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From Andrew Sullivan –
In all the discussion of John McCain’s recently recovered memory of a religious epiphany in Vietnam, one thing has been missing. The torture that was deployed against McCain emerges in all the various accounts. It involved sleep deprivation, the withholding of medical treatment, stress positions, long-time standing, and beating. Sound familiar?
According to the Bush administration’s definition of torture, McCain was therefore not tortured.
Cheney denies that McCain was tortured; as does Bush. So do John Yoo and David Addington and George Tenet. In the one indisputably authentic version of the story of a Vietnamese guard showing compassion, McCain talks of the agony of long-time standing. A quarter century later, Don Rumsfeld was putting his signature to memos lengthening the agony of “long-time standing” that victims of Bush’s torture regime would have to endure. These torture techniques are, according to the president of the United States, merely “enhanced interrogation.”
No war crimes were committed against McCain. And the techniques used are, according to the president, tools to extract accurate information. And so the false confessions that McCain was forced to make were, according to the logic of the Bush administration, as accurate as the “intelligence” we have procured from “interrogating” terror suspects. Feel safer?
The cross-in-the-dirt story – although deeply fishy to any fair observer – is in the realm of the unprovable. But the actual techniques used on McCain, and the lies they were designed to legitimize, are a matter of historical record. And the government of the United States now practices the very same techniques that the Communist government of North Vietnam once proudly used against American soldiers. When they are used against future John McCains, the victims will know, in a way McCain didn’t, that their own government has no moral standing to complain.
Now the kicker: in the Military Commissions Act, McCain acquiesced to the use of these techniques against terror suspects by the CIA. And so the tortured became the enabler of torture. Someone somewhere cried out in pain for the same reasons McCain once did. And McCain let it continue.
These are the prices people pay for power.
Global Warming Skeptics Prominently Featured At International Scientific Meeting
Indian Scientist Mocks Nobel Prize Award to Gore
A major international scientific conference prominently featured the voices and views of scientists skeptical of man-made global warming fears. The International Geological Congress, dubbed the geologists’ equivalent of the Olympic Games, was held in Oslo, Norway, from August 4-14.
[The conference was criticized by the activists at RealClimate.org (who apparently are threatened by any challenges to their version of `consensus' on global warming science) for being too balanced and allowing skeptical scientists to have a forum. RealClimate's Rasmus E. Benestad lamented on August 19 that the actual scientific debate during the conference "seemed to be a step backwards towards confusion rather than a progress towards resolution." ]
During the Geologic conference, Indian geologist Dr. Arun D. Ahluwalia of the Center of Advanced Study in Geology at Punjab University and a visiting scholar of the Geology Department at University of Cincinnati, openly ridiculed former Vice President Al Gore and the UN IPCC’s coveted Nobel Peace Prize. [An online video of an August 8, 2008, conference climate change panel has been posted and is a must-see video for anyone desiring healthy scientific debate. See: HERE ]
“I am really amazed that the Nobel Peace Prize has been given on scientifically incorrect conclusions by people who are not geologists,” Ahluwalia, a fellow of the Geological Society of India, said during a question and answer panel discussion.
Ahluwalia, who has authored numerous scientific studies in the fields of geology and paleontology, referred to the UN climate panel as the “elite IPCC.” “The IPCC has actually become a closed circuit; it doesn’t listen to others. It doesn’t have open minds.”
Ahluwalia, a board member of the UN-supported International Year of the Planet (http://www.yearofplanetearth.org) also criticized the promoters of man-made global warming fears for “drawing out exaggerated conclusions” and took the UN to task for failing to allow dissenting voices.
“When I put forward my points in the morning, some IPCC official got up to say that what I was [saying was] `nonsense.’ See, when we have that sort of attitude, that sort of dogma against a scientific observation that would not actually end up in very, very positive debate. We should maintain our sense of proportion, maintain our sense of objectivity, allow a discussion — not have fixed mindset about global warming,” he said to applause from the members.
Panel participants at the August 8 debate included skeptical Physicist Dr. Henrik Svensmark of the Danish National Space Centre and Paleoclimate scientist Dr. Bob Carter of Australia’s James Cook University, former chairman of the earth science panel of the Australian Research Council, who has published numerous peer-reviewed papers and is an outspoken dissenter of Gore and the UN IPCC’s climate claims.
Prominent scientist Professor Dr. Nils-Axel Morner, a leading world authority on sea levels and coastal erosion who headed the Department of Paleogeophysics & Geodynamics at Stockholm University, was also on hand during the panel’s question and answer session.
A Canadian paleoclimatolgist/sedimentary geologist openly dissented from UN IPCC views during the panel’s Q & A session. “I think the scientific community is putting way too much faith on these models, especially given the fact that they have not been able to predict 5-day weather forecasts yet and weather systems are simpler than the climate, and every 5 days they have a chance to test the model and improve it,” the Canadian scientist said. [ At 43:30 and 44:35 of online video]
“A lot of the predictions made by modelers and models do not match very well to the longer term geologic record and even more scary, most atmospheric scientists are not aware of that,” he explained.
Another scientist stood up to a key question about the recent global cooling trend. “We know temperature goes up and down, we know there is tremendous amount of natural variations, but for how many years must the planet cool before we begin to understand — we politicians and scientists– that the planet is not warming? For how many years must cooling go on?” the scientist asked to applause from the audience.
These blogs seem to be a microcosm of this country to day. The extremists on the left AND the right refuse to open their eyes and really look at what is is going on. They are so entrenched in their mantras of no body is right but my side they either don’t care or don’t realize they are causing a division in this country the likes of which haven’t been seen since Viet Nam.Unless we as a nation wake up and start seeing that both sides have valid points and ideas and figure out a way to implement them(yes there may have to be some pride swallowing) as one policy this country is going no where but down hill
Mccain or Obama,that’s like having to choose between being hung or shot.
The only way to save our country is to be AN AMERICAN, standing for the Constitution. The real enemies (in Washington) are laughing at ALL of us. You think they care about lil’ ol’ you?
Pleefer, I agree 100% and being an American has nothing to do (as far as I’m concerned)with wich way you lean politically. If we don’t ge this country back to the basics we are finished.
Exactomundo Freebird, fitting name, by the by. It seems that most people actually believe the line about ignorance being bliss. I go with the biblical line in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.
The biggest change I see that needs to be made is for people to get up of their ass and do something to help themselves instead of sticking your hand out and expecting the government to take care of you. It’s call taking personal responsibility and more people should try it.
My alltime favorite song
When it comes to Skynyrd, I like “Simple Man” or “I Ain’t The One”.
Simple Man is my son’s favorite
Freebird..you are spot on. The extremists (on both sides) here that claim people of one political thought are inherently “better” than others are divisive and potentially destructive. We are all in this thing together…but the hatred and idiotic claims are incomprehensible.
“The biggest change I see that needs to be made is for people to get up of their ass and do something to help themselves instead of sticking your hand out and expecting the government to take care of you. It’s call taking personal responsibility and more people should try it.” — Freebird
And there you go Freebird, mounthing the mantra of the far right, right after a screed about division in this country. Yes there are people out there with their hands out, but most people I know just want to work and get a fair wage.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Definitely a most extaordinary document!! What genius it took to put this together!!
Personal responsibilty has nothing to do with politics,when my father taught me politics was never brought up. Did I hit a little close to home? I’m all for helping people that need it but just to stick your hand out because it is easier than actually doing something is wrong and shouldn’t be tolerated.
SOMETIMES, personal responsibility means knowing when to put your hand out, and say, “I need help. I cant do it alone.”
Admitting the need for HELP should never be looked upon as being shameful. There is currently a lot of shame being stacked on too many people who simply need HELP of one kind or another.
Granted. But just because you need help for a while doens’t mean you should continue to get it. The welfare system in this country,as far as I can see gives a person no incentive to help themselves while being helped by others. I maybe wrong been known to be wrong a couple of times in my life.
Freebird, Clinton’s Welfare Reforms no longer allow for persons to do what you complain of above…. Welfare has limits now…. No more generations and generations, or family heritage of welfare moms….
Like I said I have known to be wrong before,I’m glad that it was brought to my attention. Question do you believe that a person should exhaust ever means at their disposal before accepting welfare? I just think there are too many out there that instead of trying opt for the easier route of welfare.
My daughter has been receiving some degree of assistance recently… She received some Vocational Training… a small amount of financial assistance for her and my grandson, and a small amount for food stamps…
Now that her job training is completed, she has a fairly short time period, to get on her own two feet… Her assistance will NOT continue beyond that time frame….
In order for her to continue in some kind of education, and keep receiving any kind of assistance, she will have to re-apply, and re-qualify…. They will NOT just allow her to continue….
Such kind of assistance encourages personal independence… and responsibility…. Her only benefit over any other individual, is the fact that she has a young child….
Hmmmm…. since assistance is TEMPORARY — I hardly see how it is “opting out” for welfare… The temporary assistance is merely an added part of the incentive to stand on one’s own…
I fail to understand WHY you would call welfare programs the “easier” route…. I can tell you right up front that the amount of assistance she receives is nowhere near enough to LIVE on…. It is just a cushion…
beber
Posted August 20, 2008 at 7:12 am | Permalink
“The biggest change I see that needs to be made is for people to get up of their ass and do something to help themselves instead of sticking your hand out and expecting the government to take care of you. It’s call taking personal responsibility and more people should try it.” — Freebird
And there you go Freebird, mounthing the mantra of the far right, right after a screed about division in this country. Yes there are people out there with their hands out, but most people I know just want to work and get a fair wage.
————–
Beber you and Chas belong to the left on here who daily show disdain for the military retirement pay some on here receive even though they earned it. And now you call it the mantra of the far right.
Everyone needs help at one time or another. We should have plans in place for that. Assistance with daycare. Medicaid cards when needed.
Off to do grandma duty this morning.
Anybody who is actually interested in finding out what it takes to qualify for ANY kind of assistance, I would heartily recommend going down to the SRS office, and “apply” — Make up some sort of circumstances…. Be honest with them… e.g., make it reasonable… such as, a health condition forced you into needing assistance…. Find out just what it takes….
If more nay sayers would do that, there wouldnt be near so many “adverse” comments on this Blog regarding public assistance (or what some folks still like to call Welfare)
OKOB… I have NEVER shown disdain for any kind of military retirement pay on this Blog… I have far too many retired military folks in my family to even think about such a thing… You know how to start the day off lying again… THAT is a disdainful act… Hope you have a nice granny day!!
OKOB —- “And now you call it the mantra of the far right.”
Please show where I have said anything of the kind here this morning??? Where do you come up with this BS??? And so damned early???
For the moment, let’s set aside our curiosity about what Jesus might do in a given circumstance and wonder what our Founding Fathers would have done at Saddleback Church. What would have happened to Thomas Jefferson if he had responded as he wrote in 1781:
“It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
*****
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081902396.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
You mean like begging on the street while pus oozes out of a stump, Pleefer?
I like that one Steven… I had forgotten about that Jefferson comment…. must be getting old… LOL
Granted. But just because you need help for a while doens’t mean you should continue to get it. The welfare system in this country,as far as I can see gives a person no incentive to help themselves while being helped by others. I maybe wrong been known to be wrong a couple of times in my life.”
And nearly every one of those programs perpetuate poverty by giving less than what is sustainable. If you really want to help them, open jobs for handicapped and disabled with laws that have teeth so employers can’t get out of hiring them. But wait, that would take away employer’s “RIGHTS” *even though it doesnt’*. If you want people to quit needing assistance, stop putting them in poverty to begin with. Give them a way to get out of it.
Good post, PMama!!
Just as I said everyone is so damn sure theirs is the only way to do things that they won’t even listen to what others may opine.,so therefore the only thing that will change is the down hill spiral this country is on.
Pmom, You sound like a person who would love a cradle to grave nanny state.
laws that have teeth so employers can’t get out of hiring them.
But wait, that would take away employer’s “RIGHTS” *even though it doesnt’*.
Two contradictory sentences side by side. If you want to force employers to hire specific individuals ( laws that have teeth) how is that not tak[ing] away employer’s “RIGHTS”
I believe that Welfare was not designed to provide a living,just some help to get back on your feet,I fear that many look at it at as their livliehood,and before someone goe off half cocked I’m by no means making a blanket statement. I’m sure that the majority of people on welfare are looking to better themselvesand just need a little help
I have been an advocate of the system chas’ relative went through or is involved in. Train them to work. Make that a part of receiving any form of assistance. If you aren’t actively trying to help yourself, you should not get assistance, provided you are capable of working.
The program should by no means completely support the individual nor their family. There are menial jobs that can fill in the gaps.
When you provide for someone 100% at no cost to them (the job training) you remove any incentive to become self sufficient. I know a few folks like that.
Not really Sol — One statement is about discrimination…. Now, unless you want to argue that employers have a right to discriminate…. :roll:
“Beber you and Chas belong to the left on here who daily show disdain for the military retirement pay some on here receive even though they earned it. And now you call it the mantra of the far right.”
Chas
Posted August 20, 2008 at 7:58 am | Permalink
OKOB… I have NEVER shown disdain for any kind of military retirement pay on this Blog… I have far too many retired military folks in my family to even think about such a thing… You know how to start the day off lying again… THAT is a disdainful act… Hope you have a nice granny day!!
————
Chas I never said you personally did. I said your friends on the left such and you and Capn who were joined at the hip yesterday. When you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas. Wonder how they will treat you today now that they know your daughter is on welfare?
You really should be careful who you call a liar. You have a real problem with that.
“many look at it at as their livliehood,”
THAT would have been (and was) a possibility before the Clinton era welfare reforms…. but no longer can that happen…
I still like my favorite wall plaque gospel:
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime…
(Unless of course, he lives in the dessert) LOL
Chas
Posted August 20, 2008 at 9:41 am | Permalink
Not really Sol — One statement is about discrimination…. Now, unless you want to argue that employers have a right to discriminate….
—————–
Chas I posted earlier that I felt those like your daughter who needed a hand up should get it. Childcare, training, medical help – that said I also think that you are pmom are dead wrong about employers rights.
No company should be forced to hire a person who is not right for their organization. If it can be proved that this company has a history of abuse then fine. Fix that problem.
teach a man to fish, and he overfishes the resource, and no one gets any fish.
So, OKOB, you believe in employer discrimination??? I guess I am not terribly surprised by that… So, where do you draw the line?? You know, there is a “reasonable accomodation” law in force, to cover the physically handicapped…. But whatever….
beber — I didnt say to teach him how to run the company…. just teach him how to fish!!
THAT would have been (and was) a possibility before the Clinton era welfare reforms…. but no longer can that happen
Dead wrong on that one buddy. I know of too many folks who refuse to work and get by fairly comfortably.
I know folks who have had more kids to obtain more entitlements. This is the real world. I understand some on here thinking this is some form of Utopia and that people don’t abuse the system. Sad fact is this is reality and there are abusers.
Chas,
Do you think it is OK for an employer to hire someone based solely on race?
Employers are people (yes, even corporations have natural persons in the HR departments); people discriminate all the time. The issue is which forms of discrimination should be unlawful. Thus, should it be unlawful for an employer in a service industry requiring contact with the public on a regular basis, answering the telephone, taking messages, etc., to refuse to hire an individual with communicative difficulties? Should it be unlawful for an employer in, e.g., the business of computer programming to hire an individual without the intellectual ability to develop algorithms? Yes, these may seem extreme examples, but job requirements are there for a reason. Admittedly prospective employers sometimes abuse them, giving them as reasons to not hire a person (disabled or handicapped or otherwise), But to put “teeth” into antidiscrimination laws in the areas P_M advocates does infringe a bit, at a minimum, on the rights of employers to hire suitable employees. That said, if the handicap, disability, etc., does not affect job performance, then of course it should be unlawful to discriminate in hiring based upon that status alone. It’s a question of balance; and how the proper balance is achieved is one which will bedevil both sides of this issue in perpetuity, IMHO.
Regarding the requirement to provide “reasonable accommodations” under ADA. That is what the law requires; but, the law also does not require the employer to expend large sums of money to arrive at these accommodations. Some view this as making said law “toothless”. I don’t share this view.
sol — EASY answer…. NO!!!
SOL — IF you actually know people living comfortably off of Welfare funds… Then, they are defrauding the system….
As I suggested earlier, dont take MY word for it… Instead, take your own self down to the SRS, or whatever you call it in Michigan, and try to apply….
SEE for yourself what is required to even qualify for ANY form of assistance…. And then come back here and tell us all how easy it is…
“Dead wrong on that one buddy. I know of too many folks who refuse to work and get by fairly comfortably.” — Sol
I beleive the other day you knew people who abused government grocery help. You run with a fine class of people, Sol. The truth is, you don’t know any of these people. You know someone who knows someone who gossips, if you’re not just making it up. And even if people are having more children so they can get a $50 increase in food stamps, what would you do about that. Forced abortion? Let the kids starve?
Seems that some folks be afeared.
GOP trying to get Barr of Pa. ballot
By Dan Hirschhorn
Concerned that he could pull votes from U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a leading state Republican is trying to have Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr removed from the ballot in Pennsylvania, The Associated Press reports.
Barr, a former Republican Congressman, is expected by some to hurt McCain in the general election by drawing away disenchanted conservative voters, especially in Barr’s home state of Georgia.
http://www.politicker.com/taxonomy/term/13132
GOP leader seeks to push Barr off Pa. ballot
(AP)
A Republican Party leader filed court papers Monday aimed at getting Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr taken off the Pennsylvania ballot.
http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=671029
“Some view this as making said law “toothless”. I don’t share this view.” {Vaughn}
Vaughn, I agree with you… I just dont like the idea of discrimination…. Obviously, if you need someone who has to communicate with the public, and that is part of the job description, then of course, one who doesnt speak clearly doesnt qualify….
That is just a fact of life…. Same goes with a job that requires a CPA, and you have an applicant with a GED…. I dont see any discrimination involved because you cant hire the GED…
I say this just so it is quite clear what I AM concerned with…. which is where you have two people with equal qualifications, but two different races/ethnicity, or gender, and you choose to discriminate against one of them because you dont want a different race or gender working for you….
Hopefully I make that clear….
Vaughn, I dont think the rules of ADA would consider it discriminatory, if I as an employer, had a need to hire a window washer, who spent 75% of their time on a ladder…. NOT hiring a person who is bound to a wheel chair….
The truth is, you don’t know any of these people.
You been living in my back yard? You make some pretty baseless claims.
Think about it hero, ‘grocery help’ and welfare. Sounds pretty much the same. Ergo, abusers of the system.
I know one of these individuals because we pick up her kid every other weekend. We help out the child, not the mother.
You run with a fine class of people, Sol.
So while we help out, you spew absurdities. How many folks you help out beber? Or do you just spew lies on blogs.
I think Mr. VT summed it up far batter than any of us could have. Well done.
Heheheheheh. Well, I also think this blog is a micro picture of our country.
How’s that hope and change thingy going? How’s that “uniter” doing? How’s it going that obama is so full of inspirational abilitiy that he will over come the gop slime machine? IF you believe any of that, you need to read Sally Quinn today. Americans will, everytime, vote for the fantasy, not the reality.
Anyone remember my ten points about the obama campaign yesterday? Seems Krugman agrees that it really is the economy, stupid! And according to this link, obama’s not doing so hot on that issue. Or many others.
Mark my words from yesterday. And I’m wondering if what’s in this link is why obama is being so coy about the VP slot. He absolutely HAS to hit a home run. A base hit, or a strike out, and it’s hello preznit mcsame. I think he’s afraid to go to the plate and swing.
Kumbaya y’all. It’s going to take another civil war and a complete crushing of one side or the other to get the horses pulling together. And even then, one horse will be pulling against it’s will.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26308429
Of course, it’s all Hillary’s fault….
Chas the ADA laws are fairly clear on reasonable accomondations. If I have offices that are upstairs and there is no elevator I couldn’t be expected to put in an elevator so the person in a wheelchair could have the job. If a deaf person applied for a job which required them to use the phone I couldn’t be expected to put in a phone system which would allow them to use it.
But the ADA laws don’t have anything to do with not hiring a person because of age, race or gender.
I’m sure grmie thinks only straight, white, christians are a good fit for her organization.
From Blazing Saddles…”we’ll take the wops and the n….grs, but we WONT take the Irish!”
What do ya suppose caused this “sharp turnaro”?
The gop slime machine? Or obama’s own ineptness? Or the economy, stupid?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080820/ts_nm/usa_poll_politics_dc
OKOB says: “But the ADA laws don’t have anything to do with not hiring a person because of age, race or gender.”
Nor did I say that they did…. :-D
Or maybe the problem is the majority of the voters in this country are too stupid to find their asses with both hands? Things are the way they are because the majority of voters LIKE them that way!
From Crooks and Liars:
“One-in-three Americans fail on current events
By: Steve Benen
The latest Pew Survey on News Consumption, which is conducted every other year, was released yesterday, and is chock full of interesting tidbits and results. Most notably, there was a great section of the report on news-consumer knowledge and sophistication.
About half of Americans (53%) can correctly identify the Democrats as the party that has a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. In February 2007, shortly after the Democrats gained control of the House after a dozen years of GOP rule, many more people (76%) knew the Democrats held the majority.
The public is less familiar with the secretary of state (Condoleezza Rice) and the prime minister of Great Britain (Gordon Brown). About four-in-ten (42%) can name Rice as the current secretary of state. The public’s ability to identify Rice has not changed much over recent years: In April 2006 and December 2004, shortly before she was sworn in, 43% could correctly identify her.
The prime minister of Great Britain is not well known among the public. Just more than a quarter (28%) can correctly identify Gordon Brown as the leader of Great Britain.
Overall, 18% of the public is able to correctly answer all three political knowledge questions, while a third (33%) do not know the answer to any of the questions.
I’ll admit, I’m torn about how humiliating this is to the nation overall. For the typical American not to know Gordon Brown strikes me as only mildly distressing — Brown has only been Prime Minister for about a year, and most of the public was probably more familiar with Tony Blair.
But one-in-three Americans got all of the questions wrong. For all the talk about the Democratic Congress, barely half the country knows there’s a Democratic majority.
Maybe my perspective is skewed because I just finished reading Rick Shenkman’s “Just How Stupid Are We?” but at a certain point, the political world is going to have to come to grips with the fact that a striking percentage of the electorate has no idea what’s going on.
As for the other results from the Pew survey, it was also interesting to note which news consumers did better than others.”
I think Sally Quinn’s column today is EXACTLY why the majority of votes are clueless on the truth. They’d rather think about the good ol’ days.
“where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio, a nation turns it’s lonely eyes to you”.
Woo woo woo.
ksfarmgrrl
Posted August 20, 2008 at 10:23 am | Permalink
I’m sure grmie thinks only straight, white, christians are a good fit for her organization.
From Blazing Saddles…”we’ll take the wops and the n….grs, but we WONT take the Irish!”
————–
Actually Farmie we have a very diverse workforce. We don’t hire illegals. We actually fill out I9s for each employee. We have a workforce that is about 40% black and most of our employees have been with us 10 years or more. We have a history of helping those in the Community Corrections progams reenter the work force.
You and the left have a real problem with judging others. When you realize your problem and want to talk about how to solve it I might be able to help you out.
From Farmie’s link…
“Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead … and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy,”
I fear for my country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcdLO3jKkPo
Chas, I understood that you were not speaking to discrimination in employment based upon sex, race or ethnicity; such is, of course, unlawful as it should be. Are you familiar with the academic study (likely there is more than one) published a few years back about the subconscious preference of white employers to hire white employees, among other things? I no longer have the link bookmarked, as that was not successfully transferred when computer upgrade was made, but I found it interesting. It seems from media reports that a similar preference exists when blind resumes are submitted, all containing “equal” qualifications, half bearing familiar “American” names, half bearing “Arabic” names. Those with “American” names receive more favorable responses in the form of interview offers than those with “Arabic” names.
Sol, I appreciate your response.
No worries VT, telling the truth.
McCain sucks on foriegn policy just as much as the economy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajm5JTf7jZs&feature=related
Yes, Vaughn, I do remember that study… Our denominational office sent that one out to everybody who has email… It was a very interesting read…. Thanks for the reminder!!
kfg, indeed, “it is the economy, stupid”. And, while Sen. Obama has spoken to the issue, and has policy papers suitable for true wonks on the subject available through his website, his campaign statements haven’t been IMHO strong and succinct enough to capture the attention of the masses. Sen. McCain, having mastered the sound bite, does come across stronger on the issue to many.
BTW, the economy, both current and what can be reasonably foreseen at this point, is a major reason I think that regardless of who wins the Presidential election in 2008, he will only be a one term president.
BTW, Vaughn, I use a little program called “Intelli-mover” when I transfer data between computers… ever hear of it?? Comes in real handy, if you like doing that sort of thing by yourself….
“I think that regardless of who wins the Presidential election in 2008, he will only be a one term president.”
Yep…. short of a minor financial miracle!!
And Obama – thru HIS Global Poverty Act, wants to send $70 Billion US Taxpayer Dollars to this same corrupt racket:
How Much Discretion? U.N.’s Anti-Poverty Program
Wants Unlimited Spending Power
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
By George Russell
The United Nations Development Program, the U.N.’s anti-poverty agency, which systematically ignored its own financial rules and regulations while funneling millions of dollars to North Korea, wants to give its chief operating officer the right to make out discretionary checks of unlimited amounts, without normal budgetary approval.
That’s up from the current limit of $50,000 which can be dispersed without regulatory oversight.
UNDP argues that the new ability to write such checks without normal authorization would only bring its discretionary powers into line with those currently exercised by other U.N. programs, like UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP).
The problem is that at the Rome-based WFP, the use of the same unlimited discretionary authority to pay off job-eliminated contract employees was condemned just last year as a $90 million abuse of authority and a violation both of U.N. payment rules for contractors, and of fairness to longer-term employees.
The condemnation was issued by the only budget oversight committee that includes the entire membership of the U.N. It was ignored both by WFP bureaucrats and by the WFP’s 36-nation governing executive board.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,406826,00.html
That’s $70 Billion additional aid dollars – Obama wants to spend EVERY YEAR!
Obama can’t spend taxpayer money fast enough!
What? No Tiahrt Amendment topic today?
This place is really going down hill fast.
How McCain treats women and POW/MIA families.
Why does McCain not care about POW and MIAs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX6-UbHFBdI&feature=related
“When you realize your problem and want to talk about how to solve it I might be able to help you out.”
Why do I suspect that grmie’s help will somehow involve the phrase “jesus saves”?
VT, I think obama’s worry about foreign policy and the war is his Maginot Line.
It’s the economy, stupid. That’s what sunk bush the first and should have sunk bush the second if the democrats had been smart.
It could also sink mcbuch if obama would work it.
But he’s too busy being inspiring and working that kumbaya thingy. Remind me, how’s that working?
VT with the reporting laws that are in place where a large company identifies an applicant by race I do think this has gotten better.
For instance if you are ever auditted for discrimination either a random audit or one brought on by a complaint one of the first things checked is the ration of minorities to majority hires. For instance if 20% of applicants are black and qualified then hiring should be 20% black.
Other types of discrimination such and age and gender could be more easily gotten around because when interviewed this would be apparent even though you couldn’t have asked it on the application.
Sol, I fear for my country too, but I fear for my people more than “the country”.
Mccain buried the pow’s records because he could not afford to see his collaboration with the enemy, and womanizing while a pow see the light of day. The missing pows were just ‘collateral damage’.
ksfarmgrrl
Posted August 20, 2008 at 11:06 am | Permalink
“When you realize your problem and want to talk about how to solve it I might be able to help you out.”
Why do I suspect that grmie’s help will somehow involve the phrase “jesus saves”?
—————–
Actually I would tell you to not be so quick to judge others and to be more openminded in your thinking.
Jesus does save but that isn’t a discussion I will be having with you or anyone of this blog.
I guess Charity for Obama doesn;t start at home.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2590614/Barack-Obamas-lost-brother-found-in-Kenya.html
Too bad. Obama/McCain same oh same oh. WHo gives a shit. Damn
And VT, what you said about mcsame mastering the soundbite, and obama, well, not so much.
Begala will, eventually, be proven as correct on “we cant win with eggheads and minorities” as he and his partner, the ever slimy Carville were about “it’s the economy, stupid”.
Begala is from UT btw. Austin figured this stuff out a looooong time ago.
I agree with your thoughts there, kfg. Whatever else the polls may show or not show, it is clear that the war is not a top priority among voters, be the sample registered, likely, or whatever; the economy is. And, if Sen. Obama is to win, he’s got to focus and work on this issue, not in the nuanced and academic way, but on a way that captures the attention of the public. Otherwise, Sen. McCain wins. I see it that simply.
Funny, OKobserver offers help, and what does she get in reply?
Don’t see Libs offerring to help out, guys like JR need lotsa help. Where’s all the caring Lib hands to give JR a hand-out?
I know, OK is just a mean conservative employer, like me. We don’t care about anybody. And we hate the environment too.
“Barack Obama’s ‘lost’ brother found in Kenya”
Heheheh. Sounds like he and Cindy the Beer Queen have something in common… Except her sister isnt in exile in Kenya, she’s in California, I think.
The economy like the oil problem, and solutions are too complicated to condense meaningfully into a sound bite or slogan. Therefore, the majority of voters don’t have the patience or time or even desire to dig deeper, giving mccain an edge.
Say what you will about Hillary, she did master the soundbite and managed, against all odds, to connect with the average voter in terms they could understand. However simple those terms were. Democrats never learn that what plays with the party elite does not play with the general electorate, no matter how many times they click their heels and cross their fingers.
“And, if Sen. Obama is to win, he’s got to focus and work on this issue, not in the nuanced and academic way, but on a way that captures the attention of the public. Otherwise, Sen. McCain wins. I see it that simply.”
Yep.
The War is not a hot topic anymore, because there are more murders in Obama’s town of Chicago, then US troops killed in Iraq.
Not much news about Chicago murders these days in the press. We used to hear the lead story every day on the news was the number killed in Iraq.
Why don’t we hear every day about the number killed in Chicago?
Murder rate in Chicago up 18 percent over 7-month period of 2007
Sixty-two slayings in July, police source says
By Angela Rozas | Chicago Tribune reporter
11:10 PM CDT, August 6, 2008
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chicago-murders-upaug07,0,260187.story
Jesus saves…. but satan delivers ;-)
And here is one poll that agrees with everybody that it is the economy!
McCain takes lead over Obama: poll
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.
McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama’s solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll.
The reversal follows a month of attacks by McCain, who has questioned Obama’s experience, criticized his opposition to most new offshore oil drilling and mocked his overseas trip.
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1927197620080820?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
Oh jesus WEPT Max!
When we pointed out that many folks helped get JR back on line with a new computer, etc. you beat him like a rented mule because he was a wimp accepting handouts. If we didnt help him, then we would be heartless libs who didnt walk our talk about helping each other in a time of need.
Just like you guys pissing on his leg because he doenst have a job, then pissing on his leg because he’s self employed.
The obvious may not be obvious to you, max, but it doesnt mean the rest of the blog doesnt see through your bullshit.
Perhaps that’s why your arm flailing rarely gets a thoughtful response?
And besides, shouldnt you be out guarding your women, children and property with some big gun? Is everything safe today? Ya never know, some low down minority, queer lib might be trying to take something that’s yours.
Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.
kfg, thought I read something there are two lost sisters; I’ll see if I can find it again (assuming the time to do so).
Phantom; exactly. This is why Begala (and Carville) are correct, it seems to me, at least most of the time. I am of the thought that most posting here likely read and think things through more than the “average person”. Even so, I suspect that some, at least, find their opinions affirmed in the “sound bite” and “talking points” approach that seems to be the current level of discourse in things political in the current era, and, taking comfort therefrom, do not always continue to read and think as they have done in arriving at their respective positions.
This is freakin hysterical…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to2hIhXrRTk&feature=related
Here’s Police Optimism for ya:
“The worsening murder numbers come a month after Police Supt. Jody Weis, in his fifth month in office, came under fire from aldermen for the rise in crime. The catalyst for some of the criticism was a fatal shooting near the Taste of Chicago during the popular downtown event.
Chicago homicides, 2006-2008 Graphic Weis cautioned then that the 13 percent increase would still keep Chicago within range of historical lows in the last four years.”
(Yeah, a 13% rise at the time didn’t seem so bad. 500 murders a year isn’t as bad as it was before!)
“But if trends from the first seven months continue the rest of the year, Chicago would finish with more than 500 murders for the first time since 2003. That year, Chicago had more than 600 murders.
Aggravated batteries with a firearm, another marker of increased violence, also continued to climb, to 1,153 incidents in the first seven months, up 245 from the same period a year earlier, according to statistics provided by the source.”
(How’s that Chicago Gun-Ban working out?)
No kidding Linda. It just goes to show you cant underestimate the stupidity of the American voter. It was bushco’s policies, with the bedwetting, war enabling congress, that got us into this economic disaster.
And now voters think four more years of mcsame will fix it? We just werent doing the WRONG things hard enough or fast enough?
Heheheheh. It would be funny if it wasnt so sad…
avtolle, I agree, and along those same lines, it is why going negative is beneficial. It appeals to our basic instincts, even if not to our intellect.
What I remember VT is his first wife had a daughter before Cindy’s Dad married her. I think the terms would be Cindy has a half sister (same Father) and the Father had a step daughter. I guess Cindy’s half-sister has TWO half sisters? I think I’m confused.
My God, this sounds like a Press Report about Iraq from a year ago!
The COMMUNITY SERVICE Obama did in Chicago has REALLY PAID OFF!
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/chicago.murder.rate.2.792997.html
Murder Rate Up 18 Percent In Chicago
CHICAGO (STNG) ? Chicago continues to see a drastic spike in murders, mostly from gang-related shootings, through the end of July 2008, according to crime statistics released Monday by Chicago police.
The monthly crime statistics report also shows overall violent crimes increased 2.2 percent and there was a 1.7 decrease in overall property crime. Overall, crime rose 1.8 percent from the beginning of the year through July.
Homicides in Chicago rose 18 percent with more than half being gang-related and 80 percent of the murders were committed with a firearm.
“This report measures our progress in fighting gangs, guns and drugs and we must closely examine these crime trends and increases so that we can reduce violent crime at every level,” said Chicago Police Supt. Jody P. Weis.
Although there was an increase in homicides in the city several high-crime districts have seen decreases in shootings, the report stated.
Shooting decreased 4.8 percent in the Englewood District, 7 percent in the Wood District, 18.4 percent in the Grand Crossing District, and 18.4 percent in the Wentworth District.
Violent crime decreased in 12 of the 25 police districts, statistics show.
According to the report, 50 percent of the murders involved known acquaintances and only six percent were stranger related compared to 28.8 percent during the same period in 2007.
Some other notable statistics:
-Criminal Sexual Assaults: Down 13.3 percent
-Robbery: Up 5.9 percent
-Aggravated assault: Up 1.4 percent
-Aggravated battery: Down 0.5 percent
-Burglary: Up 3.4 percent
-Theft: Down 0.7 percent
-Motor Vehicle Theft: Up 4.8 percent
-Arson: Down 13.8 percent
Say OK, ya think ksfarmgirl needs to be more open minded? Less judgemental?
Nawwww. She’s displayed herself nicely today. She must be proud of herself.
Raptor continues to ride his one-trick pony of interpreting everything I write overly literally and then trolling me for it.
Obviously, ordinary people don’t have an R or D next to their name. Only elected officials do.
But to spare the readers of the Blog any more of this petty pettiest word-parsing bickering, RAPTOR IS NOW ON IGNORE.
To the best of my ability, I will try not to respond or even read anything Raptor writes.
Hey, it works great with Anti.
RAPTOR IS NOW ON IGNORE.
And I’m sure there is a tear in his beer now.
What a joke.
I’v long held that the majority of people use 10% of their time/intellignece in reaching a position or conclusion, and 90% of time/intelligence in trying to reinforce said position or conclusion.
We really need more welfare in America. People are Starving!
(Massive Public efforts are failing? What, another failed Government program? Oh my!)
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Fitness/story?id=5610367&page=1
Obesity Continues to Rise in Most States
Rates Rise Despite Efforts to Curb America’s Growing Weight Problem
By DAN CHILDS
ABC News Medical Unit
Aug. 19, 2008
RSS Massive public efforts to curb the U.S. obesity epidemic are falling tragically short, with populations in most states becoming more obese with each passing year, according to a new report that underscores the failure of initiatives aimed at promoting exercise and good nutrition.
Okobserver is KSgrannie?!
Well . . . that explains a few things.
She writes: “Beber you and Chas belong to the left on here who daily show disdain for the military retirement pay some on here receive . . . ”
Totally false and you know it, OKO.
What we show disdain for is not the disability or retirement pay anyone receives, but the despicable hypocrisy these people on welfare show toward their fellow citizens who are also on welfare.
You know that. We know that. We know that you know.
Stop willfully lying about we post.
I’m not sorry or ashamed of any of my posts, max. Pointing out the truth of the stupidity of the American voter is nothing to be ashamed of.
The dupes who voted TWICE for bushco and the enabling incumbent congress critters are the ones who should be ashamed.
Go polish your gun. Again.
Well fer christ’s sake capn. If they didnt WILLFULLY LIE they wouldnt have anything to post about, now would they?
Willful lies. Willful ignorance. Voting against their own best interests. Anyone see a pattern here?
But hey, we’re STILL safe from gay marriage….
…reminds me of a joke
A highly paid attorney was driving down the State Hospital road when suddenly he had a blow out on this left rear tire. He pulled his car over and commenced to fixing the flat.
He jacked up the car, took the lug nuts carefully off and placed them in the hub cap so he would know where they were.
A car coming down the road at a frighteningly fast speed hit the hub cap and scattered the lug nuts, lost in the darkness of the knight.
The attorney yelled “Damn!, what am I going to do now!”
One of the inmates was leaning against the chain link fence watching the attorney’s dilemma.
The State Hospital Inmate said matter of factually, “Remove one lug nut from each of the other tires and put them on your spare.”
The Attorney exclaimed in delight, “That’s absolutely brilliant!”
The inmate stared back at the attorney and drolly stated, “I’m crazy, but I’m not stupid.”
MaxG–
I’d guess you’d have to be a CON to think that because most people eat too much, no one has too little.
It’s like making that case that because a lot of people still drive big cars, high gas prices aren’t a problem for anyone.
Oh Farmgirl, I see you have much to be proud about.
Oh do please continue…
“there is a tear in his beer”
God, I love Hank Williams.
I’m sorry max that people dont like to be called stupid. Especially when they are. I guess telling them everything will be fine, when it wont, would be better? Sounds like mccainville.
…and what do you call doing the same things over and over and expecting different results?
Or… as one of my mentors put it, “if you keep doing what you are doing, you are going to get what you’ve got.”
Probably over your head…
Here ya go farmie, Bochephus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLSXd0C5V7M
Ksfarmgrrl–
You can’t say that nothing is getting better. Rachel Maddow has her own show on MSNBC now.
Looking forward to that . . .
Well hell, I gotta take a shower and go to town. I’d rather eat dirt, which probably accounts for my nasty mood today.
The more I know about people, the more I like my dog.
You hear kids say, “Stop it! Stop it! Quit Pickin on Me!”
Obama, be the big man!
(Sounds like a hollow and boastful JR threatening to kick some a*s!)
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/20/combative-obama/
Obama: McCain ‘Doesn’t Know What He’s Up Against’
by Associated Press
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. — A combative Barack Obama said Tuesday that Republican John McCain “doesn’t know what he’s up against” in this election and challenged his rival to stop questioning his character and patriotism.
(Please tell us Obama, what is McCain up against? McCain knows exactly what he’s up against.)
Yeah captain, I saw that. I hope her show goes better than her explanation of it on Countdown last night. She’s the best pundit on TV.
” A combative Barack Obama ”
Makes him sound TOUGH! Doesn’t it?
Almost like he was in combat!
Joe Louis versus Max Schmelling, the second time.
“The more I know about people, the more I like my dog.” ks farm gal
“I have more friends than I can count” — ks farm gal.
Do you count the geese and chickens too?
he, he, he, he.
Remedial education for beber.
The trick, in dealing with humans, is to be able to spot the GOOD ones, like my friends. Those statements are only mutually exclusive in YOUR friendless world.
hehehe musta hit a nerve, huh?
Ohhhh, noooooo…capn is ignoring me….oh dear, oh my, whatever shall I do? ohhhh, woe is meeeeee.
he can’t stand it when anyone questions his over the top rhetoric…
obviously capn can dish it out, but he sure can’t take it. What a child.
ohhhh…pooooor meeeee….i am just devastated…oh my, oh my…(laughing my tail off!)
Or maybe it’s more like Mohammed Ali vs Sonny Liston. “He’s so ugglly. Ain’t he just the ugliest old man you ever did see? A big old ugly bear.”
He’s so ugly, he had to wear a bottle of pills around his neck just to get Cindy to sit next to him.”
“If he tries to survive, he’s going down in FIVE.”
“If he comes after me, he’s going down in THREE.”
oh yes, Sol…I am just absolutely devastated…sitting here..crying.
I would agree with your “tear in my beer’ sentiment, but I don’t drink…can I cry into my Diet Pepsi as I contemplate this untenable turn of events?
you are sooo right, Sol..
“what a joke”
but I don’t drink…can I cry into my Diet Pepsi
Freakin commie.
You all want government to help out? Well we can work something out, mandatory weekly UA’s for ALL welfare recipients (of course that would be government ran).
Uh oh. Damn. She’s one of the good ones. I hope she can get well as quickly as possible.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080820/ap_on_re_us/congresswoman_hospitalized
ksfarmgrrl
Posted August 20, 2008 at 11:28 am | Permalink
No kidding Linda. It just goes to show you cant underestimate the stupidity of the American voter. It was bushco’s policies, with the bedwetting, war enabling congress, that got us into this economic disaster.
————
avtolle
Posted August 20, 2008 at 11:23 am | Permalink
kfg, thought I read something there are two lost sisters; I’ll see if I can find it again (assuming the time to do so).
I suspect that some, at least, find their opinions affirmed in the “sound bite” and “talking points” approach that seems to be the current level of discourse in things political in the current era, and, taking comfort therefrom, do not always continue to read and think as they have done in arriving at their respective positions.
——————-
VT could the above post be what you are talking about?
Nope; wasn’t talking about any individual post or poster, just an observation on human nature.
VT in reading the posts since I got back I sure hope it isn’t indicative of human nature.
An aside I heard on the radio this morning. An 85 year old widow met a burgular as he entered her house with a 45 in her hand. She even made him call 911 himself. She didn’t shoot him but said if he had made one wrong move she would have. Must have convinced him.
Heard that one, too; good for her. There’s something about a firearm pointed at a person by another person whose language, spoken, body, whatever, convinces the person at whom the firearm is pointed that said armed person will use it that almost compels compliance with polite requests (and impolite requests, too). It did appear that the intruder was not armed from what I heard, which does affect the outcome a bit.
Damn. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones is on life support and not expected to recover. They make take her off life support this afternoon. She’s only 58. I guess it’s true that only the good die young.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729
Above link takes you to one account of Cindy McCain’s sister complete with photo. They resemble one another. And, confirms that there were three girls —
“When Hensley died in 2000, his will named not only Portalski but also a daughter of his wife Marguerite from her earlier marriage. So, Cindy McCain may be the only product of Jim and Marguerite’s marriage, but she is not the only child of either.
She was, however, the sole inheritor of his considerable estate.”
America’s Shooting Gallery 8.19
* NY: In East Hampton, Lester Stockel, a millionaire and founder of a credit card-receipt processing business, shot his wife Georgiana before shooting himself early Monday.
* KS: Robert McIntyre, 21, shot and killed his father, Daniel McIntyre, 57, in the bedroom of their house before committing suicide on the front lawn.
* VA: New evidence is discovered surrounding Wesley Earnest, a former Heritage High School Assistant Principal, who is accused of shooting his estranged wife Jocelyn in the head. Her body was found in their home in Bedford County last December.
* MA: A 4-year-old boy and his teenage cousin were shot as they sat on the porch of their Roxbury home last night, the latest round of gunfire to strike a young, innocent bystander, and the beginning of a spate of violence that stretched across the city.
* IL: Man shot and wounded during shooting in Wrigleyville neighborhood where Chicago Cubs play.
* SC: Revenge shooting: Lexington County authorities charged a 17-year-old from Little Mountain with firing shots at cars and the home of a 62-year-old Chapin man who had mortally wounded his friend.
* DC: A gunman shot and killed a 17-year-old girl, Shanee Daugherty, in D.C. early Monday, but investigators don’t seem to know why.
* MO: In St. Louis, a 15-year-old girl, Shaneick Golden, was seriously injured when she was shot in the back while sleeping in her bed in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood. A bullet ripped through the base of the front door and struck her in the back.
That was yesterday.
Deep, deep sigh. She’s gone.
Rest in peace, Stephanie.
KFG — Who is/was Stephanie??
Chas, Democratic congresswoman from Ohio. According to the latest report I saw, she has died from an aneurysm.
Wanna know how far Hays will go to complete it’s rape of the Smoky River Valley?
http://www.hdnews.net/Story/citypre082008
The plan, endorsed by both sebelius and joe harkins, was to drain Cedar Bluff, then let Hays expand it’s wellfield, in spite of the IGUCA designation.
And let it be known, Hays has not experienced a water shortage for a very long time. Russell’s ethanol plant is thirsty, and Hays is just going to dip in a straw for the hell of it.
Maybe they should stop watering their golf course with treated water before they condemn land.
Regional economic development.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
We may not have any water out here, but hey, we’re still safe from gay marriage.
Big eye roll…
Thanks Vaughn…
This is who she was Chas. A woman of courage.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389×3827053
Ben, here’s your man- “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen.”
– Barack Obama
Thanks for the reminder, KFG… May she RIP!
RA, hell we can’t, we’re the Consumer Economy.
“RightAngle” cites an Obama quote –
“We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK.”
Just what is wrong is that statement?
Please be specific.
“The War is not a hot topic anymore, because there are more murders in Obama’s town of Chicago, then US troops killed in Iraq.”
One of those apples and oranges comparisons don’t ya think
Chicago population 3 million+
US Soldiers in Iraq 160k ——
Hell even if you used just the black minority population of Chicago 1.5 million+ it’s still a bad relationship you try to draw —- and please please exdplain agioan how it’s Obama’s fault ???
not the same size sample —- typical twist the facts and hope the ignorant will believe it — sad thing is most Kansans will take you at your word and not make the stretch of imagination it takes to say to you — bull shit …… sigh Kansas ya get what ya ask for
kind of like the old Washington Senators baseball team of the 50’s
washington — first in war first in piece — last in the American league — welcome to Kansas
chortle not from there — see the sand see the bucket —- more comfortable place to put your head than your ass ….
Here’re the paragraphs The Eagle CUT from Paul Krugman’s op-ed piece today:
Worse yet, he seemed to go out of his way to avoid scoring political points. “Back in the 1990s,” he declared, “your incomes grew by $6,000, and over the last several years, they’ve actually fallen by nearly $1,000.” Um, not quite: real median household income didn’t rise $6,000 during “the 1990s,” it did so during the Clinton years, after falling under the first Bush administration. Income hasn’t fallen $1,000 in “recent years,” it’s fallen under George Bush, with all of the decline taking place before 2005.
. . .
All this makes a stark contrast with the campaign of the last Democrat to make it to the White House, who had no trouble conveying passion over matters economic.
In his speech accepting the Democratic nomination in 1992, a year in which economic conditions somewhat resembled those today, Bill Clinton denounced his opponent as someone “caught in the grip of a failed economic theory.” Where Mr. Obama spoke cryptically in St. Petersburg about a “reckless few” who “game the system, as we’ve seen in this housing crisis” — I know what he meant, I think, but how many voters got it? — Mr. Clinton declared that “those who play by the rules and keep the faith have gotten the shaft, and those who cut corners and cut deals have been rewarded.” That’s the kind of hard-hitting populism that’s been absent from the Obama campaign so far.
Man am I disappointed. And no, you’re all freaking wrong on the ADA laws. Perhaps instead of putting in an elevator Granny- you could put a desk and a phone downstairs. You don’t have to be ridiculous- although if you do have a business it should be ADA compliant in the first place. I went to apply at walmart and my accomodation was A STOOL- probably 9.99 there in their own store. I’d had even been willing to buy the damn thing myself. Andthey said they coudln’t do it. They had a ‘policy’ that cashiers stand at all times.
When I say laws with teeth- I mean that they really look at these corporations and see who they’re hiring and why. I’m not asking for a quadriplegic be given a lineman job. Just reasonble accomodation.
I’m not at all surprised that you’re against it.
#149 India: 2.269 bbl/day per 1,000 peopl 2004
#128 China: 5.009 bbl/day per 1,000 peopl 2005
#15 United States: 70.593 bbl/day per 1,000 peopl 2004 …
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con_percap-energy-oil-consumption-per-capita
India and China can easily double its oil consumption. That would mean an additional 2 billion plus barrels of oil per day.
I think everyone will enjoy this article! Well, all I know for sure is I did.
—-
McCain and Obama – a tale of five (well, four) polls
Hot off the wires, it’s the new George Washington Battleground poll . If you don’t like the results in that one, you can look at the new Zogby poll just released today. Want a different answer? How about today’s Gallup poll? If you want more there’s the LA Times/Bloomberg poll released yesterday. Or if you want to know who the greatest “boy band” is, that poll is out too.
In four of the five polls, Barack Obama and John McCain are very close (neither fared well in the greatest boy band poll).
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/08/20/mccain-and-obama-a-tale-of-five-well-four-polls/
Poor Stevens, won’t get the trial moved to his home turf:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080820/pl_nm/usa_crime_stevens_dc_3
How McCain treats women and POW/MIA families.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX6-UbHFBdI&feature=related
Sol,
I watched that video the other day. Every woman should see it. Every man who values women (y’all have mothers, right?) should see it. McCain’s treatment and obvious opinion of women is despicable. After seeing this, can anyone doubt he called his wife a trollop and a c*nt?
Anyone care to try to excuse this?
Machine ’sniffs out skin cancer’
A common form of skin cancer could be diagnosed by the distinctive chemical “scent” it gives off, say US experts.
Philadelphia’s Monell Center sampled the air directly above basal cell carcinomas and found it was different to similar samples from healthy skin.
They told a conference it offered the chance of cheap and painless testing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7573060.stm
Democrats Party In Denver Like It’s 1908
It’s summertime, and the Democrats are holding their national convention in Denver. A lame-duck Republican president is nearing the end of his term. He’s an outdoorsman, a man’s man, who feels a strong bond with Texas. He wears cowboy hats.
The Democrats want to regain control of the White House. Eight years earlier there had been a heated contest, a tight presidential race in which both sides felt as if the future of the country hung in the balance.
The year was 1908. And the parallels with 2008 don’t end there.
Just like 100 years ago, the Democratic National Convention is being held in Denver. Last time around, President Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican, was finishing his first full term and had announced he wouldn’t run again. His handpicked successor was his secretary of war, William Howard Taft.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93752013
Well, Good night; Good luck; God Bless —-
Whatever you conceive God to be!!
Blessings ALL!!!
So mote it be!!
Is Jon Stewart the Most Trusted Man in America?
While the show scrambled in its early years to book high-profile politicians, it has since become what Newsweek calls “the coolest pit stop on television,” with presidential candidates, former presidents, world leaders and administration officials signing on as guests. One of the program’s signature techniques — using video montages to show politicians contradicting themselves — has been widely imitated by “real” news shows, while Mr. Stewart’s interviews with serious authors like Thomas Ricks, George Packer, Seymour Hersh, Michael Beschloss and Reza Aslan have helped them and their books win a far wider audience than they otherwise might have had.
Most important, at a time when Fox, MSNBC and CNN routinely mix news and entertainment, larding their 24-hour schedules with bloviation fests and marathon coverage of sexual predators and dead celebrities, it’s been “The Daily Show” that has tenaciously tracked big, “super depressing” issues like the cherry-picking of prewar intelligence, the politicization of the Department of Justice and the efforts of the Bush White House to augment its executive power.
For that matter, the Comedy Central program — which is not above using silly sight gags and sophomoric sex jokes to get a laugh — has earned a devoted following that regards the broadcast as both the smartest, funniest show on television and a provocative and substantive source of news. “The Daily Show” resonates not only because it is wickedly funny but also because its keen sense of the absurd is perfectly attuned to an era in which cognitive dissonance has become a national epidemic. Indeed, Mr. Stewart’s frequent exclamation “Are you insane?!” seems a fitting refrain for a post-M*A*S*H, post-“Catch-22” reality, where the surreal and outrageous have become commonplace — an era kicked off by the wacko 2000 election standoff in Florida, rocked by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and haunted by the fallout of a costly war waged on the premise of weapons of mass destruction that did not exist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/arts/television/17kaku.html?em
Two Against The One
In the dead of night in a small hideaway office in the deserted Capitol, a clandestine meeting takes place between two senators with one goal.
They grin at each other as they lift their celebratory shots of brutally cold Stolichnaya.
“Our toast to The One,” they say in unison, “is that he’s toast.”
“Obama should have picked you, Hillary,” John McCain tells her. “It isn’t fair, my friend. But it just makes it easier for me to whup him.”
“Don’t worry, John, I’ve put it behind me,” Hillary replies. “I’m looking toward the future now, a future that looks very bright, once we send Twig Legs back to the back bench.”
They chortle with delight.
“He’s a bright young man, but he got ahead of himself,” McCain says. “He needs to be taught a lesson, and we’re the ones to do it. Have you seen the new Bloomberg poll? Obama’s dropped and we’re even again. The Bullet’s getting all the credit, but you and I know, Hillary, that it’s these top-secret counseling sessions we’re having. And thanks again for BlackBerrying me the Rick Warren questions while I was in the so-called cone of silence.”
“Oh, John, you know I love you and I’m happy to help,” Hillary says. “The themes you took from me are working great — painting Obama as an elitist and out-of-touch celebrity, when we’re rich celebrities, too. Turning his big rallies and pretty words into character flaws, charging him with playing the race card — that one always cracks me up. And accusing the media, especially NBC, of playing favorites. It’s easy to get the stupid press to navel-gaze; they’re so insecure.”
“They’re all pinko Commies,” McCain laughs. “Especially since they deserted me for The Messiah. Seriously, Hill, that Paris-Britney ad you came up with was brilliant. I owe you.”
Looking pleased, Hillary expertly downs another shot. “His secret fear is being seen as a dumb blonde,” she says. “He wants to take a short cut to the top and pose on glossy magazine covers, but he doesn’t want to be seen as a glib pretty boy.”
McCain lifts his glass to her admiringly. “If I do say so myself, while the rookie was surfing in Hawaii, I ate his pupus for lunch. Pictures of him pushing around a golf ball while I’m pushing around Putin. Priceless.”
“I have a little secret to tell you about that, John. Bill made it happen. He loves you so much. He called Putin and told him that if he invaded Georgia, he could count on being invited to the Clinton Global Initiative every year for the rest of his life.”
“Wow. Should I call him? I saw your husband’s kind words about me in Las Vegas on Monday, saying I’d be just as good as Obama on climate change.”
“I think he’d like that,” Hillary smiles. “He’s still boiling at Obama. And you don’t have to worry about my army of angry women. We’ve spread the word in the feminist underground — as opposed to that wacky Obama Weather Underground — that ‘catharsis’ is code for ‘No surrender.’ My gals know when I say ‘We may have started on two separate paths but we’re on one journey now’ that Skinny’s journey is to the nearest exit.”
“But Obama’s says he’s finally ready to hit back,” McCain says, frowning. “He’s starting a blistering TV campaign and attacking me for attacking his patriotism.”
“Now, John, you know that every time he tries to get tough, he quickly runs out of gas. Sometimes in debates, he’d be exhausted by the third question. He must use up all his energy in the gym. He doesn’t have any stamina, and he certainly doesn’t have our bloodlust. Besides, you can throw that Mark Penn stuff at him that I couldn’t use in a Democratic primary about how he’s not fundamentally American in his thinking and values. While he’s up on his high-minded pedestal, you’ll scoot past him in your Ferragamos.”
“How can I ever thank you, my friend?”
“You can announce that you won’t be running for re-election because you’d be 76, and you can pick somebody really lame to run with, like your pal Lieberman. That means one term for you, and two for me.”
“It’s a deal,” McCain says, sticking out his hand to shake on it. “That was inspired to snatch his convention away — makes him look so weak. Listen, why don’t you stop in Sedona on the way to Denver? Wear a black wig and I’ll spirit you up to the cabin for the night. I’ll catch a catfish in the mill pond and grill it for you. It will be an adventure.” There’s a knock on the door. Jesse Jackson sticks his head into the meeting.
“Is it over?” he asks his co-conspirators.
“Yes, he’s over,” they respond in unison.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/opinion/20dowd.html?em
Good night Chas. Me too.
Time for bed.
I agree. “The Daily Show” is brilliant. Whether I agree or disagree with the point of view espoused, it is wickedly funny, and makes you think (but not too much!) at the same time.
IMHO, much funnier than Colbert. His schtick gets old. Stewart just has to be himself.