed up big time and I Was not the man of values I portrayed myself as and I Was a huge hypocrite." I still would despise the guy on the issues but I would respect him a lot more as a man. Newt's the kind of guy who lectures us all about "personal responsibility" on the campaign trial but then cheats on his wife when the cameras are off. All adultery is wrong but I have a special problem with people like Newt who still act self righteous after being caught.

I've been saying for years that it wasn't that Clinton screwed around that I agreed with, it's that he lied about it. Had he sat before Congress and said "I banged her...I banged her like a cheap gong," what's the worst that could have happened? Republicans running to the cameras a little faster to scream how "wrong" it was of him?

25 KingKenrod  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:04:26pm

Common political strategy: address embarrassments like this early, when no one is paying much attention - then when the campaign heats up, claim you've already addressed them...it's such a cold political calculation, no one should mistake it for actual honesty...puke.

26 Kragar  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:05:19pm

"Baby, I've got the Contract with America read by Barry White playing on the stereo, a nice suit, and burning the Cadillac Bonneville scented incense. Lets make love."

27 laZardo  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:06:44pm

re: #24 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

I've been saying for years that it wasn't that Clinton screwed around that I agreed with, it's that he lied about it. Had he sat before Congress and said "I banged her...I banged her like a cheap gong," what's the worst that could have happened? Republicans running to the cameras a little faster to scream how "wrong" it was of him?

Either way, it's not like he or his party proclaimed themselves the arbiters of morality (DADT aside?) as compared to the Republicans.

28 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:07:21pm

Penis Patriot. I salute you!

29 reine.de.tout  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:08:07pm

People's private lives should remain private!

/ /
(I don't really think that's true in the case of people whose judgment we need to be able to trust, such as our elected officials, as adultery, lying about adultery, pretending to be all family-values while committing adultery, etc., all speak to the judgment of people who want us to elect them to office. But I just thought I'd rile throw that in the mix here, and get everybody riled up)).

30 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:08:25pm

re: #28 Killgore Trout

If Newt should win, the Marine Corps band will have to learn a new tune: Hail to the Penis.

31 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:08:25pm

re: #27 laZardo

Either way, it's not like he or his party proclaimed themselves the arbiters of morality (DADT aside?) as compared to the Republicans.

Yeah, you gotta love how a party that prides itself on "family values" has so many within its ranks who can't seem to think of their family when deciding whether or not to chase tail in their off hours.

32 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:09:10pm

re: #8 Ojoe

Sorry, but in my book cheating on your marriage partner disqualifies you for any office of public trust.

Well, that would have disqualified FDR and JFK.

33 reine.de.tout  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:09:51pm

re: #29 reine.de.tout

People's private lives should remain private!

/ /
(I don't really think that's true in the case of people whose judgment we need to be able to trust, such as our elected officials, as adultery, lying about adultery, pretending to be all family-values while committing adultery, etc., all speak to the judgment of people who want us to elect them to office. But I just thought I'd rile throw that in the mix here, and get everybody riled up)).

oops. sorry. it's late. I'm tired.

34 laZardo  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:09:55pm

re: #31 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Yeah, you gotta love how a party that prides itself on "family values" has so many within its ranks who can't seem to think of their family when deciding whether or not to chase tail in their off hours.

At least Congressman Craigslist got the hint when he got caught.

35 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:10:11pm

Newt, Newt, Newt, Newt. For a while there I almost started respecting you. You seemed to have gone of into a new path of moderation and centrism. Suddenly, you morphed into a theocrat that exceeded your days in congress. Now I see you in a worse light then I did back in the 90s when I was a raging lefty. Please, for your sake and ours. Retire with grace and stop talking so much. You'll never get to the White House.

36 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:10:24pm

re: #30 freetoken

If Newt should win, the Marine Corps band will have to learn a new tune: Hail to the Penis.

They learned that one during bill Clinton's time in office.

Sorry, but this thread is ripe for some Clinton cheap shots.

37 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:10:37pm

re: #30 freetoken

If Newt should win, the Marine Corps band will have to learn a new tune: Hail to the Penis.

Or Hail to the dick.

38 Lidane  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:10:50pm

re: #32 Dark_Falcon

Well, that would have disqualified FDR and JFK.

It would have disqualified Thomas Jefferson too.

39 jaunte  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:11:08pm

re: #31 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Yeah, you gotta love how a party that prides itself on "family values" has so many within its ranks who can't seem to think of their family when deciding whether or not to chase tail in their off hours.

We must call a retreat to hike the Appalachian Trail and ponder that.

40 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:11:25pm

Wrapped in the flag & carrying the cross.

And if I said anything more, I'd get myself banned.

41 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:11:48pm

I guess this is a taste of things to come in 2012?

This comedy train is not going to have brakes.

42 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:12:38pm

re: #38 Lidane

It would have disqualified Thomas Jefferson too.

I thought he started the Hemmings affair after his wife passed. Shit as a presidential history buff, I remember telling people who were "appalled" by Bill Clinton's exploits that they should look at Warren Harding. The guy had two mistresses at once and even had a kid with one of them.

43 jaunte  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:12:44pm

re: #41 SpaceJesus

"Be upstanding for the Mayor of Simpleton."

44 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:13:16pm

re: #37 prononymous

Or Hail to the dick.

I'm more partial to Hail to the Douche.

45 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:13:22pm

And he doesn't even have to talk about his divorces or marriages. It's only because he's a moralizing dildo that he does feel compelled to talk about it. If he would just stop blabbering about moral issues we wouldn't even care about all of his relationship baggage.

46 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:13:51pm

re: #34 laZardo

At least Congressman Craigslist got the hint when he got caught.

John Boener had actually already warned him he was going under the bus if he suffered a public loss of zipper control (after Boener found him partying with some good-looking lobbyists). So he quit, because it had been made clear to him that he would find no support.

47 recusancy  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:14:03pm

re: #40 wlewisiii

Wrapped in the flag & carrying the cross.

And if I said anything more, I'd get myself banned.

I don't think Newt would be a good fascist. He'd have too many "side gigs" and distractions. I think he just likes the fame.

48 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:14:08pm

re: #36 Dark_Falcon

They learned that one during bill Clinton's time in office.

Sorry, but this thread is ripe for some Clinton cheap shots.

'cept Slick was able to keep it in his pants better than Newt "Contract Against America" Gingrich apparently could. How many times was Slick divorced, for example?

I never much liked Slick. But rather like democracy itself, he was a thousand times better than the alternatives.

49 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:15:17pm

re: #48 wlewisiii

'cept Slick was able to keep it in his pants better than Newt "Contract Against America" Gingrich apparently could. How many times was Slick divorced, for example?

I never much liked Slick. But rather like democracy itself, he was a thousand times better than the alternatives.

I'm Bob Dole damn it. Vote for me.

//

50 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:15:18pm

re: #45 Gus 802

And he doesn't even have to talk about his divorces or marriages. It's only because he's a moralizing dildo that he does feel compelled to talk about it. If he would just stop blabbering about moral issues we wouldn't even care about all of his relationship baggage.

Think Kenrod may have it right, that Newt's making such a big fuss of it now so as to claim, later on, that it's been "addressed" and anybody harping on about it is doing so rather than actually "addressing the issues."

51 recusancy  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:15:19pm

Boenor is about to be outed pretty soon for an alleged affair with a lobbyist.

52 engineer cat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:15:44pm

My Passion for My Country

actually, it all makes sense when you remember that newt thinks his duty to his country is to screw the working people

53 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:17:07pm

He loves America so much and he's so sorry. If she'd just take him back he promises never to fuck other countries while they are together.

54 b_sharp  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:17:13pm

re: #6 prononymous

That man will say literally ANYTHING for a vote.

Too many will believe anything that man says and vote for him.

55 austin_blue  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:17:57pm

Sorry, I read this today and it was just haw haw haw haw.

What a pandering asshole.

56 Ojoe  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:18:09pm

re: #36 Dark_Falcon

They learned that one during bill Clinton's time in office.

Sorry, but this thread is ripe for some Clinton cheap shots.

What is the difference between Bill Clinton and the Titanic?


Only 1,517 people went down on the Titanic.


• • •

Good night all.

57 laZardo  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:18:17pm

To class. BBL

58 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:18:18pm

I think it's going to be funny when Newt gets slammed for being a complete hypocrite in the primaries. The guy has since being out of office so used to people singing his praises that he's going to be in for a nasty surprise when someone like Romney whom to his credit is faithful to his wife slams him on this. Of course, that will probably include hints that it makes Newt "really a liberal" or "has liberal values" but it still will be fun to see Newt get his ass handed to him by other Republicans.

59 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:18:19pm

re: #50 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Think Kenrod may have it right, that Newt's making such a big fuss of it now so as to claim, later on, that it's been "addressed" and anybody harping on about it is doing so rather than actually "addressing the issues."

Yeah. Just another self centered asshole He doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself.

60 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:19:37pm

"a bloo bloo bloo *something about jesus* a bloo bloo bloo *something about 'merica* bloo bloo a bloo" = all is forgiven by the conservative base.

61 b_sharp  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:19:57pm

re: #37 prononymous

Or Hail to the dick.

I thought Cheney was out of politics.

62 b_sharp  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:21:09pm

re: #41 SpaceJesus

I guess this is a taste of things to come in 2012?

This comedy train is not going to have brakes.

Time to put a Loonie on the tracks?

63 Lidane  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:21:35pm

re: #58 HappyWarrior

The 2012 GOP primaries are going to be an orgy of self-righteousness and comedy gold. I can't wait.

64 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:21:55pm

re: #61 b_sharp

I thought Cheney was out of politics.

Nah, you see him every now and then, walking through the halls of Congress. Just look for the guy in the dark hooded cloak, muttering about the Dark Side.

65 recusancy  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:22:03pm

re: #63 Lidane

The 2012 GOP primaries are going to be an orgy of self-righteousness and comedy gold. I can't wait.

First debate is weeks away.

66 Ojoe  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:22:55pm

re: #62 b_sharp

We could use an elected National Jester.

Grocho Marx would have been a good one.

& Harpo would have been a good ambassador to the UN.

67 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:23:15pm

re: #63 Lidane

The 2012 GOP primaries are going to be an orgy of self-righteousness and comedy gold. I can't wait.

Yep, gonna be a lot of "I'm a better Christian than you" and arguments about what Obama is. Maybe one of them will find out the horrible truth that President Obama is an American citizen. But I have my doubts :).

68 Shiplord Kirel  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:23:23pm

My ex-wife, aka Jezebel and Jabba the Slutt, uses a similar rationale for her cheating behavior: Gawd's willingness to forgive is a monumental example of Christian grace, and therefore a powerful Christian witness. As a bonus in her eyes, it prevented her daughter (and mine) from growing up in the close company of a notorious scoffer and infidel such as myself.
As a further bonus, it means that her second child, fathered by my traitorous brother Judas, is more closely related to the first than is usual for children of different marriages. Judas himself is a Baptist deacon, they have been married for 31 years now. Their church associates, needless to say, are not aware of his violation of Leviticus 18:16, or any of the rest of this lurid history.

69 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:23:41pm

re: #56 Ojoe

What is the difference between Bill Clinton and the Titanic?

Only 1,517 people went down on the Titanic.

• • •

Good night all.

LOL!

70 b_sharp  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:25:42pm

G'night lizards. If I don't get to bed I'll never get up for work in the morning.

71 Kragar  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:26:46pm

Newt comes home, all his stuff in the front lawn and America leaning out the upstairs window, yelling "TAKE YOUR SHIT!", tossing shoes at him.

72 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:27:24pm

re: #68 Shiplord Kirel

My ex-wife, aka Jezebel and Jabba the Slutt, uses a similar rationale for her cheating behavior: Gawd's willingness to forgive is a monumental example of Christian grace, and therefore a powerful Christian witness. As a bonus in her eyes, it prevented her daughter (and mine) from growing up in the close company of a notorious scoffer and infidel such as myself.
As a further bonus, it means that her second child, fathered by my traitorous brother Judas, is more closely related to the first than is usual for children of different marriages. Judas himself is a Baptist deacon, they have been married for 31 years now. Their church associates, needless to say, are not aware of his violation of Leviticus 18:16, or any of the rest of this lurid history.

Like Taylor Swift, there's nothing that SK does better than revenge:

Youtube Video
73 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:30:26pm

I have to say watching Newt, I am astounded that this man was once Speaker of hte House. What a mental trainwreck. I actually have vague memories of the government shutdown of the 90's and how my mom, a government employee and her friends hated him. They had some chain email circulating that referred to him as "The Gingrich."

74 CuriousLurker  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:30:36pm

re: #58 HappyWarrior

I think it's going to be funny when Newt gets slammed for being a complete hypocrite in the primaries. The guy has since being out of office so used to people singing his praises that he's going to be in for a nasty surprise when someone like Romney whom to his credit is faithful to his wife slams him on this. Of course, that will probably include hints that it makes Newt "really a liberal" or "has liberal values" but it still will be fun to see Newt get his ass handed to him by other Republicans.

I wanna see his opponents use the video where he praises the "greatest of the Caliphates" to Grover Norquist him so I can LMAO. Starts around 0:50.

Youtube Video
75 austin_blue  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:31:04pm

re: #68 Shiplord Kirel

My ex-wife, aka Jezebel and Jabba the Slutt, uses a similar rationale for her cheating behavior: Gawd's willingness to forgive is a monumental example of Christian grace, and therefore a powerful Christian witness. As a bonus in her eyes, it prevented her daughter (and mine) from growing up in the close company of a notorious scoffer and infidel such as myself.
As a further bonus, it means that her second child, fathered by my traitorous brother Judas, is more closely related to the first than is usual for children of different marriages. Judas himself is a Baptist deacon, they have been married for 31 years now. Their church associates, needless to say, are not aware of his violation of Leviticus 18:16, or any of the rest of this lurid history.

{{Shiplord Kirel}}

I can't even begin to imagine your disgust, pain, rage...

But from down the perspective down here in Austin, that is just *so* Lubbock.

You understand, I am sure.

76 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:31:17pm

"I bet you a dollar he won't eat my pocket knife for a vote."

*loses a dollar*

77 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:32:08pm

Look, at least three women have been willing to accept his crappy lies.

Mrs. Gingrich III had darn well better hope she stays really, really healthy.

78 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:32:39pm

i have nightmares where i find out that newt is my real dad

79 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:33:35pm

re: #78 SpaceJesus

or maybe those are the ones where i am luke skywalker in empire strikes back


hard to tell the difference

80 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:34:26pm

re: #79 SpaceJesus

or maybe those are the ones where i am luke skywalker in empire strikes back

hard to tell the difference

Anakin only loved one woman.

Okay, he might have killed her, but he didn't cheat on her.

81 austin_blue  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:35:05pm

re: #78 SpaceJesus

i have nightmares where i find out that newt is my real dad

Good gawd! That would make you a Newtlet!

No advantage to a Cosmic Deity.

82 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:35:08pm

re: #79 SpaceJesus

or maybe those are the ones where i am luke skywalker in empire strikes back

hard to tell the difference

Also, Newt keeps trying to use Jedi mind tricks on us, but it isn't working.

83 Kragar  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:35:58pm

re: #80 EmmmieG

Anakin only loved one woman.

Okay, he might have killed her, but he didn't cheat on her.

But Luke made out with his sister.

84 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:36:18pm

re: #76 prononymous

I miss The Far Side. :(

85 CuriousLurker  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:36:21pm

Nite, lizards.

86 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:36:26pm

Gonna sign off for the night. Sleep well, all.

87 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:36:27pm

re: #82 EmmmieG

Also, Newt keeps trying to use Jedi mind tricks on us, but it isn't working.

Here's praying that human minds aren't _that _ weak...

88 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:36:55pm

Well. I guess in a country that is obsessed with Charlie Sheen, Lindsey Lohan, Snooki...

89 austin_blue  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:37:44pm

re: #83 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

But Luke made out with his sister.

Well, yes, but it was relatively chaste and they didn't do the nasty. Obviously a universe far, far away.

90 McSpiff  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:38:16pm

re: #68 Shiplord Kirel

My ex-wife, aka Jezebel and Jabba the Slutt, uses a similar rationale for her cheating behavior: Gawd's willingness to forgive is a monumental example of Christian grace, and therefore a powerful Christian witness. As a bonus in her eyes, it prevented her daughter (and mine) from growing up in the close company of a notorious scoffer and infidel such as myself.
As a further bonus, it means that her second child, fathered by my traitorous brother Judas, is more closely related to the first than is usual for children of different marriages. Judas himself is a Baptist deacon, they have been married for 31 years now. Their church associates, needless to say, are not aware of his violation of Leviticus 18:16, or any of the rest of this lurid history.

Damn man, just damn. Hope I can buy you a beer or 12 some day.

91 Kragar  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:38:21pm

re: #87 wlewisiii

Here's praying that human minds aren't _that _ weak...

Or that Newt is as ineffective as the average Jedi.

92 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:38:56pm

Oh geez, I finally finish reading thru the last thread, and everyone is up here.

help me, just fill me in . . .

93 reine.de.tout  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:40:10pm

re: #77 EmmmieG

Look, at least three women have been willing to accept his crappy lies.

Mrs. Gingrich III had darn well better hope she stays really, really healthy.

yeah, that's a LOT of what bothers me, as well.

94 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:41:18pm

Newt has been married 3 times?

Geez, he isn't exactly what I would consider a "lady killer".

bleh.

95 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:41:22pm

re: #93 reine.de.tout

yeah, that's a LOT of what bothers me, as well.

I have to confess, that in some of the pictures, she almost appears to be a robot.

Maybe that's her secret. The Bionic Woman doesn't get MS or cancer.

96 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:42:04pm

re: #95 EmmmieG

I have to confess, that in some of the pictures, she almost appears to be a robot.

Maybe that's her secret. The Bionic Woman doesn't get MS or cancer.

Makes me think of the remake of The Stepford Wives. 'cept without all the comedy.

97 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:42:45pm

re: #82 EmmmieG


jedi? no way. newt is a sith.

98 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:42:48pm

re: #92 ggt

Oh geez, I finally finish reading thru the last thread, and everyone is up here.

help me, just fill me in . . .

You haven't missed much. Just Newt still being the same as always. Slimey, that is.

99 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:43:06pm

re: #94 ggt

Newt has been married 3 times?

Geez, he isn't exactly what I would consider a "lady killer".

bleh.


According to Kissinger, power is the best aphrodisiac.

100 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:43:58pm

did buck get banned today? i saw him being ridiculous this morning but forgot about him.

101 Kragar  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:44:02pm

re: #97 SpaceJesus

jedi? no way. newt is a sith.

typo

102 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:45:14pm

re: #99 freetoken

According to Kissinger, power is the best aphrodisiac.

There are some men for whom that just isn't true. Newt is one of them. Money doesn't work for Bill Gates either.

bleh!

103 Lidane  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:45:32pm

re: #68 Shiplord Kirel

Oh my god. I couldn't even imagine how I'd feel in that situation. I'm so sorry you had to go through all that.

re: #75 austin_blue

But from down the perspective down here in Austin, that is just *so* Lubbock.

You understand, I am sure.

Heh. And now I have this song in my head:

Youtube Video
104 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:45:35pm

Maher made a funny joke at Newt's expense when I was flipping channels on last Friday. He said "Wait this means there's three people in the country that actually wanted to fuck Newt Gingrich." It was a bit mean but I had to laugh.

105 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:45:54pm

re: #101 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

typo

he was on the last thread, I should know, I just got finished reading the WHOLE thing, while you-all were up here making fun.

106 austin_blue  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:46:15pm

re: #100 SpaceJesus

did buck get banned today? i saw him being ridiculous this morning but forgot about him.

Don't think so. He was on an anti-union tirade on the last thread.

Silly bugger.

107 Shiplord Kirel  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:46:56pm

re: #75 austin_blue

{{Shiplord Kirel}}

I can't even begin to imagine your disgust, pain, rage...

But from down the perspective down here in Austin, that is just *so* Lubbock.

You understand, I am sure.

That aspect has occurred to me. For their part, Judas and Jezebel seem utterly oblivious to just how trashy and low-class this kind of behavior really is. My ex especially seems to see it as a more or less normal pitfall of life, something that could happen to anyone. She blithely told my (other) sister-in-law, "I married Jim and found out I had married the wrong bother." No problem, easy to fix.
Even so, they go to some lengths to conceal the truth. When my older daughter got married, the groom's parents did not know until two days before the wedding that my brother was not their prospective daughter-in-law's father. Even then, the story only came out because I was about to arrive in person to walk the bride down the aisle.
When I ran for mayor of that little town in California, it occurred to me that my brother and ex-wife were effectively barred from ever running for office themselves, since "the story" would scarcely be likely to escape the attention of the opposition. Even their involvement in tea party activism is restrained by the need to conceal so much.

108 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:48:16pm

re: #106 austin_blue

Don't think so. He was on an anti-union tirade on the last thread.

Silly bugger.

Can't ban the jester.

What?

///

110 albusteve  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:49:14pm

re: #100 SpaceJesus

did buck get banned today? i saw him being ridiculous this morning but forgot about him.

why would he be banned?

111 sagehen  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:50:45pm

re: #94 ggt

Newt has been married 3 times?

Geez, he isn't exactly what I would consider a "lady killer".

bleh.

The first Mrs Gingrich was his high school geometry teacher.

112 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:51:30pm

re: #111 sagehen

The first Mrs Gingrich was his high school geometry teacher.

He must have had a good angle.

113 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:52:10pm

re: #110 albusteve

he was really pushing it in some thread earlier, defending people who were banned pretty much

114 engineer cat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:52:43pm

damn i hate working late when the cleaning people get here

DON'T THEY KNOW THAT DOGS ARE SCARED TO DEATH OF VACUUM CLEANERS????

115 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:52:46pm

Maybe he asked her what her sine was.

116 sagehen  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:53:28pm

re: #112 EmmmieG

He must have had a good angle.

Acute angle.

117 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:54:30pm

re: #116 sagehen

Acute angle.


Really with him I thought it'd be a right angle.

118 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:55:25pm

So, I'm looking at the news... Khaddafi bombing his own oil facilities and refinery... wanna-be anarchists trying to start a revolution in Saudi this Friday... the now demonstrated accelerated melting of polar ice caps... you know, the trivial stuff... and what does the frothing revanchists in the USA cry about?

NPR.

119 engineer cat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:57:00pm

dear republican party,

thank you for making americans realize what assholes you are. could you please save up your stupidest, craziest shit for right before the next election?

yours sincerely

120 austin_blue  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:57:16pm

Night all. Sweet dreams!

121 albusteve  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:57:41pm

re: #113 SpaceJesus

he was really pushing it in some thread earlier, defending people who were banned pretty much


probably not smart to question Charles judgment in that department

122 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 9:59:48pm

re: #111 sagehen

OH Geez, why would a 26 yo teacher marry a 19 yo college student?

also from the Wiki:

In the mid-1990s, Gingrich began an affair with House of Representatives staffer Callista Bisek, who is 23 years his junior; they continued their affair during the Lewinsky scandal.[94] In 2000, Gingrich married Bisek shortly after his divorce from second wife Ginther. He and Callista currently live in McLean, Virginia.[95]

Hypocrite?

A Baptist since graduate school, Gingrich converted to Catholicism, Bisek's faith, on March 29, 2009.[98] Gingrich has stated that he has developed a greater appreciation for the role of faith in public life following his conversion, and believes that the United States has become too secular. At a 2011 appearance in Columbus, Ohio, he said, "In America, religious belief is being challenged by a cultural elite trying to create a secularized America, in which God is driven out of public life."[70]

Newly Converted Catholics are the worst kind --2009 counts as newly converted.

Gingrich has been a prolific amateur reviewer of books, especially of military histories and spy novels, for Amazon.com. As of 2004, Gingrich held the #488 spot among Amazon's top reviewers. Although a prolific author himself, Gingrich does not review his own works. According to The Weekly Standard, it is "clear that Newt is fascinated by tipping points—moments where new technology or new ideas cause revolutionary change in the way the world works".[99]

He has time for this? Is he a speed reader or a publisher's shill?

123 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:00:42pm

re: #117 HappyWarrior

Really with him I thought it'd be a rRight angle.

you forgot to Capitalize it.

:)

124 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:02:07pm

George Will Takes the Train to Glenn Beckville

Youtube Video

High speed rail leads to collectivism! And a Kibbutz.

125 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:03:13pm

re: #124 Gus 802

George Will Takes the Train to Glenn Beckville


[Video]High speed rail leads to collectivism! And a Kibbutz.

Sigh and to think I used to see Will as a voice of reasonable conservatism.

126 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:04:13pm

re: #125 HappyWarrior

Sigh and to think I used to see Will as a voice of reasonable conservatism.

There is no reason in a system with so much money and power to be exploited.

127 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:04:26pm

re: #125 HappyWarrior

Sigh and to think I used to see Will as a voice of reasonable conservatism.

Not anymore! He seemed to be settling down there for a couple of year and I guess he broke down. He's a big AGW denier too. I always thought he was a bit of a prig.

128 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:04:49pm

re: #124 Gus 802

Here's why we need rail:

Blast shut down Iraq Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline-sources

A bomb attack in the northern province of Nineveh halted oil flow through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which carries a quarter of Iraq's crude exports, a spokesman for Iraq's oil ministry said on Wednesday.

[...]

129 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:06:28pm

I always thought the return of street cars would be cool.

130 engineer cat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:06:34pm

re: #127 Gus 802

Not anymore! He seemed to be settling down there for a couple of year and I guess he broke down. He's a big AGW denier too. I always thought he was a bit of a prig.

did you see his amazing article about blue jeans as a sign of moral degeneracy?

131 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:06:51pm

re: #127 Gus 802

Not anymore! He seemed to be settling down there for a couple of year and I guess he broke down. He's a big AGW denier too. I always thought he was a bit of a prig.

He started going nuts after Obama became president as I recall. He made a huge deal of hte fact that president used "I" in his speeches. Trival bullshit like that made me think he's gone off his nut but yeah he always was a bit swarmy but compared to other conservative columnists I've read, he seemed reasonable. Maybe I was partially blinded since George and I both love baseball. Shrug. Honestly, I like the president's idea. I admit it's in large part because it will benefit me as a non driver but I think it would be good too as a whole. I am disappointed that Will who if I recall lives in the DC Metro area knows about how bad our car traffic is would resort to being a hack on this.

132 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:07:30pm

Let's see. Street cars and light rail.

Just move to Portland.

133 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:08:08pm

re: #130 engineer dog

did you see his amazing article about blue jeans as a sign of moral degeneracy?

Well one thing is for sure, I don't want to ever hear Mr. Will got someone an elitist again. Shit, George, you own one pair of jeans :).

134 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:08:17pm

re: #132 EmmmieG

Let's see. Street cars and light rail.

Just move to Portland.

I'm thinking about it...

135 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:08:22pm

re: #130 engineer dog

did you see his amazing article about blue jeans as a sign of moral degeneracy?

Cripes. I think I remember that one. You know he's really a pretty smart fellow. He could have been a successful writer of fiction instead. Heck, his editorials show a talent for fictions and displays an endless imagination. ;)

136 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:08:23pm

re: #133 HappyWarrior

Well one thing is for sure, I don't want to ever hear Mr. Will got someone an elitist again. Shit, George, you own one pair of jeans :).

err call, sorry it's been a long day.

137 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:08:32pm

re: #132 EmmmieG

Or San Diego, or any of a number of other cities that have minimal rail systems.

138 Velvet Elvis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:08:53pm

re: #106 austin_blue

Don't think so. He was on an anti-union tirade on the last thread.

Silly bugger.

I like the diversity of opinion we've had around here. It would be a shame it it became a total left wing echo chamber like Daily Kos.

139 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:10:55pm

re: #130 engineer dog

from your link:

Denim is the carefully calculated costume of people eager to communicate indifference to appearances. But the appearances that people choose to present in public are cues from which we make inferences about their maturity and respect for those to whom they are presenting themselves.

Really? I thought denim was a) comfortable b) versatile & c) durable. Let's add, easy to clean, store and pack.

Indifference in appearance??? Do you know how many pairs of jeans one can own. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have pairs hemmed to wear with flats, heals, winter jeans, summer jeans, good jeans, painting jeans. Some I iron, some I put in the dryer and let be. Some I send to the dry cleaners.

George really doesn't know fashion.

Or maybe he'd be OK as long as I was wearing denim in the form of a skirt, well above the knee.

140 palomino  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:10:58pm

"I just love my country so much that I have to bang everything that moves."

Sounds like a college freshman.

141 engineer cat  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:10:59pm

re: #135 Gus 802

Cripes. I think I remember that one. You know he's really a pretty smart fellow. He could have been a successful writer of fiction instead. Heck, his editorials show a talent for fictions and displays an endless imagination. ;)

he always makes me feel like i should make a movie about a small town in the midwest in the year 1905 and cast him as the grocer

142 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:12:04pm

re: #141 engineer dog

he always makes me feel like i should make a movie about a small town in the midwest in the year 1905 and cast him as the grocer

As the lonely "bachelor bagger" with an advanced degree from Princeton.

//

143 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:14:26pm

Newt has that "I'm a PhD" academic arrogance about him. Like he think's he's god's gift to the rest of us.

Really, he is an old, fat fuddy duddy the rest of us have to endure to get our pre-reqs out of the way.

144 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:15:34pm

OT but I simply love the fact that my modern Chinese history course is incredibly interactive. Plus I love my professor's teaching style plus how he views history. Heck of a nice guy too.

145 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:15:36pm

$1-a-gallon gas tax needed, oil firm boss says

The U.S. should consider imposing a $1-a-gallon gasoline tax and boosting average auto fuel economy to 50 miles a gallon to help avert a global energy crisis, the head of oil company Hess Corp. (HES) said.

[...]

George Will would not approve.

Newt Gingrich would point out that God intended Americans to have cheap oil.

146 SpaceJesus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:16:09pm

re: #121 albusteve

he also said he regrets ever being a part of this blog and for sticking up for charles. i thought for sure he was going to get the stick

147 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:19:08pm

You know this puts the whole England/America in a nice stark contrast.

On one hand we have the old phrase "lie back and think of England", on the other hand we have Newt telling us that he enjoys laying back and thinking about America. The difference is astounding.

148 Varek Raith  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:19:34pm

re: #146 SpaceJesus

he also said he regrets ever being a part of this blog and for sticking up for charles. i thought for sure he was going to get the stick

He's still here.

Buck

Web site URL:
[Link: www.google.com...]

Government's view of the economy: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, bail it out.

(Logged in)
Registered since: Jun 15, 2004 at 11:16 am
No. of comments posted: 5,945
No. of Pages posted: 56

149 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:20:38pm

re: #147 BishopX

Sick & cute all in one nice neat package! Heh.

150 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:20:57pm

The thing with Newt having an affair during the Lewinsky debacle really is pissing me off.

151 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:22:55pm

re: #145 freetoken

$1-a-gallon gas tax needed, oil firm boss says

George Will would not approve.

Newt Gingrich would point out that God intended Americans to have cheap oil.

Actually, neither would I. That type of tax would have a huge negative impact on the working class who drive inefficient older vehicles. Get rid of the oil company tax loopholes first or let the Bush tax cuts expire for the top 2 percent first.

152 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:25:28pm

Newt's current wife looks as tho she is bought and paid for very well cared for. Hair, make-up and clothing are big bucks. If she stays with him, I think it will also be big bucks, unless they have an "arrangement" undisclosed to the general public.

153 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:26:18pm

WTF?

@FrumForum
by Gus_802
The GOP’s Dim Bulb Bill: This week, the Senate will hold hearings on a bill to undo energy standards on li... [Link: bit.ly...] #tcot

154 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:27:13pm

How did he get to convert to RC having been married twice before?

155 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:27:26pm

re: #153 Gus 802

Excerpt:

President Reagan obviously thought that efficiency standards made sense. They did not offend his conservative values, nor should they. Can anyone think of anything less conservative than waste? For the same reason conservatives should oppose wasteful spending, they should also oppose wasteful energy use.

So why would anyone be against standards that result in more efficient products that save consumers money, conserve energy, and improve our environment with virtually no real sacrifice?

Of course these libertarian champions of waste who seek to save the inefficient light bulb complain that any standards are symptomatic of an overly intrusive nanny-state.

They also heap all sorts of criticism on CFLs. This is not all that relevant since the standards do not contain any mandate on technology. Odds are that LEDs will dominate the market once prices come down.

Still, it is worth pointing out that the CFL criticism is off the mark too. Typical complaints are that CFLs produce poor lighting quality, cost more, and that they contain dangerous levels of mercury. Most of these criticisms are based on older generations of CFLs. Today’s CFLs, while not perfect, simply don’t have many of the flaws their predecessors did.

156 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:29:53pm

re: #151 Gus 802

You're going to pay one way or another, Gus.

We're all going to pay.

157 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:30:09pm

I gotta sleep.

Have a great morning all!

158 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:30:29pm

re: #156 freetoken

You're going to pay one way or another, Gus.

We're all going to pay.

and pay and pay. . . .

night all!

159 stevemcg  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:30:32pm

Newt's excuse reminds me of a movie where one guy tries to come up with a crazy story to tell his wife and his buddy asks him "You think that'll work?" The first guy responds "It beats telling her the truth." I'm thinking a Chevy Chase character.

160 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:32:38pm

re: #156 freetoken

You're going to pay one way or another, Gus.

We're all going to pay.

True. But not when it impacts a family that need those extra dollars. Until we have alternatives in place we can't place a burden on the working class. If we start adding one dollar to one gallon of gasoline for a family that uses say 100 gallons a month to get to and from work that will mean a loss for paying the bills and buying food. Set up the alternatives first and until then raise the taxes on those that can afford it and not on people driving old beat up cars who can't afford the latest high mileage yuppie-mobile.

161 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:32:53pm

re: #32 Dark_Falcon

Well, that would have disqualified FDR and JFK.

And LBJ, and Harding, and Eisenhower...

162 stevemcg  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:32:54pm

re: #154 ggt

You can be baptized, but he can't have a church wedding.

163 Girth  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:32:58pm

re: #150 ggt

The thing with Newt having an affair during the Lewinsky debacle really is pissing me off.

Newt isn't worth getting pissed off at. He's not going to be President, it's very unlikely that he'll be the GOP nominee, and I'm not even sure he'll end up running.

Tonight's events in WI changed the national political landscape. Those potential GOP candidates are all thinking twice about running tonight. The party faithful are probably ecstatic, but the people who do the polling and count the votes know that Democratic turnout is poised to turn up to 11.

164 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:34:02pm

re: #38 Lidane

It would have disqualified Thomas Jefferson too.

Is there any evidence that Jefferson cheated on Martha, as opposed to having affairs after her death?

165 Eclectic Infidel  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:35:51pm

Hi SFZ --

have you been reading 'the list' in the past 15 minutes?

166 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:35:57pm

re: #42 HappyWarrior

I thought he started the Hemmings affair after his wife passed. Shit as a presidential history buff, I remember telling people who were "appalled" by Bill Clinton's exploits that they should look at Warren Harding. The guy had two mistresses at once and even had a kid with one of them.

I don't think he took up with either Maria Cosway or Sally Hemings until after Martha's death.

167 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:37:45pm

re: #76 prononymous

"I bet you a dollar he won't eat my pocket knife for a vote."

*loses a dollar*

Also a pocket knife.

168 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:38:21pm

re: #166 SanFranciscoZionist

I don't think he took up with either Maria Cosway or Sally Hemings until after Martha's death.

Yeah, I don't either. Have you heard the stories that Sally was Martha's half sister and that they looked a lot alike?

169 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:39:59pm

re: #100 SpaceJesus

did buck get banned today? i saw him being ridiculous this morning but forgot about him.

No, Buck is still around AFAIK.

170 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:41:26pm

re: #124 Gus 802

George Will Takes the Train to Glenn Beckville

[Video]

High speed rail leads to collectivism! And a Kibbutz.

I did think that was a little odd. You can argue against rail without getting into what it reveals about liberals' psychology.

171 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:41:50pm

As a midwestern boy, I'm left thinking of one song tonight. Not the one you probably think, but one that reminds us of what we have to remember. This is what it means to be of the great lakes. A storm can come along and take your father, brother, son & kill them in a heartbeat. But the rest of us are still there; we still remember; still work, fight, die to leave a better place for our children.

172 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:42:30pm

re: #131 HappyWarrior

He started going nuts after Obama became president as I recall. He made a huge deal of hte fact that president used "I" in his speeches. Trival bullshit like that made me think he's gone off his nut but yeah he always was a bit swarmy but compared to other conservative columnists I've read, he seemed reasonable. Maybe I was partially blinded since George and I both love baseball. Shrug. Honestly, I like the president's idea. I admit it's in large part because it will benefit me as a non driver but I think it would be good too as a whole. I am disappointed that Will who if I recall lives in the DC Metro area knows about how bad our car traffic is would resort to being a hack on this.

Oh, Will is back and forth. He's smart. In his case, I think the weirdness comes out because he's too revered for anyone to tell him he's talking out his ass now and then.

That said, his weirdness hardly ranks these days.

173 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:43:31pm

re: #139 ggt

from your link:

Really? I thought denim was a) comfortable b) versatile & c) durable. Let's add, easy to clean, store and pack.

Indifference in appearance??? Do you know how many pairs of jeans one can own. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have pairs hemmed to wear with flats, heals, winter jeans, summer jeans, good jeans, painting jeans. Some I iron, some I put in the dryer and let be. Some I send to the dry cleaners.

George really doesn't know fashion.

Or maybe he'd be OK as long as I was wearing denim in the form of a skirt, well above the knee.

I think that's exactly his point. He hates it that jeans have become fashionable, as opposed to work, costume.

174 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:44:03pm

re: #146 SpaceJesus

he also said he regrets ever being a part of this blog and for sticking up for charles. i thought for sure he was going to get the stick

He got in a mood about the Islamophobia thing.

175 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:44:15pm

Oh brother.

176 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:45:02pm

re: #165 eclectic infidel

Hi SFZ --

have you been reading 'the list' in the past 15 minutes?

Oh God, no.

177 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:45:45pm

re: #165 eclectic infidel

Hi SFZ --

have you been reading 'the list' in the past 15 minutes?

Catching up now...

178 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:46:24pm

re: #168 HappyWarrior

Yeah, I don't either. Have you heard the stories that Sally was Martha's half sister and that they looked a lot alike?

I've always thought that must have had something to do with it.

Very interesting family, the Hemingses.

179 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:47:39pm

re: #160 Gus 802

The thing is, adapting to higher gas prices is going to require structural changes, both economically and geographically. As a direct consequence of cheap gas and the good roads, it's often much much cheaper to live outside of towns/cities and commute in. Land is cheaper and you can get more bang for your buck. As gas gets more expensive that's going to change. It will simply become untenable to have to commute 20-30 miles for a low wage job. Adapting to this is going to require some major changes to the way we live. More affordable housing in urban centers, pedestrian access to business and retail centers and local stores near residential areas.

Upping taxes on the top 2% (while probably a good idea) isn't going to fix any of this. The only way this is going to change is if people decide they need to change, driving demand. This doesn't mean investing in a Prius, or a volt. It means moving, changing jobs and changing where you shop.

Higher gas prices are coming. Gas is going to be at $5/gallon nationally by 2020. The question is if we use an incrementally increasing gas tax to adjust or we wait for a price spike to screw everyone over.

180 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:50:25pm

re: #178 SanFranciscoZionist

I've always thought that must have had something to do with it.

Very interesting family, the Hemingses.

Yeah, when I was younger, I thought Sally had been more dark skinned. This was well before I realized just how complex the family trees and genetic backgrounds of many American slaves were. By the way, Monticello is a beautiful place. I liked it much more than Mount Vernon. No disrespect to Washington but if I had to choose one of them to be my pal, it would be TJ all the way.

181 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:53:02pm

re: #179 BishopX


Like every news outlet, the AP runs stories on oil prices and gasoline prices, e.g.:

Gas prices are about more than just oil

Without commenting on the content of that article, I note that there are almost 10,000 comments to it!

And of the comments I viewed, many seem well endowed with teh stoopid.

Crude oil is a precious material, whose production is not easily increased but whose demand is very easily increased.

The big picture is pretty clear, and it has been for some time. However Americans, as demonstrated by those comments and by George Will's essay, don't want to give up their goodies, so they'll look around for anyone to blame... except themselves.

182 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:53:03pm

re: #179 BishopX

I'd rather see the USA stop playing world's policeman first.

183 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:53:47pm

re: #167 SanFranciscoZionist

Also a pocket knife.

I can get that back after a day of following him around with a spade and a paper bag.

However, I can never get my dollar or my dignity back.

184 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:57:29pm

re: #180 HappyWarrior

Yeah, when I was younger, I thought Sally had been more dark skinned. This was well before I realized just how complex the family trees and genetic backgrounds of many American slaves were. By the way, Monticello is a beautiful place. I liked it much more than Mount Vernon. No disrespect to Washington but if I had to choose one of them to be my pal, it would be TJ all the way.

Several of the kids she had with Jefferson identified themselves as white. Extremely complicated cultural issues around race.

The first black woman to graduate from Vassar, BTW, was passing. Also a Hemmings.

185 God of Binders with Women  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:57:31pm

re: #7 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

"Yes, my passion for my country forced me to fuck around on my first wife when she got cancer with the woman who became my second wife, then forced me again to fuck around on her when she got MS with the woman who became my third wife.

But God has forgiven me, and that's all that matters! Now vote for my, you brainless peons!"

Truly, the man is an inspirational American. By "inspirational," I mean "full of shit."

Just sign the papers, DAMN IT!!!
//

186 God of Binders with Women  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:58:20pm

Newt would steal the quarters off a dead man's eyes.

187 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:58:25pm

The Estherites are looking to their hero to deliver them from the nasty liberals interfering with their right to cheap oil:

Could $5-Per-Gallon Gas Be What Palin Needs?

188 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:59:09pm

re: #181 freetoken

Like every news outlet, the AP runs stories on oil prices and gasoline prices, e.g.:

Gas prices are about more than just oil

Without commenting on the content of that article, I note that there are almost 10,000 comments to it!

And of the comments I viewed, many seem well endowed with teh stoopid.

Crude oil is a precious material, whose production is not easily increased but whose demand is very easily increased.

The big picture is pretty clear, and it has been for some time. However Americans, as demonstrated by those comments and by George Will's essay, don't want to give up their goodies, so they'll look around for anyone to blame... except themselves.

It's a lot more nuanced than that.

189 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:59:43pm

re: #182 Gus 802

I'd rather see the USA stop playing world's policeman first.

Regardless of our position on the world stage, we need to massively alter how we live. In this case a gas tax isn't about raising revenue, it's about managing the price of energy in a controlled manner to avoid price shocks. If the US government laid out a price schedule for oil for the next ten years, with the difference between market price and government price being the gas tax, whole industries would breathe sighs of relief.

The question isn't how do you want to raise tax revenue or spend money, the question is how sharp do you want to gas price spike to be.

190 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:59:47pm

re: #184 SanFranciscoZionist

Several of the kids she had with Jefferson identified themselves as white. Extremely complicated cultural issues around race.

The first black woman to graduate from Vassar, BTW, was passing. Also a Hemmings.

I can see how she passed. You know it's funny we're discussing mixed raced African Americans tonight since in my English class tonight we had to read and discuss Jean Toomer's Cane. Toomer himself was of mixed race and apparently passed for white much of his life.

191 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 10:59:53pm

re: #184 SanFranciscoZionist

Several of the kids she had with Jefferson identified themselves as white. Extremely complicated cultural issues around race.

The first black woman to graduate from Vassar, BTW, was passing. Also a Hemmings.

Also, she was gorgeous.

192 God of Binders with Women  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:00:11pm

The go-round is that this tic is high on the GOP smart list. Child, please.

193 Amory Blaine  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:02:12pm

Keep it classy Newt!!!

194 (I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was)  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:02:25pm

Tharir Square got cleared of protestors by thugs and Army… :-/

195 (I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was)  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:02:38pm

Tahrir! PIMF!

196 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:03:05pm

re: #189 BishopX

Regardless of our position on the world stage, we need to massively alter how we live. In this case a gas tax isn't about raising revenue, it's about managing the price of energy in a controlled manner to avoid price shocks. If the US government laid out a price schedule for oil for the next ten years, with the difference between market price and government price being the gas tax, whole industries would breathe sighs of relief.

The question isn't how do you want to raise tax revenue or spend money, the question is how sharp do you want to gas price spike to be.

Not by artificially inflating the price of gasoline through taxes. If you want to curb gasoline use start with all of the white yuppies driving around all day and going on trips or heading for the mountains to go skiing. The government should play no part in inflating the cost of gasoline through taxation. It's more than gasoline you know. I can live with the current rise in oil costs but adding an immediate hike through taxation will place an undue burden on the people. That will impact food costs, shipping, etc.

197 God of Binders with Women  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:03:12pm

Excuse me, Speaker Philander? You just got smoked by twenty points, and lost half the South in the 2012 election. How do you wish to plead? Tic: LIBRUL MEDIA! KONSPIRACY! KENYA!
///

198 (I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was)  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:03:22pm
Youtube Video
199 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:05:14pm

re: #196 Gus 802

Short of rationing the only way the government can curb gasoline use is through price modification.

200 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:05:24pm

We're already seeing a spike in oil prices and it's only because of the unrest in the ME. Find another solution other than sticking another dollar to the price of gasoline in order to feed a stupid war in Afghanistan.

201 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:05:42pm

re: #189 BishopX

Price controls have unintended consequences.

There's no way out of our dilemma - we as a nation are going to go through awkward and uncomfortable times as we adjust to a world that we no longer control but in which we have to compete for resources like everyone else.

Our post WWII global dominance kept us in a position to benefit from preferred arrangements. That is slipping into the fog of the history now. Now we can't expect other nations to simply bow down to us or move out of the way while we take what we desire.

202 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:06:04pm

Eclectic Infidel? You still here?

OH LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. WHY HAS IT BEEN GIVEN UNTO ME TO LEAD THIS FRACTIOUS PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE CLIFFS OF MASSIVE STUPIDITY?

OK. Done overreacting now.

203 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:06:31pm

re: #199 BishopX

Short of rationing the only way the government can curb gasoline use is through price modification.

Why does it have to be through the government all the time? Here's an idea. Tell all of the white liberal yuppies in my neighborhood to get out of their cars and stop driving everywhere. Walk for Christ's sake.

204 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:06:33pm

re: #200 Gus 802

International oil prices had been rising for several months before the Tunisia thing kicked off.

205 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:07:33pm

re: #204 freetoken

International oil prices had been rising for several months before the Tunisia thing kicked off.

So what. People are already curbing their driving because of that. You do remember that we're in a recession right?

206 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:08:51pm

Quit thinking in terms of white urban elites.

207 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:11:04pm

re: #205 Gus 802

Ah, but technically we are out of a recession.

And that is a problem.

Oil prices started their trend upwards again once it became clear that many of the world's major economies were expanding, especially the US. Only the US oil price at Cushing (WTI) remained low, and that was due to structural issues wrt US refineries and oil sources.

Look, it doesn't have to be the government that tries to reduce demand. Ok, let the "invisible hand" of the market do it.

Don't be surprised if said invisible hand gives everyone a back-handed slap across the face.

208 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:12:58pm

re: #203 Gus 802

Why does it have to be through the government all the time? Here's an idea. Tell all of the white liberal yuppies in my neighborhood to get out of their cars and stop driving everywhere. Walk for Christ's sake.

I would be happy to tell them that. Unfortunately if the past 45 years of warning to use less oil haven't stopped them, I'm probably not going to be able to either.they probably won't listen.

This a question about how we as a society are going to distribute resources, (land, oil, food). Isn't that sort of what we have governments for?

209 Amory Blaine  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:13:18pm

Oil prices are controlled by OPEC.

210 Eclectic Infidel  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:14:30pm

re: #202 SanFranciscoZionist

Eclectic Infidel? You still here?

OH LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. WHY HAS IT BEEN GIVEN UNTO ME TO LEAD THIS FRACTIOUS PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE CLIFFS OF MASSIVE STUPIDITY?

OK. Done overreacting now.

I really was stunned. How on EARTH could she see them as allies? How can it not be known what their views are?!? I have always entertained similar views to that of a certain cigar smoker's concerns, but figured what the heck, more allies can't hurt, but now I regret that decision.

211 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:16:47pm

re: #207 freetoken

Ah, but technically we are out of a recession.

And that is a problem.

Oil prices started their trend upwards again once it became clear that many of the world's major economies were expanding, especially the US. Only the US oil price at Cushing (WTI) remained low, and that was due to structural issues wrt US refineries and oil sources.

Look, it doesn't have to be the government that tries to reduce demand. Ok, let the "invisible hand" of the market do it.

Don't be surprised if said invisible hand gives everyone a back-handed slap across the face.

There are many solution to oil consumption in this world any you only present one of them. That's by the conservative idea of adding a tax on fuel to artificially inflate the price which will lead to lower consumption. One thing you don't seem to understand is that higher fuel price will lead to inflation in other markets and most noticeably fuel. Perhaps you and your friends can afford the spike in food price and other consumable but most people cannot. No politician is going to vote for a one dollar a gallon fuel tax in this economy whether you like it or not. Find another alternative. There are many.

212 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:17:27pm

re: #207 freetoken

Ah, but technically we are out of a recession.

And that is a problem.

Oil prices started their trend upwards again once it became clear that many of the world's major economies were expanding, especially the US. Only the US oil price at Cushing (WTI) remained low, and that was due to structural issues wrt US refineries and oil sources.

Look, it doesn't have to be the government that tries to reduce demand. Ok, let the "invisible hand" of the market do it.

Don't be surprised if said invisible hand gives everyone a back-handed slap across the face.

BTW. Do you drive a car?

213 Kronocide  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:18:00pm

re: #201 freetoken

There's no way out of our dilemma - we as a nation are going to go through awkward and uncomfortable times as we adjust to a world that we no longer control but in which we have to compete for resources like everyone else.

Our post WWII global dominance kept us in a position to benefit from preferred arrangements. That is slipping into the fog of the history now. Now we can't expect other nations to simply bow down to us or move out of the way while we take what we desire.

Drumroll.... WHYDOYOUHATEAMERICANEXCEPTIONALISMCOMMIE!

214 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:18:20pm

re: #212 Gus 802

I buy approximately 2.5 gallons of gasoline per month.

I walk, daily.

Miles.

215 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:19:25pm

re: #214 freetoken

I buy approximately 2.5 gallons of gasoline per month.

I walk, daily.

Miles.

That's pretty rare. Most of the people in my trendy neighborhood drive everywhere. Maybe we should start taxing white wine to reduce consumption.

216 Velvet Elvis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:20:25pm

Whoah

(CNN) -- The Dalai Lama announced Thursday his plan to retire as political head of the exiled movement, according to his website.
"Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power," the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said in a statement. "Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect."
He said he will formally propose amendments to the Charter for Tibetans in Exile to make the change at the upcoming session of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile that begins Monday. If the changes are made, leadership of the group would be passed to an elected leader.

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

So no successors either.

217 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:21:37pm

Anyway. To be blunt. A one dollar tax on gasoline is a stupid idea that would get nowhere. The Democrats couldn't even pass an AGW bill through the House or Senate before the Republicans took over the House. The GOP will certainly not pass such a tax and neither would many if not most Democrats.

218 freetoken  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:23:09pm

re: #215 Gus 802

I only go by car when I absolutely have to.

After spending years commuting more than 20 miles one way to work... and flying regularly thousands of miles between coasts... I said screw it.

219 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:23:14pm

re: #216 Conservative Moonbat

Whoah

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

So no successors either.

Wow. As my history professor put it, history is constantly happening. Guess that's why I enjoy it so much.

220 Kronocide  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:23:20pm

re: #217 Gus 802

Right now, yes. At another time and place, maybe not.

221 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:23:51pm

re: #211 Gus 802

I think we're dealing with two separate issues here.

1) ways we can reduce the US dependence on oil, specifically gasoline
There are many ways we can do this, a gas tax is one of them it may not be the best though.

2)ways to reduce the impact of the coming price spike for gasoline. Faced with rising demand from China and India as well as a end to the effects from the tail end of the depression, gas prices are going to rise. They are going to rise dramatically. Think $5/gallon or higher within the next eight years. We know this is coming. The question is how do we respond. Do we artificially raise the price of gas gradually so to curtail the negative effects of a 'unexpected' price hike. Or do we let the invisible hand of the market have it's way with us?

222 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:24:10pm

And we're still in Afghanistan. GITMO is still open. The CIA is still doing renditions. We never got a public option. The DADT repeal barely got passed at the last minute.

223 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:24:59pm

re: #222 Gus 802

I know, life sucks and Obama isn't living up to what I hoped.

224 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:26:55pm

re: #210 eclectic infidel

I really was stunned. How on EARTH could she see them as allies? How can it not be known what their views are?!? I have always entertained similar views to that of a certain cigar smoker's concerns, but figured what the heck, more allies can't hurt, but now I regret that decision.

Morally speaking, they're scum.

Practically speaking, they're the kiss of death in our area.

This adds up to a big-ass NO as far as I am concerned.

225 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:27:16pm

re: #215 Gus 802

That's pretty rare. Most of the people in my trendy neighborhood drive everywhere. Maybe we should start taxing white wine to reduce consumption.

The little fuckers will still find a way... :banghead:re: #222 Gus 802

And we're still in Afghanistan. GITMO is still open. The CIA is still doing renditions. We never got a public option. The DADT repeal barely got passed at the last minute.

re: #222 Gus 802

And we're still in Afghanistan. GITMO is still open. The CIA is still doing renditions. We never got a public option. The DADT repeal barely got passed at the last minute.

S

amen. amen. amen.

Goodnight. See your tomorrow,

amen. amen. amen,

226 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:27:32pm

re: #223 BishopX

I know, life sucks and Obama isn't living up to what I hoped.

Life does suck. And when I hear people talking about things that will only raise my cost of living it only pisses me off. Not now. Come back with the dollar a gallon gasoline tax when I have work again and after they repeal all of the big oil tax loopholes and every other tax loophole the rich bastards get.

227 Gus  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:30:08pm

I'm getting crabby so I should hit the futon.

Good, night.

228 BishopX  Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:30:24pm

G'night all

229 freetoken  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 2:30:53am
MP3 Audio
230 laZardo  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 2:52:40am

So I recently learned there are twoofers in the P.I. as well.

/and people wonder why i have no faith in humanity.

//also good evening

231 researchok  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 3:39:23am

Morning, all

233 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 3:48:26am

re: #232 Varek Raith


How shocking. It's almost as though they report on stories only in a way most favorable to the political party they're basically a part of.

234 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 3:57:21am

Good Morning Lizards!

I am ashamed to admit, I don't love my country as much as Newt. I have always been faithful to my wife. I'm so ashamed!//

235 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:00:01am

Gee, seems like the collective bargaining "issue" wasn't a budgetary issue at all.
I'm shocked.

236 researchok  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:00:01am

re: #234 rwdflynavy

Good Morning Lizards!

I am ashamed to admit, I don't love my country as much as Newt. I have always been faithful to my wife. I'm so ashamed!//

Commie bastard.
//

237 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:03:57am

re: #233 Obdicut

How shocking. It's almost as though they report on stories only in a way most favorable to the political party they're basically a part of.

Who? NPR??

Oh ,wait ,, FOX !!

238 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:04:37am

re: #234 rwdflynavy

Good Morning Lizards!

I am ashamed to admit, I don't love my country as much as Newt. I have always been faithful to my wife. I'm so ashamed!//

me too

umm,,, cept MY wife,,, not YOUR wife !!

239 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:06:12am

re: #237 sattv4u2

Who? NPR??

Oh ,wait ,, FOX !!

At least NPR doesn't dishonestly claim that they are "Fair and Balanced".
;)

240 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:09:43am

re: #239 Varek Raith

At least NPR doesn't dishonestly claim that they are "Fair and Balanced".
;)

No

just "public"!

241 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:13:14am

re: #238 sattv4u2

me too

umm,,, cept MY wife,,, not YOUR wife !!

Why do you hate AMERICA!!!!!//

242 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:15:49am

re: #241 rwdflynavy

Why do you hate AMERICA!!!//

Because it doesn't make much sense to me!!

Chewing on a piece of grass
Walking down the road
Tell me, how long you gonna stay here Joe?
Some people say this town don't look
Good in snow

I mean ,, if it's snowing ,,where'd you get the grass to chew on !?!?

Youtube Video
243 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:15:51am

I guess "because I love America so much" is as good of an lame excuse as any.

244 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:17:21am

re: #243 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I guess "because I love America so much" is as good of an lame excuse as any.

Why not?
I still use "The dog ate my ,,," (fill in the blank depending on circumstance)

245 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:17:58am

re: #241 rwdflynavy

re: #242 sattv4u2

Because it doesn't make much sense to me!!

Chewing on a piece of grass
Walking down the road
Tell me, how long you gonna stay here Joe?
Some people say this town don't look
Good in snow

I mean ,, if it's snowing ,,where'd you get the grass to chew on !?!?


[Video]

Not to mention

"Alligator Lizards In The Air"~!

246 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:17:58am

re: #243 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I guess "because I love America so much" is as good of an lame excuse as any.

A patriotic philanderer. They would stand for the pledge of allegiance before they started and would always end with a rousing rendition of "god bless america". USA-USA!

247 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:18:57am

Morning all! Anything exciting happen last night?

248 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:19:39am

re: #247 RogueOne

Morning all! Anything exciting happen last night?

Lessee

umm,, before I came to work I clipped my toenails!

249 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:19:53am

re: #246 RogueOne

Get on you knees and show me how much you love America!
-Bill Clinton
(paraphrasing)

250 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:20:26am

re: #247 RogueOne

Morning all! Anything exciting happen last night?

I stayed up til 9:50 PM playing Batman Arkham Asylum. I know! I'm out of control!

251 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:20:55am

re: #249 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Get on you knees and show me how much you love America!
-Bill Clinton
(paraphrasing)

Sounds like that phrase is ingrained in your brain.....most exciting night of your life?

252 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:22:14am

re: #249 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Get on you knees and show me how much you love America!
-Bill Clinton
(paraphrasing)

Who have you done for your country today?

253 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:22:29am

re: #249 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Get on you knees and show me how much you love America!
-Bill Clinton
(paraphrasing)

"Let go of my ears,, I know what I'm doing"

Monica

254 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:28:48am

I know that many women found Bill Clinton sexy. I remember all of the stories about it in the press.

But c'mon ladies. Newt? You're fucking Newt Gingrich?

Well; that's just star fucking.

255 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:31:09am

re: #252 rwdflynavy

Who have you done for your country today?

"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"

JFK

256 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:31:55am

re: #254 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I know that many women found Bill Clinton sexy. I remember all of the stories about it in the press.

But c'mon ladies. Newt? You're fucking Newt Gingrich?

Well; that's just star fucking.

Just googled "Odd Couples"

[Link: www.google.com...]

257 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:32:20am

re: #255 jamesfirecat

"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what WHO you can do for your country"

JFK

ftfy

258 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:33:28am

re: #254 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I know that many women found Bill Clinton sexy. I remember all of the stories about it in the press.

But c'mon ladies. Newt? You're fucking Newt Gingrich?

Well; that's just star fucking.

[Link: community.livejournal.com...]

259 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:34:56am

re: #254 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I know that many women found Bill Clinton sexy. I remember all of the stories about it in the press.

But c'mon ladies. Newt? You're fucking Newt Gingrich?

Well; that's just star fucking.

I met Newt, he is a big boy!

260 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:35:17am

re: #258 sattv4u2

What makes a woman say, "I would hit that."

261 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:36:29am

re: #260 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

What makes a woman say, "I would hit that."

In my wifes case, just about anything I say to her!

Then she does,, usually with a frying pan to the head!

262 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:37:08am

re: #259 rwdflynavy

I met Newt, he is a big boy!

TMI

(the things you learn in a mens locker room, huh!!)

263 reine.de.tout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:37:38am

re: #254 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I know that many women found Bill Clinton sexy. I remember all of the stories about it in the press.

But c'mon ladies. Newt? You're fucking Newt Gingrich?

Well; that's just star fucking.

whoa whoa!
Don't go blaming the ladies for Newt's idiocy!
Tho I do see your point -

264 PhillyPretzel  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:38:57am

re: #254 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
I am sure you have heard the expression, "Love is blind." In that case it is.

265 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:39:05am

re: #262 sattv4u2

TMI

(the things you learn in a mens locker room, huh!!)

Hey, just because guys in the locker room refer to you as "The strangest looking eight year old ever!"...

266 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:39:11am

re: #263 reine.de.tout

!! WAVIN AT YA!!!

Doing okay?

267 reine.de.tout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:40:04am

re: #266 sattv4u2

!! WAVIN AT YA!!!

Doing okay?

Heya, Satt!
Yes, doing just fine!
At long last, deep-water permits are being issued again, the Roi is happy.
When the Roi is happy, I'm happy!
How 'bout you?

268 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:43:12am

re: #267 reine.de.tout

Heya, Satt!
Yes, doing just fine!
At long last, deep-water permits are being issued again, the Roi is happy.
When the Roi is happy, I'm happy!
How 'bout you?

GREAT news!

Doing okay here

Still doing the Atlanta to Boston shuffle trying to help dad sort through things

Going to take these next two weekends off from it though. Need to get some of my own things done. Son and Wifey leave on Monday (through Saturday) for his Junior Class trip, so I'll be able to get a lot of Honey Do things done next week

269 reine.de.tout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:45:36am

re: #268 sattv4u2

GREAT news!

Doing okay here

Still doing the Atlanta to Boston shuffle trying to help dad sort through things

Going to take these next two weekends off from it though. Need to get some of my own things done. Son and Wifey leave on Monday (through Saturday) for his Junior Class trip, so I'll be able to get a lot of Honey Do things done next week

Sad times, sorting through things.

And it's amazing how much stuff one can get done when one is alone - I love it when everyone is out of the house; I can zip through the chores pretty fast when no one's in the way!

270 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:46:49am

White House struggles to lead on spending
[Link: www.politico.com...]

I think someone screwed up the headline, they've done a masterful job of spending for the last couple of years. The deficit number for last month was almost as high as the yearly totals during the last admin. How much better at spending could they be?

271 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:49:01am

re: #270 RogueOne

White House struggles to lead on spending
[Link: www.politico.com...]

I think someone screwed up the headline, they've done a masterful job of spending for the last couple of years. The deficit number for last month was almost as high as the yearly totals during the last admin. How much better at spending could they be?

Add my wife to the staff!!

272 kirkspencer  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:54:37am

re: #254 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I know that many women found Bill Clinton sexy. I remember all of the stories about it in the press.

But c'mon ladies. Newt? You're fucking Newt Gingrich?

Well; that's just star fucking.

"Money is a powerful aphrodisiac. But flowers work almost as well." Robert Heinlein

273 Shropshire_Slasher  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:56:15am

re: #272 kirkspencer
"Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker"

274 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:58:06am

re: #270 RogueOne

White House struggles to lead on spending
[Link: www.politico.com...]

I think someone screwed up the headline, they've done a masterful job of spending for the last couple of years. The deficit number for last month was almost as high as the yearly totals during the last admin. How much better at spending could they be?

Compared to Bush? They're pikers. They haven't learned how to spend while lying that they're cutting the budget.

275 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:00:11am

re: #274 wlewisiii

Compared to Bush? They're pikers. They haven't learned how to spend while lying that they're cutting the budget.

Like when you don't add Iraq war spending to the deficit...
;)

276 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:03:39am

re: #274 wlewisiii

Compared to Bush? They're pikers. They haven't learned how to spend while lying that they're cutting the budget.

For old school Volume though, Obama is in the lead!

277 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:05:31am

re: #276 rwdflynavy

For old school Volume though, Obama is in the lead!

For new school math too!!

[Link: washingtonexaminer.com...]

278 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:08:41am

re: #274 wlewisiii

Compared to Bush? They're pikers. They haven't learned how to spend while lying that they're cutting the budget.

Did you miss the part where I said last months deficit number was almost as high as the highest annual deficit under Bush?

279 PhillyPretzel  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:09:21am

re: #277 sattv4u2
"primary balance" Oh good G-d. Now they are playing word games. I got to brush up on my semantics.

280 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:10:30am

re: #279 PhillyPretzel

"primary balance" Oh good G-d. Now they are playing word games. I got to brush up on my semantics.

I tell my mail-lady that I would be rich if only she'd stop bringing me all those bills!!!

281 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:11:02am

re: #278 RogueOne

[Link: www.bloomberg.com...]
[Link: www.washingtontimes.com...]

2006 = 248.2 Billion
2007 = 162.8 Billion
February 2011 = 223 Billion

282 PhillyPretzel  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:12:20am

re: #280 sattv4u2
LOL. Sometimes I do not get any mail. Unfortunately that means I don't get the Wall Street Journal.

283 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:15:47am

I've been waiting and waiting for this guys opinion:

"Koch" Stinger Speaks Out About NPR Sting
[Link: www.slate.com...]


"If it just raw footage," said Murphy, "and he pretended to be some dude from the Muslim Brotherhood in order to say stupid things and hear them say stupid things, I have no problem with that. I thought the whole ACORN thing was complete bullshit, because James O'Keefe didn't actually dress like a pimp in those offices, and the video made it seem like he did. But it's cool to be a pranky guy, even if you're a right-wing lunatic."

284 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:15:48am

re: #278 RogueOne

Did you miss the part where I said last months deficit number was almost as high as the highest annual deficit under Bush?

Yeah, but Bush LIED, Budget RISED!!!//

285 laZardo  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:18:04am

re: #284 rwdflynavy

Yeah, but Bush LIED, Budget RISED!!! Surplus DIED!//

ftrfy

286 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:20:01am

No wonder unions have been bleeding membership, ugliest cheerleaders EVER!:

Youtube Video
287 PhillyPretzel  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:21:15am

I got to run. bbl

288 Shropshire_Slasher  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:22:00am

re: #287 PhillyPretzel
Now I want a pretzel with mustard, DAMN YOU!

289 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:23:05am

re: #222 Gus 802

And we're still in Afghanistan. GITMO is still open. The CIA is still doing renditions. We never got a public option. The DADT repeal barely got passed at the last minute.

Yep, life's a bitch.

Now imagine where we would have been with two years of McCain/Palin.

In two years, we got Health Care Reform passed, SOME financial reform, DADT repealed, the Iraq war wound down, START ratified, two good SCOTUS Justices...

Is it everything I would have wanted? No. But it sure beats the alternative.

290 kirkspencer  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:26:47am

re: #281 RogueOne

[Link: www.bloomberg.com...]
[Link: www.washingtontimes.com...]

2006 = 248.2 Billion
2007 = 162.8 Billion
February 2011 = 223 Billion

Do you recall that Obama made the decision during his first month in office that the costs of the war in the middle east would no longer be an off-books cost? Did you read any of the articles that noted this would make the deficit appear to increase by approximately 1 trillion dollars?

When previous administrations used double-book accounting it raises the question whether this past month was really the largest, or just the largest of which we know.

291 laZardo  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:27:55am

New LGF page for those up for a little science tonight. ;)

292 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:32:29am

re: #290 kirkspencer

FTA:


Total spending rose 2.8 percent for the year, compared with an average annual increase of 6.8 percent since 2001, the year Bush took office. Revenue in 2007 increased 6.7 percent, helping to reduce the annual budget gap more than one-third from $248.2 billion last year.
......
Spending totaled $2.731 trillion for the fiscal year, compared with revenue of $2.568 trillion. While both figures were records, they fell short of White House projections. In July, Bush's budget office forecast 2007 revenue of $2.574 billion and spending of $2.779 billion.

Military Spending

About fourth-fifths of total U.S. government spending last fiscal year went for defense, interest payments on the national debt and for funding retirement and health programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

U.S. military spending rose 6.1 percent to $529.8 billion, from $499.4 billion in 2006 and about $9 billion less than the administration forecast earlier this year, the Treasury figures showed.

another link with graphs to make it easier:
[Link: www.usgovernmentspending.com...]

293 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:33:48am

re: #281 RogueOne

[Link: www.bloomberg.com...]
[Link: www.washingtontimes.com...]

2006 = 248.2 Billion
2007 = 162.8 Billion
February 2011 = 223 Billion

now go and compare the deficits (uh, surpluses?) in clinton's last two budgets to any deficit under bush and then tell me why they look so much worse

were bush's much larger deficits due to that famous republican fiscal discipline or to economic conditions?

294 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:36:28am

re: #293 engineer dog

If you're looking for me to defend the bush spending habits you're barking up the wrong tree. I would happily agree to go back to the last Clinton budget, adjusted for inflation of course, in exchange for going back to the clinton tax rates.

295 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:38:51am

re: #293 engineer dog

now go and compare the deficits (uh, surpluses?) in clinton's last two budgets to any deficit under bush and then tell me why they look so much worse

were bush's much larger deficits due to that famous republican fiscal discipline or to economic conditions?

Whatever we do, let's make sure we don't remember how the economy went into free fall in the fall of 2008, knocking the shit out of revenues. Let's make sure not to remember how we had no normal fiscal levers to pull, since interest rates were already at zero (or so close to that as to be effectively zero).

Whatever we do, we cannot let any context creep into this discussion. That would be bad.

/

296 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:39:35am

re: #294 RogueOne

If you're looking for me to defend the bush spending habits you're barking up the wrong tree. I would happily agree to go back to the last Clinton budget, adjusted for inflation of course, in exchange for going back to the clinton tax rates.

That would require unringing the Iraq War and Bush tax cuts bell.

Good luck with that.

297 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:41:44am

re: #296 garhighway

That would require unringing the Iraq War and Bush tax cuts bell.

Good luck with that.

If the congress feels the spending levels on Afghanistan/Iraq is essential then let them add it into the clinton numbers.

I'm all about compromise.//

298 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:42:06am

re: #294 RogueOne

If you're looking for me to defend the bush spending habits you're barking up the wrong tree. I would happily agree to go back to the last Clinton budget, adjusted for inflation of course, in exchange for going back to the clinton tax rates.

It's okay that the Obama admin is spending like drunken sailors becasue the Bush admin spent like half drunken sailors!

299 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:46:27am

re: #298 sattv4u2

It's okay that the Obama admin is spending like drunken sailors becasue the Bush admin spent like half drunken sailors!

The dems came into office railing about the bush deficits ("reckless and unpatriotic") and the way they decided to fix it was to triple the debt....I'm not getting the logic.

300 Darth Vader Gargoyle  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:46:34am

re: #298 sattv4u2

It's okay that the Obama admin is spending like drunken sailors becasue the Bush admin spent like half drunken sailors!

Hey, Ease up on the drunken Sailors! Even at my most drunk I don't spend that much!//

301 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:46:58am

I want to lower spending and raise taxes. There, now every party hates me.

Good night/morning fellow sentient organisms.

302 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:47:54am

re: #300 rwdflynavy

Hey, Ease up on the drunken Sailors! Even at my most drunk I don't spend that much!//

Thats only because you can't TAKE from others!!

:)

303 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:48:07am

re: #300 rwdflynavy

re: #302 sattv4u2

Thats only because you can't TAKE from others!!

:)

LEGALLY!

304 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:48:16am

the typical percentage of the u.s. federal budget spent on debt service is about 6%. because reagan lowered taxes and raised military spending, debt svc went up as high as 10% for a couple of years in the early 90s. however, in an inflationary universe, fixed interest payments become effectively smaller over time. if federal debt service goes over 12%, i'll begin to get worried.

we still pay interest on the reagan debt, though, because we've never paid down the federal debt accumulated over the decades

governments have always borrowed huge amounts of money to get through tough times. this habit goes back at least as far as the roman empire

305 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:48:21am

re: #297 RogueOne

If the congress feels the spending levels on Afghanistan/Iraq is essential then let them add it into the clinton numbers.

I'm all about compromise.//

Do you? Would you pull out of Afghanistan?

306 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:49:26am

re: #305 garhighway

Do you? Would you pull out of Afghanistan?

No need to as long as you're wearing protection!

Did you learn NOTHING from Health Class!?!?!
//

307 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:50:35am

re: #299 RogueOne

The dems came into office railing about the bush deficits ("reckless and unpatriotic") and the way they decided to fix it was to triple the debt...I'm not getting the logic.

the logic is that there was motherfucking ginormous economic meltdown

308 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:51:20am

re: #299 RogueOne

The dems came into office railing about the bush deficits ("reckless and unpatriotic") and the way they decided to fix it was to triple the debt...I'm not getting the logic.

Read Keynes.

At the depths of the worst recession since the 30's, with no other monetary or economic levers to pull, increased federal spending is the only thing out there to try and soften the blow.

I am continually amazed at how fast people have forgotten how bad and scary the fall of 2008 was. Down the memory hole it went. Amazing.

309 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:52:00am

The big story yesterday was about the little guy getting screwed because the other side took their ball and went home:

[Link: www.cbssports.com...]

Anybody else watch?

310 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:52:02am

re: #306 sattv4u2

No need to as long as you're wearing protection!

Did you learn NOTHING from Health Class!?!?!
//

So? As a way to save money, do we boogie on out of there?

311 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:52:27am

re: #307 engineer dog

the logic is that there was motherfucking ginormous economic meltdown

Which itself had nothing to with the fact that for 30-odd years we persuaded people to remortgage their houses and buy shit from China.

312 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:53:15am

re: #310 garhighway

So? As a way to save money, do we boogie on out of there?

Please.
We got more important matters at hand.
Like cutting funding for Planned Parenthood and Poison Control Centers.

313 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:54:13am

re: #305 garhighway

Do you? Would you pull out of Afghanistan?

I think pulling out completely would be a mistake, a big mistake, but if the rest of the country disagrees or feels that now is the time to go....what am I supposed to do about it? Right now I'm getting the feeling that my view on the war is quickly becoming a minority view.

314 laZardo  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:55:19am

re: #313 RogueOne

Nine years and no Bin Laden (probably dead, and both sides are waiting for the other to admit it) can do that to a view.

315 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:55:36am

re: #307 engineer dog

the logic is that there was motherfucking ginormous economic meltdown

There was a meltdown so it's essential that we raise baseline spending levels forever? At what point do they decide the meltdown is over and it's time to go back to the old spending limits?

316 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:56:34am

re: #315 RogueOne

There was a meltdown so it's essential that we raise baseline spending levels forever? At what point do they decide the meltdown is over and it's time to go back to the old spending limits?

When the GOP stops thinking cutting taxes solves everything???

317 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:56:35am

re: #315 RogueOne

There was a meltdown so it's essential that we raise baseline spending levels forever? At what point do they decide the meltdown is over and it's time to go back to the old spending limits?

Perhaps when John Boehner stops trying to screw up women's health provision and CREATES SOME FUCKING JOBS.

318 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:57:18am

Volcano monitoring.
Fucking useless.
Cut it.

319 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:57:38am

re: #313 RogueOne

I think pulling out completely would be a mistake, a big mistake, but if the rest of the country disagrees or feels that now is the time to go...what am I supposed to do about it? Right now I'm getting the feeling that my view on the war is quickly becoming a minority view.

It's a tough one for me. I really, really hate the idea of abandoning those people to the Taliban. That would be bad for us in a whole bunch of different ways. (Not that Karzai isn't a crook. He is.)

So if the plan seems to be working, I say stick with it.

320 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:58:31am

re: #317 iossarian

Perhaps when John Boehner stops trying to screw up women's health provision and CREATES SOME FUCKING JOBS.

huh???

Didn't Obama run on that platform!?!?

Now it's Boehners fault that jobs aren't being "created"!?!?!?

321 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:58:34am

re: #318 Varek Raith

Volcano monitoring.
Fucking useless.
Cut it.

I don't see why we send $250K a year to strengthen democracy in Uganda. Cut that shit. That'll create some jobs!

322 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:58:53am

re: #318 Varek Raith

Volcano monitoring.
Fucking useless.
Cut it.

Fruit flies in Paris, FRANCE.
Fucking useless.
Stomp'em.

323 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:59:18am

re: #322 Sergey Romanov

Fruit flies in Paris, FRANCE.
Fucking useless.
Stomp'em.

That one still makes my head hurt.
:/

324 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:59:21am

re: #316 Varek Raith

When the GOP stops thinking cutting taxes solves everything???

Or when the dems stop thinking raising taxes solves everything?

325 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:59:44am

if the choice is balance the budget or borrow money to feed the kid, you borrow the fucking money

republicans talk about how easy it should be to cut spending, but their actual suggestions never amount to much

326 kirkspencer  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 5:59:47am

re: #315 RogueOne

There was a meltdown so it's essential that we raise baseline spending levels forever? At what point do they decide the meltdown is over and it's time to go back to the old spending limits?

Actually, I'd like it if we returned baseline spending to what worked. Of course that also means we need to pay for it.

Raise the taxes back to what they were under Clinton, at least.

327 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:00:30am

re: #323 Varek Raith

That one still makes my head hurt.
:/

At least you have your own mini-Lysenko. /

328 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:00:46am

re: #327 Sergey Romanov

At least you have your own mini-Lysenko. /

Ouch!
/

329 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:00:58am

re: #315 RogueOne

There was a meltdown so it's essential that we raise baseline spending levels forever? At what point do they decide the meltdown is over and it's time to go back to the old spending limits?

excuse me who said we are raising baseline spending forever?

330 kirkspencer  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:01:04am

re: #325 engineer dog

if the choice is balance the budget or borrow money to feed the kid, you borrow the fucking money

republicans talk about how easy it should be to cut spending, but their actual suggestions never amount to much

Oh, it's more dishonest than that. We're spending less than we collect, so we'll cut spending -- but also reduce how much we collect. As a result we're STILL spending less than we collect, and can scream about the deficit.

331 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:01:54am

This is an important time people, you need to get your priorities straight. March Madness has started! No one watched the St. Johns game yesterday?

332 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:02:15am

How about that governor of Florida?
Cuts education 1.5 billion then turns around and give it the the corporations in the form of a tax cut.
BUDGETARY CRISIS!

333 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:02:29am

re: #315 RogueOne

There was a meltdown so it's essential that we raise baseline spending levels forever? At what point do they decide the meltdown is over and it's time to go back to the old spending limits?

Find me Obama saying that we raise should spending levels forever. That's simply false.

334 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:03:08am

re: #324 RogueOne

Or when the dems stop thinking raising taxes solves everything?

raising taxes does raise money to help pay for the debt which only two seconds ago was giving you a giant heart attack see 1994-1999 please

335 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:03:55am

Fuck it.
Eliminate the whole concept of money.
Problem fucking solved.
/GIVE ME A NOBEL!

336 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:05:49am

re: #335 Varek Raith

Fuck it.
Eliminate the whole concept of money.
Problem fucking solved.
/GIVE ME A NOBEL!

But money makes the world go round. Don't tamper with nature.

337 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:06:10am

re: #320 sattv4u2


Now it's Boehners fault that jobs aren't being "created"!?!?!?

Boehner (and more generally the Republicans) are currently trying to:

- eliminate planned parenthood (political move, doesn't create jobs)
- eliminate NPR (political move doesn't create jobs)
- break union power (reduces median pay, thus reducing demand, doesn't create jobs)
- make abortion illegal (creates tons of jobs*)

Obama, on the other hand, is trying to come up with ways to strengthen the economy. Single payer health care is proven (in the sense that it has this effect in every country it is used) to reduce health spending while keeping outcomes the same. Economic stimulus efforts have been shown to work in the past. And he's doing all this while having to fight the ideological nonsense outlined above every step of the way.

I would love to see this post rewritten from the right-wing point of view. That is the point of this forum: intelligent debate.

* j/k, this doesn't create any jobs either

338 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:06:16am

when are all these corporations and wealthy people who get all these loopholes and tax breaks gonna use them to generate wealth and get us out of this fucking hole like republicans always tell us is the reason for the loopholes and taxbreaks?

339 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:09:20am

re: #334 engineer dog

raising taxes does raise money to help pay for the debt which only two seconds ago was giving you a giant heart attack see 1994-1999 please

Didn't you know that there is a Constitutional right to the Bush tax rates? It's in there somewhere.

/

340 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:09:36am

re: #337 iossarian

- eliminate planned parenthood (political move, doesn't create jobs)
- eliminate NPR (political move doesn't create jobs)

err,, no,

Just the small portion the fed funding it gets

Lets take NPR for an example
Lets say the feds do cut them off

Why can't NPR make up the shortfall by instead of having a 5 second "this program is funded by a grant from the XYZ corp" to a full 30 second commercial paid for by the "XYZ" corp?

341 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:09:46am

re: #329 engineer dog

excuse me who said we are raising baseline spending forever?

That is what has happened, as predicted:

The Eternal Stimulus
'Temporary' spending becomes permanent.
[Link: online.wsj.com...]


President Obama sold the $862 billion in stimulus spending as “targeted, timely and temporary.” Critics said that was highly unlikely, and now the 2011 Obama budget has proven them right.

To wit, the White House is proposing to convert spending sold as a one-time economic boost into a permanent feature of future government growth. As both the Tax Policy Center and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget have pointed out, supposedly temporary parts of the stimulus—expansions of the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit and Pell Grants for college students—have now found their way into the budget baseline.

True to the way Mr. Obama has honored his campaign pledge of transparency, this news was buried in a footnote on page 170 of the budget’s Analytical Perspectives.

The baseline normally reflects “current law,” but the White House argues that this is unrealistic because Congress is never going to allow, say, the Alternative Minimum Tax to hit the middle class. Fair enough. But it also chose to smuggle these stimulus items into its definition of the “current policy” baseline and hoped that no one would notice.

343 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:10:09am

The best way to cut spending is by reducing the costs of what we spend on-- by doing what we do more efficiently.

The most stupid fucking way to do it is with simple-sounding but asinine things like '10% cuts across the board', which are only suggested by the severely economically ignorant. Such cuts generally wind up costing more money in the end-- like the poison control centers, which would wind up costing us more money with 911 calls and trips to the emergency room that we'd save.

I wouldn't mind people calling for fiscal discipline as much if more of them could grasp the really simply concept that a lot of the time you have no choice but to spend money. We can't let people die in the hospital waiting room, we can't just let houses burn down, we can't let companies pollute unregulated. There isn't an option to simply not address problems.

344 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:10:54am

republicans tell us we need to cut taxes for the wealthy so they can be wealth creators and job creators, so where the fuck are the jobs and how come they aren't returning the favor now that they've created all this wealth on our dime?

345 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:11:17am

And on that note, gotta go set up things for the ACC tournament games today

346 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:11:31am

re: #344 engineer dog

republicans tell us we need to cut taxes for the wealthy so they can be wealth creators and job creators, so where the fuck are the jobs and how come they aren't returning the favor now that they've created all this wealth on our dime?

Uncertainty.
Or some such bullshit.

347 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:11:41am

re: #336 Sergey Romanov

But money makes the world go round. Don't tamper with nature.

That's provably false:

Youtube Video
348 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:13:30am

re: #345 sattv4u2

And on that note, gotta go set up things for the ACC tournament games today

It's that time of year when you guys make all that money!

349 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:14:47am

re: #347 RogueOne

That's provably false:


[Video]

Heretic! Your scripture is false! Off with your head.

The only deviation I will tolerate is goldian:

Youtube Video
350 darthstar  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:16:15am

re: #340 sattv4u2

- eliminate planned parenthood (political move, doesn't create jobs)
- eliminate NPR (political move doesn't create jobs)

err,, no,

Just the small portion the fed funding it gets

Lets take NPR for an example
Lets say the feds do cut them off

Why can't NPR make up the shortfall by instead of having a 5 second "this program is funded by a grant from the XYZ corp" to a full 30 second commercial paid for by the "XYZ" corp?

Because then it would no longer be "public" radio. It would be a private for profit business.

351 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:16:16am

re: #348 RogueOne

It's that time of year when you guys make all that money!

Greedy Corporate Barons that we are!!

(we just bought new mattresses to stuff all the gold into)

352 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:17:12am

re: #341 RogueOne

That is what has happened, as predicted:

The Eternal Stimulus
'Temporary' spending becomes permanent.
[Link: online.wsj.com...]

try finding the actual dollar amounts here and you'll understand more about how to lie with half truths

353 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:17:29am

re: #350 darthstar

Because then it would no longer be "public" radio. It would be a private for profit business.

I see. So because they CALL it "Public Radio" you think it is!


I guess PUBLIC STORAGE is also, huh!
[Link: www.publicstorage.com...]

354 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:17:36am

Peter King's Muslim hearings are not the first
[Link: www.politico.com...]


When Representative Peter King (R-N.Y.) picks up the chairman’s gavel Thursday for hearings into extremism among American Muslims, he’ll launch what critics have condemned for months as an insensitive, outrageous witch hunt that echoes the government’s decision to round up Japanese Americans during World War II.

Rarely mentioned amid the outrage, however, is that King’s investigation isn't likely to break much new ground.

In the last five years, House and Senate committees have held at least 22 hearings focusing on the problem of radicalized American Muslims plotting terrorist acts or joining Al-Qaeda and similar groups, according to congressional staffers. The investigations have also been bipartisan, convened by the likes of Maine Senator Susan Collins — a moderate, low-key Republican — and former Rep. Jane Harman, a California Democrat.

Perspective...

355 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:17:46am

re: #350 darthstar

Because then it would no longer be "public" radio. It would be a private for profit business.

Exactly. "We don't want to eliminate this public service, we just want to replace it with something that looks exactly like Fox News."

Note the lack of objection to any of my other points as well.

356 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:18:04am

re: #341 RogueOne

That is what has happened, as predicted:

The Eternal Stimulus
'Temporary' spending becomes permanent.
[Link: online.wsj.com...]

I can't read the whole piece: it's behind the WSJ paywall. What part of the stimulus do the Pell grants represent?

357 darthstar  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:18:25am

re: #353 sattv4u2

I see. So because they CALL it "Public Radio" you think it is!

I guess PUBLIC STORAGE is also, huh!
[Link: www.publicstorage.com...]

Now you're just being obtuse.

358 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:18:32am

re: #350 darthstar

Because then it would no longer be "public" radio. It would be a private for profit business.

((and btw , one can be a private non or not for profit entity)

359 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:18:56am

re: #357 darthstar

Not really ,, See 358

360 sattv4u2  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:19:16am

Really gotta scoot

Sorry

361 darthstar  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:19:32am

re: #359 sattv4u2

Not really ,, See 358

Sorry...there are no second chances in life. Don't you listen to your own party?

362 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:19:37am

re: #352 engineer dog

Especially since I don't think the Pell Grant stuff doesn't actually cost anything, it was just a shift in how we administer them.

But the Wall Street Journal would never frame an issue in an unsigned op-ed in order to make Democrats look bad! Oh no!

363 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:19:50am

re: #349 Sergey Romanov

Oh, yeah???

Youtube Video

?
364 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:21:15am

Heh.

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

President Barack Obama's budget plan would cut $100 billion from Pell Grants and other higher education programs over a decade through belt-tightening and use the savings to keep the maximum college financial aid award at $5,550, an administration official said.

365 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:21:19am

re: #356 garhighway

I can't read the whole piece: it's behind the WSJ paywall. What part of the stimulus do the Pell grants represent?

I don't even have to read the piece. It'll be someone complaining that the government discovered that a particular program (which was originally temporary) worked (i.e., had a positive effect on the overall well-being of the country) and so decided to make it permanent (or at least as permanent as anything can be - see workers' rights and coal mine safety regulations).

OMG HYSTERIA WE ARE STILL SPENDING MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR US! CALL INTERNATIONAL RESCUE!

366 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:23:24am

re: #364 Obdicut

Heh.

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

Obama could turn this country into medieval France with the Koch brothers as Charlemagne and the Avignon Pope, and the WSJ would still be attacking him for being insufficiently right-wing.

367 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:24:07am

re: #363 Varek Raith

vot is zis ai dont even

368 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:24:35am

re: #356 garhighway

I can't read the whole piece: it's behind the WSJ paywall. What part of the stimulus do the Pell grants represent?

Without googling the crap out of it I'm not sure. According to the WSJ the baseline add-ons total roughly $260 Billion

369 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:25:48am

summary:

we have an education crisis
we have a problem with many children not getting proper medical attention
we have 9% unemployment
many people are losing their homes

the deficit is just agitated to divert your attention from much more serious problems, which aren't going to be solved by pissing on teacher's unions and defunding npr

370 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:27:44am

Does anyone else remember McCain's "deer in the headlights" expression when Congress was called upon to deal with TARP? Was it not really, really clear that he had no idea whatsoever what was happening there? Does anyone really think that the team of him and Palin would have had ANY idea of what to do come January 2009?

Ideology aside, it is a good thing for all of us that those two were not elected. John McCain was an honorable man and a fine public servant, but my God was he in over his head. And then adding Sarah to the team? Yeesh.

371 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:27:45am

re: #369 engineer dog

It's really funny how well those issues are being used to distract supposed fiscal conservatives. It's also funny how these supposed fiscal issues always turn out to be things that they're culturally and politically opposed to as well.

372 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:28:16am

re: #368 RogueOne

BTW, higher education in this country is inefficient for exactly the same reasons that health care is inefficient: because we make individuals pay for their education (for ideological reasons), but also want the enormous benefit that comes from having an educated workforce, we have introduced a completely unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to enable poorer students to attend college.

If you just make college free, you save a bundle of money for similar outcomes.

But then BLACK PEOPLE GET TO GO TO COLLEGE AND MY STACEY DIDN'T GET IN EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD A 3.2 GPA ZOMG!!!

373 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:28:47am

re: #368 RogueOne

Without googling the crap out of it I'm not sure. According to the WSJ the baseline add-ons total roughly $260 Billion

While I know you come to this discussion in good faith, I cannot agree that the WSJ does.

374 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:28:48am

Palin/Huckabee 2012!
Must catch moose and squirrel!

375 darthstar  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:28:52am

re: #369 engineer dog

It's Charlie Sheen politics. The Republicans and "real America" are WINNING! even if it destroys them. It really makes me sad to watch this train wreck and know there's nothing anyone can do that will stop it for the next year and a half.

376 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:29:44am

re: #368 RogueOne

Without googling the crap out of it I'm not sure. According to the WSJ the baseline add-ons total roughly $260 Billion

that would be approximately a zillion times to high a figure for one year expenditures for all of the programs mentioned put together

377 laZardo  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:32:23am

Been paying attention to sketching the design for my thesis that I've neglected this conversation.

Here's the Filipino version of the Onion.

378 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:33:18am

I've decided to stop taking my car for oil changes. This is going to save me a bundle of money!

379 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:33:56am

the wsj has great news reporting, but they lie a lot in their editorials

380 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:34:40am

I've just had a great idea! I'm going to stop putting quarters in parking meters! I'll be rich with all the quarters I save!

381 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:35:45am

re: #369 engineer dog

No problem at all...

"No Way Out" of Debt Trap, Gross Says: U.S. Living Standards Doomed to Fall
[Link: finance.yahoo.com...]


“There is really no way out of this trap and this conundrum at this point,” says Gross. From an investment perspective his advice is to stay clear of “bonds in dollar denominated terms” and to be “wary of higher interest rates going forward.”

NR attaches a CBO response to a Ryan list of questions to show the depth of the problem:

(pdf) [Link: www.cbo.gov...]
(Hint: Interest rates going from 3.5% to 6.2% by 2021)


Under all three scenarios, interest costs would be higher than CBO estimated in its January baseline projections (see Table 2). The effects would be minimal for 2011. Between 2012 and 2021, though, interest payments under scenarios 1 and 3 would be about $1.1 trillion and $1.2 trillion higher, respectively, and under scenario 2, interest payments would be $5.4 trillion higher. The cumulative deficit and debt held by the public at the end of the 10-year period would rise by similar amounts. A small portion of the additional interest payments would be offset in most years by larger remittances by the Federal Reserve System on its earnings from holding Treasury securities, which are shown as added revenues in Table 2. The estimates in Table 2 do not account for possible effects on the deficit and debt of other differences in economic conditions that might accompany higher interest rates.

Nope, no problem at all.

382 Kronocide  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:37:09am

Size comparison of planets and stars.
We are not the center of the universe. Unless the sky is Satan's Canvas.

383 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:38:03am

re: #376 engineer dog

that would be approximately a zillion times to high a figure for one year expenditures for all of the programs mentioned put together

I believe it's a 10 yr number. Why the feds like to use 10 yr projections I can't answer.

384 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:39:31am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area - we're under a flood watch once again as more rain is moving into the area for the next 36 hours. Hopefully the flooding wont be as bad as they're predicting...

Late to the original topic, but my 2 cents: Gingrich is claiming that he fooled around because he was wrapped up in the job of politics. Right. So devoted that he forgot where (and who) he was sticking it (to)?

I'm sure that some will buy that nonsense, but the reality is that he's a shameless liar when it comes to his infidelity and there's no excuse for cheating on your wife. I am not buying it, and neither would he, had someone like President Clinton came out with a similarly bogus excuse for his behavior.

385 darthstar  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:40:40am

re: #382 BigPapa

Size comparison of planets and stars.
We are not the center of the universe. Unless the sky is Satan's Canvas.

I feel big. We kick Venus' ass!

386 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:41:10am

re: #381 RogueOne

No problem at all...

"No Way Out" of Debt Trap, Gross Says: U.S. Living Standards Doomed to Fall

Nope, no problem at all.

We've already seen a drop in living standards. It's not really all that surprising - when your financial "strategy" is to take out loans to pay someone else to make stuff for you, at some point the music is going to stop.

The question now is, how do we move forwards. The Republicans want to cut programs that primarily support the poor and to a lesser extent the middle class (Pell Grants, Planned Parenthood and so on). I think this is abhorrent behavior, and would prefer to see those programs strengthened, and paid for down the road by increased progressive taxation.

387 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:41:57am

The IRA sympathizers hearing has started.

388 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:42:27am

re: #387 Varek Raith

The IRA sympathizer's hearing has started.

389 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:42:29am

re: #384 lawhawk


....there's no excuse for cheating on your wife. I am not buying it, and neither would he, had someone like President Clinton came out with a similarly bogus excuse for his behavior.

I can come up with 10 good excuses off the top of my head without wrapping a flag around it and calling it for god and country.

390 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:42:59am

re: #386 iossarian

Especially since without wealth available to the lower strata of the economy, we're not going to be a wealthy nation anymore. We need people able to buy products, to have disposable income. This is rather basic Wealth of Nations stuff.

391 darthstar  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:43:45am

re: #389 RogueOne

I can come up with 10 good excuses off the top of my head without wrapping a flag around it and calling it for god and country.

I've tried wrapping a flag around it...really isn't all that pleasant a sensation.

392 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:43:50am

a popular lying technique recently is to quote godzilla sized expenditure figures but never mention what period of time this supposed expenditure covers

over and over again i hear such figured quoted for ss and medicare as if payment was due yesterday but in point of fact the figure was calculate for the next 75 years!! and was still inflated 20 times over other estimates...

393 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:44:49am

re: #386 iossarian

We're never going to agree, as a country, what is too important/not important to cut. The only way I see to deal with this without fighting over every single line item is to make a percentage cut across the board.

394 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:45:29am

re: #392 engineer dog

I've seen lots of people quoting some FairTax economist dude about how the unfunded liabilities of the US are 50 trillion. Fifty trillion! That's a lot. Of course, without a time scale and knowing the assumptions, it's also useless. If you're running a deficit of any sort, then you could claim the unfunded liabilities are infinity dollars.

395 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:45:31am

re: #391 darthstar

I've tried wrapping a flag around it...really isn't all that pleasant a sensation.

Those old wool flags leave a rash...

396 darthstar  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:45:52am

re: #392 engineer dog

a popular lying technique recently is to quote godzilla sized expenditure figures but never mention what period of time this supposed expenditure covers

over and over again i hear such figured quoted for ss and medicare as if payment was due yesterday but in point of fact the figure was calculate for the next 75 years!! and was still inflated 20 times over other estimates...

I think the Democrats should resort to mockery. When John Boehner speaks, mock him mercilessly as being a fear monger who couldn't balance his own checkbook. Same for McConnell. Continue openly mocking their idiotic claims until they change their behavior.

397 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:46:01am

re: #393 RogueOne

We're never going to agree, as a country, what is too important/not important to cut. The only way I see to deal with this without fighting over every single line item is to make a percentage cut across the board.

I agree with your diagnosis but personally I'd prefer fighting over every line item rather than mindlessly hacking away at the budget.

398 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:46:14am

re: #393 RogueOne

The only way I see to deal with this without fighting over every single line item is to make a percentage cut across the board.

Heh. What if some of those 'across the board' cuts result in higher costs elsewhere, Rogue? Is the symbolism more important than actually saving money?

399 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:46:56am

re: #381 RogueOne

No problem at all...

"No Way Out" of Debt Trap, Gross Says: U.S. Living Standards Doomed to Fall
[Link: finance.yahoo.com...]

NR attaches a CBO response to a Ryan list of questions to show the depth of the problem:

(pdf) [Link: www.cbo.gov...]
(Hint: Interest rates going from 3.5% to 6.2% by 2021)

Nope, no problem at all.

We have a mature economy that will grow, in a really good year, at 4%. Asia has immature economies that will grow at 8%. (Give or take.) Do that math. Then tell me what it does for dollar-denominated items, and then please, PLEASE explain to me how that is a partisan political issue.

400 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:47:50am

re: #391 darthstar

I've tried wrapping a flag around it...really isn't all that pleasant a sensation.

It would need to be a really soft flag.

401 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:49:33am

re: #391 darthstar

/you're not doing it right! ////

402 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:49:56am

re: #398 Obdicut

Heh. What if some of those 'across the board' cuts result in higher costs elsewhere, Rogue? Is the symbolism more important than actually saving money?

When we have a week long argument about cutting 20% of a non-essential service like poison control centers what would you have them do? If I had my way I say go back to the last effective budget we had, Clinton's, tweak it for inflation and use those numbers as the basis for the argument. If by using those numbers you can make a case for increased spending in certain areas then fine, I can happily go along.

403 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:51:24am

re: #402 RogueOne

When we have a week long argument about cutting 20% of a non-essential service like poison control centers what would you have them do?

Exactly my point, Rogue. Cutting poison control centers would cost more money than it would save. The calls currently going into those specialized centers, better equipped to handle them, would go to 911, taking up that time and budget, or wind up in emergency rooms, costing us time and money there, and increasing the burden on the health care system.

What is hard to grasp about that?

404 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:51:40am

re: #402 RogueOne

When we have a week long argument about cutting 20% of a non-essential service like poison control centers what would you have them do? If I had my way I say go back to the last effective budget we had, Clinton's, tweak it for inflation and use those numbers as the basis for the argument. If by using those numbers you can make a case for increased spending in certain areas then fine, I can happily go along.

Can we also go back to Clinton's tax rates?

405 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:52:10am

re: #404 jamesfirecat

Can we also go back to Clinton's tax rates?

NOTAXESBAD!!!MONGONOLIKETAXES!!!

406 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:53:09am

re: #398 Obdicut

Heh. What if some of those 'across the board' cuts result in higher costs elsewhere, Rogue? Is the symbolism more important than actually saving money?

That's the heart of it. The GOP has collectively decided that they are all about symbolism and have abandoned substance.

407 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:53:38am

re: #381 RogueOne

could you do two things?

tell us what you think will happen to you personally because of this over the next ten years

then, ten years from now, remember your predictions

408 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:54:42am

In the above article I linked, Obama is reducing Pell Grant spending by cutting out an aspect of it that has been proved not to work-- the grants available for summer school. Since they don't demonstrably prove graduation rates, they're being removed. That's a sensible cut that won't increase costs somewhere else.

Yet somehow, cuts like that go unnoticed, while people fetishize this broad, sweeping cuts with no thought or rationality to them.

409 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:55:50am

re: #403 Obdicut

Exactly my point, Rogue. Cutting poison control centers would cost more money than it would save. The calls currently going into those specialized centers, better equipped to handle them, would go to 911, taking up that time and budget, or wind up in emergency rooms, costing us time and money there, and increasing the burden on the health care system.

What is hard to grasp about that?

According to their own professional organizations numbers almost 100% of their 4 million calls annually are non-emergency in nature. (Actually they claim 100% is non-emergency but I'm willing to believe they misspoke) If we can't agree to cut 20% of their budget how are we ever going to agree on the big ticket items like defense, medicaid/medicare, social security?

410 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:56:25am

re: #397 jamesfirecat

I agree with your diagnosis but personally I'd prefer fighting over every line item rather than mindlessly hacking away at the budget.

That would be the grown-up way to go about it, yes.

re: #398 Obdicut

Heh. What if some of those 'across the board' cuts result in higher costs elsewhere, Rogue? Is the symbolism more important than actually saving money?

Of course it is (not for Rogue, I hope, but for Boehner and his crew).

Why not increase spending and taxation? Why does it have to be cuts? Perhaps the answer lies in where Republicans get their campaign funding...

411 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:56:40am

re: #404 jamesfirecat

Can we also go back to Clinton's tax rates?

I said yes earlier. I'm sticking with my answer/

412 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:57:00am

re: #409 RogueOne

According to their own professional organizations numbers almost 100% of their 4 million calls annually are non-emergency in nature. (Actually they claim 100% is non-emergency but I'm willing to believe they misspoke) If we can't agree to cut 20% of their budget how are we ever going to agree on the big ticket items like defense, medicaid/medicare, social security?

Even if the calls are non emergency, who is going to end up taking them if the Poison control centers aren't there?

413 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:58:11am

re: #394 Obdicut

I've seen lots of people quoting some FairTax economist dude about how the unfunded liabilities of the US are 50 trillion. Fifty trillion! That's a lot. Of course, without a time scale and knowing the assumptions, it's also useless. If you're running a deficit of any sort, then you could claim the unfunded liabilities are infinity dollars.

also, in point of fact the social security trustees, who ought to know, estmate the unfunded liability for ss over the next 75 years at $5.3 trillion

414 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:58:25am

re: #412 jamesfirecat

Even if the calls are non emergency, who is going to end up taking them if the Poison control centers aren't there?

The village wise-woman will deal with them. Increased employment among crones! It's a win-win situation!

415 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:58:58am

re: #412 jamesfirecat

Even if the calls are non emergency, who is going to end up taking them if the Poison control centers aren't there?

I feel confident that they'll survive a 20% cut. If they need ways to improve their call centers there are literally hundreds of companies out there that can help them.

416 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:59:40am

re: #394 Obdicut

It's a good point, and that's why CBO scoring is so important - but the CBO scoring also has its limitations. Namely, it has to do that the CBO can only score the effects based on the law as it is currently enacted. It can't take into account changes that are widely expected or occur normally (such as the annual AMT patch dance), which affect revenue streams and the extension of various tax items.

What's really needed is an overhaul of the tax code - tax simplification that not only clarifies the code for compliance purposes, but which makes it more transparent and easy to understand. I think there'd be agreement on eliminating the AMT if the top tax rate is higher than the 35 (or 39.6 rate) top rate because it would eliminate the need to carry out tax calculations twice to determine your tax obligations. Eliminate credits and deductions for high income taxpayers (leave charitable deductions). Big ticket items like mortgage interest and other credits should be phased out on a sliding scale based on income (and on years going forward - reducing until they are no longer available).

Where there's conflict on tax code overhauls is whether the overhaul should be revenue neutral (compared with current IRC) or whether it should generate more revenue at present - which could potentially reduce the deficit if government spending doesn't increase along with the revenue.

Some states have shown that they can simplify their tax systems while maintaining the same revenues, so it can be done.

417 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:00:03am

re: #409 RogueOne

According to their own professional organizations numbers almost 100% of their 4 million calls annually are non-emergency in nature. (Actually they claim 100% is non-emergency but I'm willing to believe they misspoke)

So what? People are still calling. You think they just won't call 911, that they won't, concerned their child may die from poison, go to an emergency room? You think these people are just calling the poison line for fun, not out of genuine concern?

If we can't agree to cut 20% of their budget how are we ever going to agree on the big ticket items like defense, medicaid/medicare, social security?

I can't ever agree to the stupidity of saying that we need to cut an arbitrary percentage. I'm happy to agree that we need to examine what works and what doesn't and save costs by cutting out things that we can actually cut without increasing costs somewhere else or failing to provide needed services to citizens. There is no merit, at all, in the least, to a call for a random percentage.

In fact, this is even weirder on your part because you've had Reine tell you the effect of such blanket cuts-- that staff gets laid off with no reduction in workload, so people get overtaxed, work slows down, less gets done. You seem to think that somehow, cutting the service cuts the need for the service. It's a very bizarre notion.

418 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:00:41am

re: #415 RogueOne

I feel confident that they'll survive a 20% cut. If they need ways to improve their call centers there are literally hundreds of companies out there that can help them.

What do you base that confidence on?

Why do you expect the companies to help them?

Is there some way to make a profit on this process that I'm missing?

419 RogueOne  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:00:45am

It's been fun this morning (and I didn't mention WI or Charlie Sheen once!) but I need to get on the road if I'm going to do my part in helping the budget deficit (make money=pay taxes).

Enjoy the rest of the day people!

420 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:01:09am

Cut all corporate welfare, first. Then we'll talk about cutting Poison Control or whatnot.

421 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:02:27am

re: #418 jamesfirecat

What do you base that confidence on?

Why do you expect the companies to help them?

Is there some way to make a profit on this process that I'm missing?

All government programs have 20% of waste built, didn't you know that?

The amazing part is, once you perform the 20% cut, there is still 20% of waste in the remaining 80% for you to cut next year! It's like fairy-land magic!

422 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:02:50am

re: #416 lawhawk

I think tax code reform would be an excellent, excellent place to start. Especially as a small business owner-- the tax code is not set up in a way friendly to entrepreneurs.

I think we've patched the tax code way too many times, and now it's unweildy as hell.

423 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:02:50am

re: #409 RogueOne

According to their own professional organizations numbers almost 100% of their 4 million calls annually are non-emergency in nature. (Actually they claim 100% is non-emergency but I'm willing to believe they misspoke) If we can't agree to cut 20% of their budget how are we ever going to agree on the big ticket items like defense, medicaid/medicare, social security?

we are not going to cut medicare and social security one bit if i can do anything about it thank you very much, and if polling is accurate over 60% of americans agree with me

424 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:04:17am

re: #423 engineer dog

We could cut medicare-- if we found ways of reducing the costs of what medicare pays for. Atul Gawande is, as always, my go-to guy on this subject.

[Link: www.newyorker.com...]

425 engineer cat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:09:09am

re: #424 Obdicut

We could cut medicare-- if we found ways of reducing the costs of what medicare pays for. Atul Gawande is, as always, my go-to guy on this subject.

[Link: www.newyorker.com...]

yes - cut costs, not coverage

426 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:17:00am

Everyone should check out Dragonfire's page, by the way: Really freaking great.

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

427 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:18:43am

And holy crap, check out this downhill bike race:

Vimeo
428 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:24:54am

Fail....

N. Idaho Hate Group Says MLK Bomb Suspect Acted As 'Lone Wolf' (video)


Shaun Winkler, the Imperial Wizard of the White Knights, says they have never heard of Kevin Harpham, and he most likely acted as a "lone wolf." Winkler says the White Knights do not encourage violence because it is counter-productive to the propaganda they spread.

The sign behind him says "Kill Duncan"

429 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:26:01am

re: #428 Killgore Trout

Fail...

N. Idaho Hate Group Says MLK Bomb Suspect Acted As 'Lone Wolf' (video)

The sign behind him says "Kill Duncan"

Who's Duncan?

430 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:28:05am

re: #429 garhighway

Who's Duncan?

I don't know but his doughnuts are delicious!

431 Obdicut  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:28:17am

re: #428 Killgore Trout

Not to mention that 'lone wolf' is an actual strategy of White Supremacists, acknowledging that organized terror campaigns leave them vulnerable to lawsuits like the one against the KKK. Instead, a 'lone wolf' campaign is one that hopes to inspire violent young men to act on the extremist rhetoric while giving the group plausible deniability.

432 Gretchen G.Tiger  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:29:14am

Just a drive-by to wish you-all a great morning!

433 laZardo  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:31:24am

re: #429 garhighway

Who's Duncan?

The bastard borrowed my grill a couple years ago and returned its smoldering skeleton after a 4th of July cookoff gone wrong. I hope he dies horribly.

/ :B

434 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:31:26am

re: #429 garhighway

Who's Duncan?

Probably a local politician or sheriff.

435 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:31:39am

re: #429 garhighway

Who's Duncan?

McLeod.

436 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:32:08am

re: #429 garhighway

Apparently, serial killer Joseph Duncan. He murdered and kidnapped several people in Idaho.

437 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:33:59am

re: #436 lawhawk

Apparently, serial killer Joseph Duncan. He murdered and kidnapped several people in Idaho.

Ah, thanks. I googled Duncan Idaho and only got results for a character in the Dune novels.

438 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:36:07am

re: #431 Obdicut

Not all the white supremacists are taking that tact. The IKA, a spinoff of the KKK, has decided to give up the white sheets and protests, in favor of camo and arming themselves to the teeth in preparation of a coming race war.

Youtube Video
439 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:36:14am

a live feed of King's hearings on Islam.....
[Link: interactive.foxnews.com...]

440 abolitionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:40:17am

re: #179 BishopX

The thing is, adapting to higher gas prices is going to require structural changes, both economically and geographically. As a direct consequence of cheap gas and the good roads, it's often much much cheaper to live outside of towns/cities and commute in. Land is cheaper and you can get more bang for your buck. As gas gets more expensive that's going to change. It will simply become untenable to have to commute 20-30 miles for a low wage job. Adapting to this is going to require some major changes to the way we live. More affordable housing in urban centers, pedestrian access to business and retail centers and local stores near residential areas.

Upping taxes on the top 2% (while probably a good idea) isn't going to fix any of this. The only way this is going to change is if people decide they need to change, driving demand. This doesn't mean investing in a Prius, or a volt. It means moving, changing jobs and changing where you shop.

Higher gas prices are coming. Gas is going to be at $5/gallon nationally by 2020. The question is if we use an incrementally increasing gas tax to adjust or we wait for a price spike to screw everyone over.

There are many many barriers to such change. Zoning laws, ordinances, traditions about auto insurance. We tie insurance policies to vehicles rather than to drivers, so if you need a van or suv, insurance costs remain a huge dis-incentive to owning a fuel-efficient vehicle in addition to the inefficient one. How many home owners in America could rent one or two rooms without running afowl of zoning rules and local ordinances that contain language like "single-family dwellings"? And bicycles are utterly impractical on so many of our streets and roadways, even where speed limits are 25, because there are no bike lanes, sidewalks, or even shoulders.

441 wrenchwench  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:42:38am

re: #427 Obdicut

And holy crap, check out this downhill bike race:


[Video]

I posted that last night. This morning on my way to work, I set a new personal maximum speed record (31.27 mph). I think I was inspired. No dogs or ramps, though.

(That's only my commute record. I have reached 50 mph on a bike before.)

442 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:42:53am

Hey, King?
Let's talk about the IRA.

443 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:47:11am

Broad brushing for the win!

444 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:48:31am

SCARY MUSLIMS ARE COMING TO GET YOU!

445 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:48:51am

France formally recognises Libyan rebels' authority

France is the first country to formally recognise the legitimacy of Libya's rebel National Transitional Council and will open an embassy in Benghazi, the government announced after meeting with NTC representatives in Paris Thursday.

[Link: www.france24.com...]

446 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:50:13am

re: #443 Varek Raith

Broad brushing for the win!

Yeah, not good. I think a hearing like this could be helpful if done correctly and carefully. It is a serious issue but I don't think these hearings are going to be helpful.

447 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:51:55am

re: #442 Varek Raith

Hey, King?
Let's talk about the IRA.

Next episode "Varek Goes Godwin."

448 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:53:09am

re: #447 Walter L. Newton

Next episode "Varek Goes Godwin."

Don't need to. King's support for the IRA is well known.
He can fuck right off.
:)

449 prairiefire  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:56:18am

re: #441 wrenchwench

I posted that last night. This morning on my way to work, I set a new personal maximum speed record (31.27 mph). I think I was inspired. No dogs or ramps, though.

(That's only my commute record. I have reached 50 mph on a bike before.)

They call you "WWFlash".

450 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:57:53am

re: #448 Varek Raith

Don't need to. King's support for the IRA is well known.
He can fuck right off.
:)

Don't fucking matter... these hearing have to do with one subject. You want hearings on his IRA support, hold them, or rally some politician to do it for you. Doesn't diminish or change, one iota, the purpose of what he is attempting.

Weak sauce.

451 laZardo  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 7:59:49am

Bedtiem. Nighty.

452 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:04:51am

re: #450 Walter L. Newton

Doesn't diminish or change, one iota, the purpose of what he is attempting.

Which is what, exactly?

453 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:05:18am

I do like Jasser.

454 Sheila Broflovski  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:07:12am

re: #429 garhighway

Who's Duncan?

King of Scotland!

455 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:08:38am

re: #452 garhighway

Which is what, exactly?

Bet you can figure that out for yourself. I know you're an intelligent person.

456 Lidane  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:12:32am

re: #446 Killgore Trout

Yeah, not good. I think a hearing like this could be helpful if done correctly and carefully. It is a serious issue but I don't think these hearings are going to be helpful.

Of course they're not going to be helpful. It's just a way for King to grandstand and broad brush all Muslims as evil.

457 prairiefire  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:14:53am

Gov. Christie's straight talk not always true:[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

458 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:15:17am

re: #455 Walter L. Newton

Bet you can figure that out for yourself. I know you're an intelligent person.

It's quite easy to see what King is doing with this hearing.

459 Fozzie Bear  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:16:47am

re: #458 Varek Raith

It's quite easy to see what King is doing with this hearing.

Are you, or have you ever been, a Muslim American?

460 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:17:24am

re: #455 Walter L. Newton

Bet you can figure that out for yourself. I know you're an intelligent person.

Since you don't want to answer the question, I'll do it for you: King's hearings are intended to reinforce the fear of Mooslems in simple-minded folk, so they'll be distracted from the GOP's ongoing shafting of anyone making less than $300K a year (the bar was recently raised from $250K).

In other news, Republican Governor cuts Penn State's funding by $182M.

[Link: chronicle.com...]

It'll be fun paying for your kids to go to college in PA! Oh well, it doesn't really matter if Penn State isn't producing highly educated people for companies to employ - they don't really appreciate it anyway. Unless...

WSJ ranking places Penn State #1 for employers wanting to recruit graduates

461 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:18:33am

re: #460 iossarian

Whoops, linkey brokey:

[Link: chronicle.com...]

462 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:20:43am

Interesting backdrop to the King hearings on the threat of homegrown Islamic terrorism with the arrest of Harpham in Spokane's MLK parade bomb plot - that while there is a threat from Islamic terrorists who radicalize and recruit in the US, there's a threat too from radical white supremacists, neo Nazis, and other extremist groups that are well armed and have a violent ideology on which to draw more disaffected people into their sphere.

FBI stats bear this out - from 2002 to 2005:

Eight of the 14 recorded terrorism preventions stemmed from right-wing extremism, and included disruptions to plotting by individuals involved with the militia, white supremacist, constitutionalist and tax protestor, and anti-abortion movements. The remaining preventions included disruptions to plotting by an anarchist in Bellingham, Washington, who sought to bomb a U.S. Coast Guard station; a plot to attack an Islamic center in Pinellis Park, Florida; and a plot by prison-originated, Muslim convert group to attack U.S. military, Jewish, and Israeli targets in the greater Los Angeles area. In addition, three preventions involved individuals who sought to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, including al-Qa’ida, for attacks within the United States.

Whereas the violent global jihadist movement manifested itself primarily in terrorism preventions in the United States from 2002 through 2005, internationally the movement claimed major attacks against U.S. and Western targets that resulted in American casualties. Most of these incidents were perpetrated by regional jihadist groups operating in primarily Muslim countries, and included attacks committed by Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiya and al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula. The coordinated suicide bombing of London’s mass transit system by homegrown jihadists, however, brought the violent jihadist movement and the tactic of suicide bombing to a major European capital.

Terrorist threats are varied, and while al Qaeda and jihadi groups pose a distinct threat, they are hardly alone.

What does separate the al Qaeda and their hellspawn threat from others is their repeated attempts to carry out high profile mass casualty attacks - and they've largely been thwarted in the US since 9/11 due to the work by the FBI and law enforcement around the nation - breaking up numerous plots in the NYC metro area for instance that focus on Port Authority properties (WTC, PATH, tunnels, airports) and landmarks.

Focusing solely on the AQ/radical Islamist threat would ignore the incidents carried out by other groups with a radical agenda.

463 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:23:05am

re: #457 prairiefire

Gov. Christie's straight talk not always true:[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

No shit. FTA:

Some overstatements have worked their way into the governor’s routine public comments, like a claim that he balanced the budget last year without raising taxes; in truth, he cut deeply into tax credits for the elderly and the poor.

Eliminating tax credits doesn't equal raising taxes? Someone inform the oil industry, and their political wing the GOP, pronto!

464 harlequinade  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:25:26am

re: #460 iossarian

Wait! Wait! I know the answer to this one:

re: #4 Walter L. Newton

They won.

Or...something like that, anyway./

465 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:34:51am

re: #463 iossarian

That too falls into the grey area (as the Times article also notes) - what people consider tax hikes is a hike in the rate, not in change due to adjustments in credits. Yet, the net effect of Christie's moves (approved by the Democrat controlled legislature) was to raise the tax due on those who had expected property tax relief.

The problem with the NJ tax situation is that property tax relief is a complete joke. NJ enacted the personal income tax to be property tax relief in the 1970s - and now the state has one of the top tax burdens in the nation, and property tax relief is still waiting. The solution for property tax relief has been to increase other taxes to provide property tax relief, and the result is that property taxes keep rising and so too do the other taxes - relief that is anything but.

Most recently, former Gov. Corzine enacted a sales tax hike (from 6% to 7%) to fund the property tax relief that didn't get the job done (in part because sales tax revenues fell due to the recession). Christie cut the sales tax-funded property tax relief package in the current fiscal year but plans on changing the structure of the tax relief into a direct credit on personal income tax returns instead of a separate payment in November (coinciding with election season no less) in addition to imposing hard caps on what localities can increase in property taxes to 4% and other measures to force localities to limit spending increases that force the property taxes to spiral out of control.

466 garhighway  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:37:46am

re: #465 lawhawk

That too falls into the grey area (as the Times article also notes) - what people consider tax hikes is a hike in the rate, not in change due to adjustments in credits. Yet, the net effect of Christie's moves (approved by the Democrat controlled legislature) was to raise the tax due on those who had expected property tax relief.

The problem with the NJ tax situation is that property tax relief is a complete joke. NJ enacted the personal income tax to be property tax relief in the 1970s - and now the state has one of the top tax burdens in the nation, and property tax relief is still waiting. The solution for property tax relief has been to increase other taxes to provide property tax relief, and the result is that property taxes keep rising and so too do the other taxes - relief that is anything but.

Most recently, former Gov. Corzine enacted a sales tax hike (from 6% to 7%) to fund the property tax relief that didn't get the job done (in part because sales tax revenues fell due to the recession). Christie cut the sales tax-funded property tax relief package in the current fiscal year but plans on changing the structure of the tax relief into a direct credit on personal income tax returns instead of a separate payment in November (coinciding with election season no less) in addition to imposing hard caps on what localities can increase in property taxes to 4% and other measures to force localities to limit spending increases that force the property taxes to spiral out of control.

The big problem with Jersey local government (and this applies to Westchester County, too) is the huge number of overlapping entities. Towns, boroughs, special districts, you name it. There are a zillion of them, they are way too small, and each needs its own hierarchy. (They have school districts with no schools in them.) They need to consolidate. They could save real money.

467 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:39:48am

On the Newt subject, check out Jeffrey Goldberg writing about his love affair with America.

On that perilous night, when I first lifted my lamp by her golden door, she was dressed in broad stripes and bright stars. I was always a sucker for broad stripes and bright stars. It happened after a long day of exceedingly hard work. Boy, was I tired from all that hard work! She knew I wanted her. And I knew she wanted me. In a flash, our clothes fell to the floor, and she whispered huskily in my ear, "Give me your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free," and before I knew it, I saw that golden valley. Oh, the rockets' red glare! The bombs bursting in air! In that moment of indivisible union, I screamed out, "America, America! God shed His grace on thee!"

[Link: www.theatlantic.com...]

468 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:42:32am

Mrs. Jackson Lee is doing well.

469 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:43:09am

lol

470 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:43:23am

They're shutting her down

471 Fozzie Bear  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:43:47am

re: #467 Stanley Sea

On the Newt subject, check out Jeffrey Goldberg writing about his love affair with America.

[Link: www.theatlantic.com...]

ROFL, that article is genius.

472 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:43:50am

Kangaroo hearing!

473 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:44:26am

re: #466 garhighway

Christie's talked about consolidation as well, but there are some 600 political jurisdictions in the state. None of them are going to willingly give up their clout in the name of consolidation, let alone fiscal responsibility. So, it's pretty much a dead issue despite fertile ground for reducing costs and maintaining services.

Heck, there are some moves that would make tremendous sense - eliminating the Bergen and Essex County police departments, which overlap with the local police departments - and the state police that all operate within those counties. You could consolidate the forces the other way - wrap the local police departments into the county law enforcement but don't expect that to happen either.

Same thing with school districts.

The most egregious case is Teterboro, which got ranked by NJ Monthly last year as the best place to live in Bergen County - but has 18 residents. Instead of consolidating with nearby towns, this town has all the accouterments of a municipality - including the costs.

474 simoom  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:44:37am

re: #462 lawhawk

Interesting backdrop to the King hearings on the threat of homegrown Islamic terrorism with the arrest of Harpham in Spokane's MLK parade bomb plot - that while there is a threat from Islamic terrorists who radicalize and recruit in the US, there's a threat too from radical white supremacists, neo Nazis, and other extremist groups that are well armed and have a violent ideology on which to draw more disaffected people into their sphere.

FBI stats bear this out - from 2002 to 2005:

Rep. King, today, addressing the non-Muslim extremist threat:

[Link: www.observer.com...]

This Committee cannot live in denial which is what some would have us do when they suggest that this hearing dilute its focus by investigating threats unrelated to Al Qaeda. The Department of Homeland Security and this committee were formed in response to the al Qaeda attacks of 9/11. There is no equivalency of threat between al Qaeda and neo-Nazis, environmental extremists or other isolated madmen. Only al Qaeda and its Islamist affiliates in this country are part of an international threat to our nation. Indeed by the Justice Department's own record not one terror related case in the last two years involved neo-Nazis, environmental extremists, militias or anti-war groups.
475 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:45:07am

re: #472 Varek Raith

Kangaroo hearing!

CPSAN?

And are the Repuglicans hard at work again?

476 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:46:17am

By the way guys, things are jumping again one thread down, so come on over if you're interested..

477 iossarian  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:47:18am

re: #465 lawhawk

That too falls into the grey area (as the Times article also notes) - what people consider tax hikes is a hike in the rate, not in change due to adjustments in credits.

I appreciate the detail in the rest of your comment, but are you seriously claiming that "people" (and in particular that special subset of people: "Republican politicians") don't consider the elimination of a tax credit to be a "tax hike"?

Lots of bridges in your neighborhood going begging if you think that.

Anyway - time for a break...

478 Fozzie Bear  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:47:26am

David Davis Arrested For Stabbing Man While Getting Haircut

This guy's mugshot is truly epic.

479 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:48:30am

Oh. Faux News has it on. Yeah, wonder why this never happened under King Bush II. Guess it because the Tea White Trash Party.

480 simoom  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:50:19am

re: #474 simoom

Just to be clear, since I posted that quote without qualification, IMO that last sentence seems a ridiculous statement to make, not only in light of yesterday's events but also when considering a whole host of incidents over the last number of years (and of course outside of Rep. King's 2-year timeframe there are some particularly horrendous examples).

481 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:50:45am

re: #478 Fozzie Bear

David Davis Arrested For Stabbing Man While Getting Haircut

This guy's mugshot is truly epic.

He now needs an epic combover.
/

482 Fozzie Bear  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:51:36am

re: #474 simoom

Yeah I noticed that, and was yelling at my TV when he said that. What a moron.

483 lawhawk  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:52:13am

re: #474 simoom

That would also ignore the Hutaree arrests last year.

It also ignores the sovereign citizen terror threat (anti-government extremists).

484 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:52:15am

The real reason this hearing is taking place can be seen here:

Image: New_York_District_03_109th_US_Congress.png

That's Pete King's district.

485 jamesfirecat  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:52:17am

re: #478 Fozzie Bear

David Davis Arrested For Stabbing Man While Getting Haircut

This guy's mugshot is truly epic.

You know how they say don't judge a book by its cover.... I think this may be one of those cases that calls for an exception.

(Granted somebody else could have killed his barber while he was getting his hair cut...)

486 Fozzie Bear  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:52:21am

re: #481 Varek Raith

I believe this man just discovered the "halfro".

487 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:53:32am

re: #484 Gus 802

The real reason this hearing is taking place can be seen here:

Image: New_York_District_03_109th_US_Congress.png

That's Pete King's district.

And what is so "special" about that district?

488 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:54:03am

re: #487 Walter L. Newton

And what is so "special" about that district?

What do you think? It's Suffolk County. Cough.

489 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:54:56am

West Islip...puke.

When we moved there we had our house egged and had a group of kids chant racist crap at us.

So yeah. Tough shit. West Islip sucks.

490 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:55:45am

re: #488 Gus 802

What do you think? It's Suffolk County. Cough.

What does that mean? You're not being clear.

491 Fozzie Bear  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:55:57am

re: #487 Walter L. Newton

And what is so "special" about that district?

That area is sort of famous in the NE for being packed full of racist lunatics.

492 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:55:58am

And Nassau County. Long Island. Ground zero for "white flight".

493 wrenchwench  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:56:28am

re: #453 Killgore Trout

I do like Jasser.

I used to.

I'm not watching, so I don't know what he said today.

494 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:58:01am

There's a reason for this ----->

Suffolk County Hate Crimes Task Force

495 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 8:58:07am

Wisconsin Capitol locked down as state Assembly takes up bill

Throngs of protesters gathered in Madison, Wisconsin, Thursday, pounding on the windows of the state legislature one day after the Senate passed a controversial bill meant to curtail the bargaining rights of most state workers.

Their actions prompted Capitol police to close the building and forcibly remove demonstrators inside who refused to leave.

496 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:00:00am

Suffolk County Administration Condemned for Censoring Hate Crimes Report

"Beaner-hopping" — a.k.a. assaulting people who look Mexican — had been a popular pastime among Suffolk County, NY, youth long before the Long Island county became infamous for the brutal murder of Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero, killed in this "game."

A Suffolk County Hate Crimes Task Force was created to investigate the pattern of incidents, including turning a critical eye on County Executive Steve Levy, the highest ranking official in Suffolk. Hate crime experts assert that his harsh anti-immigrant stance and xenophobic attacks contributed to an intolerant and dangerous atmosphere for Latinos. (Thank goodness he didn't become New York's governor.) Not surprisingly, Levy isn't so keen on having his misbehavior exposed.

Now, Ted Hesson reports at Long Island Wins that Legis. DuWayne Gregory, head of the Task Force, filed an ethics complaint condemning Levy's administration for inappropriately obtaining the report and cutting out 52 out of 150 pages before they were able to review it. That's over a third of the documents censored, reportedly sections dealing with Levy's actions. What's going on in Suffolk County that Steve Levy doesn't want anybody to know about?

Con-tin-ues.

497 moderatelyradicalliberal  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:01:00am

re: #190 HappyWarrior

I can see how she passed. You know it's funny we're discussing mixed raced African Americans tonight since in my English class tonight we had to read and discuss Jean Toomer's Cane. Toomer himself was of mixed race and apparently passed for white much of his life.

I have family members who would pass as white sometimes depending on the situation. One passed as white to attend college and my aunt would pass as white to go to the movies or shop in certain stores. They never intended or wanted to live as white, but they would take advantage sometimes to meet a short term goal. Most black people who could have passed completely into white society didn't because they would have had to abandon and break all ties their families.

498 Killgore Trout  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:01:02am

re: #493 wrenchwench

I used to.

I'm not watching, so I don't know what he said today.

He did pretty well today. I might quibble with a few of his argument but I think he's generally on point.

499 harlequinade  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:01:19am

re: #455 Walter L. Newton

Bet you can figure that out for yourself. I know you're an intelligent person.

?

500 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:01:41am

re: #499 harlequinade

?

Walter's being Walter.

501 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:01:49am

re: #499 harlequinade

?

OK... except for you.

502 harlequinade  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:02:02am

re: #499 harlequinade

Ah crap, PIMF.

I'm going to re-install OSX.

503 Fozzie Bear  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:02:23am

Cedric Richmond is telling it like it is.

504 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:02:36am

This hearing is a load of shit. Fuck the GOP and King.

505 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:03:36am

RARE PHOTOS: HITLER'S INNER CIRCLE
JUST DISCOVERED: EVA BRAUN'S SHOCKING PERSONAL PICTURES

[Link: www.life.com...]

(I question the headline word "shocking," but it is an interesting group of pictures never seen before)

506 harlequinade  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:03:43am

re: #501 Walter L. Newton

Well - that was going to be a reply to...

re: #490 Walter L. Newton

What does that mean? You're not being clear.

But I messed up my copies and pastes :)

507 Gus  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:04:12am

It's like a hearing on "Japanese Americans" from the 40s.

508 Walter L. Newton  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:04:28am

re: #506 harlequinade

Well - that was going to be a reply to...

re: #490 Walter L. Newton

But I messed up my copies and pastes :)

Sorry... I was wrong.

509 BishopX  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:06:23am

re: #440 abolitionist

Yes.

510 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:07:32am

re: #505 Walter L. Newton

RARE PHOTOS: HITLER'S INNER CIRCLE
JUST DISCOVERED: EVA BRAUN'S SHOCKING PERSONAL PICTURES

[Link: www.life.com...]

(I question the headline word "shocking," but it is an interesting group of pictures never seen before)

Please tell me that it's Hitler in that bear costume....
Interesting photos, nonetheless.

511 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:11:13am

re: #234 rwdflynavy

Good Morning Lizards!

I am ashamed to admit, I don't love my country as much as Newt. I have always been faithful to my wife. I'm so ashamed!//

It's not too late man!! Get out there and love America!!

///

512 Varek Raith  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:12:10am

re: #511 SanFranciscoZionist

It's not too late man!! Get out there and love America!!

///

You think that excuse could work???
/

513 b_sharp  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:21:39am

re: #441 wrenchwench

I posted that last night. This morning on my way to work, I set a new personal maximum speed record (31.27 mph). I think I was inspired. No dogs or ramps, though.

(That's only my commute record. I have reached 50 mph on a bike before.)

Yah, but you're only 106 years old. Try that when you're my age, 211.

514 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:36:53am

re: #428 Killgore Trout

Fail...

N. Idaho Hate Group Says MLK Bomb Suspect Acted As 'Lone Wolf' (video)

The sign behind him says "Kill Duncan"

Well, that's all right then.

515 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:40:49am

re: #437 Killgore Trout

Ah, thanks. I googled Duncan Idaho and only got results for a character in the Dune novels.

Ha! I'd forgot about him.

516 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:41:49am

re: #447 Walter L. Newton

Next episode "Varek Goes Godwin."

Godwin's Law says nothing about the IRA.

That would be, I don't know, "Flaherty's Law".

517 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:47:48am

re: #459 Fozzie Bear

Are you, or have you ever been, a Muslim American?

Well, no, although I had an option back in 1996, and I know the guy who taught my Arabic class was hoping.

518 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:48:51am

re: #472 Varek Raith

Kangaroo hearing!

Let's just say that I don't think Mr. King is thinking that he may come away from this, on the balance, reassured.

519 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:49:40am

re: #474 simoom

Rep. King, today, addressing the non-Muslim extremist threat:

[Link: www.observer.com...]

Huh? I thought ELF was, like, torching suburbs on a nightly basis.

///

520 SanFranciscoZionist  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 9:50:28am

re: #478 Fozzie Bear

David Davis Arrested For Stabbing Man While Getting Haircut

This guy's mugshot is truly epic.

I see that the haircut got interrupted by the stabbing.

521 b_sharp  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 10:11:16am

re: #520 SanFranciscoZionist

I see that the haircut got interrupted by the stabbing.

He's going to have to learn to tack against the wind if he wants to get anywhere.

522 webevintage  Thu, Mar 10, 2011 10:58:33am

I bet there is a special room in hell (if you believe in it and think screwing around on your wife is worth eternal hellfire) for folks who blame America for their inability to stay faithful.
/

523 ROPMA  Sun, Mar 13, 2011 8:21:48pm

..


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The Pandemic Cost 7 Million Lives, but Talks to Prevent a Repeat Stall In late 2021, as the world reeled from the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, representatives of almost 200 countries met - some online, some in-person in Geneva - hoping to forestall a future worldwide ...
Cheechako
3 days ago
Views: 115 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
2 weeks ago
Views: 277 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1