Join the conversation [ADD A COMMENT]

View our commenting policy and standards | Commenting FAQ | Report a problem

1. scott | January 23, 2012 at 10:15 am

   Many times on this board I’ve bemoaned the fact that Bush-era Policies (which were also doubly rooted in Christian Conservatism) have led to the decline in several industries in America. Most notably, the biotechnology sector, especially in areas involving Stem Cell Therapy.

   I found an old article from October that just happened to be linked to the home page of ESPN today that discusses how Stem Cell Therapy has helped injured athletes come back to the field of play well before traditional mechanical rehab would allow them to do so.

   The interesting part of this story is that the Stem Cells they’re talking about are not of the embryonic kind that the religious activists are freaking out about. There’s also nothing really going on in terms of cloning. Simply, they are taking stem cells from fat and marrow, allowing them to regenerate and then re-injecting them back into the person who provided them to begin with. This process is currently illegal in the United States. A version of this process is legal, but does not allow for the regeneration to take effect before re-injection, resulting in the death of many of the stem cells, and thus nullifying its worth.

   Still, it’s an interesting read, and a wonderful example of how religion can influence policy which actually holds back the development of science and medicine.

   Time to vote out all those that would be in favor of leeches over technology.

   http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7058209/peyton-manning-last-star-linked-stem-cell-therapy-espn-magazine
2. Dave Hicks | January 23, 2012 at 11:04 am

   Outstanding:

   http://tinyurl.com/6uwgh69

   **
   WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court says police must get a search warrant before using GPS technology to track criminal suspects.

   The court ruled today in the case of Washington, D.C., nightclub owner Antoine Jones. A federal appeals court in Washington overturned his drug conspiracy conviction because police did not have a warrant when they installed a GPS device on his vehicle and then tracked his movements for a month.

   The GPS device helped authorities link Jones to a suburban house used to stash money and drugs. He was sentenced to life in prison before the appeals court overturned the conviction. The Supreme Court agreed with the appeals court.
   **
3. Suzie | January 23, 2012 at 11:31 am

   .Scott,
   Neither Bush nor religious conservatives oppose the type of stem-cell research you’re talking about. But don’t let that fact interfere with your bigoted diastribe against “them church people’.
4. gdad | January 23, 2012 at 11:49 am

   Well thank you, SC.
5. Contrasuzie | January 23, 2012 at 11:59 am

   Once again, Screwzie has shown how truly classless she is over on the thread about Dan’s award, with not just one, but four disparaging, completely unnecessary comments. And Dan, being a class act, posted them. I think that proves who the better person is and that Dan certainly certainly deserves the SCLC award.
6. Lake Claytor | January 23, 2012 at 12:02 pm

   Watched my grandmother take her last breath and go home on Friday afternoon.

   I thank God that she was a believer and that I was able to be there to send her off. I had actually planned on NOT being there, but *my* plans are ineffectual in comparison to God’s.

   Death has a wonderful way of re-focusing us.

   My grandmother knew the Truth. Therefore, her death was much easier for me to handle.

   I know that type of statement can come off as arrogant and exclusive. But, it really is important.

   Just something to think about.

   I’d love to discuss it (not here). If you have questions, totally disagree, whatever…I am open to discussing it privately via email or in person. My email is lakeclaytor(AT)gmail.com.
7. Debbie | January 23, 2012 at 12:22 pm

   As a person whose parents were from WV, and who spent many summers there with my maternal grandmother when I was a teenager, I loved Ralph Berrier’s article in the Extra section today.
   http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/303795
   A very moving essay.
8. Dan Casey | January 23, 2012 at 1:01 pm

   LC, my condolences.
9. Miriam | January 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm

   LC, sorry for your loss.
10. Debbie | January 23, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    I’m sorry for your loss, Lake.
11. Ron | January 23, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    Condolences to you and your family LC.
12. Mike Scott | January 23, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    LC

    Sorry for your loss. Nothing was so good to me as both of my grandmothers. I was very lucky to have both of them and to have memories of them.
13. Mike Scott | January 23, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Debbie@7,

    In my previous comment to lake about my own grandmothers, I should have also mentioned the West Virginia connection. Both of my parents are from WVA too, and I spent countless hours there as a child. Couldn’t have been better.
14. Old Bue | January 23, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    Shouldn’t it be “Chameleon Gingrich” rather than Newt Gingrich?
15. gdad | January 23, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    So sorry for your loss, LC. I knew both of my grandmothers and even three of my great grandmothers.
16. gdad | January 23, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Just had an amusing encounter over on Aaron’s blog. I commented about the Tech-U.Va. game last night, and then after somebody made some disparaging remarks about U.Va. being able to win only in crew, I reeled off some of the sports they’ve done very well in and asked how many national team NCAA championships Tech has.

    In swoops our very own blog nanny, BOB H, to lecture me about how the thread is about men’s basketball and I can bring up lacrosse or soccer only when the thread is about that. Never mind that Bob H himself brought up football in his post. Never mind that men’s basketball wasn’t the only subject of the thread and never mind that another poster first brought up other sports before I commented.

    Poor Bob H, he just can’t help himself.
17. Hillary | January 23, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    The former disgraced House speaker, Newt Gingrich, made a claim Jan. 16 in a Republican debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. that President Obama was the “food stamp president”. His campaign organization quickly inserted the snippet in a new 30-second TV ad that began running Jan. 18 saying, “”more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history.”

    Of course, being republican, means being a liar – a USA Today fact-checking found that statement to be blatantly FALSE: “More were added under Bush than under Obama, according to the most recent figures.” The number of people in the food stamp program has indeed risen, but the great recession beginning in 2007 caused more people to apply for and receive food stamps.

    USA Today: “Gingrich goes too far to say Obama has put more on the rolls than other presidents. We asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition service for month-by-month figures going back to January 2001. And they show that under President George W. Bush the number of recipients rose by nearly 14.7 million. Nothing before comes close to that.”
    http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-01-18/fact-check-gingrich-obama-food-stamps/52645882/1

    So before all of us have to listen to the RWers parrot that bit of propaganda on this blog for the upcoming weeks, maybe this will be a preemptive strike at their ignorance. Ahhh, hope springs eternal.
18. Dan Casey | January 23, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    I miss Bob H. He was always a lot of fun to have around.
19. Dan Casey | January 23, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Newt was also the first national politician to come out in the support of the individual mandate for health insurance. I think he’s recanted on that one though, along with his agreement that pollution by humans is helping to warm the Earth.
20. Lori | January 23, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    My condolences on the loss of your grandmother, LC.
21. pammala | January 23, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    see letters to the editor

    In his Jan. 18 column, Cal Thomas hails the recent Texas appeals court ruling that forces a pregnant woman to undergo a sonogram before she is permitted to exercise her right to an abortion as a great conservative victory (“Three conservative victories”).

    Who pays for this required sonogram?

    Isn’t the conservative court challenge to the Affordable Care Act based on the assertion that to force a citizen to buy a certain product is unconstitutional?

    The Texas government is either forcing a consumer to buy a certain product if the consumer is on the hook, or socializing health care if the state is paying.

    duh, what do you think 0bama is doing numbnuts? besides you SHOULD look at someone before you murder them.
22. observer | January 23, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    gdad, As a UVA fan you might want to check out the outcome of a friendly wager on the outcome of last nights game: https://www.facebook.com/charlottesvillevirginia
23. dave | January 23, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Dan@2:31

    Right. Kind of like an impacted wisdom tooth or a root canal.
24. Lake Claytor | January 23, 2012 at 3:41 pm

    Thanks folks.

    ——–

    Ya’ll will love this.

    This is a phone call (to Rush) from a black truck driver, who says that Obama’s decision on the Keystone Pipeline is the last straw.

    http://www.therightscoop.com/black-rush-caller-who-finally-abandoned-obama-over-keystone/

    ?This is a great call into Rush today from a self-identified black man named Dennis who has finally abandoned not only his support for Obama but says he is considering dropping his support for the Democrat party too. And his tipping point was Obama’s pandering to environmentalists in rejecting the Keystone Pipeline.”

    Remember, don’t shoot the messenger.

    Listen to what this guy Dennis says.
25. gdad | January 23, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    #22 My son, who is a student at Tech, already pointed it out to me. Hysterical.
26. Cold n P | January 23, 2012 at 4:02 pm

    My condolences on your loss LC, glad you have your faith to carry you though your loss.
27. Morris Fleischer | January 23, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    Spent a couple of hours this afternoon with an 85-year-old church member who is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery at UVA-Medical Center. He served in the US Navy during WWII on the battleship Arkansas and saw action at both Iwo Jima and Okinawa as part of the pre-landing bombardment of Japanese defenses. The Arkansas survived several kamikaze attacks, but was later scuttled as part of the atomic test at Bikini Atoll.

    I continue to be amazed at the incredible life experiences and stories I hear from our vets. I just found out that there was a woman (and former church member-now deceased) from here in Newport (Giles Co.) who served as chief surgical nurse on Omaha Beach. It’s sad to see how quickly the WWII generation is dying off…their stories need to be remembered and told.
28. gdad | January 23, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    #24 You mean pandering to environmentalists like the Republicans in Nebraska, LC?
29. Brendan | January 23, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    I went to the Roanoke Civic Center this weekend to see some hockey. That place is filthy. The floor is as sticky as an adult theater and seats didn’t seem much cleaner.
30. Sandi Saunders | January 23, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    I too watched my beloved grandmother take her last breath when I was 22. I have no doubt it was a relief after years of suffering and slow decline from the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease. I am sorry for your loss Lake Claytor and envy your extra years with a beloved family member.

    What pray tell, about you is “re-focused”? #24 is most certainly the same old right wing crap slinging?
31. Lake Claytor | January 23, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    24

    gdad, it doesn’t sound like you listened to the caller.

    Dennis is a regular guy, like most. He isn’t alone.

    Watch the video.

    30

    Sandi, I’d be happy to share that intimate wisdom with a few folks here. I’m afraid you aren’t one of them.
32. Kristen | January 23, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    “self-identified black man”

    Love that. He’s probably some redneck in Texas sitting at a bar calling Rush on a bet.
33. 13 Suns | January 23, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    To Lake Claytor:
    I’m so sorry for your loss. I know you’re thankful to have been there as she begins the new journey her soul is taking. I never knew the real meaning of the word ‘bittersweet’ until I was with my husband as he left this Earth. So sad and so thankful at the same time. May your Faith give you Peace during this sad time.
34. Big Momma | January 23, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    So before all of us have to listen to the RWers parrot that bit of propaganda on this blog for the upcoming weeks, maybe this will be a preemptive strike at their ignorance. Ahhh, hope springs eternal.
    Comment by Hillary — January 23, 2012 @ 2:30 pm

    Hillary,
    Speaking of ignorance, you obviously didn’t finish reading your referenced article or were unable to comprehend the figures.
    I agree the increase of 14.7 million under Bush during his 8 years is horrible.
    However, Obama has managed an increase of 14.2 million in less than 3 years at the time of the referenced numbers.
    Before you get too excited and these numbers are nothing to be proud of regardless of political party, Hillary, give Obama a little more time and he will make up the difference plus some.
35. Sandi Saunders | January 23, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    Thanks for proving my point Lake Claytor. You don’t have any “intimate wisdom”, you have the same old arrogant right wing hate.
36. Suzie | January 23, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Lake 24,
    I heard that interview. It was fantastic. Dennis was very intelligent, and intelligent people who listen to Rush over time will end up agreeing with him because he speaks the truth. He should be required listening in the black community. They need to hear something other than the left-wing propaganda. Then they would realize they have been screwed all these years by Democrats. Just like Dennis realized.
37. Hillary | January 23, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    #34 “The number of people in the food stamp program has indeed risen, but the great recession beginning in 2007 caused more people to apply for and receive food stamps.”

    Evidently you missed the point of the USA Today article…
    Gingrich SAID “”more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history.”
    not me. And as I wrote in my post, [see above] there are lots of people on food stamps, but not the way it is presented to the public by the adulterous Gingrich.
38. Suzie | January 23, 2012 at 6:48 pm

    Love that. He’s probably some redneck in Texas sitting at a bar calling Rush on a bet.

    Leftwinger apparently think all black people say “axe” for ask. Miriam was the only liberal with the guts to condemn Debbie Suns’ racist post.
39. Sandi Saunders | January 23, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    You know Big Momma, I am all for relieving ignorance and bringing light to an issue, but only right wing lunatics cling to the idea that President Obama crashed this economy, caused this recession or spent 8 long hard years not appearing to notice the problems coming for this house of cards, so blaming him for the increase in food stamp recipients as a direct result of those 30+ years before him is not only ignorant, it is petty, hate filled and frighteningly unhelpful.

    I would applaud New’s offer: “If the NAACP invites me, I’ll go to their convention and talk about why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps”? If he had any idea how those jobs they should “demand” will materialize. Or if 36% of the people on food stamps were not “white”. This is a national problem he needs to address and not exclusively an NAACP issue? How is that not to be taken as bigoted, ignorant and even yes, racist, from a “Historian” no less?
40. Debbie | January 23, 2012 at 7:43 pm

    A friend who lives in bowling Green, KY just put this on her Facebook page.

    “Ok, so we are watching the local evening news….Mother of autistic child confronts school board because a teacher placed the child in a duffle bag. Tied up and set out in the hallway of the school. Meeting with the school board; the president of school board concluded that it was an “acceptable means of restraint” for the child in that school….HOLY CRAP…what in the world???”

    Granted, some autistic children can be difficult, but I can’t imagine this ever being acceptable.
41. Debbie | January 23, 2012 at 7:49 pm

    http://article.wn.com/view/2011/12/27/Mother_condemns_Kentucky_school_for_putting_autistic_son_in_/

    It happened in December, but I guess maybe they had a meeting with the school board today.
42. Dan Casey | January 23, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    Sounds like although Suzie is against an individual mandate for health insurance, she’s in favor of an individual mandate (at least on black folks) for listening to Rush.
43. Dan Casey | January 23, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    BM wrote that Obama has “managed to put 14.2 million on food stamps.” This betrays a fundamental lack of knowledge, on BM’s part, of how the SNAP system works.

    BM, no president — and that includes Bush — ever “puts” anyone on food stamps. People qualify for food stamps based on government guidelines regarding household size and income level. But they have to apply for food stamps to qualify. The president is not involved in this process. If you qualify, you qualify. That’s it.

    With so many people on food stamps these days, the Department of Agriculture should revisit the guidelines and restrict some food items for eligibility, in the same way SNAP can’t be used to buy tobacco or alcohol. Ideally they would move the the WIC model. They should prohibit soda and candy, at the very least.
44. Ron | January 23, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    If you want to comment intelligently about the food stamp program you need to watch the video linked below. It’s 14 minutes long, which I know may be longer than some attention spans. Nonetheless, watch it. You will learn early on how the current food stamp program was forged in 1977 when Republicans & Democrats in Congress understood that their first obligation was to serve the American people and to solve the problems our country faced.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0_OWueb_8Y
45. Contrasuzie | January 23, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Lake C, sorry for your loss. I know you’ll miss her. I will sure miss my grandmother when she dies. Stick close to family. You will help each other through this.
46. Kristen | January 23, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    http://bluearkansasblog.com/?p=8417

    Sad picture alert. All you need to know about those who would demonize “liberals”.
47. Contrasuzie | January 23, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    I think it’s very nice that Screwzie took the time to extend her condolences to LC over the loss of his grandmother.

    Oh, wait……
48. Big Momma | January 23, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    Dan,
    I never said either President “put” people on food stamps. You are again showing your inability to comprehend simply ideas. And once again, it is not surprise.
    I said the there was an increase under each President. After only 3 years, the increase in recipients during Obama’s term is less than 500k of the increase over the 8 years of Bush.
    Is either number anything to be proud of? Absolutely not.
    Thanks to the “stimulus” eligibility was expanded and benefits were increased.
49. Ron | January 23, 2012 at 10:21 pm

    What I meant to say in my comment at 8:45 p.m. was that the video provides a history of the Food Stamp program. Watching the video can help you understand how bipartisan work can solve the problems we confront as a nation.
50. Big Momma | January 23, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    And to illustrate what a liar you are, here is part of your post in quotes,implying a direct quotation,
    BM wrote that Obama has “managed to put 14.2 million on food stamps.” This betrays a fundamental lack of knowledge, on BM’s part, of how the SNAP system works.

    And here is my actual post.
    “However, Obama has managed an increase of 14.2 million in less than 3 years at the time of the referenced numbers.”

    So Please Dan, stop the lies and trying to put words in others mouths.

    @37 Hillary,
    I believe Gingrich may be correct if you look at the increases on an annual basis. It’s not exactly apples to apples if you are comparing a net increase over 8 years to a net increase over only 3 years. Like I said give it time.
51. Dan Casey | January 23, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    BM, I got the exact phrasing wrong. What you wrote was that Obama had “managed an increase” of 14.2 million.

    My apologies.

    Why did you write that he had “managed” it? Do you relieve believe that? Because it shows a fundamental ignorance of how the program works.
52. Suzie | January 23, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    Gee, it must be late. Dan is splitting hairs again. A couple of nights ago, in order to avoid the topic that Idiot Boy refused the chance to decreased our dependence on foreign oil and create jobs, Dan argued over the meaning of ‘domestic’ .
53. Suzie | January 23, 2012 at 11:59 pm

    Lake Claytor,
    Condolences for your grandmother. You are much appreciated on this blog.
54. 13 Suns | January 23, 2012 at 11:59 pm

    Old Grandmas
    There have been some assertions made recently about things old grandmas do not say.  Being one, I’d like to clear the air a bit on what old grandmas DO say (and do).

    Old grandmas are not stupid or ignorant.  We still learn new things every day.  We are not technological morons.  We use computers, we e-mail, we shop online, pay bills online, refill prescriptions online, we post on blogs, we use Facebook, we use YouTube, we Google, we play Angry Birds (though not very well, in my case), we use iPods, we use cellphones, we use the cameras on our cellphones, we text, we use Kindles.

    Old grandmas watch TV, listen to the radio, listen to podcasts, read newspapers, magazines, books.  We like to stay informed.  We like to stay current.

    Old grandmas have lived through good times, bad times, war time, peace time.  We lived through integration and desegregation and we know we’ve come a long way with still a long way to go.  We know trivializing racism is not a solution.

    Some old grandmas go sky-diving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, fly airplanes, drive fast cars, ride motorcycles, play golf, play tennis, ride horses.  Adrenaline makes us feel alive!  Then, old grandmas soak their old bones in a nice, hot tub.

    Old grandmas knit, cross-stitch, quilt, bake, cook, take care of pets, drive friends to doctors’ appointments, attend their grandchildren’s school performances, music recitals, sporting events.  Old grandmas are the best cheerleaders.

    Sometimes old grandmas look at a nice, toned set of buns on a fine young man and wish  we were younger.  Or not.  There’s a LOT to be said for experience. ;-} We have sex.  (Viagara’s not just for porn stars.) We LIKE sex.

    Old grandmas say sweet things like, “I love you”, “you look so pretty”, “how’d you get to be so smart?” to our grandchildren.  We talk about politics and current events with our friends.  We know about pop culture.  We’ve seen MTv.  We know who Snooki is, unfortunately.  We say ‘bad words’ sometimes.  We learned how to cuss when it was still an art form.  We know how effective a well-placed f-bomb can be.

    Old grandmas love our children, our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren.  We want them to appreciate and respect their past and we want them to know where they’re going in the future. We want to be part of that future.  So we talk to them and we talk with them.  We listen to them.  That’s how we learn about new technology and silly pop culture and how we teach them about the technology and pop culture we grew up with.

    Old grandmas are cool, groovy, hip, happenin’, with it, the sh#t, the bomb-diggity, the cat’s meow, the bee’s knees, far out, bad, bada$$, keen, neat-o, funky….shall I continue?

    Old grandmas are much, much more than people realize.
55. dave | January 24, 2012 at 12:28 am

    With no Bachmann, no Cain, and no Perry, almost all the fun has gone out of the GOP Comedy Tour. What’s left is thrre sharks fighting a pissing match to the death while one befuddled old guy who is seriously out of touch with reality chimes in with an occasional inane comment. Romney landed some blows on Gingrich tonight but the serial philanderer more or less withdrew from the battle because he didn’t have a red meat audience like the ones in S.C. to loudly cheer and make him look tough. The electorate in Fla. is a bit more diverse and the audience at USF was not so susceptible to plaing the media bashing and veiled racism cards so the Newtster cooled his jets a little. And Santorum continued his insane litany of bomb,bomb,bomb-bomb bomb Iran.
56. scott | January 24, 2012 at 3:50 am

    So, I was pretty bored tonight after House ended. I already finished this weeks chores, and turned on the debate just to see some hilarity. I had already gotten into a debate with someone just prior about Ron Paul and just how nutty he is, so I had to see for myself.

    Rick Santorum: Completely incapable and unable to be president. Seriously, this guy is Jimmy Olson after he came out of a 5 year coma and is still barely able to make words come out of his mouth. Nobody will elect someone so completely off-their-rocker about Sharia-like Christianity. His comments about Iran and Cuba…. do yourself a favor little buddy, just be quiet. You’re not helping.

    Newt Gingrich: I actually saw him get ready to call Mitt Romney some sort of polygamist, then he swallowed it and decided he would try to be presidential and make some sort of claim that Mitt was playing political moves. Basically this guy just reeks of sleeze. He’s obviously bought by so many corporations, he should be a walking billboard. I think that Romney did a pretty good characterization of him by saying he was an ‘Influence Peddler’. “Oh but I was a historian.” YEAH RIGHT, and I have a bridge to sell you. He didn’t try to play as dirty, and you could see the temper flaring. I really can’t see people getting over the fact that this guy would be the first President that wore a suit to inauguration that was sponsored. And I don’t mean by Armani. I mean he might have a big British Petroleum Logo taped to his back.

    Mitt Romney: The Mormon Android! This guy lacks personality, but that’s no news. People have been saying this for months, if not years now. SNL has a good skit about it, played by Jason Sudeikis. I am ambivalent about Romney. I think he sounds like a politician, but without sounding quite as antagonistic as Gingrich or as Nervous and unsure as Santorum. I wasn’t quite a fan about how he handled the question about Castro. Revelling in the death of a person in that way just doesn’t seem presidential, or Mormonly for that matter. (Mormonic? I like that better.) His best flub of the night was when he said he opposed deportation, but wanted to send illegal aliens home to apply for legal citizenship. The panel asked about this conflict, and his answer was choice: “The answer is self-deportation.” hahahahaha Mormonic indeed!

    Ron Paul: This is the guy I turned in to listen to. The first thing I get from him is that he makes his argument as if he doesn’t give a damn what the other candidates think. He also doesn’t sound like he’s playing political games. He just has a platform, sticks to it, and for some of these things, I agree with him (reduce corporatism, reduce bureaucracy, reduce isolationism.) That last one was important to me. Ron Paul was the only sane voice up there when it came to world affairs. I don’t know how anyone can stand up there and want to be leader of the free world by threatening the safety of all those who aren’t born in America. Sure Iran and Cuba are packed full of governments that hate us, but do you really think the solution is to bomb them? He was right. The Cold War is over. GET OVER IT. (I’m looking at you Gonzo Blog readers.) Iran will obviously take a closer look, and I don’t think diplomacy will work. It will take an internal uprising for a positive change in Iran.

    After Ron Paul would make sense, then he would inexplicably make like 3 or 4 comments in a row that I’m thinking “Is this guy nuts? or did he just lose blood supply to his brain?!” He sure seems hell bent on basically dissolving the federal government and turning us into 50+ nation-states and territories, where each one gets to decide their own rules. For some things, I think thats ok, but it’s not something that could happen overnight. After reading about his views on ADA Act, Civil Rights, Global Warming, Evolution, Anti Federal Safety, United Nations, The Minimum Wage, OSHA, and the Interstate System. I can only conclude one thing:

    If you were to put Ron Paul in a dehydrator in Texas, you’d have Ross Perot. I think im mostly skeptical of Ron Paul because every twentysomething Ron Paul advocate on the internet parrots the same talking points : He wants to legalize pot and take us back to the gold standard! Neither will happen in his lifetime, sadly. Pot might, but Gold.. nah.

    Then you have that scene in Bruno where Ron Paul is taken by surprise by Sascha Baron Cohen’s advances, and derogatorily calls him a Queer and runs out of the hotel room. Have a feeling there’s some pretty obvious homophobia there, and with the civil rights stuff, maybe even a bit of Racism hidden deep down.

    Final summary: None of these jokers are electable. The Great Unwashed Middle-of-the-road voting population will never allow for a Sharia-Christ Psychopath. Mitt Romney can’t get the southern voters. The Baptists, Methodists and Episcopalians all think Mormons are a cult. Newt Gingrich can’t get elected because only a deaf, dumb, and blind person who speaks no english can ignore the fact that this guy is bought and paid for. He’s going to play the Southern Strategy, as most southern republicans do, and he will fail. And Lastly, Ron Paul makes just enough sense for the pot-addled mind to go “Woah!” But sounding too smart will turn a lot of people off, and so will the radical change he proposes to government.

    Anyway, that’s my late-night thoughts about the Republican’t debate.

    I would say I’m looking forward to 4 more years of Obama, but I’m really not. If the past 3 years is enough evidence, this blog will probably put the Whine Gourmet out of business.
57. Suzie | January 24, 2012 at 7:30 am

    Sometimes old grandmas look at a nice, toned set of buns on a fine young man

    Methinks Debbie is desperately in need of some meds.
58. Sandi Saunders | January 24, 2012 at 8:12 am

    Absolutely agree 13 Suns, you rock on many levels my lady!
59. Lake Claytor | January 24, 2012 at 9:02 am

    35

    Sandi, I don’t expect anything less from you.

    Many others on here have been so gracious and understanding. They were willing to put aside petty political disagreement for the sake of human kindness. I’m fairly sure that a few don’t even agree with my spiritual beliefs, yet they were kind. Some, I admit surprised me.

    Sandi, your response however, does not surprise me.

    Please do not be further offended if I do not respond to you anymore.

    It’s for the best.

    ——–

    Last night’s debate was LAME. Nothing substantial revealed. NBC and Brian Williams failed. For what it’s worth, if they want viewers, NBC should ALLOW applause, cheering, etc. If nothing else it would wake me up from my nap every once in a while.
60. Sandi Saunders | January 24, 2012 at 9:35 am

    Oh I have no need of your “responses” Lake Claytor, your hypocrisy resounds regardless. YOU are the one who professed “Death has a wonderful way of re-focusing us” and then proceeded to post your same lame “petty political disagreement” in your #24 and no amount of “human kindness” could help me overlook the total BS. You could not go one day in humility and re-focus. Don’t blame me mister, you reap what you sow.
61. Debbie | January 24, 2012 at 9:43 am

    You can take all the shots at me that you want to, Suzie. You’re not hurting me. I know you want my hate. What you get is my pity.
62. Sandi Saunders | January 24, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Thanks for the analysis Scott, I could not bring myself to watch. My fear is that given the economy, the cost of living and the jobs situation, Obama will be the scapegoat because this is a “blame” nation and one of those clowns could actually end up president. Bush all over again. I will never forgive the TP/GOP for this fiasco and farce they are perpetrating. If I had any doubt that they do not have America’s best interests at heart before (and frankly, I did not), this bunch of losers proves it beyond doubt. How anyone could respect a president from that bunch is a bridge too far.
63. Sandi Saunders | January 24, 2012 at 10:08 am

    Debbie, no one is taking her hate and acid seriously. No worries on that score. You and 13 Suns add a lot to this blog and that is what makes her lash out so. Keep up the good work!
64. Miriam | January 24, 2012 at 10:19 am

    @57 Suzie, doesn’t it bother you in the least to come across like such a joke? Isn’t it in the least bit embarrassing to you? If you want to have opinions on topics and discuss stuff, fine…but the way you plow through here like a bull in a china shop is truly unbecoming. Do you have no pride?
65. gdad | January 24, 2012 at 10:21 am

    #38 “Leftwinger apparently think all black people say “axe” for ask.”

    Now why would suzie assume this, except that she ALWAYS has to bring race into it. There are white folks who also say “axe.” I heard it just last night.
66. gdad | January 24, 2012 at 10:37 am

    #54 I’ve said it before but I’ve always been amused at folks like suzie or MMM or DD who use grandma or granddad as supposed insults or make fun of older folks. Ultimately, every one of these people aspire to be exactly that — a grandparent or at the very least old — so they’re making fun of what they want to be one day. Weird.
67. Debbie | January 24, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    Thanks, Sandi.
68. Contrasuzie | January 24, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    “I think it’s very nice that Screwzie took the time to extend her condolences to LC over the loss of his grandmother.

    Oh, wait……

    Comment by Contrasuzie — January 23, 2012 @ 9:28 pm

    Lake Claytor,
    Condolences for your grandmother. You are much appreciated on this blog.

    Comment by Suzie — January 23, 2012 @ 11:59 pm”

    It doesn’t count when the only reason you do it is because you were called out on it, Screwzie.
69. Debbie | January 24, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    Not political, but interesting. McDonald’s tried to launch a Twitter campaign last week to get people to tell touchy feely stories, it backfired. People started telling nasty McDonald’s stories.
    http://eater.com/archives/2012/01/24/mcdonalds-twitter-campaign-totally-backfires.php
70. Suzie | January 25, 2012 at 8:03 am

    It doesn’t count when the only reason you do it is because you were called out on it, Screwzie.

    I don’t always read earlier posts in a thread, so I didn’t about Lake’s grandmother right away. Is there nothing you won’t gripe about, Gdad? (as you continue to violate blog rule against slurring someone’s screen name?)
71. Sandi Saunders | January 25, 2012 at 8:33 am

    Did MickeyD’s really not see that one coming? Thanks Debbie.
72. gdad | January 25, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    #70 Read much, troll suzie? That wasn’t gdad who posted that.
73. Sandi Saunders | January 25, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    There is NO DIFFERENCE in “slurring someone’s screen name” and the insulting bile that you put out Suzie and until YOU are called to account, no one else needs to be. Pure and simple “letter of the law versus intent of the law”.
74. pammala | January 25, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    sure you take Suzie seriously or why bother with the vile and putrid language you use on her. nAs for sandi, here’s a tasty cake for ya.
75. Walker | January 25, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    @70 – I thought Contra = SteveC? No?
76. Contrasuzie | January 25, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    gdad = Contra = Steve C = 13 Suns = Debbie

    We are the Borg.
    You will assimilate.
    Resistance is futile.
77. Suzie | January 25, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    @70 – I thought Contra = SteveC? No?

    Could be, Walker, Contra it seems more in line with Gdad now. Same slurring nicknames, same stalkerish tendencies, and they frequently post about the same time.
78. Miriam | January 25, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    @76, Contra, that is just hilarious.
79. Sandi Saunders | January 25, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Pots calling kettles, kettles calling pots, and the world keeps on spinning. Whiney & Co, if you don’t like it here, leave. That’ll teach us, Rodney.
80. Kristen | January 25, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    Darn…I thought today was MY turn to be 13Suns.
81. gdad | January 25, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    #75 Well, Walker, Contra and I write in completely different styles, so either we’re not the same person or I’m a pretty talented person.
82. Suzie | January 25, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    Has anybody here noticed “Contra” doesn’t comment on political issues, nor does he/she often engage others?

    That’s very weird behavior for someone who isn’t a marionette.

    Dan, of course, doesn’t like when people question liberals’ authenticity. Now if you want to speculate everything in the world about Suzie, then have at it. (Psst. Coz Suzie is a conservative!!!)
83. Sandi Saunders | January 25, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    Contrasuzie engages the people they choose, as do you. Since it is so often your lunch she takes I see your frustration, but let it go; not your blog, not your decision, not your business IMO. All you people do is question our “authenticity” and every thing else except the facts you cannot refute. But then you whine about your precious identity being kept secret (don’t blame you there, no one would want to own your bile). Whiny is not your color, I’m thinking puce.
84. Hillary | January 25, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    #82 “Psst. Coz Suzie is a conservative!!!)”

    noooo, because you are vile and ignorant.