Throw it away on the Thursday OPEN thread
Solar-powered trash can and compactor | Shot by Dan on Market Street
“One should be willing to throw away a dozen ideas to come up with a good one, just as one should throw away a dozen words to come up with the right one.”
James Gunn
February 7, 2013 - 10:00 AM
The story linked below is an example of how our religious differences can somehow lead fellow Christians to make wrong headed choices. The Lutheran pastor, in my view, had done nothing to merit disciplinary action. It’s a classic example of how we are choosing devisiveness over cooperation.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/07/16882169-lutheran-pastor-apologizes-for-taking-part-in-sandy-hook-service?lite
Democratic Party lapdog media at it again. They withheld info from the public at the behest of the White House.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/feb/06/us-newspapers-accused-complicity-drone
Ron
He broke a church rule. That’s why he was disciplined. They need to overturn the rule but I don’t see the Missouri Synod doing that any time soon. They won’t even share Communion with other Lutherans.
Wow. What an antiquated rule. I never thought Lutherans were that narrow minded.
Here is a book I want to put in my queue Ron, it is along those same lines.
http://righteousmind.com/
“People who devote their lives to studying something often come to believe that the object of their fascination is the key to understanding everything. Books have been published in recent years on the transformative role in human history played by cooking, mothering, war . . . even salt. This is one of those books. I study moral psychology, and I’m going to make the case that morality is the extraordinary human capacity that made civilization possible. I don’t mean to imply that cooking, mothering, war, and salt were not also necessary, but in this book I’m going to take you on a tour of human nature and history from the perspective of moral psychology.
By the end of the tour, I hope to have given you a new way to think about two of the most important, vexing, and divisive topics in human life: politics and religion.”
It sounds awesome.
I heard him on the radio yesterday and he seems to have a good grasp on a lot of why we fail.
And guess what, Henry, if the same sort of thing had been exposed by the press when Bush was in office, your rightwing buddies at FR would have been all over the liberal commie MSN for “treason.” You know I’m right.
Right wingers are going to be SOOOOO disappointed. Not only did Obama attend the prayer breakfast (as usual), he mentioned Jesus Christ and Christianity. What is that going to leave the Obama haters to whine about?
“Right wingers are going to be SOOOOO disappointed. Not only did Obama attend the prayer breakfast (as usual), he mentioned Jesus Christ and Christianity. What is that going to leave the Obama haters to whine about?”
They will spin it as a dirty trick by a lying commie. Just wait.
Just to clarify, that’s a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod rule. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America welcomes opportunities to worship with those of differing faith.
Henry,
I’m aware that he broke a rule. The rule itself is what adds to the divisions within the Christian denominations. It is symbolic of the devisiveness that plagues our country right now.
It’s bad enough that there are over 30,000 Christian denominations, each with some minor differences regarding theology or practice that they either hold dear or refute! It seems to me everybody looks for differences to fight over instead of similarities to agree upon and ways to work together (that goes for more than just religion, obviously).
“They will spin it as a dirty trick by a lying commie. Just wait.”
A conservative friend of mine posed a link to the transcript, complimented the sentiments, and then essentially questioned whether he really meant them, although it did appear to be in the context of whether anybody in Washington would have been completely sincere saying the same thing.
Dan Radmacher, thanks for the clarification.
I’m sure all these weapons were for hunting.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/07/16881366-cops-19-machine-guns-grenade-launcher-seized-from-utility-workers-home?lite
#6
Maybe you could prove you are right, gdad. We’ll wait patiently while you prove your hypothesis.
Ron, I think it’s time for Pastor Morris to find another church. In the end, isn’t it about what Christ would want him as a follower to do, i.e. comfort those in need?
Just another multiple murder by firearms which fell into the hands of a criminal. I’m sorry. Actually he was a former Navy Reservist and LA Police Officer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/us/former-los-angeles-police-officer-sought-in-shootings.html?hp&_r=0
Dan, re: 12:26
Although I believe the “dirty trick…lying commie” is over the top, it does prove an example of the difficult situation we find ourselves in today as a polarized country/electorate.
I was talking, today, with someone in “upper management” of a (privately owned) company who told me he does not watch the news. He said he had “heard something” somewhere about “something” happening in the next couple of months that might have an effect on his wife’s employment (in defense contracting).
I was shocked at his ignorance (in the definitive) of his understanding on issues that are so important to his (and his family’s) life and lifestyle. He and his wife only now realized that she may lose her employment.
The conversation led me to better realize that there are so many people that don’t “have a clue” about what is going on and how it will ultimately affect their life.
We have the extreme fringe on the right, and the extreme fringe on the left (both of which regularly post here); but the vast middle seem to be silently strolling thru life without a clue. Ultimately it is this “vast middle” that makes the difference in elections.
I “get” that you believe that the right wants to paint obama as a “commie” (in your words)…. I also “get” that the left wants to paint him as the ”be all end all savior”.
In your opinion how (or can) this gap be bridged? Is it that one side or the other must ultimately win (which I don’t see) or is there a common ground?
I don’t see this as a left or right issue, I see this as a national issue.
83% of Americans think we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Barry O does not. And yet many on this blog think he is not polarizing. Hang tough House, you are the only hope we have left. No more taxes until entitlements and spending are reformed!
mikeO, you watch the news, right? I suspect you’re worse informed than your acquaintance, based on the garbage you’ve posted right here. What I mean is, you’re on real thin ice when you accuse others of “not having a clue.”
And I’m not being flippant when I say that. I mean it sincerely. “The news,” wherever you get yours, has done you wrong.
another chuck,
We do have a spending problem. Our federal government spends $250 billion each year on corporate tax expenditures. Eliminating those would cut spending by $2.5 Trillion over ten years. That would be a big step toward bringing our spending and revenues more in balance.
Ron, first of all, all savings SHOULD and MUST be presented in terms of a baseline of zero!!! Let’s say we save $2.5 trillion on corporate taxes expenditures , that is meaningless if we spend $5 trillion more on other things. Only in DC can spending less on an artificially inflated budget increase can be considered a savings. We are still spending more, right? It’s ignorant.
Additionally, why shouldn’t we adopt a policy of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world? We could put the Cayman banks out of business. Plus lower prices, more jobs, more money in the folks pocket to spend will ensue. The best and the brightest would come here to do business and produce. This is a time of great opportunity if we would cease it. Yet, our powers that be want to go with the failed western Europe model…or, closer to home, the CA model. It’s just stupid, and I blame both parties, but Obama is the ultimate poster child for this insanity.
Cutting spending is all well and good for deficit reduction but it will NOT pay the debt. It cannot. Maybe you need to list the things you and your family will forgo and be happy but the world does not work that way.
Yes, cutting defense will mean jobs, cutting education will mean jobs, cutting government services will mean jobs, there are no pain free cuts and there are not enough cuts to pay the debt accumulated.
You may deny it as you like, it remains the truth.
http://prospect.org/article/washington-we-have-revenue-problem
FYI, Americans support some higher taxes too.
No “proof” needed, Henry. All one need do is read the jackassery on FR.
No kidding? http://www.cnbc.com/id/49122502/HHS_Obamacare_Saves_45_Billion_on_Medicare_Drugs
“We’re seeing consistent, steady savings for seniors thanks to the health care law,” said Jon Blum, director of the Center for Medicare. “In just 21/2 half years, seniors have seen billions in savings, and those savings will continue to grow as the doughnut hole is fully closed.”
Sandi, Obamacare is and will be a losing issue for….all of us. CBO report: http://news.yahoo.com/cbo-obamacare-price-tag-shifts-940-billion-1-163500655.html
Why don’t you comment on my proposal of the need for a true baseline budget. Either you spend more or less than the prior year. By doing this alone, most of the problems in DC would be eliminated immediately. The fiscal gray areas that all politicians play in would be eliminated. Both parties should jump on board.
Trying to access the new blog format on mobile:
Error 403: We’re sorry, but we could not fulfill your request for /dancasey/ on this server.
That got a chuckle.
“It’s bad enough that there are over 30,000 Christian denominations, each with some minor differences regarding theology or practice that they either hold dear or refute!”
I would look at this as a plus. As soon as individuals decide for themselves who or what to believe, the sooner organized religion can be eradicated from this earth.
“Additionally, why shouldn’t we adopt a policy of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world? We could put the Cayman banks out of business. Plus lower prices, more jobs, more money in the folks pocket to spend will ensue. The best and the brightest would come here to do business and produce. This is a time of great opportunity if we would cease it. Yet, our powers that be want to go with the failed western Europe model…or, closer to home, the CA model. It’s just stupid, and I blame both parties, but Obama is the ultimate poster child for this insanity.”
Here’s an idea! Let’s ELIMINATE ALL TAXES WHATSOEVER!!!!!!!! Golly, you will see economic activity blossom like never before. It will be so great that the government will have MORE REVENUE THAN EVER!
Oh . . . wait a minute. (Never mind).
/snark off
FYI, Americans support some higher taxes too.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 7, 2013 @ 7:56 pm
Nah! This dog won’t hunt. The first step must be to cut spending to the
extent the debt does not grow and interest is covered which amounts to
the $850 billion deficit expected this year plus a trillion which the annual interest will soon be. Second step is to look at taxes which, more likely than not, will need decreasing since we historically know lowering the rates results in more tax revenue due to increased economic activity. LOL, after $1.850 trillion in cuts we’ll need more economic activity to provide a whole lot of jobs to those who used to work for the Government. This may seem harsh but, given the alternative collapse that must surely come with an unsustainable debt level, such action is not unreasonable. At least we would be reducing the inefficient element in out economy, the Government, and increasing the efficient element.
Here’s an idea! Let’s ELIMINATE ALL TAXES WHATSOEVER!!!!!!!! Golly, you will see economic activity blossom like never before. It will be so great that the government will have MORE REVENUE THAN EVER!
Oh . . . wait a minute. (Never mind).
/snark off
Comment by Dan Casey — February 7, 2013 @ 10:31 pm
Flatten it out. Taxes should be able to be filed on a post card. 9-9-9…or something similar. We are 16.4 trillion in debt. It is not working the way things are!
Hey folks.
Here’s an interesting article from today’s NYTs. Its on taxes….the ones which are smacking the folks who can least afford to get smacked, ya know? Yep, the “going back to normal” (as libbers like to call it…) FICA tax is smacking the heck out of folks who earn aout $50-60 thousand, or less, per year. The article describes their loss…and proscribes the idea that more is to come.
Now, lets think back…
I remember the republicans not wanting to raise taxes on ANYONE.
I remember democrats wanting to soak the rich.
Sooo, the democrats traded away the folks who can least afford an increase in the taxes they pay, in favor of soaking the rich…which is not gonna hurt the rich, or amount to more than a hill of re-fried beans in terms of reducing the deficit…and all the while the rich don’t have to adjust their standard of living, and what simple pleasures the middle-class and working poor had …gets …snuffed….by a lib-democrat president.
I’m serious! I can’t make this stuff up!
/
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08business/restored-payroll-tax-pinches-those-with-the-smallest-checks.html?hp&_r=1&
“We are 16.4 trillion in debt.”
ZZZZZzzzzzzzz…
The first step must be to cut spending to the
extent the debt does not grow and interest is covered which amounts to
the $850 billion deficit expected this year plus a trillion which the annual interest will soon be. Second step is to look at taxes which, more likely than not, will need decreasing since we historically know lowering the rates results in more tax revenue due to increased economic activity. LOL, after $1.850 trillion in cuts we’ll need more economic activity to provide a whole lot of jobs to those who used to work for the Government. This may seem harsh but, given the alternative collapse that must surely come with an unsustainable debt level, such action is not unreasonable. At least we would be reducing the inefficient element in out economy, the Government, and increasing the efficient element.
Comment by Leon — February 7, 2013 @ 10:33 pm
Such immediate and drastic action would be catastrophic for the middle and lower class and lead not only to kickin g us basck in to a recession
but would likely spin us and the world into an immediate depression. No sane economist in the world endorses sucha plan and we’ve already tried the tax cutting supply side brand of economics and it has failed us miserably.
Meteorology is the only profession you can blow it 90% of the time and still keep your job. Epic fail, local media.
Another Chuck,
The “trickle down” economic theory that you propose via lower taxes on corporations & individuals when combined with funding 2 unnecessary wars, a medicare drug benefit on the national credit card only succeeded in lowering middle class income. While following that theory, especially between 2001 & 2009, your guys also ended the pay as you go rules that had been put in place to control the growth of the national debt. The end result included changing our national debt trajectory from being on a path to elimination by FY2014 to putting us on the path we currently find ourselves.
In short, Another Chuck, your guys had the opportunity to pay down our national debt. Instead they took actions to lower federal revenue and continued to spend like drunken sailors. Remember when you point a finger of blame at someone else there are three fingers pointed back at you.
The “trickle down” economic theory that you propose via lower taxes on corporations & individuals when combined with funding 2 unnecessary wars, a medicare drug benefit on the national credit card only succeeded in lowering middle class income. While following that theory, especially between 2001 & 2009, your guys also ended the pay as you go rules that had been put in place to control the growth of the national debt. The end result included changing our national debt trajectory from being on a path to elimination by FY2014 to putting us on the path we currently find ourselves.
In short, Another Chuck, your guys had the opportunity to pay down our national debt. Instead they took actions to lower federal revenue and continued to spend like drunken sailors. Remember when you point a finger of blame at someone else there are three fingers pointed back at you.
This is unbelievable. In four years, their guy has spent more than any president in U.S. History, yet they can only talk about Bush.
Ron, I agree that both parties share in the responsibility for the fiscal mess we are in. I hope we can all agree that the current madness needs to stop.
This is worse than trying to talk to children. You people are so misinformed and have had this dumbed down for you to the point that you are spouting gibberish.
Chuck, it has not been determined that “Obamacare” “is and will be a losing issue for….all of us“. You seem to forget that the “costs” the CBO is speaking of were already set to go stratospheric for health care, which was the catalyst FOR the ACA.
Your “proposal of the need for a true baseline budget” will never work. Which is why both parties are not jumping on board.
What this nation needs, and what will fix all the ills, is a better economy. When more mules are pulling, the wagon is easier to move. Changing the rules while the mules are all down will only empower the already rich and powerful to the point of this nation being service workers and the rich, much like the Caymans and many of the other “off shore” nations. Hell, we are headed for that now, no need to cheer for it to be faster! This nation will not survive as a Plutocracy and wishing and working for one is downright awful IMO.
This is worse than trying to talk to children. You people are so misinformed and have had this dumbed down for you to the point that you are spouting gibberish.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 8, 2013 @ 8:42 am
Sandi,
This is worse than trying to talk to children. You are so misinformed and have had this dumbed down for you to the point that you are spouting gibberish. Fixed this for you Sandi. . .you are welcome.
BTW, another Chuck is right about Obamacare. . .the only positive thing I
see in the bill is that it prohibits gun registration. . .LOL
Such immediate and drastic action would be catastrophic for the middle and lower class and lead not only to kickin g us basck in to a recession
but would likely spin us and the world into an immediate depression. No sane economist in the world endorses sucha plan and we’ve already tried the tax cutting supply side brand of economics and it has failed us miserably.
Comment by wayne goodman — February 8, 2013 @ 12:35 am
Wayne, what’s your point. Do you not think complete collapse of the system might present some problems? The present spending levels are not
sustainable. Stop kidding yourself. BTW, you are wrong regarding supply side economics. Compare GDP under Bush to Obama; you will be surprised.
Your “proposal of the need for a true baseline budget” will never work. Which is why both parties are not jumping on board.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 8, 2013 @ 8:42 am
If it’s the law and the law is enforced it can and will work. What makes
you believe this nonsense? You appear absolutely clueless with regard to
seeing what is right in front of you. Both parties need to be thrown overboard; they may jump if they desire.
“What this nation needs, and what will fix all the ills, is a better economy.”
then why on earth did you vote for someone who isnt interested in fixing the economy sandi? he has done all he can to destroy it, he is hell bent on it…low info voter
“This is unbelievable. In four years, their guy has spent more than any president in U.S. History, yet they can only talk about Bush.”
–Suzie
Even more unbelievable: Faced with a short-term budget surplus coupled with long-term debt, Republicans ALWAYS will opt for eliminating the surplus via cutting taxes, rather than eliminating the long term debt. Remember? It was Dick Cheney who said, “Deficits don’t matter.”
It will be years before we can accurately assess the impact of ACA. It hasn’t been fully implemented yet and even the parts that are in place don’t have a long enough track record for us to actually be able to know if it’s working well or not. It’s also going to be tinkered with and adjusted along the way…what we end up with might look completely different from what we started with.
“Trickle down”, OTOH, has been tried and has failed often and long enough to be the proven loser.
My God, the level of uninformed comment from the right wing is startling even for them.
Obama did not wreck this economy.
Obama did not cause or ignore the housing/finance bubble.
Obama did not start two wars and lower taxes not to pay for them.
Obama did not cause the Social Security/Medicare or Health Care crisis.
Obama has done all that he could to maintain the financial system in this nation, juggle two unwinnable wars, fight the debt/deficit in a responsible manner and keep the economy moving.
That you are all to blind with hate and lies to see that truth is on you. Big time.
Don’t try to pretend it is us whistling in the dark.
My God, the level of uninformed comment from the right wing is startling even for them.
Obama did not wreck this economy.
Obama did not cause or ignore the housing/finance bubble.
Obama did not start two wars and lower taxes not to pay for them.
Obama did not cause the Social Security/Medicare or Health Care crisis.
Obama has done all that he could to maintain the financial system in this nation, juggle two unwinnable wars, fight the debt/deficit in a responsible manner and keep the economy moving.
That you are all to blind with hate and lies to see that truth is on you. Big time.
Don’t try to pretend it is us whistling in the dark.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 8, 2013 @ 10:19 am
Sandi, you are in the dark, I just wouldn’t be whistling if I were you. You are still blaming Bush which is astounding! Obama was faced with challenges indeed, just like all Presidents. His first order of business was to strap this country with the biggest tax increase in our history, Obamacare….See SCOTUS for explanation why it is a tax. Unemployment is higher than when he took office and that’s with 8.5 million jobs just removed from the statistics. Actual un/under employment is close to 15%. Plus, don’t forget to add in the record setting deficit spending, lack of operating budgets,no real progress on foreign affairs and class warfare. I would say a large part of our problems rest squarely of the shoulders of Mr. Obama, and I find your stance on his greatness to be blinded by hope and not a realistic assesment.
What this nation needs, and what will fix all the ills, is a better economy.
So what do you do when our current resident is doing everything in his power to destroy the economy?
This is unbelievable. In four years, their guy has spent more than any president in U.S. History, yet they can only talk about Bush.
Comment by Suzie — February 8, 2013 @ 5:31 am
Okay, kids. Obviously, some of our remedial students are struggling with history (and reality, apparently), so we’ll review this chapter once more for their benefit. I know the rest of us would like to move on to more important and exciting issues, but thanks to No Child Left Behind (who came up that again?), we can’t just plop ‘em in Special Ed. and carry on like we used to.
About half of Obama’s spending wouldn’t have been necessary if Bush hadn’t wrapped the Maserati that was our economy around a tree and ran back to Texas to cower and hide on his ranch. Never mind the $2T that he left off of the books, too. The fact that Bush was a virtual ghost during the election campaigns tells you all you need to know about his culpability and guilt. The fact that most of the candidates wouldn’t have wanted his endorsement in the first place should tell you what a debacle his administration was.
The man has become a virtual pariah in his own party. You guys don’t even want his name mentioned. The mess he left us in is the main reason you guys have lost the last two presidential elections. You could realize this and turn the party around, but no, loyalty to the brand is what it’s all about and you guys aren’t very adept at admitting your mistakes, anyway.
It couldn’t be Bush’s fault that the economy tanked under his watch; it was the Democrat-controlled Congress. Yet it can be and is Obama’s fault that the economy isn’t improving at a breakneck pace and it has nothing to do with the obstructionist Republican-controlled House. You can ignore irony and hypocrisy, Republicans, but it doesn’t ignore you. The party of personal responsibility has been nothing more than the party of “not me” and it shows every time someone makes a moronic comment like the one Suzie made above.
The Republican Party modus operandi:
“Oh phooey! The wheel fell off of the wagon. Sure, we knew it was a bit wobbly and missing a spoke. Sure, we hadn’t greased it since we left Ohio. [snaps fingers] It must be the horse’s fault! Stupid horse. He’s determined to destroy this wagon train as we know it. That bastard probably wants us to carry our own weight instead of enjoying the privilege of pulling our load for us. I have an idea, guys. We should complain heartily about this socialist horse and tell everyone that he’s hell-bent on the annihilation of our way of life! As a bonus, we’ll hide all the tools and expect the horse to fix the problem with nothing more than his hooves. Then, as he struggles to fix it (and he won’t easily be able to – he doesn’t have thumbs. Muhahahahaha!), we can do what we do best: piss and moan about his ineptitude. When it’s all said and done, if we dig in deep, refuse to do anything and complain loud enough, hopefully they’ll just forget who started it and blame the horse like the rest of us.”
“Great plan, Boss! The horse looks a little angry, though.”
“Well, if he had just chosen to be a Republican, he could be over here with us, blaming some other horse. That’s his fault, too.”
“Great. Now what do we do about this “low-information voter” thing that the Dems were using against us last year?”
“Simple. We wait six months and then start calling Democratic voters the same name. We’re conservatives; latching onto an idea long after it’s run its course and then acting like we invented it is what we do best!”
“Awesome. Just awesome, Boss. You know, that wheel still really needs to be fixed before we can go anywhere…”
“What wheel?”
Another Chuck, Leon, Frank and Suzie (imagine that?) continue to prove that being anonymous does nothing for credibility and very much for fantasy you will never have to own.
Another Chuck, I did not even mention Bush. FWIW, conservative historians/economists informed my opinion of the economic collapse we suffered and why it may well take a decade to get back on track.
http://www.amazon.com/This-Time-Different-Centuries-Financial/dp/0691152640
Health Care and the skyrocketing cost of it was a huge crisis in this nation before the ACA. Get hold of a fact or two, would you? Imperfect as it may well be, it was in direct response to a crisis.
No president since the Great Depression has faced such an economic systemic failure with so little on hand to fight it. (THAT, was thanks to Bush.)
I think the problem here is that you all never did understand the economic crisis, so you cannot grasp the effects or solutions either. It certainly explains the repeated lies and distortions you continue to post.
http://stevenrattner.com/article/when-right-thinking-is-just-plain-wrong/
“no real progress on foreign affairs”
killing bin Laden = real progress
winding down two very expensive, unwanted wars = real progress
damping our neo-dominionism in favor of diplomacy = real progress
ALL of these things happened/are happening on foreign soil. Are they excluded from your definition of foreign affairs or are you being intentionally obtuse?
Obama has gotten quite a bit done in spite of Republican efforts to stymie him at each and every turn. He’s had some failures and he’s had some successes. Imagine how much further we could’ve come if all of the sour grapes had been squashed and the people who we elected to do a job for us actually, you know, performed that job.
That’s a lot to ask for in today’s political climate but it’s still my vision of America. I long for an America where politicians thank us (and not their corporate donors) for electing them and go out of their way to serve us and our best interests. I guess I’m just a silly idealist, after all.
killing bin Laden = real progress
winding down two very expensive, unwanted wars = real progress
damping our neo-dominionism in favor of diplomacy = real progress
JW,
North Korea-Very close to nuclear weapons.
Iran-Same.
Spreading influence and control by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Murdered Ammbasdor and others in Benghazi and Obama chose not to be directly involved-See Panetta testimony.
Worldwide appeasment tour (except for Israel) and we still have the same friends and enemies.
Bid Laden dead-Good job! But operationally insignificant.
Drones-Good. Much better than a soldier losing his life. I do find Obama’s hypocracy amazing though. He was the most vocal critic of Bush regarding drone use….as I’m sure were Sandi, Dan and you. But now its Ok?
Syria-Out of control.
Northern Africa-out of control.
Strained relations with Israel.
Bush identified the axis of evil as N. Korea, Iraq and Iran. Only on of these (Iraq) in no longer a problem.
If I had to give Obama a letter grade on foreign policy, I would give him a C, which is a Hell of a lot better than the F I would give him on the economy. Perhaps the high pressure job of community organizer is not the necessary pre-requisit to be POTUS.
Correction: North Korea is much closer to being able to deliver them…they already had them.
North Korea – Achieved nuclear weapons under the previous administration.
Iran – still hasn’t achieved nuclear status and as long as we keep “crashing” 20-year-old technology (drones) for them to “reverse engineer” (snicker), they’ll bankrupt themselves trying to domestically produce obsolete tech that we have already abandoned and replaced. As far as their stability and anti-American stance, well, we sort of made that bed for ourselves, didn’t we?
Muslim Brotherhood – it can be argued that the previous twenty years of foreign policy are directly responsible for the proliferation of anti-American and extremist sentiments within that group and others.
Murdered Ambassador – you do realize that ambassadors are murdered almost every year and embassies have been overrun and destroyed for decades, right? This isn’t a new problem and it’s a risk that is associated with the job. Making our embassies into heavily-armed and fortified military compounds is not their intended function and does nothing to ease tensions.
Appeasement tour – saying that you made mistakes and apologizing for them is not a sign of weakness, regardless of what the modern Republican party would like you to believe. It is a sign of strength. From where that absurd twist of logic and rationality comes is baffling and it needs to be purged before it poisons the party wholly. Mature, reasoned and rational people apologize for their mistakes; zealots do not.
Drones – agreed, except for the part where you assume I’m for or against them. The pilot in me refuses to believe that a computer can make split-second pivotal decisions as well as I can if I’m in the cockpit, but that’s a personal bias and based on nothing operational. I will say this: the drones that we’ll see (and some we won’t) coming over the next decade will either thrill you or scare you to death. For the record, I didn’t complain about drone use during Bush or Obama. I knew in 1992 where we were going when it came to military aircraft technology. This has been an inevitable march, not a voluntary course. It is what it is. When an American president starts dropping Hellfires on American citizens, then I’ll have a problem with it. Until then, I refuse to condemn someone on speculation alone.
Syria – nothing new there. They’ve been playing a zero sum game since the ’80s.
Northern Africa – same thing as with Syria. However, since they hold little strategic interests, we don’t care. Again, that is nothing new.
Israel – if refusing to appease them at every turn and no longer being their personal “yes” men is straining relations with them, then so be it. I’m sorry, but Israel has become a petulant child, too used to getting whatever it wants under penalty of pseudo-persecuted temper tantrum. Don’t get me wrong: I love the Israeli people and there are few people that you’d ever want more on your side, but their government has become a source of shame for many of them.
In all, though, I agree with your grade on foreign policy and only slightly differ on your grade for economy (I’d give him a D).
Comment by J.M. White — February 8, 2013 @ 11:59 am
“I guess I’m just a silly idealist, after all”.
This one’s for you:
“I’m an idealist without illusions.”
John F. Kennedy
Dan, thanks for the well thought response. Excuse me for asking your opinion on something that was not really “political”.
Turning every post from someone with whom you disagree into an opportunity for personal insult does seem a bit petty. Granted some posts deserve that treatment, but not all.
Fyi, I watch MSNBC and FOX, I read the WAPO, NYT and various financial publications depending on what story strikes me as interesting. Btw… the NYT had an enlightening story: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/business/restored-payroll-tax-pinches-those-with-the-smallest-checks.html?hp&_r=1&
Validating the gist of my conversation with my friend, and some of my earlier posts on this site regarding people’s belief that their taxes have risen (which btw, were roundly rebuffed by many here).
This article proves two points; first, once something is given, it is hard to take back; second, when people have more taxes taken out of their checks (no matter the reason) they regard it as a tax increase.
What was the budget deficit which Obama inherited when he took office in 2009? Answer $%1.5 trillion dollars.
What does CBO say the budget deficit will be for 2013 fiscal year” Answer
$850 billion.
Difference? Deficit reduced by $650 billion dollars
How many jobs per month was the economy generating when Obama took office?
Answer. None. It was losing 750000 per month.
How many months of positive job growth have we had in the last thirty
months? Answer. Thirty.
How many new jobs were added to the economy in the last three months?
Answer. Approximately 600000.
Maybe Another Chuck and Leon expected as miracle in four years when the mess we were in was one degree away from a worldwide depression—one which most economists say could not possibly be fixed in less than ten years.
If you do not recognize the actual facts as progress, especially considering that Obama has been fought every step of the way by a Senate minority with effective veto power due to Senate rules,and a two year
obstructive tea party majority in the House of Representatives, then it is
you that are ignoring reality.
“Dan, thanks for the well thought response. Excuse me for asking your opinion on something that was not really “political”.
Turning every post from someone with whom you disagree into an opportunity for personal insult does seem a bit petty. Granted some posts deserve that treatment, but not all.
Fyi, I watch MSNBC and FOX, I read the WAPO, NYT and various financial publications depending on what story strikes me as interesting. Btw… the NYT had an enlightening story: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/business/restored-payroll-tax-pinches-those-with-the-smallest-checks.html?hp&_r=1&
Validating the gist of my conversation with my friend, and some of my earlier posts on this site regarding people’s belief that their taxes have risen (which btw, were roundly rebuffed by many here).
This article proves two points; first, once something is given, it is hard to take back; second, when people have more taxes taken out of their checks (no matter the reason) they regard it as a tax increase.”
–mikeO
mikeO, you’re welcome!
BUT . . . you’re confusing reading with comprehension. It’s a common mistake. Just because you read something doesn’t mean you understand it.
You’re also conflating income taxes with payroll taxes, for the purpose of arguing a silly and unsupportable point. It’s deceptive, but it’s the only thing you’ve got. I mean, heck, there were many Republicans in Washington who did NOT want to cut the payroll taxes. Can you name one who fought to not raise them at the end of a temporary tax cut that was sold as “temporary” and never as otherwise?
Let me boil it down for you this way: Obama said it was temporary, and he stuck to his word on that. The GOP said the Bush tax cuts were temporary, and they didn’t stick to their word on that.
Elsewhere on this blog you were praising Bill Howell as “honorable.” Isn’t one component of “honorable” someone who keeps their promises?
So I would ask you, in view of the above facts, isn’t it true that Obama is honorable, and the GOP lawmakers are not?
And one more question, mikeO: How would you characterize a poster who, for the sake of supporting a silly argument, takes a fiction and suggests that it is a fact?
Is “dishonorable” the right term?
“I’m an idealist without illusions.”
John F. Kennedy
Comment by Hillary — February 8, 2013 @ 2:18 pm
Thanks, Hillary! I was aware of the quote, but didn’t know that it was JFK’s.
Yep, City logic. A thousands of dollar device is cheaper than a 9 buck an hr. employee just picking it up. Truly, a Confederacy of Dunces.
“I’m an idealist without illusions.”
John F. Kennedy
JFK was the opposite of Obama in tax policy. He was a strong believer that the economic engine is fueled by the private sector which resulted in his low tax philosophy.
AC – had you been old enough [maybe you were?] you would have complained mightily about President Kennedy’s policies and tax policy.
“Kennedy continued in the tradition of liberal Democrats Roosevelt and Truman to some extent. He signed legislation raising the minimum wage and increasing Social Security benefits. He raised money for research into mental illness and allocated funds to develop impoverished rural areas.” http://www.ushistory.org/us/56b.asp
1963…….87% top tax bracket…….52% corporate tax bracket
1964…….77% top tax bracket…….50% corporate tax bracket
Kennedy of course was assassinated at the end of 1963.
You win, AC. JFK’s tax philosophy would likely work fantastically for us today. I think that you’re onto something. If you can talk people into accepting a 70% top marginal rate, 48% rate on corporate gains and a bottom rate of around 20% (as it was in 1964), I’m behind you all the way.
Of course, you may have to answer to a few immensely irate corporate people about it, but if it’s good enough for conservatives AND JFK, it’s good enough for the American people.
Dan,
I appreciate your response, however you always seem to posit my opinion, in a manner it was not written, to accomplish your ends. You suggest “I” am “conflating” differing taxes.. I am not.
A fair and proper “comprehension” of my post (and “comprehension” of the NYT) would suggest that “many people” believe they have had a tax increase. (granted the “informed” like you Kristen etc… understand the complexities) but many don’t. That was my point.
I will give you that Obama said “it was temporary” and he “stuck to his word on that”, but my broader point is that once you “give” it is very difficult to “take away” (no matter if it is R’s, D’s, I’s).
In your definition he “took away” a portion of these peoples income, that is what they now see. Was he true to his word on that issue… yes…
Finally, on your “fact or fiction” question… I would say that a poster that lies about a “fact” should be judged accordingly.
Everybody, come on,
Let’s give Another Chuck a break!
What he means is, he greatly admires the tax/spending policies HE BELIEVED this country had under the Kennedy Administration. What HE BELIEVES (as opposed to the facts) is what’s important. The same goes for Suze, pammala, Leon, mikeO and some others. All those RWers are Scientologists, who subscribe to that church’s teaching, “Whatever seems true to you is true.”
If THEY BELIEVE you can turn lead into gold, or that their car can get 140 mpg, well then, it’s true. To them. And this is what’s important. Pshaw!, facts don’t matter anymore.
Haven’t you learned ANY lessons from Fox News?
“Dan,
I appreciate your response, however you always seem to posit my opinion, in a manner it was not written, to accomplish your ends. You suggest “I” am “conflating” differing taxes.. I am not.
A fair and proper “comprehension” of my post (and “comprehension” of the NYT) would suggest that “many people” believe they have had a tax increase. (granted the “informed” like you Kristen etc… understand the complexities) but many don’t. That was my point.”
–dan
mikeO,
Do you have any idea how arrogant you sound about your own cleverness, based on the stuff you write here? I doubt it, because you don’t come across as overcompensated in the category of self-awareness. And that is putting it mildly. You’re a total hoot.
“Many people believe” in the tooth fairy, mikeO. But who cares? Seriously . . .
mikeO must have failed government. The president didn’t “take away” anything, it was allowed to lapse by the chuckleheads in Congress.
This is unbelievable. In four years, their guy has spent more than any president in U.S. History, yet they can only talk about Bush.
Comment by Suzie — February 8, 2013 @ 5:31 am
Yeah Suzie, you’d like for us to forget the 8 year Bush guy. He’s an inconvenient truth.
Mike O, unless you are one of the people fighting FOR Medicare and Social Security to be funded and left alone, you are being a huge hypocrite to claim the end of the Payroll Tax Holiday paying for it is a tax increase any worker should be upset about. Why not admit the truth that we should all have been grateful for the two year respite? Because that does not fit your paradigm that’s why.
So what if you listen to other than all right wing media, your ideation is purely right wing to the bone and you only try to use what you hear or read against us. That is not enlightened, that is bitter, ugly partisan.
Re: Ron May 10:55 am
As I expected, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod says it all.
Re: Art Hill @ 1:32 am
Art,
Why everyone knows that God made Meteorologists so that the Economists wouldn’t fell so bad.
.
.
Everybody, come on,
Let’s give Another Chuck a break!
What he means is, he greatly admires the tax/spending policies HE BELIEVED this country had under the Kennedy Administration. What HE BELIEVES (as opposed to the facts) is what’s important. The same goes for Suze, pammala, Leon, mikeO and some others. All those RWers are Scientologists, who subscribe to that church’s teaching, “Whatever seems true to you is true.”
If THEY BELIEVE you can turn lead into gold, or that their car can get 140 mpg, well then, it’s true. To them. And this is what’s important. Pshaw!, facts don’t matter anymore.
Haven’t you learned ANY lessons from Fox News?
Comment by Dan Casey — February 8, 2013 @ 6:46 pm
Nice Dan!! Fact: Since Obama was elected in 2008,he has been responsible for the largest deficit spending in the history of the US…by far!! He is responsible for revenue too. No excuses, opinion or editorial comments needed…that is a fact!
“No excuses, opinion or editorial comments needed…that is a fact!”
No, it’s not.
Another Chuck, a fact pulled out of context is not how rational people debate. That is Henry territory. You want to ignore the economic collapse and the already budgeted expenses of the nation? Fine, you go ahead. Reasonable people know what happened AND whose fault it was. Which is why Obama was reelected.
I cannot decide if you people are just willfully ignorant of the truth or deliberately ignoring what does not match your narrative of hate, but I think I know.
Dave Hicks,
Then there is the oldest profession…
“Nice Dan!! Fact: Since Obama was elected in 2008,he has been responsible for the largest deficit spending in the history of the US…by far!! He is responsible for revenue too. No excuses, opinion or editorial comments needed…that is a fact!”
–Another Chuck
AC, do facts and the truth matter to you? Or, like many of the haters, will you repeat just anything that’s critical of Obama?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/23/facebook-posts/viral-facebook-post-says-barack-obama-has-lowest-s/
“Nice Dan!! Fact: Since Obama was elected in 2008,he has been responsible for the largest deficit spending in the history of the US…by far!! He is responsible for revenue too. No excuses, opinion or editorial comments needed…that is a fact!”
–Another Chuck
AC, do facts and the truth matter to you? Or, like many of the haters, will you repeat just anything that’s critical of Obama?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/23/facebook-posts/viral-facebook-post-says-barack-obama-has-lowest-s/
Comment by Dan Casey — February 9, 2013 @ 12:50 am
I clearly stated that Obama was responsible for the revenue side of the equation too. What you don’t like is the fact that I’m assigning the same level of accountability to Barack as you liberals do to Bush. No gray area…just results! Stings a little, doesn’t it?
AC,
It doesn’t sting, because your statement, which you called “a fact” is stupid lie. That is, it’s a lie if you’re aware it’s untrue, and it’s stupid if you are unaware.
Did you read the link?
US DEBT:
1/20/09=$10.626 Trillion
2/09/13=$16.514 Trillion
(This is the only FACT needed)
Dan, your links using such factors as percentages of GDP are meaningless. You will not admit that Obama’s policies could be oreinted more towards private sector growth, as opposed to huge debt creators like Obama care. He must accept responsibility for the growth or lack thereof on the revenue side too!
Projected debt after 8 years of Obama: $22 Trillion. More than doubled under his watch!
AC,
You’re saying austerity is the only way to go. How’s that working out for Europe, seriously? Have you bothered to check? Unemployent’s above 25 percent in Greece & Spain. Britain’s about to enter its 3rd recession in 6 years. Dude, your prescription for “fixing” our economy would make it WORSE.
But we see that you can’t comprehend that. . .
AC makes stuff up then claims it must “sting”. Hilarious.
The right on here doesn’t even try to support its nonsense anymore. They pull stuff out of their butts and throw a temper tantrum until declaring victory, a la terps.
AC, I going to “clearly state” that no one cares about the deficit, far less casts votes based on it. It’s a loser issue
Dan, I didn’t prescribe anything. I stated the only true fact on this board by writing down the actual debt numbers since Obama became King..oops President. You could have just said, you are correct about the debt AC….but you decided to go into some non-related austerity lecture.
Dan, why don’t we continue to do nothing regarding our debt, or perhaps even another round of stimulus spending, or even another huge social program that will add a few more trillion to the debt. Do you really think our unemployment is 7.9%. You do realize that 8.5 million jobs have disappeared since Obama took office. Just gone…out of the statistics altogether.
You have anything like a citation for that factlet, AC?
“Dan, I didn’t prescribe anything. I stated the only true fact on this board by writing down the actual debt numbers since Obama became King..oops President. You could have just said, you are correct about the debt AC….but you decided to go into some non-related austerity lecture.”
AC on 2013/02/09 at 11:16 am
================================================
Below are just a few of the most recent of many comments in which AC has prescribed austerity, which he now claims never to have prescribed.
================================================
1. 83% of Americans think we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Barry O does not. And yet many on this blog think he is not polarizing. Hang tough House, you are the only hope we have left. No more taxes until entitlements and spending are reformed!
AC on 2013/02/07 at 6:34 pm
2. First of all, all savings SHOULD and MUST be presented in terms of a baseline of zero!!! Let’s say we save $2.5 trillion on corporate taxes expenditures , that is meaningless if we spend $5 trillion more on other things. Only in DC can spending less on an artificially inflated budget increase can be considered a savings. We are still spending more, right? It’s ignorant.
“Dan, I didn’t prescribe anything. I stated the only true fact on this board by writing down the actual debt numbers since Obama became King..oops President. You could have just said, you are correct about the debt AC….but you decided to go into some non-related austerity lecture.
Additionally, why shouldn’t we adopt a policy of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world? We could put the Cayman banks out of business. Plus lower prices, more jobs, more money in the folks pocket to spend will ensue. The best and the brightest would come here to do business and produce. This is a time of great opportunity if we would cease it. Yet, our powers that be want to go with the failed western Europe model…or, closer to home, the CA model. It’s just stupid, and I blame both parties, but Obama is the ultimate poster child for this insanity.
AC on 2013/02/07 at 7:48 pm
3. Why don’t you comment on my proposal of the need for a true baseline budget. Either you spend more or less than the prior year. By doing this alone, most of the problems in DC would be eliminated immediately. The fiscal gray areas that all politicians play in would be eliminated. Both parties should jump on board.
AC on 2013/02/07 at 8:53 pm
Thanks for the recap, Dan. Wow!, I forgot how much common sense I have bringing to this blog!
How is a 0 baseline budget an austerity measure?
How is giving business better tax conditions an austerity measure?
How is reforming entitlement programs (including means testing) and austerity measure?
Hi Another Chuck,
You’ve got obama pegged. he always …grants… interviews to steve croft, the slow-pitch softball lobbing lib from CBS.
AC,
Obviously you don’t understand what austerity measures entail. In that case, it’s best not to deny that you advocate them.
US DEBT:
1/20/09=$10.626 Trillion
2/09/13=$16.514 Trillion
(This is the only FACT needed)
Dan, your links using such factors as percentages of GDP are meaningless. You will not admit that Obama’s policies could be oreinted more towards private sector growth, as opposed to huge debt creators like Obama care. He must accept responsibility for the growth or lack thereof on the revenue side too!
Projected debt after 8 years of Obama: $22 Trillion. More than doubled under his watch!
Comment by Another Chuck — February 9, 2013 @ 10:35 am
AC,
Your “facts” are, as usual slightly off. The FY2009 budget that Pres. Obama inherited when he took office on 1/20/09 was George W. Bush’s budget. The deficit in that budget was $1.414 Trillion. Thus the deficit accumilation Obama is responsible for (recall Congress approves appropriation bills) is $4.374 Trillion not $5.788 Trillion. That’s a lot of money, but I wanted to give credit where credit was due.
By the way the deficit for FY2012 was $1.1 Trillion which is the lowest since FY2008. It was $200 billion lower than FY2011. The decline in the deficit resulted from a decrease in government spending (-$59 billion) and higher revenues (+$148 billion).
When measured as a percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the deficit dropped to 7 percent from 8.7 percent in FY2011 and 9 percent in FY2010.
According to CBO, two-thirds of the revenue growth in FY2012 was due primarily to rising corporate income tax receipts (+$61 billion) and higher individual income tax receipts (+$37 billion). CBO asserts that growth in corporate receipts stems from recent changes in tax rules. Increases in withholding (+$24 billion) accounted for almost two-thirds of the increase in individual income tax revenue. Receipts from social insurance taxes (+32 billion) and other sources (+18 billion), such as estate, excise, and gift tax receipts make up the remaining increase.
CBO analysis determined that federal spending declined in FY2012 from the previous year for all major categories of spending except Social Security, which rose by about 6 percent (+$42 billion). DoD outlays declined by $27 billion, somewhat due to lower spending in Afghanistan. Overall non-DoD spending also decreased in FY2012, although some agencies (e.g., VA, State, Homeland Security, and EPA) recorded spending increases, according to CBO.
Unemployment benefits decreased by $30 billion (as fewer people collected benefits in FY2012) from the previous year and Medicaid outlays declined because the federal share of program costs expired in mid-2011.
The source of my “facts” AC was the Congressional Budget Office.
I’m not pleased the deficit is where it is AC. Nonetheless, the numbers are headed slowly in the right direction. Those, AC, are the facts.
Oh c’mon Ron. The “source” of AC’s “facts” is his Rice Krispies
Nice try, Ron, but I doubt it will make any difference in terms of AC. Though occasionally he says he’s “above politics” and hints both parties are to blame, the truth is, his antipathy for Obama so colors his world view that he’ll never be able to come to grips with those facts you cited.
He’ll simply continue spewing nonfacts as justification for his point of view. That’s the game they’re playing. They’re not going to stop. What’s funny is, it didn’t work out so well for them in the last two presidential elections.
AC, Suzie, Leon, mikeO, pammala and PP seem not to realize that they’ve been manipulated into joining the “lie brigade,” which makes conservatives look either like dummmies or liars, for the purpose of assuring a Democrat wins the White House in 2016!
US DEBT:
1/20/09=$10.626 Trillion
2/09/13=$16.514 Trillion
(This is the only FACT needed)
We can do this all day long. One more time: OBAMA HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY THAT COULD INCREASE THE GDP! If he were business friendly, more would have jobs…therefore, pay taxes.
They day he eliminated his jobs council, he toured the country telling people what kind of weapons they should be able to have. Priorities?
AC, you’re outta your league here. Really. We’re trying to help you, and you don’t see it.
You’re acting like the ugly cheerleader at a high school football game, who can only draw attention by lifting up her skirt.
US DEBT:
1/20/09=$10.626 Trillion
2/09/13=$16.514 Trillion
(This is the only FACT needed)
Projected debt in 2016-$22 trillion (not a fact yet)
And, I will be equally condescending: Dan, you are way out of your league (or mind) by implying that doing nothing regarding this unsustainable debt is somehow Ok. Actually, the real debt including unfunded entitlements and mandates is $87 trillion!!! Look it up. Not only are you using whatever influence you might have to promote fiscal irresponsibility in the name of your hero Obama, your name calling and journalistic integrity is highly suspect.
“And, I will be equally condescending: Dan, you are way out of your league (or mind) by implying that doing nothing regarding this unsustainable debt is somehow Ok.”
–AC
AC, I’m not implying that. It’s not OK; it’s not good. Where we differ is the best way to address it. You want austerity. If you have studied the Great Depression at all, you know that it was CAUSED by austerity, which was a reaction to a fiscal crisis. It was ended by this nation’s entry into WW2, which sparked massive and (still, as a proportion of GDP) unprecedented government borrowing and spending.
Obama has been walking a line in the middle of those two things. The stimulus, in terms of the size of our economy, has been nowhere near what it was in the 1940s. (BTW, walking the line in between is known as a “moderate” approach).
In other words, you are blaming Obama for 1) inheriting a fiscal crisis; and 2) not leading us into another Great Depression; and 3) for some of the debt that his predecessor wisely incurred while trying to keep us out of a depression.
Wake up, man!
(Or, are you VERY unhappy that Obama avoided a depression, because you wanted to blame it on him?)
Yeah sure Another Chuck, “common sense” and “facts”, that’s what you bring alright. Geez. There really are none so blind…
I believe there are other facts needed to understand the big picture AC.
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2012/06/01/Whos-the-Biggest-Spender-Obama-or-Bush#page1
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2013/01/25/Why-Government-Spending-Is-Not-Out-of-Control.aspx#page1
“Projected debt after 8 years of Obama: $22 Trillion.”
Projected using 2008 data, from the budget enacted under Bush. ZZZZZzzzzzzzz.
You’re acting like the ugly cheerleader at a high school football game, who can only draw attention by lifting up her skirt.–Comment by Dan Casey
Hehe. Gotta remember that one.
US DEBT:
1/20/09=$10.626 Trillion
2/09/13=$16.514 Trillion
(This is the only FACT needed)
We can do this all day long. One more time: OBAMA HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY THAT COULD INCREASE THE GDP! If he were business friendly, more would have jobs…therefore, pay taxes.
They day he eliminated his jobs council, he toured the country telling people what kind of weapons they should be able to have. Priorities?
Comment by Another Chuck — February 9, 2013 @ 12:59 pm
AC, you’re outta your league here. Really. We’re trying to help you, and you don’t see it.
You’re acting like the ugly cheerleader at a high school football game, who can only draw attention by lifting up her skirt.
Comment by Dan Casey — February 9, 2013 @ 1:42 pm
US DEBT:
1/20/09=$10.626 Trillion
2/09/13=$16.514 Trillion
(This is the only FACT needed)
Projected debt in 2016-$22 trillion (not a fact yet)
This getting funny!! I posted these actual numbers since Obama was elected. I have received 14 responses from liberals ranging from “there is no way this is Obama’s fault” to pretty much being called a fool. Yet, the numbers posted above are still just as accurate as the first time I posted them in#79.
I’m going to go walk my dogs, Barack and Hillary:). Actually, Max and Jessie are their names Let’s all go enjoy some of this beautiful day.
Dan, re: 6:54
Seems you continually look for argument where none is presented. You attempt to seize upon one word in a post to disregard the true meaning. I don’t “believe” the extent of your comprehension is that limited (but, as you stated, “many people “believe”” in the tooth fairy).
You do not fool any intelligent people when you ignore questions/issues and make personal attacks. Obviously you get cudos from your followers (not surprising…), but you do nothing to further any intellectual debate.
Is the goal of your blog to solicit broad debate on issues, or is it to be a kindergarten exercise in who can become the best name caller?
Maybe I have been naive to “believe” you desired true intellectual debate. It that is the case you should just let everyone know this fact.
I see your options thus: you can either define the goal of your blog as an opportunity for people to have some intellectual and civil discourse on issues; or you can post something along the lines of “mikeO, you don’t even know the definition of “intellectual discourse”).
A good exercise program improves the behavior of dogs AC. Perhaps it will help you too.
“You do not fool any intelligent people when you ignore questions/issues . . .”
–Comment by mikeO
mikeO, I never try to “fool” anyone. I can see where somebody who is unintelligent might believe that though.
But that’s on them.
Surely you don’t expect me to be responsible for every unintelligent person in the world (or even the Roanoke Valley) who feel “fooled” when confronted with FACTS.
A good exercise program improves the behavior of dogs AC. Perhaps it will help you too.
Comment by Ron May — February 9, 2013 @ 8:09 pm
Good one, Ron. I enjoyed your comment here. My dogs are awesome pets and are always up for a good walk. I wonder if Dan has dogs…perhaps walking them more could help his behavior too. Have a good evening.
I truly cannot decide what is sadder, that Mike O thinks he brings “some intellectual and civil discourse” here or that he thinks he was “naive to “believe” you desired true intellectual debate”.
Give up Dan, you can’t fool these “intelligent” people.
Dan, re: 6:54
Seems you continually look for argument where none is presented. You attempt to seize upon one word in a post to disregard the true meaning. I don’t “believe” the extent of your comprehension is that limited (but, as you stated, “many people “believe”” in the tooth fairy).
You do not fool any intelligent people when you ignore questions/issues and make personal attacks. Obviously you get cudos from your followers (not surprising…), but you do nothing to further any intellectual debate.
Mike o, you are exactly right. I received 14 angry responses for posting the actual debt that has incurred since Obama has been in office. Dan, ease up, sometimes you unfairly attack folks that just disagree with your progressive views. That being said, I hope you are getting paid for this blog….I wouldn’t monitor most of this BS without financial reward.
“Good one, Ron. I enjoyed your comment here. My dogs are awesome pets and are always up for a good walk. I wonder if Dan has dogs…perhaps walking them more could help his behavior too. Have a good evening.”
–Another Chuck
Translation: “I wish I could find a blog and go write that up = down, red = green, good = evil and yes = no, and where I could post all of the nonsensical ramblings of my mind without some meanie calling me to account for what I think, whether or not that is at odd with facts and history (which don’t matter unless I cite them).”
AC, I wish you luck finding that blog.
You make crap up, AC. That’s not angry. That’s a fact.
“Dan, re: 6:54
Seems you continually look for argument where none is presented. You attempt to seize upon one word in a post to disregard the true meaning. I don’t “believe” the extent of your comprehension is that limited (but, as you stated, “many people “believe”” in the tooth fairy).”
–AC
AC, if you want to be taken seriously, don’t write post after post saying spending should be cut, and taxes should be cut, and THEN deny that you have called for austerity measures. Because that is what you have done on this blog repeatedly.
And by the way, you’re the one who seized on the term “austerity,” for the sake of denying you were for it. Even though you are.
I will grant that it’s possible you don’t know what it means. But if that’s the case, just go get yourself some learning, and catch up with the adults here.
Study my Letter on Diana@Philosopyinaction.com. (Search: Crazy Inbox)
Various Famous Economists, such as Professor Laurence Kotlikoff of Boston University, claim that the so-called “national debt” is actually about $228 Trillion, & going up about $1 Trillion a month. Don’t count on them continuing to hand out $, Balancing the Budget, etc.