Margaret, I really do like this President. He is young and smart… and I think he is trying his best under bad circumstances to do the right thing and create change for good. Not easy these days… Sort of like your convincing Howard that seeing a doctor annually at his age is still preventative medicine. You’ve both got a tough sales job ahead of you.
I really do appreciate his trying to reach across the aisle – as they say – and get Republicans to work towards bipartisanship. But honey, that dog just don’t hunt. Trying to reach bipartisanship with this particular Republican Party will probably achieve bipolarism instead of bipartisanship.
Harsh? Well yes maybe I am being a bit harsh. Part of the problem? Well maybe that too. After all bipartisanship requires a little give and take from both sides. So who am I to suggest that the problem is mainly with the Republicans?
Good questions all of them – particularly because I was the one who asked them. You know me, Margaret. I’m always trying to play both sides of the same issue. Well what do you expect from a woman who invented the all pie diet?
To all my Republican readers out there – I have had quite enough of your nonsense.
Your party gave us Sarah Palin and George W. Bush – dumb and dumber. He’s the guy whose mission still isn’t accomplished and she’s the gal who couldn’t handle being governor of one of our least populous states. Even the “professional” wrestler was able to finish the job in Minnesota.
Your party had an issue with President Obama telling school children to stay in school and study hard. I guess a black man can’t be trusted with your children regardless of his credentials. And your party decided the tradition of separating church and state had an expiration date. You love the constitution but you seem to pick through that document the same way you pick through the Bible – with all the effectiveness of eating corn on the cob through a picket fence.
We are actively involved in two wars, but you just can’t understand why the deficit is so big? Regardless of what you have been told, every time a bomb is dropped, an angel doesn’t not get her wings. Hint: Defense spending represents almost one quarter of all federal spending.
Today’s Republican Party has an issue with abortion, but then fights against healthcare reform knowing full well that more than 9 million children lack health insurance. A stretch argument to be sure, but then again 18 19 Children and Counting is a big hit.
My party at least recognizes the need for increased access to birth control. Your party is pro-life right up until they cut the cord and then you turn your attention to electing judges who promote shortening the waiting time on death row.
And for Pete’s sake your party has an issue with gay people, but you gladly send your straight children to war while telling gays they cannot serve. This one, more than any other, has me scratching my head. Aren’ t you just delaying their eventual trip to Hell?
You actually have Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck as your spokesmen. Rush Limbaugh? Are you serious? Even the NFL didn’t want Limbaugh. And Beck… Glenn Beck? When people use the expression “nuttier than a fruitcake” Glenn Beck is the main ingredient.
The Republican Party of yesteryear was respectable. You were all about a small government that carried a big stick. Now you are just despicable. You used to be the Party of Lincoln and now – honest to God – you make Archie Bunker look progressive.
If it wasn’t for Fox News you would be irrelevent. That’s right. You have become a party that owes its entire existence to a cable news channel owned by an Aussie. Your mascot should be a kangaroo instead of an elephant. After all, the last guy you sent to the White House arrived there thanks to a kangaroo court ruling rather than an election. He then spent the next 8 years bringing our nation to its knees. How about sitting down and shutting your damn pie holes long enough to see if the guy in office now can actually clean up your mess. Honestly, you are embarrassing yourself.
Look. My party has problems too. It’s biggest problem might be in attempting to please everyone, the Democratic Party seems to please no one. But diversity of opinions is something I am willing to work through. Bigotry and ignorance is not. I mean it. Really.
Helen, dear, one of the many things I love about you is your ability to see the positive in just about every situation. Now it might take you a while to get there and it might involve scalping a Republican or two along the way, but eventually you do and life is a much better place for it. Now, could you please just explain to me why my Howard thinks now is the perfect time to get a good deal on a new Toyota? Honestly, Helen, that man will be the death of me yet.
Margaret and Helen 
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By: Tina on December 24, 2010
at 10:46 AM
I am loving your blog! I am a Republican, and I am sick of them too!
I mean it. Really.*smile*
Now if I can just figure out how to subscribe to your blog!
Keep up the good work ladies.
~ susan
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By: susan on September 8, 2010
at 7:15 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and Greytdog,
Have a wonderful, wonderful time in Germany! I envy you. So many great places to go and so many things to do there. Be sure and tell us all about it when you get back.
BTW, where is Captiva, BFD?
Aloha! 🙂 Namaste
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on August 9, 2010
at 5:16 PM
auntie jean…
looks like i might be a casuist too…
(interesting but i think accurate for me.)
thank you!
peace to you sister!
hemnebob.
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By: hemnebob on August 9, 2010
at 12:43 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
I am fascinated by the history of Crete (Kriti), especially since our visit there in the fall of 2206. The island is in the Southern Mediterranean. The renowned artist ‘El Greco’ was born on Crete.
The Mediterranean has been rife with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions since time immemorial. (Etna, et al.) On the tiny island of Thera, about ninety miles north of Crete, there was one of the most horrendous eruptions of any recorded volcano, the Santorini Volcano in approximately 1459 BC. There is a fascinating scientific THEORY floating around regarding this natural phenomenon. The effects of the eruption of such gargantuan proportions would have been widespread throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. Also, earthquakes often accompany volcanic activity, causing gigantic tsunamis.
There was a more recent eruption of a volcano in Africa. It caused a large distant lake to turn red because of underground activity prior to the eruption that released vast amounts of iron into the water. The iron oxidized, making the lake appear blood red. Of course, deprived of oxygen, the marine life died, polluting the lake with bacteria. But the frogs, being amphibians, jumped out. Naturally, the cattle drank the contaminated lake water, sickened from various diseases and many died. Lots of dead marine life washed ashore and bovine life lying around attracted scavengers, flies and “siniphs”, small biting insects similar to gnats. These insects attacked the remaining cattle and infected them first with the diseases. Next they began to attack humans, causing boils and “blains”, (large inflammatory swelling and sore blisters.) Many of the sickened animals were unwittingly eaten by humans. You guessed it. The humans sickened and some, but not all died.
A spectacular eruption of the size of Santorini would certainly have disrupted prevailing weather patterns, probably causing storms of thunder and lightning and possibly hail. Also concurrent could have been the fall out from the eruption of fire and ash from the volcano to darken the skies for extended periods of time. (Similar to descriptions of the well-known ‘Nuclear Winter’.)
The Santorini Eruption wreaked havoc with the Minoan Civilization, which, on Crete, was geographically not too far from Egypt. The Minoan and Egyptian Civilizations were contemporaries.
See where I am going with this? The sequence of events coincides with the Plagues visited on the Egyptians at the time Moses was trying to get the Pharaoh to free the Jewish people from slavery. The Bible, (The Book of Exodus) is singularly lacking in dates and details!!! You can find the biblical accounts of these events in the Book of Exodus, Chapters 7-14 in both the Douay and the St. James Versions. Nevertheless, there is a continuous record of the Jewish people in the Old Testament. The same cannot be said of untold other peoples who were either assimilated into other cultures, became extinct through natural disasters of one kind or another, or simply became extinct through unknown reasons or were exterminated by man. Examples you can Google are: the Hepthalites of Central Asia into Southeastern Europe as well as any number of North and South American Native American tribes. Nothing was ever heard of them again.
The sequence of Biblical Plagues are as follows:
1. Moses asked God to turn the Nile River to Blood. (Iron oxidation?)
2. Second Plague, frogs.
3. Third Plague, ”Sciniphs”.
4. Fourth Plague, Flies.
5. Fifth Plague, ‘Murrien’ among the Cattle. (Murien Typhus?)
6. Boils in Man and Beast.
7. Lightening and Thunder. (Disruption in weather patterns from Santorini?)
8. Locusts.
9. Darkness, (Fallout from Santorini?)
10. Threat and death of first-born children. (Infection from “Sciniphs”, flies, or eating diseased cattle?)
That was the beginning of the Feast of the Passover followed by the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.
Moses asked God to part the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross. (Typically, a tsunami draws the water OUT before it comes rushing back in. We get tsunamis from as far away as Japan and Southeast Asia, Alaska and South America.) A tsunami from tributaries of the Gulf of Suez into the Red Sea could have pulled the water out long enough for the Israelites to get across and then closed again, drowning the Egyptians.
Of course, this is not to say that God did not cause the Santorini Volcano to erupt in the first place, causing a domino chain of events that certainly worked in Moses favor! Who knows? God does work in strange and mysterious ways. Which version do I personally believe? I am an affirmed Casuist. I simply do not know.
Aloha! 🙂 Namaste.
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on August 8, 2010
at 10:15 PM
oh you guys have to watch this ad. It’s priceless. Now let’s hope everyone who is running against a bagger does the same and calls the a holes out!
All props to dailykos. (sorry but the computer I’m using has utube blocked.)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/8/3/889962/-WA-02:-Rick-Larsen-takes-on-the-Tea-Party
ty Auntie Jean for your kind words..
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By: lori on August 8, 2010
at 6:12 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, Sistah lori and Sistah HRH,
ty lori, for answering my rhetorical question. I will probably be asking you a lot more because I like your political astuteness. It’s a daunting if not impossible task to keep up with what is happening in all 50 states as the political climate heats up. It’s nice to have a reliable source to turn to. You are one of the best! I don’t care much for the authenticity of “People Magazine” or other such sources.
Great idea HRH to go to “The Elephant in the Room” to leave comments! Considering that there are hundreds and hundreds of people who come to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” every day to read but not necessarily to leave comments, for a while until all these other people get the hang of the shift to “The Elephant” to cut down on downloading time, I think I will put up my comments on both of Helen’s posts. I would like to remind everyone that we are guests here at the pleasure of Margaret and Helen.
This morning on CNN there was a crawl about an earthquake on Crete in the Mediterranean. That was of special interest to me since we have been there and learned quite a bit about its history. I have an intriguing story to tell about it, but it will have to wait till later. Gotta go have lunch with our CA family.
Aloha! 🙂 Namaste.
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on August 8, 2010
at 5:34 PM
good idea HRH!
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By: lori on August 8, 2010
at 7:42 AM
I believe this post has fewer comments than the latest (but not recent)post. Comments on this post should load more quickly.
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By: HRH sofia EQ on August 8, 2010
at 7:06 AM
me thinks alot of these conservative posters are men, middle aged, probably not veterans and believes that nobody should question authority especially when their party is in the whitehouse. all other times? they accuse them of socialism and other ridiculous names…all the while their party participants are dealing with the PAC and anything that is for the NRA. they are the exclusive party not the inclusive party which is what this country is made of…they want to win no matter what the cost is towards the parties they oppose and will tell you that you are unAmerican if you disagree with them…
how sad for them on all counts.
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By: pula on April 14, 2010
at 9:05 AM
this is dated 2004 but nothing tells me that it isn’t relevant today:
We’re Not in Lake Wobegon Anymore
By Garrison Keillor
Something has gone seriously haywire with the Republican Party. Once, it
was the party of pragmatic Main Street businessmen in steel-rimmed
spectacles who decried profligacy and waste, were devoted to their
communities and supported the sort of prosperity that raises all ships.
They were good-hearted people who vanquished the gnarlier elements of
their party, the paranoid Roosevelt-haters, the flat Earthers and
Prohibitionists, the antipapist antiforeigner element. The genial
Eisenhower was their man, a genuine American hero of D-Day, who made it
OK for reasonable people to vote Republican. He brought the Korean War
to a stalemate, produced the Interstate Highway System, declined to
rescue the French colonial army in Vietnam, and gave us a period of
peace and prosperity, in which (oddly) American arts and letters
flourished and higher education burgeoned, and there was a degree of
plain decency in the country. Fifties Republicans were giants compared
to today’s. Richard Nixon was the last Republican leader to feel a
Christian obligation toward the poor.
In the years between Nixon and Newt Gingrich, the party migrated
southward down the Twisting Trail of Rhetoric and sneered at the idea of
public service and became the Scourge of Liberalism, the Great Crusade
Against the Sixties, the Death Star of Government, a gang of pirates
that diverted and fascinated the media by their sheer chutzpah, such as
the misty-eyed flag-waving of Ronald Reagan who, while George McGovern
flew bombers in World War II, took a pass and made training films in
Long Beach. The Nixon moderate vanished like the passenger pigeon,
purged by a legion of angry white men who rose to power on pure punk
politics. “Bipartisanship is another term of date rape,” says Grover
Norquist, the Sid Vicious of the GOP. “I don’t want to abolish
government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it
into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.” The boy has Oedipal
problems and government is his daddy.
The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of
hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based
economists, fundamentalist bullies with Bibles, Christians of
convenience, freelance racists, misanthropic frat boys, shrieking
midgets of AM radio, tax cheats, nihilists in golf pants, brownshirts in
pinstripes, sweatshop tycoons, hacks, fakirs, aggressive dorks,
Lamborghini libertarians, people who believe Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk
was filmed in Roswell, New Mexico, little honkers out to diminish the
rest of us, Newt’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull
and rigid man suspicious of the free flow of information and of secular
institutions, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts
trying to walk. Republicans: The No. 1 reason the rest of the world
thinks we’re deaf, dumb and dangerous.
Rich ironies abound! Lies pop up like toadstools in the forest! Wild
swine crowd round the public trough! Outrageous gerrymandering! Pocket
lining on a massive scale! Paid lobbyists sit in committee rooms and
write legislation to alleviate the suffering of billionaires!
Hypocrisies shine like cat turds in the moonlight! O Mark Twain, where
art thou at this hour? Arise and behold the Gilded Age reincarnated
gaudier than ever, upholding great wealth as the sure sign of Divine
Grace.
Here in 2004, George W. Bush is running for reelection on a platform of
tragedy, the single greatest failure of national defense in our history,
the attacks of 9/11 in which 19 men with box cutters put this nation
into a tailspin, a failure the details of which the White House fought
to keep secret even as it ran the country into hock up to the hubcaps,
thanks to generous tax cuts for the well-fixed, hoping to lead us into a
box canyon of debt that will render government impotent, even as we
engage in a war against a small country that was undertaken for the
president’s personal satisfaction but sold to the American public on the
basis of brazen misinformation, a war whose purpose is to distract us
from an enormous transfer of wealth taking place in this country,
flowing upward, and the deception is working beautifully.
The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few is the
death knell of democracy. No republic in the history of humanity has
survived this. The election of 2004 will say something about what
happens to ours. The omens are not good.
Our beloved land has been fogged with fear, fear, the greatest political
strategy ever. An ominous silence, distant sirens, a drumbeat of
whispered warnings and alarms to keep the public uneasy and silence the
opposition. And in a time of vague fear, you can appoint bullet-brained
judges, strip the bark off the Constitution, eviscerate federal
regulatory agencies, bring public education to a standstill, stupefy the
press, lavish gorgeous tax breaks on the rich.
There is a stink drifting through this election year. It isn’t the
Florida recount or the Supreme Court decision. No, it’s 9/11 that we
keep coming back to. It wasn’t the ‘end of innocence,’ or a turning
point in our history, or a cosmic occurrence, it was an event, a lapse
of security. And patriotism shouldn’t prevent people from asking hard
questions of the man who was purportedly in charge of national security
at the time.
LikeLike
By: pula on April 14, 2010
at 8:35 AM
Having read a few of your posts I must say that I’m hooked. Great job, hilarious and to the point.
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By: Rolf on April 3, 2010
at 10:52 AM
Wingnuts on parade:
Exhibit A ~ Victoria Jackson
707 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 27, 2010
at 11:03 AM
Talk about delusional…
Quinnipiac poll on Tea Parties confirms yet again that they are arch-conservatives.
“…it really doesn’t take a poll to see that these tea partiers are ill-informed, Beck watching right wingers. All you have to do is read their signs and listen to what they say. They are the hardcore GOP base. And they are very, very sore losers. It’s one of their defining characteristics.”
8) ~ <a href="http://punditkitchen.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/political-pictures-sarah-palin-politics.jpg"Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 27, 2010
at 9:47 AM
[…] this? Funny. I do like this president. He can be a little frustrating at time but he does give a good […]
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By: Cartography and the Ostrich « 5280.5 on March 26, 2010
at 7:50 AM
It’s probably futile to add my comment to the 1200+ comments already here. But I do enjoy the opportunity to read the following paragraph again, and again, and again…
“If it wasn’t for Fox News you would be irrelevent. That’s right. You have become a party that owes its entire existence to a cable news channel owned by an Aussie.”
TO GOP: Own’d!
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By: subWOW on March 24, 2010
at 2:08 PM
You people are sooooooooooooooo delusional, it makes me ill.
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By: Anonymous on March 23, 2010
at 1:25 PM
Socialism, Communism & Health Care. The Republicans had 8 years to do something on health care. Move over Reps: The Dems have a job to do!
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/roland-martin-these-folks-probably-cant-ev
More people lost insurance coverage during W Bush than during any other time period!!
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By: JuneauJoe on March 23, 2010
at 8:38 AM
KO’s Special Comment:
Evolutionary Regressives
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 23, 2010
at 6:50 AM
Health Care passed: Question – When is the world going to end? Or is it that the economy is going to collapse?
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By: JuneauJoe on March 23, 2010
at 6:12 AM
my new favorite word
Armageddon
🙂
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By: palinshutup on March 22, 2010
at 11:29 PM
Anyone who wants to donate to freeing America of Rush Limbaugh, there’s a site for that! http://www.aticketforrush.com/
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By: Alana on March 22, 2010
at 8:32 PM
Jean, your story reminded me about how the French imperialism was replaced with American imperialism in Vietnam. Few really know the history there or our illegal interventions. Most believe we were liberating a nation.
Our history books do not give us an impartial perspective. Much history is left out or distorted. Our education system focuses more on being productive, conforming ideologies, and rewarding achievement.
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By: Poolman on March 22, 2010
at 6:52 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Whew! I am SO elated! But thud. This is the morning after. There is still work to be done.
Did you happen to see John Boehner’s near temper tantrum when he wasn’t getting his way? We need valid grownup-type arguments to counter the juvenile conservative nonsense. (As if they would listen, but some Independents might.) The Republicans will continue to bring up their versions of historical precedents, screaming about ‘Soviet Socialism’ with the passage of the health care reform bill.
We might do well to remind them of the economic principle of ‘dirigisme’ that has been used successfully many times in a variety of ways in conservative governments, including capitalism. One of the classic examples was during the reign of Louis XIV of France. Two of the most important factors in bringing France to the brink of bankruptcy were his ongoing wars of expansion, (imperialism), coupled with the excessively lavish lifestyle of the royal court and aristocracy. It would be hard to find anyone more conservative than Louis XIV! He was almost as irresponsible in war and incompetent in administration as Bush.
Jean Baptiste Colbert came in as the Minister of Finance and used dirigisme to pull the country back from financial disaster, for a time anyway, despite the Bourbon Dynasty’s extravagant and arrogant ways. In simplistic terms, dirigisme is a combination of government regulation of private finance and commerce.
For a long overdue change, President Obama’s administration has been introspective in regard to our international reputation and attention to neglected domestic reforms. Just as he has been able to get health care reform enacted by reigning in the big pharmaceutical and insurance companies’ abuses, I hope he will also be able to get regulations in place regarding financial institutions. And then there is education. Obama sure does have a full agenda on his plate!
The most significant way to change history and thus society, albeit slowly, is by legislation. Laws are based on precedent. You would be amazed by the number of antiquated laws on the books, often local or so-called ‘State’s Rights’, that could be used as precedent unless they are legislated out of existence. For instance, how about Slavery and Women’s Suffrage?
You don’t have to take my word for this. Do a little research of your own on Louis XIV, Colbert and dirigisme.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 22, 2010
at 5:18 PM
Huffington Post 3/22
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/frightening-gop-behavior_b_50
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By: dailyreader on March 22, 2010
at 5:07 PM
Why Health Care Reform WILL NOT be repealed!
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/david-frum-gop-s-waterloo-points-finger-ra
Which Republican is going to tell People they are opening up the ‘donut hole’ and they will away health insurance from 30 Million? The Republicans screwed up – BIG TIME!!!
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By: JuneauJoe on March 22, 2010
at 2:11 PM
JuneauJoe sheer perfection LOL!! that’s exactly how they are acting today.
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By: palinshutup on March 22, 2010
at 1:32 PM
Margaret and Helen where are you?
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By: Oswegoeileen on March 22, 2010
at 11:31 AM
Margaret & Helen, I was hoping there would be a new post to celebrate last night’s wonderful House victory. I am hoping that you and yours are all doing well and that you are simply too busy living life to the fullest to post here right now.
Thank you to Obama and to our Nancy Pelosi who masterfully shepherded this bill to fruition. And to John Dingell who never wavered in his quest for health care for all, and to the late Ted Kennedy who gave voice and passion to this cause. The hope never died. . . because the dream endured
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By: Greytdog on March 22, 2010
at 9:12 AM
Helen and Margaret, I hope you were well enough to be watching this historic moment. I also urge everyone to be ready for the real battle, because the mega-hatred is about to be unleashed. Nothing more dangerous than people who crave power having it taken away.
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By: Rae on March 22, 2010
at 8:10 AM
Republican reaction to Health Caare passing.
http://demeur.blogspot.com/2010/03/republican-reaction-to-health-care-bill.html
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By: JuneauJoe on March 22, 2010
at 7:39 AM
@vkyama I would believe the conservative argument of legislating for a fetus if they were consistent and supported the life after it is born but since they cut health care at the moment of birth they are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.
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By: palinshutup on March 22, 2010
at 5:48 AM
YES WE CAN!
We did it! woohoo!
It isnt perfect but it is a start.
Rush Limbaugh said he’d go
to Costa Rica for medical treatment if Congress passes proposed
reforms to the US health care system.
Help Rush walk the walk.
Because of his ongoing need for therapy (he’s recovering from the
abuse of illegally-obtained drugs), Rush needs a home in Costa Rica.
Please e-mail this link
http://www.propertiesincostarica.com/
email him here
ElRushbo@eibnet.com
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By: palinshutup on March 22, 2010
at 5:40 AM
I am disappointed too Poolman and I will keep fighting for a public option. However, there are 32 million American’s who are better off tonight than they were this morning and that sustains me.
I know I sound so cliche’ but here I go anyway… This lobby was SO big and SO powerful it is a miricale we got anything. You saw how close we came Twice to losing this whole thing.
I am proud of my President and my democrats for touching the third rail and holding on till the end. Nancy deserves much praise. I guess if you want someone to TALK you ask a guy, if you want to get it DONE you ask a woman. 😉
I agree with you poolman to the extent that there were some scripted manuvers. The deem and pass being one of them! I thought that was brilliant though. LOL That was a clever strawman argument.
namaste
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By: lori on March 22, 2010
at 4:28 AM
Health care reform passes! Yes, we can! And they did it without Rep. support. Once again, you were right, Helen!
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By: Jennifer on March 22, 2010
at 12:26 AM
Yes we can. However, I fear the GOP will not go away, I fear the hatred, bigotry, and fearmongering will be unleashed full throttle. Hold on to your hats and stand up for progressives. Health care IS a right, not a priveledge.
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By: Dawn on March 21, 2010
at 10:57 PM
Really, as compassionate citizens we cannot wish Rush on any other country. Bad enough he can be heard around the world. He is not a man of his word, so it is ridiculous to think he would make this his first follow through with a threat. Oh, but I am sure we will get his opinion on where we go from here.
I’m disappointed but not surprised that there is no public option in all this. I still believe this was all decided a year and a half ago, scripted and performed before us in an effort to entertain and give us a false sense of significance. I don’t mean to rain on the parade, but we have lost so much more in this time expended than we have gained. I guess I’m feeling cynical lately.
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By: Poolman on March 21, 2010
at 9:36 PM
The Democrats finally took the bull by the horns. Took way too long and there should be a public option, but it is a big positive.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 21, 2010
at 9:32 PM
Zimbabwe is my vote for Rush! Rush and Robert Mugabe would have a swell time getting to know each other.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 21, 2010
at 9:21 PM
Hey Lori, what country would have him? Bet if we put our minds to it, we can come up with some good ones, I suggest Haiti.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 21, 2010
at 9:16 PM
Bye Rush!!!!!! Don’t let the door hit you in the ass!
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By: JuneauJoe on March 21, 2010
at 9:09 PM
Check and mate.
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By: judith on March 21, 2010
at 9:07 PM
Oh I just thought of something. Didn’t ole Rushbo say if HCR passed he would leave the country? Should we be calling a moving company for him? LOL
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By: lori on March 21, 2010
at 9:05 PM
YES WE DID!!!
Hallelujah! Break out the champagne and pop the corks. I’m buyin’.
The Health Care Reforms are now the Law of he Land.
The little train that thought it could, did. I love it!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 21, 2010
at 8:59 PM
Yes we can! Glad I lived to see this day! Second you Lori, congratulations America!
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By: Easier on March 21, 2010
at 8:52 PM
they said no we can’t we said yes we can! congratulations America!
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By: lori on March 21, 2010
at 8:46 PM
As a Historian, I disagree, that history repeats itself as being far too simplistic a statement, even though certain circumstances recur throughout the ages, as it is always impossible to replicate all of the extenuating circumstances, but the comparison of the GOP to the Whigs and the similarity of the tea baggers to the Know Nothings is as close as I would acknowledge as a repeat of history. How sad just like Whigs the Republicans have no core beliefs or direction, they are reduced to being led by fear mongers.
In my opinion, those pro-lifers, Democrat or Republican, are just playing for votes, if that’s all they got, the hell with them. They have no more business guarding women uteruses, than I do. I hate the idea of any woman having an abortion, as a mother, I realize what a devastating choice that must be for any woman, but I refuse to think, my opinion supersedes the circumstances that led them to THEIR decision.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 21, 2010
at 7:35 PM
Isn’t it ironic how SOOOOO many political conservatives want BIG govt. OUT of American’s lives, BUT when it comes to reproductive choice/freedom they are thoroughly comfortable legislating every square inch of my reproductive system?
If all of those pro-life politicians and their right wing supporters have any shred of decency (*), they’d be fighting, hammer and tong, to keep government OUT of abortion issues with the same voracity that they tried to scare all their sheeples (sheep+people) into believing that supporting health care reform means big, bad government is coming for grandma.
(* but they don’t, so they wont….)
Crossing my fingers that we have a healthcare reform bill.
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By: vkyama on March 21, 2010
at 7:01 PM
I think you might be right NOP. There are many reasons the GOP is in big trouble. In addition to the one you just illuminated, I think they really over played their hand on HCR. They boxed themselves into a corner of not being able to support ANY part of this legislation. Many of which are republican views! In a few months it is going to be REALLY difficult to explain to the American people why they didn’t support HCR.
I don’t think we can call em DOA YET, but they should be calling in the Priest to give last rights.
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By: lori on March 21, 2010
at 6:49 PM
It is my belief, that we are not only seeing the passing of healthcare this weekend, we are witnesses to the demise of the GOP, Grand Old Party, the Party of Lincoln, Republican Congressmen are busy pissing all over themselves to excuse the vulgarities of the tea baggers. No “self-respecting” moderate or even conservative wants to be associated with these louts, I don’t know that they will be content to remain Independents, so perhaps a new political party will emerge. If it wasn’t for the fact, that hubby and I have relocated 3,000 miles from where we were three months ago and too busy settling into our new home to make friends thus far, in addition to a victory party, I’d also hold a Wake for the GOP. They, the GOP, have had a long bout with a horrible malignancy, therefore it is appropriate to say, it is a blessing they are dead. May their predecessors rest in peace, despite of the dishonorable behavior of this current crop of Republican Representatives.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 21, 2010
at 6:37 PM
And you would be correct Jjoe… You can take that to the bank.
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By: lori on March 21, 2010
at 6:27 PM
I think it was the religious group ‘The Family’ who are religious whacked out people with big bucks.
I have read and heard about them on NPR (I think it was NPR).
The Family has a lot of influence in Uganda I think. They are a bunch of homophobes and hypocrites as far as I am concerned.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 21, 2010
at 6:10 PM
jjoe, who do you THINK subsidized his stay. That whole C-street thing creeps me out.
I know Connie is a long shot… But we have a pretty good record lately concerning electing longshots.. 😉
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By: lori on March 21, 2010
at 5:54 PM
I am with you Lori.
I have 3 daughters and they (and their doctors) should be the ones who choose what happens to their bodies, NOT STUPAK.
It is also interesting how Arizona has just stopped health coverage for 40,000 kids. The politicians are the Stupak type mentality but they take away the SCHIP program thus taking away health care.
They want every child born and then starve and not give health care to them – that is nuts.
I will send some money to Connie’s campaign to help her get elected.
Stupak also needs to answer for his years in the C-Street house. Who subsidized his stay there?
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By: JuneauJoe on March 21, 2010
at 4:50 PM
Jjoe, i will be supporting Connie as well. I believe had Stupak not held the house bill hostage over this silly language issue, in the fall, we would have had a much more robust HCR bill SIGNED by Christmas. I won’t forget.
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By: lori on March 21, 2010
at 2:58 PM
Happy Health Care Sunday, you guys. It was a long drawn-out process to get what was probably agreed upon before the election. Baby steps. Show us the carrot. “Is anybody watching these guys?”
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By: Poolman on March 21, 2010
at 2:40 PM
The vote on Health Care Reform starts at 6 PM Pacific. Sounds like it should pass. Undecideds seem to be going Yes.
Stupak – Even voting ‘YES’ I am going to give money to the gal going against him. He should be run out of office.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 21, 2010
at 2:34 PM
Stupak is holding a press conference in about 5 minutes. Seems like a deal has been made.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on March 21, 2010
at 1:57 PM
President Obama explains the Health Care Bill.
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2010/03/could-this-be-president-obamas-greatest.html
Great speech.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 21, 2010
at 8:06 AM
This little gem is still going around ‘as fact’
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/jul/30/e-mail-analysis-health-bill-needs-check-/
Good thing many of us have read the bill and we know BS when we see it.
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By: palinshutup on March 21, 2010
at 12:24 AM
Hi Congenial Gang, Poolman and Juneau Joe,
While we are awaiting tomorrow’s historic vote, let’s keep our fingers crossed, pray, and use whatever means we can muster so it goes through without too many hitches.
Thanks Poolman for putting up the links to Hawaiian History Parts 1 & 2. I hope those of the gang here who are interested will take the time to read them. This is a classic example of American Imperialism as a prelude, although not nearly as brutal, as our confiscating the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Juneau Joe, water boarding was common practice then against the Philippine citizens as well as their soldiers. A time honored military tradition. Disgusting.
Last night we watched the 90th Annual Kamehameha Schools’ Song Contest on TV. This is a very big deal out here, like the Olympics, Super Bowl and World Series all rolled into one. It was held at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu with 1,800 student voices singing a cappella. The freshman, sophomore, junior and senior men’s choruses and then the women’s choruses competed. Mixed choruses followed in competition. Student directors conducted.
The finale was authentic ancient chanting and hula and then contemporary music and dance. It was far, far superior to the hokey entertainment for tourist consumption. Exquisite! You can Google the 90th Annual Kamehameha School’s Song Contest if you wish.
Once we get the health care bill wrapped up, I will tell you about the background of the Kamehameha and Punahou schools. President Obama attended Punahou. Both are outstanding private schools, generously endowed. The two schools are rivals in academics and sports.
In the meantime, let’s get ready to celebrate the passage of the health care bill!!!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 20, 2010
at 9:31 PM
The wisdom of Pinky
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By: Poolman on March 20, 2010
at 11:56 AM
Presidet Obama’s
Weekly Address 3/20/10
Demand Financial Reform Now
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 20, 2010
at 10:54 AM
JuneauJoe – thnks for the link about Beck and Faaux and the minister. Irt just reminds me to never watch Beck~
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By: Grandma Katie on March 20, 2010
at 10:33 AM
7th Anniversary of the war in Iraq. A trillion dollars later.
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/anniversary-too-sad-celebrate
100,000 Iraqi civilians killed during the war.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 20, 2010
at 8:25 AM
This is interesting stuff. Karma baby. We’ll get the word out. Go back to bed America…
Hawaiian History part 1
Hawaiian History part 2
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By: Poolman on March 20, 2010
at 2:02 AM
Nope. Several more attempts and they are just “discarded”, so no luck with that other link. I have been somewhat censored, apparently. Some information is being squelched, folks. You can get all the porn you want, but when it comes to truth, not so much.
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By: Poolman on March 19, 2010
at 11:01 PM
Okay, that worked, but I still can’t post the link I wanted after 3 more tries. Maybe a less controversial link?
Join the P.I.G. Party!
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By: Poolman on March 19, 2010
at 10:51 PM
Well, let’s see if it lets me post without a link. The last 5 times it has not allowed it. I just get a page that says “discarded.” Too controversial?
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By: Poolman on March 19, 2010
at 10:37 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
We had better brace ourselves. WHEN, not if but WHEN, the health care bill passes, Nostradamus will be back, with a l-o-n-g, l-o-n-g list of his quatrains of dire predictions. That is, if he isn’t too busy, busy, busy plotting his vengeance on each of the 30+ American citizens who will benefit from the provisions of the new law.
Maybe even “Colorful” will return and condemn us all to hell for our wickedness – again. Oh, well, better health might give us longer lives and more time to repent and mend our sinful ways. See, there is always a silver lining!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 19, 2010
at 8:09 PM
Hi congenial Gang, Whirled Peas and Raji,
Thank you both for sharing.
Bruddah Peas, I love you dearly,you dirty f*ckin’ ole hippy peacenik.
Raji, the “Lost Generation” You Tube is inspired and brilliant! Some concepts are timeless.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 19, 2010
at 7:59 PM
One more try as for some reason the link won’t go through
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=42E2fAWM6rA
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By: Raji on March 19, 2010
at 7:37 PM
Lost Generation
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By: Raji on March 19, 2010
at 7:33 PM
A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward. This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward. Not only does it read the opposite, the This is meaning is the exact opposite..
This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video and it is brilliant. Make sure you read as well as listen…forward and backward.
This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled “u @ 50” by AARP. This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant.
Take a minute and watch it. Click link below.
Lost Generation
Namaste`
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By: Raji on March 19, 2010
at 7:26 PM
Whirled, THANK YOU FOR THAT LINK!
6 years and a Trillion dollars later, the Republicans can finally say we should not have gone into Iraq!
Palin: Read the comments about the Palin picture on Wonkette. They are super funny!
http://wonkette.com/414315/oh-noes-sarah-palin-got-assaulted-by-sam-donaldsons-wig-maker
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By: JuneauJoe on March 19, 2010
at 6:06 PM
I’ve been sayin’ this from the beginning, but I’ just an dirty f*ckin’ hippy peacenick!
GOP Congressmen Say That ‘Everyone’ In Congress ‘Would Agree That Iraq Was A Mistake’
Still IS.
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 19, 2010
at 2:15 PM
Grandma Katie
Promotion of the book “FDA: Failure, Deception, Abuse” seems to be a pet project of the Life Extension Foundation (LEF) a major promoter of “natural” products that are supposedly offered to replace tested pharmaceuticals prescribed by mainstream doctors.
On their web page is the following curious claim: “Established in 1980, the Life Extension Foundation® (LEF) is a non profit organization dedicated to finding new scientific methods for eradicating old age.” I can only interpret that as meaning that if you use their products or methods you will be eradicated, thus never reach “old age.”
Mission accomplished!
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By: jsri on March 19, 2010
at 1:48 PM
oops, I posted that anonymous. That example represents the mindset we are up against in this country today. There are so many things that need fixing and the vocal blind minority are fighting progress every step of the way. We shall overcome! Keep up the good fight, the righteous will prevail!
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By: Poolman on March 19, 2010
at 11:00 AM
Norske, paragraphs are our friends! After reading your rant, however, that is obviously the least of your challenges. Ich kann auch Deutsch sprechen. Nur und?
Your diatribe consists of paranoid delusions and a distorted view of history and reality that probably derives from daily doses of Fox news.
Walk away from the teevee! There is a reality out here that beckons you. But you have to take that first step on your own. Come on in, the water’s fine…
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By: Anonymous on March 19, 2010
at 10:51 AM
Glen Beck is sick! Now he is going after a preacher.
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/why-fox-funding-ops-research-minister
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By: JuneauJoe on March 19, 2010
at 10:23 AM
Also why is there a shortage of ingredients and natural dessicated thyroid here and available in CAnada?
dessicared thyroid is a n atural thyroid and not patentable and has been made for 100 years.
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By: Grandma Katie on March 19, 2010
at 9:37 AM
Donna – WWGKD to the latest troll. I did it I just scrolled by!!
For those of you who are concerned about health care – well just read the book FDA: FAilure,Deception, Abuse
When you see the lists of all the money spent by the FDA in combating new cures that don’t benefit Big Pharma, etc s uch as the high price of prescriptions. I could go on and on. I just finished reading the book and my blood pressure must have gone way up!
WAit til you read the prices of drugs we pay vs the SAME drugs in other countries.
The book is available at Amazon at #13.97.
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By: Grandma Katie on March 19, 2010
at 9:30 AM
I didn’t read the minorities post, but I surmise from the reaction it was a dooozie… Let them have their vent..
I remember how I felt when Bush led us into an illegal war… spent our money…. gave tax cuts to his friends…. etcccccccccccccccccccccc… It was shit.. and some days I just had to vomit on anything that would allow me to…
They lost and they know it and it hurts… expect a lot more barf…. spend your energies on immigration.. education… DADT… they will alllllllllllllllllllll need our focus… save your energy..
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By: lori on March 19, 2010
at 8:51 AM
Norske on March 19, 2010 at 2:00 AM
Did the vet take away your tranquilizers?
You are one sick puppy.
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By: jsri on March 19, 2010
at 8:35 AM
Looks like some creep squeezed a pimple here this morning and all the pus landed here, so step over it folks, you can’t reason with it, and you sure don’t want contact with it.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 19, 2010
at 8:12 AM
They said NO we can’t we said YES WE CAN… It’s a new day………
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By: lori on March 19, 2010
at 7:37 AM
WWGKD?
By the way, all–check out Immoral Minority for the latest on the Sean Hannity scam.
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By: Donna on March 19, 2010
at 6:34 AM
I love that song.
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By: palinshutup on March 19, 2010
at 5:09 AM
Good morning Lori 🙂
@2am
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By: palinshutup on March 19, 2010
at 5:07 AM
GOOD morning it’s a NEW day: Been a long time coming!!!!!
The CBO says: HCR will reduce the federal deficit by 138 billion over a ten year period. 1.2 TRILLION over the next 10 year period. It extends Medicare’s solvency by at least 9 years and reduces the rate of its growth by 1.4 percent, while closing the doughnut hole for seniors, meaning there will no longer be a gap in coverage of medication. The CBO also estimated it would extend coverage to 32 million additional American’s. It will reduce our citizens bankruptcy rate by 60 percent!
We will have a richer and healthier nation that will lead to a more prosperous nation and once again America will be a beacon in which the world will follow.
It’s a good day and it’s a NEW day…. enjoy..;-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbpnDUj354M
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By: lori on March 19, 2010
at 4:55 AM
The Democrats are changing procedural rules frequently at their whim as they DEEM, not for BUDGETARY needs as reconciliation was meant to be used (as done by the republicans), but for POLICIES that shall change our nation to something entirely opposite to what our founding fathers hoped for for their posterity. Democrats are following the “Rules For Radicals” of Saul Olinski, and are incrementally trying to impose progressiveism-socialism-communism on us. As Obama said to Joe the plumber, wealth should be taken from those who earn it and be given to the rightful owners of wealth (those who do not work, but who support the socialist agenda). Democrats are assiduously working to circumvent and change our constitution. Obama said that he thinks the Constitutional proscriptions of governmental power need to be changed to say what the government CAN DO to the people. He also scurrilously chided the U.S. Supreme Court (NEVER EVER DONE BEFORE) for deciding constitutionally against HIS WILL. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that corporations can give political donations just as the BIG UNIONS can. Obama’s support comes from devotees of the cult of personality. He has not done anything to bring this nation together. He wants class envy to separate us so that progressive-socialism-communism can be imposed on us. All of you who are going along with his changes are going to be astonished and astounded when this comes about because you naively say this can never happen here. It is already happening here. Just look at the Chicago-gangster tactics of Rahm Emmanuel, and Obama’s other socialist CZARS. I have lived in Germany. I have spoken German since a small child. In the 1930″s Europe was torn with strife, and the major political struggle was between National-Socialism and Communism. Germany was especially distraught politically, socially and economically and Hitler promised the German people a way out of their misery. Because of the idiocy with which policies which LOOKED GOOD were persued, both Russia and Germany, as well as many weaker nations , lost countless millions of lives, many tragically innocently. In spite of the carnage, a few survived to warn us what we should never do again. I conversed at length with many, many who had served in the German military, or prisoners from among them who escaped prison-camps in the Soviet Union, as well as many, many Germans who were not Nazis, but who were merely common citizens. They saw Hitler’s Putsches, his brown-shirt thugs stealing political meetings, stealing elections, stealing legislative procedures exactly as Obama and the Demoncrats are doing now. Hitler promised free health care, jobs, reconstruction, wealth and prosperity, exactly as Obama is doing now. Both Germany and Russia took from those who produced and gave it to those who do not. I DO appreciate Franklin D. Roosevelt’s leadership in fighting the Second World War, but it is often overlooked today that he tried to socialize our economy, but that N. R. A. was found to be unconstitional in 1936. For the government to regulate the human behavior of its citizens was shown to be not in accord with what our founding fathers intended. To take from the rich to give to the poor shall leave no one to provide jobs for the poor. Obama is merely providing jobs IN THE GOVERNMENT, few if any private sector jobs. If you really want government to provide the jobs, then try living in North Korea, Russia, Cuba or Columbia, etc. and see for yourself how glorious life is there. That is the direction we are heading under Obama. What about his real intentions? He attends Muslim prayer at the White House. He says openly he is a Muslim, and bowed in obeissance to foreign Muslim rulers, while slighting our allies such as Queen Elizabeth II, and the Prime Minister of Israel, while supporting Hamas rocketeers, suicide-bombers and murderers. To support him shall mean that you ladies shall be wearing a burka sooner than later, for it is a prime goal for Muslims to impose Sharia law. Observe how the Muslims in England, Holland, France and Sweden are demonstrating and doing violent acts to get their “religious rights” and Sharia law. Look at Minnesota where arrogant Muslim taxicab drivers will not even allow a blind person’s seeing eye dog in their cabs. REALLY look at the plight of women in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran today, to name only a few. That is what is in store for you if you continue to blindly support this fraud. Where is his birth certificate? Did he use an Indonesian or Kenyan passport to go to Malasia when younger. U.S. citizens were not allowed to travel there at that time. His school records in Indonesia list him as a Muslim and his family Muslim. Where are all his other school and college records? They are all concealed from anyone seeing them, contrary to the Freedom of Information Act and other U.S. guarantees of truth and transparency in government. He claims to have been a student at Columbia; no one including the president of that year’s class remembers ever even seeing him there. Where are his documents? All his friends and appointees are Socialists or Communists or hate America. Have you really looked at them or have you closed your eyes to the facts? He has claimed in front of news interviewers both to be a Christian (while campaigning) and a Muslim (now). Was he lying then or now? You who blindly follow his cult of personality will soon find our nation has lost its Constitution, Our Bill Of Rights, and YOU your personal rights and freedoms which you think are secure. Go read the original real writings of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington . . . Do you really want to change that timeless and sacred truth of Nature and Nature’s God, for a lie?
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By: Norske on March 19, 2010
at 2:00 AM
I hope Obama was wearing his waders when Baier gave him his insincere apology
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By: palinshutup on March 18, 2010
at 11:10 PM
It is disgusting what the ins cos are doing, their commercials and ads are on non stop
Amazing isnt it? My son tells his friends ‘there goes mom again, yelling at the tv’
In the news last night; insurance cos denying folks diagnosed with hiv by accusing them of ‘fraud’
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62G2DO20100317
How do they sleep at night?
I hope Michael Moore is wrong in his ‘The Green They Steal, The Greed They Wear’ article. Just get the damned thing passed, no doubt it will be a shadow of the original bill but I guess we have to start somewhere! Next election boot the bastards that didnt vote for it and hold to their promises by applying pressure to those who get elected.
I read most of the first draft of this bill, just dont think I have the energy to plow through another edition of it.
Here’s another decent article
‘It’s astonishing that Republicans today are lined up overwhelmingly against a health care package that is more modest and moderate than one that Richard Nixon proposed in the early ’70s.’
Access, Access, Access
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By: palinshutup on March 18, 2010
at 9:59 PM
“All that is necessary for success of ‘false flag’ or ‘black ops’ events is for the government to have its story ready and to have a reliable and compliant media.”
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By: Poolman on March 18, 2010
at 9:32 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and Juneau Joe,
I need to blow off a little steam and what better place to do it than here.
I’ve been following the health care ‘debate’. Thanks Juneau Joe for your links and input.
My husband said that he heard or read somewhere that the insurance companies are spending 1 $million a DAY to defeat health care. (BTW, he is a former Republican and just can’t recognize the party anymore.) Where does all that money come from? Premiums paid in by TAXPAYING American citizens. But what happens when it is time to pay out on claims? Denied, denied, denied. They are f**kin’ thieves!!!
Anyway, I see the likes of Boehner, McConnell and Kyl et al singing the same tunes over and over again when they’re not getting their way. (I’m not sure how to spell their names.) They are all upset about the Democrats using parliamentary procedure tactics such as “Deem and Pass” when the Republicans have used them time and time again.
The wellbeing of 30 million Americans are at stake here! THREE+ in so-called leadership roles trying to lord it over 30+ MILLION? In my view, that’s tyranny from the worst kind of despots. That trio especially and others are such a sorry bunch of egomaniacal control freaks! How dare they!
Sheesh. I feel better now.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 18, 2010
at 7:09 PM
JuneauJoe This American Life is one of my favorite programs that explains step by step how it happened but the middle class unfortunately did take part, unfortunately.
Thanks for the Bill Moyer’s link, I love his programs. I will watch it later tonight.
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By: palinshutup on March 18, 2010
at 3:41 PM
We can get that on amendment with a simple majority.
This isn’t the end – it’s the beginning.
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By: judith on March 18, 2010
at 2:11 PM
The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) says the Health Plan as proposed will be paid for and reduce the deficit.
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/cbo-hcr-knocks-130-billion-deficit-reduces
30+ million new people will also be covered.
(Just need a public option to complete it.)
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By: JuneauJoe on March 18, 2010
at 12:09 PM
M and H where are you? I hope everything is ok. It seems to have been a very long time since the last post, and it has me a little worried.
Hoping that Easter brings a health care reform bill to our baskets!
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By: Chickenpig on March 18, 2010
at 10:36 AM
lori, Stupak should go down. I sure hope so.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 18, 2010
at 5:22 AM
Jjoe did you see where Stupak’s primary opponent (Connie Saltonstall) has picked up a couple of pretty high power endorsements? Who knows may b we will have a successful primary. Fingers crossed!
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By: lori on March 18, 2010
at 4:43 AM
Bill Moyers on Media Reform
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By: JuneauJoe on March 18, 2010
at 2:41 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and jsri,
Ooooooooooo! I envy you and your wife’s trip to Maine for the organ concert. And I got goose bumps reading about your experience in Spain with the Bach Toccata and Fugue. In my ‘mind’s ear’ I could hear it. In college, I played the organ. It was a genuine antique beat-up old Este pipe organ with five manuals and full footboard. It was in the basement of ‘Old Main’. Every college has an ‘Old Main.’ I would get going on it with both hands and both feet, lose my center of gravity and almost fall off the bench! The bone rattling reverberations would bounce off the walls and shake that poor old building.
I never taught in a classroom, but over the years I have given a limited number of private music lessons. Mostly voice and piano but I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS incorporated theory, harmony and composition in those lessons. In my first life, I was a classical pianist.
So naturally, it pains me greatly that music was the first to go in public schools. Next went art and then the humanities and even physical education. Civics? forget it. Reading, basic math, science and technology are essential of course to make a LIVING, but to be a well-rounded individual and make a LIFE, we need all the rest.
I read a quote yesterday that rang true for me. It was from the German Philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, “Every man [and woman] takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.”
That’s what I like so much about M&H’s blog. We get to meet so many people from so many different walks of life and share experiences; our hopes and fears as well as vent our frustrations. It expands each of our fields of vision in ways we could never have dreamed even existed.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
P.S. I wore emerald green today and I got to pinch three and a half people who weren’t. That’ll teach ’em! The ‘half’ was a very pale green in a print blouse. I didn’t think that counted.
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 18, 2010
at 12:56 AM
As we watch the criminals rewrite history and capitalize on it, I am reminded of the power of marketing in America. I am encouraged that one day there will be justice. The righteous will rule and the oppressed will be vindicated.
The Lies of Karl Rove
“Senior Bush administration officials sternly cautioned the 9/11 Commission against probing too deeply into the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, according to a document recently obtained by the ACLU.”
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By: Poolman on March 17, 2010
at 9:44 PM
Old joke for today
A man and a woman were having dinner in a restaurant. Their waitress, taking an order at a nearby table a noticed that the man was slowly sliding down his chair and under the table. The woman seemed not to notice.
The waitress watched as the man slid slowly out of sight under the table but the woman opposite him remained calm, seemingly unaware that he had just disappeared.
Finally, unable to stand not knowing what was going on, the waitress approached the woman and said, “Pardon me, ma’am, but your husband just slid under the table.”
“No he didn’t,” said the woman calmly, “My husband just walked in the door.”
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By: jsri on March 17, 2010
at 3:20 PM
Hi Auntie Jean
Yesterday my wife and I motored up to Portland Maine for an overnight and to attend an all-Bach organ concert at the Merrill Auditorium played on the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, the oldest and largest municipal pipe organ in existence in the US today. It was a great way to escape, albeit only for a few minutes, the constant and tumultuous political wrangling and conspiracy theorists of the world. But it also brought to mind one of the most nerve-jangling experiences of my entire life.
About 35 years ago during a winter break ago we were in Seville Spain touring the ancient cathedral there. I was lagging behind the rest of the tour group trying to decipher a Spanish language pamphlet about the cathedral when I was suddenly hammered by the opening chords of Bach’s signature organ piece, the Toccata and Fugue in d minor, as they reverberated through the cavernous empty building. I was so overcome by the emotion of the moment that I could barely move.
Music is such a diverse but unifying element of every culture that I often think about that experience every time a school is in financial trouble and the first casualty is their music program. I wonder if music education is part of the new Race to the Top? If not, it should be.
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By: jsri on March 17, 2010
at 2:15 PM
Wackadoo,
EXACTLY!!!!
I just don’t understand how (supposedly) well educated, elected indivduals, can stand up in front of their constituents and say things like this. There is no such thing as FREE health care. All tax payers pay for healthcare for everyone already, so why not make the playing field level and let everyone have the same access and insurance. Ultimately it will be cheaper for everyone.
I am truely flummexed by the Republicans and their conitnued lies. I never thought the people of this country could be so down right selfish and bigoted. Why the Dems and Journalists don’t step up and scream the truth back in their faces, I will never understand.
By the way, Gregorio, I just wanted to answer an earlier post of yours. Not everyone can go to college. It is not possible. If we were ALL college educated then who would work in the blue collar jobs? especially if we could no longer bring in the “immigrants” to do the work we would all snub?Would you go to school for 4 years to be a waiter or a grocery clerk? I didn’t think so. Does that make them some how less deserving then the college educated? NO, we need them as much as they need us. They deserve to have dignity and respect too!
How DARE you insinuate that Democrats don’t work hard and contribute taxes to this country. How DARE you say that every non working person in this country MUST be a “layabout”. People want to work. Work has been instilled in every human being as the way to better ourselves AND our country. We ALL take pride in our work, no matter what we do.
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By: MiKat on March 17, 2010
at 10:37 AM
How the economic meltdown happened. Who got the money?
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/sites/all/play_music/play_full.php?play=390
Hint: It was not the poor or the middle class that caused the meltdown.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 17, 2010
at 9:48 AM
As usual, your posts make my day. Awaiting the next post.
The rabid responders with all bluff and no substance are interesting. An article in my local paper (a bastion of republicanism) actually wrote a column about the internet spread of total garbage and lies as “fact”. He suggested that people check with snopes before passing it on. The personal attacks to him were astounding?
My own personal non-scientific poll of that phenomen of BS masqueraded as fact based upon my own email receipts is: Dems send out jokes and cartoons about the opposition – Republicans send out such over the top lies touted as facts that you wonder if they have a critical thought process at all. The comparison is just sad.
So, I have taken to going to snopes myself to discover the validity, then I hit reply all with the link to snopes. Some people have thanked me for the information – and those other have verbally attacked me personally, my ancestors, and my children.
So, sadly, my conclusion is that these people – like the trolls here – are not interested in true fact or law. They want to believe anything they read that supports their own personal bigotry or hatred. And facts be damned.
FYI regarding health care available to all via the ER. What planet do you live on? Do you think ER’s have a printing press in the basement? Or do you think these are all just liberal doctors working for free? That the electric company donates it’s product?
ER’s are funded by local taxes – usually in the form of property taxes. So, those without health insurance create an increase in my taxes. I would love to see your pompous butt in a chair sitting in an ER waiting room because of pains in your chest. You’ll be sitting between someone with a knife wound and the flu. The kids with the runny noses from bad colds will be playing under your feet. Maybe after 14 hours waiting for your turn to see a doctor you will not have died from that heart attack you are experiencing.
Man oh man…where did common decency go?
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By: wackadoo on March 17, 2010
at 9:43 AM
Happy St Patrick’s Day all!
Here is Gus Porter – mountain man
http://alaskawtf.com/?p=180
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By: JuneauJoe on March 17, 2010
at 8:26 AM
Happy St Patrick’s Day all.
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By: sunshine on March 17, 2010
at 8:16 AM
Happy St. Patrick’s!
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By: Donna on March 17, 2010
at 6:02 AM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! On March 17, everybody, everywhere is Irish!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 17, 2010
at 12:48 AM
GET OUT!! I hadn’t seen that. I’m slipping, Delurker–thanks for letting me know.
Hope all of you are well. I’ve been so swamped at work I haven’t surfaced for anything else. Best to all.
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By: Donna on March 16, 2010
at 7:26 PM
Donna, Orly made the news today:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/16/90475/appeals-court-upholds-sanctions.html
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on March 16, 2010
at 6:36 PM
Stupak and ‘the Family’ need to move on to be missionaries in the 3rd world (for free.) I think the people they try to convert would end up killing him.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 16, 2010
at 4:21 PM
Jjoe, there are a group of us here in Michigan that hope to do just that. We are hoping to primary him.
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By: lori on March 16, 2010
at 2:13 PM
Time to get rid of Bart Stupak.. a member of ‘The Family’
https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/127682d09defaac0
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By: JuneauJoe on March 16, 2010
at 1:33 PM
On the upside, Judith, tomorrow very likely won’t be 100°F with 100% humidity (unlike last summer’s Irish Fair).
Have a great time, wherever you’ll be playing! 🙂
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By: Δ¥ Tine on March 16, 2010
at 12:14 PM
Jim Oberstar is going to vote for health care. Fingers crossed for many more.
St. Pat’s tomorrow! Do you know how hard it is to play the concertina with crossed fingers?
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By: judith on March 16, 2010
at 10:30 AM
this is the best blog site!
so glad i stumbled across it.
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By: hemnebob on March 16, 2010
at 8:28 AM
Announcer: John McCain’s health care plan … first we learned he’s going to tax health care benefits to pay for part of it.
Now the Wall Street Journal reports John McCain would pay for the rest of his health care plan “with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid.”
Eight hundred and eighty-two billion from Medicare alone. “Requiring cuts in benefits, eligibility, or both.”
John McCain … Taxing Health Benefits … Cutting Medicare. We Can’t Afford John McCain.
Obama: I’m Barack Obama and I approved this message.
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By: woman who reads on March 16, 2010
at 8:03 AM
I got coffee too, no pie, just looking for a new post…..Love you gals
~Barb
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By: Barb Gowen on March 16, 2010
at 6:25 AM
Helen? Margaret? Matthew? I’ve got coffee, if you still have pie. Haven’t seen you for too long, now, and I miss you.
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By: ValleyIndependent Δ on March 16, 2010
at 12:46 AM
I’ve known a lot of teachers over the years that have such dedication and concern for their students that they spend most of their “free” time and “extra” money to help them. I have also known a lot of nurses and doctors with the same compassion for their patients and for the welfare of others over the years. Most are underpaid and exploited in our society.
It is a crime that we can pay insurance CEOs millions for their “contribution” to society, and yet continue to abuse those that have a servant heart for helping their fellow humans.
I am praying for justice in my lifetime. I am tired of the selfishness and inhumanity this country has come to represent.
Even if you don’t buy into the 9-11 conspiracy theories, it is a known fact that after the towers fell and people were brought in to cleanup, the asbestos and other toxins that covered everything was known by the authorities and yet not mentioned as a concern or hazard. The EPA told us it was safe 5 days after the collapse. People are dying and suffering to this day from it, yet our government will not take the responsibility. What does that say about the concern our government has for its citizenry?
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By: Poolman on March 15, 2010
at 10:27 PM
Hi Lori, glad you signed. Hope many others did too. It is so important! At least it would be known out there that others also, not just teabaggers, have an opinion about what they think should be.
Thanks, jsri, for delecting us with stories about your wife. It warms my heart to hear a man appreciate a good and smart woman.
My husband is an educator also. He absolutely likes the part about shaping young people’s lives and definitely hates the politics. So I understand your wife’s feelings about tha aspect of her job.
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By: Easier on March 15, 2010
at 9:29 PM
Why does the American flag have a gold fringe? – US Flag Specs and Design forum of USA-Flag-Site.org. Discuss Why does the American flag have a gold fringe? on USA-Flag-Site.org, the home patriotism and all things American. How are flags made? What are the correct proportions and color shades of the flag?.
Welcome to the American Flags Forum at USA-Flag-Site.org. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and access our other FREE features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
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By: Anonymous on March 15, 2010
at 9:05 PM
Jean:
I think you are on to something. Hereafter, whenever there are long pauses between H&M’s posts, perhaps we could ask the regulars to post the best stories or jokes they can conjure up. Not all at once but one or two a day. It would help keep our spirits up while we wait and maybe the trolls will go elsewhere.
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By: jsri on March 15, 2010
at 9:03 PM
Matthew, in case you didn’t see it, tariely has spammed every thread on this blog today as a means of pushing his/her link in the signature.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on March 15, 2010
at 8:01 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, jsri, Juneau Joe and vgman,
Your tributes to your wife are so true, jsri. (And touching. It’s nice to hear a man speak so lovingly about his wife.)
We have to catch the kids early while they are still so eager to learn and inspire them to that lifelong quest. I know that I had several teachers, both men and women, that have shaped my life, starting with my mother. Several generations ago the thinking was, the only thing a girl needed to know was how to read a recipe.
Teachers don’t get very rich in terms of financial gain. However, the wealth they accrue by knowing they have touched and enriched the lives of countless people is incalcuable.
This little story has been around in e mails before, but it bears repeating.
“Never argue with an educated woman. One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book. The peace and solitude are magnificent.
Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, ‘Good morning, Ma’am. What are you doing?’
‘Reading a book,’ she replies, (thinking, ‘Isn’t that obvious?’)
‘You’re in a Restricted Fishing Area,’ he informs her.
‘I’m sorry, officer, but I’m not fishing. I’m reading.’
‘Yes, but I see you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I’ll have to take you in and write you up.’
‘If you do that, I’ll have to charge you with sexual assault,’ says the woman.
‘But I haven’t even touched you,’ says the Game Warden.
‘That’s true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.’
‘Have a nice day ma’am,’ and he left.
MORAL: Never, never, never argue with a woman who reads. It’s likely she can also think.”
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 15, 2010
at 7:21 PM
Wow. Speaking of conspiracies… Waiting for Glenn Beck and his comrades on Faux Noise’s movie on conspiracies about everything in President Obama’s administration being either communist, socialist, corrupt, etc. etc. Where do they get all those mean and disgusting fabrications. And some people believe all of it. Aye aye aye..
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By: sunshine on March 15, 2010
at 4:39 PM
JuneauJoe – that is one sick mind.If you visualize h is brain, it would be a mass of squirming snakes of the most poisonous variety.
I hope h e is not representative of the way CNN is heading. WE don’t need another FAUX news.
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By: Grandma Katie on March 15, 2010
at 4:17 PM
The sick mind of a conservative republican.
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/sick-mind-dam-riehl
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By: JuneauJoe on March 15, 2010
at 2:44 PM
Well from all the responses about the 911 conspiracy..there should be a IMAX movie out any day.
There’s always a crowd for a disaster movie.
Especially one which would delight audiences around the world.
Right now coming to YOU in IMAX,
your country..NAW THEIR country is taken over by aliens bent on destroying Ameirka from within.
I’ll wait for the sequel.
“”Without promotion..
something terrible happens, nothing!”
P.T. Barnum
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By: gregorio on March 15, 2010
at 1:35 PM
Easier on March 13, 2010 at 3:00 PM
I don’t check in here every day so I’m often a little late with responses. But thanks for your comments about teachers because it is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. I’ve said previously on one of these H&M blogs that my wife is the sort of teacher that you can only dream of having for your children. She is incredibly perceptive and intuitive but, while teaching, also put a ton of energy and creativity into her work. That’s just the way she is. This was reinforced in an odd way by an encounter our daughter-in-law had recently.
D-I-L had gone to a funeral home to pay her respects on the death of a prominent local lady but the line waiting to get in stretched around the block. She met a young woman in line who had been in the same education class our D-I-L had taken that is required for recertification (D-I-L is a music teacher). Accompanying the young woman were two others of similar age. When our daughter-in-law’s relationship to my wife became known, it opened a floodgate of comments and for the next two hours our D-I-L was regaled with stories of their first grade teacher (my wife) and what an influence she had been on their lives and careers. All three turned out to be highly regarded elementary school teachers and mothers of small children but their only lament was actually a compliment, that none of their children would have an opportunity to have the same first grade teacher they had had.
And the neat part was that, 25-30 years later my wife remembered each of them too because she rarely forget her brightest students. Each class she had was always a mix of good as well as marginal students and one of her techniques, (well known in teaching), was to have the brighter students work with slower learners. This works well in grade one because the children in this age group take it all in stride since first graders don’t yet carry biases against slower learners that they may develop later in life. But setting the bar so high can have negative consequences and it was administrative incompetence and lack of support not problem parents or students that drove her into retirement. But that’s a story for another time
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By: jsri on March 15, 2010
at 1:18 PM
Poolman, Do not let one or two skeptics silence you. There are many of us who question the official 9/11 story. There are too many things that simply do not add up.
In my house we agree on one thing and that is the HOP theory. The debate between us is whether it was LIHOP or MIHOP. My mind isn’t made up.
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By: Imaginista on March 15, 2010
at 12:59 PM
Oh, this is brilliant!!
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By: absurdoldbird on March 15, 2010
at 11:53 AM
Wall Street: Inside the Collapse.
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/michael-lewis-talks-60-minutes-about
Great information about who caused the fall of the economy. It was not the poor or middle class by the way. Those who crashed the economy should be in jail.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 15, 2010
at 11:30 AM
Privatization of Public Schools and Charter Schools are not the answer:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ravitch14-2010mar14,0,2024751.story
Studies show the fads to be no better than regular public schools.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 15, 2010
at 11:24 AM
Good Blog
_____________
электронная почта без регистрации
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By: tariely on March 15, 2010
at 6:52 AM
poolman, I found this http://www.usflag.org/colors.html
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By: lori on March 15, 2010
at 4:45 AM
[…] The Elephant in the Room is a Kangaroo…. […]
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By: Light Reading: Helen & Margaret « kavips on March 14, 2010
at 11:14 PM
no one’s puppetΔ, you’re the biggest skeptic here, probably. Can you check on the meaning of an American flag with gold fringe all around it? There was a comment on the video that Whirled Peas linked to Obama’s weekly address. The flag in the background had the gold fringe all around it. When I look it up, all I see is conspiracy stuff. I don’t want to be the judge on this one. Let me know if you find anything out.
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By: Poolman on March 14, 2010
at 11:00 PM
ty Easier for passing that along.. I signed too.!
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By: lori on March 14, 2010
at 6:39 PM
A friend sent this and I am passing it along to those who might be interested.
“Congressman Alan Grayson is calling on Speaker Pelosi to allow for a vote on his bill to allow for Americans to buy into Medicare. Medicare is efficient, effective health care and every American should have the choice of buying into it!
I signed the petition.
If you agree, click here to join Rep. Grayson, and thousands of Americans, urging Speaker Pelosi to allow a vote.
http://www.wewantmedicare.com
Thanks!”
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By: Easier on March 14, 2010
at 11:51 AM
In todays NYT
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By: dailyreader on March 14, 2010
at 9:34 AM
Osama’s been dead since December 2001. There is no way anyone could stay hidden so well for this many years with so many tracking him and such a large ransom placed on his head. Seriously. Osama was the scapegoat here.
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By: Poolman on March 14, 2010
at 9:13 AM
Always wondered why, outside of one blown opportunity, we haven’t found Osama Bin Laden. We just moved across the country to our retirement house, before I ordered one thing from a catalogue, the catalogue company had found us. No matter how many times my daughter relocates, her alumni association finds her, maybe these are the people we should hire to find Osama.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 14, 2010
at 1:21 AM
Hi Congenial Gang,
OK. For now, I’m wrapping up my saga on American Imperialism through the Missile Defense System. Believe it or not, I have a life! This time of year, I like to shove everything aside and paint. I’ve started a new one. It takes huge chunks of time, but I love it!
To preface my final bit regarding the Missile Defense System, I would like to remind everyone that our REPUBLICAN President Eisenhower warned us against the Military/Industrial Complex. It has been in place and escalating ever since. The Pentagon budget, that ALL taxpayers are obliged to pay, is whopping. Further, 40% of it is in the so-called “black budget” that NO ONE, not even SOME members of congress are privy to. That is, we have no idea what the money is going for and can’t find out even through the FOIA. It’s classified. We can pretty well surmise however that much of it is being spent on HIGH TECH military paraphernalia with the Military/Industrial Complex lobbyist hard at work to keep it going.
So here we are with this military might, all dressed up and nowhere to go. We have been engaged in two wars now for, what, eight-nine years with an ‘enemy’ that gives us the run around with cheap LOW TECH improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These have been and are killing and maiming our soldiers. Not counting the human toll, both military and civilian, how much does the ‘enemy’ spend while we are spending a trillion here, a trillion there…………The dead are dead, no matter what kills them, an IED or a mis-guided missile.
By the way, with all our militarily superior GPS capabilities, why haven’t we been able to find Bin-Ladin in all these years? Or for that matter, way back when we knew where he was holed up in Tora Bora, Afghanistan?
Just who the hell IS the ‘enemy’ anyway? Does anybody know?
We all remember Sally Ride, the astronaut and first woman in space on a space shuttle in 1983 and 1984. She was a member of the president’s commission to investigate the Challenger explosion disaster in 1986, and is a professor of physics at the University of California at San Diego. On her first mission in June 1983, an indelible incident occurred. Here is her story, quoted in her own words:
“About halfway through the flight there was a small pit in the window of the space shuttle and we didn’t know what it was. An awful lot of analysis was done while we were in orbit to make sure that the strength of the window would sustain reentry. It did. We were all fine. But the analysis afterward showed that our window had been hit by an orbiting fleck of paint, and the relative velocities were enough that the paint actually left a small but visible gouge in the window. Well, a fleck of paint is not the same as a small piece of metal traveling at that same speed. So, as soon as you start increasing the amount of junk in a low Earth orbit, you have an unintended by-product that starts putting some of your own quite valuable satellites at possible risk.”
An ironic twist to the whole space story; exploration, the International Space Station, peaceful and useful satellites as well as weaponry, is this: The detonation of a nuclear weapon in space, even accidentally misfired, would instantly fry ALL the electronics of ALL orbiting satellites. There go the inter-net, the other satellites and every other high tech gadget.
Cheap LOW TECH destruction could be achieved by simply putting a few loads of gravel on a rocket and sending them into low Earth orbit.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 14, 2010
at 12:50 AM
I am learning a whole lot on this blog. I took all that we were told about 9-11 for granted and never questioned anything. No offense to the heroes who lost their lives on that day, but hummm!!!
Jsri, I commend your wife for her services to humanity. The teaching profession is the most important profession there is. I like her answer about continuing teaching 1st grade after obtaining a Ph.D. My first grade teacher is the one I remember the most. I went to her class after having been to another class for a while that year. Even at that young age, I knew to recognize a teacher who cared from one who did not. She really made a difference in my life and set me on a path to learning that I never lost. I will always be grateful to her.
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By: Easier on March 13, 2010
at 3:00 PM
Whirled Peas Δ on March 13, 2010
at 7:35 AM
Re; Obama’s address regarding NCLB
I’m not sure why so many people feel that the onus for improving our educational standards falls on the shoulders of our teachers. And to believe that some sort of measure of teacher effectiveness will give us the ability to turn graduation rates around is misguided at best and empty headed at worst. Unless and until we get a grip on the decline of our social values and get rid of our oblique anti-intellectual mind set, (as evidenced by the current Texas textbook squabble), this is not going to change. I’ve been on both sides of this issue, as a teacher and as an administrator and, to put it crudely, I can assure you that deciding what is good teaching is like defining pornography, you know it when you see it but to measure it quantitatively is impossible. And the impulse to think that firing a whole faculty is going to resolve a problem makes even the best of teachers reconsider their chosen career options.
My wife had teacher evaluations that any teacher would die for but after 35 years she had had enough. She was first hired in 1955 and granted an emergency teaching certificate on the basis of a phone interview. The post WWII baby boom was heating up and fully certified teachers were as scarce as hen’s teeth. She was a Lit major in college but had zero teaching experience. Her first assignment was a class in a two-room schoolhouse, 17 students and three grades in one room. She worked very hard to earn her annual salary of $2800 and when the town closed the school 6 years later, she was making $3200. But in the intervening years she had gained full certification, plus an earned ME degree and a CAGS and was well on her way to her PhD. By her fifth year she had also become a cooperating teacher, training and supervising students from a nearby teacher’s college.
Her enthusiasm and creativity were boundless and her ability to take on any student sent to her was well known. Unbeknownst to her at first, there was a lot of maneuvering behind the scenes within the town by parents who wanted their children in her classes. But whenever any of these parents showed up at her door, she’d put them to work. Even the most politically connected would not refuse her.
I can’t tell you how many hours she worked per year beyond the classroom. And there was also the travel and course work. In addition, she used to spend from ten to fifteen percent of her salary on supplemental teaching materials. You can forget about her getting reimbursed. It never happened. When she retired, she was making $35,000.
Her last 25 years were teaching first grade. When asked why she continued teaching at that grade level with a PhD, she always said something to the effect that “No grade is more important in developing a love for learning than grade one. All the rest is frosting.”
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By: jsri on March 13, 2010
at 2:12 PM
poolman, yes he does have connections, however that was just his spontaneous comments as he was watching the events that day. He has special aviation software that he was using to track all aircraft in the air. He was concerned about my Mother who happened to live near Shanksville in a town very similar in name. So he was paying particular attention to that aircraft at the time and called me with concern (again). While I was on the phone with him he spontaneously said “that aircraft was just taken down”. When I questioned him as to WHO took it down that is when he said “it was probably your government”.
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By: lori on March 13, 2010
at 10:45 AM
I love you, Helen! Will you be my Grammy? 🙂
Subscribing!!
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By: Dancer on March 13, 2010
at 10:32 AM
lori, it sounds as if your friend has very good inside connections. The Brits have come further along in exposing this conspiracy and airing it in the MSM. They may even convict some of their higher ups, though that is still debatable.
The following is a most excellent documentary about one of the best known whistleblowers, Sibel Edmonds. This video explains much about underlying events surrounding our involvement in the middle east and the Valerie Plame outing. Kill the Messenger.
Have a wonderful day, everyone. The sun is shining and temps are in the 70’s here. The mountain tops in the distance are covered in snow and the rivers are flowing out here in the desert. Wild flowers are in full bloom and the desert is green. Life is good!
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By: Poolman on March 13, 2010
at 10:26 AM
President Obama’s
Weekly Address 3/13/10
Blueprint To Overhaul
No Child Left Behind
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 13, 2010
at 7:35 AM
First let me say I am not a”truther” and so far I don’t buy the huge conspiracy theory. However, I can share my personal experience … for what it is worth.
I have a BFF who works for the British government. That is all he is permitted to say. He is a pilot/aviation and an expert in Middle Eastern affairs. Anyyyywhooooo on the morning of 9-11 he called me just as the first plane had hit the WTC to tell me to gather the children and not to leave the house. He knew my husband was out of country at the time and I had just moved to Texas and really didn’t know many people yet. Throughout that day we had many conversations and I remember him saying some curious things at the time.
1. He didn’t think that those particular planes would bring down a building and they most certainly couldn’t cause enough heat to bring an entirely different building down that was not even hit (building 7). He was familiar with them and how much fuel they hold etc……
2. WE- our government – brought down the Shanksville plane. When I asked him how our government was going to explain that, he said “Oh that’s simple they will create a hero story and no one will question it”. AND he said by the time anyone gets to the scene all evidence will be gone. There will be nothing there except smoldering ashes.
3. That this wasn’t the “work” of OBL.
4. When I have asked questions of him AFTER that day, about 911, he couldn’t answer me.
That and five bucks will buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks butttttttttttttttt I find it all very curious and don’t dismiss anything at hand. I mean no disrespect to the victims.
Take what you will or don’t…
Oh and also someone up there ^ asked who would do that for GWB. We have many people … right now….. that are invisible.. who would do that. These people drop out of existence and go completely under ground. They have no family no friends their entire existence is to remain in darkness until called upon to do their duty.
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By: lori on March 13, 2010
at 5:06 AM
Hi Congenial Gang, Poolman and Greytdog,
Please don’t abandon us! We need your insights on a wide variety of subjects.
Many years ago someone suggested I read the Bible as literature. I did, from beginning to end. I got a bit bogged down along the way somewhere in Leviticus or Numbers with all the ‘begets’, but there is plenty of wisdom and almost poetic beauty in the Bible. I have also read much of the Koran, Vedantic literature and Confucianism; not in the original languages of course. I’m not fluent in Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, Sanskrit or other Asian languages. I have also read the U. S. Constitution and the UN Charter. Fortunately those are shorter and in English.
When I was in college I had to write a research paper of my choice for another course although I was music major. I chose “Communism” and along with other sources plowed my way through Karl Marx’ “The Communist Manifesto”. (English translation, I don’t read German very well either.)
At the time, as now, there was lots of talk about “Communism” and “Socialism” as if they were the same. “Socialism” has been around forever in one form or another with sometimes, different names. But “Communism” is all in the methodology and implementation, using words like “VIOLENT overthrow and revolution” and “DICTATORSHIP of the proletariat”. Inflamatory words matter!
All of these written works have endured because people around the world believe in them; find comfort, consolation and a sense of community in them. Naturally, they are open to interpretation, which is why we have prophets, scholars, rabbis, priests, ministers, mullahs, ayatollahs, preachers, televangelists, and a Supreme Court to do it for us. I am not qualified to fill the shoes of any of the above, but that doesn’t stop me from spouting my biased opinions. With any of them, it is not so much the USE but the ABUSE of their positions of influence, for good or ill. THEY are supposed to be reasonably unbiased. (John Roberts, our current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed by Bush and approved with bi-partisanship?????)
Greytdog, you mentioned the conspiracy that’s making the United States the land of mediocracy. Good point! In the news there are reports of the closing of 50% of the public schools in Missouri. (Kansas City or St. Louis? I don’t remember which.) Here in Hawaii, ALL the public schools are furloughed on every Friday now to save money. (We have a Republican governor.) Everybody is busy pointing fingers of blame while the kids stay home. And then there is a famous high school in Virginia that is lagging way behind in achievement. Where is the United States in its education ranking with other developed countries around the world? “No Child Left Behind” is racing toward the bottom.
Whether by design or not, a naïve, uninformed or misinformed electorate is much easier to manipulate and control. I think we are well on our way to beyond mediocrity.
Has anybody looked at a chessboard lately? That ancient game was imported (stolen?) from India by the Muslims and brought to the Middle East, then to Europe and the Americas. Note the Pawns are out in front to protect the King and Queen, etc., since the Pawns are expendable. If there are religious or political leaders who are totally egocentric, they can become ruthless, even to the point of diabolical cruelty. Passivity on the part of the people becomes complicity. Human history has born that out time and time again.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 13, 2010
at 1:16 AM
Opppss.. That’s “sight” and “wear”. Sorry, I’ve been visiting with right wingers today. 😉
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By: Poolman on March 13, 2010
at 12:32 AM
You should study up on disinformation tactics. Be sure to look at the way the MSM focuses our attention, forming our beliefs. One of the best ways to hide the truth is in plain site. In this world where marketing is king, we are fat, dumb, and stupid. Now we can add angry, poor, and desperate to that list. That is where they want us. Heck, it’s even popular to where nose rings now days. And what was the purpose of those? Hmmmmm…
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By: Poolman on March 13, 2010
at 12:29 AM
Happy Weekend Everyone! Thanks for the compliments. Sure wish Helen would grace us with her wisdom and wit soon.
Ah yes, That famous “Let’s roll.” That was made from a GTE airphone. It was left off the hook after the famous line and it remained silent for well beyond the time of the crash. The FBI kept it secret for 3 days. There were at least ten calls originating from that plane. The most mysterious, and not included in the commission’s report is from Edward Felt. It was said to have come from the bathroom, where he locked himself in, but there are no airphones in the bathroom. Hmmmmm…
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By: Poolman on March 12, 2010
at 11:38 PM
I recall, how I felt after John F. Kennedy’s assassination, I just couldn’t believe some so insignificant as Lee Harvey Oswald murdered the most powerful man in the world, it just didn’t square with what was when my world view. Now I know, from personal experience, how much chance has to do with any particular outcome, life really is a crap shoot. If only one thing had been different, the end result could have, would have, should have been different; for many of us the uncertainty of life is hard to bear. Conspiracy theories, I think, save us from worrying so much about what we can’t predict and prepare for in advance.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 12, 2010
at 11:21 PM
Blessed be those who were able to stand up, fight, and take back control of Flight 93.
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By: gregorio on March 12, 2010
at 10:34 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and Whirled Peas,
In our local newspaper this morning there was a fine article by Gene Lyons, “GOP plays the Game for Donations”. Another example of the GOP shooting itself in the foot again.
Bruddah Peas, do you suppose you could find it for me and put it up here? I think everyone would enjoy it.
Aloha! 🙂
Sistah Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 12, 2010
at 9:29 PM
Passengers on the fourth plane rushed the cabin, because their loved ones told them on the phone about the twin towers, that is why they crashed in a field, those guys were heros. No telling how many lives they saved that day while laying down their own lives.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 12, 2010
at 9:20 PM
sorry read not red.
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By: Grandma Katie on March 12, 2010
at 8:27 PM
Hi Greytdog – glad to see you. We’ve missed you.
Now in our area, we’ve had a bank robberry and an in home invasion in a week. When he brandished a gun at the teller, a customer tackled him He ran out of ammoand was reaching for anoother weaton when two more customers also tackled him until coooops arrived.
SEcond incident. In h ome invasion. 7 year boy grabbed his younger sister and fled into a bathroom, locked theselves in and called 911 for h elp. Meanwhile the invaders were threatening the parents.
Now the point of thiis is:
I have been puzzled how a whole plane load of people could meekly sit there and not someone try something. Makes semse if there was really no one there doesn’t it?
Back to my book. FDA: FAilure DEceptionAbuse.
No farther than I have red, there should be quiite a few up on criminal charges.
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By: Grandma Katie on March 12, 2010
at 8:26 PM
Greytdog, I was just thinking about you this morning, how are you doing? I’ve missed your comments. And you hit the nail on the head with this one IMO.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 12, 2010
at 3:47 PM
The only conspiracy theory worth studying,IMO, is the conspiracy that is making 21st Century United States the land of mediocrity
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By: Greytdog on March 12, 2010
at 11:24 AM
Good morning all,
Yes we can! I can feel it, it’s with our grasp! Keep the faith!!!
Poolman, I always enjoy someone/thing that makes me pause and think… Thank you for doing that…
namaste
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By: lori on March 12, 2010
at 11:00 AM
And now, a word from Harry Reid
Reid, In Letter To McConnell, Outlines The Path Forward On Health Reform
http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=323016
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By: palinshutup on March 12, 2010
at 5:08 AM
I’d like to leave 9-11 conspiracy theories on the back burner forever, but after hearing Colbert’s guest tonight, I have to say, the best reason not to believe this particular conspiracy theory is, to do so, it means acknowledging the George W. Bush administration as the most competent administration in the history of our nation. Nope, I can’t go there!
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 11, 2010
at 11:57 PM
Poolman,
I have always appreciated your level-headedness in all your posts. The theories you speak of should prompt many of us to question our government more.
I also appreciate your compassion–it shows by the Biblical verses you put forth here.
I just finished teaching my students about the Declaration of Independence. Three days of lessons and a quiz tomorrow. We went from the Magna Carta to John Locke to Thomas Jefferson. I told them the Magna Carta was like the “great great great great great grandpa” of the Declaration of Independence.
I have been trying to impress upon them the idea that when masses are unhappy with the government–anything can happen. But cool heads must prevail.
That flushing the leadership and instituting a new form of government is not something to be taken lightly.
Anyhooo,
Just wanted to say many of the things you post and point us toward make us think. And that’s a good thing.
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By: vgmanΔ on March 11, 2010
at 10:49 PM
Helen, Margaret, we’d love to hear from you. Are you and yours doing okay?
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By: Shash on March 11, 2010
at 8:49 PM
no one’s puppetΔ, if you research those phone calls, you will find much controversy. Phone experts say the technology was not developed until 2006 to use personal cell phones on an airplane traveling the altitudes and speeds these planes were flying. Recordings are supposed to exist of the calls, but none have been released to the public. What happened to flight 93?
Anyhow, I appreciate your concern. Not to worry, I am the same person. My mom and stepdad don’t want to believe our government could do any harm to its citizens, so they (Fox viewers) don’t believe any of the conspiracy theories.
For everyone’s sake, I will turn down the volume on the nine eleven stuff. I usually only go there when provoked or invited. This thread is long and way past its original theme, so I did not see it as a problem. It is just hard to believe more people don’t question our government in light of all that has been revealed. I would like to see more people think for themselves and not just accept what the MSM has to offer. If that were the case, we probably would not have gotten this far down this road.
I have gotten busy with the swimming pool stuff, so I will probably be online less. I’m sure there are those that will appreciate that. 😉
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By: Poolman on March 11, 2010
at 6:38 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and gregorio,
gregario, half-hearted and conditional apology accepted, half-heartedly and conditionally.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 11, 2010
at 2:18 PM
I couldn’t wait to see how Jon Stewart handled Eric Massa on Glenn Beck. I wasn’t disappointed.
Sour Gropes
“The show wasn’t a total waste of time — Glen got a new sign-off phrase!”
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 11, 2010
at 12:07 PM
So in essence what you are saying is on the fourth flight, that crashed in Pennsylvania , the passengers who called their families lied to them in their final moments. Poolman, I really don’t care if you persist in this delusional thought, we aren’t actually even acquainted, but I do recall your earliest posts, you struck me as a rational human being, and I’ve notice a change, not just this thing you have about 9-11, but also your Biblical quotes. It is as if you are not even the same person. If your family is saying things to you, and you’ve suggested they might be worried about you and your obsessions, please listen to them. I realize the economic turn down has effected your business, income, and home life, and quite frankly I am worried for you.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 11, 2010
at 11:29 AM
The planes could have been remotely controlled. That is old technology. And more accurate than live pilots. And there are many co-conspirators. They HAVE been naming names. Oh, and follow the money. There are a lot of leads when you follow the money.
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By: Poolman on March 11, 2010
at 10:47 AM
In the case of each plane, someone flew the plane into the buildings, and the passengers took on another pilot. Poolman, historians land detectives must look at all the evidence, before they form a conclusion. If you were correct, there had to be hundreds co-conspirators, why isn’t one of them hawking a book, naming names? Very few people can keep quiet about something like that, and when there is money to be made, even fewer.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 11, 2010
at 10:33 AM
Fluxux, I agree. Both sides are guilty. I would just like to see those on both sides that are guilty of crimes brought to trial. No death wishes, only justice and appropriate punishment. We do not apply the same laws to the elite as we do to the general population.
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By: Poolman on March 11, 2010
at 9:33 AM
no one’s puppetΔ, it isn’t proved anyone committed suicide, since many of the supposed hijackers are still alive.
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By: Poolman on March 11, 2010
at 9:25 AM
I’m seeing a radicalization among liberals as well, even on this site. Thank goodness Margaret and Helen retain their good sense and humor.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 11, 2010
at 9:24 AM
Victim in fatal car accident
tragically not Glenn Beck
😉 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 11, 2010
at 9:22 AM
“Wishing two people dead just because you do not agree with them. One thing I do not like about Repub talk show host and the likes of you are the hate they spread.” –reader
I agree with your first sentence, reader. And I leave you with a few quotes to ponder which puts both ‘sides’ together in the same ugly jar.
“When we see crazy, senseless deaths like this, we can only ask why, why, why couldn’t it have been Glenn Beck?” –Bill Maher
“For hypocrisy, for sheer gall, Gingrich should be hanged.” –columnist Richard Cohen in an op-ed which appeared, amongst other places, in the December 21 Washington Post
[Caption under footage of George W. Bush]: Snipers Wanted –Talk Show Host Craig Kilborn
“And then there’s Rumsfeld who said of Iraq “We have our good days and our bad days.” We should put this S.O.B. up against a wall and say ‘This is one of our bad days’ and pull the trigger.” –Members of the St. Petersburg Democratic Club
“[I]f there is retributive justice [Sen. Jesse Helms] will get AIDS from a transfusion, or one of his grandchildren will get it.” –PBS’s Nina Totenberg
“I hope his wife feeds him lots of eggs and butter and he dies early like many black men do, of heart disease.” –USA Today’s Julianne Malveaux about Justice Clarence Thomas
“[I]f we were in other countries, we would all right now, all of us together, all of us together would go down to Washington and we would stone Henry Hyde to death! We would stone him to death! [crowd cheers] Wait! Shut up! Shut up! No shut up! I’m not finished. We would stone Henry Hyde to death and we would go to their homes and we’d kill their wives and their children. We would kill their families.” –Alec Baldwin
“You know, do I hope that those people die screaming of rectal cancer? Yeah, you know, but I’m not going to spend a lot of energy on it.” –Sean Penn on people who criticize or are cynical of his efforts to bring relief to the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
“O Lord, give Dick Cheney’s Heart, Our Sacred Secret Weapon, the strength to try one more time! For greater love hath no heart than that it lay down its life to rid the planet of its Number One Human Tumor.” –Huffington Post blogger Tony Hendra
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By: Fluxux on March 11, 2010
at 8:38 AM
So who do you think volunteed to commit suicide for George W Bush?
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 11, 2010
at 8:31 AM
Sure, it’s more feasible to believe we never saw it coming. 4 hijacked airliners in the air for over an hour and no military intercepts. No eyes in the skies or satelites keeping watch over our land. We were just caught with our pants down. Taking a snooze. Intelligence out to lunch. Box-cutters and our own airplanes used against us. Wow. Who would have ever thought of that? Oh wait. We worked up a similar scenerio years ago. Hmmmmm. Amazing how that just follows a script. What a coincidence! And look how lucky Osama was. Blessed by his god! It was just WAY more than he could have ever dreamed. (He was SO taken back in the conveniently found fuzzy video that he became ambidextrous, obviously recanting his earlier denial of involvement and warning of a government within a government.) Obviously he is/was a conspiracy theorist.
“Well,” say our leaders. We might as well capitalize on it! Go back to consuming, America. That’s what “they” are against. “They” hate our “freedoms.” Capitalism WILL win! We’ll show them our might! Go out and shop! We will route out these terrorists, if we have to go to the ends of the earth, so help us god! Go team America! Good against evil.
No bodies or dna proof. No black boxes. No surveillance videos. First time in history planes crashing into the ground don’t leave any sizable parts. Pesonal cell phones amazingly starting working from high altitudes years before that technology was available. All the gathered evidence is still classified or has been destroyed. Crime scene was cleared out and materials recycled. Witnesses and whistleblowers mysteriously dying or being threatened. A lot of damaging corporate corruption evidence (including all of Enron’s files) were destroyed. A lot of gold stored in basements of the WTC unaccounted for. Asbestos problem alleviated. Oh darn! We forgot to warn the first responders and recovery crews. Oh well. Maybe they’ll be okay.
Rich people made a KILLING off of the event. “Wise” stock trading and insurance investments paid off big time. Government got more control. Sounds like quite a lucky break, eh? It could happen. Sure. Oh, and those magical numbers: 9-1-1. I’m sure those muslims are into numerology. Yeah. That’s the ticket.
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By: Poolman on March 11, 2010
at 3:09 AM
The spin began from the very beginning. Listen to these “experts” read from their prepared scripts. And still these are the ONLY 3 steel framed buildings in all of history to collapse from fire or plane impacts. Hmmmmm…
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By: Poolman on March 11, 2010
at 12:58 AM
And a totally intact passport from one of the hijackers found in the street near WTC. Just coincidence? How convenient is that?
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By: Poolman on March 11, 2010
at 12:42 AM
In addition:
nearly 2,800 victims
fewer than 300 whole bodies found
fewer than 1,600 victims identified
over 1,100 victims remain unidentified
over 800 victims identified by DNA alone
nearly 20,000 pieces of bodies found
over 6,000 pieces small enough to fit in test-tubes
over 200 pieces matched to single person
nearly 10,000 unidentified pieces frozen for future analysis
Same source.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 11, 2010
at 12:18 AM
And that surprises you? “The aircraft impacts and fires in all probability would not have destroyed a single body beyond positive identification. Nor have building collapses ever been known to destroy human remains beyond recognition. However, the buildings were destroyed in a manner that converted most of their non-metallic contents to homogeneous dust, including the bodies. This destruction of the bodies assured that no exact determination could ever be made regarding who was piloting the jets at impact, and the condition of the people on board.” from: 9-11research.com
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 11, 2010
at 12:15 AM
None of the hijackers are among the identified autopsies. It is that simple. 😀
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By: Poolman on March 10, 2010
at 11:51 PM
I don’t think anyone in our goverment, past, present, or future, could convince 19 hijackers to commit suicide; for me it’s that simple.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 10, 2010
at 11:10 PM
And Kennedy was killed in a moving car by 3 shots from a lone shooter with a WW II bolt action Italian rifle firing from six floors up.
I revise my “never will”.
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By: gregorio on March 10, 2010
at 10:49 PM
“First let me state that I’m not in the 911 conspiracy camp. Never was..never will.” – gregorio
The 19 hijackers and Osama IS a conspiracy – not proven, so therefore a conspiracy. The “never was” is okay. The “never will” is telling. I can only say there are a few things in my life that fit that “never will” category. The rest I have an open mind about and with proper illumination, I could be persuaded to form a new opinion.
But that is okay. There are many that can’t believe anyone in our government is capable of such atrocities. Many in my family will not even consider it. And that is what they (those that commit such acts) count on.
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By: Poolman on March 10, 2010
at 9:11 PM
Malaise – that was a pretty awful comment you left. Wishing two people dead just because you do not agree with them. One thing I do not like about Repub talk show host and the likes of you are the hate they spread. But on the other hand they profess to be the saviours of our nation. Only the Repub. can solve thes problems. They seem to think they are more Christian than Christ himself. If you are a Christian you do not read the same Christian Bible I read.
While I listen to campaigns I often hear the people (who are trying to replace the incumbent) saying I know how to win this war, fix health care, make jobs, whatever the going things is (unfortunately now it is all of the above). My question is if you know how why don’t you share PLEASE and just stop the suffering going on now. NO we have to wait until you get elected – but what if you don’t -ryou will keep you ideas a secret. Gather up all your toys and go home. That is real patriotic and shows love your country. Don’t get me wrong that goes for both Dems. and Repubs.
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By: reader on March 10, 2010
at 8:07 PM
I took note of our “troll du jour’s” condescending “Hey, darlin’”. I became immune to that sort of thing many, many years ago.
Jean,Mam.
Thats how I normally address most women.
The “darling ” comment came about fitting for a John Wayne address as if you had wanted to be addressed by the Wayne himself. Thats why I used that.
It was not meant for me to personally demean you. Had I wanted to, I would have used a little stronger and straight forward message.
I do not see you as a threat and you have not denigrated me. You are an intelligent woman who at times gets a little on a one track train ride though.
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By: gregorio on March 10, 2010
at 5:48 PM
Poolman.
First let me state that I’m not in the 911 conspiracy camp. Never was..never will.
I sat through both interviews last night and then today read the lengthy interview concerning these two young mens conviction that 911 was an orchestrated event.
First the interviews were both long and tedious. The same questions kept coming up with some of the same responses concerning this or that about 911, the question whether they are in one camp of believers or another. From what I gather the “true” 911 Believers club don’t even l;ike these guys. Why, I don’t know. They seem to be perfect children of the corn.
They did keep challenging the ABC news guy as to his line of questioning ..thinking that he was trying to set them up. I saw that as a ruse being used by them to deflect questions.
And , OK, so your right about them not getting any financial rewards for their endeavors. But they are sure gathering a lot of attention and from the looks of it are always ready for an interview. Thats called publicity.
As for a recurring theme concerning Bush sitting stone faced after being informed about the 911 attack. Their contention is that he sat there and continued to read because the Secret Service “knew” he would not be in any danger there.
I don’t believe he continued to read. I would have liked to see the faces and reactions of Roosevelt about Pearl..or LBJ when informed about Kennedy. I’m sure they had to sit there and soak up what had just happened. To think that U.S. officials from start of training of the pilots to letting them board to letting them knowingly fly into three buildings killing thousands could be kept secret from so many who would have to have been involved is absolutely ludicrous.
That would have involved the FAA,Air Force Command,American Airlines, United Airlines,
The city of New York, the Port Authority security
and the numerous other military and Intelligence communities. To have that many involved and no one talks or gives evidence..HARD evidence that the U.S. orchestrated a combined 4 aircraft attack just to initiate a war…well that just cannot be in my little world.
The U.S. and the Bushes went to war before in 91..did’nt need a catastrophe then. By this thinking the Spanish trains were blown up by their government, and the English busses by their government as well.
Nope. I cannot go there. I’m pretty sure that
98% of those who lost loved ones and or friends saw the airliners crash. That some fought back and lost their lives trying to wrestle control back
lends me to believe that these aircraft were not guided by some higher authority. Such as a remote control with some Central Intelligence agency rouge agent working in a large coalition type of government guise of going to war for oil or just for the hell of it.
AS for WMD’s. of course thats a sticky issue.
We know know there were none. We do know that Sadam had used them before. That is a known fact. Why then would it not be reasonable to assume that he had more buried in the desert.
Why would you use your whole arsenal of WMD’s on some small tribal groups in the north and not leave yourself some for future occasions?
I’m not a warrior. But I would think that having those in your back pocket for use or negotiation would be a good idea to keep around.
By the way. When the next large scale attack occurs who we going to invade? And if it happens on Obama’s watch will he get the same grilling?
Hell, I’m all for mining the southern border.
Now if ya want to start a dialogue on this blog try that one on for size. It sure would stop a lot of the druggies and the illegals from pouring across the border. But then to be fair we would have to do the same with Canada.
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By: gregorio on March 10, 2010
at 5:33 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and jsri,
In retrospect, us Old Timers can reflect on how we should have studied more and frolicked less. But it sure was fun! I sometimes get alarmed at the tendency of some to whine and groan rather than take chances and see how they turn out. Sometimes good, but also sometimes hair-raising not so good. But we learn from the not-so-good experiences, laugh at them and move on.
I was born in September 1929. The Great Depression began in October. My family used to joke about how I was born and brought on the depression! My, how my parent and everybody else scrambled and worked, worked, worked. My folks could stretch a dollar until it screamed for mercy! They were certainly the generation of innovation. Thanks to them, our generation had it pretty soft by comparison.
jsri,we have much in common, our spouses and our families. I see great hope for our future, blessed with such kids and grandkids as we are. It’s in good hands.
We are off to the big cities of Kapaa and Lihue today for shopping and stuff. It’s a whopping 30 miles so we pack a lunch. We will be going out to dinner though.
Carry on everyone.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
P.S. I agree with you about reproducing ourselves out of existence. Bring on the condoms for everyone – worldwide!
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 10, 2010
at 5:04 PM
Have these two old anti-American trash liberals (pardon the redundancy) done the world a favor and fallen over dead yet? And if so, the rest of you should follow their lead. Or at least the lead of Abby Hoffman who finally did the right thing and died of lead posioning.
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By: malaise on March 10, 2010
at 4:54 PM
Whirled Peas Δ on March 10, 2010
at 3:31 PM
Re: STUFF
There is no question about the clarity and power of the presentation but the one thing they fail to address is the increasing number of consumers. We are rapidly populating ourselves out of existence. And it is not simply a US characteristic. It is a world-wide phenomenon based more on current religious principles than on culture. And at the present time, there is no region of the earth left where resident populations are out of communication with the rest of the world so it is mostly a natural reaction by people who want to have what every one else in the world has. I don’t see how to end this cycle.
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By: jsri on March 10, 2010
at 4:06 PM
Jean:
Actually, it’s been a great ride. Even though it is mostly in retrospect. It’s how one reviews life that is most important. I look back at some of the insane experiences I’ve had and see an enormous amount of humor in them. They might have been puzzling or even scary at times but I opt to let the funny parts stick with me. It’s good for my mental health. If I focused on the negatives I’d be a basket case by now.
And, like you, I married well. I can’t begin to describe the superlatives that I could assign to my wife. Whatever successes I’ve had in my life I can ascribe to her unyielding support. I could write a book about her.
Down through the years my wife and I have shared some memorable experiences, great friends, and traveled to some interesting places. Though most of our relatives have gone before us, our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons are well positioned to continue doing as well and have the same sense of family that we have been blessed with.
To be quite frank, the early years, during the great depression, were miserable, sometimes mind numbing but the resilience of children is well known and we survived. That is why I am often puzzled by the great hostility shown by some contributors who show up on this site. While they piss and moan about how unfair life has been to them, they know little of what they are complaining about.
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By: jsri on March 10, 2010
at 3:31 PM
Annie Leonard on Stephen Colbert.
Watch The Story of Stuff
Well done and easily understood. Perfect for wingnuts.
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 10, 2010
at 3:31 PM
Hi Congenial gang and jsri,
Ah yes, tales of our misspent youth and the close calls we encountered! Wasn’t it grand?
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 10, 2010
at 1:28 PM
Great story, jsri! Ahh, the good old days, when without any sense of irony, it was accepted that the only people who could purchase birth control are those who were actually in a “social position” to start a family.
That makes almost as much sense as she-who-must-not-be-named’s abstinance only policy with her unruly brood! With the same results.
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By: Imaginista on March 10, 2010
at 11:57 AM
Poolman on March 9, 2010 at 3:51 PM
Hilarious, but too close to home.
In 1947 I was in the Navy stationed at Alameda NAS, across the bay from San Francisco. I met a young girl Janie who lived in the Taraval District and we were having a great time getting to know one another. Her father was a buyer at Roos Bros a department store in SF. He wore double breasted pin striped suits and looked like actor Adolphe Menjou. Her mother was a hard eyed redhead, hair dyed to the color of Cherry Jello.
Dates with Janie usually involved a movie and a meal followed by a trip to her home where we listened to music on the radio and danced around the pool table her father had set up in the basement recreation room. On our date nights her parents would retreat to the upstairs living room and leave us alone.
After a while passion started to enter into our relationship and I began looking at the pool table and thinking about other uses for it. So one Saturday evening I got off the streetcar, several blocks from Janie’s home and stopped in a local drugstore to buy some Trojans. But the druggist wouldn’t sell them unless I could prove I was married and it was pretty clear I wasn’t. So as I was on the verge of convincing him of my need I heard someone call me by name and as I turned around, standing behind me were Janie’s parents.
The druggist probably read the panic in my eyes as I tried to wave off my intended purchase so when I asked for a pack of Chesterfields instead of the Trojans, it was pretty clear that Janie’s parents saw the little package before he hid it under the counter. I paid the quarter for the cigarettes and fled the scene.
Later that night, Janie’s father decided he needed to get in some pool table practice and I finally left before he did. It was the last time I saw Janie. I got the Dear John letter at mail call later that week.
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By: jsri on March 10, 2010
at 10:57 AM
lori, you are right about the election fraud and the criminal acts of Rove and Bush. Just look what happened to their computer guruMichael Connell just before he was to testify about the fraud.
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By: Poolman on March 10, 2010
at 9:05 AM
Good morning all,
Reader, while Nixon’s burglary was indeed a criminal act, in my opinion, it can’t even come close to the corruption that engineered the entire national election of 2000. There is NO doubt that the boys Bush bribed the FL Secretary of State to stop the counting. Her payoff was a Congressional seat and a shot at a Senate seat. I don’t think we have seen the last of Katheryn, she knows where the bodies are burried.
And while we are at it let’s not forget when ole Karl Rove broke into a campaign headquarters, as a youth, and stole the candidates letter head and forged 1000 invitations to a campaign event in an effort to embarrass and humiliate the opponent. He started his criminal career at a young age.
Bush’s entire administration are nothing but white collar criminals who committed acts of treason against our country.
No, even though Nixon was a paranoid crook, he looks like a mischievous frat boy compared to the repubs of today.
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By: lori on March 10, 2010
at 4:39 AM
Poolman, I so appreciate you and your humor!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on March 9, 2010
at 9:24 PM
Have we found the core of the issue?
Miss you all. Haven’t had time to be here much.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on March 9, 2010
at 9:21 PM
Poolman & jsri thanks for the chuckles 🙂
reader, I would like the answers as well, Im afraid we probably wont get them.
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By: palinshutup on March 9, 2010
at 9:02 PM
Thanks for the laughs jrsi and Poolman! Needed the laughs tonight, had a rotten day.
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By: Easier on March 9, 2010
at 8:40 PM
After watching the video posted here on 9/11 and reading most of the interview — my main thought is if no bodies were found where are all these people now? And as things happen — watched “Deep Throat” on TV the other night (movie about Watergate with Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) I had forgotten how high up the chain that little scam went – not to mention the Pres. etc but the justice department???? I am now wondering what the Republicans here have to say about that time and Nixon and his term in office??? Seems they have forgotten how much damage he did to our “system” of govenment. Then it makes you wonder if the Bush administration could have pulled this (9/11) off. What say you Republicans about Nixon and Watergate. I think that was when we the people really began to distrust our govenment and the goings on in Washington.
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By: reader on March 9, 2010
at 7:46 PM
Auntie Jean: as the saying goes, you can’t fix stupid.
That stuff is right up there with Limbaugh’s latest “joke” about how Paterson will finally get a “Massa.” Sadly, the people who are so limted as to find that funny or to think the “hey darlin'” is appropriate won’t and don’t want to change.
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By: Donna on March 9, 2010
at 7:15 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, jsri and Poolman,
You two guys are on a roll. Loved, loved, loved both of your offerings! I thought the puns were very ‘punny’.
I took note of our “troll du jour’s” condescending “Hey, darlin’”. I became immune to that sort of thing many, many years ago. Just consider the source. However, there are plenty of women who have to put up with that BS – or worse – on a daily basis, especially in the workplace from their ‘superiors’. The women have little choice.
Once we get Health Care and the nuclear questions taken care of, perhaps we could do Sexism next. Sigh. So many issues, so little time.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 9, 2010
at 5:17 PM
Thank you for the late afternoon chuckles, jsri and Poolman!
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By: Imaginista on March 9, 2010
at 4:59 PM
FIRST TIME SEX
A girl asks her boyfriend to come over Friday night to meet and have a dinner with her parents. Since this is such a big event, the girl announces to her boyfriend that after dinner, she would like to go out and make love for the first time.
The boy is ecstatic, but he has never had sex before, so he takes a trip to the pharmacist to get some condoms. He tells the pharmacist it’s his first
time and the pharmacist helps the boy for about an hour. He tells the boy everything there is to know about condoms and sex. At the register, the
pharmacist asks the boy how many condoms he’d like to buy, a 3-pack, 10-pack, or family pack. The boy insists on the family pack because he thinks he will be rather busy, it being his first time and all.
That night, the boy shows up at the girl’s parents house and meets his girlfriend at the door. ‘Oh, I’m so excited for you to meet my parents, come
on in!’
The boy goes inside and is taken to the dinner table where the girl’s parents are seated. The boy quickly offers to say grace and bows his head. A minute passes, and the boy is still deep in prayer, with his head down. 10 minutes pass, and still no movement from the boy.
Finally, after 20 minutes with his head down, the girlfriend leans over and whispers to the boyfriend, ‘I had no idea you were this religious.’ The boy turns, and whispers back, ‘I had no idea your father was a pharmacist.’ 😀
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By: Poolman on March 9, 2010
at 3:51 PM
Tired of trolls? It’s bad pun day at the zoo!!! Grad 3 level.
1. The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.
7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, ‘You stay here; I’ll go on a head.’
14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: ‘Keep off the grass.’
16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, ‘No change yet.’
17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
19. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
20. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
21.. A backward poet writes inverse.
22. In democracy it’s your vote that counts. In feudalism it’s your count that votes.
23. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
24. Don’t join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!
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By: jsri on March 9, 2010
at 11:51 AM
Here is a great program on the job losses and why the losses occurred
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/292412-6
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By: JuneauJoe on March 8, 2010
at 10:14 PM
Imaginista – good post. My finger is getting tired with all the scrolling.
I am on a soapbox now about the FDA an d Big Pharma and all the crookedness. Hopefully tomorrow I will have the link ready to post.
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By: Grandma Katie on March 8, 2010
at 8:43 PM
Poolman,
Thanks for your patience..
I will get back to you on that question
and my feelings regarding such.
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By: gregorio on March 8, 2010
at 7:16 PM
gregorio, I apologize for assuming you did not watch the videos. Your response indicated you had no knowledge of what they were about. I am curious as to what agenda you state that the video makers have from seeing their interview.
I have read many of Matt Taibbi’s articles in Rolling Stone. Much of the time I agree with his position, but certainly not in this case. He has been a vocal opponent of the nine eleven truth movement, and that only makes me question HIS motives and agenda. But, neither here nor there. Here is an interesting exchange between him and one of the main proponents of the truth movement. I actually think DRG’s debating skills are much better than Matt’s are after reading this exchange.
The Ultimate 9/11 ‘Truth’ Showdown: David Ray Griffin vs. Matt Taibbi
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By: Poolman on March 8, 2010
at 6:02 PM
Poolman,
I watched the movie clips.
I got the fact that the guy was a vet.
I also saw they had an agenda.
I just don’t agree with it.
And as an aside, and not to you Poolman,
but some people would not know a troll if it rose up and bit them in their “STFU” asses.
So…
Shak Li Batahat
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By: gregorio on March 8, 2010
at 5:02 PM
Easier, that is the point. I’d be delighted to leave the guy alone. But the Repubs keep bringing him up. “He’s our guy. The Ideal. The candidate from Heaven. The pinnacle of world leadership. If you put us back in the majority, we’ll give you more just like him. It’ll be the 80s all over again. We promise”.
Then, when you point out exactly what ‘exactly like him’ would be and what ‘the 80’s all over again’ would be like, referring to actual documented events – they get all pissy.
The last line from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”. As a final cynical punctuation to a great movie about myth versus reality, it’s a great line. But nobody in their right mind, including John Ford, could think that it’s a good idea to adopt it as a way of life.
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By: judith on March 8, 2010
at 4:19 PM
Imaginista, you crack me up! 8-))
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By: Judy on March 8, 2010
at 3:37 PM
Personally I just wish the troll who shall not be named but his name rhymes with Fegwhorepeeblow would just STFU and go be a pest on somebody else’s website.
Now look what I did. Fed a feckin’ troll. Meh.
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By: Imaginista on March 8, 2010
at 2:13 PM
gregorio if you had actually watched the videos you would be informed that the 2 guys who did the video are not capitalizing on it. One is an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran who is now attending college. The other is a small time film maker that does music videos primarily. They have no interest in a book deal or fame from it. As a matter of fact, they have receive constant death threats since posting the video online. It is provided free and many millions have viewed it to date.
But then it is easier to pigeon hole these issues and folks in your own mind and paint them all as fame seekers and profiteers. Maybe speaking out for justice is worth the death threats and humiliation they encounter. All we want is an unbiased investigation. We haven’t gotten that yet.
I know with me, I must try to inform as many people as I can. I certainly have no way of benefitting from it. It even puts me and my family at greater risk. Hopefully I will not follow the way of Paul Wellstone, William Cooper, Clifford Baxter, John P. O’Neill, Katherine Smith, John Mike Spann, Barry Jennings, Chandra Levy, Dr. David Kelly, Bruce Ivins, Beverly Eckert, Ahmad Shah Massoud, Col. James Sabow, Rik Clay, Bob Stevens, Kurt Sonnenfeld, etc…
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By: Poolman on March 8, 2010
at 12:37 PM
Judith, I agree with you on President Reagan. Though dead, he is still being referred to, when the right wants us to look back at the good old days. Just like it has been reported and acknowledged, the republicans know how to sell and sell they do. We should take a page out of their book. Tip my hat off to the bunch. But I doubt we ever will achieve their mastery of the art of deceit, that is our problem.
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By: Easier on March 8, 2010
at 12:25 PM
Greytdog,
In short:
1. In Bosnia the missile went exactly where it was told to do by military intelligence at the time.
2. In Grenada the military did not have time to ask Fidel for grid maps. Thus no coordinates were used.
3. Grenada was successful.
4. And your problem is?
And finally..
5. If Americans believe every wing nut theory or person trying to get their 5 minutes of fame or book deal about 911, then we will need many more mental hospitals as evidenced by last weeks misguided soul who tried to shoot his way into the Pentagon.
Finally, quoting Wikipedia:
“Journalist Matt Taibbi, in his book The Great Derangement, discusses 9/11 conspiracy theories as symptomatic of what he calls the “derangement” of American society; a disconnection from reality due to widespread “disgust with our political system”.
Drawing a parallel with the Charismatic movement, he argues that both “chose to battle bugbears that were completely idiotic, fanciful, and imaginary,” instead of taking control of their own lives.”
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By: gregorio on March 8, 2010
at 11:40 AM
Yes the Military has a better GPS – it worked so well it guided a missile into the Chinese Embassy during our incursion into Bosnia. And remember the grand invasion of Grenada?Military GPS was working so well that several soldiers had to call home and get folks to google directions for them . . . yayy! american technology rules the win!
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By: Greytdog on March 8, 2010
at 10:08 AM
Poolman:
Way to go! I admire your tenacity and your research. You save many of us tons of time in your ability to ferret out the real essence of the neocon’s arguments. Keep up the good work.
I’m just sorry I don’t have enough time to follow up on a lot of the stuff presented here but I am impressed, – with the exception of the incoherent trolls, – by the intelligence of the contributors here. If I ever decided to start my own university I know where I’d start looking for some good teachers.
Jean:
Don’t you love the patronizing expression “Hey darlin’. Makes you want to sit up and pay attention to the rest of the message. doesn’t it.
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By: jsri on March 8, 2010
at 10:05 AM
gregorio, the military and intelligence community have plenty of secrets that they keep from us. They all forgot who they are supposed to be representing and protecting. If you have a mind to consider one of their most heinous crimes, check out this video: Loose Change Then you can check the video here where ABC News decided to drop by and interview the film makers at the Treason in America Conference on 3/6/2010.
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By: Poolman on March 8, 2010
at 12:48 AM
Jean,
Reagan here.
Hey darlin.
The military can shoot a beam within 3 feet of where
your standing right now.
By the way..they the military industrial complex are not going to let you have their version of the GPS.
They have a much better one. Or should I say their encryption is much better at finding you.. than you will have in finding the beach.
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By: gregorio on March 7, 2010
at 11:57 PM
I don’t want to demonize Reagan, but I think it’s fair to remember what he did and how he behaved in office. That’s not an ad hominem attack.
There are aspects of just about any President that I’m not going to like. It’s a complicated job, usually held by complicated people. But the neo-cons have created a myth of Reagan in order to try to gain power again. And it is a myth, there’s no truth in it.
More history – scroll or cover your ears, if you’re not into it. Before the Wall came down, Gorbachev was working to open the Soviet Union to the West. Not because he was a good guy (not hardly), but because he knew it was close to collapse. Their military-industrial complex had overspent them into complete economic disaster and Gorbachev didn’t want the end to come on his watch. Still, this was an incredibly unpopular thing for him to do, and he was spending just about all of his political capital to pull it off.
So what does Reagan’s handlers have him do? Make this speech to prod and humiliate Gorby on the world stage. Worst possible timing. Diplomatic experts were holding their breaths, expecting Gorby to just say “Aw, the hell with it” and go back to business as usual. It’s a wonder he didn’t.
Note – if a bear is already moving in the direction you want hm to, Don’t Poke Him! The Soviet Union and the Wall were both coming down anyway, and all the experts knew it. But that particular bit of theater could easily have kept the Wall up longer and could certainly have ensured that the collapse of the Soviet Union be a lot more violent than it actually was.
If Reagan hadn’t been the spokesmodel for the neo-cons, I might even have liked him. But spokesmodel was what he was – Smile pleasantly, read the scripted lines and jokes, look good and make sure everybody is looking right where you want them to and nowhere else.
If Vanna White was working for the neo-cons, I wouldn’t like her either. But at least I wouldn’t expect her to be sorting jellybeans by color while a Cabinet meeting went on around her.
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By: judith on March 7, 2010
at 11:13 PM
SACRAMENTO—Anti-gay California state Sen. Roy Ashburn today demanded a sweeping recall of the vehicle that drove him to a gay nightclub last week. 😀
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama today threw down a new gauntlet in the battle over health care reform, telling his Republican opponents, “Here’s the deal: I will quit smoking if you will quit being dicks.”
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By: Poolman on March 7, 2010
at 9:42 PM
I read in a book several years ago that when some one gets an idea for a product — they should see it all the way through its life. Meaning from idea to production, to marketing, to where it goes when everyone is finished with it or it is replaced by a new bigger better whatever. If they can’t answer the last part and it really doesn’t improve life the idea is shelved until they can answer what happens when the item becomes “trash”. Sounded like a good idea to me.
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By: reader on March 7, 2010
at 9:17 PM
President Reagan was born in 1911, there is no point to demonize him for being a twenty-century man, and he was old and set in his ways, than there is for the Right to fear a bi-racial or Black President. I increasingly think both camps are stuck in their biases and we need to meet halfway, we shouldn’t to be enemies, we should be Americans. That doesn’t mean I don’t think President Obama shouldn’t hire Michael Moore, or someone of that type, to kick ass and take names, I do, strength is all that those Republican politicians understand and respect. Put the fear of God in them, so they quit going home and lying to their constituents. I still recall, Helen wanted to start a Purple Party, she must be tired of this craziness as much as I am.
And I love my GPS, wouldn’t be without it.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 7, 2010
at 8:12 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, jsri and Grandma Katie,
Donna Quixote here, (well, maybe Dulcinea), dreaming the “Impossible Dream” that man’s invention can be for its PROGRESS and benefit, not its destruction. Stuff like creative, peaceful PROGRESSIVE and helpful uses. jsri, your explanation of some of the myriad uses for the GPS proves the point. I’m all for the GPS!!! I use the inter-net everyday and no doubt am on the receiving end of innumerable uses that I’ve never heard of specifically. That’s the beauty of M&H’s blog! We share info that otherwise we wouldn’t even know to think about.
We can all agree that the uses for the GPS are legion. (No, for sure we don’t need a GPS to get around our itty-bitty island, although with Old Timers like us, you never know when we might get lost! I have all I can handle with my Gee Whiz! Electronic piano, the computer and cell phone.) But I am happy for those around the world who do need the GPS.)
What’s my point? I said I would wrap this up next time. I’m working on it! Sheesh! Gimme a break! It takes time.
Grandma Katie, remember when we talked about setting a trap for trolls? Our ‘troll du jour’ walked right into this one. I started out on purpose, by stepping on the tail of his sacred cow, Reagan, and that got his dander up. So he did plenty of research for me! He proceeded to enumerate all the PEACEFUL uses of the GPS, and didn’t come up with a SINGLE ONE for military purposes of destruction. I’m thinking maybe he is a closet liberal/progressive. If he hangs around this blog long enough, he may have to come out.
Yes, I also stated that the military invented the GPS and launched it in FEB. 1978. But they tried to keep it classified under wraps and selfishly restrict its use. They wouldn’t even share with their European allies. But Europe came up with their “Galileo” in Dec. 2005, 27 years later. Russia already had her “Glonos”. (It reminds me of the Health Care ‘debate’. All members of Congress have comfortable coverage but SOME don’t want to share with the rest of the American mortals.)
As long as we are giving credit where credit is due, the Chinese had rockets centuries ago. One needs a somewhat more advanced and sophisticated rocket to get any satellite, GPS, or otherwise up there. I hope the Chinese aren’t all bent out of shape because the rest of the world ‘borrowed’ their idea of rockets.)
I hope this clarifies my point of view. Let the games begin!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 7, 2010
at 7:44 PM
Even Rove knew there were no WMD’s in Iraq!
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/chris-matthews-and-his-panel-leave-out-med
Bush and Cheney were just looking for a reason to attack Iraq!!! Lies got us into Iraq. A trillion or so later…. the war goes on.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 7, 2010
at 5:31 PM
“The trolls never deal with the whole post – a straw man is way easier to knock down. Too bad the rest of us can read.”
And just what did the trolls miss..pray tell?
Space junk
Military spending
public aviation
right to life
free health care?
Where are you going with your harangues Jean?
yada yada……..
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By: gregorio on March 7, 2010
at 5:00 PM
The new Republican line: People are unemployed because they want to be…. (they are serious too)
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/tom-delay-people-are-unemployed-becau
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By: JuneauJoe on March 7, 2010
at 4:47 PM
Sorry if it was a bad link. Trudy Rubin a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer has written a very good article – “Worldview: Lessons can be learned from European health systems.” It’s a real myth-buster and confirms that providing health care should not be a profit-making enterprise. The insurance companies are calling all the shots and we need to wake up and fight back.
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By: Hollyberry on March 7, 2010
at 4:06 PM
Ok Margaret and Helen, we miss you, hope you’re well, and are anxiously awaiting another post.
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By: Dawn on March 7, 2010
at 4:04 PM
So true, judith. It is like I am reading a whole different post compared to what they read. I often have to go back and read the post they are griping about to try to see it from their perspective. So, along with poor spelling and grammar, must come less than accurate comprehension, I suppose.
FYI, I clicked on Hollyberry’s link and my antivirus software told me I had just encountered a trojan horse.
We are having a rainy day here in Arizona. We already have gotten more rain this year than all of last year. A few more inches and we will have our annual quota. The desert is soon to become an oasis. It is unusual to see water in the riverbeds here.
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By: Poolman on March 7, 2010
at 2:50 PM
Hey, JeanΔ ¥ – Don’t you just love it when they bypass 50% of your post? The part where you say what good has come of something? Apparently the only part they read or understood was the part where you pointed out that this good hasn’t come without cost.
The ‘problem’ is that they don’t address this cost, acknowledge that it even exists, or plan to do the tiniest little thing about it. (Also, given their way, we wouldn’t have non-military access to any of it. Happily for us, they weren’t given their way, but you can bet they put up a fight about it).
One more time……It’s not an either/or, black/white, binary thing. Nobody’s saying we have to do away with GPS, we just have to develop and implement it like responsible adults.
Imagine if the only way we felt we could have indoor plumbing was if raw sewage was allowed to flow and pool willy-nilly through our water supply. We’d be having a wonderful, lively discussion whether it was worth the cost. Instead, we deal with it – imagine that.
The trolls never deal with the whole post – a straw man is way easier to knock down. Too bad the rest of us can read.
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By: judith on March 7, 2010
at 2:34 PM
Well this one is just too funny. Turns out that the Palin racing team is sponsored by raving socialist Hugo Chavez’s Mystik Lube.
I’m not making this up. She’s appearing at the Iditarod home page with the snowmobile blazoned with the logo’s.
Here is one of the stories about it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/the-palins-socialist-snow_b_488015.html
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By: mary on March 7, 2010
at 2:18 PM
Jean:
And your problem is?
Jean, if you need a GPS to get around your little island, I’d say you have a problem.
But where I live in the Northeast, GPS is a handy tool. Since most of the routes and roadways here were laid out by cows and sheep being driven home from the common grazing grounds, getting lost is almost a guarantee. Tack that onto a traffic stream where speed limits are for all practical purposes optional and texting and talking on cell phones while driving is considered an art and you’ll find that driving here can be a form of antacid hell.
But GPS is in the process of revolutionizing aviation navigation, perhaps its most important function. I wish it had been around when I used to fly. Imagine making an instrument approach to landing in severe turbulence, interpreting your position using a dozen gauges, some analog, others digital while trying to keep the wheels side down. It is a mind bending exercise in spatial relationships.
But with GPS and the soon to be WAAS system, following your progress on a moving map in the cockpit is a breeze. In fact, it is as accurate as the old ILS system, perhaps even more so. It is accurate to within a 3 meter range vertically and two meters horizontally. Theoretically you can almost drive it down to the runway but as a retired Delta Captain told me who had flown a Category III B approach, which is practically zero-zero, you don’t want to do it routinely. You can’t see where you are going on the ground.
But it’s okay if you follow your quixotic pursuit. After all, I believe there was a real concern on the last shuttle mission about space junk and its possible effect on the Hubble telescope. Just closing ones eyes and wishing it away doesn’t work.
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By: jsri on March 7, 2010
at 2:13 PM
Have you been hit by space junk Jean?
You and Don Quixote have way too much in common.
Good God Jean..You pick the most inane items to be a poster child for. And I would probably bet your little tsunami wave was tracked by GPS..and your problem is ?
GPS has become a mainstay of transportation systems worldwide, providing navigation for aviation, ground, and maritime operations.
Disaster relief and emergency services depend upon GPS for location and timing capabilities in their life-saving missions. The accurate timing that GPS provides facilitates everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even the control of power grids.
Farmers, surveyors, geologists and countless others perform their work more efficiently, safely, economically, and accurately using the free and open GPS signals.
The GPS system was developed to meet military needs, but new ways to use its capabilities in everyday life are continually being found. As you have read, the system has been used in aircraft and ships, but there are many other ways to benefit from GPS. .
GPS is helping to save lives and property across the nation. In 2002, it enabled rescuers to drill a shaft to free trapped miners in Somerset PA. Many police, fire, and emergency medical-service units use GPS receivers to determine the police car, fire truck, or ambulance nearest to an emergency, enabling the quickest possible response in life-or-death situations. GPS-equipped aircraft can quickly plot the perimeter of a forest fire so fire supervisors can produce updated maps in the field and send firefighters safely to key hot spots.
Mapping, construction, and surveying companies use GPS extensively. During construction of the tunnel under the English Channel, British and French crews started digging from opposite ends: one from Dover, England, and one from Calais, France. They relied on GPS receivers outside the tunnel to check their positions along the way and to make sure they met exactly in the middle. Otherwise, the tunnel might have been crooked. GPS allows mine operators to navigate mining equipment safely, even when visibility is obscured.
Vehicle tracking is one of the fastest-growing GPS applications today. GPS-equipped fleet vehicles, public transportation systems, delivery trucks, and courier services use receivers to monitor their locations at all times for both efficiency and driver safety.
GPS-equipped balloons monitor holes in the ozone layer over the polar regions as well as air quality across the nation. Buoys tracking major oil spills transmit data using GPS to guide cleanup operations.
So Jean, your problem is?
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By: gregorio on March 7, 2010
at 11:36 AM
The 24/7 hate fest: A commentary
http://hisvorpal.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/i-am-touched-by-your-concern/
Right wing: They love to hate
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By: JuneauJoe on March 7, 2010
at 8:54 AM
Read and weep:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/trudy_rubin/20100228_Worldview__Lessons_can_be_learned_from_European_health_systems.html
Any doubt as to who’s calling the shots here?
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By: Hollyberry on March 7, 2010
at 6:40 AM
“FAST” Coming to an Airport near YOU!
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By: Poolman on March 7, 2010
at 12:42 AM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Here’s my third installment on American Imperialism. We are coming down the home stretch on this subject for now.
Ronald Reagan has almost been deified by the Republicans: Naming an airport after him, etc. The last I heard was they wanted to place his picture on the $50.00 bill????? What’s next? A Monument in D.C. taller than Washington’s? We all remember how dramatically he ALONE pulled down the Berlin Wall, defeated Russian Communism and set the “Star Wars” Missile Defense System in motion. Talk about revisionist history! Don’t they know that there were plenty of historians around the world researching and writing too?
The conservatives are all for spending enormous amounts of money on science and technology for the destructive capabilities of war then turn around and either viciously attack or ridicule anything about such ‘notions’ as Global Warming and Climate Change.
I have already talked about the (1.) “Boost Phase” and (3.) the “Terminal Phase” of the Missile Defense System. A great deal of time and money have been put into the (2.) “Mid-Course Phase”, known as the “Ground-based Mid-Course Defense System (GMD). The GMD involves a vast array of spy satellites and radar systems in order to detect and go get the incoming ‘enemy’ missiles.
The U.S. military invented the “Ground Positioning System” (GPS) and launched the first GPS satellites in February 1978. This is probably the greatest advance in navigation since the compass and sextant. The costs and maintenance of aging satellites amount to roughly $400 million a year including replacement costs. The satellites cannot be repaired so wind up as space junk.
The military was initially very selfish about the GPS and tried to restrict its use. But the Russians already had a version called “Glonas”, (Global Navigation System. The Russians beat us into space with their “Sputnik”.) European countries followed suit, developing “Galileo” and launched their first GPS December 28, 2005. Now, everybody has some form of GPS, both military and civilian.
In addition to locating any spot on Earth within a few meters, the GPS is very useful when you get lost and don’t have a map. There are innumerable peaceful uses as well for weather, communications, etc. One of our very favorite countries, Thailand, has a Medical University that used GPS to track bird migrations in order to help predict Avian Flu outbreaks. Another use is by farmers to determine the optimal time to use fertilizers on their crops, thus saving time and money as well as reducing the environmentally damaging results of nitrogen and phosphate runoffs into water resources. The utilities of GPS systems are legion.
Now, here is the biggest glitch of all. As usual, wherever humans go they always leave a bunch of trash and garbage. Space is being littered with debris, everything from nuts and bolts and stuff the size of a baseball to frozen sewage. It is very cold up there. And it is getting pretty crowded too! Whizzing around in the low Earth orbits (LEO) at some 17,500 mph, each one can become a lethal missile. Ultimately, some of the larger pieces, such as spent satellites, are sent to a graveyard way, way, way out into outer space – forever. Further, no military in the history of mankind has ever been renowned for being tidy! (It’s sort of like a bunch of messy little kids whose mothers have to run around cleaning up after them. I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with improper potty training.)
The military blithely ignores this notion of space debris with, “It will all drop back into Earth’s atmosphere and be burned up and obliterated during reentry.” Doesn’t happen.
Published by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, “The Orbital Debris Quarterly News” tries to catalogue the debris and report on the number of near misses or collisions that occur in the LEO almost on a daily basis.
Next time, and the last, I PROMISE, I’ll wrap this up.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 6, 2010
at 8:31 PM
I feel nothing, but pity for trolls, I suspect, people cross the street in real life to avoid them, their families left them long ago, if they aren’t as disturbed as them, they think they rattle our cages a lot more than they actually do, speaking for myself anyway. My concern is for the people who are being hurt now through no fault of their own, and I am going find fault with anyone who isn’t doing their best to relieve their burden. And that includes President Obama, I want him to kick butt and take names, time for action. In the immortal words of Bill Maher, “they’re just not that into you Barry.” I mean no disrespect to our President, but results are what count, and if trolls want to expose their ignorance, their fears, and all their other crap for the world to see, that’s their problem not mine. My concerns are healthcare for all, better schools….
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 6, 2010
at 8:07 PM
“Oh Ashur, the rod expressing my anger! The club in their hands is my fury! I am sending him against a hypocritical nation, ordering him to march against a people who enrage me, to take the spoil and the plunder and trample them down like mud in the street. (Isaiah 10:5-6)
For all you into symbolism. 😉
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By: Poolman on March 6, 2010
at 6:43 PM
Bunch of freaking hypocrites! Talk about dumb ass!
‘It’s no good for a family values Republican to get picked up on a DUI. But substantially worse to get picked up for a DUI after leaving a gay nightclub with an unidentified man in a state vehicle.’
RUH ROH!
‘Roy Ashburn ARRESTED: Anti-Gay State Sen. Got DUI After Leaving Gay Nightclub’
here’s another link
Entering the Larry Craig Pantheon
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/03/entering_the_larry_craig_pantheon.php#more?ref=fpblgfierce
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By: palinshutup on March 6, 2010
at 5:45 PM
palinshutup–I am in hysterics!!! That is truly wonderful.
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By: Donna on March 6, 2010
at 5:13 PM
Here here Jean!
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By: palinshutup on March 6, 2010
at 4:37 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
“…….Darkness feeds on apathy….and convictions are our most potent antidote.”
After 8 years of Bush, Inc. darkness, I no longer see any apathy here on this blog!!! I see plenty of passion and conviction. Let’s keep up speaking out, loud and clear.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 6, 2010
at 4:07 PM
Thanks for Avatars, I know exactly who I want to read and which troll I can scroll past.
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By: palinshutup on March 6, 2010
at 3:37 PM
Dawn, the clip on presidents past and present was a hoot!
Auntie Jean, let me join jsri by saying you are too kind to a certain genre of people that crash this site and spew views that are contrary to the spirit of this blog and insulting to our hosts.
I do agree with Michael Moore. The republicans are relentless, whether spewing half-truths and untruths and spreading outright lies. And repeat them enough, they start to sound like truths. “Heart bleeding” liberals are usually too tame in comparison. The fire that got President Obama elected could not sustain the relentless assault and seems to have gone, since his team is not responding to this assaults. That relentlessness is what usually wins republicans the vote of a gullible populace. Even a Bush presidency could not get us to think about what got us in two wars and on the brink of collapse. We are once again pining for the good old days.. Well, whatever will happen will happen. Let us all run like sheep to the abyss. All I know is “love thy neighbor like yourself” is not espoused by the church going right, usually of the republican persuasion, unless the neighbor looks exactly like them. That is repulsive and not Christ-like. Hypocrites, that is what they are!
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By: Easier on March 6, 2010
at 3:32 PM
David DeGraw appeared on the Keiser Report to discuss his new book, “The Economic Elite Vs. The People of the USA.” DeGraw: “The American public needs to understand that we have been attacked. We are in an economic war right now and all economic indicators say that things are going to get worse….”
Keiser Report – Markets! Finance! Scandal!
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By: Poolman on March 6, 2010
at 3:28 PM
bwaahaaa!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/04/roy-ashburn-arrested-anti_n_485419.html
THE SHEEPLE HAVE SPOKEN!!!!!!!!! HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABOMINATION!!!! YES!!! PSSST MEET ME IN THE TOILET!!!!!
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By: palinshutup on March 6, 2010
at 2:49 PM
Jesri,
A little levity for my Liberal Friends.
I’m sure most of you remember Hollywood Squares.
I think you do.
Q. Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde: Loneliness!
(The audience laughed so long and so hard it took up almost 15 minutes of the show!)
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
Q. If you’re going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Q. You’ve been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That’s what’s been keeping me awake.
Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he’s married?
A.. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency..
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say ‘I Love You’?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty..
Q. What are ‘Do It,’ ‘I Can Help,’ and ‘I Can’t Get Enough’?
A.. George Gobel: I don’t know, but it’s coming from the next apartment.
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I’ll give you a gesture you’ll never forget.
Q. Paul, why do Hell’s Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
Q. Charley, you’ve just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A.. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I’m too busy growing strawberries.
Q. In bowling, what’s a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I’m always safe in the bedroom.
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
Q.. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn’t neglected.
Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I’ll lend him the car, the rest is up to him
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh
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By: gregorio on March 6, 2010
at 2:19 PM
JeanΔ ¥ on March 6, 2010 at 1:15 AM
You are too kind to trolls. I have yet to see any benefit in their reckless and breathless harangues. If disruption is their only aim, they are successful. If their goal is to educate, they are hopeless failures. For the life of me I don’t know why they come on this site. What do they gain from it? So far I see them as nothing more than schoolhouse bullies and should be heaped with the disdain they deserve.
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By: jsri on March 6, 2010
at 10:52 AM
Who is jamming what down our throats!
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/just-who-jamming-whom-health-care-deb
Republicans have been jamming policies and wars down our throats for years.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 6, 2010
at 10:44 AM
Some of us are closer than others. Make sure you have your living will, advanced care alternatives and do not resuscitate orders updated and distributed to all concerned
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By: jsri on March 6, 2010
at 10:42 AM
Last Tuesday’s Frontline on PBS:
The Suicide Tourist
.
Very well done and something we all need to address.
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 6, 2010
at 9:49 AM
President Obama’s
Weekly Address 3/06/10
Immediate Benefits of Health Reform
PEACE ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 6, 2010
at 8:48 AM
A house made of beer bottles.
http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/03/05/innovative-building-idea-of-the-week-houses-made-from-beer-bottles/
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By: JuneauJoe on March 6, 2010
at 7:52 AM
I just want President Obama to dance with them who brought him to the Whitehouse.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 6, 2010
at 1:54 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and no one’s puppet,
Love the Michael Moore piece!!! Love it! Love it!
Love it!
Participating in this blog for the past year or more has given me insights into the thinking and feelings of people from all over the country, occasionally, from all over the world too. This is an experience I would not have had otherwise. There is no way of knowing just how representative any of us are of all the age groups and walks of life in the various states.
I am quoting from Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol,” p 410. (The book is quite a melodrama but does have some gems of wisdom.)
“I know you and I don’t agree on much but I want to thank you. Your passion is an important catalyst in the coming changes. Darkness feeds on apathy….and convictions are our most potent antidote.”
Even some of the ‘trolls’ serve this purpose, not so much in revealing ‘answers’ but in raising more and more questions to ponder. It’s human nature to lash out and even become angry about points of view we do not understand. That’s fine. Just as long as it stops with words, whichever ones we chose to use. Sometimes rather, ahem, colorful words.
Ever since Adam and Eve there has been a dynamic between those who want to create and those who want to tear down. (The GOP party of “No?”) The conflicts continue. I’m all for trying to create something better and I think we’re working on it.
YES, WE CAN!
Aloha 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 6, 2010
at 1:15 AM
This describes how I feel about the current situation to a tee, most Presidents have to make adjustments after the end of the first year, and this sounds like a great way to make a new start.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/president-obama-replace-rahm-me-open-letter-michael-moore
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 5, 2010
at 11:52 PM
Happy Friday everyone! 😎 Dawn, that was a funny video! LMAO! Those guys do a great job.
I hope Helen comes up with a new word for us soon. Maybe Margaret can lead in. That would be fun.
Meanwhile…. I was catching up on Colbert Nation and found this gem:
Republicans and Democrats are like a husband and wife fighting over whether to have a health care bill baby. 😀
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By: Poolman on March 5, 2010
at 8:54 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and jsri,
I’m glad you got your new ears. My husband is adjusting to his new ones too. I haven’t noticed much difference yet except that he is fiddling with them more than the old ones. I’m sure they feel different. These replacement human body parts can be a challenge for us – hearing aids, glasses, teeth, hip, stents, etc., but hey, they keep us going!
I enjoyed your link to the doc. Sounds very much like our internist. It is remarkable that a 12 year-old-look-alike can graduate from med school, be married and have growing children! He is sharp as a tack. He keeps us together with scotch tape and rubber bands.
I don’t know anything about his finances or lifestyle, but I seriously doubt if he is getting rich. Still, he has a waiting room full of people who love him and need him. That must give him an honorable purpose in life.
We hobbled in to see him this week. We always go in together for our every 4 months’ visit. It saves us repeats of, “I said, he said.” He is always astonished that my blood chemistry is that of a 16 year-old. (Good genes! I chose my ancestors wisely.) I wish I could say the same for my joints and spine though.
Thank God for Medicare and good supplemental insurance! I don’t know where we would be without them. Well, yes, I do. Dead.
Every American should have such coverage and peace of mind. Let’s hope it happens and soon.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 5, 2010
at 8:30 PM
Just another instance of how terrible of a person sarah failin is
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/03/palin-at-oscar-gift-suite_n_485101.html
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By: Angie on March 5, 2010
at 7:42 PM
I got a chuckle out of this. Current and former SNL cast reprising their roles as president.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f5a57185bd/funny-or-die-s-presidential-reunion
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By: Dawn on March 5, 2010
at 3:09 PM
W, as in George W. Unfortunately, I had those same sentiments during the Bush administration.
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By: Dawn on March 5, 2010
at 3:05 PM
Dawn,
I have no idea if he was referring to me or someone else.
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By: gregorio on March 5, 2010
at 2:30 PM
Hi Jean:
Got new ears last week. So far, not overly impressed but still working at it.
BTW when my health began to unravel about 30 years ago, the only physician I could get an appointment with was a recent grad from med school just opening her practice. She turned out to be an absolute gem but after we moved away from that area she recommended a friend here who turned out to be just as good. I am reminded of this by a recent blog I came across that shows medicine from the inside out. This blogging doc could be an incarnation of either of mine. I just wish all could share in this but such people are hard to find because working at this level is not a financial bonanza for the practitioners. Check the link. This is good stuff.
http://55wordsfromanmd.blogspot.com/
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By: jsri on March 5, 2010
at 1:58 PM
JuneauJoe,
Under Reagan federal revenues tripled thanks to the true tax reform that he brought us. Unfortunately, the Congress (controlled by Democrats) increased spending to five times the previous level. Spending bills originate in the House of Representatives, not the White House.
Clinton had a Republican controlled Congress that kept spending under control.
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By: happyconservative on March 5, 2010
at 1:34 PM
Gregorio,
Are you sure that poster wasn’t talking about W?
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By: Dawn on March 5, 2010
at 11:48 AM
Gregoryio,
Well said.
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By: happyconservative on March 5, 2010
at 7:33 AM
I hear Sarah Palin is shopping a reality show, I’m all for it and rather sure I’d watch.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 4, 2010
at 7:28 PM
I sure hope Margaret and Helen weren’t in some kind of Bobsledding accident or something….
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By: Madison on March 4, 2010
at 5:54 PM
dead on ladies…love it.
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By: erin on March 4, 2010
at 12:51 PM
Love it. Perfect.
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By: Devi on March 4, 2010
at 11:40 AM
Rachel Maddow on the lies of the Republicans.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/republicans-lie-about-use-reconciliation
The Republicans are sure a sorry lot.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 4, 2010
at 11:07 AM
An anonymous comment found appending an article on Reuters today:
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”
Auntie Jean..
As for democrat White’s chances of a win in Texas…
Slim and none.
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By: gregorio on March 4, 2010
at 10:22 AM
Mrs Ted Nancy, your post was excellent but should have been addressed to “happyconservative” as it was he who stated his opinions in a manner that should have promoted discussion.
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By: Raji on March 4, 2010
at 7:47 AM
Raji, you hit the nail on the head. Revisionist history and Bible thumping are also extreme efforts to choose only reading matterals and facts, that support one’s own bias,
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 4, 2010
at 7:10 AM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Here’s a followup on tsunamis in general. NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is under the Department of Commerce of the U. S. Government. (Another one of those massive taxpayer-paid-for-socialist things.)
Here in Hawaii, it monitors and maintains a large number of buoys surrounding all the islands. These buoys measure the height of wave activity, including the changing tides. It is routinely included in the local news along with the weather reports. Sport, recreational and commercial fishermen find it very useful. And of course surfers always check, looking for where the best waves are going to be. We are used to seeing the broadcasts all the time.
NOAA has been around for a long time and is our first line of defense to alert us on tsunamis. In the 20 years we have been here, there have been quite a few ‘tsunami watches’ as a result of earthquakes in Alaska and the Pacific Basin. Several times these were elevated to ‘tsunami warnings’ of fairly short duration.
When the tragic tsunami hit Banda Aceh, Indonesia in 2004, that country had no such system in place, thus the people were not warned. I don’t know if Chile has any similar system.
I thought this might be of interest to those of you who live in land-locked states that have no need for this kind of warnings. Say Idaho or Kentucky. Those are lovely states and very nice people live there. We have visited them a few times but only during the summer. I have absolutely NO knowledge of their usual weather patterns so am in no position to make any value judgments whatsoever.
However, I sure am glad that Hawaii has our NOAA system in place and is working 24/7!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 4, 2010
at 1:41 AM
Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the end of the world has come. These people left our churches because they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left us, it proved that they do not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and falsehood. (1 John 2: 15-21)
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By: Poolman on March 4, 2010
at 12:23 AM
Woe to those who enact unjust decrees and draft oppressive legislation to deprive the impoverished of justice and rob my people’s poor of their rights, looting widows and preying on orphans! What will you do on the day of punishment, when calamity comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth, so as not to squat among the prisoners or fall among the slain? Even after all this, his anger remains, his upraised hand still threatens. “Oh Ashur, the rod expressing my anger! The club in their hands is my fury! I am sending him against a hypocritical nation, ordering him to march against a people who enrage me, to take the spoil and the plunder and trample them down like mud in the street. (Isaiah 10:1-6)
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By: Poolman on March 4, 2010
at 12:07 AM
Dear Helen,
We miss you!!!
I hope you will get a chance to fill us in on the inside info of the Texas primary. I was surprised that Rick Perry won by such a large edge over Kay Bailey Hutchison. She is a nationally known figure and generally fairly well respected.
I know nothing about Bill White except that I heard he had been the mayor of Houston. What are his and the Democratic prospects in November?
Aloha! 🙂
Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 3, 2010
at 10:30 PM
“Not surprisingly, countless Americans are now realizing that the greatest threat to their life, liberty and property is their government.”
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By: Poolman on March 3, 2010
at 10:12 PM
“All I care about is the end game and my revenge.” – James.
The concept of revenge entered the world through Cain, if you believe the biblical account. Cain was the demon seed, if you go beyond the superficial bible story that has been allowed to exist. Revenge isn’t honorable. And believing the end justifies the means, is all too common among people in our country today. Look at the hypocrites we call our leaders. “Do as I say, not as I do.” “Laws and rules are for the common folk, not those in charge.” We cry about unborn fetuses as if they hold greater value than a living, breathing person. We withhold support and compassion for the breathing among us that are weak, or poor, or alien, or outcast.
Both concepts are adverse to Christianity. But then most that claim to be Christian are clueless as to what that actually looks like, let alone entails. It is a life of accountability. It isn’t meant to merely be a label, rather a lifestyle of commitment.
Americans have created a brand of “christian lite” that fits with our society. It is blended with patriotism and tradition. Hard-core Christianity doesn’t sit well next to all our idols and gods of today. We are well-versed at justifying our actions and allegiances, emboldened with our fantasies of grandeur and entitlement. We beat our chests and tout our wisdom in a effort to prove how righteous we are.
We try to categorize some wars as righteous. We require a noble cause to justify the carnage that we wish and inflict on our enemies. Marketing gives us an image of that enemy, someone we can hate. Someone that doesn’t hold our values and sense of fair play. Someone that is different somehow. Someone that wants to destroy us and our lifestyle.
In most cases, war is a reaction to the perceived threat that we ourselves perpetrate. I posted a link to a video earlier in this thread to that point. However war is profitable to many that support and promote it. War and military actions have served to control populations and lands, allowing for the exploitation of people and resources for the benefit of a few far removed from the battlefield. War destroys lives on both sides, physically and psychologically. It is not reversible. You can only learn to tolerate the pain and live an outwardly normal life. On the inside, the carnage continues, upsetting the emotional balance in those lives. There are no real winners for those involved in war, though we have need of them. We try to paint the best face on war that we can, to maintain support for continuing it to a point where we can declare victory. Even a symbolic victory will do. So the ends justifies the means. We beat our proud chests and wave the flag covering our crimes.
True victory would be moving beyond war, but there is no effort to go there. No real monetary profit in that. War is big business. And we know how important business is.
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By: Poolman on March 3, 2010
at 9:40 PM
What no Bush comments Jeneau?
Cat got your tongue?
Still sticking to the script huh?
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By: gregorio on March 3, 2010
at 9:40 PM
Auntie Jean – Is this research getting interesting. Have been led down interesting paths through outside reading. Seems like every book I am reading gets into early England. Gives me more ideas to gogle. I may be at this project for a long time!!
But it is fun, interesting and keeping my nosy brain busy!!
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By: Grandma Katie on March 3, 2010
at 8:58 PM
Annonymous, I hear your pain in what you said – though there are things I don’t agree with. Though I was not one of those protestors – I do not to this day think they were protesting against the U.S. Military nor cheering for the enemy as you put it — they were protesting against the war. That is a big difference in my mind. I agree, when the Vets came home they did not treat you with respect. But remember – if you ever knew – (I am assuming from your post that you were in Viet Nam) what we were seeing on the news. The masacar at My Lai on March 16, l968.
http://www.rotten.com/library/history/war-crimes/my-lai-massacre/
That and the reports of our troops on drugs, getting high, etc. were all over the news. It rather turned the people against our troops. We didn’t think that our military people would do such things – we thought they were more honorable than that.
You bring up the Bush Kerry campaign — most of the talk about Viet Nam and Kerry’s service were brought up by the ‘swift boat’ folks. As I recall the Bush camp also bad mouthed McCains war story and made it sound like he was no hero this in support of a guy whose National Guard service was in question – It rather amazed me after that campaign and Bush won that McCain would talk to Bush let alone kiss him on the check to congratulate his win?????
And about surviving Pres Obama’s term(s) I predict we will – after all we survived 8 years of Bush’s which put us in two wars and pretty much
gave our country a bad name around the globe. To be fair to Bush I really blame most of that on Channey.
I would like to leave you with hope — this country has survived a lot worse than what ‘you’ think we have now. The next time you go vote just do not vote for any incumbents. Put all new faces in D.C. and lets try that for the next 16 years and see where that gets us. The peoples way of forcing term limits on the career politicans.
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By: reader on March 3, 2010
at 7:15 PM
Peas, your 11:58 post was hysterical! I giggled all day thinking of it. Thanks for the laugh.
It really made my day.
Maybe we need to repeat it?
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By: lori on March 3, 2010
at 7:06 PM
I was a token veteran telephone guest on NPR’s Science Friday, Talk of the Nation several years ago. A panel of psychologists discussed a mental health program to help returning Iraqi and Afghani veterans readjust after their adverse experiences. They believed I represented the type of veterans the program was designed to help.
I told my story, and one of the panelists called me a “perfect storm” of trauma and absence of support . The panel agreed the hostility much of the anti- war movement and some of the right inflicted on returning veterans worsened the effects of trauma they had survived.
I never forgot. I was so happy I couldn’t sleep the night Bush defeated Kerry and the rest of the vermin who had re- fought the Vietnam war during that campaign. I sat up alone in the darkness while my wife slept. The liberals, beat their chests in anger and sadness still wondering what had hit them. I gloated because I knew many were of the same age as the sixties protesters. Several days later, I finally forgave them, because I had my revenge.
Then came the Democratic performance during our current wars. Murtha described their strategy as a “slow bleed” to oppose the surge and retain the status quo to win political points in the next election.
The liberal acceptance of the human caused global warming scheme wasn’t much better. Alex Jones of the hockey stick chart admitted it was a fraud and that the world temperature hasn’t statistically changed much since 1995. The liberals, through cap and trade would inflict draconian income redistribution on the basis of a lie.
This board was fun until my novelty effect wore off.
I realized the way some (not all) of you treated people who disagreed was similar to what Congressional leaders and many news readers were doing. If you couldn’t refute an argument you resorted to personal attacks. It was also similar to how anti- war protesters treated people like me when we came home. I also realized many of you were old enough to have protested and rooted for the enemy. Maybe you’ve changed. I haven’t bothered to look.
On March 18, 1968, Bobby Kennedy said in a speech at Kansas State University, “If our colleges and universities do not breed men who riot, who rebel, who attack life with all their youthful vision and vigor then there is something wrong with our colleges. the more riots that come on college campuses the better the world for tomorrow.”
{Pinch} Arthur Sultzberger of the New York Times said during the sixties his father asked him how long he would protest the war. “If a young American soldier comes upon a young North Vietnamese soldier, which one do you want to get shot? ” “I would want to see the American shot.” Arthur recalled his father nearly hit him.
James Webb wrote for the American Enterprise Magazine in 1997 “George McGovern, more forth coming than most bluntly stated …” that the anti- war movement wanted the United States to lose.” He said on Crossfire “What you don’t understand is that I didn’t want us to win that war.”
“There is no greater testimony to the celebratory atmosphere that surrounded the Communist victory in Vietnam than the 1975 Academy Awards. The producers, Peter Davis and Bert Schneider jointly accepted the Oscar for Hearts and Minds, and Anti- American movie. Schheider was frank in his support of the Communists. As he stepped to the mike he commented that “It is ironic that we are here at a time just before Vietnam is about to be liberated.” Then, came on of the most stunning-if intentionally forgotten-moments in Hollywood history. As a struggling country many Americans had paid blood and tears to try to preserve was disappearing beneath a tank onslaught, Sheneider pulled out a telegram from our enemy, the Vietnamese Communist delegation in Paris and read aloud its congratulations to his film. Without hesitation Hollywood’s most powerful people rewarded Schneieder’s reading of the telegram with a standing ovation.”
I remember that night. I would have smashed the television if it would have done any good. I also promised myself I would stay alive long enough to watch the worm turn. That would be my revenge. George Bush provided the Karma, and now Obama, Pelosi, and others have done it again.
I have made predictions more accurate than many of yours. Therefore, I have more confidence in my assumptions than yours. I believe you won’t like what is coming, and I plan to visit from time to time watching as events unfold.
Call me a troll if you like, but I don’t know or care what you write about me. All I care about is the end game and my revenge.
Our country is fighting a peaceful civil war to the political death, and the outcome is uncertain.
As Bobby Kennedy said at Kansas University: “Our country is in danger; not just from foreign enemies: but above all from our own misguided policies-and what they can do to the nation that Thomas Jefferson once said was the last, great hope of mankind. There is a contest on not for the rule of America, but for the heart of America. In these next eight months we are going to decide what this country will stand for-and what kind of men we are.”
He raised his fist in the air to resemble the revolutionary symbol on posters hanging in student rooms that year and promised a “new America.”
“Time is a teacher
Oh, and its taught me well
The loser is the one who cries
And when you’ve cried like a baby
And you’ve hurt like hell
You know the devil
By the look in his eyes.”
Your turn is coming again.
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By: James on March 3, 2010
at 6:20 PM
This is the very best!!!!
The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.” — Author Unknown
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By: Anonymous on March 3, 2010
at 6:00 PM
Clinton left a 300 Billion dollar surplus.
Reagan tripled the national debt.
Results matter more than words.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 3, 2010
at 5:00 PM
JuneauJoe
Your never happy unless your singing the same song and second verse.
Don’t you know any other songs.
One track mind.
Try moving forward I’ll let ya by.
But by that same token and in the interest of Jokes that Jean likes to share..
here’s one…
I miss Bill Clinton,
“Yep, that’s right – I miss Bill Clinton! He was the closest thing we ever got to having a black man as President.
Number 1 – He played the sax.
Number 2 – He smoked weed.
Number 3 – He had his way with ugly white women.
Even now? Look at him; his wife works, and he doesn’t! And, he gets a check from the government every month.
Manufacturers announced today that they will be stocking America’s shelves this week with “Clinton Soup,” in honor of one of the nations’ distinguished men. It consists primarily of a weenie in hot water
Chrysler Corporation is adding a new car to its line to honor Bill Clinton. The Dodge Drafter will be built in Canada.
When asked what he thought about foreign affairs, Clinton replied, “I don’t know, I never had one.”
The Clinton revised judicial oath: “I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know.”
Clinton will be recorded in history as the only President to do Hanky Panky between the Bushes.”
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By: gregorio on March 3, 2010
at 3:56 PM
President Obama’s Health Care Plan
“At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem. The American people want to know if it’s still possible for Washington to look out for their interests and their future. They are waiting for us to act. They are waiting for us to lead. And as long as I hold this office, I intend to provide that leadership. I don’t know how this plays politically, but I know it’s right. And so I ask Congress to finish its work, and I look forward to signing this reform into law.”
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 3, 2010
at 2:53 PM
Whirled Peas Δ on March 3, 2010
at 10:54 AM
Love it.
BTW, could the clean sheet they ramble about in your earlier post about the GOP Plan really be toilet paper?
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By: jsri on March 3, 2010
at 12:10 PM
Raji,
On February 22, 2010, Sen. Brown from Ohio stated that the Senate health care bill included 160 republican amendments. That seems bipartisan to me.
Considering that from 2001-2008 congressional republicans did not allow democratic amendments. The republicans held meetings that did not even include democrats. Bills were given to democrats at the last minute so that there was no time to review them before a vote, etc.
It is the height of hubris for the republicans to complain about bipartisanship now.
Democrats do not think American people are idiots; they did not nominate a know-nothing Sarah Palin type to be the vice-president.
The Democrats do know something about economics. They know that if we keep going in the direction we are, our health care system will fall apart. Hospitals have already closed.
Employers are dropping insurance benefits for their employees or (if it is a large company) they’re self-insuring. In order to cut costs, healthy individuals are dropping insurance. People who have chronic illnesses keep their coverage, which costs more to insure, which insurance companies raise rates in order to make a profit. See Anthem Blue Cross in California raising some rates up to 39%.
Shoot, Adam Smith opposed any form of economic concentration on the ground that it distorts the market’s natural ability to establish a price that provides a fair return on labor and capital; to produce a satisfactory outcome for both buyers and sellers; and to optimally allocate society’s resources. Wow, that sounds like what Democrats have been saying.
Personally, I am not too worried about bipartisanship now. I want something to bring down the cost of health care. An operation to my remove a gall bladder cost $30,000.
And on a more personal note, I am tired of my brother in Canada boasting that the Canadian hospital didn’t send him a bill. It was already paid.
Finally, Helen, I hope that you are feeling better. I do worry.
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By: Mrs. Ted Nancy on March 3, 2010
at 11:26 AM
Hey jsri,
A better perspective from a step back.
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 3, 2010
at 10:54 AM
Whirled Peas Δ on March 2, 2010 at 11:31 PM
Re the GOP plan.
When they take a step back, one can only hope they are standing on the edge of a cliff.
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By: jsri on March 3, 2010
at 10:35 AM
We all could use a Moment of Zen:
Bob Beckel is The Silent Man
😉 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 3, 2010
at 9:35 AM
Arguing with a Wingnut
Discussion with a conservative Wingnut:
Wingnut: If you don’t like Palin then you’re a Kool-Aid drinking Obama-phile who has been conned by the ACORN controlled master manipulator who’s really a Marxist hell bent on destroying America. BTW, isn’t the Tea Party great and did you catch the latest episode of Glen Beck? He totally proved Global Climate Change is a HOAX because it snowed in the northeast last night.
You: Huh? All I said was I couldn’t take the recycling out last night because of the snowstorm.
Wingnut: Which proves there’s no such thing as global warming! And recycling is a Mao-ist plot to take away your freedom!
Reaction after dealing with a Wingnut:
Jon Stewart HELP ME!!!!! As you curl into a mental fetal position wondering why you ever went to college when the likes of Rush, Hannity, Beck and now Palin are making huge salaries for spewing absolute nonsense that your civics/speech/history professor rightly gave you an F for when you tried to pull such stuff off as actual analysis
Discussion with a liberal Wingnut:
Wingnut: happyconservative AKA self styled Louis XVI, George III, Nicholas II,
From your post of 03/01/10 at 9:19PM, I am presuming you would wish to return to the good old days of slavery, child labor, sweat shops and before women’s suffrage. Uh, those days have been gone and changed by Constitutional Amendments and the Rule of Law by The Majority as well as the Supreme Court for quite some time now. You don’t seem to be aware that slaves (considered to have been 4/5ths of a person each), women and children are “We the People” too!
You (Happy Conservative) What I said:The Democrats are, in their arrogant liberal way, are still trying to ram their version of “healthcare reform” down the throats of the American people. The so called summit on healthcare only proved the Democrat’s 1) unwillingness to embrace bipartisanship, 2) the arrogance of the President and his cronies in Congress, 3) the Democrats think the American people are idiots, and 4) the Democrats lack a basic understanding of economics or finance.
Reaction after dealing with a liberal Wingnut:
As far as I’m concerned, Jean, it’s one more example of liberal thuggery liberal hate speech.
Frankly I can’t see any difference in the two conversations, can you? Where is the discussion even if one disagrees? Don’t you see this type of discourse is what is occurring in our Congress? If We the People converse in this manner why are we surprised that members of Congress are doing the same.
Namaste`
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By: Raji on March 3, 2010
at 9:01 AM
Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to spend all our time refuting the flat out lies of the GOP? Don’t the actions of these Senators remind you of internet troll behavior?
.
Rachel Maddow to Obstructionist Republicans: “Grow Up”
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 3, 2010
at 9:00 AM
Happy Conservative–you are wrong in your apparent belief that, if you go to the ER, you will be treated. EMTALA requires only that you be stabilized–nothing more. Further, as someone else pointed out, the cost of ER care is staggering. Who do you think ends up paying it?
Apart from that, ERs don’t provide care such as chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis….the list goes on and on. They will treat trauma and they will stablize a patient with other problems. But that’s it. Not a fraction of the care that people truly need.
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By: Donna on March 3, 2010
at 6:52 AM
Hi Congenial Gang, jsri and farsight,
My husband just got his brand new mega bucks digital hearing aids. They are ‘Three Speed’ so will take some adjusting and getting used to. So far so good. Now we get to go a few rounds with the VA for re-imbursment.
Before I forget, I would like to, but I can’t take credit for writing the piece I posted last night to our ‘elite intellectual group’. We received that in an e mail. We have some rather weird and strange friends, but they are loveable!
I’ve gotta get off the computer and get caught up around here.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 3, 2010
at 12:26 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and Grandma Katie,
I just saw an interview with Paul M. Kennedy on PBS. He is at Yale University and is a British Historian. I Googled him. His most famous book is “The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers”, a rather old book, (1989) that has been translated into 23 languages. That’s a must read for me!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 3, 2010
at 12:14 AM
After going back and reading our not-as-happy-as-he-claims-to-be-wingut…
…I have one thing to say:
“What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent rant were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this blog is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
😉 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 2, 2010
at 11:58 PM
Ahhhh…transparency. We finally
get to see the GOP’s plan.
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 2, 2010
at 11:31 PM
HappyConservative
Just go to the emergency room for medical treatment? Surely you jest. St Jude’s is the exception, not the rule. Most hospitals are being strangled by emergency care costs.
And how come conservatives never point out the effectiveness of the most prominent example of a country with minimal federal government and no taxes? It is called Somalia in case you’ve forgotten. Perhaps you’d care to migrate there.
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By: jsri on March 2, 2010
at 9:38 PM
happyconservative, it isn’t government run health care. Government is the payer only. It seems that the right cannot grasp that concept. Medicare needs fixing, but not the government’s part entirely. There is grave corruption in the system the way it is. Private companies that determine what procedures will be paid and administered, including administering the care have abused the system and has not focused on wellness care. It needs to be overhauled. Are you aware of how much of our “government” is subbed out to private contractors? It isn’t just our military. It runs the full gamut of the government. So our “big” government would be much smaller if we got rid of those for profits.
If you haven’t read HR 676, you really are doing yourself a disservice. In a just land, it would be the law.
Our FAA is pretty good for government done well, for the most part. I do not think our government run defense is done well, or at least not efficient nor always in our best interest. But it is powerful, for sure. It ought to be, we spend a major chunk of every dollar, nearing half of our budget
on defense and defense related expenses.
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By: Poolman on March 2, 2010
at 9:16 PM
THIS. IS. COOL.
“And Then There Was Salsa”
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 2, 2010
at 8:26 PM
Hey, Poolman. Good to hear from you. Things are as good as they can, right now. I worry about my Dad, but I’m sure most people worry about their parents, too.
I think we all have a lot to rant about, these days. I’m not convinced that our problems are all the fault of corporate America, despite the malfeasance of a few. What about the failures in oversight by our government? Take the banks for example. Where were Chris Dodd and Barney Frank Lehman Brothers, AIG, and the rest were going overboard? Why didn’t our Congress change the lending laws (as they had the opportunity to do) before the big crisis occurred? As for the failures at GM and Chrysler, I think the power hungry labor unions were just as much to blame as the corporate execs. We won’t even talk about how badly the bankruptcies for those two companies were handled (that’s a whole blog post in itself).
I just don’t see big government as the answer. Aside from defense, name me one thing that government does well? They can’t even collect all the taxes that are due.
As for single payer Medicare, I’m not convinced about that, either. For example, Medicare reimbursements are going down, and so are the number of doctors who accept it. Imagine the implications for a government run healthcare system. The less doctors get paid, the fewer there will be. Granted, many people become doctors because they are altruistic. But, even the best among us will loose interest if they can’t make what they believe is a decent or fair living.
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By: happyconservative on March 2, 2010
at 8:17 PM
Aunt Jean,
Loved the jokes. As for your other post of March 2; No. The thing of it is, “We the People” aren’t denied treatment. Got to any emergency room in the country, and you will be treated. There are charitable organizations and hospitals that treat rare and deadly diseases regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. St. Jude’s is one. Thank God that we live in a country that is still prosperous enough and that we are generous enough as a people that we help each other in such a way.
It is the freedoms we have that make us prosperous enough that people can afford to be so generous. Overbearing government kills that prosperity and generousness.
Also, I can do without the condescending attitude. Louis XVI, really?!?! When people talk about liberal arrogance, that’s exactly what they’re talking about. That holier than thou attitude that you just expressed. If you disagree, then disagree. We can talk about it. How DARE you accuse me of longing for the days of slavery and oppression! As far as I’m concerned, Jean, it’s one more example of liberal thuggery liberal hate speech.
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By: happyconservative on March 2, 2010
at 8:04 PM
HappyConservative sure sounds sad to me.
How many unemployed people have you helped to make homeless today!! Sure to make you happy.
37 Million without health insurance… That will certainly make you happy and comfortable!!!
but let us start a new war in Iran!!!! Happy Happy!!
I feel sorry for you Happy!!!!
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By: JuneauJoe on March 2, 2010
at 7:54 PM
Auntie Jean, you’re a hoot.
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By: happyconservative on March 2, 2010
at 7:50 PM
Delurker Girl from 2/4/10
“I’ve always wondered where the reasonable conservative people hang out because the screechers and whack jobs drown them out. Sane conservatives must be unbelievably upset that their party has been essentially destroyed.”
There are a lot of us on the other side of the aisle who feel the same way about the Dems. The sad thing is that there we have a lot of common ground to start with.
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By: happyconservative on March 2, 2010
at 7:43 PM
Its funny how the government (congress) does absolutely nothing except contemplate there own belly button lint and yet the country and our lives go on…..maybe the government has become obsolete…
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By: girlvet on March 2, 2010
at 3:34 PM
Whirled Peas:
Did you know that trolls get exercise by pushing their luck and jumping to conclusions.
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By: jsri on March 2, 2010
at 11:04 AM
Hi Jean:
My dear wife gave me a book for my birthday that is a compendium of E A Poe’s works and as I reread The Murders In The Rue Morgue I found the perfect quote that describes the trolls on this site. It is the very last line from the story and it reads ” ‘de nier ce qui est, et d’expliquer ce qui n’est ” and its translation from the original French is “To deny what is and to explain what is not.”
Or to put it another way, ignore the facts just make up your own.
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By: jsri on March 2, 2010
at 10:57 AM
Fact checK: slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on March 2, 2010
at 9:38 AM
Wow! And the jokes just keep comin’! And they remind me of the ones my kids would tell at the dinner table!
Since we are talkin’ about things that are or were hysterically funny, I recently viewed the Health Care Summit on C-SPAN. There were several really funny and revealing moments: example, when the President agreed with McCain. The look on McCain’s face was priceless. McCain thought he had backed his presidential opponent to the wall and was amazed that there was no push back for him on that question with this President! He just wasn’t expecting the response he got. That’s pretty much the way it went with so many of the guys against health care reform, including boy genius Eric Cantor. It was obvious he was in over his head when he couldn’t figure out what the President was saying in plain English.
And as for a sample of what my kids considered funny, believe me, stick with pie!
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By: Mageen in Old Virginny on March 2, 2010
at 9:36 AM
I knew it. I just knew it:
He’s a wedgie! Δ
😉
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 2, 2010
at 9:13 AM
Juneau Joe-
here ya go! We’re in at about minute 15
http://shannynmoore.podbean.com/2010/02/28/22610-hour-1/
Helen and Margaret-
This all had it’s start here in your parlor..
We have made some small differences- hoping for more.
Thank you for having us all in…
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By: alaskapi on March 2, 2010
at 8:46 AM
Auntie Jean,
Those were wonderful. What a great way to start the day. Here, I’ve got a quick one for ya.
.
.
Riddle me this…what would you call a
midget psychic who just escaped from jail?
.
.
.
.
A small medium at large.
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on March 2, 2010
at 8:31 AM
Hi Congenial Gang,
This is for our history savvy group of elite intellectuals. Others may wish to scroll on by.
1. King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan.
Croesus said, “I’ll give you 100,000 dinars for it”.
“But I paid a million dinars for it,” the King protested. “Don’t you know who I am? I am the king!”
Croesus replied, “When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are.”
2. Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. Unfortunately, all the Swiss league records were destroyed in a fire, …and so we’ll never know for whom the Tells bowled.
3. A man rushed into a busy doctor’s office and shouted, “Doctor! I think I’m shrinking!” The doctor calmly responded, “Now, settle down. You’ll just have to be a little patient.”
4. A marine biologist developed a race of genetically engineered dolphins that could live forever if they were fed a steady diet of
seagulls. One day, his supply of the birds ran out so he had to go out and trap some more. On the way back, he spied two lions asleep on the road.
Afraid to wake them, he gingerly stepped over them. Immediately, he was arrested and charged with…transporting gulls across sedate lions for immortal porpoises.
5. Back in the 1800’s the Tate’s Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to produce other products, and since they already made the cases for watches, they used them to produce compasses. The new compasses were so bad that people often ended up in Canada or Mexico rather than California. This, of course, is the origin of the expression,…”He who has a Tate’s is lost!”
6. A thief broke into the local police station and stole all the toilets and urinals, leaving no clues. A spokesperson was quoted as saying, “We have absolutely nothing to go on.”
7. An Indian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the medicine man. After a brief examination, the medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk rawhide and gave it to the chief, telling him to bite off, chew, and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, “The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on.”
8. A famous Viking explorer returned home from a voyage and found his name missing from the town register. His wife insisted on complaining to the local civic official who apologized profusely saying, “I must have taken Leif off my census.”
9. There were three Indian squaws. One slept on a deer skin, one slept on an elk skin, and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin. All three became pregnant. The first two each had a baby boy. The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys. This just goes to prove that…the squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides.
10. A skeptical anthropologist was cataloging South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribal Brujo who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the Brujo looked him in the eye and said, “Let me tell you, with fronds like these, you don’t need enemas.”
Nighty-night all. Sweet dreams!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 2, 2010
at 1:12 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and jsri,
Yeah, you and your wife are definitely still newlyweds. You toast us on April 11 and we will toast you both on June 2. The beat still goes on doesn’t it.
You are up to your old tricks again with the ‘snipping’. Love it!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 2, 2010
at 12:51 AM
happyconservative AKA self styled Louis XVI, George III, Nicholas II,
From your post of 03/01/10 at 9:19PM, I am presuming you would wish to return to the good old days of slavery, child labor, sweat shops and before women’s suffrage. Uh, those days have been gone and changed by Constitutional Amendments and the Rule of Law by The Majority as well as the Supreme Court for quite some time now. You don’t seem to be aware that slaves (considered to have been 4/5ths of a person each), women and children are “We the People” too!
Do you live in the United States of America in 2010?
So what if “We the People” get sick, suffer and die because ‘We” cannot afford to have access to decent health care. What’s that got to do with the monarchy/corporate bottom line?
Never mind. You just sit there and count your money.
Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on March 2, 2010
at 12:43 AM
Where is Helen? I miss her clear, incisive, tell-it-like-it-is rants. Is she ok?
Advice of the day: never trust anyone who says “they just don’t get it.” What they really mean is that they can’t understand how anyone could disagree with them, which means they are all about taking sides, not positions. Remember the “Butter Battle Book”?
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By: Rae on March 1, 2010
at 10:40 PM
36 Million people without health insurance!!!!!
We gave a TRILLION DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS to the wealthiest in the US!!
We got into a war on LIES which has cost us a Trillion or so. We also have a little war going in Afghanistan which has cost another 500 Billion.
I think we need to pay for health insurance for all people. REPUBLICANS ARE THE PARTY OF NO!!!
The Republicans had power for 8 years and it simply increased the number of uninsured people and kids. The Repbulicans also had fewest jobs created since the great depression. ‘The Republicans also created a financial disaster second only to the great depression.
Bipartisanship: Cheney made the environmental policy during the Bush years and no democrat or environmental group was invited. Enron was in charge of our environmental policy back then. Remember Enron – stole a lot of money if I remember right.
I appreciate President Obama and the Democrats for helping get health care for all.
Single Payer is the way to go!!!! The insurance companies have been ripping us off long enough.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 1, 2010
at 10:16 PM
happyconservative, haven’t “seen” you around these parts in awhile. I hope all is well in your world. That was a mighty long rant. I can’t say I agree with much of it. You sound just like the rest of the sheeple. The corporate states of america are running the health care show. The republicans and the democrats are merely the front men in this theatrical performance.
Single-payer, Medicare for all, is the most efficient and will actually save us money longterm. No public option makes it difficult to ever get there.
Corporations unregulated got us in this mess. A free market is not the answer, as the past few decades can attest.
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By: Poolman on March 1, 2010
at 10:00 PM
The Democrats are, in their arrogant liberal way, are still trying to ram their version of “healthcare reform” down the throats of the American people. The so called summit on healthcare only proved the Democrat’s 1) unwillingness to embrace bipartisanship, 2) the arrogance of the President and his cronies in Congress, 3) the Democrats think the American people are idiots, and 4) the Democrats lack a basic understanding of economics or finance.
Let’s address these points one at a time. First, the Democrat’s don’t really care about bipartisanship. They seem to think that bipartisanship means doing everything that they want, regardless of how unwise it may be. That’s just baloney. Bipartisanship means working together. Not attacking the other party because they disagree with you. Instead of working with Republicans, the Democrats try to bully the Republicans by calling them obstructionist, among other things.
I listened to part of the so called healthcare summit on POTUS on my XM Radio. Not once did I hear a Democrat recognize the legitimacy of a Republican proposal. Instead, I heard the Democrats try to either discredit the ideas the Republicans presented or try to manipulate the Republicans into saying that there were no differences between proposals from the two sides. The difference between healthcare exchanges (government run) and associations (private sector) is one example. The Democrats said that there were no differences between the two, when in fact there is a fundamental difference that greatly affects costs. The government-run exchanges demand government money to pay administrative and other costs. This greatly increases the cost to citizens. The administrative and other costs for the associations will be paid by the association members. Granted, some costs may be passed on to the consumers, but the private sector generally runs more efficiently that government, so those costs will be lower than the costs passed on the consumers who use the government run exchanges. Additionally, those costs will be paid by the people and businesses that use the associations, not by the taxpayer. The Democrats are smart people. They wouldn’t be where they are if they were stupid. So, how can such a smart group of people miss such a basic difference?
Second, the so called healthcare summit exposed the arrogance of the President and his cronies in Congress. The blatant example that I heard occurred when President Obama reminded Senator McCain that he (Obama) had won the election. For some reason, the President thinks that winning an election means that you can do what you want. That’s simply not true. Winning an election does not mean that you can ignore the electorate. And, that’s exactly what the President and the Democrats in Congress are doing. It’s as if they haven’t heard the hew and cry across the land against the bloated healthcare bill specifically and against big government and government spending in general. OK. If, as he stated, President Obama thinks that’s what elections are for, then he will see elections serve their purpose in November.
Third, the Democrats in Washington must think that the American people are idiots. They (the Dems) have shown absolutely no inclination to make any significant change in either of their healthcare bills (House or Senate). Their stated willingness to use reconciliation to force a bill through is evidence this (and, again, of their arrogance and disregard for bipartisanship). Do they think they can do this without the citizens of this country noticing? American citizens would have to be idiots to not notice that they are getting the same bill that they have rejected in rallies, letters, the media, and in the recent elections in New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Fortunately, the American people are not the idiotic dupes that the Democrats think them to be. They are smart enough to see that nothing has changed. Once again, the elections in November will serve exactly the purpose the President believes they should.
Finally, neither the Democrats nor the liberals (usually the same people) seem to understand anything about economics or finance. They seem obsessed with the failed Keynesian economic theory that government spending is the answer to everything. Government is, in fact, part of the problem. Some economists today believe that the programs of the Roosevelt administration, though well intentioned, prolonged the Great Depression in America, instead of helping to resolve it.
It is by starting new businesses and growing existing businesses that the economy grows. As businesses either get started or grow, new jobs are created. Those new jobs bring people off the unemployment rolls. Those growing business are not only hiring, they are making money. This is the part the Dems should like. Since those growing businesses are making money, they have to pay taxes on it! WOW! You would think the Dems would jump at the chance to create such an increase in government revenue. Additionally, all those newly employed people are a lot better off then they were on the welfare or unemployment lines. Isn’t that what we really want, here? To increase the wellbeing of our fellow citizens? Those newly employed people are also paying taxes now. WOW! Increased government revenues, again! The Dems should be singing the praises of increased business activity! And it feeds on itself. It doesn’t need a government hand out to sustain itself.
However, and this is the part the Dems don’t seem to understand, all of this takes private sector investment; not government taxation or interference. The investment I am talking about takes many forms: private investment in business, the money people invest in stocks either directly or through their IRAs and 401Ks, even the money we put into our savings accounts is loaned out by the banks. If you take money away from people in the form of increased taxes, they have less to save, invest, or spend. Consequently, there is less economic activity.
Even if the government puts that money right back into the economy, there is less economic activity generated. Why? Because, the money has been filtered through the government. That means a big chunk was taken out for overhead to pay government expenses. It doesn’t all get back out to the economy where it is intended. Additionally, government programs tend to create artificial demand. Once the program is over, the demand goes away. When citizens buy something from a private business, the demand is ongoing. People want the product because of what it is, not because of some artificially created incentive.
Government tinkering also creates an atmosphere of uncertainty in the business world. People who have money tend to hold on to it because they don’t know what’s going to happen. What looks like a good by or a good investment today may become a bust because the government changed the rules on them. So, instead of taking a chance on loosing their money in an uncertain environment, the people who have money hold on to it. This is the problem that many economists now see with the policies of the Roosevelt administration.
How does economics affect healthcare? Simple. Free market reforms such as tort reform and the ability to purchase healthcare across state lines keep costs down and increase availability and competition. In Texas, doctors have flocked to the state since tort reform was enacted. Why? Their costs are lower. More doctors means healthcare is more available to consumers. It also means increased competition and lower prices. The same is true when consumers can purchase insurance across state lines. Insurance companies no longer have a captive consumer in a particular state. Consumers can shop a wider variety of providers and find the one that best fits their needs. The increase competition among insurance providers forces them to improve the quality of the products they provide and lowers the cost to the consumer.
Yet with all this in mind, the Democrats keep slogging away. They keep putting forth the same failed policies over and over again. They just keep trying to “do it bigger” as we see with their so called healthcare reform. I don’t know what fantasy world the Democrats live in, but it’s clear to me that they just don’t get it.
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By: happyconservative on March 1, 2010
at 9:19 PM
Good Job Alaska Pi.
i would like to see it.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: JuneauJoe on March 1, 2010
at 9:15 PM
Hey Juneau Joe!
We did Shannyn’s radio show the next day. VERY nervous making for me… they gave me an urp bag 🙂
It was a few days of learning, learning, learning and lots of good food and company.
I’m hoping we got through on some levels… will let you know if Shannyn puts up the podcast.
Take care!
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By: alaskapi on March 1, 2010
at 7:41 PM
Auntie Jean:
Have a day off today so I thought I’d do a drive by of H&M’s site to catch up with what’s going on. Glad to hear that the big tsunami warning was canceled. But it still leaves Chileans in a huge mess. The only positive is that the Chilean government is a heap more functional than the Haitian govt. But they will still need help.
I see that a new obnoxious troll has you in his gunsight. But when he announced that there would be “no more snippning” I though perhaps he was going to give up all his cutting and pasting of RW talking points but then he continued on with a monumental and incomprehensible litany of cherry picked banalities right out of the Rethugs playbook. I’m not sure why he thinks such an unfathomable rant would help convince anyone that he is serious. I realize that ignoring him is the best strategy but its sort of like doggie doodoo on your shoes. Its tough to get rid of and no matter what you do a stink always stays behind.
Then I realized that the “no more snippning” he referred to might be circumcision.
BTW 57 years married in April. You make us feel like newlyweds. We don’t make that number until June, 2 months behind you. It’s been a marvelous adventure all the way.
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By: jsri on March 1, 2010
at 3:08 PM
Auntie Jean -Ihave sweat shirt that would go well with your name,
It says in big white Letters
WORLDS
COOLEST
AUNT
I wear it with red pants!!
s a urple sweat shirt witp
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By: Grandma Katie on March 1, 2010
at 3:00 PM
The Axis of the Obsessed and Deranged
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By: Elizabeth2 on March 1, 2010
at 1:03 PM
I didn’t finish the quote. Learning something new is one of the keys to having a healthy brain as you get older.
When I started massage school our instructor said her Mom was 50 and too old to learn anything new! So I told the young lady she could use me as an example. (I was 61)
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By: Grandma Katie on March 1, 2010
at 11:27 AM
Auntie Jean – I googled Opium Wars and got a short view of the subject.Isn’t the Internet wondeful for learning something new! Saves me endless trips to the library and toting back lots of reference books. I bring back enough as it is.
They say one of the keys to getting older is learning something new! This is doing a good job.
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By: Grandma Katie on March 1, 2010
at 11:22 AM
Margaret, dear, are you not well? We haven’t heard from you in so long. I’m getting a bit nervous about you.
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By: Charles Leck on March 1, 2010
at 7:58 AM
Why we must have regulation!
http://www.youaredumb.net/node/1492
Hi AlaskaPi: Saw you, Elsie and the Stronghearts on Mudflats. Good job.
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By: JuneauJoe on March 1, 2010
at 7:29 AM
Auntie Jean-
just a hi and whew!-glad-you -are -safe -and sound.
thank you Margaret and Helen for having us all in- even if it’s just to check on neighbors’ well being.
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By: alaskapi on March 1, 2010
at 6:24 AM
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 28, 2010
at 6:58 PM
I have been to the sixth floor museum many times poolman.
It is a moving experience in more ways than one.. 😉
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By: lori on February 28, 2010
at 3:35 PM
Bill Hicks: What is the point to Life
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By: Poolman on February 28, 2010
at 3:34 PM
Hi Ladies
I’m rushing through to let you know that I’ve moved Politics Plus to http://www.politicsplus.org/blog
You’re in the new blogroll there. Would you please update me in yours?
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By: TomCat on February 28, 2010
at 3:04 PM
“Go back to bed America. Your government has it all figured out.” 😉
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By: Poolman on February 28, 2010
at 2:22 PM
Happy Sunday everyone! Whirled Peas, I love that Rob Thomas song. That is the second time I have seen you link to it. As far as our M.I.C., I am with you 100 percent. Here is a short video that may enlighten some. USA Has A History Of Attacking Themselves To Go To War!
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
“And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.” (James 3:18)
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By: Poolman on February 28, 2010
at 2:02 PM
I’m glad all our ‘5-0’ friends are OK and I hope everyone else is having a happy Sunday. As far as ‘everything else’, if you wanna know what I think, click my name. IKE was right…were you listening? Will you listen now?
Other than that, you can call me a dirty, f*ckin’ hippy…but no matter how hard they try, they can’t kill Peace, LOVE & Light!
So I’m gonna keep believing we’ll all eventually figure out that; the sooner we use our energies help uplift each other, the quicker we can manifest a better tomorrow.
Rob Thomas ~ “Someday”
Have a wonderful day! ~ Δ ~ 8)
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 28, 2010
at 1:11 PM
Auntie Jean – No I have n ot gotten that farm the opium wars. Am slowly reading the :Web of Deceit” by Mark Curtis. I t is slow going, pretty complicated.Am now on the war with Iraq. It makes you want to scream.
WE have been lied to so much.
Glad the tsunami fizled out. The earthquake is bad enough.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 28, 2010
at 11:10 AM
Hi congenial Gang and Grandma Katie,
Grandma Katie, I look forward to your posts about the British Empire. You are learning more than most of us know about it I’m sure. Yeah, we fought two wars to get away from her. Then kissed, made up and started following in her footsteps. History does repeat itself so I think we should learn from it.
Have you gotten to the ‘Opium Wars’ with China? My knowledge is pretty sketchy about them but that is such an ugly chapter.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 28, 2010
at 1:15 AM
Glad you’ve checked in Auntie Jean and all is ok. Hawaii was lucky. I have some friend in Chile that I have not heard from, in a long time. Hope they have made it ok. Praying for the Chilean people. Yes, our planet has been going through some rough times. Shows how fragile life is and how quickly things can change, in the blink of an eye really. If only human could take heed and treat one another better!
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By: Easier on February 28, 2010
at 12:05 AM
There never was such a thing as compassionate conservatism, that’s a oxymoron.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 27, 2010
at 9:40 PM
Watching the Nolympics: Patriot Act Extended, Health Care Reform Kabuki.
“Pity the poor Democrats. They control the White House and huge majorities in both chambers, but they just can’t manage to restore civil liberties taken away by the Republicans under Bush. Those mean Republicans will just say no.”
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By: Poolman on February 27, 2010
at 8:40 PM
TLC
“Gregorio,
I know a Killer Whale that would love to take you for a little swim…
You nut bag.”
Now thats compassionate conservatism!
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By: gregorio on February 27, 2010
at 8:35 PM
untie Jean – so glad you are high and safe from the tsusami!
The concern from everyone on Helen’s porch is gratifying. That is what I love about this group. I think this kind of compassionis whaut separates us from the repugs.
Jean – I am learning much from reading about the British Empire,
not all of it pretty. I see too much of their old ideas in todays world.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 27, 2010
at 8:19 PM
Yeah, the happy dance for Hawaii is definitely in order. I just hope the water subsides as it travels, instead of rising – this planet’s been through enough lately. Nobody I’ve heard has risked a solid prediction yet.
Hats off, best wishes and a raised glass to our friends who made it through another one. (Chocolate isn’t bad either – make mine bittersweet and fudgy).
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By: judith on February 27, 2010
at 7:59 PM
Jean, so glad to hear you and hubby were safely tucked away. I was absolutely glued to Hawaii News Nine online live coverage – what a fantastic news team! Really. Very calm but animated – no overkill, but great explanations and videos. Apparently even Ventura CA is reporting some tsunami damage – info was coming in faster than I could process practically –
Chile is still undergoing aftershocks – some almost as strong as the original EQ. Argentina reported a tremblor of 6.3, and Bolivia has also experienced tremblors ranging from 5.3-6.0. Red Cross Intl already heading into Chile – altho the Chilean govt and infrastructure is in much better shape than Haiti’s. Hopefully, Haiti will one day have a similar infrastructure and support. That is what we are building towards, isn’t it?
Again, so pleased that our Auntie Jean is okay. Still waiting for Honolulu Sally to check in. She’s been away much too long.
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By: Greytdog on February 27, 2010
at 7:41 PM
I’m glad you and yours are safe, Jean!
Gregorio actually proved my point beautifully. I’m glad he or she posted. Democrats think health care is a right. Republicans think it is a privilege. I don’t really see how they can ever compromise enough to really break any kind of grid lock.
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By: HoneyJoRumples on February 27, 2010
at 7:26 PM
HURRAY FOR AUNTIE JEAN!!! Doing the Happy Dance that you are safe. Now, hope to hear from Sally.
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By: Donna on February 27, 2010
at 7:15 PM
My dear, dear friends here at M&H,
I’m a little overwhelmed and so grateful by your expressions of kind thoughts for us. My heart goes out to the people of Chile and the Pacific Basin since it is impossible to have media coverage of such a vast area.
We are fine. Our home is on a high bluff overlooking the ocean about a half-mile away. So we are holed up, safe and sound. We heard all about the coming tsunami last night of course. We have had them before but this had the potential for a big one.
We were jolted out of bed at 5:45AM by an automated phone call from Civil Defense. We were advised to check the front of the phone book for the tsunami areas designated for evacuation. (We did that last night, just in case.) The whole state is mobilized and running pretty efficiently. A few minutes later the sirens went off. For us, the sound was fairly faint since we are several miles away from them. Then the phone started ringing off the wall from our kids and concerned friends on the mainland. So far we have not lost power or any other services.
While we were monitoring the local TV channels and CNN, I made a big batch of brownies. Chocolate can fix just about everything, right? By the way, it’s a picture postcard beautiful day; blue skies, gentle breeze and about 80 degrees. Who could suspect that there was a monster lurking beneath the water? When Mother Nature gets pissed off, she can sure throw a nasty temper tantrum!
At 2:00PM our time automated Civil Defense called again with the all clear. If it turns out to be a non-event here in Hawaii in terms of loss of life and property, the Know-It-Alls will undoubtedly scoff at it. But let me remind them. Even a small tsunami surge forces the salt line inland to fresh water rivers and streams throughout the islands. This disturbs and can damage the surrounding ecosystems for years to come.
Thank you again for your thoughtful concerns. I sincerely appreciate each and every one of them. If there are any new developments, I’ll get back to you.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 27, 2010
at 7:01 PM
Gregorio — in some small way I agree with a ‘little’ bit of what you said – but have you heard of segregation, keeping certain people from getting an education or voting. Things have gotten better but not without suffering and being made to ‘feel’ like a second class (disposable) being. Many more are finding their way to college and better jobs, but there is still room for improvement. The poor of this nation are being told to pull ‘themselves’ out but many still need help and encouragement not just some one telling them to get off their ass and go find a job or go back to school. I had many of the advantages you had but then again I am in the ‘white’ segment of the population. I also find it hard to critize the poor since I have not walked in their shoes nor had to put up with – for too many years – being made to feel that I was inferrior. Takes a long time to get over that mind set. We also lost a lot of money in the recent wall street break down and are able to still ride it out. I hope that you can keep all that you have and that you never need help from anyone to include the government. Those that have keep it and those that don’t – well to bad.
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By: reader on February 27, 2010
at 6:33 PM
I had forgotten Honolulu Sally. Where has she been? And now that I’m thinking about it, where is Werner?
Who else have I missed?
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By: OceanGypsi on February 27, 2010
at 6:19 PM
“Tsunami warning center cancels alert for Hawaii.”
HONOLULU – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has canceled its tsunami warning for Hawaii, with the state apparently escaping the roiling waves unscathed.
“Gov. Linda Lingle says no damage has been reported in any county. Tidal surges were observed Saturday along the coasts but did not roar ashore. She’s calling it “a great day now that it’s over.”
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By: Poolman on February 27, 2010
at 6:10 PM
Honolulu Sally, please be safe also. Anxious to hear from you as soon as you can. Prayers and thoughts are with you.
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By: sunshine on February 27, 2010
at 5:59 PM
“The morons in Washington are pushing the envelope of nuclear war. The insane drive for American hegemony threatens life on earth. The American people, by accepting the lies and deceptions of “their” government, are facilitating this outcome.”
Down the road to destruction.
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By: Poolman on February 27, 2010
at 5:35 PM
Honolulu Sally–sorry I didn’t send you expression of concern as well. Hope you and Auntie Jean and your loved ones are safe. Thoughts coming your way. Please post when you can–so we know you are ok.
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By: Donna on February 27, 2010
at 5:33 PM
So much for kibbetzing with you.
And you say I make no sense.
Really?
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By: gregorio on February 27, 2010
at 4:58 PM
Gregorio,
I know a Killer Whale that would love to take you for a little swim…
You nut bag.
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By: TLC on February 27, 2010
at 4:34 PM
So, no one’s puppet and Easier, we have….Craigorio!
Wishing safety to all those in the paths of tsunamis and earthquakes.
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By: Judy on February 27, 2010
at 4:19 PM
I join the chorus and hope you and your families are safe Auntie Jean and Honolulu Sally! Judy, I would tend to agree with your assessment.
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By: Easier on February 27, 2010
at 4:12 PM
^ that was me.
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By: lori on February 27, 2010
at 3:31 PM
Yikes Jean and Sally (their friends and family)… keeping you in my thoughts.
You KNOW they are making new friends NOP..LOL I too await the stories that are sure to follow.
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By: Anonymous on February 27, 2010
at 3:17 PM
Most likely Judy.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 27, 2010
at 3:06 PM
“I’m retired, not drawing any SS benefits, while my wife still works.”
This statement, along with repeated misuse of “your” for “you’re,” makes me wonder if we aren’t really dealing with a Craig in Gregorio’s clothing.
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By: Judy on February 27, 2010
at 3:05 PM
Gregorio thanks for verifying you’re whacked, you are all over the board and don’t make an ounce of sense. I can ignore you now. Single payer is the only way to go! Jean, I know you are sensible and had enough time to reach high ground by now, so I hope you are comfortable and making new friends. It is always amazing how fast people bond in these kinds of situations, looking forward to your report on your forced adventure.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 27, 2010
at 2:32 PM
Quick stop in hope that Auntie Jean and Honolulu Sally are heading to high ground and safety. You and your families are in thoughts and prayers today as the M&H porch dwellers gather. Stay safe, stay dry, dear ladies. LEt us know if you’re okay. Let us know if you’re not and if you need help – we’ll do what we can for you. Love you both.
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By: Greytdog on February 27, 2010
at 1:10 PM
vgmanΔ
OK..the snippning is over.
What I’d like to see ..are the price increases in private insurances STOP going up all over the country.
These rate increases are just trying to beat the government to the punch, realizing that they may have only a short amt. of time to get their prices adjusted upwards before someone comes along and freezes them. I have seen in the mews and they are making a killing in monies.
I had heard that Obama or the Demo plan wanted to tax the insurance and or pharma companies more..?
Will that not just be passed down to the consumer? If they can they will and the circle continues.
I would like to see Pharma stop the mass marketing to all of us over the airwaves.
I don’t need to know about the latest pills for this or that and the fixes for mens failure to reach erection. I would think this would be a great way to cut expenditures. If the govt. can say no to the Big liquor companies about marketing in the TV and magazines then why not Big Pharma.
I just don’t want any hidden taxes in this upcoming health care program..what ever we get. People say the republicans are against it solely…but the democrats will have to pay the same rate hikes.
************************
By Elizabeth2nd
“Right wing Americans refuse to accept that republicans are at war with the working-class, which is why they support the status quo and vehemently oppose healthcare reform, public education, government oversight, minimum wage hikes, worker rights, access to higher education, middleclass tax relief, and, in general, any legislation that would jeopardize the continuation of a credit-dependent, employer exploited, unhealthy, downtrodden, politically marginalized, underpaid, debt-laden, undereducated and permanent class of laborers.”
****************************************
What are the working class..Teachers,college professors..if so I’m in that bunch..doctors,lawyers,accountants. I’m talking about 500K salaries.
But say someone under $200K. My family makes less than 200K. My child is out of the house and I’m retired, not drawing any SS benefits, while my wife still works. Why can they not be in your working class?.
They put in long hours and deserve to be paid for their knowledge and training. Just because you did not want to go that route and become an iron worker or drop out and learn plumbing like Joe the plumber.
I do not oppose public education..Where does it say anywhere that republicans oppose public education???
But if the teachers in Rhode Island cannot teach then what to do?? They wanted more money to do what they have 6-8 hours to do everyday..
More government oversight on what?..We seem to have the government everywhere we go. How many people do we have to have working for the government? Is that the answer..give everyone a job to do what?
We are overloaded with Govt workers and then the ones we have short change our veterans with their health care and benefits.
And perhaps if you were to live within your means and not take every credit card your offered and run it up to the max then you would not have credit issues. Some people do and then whine about it.
Say,YOu are married with three children a stay at home mom and the husband gets laid off from his job. No insurance. Yep there should be a safety net. But how much should you or I be willing to pay. Or why not create a pool of like people contribute to a system that if they did become unemployed they would have coverage. And COBRA..thats ridiculous. It’s too expensive.
When I lost my job, I could only get my kid insurance thru college and we went without for 5 months before I took a job paying 40K less.
I have the smallest house in a nice neighborhood.
I could have afforded more..but did not want to be house poor.
Unhealthy..have you seen the pics of the wall mart people.
Good God people, its what we put into our bodies.
Tamalies,Big Macs,fast foods and doughnuts,fritters etc.
Exercise..!!! But no you blame the govt and the republicans because you chose lifestyles that just did not work out for you and now you want a republican or a govt worker to come along and get your ass moving.
And if your underpaid then it might be your education..or your lack thereof?
Or it might be that you don’t work for the UAW or another union who takes your dollars and then does not protect you when your dumped.
Whine some more. YOu will feel better..BUT why lay the blame of your poor underprivileged life on me.
I pay my taxes and a goodly sum. I’m in the 33% tax bracket. And why should I not be afraid that you want to have my taxes raised to do what with?.. Help you do what? Do you just want to be paid the same for doing less? Are we in Russia where everyone makes the same salary not withstanding what your education or background dictates?
I did not stand in the door and keep you out of school. I did not pick out your food choices today.
credit-dependent
employer exploited
unhealthy
downtrodden
politically marginalized
underpaid
debt-laden
undereducated
and permanent class of laborers
At what point did these above occur. After you left your fathers house?
You had a chance at a better job.
You could have studied harder.
Which would have qualified you for a higher salary.
Paid cash for that big ticket item.
Made better food choices.
But please tell me where did I a republican keep you from rising off your knees and making a better life for yourself.
I have been unemployed three times in my life.
I had to take lower paying jobs until something better came along.
I also had to work in areas I had not studied for.
I sold shoes and suits.
I worked in a mexican kitchen.
I rolled A.V. equipment around a college I had attended years after graduation.
So no.
Its not a straight way up.
But stop laying the blame on me for your predicament. I did not hire you and lay you off.
I did not cause the recession that we are all in.
I saved but I’m making less than 1.5% but at least I saved some for rainy days.
So buck up and stop putting up all republicans as the bully you project. WE are living thru this as well.
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By: gregorio on February 27, 2010
at 12:58 PM
HANG TEN, JEAN!!!!
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By: TLC on February 27, 2010
at 12:55 PM
Auntie Jean, Praying you and your husband will be OK and all of Hawaii will be safe, as well as the whole Pacific coast people. As mentioned above, please update us as soon as you can when things have calmed down.
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By: sunshine on February 27, 2010
at 12:37 PM
“Why is this so hard? Like war, health is another area where corporate greed has its teeth and claws deeply embedded in the flesh of our citizenry. We need to declaw and muzzle the beast when it comes near our well being”
Unforotunately, there’s money to be made in the current system. If there were more competition, a more fair way for everyone to get better coverage, the opportunity to make that kind of money would go away. Democrats think health care is a right. Republicans think it’s a privilege. That’s the main philosphical difference. Republicans want insurance companies to keep making millions, and funneling those millions into their campaigns. They think people who are too stupid or too lazy to land a position as CEO in a fortune 500 company deserves to die of diseases easily treated with the proper medical care. Everyone on the street is there because they want to be, if you are poor or working class, it’s because that’s where you choose to be, and you deserve to suffer for your laziness and stupidity. Unfortunately, half of congress believes this, and nothing is going to change their minds.
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By: HoneyJoRumples on February 27, 2010
at 11:14 AM
Jean:
Keep safe! And please let us know ASAP how you make out.
Will be thinking of you until it passes.
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By: jsri on February 27, 2010
at 10:55 AM
Thinking of you, Auntie Jean!!
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By: Sarah on February 27, 2010
at 10:30 AM
Be safe, Auntie Jean.
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By: Donna on February 27, 2010
at 9:18 AM
President Obama’s
Weekly Address 2/27/10
The Olympic Spirit, the Spirit of
Bipartisanship, and Health Reform
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 27, 2010
at 8:08 AM
Auntie Jean,
Are you going to be able to get to higher ground if a tsunami does hit? My thoughts are with you, your husband, and everyone in the pacific.
Aloha.
LeAnn
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By: OceanGypsi on February 27, 2010
at 7:56 AM
Okay, I give up. I still know single-payer is the best for all Americans. Let’s start in the direction. This is our compromise with those who would rather keep the status quo. I think all in that pool should be eligible for mental health sessions under a comprehensive plan, also too. Just drop Medicare to cover people 50 and older, and digitize records. Get private insurance out of any portion of it. It’s their least desirable client anyway. Get doctors together to determine standards for acceptable care and accountants to standardize reimbursements for that care. Purchase pharmaceuticals at negotiated rates.
If this is working to reduce costs and provide more and improved care to Americans, as it should, then in 5 or 10 years begin to lower the age of eligibility. Even 1 to 5 years annually will cover all citizens in time. Let the wealthy purchase additional private coverage if they want. Ta Da 😉
We all know Medicare people love their health insurance. The shortfalls in the present system are many. They include poor administration and out-dated recordkeeping, lack of standardized care and procedures, fraudulent admissions and unecessary tests, fee schedule based on procedure vs. wellness and preventative care based, low or inadequate reimbursement to physicians, subcontracted to for-profit corporations for medication procurement, accounting, and administration responsibilities.
Why is this so hard? Like war, health is another area where corporate greed has its teeth and claws deeply embedded in the flesh of our citizenry. We need to declaw and muzzle the beast when it comes near our well being.
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By: Poolman on February 26, 2010
at 11:13 PM
Thank you Elizabeth2, finally we can move past damaging T. Roosevelt and R. Reagan’s reputations, and go after the true villains, present day office holding Congressional Republicans and blue dog Democrats. Consign all the dead Presidents to history and historians. In the old days Republicans were pretty decent people, who had a different political philosophy from Democrats. That was before the Christian Right took over the Republican Party.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 26, 2010
at 9:49 PM
I remember walking along side of a very clear stream in NE Germany when I was 16, just in awe of the numerous trout and the clarity of the water. There were tall grasses in and around the water and it was so crisp, vibrant, and pristine.
Then somebody would run into the water, stirring all the silt, picking up rocks and throwing them upstream. That always changed the entire mood of the day. For me and the fish.
Some folks just can’t help themselves. Conquer and destroy. Disrupt and provoke. It runs in our blood. Love and compassion do too. Heredity and environment shape us. Emotion and purpose motivate us. Vision and aim direct those with passion. Discipline comes to those that strive for it. Some are not willing to sacrifice for wisdom, gaining comfort in numbers sharing common ideologies. Some take the power of the moment to do good. Others choose less noble agendas. Freewill is a gift of paramount accountability.
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
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By: Poolman on February 26, 2010
at 9:42 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Continuing our military American Imperialism march toward global dominiation:
Rumsfeld boasted about his “Global Strike Force” that, on paper at least, could hit any target on Earth with huge amounts of conventional munitions within a half hour’s notice; since we, of course would not be the primary aggressors. (It was not explained how or from where that half hour’s notice would be coming.) These weapons were supposed to be operational by 2010. Roughly $100 billion (the amounts classified top secret) had been spent by that time. Here’s how it’s been working out. Uh, 2010 is here.
I always think it’s interesting how grandiose, macho military plans look on paper when they are announced. Then they are pretty quiet later while they are on the drawing board and start hitting a few brick walls.
There are three possible phases for shooting down an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. No matter in which stage, each phase is different and each has its own unique inherent problems. For interception at the (1.) “Boost Phase” to have any chance of success, it must be fairly close geographically to the enemy missile’s launch site. (I don’t think the ‘enemy’ would approve of having a U. S. “Star Wars” Facility anywhere near its launch site, say within a hundred miles. Missile sites are hardly easy to hide.) Also, there is no way of telling whether a rocket is carrying a warhead or simply launching a satellite. So scratch the “Boost Phase”.
The (3.) “Terminal Phase” lasts only a minute or two. It is impossible to compute the data that fast no matter how sophisticated the technology is at this time. So far, the best hope is for a newer version of the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) to collide with the target.
Some of these systems involve either shooting down or collision in space. If the ‘debris’, either conventional or nuclear, should happen to fall on population areas, it could be devastating on the defending countries. Well, the military just dismisses that as ‘Collateral Damage’ and goes merrily on its way. You know, shit happens in war.
Another idea floated around with mega bucks having been spent is this: Put a Boeing 747 up there in the sky with an Airborne Laser, (ABL). Shoot down missiles with the laser. This involves tons of elaborate equipment much too heavy for a rocket. (The ABL, of course, is designed by Boeing, the prime contractor.) The trouble is, the 747 is sort of slow by comparison so could be easily shot down by the ‘enemy’. So with a good old WWII mentality, lets send up a bunch of fighter jets to defend it. That would involve refueling tankers too. It’s not clear if 747s and their aircrews would be lumbering around up there all the time in relays – just in case….. I think that idea has finally been scrapped too.
Naturally, our missile defense system, with all its classified secrecy, has turned out to be a ‘Cash Cow’ for plenty of corruption, cost over runs and NO accountability. Some of the best estimates are upwards of $1.2 trillion and counting while people sit around dreaming up better ways to rain down death and destruction. (I’m thinking some of these guys have way, way, way too much time on their hands!) That kind of money would go a long way in health care and education wouldn’t it?
That leaves only the (2.) “Mid-Course Phase”, known as the “Ground-based Mid-Course Defense System, (GMD). I’ll get into the intricacies of the GMD next time.
For now, I think I’ll go have a nice glass of white zin, put my feet up and give it a rest for the weekend.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 26, 2010
at 8:40 PM
Whirled Peas — thanks for posting the John Stewart Clips. I wanted to watch him that night to see if he would use the McCain’s ‘campaign’ moment. (had a dinner to go to) But the best was the expression on McCains face when Obama told him he made a good point regarding the deal for seniors in Fla. but the senior in the rest of the country were left out. “Priceless”
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By: reader on February 26, 2010
at 7:48 PM
Judith and JuneauJoe – Thanks for your posts about Reagan. It annoys me to see him put on a gold pedestal, having wings of UCLA Med named after him, and too many other things. Never thought much of him as an actor either. Thnanks for the bit about the drugs.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 26, 2010
at 7:37 PM
Here! Here! Elizabeth!
My bottle poureth Bacardi Silver Lemonade.
What a week!
Gregorio,
Quit sniping around the edges of the group, roll up your sleeves and help us figure out a way to help the MAJORITY of Americans who want to see a collective rise in the standard of living in our country. Not a cushy life for the few at the top, but a healthy, happy life for all.
Are you here on the porch to help or hurt?
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By: vgmanΔ on February 26, 2010
at 7:05 PM
I admit I was a bit BIpartisan curious, but I couldn’t bring myself to watch yesterdays summit. Too much transparency shows what tools the wingnuts are. So I let Jon Stewart wrap it up for me.
Bipartisan Health Care Reform Summit 2010
Way to go BO. Watch the next clip too… 8)
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 26, 2010
at 6:53 PM
It’s Friday night gregorio. Have a glass of wine and stop wallowing in your synacysim.
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By: Elizabeth2 on February 26, 2010
at 5:45 PM
People also need unemployment benefits.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/cspanjunkie/lets-talk-about-some-other-things-have
Republicans think nothing of going in debt for a Trillion dollars for tax cuts for Billionaires but they cannot stomach giving money to the poor and unemployed.
(What did the tax cuts to billionaires give us? Job cuts!)
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By: JuneauJoe on February 26, 2010
at 5:40 PM
“And thank you to President Obama for televising the health care summit – and for your formidable grasp of the facts involved while keeping a human face on the issue of health care reform.”Greytdog
I guess we can only wish and hope that the transparency will continue ..or will they skulk back into the White House cave and negotiate more individual carve outs for votes without the C-span coverage. Probably the latter.
Variatio delectat
“There’s nothing like change”
(Cicero)
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By: gregorio on February 26, 2010
at 5:19 PM
Dear Helen ~ SCORE!
Thank you for the wonderful post. You hit the nail on the head. Now if only you could hit a few Republicans on their heads. lol
Mary
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By: Mary on February 26, 2010
at 2:42 PM
did you guys see this?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/25/AR2010022505517.html?hpid=topnews
reminds me of the pie eating, zin drinking, porch dwelling movement.. 😉
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By: lori on February 26, 2010
at 1:16 PM
Elizabeth2 on February 26, 2010
at 12:54 PM
And Jim Bunning is the right’s new hero.
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By: jsri on February 26, 2010
at 12:58 PM
Right wing Americans refuse to accept that republicans are at war with the working-class, which is why they support the status quo and vehemently oppose healthcare reform, public education, government oversight, minimum wage hikes, worker rights, access to higher education, middleclass tax relief, and, in general, any legislation that would jeopardize the continuation of a credit-dependent, employer exploited, unhealthy, downtrodden, politically marginalized, underpaid, debt-laden, undereducated and permanent class of laborers.
Similar to exploited sharecroppers, it’s in the best interest of republicans to keep the working-class hopeless, oppressed, misinformed and undereducated. Republicans staunchly supported the Wall Street bailout to protect their own assets, but opposed the automobile industry bailout, which employs thousands of middleclass Americans.
The republican aristocracy opposes any kind of governmental oversight that will interfere with their pursuit of exploitive capitalism, which is why they want to abolish the EPA and FDA and the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Interior, and Education. Anything that protects the worker must go. Just like feudal lords, the Republican Nation requires a formidable army to protect their financial interests, which is why they defend unrestrained military spending. The Iraq War will cost $2.6 trillion over 10 years, while health insurance for every American for the same time period would cost $1 trillion. Republican fear mongers want to keep America angrily divided by class and race. Universal health insurance would provide hope and elevate the standard of living for working-class Americans, something republicans vehemently oppose.
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By: Elizabeth2 on February 26, 2010
at 12:54 PM
Bernie Sanders does not understand the Republican priorities.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/cspanjunkie/senator-sanders-doesnt-understand-repu
neither do I
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By: JuneauJoe on February 26, 2010
at 12:00 PM
Congratulations to the Women’s Hockey Team of Canada for bringing home the gold! And congrats to the Women’s Team of USA for nabbing the silver and for a fantastic game! WOW. You ladies rocked the house!
And thank you to President Obama for televising the health care summit – and for your formidable grasp of the facts involved while keeping a human face on the issue of health care reform. Thank you!
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By: Greytdog on February 26, 2010
at 9:32 AM
How the economic mess we presently face started.
The wealthy few caused the economy to tank.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/player/CPRadio_player.aspx?podcast=http://www.thisamericanlife.org/xmlfeeds/390.xml
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By: JuneauJoe on February 26, 2010
at 8:03 AM
BTW the high interest rates were under Ronnie dearest.
Carter is blamed for high inflation.
Although to be fair I don’t think either president had much to do with the economical woes of their presidency.
Some argue Carter’s FED Reserve president put us into an intentional recession (to counter inflation) and Ronnie spent his way out of it.
And while we are at it can anyone deny the preferential treatment by the “liberal” press that Ronnie received? After the assignation attempt Ronnie became “off limits”. On one point I agree with Rove…..”How soon we American’s forget! “
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By: lori on February 26, 2010
at 6:44 AM
I don’t think you will find too many people who think Carter was our most effective leader.
He is/was brilliant and quiet possibly one of the finest humanitarians of our time. He cares deeply for the poor and less fortunate American’s and has a command of foreign policy (middole east) that rivals all recent US presidents. (plus he manages to stay awake and engaged even in his waning years..;-) But his presidency was fraught with unfortunate circumstances that he just wasn’t able to overcome or lead us out of. Remember the entire middle east was at war, we had fuel embargos, inflation, hostages, etc not to mention a brother that couldn’t seem to stay out of the “news”. LOL
So no, I haven’t forgotten Jimmy Carter, in fact I love the man and am proud he is a member of our party. 😉
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By: lori on February 26, 2010
at 6:10 AM
Judith @ 8:45 p.m.
I guess Gregorio has no choice but to agree with the truth you brought forth, Judith, as he automatically falls back on the same old ‘oh yeah, what about Carter and Obama & the Chicago mafia’ meme nonsense.
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By: Beverly From Montreal on February 26, 2010
at 5:27 AM
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/mccaskill-two-sets-rules-one-image-af
Two sets of rules in Afghanistan and the problem it creates.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 26, 2010
at 4:57 AM
Variatio delectat
“There’s nothing like change”
(Cicero)
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 10:59 PM
And one termer President Jimmy Carter who preceded Reagan is a hero as well I assume? Remember the interest rates on a home at the time?
Or perhaps your too young to remember?
And who brought down those interest rates as well as your Berlin Wall?
President Obama is campaigning already to keep his job as well as those of the Chicago Mafia that brought him to the dance.
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 10:52 PM
I’m beginning to long for the good old days, when you had a bad day, or felt a little peevish, you just bitched at your significant other, and if the rest of us were really lucky we never heard a word about it.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 25, 2010
at 10:04 PM
If I remember it correctly, failure was wished on President Obama from day one, from a certain segment of our society, virulently opposed to his election. That is just no way for anybody to win, is there, for all the ill-will out there. These people simply forget that our country’s well-being is also at stake. This point has been made on several occasions on this blog. All the energy wasted wishing somebody ill, is better spent trying to resolve the issues facing us, and these are quite real, actually, may they be affordable health care, jobs or their lack thereof, crumbling infrastructure and schools, etc. What is wrong with working for the betterment of our society? What has President Obama proposed that does not include that intent?
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By: Easier on February 25, 2010
at 9:22 PM
Reagan: He really brought down the heroin prices in the US! Remember the : NO ON DRUGS! Then he had Ollie North in the basement getting drugs and having them sold in the US. They used the money for the Sandinistas.
Under Reagan and Ollie North – Drug prices dropped and purity increased…
Such a great guy – Say NO to drugs – ha, ha, ha, ha
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By: JuneauJoe on February 25, 2010
at 9:08 PM
Wow it is getting ugly here on both sides, no wonder Helen often mentions a purple party. I know that I don’t have the persuasive power to convince an old racist that so far Obama is doing a good job in the Presidency, so I won’t try. But folks, we can’t lift our leg and pee on every Republican for the last hundred years and still expect reconciliation with our fellow Americans.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 25, 2010
at 9:00 PM
Of course, Reagan was likable. That’s about the sum and substance of the man. The rest of it was just an elderly, slightly dim actor who could really read a line, with a massive support staff to supply him with lines and a political agenda.
The Alzheimer’s was probably starting to show even at the beginning to people who knew him well. Getting shot and the resulting surgery & anesthesia would have just accelerated it.
Remember the period when he started to get criticism? It wasn’t fun any more, so he stopped coming to work. For weeks. And weeks. Just stayed in his bathrobe and watched old movies in the residence. His own people were starting to discuss what they would have to do if he never came back.
He couldn’t stay awake and fell asleep in meetings with his cabinet and others. He severely discombobulated the Pope, who was too polite to either wake him up or leave. When his staff asked each other in the morning how he was, a good day’s response was “He’s awake and engaged” – an indication of how often he was not.
If Reagan is your idea of ideal presidential material, we’ll have to agree to disagree. Showing up, awake and engaged is too low a bar for me, and he didn’t even make that consistently.
If he hadn’t done so much damage, I’d have been sorry for the guy. But I’m tired of having Peggy Noonan’s (and other’s) greatest hits trotted out just as if he’d come up with them. Yes, they all have speechwriters. But we’ve heard today what Obama sounds like off the cuff (that’s different from off the palm).
What the Republicans said today boiled down to “You’ve moved the ball too far down the field, start over. There’s no fix for health care. Ignore the 70% who want reform, the only Real Americans are the other 30%”. Hell, the only Americans they represent are the top 5%, and not all of them are even Americans. And there’s no way they’re letting any of us in.
This guy is presidential material, as far as I’m concerned. This is a chess player. It’s boring, stressful and frustrating to watch, and there’s not much we can do to help. But I think we’re getting close to check and mate.
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By: judith on February 25, 2010
at 8:54 PM
Reconciliation:::
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rachel-maddow-calls-out-republicans-and-me
The Republicans used it and now the Democrats turn.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 25, 2010
at 8:49 PM
Gregorio if your so interested to know, is my name given to me by my mother from my Italian GrandFather.
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 8:47 PM
My gosh. For everyone who believes Obama won one for the gipper today..
He just painted the demo’s into more of a corner.
Even Pelosi is backing away guaranteeing a win.
And then the other shoe drops about that shining star Rep.Rangle. Guilty. Will he step down?
More to come.
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 8:39 PM
gabh mo leithscéal
Judith
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 8:32 PM
All right! I can post links again. Yay! I trust everyone saw the health care summit, or at least portions of it. Wow. That is all I can say. I sure would not brag about it if I was a republican right now. Seriously. Talk about a contest of egos.
Reagan was not a great president, as most republicans believe. He is like some god to them. They forget he was first a democrat. His administration did more long-term harm than good to this nation. He was a very likable guy, for a puppet leader. He was nothing without his handlers.
Time for my evening walk. 😉 Later…
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By: Poolman on February 25, 2010
at 7:23 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Wow!!! We have a PRESIDENT in the White House!!! I was so impressed by his articulate handling of the all-day conference today. Time zones permitting, I watched/listened to almost all of it at the same time I was working on my current painting.
I make no bones about my bias. However, without a teleprompter, Obama rebutted, one by one, every single point the Republicans tried to put up there in objections to the health care bill. He even named names on who talked about each one! Does the man have a photographic memory? I especially liked it when he asked which of the reforms the Republicans felt we could do without. Pre-existing conditions? Duh!
Also the bit about getting insurance coverage across state lines, (right out of the insurance lobbies’ playbook.) His analogy about what happened with credit card companies doing that drove home the point brilliantly. (Just set up shop in the states with the least regulations. I didn’t know they had done that.) He certainly has done his homework!
Most of the Republicans were left pretty much flatfooted except for their tired, worn out old talking points about what the ‘American People’ want. I am an ‘American People’ and I want affordable access to health care for all our citizens.
I was a little bit encouraged that the group, for the most part conducted them selves like Ladies and Gentlemen. Refreshing!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
P.S. CNN also reported that there are 8 (that’s eight) lobbyists for every member of congress. No wonder……
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 25, 2010
at 7:15 PM
Poolman, I think there is little doubt that “we” took down building 7.
Personally I think there was classified info in those government offices housed in “7” and considering the circumstances we were not able to insure their continued security and they decided to bring it down.
The other two towers?…. I’m not yet convinced.
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By: lori on February 25, 2010
at 7:14 PM
WTG! Richard Gage 😎
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By: Poolman on February 25, 2010
at 7:01 PM
darn right, Lori–and who can say what any situation will be like 3 years from now, much less one involving the economy and security? Or who the opposing candidate(s) would be? People who feel capable of making such pronouncements aren’t terribly astute.
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By: Donna on February 25, 2010
at 6:12 PM
LOL Isn’t that the truth Judith!
Obama’s approval rating for the first year in office (57) is the same as Ronnie’s and higher than Clinton (49). If memory serves me they were both 2 termers….
Mean while our last one termer (George Bush) had a very high first year. (66) Soooooo I guess we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions just yet eh?
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By: lori on February 25, 2010
at 6:09 PM
Judith
Thom Hartmann told this story on his show. He was at meeting recently and met a woman who told him she was at Reagan’s first inauguration. Her husband was a big campaign contributor so they were given the honor of meeting President Reagan. They were in line and had been introduced; Reagan began to tell them of his being a soldier in WWII. Nancy was very nearby and came over to him. She gentle placed her arm around him and moved him down the receiving line changing the subject as they moved.
Of course Reagan was never a soldier in WWII!
There was good reason for those notes and teleprompter.
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By: Cynthia aka Beta Bitch on February 25, 2010
at 6:04 PM
Let’s not forget the lessons that Craigy taught us. If ‘g’ is not craig he is the reincarnation of that ilk. Make a few reasonable staements then start spewing bs.
WWGKD
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By: farsight Δ on February 25, 2010
at 5:58 PM
Oops, meant to say – I was serious about loving the Latin. How’s your Gaeilge (Irish)? We could really ‘ciceal toin’.
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By: judith on February 25, 2010
at 5:12 PM
Well, we all know they can’t count. They think 41% or over is a majority for them. Funny how it isn’t for us.
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By: judith on February 25, 2010
at 5:11 PM
By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 3:30 PM sezs
A Demo majority slipped from his grasp..
————————————————–
Did we have an election and no one told me? Since when did the democrats lose the majority? LOL
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By: lori on February 25, 2010
at 4:28 PM
It’s interesting how history repeats itself..or really it’s more that it does not change.
Kennedy, Judith
Thought I’d save ya a google.
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 3:49 PM
“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
Who Judith?
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 3:45 PM
I really believe that if you use the vulgarity of the STFU …why not just come right out and say it in plain english.
Otherwise this site would revert to just vulgarity being spewed back and forth.
I feel your pain. If you would prefer it in another language let me know and I’ll translate that for you as well.
At least I did that for you.
Obama is just not presidential material.
And I for one see him as a one termer.
Like it or not.
He has lost a lot of value these past few months.
A Demo majority slipped from his grasp..and the others are leaving the ship if not dying off faster than he can replace them.
Just sayin in English
It sucks to be a demo.
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By: gregorio on February 25, 2010
at 3:30 PM
In the words of the song. “Nobody does it better ….”
I used to say that I had some Republican friends, as in “some of my best friends are Republicans” (sound familiar?). But not anymore. If you’re one of today’s crop of Republicans, we really don’t have anything to discuss. I just wish President Obama would realize the same thing!
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By: K2inSR on February 25, 2010
at 3:04 PM
Hiya Grandma katie,
Personally I think employment compensation (salary and benefits) are market driven. Again if we don’t pay elected officials a compensation package that is competitive then who will we attract to those positions?
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By: lori on February 25, 2010
at 1:50 PM
“Magna res est vocis et silentii temperamentum.”
I love it! When I get told to STFU, it’s in Latin!
Although I think it’s more like “Oh, yeah? Well…ahhh…well….Shut up!”
And the original quote would have been not from Reagan, but from one of his speechwriters. Probably Peggy Noonan. The Great Communicator didn’t do anywhere near that well off-script. He was the undisputed king of the teleprompter. It was observed that even meeting comments were written out ahead of time for him on 3X5 cards (“Bob, what are your thoughts on this?”).
Our guy, like any public speaker, has replaced the old-school handful of sheets of paper with a teleprompter, but at least he can also function without one.
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By: judith on February 25, 2010
at 1:21 PM
I agree with both gramma rock, Jean and Lori. Something has to be done about Congress.Their lifetime pensions should also go away.
These Congressmen (or women) get inside the Beltway and forget what it is like outside.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 25, 2010
at 12:35 PM
JuneauJoe – another sunny day in SoCal! I hope you are enjoying it.
Help – does ay one remember a book by eiither Taylor Caldwell or Thomas Costain. It concerned (Ithink) WWI and it had a reference to “Faceless International Bankers”. At least those are the writers that come to mind. It has been many years since I read it and would like to reread it and see how many comparisons there are to todays affairs.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 25, 2010
at 12:30 PM
Countdown/Keith Olbermann:
‘A Special Comment From My Father’…“HELP!”
😦 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 25, 2010
at 10:35 AM
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY): “The Republican Party is the wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry.”
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 25, 2010
at 9:42 AM
Term limits will only move us further away from “the average citizen” being represented in our capitols. No one (other than the very wealthy or retired) is able to take a 6-12 year break from their chosen career to serve and then go resume their career. That just isn’t the model for modern business world.
Any one who “dropped” out of the work force temporarily to raise their children or to take care of a sick family member can attest to that fact.
Term limits would only make the lobbyists MORE powerful because they would be the only potential employers for the termed out elected officials.
I think publicly funded elections would be a better way to address our problems.
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By: lori on February 25, 2010
at 5:41 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and gramma rock,
I will wholeheartedly second your list on how to fix Congress!!!
Unfortunaely, I just can’t imagine any of them voting themselves out of such lucrative jobs. But we can hope at least. Maybe, just maybe, there are a few with personal integrity and the best interests of their and our country at heart.
Aloha! :_)
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 25, 2010
at 12:12 AM
wanted to share this message from this week’s email. this gramma thinks that this message needs to be passed on in emails on ‘the hill’ a few million times.
*****
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!
My friend and neighbor wants to promote a “Congressional Reform Act of 2010”. It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I know many of you will say, “this is impossible”. Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress – the entity that represents us.
We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American hero’s..
********************************
Congressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C.. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and back to work.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
6. Congress looses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
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By: gramma rock on February 24, 2010
at 11:41 PM
judith,
Magna res est vocis et silentii temperamentum.
The great thing is to know when to speak and when to keep quiet.
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By: gregorio on February 24, 2010
at 11:31 PM
“The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.’
-Ronald Reagan
Said the guy who believed, in the face of all evidence to the contrary, that you could buy a Cadillac with food stamps. That trees caused pollution. That he had come home from the war and found his wife had moved on (he never left California). That he had liberated Auschwitz (reference the above). That he had never worn makeup even when making films.
He called facts “stupid things” for a reason. They were usually against him.
FYI.
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By: judith on February 24, 2010
at 11:04 PM
FYI..My friends…….
‘The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.’
-Ronald Reagan
‘Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. Was too strong.’- Ronald Reagan
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By: gregorio on February 24, 2010
at 10:14 PM
It’s karma, Poolman. You don’t have the confidence to think those two blogs both sponsored and provided by UK Forces Media Ops are providing uncensored information to the public. haha
Just kidding. Really. I mean it!
Cheers!! ¥
PS Please do keep them all in your prayers! And, I really don’t think that it is about “feeling good” about what we are doing over there. I just think it is irresponsible to not acknowledge some good. In the midst of bombings, loss of life, and desecration of the earth, brother IS helping brother.
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By: OceanGypsi on February 24, 2010
at 7:30 PM
Greytdog, I have posted 2 links with no problem in the past, many in this very thread. I tried earlier today posting a single link and it went off into cyberspace, too. Maybe my links were too controversial? I can post as long as I don’t include a link. Anyway, I had a link to: www (dot)war resisters (dot) org (/) piechart (dot) htm . This provides a more accurate showing of military and defense spending. Maybe the cyber police don’t want us to share that info.
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By: Poolman on February 24, 2010
at 5:39 PM
Did ya know:
More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska.
Thats besides being able to see Russia from there.
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By: gregorio on February 24, 2010
at 3:01 PM
Poolman, I don’t think you can post multiple links in one comment. You have to break them up into singular postings
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By: Greytdog on February 24, 2010
at 2:41 PM
From today’s LA Times Letters to the ED /
Thoughts on a GOP ‘tea party
“…I always find one of the main points (TP) groups make to be incomprehensible: the need for small government. How is it possible for a country of more than 300 million people, with the world’s most advanced military and with millions of miles of interstate highways, sewers and interconnected electric grids, to be overseen effectively by a small government?
Are we going to forgo educating children? Scientific research? Policing our streets or putting out fires? Building roads, power plants and providing medical care to millions of seniors and the disabled? Are we going to remove our troops from all corners of the world?
I have no interest in aligning myself with the inchoate rage of the tea party or the GOP, but I would like to know how they really think they can run our county with a small government. I fear they know they can’t and are using this simplistic but appealing pitch for cynical political gain.”
And…
“I wonder how many of those implacable foes of government have ever received benefits in the form of Social Security, Medicare, unemployment, farm subsidies, education grants, etc.?”
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By: thymeCher on February 24, 2010
at 12:50 PM
I wonder if Meg is going to write a book.
then there is the ‘Will Sarah’s baby Dr have to go in front of the AK State Medical Board?’
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2010/02/doctors-response-to-my-tale-of-two.html
That poor boy that fathered Bristol’s baby? they want him to pay $1700.00 per month support all the while, the Palins are raking in money hand over fist.
The Palin Soap Opera continues.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 24, 2010
at 12:48 PM
JuneauJoe–I see Meg Stapleton has quit!
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By: Donna on February 24, 2010
at 12:24 PM
I see Hypocrite Sarah Palin (do as I say, not as I do) will be telling folks never to talk about her kids or else.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/the-not-so-secret-life-of_b_474279.html
Bristol will be on a reality TV show… Sarah and kids need some more attention.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 24, 2010
at 10:17 AM
“preposition”
I don’t need no stinkin preposition.
Just kidding Jean. I don’t know if you saw that movie.
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By: gregorio on February 24, 2010
at 9:35 AM
English teacher Jean?
My worst subject..well one of my worst, until I met Ms. Epps in 10th grade.
That sweet little ole lady was a little cuckoo and the kids would make fun of her. But there was something that she displayed that I fell for and it was her imagination. She let you expand your thoughts, by merely asking the class to just stop, listen to the birds and wind and take everything in. Just reminiscing.
Poolman your a “10” coming in loud and clear.
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By: gregorio on February 24, 2010
at 9:29 AM
Test. I just tried posting a comment with only 2 links and it went out in cyberspace. So I waited 10 minutes or so and tried it again with the same result. If they show up and twice, sorry. This test is to see if maybe I am not able to comment here anymore. Testing, testing, testing…these aren’t the droids you’re looking for…
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By: Poolman on February 24, 2010
at 12:58 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and gregorio,
Your message about my husband was nice. Thank you. He’s a good guy. Our 57th Anniversary is coming up in April. We keep saying, we are starting to get the hang of this marriage thing.
We’ve got to lighten up a bit until Helen and Margaret come back with a new post.
I mentioned that for a long time my husband has been taking Plavix as well as baby aspirin to keep his blood thin. His skin is quite fair and he has always sunburned and bruised very easily. With the Plavix especially, the least little nick will bleed like crazy. We both carry a stash of bandages and band aids wherever we go. Also the least little bump will cause a really, really, really big bruise. Both his forearms from his wrists to his elbows are perpetually black and blue. Naturally, out here, he refuses to wear long sleeve shirts.
Whenever we are in a check out line, people stare with almost morbid curiosity. He invariably puts his arms up in front of his face in a defensive position and says, “Domestic abuse, my wife beats up on me all the time”. I just smile and shrug. Of course the cashiers are wise to it by now and break up, but the customers beat a hasty horrified retreat!
Aloha! 😉
Auntie Jean
P.S. Oh yes, gregorio, before you get the idea that I have gone all sweet and mellow on you, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER end a sentence with a preposition!!!
Sheesh!!!
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 24, 2010
at 12:30 AM
Bristol Palin following in mom’s steps regarding using her baby as a prop and gateway to “fame & fortune”. And ppl say there’s no real money in hooking. . .
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By: greytdog on February 23, 2010
at 11:04 PM
To be honest, I don’t understand what would be the point of Sarah displaying two different babies.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 23, 2010
at 10:21 PM
Seems like the Sarah Palin lies are catching up with her.
Things are getting interesting in Alaska.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 23, 2010
at 10:11 PM
“Incidentally, his heart problems have been partially the result of a heredity condition in the coronary arteries that only became apparent with his first heart attack, (a pre-existing condition since before birth???). All the other factors; diet, weight, smoking, stress, etc., were also only partially responsible.”
Auntie Jean
Jean,
We are all responsible and a product of our environment and living conditions. Heredity as well, as you pointed out. Did we treat each other right. Did we love and take time to be loved.
I think that your husband to be the age he is, is a testament that he has lived a good life.
Bis vivit qui bene vivit
He lives twice who lives well
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By: gregorio on February 23, 2010
at 8:29 PM
“Each side manipulates the information (or deletes it or portions of it all together) to emphasize a point that THEY choose.” OceanGypsi
Kinda like politicians and Politics. Huh?
Imagine that.
And Poolman…Re: military contractors
If no one were to stand on his hind legs and build weapons from plowshares;
How and with what, would someone defend your right to say so with?
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By: gregorio on February 23, 2010
at 8:11 PM
Donna, Didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t clear, I was only adding that it was done as it should be.
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By: Dawn on February 23, 2010
at 4:49 PM
Helen,
You are the best. If I didn’t know better I would swear you were a 45 year old man from Texas.
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By: Harrison T. Ford on February 23, 2010
at 12:38 PM
Dawn–sorry if I wasn’t clear. That was my point about civil courts–thanks for clarifying!
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By: Donna on February 23, 2010
at 5:07 AM
Poolman,
The Vanity Fair Article on SAIC is sadly just another example of corporations not having any accountablilty for failure, and our government’s continued idiocy in paying people for not doing what their contract stipulates.
Ironically, there is a hue and cry for the “welfare queens” to take responsiblity for their various faults because they are collecting a few thousand dollars a year from John Q Public, but the BIG money just keeps being given away to friends of people in power in spite of shoddy work.
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By: Dawn on February 23, 2010
at 12:38 AM
Donna, You’re right about the taxi driver. Plead guilty, and cooperating. However, I believe you missed 2 additional items. Mirandized, and not tortured.
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By: Dawn on February 23, 2010
at 12:24 AM
Shades of Sybil?
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 22, 2010
at 11:02 PM
My bet is no–Gregorio doesn’t do that frenzied, seemingly random burst of capitalization. But who knows?
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By: Donna on February 22, 2010
at 8:56 PM
Just before I signed on here this evening, I saw that Cheney was in the hospital again.
Greytdog, I was wondering if Craig had become Gregorio. And James is still James.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 22, 2010
at 8:43 PM
Auntie Jean, speaking of defense contractors, here is one that is considered a stealth company. It is one I had never heard of, but apparently gets the lion’s share of the bids. I sure hope we can get control of our military industrial complex. Right now it doesn’t look so good, IMO.
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By: Poolman on February 22, 2010
at 6:16 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
I am continuing my research and reading into our American Imperialism ventures; for now, concentrating on Reagan’s celebrated Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), otherwise known as “Star Wars”. Some believe that space war is inevitable. Thus, the U. S. should be committed to deploying a system to destroy nuclear weapons from incoming missiles and ultimately put weapons in outer space.
A few of the primary defense contractors have been and are Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. It is not uncommon for retired generals and admirals to obtain lucrative advisory positions with defense contractors. (Sort of like former members of congress or their staffs becoming lobbyists.)
In 1998 and 2001 there were two reports put out that were more or less the brainchildren of Rumsfeld. These reports were mostly the result of the congressional missile defense lobbies of the major defense contractors. At the time of the 1998 report, Rumsfeld was a civilian but had been Secretary of Defense 20 years earlier. Of course, he became Secretary of Defense again under Bush. Trading on fear, the 2001 report ominously warned of a ‘space Pearl Harbor’ and managed to jam funding through Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2000. (The ultimate in pork barrel and earmark spending in the sky!)
Clinton had already approved a number of billion dollars for a national defense system but on Sept. 1, 2000, he decided against it. He deferred to his successor. (I wonder if he is still kicking himself about that.) A final report was issued to Congress by the commission to ‘Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization’ on January 11, 2001. This was just a few days before Bush was sworn in as President and Rumsfeld took over the Defense Department.
Theoretically, there are basically three ways to shoot down an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile: During (1.) the “Booster Phase”, (2.) the “Midcourse Phase” and (3.) the “Terminal Phase.” All three involve incredibly complex technology of massive computers with myriad problems of human and software errors. This says nothing of the astronomical amounts of taxpayer money that have been and for all I know, are still being expended in order to deploy and maintain the systems. I’ll get to all three of those phases later.
Does anyone here seriously expect me to cite Notes and Bibliography? I could, but it would be ever so tedious for me to do and unbelievably boring for you to read. Talk about scrolling!!! Anyone with the time and inclination can track down the same information.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
P. S. Who can in good conscience even THINK about a Sarah Palin type being in a position to make such decisions about defense? I, for one, shudder at the thought.
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 22, 2010
at 5:09 PM
The taxi driver who was charged with attempting to blow up New York subways is (a) pleading guilty and (b) cooperating. Amazing what can happen in civil courts.
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By: Donna on February 22, 2010
at 4:24 PM
Welcome back James. Still stirring the pot, I see. That’s nice. James, meet gregorio aka Craig. You have a lot in common. Hope all is fine on the farm – and that your health is not being adversely affected by the winter weather. Best wishes to the family. Ciao!
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By: greytdog on February 22, 2010
at 3:53 PM
Just when I was convinced, he fell of his cherry picker and broke his fingers…. Drat!
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 22, 2010
at 2:25 PM
Greytdog, that is too bad about Grayson. I want to see more like him get elected. We need strong voices of reason in our congress. With the propaganda that our MSM puts out, I feel that many will take their frustration out on democrats and progressives this election and the next. I agree some of the dems need to be dumped, but putting reps in is not the answer. We need people that are able and willing to change the status quo. I think we are just getting a start on that since Obama was elected.
And on the surface it surely seems like an “us against them” battle, but really it goes much deeper. It is so nice and orderly to think that we just need to elect a dem instead of a rep or vice versa, however, the biggest obstacle for change is the established system and peoples that profit from it. Oh, and I guess “reform” is the new word for change. I just do not see much reform taking place if those that need reform the most are the ones making the policies.
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By: Poolman on February 22, 2010
at 2:18 PM
Life is good. Our niece and her husband are back from their second tours in Iraq and for awhile, in Afghanistan.
I participated in my first honor guard on Saturday to repay a 91 year old WW11 veteran for all he did for his country, our church, and the rest of our community. We fired M 1 rifles of his vintage, not the M 16’s I used in the service.
I believe the Afghan government has asked us to stay. They would be crazy not to. We stand between them and death. The Pakistanis have also begun to recognize they are in a struggle for survival, and they have recently become more actively involved in their own defense.
I support Obama on this. He has not only followed many of Bush’s policies, but he has enhanced some. Our drones are killing more enemy fighters than during the Bush administration, for example. Obama seems to recognize this is a war we must win. Bush dropped the ball and focused attention on Iraq. Now, we face a long hard slog to regain the advantage and win.
Obama and the Democratic leadership were riding high a year ago. The demoralized Republicans were behaving like wimps , and Obama was ready to sweep the board with his world changing schemes.
Then, some people like me took to the streets as we called our representatives and anyone else who would or wouldn’t listen. We gave the Republicans and some Democrats backbones, and look what happened.
Jean fancies herself an historical story teller. Maybe you can persuade her to share the story of Vercingetorix. Like Obama, he became a leader on the power of a myth, and he made two mistakes similar to Obama’s. So far, Obama has not made the third mistake.
As the curtain falls, one might compare the president to the Wizard of Oz instead of Lincoln of FDR as was in vogue a year ago. The latest myth to sicken is human-caused global warming upon which Obama based cap and trade. Phil Jones one of the creators of the hockey stick chart, admitted to the BBC as reported by the Daily Telegraph his theories were fraudulent and the science is not yet settled. We now know NASA, NOAA, the IPCC and others have breached standards of science and ethics to advance their political agendas.
The world may be entirely different next week, but as of today, life is good in so many ways. Facts are wonderful things when they work your way.
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By: James on February 22, 2010
at 1:49 PM
Poolman, the danger facing Grayson is that he represents a largely Republican district. Yes, he won originally, but they aren’t happy with him. He was, in their minds, the lesser of two evils – Ric Keller the former Rep was nothing short of an asshat and scumbag. But the folks in the district want Grayson replaced – he’s an embarrassment to them. This is a very corporate-oriented, Whole Foods yuppie enclave and very very GOP
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By: greytdog on February 22, 2010
at 1:30 PM
reader, I would like to believe our congress and executive branch have control over our military, but I think that there is much more involved. The link I posted on the 17th at 5:44 PM, puts the military in a different light.
If anyone stands up to the status quo and gets too vocal, they may go the way of Paul Wellstone. I think Grayson is probably the one that is the most vocal right now. I pray he remains safe. I also pray we get the warmongers out of our military and get those interested in peacable solutions in. Our military is supposed to be for our defense, not for world domination. Not for the destruction of everything that doesn’t fit into our red, white, and blue idealogy.
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By: Poolman on February 22, 2010
at 11:49 AM
Poolman — you want to get control of our military. You do realize that the military only go and fight where they are told to go. Yeah the Generals etc. say what they want and what they think need but it is our federal govenment th
at make those final decisions – they are the ones who have sent our military there. So we need to get control of our congress. Maybe we need to find out who (which states) are making money on this war. Does anyone here know if the Afgan government has asked us to stay and help or this totally our idea.
Sorry but I also believe that the (any) military is going to ‘allow’ boots on the ground blog anything that “those called they” do not want out there. whether on paper or on the internet. Just my opinion.
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By: reader on February 22, 2010
at 11:17 AM
Hello Oceangypsi. Sorry for my rant. I know your nephew is over there and we all want to feel good about what we are doing, but I don’t have the confidence to think those two blogs both sponsored and provided by UK Forces Media Ops are providing uncensored information to the public.
I do agree it is easy to make judgments sitting back here in a comfy chair. It is also easy to ignore the war and the carnage from that same comfy chair. We can’t hear the guns or the explosions. Our lives are not being torn apart nor thrown into turmoil over it. Those with close relatives involved are certainly affected, but the rest are essentially living their lives well insulated from the battlefield.
I will continue to keep these people in my prayers, but I think we should get out of there. The sooner, the better. I am tired of the warmongers running the show.
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By: Poolman on February 22, 2010
at 10:55 AM
Greytdog – your post about SP and the black wellfare Queen was priceless!!
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By: Grandma Katie on February 22, 2010
at 9:34 AM
JuneauJoe – my previous post went to cyberspace or sooomewhere.
Anyhow, Also enjoyed your visit. Nice to get a face to someone whose posts we have enjoyed for so long.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 22, 2010
at 9:31 AM
http://helmandblog.blogspot.com/
http://frontlinebloggers.blogspot.com/
The above two blogs are written by British soldiers serving in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan. I like to get as much information from boots on the ground as I can. I have found far left media outlets and blogs to be as biased and unrealistic as far right media outlets and blogs. Each side manipulates the information (or deletes it or portions of it all together) to emphasize a point that THEY choose.
It sure seems easy to make judgements on military operations when we are sitting in our comfy chairs in front of our computers with reliable internet access sipping our gourmet coffee.
Have a good day, all!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 22, 2010
at 8:47 AM
Afghanistan is so much like our conflict in Vietnam. What a F****d up mired mess we are in. We have learned nothing from our past. There is no desire to end this conflict. This is just the latest pr stunt to keep us supporting this war on terror. We are creating more terror and terrorists than we are preventing. I am so sick of it. We need to get out of there already. Where is reason?
Covertly, we have no problem eliminating domestic targets that may pose a threat. Yet we cannot handle a hundred al Qaeda and maybe 400 taliban fighters without spending huge amounts of money, destroying people’s property and lives. I am so done with it. We have got to get control of our military.
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By: Poolman on February 22, 2010
at 12:32 AM
JudY, if Palin were a black woman she’d be deemed a “welfare queen” by the very ppl who love love love her and want to anoint her as President. Irony personified.
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By: greytdog on February 21, 2010
at 11:28 PM
I agree with everything. I feel like we are no longer United States of America but just America thanks to the old whiney white Republicans. If Sarah Palin was black and a college drop-out,bailed out on her state(which she got because the then Govenor was corrupt) to make money,had a daughter with an illegitimate child and spoke “cute” phrases she wouldn’t be looked at twice! But-she is white so all is forgiven and even if she has to write it all on her hand everyone finds her “charming”. I find her irritating.
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By: JudY on February 21, 2010
at 4:36 PM
Greytdog, one thing in the Friedman article really struck me, “can’t come up with a clear, simple, repeatable narrative to explain his politics,” so true. We are increasingly becoming a population raised in front of a television set and we like snappy slogans. That has got to be the root of Sarah Palin’s popularity, she contorts her face while emitting quick ugly snarls, and for a certain number of people that translates into common sense. Of course, people, with even a modest bent towards analytical thinking, the “elites,” want a full explanation, but can’t Obama do both? People who plant “Support the Troops” on their back bumper simply can’t follow reasoned argument. ‘Healthcare for all guarantees America’s freedom,’ is that simple enough for those unreachable patriots?
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 21, 2010
at 11:22 AM
Greytdog — read your suggested article “The Fat Lady Has Sung” and think it is right on. While looking over the rest of that page spotted an article titled ” Politicians need Managers” Which made me think no it needs to be something along the lines of a ‘marriage counsler’ !! They already have managers – whichever party they belong to tells them and coaches them on how to act and what to say and how to handle bad PR. I wonder if they also charge 10% of the politicians income as their fee (donation??? and/or dues??) for the party quidence.
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By: reader on February 21, 2010
at 10:17 AM
Privatization of war:
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/103.html
Grandma Katie:
It was good seeing you! Have a good day!
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By: JuneauJoe on February 21, 2010
at 9:38 AM
Judith, it could have been worse. Instead of Strawberry Shortcake, it could have been an album of Barney the Dinosaur singing his signature song ad infinitum . . . . I love you, you love me, . . . .eek!
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By: greytdog on February 21, 2010
at 9:11 AM
Thomas Friedman of the NYTimes has a very succinct op-ed that all of us, regardless of political affiliation, leanings, or proclivities, should heed:
The Fat Lady Has Sung – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/bC6oSz
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By: greytdog on February 21, 2010
at 9:09 AM
Way off topic, but I just have to unload….
Latest skill I’m working on is to get really good at a program digitizing my favorite vinyl records so I can listen to them on cd. (haven’t yet adjusted to the idea of pods, mp whatevers or anything with ear buds). I’m getting pretty good at correcting skips and minimizing crackles.
This has gotten me lots of out-of-date vinyl from friends – the album of their yout’, etc.. I just spent the longest time imaginable on Strawberry Shortcake for someone’s grandkids, the very same album the grandkids’ parents listened to at the same age. (And apparently also frisbee’d across the yard).
Now I have to go and stick something sharp in my ears. Or drink very heavily. Good God Almighty! What was that? And, for God’s sake, why?
Don’t pass it on to the grandkids. Step on it heavily and let it die, already!
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By: judith on February 21, 2010
at 1:38 AM
Thanks for making me laugh even when there is so little to laugh at.
Kudos!!
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By: Kat on February 20, 2010
at 6:46 PM
I love it that Sarah’s inflated non-humorous ego has been punched by the delightful actress from Family Guy with Down’s Syndrome.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 20, 2010
at 1:47 PM
President Obama’s
Weekly Address 2/20/10
Premiums, Profits, and the Need for Health Reform
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 20, 2010
at 9:09 AM
You can lead a troll to FACTS…
…but you can’t make him THINK!
😉 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 20, 2010
at 8:35 AM
Bill Maher / Real Time / New Rules:
“The Tea Party isn’t a movement, it’s a cult!”
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 20, 2010
at 8:22 AM
Man! My post yesterday morning read like I had Cosmos for breakfast……
Happy Saturday!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 20, 2010
at 7:21 AM
Autie Jean, I do hope you are feeling better today. Get better soon!
Reading about the 1956 GOP platform is an eye-opener. Talk about regression!
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By: Easier on February 19, 2010
at 8:06 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and Whirled Peas,
For those who don’t cotton to the idea of ‘Global Warming/Climate Change’, one question, how do you feel about ‘Nuclear Winter’?
There is an interesting lengthy article in the January 2010 issue of ‘Scientific American Magazine’. It is entitled “Local Nuclear War, Global Suffering” by Alan Robock and Owen Brian Toon. It is terrifying to think of ‘what if,’ even in a limited nuclear war between say, India and Pakistan. (Maybe Iran and Israel?) The article has lots of up-to-date interesting tidbits about worldwide nuclear warhead capabilities. Also a shorter article, “The Doomsday Clock Still Ticks” by Lawrence M. Krauss.
If you don’t subscribe to the magazine as I do, maybe you could Google it or something. Bruddah Peas?????
While I was in the waiting room of the clinic where the dermatologist is, I checked out a few old issues of ‘People Magazine’. But there was nothing about either ‘Global Warming/Climate Change’ or ‘Nuclear Winter’. But maybe I wasn’t in any shape or the proper frame of mind to find them.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 19, 2010
at 7:01 PM
😎 Got climate change deniers? 😉
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By: Poolman on February 19, 2010
at 4:24 PM
Whirled Peas:
Thank you for posting the 1956 GOP platform.
I am going to make a sweatshirt saying I like Ike with my favorite quote in the platform:
“In all those things which deal with people, be liberal, be human. In all those things which deal with people’s money, or their economy, be conservative.”
Oh well, it will give me something to talk about when I take my mother-in-law to the republican women’s meetings. Usually I just drink lots of coffee, so I can take frequent bathroom breaks.
If the republican party has room for the log cabin republicans, as well as the hatey-fraidy tea baggers, then why not the fifty sixers. It is harder to fight against something than it is to fight for something else. Especially when you are fighting against lunacy instead of for decency and common sense.
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By: geezer mom on February 19, 2010
at 2:50 PM
‘Family Guy’ Actress Responds To Sarah Palin’s Criticism
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/18/family-guy-actress-respon_n_468331.html
“Bitter people go to like-minded people, they group together and they like being the way that they are. They are extremely controlling…. I wanted to control everything so no one would make me mad. I was very judgmental — bitter people are very judgmental. You’re justifying yourself so much that you become extremely critical…. One pattern that I have seen about people who are overcome by bitterness is that THEY DON’T WANT TO GO DOWN ALONE…. They want to spread those seeds of fundamentalism and bitterness. They work hard to disrupt and they are not afraid to be vocal. THEY SPEAK UP MORE THAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT.”
The last sentence is all too clear – not only for SP but for the GOP in general.
(excerpts from “Healing the Seed of Bitterness” by Jerrell Miller; caps for emphasis)
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By: SouthPaw on February 19, 2010
at 1:58 PM
I love reading your blog. Thank you for sharing yourself and your opinions. : )
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By: teri on February 19, 2010
at 1:30 PM
I wouldn’t say I feel optimistic, but hopeful!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 19, 2010
at 11:29 AM
Just a little note about data, any kind of data.
Data is another word for information. Lets go with the term data. All data does something called “aging out”. Thats why data is constantly being collected, you know, over and over again. As for the University of East Anglia, you can choose to stick with that story if you want. There are other sources of information on climate change that are anything but as “dramatic” as the e-mails. And they are much more recent. Choose whichever one that is guaranteed to keep/not keep you awake at night.
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By: mageen in Old Virginny on February 19, 2010
at 10:40 AM
Jean – so sorry to hear abput your cyst. TAke care of your self. And chocolate – good cure for lots of things. Keep it up!!
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By: Grandma Katie on February 19, 2010
at 10:05 AM
The author of the post nailed it most succinctly with this statement:
“Palin sees Trig as a symbol of Down Syndrome, not a person”
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By: greytdog on February 19, 2010
at 9:22 AM
In case you missed the brouhaha between Palin and a cartoon show, read this:
Daily Kos: Actor with Down Syndrome Puts Palin in Her Place *UPDATE* http://bit.ly/bannCW
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By: greytdog on February 19, 2010
at 9:20 AM
I’m with you, reader!
Grandma Katie, an art faculty of mine has this hanging in their office:
Exepirence is the nmae evyrenoe gievs to thier MITSKSES.
So, do not be concerned with typos. Everyone on this blog understands what you mean!!! And, I absolutely will call you if every I go SoCal. My best friend in the big, beautiful world lives in Northridge. ~hugs~
no one’s puppetΔ, I would be willing to bet that Sarah called dragging Trig around to all of book signings early stimulation.
Happy Aloha Friday, all!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 19, 2010
at 8:27 AM
Hi Congenial Gang and Delurker Girl Δ,
Thanks for you good wishes, Delurker Girl.
I’m healing nicely I think. I’m on a heavy-duty antibiotic, but I found a sure fire cure. Chocolate.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 18, 2010
at 11:55 PM
Is Trig Palin getting early stimulation, so he can be the best that he can be?
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 18, 2010
at 10:48 PM
Of course everyone knows Sarah Palin’s public talking points regarding the mentally handicapped and probably heard her recent criticism of the show “The Family Guy.” I guess she should have done a little research before she opened her pie hole. The father of the actress who provided the voice for the character of the young woman on the episode of Family Guy, which Sarah Palin described as “a kick in the gut”, has sent an e-mail to a friend of palingates. Wonder if Fox will carry this story? 😎
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By: Poolman on February 18, 2010
at 10:08 PM
Grandma Katie: It looks like I will be in Long Beach tomorrow. I will give you a call tomorrow morning.
I hope all is going well with everyone, I have not had much computer time.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 18, 2010
at 9:14 PM
Whether we have caused global warming or it is a natural thing that happens every so many years (hundred/million/whatever) — I think we should be better stewarts of this planet we live on. In some ways I think of it as filling your car with gas on monday – then drive everywhere without a thought of the gas you are using – then it seems all of a sudden the tank reads empty. Sure hope we are not in the middle of nowhere USA when that tank below the ground reads empty. At that time will it really matter which one of is right??!!
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By: reader on February 18, 2010
at 7:57 PM
I’m all for Nuclear.
Wind Power as well.
I wish more cities especially in the wind belt of the mid american states would embrace it as an alternative source.
Then I hear of so many jobs of building wind turbines going to China. And it was demonstrated on the news the past couple of weeks that there are companies that do the same business here in America, had to lay off people..and yet we farm them out to countries abroad.
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By: gregorio on February 18, 2010
at 7:50 PM
This is the lifestyle they marketed to us and this is the lifestyle that fills their coffers. They will not give up their investment without a fight. The fight is fought with lobbying and marketing. Since we have become so energy independent, we are at the mercy of those that provide it.
We can move to other sources of energy that do not harm the environment. They will have to be either profitable or well marketed for us to make the switch.
In reality, there is a push toward nuclear as an answer to our immediate needs. I believe disposal of nuclear waste is still an unresolved issue that we keep putting off. Where have we and others been storing all that? How much is in the ocean? We know plenty has been dumped in the Somalian coastal waters.
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By: Poolman on February 18, 2010
at 7:36 PM
I love electricity, but I can’t tell the difference if it comes from wind generated (a good manufacturing job for someone) or coal, And clean burning natural gas, I can live with that too, and it won’t hurt any of us to eat less beef. Our lives don’t have to change all that much.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 18, 2010
at 6:51 PM
Got easy on UAW. I think he means well, but he’s from, or near, at least one of the most miserable cities in America.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/02/more_dubious_titles_for_area_s.html
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 18, 2010
at 6:49 PM
IM humble O..on climate change….
It probably started right after the first man or woman rubbed two sticks together and made fire….then smoke.
Add coal..coal oil burning…
the industrial revolution..
combustible engines..
Henry Ford…
Those people needing hair spray and deodorants.
Then add billions of beans and thus farts.
Yep…
It was man’s fault.
End of discussion.
Now tell me how we reverse it.
We like the way we’re living.
People don’t want to change..that is unless you live in China and then the government can shut down the industries to clear away the skies for a few days of Olympic blue skies.
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By: gregorio on February 18, 2010
at 6:22 PM
I’m curious.
Why all the contemptuous back and forth conversations about stuff..about where it came from or who quoted this or where did you copy that from…?
Why do so many of you have to resort to STFU..?
Seems as Jean would say..not a very congenial way to conduct a discussion on blog boards.
You can disagree and agree to disagree.
But why so negatively?
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By: gregorio on February 18, 2010
at 3:11 PM
Hey you coward with no screen name! You’re rude and wah wah wah so STFU!
Oh wait. That was UAW you were rude to. Nevermind.
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By: Anonymous on February 18, 2010
at 3:05 PM
UAW, if you are going to revel in ignorance, I take back saying, you’re bright, I guess you just have moments of flash.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 18, 2010
at 2:53 PM
Is that your M.O. UAW?
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By: Anonymous on February 18, 2010
at 2:51 PM
mageen….
as far as old e-mails….if you tell a lie long enough it becomes the truth?????
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 2:40 PM
so far left…..
yes I did forget to put quotation marks around something I posted….WFD (whoope f$#%ing do)
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 2:37 PM
For So Far Left, I dig what you said. What seems to me to besuch a waste is that anyone would waste time over e-mails that are old enough to have braces on their technological teeth. There is more to life than that! And yes, very few people can actually read or hear “science speak” and know what significantly means. Tells you something about our education, no matter how old you are, in general and science education in particular.
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By: mageen in Old Virginny on February 18, 2010
at 1:53 PM
Hey UAW – I can quote text I find on the internet verbatim too!
The embattled ex-head of the research center at the heart of the Climate-gate scandal dropped a bombshell over the weekend, admitting in an interview with the BBC that there has been no global warming over the past 15 years.
What I really like about the articles that use the paragraph up above, is that Jones admitted no such thing! The critical analysis of the interview fails to see that in the following statement
In response to the question, “do you agree that from 1995 to the present there has been no statistically significant global warming?”, Jones said yes, adding that the average increase of 0.12C per year over that time period “is quite close to the significance level. Achieving statistical significance in scientific terms is much more likely for longer periods, and much less likely for shorter periods.”
all that Jones is saying is that the INCREASE is not statistically significant (but its close). Hes not saying that there hasn’t been an increase – hes saying that for the 15 years in question, its not significant.
FURTHERMORE, “Jones is nevertheless 100% confident that the climate has warmed, he stated, admitting that the Climate-gate scandal has undermined public confidence in science.”
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By: sofarleft on February 18, 2010
at 1:07 PM
UAW, go to the link Whirled Peas provided us, follow all the links, remind yourself, what a “strawman” argument means, that’s why I won’t even bother to discredit your statements. I watched all the videos about global warming, informative and fun, thanks again Whirled.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 18, 2010
at 12:27 PM
mageen……
the e-mails showed that they were manufacturing data they needed and ignoring data that disproved them….30,000+scientists still don’t agree with them……..some of the e-mails were about discrediting scientists that didn’t fall in line and blackballing them from the peer review process….kinda like here….if you don’t agree then STFU
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 11:58 AM
My, my, my…don’t we have our own little global warming taking place over the climate change controversy. I think it obvious that man has impacted the planet and that does affect everything from environment to climate. I have seen it in my lifetime, and I am not a scientist. To deny it is ignorance. To what extent and how drastic we need to react is still in question, IMO. But calling it all false and continuing down the same path of destruction is not wise, no matter how many problems can be found with the various researchers and studies. The bulk of the deniers have another agenda, anyway. These are the ones that believe everything here is for our consumption – to hell with future generations.
So, it is good to have these heated discussions, even if we are contributing a bit to climate change. It is always good to have a goal or target to aim for. I was always told it was better to be pissed off than pissed on. 😀
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By: Poolman on February 18, 2010
at 11:47 AM
“Some times UAW, you’re hopelessly stubborn. And what a waste of a perfectly good intellect.”
thanks………better than being called a (fill in blank) like before……
I just wish “they” were putting as much effort into cold fusion as in global warming….. not enough tax money in it though……where are the bucks going to come from that the UN wants….we don’t have any left
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 11:41 AM
Wha??? People are still keyed up over the discovery of 10 year old e-mails from scientists? The age of the e-mails alone should tell you that in 10 years methods of research alone have changed, the same for the strictures of science. So much more is known about weather and climate. The defintions for weather and climate are different! What I hope folks have learned lately is how snow is created: the amount of available water in the most northern climes is a good indicator of how much snow can be produced. With the northern polar ice cap all but a memory, there is more moisture sucked up into cold air and then dropped as snow. Lately 49 of the 50 states experienced snow! Yes, it is a result of warming which wreaked havoc on the northern polar cap.
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By: mageen in Old Virginny on February 18, 2010
at 11:11 AM
The Daily Fail’s Latest Lie About Climate Change
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/35781_The_Daily_Mails_Latest_Lie_About_Climate_Change
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 18, 2010
at 11:03 AM
I do agree with the comments….
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 10:56 AM
are you saying that the DNC is a primary source for information…..shouldn’t you have at least two additional citations…….LMAO
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 10:55 AM
Some times UAW, you’re hopelessly stubborn. And what a waste of a perfectly good intellect.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 18, 2010
at 10:53 AM
Greytdog posted on the 17th at 10:28 AM, a graph showing the job loss/growth chart. Here it is explained in a video:
Road to Recovery
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By: Poolman on February 18, 2010
at 10:30 AM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250872/Climategate-U-turn-Astonishment-scientist-centre-global-warming-email-row-admits-data-organised.html
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 10:04 AM
http://www.littlegreenfootballs2.com/2009/08/11/peter-sinclair-global-warming-charlatan/
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 9:07 AM
and fibbing isn’t science…..
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 8:21 AM
If I can’t use USA TODAY then why is it alright to use proven biased sites like Huffpo and Media Matters……
The embattled ex-head of the research center at the heart of the Climate-gate scandal recently dropped a bombshell of his own, admitting in an interview with the BBC that there has been no global warming over the past 15 years.
De Boer’s resignation comes in the wake of the continuing Climate-gate scandal — a story that began with the leak of stolen e-mails from top climate scientists and led to revelations of sloppy science, efforts to suppress dissenting opinions and ultimately flaws in the U.N.’s top climate policy document.
and greytdog…..fiction is still fiction no matter who publishes it…..and how much of the IPCC report is fiction???? the only thing proven is how much some scientists will do(fib) to advance their agenda….
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By: uawtradesman on February 18, 2010
at 8:19 AM
Excellent links, Whirled, as always!
UAW, follow the general rule of thumb for research:
if you’re in grade school, you may use certain newspapers, websites, and magazines for your project (just don’t cut out the pictures if the magazine don’t belong to you.) Also, not cutting pictures out of library books.
Middle school to 9th grade: citations may come from newspapers, websites, and books. Citations must include author’s name, pub. title/month&yr, websites must include full URL with date information pulled. Research materials must be submitted in addition to your work.
HighSchool: All sources must be fully cited in accordance with the MLA standard. Your work may include references to these citations but must not be composed solely of citations. Be sure your thesis statement is upheld and your argument well-crafted.
College: Using a plethora of citations will not guarantee you a good grade. Articulation and analysis are the pillars of good critical writing. While newspapers serve a purpose, all newspaper citations must be fully analyzed and require at least two additional citations discussing the premise of that citation.
Example: USA Today is not considered a primary source – then cross reference with a primary source
Thanks to the “intertubes” and kindle, primary sources are more readily available than ever before. Utilize them
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By: greytdog on February 18, 2010
at 7:44 AM
Heal fast, Jean!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 18, 2010
at 6:10 AM
You are welcome ,
That was the first link I found.
This was the second: 😉
The Medieval Warm Period was not a global phenomenon. Warmer conditions were concentrated in certain regions.
Some regions were even colder than during the Little Ice Age. To claim the Medieval Warm Period was warmer than today is to narrowly focus on a few regions that showed unusual warmth. However, when we look at the broader picture, we see that the Medieval Warm Period was a regional phenomenon with other regions showing strong cooling. Globally, temperatures during the Medieval Period were less than today.
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 18, 2010
at 12:15 AM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Woe is me. I have had a small cyst on my right jaw line for some time. For no reason at all, it blossumed into a full blown nasty abscess in just a few days. I was able to get in to see the dermatologist on short notice and he fixed it this morning. Right now, that side of my face looks and feels like a chipmonk’s.
Shit.
Don’t worry. I’ll survive. But for now, I think I’ll find a corner somewhere to crawl into, suck my thumb, feel sorry for myself and wallow.
Carry on.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 18, 2010
at 12:07 AM
Thank you Whirled Peas , I thoroughly enjoyed the link, we are blessed to live in an era where science dispels superstition.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 17, 2010
at 11:57 PM
“The Medieval Warming Crock”
8) ~ Δ ~ WWGKD?
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 17, 2010
at 10:37 PM
UAW, you are too smart to get your news from a newspaper written for a seventh grade reading comprehension level.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 17, 2010
at 10:24 PM
gregorio, the Taliban will not be defeated. They may go underground until times are calmer. They may do a name change. These radicals are always present. As I have pointed out, we have our radicals too. Many of ours are in positions of power.
As far as Pakistan’s support, they owe us. We have been backing them for decades, militarily. They will pretty much let us do whatever we want, though a vast amount of their people are sympathetic to our opposition. If we continue covert and drone operations in their country and harm civilians, we just garner more support for our enemies.
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By: Poolman on February 17, 2010
at 9:35 PM
no ones puppet…..
it is settled science for puppets….scientist are asking where is the data that ‘YOU’ used for your theory and the answer is “its lost”….
apparently you haven’t heard about all the backpedaling being done by the IPCC…..try USA TODAY……
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By: uawtradesman on February 17, 2010
at 9:20 PM
UAW, global warming/climate change, whatever, is settled science, period. Got it? Don’t bring it up again, it makes you sound ignorant.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 17, 2010
at 8:54 PM
Poolman,
Do you think the Pakistani government is looking at cooperating with the United States as assisting with helping it land a “big ass foot print” in the region?
Or do they see the hand writing on the wall if they do not defeat the Taliban?
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By: gregorio on February 17, 2010
at 8:30 PM
OceanGypsi – when I cought the smiley face it had already been accepted and I couldn’t change it!! However glad you enjoyed it.
If you are ever in SoCal please stop by and I’ll happily give you a hug!My typing has improved a lot, but still as room for improvement!!
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By: Grandma Katie on February 17, 2010
at 8:20 PM
Grandma Katie,
I am absolutely loving your ‘typo’ that inserted a smiley into your post about PowerPoint. How befitting and much more explanatory than the actual words. Had I been in your presence when I read that, I would have had to give you a big hug as I belly laughed. It was absolutely perfect!!!
I’m going to go finish last night’s Pinoit Noir. It was really tasty.
Cheers!! ¥
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By: OceanGypsi on February 17, 2010
at 7:34 PM
gregorio, those deployments were for NATO and strengthening our european alliance. More humanitarian and political in nature. And we did not leave a big-assed footprint behind, like we are doing in the mideast.
“President Bill Clinton launched a war to reverse Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic’s “ethnic cleansing” of Albanians from the province of Kosovo.”
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By: Poolman on February 17, 2010
at 7:29 PM
Greytdog, thanks so much for the link to the jobs graph.
I sent it in my reply to Michael Steele’s email to me today. 😀
UAW, what is your data source about the medieval times being colder than now? I’m just curious about how that study was conducted.
JJ, wonderful response. You have so much patience. 🙂
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 17, 2010
at 7:18 PM
juneau joe….
so we’re warming up to where we were in the medieval times…….is this man-made global warming or is it natural coming out of the mine ice age……scientist have said that they fudged the data…….so WTF is real….peer review isn’t a bunch of liars lying about false data……is some of the data real??????I think Franklin should add another chapter to his book….LIES AND THE LYING LIARS….
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By: uawtradesman on February 17, 2010
at 7:05 PM
Good points Poolman.
So why did we send troops to Kosovo,
and participate in the mid 90’s stop to slaughter and genocide in the former republics of Russia?
But by your reasoning both parties right and left have participated in nation building or oil exploration if we go by your explanation for troop deployment.
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By: gregorio on February 17, 2010
at 6:58 PM
UAW: I applaud you for driving 4 cylinders – me too. Global Warming: i have spent time in a village on the Yukon River – it is warming. Permafrost along the Yukon has melted. It is totally different than it was 30 – 50 years ago. The ice packs are breaking up at greater than expected rates. The isolated of the Chukchi sea and Beauford Sea are warming. These isolated places are plankton rich and as they warm, they are less rich in nutrients for wildlife.
Gore making money! If we end up with more efficient cars and greener ways of life – it will be worth it, in my opinion. Rush has a contract for 400 Million dollars to deny Global warming. Beck got 21 Million last year. Dear Sarah is pulling in a few bucks too.
What if Global Warming is real and we do nothing?
In my opinion, we have been putting profit over caring for the earth for the next 100 years.
UAW: Thanks for being thoughtful about Global Warming.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 17, 2010
at 6:51 PM
greytdog….
didn’t see where it talked about the temp in the medieval times and it being colder now….
I don’t have a problem with recycling or conservation(I’ve driven 4-bangers since 72)(where applicable)(I’ve also driven tractors burning 15 gph)(that’s gallons per hour)…..what I have a problem with is someone(Al Gore) trying to make billions off us in taxes…….I also have a problem with “scientists” trying to get more funding(grants) by falsifying data….and I don’t care what you say….THEY LIED
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By: uaw tradesman on February 17, 2010
at 6:09 PM
“Barack Obama in the Crosshairs: Is the military threatening to kill Obama over US war policy?”
This is a good article and comparison of Obama and JFK, and their dance with our military.
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By: Poolman on February 17, 2010
at 5:44 PM
Hi UAW – here’s a good place to start
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/
I like the way they’ve laid out the science in easy to understand layman terms – plus if you’re interested in going more in-depth, then they also provide links which, IMO, are always lots of fun. Sort of like taking the road less traveled simply because it’s there. . .
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By: greytdog on February 17, 2010
at 4:24 PM
Massive Sioux Indian Reservation Battles Snow with 3 Ploughs : Republic of Lakotah – Mitakuye Oyasin http://bit.ly/9Gq45M
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By: greytdog on February 17, 2010
at 12:46 PM
UAW you’d be better off reading the science rather than the history of climate change. BTW Climate change/global warming are NOT the same as weather patterns. just sayin’
Hope you’re doing okay. . .
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By: greytdog on February 17, 2010
at 12:46 PM
auntie jean….
very good post about weather…..
you still haven’t explained why it is colder now than in the medieval period(800 to 1300 AD)(gardening in Greenland)……
juneau joe says to read history…..I say read all history,not parts…..
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By: uaw tradesman on February 17, 2010
at 12:40 PM
exactly poolman. the only reason we “invaded Iraq” and not the countries in Africa is because Africa has no oil.
This “new” excuse for nation building by the right is so see through it could be used for Swiss cheese.
The right couldn’t care less about “human rights” of other countries. Hell they don’t even want human rights for their OWN countrymen women.
It is just yet another talking point that the sheepels have fallen for and are silly enough to repeat in a room full of educated thinkers.
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By: lori on February 17, 2010
at 11:17 AM
gregorio, I do believe we should have a military to provide for the common defense, as is written in our founding documents. This was not to be a police force to control the entire planet with over 700 bases on foreign soil, sucking up a quarter of our tax base.
I do believe in human rights for all peoples, but not an army to enforce those rights in countries all over the globe. Nor do I feel our morals and culture is somehow superior to all others and therefore should be the blueprint for all civilized societies. We fail on so many levels that we are no good example. Look at our history and our present state of affairs. How well have we perserved our own native peoples and their culture?
Genocide and crimes against humanity have been going on in Africa for decades, yet we do not invade those countries. We have been “looking the other way” there for years. You mention Somalia and the current unrest and the pirates. What should we do about them and that nation? It was in large part our efforts and also the other superpowers that brought it to the condition it is in today.
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By: Poolman on February 17, 2010
at 11:10 AM
Is Gregorio a newcomer or the old troll who just changed names?
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By: Grandma Katie on February 17, 2010
at 11:05 AM
Jen – who cares that we don’t know about :ower Point. I k now what it is and have no reason to use it. Therefore I know what it is and that’s all so who cares?
By th e way the book is here and from just reading the forward it’s a lot of tough reading. I have already reached the conclusion that there are many on both sides of the “pond” that should be strung up.
another beautiful day in SoCal, just cooler than yesterday. and no rain or mudslides!
My, but my scrolling finger is getting a workout.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 17, 2010
at 11:03 AM
Poolman, KO is about the ONLY national commentator bringing attn to the dire situation in the Dakotas. Nary a peep from any other source except the reservations themselves. BLM is not addressing the issue, and FEMA only addresses in a roundabout way.
Sending subpar trailers to the Dakotas in the dead of winter is like Palin delivering a plate of cookies to Eagle River.
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By: greytdog on February 17, 2010
at 10:45 AM
Road to Recovery – GRAPH
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By: greytdog on February 17, 2010
at 10:28 AM
Poolman,
My issues are these….
How do you feel about only boys having an education. Keep the girls and women barefoot, pregnant..and ignorant.
How about the forced issue of girls and women being completely covered. What about not allowing children to play soccer…or listen to music…or even fly kites?
How about the public flogging for not abiding to the Taliban rules..or worse death.
Obviously I think you believe that any organized unit of defense forces are not needed or warranted. Even the founding fathers made specific arrangements for a standing army.
Yes we took our eye off the ball for eight years and should have pursued the bastards who were responsible for 911. Yemen= Cole bombing.
What do you say to the families of the lost sailors?
Yemen a training ground to learn how to hide bombs in your undies to kill civilians on airliners.
Somalia a breeding ground for terrorists and thugs who capture innocent people on the high seas. Much like the actions that caused the young United States to go after Barbary pirates who raided and captured ships,cargo and men and held them for ransom, the US and its allies are again having to patrol the eastern coast of Africa. What to do? Nothing?
I just cannot understand how we should look the other way when genocide is committed and terrorists are trained to do nothing but raid hotels in Pakistani to specifically kill civilians,bomb trains in Spain and busses in England. Slice the throat of Mr.Daniel Pearl and demonstrate on TV the decapitating of an american in Iraq.
Tit for tat?..NO. I believe in making it so that the enemy…is made to cry uncle. These terrorists hiding in Pakistan and Afghanistan have one mission. Finally. What about the people who stand up to these people in their own country? They want us there. They want the Taliban gone. I’m sure each day an American soldier straps on a backpack and weapon up..he’s thinking of wanting to be at home rather than going out and having to hunt someone down thats planting bombs to kill children and or soldiers.
THE TERRORISTS JUST DON’T CARE.
I’m just glad we’re all allowed to express our viewpoints and even be able to listen to constructive arguments to the contrary.
Regards……
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By: gregorio on February 17, 2010
at 9:49 AM
Greytdog, KO has been on top of this disaster. There is still help needed, but it is getting MSM coverage.
“Countdown” viewers raised $185,000 in 24 hours after host Keith Olbermann urged them to donate on behalf of the victims of the South Dakota ice storms.
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By: Poolman on February 17, 2010
at 9:38 AM
WTG ( thats ‘way to go ‘in web lingo) I have friends who as of day 1 when Mr Obama was elected, were saying that he would bring the country down and for 2920 days, they didnt say one damn thing about the hole Mr. Bush had graciously dug for US and was hoping we would drown in it as he and others filled it with water. So now, my Friends have a ? as to their sanity.
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By: Jay on February 17, 2010
at 9:20 AM
Between the disaster in Haiti, the campus shooting in Alabama, and the Winter Olympics, this unreported and ignored disaster is taking place in the heartland of the USA
Due to the recent ice and snowstorms that blasted through the country, the reservations in South Dakota – Pine Ridge & Rosebud & well as the Cheyenne Rez – have been hard hit – rivaling the situation last year in Alaska. As many as 1,500 to 2,000 homes on the reservation are without heat and water; neither is expected to be restored for several weeks. FEMA is considering sending trailers (the ones that no one wants to live in – & which have no heat). Food supplies are extremely low, people have gone without their medicines for over a month, and the State/Federal Govt are more concerned about the bison herds welfare.
PLEASE HELP USA DISASTER!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLfa-3by07w
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By: greytdog on February 17, 2010
at 9:08 AM
That’s right Jean!
Unlike the the crank who not only holds on to grudges but does so by using various names to convey his nastiness.
How unhappy and empty a person must be to come onto a private blog and disparage a complete stranger whom has done absolutely nothing to them!
Walk in the light and you will always be warm.. 😉
namaste’
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By: lori on February 17, 2010
at 3:58 AM
I’m a newbie and love some Margaret and Helen
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By: gsmp on February 17, 2010
at 2:20 AM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Before dinner, I hoisted a nice glass of White Zin to all my cherished dear friends here who were so supportive today. Thank you.
I also learned all I need to know about ‘Power Point’ as long as I have the genius of Bruddah Peas to depend on. I guess I have been receiving plenty of them right along so our computer must be rigged with it. But I can’t seem to pass them on. We had a ‘Computer Guru’ who set the whole thing up. I hesitate to call on him too often because it costs $$$$$$! It’s like driving a car but not having a clue about what’s under the hood.
So may peace go with all of you. I’m a tough Old Broad and way too busy living my life to be a grudge collector. Right now I’m up to my ears with preparations for my husband’s 81st birthday celebration. And I have the Olympics to tend to!
I am always amazed by the strength, skill, determination and grace of those marvelous young people. If it were up to me, I would be passing out Gold Medals right and left!
Nighty night all,
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 17, 2010
at 1:19 AM
gregorio, I don’t recall mentioning the recent civilians that were killed Monday when we greatly missed our intended target. I don’t believe this war is like others we have fought in the past. What is our noble cause? Who is the enemy? To these civilians, it is probably us. And as far as an accident is concerned, there are no accidents in war, just casualties. Maybe these were not the intended casualties, but still they were casualties. As soon as you strap on a gun and intentionally invade a foreign country, the resulting carnage is not accidental. Saying it’s just war is not a justifiable excuse. 8 plus years we have been waging this war. We are down to less than 100 al Qaeda and only a few hundred Taliban. What would you consider a win in this war? We did not declare war on Afghanistan. Only terrorists. That is a very broad stroke. Time to move on to a new land to ravage and justify our war machine? Iran? Yemen? Pakistan? You don’t see us doing a Waco again here? Once you are trained and geared up to fight terrorism, you can find it everywhere. Got to keep feeding that machine.
I am tired of the poor excuses that keep us at “war.” We can always paint someone as an enemy, and the way we are conducting ourselves in the world, we are making many more of those than we are allies. Our men and women in uniform have been greatly exploited this past decade, IMO. We have done too little too late to make up for the turmoil we have put them through. We will continue to reap what we have sown, I believe.
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By: Poolman on February 17, 2010
at 12:32 AM
Jean,
Don’t worry about PPoint.
I get them in e-mails with colorfull pics and music and or messages with type written dialogue. Most of the time yo can download the programs that will allow you to receive them and open them.
I just thought that by now you would have had someone send you one.
Now I will admit. Making one is not easy.
I started, but putting one together is another experience. THat part is not easy.
But please understand that a blog site is to share
your piece of mind. Not the whole encyclopedia.
Just sharing. I’m sure I will be attacked Jean.
Perhaps you can understand. Maybe I have a short attention span.
La pace sia con voi
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By: gregorio on February 16, 2010
at 11:53 PM
Poolman,
Yes I was saddened to hear about the errant blast that killed the innocents in Afghanistan.
However..this is a war.
Much like our fathers and brothers fought in Germany..home islands of Japan and Vietnam.
Civilians are killed.
The city and countryside in Afghan was warned and warned that the attack was coming.
A rocket is just that. Just like a bottle rocket.
Not very accurate.
A missile however is.
For what ever reason, the rocket that landed and killed children was an accident.
Now to the ones who launched the rocket barrage. They factored in the information given to them. FOG of War. That is the description for what happens when “murphy” rears his ugly head and all hell breaks loose.
Unfortunately for the civilians, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were killed.
Now for the other sides viewpoint. The enemy
does not care about civilian casualties. They even
try to cause them in order to formulate a negative view of the coalition’s efforts.
Just sayin. Its not black and white.
It’s just war.
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By: gregorio on February 16, 2010
at 11:41 PM
I think the Lord lifted up Gregorio and then dropped him on his head.
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By: jsri on February 16, 2010
at 9:52 PM
Jean:
Believe me. PowerPoint is no big deal. It can substitute for a high energy slide show but unless you teach or do presentations at scientific or business meetings you don’t need it. It’s the computer generation’s answer to lantern slides, something only those of our generation would know about. It’s often used by simpletons as a crutch to keep them organized, something SP would probably use if someone else would set it up for her. But it certainly beats writing on the palm of your hand.
And ignore the comments of Gregorio, the dung beetle, one of the rudest commentators we’ve seen in some time. If he is really 60, he is still wet behind the ears and it shows in his nasty comments. And I’ve also noticed a couple comments from someone, too much of a coward to use a screen name for identification, who is equally rude. Just ignore them. They sound like my wingnut brother-in-law who is the most contentious person I’ve ever met. My technique is to win arguments by ignoring him. That really gets his goat and leaves him frustrated. It is fun to see him sputter to a halt.
Greytdog: re trolls. HOORAY! Right on target.
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By: jsri on February 16, 2010
at 9:49 PM
Donna, you left out “I was right.”
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 16, 2010
at 9:38 PM
Greytdog, are you having a tough day? You didn’t sound like yourself at times.
Dear anonymous, please understand that grammar is much less important when you’re trying to say something constructive or of substance. If all a person has to contribute is a personal attack, then the substance of the person is already a bit murky. Poor grammar sort of seals the deal if the reader is the kind to notice such things. Some of us here are teachers, writers, editors… many of us had fantastic teachers we are grateful to.
If one expects people to rise to the level of intelligent civil debate, then the serve has to have a little intellectual muscle or the game feels over before it starts. Smart people don’t end to waste their time, and that goes for either side of a debate.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 16, 2010
at 9:30 PM
Cheers to you also OceanGypsi! Don’t you be giving me any ideas though! Off to bed I go!
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By: Easier on February 16, 2010
at 9:03 PM
And I raise mine to you, OceanGypsi.
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By: Donna on February 16, 2010
at 8:51 PM
Why would anybody who doesn’t work in an office, attend meetings or give presentations know anything about PowerPoint? You don’t use it at home, don’t sit down and read it for information, it sure isn’t entertaining – in fact, I consider it a largish boil on the arse of my day any time I have to sit through it. Especially if they don’t mute the obnoxious sound effects.
But apparently there are some people who prefer it to reading. Especially reading about history, science or politics.
So they’re here for the fashion tips? Stock market quotes? That new car smell? I’m afraid they’re in for a disappointment. This is a blog that is largely about politics and current events. These subjects always draw heavily on history and science if the discussion is ‘reality based’.
If anyone is going into too much detail for you, you know where to find the scroll bar. Don’t worry, it’s a lot easier than PowerPoint. You can handle it – I know you can.
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By: judith on February 16, 2010
at 8:46 PM
Ahhh. Greytdog, Easier, and Donna. You beat me to the punch while I was typing. I raise my glass to you. My sentiments exactly!!!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 16, 2010
at 8:42 PM
Cheers!! ¥ I bought a delicious Pinoit Noir to celebrate Mardi Gras as I finish my homework.
I’ve been sitting here pondering the ‘pearls of sage wisdom’ that have been cast onto the porch this evening. When did a software become more important than showing respect to those who have more life experiences and wisdom to share? Would a slideshow presentation have kept us out of Iraq? Will a slideshow bring back all of the lost jobs and restore all of the foreclosed upon homes? Somebody quick!! Alt-F-N. Maybe we can get healthcare for all!!!!! We don’t need any present animations. Don’t worry about the slide transition. Just focus on the content. Fo-cus on the coonnnttteeennnttt.
Just sayin’…
Love, prayers, and respect to my soldiers in Afghanistan!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 16, 2010
at 8:37 PM
Greytdog: what you said.
And, of course, let us all remember that James was not simply Wagnerian in the length of his posts–they were basically always saying the same thing. And it was typically “Sarah Palin: Good” or “Ted Kennedy: Bad.”
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By: Donna on February 16, 2010
at 8:29 PM
Quick: Who Wrote THIS?
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 16, 2010
at 8:25 PM
Yes, Grandma Katie, I agree with you. If you don’t need to use something, especially when it pertains to new technology, you don’t have any kind of obligation to know anything about it. My son thaught me to use power point last year, meaning actually inputting my own information in the power point and using it for a presentation. I have used power points before, but the data has already been worked by somebody else, all I had to do is click. So I did not know how to start, my then 18 year old showed me. Before that the need did not arise for me to know it.
I think it is very unbecoming to come here and mock somebody for not knowing how to use technology, no matter the person’s age.
And Donna, believe it, feel free to be my mouthpiece, being polite does not seem to work wth certain people.
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By: Easier on February 16, 2010
at 8:23 PM
I think everyone who posts here regularly has written lengthy posts periodically. I’ve always enjoyed Jean’s posts because they are interesting and well-written. I used to read James’ posts with the same interest – if you’re informative, add something new to the conversation, etc. then I really don’t care about the length. It’s content that we care about – not necessarily length. So if you have a lengthy harangue against people who post here, we’ll basically tell you to STFU. As I am tell you, Anonymous. STFU. You add NOTHING to this conversation.
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By: greytdog on February 16, 2010
at 8:19 PM
The Lord lifts me up vgmanΔ.
He will do the same for Jean I’m sure.
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By: gregorio on February 16, 2010
at 8:16 PM
Donna,
Nice try. Aren’t you also the one who repeatedly harangued James for his lengthy posts?
How do you paint that particular hypocrisy as it pertains to your adored Auntie Jean?
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By: Anonymous on February 16, 2010
at 8:15 PM
maybe…just maybe…vgman has read enough posts from certain of us that he knows we make the occasional typo (particularly when multi-tasking) but, on balance, are fairly literate. In constrast, Craig was simply stupid and Gregorio crossed a line by insulting our adored Auntie Jean.
So, hypocrisy? No. Familiarity with certain posters? More likely.
Many of us just love Auntie Jean and truly welcome her posts.
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By: Donna on February 16, 2010
at 7:46 PM
vgman,
I have a question for you. Why is it that you don’t correct Juneau Joe’s “dieing,” or Donna’s ignorance regarding “alot,” but you call out Craig & gregoire’s grammar errors? Joe even mocks the tea bagger signs and their misspelled words over and over again.
Smells like hypocrisy to me.
And noooooOOOOO, Jean’s not a blog hog. Not much.
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By: Anonymous on February 16, 2010
at 7:37 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Recently, our youngest son and his family in Pennsylvania were almost literally buried in snow. They had 4-5’ drifts against their front door and naturally, couldn’t even think of getting out of their driveway. Every state in the U. S. has had measurable snow this winter except Hawaii. (The high altitude peaks of Moana Loa and Moana Kea on the Big Island usually get snow, but not this year.) Much of Europe and other parts of our planet in northern latitudes have also experienced record snowfall.
I have heard some Republicans gleefully jeering Al Gore and much of the scientific community about Global Warming/Climate Change. They say all they have to do is look out their windows and yell “What Global Warming?”
I am going to try to explain it in as simple terms as I can. No multi-syllabic language. Oops! Sorry. I mean no big words. Perhaps some of you could try to convey it in somewhat the same way to your conservative friends. Most grade school kids learn this in school if they are paying any attention at all.
When ice melts it becomes water. As the water warms it evaporates and goes up into the air (humidity) and becomes clouds. The prevailing winds blow the clouds around the globe. When the clouds encounter colder air, they turn back into water and fall down as rain; even colder air, as snow. That has to do with Gravity. We all remember the story of Newton and how he discovered Gravity when he was sitting under an apple tree and a falling apple zonked him on the head. (That story is probably not exactly correct, but for now, it will do.) Anyhow, rain and snow are heavier than air, so they fall down to earth.
All living creatures; human, animal and plant life need water to survive. Fresh water comes from rain or melted snow as opposed to ocean salt water. Our food is dependant on fresh water for agriculture. Animal life breathes in oxygen, (O-2) and exhales carbon dioxide, (CO-2), two of the gases in the air. Trees and plant life take in CO-2 and give off O-2. So the balance of nature keeps the air healthy for all forms of life.
We humans (and an occasional beaver) cut down too many trees, clear out vegetation and plant asphalt. We burn too much fossil fuel and that gives off too much CO-2. CO-2 acts like a blanket, keeping the surface of the earth warmer. The more CO-2, the more ‘blankets’ are piled on. So the polar ice caps, glaciers and mountains at higher elevations are losing ice and snow. Thus, more ice melts, more water evaporates; it makes more clouds and more rain and snow come down.
This next is a bit of an over-simplification: The Earth is tilted on its axis so that the rays of the sun are less hot in winter in northern latitudes, thus colder. It is exactly the opposite in southern latitudes. Their summer is our winter and vice versa. That’s why we have seasons. (Apropos to nothing, did you know that when you flush the toilet north of the equator, the water swirls down counter-clockwise? South of the equator, it swirls down clockwise.)
For sure, we need water, but too much causes floods. Fires and the denuding of forests cause mudslides. Too much snow causes society to grind to a screeching halt. (Bears are smarter than people. They just find a den, hibernate and sleep through the winter. Good plan!)
Now, to paraphrase the well-known commercial, this seems to me so simple even a Republican/conservative could understand it. Sheesh!
Science and technology are always way, way, way ahead of political and cultural thinking.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 16, 2010
at 7:36 PM
Short visit – but read the comments – to which I wish to add:
gregorio – you may be over 60 (which I doubt) but here’s a clue you’re really not welcomed STFU. And if you don’t know what that means, google it.
vgman and poolman – yes I know that wasn’t nice of me, but I’m not in the mood to be polite to a troll who has nothing better to do than mock someone else because that person is not conversant about an effin’ software program. gregorio should go soak his bunions and his head.
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By: greytdog on February 16, 2010
at 7:28 PM
gregorio–
You’re using the contraction “you’re” incorrectly and it is precisely your incorrect usage that irks me more than your blathering. Were you absent on the day your teacher wrote the difference on the board?
On the other hand, you do spell “a lot” correctly, and I appreciate it!
And one more thing, don’t put others down. Lift them up.
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By: vgmanΔ on February 16, 2010
at 6:58 PM
I’m not ready to consign Gregorio a role as a troll just yet, thus far I think he presents a different point of view, much like UAW, even though I think UAW goes off on a rant every now and then, no offense intended UAW, we are all aware of your personal situation. A lot of my friends in real life are polls apart from me politically, heck we have family members who are no doubt teabaggers on both sides of the family. We didn’t choose the relatives, so we are stuck with them, sigh.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 16, 2010
at 6:46 PM
JuneauJoe – either Friday or SAturday will e fine. Hope this gorgeous weather holds for you. Just give me a call for directions.
DElurjer Girl – yo mean I have to reado his ranting to get his poor grammar? Nah, I don’t want to spoil a beautiful Sunday.
I j ust received the book “”Web of Deceit” in the mail. Just scanned a few pages of the forward and my disposition has sunk to a new low.
It seems as tho there are many who should be strung up and shoot. Just my opinion.
And as for Jean not knowing about Power point, well th ere are a lot of us who have not had the need of using it and so do not know about it.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 16, 2010
at 6:42 PM
Oceangypsy, do watch the video, it not exactly about Palin…. A J seems to be the only news source to take up the slack since CNN decided to be entertainment news. I off go to them for world news, from all the continents.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 16, 2010
at 6:32 PM
no one’s puppetΔ, Lori, and Auntie Jean,
Mahalo for the hugs and support. And thank you, NOP, for reminding me of the aljezeera english link. I’ve been all over the internet and forgot about them. Too bad they covered Palin…..
Anyhoo. Thanks, again!
Happy Mardi Gras
(PS Auntie Jean, I think that you rock at 80 years old and blog as much as you do!!! You have O’hana here in Arkansas.)
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By: OceanGypsi on February 16, 2010
at 6:01 PM
Oh..and You must be one of the “congenial” people
Jean speaks so highly of?
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By: gregorio on February 16, 2010
at 5:28 PM
Being rude, stupid or foolish can happen at 16 or 60+.
If you decide not to read about history, science or politics you should probably find another blog to hang around.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 16, 2010
at 4:30 PM
Well I’m over 60 and I at least don’t preach.
I know a lot about a lot of things..but I don’t preach.
And I’m not too old to learn from others as well.
Just don’t preach about something out of a book.
History/science/politics.
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By: gregorio on February 16, 2010
at 4:23 PM
no ones puppet……..
I agree with you……”We all, Democrats and Republicans, overestimate the size of the teabag voting bloc to our own peril.”
but i don’t think that there will be a third party with Palin and if there is the “tea baggers” won’t vote for her………Palin is the Repubs. Howard Dean………some (a few) good talking points but no candidate…….
and you know how much i like Nancy P
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By: uaw tradesman on February 16, 2010
at 4:04 PM
“Also, too her hair extensions look awful”.
Well, she’s trying to keep looking young and cute. But Time Marches On for the grifter, as well as for the rest of us. Eventually, she’ll have to progress to full “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane” mode. Should be fun to watch……..
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By: judith on February 16, 2010
at 3:39 PM
WWGKD! (Except, I think she’d forgive me for saying that, also, too, Gregorio’s grammar is poor.)
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 16, 2010
at 3:34 PM
Actually, Easier, I’d put it somewhat differently:
Gregorio–kiss my ass. You have yet to post anything remotely interesting so who the hell are you to mock someone who reguarly does post things which are worthwhile?
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By: Donna on February 16, 2010
at 2:04 PM
“…it was the politically greedy John McCain who placed the slipper of fame on her foot — upon which she put it in her mouth.”
Sarah Palin, finally a fallen star
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/15/AR2010021502856.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions
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By: SouthPaw on February 16, 2010
at 1:24 PM
@ Judy on February 15, 2010 at 8:29 PM
” The more we learn about you, the less impressed (and more shocked and often nauseated) we are, the more we harden our suspicion that you really ARE an empty vessel, a vacuous, amoral small-town grifter with an eye for nothing beyond the main chance, the next pay-day and the next photo-op.”
Good one Judy…and from a Fox producer no less.
Also, too her hair extensions look awful.
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By: SouthPaw on February 16, 2010
at 1:18 PM
Gregorio, please do respect your elders and let Auntie Jean be.
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By: Easier on February 16, 2010
at 12:51 PM
I am bothered by the ‘Do as I say, Not as I do’ mentality of the Republicans.
Now Cheney(s) are out saying Military courts when:
1. Bush/ Cheney used Courts.
2. The information gathered from those captured came primarily from those who were subjected to the normal US court system.
Grandma Katie: It looks like I will drop by Friday afternoon or Saturday. No set plans – lots to see and do and little time.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 16, 2010
at 12:35 PM
@ JeanΔ ¥ on February 15, 2010
Jean, aren’t you in Hawaii? Shouldn’t that couple be covered? I don’t know much about the Hawaiian medical plan.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 16, 2010
at 11:50 AM
Just before Margaret and Helen die…we need to take them to the tree of souls and have them transformed into their Avatars so that they will live forever…
I “see” you…
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By: Josh on February 16, 2010
at 11:27 AM
We all, Democrats and Republicans, overestimate the size of the teabag voting bloc to our own peril.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 16, 2010
at 11:05 AM
“The Mother of all perpetual wars, War on Terror, followed by unjustified and undeclared wars: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Iran… Who are the enemies? Bad Taliban, Semi-bad Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaeda Supporters, Possible Al-Qaeda, Islamists, Fanatics, semi-fanatics, fanatic-looking dudes, Iran-ists, and with them all the civilians ‘just our collateral damage.’; babies, women, elderly…Kidnapping, torture, assassinations, black sites, black operations, black budgets…”
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By: Poolman on February 16, 2010
at 10:55 AM
“Gee, I didn’t know there was such a thing as ‘Power Point’ let alone that we have it. It is amazing what we can learn from reading M&H!”
Jean.
I don’t believe it. Your blogging. Your spouting everything you know about what is wrong or right.
About why the right is wrong and how Helen and Margaret have saved the world….
YOU have railed about everything the “America Empire” has done or not done. Indians killed, Teddy Roosevelt a racist to the militarization of space.
“I am now working on our nExt phase of American Imperialism into outer space as the final battle ground to gain world domination. That really got going with Reagan and his “Star Wars” inititative. It is a real bottomless money pit that benefits only the big military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned against.” Jean.
…and NOW Auntie Jean.. YOU JUST NOW profess YOU were not aware of PowerPoint…?
“I don’t have a clue as to how to do it.”
OMG. LOL.
And “you all” claim Palin has no clue?
I’ll bet you have no clue.
I think I just heard another “left” foot drop.
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By: gregorio on February 16, 2010
at 10:21 AM
KO’s Special Comment:
Tea Parties And Race
PEACE ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 16, 2010
at 9:57 AM
I’ve been following this blog for a couple of years now, not much of a poster until I feel compelled. I do enjoy reading others though and wish I had more to contribute in the way of clever prose. But, I did Want to share that my husband and I go to Speed Week in Daytona every year, its part of the marriage agreement. Now I know that the Nascar crowd is not exactly known for their progressive thinking but I was totally in shock when during the introduction for the 500 S Palin was introduced to say a few words. She blathered some gibberish about up there in Alasker (how it sounds when she says it to me) and the snowmobile races and etc etc. I was heartened to hear though that although some down in the tri oval crowd cheered, there wasn’t a whole lot coming from our section in Roberts Towers. Mainly some polite applause and definitely booing, especially from myself and husband. (I had heard on the radio that she was going to speak, for $50 a seat, in the coliseum.) I was so worried that she was going to do the start your engine thing which would have pretty much ruined the whole race. But fortunately she didn’t. One other thing that I noticed though, Nascar recognized a military unit from Georgia there was a lot of hoopla and applause, but when they (the announcers) tried to get the crowd to chant USA, not very many complied. Harry Connick Jr. sang the National anthem and did a great job.
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By: Hillbilly on February 16, 2010
at 7:13 AM
Helen – I adore you. You say it all so perfectly.
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By: C Bell on February 16, 2010
at 5:54 AM
One fine smack down of SP:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kara-vallow/happy-palintines-day-a-lo_b_462033.html
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By: Judy on February 15, 2010
at 8:29 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Last week in our local newspaper, there was an article about a couple in dire straits. The reporter verified their story. It is not exactly front page news.
They are young, 35-40. (From where I sit at age 80, that’s very young!) His wife has breast cancer and needs radical surgery. She can no longer work. Her husband was recently laid off. They have no health insurance and they are about to lose their home. They are tapped out. They have certainly hit just about the most desperate patch there is in life. They have exhausted every avenue of help available but are not eligible. The article said that they would be in front of our local supermarket Sunday accepting donations to help.
Yesterday morning, my husband made his usual run to the market to pick up his newspaper and my traditional Sunday morning Maple Bar. (My weekly weakness.)
The couple was there with a sign. My husband emptied his wallet.
Now, I know nothing of their ethnic, racial, religious affiliation or socio-economic status but they are Americans.
What’s wrong with this word picture? Here we are, the self-proclaimed richest, most advanced country in the world. Yet, what does it say when our citizens are reduced to begging in the street? How and why did we get to this point?
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 15, 2010
at 8:25 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, Bruddah Peas and jsri,
Gee, I didn’t know there was such a thing as ‘Power Point’ let alone that we have it. It is amazing what we can learn from reading M&H!
By the way, I address my comments to our ‘Congenial Gang’ at large and sometimes to individuals as well. That is because I feel as if I am eavesdropping on private conversations, but I derive some guilty pleasure from reading other’s posts to individuals anyway. That’s just me.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 15, 2010
at 7:33 PM
Margaret and Helen, I’m so glad you are both blogging again!
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By: Alice on February 15, 2010
at 3:50 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, Whirled Peas and MiKat,
Brudda Peas, I knew I could rely on your genius. You did it! Actually, your link is longer and more complete than the ‘attachment’ I received.
Now would someone tell me why bears in Maine get better medical care than the average American?????
MiKat, thank you for the info on “FixItAndPassIt’. I’m on board.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 15, 2010
at 2:44 PM
Oh, sure. Palin might be a third party candidate in 2012, but third parties have had a terrible history. This really doesn’t seem to be the country for them. As for what we want to see in a candidate, or anyone else, for that matter comes down to this: we believe we not only have a right to expect the best out of the best people but the right to demand that best — and live to tell about it (see recent stuff in Iran). Thats why we get so upset about people who absolutely cannot string together a proper sentence and sound like they are on drugs when they try. Thats why we get so upset with people who campaign on family values, etc. and then betray their spouse and lie about it. Yup, I figure this right to expect and demand is one of those unlisted unalienable rights. For certain apologists who ring into this blog now and then, does that explain things?
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By: mageen in Old Virginny on February 15, 2010
at 1:17 PM
: ( http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/02/201021573241427449.html )
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 15, 2010
at 12:27 PM
I found this interview clip quite enlightening, perhaps as a people, Liberals and Conservatives, we are less divided than the political pundits would have us think. Sometimes I just think our news is so distorted.
Palin reaches out at Daytona 500
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 15, 2010
at 12:25 PM
Sarah Palin:
A Life In Google Searches
😉 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 15, 2010
at 12:24 PM
To everyone on the porch,
This is from C&L. I thought this was a great way to get people active in the Health Care Reform bill again.
My name is Noelle Cigarroa Bell, and I’ve been working for the past year on health care reform as a grassroots advocate. I would like to announce exciting news–we’re working with Darcy Burner on the FixItAndPassIt! Project. Here’s what our project is about:
Healthcare Reform: Fix It and Pass It! is a project of the Progressive Congress Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to connecting the progressive movement, ideas, and Congress.
I’ve started this movement with Eve Gittelson, a noted health care activist, and Darcy Burner, the Executive Director of ProgressiveCongress.org. We’re starting a massive push to make 1,000,000 calls to Congress on February 24th and February 25th around the time of President Obama’s bipartisan summit to push for a reconciliation fix to the Senate bill. Will you please help join us to fix the bill and get it passed?
Democracy For America is onboard with us for our effort, and we’re working on an even bigger push next week to get this job done. Speaker Pelosi has it right when she says she doesn’t have the votes for the Senate bill. She’s whipped her caucus, tried to get them to a “yes” vote, but they’re not going to do it because the Senate bill is political poison because of the lack of a public option, the Medicare buy-in, the excise tax, the sweetheart deals with PhRMA, and the Nebraska Cornhusker Kickback deal.
We’re pushing to fix this bill by calling for these items in the reconciliation fix–the public option, the Medicare buy-in, excising the excise tax, increasing the subsidies, drug reimportation, and kicking the Nebraska cornhusker kickback deal out of the Senate bill. The votes won’t materialize otherwise. It’s the harsh reality. This just doesn’t stop here, because truly, this Senate bill even if it gets passed by an Act of God, isn’t enough. We will continue to fight for better health reform. Let’s get this done and leave it all on the road on February 24th and February 25th.
Thank you for joining us at FixItAndPassIt.org! You can also follow us on Twitter @ProgActionNow.
FixItAndPassIt.org!
I extend my sincere thanks to the editor team at Crooks and Liars and to John for allowing this guest post through.
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By: MiKat on February 15, 2010
at 11:55 AM
Auntie Jean:
I see that one of the dung beetles has an issue with one of your recent posts. My goodness, they are persistent.
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By: jsri on February 15, 2010
at 11:50 AM
Whirled Peas Δ on February 15, 2010 8:01 AM
Re: PowerPoint
Microsoft offers a free PowerPoint reader for folks who do not have PowerPoint installed on their machines. If anyone is interested they can start the process at the link below.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/HA100966951033.aspx
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By: jsri on February 15, 2010
at 11:46 AM
Sistah JeanΔ ¥ – Around here (well, up north), we track wolves by radio collar. One of my favorite stories from a tech convention lecture was from people who are involved in this.
Seems a wolf was being radio-tracked behaving normally. He suddenly paused. Then began traveling at 75mph. Down a highway.
They tracked the collar to a suburban garage. Seems some human #%$* had shot the wolf for sport – and was dumb enough to take the collar home with him as a souvenir.
I don’t know what the fine was, but I’m sure it wasn’t enough. The DNR was torn between “sum pissed” and laughing their heads off at him. I think they put it in his local paper, just to point out to his neighbors what a maroon he was. (Where’s Bugs when you need him?)
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By: judith on February 15, 2010
at 11:41 AM
Hi Sistah Jean,
What you have ‘Attached’ to your email is a Microsoft Power Point Presentation. You really cannot link it here so others can download it. Besides some people don’t have PowerPoint.
So I did a little searching and I think I found what you’ve got. Here’s a link that everyone can see:
Maine Bear Monitoring 2009
Yes?
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 15, 2010
at 8:01 AM
Brilliant! 🙂
I’m over here in England, drinking my first morning cup of coffee, and you’ve given me a better ‘wake up!’ jolt to the brain than any amount of caffiene ever could.
I’m going to get an ‘I Love Helen’ t-shirt printed.
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By: Yinka Wills on February 15, 2010
at 5:32 AM
I always have reason to smile when I come here and read your blogs dear ladies!
This is the best laughter I’ve had in a while, and all because I can enjoy the lovely sarcasm spilled over the republican party and how much of a bad taste their party leaves in the mouth.
Keep on keeping on ladies! I love you both! 🙂
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By: Leanne on February 15, 2010
at 12:13 AM
Perky Plastic Palin(s) 😉
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By: Poolman on February 14, 2010
at 11:40 PM
Jean..Keep on
Keepin on………
Short stories though.
Thanks
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By: gregorio on February 14, 2010
at 10:16 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and Whirled Peas,
Bruddah Peas, HELP! I need your computer genius. I received a priceless e mail forward I would like to put up here but it doesn’t have a blue address or link. It has only an attachment:
“A Bears’s Den.pps(421MB)”.
Is there any way you can track it down? I don’t have a clue as to how to do it.
Aloha! 🙂
Sistah Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 14, 2010
at 9:30 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and Judy,
Oooo! Thank you too, Judy! You spur me on. And welcome to this lovely site, anytime.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 14, 2010
at 9:08 PM
Right on, Judy!
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By: Donna on February 14, 2010
at 6:37 PM
Auntie Jean,
I rarely post, but I read often. I am enjoying your ongoing history project; keep it coming. For those who don’t like your posts, they can exercise their right to scroll. They have no need to be nasty, but I suspect that is their M.O.
jb
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By: Judy on February 14, 2010
at 6:24 PM
Hi congenial Gang and Donna,
Thank you, Donna, for your kind vote of confidence. I always look forward to your posts too.
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! I love each and every one of you. Sending hugs and loving thoughts to you and especially to your nephew, OceanGypsi.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 14, 2010
at 4:59 PM
SouthPaw, loved your post. I think Mr. Leonard Pitts is on to something. Let Sarah Palin run. Whilred Peas’ video kind of personalized the divide. What on earth? The stupidity is just mind-boggling.
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By: Easier on February 14, 2010
at 3:59 PM
Gregorio: Auntie Jean is one of the brightest and most interesting posters here. I enjoy the way she expresses herself and wouldn’t change one solitary thing about the way she does so.
True, there have been people who just hogged this blog (Exhibit A in that regard would be the fortunately mostly-gone now James.). But I, for one, am always happy to see Auntie Jean’s avatar and love her posts. Sorry you don’t appreciate her but others do.
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By: Donna on February 14, 2010
at 3:41 PM
I’ll fan that southpaw… nice job.. 😉
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By: lori on February 14, 2010
at 3:24 PM
Auntie Jean,
You sure know how to take a wealth of information from the history books and spin your story till you get the desired results..
Try doing in less than 300 words next time.
Just state your mind.
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By: gregorio on February 14, 2010
at 3:22 PM
he is going to be Ok Ocean….
faith or fear…. is the choice we always have… he will come home to you … his
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By: lori on February 14, 2010
at 3:17 PM
Dear Sarah: Say it is so, run for president
By Leonard Pitts / From: Miami Herald
Dear Sarah Palin:
I hear you’re pondering a run for the White House in 2012. Last week, you told Fox news it would be `absurd” to rule it out.
I’m writing to ask that you rule it in. I very badly want you to run for — and win — the Republican nomination for the presidency.
I know you’re waiting for the punch line. Maybe you figure I think you’d be a weak candidate who would pave the way for President Obama’s easy re-election.
That’s not it. No, I want you to run because I believe a Palin candidacy would force upon this country a desperately needed moment of truth. It would require us to finally decide what kind of America we want to be.
Mrs. Palin, you are an avatar of the shameless hypocrisy and cognitive disconnection that have driven our politics for the last decade, a process of stupidification creeping like kudzu over our national life.
As Exhibit A, consider your recent speech at a so-called “tea party” event, wherein you dismissed the president as a “charismatic guy with a teleprompter.” Bad enough you imply that teleprompter use is the mark of an insubstantial man, even though you and every other major politician uses them. But what made the comment truly jaw-dropping is that even as you spoke, you had penned on your left palm, clearly visible, a series of crib notes.
Mrs. Palin, if Obama is an idiot for reading a prepared speech off a teleprompter, what are you for reading notes you’ve inked on your hand like a school kid who failed to study for the big test?
In the Fox interview, you scored Obama for supposedly expecting Americans to “sit down and shut up” and accept his policies. But when asked when the president has ever said that, you couldn’t answer. Obama, you sputtered, has just been condescending with his “general persona.”
I found that a telling moment. See, ultimately what you represent is not conservatism. Heck, I suspect that somewhere, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan are spinning like helicopter rotors at the very idea.
No, you represent the latest iteration of an anti-intellectualism that periodically rises in the American character. There is, historically and persistently, a belief in us that y’all just can’t trust nobody who acts too smart or talks too good — in other words, somebody whose “general persona” indicates they may have once cracked a book or had a thought. Americans tend to believe common sense the exclusive province of humble folks without sheepskins on the wall or big words in their vocabularies.
I don’t mock those people. They are my parents, my family elders, members of my childhood church. I honor their native good sense, what mom called “mother wit.” But if it is insulting to condescend to them, it is equally insulting to mythologize them.
More to the point, something is wrong when we celebrate mental mediocrity like yours under the misapprehension that competence or, God forbid, intelligence, makes a person one of those “elites” — that’s a curse word now — lacking authenticity, compassion and common sense.
So no, this is not a clash of ideologies, but a clash between intelligence and its opposite. And I am tired of being asked to pretend stupid is a virtue. That’s why I’d welcome the moment of truth your campaign would bring. It would force us to decide once and for all whether we are permanently committed to the path of ignorance, of birthers, truthers and tea party incoherence you represent, or whether we will at last turn back from the cliff toward which we race.
If the latter, wonderful, God bless America. If the former, well, some of us can finally quit hoping the nation will return to its senses and plan accordingly. Either way, we need to know, and your candidacy would tell us. If you love this country, Mrs. Palin, you can do it no greater service.
Run, Sarah, run.
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By: SouthPaw on February 14, 2010
at 2:15 PM
♥ ♥ ♥ Happy Valentines Day! ♥ ♥ ♥
To Helen and Margaret and their families and everyone visiting the porch. Have some pie. Pass on some love one to the other.
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By: Poolman on February 14, 2010
at 2:05 PM
!Híjole! Quite a link there, Whirled Peas.
The farce is strong. “Use the farce, Luke! Beware of the dark side”…
♫ It’s beginning to look a lot like fascim,
every where you go…
😀
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By: Poolman on February 14, 2010
at 1:56 PM
Hey HoneyJoRumples,
The stoooopid……it burns!!!!! 😉
Let the Teabaggees do the talking!
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 14, 2010
at 10:19 AM
Oceangypsy, Al Jazzeera English is also a good website for news, and I’ve never known they deal in rumors, one time I laughed, because they quoted a New York Times reporter and did by name, I hate all this unnamed source business. I want news I can trust and no news is good news.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 14, 2010
at 10:11 AM
Whirled Peas – I saw that one the other night. OMG. They can’t even pretend like they have anything real to say anymore.
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By: HoneyJoRumples on February 14, 2010
at 8:18 AM
What can I say, Helen, brilliant, especially brilliant!!
Everyone says Obama will be a one termer for sure. But who will run against him? That silly lady from Alaska who slams Obama for being insincere and fake because he uses a telepromter to deliver a long speech, yet she can’t even do a simple Q&A session without crib notes on her palm, she can’t even memorize key points like energy, and lifting Americans’ spirits? Or that new great White hope in Mass. who poses nude and offers his daughters up publicly like whores on an auction block? I couldn’t tell if he fancied himself Lot trying to keep his angels safe, or the all-powerful, well to do, still-living-in-the-50s father of debutantes he wants to marry off in a hurry, or Hugh Hefner. I never agree with Glenn Beck, but when he said a dead intern will be turning up in this guy’s future, well….even a chimp will type the works of Shakespeare if given enough time.
Thanks for the brilliant analysis, ladies.
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By: HoneyJoRumples on February 14, 2010
at 8:14 AM
Thank you, Lori. That means a lot!
He told me before he left for this mission that I would not hear from him for about six weeks. But, he also reminded me that no news is good news. I have been chained to my computer reading anything and everything since the preparation began. Now that the push has begun, the BBC and US media outlets are saying it will take about 30 days to completely get in there. At least, he was honest.
I told him, when we last spoke, that I was going to buy him a sewing machine when he gets home from deployment. I don’t care if he learns to make culinary aprons or stripper costumes. I can’t take another deployment.
Happy Valentine’s Day, all.
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By: OceanGypsi on February 14, 2010
at 7:14 AM
Just some of my thoughts about essay writing: never form a conclusion until after you’ve done all your research; the introduction of the essay should clearly tell the reader what supposition you intend to explore; short essays need to be concise and to the point, don’t jump from subject to subject; even if you don’t quote, list your references, direct quotes are necessary when you state the individual wrote this or that; be careful very care about judging another culture (this could even include American culture in different era by today‘s standards); the conclusion is the mirror of your introduction, explain why you reached your conclusions.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 13, 2010
at 10:16 PM
believe it or not OceanGypis you and your nephew came to mind when I first heard of the “operation” this evening.
May the white light surround and protect you and your nephew.. and all others who have loved ones in harms way this evening.
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By: lori on February 13, 2010
at 8:23 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
As we ‘speak’ here on M&H our words are being bounced off a satellite in cyberspace. I think that is pretty neat, along with the awesome sights of space flight shuttles and space exploration. We could mess that all up though if we don’t wise up. But first, a little background.
The ink was barely dry on our Declaration of Independence and Constitution when, out from under the boot of the British Empire, we embarked upon our own version of the American Empire. Starting with 13 small states on the Atlantic coast, we began expanding west, running roughshod over the Native American Indians. We took their land and exterminated the people. Many, many tribes of the Eastern Coast are simply extinct!
A little more than a century later we were still at it, especially with Teddy Roosevelt, (Republican of course). He was an unabashed racist. He fervently believed that the White Man of Aryan/Teutonic/Anglo/Saxon descent was far superior to ANY other racial or ethnic group. That the ‘Others’ were incapable of governing themselves so in the name of civilizing them, it was up to us to ’Follow the Sun’ and conquer them. (Teddy made his views crystal clear in the number of books he wrote and his extensive collection of letters. These are part of long standing conservative ideology, diametrically the opposite of liberal/progressive.)
Teddy was a master image-maker and manipulator. His secret shenanigans with Japan, totally unconstitutional, set the stage for Pearl Harbor! How he ever made it to Mount Rushmore along with Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln is astonishing. But that’s a whole different story.
On Nov. 29, 1957, the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Thomas D. White said, “Whoever has the capability to control space will likewise possess the capability to exert control of the surface of the Earth.”
On March 23, 1983 in a speech, Reagan promoted greater spending on defense against the Soviet Union. He proposed the ‘impermeable antimissile shield in space’, called the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). It was dubbed “Star Wars”. (What would you expect from a film actor but to appropriate a concept from a popular movie?) And so, the program to weaponize space began as the ultimate American Imperialism. The militarization of the heavens.
On June 13, 2002, George W. Bush withdrew the U. S. from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) of 1972. One hundred-fifty Countries have ratified The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) except for the U. S., China and India.
After the detonation of the first nuclear weapon sixty-five years ago, Einstein said, “Everything has changed, except the way we think.”
Maybe it’s time we did!
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 13, 2010
at 1:29 PM
Judith – your post at 7:06 am was good. In my reading of the British Empire, the same oold ideas are there. Never is the “cullture” of the other side brought into their thinking.
That seems to be “I’ve got mine and I’m going to keep iit.My way is the best.”
Sound like the tea baggers to you?
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By: Grandma Katie on February 13, 2010
at 11:17 AM
Al Jazeera English – Focus – Timeline: Afghanistan in crisis
english.aljazeera.net
A look at the major events in more than thirty years of conflict.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 13, 2010
at 11:13 AM
President Obama’s
Weekly Address 2/13/10
Pay As You Go
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 13, 2010
at 11:13 AM
Just did a quick check of NYTs, Washington Post, and Al Jazeera, their reports aren’t as recent as The Guardian, Thanks Brits!
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 13, 2010
at 9:38 AM
This the latest news I found. I don’t have a family memeber in Afghanistan, but have two in Iraq, one for the second time, so I understand your concern OceanGypsi and right now all of these young people are my children. Operation Moshtarak: Allied forces mount assault on Taliban stronghold in biggest push of Afghanista
http://www.guardian.co.uk
Members of the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh take part in Operation Moshtarak at Camp Bastion in Helmand. Photograph: Will Craig/AFP/Getty Images
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 13, 2010
at 9:27 AM
What no one’s puppetΔ said at 8:32am!!!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 13, 2010
at 8:55 AM
Thank you, no one’s puppetΔ. My nephew is part of that operation. He is with a route clearance company. And, I am terrified. My thoughts and prayers ascend as I burn my candles.
Ya know, I can’t help but be reminded of Mellencamp’s words, “Future generations riding on the highways that we built, I hope they have a better understanding.”
Godspeed to all those deployed!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 13, 2010
at 8:52 AM
There are good and sufficient reasons why the Taliban and civilians in Marjah were warned in advance of Operation Moshtarak. This is explained quite well by articles in the New York Times, Washington Times, The Guardian, and London Times, so that before you comment you understand the objective of Operation Moshtarak.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 13, 2010
at 8:32 AM
‘He who pays the piper calls the tune.’
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 13, 2010
at 8:29 AM
Wingnuts say the funniest things, especially when they don’t have a f**kin’ clue. The Daily Show highlights the stoooopidity.
<a href="http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/senator-akbar-warns-its-trap-jon-ste"“He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 13, 2010
at 8:26 AM
‘It is like they do not realize that althought the people we are targeting live in caves and primative dwellings that they are not listening to the rest of the world especially CNN.’
Yep, we’re good at that kind of thinking. We’ve done it before, but the Bush admin put policies in place to really do a bang-up job this time. Stopped getting intel from actual live bodies in the areas. Fired a bunch of the translators.
Apparently (I can only imagine their thinking went), if anybody understands anything about the culture, they may start to feel sympathetic and go native. Besides, it seems an inordinate percentage of those translators were (shudder) gay.
So we prefer to go in there completely blind, despite the risk of ‘misunderestimating’ them. Culture? What culture? We’re just clearing an area of a dangerous infestation. It’s not like they’re living in the 21st century. It’s not like they’re….like us. It’s a very colonial way of thinking.
How can we effectively fight a war if we don’t understand what the other side is fighting for? What the various factions of the other side are each fighting for – it’s not like they’re a philosophical monolith.
And, no, ‘They hate us’ is not a good enough explanation. There are reasons why they hate us and some of them are good reasons. Some of them are bad reasons. None of the reasons justify suicide bombings or other terrorist activities. However, it might be easier to stop them if we addressed some of the good reasons. One of those would be – the colonial attitude.
And of course, we are underestimating them, and get nailed on it over and over. They’re computer savvy. They’re on the web. Some of them have advanced degrees in engineering, physics, mathematics. They’re….like us.
We can’t bomb it into a sand pit, because it’s already a sand pit. But it’s their sand pit and they don’t want us there. Even our allies don’t want us to stay. If we understand them, we have a better chance of figuring out how to minimize the risk of attacks on us – I was going to say, stop the risk, but you’ll never completely free the world of fanatical crazies – and Get The Hell Out.
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By: judith on February 13, 2010
at 7:06 AM
no ones puppet mine also. I watched CNN today telling us ‘all’ about the operation. I can not understand why CNN felt they needed to give us a rather detailed assault plan – I can only hope the military have a different one. It is like they do not realize that althought the people we are targeting live in caves and primative dwellings that they are not listening to the rest of the world especially CNN. During the first Gulf War we were in Germany (my husband was in the Army at the time – now retired) On CNN they were discussing one of our battle ships and felt that the world needed to know that the only way to sink this ship was a direct hit straight up in middle from under water. I just don’t appreciated them talking about what military plans are in the works or how to effectively sink our ships. It just seems that they are endangering the lives of our men and women in uniform. I always gave Gen Swartzkauf (sp??) and Powell during that war telling the news media I am not going to tell you our plans or answer that question. The media would say don’t you think the American people have a right to know — the Generals didn’t think so because they would also be telling the enemy.
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By: reader on February 12, 2010
at 10:29 PM
My mind is on our troops and the NATO forces involved in operation “Moshtarak.” And safety of the civilians in Marjah, tonight.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 12, 2010
at 9:52 PM
jsri, liked your post. Glad your experience turned out ok and you are still here. If people would stop to think things through, would not let parties or labels dictate what they should think, and not let emotions rule them, we probably would make a dent in this dialogue concerning health care. Alas! When a colleague of mine stated he did not ever want to go to San Francisco because Nancy Pelosi is from there, I said to myself that the divide is just too great. How do I make myself heard by somebody like that? How do I make him understand that healthcare for all is good for all when he has declared that it is a socialist way of being to have healthcare for all? The task is daunting.
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By: Easier on February 12, 2010
at 9:14 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and jsri,
jsri, Yikes!!! You had a close call there too. There is nothing quite like looking Death in the eye and staring him down to change perspectives and priorities. The time spent lying there on a gurney or in an operating room waiting for someone with expertise to come along and save your life…..well, I held my husband’s hand through his times, and he has held mine – twice.
He and I have a tendency to lose patience with those sitting on the sidelines splitting hairs and quibbling over nonsense just to make political points. Grrrrrr!
Life and loved ones are so very precious.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 12, 2010
at 8:36 PM
Susan, I sure hope all this effort on our part makes an impact. Some days it seems worthwhile, others – not so much. If we can’t lobby as a people for single-payer, we are getting the shaft, imo. I don’t care who is in the white house. Anything short of Medicare for all is a sham. They can lower the eligible age 10 years every year until everyone is covered, or kick it into high gear and cover everyone from the get go. Standardize and adjust the cost paid for services. Adjust the cost of drugs. Digitize the records. Provide for services in rural areas. Follow a preventative care regiment. It will lower costs overall and cover US citizens that are dying everyday without it. We should charge Congress with manslaughter or crimes against humanity if they continue to hold out to appease corporations.
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By: Poolman on February 12, 2010
at 6:47 PM
judith, I am a ’05 Toyota Tundra owner. Best truck I have every owned or driven. My wife has an ’05 Hyundai Tucson. My eldest daughter loves her ’07 Honda Fit. My youngest daughter loves her ’07 Scion TC. We have owned plenty of Toyotas and Hondas over the years. Years ago I did a lot of my own auto-mechanic work – always with a book. I rebuilt the engine in my ’75 Toyota pickup after 260 miles. That was actually fun.
Mostly I disliked the times I spent working on my vehicles. I spent a lot of all-nighters on a cold concrete floor wishing I had a shop or a certain tool. In 2004 I decided that buying new with a full warranty was in my best interest. I haven’t looked back or regretted it since.
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By: Poolman on February 12, 2010
at 5:09 PM
“Others feel that voting is futile, believing that the system is rigged.”
….Or at least they see how much influence is exerted by the deep pockets of various industries / interests. We’re encouraged to think that we have some influence when e-mailing our representatives or the Prez, but really, how much influence could that be?
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By: Susan in CT on February 12, 2010
at 4:59 PM
Well I hope we can mobilize more voters this year. I have always participated, even in the lesser elections. I think if you don’t vote, you have no reason to gripe. A lot of times I don’t feel like my vote counts so much, but I still get out and do it. Actually we vote by mail, which is certainly more convenient.
I don’t know the answer. I think a lot of people are lazy and uneducated. With the ways we have complicated many issues, some feel inadequate dealing with everything that requires our daily attention. It is also easier to not vote, than to try to decipher who is truthful and what policies are best by reading through the legal doublespeak. Others feel that voting is futile, believing that the system is rigged.
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By: Poolman on February 12, 2010
at 4:28 PM
Hi Jean:
Unlike your hubby, I never had a heart attack, only chest pains caused by plaque deposits (a result of my dissolute past life). The first angioplasty was about 15 years ago, 2 stents took care of the problem. Then a couple years later, more chest pains and I was back in for another. Midway through the process the probe ran aground and the Cardiologist performing the procedure suddenly looked over at the resident assistant and I could see a quick meeting of their eyes and the very slight shake of his head as he began the process of retrieving the probe. A few minutes later, he leaned over me and said, “We won’t be sending you home tonight, you may not make it back tomorrow.”
Now there’s a statement that’ll get your attention.
A half hour later, while I was in recovery, he reappeared and said, “But, just for you we have only the best Cardio Surgeon we could find,” and as I was about to find out, he wasn’t stretching the truth, (Google Dr. Billy Cohn). The final result was a triple by-pass and a trip home less than 72 hours later.
Except for some residual pain from being split apart like a filleted chicken, I’ve had no complications since. But the whole episode gave me a different perspective on what is or is not important. My family remains first priority as it always has been, but it also it gave me more time to reflect on the plight of others who are not as fortunate as I have been. So, since that time, most of my free time has been devoted to a variety of volunteer activities that keep me moving. And as Satchel Paige was known to have said, “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.” Certainly there is some psychic reward for doing such things but mostly I do them simply because I still can. So the past dozen years have been a bonus in more ways other than just longevity.
I was especially fortunate to have Medicare and an excellent supplemental insurance plan to cover most of the costs. Otherwise, I’d be living in a cardboard box by now. In truth, it pains me to see so many hardworking people suffering medically, unable to have access to the same level of services that have been available to me. And it really irritates me to see how voters have been hoodwinked to vote against their own best interests. While there is much ranting and railing against politicians on this site, most of the problem is the result of poorly educated voters who follow some of the most illogical and intellectually challenged demagogues of all times.
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By: jsri on February 12, 2010
at 3:20 PM
Actually, I loved our Prius, which we lost a while back. DH drives for a living, so we had racked up over 330,000 miles before it became a paperweight. If I could afford it, and if I knew the brakes had been updated/repaired, I would get another one in an nanosecond.
I hadn’t loved a car since my original VW bug, The Green Demon. While I was in college, it somehow got a pebble puncture through a push rod tube (may not be the correct term – it’s been a long time) & acquired an interesting click/rattle. I rented space in a local do-it-yourself garage and with the help of my “For The Compleat Idiot” book took it completely apart. Found the pebble still in there, replaced the tube and rod, had the cylinders re-machined & it ran for a long time.
Now we have a Honda Fit. Nice car, but no emotional attachment. (But I love my Honda Rebel motorcycle).
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By: judith on February 12, 2010
at 12:58 PM
Majority in unscientific FOXNews.com
poll pegs Tea Party movement ‘racist’.
Wait. What? ~ Δ ~ 😉
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 12, 2010
at 12:36 PM
Jean – didn’t mean to make you th ink I was going to send you all of this!! STuff on internet I Print off so I can read,reread and use highlighter! Found this book on halllf.com. cost a few cents more postage than the book. But, great p lace to shop.
no ones puppet – Loved your post.If the article on British is same one I read, well it made my Irish blood boil. And can’t you just see where all the teabaggers ideas originated!
JuneauJoe – wi ll mark my calendar!!
Wouldn’t it be nice if Jean were here too! There are a couple more that I know of who live in SOCAl. Hope one day to meet them all.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 12, 2010
at 11:51 AM
And the tea baggers want, what folks of that ilk always want, white supremacy.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 11, 2010
at 11:26 PM
Jean, I guess I’m coming from a whole other place concerning the midterm election than you are, I really don’t give a damn who gets the victory party, as long as the American people win. I am a staunch Democrat through and through, but I am fed up with the Senate Democrats, if any of them want my support, they better start working for this country, not their next election. And I just don’t think the way to get any particular Congressional District to vote for your candidate is to entice its voters to read essay on the British Empire or the downfall of the Roman Empire. With the exception of the tea baggers, I think the American people want our economy restored, they want the security of a job, and they want something done about healthcare. And if the voters don’t start seeing some results on those things, a lot of incumbents will join the unemployment line.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 11, 2010
at 11:06 PM
Also: there were some good points made on NPR today about the Toyota-situation — Toyota is the one making the news NOW, but there are ALWAYS some sorts of recalls going on by any of the car manufacturers. (And I have friends who’ve driven their Toyotas for upwards of 300K miles!) It was also suggested that for the most part, people aren’t killed in crashes due to the problems that Toyata’s dealing with now, but rather in crashes with trucks and buses, etc.
I have a 5-year-old Toyota (my first one — previous cars have been Hondas for the most part) and it’s not one of the models being recalled. There are many Toyotas on the road that aren’t among the model-years in the news. If your Toyota IS, by all means take it in to the dealer and have the problem fixed, but don’t let the 24-7 broadcast hysteria get to you.
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By: Susan in CT on February 11, 2010
at 10:48 PM
“what better place for a tea party victory than Boston!!!!!!!
GO BROWN!!!!!!!”
Here’s an interesting bit about who else supported Brown — who knew that the debt-collection industry would be fighting against health-care reform so hard?
Debt Collector’s Untold Role In Scott Brown Victory
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/2/8/835124/-Debt-Collectors-Untold-Role-In-Scott-Brown-Victory
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By: Susan in CT on February 11, 2010
at 10:30 PM
Is that “belch”?
…and your issue is?
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By: gregorio on February 11, 2010
at 10:23 PM
Better believe it: http://www.rollcall.com/news/43170-1.html
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 11, 2010
at 9:28 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, Grandma Katie and Juneau Joe,
Shoot! I wish I could join you two in a get together. Have a wonderful visit and most of all, have fun!
Grandma Katie, uh, I didn’t mean for you to get the material to ME! What I have in mind is for you to write it up in your own words and put it up here. There is no time limit other than we have a mid-term election coming up. We need viable ammunition to shoot down the Republicans. They are and always have been in favor of American Imperialism. We Democrats think, Whoa! Besides being totally immoral, it is way too costly to WE THE PEOPLE in terms of taxes. I thought the Republicans didn’t favor taxes very much. Talk about a contradiction!
I am now working on our nExt phase of American Imperialism into outer space as the final battle ground to gain world domination. That really got
going with Reagan and his “Star Wars” inititative. It is a real bottomless money pit that benefits only the big military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned against. In the ‘secret’ Pentagon budget, it’s been a few $billion here, a few $billion there; adding up to well over a projected $trillion by 2015. Pretty soon, that adds up to some real money. What’s worse, it doesn’t work and has plenty of unsurmountable bugs in it.
There is lots to read, digest and write up. I figure it will be in stages, sort of like Helen’s posts. Enough with Palin already. She is penny ante stuff.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 11, 2010
at 9:04 PM
Thank you for that nice post Auntie Jean! I hope your husband and my father will continue to do well with their heart disease treatments, and truly I hope all inhabitants of this great land will soon have equal access to first rate health care of every kind. Shame on this country for making a profit on sick people and denying medical care to those who cannot pay. It’s immoral in the very worst way!
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By: Tabbie on February 11, 2010
at 7:30 PM
Grandma Katie,
I will drop by either Saturday 2/20 or Sun 2/21 for a visit. In a way, I am kind of thinking Sunday is most likely.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 11, 2010
at 7:29 PM
Looking forward to meeting you and learn more about Alaska.
Phone # is 562.301.4890.
I have been reaqding a lot about the British Empire. VEry interesting. Have a book coming called :The Web of Deceit”, Britain’s REal Role in the world” Then daughter back east is mailing me anoother one. So I should have lots of Material.
Jean – when do you need this?
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By: Grandma Katie on February 11, 2010
at 7:10 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
As you know, Bill Clinton just underwent having two stents placed in his heart. For those of you who are not familiar with the procedure, my husband and I have learned more about heart disease and treatment than we ever wanted to know. He also has two stents in his heart.
When a patient presents with a history of heart disease and symptoms, along with blood and other tests, they usually do an ‘Angiogram’; that is, make a small incision and thread a catheter through the femoral artery in the right groin up directly into the heart. They can see and monitor the condition of the coronary arteries then and there. If there is blockage, at that time, they can put in a stent A stent is a small, mesh ‘tube’ that the tip of the catheter opens to compress the blockage against the walls of the artery and keep it open. Then the blood can flow freely through the heart.
My husband had his first heart attack in 1980 and was cared for at HUP, the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. That was in technology-cutting-edge-time between heart by-pass and ‘Angioplasty’.
During ‘Angioplasty’, a tiny balloon is inserted into the artery at the site of the blockage and inflated to compress the plaque against the walls of the artery. At the time it was a toss up between the two procedures for him. By-pass was still an option if the angioplasty were not successful. My husband opted for the balloons because there are not as many surgical risks and recovery time as are involved with by-pass. He has had angioplasty three times over the years. Of course he has also been on medication. Now, stents have replaced the tiny balloons. The results are more permanent.
He has had four heart attacks, the last one being caused by a blood clot that broke loose. He has taken ‘Plavix’ ever since. There’s a hilarious story involved with Plavix for him.
My husband will be 81, next week, thanks to the progress of medical science, technology and highly trained and skilled professionals. Fortunately for us we had excellent medical insurance right along and more recently, Medicare. Incidentally, his heart problems have been partially the result of a heredity condition in the coronary arteries that only became apparent with his first heart attack, (a pre-existing condition since before birth???). All the other factors; diet, weight, smoking, stress, etc., were also only partially responsible. My husband is a good man, but not a saint.
Why, oh why, can’t the Republicans get it through their thick skulls that EVERY American should have access to and be able to afford this kind of health care? How basic can you get? Perhaps thick skulls are pre-existing conditions and science will eventually find treatment for those too.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 11, 2010
at 5:34 PM
ahh yes, gregorio runs with the meme of “america saved (insert country’s name) butt”. blech
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By: greytdog on February 11, 2010
at 5:21 PM
I agree somewhat with your post about Taiwan.
Same can be said for Israel though.
The 73 war saw the US save the Israeli butts with
supplies they needed to survive.
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By: gregorio on February 11, 2010
at 3:54 PM
Aside from our focus on perceived enemies from abroad, we should keep an eye on those within our own borders. “There is no appreciable difference between Islamic fundamentalism and the radical Christian right.” Though this was written in 2003, not much has changed, other than we might have seen more evidence of this truth lately.
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By: Poolman on February 11, 2010
at 3:50 PM
First..I personally would like to see no state borders in the sales of health insurance. I have no idea of how many different blue cross’s there are out there?
But if WE could buy from any insurance company in the nation..then I would hope that it would follow, that the best price and service would win out. Perhaps thats too simple.
Secondly..why can we not have the same coverage as the congress and the rest of the upper level government system? Its our tax dollars that pay their salary, thus we should also have that same privilege much as any employer,
that being us would have, if we were to insure our own employees,Congress.
I’m not in insurance sales. And its the last business I would want to be in. But being a devils advocate…is the following a reasonable proposition of what has transpired with WellStone’s 39% increase ?
First..you are a widget producing company.
Furthermore, you are a publicly traded company which means you have a certain responsibility to the shareholders to make a profit and show a return on their investment.
Now, If your selling widgets and you find that you have less sales and the future looks bleak for further sales, unless you raise your price to meet the forecasted yearly sales, how are you going to employ all the people who sell widgets and service the widget service center?
Do you lay off employees and cuts costs related to service?
Or do you raise your price of the widget in order to meet your sales quota that justify the lights being on and the employees paid,dividend’s paid, etc….not to mention the continued service to the customers who bought and paid for widgets with the promise that the company would always be there for them?
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By: gregorio on February 11, 2010
at 3:46 PM
gregorio, I like your little saying there, but am afraid it is moot point in today’s world. Our swords are now 40 million dollar F 16’s and our plows are corporate owned and operated.
BTW, while we have been brandishing those swords, the rug has been pulled from under us and replaced with astro turf. And as the U.S. sells weapons to Taiwan, angering China on one hand, in the other hand China is buying shares in big US corporations.
The outcome will not bode well for us – much like biting the hand that feeds you is not conducive to enjoying a happy meal.
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By: Poolman on February 11, 2010
at 2:54 PM
If the Democrats are so smart you think they’d know that 60 is a bigger number than 40.
And that politicians lie. Maybe Hannity’s counterpart on the left there Miss Maddow should do a pseudo-journalistic expose’ on the gutless wonders who sat there snickering over the decider’s nu-cu-lar Bushisms and then stood there stupidly blinking and backpedaling and crying in their sippy cups as the search for WMDs came up empty. Read up on what the Democrats themselves said about WMDs in Iraq and then tell me how smart they are.
I too wish Sarah Palin would go away. So too the last VP you tried to feed us, busy boy he was serving and representing his country so well. I didn’t watch her speaking engagements last weekend, and I won’t pick up his sex tape either. Fit for office? Yeah, the principle’s office.
See, I’m failing to be wowed by the wide gulf that separates these Democrats and these Republicans. But then again, I’m from Illinois.
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By: Fluxux on February 11, 2010
at 2:52 PM
WellStone’s reasons for 39% premium increase:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/11/AR2010021102631.html
First – THIRTY NINE PERCENT!
Second, part of the reason the rates are going up so high is that healthy people are popping out of the demographic because they drop coverage to save money, or switch to cheaper insurance.
People can’t afford coverage and drop it, so rates are going up by extortion levels increments. This will cause more people who can’t afford the even higher premiums to drop the coverage. Insurance carriers will cry poverty and keep raising prices. The ripple effects will be higher medical costs and poorer care due to groaning ERs. People will get sicker because they can’t afford care, then taxpayers will be stuck with the bill for more expensive care for stuff that could have been caught early or prevented entirely.
This will impact everyone. It’s just a matter of time.
Why does single payer scare anyone? I don’t get it at all. We already have what people claim to fear!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 11, 2010
at 1:33 PM
Poolman, that seems to have been our MO overseas for some decades. We were so focused on the cold war that we failed to realize the importance of the rise of radial Islam, the impact of our disdain for native peoples, and the neglect of oversight of the actions/inactions of our policies.
We still believe that more firepower, more technology will somehow outman, out wit, and overpower people who are fighting for a cause they fully believe. Yeah, we’re really shocking and Awe-ing them in Tora Bora
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By: greytdog on February 11, 2010
at 1:33 PM
Poolman,
I remember watching americans escort
mujahideen fighters at gun shows in Texas in the early eighties. Most people attending did not know what these “rag headed” visitors were doing at an American gun show..but they were greeted friendly “howdy’s” and accepted by everyone.
Charlie saw what the mujahideen needed and he procured those items for them. Charlie made it a better than even fight with the supply of surface to air missiles, in order to take out the helicopter advantage the Russians had. There were no tanks
or armored carriers supplied so little went to the American Industrial military complex. It would be a drop in the proverbial bucket.
And Poolman as much as I respect your posts,
I have to add my favorite line as a retort.
“Remember: Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don’t.”
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By: gregorio on February 11, 2010
at 1:28 PM
It must ALL be Bush’s fault
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By: Anonymous on February 11, 2010
at 12:32 PM
Greytdog, I agree with your assessment of CW and that WE created that beast. I have decided that is our MO and what we have done since WWII. We intentionally provide resources and/or promote conflict in the name of democracy or human rights, thereby propping up regimes one decade that we will oppose the next. As long as we have an enemy, we can suppress peoples and profit from these conflicts. It is in the best interest of our huge intelligence community and the military industrial complex, including the corporations that supply them. Weapons and war equals big business. Endless war and conflict equals job security and tidy profits for our corporate gods. Nothing will change until we kill the devouring beast that began as our guard dog.
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By: Poolman on February 11, 2010
at 11:49 AM
Charlie Wilson will be remembered most widely as the slick talking, skirt chasing member of Congress who packed off Tenn. mules to the mujahadeen when the Russian forces killed their herds. But perhaps what we should have paid attention to, and would be, IMO, wise to pay attention to now is Charlie’s assertion that if the United States had helped rebuild Afghanistan then, it would have remained stable and not become a safe haven for Al Qaeda. Instead we were focused on beating the Russkies using surrogates and as often happens with surrogates who’ve used up their usefulness, we tossed the Afghans to the wolves of the Taliban. In doing so, we created the beast that now roars at our gate.
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By: greytdog on February 11, 2010
at 10:36 AM
JJ, great links. These people hold the same opinion as I do regarding corporations. It is time to say enough is enough. If we don’t get single-payer health care and stiff regulation in banking with control over the free market, we might as well pack it in and worship at the feet of corporate america. Truly many already do worship there, paving the way as every bit of our resources are depleted and our work force becomes enslaved to the very system we support and have empowered over the past 30+ years.
I am afraid most are still sleeping, not aware of the nightmare to come. We are too entrenched in the pursuit of personal gain and political sparing that we fail to realize the canaries in the coal mine have been out-sourced to contractors who, because they kept dying, replaced them with cockroaches to save money.
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By: Poolman on February 11, 2010
at 10:26 AM
Is Capitalism more important than Democracy? Thom Hartman
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/thom-hartmann-asks-wsjs-stephen-moore-capi
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By: JuneauJoe on February 11, 2010
at 8:41 AM
I pretty much agree with your assessment of the GOP.But I find it to be as cynical as your view of the Dems is rosy.The whole sick system is a broken yin/yang that needs each other to truly thrive.
Fox is as delusional partisan as MSNBC for the other side.Olbermann is as full of shit as O’Reilly.
I have to chuckle at the poster who thinks Fox is promoting Palin.Nobody…I mean nobody gives Sarah Palin more face and commentary time than MSNBC & NBC.A full year after the election and they are still doing cover pieces on the daughters ex-boyfriend…It benefits MSNBC because THEY want Palin to be the face of the GOP.They want to define the GOP.
Fox will have idiots like Hannity & Beck who attempt to define Obama as leftist,muslim,rookie,empty suit,…THEY want to be the ones to define Obama.
This Health (care,ins,reform) bill IMO IS crap.They might be better off starting over and getting it right.We can’t afford taking the hit economically right now that a piece of bad legislation would incur.Fix it.
Dems have got to get a handle on taxes being their default action on any issue.Don’t like an activity ..tax it!See an industry taking off..tax it!
Capitol gains tax,insurance policy tax,inheritance tax,gas tax,cigarette tax, Federal income tax,Social security tax,unemployment tax,cap and trade tax,windfall profit tax,state income tax,telephone fed,state, and local surcharge tax,sales tax,property tax…
Government grows like a cancer,and it’s fatal when left unchecked.
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By: Anonymous on February 11, 2010
at 8:09 AM
How Wall Street ruined Private medicine. This is a great article.
http://www.creators.com/opinion/paul-craig-roberts/how-wall-st-destroyed-private-medicine.html
Poolman: Thanks for clarification on the Palin Bracelet.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 11, 2010
at 8:00 AM
Thanks for putting it out there. You remind me of my 84 year old dad and thank you for your contribution.
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By: Pamela on February 11, 2010
at 4:59 AM
“If you support Fox News, you’re also supporting the Saudi royals and their ideologies.” “The Saudis have owned 7 percent of NewsCorp/Fox News for a few years now.” They are negotiating for more shares. Also China just invested in News Corp, spending slightly less than 10 Mil. Now Fox can import their patriotism along with oil and cheap household goods. 😉
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By: Poolman on February 10, 2010
at 11:43 PM
Who cares, I’m just glad you are back, I missed your posts.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 10, 2010
at 11:29 PM
Former Congressman Charlie Wilson died, well done Charlie, Godspeed.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 10, 2010
at 7:09 PM
Who was that masked Anonymous troll?
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By: greytdog on February 10, 2010
at 6:51 PM
We give trolls, Palin, tea baggers, and Congressional Republicans too much credence and attention, not that we should take our eyes off them for a moment, because they are scheming all the time. But folks as long as they keep us focused on them, we aren’t nipping at the butts of the Democrats, and they need us to pressure them, including Obama. He needs to be more Harry Trumanish, and “give em hell.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 10, 2010
at 6:46 PM
JJ there is a disclaimer update on the bottom of that link that claims the bracelet was given to her by the people that make them. Apparently the one she has is bronze and legit for wear, not black that commemorates someone who died.
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By: Poolman on February 10, 2010
at 6:21 PM
To Sarah Palin: Please take the bracelet off!
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/sarah-palins-bracelet-i-do-not-think
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By: JuneauJoe on February 10, 2010
at 4:29 PM
I am so tired of hearing the word bipartisan. This only works if both sides are willing to compromise. When the right is screaming bipartisan, they want what they perceive as their toys back, not even close to a willingness to share. They scream unfair, but they don’t understand fair or compromise or that this isn’t about them. Hollow noise makers. The empty barrel that jsri had talked about months ago. I have lost respect for the bulk of them. Not that the left has shown any real effort to move ahead beyond petty politics either. Except for a handful, I am ready to dump out the babies with the bathwater.
It is like somebody crapped in the sandbox and nobody wants to clean it up. They just stand around getting the crap on them and trying to pin the blame of it on someone – anyone. Just so they don’t have to own up to their own mess.
Oh, and Anonymous or James, whoever did the driveby, this ones for you.
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By: Poolman on February 10, 2010
at 3:43 PM
WWGKD. Let’s all continue with what I believe has been a successful refusal to feed the trolls.
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By: Donna on February 10, 2010
at 3:30 PM
I think Sarah will be around as long as Faux gives her a podium. Don’t really now all the history that has been reported about her political activities before last years race..nor have I read her book. Have to agree she is not Pres. material..however …she will be a rallying point for the centrist movement. From the way things look..I would bet John Boehner will be the candidate for the Right in a couple years. Seems he’s posturing for that title.
Just my observation.
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By: gregorio on February 10, 2010
at 3:05 PM
No one’s puppetA. I just checked in and saw comments about me. Imagine that.
Study the record. Obama and the Democrats were riding high a year ago, and look at them now. Who saw it coming? You or I? And you call me naive?
I thought you were liberals interested in alternative points of view, but after the novelty wore off, some of you behaved like political bigots complete with name calling.
No one’s PuppetA, you really should change your handle. The way you parrot Democratic talking points, you sound like a puppet to me.
Donna, can you define cognitive dissonance? “When the belief in a grand narrative persists blindly, even when the facts in the real world begin to contradict what the narrative is saying.”
Here is a real world fact to contradict your narrative. CBS’s Mark Knoller has written Obama’s call for bipartisanship is really a demand for the GOP to surrender.
“His top legislative priorities are going nowhere, and he’s searching for a way to get them out of lockup.” He is naive or desperate to think it will work. I could be wrong, but I don’t think the Republicans will let themselves become props, not when the Democrats offer nothing in return, and the Republicans’ star is ascending.
Juneau Joe, “I can’t even imagine her being president or vice president. ” Neither can I. And that applies to Obama too.
I’m gone now.
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By: Anonymous on February 10, 2010
at 3:01 PM
[…] I need to start reading this blog, because the idea is cute and I am totally in agreement with this post about Dems vs Repubs. […]
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By: silliness « Life of Di on February 10, 2010
at 2:18 PM
Hello Greytdog! Good to “see” you back on the porch. I have been debating whether to try the Google Chrome browser, since IE has been giving me fits for the past month or two. But I have so much invested in IE, I know it will be a painful transition. I’ll hold off for a while longer.
I too, am tired of the continual Sarah Palin discussion. But like cancer, until it’s gone, we need to keep exposing and fighting it. I would have thought she would have self-destructed by now, but she has only been elevated to a higher platform in our society. We seem to love our idiots and reward our criminals. Doesn’t say much for our progress as a people, imo. Since we love to be entertained so much, she is just there to keep us occupied – and that she does. Those paying her way must surely be pleased.
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By: Poolman on February 10, 2010
at 2:03 PM
Still learning to work with Google Chrome but I’m really liking its interface. Haven’t yet transferred all the bookmarks and passcodes, so no avatar to post along with this.
It’s been an interesting discussion here – but first – congratulations to Margaret & Helen on zooming past the 3mil marker – and thanks to Matthew for bringing your delightful grandmother and her friend to the “intertubes”.
Frankly speaking, I’ve had enough of Sarah Palin. All I can say is how’s that fearmongering, hatey-thingy working out for you? You know that this country has really hit a new low when hope and change are openly mocked and ridiculed. How very sad the depths to which this country has lowered itself.
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By: Greytdog on February 10, 2010
at 1:37 PM
jsri and juneau joe, here’s more:
>Actor and wise-ass Steven Weber may have summed it up best: “My favorite low-brow bromide is that Sarah Palin “terrifies the Left.” The truth is she (and her ilk) terrify all sensible, thoughtful people on the Left and on the Right, let alone every civilized nation on Earth. That a personality less qualified, less able, less educated should ascend so rapidly (and clearly with the help of an opportunistic media on both sides of the ideological divide) speaks to the depths this nation has sunk in terms of selecting viable, wise leadership. She is a Charlie’s Angel’s Republican wet dream, the bodice ripping heroine of all good Christian conservative chicken hawks. Terrified? You betcha.”…Paul Slansky, a New Yorker contributor and writer, with “The Horror! The Horror!” :
After a year and a half of exposure to this virulently toxic presence, the question on the table is: In our lifetime, has there ever been a worse human being in American politics than Sarah Palin? For all the morons and criminals and bigots we’ve been subjected to, has there been anyone else who has combined all of the fetid qualities — the proud ignorance, the sadistic viciousness, the shameless hypocrisy, the arrogant laziness, the congenital dishonesty, the unctuous sanctimony, the bilious resentment, and whichever others I’m forgetting for the moment — that this morals-free harridan so relentlessly displays? (Not to mention that atonal bray with which she communicates it all.)<
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By: Imaginista on February 10, 2010
at 12:49 PM
JuneauJoe on February 10, 2010 at 4:27 AM
Re: Palin
She is one of the most prominent of the rethugs who love to brag that Obama’s policy of trying to negotiate with the Iranians is a failure. It is their and her contention that we are not strong enough in our responses (read that as, “We should bomb the shit out of them to show them who is boss”). It is exactly this sort of public posturing that keeps the Iranians fixated on nuclear arms and rocket development because they believe that she is a potential candidate with the support of the US voters. That is certainly not true, nevertheless, it is their perception and it that sort of thinking that spurs them on. She is so totally dense that she doesn’t realize that words have an impact on all listeners, friends or foe. She is so stupid, and if she were elected, it would only be a matter of months before the Middle East would be in flames, with all sorts of unintended consequences to follow. She is an outrageously ignorant and utterly dangerous demagogue.
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By: jsri on February 10, 2010
at 12:22 PM
jsri – I hear you! They definitely go sniffing around elsewhere when they’re not fed, though. Reaction is the only thing that keeps them alive.
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By: Imaginista on February 10, 2010
at 12:18 PM
Imaginista:
Ignoring trolls is the way to go. Unfortunately, they are more like hydra heads, each time one gets cut off, two more appear.
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By: jsri on February 10, 2010
at 12:01 PM
Thanks, Helen and Margaret for the great post. I’ve enjoyed reading the comments, except I can’t understand why all the trolls are here. Some seem smart, but they don’t seem to have many persuasive abilities. Why do they keep banging their heads on the walls? They must need some attention or receive some perverse pleasure from doing so.
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By: Laingirl on February 10, 2010
at 11:45 AM
Juneau – I wasn’t kidding about the phone call for directions. I get out wh enever I can. Someone takes me to the library, or a trip to Trader Joe’s, or sometimes on Sundays to my son’s to watch the kids play.
Looking forward to meeting you as I have enjoyed your posts.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 10, 2010
at 11:33 AM
Thank you all for ignoring the troll that shit on Margaret and Helen’s porch.
We’re learning!
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By: Imaginista on February 10, 2010
at 11:14 AM
The best ever.
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By: C.L. White on February 10, 2010
at 8:48 AM
[…] Margaret and Helen, That Elephant in the Room is a Kangaroo […]
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By: Rachel Maddow Calls Out Republican Stimulus Hypocrites on February 10, 2010
at 8:02 AM
no one’s puppet–you’re exactly right. More of the same.
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By: Donna on February 10, 2010
at 7:20 AM
Margaret and Helen you are wonderful!
Thanks for sharing!
🙂
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By: Mary Louise from NY on February 10, 2010
at 6:39 AM
Just incredible…
If you didn’t see Rachel Maddow last night in a dynamic essay, “Taking names on GOP hypocrisy”, you ought to take a look, either at her website, or, on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx3lMPWPch0
Just amazing. One of her best commentaries EVER.
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By: elsie09 on February 10, 2010
at 6:01 AM
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rachel-maddow-theyre-not-embarrassed-takin
hypocrites!
Palin:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/matthews-nothing-more-frightening-empty-ve
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By: JuneauJoe on February 10, 2010
at 4:27 AM
Didn’t our last troll capture our attention in the beginning with naive comments, and after we all jumped in to inform him of the ways of the world, he bit us? …just saying.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 10, 2010
at 12:11 AM
JuneauJoe
Mandy…
one opinion….
everybody has one if you know what I mean.
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By: gregorio on February 9, 2010
at 11:11 PM
gregorio –
you’re a funny duck aren’t you? expanding that which is not there… ?
I’m not talking about anyone except Ms Palin as she is doing her lil won’t-rule-it-out routine about running AND I would be happy to continue to share a warehouse full of information including Alaskan’s views of her governorship…
Should Mrs Clinton start rumbles in the news about running for Pres I would look to her history as Senator and the evaluations her constitiuents made… Had Mandy asked about Mrs Clinton I would be waiting to hear from the folks she represented and doing some reading…
and you’re trying to reduce it all to a silly what-if word game?
sigh
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By: alaskapi on February 9, 2010
at 11:09 PM
Grandma Katie
It could be as early as next week. I am just waiting to be given a solid date to be there.
It has been a couple of years since I have been in Long Beach but I know the airport and 405.
I will let you know as I find out more.
Mandy: Sarah Palin does what is good for Sarah Palin not the people she is supposed to govern. It was sad and frankly embarrassing to see Sarah implode in Alaska. Sarah was big on do as I say not as I do. She has an unfolding tax issue which is just one of the many crazy things which we came to expect from Sarah.
Sarah left as Governor because she was terrible at the job. I cannot even imagine her being President or Vice President.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 9, 2010
at 10:55 PM
alaskapi…and so by your yard stick of candidates for President…you presume that Madam Sec. of State Hillary was Presidential material by merely osmosis and sleeping next to Bill…?
Right……………………………….you poor soul.
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By: gregorio on February 9, 2010
at 10:51 PM
D CINCO… alias…ddddd
You obviously have a lot on your mind.
I finally had to weigh in on your “lengthy” post.
Good Grief Ms.
Give it a rest.
You have 2.5 more years of defending your leader.
Then you can lay down and rest.
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By: gregorio on February 9, 2010
at 10:45 PM
Mandy- Once again, you are welcome to your own opinion…
BUT it is incorrect to decide that Ms Palin’s following can’t be wrong and especially because there are a large number of people.
Human beings make mistakes all the time.
In groups we often make even bigger mistakes.
Riots, lynch mobs, etc all come from groups not thinking things through…
As much as I’d like to see one of we ladies make it to the WH , SP is not anywhere near qualified.
Have you read Article 2 of our Constitution ? Have you thought seriously about whether SP could discharge those duties properly ?
If she cannot discharge her statutory obligations as a governor, why could she do so as Pres?
She charms people and she appeals to deep dissatisfactions amongst folks whose worlds are topsy turvy with worries about jobs and the future.
She divides people by pretending that anyone who doesn’t agree with her is not a real American…
I’m sorry Mandy- if you won’t engage in specifics and want to just go with some vagues notion of how nice she is … that’s not making an effort to be an informed citizen or voter.
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By: alaskapi on February 9, 2010
at 10:35 PM
Mandy,
You need to realize these people are not really your friends.
You and TOTO need a reality slap.
Palin is a person who is acting as a lightening rod for the people who are gathering in small groups across the nation to act against the aggressiveness of the Chicago mob that currently lives the White House.
I don’t know this Donna..or some of the others, but I think they will try and convince you that Palin is evil in any way they can. I have viewed this blog for sometime and their profanity laced diatribes against Palin and their “retarded” grandchild is one for the books.
I would suggest run not walk as soon as you can..but at the least just read and consume their
vitriolic speech and then make a subjective
and intelligent decision about who and what Palin stands for.
Dio ti benedica.
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By: gregorio on February 9, 2010
at 10:34 PM
Mandy, what you need is to have yourself a big slice of pie and go lay down for a while. You are not well, honey. Life gets going pretty fast nowadays. Some times it just hauls off and knocks the living crap out of you. I think it might have done that to you. Maybe even twice. Now, don’t you worry none. It will pass. You just need some rest and you will feel better tomorrow. Trust me. A good night’s sleep and all of this Sarah Palin foolishness will be over and you can get on with your life.
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By: Thelma Jean on February 9, 2010
at 9:05 PM
Actually, Mandy–it may be time for a woman to have a position of great authority but that doesn’t mean “any woman.” It, of course, is simply my opinion, but I view Sarah Palin as not very bright, not well-educated, and a rather nasty and unpleasant person without any qualifications for higher office. And so I–again speaking for myself–am unwilling to “give her a chance.” The stakes are simply too high.
As for “that many people can’t be wrong,” I beg to differ. There have been many times when large numbers of people have been emphatically wrong.
And I’m not sure that her numbers are that large. It’s certainly a vocal group of supporters but that doesn’t translate into even a majority of a minority of the population.
So, why do I dislike her so much? Well, I have tried to confine my sources to those which are clearly her–her spoken, audiotaped, videotaped, or live words and actions. Starting with the mocking of a cancer patient, moving on to what I view as frightening religious affiliations, proceeding to her interviews and her performance in the Vice Presidential debate, to her conduct during the campaign and tolerance of ugliness from her audience.
I am not from Alaska and I defer to those who either are or were residents for their views of her performance in office. But certainly, speaking of her as a person, I wouldn’t want her near a position of real power.
As for “it’s time for a woman,” there have always been women in politics for whom I have had great admiration. There have also been women in politics who were frightening to me. Gender alone is meaningless.
Simply my views and I do appreciate your expressing yourself with courtesy.
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By: Donna on February 9, 2010
at 9:01 PM
I kind of believe that with Ms. Palin, beauty is in the eye of the beholder Mandy. Feel free to like her. Definitely your prerogative and that of her sympathizers. See you all in 2012.
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By: Easier on February 9, 2010
at 8:58 PM
Delurker Girl Δ,
The Tebow thing turned out to be nothing. But this Biden endorsement contract could have turned into a problem.
Biden Criticized For Appearing In Hennessy Ads
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 9, 2010
at 8:53 PM
Welcome back ddddd! Sorry to hear about your health troubles. You made some good points in your “rant” and I liked your recap on many of the topics of interest to us right now as a nation. Your little comment to colorful was amusing to me too.
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By: Easier on February 9, 2010
at 8:49 PM
Juneau Joe -Delighted!! and maybe you can give me tips on how to do the research so Jean can make sense of it.
When I cann be talked into it, I go to an exercise class. Let me know the best way to pass you my phone no> It is tricky to explain how to navigate into this residential area.
I’m just south a couple of houses
from the 405.
Hope you are enjoying SO CAl.
It has been raining again today.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 9, 2010
at 8:39 PM
Thank you to all who have responded. Why does Sarah Palin have such a large following then? It must be because she believes what SO many people believe we need in this country. That many people can’t be wrong.
I still think Sarah Palin is someone we can believe in.
Someone who can lead our great nation. Give her the chance. It is time for a woman to take control of this mess.
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By: Mandy on February 9, 2010
at 8:24 PM
Lobo honestly, I think most of us dont give a flying rats ass what palin, her daughter, their kids do, where they are from…., how much she makes and how much her zombie supporters give her…she can pray to Satan for all I care.
The only problem I have is when she tries to push her views on us.
She can keep having her tea party, coffee clatch…what ever you want to call it as long as she doesnt cross the line.
The problem I have is those in government who think the sun rises and sets on her, those are the ones I keep my eye on.
I hope Mandy engages in discussion but somehow I doubt it.
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By: palinshutup on February 9, 2010
at 7:54 PM
ddddd, I’m sorry you’ve been out of commission! MS is definitely a bitch. I pray your road gets easier.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 9, 2010
at 6:38 PM
Delurker–it was nothing. If it hadn’t been for the hoopla, you wouldn’t have known what it was. The ad directed you to a website to “get the story.”
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By: Donna on February 9, 2010
at 6:37 PM
Did the anti-choice ad actually air during the superbowl? I didn’t see it so I wasn’t sure and didn’t think to ask until now.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 9, 2010
at 6:35 PM
Grandma Katie: I will be the San Diego area in one to three weeks for a few days. If it is OK, I will drop by for a visit. I bought a bike and the only place I could pick it up is near San Diego.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 9, 2010
at 6:20 PM
Quick minor correction…. when Obama signed it into law… not passed
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By: ddddd on February 9, 2010
at 5:51 PM
I obviously missed a lot while in the hospital, sick and way out of it. Multiple sclerosis is a BITCH and my battle is nowhere near done!
Kudos to you Helen for telling it like it is. I cannot believe how both the repulsive… err oops I mean republicans, democrats, sort of democrats (blue dogs mainly), and independents are acting. Margaret- You definitely don’t get on here enough. Your pearls of wisdom are valuable also…. And if Helen has to scalp a few repulsive… err I mean republicans along the way… the world will be a better place.
Tancredo especially… and the rest of the teabaggers need to get down with some substance, and ditch this “Obama does everything wrong” attitude. Tancredo and Palin as your speakers, PLEASE!!!! Thats a way to get some respect for your horrid freakshow! NOT!!!!!
CorieJ… UAW can make sense at times. I think you flustered the poor guy. I almost never agree with him also, but he usually can say something reasonably intelligent (even for an obvious republican suprisingly). Keep bringing your imput into the conversation and don’t bother arguing with UAW when he is flustered. Its very counterproductive. What you say has value.
UAW- Are you ok?
Craig(PI) whoah… where were you when Bush 1. started 2 wars… 2. Declared mission accomplished 3. Dragged them out without sending adequate help an endangering many of our poor soldiers lives for no reason and lastly…. said that the FUNDAMENTALS of our economy were strong even though it has been going downhill way before the dems took office back in 07 due to Bush’s inadequacies…. Jobs were starting to be hard to find back in 05 and have gradually gotten worse until the collapse. Of course this is nothing you would know about in your rose colored world.
Colorful… You amuse me.
Here is the thing.
Liebermann lost his mind obviously and whoever it was that called him a coward was spot on.
WE NEED A HEALTHCARE BILL!!! I am one of many prime examples of many as to why. I am 26, in a wheelchair with my MS out of control, and I have been hospitalized 5x in the past 6 months. I have no money.
I respect Howard Dean when he said that if thats the case (referring to the senates slaughtering of the healthcare bill) then we should scrap the existing bill and start from scratch. Dude has it goin on! We need to get this done and we need to do it right!
I don’t think that literacy tests for voting are the answer. That will put us back 50 plus years if not a hundred plus. Probably it would be a hundred plus with the hate the republicans are spewing.
However how about IQ tests for our elected officials who are making decisions for this country. Lets see here… I am pretty sure that would eliminate Palin, Bush, Reagan’s second term with his alzheimers, and half of the senators who have reached the age where most of their peers are in nursing homes or at least retired happily with their wives and dog… Republicans and democrats alike. Getting such a requirement passed though would take a LOT and I don’t see it happening. It would be nice though!
One thing I wish to remind both parties, especially republicans, is that the United states is not going to be “yours” forever. I think the youth of America proved that by getting out to vote and essentially making Obama president. We don’t typically have landlines and therefore the ever famous polls such as the Gallop poll are slowly going to become more and more biased and therefore obsolete.
Barack Obama gets that. Passing a good healthcare bill now is going to make things better for people in the future. The weak republican plan of expanding competition and tax breaks is not going to help a damn thing. Denying there is a problem like Rush Limbaugh did when he got out of the hospital is not going to help a damn thing. Scaring people like Chuck Grassley and Sarah Palin did by claiming that Obama is going to kill Grandma, is not going to help a damn thing…. So what if it costs… the eventual gain will outweigh the costs once it all evens out and people are healthier….. as long as we do it right!
Screw the banks, especially the big ones like Chase, Goldman Sachs etc. If they are so stupid that they mishandle everything then they deserve what they get. What Obama has tried to do by passing the credit card bill and meeting with them again is to try to get them to quit passing the cost of their stupidity on to their customers and to America’s taxpayers alike. I was always raised that if you do something stupid you suffer the consequences and figure out a way to get yourself out without hurting anyone. Why can’t they?????
Ok I am done ranting now about everything. I think that Helen is right on the money and I wish she were my Grandma… Kudos…
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By: ddddd on February 9, 2010
at 5:48 PM
gregorio, isn’t that the truth. Well I am delighted that none of it was my money. I must say it is pretty amazing to see how marketing has brought her such financial success and popularity. If income and fame measure success, then we could say she is very successful. She has her fan base that do support her blindly, for sure. I don’t know how long she can sustain this “high”, especially if more skeletons keep falling out of her closets. But many will still love her regardless of what truths are revealed.
Doesn’t say much for our discretion, now does it? But then I think we overpay sports figures too, and I don’t support that either. It is the ones we are forced to pay, like insurance company CEOs, military contractors, etc., that is a crime to me.
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By: Poolman on February 9, 2010
at 5:19 PM
Oh, let’s play this out a little more:
Jon & Kate
Carrie Prejean
those who appear in porn
Most of the Fox crowd.
all “entertainers.” None that I find particularly interesting or accomplished. Yes, Palin fits right in. BFD.
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By: Donna on February 9, 2010
at 5:10 PM
Speaking for myself, I’ve never equated making alot of money with intelligence or character or anything else worthwhile. Particularly in a celebrity-obsessed society, it takes nothing more than a superficial appeal. Exhibit A in this regard would be the Octomom. Admirable? I think not.
I do know school teachers and nurses and machinists who are bright and well-informed and interesting. Their value doesn’t lie in the amount of money they make–and Palin’s certainly does not.
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By: Donna on February 9, 2010
at 5:07 PM
Man..as dumb as you all think Palin is.
I think she out earned all of you last saturday.
What was that sound..?
KA-CHING
$100K
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By: gregorio on February 9, 2010
at 4:42 PM
Hello all.
Glad to be back.
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By: gregorio on February 9, 2010
at 4:39 PM
thymeCher – ooops never thought about t he planes! I’m just to the edge of the incoming flight path to Long BEAch airport. AND j ust two houses from th e sound wall of the 405. Double dose. YUk.
Have been thinking a bout lately and wondering how you were.
Glad to see you back. What do you t hink of the Meg Whitman ads. Scary to me. Ever get up this way ?
Since I can no longer drive, I don’t get far.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 9, 2010
at 3:24 PM
Sarah flew back from Texas to Alaska with water that broke – she says.
Here is an email from a man who saw Todd and Sarah as they waited to fly to AK that night. (This was one of the recently released emails.)
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-e-mail-revelations-about-wild-ride.html
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By: JuneauJoe on February 9, 2010
at 1:39 PM
I’m with Poolman on this one, and think he has a tendency to go overboard on conspiracy theories. Sarah Palin’s story of her labor and Trig’s birth just don’t add up, and quite frankly I think she would have been a piss-poor mother and grandmother had she not claimed parentage of this baby. As a Down’s Syndrome individual, Trig is at risk for many medical issues, he needed medical insurance. I consider Sarah’s lie to be her finest moment as a human being, but why does she want to deny healthcare to others?
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 9, 2010
at 1:10 PM
LOL Imaginista… and that proves my point…. taking a minute of energy diagreeing with people whom I usually agree with is one minute of wasted time… one minute of time Iam not using to keep HER out of office……
divide .. while a hillybilly to steps her way to the White house
there is just soooooooooooooooo much more to worry about than who called who retard and who’s love child that boy is…
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By: lori on February 9, 2010
at 1:02 PM
Lori, I usually find myself on the same side of the issues with you, but in this we disagree.
IF SP lied about the pregnancy, then embellished it with stuff like the wild ride, and THEN went on to drag that poor pantsless, hearing aidless and eyeglassless kid around to hold up as a reason for people to elect her to office, it matters.
Besides, most of us here are intelligent enough to follow this story AND keep track of the jobs bill, healthcare bill and Repub antics at the same time. I say, keep on keepin on, Gryphen, Bree Palin and Palingates!
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By: Imaginista on February 9, 2010
at 12:39 PM
Notes other famous people wrote on their hands:
Lincoln:
4score + 7 yrs ago = Baby USA
Civil War still goin’ on, but…
Perish? Us? Balderdash!
FDR:
No fear
‘cept spiders fear itself
Belief pretty firm on that
JFK:
Don’t ask:
Country —> You = bad
You —> Country = good
.
The rest are here.
😉 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 9, 2010
at 12:36 PM
anddddddddddddd… I might add the whole “who called who a retard”…..
Do we not understand these are all tactical “controversies” to take our eye off the ball? And to further divide us on lines that are silly and ill relevant?
If you have forgotten ….. let me just say swift boat?
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By: lori on February 9, 2010
at 12:13 PM
this is the best thing I’ve read in week. no months. possibly years.
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By: Lindsey on February 9, 2010
at 11:54 AM
I suppose I should care if SP lied about her daughter’s baby being her own… The whole concept that “she lied bout one thing she will lie about alllll thingsssss”…..yadda yadda yadda ……
But I don’t….
Her daughter’s sex life and SP’s willingness to lie for/about her daughter’s reputation, isn’t my number one concern about SP becoming the POTUS.
I just think we shouldn’t be distracted by the shinier object in the room.. This is a classic GOP tactic…. Let us NOT fall for it this time? eh?
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By: lori on February 9, 2010
at 11:53 AM
Donna
Nah! Fox would bend the truth six ways to sideways to keep her on.
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By: Anonymous on February 9, 2010
at 11:48 AM
And now, an even tempered apology from
White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel.
.
.
.
But to quote Stephen Colbert,
satirically of course,
“Sarah Palin is a F**king Retard!”
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 9, 2010
at 11:45 AM
I believe that Palin could have gotten away with raising her daughter’s child IF she had done so quietly and without fanfare. (if, in fact, this is not her baby). However, she chose to make the baby front and center of her public persona. What I don’t think will be forgiven is the constant stories about the angst, the ultimate choice to have the child, the “wild ride,” etc. THAT–if proven false–will take care of either a political or even Fox career.
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By: Donna on February 9, 2010
at 11:26 AM
Δ¥ Tine, just letting those who are working to expose these things have their day in the sun. The new release of emails is helping to piece all the facts and players together with the deceptions that have and continue to be presented to the public. These are probably the foremost 2 sites regarding the child’s birth.
Bree Palin – Mrs. Palin’s Wild Ride Redux
Palingates – babygate
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By: Poolman on February 9, 2010
at 11:16 AM
There are several Alaska blogs working on the issue of Trig’s parentage, chielfy among them Gryphen writing at Immoral Minority. For all who have stated they don’t think this is an issue, here is why I disagree. If it is proven that she lied about being pregnant to cover up for her daughter, then continued to build lie upon lie on the original lie, then that illustrates one of the main reasons she is unfit for any public office, much less POTUS.
Mandy, welcome to the porch. You asked a question and I hope it has been answered satifactorily. Even if we did agree that SP is a nice person and good mother (we don’t) those attributes do not qualify someone to hold high office. If that were the case, my mother would be president.
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By: Imaginista on February 9, 2010
at 11:13 AM
oops, hit send too soon-
parents who have a rough time being the anchors kids need .
I have come to think those who say SP uses her kids as props for her own ambitions and agendas are mostly correct.
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By: alaskapi on February 9, 2010
at 10:33 AM
Lobo-
It doesn’t matter to me who is the mother of that poor child. Many people who do care think it another of the endless areas where there are a lot of legitimate questions about SPs problems with lying.
As a resident of Juneau and privy to a fair amount of scuttlebutt about hows and whats of her kids’ behavior in the short time they were here I think the only real concern I have about SPs kids is a real and abiding sadness that they are being raised by parents who have so very many other things on their minds…parents who have a rough time being the anchors kids need .
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By: alaskapi on February 9, 2010
at 10:21 AM
I’ll answer your question, Lobo.
No, I don’t think that. And I despise Sarah Palin. I have not seen any convincing evidence yet to suggest that Trig is Bristol’s child.
That said…Poolman is a pretty good researcher. Let’s see what you’ve unearthed, Poolman! 🙂
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By: Δ¥ Tine on February 9, 2010
at 9:41 AM
People who can’t spell vote put Pres Obama in the White House. What they are really saying.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/
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By: JuneauJoe on February 9, 2010
at 9:39 AM
Mandy, darlin’, you just need more pie…
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By: Lady YaYa on February 9, 2010
at 9:30 AM
Mandy says that Palin is a wonderful woman and no less than 10 people feel compelled to reply in disagreement. Whereas Poolman states that it’s close to being proven that Palin is pawning her daughter Bristol’s “first child” off as her own — and no one say a thing?
Does that mean that you all think that?
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By: Lobo on February 9, 2010
at 9:26 AM
Wait a damned minute… the teabaggers are accusing US of being unable to spell and write coherent sentences? Are they kidding? How many misspelled signs did they raise this past summer? How many of them shouted to keep government out of “my medicare?” (My grandma was beside herself over this one-but then she’s smart).
Ain’t that pretty much the pot calling the kettle black? And I’m surprised at those two ladies at the convention. Usually my republican family members are the first ones to bitch about entitlement programs, right up until someone actually needs or is eligible for one. Including farm subsidies for land that they never ever intended to farm.
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By: PartyPiper on February 9, 2010
at 9:04 AM
Oh, my goodness, I think I love you.
Just found your blog this morning. Bookmarked!
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By: Aviatrixt on February 9, 2010
at 7:56 AM
Hi, Mandy–I appreciate your thoughts and have a few questions if you don’t mind. Why do you believe Sarah Palin is a good person and a wonderful mother? Do you know her and her family personally? I ask because often people accept an image that simply is not real.
For example, take John and Elizabeth Edwards. They portrayed themselves as devoted to each other and to their children. Or take the Sanfords–it’s not a question of political party. Or Tiger Woods–no political party at all but certainly had the country viewing him as a devoted husband and parent.
In a country where celebrity and appearance are so important, we often project what we want to see on attractive public figures. I think that’s understandable but certainly dangerous when we don’t know someone personally.
So, let’s turn again to Sarah Palin. How is it that she is a wonderful person? What has she done that shows genuine goodness or compassion or integrity? And how do we evaluate her parenting skills? I think the best parents in the world can run into snags in the road, so wouldn’t say that Track’s legal problems or Bristol’s pregnancy necessarily reflect poorly on her. But what about having those kids so constantly out of school? Or the fact that she does appear to exploit them to advance herself?
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By: Donna on February 9, 2010
at 6:56 AM
[…] and have you read Margaret and Helen this week? Simply delicious. I should have snacked on that instead of 52 hot […]
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By: Mocha Momma » Hot Wing Hangover on February 9, 2010
at 6:44 AM
Oh, Mandy….
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By: Mike P. on February 9, 2010
at 6:15 AM
Mandy,
There are good, kind hearted, strong individuals who believe in healing, and want to help others. They might even have LOTS of common sense, but I sure as heck don’t want them operating on my children if they don’t have a medical degree.
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By: lori on February 9, 2010
at 6:11 AM
Easier, Jean, Alaskapie et al,
Completely agree with your assessment of SP. Sorry Mandy, the more SP speaks, the more convinced I am that she uninformed, dangerous and all about SP.
Concise arguments regarding Tebow ad.
I call him Max Balk us.
As a member of the US healthcare team, I hang my head in shame at the complications (could it be screw up) suffered by John Murtha. RIP
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By: Dawn on February 9, 2010
at 4:08 AM
Hi Congenial Gang, Easier, alaskapi and Mandy,
Easier and alaskapi, your points are very well taken. Thank you for the recaps we all need to know and keep in mind. If it weren’t for you and others here on this blog, I would never have learned much of anything about Sarah Palin except for what I saw on TV, etc.
Dear Mandy, I am sure you are sincere in your admiration of Sarah Palin, which is your right. She is representing the views of many Tea Bag Party Conservatives and other Republicans. Did you happen to see and hear Tom Tancredo of Colorado who preceded her speech?
Tancredo is advocating a return of the “Literacy Test” to qualify people to vote. This was a common test, especially in the Deep South, a long time ago until it was outlawed along with the “Poll Tax”. The whole idea was whether people were smart enough to read and write ENGLISH as well as understand what the voting process was all about. Here is a typical question that was on one literacy test in Alabama.
“If a person is on trial for treason, how many people testifying against him does it take to convict him?”
Could YOU answer that question correctly? If not, you would not have been permitted to vote. So IF Sarah Palin were to be a candidate for president, and IF the “Literacy Test” were to be reinstated, YOU would not be able to vote for her even if you wanted to.
Incidentally, like many questions on the “Literacy Test”, that one was a trick question.
I have a very close friend from abroad who was married to an American and became a naturalized citizen a couple of years ago. She told me about the citizenship test. I was born here, but I’m not sure I could pass it. It’s tough! It is all about the Constitution and our political system.
Mandy, I hope you will return again so we can discuss other important issues as well as personalities.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 9, 2010
at 1:26 AM
Mandy-
While you are welcome to your view, Ms Palin was a very poor governor for the state of Alaska. She started out ok and those of us not familiar with her thought ‘ well, maybe all those whispers from Wasilla were wrong/sour grapes/ whatever.”
After she fired a chief aide we found out a couple things quite rapidly-
1- that aide was either the person who could keep her on track or the person who ran enough interference for her that we didn’t know she was well on the way to derailing by year 2… even before the Troopergate scandal hit the news.
2- the woman who campaigned on open and transparent govt was drawing a cloak of secrecy around her administration that no one could penetrate unless they were part of a strange circle of childhood friends or similar longstanding aquaintance.
The list of lies she treated us to got lost in the feel good little-guy-beats-the-oil-companies hooraw surrounding ACES and AGIA and the excitement of her being tapped for VP. When she returned after the federal election we got to see what she really is- and it was not pretty.
She reduced the failure of a power authority and rolling blackouts for it’s customers to ” well, government can’t be expected to be picking up all the slack, they just need to learn to provide for themselves’ rhetoric- apparently totally ignorant that the state has a statutory obligation to oversee power authorities. This is the person who still toots herself up as an energy authority?
She reduced the crisis in the bush last year to a passing out cookies photo op and exhorting folks in Western Alaska to get jobs on the slope, totally ignoring the collapse of the commercial salmon fishery on the Yukon, the interplay of federal fishing management of the Bering Sea and the possibly large part it has played in the collapse, as well as the international treaty obligations the US and Alaska have to make sure enough salmon make it to the Canadian Yukon to spawn and keep the fishery alive at all… AND had the nerve to say she didn’t want to get involved in fish politics.
As the head administrator of a state whose fisheries not only provide jobs but subsistence all across the state to opt out of fish politics is NOT an option.
There is no way I would be pleased to have this person in the White House- she was a crummy governor , with less and less interest in doing the real work required of the position.
I disagree with Governor Parnell on just about every resource issue we face BUT
he comports himself with dignity
he keeps his personal life personal
he truly understands that we have enormous work to do here to meet the challenges we have
Ms Palin is none of those things.
Corie-
I popped off about rural America because , while I understand your anger and frustration, Baucus is NOT a rural problem- he’s an American problem- gasbags overinflate themselves , if given a chance, anywhere and everywhere, cities and sticks.
I don’t think we stand a chance of deflating them if we insult their constituents in the process. The crop of folks we, in AK, have sent to DC have pretty much stunk for so long I can’t believe it but am having hopes we may have just done a little better for ourselves in our blue dog… we’ll see.
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By: alaskapi on February 8, 2010
at 11:17 PM
Mandy, I tried to listen to Ms. Palin. Most of the time, she is quite incoherent, can’t seem to string two sentences together. Are we listening to the same person? With all due respect, I would not feel safe with the country in her hands. She just does not seem to me to have that “je ne sais quoi” that distinguishes the leaders from the rest of us. I do not see her as one. I can see Hilary Clinton for example as one, if we were to compare woman to woman. But Ms. Palin just falls short I am afraid. Being articulate is part of the package and she is not. I had the same problem with GW Bush and voiced it. I told anybody that wanted to hear me he was going to lead us to ruin because he was intellectually lacking. The intellect counts for a lot when you assume a position such as POTUS and have to sit with other heads of state and argue or reason matters of state intelligently with them, and be able to stand your ground. I am not saying Ms. Palin is not smart. On a certain level she is. Being able to seize oportunity when you see it requires a certain smarts. She is raking the money in as we speak. More power to her. But from that to POTUS is just too great a leap. She lacks the conviction and passion really, in my view. Sorry!
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By: Easier on February 8, 2010
at 10:00 PM
Slightly off topic but after Mandy’s remark this will help our immune systems. With this teabaggin revolution we will need it.
New Recommendation: Why You Need More Vitamin D
A must see video by Project Camelot on the benefits of D3:
It is a lengthy video and takes about 5 1/2 minutes to get by the intro but then there is extremely important info for your overall health and well being. Please take the time to watch and pass it along.
39 minutes into the video Gabrielle mentions ‘contrails’ or ‘chemtrails’ and their blocking effects on the suns beneficial rays. Mentions that jet exhaust contains barium (wiki or google) and aluminum. Wonder if this has anything to do with the increase of Alzheimer’s, cancer etc.
Grandma Katie, you and I live near LAX & Long Beach airport and wonder what kind of chemicals are raining down on us from the low flying planes.
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By: thymeCher on February 8, 2010
at 9:51 PM
Sarah Palin says one thing and does another!
She is disaster. She quit as Governor because she was inept.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 8, 2010
at 9:42 PM
I hope SP runs so we can witness a political bloodbath. I want to see the Republicans sell out again to religious right Palinites. Nothing would make me happier.
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By: palinshutup on February 8, 2010
at 9:25 PM
Mandy, I disagree with you but welcome to the porch. 🙂
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 8, 2010
at 9:22 PM
I think Sarah Palin has so much to offer our country if you would only take the time to listen to her. She is a wonderful person and a strong individual. She has strong values and is a good mother. She believes in less Government, lower taxes, and more power to the people!
Why is that so wrong? God bless Sarah Palin. I hope she runs for President in 2012. You people on this blog will see what a good President she will be.
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By: Mandy on February 8, 2010
at 8:55 PM
JuneauJoe, loved your link also. The subject is so personal so intimate, and more than likely exceedling painful for most of the people who have to come to that choice. I just bristle at how it became politicized and reason does leave us sometime, when that subject comes up. It is about choice and that is it. Being pro-choice does not in my view represent killing babies, be they “perfect or imperfect”. Being pro-choice means letting people that decision is going to affect retain the decision-making. It is not mine to make, not anybody else’s to make, but theirs. Mr. Dawkins has reasoned the subject well.
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By: Easier on February 8, 2010
at 7:59 PM
I heard a short blip of Palin and her talk at the teabaggers.Yech, who is the world is responsible for letting her loose? and they paid her over $100,000 to speak!
H&H you’ve got a r unning start of the next million!
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By: Grandma Katie on February 8, 2010
at 7:43 PM
M&H, another great post that preaches directly to MY soul.
I have noticed that these so called ” Constitution purest’s” are indeed a carbon copy of the “bible thumpers.” They take the parts that back up their agenda and conveniently ignore the rest. Many times they are one in the same person. Makes me a CRAZY (ier) lady.. !!!
Congrats on your 3 million hits! here here to another 3 ! Salute
J. Nitzel, AMEN! well said and thank you for saying it.
There have been so many insightful posts these last few days. I could “fan” all of them. Sure makes me proud and humbled to be a fellow porch dweller. Pass the pie please… naw never mind the pie.. just the Zin..;-)
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By: lori on February 8, 2010
at 4:57 PM
Margaret is a pistol.
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By: TRI on February 8, 2010
at 4:33 PM
John Murtha died today.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 8, 2010
at 4:01 PM
JuneauJoe, you know Trig is probably Bristol’s first child. That looks even closer to being proved with all the new evidence brought to light from the emails. So the sham continues…
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By: Poolman on February 8, 2010
at 3:47 PM
Easier: Great article about Deaths in abortion – wish this info had been mentioned after the ad.
Richard Dawkins on Abortion and life in general.
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2010/02/brilliant-richard-dawkins-weighs-in-on.html
Sarah Palin is bragging about how she had the choice to keep her child or have an abortion. She chose to keep the little guy, as most do. She wants to take away the option of choosing for all other women though. Hypocrite! Palin wants to make the choice for all women, but she is fine with her having a choice.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 8, 2010
at 1:46 PM
coriej….
I like you too…to bad you didn’t get past 3rd grade…..
poolman…..
good post…..and some people here actually think that all tea-baggers are republicans….they’re just tired of the bull$hit from both extremes……
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By: uaw tradesman on February 8, 2010
at 1:23 PM
@ Tabbie
Loved your post! We are kindred spirits. I agree, onward and upward!
Margaret and Helen – this is one of your sharpest posts.
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By: Martha Unalaska Yard Sign on February 8, 2010
at 1:07 PM
A friend sent this to me I thought I would pass it along to the porch. It is quite an insightful article.
“A well-reasoned article that I wish everyone could read, especially Pam and Tim Tebow.”
http://womensissues.about.com/b/2010/02/01/slat-exposes-complexities-behind-tim-tebow-pam-tebow-super-bowl-abortion-ad.htm
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By: Easier on February 8, 2010
at 12:53 PM
This is my kind of political writing, complete with appropriately used profanity, textbook grammar, and good Democratic ideals.
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By: Anne Fogleman on February 8, 2010
at 11:40 AM
As 2009 has given way to 2010, chants of ‘Yes, we can’ have given away to groans of “What the hell?”
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By: Poolman on February 8, 2010
at 11:26 AM
Thanks for the stories Grandma Katie. They warm the heart. I know there are a lot of good souls in the world and their efforts make this a better place.
Unfortunately, the assholes get most of the press. The latest silliness regarding Sarah Palin and her writing notes on her hand, or telling Obama to play the war card, goes to show how hollow some of these people really are. All that is being exposed in emails from the ex gov show how Todd basically ran things in AK and she was just a puppet. They are quite revealing.
The public face is merely a facade of a more sinister agenda fomented by extremists that want to impose their power and beliefs on the rest of us. Introducing the American Taliban.
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By: Poolman on February 8, 2010
at 11:25 AM
Margaret and Helen,
You ladies are a hoot!
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By: Edward Heller on February 8, 2010
at 9:15 AM
Wonderful! I love hearing from both of you!
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By: Julia Walters on February 8, 2010
at 8:07 AM
Great Post, I read through the comments and I am impressed that you attract such a diverse group, the 3 W’s, Wisemen, Wackos and Weirdos! I live in MA, the home of the Cosmo centerfold, weird and wacky politics make me smile!
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By: Jane George on February 8, 2010
at 6:41 AM
Hi congenial Gang and Grandma Katie,
Grandma Katie, once again, you have come through with a heart warming story. So many good things going on in the world that go unhearlded. Thank you for yet another lovely one.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 8, 2010
at 12:00 AM
Wonderful stories Grandma Katie, it does warm the heart to hear stories such as the ones you brought us today. Thanks and yes, it dooes bring back faith into mankind when one hears about how some humans show compassion to other humans. It makes you forget the crowds that are screaming out there, thinking only about their own selves, their pocket books, and nobody else.
Bravo Saints! Good game!
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By: Easier on February 7, 2010
at 11:59 PM
Greytdog, I miss you, I hope you aren’t overdoing it.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 7, 2010
at 9:52 PM
No longer the Aints – Now, the Saints are Super Bowl Champs. Great Game too.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 7, 2010
at 9:17 PM
Way to go, Saints!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 7, 2010
at 9:15 PM
Grandma Katie:
You are a great lady!!!!!
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By: JuneauJoe on February 7, 2010
at 9:10 PM
Grandma Katie–you are such a dear person. Thank you again.
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By: Donna on February 7, 2010
at 8:52 PM
Happy 3 Million Hits ladies!
Very quiet here tonight. I guess everyone is watching the World Series Basket Ball Game.
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By: Mrs. Santos on February 7, 2010
at 8:39 PM
JuneauJoe, Donna, Janice ,
tapDuncan,Jean – Thanks for your comments.
If you only knew how many had to approve and then m ove quickly. Powerful.
There were Drs., Hospice team and others to make this happen. Thanks go to them.
When my spiriits go so low when reading of some of the mean spirited things being spoken, it is easy to get depressed. So now I will tell you another very unselfish story,
For over ten years I have been on a chat line. It originally started out as a Cancer support group but has dwindled down to just three of us. One of the ladies has suffered for a number of years from a kidney disease. She had reached the s tage of going on the transplant list. A member of her church stepped up and volunteered to donate one of hers. Itr has taken several months for all the tests to be completedand now everyt hng has been cleared for the procedure to be done in March.
For now she is existing on dialysis.
All this, the help going to Haiti, and last winter to Alaska from so many here, my faith in mankind has gotten very strong.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 7, 2010
at 8:29 PM
Hi Congenial Gang and Grandma Katie,
Grandma Katie, what a lovely story of understanding compassion you told of your fellow resident and her husband. We need more heartwarming stories like that. I’m sure all of us are pleased that they can be together. It is the little kindnesses in life that matter the most. Thank you for sharing.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 7, 2010
at 7:02 PM
Congratulations to you, Margaret and Helen, for passing the 3 Million mark!
Thank you to all the Republicans, Tea Baggers and various other haters and conservatives who helped make it possible too. I find it hilarious that the bunch of you are so insecure that you just can’t stop yourselves from coming around to see what the rest of us are up to.
It tickles me even further that you actually post your POVs, refuting this and sputtering about that, as if any of us give a mile-high hump about what you think. We’re not going to change our minds because of some lie you tell. We know the truth. We live it every day. No matter what twisted things you Tea Baggers and die-hard Republicans say, we M&H fans stand firmly grounded in our values and our vision for the future of this nation. We will not let you bring us down.
We will fight until truth, fairness, justice and equality are the norm across the land. Separation of church and state, universal healthcare, equal rights for everyone, sane foreign policy — these are only a few of the things for which we strive. We SHALL overcome, and your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will thank us for it!
Onward and upward!
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By: Tabbie on February 7, 2010
at 5:30 PM
great blog!
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By: susyc on February 7, 2010
at 5:18 PM
Oh, my goodness, did I need this today! Thank you both, ladies, for this wonderful breath of fresh air. I’ve been sifting through that Sarah Palin abomination myself today, and it truly makes my ears and eyes sad!
I need to visit you two more often!!
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By: Joan on February 7, 2010
at 4:54 PM
Just waded through the Sarah Palin speech last nite and it was a doozey. The same incoherence and blather as before so there’s no need for anyone to sit through it.
But the crowning glory was her responseduring the ten minutes of prepared questions after she finished. She had to constantly refer to clearly visible crib notes she had scribbled on the palm of her hand.
It would have been hysterically funny if it wasn’t so pathetic. WHAT A LOSER!!!
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By: jsri on February 7, 2010
at 4:23 PM
Grandma Katie, trying to type thru tears, not easy but well worth it, thanks for that…
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By: TapDuncan on February 7, 2010
at 3:43 PM
Bravo Bravo on 3 million hits, and a great blog to boot!!
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By: TapDuncan on February 7, 2010
at 3:40 PM
3 Million hits and counting!
Margaret and Helen Rock!
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By: Holbrook on February 7, 2010
at 3:26 PM
Grandma Katie…reminds me of my friends, Jim and John. I think they will end up the same way.
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By: Janice Carmichael on February 7, 2010
at 3:25 PM
Thank you, Grandma Katie
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By: Donna on February 7, 2010
at 3:05 PM
Grandma Katie,
Thank you for the beautiful story.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 7, 2010
at 3:02 PM
And now I wo uld like to give you a heart warming, tear jerking real story for the afternoon.
There is a lady who is a residient here that is in advanced Alheimers and has been under Hospice care for several monthsHer husband came every other day to spend time with her.
They have been married over 68 1/2 years with no chidren. I He is 91 and she is 90)
A few weeks ago he was foud collapsed on the floor of his home, too weak to call for help. he refused to go to a hospital, but agreed to come here. After a few days of not being able to eat, he was taken to a h
ospital and diagnosed as being riddled with cancer and placed in another of our residences and under hospice. Under Hospice rules there cannot be more than one hospice in a Board and Caree residence, so he was placed in another one owned by the same couple.
Now for the beautiful part of the story.
TWice she has been taken in her
wheel chair to visit him. He is the only one she seems to recognize.
This past week the wheels were put in motion for her to be discharged from Hospice care and now he is going to be moved here so they can be together.
Today is bright and sunny, and she has been fixed up to be taken for a visit.
A few weeks ago he celebrated his 91st birthday and his nieces and
nephews were here so they could celebrate. I just happened to look up and see her blow him a kiss.
She doesn’t speak,nor recognize anyone but him.
So today she is going to visit him, and th is week he will be m oved here.
That is compassion for you.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 7, 2010
at 2:59 PM
Thanks, ladies for another great post.
GenWar, perhaps you can explain what passes for leadership in the Republican party these days and why. It’s hard not to slip into stereotyping when there is so little visible opposition to Rush, Beck, Palin, Steele, Rove, Cheney, the family-values hypocrites, and the rest that give the party a bad name. Most in the party don’t seem to have any care or clue as to what it used to stand for or what damage was done to our country by members of their own party. It’s also hard to give them credit for bashing the other guy’s ideas when they haven’t come up with viable alternatives of their own.
A few local ladies recently started a new Mat-Su Valley Republican Women’s Club. They are old-style Republicans (like Shash said, “fiscally-conservative, socially neutral and still-sane”), and I respect and generally agree with them.
However, the bulk of the local Republicans continue to support “leaders” who are unethical, promote liberal spending (as long as it’s on their pet projects), and value party power over what’s good for the community and the country. I couldn’t change them, so I did the ethical thing and left the party. Perhaps you should consider doing the same.
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By: ValleyIndependent Δ on February 7, 2010
at 2:26 PM
Helen,
PLEASE be the founding member of the new PIE PARTY movement! The country needs you!
Congratulations to you and Margaret for over 3 million hits!
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By: Candice Myerson on February 7, 2010
at 1:29 PM
I’m thinking your middle name is “windex” because you help us see clearly. You give us information and make us laugh. Thanks
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By: fets on February 7, 2010
at 12:24 PM
“Today’s Republican Party has an issue with abortion, but then fights against healthcare reform knowing full well that more than 9 million children lack health insurance. A stretch argument to be sure, but then again 18 19 Children and Counting is a big hit. ”
– Awesome quote.
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By: Chris on February 7, 2010
at 11:25 AM
Bush had 8 years to screw things up. (His brother gave Florida to him or he wouldn’t have been in there for another four years.) How do you Republicans expect Obama to fix everything in one year that it took Bush 8 years to screw up.
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By: G.G. on February 7, 2010
at 11:06 AM
Great to hear your voice again. We missed you.
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By: witsendmagazine on February 7, 2010
at 10:39 AM
Happy THREE MILLION HITS!!!!
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By: Tanya P. on February 7, 2010
at 10:36 AM
I think part of the problem is democratics have allowed the teabaggers who are a minority to be more vocal then us. We are now the silent majority and we need to take our country back from the loony religious right. Some of the people on the right have valid points but when the bring in the haters of Obama then the left stops lisening to them. This country is in deep trouble. Obama is trying. I don’t know whatelse he can do that he hasn’t done already to get cooperation with the other side. I mean he embrassed them during the Q&A and that didn’t seem to move the republicans. The democratics need to stand up and do the right thing. Take back the 51 votes to pass things in the senate.
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By: southernyankee on February 7, 2010
at 9:43 AM
congrats on 3 million!!
Now, if anyone wondered whether the noxious Sarah Palin would call out Limbaugh for his use of the term “retard,” she said on Fox this morning that he was being “satirical.”
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By: Donna on February 7, 2010
at 8:58 AM
A TRIPLE TREAT!
Another post from Helen so soon! And Margaret chimed in, too! And you now have over 3 million hits!
A hearty congratulations to you both! Thank you for letting us sit on your virtual porch and listen to your witty words of wisdom! Our world is a better place because of your blog!
I think I’ll celebrate with a cherry pie!
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By: Sherri Δ on February 7, 2010
at 8:54 AM
[…] Margaret and Helen: The elephant in the room is a kangaroo […]
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By: Mike’s Blog Roundup on February 7, 2010
at 8:25 AM
You nailed it–thank you-hugss
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By: LuLU on February 7, 2010
at 8:25 AM
Feeling low this morning, clicked on the site and what a wonderful surprise. Your post definetly made my day. Looks like things are back on track with you Ladies. Keep it up.
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By: Hillbilly on February 7, 2010
at 7:51 AM
Yeah over 3 million hits! Congratulatons M&H!
Great links, esp to market watch re taxes, slate re voters are the problem, and lobbiests running the show.
My 5th grader is studying government now, and my daughter had it again last year in 8th grade. Ironically, we were in DC for a wedding in 9/08 when Bush and Paulson orchestrated TARP.
Frustrated that there seems to be no negotiating or real work being done. Big money running the show, and we’re just pawns in their little game, just giving us enough to keep us indentured.
Thankfully, there’s M&H and the rest of the gang here on the porch for some spirited discussion.
Rock on!
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By: Dawn on February 7, 2010
at 5:47 AM
Woohoo!!! 3 MIL
Way to go!
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By: palinshutup on February 7, 2010
at 2:32 AM
Happy 3 million Ladies! Way to go!
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By: Joel on February 7, 2010
at 2:13 AM
Hi Congenial Gang, Grandma Katie and Poolman,
Glad to hear you are grinding away on our project, Grandma Katie. I am too. It is all pretty interesting, if grim stuff.
Poolman, here’s a little personal vignette. Our home is two stories with the bedrooms downstairs and the living area upstairs. Every morning when I get up, as I start hobbling up the stairs, I look out of the various windows at the pristine mountains that sometimes seem so close you could reach out and touch them. They are almost of Biblical proportion and I am reminded of: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my strength.”
Once upstairs while the coffee is brewing I go out on the Dinky Deck in the opposite direction from the mountains and look at the ocean. It’s about a half mile away down a steep cliff. Both views are breathtaking. It is a wonderful way to start my day.
Of course, there are times when the mountains are covered with clouds and the ocean with mist. (Where’d the mountains and ocean go?) But I always know they will be back as beautiful as ever once again.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 7, 2010
at 1:50 AM
Dear Margaret and Helen,
Three million hits!!! Lets get ready to go for four!!!
In the meantime, I’m all for a porch party of pie, tea, wine, poetry and song.
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 7, 2010
at 1:40 AM
WOW! 3 m illion hits!! Happy Valentine’s DAy. What a porch pie party we are going to have.
Juneau Joe WOW! 1 m onth.
Yesterday we had more rain but today ended up nice and clear.
Naughty naughty. That was not polite. Are you sure you are not related to the Tin Man and looking for a heart?
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By: Grandma Katie on February 6, 2010
at 11:37 PM
Onto the next 3 million Helen! 🙂
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By: Cynthia Hernandez on February 6, 2010
at 10:51 PM
Congratulations, Margaret & Helen!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 6, 2010
at 10:41 PM
Congratulations on reaching the 3 million mark Ladies!
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By: Stan on February 6, 2010
at 10:12 PM
To Palin, in the immortal words of Oprah, “what happened to your hair?”
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 6, 2010
at 10:11 PM
HAPPY 3 MILLION HITS!!!!!!!
MARGARET & HELEN LONG MY YOU LIVE!!!!!!
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By: Stacy Anne on February 6, 2010
at 10:10 PM
I didn’t want to pollute my previous post as I think it is beautiful. But, Palin is a bitch! After watching her speech drenched in stupidity tonight at the ‘First Annual Tea Party Convention’, here is what I surmise:
She still believes that she is a princess. Most little girls grow up and figure out it’s not true…
Good night, all. I cannot wait to see what the comedians are gonna do with this!
Oh, and congrats on 3 million hits Margaret and Helen! We should have the ‘First Annual Pie Party Convention’.
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By: OceanGypsi on February 6, 2010
at 9:14 PM
@craig(delta sign)
Some of that deficit may have come from the Democratic Congress.
But I’m pretty sure the majority of it came from the two wars that Bush and the gang started.
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By: Amelia on February 6, 2010
at 9:12 PM
Vgman, I’ll contribute to the poetry reciting.
“Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” Rumi
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By: OceanGypsi on February 6, 2010
at 9:06 PM
Woohoo! Over 3 million hits! Congratulations!
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By: Poolman on February 6, 2010
at 9:03 PM
Y’all get better every day.
Like leftover pie.
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By: Anonymous on February 6, 2010
at 9:02 PM
Grandma Katie: WARNINGL There is about a 50% chance of being in So Cal in about a month give or take 2 weeks.
We have crappy snow so I am thinking of heading to the coast for a few days. I will be in Death Valley next weekend.
3 Million Hits – coming up fast! Helen and Margaret: Your site is amazing – Thanks for putting up with us.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 6, 2010
at 8:25 PM
A porch pie party for 3,000,000 hits! Ladies, you are wonderful!
And trolls you are welcome if you mind your manners.
I’m reading about the British Empire
ffor auntie Jean. See a lot of parallels between them and the REpugs. and not very favorable for either side.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 6, 2010
at 7:43 PM
CO almost native, I can’t take credit for that but I’d love to read it. Got a link?
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 6, 2010
at 7:14 PM
Oh wow, only a few hundred hits to 3 mil! WTG, Margaret & Helen! WTG!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 6, 2010
at 7:11 PM
Happy to read whatever Helen and Margaret write — always straight talk while also humorous. Thanks, Ladies.
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By: Dearie on February 6, 2010
at 7:09 PM
no ones puppet–
I took a high school elective class called Government. I learned a lot and always admired the zeal of the teacher I had.
Today, I tell my 5th graders how important the Constitution is and especially the Bill of Rights. I tell them, “Long after I’m dead and gone, I hope you will hold them both in highest regard and carry on the tradition of a free people with a Bill of Rights in hand.”
For the 3,000,000 Magical Pie Party I propose we open up a corner of the porch for reciting poetry. Our hearts and minds can find many ways to thank Helen and Margaret.
Roses are red….
Violets are blue….
Thanks to you two–
We’re sharing pie too!
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By: vgmanΔ on February 6, 2010
at 6:26 PM
The emails. The tax scam they pulled off. Not paying tax on houses for 10 years or so. I am glad that the tax scam is being investigated. I think they will end up with a big bill.
Actually, in Juneau, we knew Todd was making a lot of phone calls and being an ass. He really tried to bully his way around. He pushed hard to move the Capitol from Juneau to Anchorage, but did not get it.
The emails actually help in letting people know just how involved he was. He also belonged to a group which wanted to secede from the union.
Sarah (Do as I say, not as I do) Palin and Todd were not good for AK. Making 120 Thousand for a speech tonight is insane. That lady is not much.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 6, 2010
at 6:15 PM
JuneauJoe–what’s your reaction to the story about the emails (msnbc)?
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By: Beth on February 6, 2010
at 5:42 PM
3 Million is coming up fast!!!!
Helen and Margaret – You Rock!
Sarah Palin is terrible. She makes her 120 Thousand tonight. Dumber is a right way to describe her.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 6, 2010
at 5:37 PM
So, what kind of PIE PARTY should we have for Margaret and Helen for reaching 3 MILLION HITS?!?!?!?!?!
🙂
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By: Stacy Anne on February 6, 2010
at 5:12 PM
Just watched two women interviewed at the teaparty convention on CNN. If I heard right one lady and her husband own a small mortage company. She was not in favor of the stimulous package. People still can’t afford to buy homes or re-mortgage them she said. They (CNN)asked her if they had applied for any of the stimulous package since it sounds like they would be candidates to get some help in their business –she replies NO. Something fell out of her mouth like she was not in favor of it (the stimulous) and she doesnt’ know anyone personally that it has helped. So how in the world could it possibly help her if they don’t even apply for any help. DAH DAH what am I missing in this. If a person is in debt say $30,000 dollars and they decide to get themselves out from under how long do they think it would take them to pay off that $30,000 plus the interest it carries???? Yet they expect the government to get out from under our debt TODAY. Like I said what am I missing!!!
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By: reader on February 6, 2010
at 4:32 PM
There’s a game?
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By: judith on February 6, 2010
at 4:24 PM
oopsies, meant to post ‘Thank you for making my
Saturday’
Can you tell I cant wait for Sunday/football madness to be over and done with? 😉
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By: palinshutup on February 6, 2010
at 4:09 PM
Im with Delurker Girl, Where do the reasonable conservative people hang out?
Dedicated to uaw
Craig, just thought Id drop you a little love note to let you know you still bore me and I am still scrolling past your comments.
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By: palinshutup on February 6, 2010
at 3:35 PM
Have any of you ever met someone under the age of fifty, who took a high school Civics class?
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 6, 2010
at 3:24 PM
Absolute perfection.
Thank you for making my Sunday!
So good to see you posting again♥
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By: palinshutup on February 6, 2010
at 2:48 PM
Kangaroo, yes, indeedy.
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By: A Nana Moose on February 6, 2010
at 1:52 PM
Those of us on the fringes of society are like the tread of a tire, where friction takes its greatest toll. We feel the greatest impact of the whole vehicle. We are aware of the road conditions. We see where improvements can be made, but we are only able to pass that information up the sidewalls and to the hub. Unfortunately, those closer to the hub are not where the rubber meets the road, so are somewhat in a comfort zone. The other parts that aren’t part of the drive train make up the bulk of the vehicle. Though they are part of the vehicle, they are not concerned where we are traveling. They are happy to be moving and as long as they are occasionally washed and waxed to look good. The bug splat encountered is considered a necessary evil of travel – an inconvenience at most. An occasional ping from a rock or a parking lot ding is their only real abuse. A flat tire only slows them down and is merely a temporary setback. They’ve changed tires many times before. Each new generation has a little different tread pattern, designed for the latest street conditions. Just because we are wearing democratic desert duelers or republican whitewalls now, doesn’t mean we always will.
The riders in this buggy, the keepers of oil and ore – the mineral miners, have gone through many tires over the years. They’ve changed wheels plenty, too. It’s been a good ride for them. They have passed it down from generation to generation, careful to keep the keys in the right hands. All kinds of improvements have been added over the years. From shock absorbers and leaf springs, to soundproofing and sound systems, the ride is well insulated from the world outside.
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By: Poolman on February 6, 2010
at 1:41 PM
Welcome to the world of 24/7/365 politics – the main act at center stage, getting the lion’s share of attention by all forms of media. Most of the cast and crew enjoy the benefit and pitfalls of celebrity and power. The play focuses on appearance and sound, rather than message and purpose. Our entertainment is paramount from one scene to the next. They certainly prefer a good review. Every so often the script is rewritten, in the hope of a sensational finale. Though the plot may be different, the theme remains the same. Even an encore is scripted.
We can follow the program, but are unaware of what is going on backstage. The privileged have the best seats, while others are in the balcony. The rest don’t have tickets and can only see it through the eyes and interpretation of others. As long as tickets can be sold, the play will continue. The theater employs many, and so the show must go on.
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By: Poolman on February 6, 2010
at 1:33 PM
We need more parties in this country.
We need terms limits so these yahoos can’t stay in there for 30 years.
As someone who has voted in every election, has always been involved in politics, I am disgusted with both sides. I am honestly thinking about not voting. It really doesn’t make any difference. Our government is controlled by people with enough money to have lobbyists.
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By: girlvet on February 6, 2010
at 12:42 PM
jsri–good article. Thanks!
Agree with you, too, Tine, that American voters are civically illiterate. Too many of them. Responsible people make time for many things in their lives–family, work, food and fun–but civically responsible people add the full participation in the collective trust we have in ourselves as a nation. Making decisions based on the idea of how the majority decides with respectful input from the minority.
How do Americans commit to being a part of that process, not just through words, but with action as well?
The Constitution should be required curriculum for everyone since at its heart is the breath of everyone of us.
Have a funeral to attend today. Another casualty of the failed health care system in this country.
Be back to the porch later.
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By: vgmanΔ on February 6, 2010
at 12:33 PM
Some of you are more into this gov. knowledge stuff than I — so answer me this: I keep trying to figure out just what our ‘federal’ gov. “should” be doing for us. Especially when I see that our Congress is holding ‘hearings’ on this or that sport figure taking and/or lieing about taking steroids – not being a sports fan I can not understand why things like that should be taking up the time of our Congress??? So far I have come up with the following for our federal gov. — providing for our security (military), the infrastructure, our health and well being (medical coverage) protecting the constitution and the laws of the entire country not just a few of us?? As an example of the Pork I can think of now – if something only benifits one state (I recall the bridge to nowhere and a road to a particular area of a state [the local residence of that area saw no need for] that the federal government and the countries money should not be involved. Am I so wrong.
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By: reader on February 6, 2010
at 12:23 PM
My new favorite blog, my chapeau is off to you both, simply wonderful.
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By: digitalmem on February 6, 2010
at 12:03 PM
Margaret, I heard on the radio yesterday that many people think now is a good time to buy a Toyota because with all the problems they are having with the accelerator issue, and the huge drop in sales they’ve had, that the dealers will be more inclined to make a good deal money-wise. In other words, They figure the problems will be fixed, but dealers and maybe Toyota themselves will provide incentives and make deals to jump start sales again. Another story I heard is that this problem has been a boon to Ford, that as sales plummeted for Toyota, they have skyrocketed for Ford and to a much smaller extent GMC.
My first visit to your site, and I love what you have to say.
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By: Rick on February 6, 2010
at 11:58 AM
That’s a good article, jsri. I don’t have time to fact-check all of Weisberg’s stats and claims, but I agree with his basic point. Many people can’t be bothered to educate themselves and think through problems. It drives me nuts, frankly.
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By: Δ¥ Tine on February 6, 2010
at 11:31 AM
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. Wish this post could somehow get to UTube.
I would submit this mantra for all Democrats and Independents who are frustrated and threatening to sit out this election cycle:
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM
Do you want to go back to the Bush/Reagan policies? Do you want to go back to the rule of the top 2%, Big Business and Big money. Do you want Sarah Palin? Do you realize that the Republicans have filibustered every bill of substance to hit the floor of congress since 2008—–they don’t want you to know that. Check it out, it is the truth.
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM
Do you want Americans to keep dying at the rate of hundreds of thousands weekly because of our broken health care system?
Do you want the United States importing tainted foods, lead-based painted toys and furniture for our children, do you want inferior manufactured products? You’ll get it with the Republicans.
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM
Do you know that the Senate Republicans have delayed for over a year, the confirmation hearings of President Obama’s assistant cabinet secretaries. He is working with less than half of a staff. This is what Republicans want.
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM
Don’t sit out this election cycle. Get better candidates. Thanks Massachusetts for sitting on your butts and not voting. You had a VERY poor Democratic candidate who lost to an even more horrible swine and you let it happen. Get a better candidate. How dare you allow Ted Kennedy’s seat to go to a jackass like that Republican. Do you want the middle class to disappear, to pay more taxes than the top 2%, to have less and less job opportunities? That is what the Republicans want.
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM
Colorado Blue
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By: J. Nitzel on February 6, 2010
at 11:31 AM
LOVE IT, LOVE IT LOVE IT
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By: J. Nitzel on February 6, 2010
at 11:09 AM
Where most of the fault lies. The voters take a hit.
http://www.slate.com/id/2243797/
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By: jsri on February 6, 2010
at 11:03 AM
Oops…LINK
Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 6, 2010
at 10:43 AM
Hi there, troutay! (*waving*) 🙂
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By: Δ¥ Tine on February 6, 2010
at 10:42 AM
Hello yourself troutay.
~
President Obama’s
Weekly Address 2/6/10
PEACE ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 6, 2010
at 10:40 AM
Another wonderful post Helen and Margaret!
We do love us some H & M!
Hello to all the regulars out there.
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By: troutay on February 6, 2010
at 10:17 AM
On a more serious note, anyone read Paul Krugman?
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/the-senate-becomes-a-polish-joke/
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By: HRH sofia EQ on February 6, 2010
at 8:37 AM
Auntie Jean, I can answer that question. He made snakes to eat the bugs and rodents. He made the birds and bats to eat the mosquitoes (and we’re killing the birds and bats with our development and pollution) I’m sorry, I can’t think of why He made the cockroaches, maybe as comedy fodder? Ever seen the movie “Twilight of the Cockroaches?” which is not a comedy.
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By: HRH sofia EQ on February 6, 2010
at 8:32 AM
Who was front and center at both the Republican and Democratic retreats? Lobbyists
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bill-moyers-lets-face-it-two-political-par
Those who trashed health care reform paid for the retreats. Figures.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 6, 2010
at 8:02 AM
Oh I just like you so very much.
I have always had a vague idea of what you said–that the Republican party used to be respectable, have a coherent ideology involving small government and responsibility, &c. My dad always said so, anyway (he was a Republican until GWB). Unfortunately for me, I was born in 1983, and I missed it all.
Good job Republican Party, I am now a Democrat for life. How many people born in 1983 are like me? A lot. You blew it, assholes. You’re going to lose.
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By: Katie on February 6, 2010
at 6:14 AM
Oh dear thank you, I needed that post. And to think the president is coming downunder to OZ where there are many kangaroos. Looking forward to his visit I have to say.
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By: Lilly on February 6, 2010
at 4:54 AM
Hi Congenial Gang, vgman and Delurker Girl Δ,
Yep, vgman, I raised a glass of White Zin with and to you this evening. Salud!
Delurker Girl, in addition to cockroaches and mosquitoes, I have made a note to ask him, what was he thinking when he made snakes?
Aloha! 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 6, 2010
at 1:20 AM
Welcome back and kudos to your post, Margaret and Helen. And DelurkerGirl: thanks for the insights. I assume you are also the one on Huffington Post who did the great research into the Palin property tax issues- bravo!
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By: CO almost native on February 6, 2010
at 12:31 AM
Delurker–
Your “hope to ask God about one day” is the most positive statement I’ve heard all day.
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By: vgmanΔ on February 6, 2010
at 12:00 AM
Helen, as always , you “hit the nail on the head”.
Love your post!~ Really!
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By: gail on February 5, 2010
at 10:31 PM
Great point, Joel, but some folks don’t debate using fact/reason/purpose. Their primary debate tool is endurance. It’s the cockroach approach. Cockroaches survive it all, even nuclear weapons I think. And after genrations and generations of battle, expensive technological evolution… we still have cockroaches. It’s one thing I hope to ask God about one day. That and mosquitos.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 5, 2010
at 10:12 PM
“Your party gave us Sarah Palin and George W. Bush – dumb and dumber. He’s the guy whose mission still isn’t accomplished and she’s the gal who couldn’t handle being governor of one of our least populous states. Even the “professional” wrestler was able to finish the job in Minnesota.”
Craig? UAW? Try answering the points she makes instead of just trashing other posters.
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By: Joel on February 5, 2010
at 9:50 PM
There is good stuff I didn’t know in this article. Stuff the tea partiers don’t know. Like how their own taxes would automatically go up if Obama doesn’t intervene. You know, the kind of stuff the ‘liberal elite media’ doesn’t cover. Can you tell I don’t believe in ‘liberal elite media’? I believe the media reports what’ll draw viewers – drama.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-good-news-in-obamas-tax-proposals-2010-02-05?siteid=YAHOOB
Cheers to you, VGMAN. Have one for me.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 5, 2010
at 9:43 PM
Craig. We’re done with you. You add no value and there is no prize for being the 3,000,000th visitor. I would say move along, but …
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By: HHG on February 5, 2010
at 9:42 PM
You could not have said it any better than this….
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By: Sharon Samra on February 5, 2010
at 9:35 PM
I love you.
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By: Tricia on February 5, 2010
at 9:27 PM
Such an evening on the porch! I just finished reading through the posts of the day and my….
Everyone’s been busy today!
Well, at the end of a long week with 31 kids around my elbows, it is enjoying to sit down with a glass of wine and see what all the chatter is about on this beloved porch of Helen and Margaret.
Just moments before sitting down, I had turned the light on in the kitchen to get my dogs a treat and then noticed the sink full of dishes. I simply clapped my hands apart twice and headed for the porch–sort of like “I’m cleaning my hands of you, you dirty dishes”.
I wonder if any of the resident trolls under this porch took the time to read President Obama’s words in the speech he gave at the National Prayer Breakfast? They resonate with compassion–something I see lacking in many of your posts.
Congress! Wake up! Hear the voice of the people calling for change! Health care for all who reside in our country.
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By: vgmanΔ on February 5, 2010
at 9:16 PM
Today’s Republican Party has an issue with abortion, but then fights against healthcare reform knowing full well that more than 9 million children lack health insurance. Yes, what is with that? If they are born, rather than aborted, they should be able to have healthcare. Sheesh.
Right on!
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By: DawnK on February 5, 2010
at 7:55 PM
One of the tea party speakers today was talking about how Obama captured the vote of people who can’t even spell ‘vote’, or say it in English. Charming.
This prejudiced point of view was shared with the world by the liberal elite media.
This stuff boggles the mind, it really does.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 5, 2010
at 7:46 PM
Hello illiterate mostly Obama voters on this site, looks like you all need to go back to school according to the tea-partiers. You don’t deserve to have the right to vote for having voted for Obama in the past election! Also, high government spending appears to be their beef, so why did I not hear from these people last year, or the year before, or the year before that? They are so transparent! Bunch of hypocrites!
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By: Easier on February 5, 2010
at 7:25 PM
Whoo, have to hold my nose, the usual gasbag been at it again. I laugh and laugh at how dumb he can be and not realize it.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 5, 2010
at 6:54 PM
I forgot to say “Thank you !!.
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By: Lois on February 5, 2010
at 5:54 PM
Oh, my…..I think I have just found my hero (heroes?) I am 82 and loving every word you utter. God bless.
Love, Lo
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By: Lois on February 5, 2010
at 5:52 PM
Our neighbor walks her dog every day and is careful to pick up after it does its thing. But a couple days ago as she was walking up her front steps she dropped the plastic bag and accidentally stepped on it. Then she said she couldn’t get the crap off her shoes and it stunk up the whole house.
Immediately I though about how much her situation resembles the trolls that show up on this site.
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By: anon one on February 5, 2010
at 4:22 PM
I will help you stuff envelopes if you want to send this to every idiot in Congress. I marvel that the President is able to speak to these people like they have a modicum of intelligence. Frankly, I think they should put pablum and baby food on the Congressional cafeteria menu. They’re worse than kindergarteners!
I heard the President say something about how they should be able to question his policies without questioning his faith–or his citizenship. Wouldn’t you think so, too? Yet they go lower and lower…and the lemmings keep following them! Arrrggghhhh!
Keep telling it like it is, Girlfriend!
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By: merrilymarylee on February 5, 2010
at 2:43 PM
Sticks and stones, buddy. Still not owning up to stealing others’ words, are ya? Not now, not ever.
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By: Δ¥ Tine on February 5, 2010
at 1:25 PM
Aspirin and Pie…Aspirin on Pie…God I must be tired
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By: Harry on February 5, 2010
at 1:16 PM
Spilled my noon tea…all over my laptop laughing so hard. I need an aspirin now…
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By: Harry on February 5, 2010
at 1:16 PM
Oh and Δ¥ Tine..
Thanks for reading.
You might learn something if you read it twice. Then maybe it will sink into that little puppet brain of an avatar.
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By: craigΔ on February 5, 2010
at 1:04 PM
Whirled Peas Δ
Its so fitting that your avatar is a squirrel.
An agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail, typically feeding on nuts and seeds. Family Sciuridae: several genera, in particular Sciurus, and numerous species.
• a related rodent of this family
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By: craigΔ on February 5, 2010
at 1:01 PM
As I read these posts — I think we are becoming them. The Republicans point fingers and blame the Dems – The Dems point fingers and blame the Repubs. My way is better than yours. My God is better than yours and the only way to believe. Gays in the military – if they pay taxes and love this country why can’t they fight to defended it if they want to. I heard several soldiers interviewed on TV and they all came to the conclusion that when the bullets are flying you don’t really think about who the guy or girl next to you prefers to sleep with only how well do they shoot. It all reminds me of when women moved from admin. jobs in the military and entered into the combat side of the military — a lot of fuss was made then also. But it seems to have not weakened our military. I will let God decide whether he thinks it is bad thing or not if gays are allowed in the military. He told me to love everyone friend and foe and that judgement is His. It may not fit here but I saw this quote don’t know who wrote and or said it but I can’t stop thinking of it for some reason:
“FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD TO FIGHT FOR IT,
FREEDOM HAS A FLAVOR THE PROTECTED
SHALL NEVER KNOW.”
I for one do not know – but if some gay person wants to keep it that way for me — I say thank you!!
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By: reader on February 5, 2010
at 1:00 PM
You won’t mind if I forward this to the White House, will you? I think the Pres could use some decent cheerleading these days and you do it so well!
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By: Nance on February 5, 2010
at 12:52 PM
and to Tine!
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By: Donna on February 5, 2010
at 12:49 PM
I am chuckling through lunch. Good posts everybody! Special kudoos to Granma rock, OceanGypsi and Whirled.
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By: Easier on February 5, 2010
at 12:42 PM
Whirled Peas–you rock.
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By: Donna on February 5, 2010
at 12:24 PM
Well said!
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By: Mari on February 5, 2010
at 12:08 PM
What the difference between a troll and a parrot?
One is mean and nasty, spits, bites, shits on everything all the time, squawks incoherently with no provocation and continually repeats whatever has been pounded into their little brain.
.
.
.
.
And the other is a parrot.
😉 ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 5, 2010
at 12:06 PM
Speaking of blah blah blah… Doesn’t double-posting a plagiarized letter also qualify as annoying blather?
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By: Δ¥ Tine on February 5, 2010
at 11:52 AM
Helen and Margaret,
You ladies are THE BEST!
The Archie Bunker line is classic!
As always, thanks for the chuckles. Really. I mean it.
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By: 2Legit on February 5, 2010
at 11:31 AM
According to MSNBC.com, Todd Palin is a puppetmaster. Does this also make him a quitter?
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 5, 2010
at 11:31 AM
Sick of Obama’s crying about “Inherited”? Here is the real scoop on what Obama actually inherited.
The Washington Post babbled again about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush, blah blah blah.
Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democrat Party! They controlled the budget process for FY 2008 and FY 2009, as well as FY 2010 and FY 2011.
In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat “belatedly” got tough on spending increases.
For FY 2009, though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, by continuingly passing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office.
At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the FY 2009 budgets.
And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete FY 2009.
Let’s remember what the deficits looked like during that period:
If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the FY 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets.
That deficit was the lowest in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets.
If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself.
In a nutshell, what Obama should be saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th.
WE SHOULD NOT LIVE BEYOND OUR INCOME, SO WHY SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BE EXEMPT FROM THE SAME STANDARD?
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By: craigΔ on February 5, 2010
at 11:28 AM
Hey Joe..
May I call you JOE…
“Hint: Defense spending represents almost one quarter of all federal spending.
Helen: You are brilliant! (Iraq was started with lies. A trillion dollars later – still there.)”
Just remember..the left side of the aisle voted for the same budgets and they passed.
Stop laying everything negative at the right sides feet.
It took a left foot to take the current walk.
And Joe, May I call you JOE..
You have a one track agenda..I mean brain.
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By: craigΔ on February 5, 2010
at 11:26 AM
Some years ago I knew a little lady who would have Loved Helen and probabllly would have bought a computer so that she could read the posts and add a few pithy ones of her own. She carried busness cards that said she was a charter member of the KANGAROO party whose slogan was
“Always Jumping to Conclusions”
BTW did anyone see the cartoon show about Sara Palin?
Couldn’t take but a few minutes of it.
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By: Grandma Katie on February 5, 2010
at 11:18 AM
Republicans,Deficits and stupidity:
Your party gave us Sarah Palin and George W. Bush – dumb and dumber….
We are actively involved in two wars, but you just can’t understand why the deficit is so big? Regardless of what you have been told, every time a bomb is dropped, an angel does not get her wings. Hint: Defense spending represents almost one quarter of all federal spending.
Helen: You are brilliant! (Iraq was started with lies. A trillion dollars later – still there.)
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By: JuneauJoe on February 5, 2010
at 10:45 AM
Dumbass (1 word) Parrot
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 5, 2010
at 10:31 AM
Yes, Poolman. Thank you! Please do keep even people like General Stanley A. McChrystal in prayer as he follows the directives of our Commander in Chief while they hold the lives of our soldiers in their hands, soldiers like my nephew in Afghanistan.
Colorful, I am assuming that your indistinguishable typing is you actually ‘typing in tongues’? Doesn’t 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 say,
“27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent….” NKJV
Just sayin’….
Happy Aloha Friday, all! Margaret and Helen sure got things stirred up in here. LOL!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 5, 2010
at 10:28 AM
Margaret, in between times, I forget how much I like your dry wit, thanks for your comments this time.
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By: no one's puppetΔ on February 5, 2010
at 10:25 AM
IDIOT REPUBLICANS: THE DETAILS ABOUT THE REPS HEALTH INSURANCE IS OUT:
They would exclude people and ration care much worse than anything the Dems. had suggested.
http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/gop-budget-proposes-ration-medicare
What a bunch of HYPOCRITES!!!!!
WWGKD? Ignore Trolls
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By: JuneauJoe on February 5, 2010
at 10:25 AM
Sick of Obama’s crying about “Inherited”? Here is the real scoop on what Obama actually inherited.
The Washington Post babbled again about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush, blah blah blah.
Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democrat Party! They controlled the budget process for FY 2008 and FY 2009, as well as FY 2010 and FY 2011.
In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat “belatedly” got tough on spending increases.
For FY 2009, though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, by continuingly passing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office.
At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the FY 2009 budgets.
And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete FY 2009.
Let’s remember what the deficits looked like during that period:
If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the FY 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets.
That deficit was the lowest in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets.
If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself.
In a nutshell, what Obama should be saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th.
WE SHOULD NOT LIVE BEYOND OUR INCOME, SO WHY SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BE EXEMPT FROM THE SAME STANDARD?
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By: craigΔ on February 5, 2010
at 10:09 AM
Helen and Margaret, you’ve made my day. So many quotable quotes!
Welcome back, Colorful.
Katia: The right wing only has a problem with white people not having babies. Ever seen this one? Lovely.
http://mediamatters.org/research/200605120006
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By: Δ¥ Tine on February 5, 2010
at 9:48 AM
how lovely. Quoting a blog called “Angry White Guy” (kind of says it all). Without attribution.
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By: Donna on February 5, 2010
at 9:48 AM
Jon Stewart / The Daily Show:
The Blogs Must Be Crazy!
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 5, 2010
at 9:38 AM
2009’s Dumb Ass of the Year Award…
Janet Napolitano
It was tough to pick a winner in the current administration, but I think everyone will agree that its hard to argue with this selection!
Yes, Janet Napolitano, DEMOCRAT from Arizona ……….
For listing Tea Party protesters, southern Christians and returning members of the military as potential domestic terrorist and right-wing extremists .. you are a dumbass.
For renaming the ongoing War on Terror as an Overseas Contingency .. you are a dumbass.
For dropping the word terrorism from the government lexicon .. you are a dumbass.
For saying that the terrorist attack on 9/11/01 was really a man-caused disaster .. you are a dumbass.
For claiming that ILLEGAL immigration is not a crime .. you are a dumbass.
For declaring that the Canadian border was more dangerous than the Mexican border .. you are a dumbass.
For stating that the Muslim Terrorist attacks on 9/11 came from Canada .. you are a dumbass.
For allowing the spread of Swine Flu by not testing travelers from Swine Flu ground zero in Mexico .. you are a dumbass.
For comparing a fence along the US southern border to the Berlin Wall .. you are a dumbass.
For claiming that Homeland Security’s system worked when all could see it failed .. you are a dumbass.
For taking back your system worked comment with system failed .. you are still a dumbass.
Janet, for you just being you, you are a dumb ass.
So congratulations Janet Napolitano!!
You are the official 2009 winner of the Dumb Ass of the Year award!
Deserving of awards and accolades for having failed so much in one short year … you are the winning loser!
And as John Wayne has said, ”Life’s tough … it’s even tougher if you’re stupid.”
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By: craigΔ on February 5, 2010
at 9:36 AM
Alaskapi,
It was not my intention to denegrate rural America. I myself live in a very small town in the extreme southwestern mountains of North Carolina so I understand the issues you speak of. I am also a progressive living in a district that is waaaay to the right of me, and even though I do not agree with the politics of my neighbors most of them are fine people.
My irritation was from Max Baucus deciding that what he thought was best for health care reform was what we were going to get. I think the chairmen have way to much power and there should be al lot more give and take in our politics. I am also quite sick and tired of the super majority idea and would like to see the matresses pulled out if someone wants to fillibuster, regardless of which side they are on.
My apologies if I sounded snooty lol, I’m not. No apologies to UAW however, as that person can go piss up a rope for all I care.
Thank you once again Helen and Margaret for a great post. I can’t think of a single time that I have disagreed with you and that is quite something.
Corie
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By: CorieJ on February 5, 2010
at 9:29 AM
What sheer joy it is to see a new (okay, a day old) post up!
Thank you, ladies. You are both national treasures and it is always a special treat when you both post.
Helen, my maternal grandmother was born in TX. So I know that there are LOTS of good people in TX. But you are truly exceptional!
You both are.
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By: Voltairesneighbor on February 5, 2010
at 9:04 AM
Just read that Tea Party opening speaker suggests literacy test for voting be reinstated. This is getting scary.
http://rawstory.com/2010/02/tea-party-opening-speaker-suggests-blacks-voting/
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By: Hollyberry on February 5, 2010
at 9:01 AM
What exceptional posts by Margaret and Helen, as always. Clementine Moonflower, I laughed outloud at your description oif the Republicans having a love/hate relationship with human beings. “Once they’re born, screw ’em.”
I enjoyed Joy Behar last night where she and her guests were describing Fox News. Things I had always known but kind of forgotten. Rush and the rest are in it for the entertainment and to draw an audience, and don’t even believe half of what they say. This is scarey when you think of the millions of viewers who hang on their every word, and mock them to impress others in their everyday lives. When Rush said he hoped the country would fail and described his reasoning behind this, suddenly I started hearing other Repubs boasting this same view. It’s too bad Rush doesn’t say he thinks all Repubs should throw themselves into the nearest ocean because I think a lot of his followers would think it must be the right thing to do!
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By: Skyler on February 5, 2010
at 8:00 AM
Absolutely brilliant!
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By: Alison S on February 5, 2010
at 4:21 AM
You gals make me scream with laughters. Thankyou, thankyou.
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By: lettersfromeurope on February 5, 2010
at 4:09 AM
To all the trolls and dissenters in foul moods: eh, nevermind. You’re not worth my time.
Whoa, Helen! You do bring them out of the woodwork, don’t you?! Good job, girl!
When the truth is spoken, all things being equal, the nutjobs have no choice but to show up and spew forth their bitter tripe and nonsense.
I love this blog! It’s one of the few places left on earth where the truth is unerringly spoken time and time again…by a babe named Helen!
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By: Tabbie on February 5, 2010
at 2:46 AM
Sweeeet!! Love the new post Helen & Margaret!
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By: farsight Δ on February 5, 2010
at 1:00 AM
Bravo, Helen!
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By: Cathy on February 4, 2010
at 11:28 PM
What is happening to our country is unacceptable – a congresswoman speaks.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/cspanjunkie/unacceptable-america-congresswoman-mar
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By: JuneauJoe on February 4, 2010
at 11:26 PM
“…the Barons of Excess are still flipping the bird at the American people…”
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By: Poolman on February 4, 2010
at 11:14 PM
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/ed-schultz-rails-against-lack-health-care-l
Ed Schultz is very upset at a free health clinic for 1000 people – these people need health care!
Poolman: I like the way you think, Single Payer is the way to go.
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By: JuneauJoe on February 4, 2010
at 10:43 PM
good post helen and margaret. still chuckling. while i am here i also wanted to share a forward that i just received defining the ‘new element’ :
Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 – 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each re-organization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much as energy Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
ahhhhhhhhh. now that makes sense, eh.
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By: gramma rock on February 4, 2010
at 10:43 PM
Folks, it is time for a real purple party. Single-payer healthcare is already a majority, let’s put it up for a vote on a national level. Bypass the legislature, since they are so bogged down in partisan politics. Yes we can! The majority of Americans want it. I don’t care if you are liberal or conservative, Medicare for all is in both’s best interest. The only enemy of single-payer is corporate America, and we have been stroking them for way too long.
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By: Poolman on February 4, 2010
at 10:12 PM
Helen, dear lady, another brilliant piece.
Margaret, you have just given me my biggest laugh of the month. Thank you.
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By: Judy Schultheis on February 4, 2010
at 10:08 PM
Colorful! Good to see you. Almost 3 million visitors to this site! Never fear. God is on His throne. May His will be done here in cyberland as it is in Heaven, I pray. Hallelujah! His Spirit dwells in a kind and pure heart, a lighted soul, a sincere servant.
Sin is sin. One sin is not greater than another sin. The Almighty cannot and will not dwell in the presence of ANY. We all struggle with it. The flesh is weak. The evil hold the lease to this orb until the kingdom of God comes to take it back. As a people, we have raped the land and continue to shed blood in the name of god and peace. As a nation we fail to provide for our fellow man and many die in the streets everyday. The wealth is squandered on the few, while the rest struggle to survive. Yet we still have hope. Love conquers all. Live in the Spirit. Children of the kingdom hold the keys to the kingdom, and are to pray for our fellow man and pray against the forces of evil in the world. Sharpen your sword! “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.”
“For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Pray for everyone, even these people: Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, Pat Robinson, Sarah Palin, Bill Kristol, Rupert Murdock, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck…
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By: Poolman on February 4, 2010
at 9:57 PM
Margaret, if Howard goes for a great deal on a Toyota without first verifying that it isn’t on the recall list, he will definitely be the death of you.
Toyota makes good cars though.
Helen, as usual, you are spot on. I do miss the old-fashioned fiscally-conservative, socially neutral and still-sane Republicans. They’ve gone the way of the mammoth. I’ll stick with Obama who has more common sense than two roomfuls of tea-baggers.
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By: Shash on February 4, 2010
at 9:40 PM
So, your party gave us Edwards and a bona fide former KKK member now President pro tempore of the Senate. What is the point?
Too bad the Democrats didn’t pull some of this pesky partisan obstructionism when the last crew sold us on the war in Iraq. At least the tea baggers and flyweights don’t bend over and take it and then whine about it being everybody else’s fault but their own.
And I’m still waiting for the big bad Republicans to ban abortion like I’ve been told for the past 8 or 9 elections is right around the corner if a Republican gets in there. I guess they’ve been too busy warmongering and wanting sick children to die quickly to take over our reproductive rights. So much hate to make, so little time.
And that shit about a black man not being trusted with children tells me more about the questioner than it does about the Republican party. Can you imagine what would have happened if a Republican had said “I nearly forgot he was black,” after that brilliant state of the union address? Who’s the dummy? Whose mind is on the color of President Obama’s skin while he’s talking?
And who are you to name the spokesmen for the Republican party anyway? That straw dog don’t hunt either.
Maybe you need more fiber in your diet.
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By: Ellie Light on February 4, 2010
at 9:38 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Hallelujah! The last batch of Valentine Guys for my grandkids to take to their classmates and friends est fini and in the mail. My blistered, bleeding, bandaged fingers are healing.
While I was working on them, I watched/listened to a whole a lot of Democratic and Republican politicians, pundits and commentators; vying with each other to make points and of course, gain votes for the mid-term elections.
Put another way, it was like two long horn rams butting heads during rutting season for the sexual favors of the ewe, (you!)
Aloha 🙂
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 4, 2010
at 9:32 PM
Here is a poll of 2000 self proclaimed Republicans:
Pretty crazy bunch of fools:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/2/2/832988/-The-2010-Comprehensive-Daily-Kos-Research-2000-Poll-of-Self-Identified-Republicans
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By: JuneauJoe on February 4, 2010
at 9:23 PM
Yay Helen and Margaret!
The conversation needs to be moved back into the light and not on some flickering screen and this is a start…
Since one of those blue dogs is MY Senators I take exception to the notion that they are all bad. Even though I burn his email inbox up once a week with my frustrations over his dumber ideas , he’s NOT Ted Stevens and THAT is huge! He DOES speak for the majority of his constituients , even if he doesn’t speak for me, and that’s what it’s all about.
And, CorieJ , gratuitous snotty remarks about western states (more wildlife than people? ) ?
How much does rural America have to continue take from people who don’t study resource extraction issues- minerals, oil, coal…, water battles, pressure on fisheries and farming from factory trawlers and factory farms ? The issues facing rural America are huge …
So who cares how many moose we have?
We have a voice whether you want to hear what we have to say or not…and whether I agree with my neighbors or not.
Ah- poor old silly colorful bonked it’s head on it’s keyboard again. You do bring out the beasties Helen 🙂
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By: alaskapi on February 4, 2010
at 9:18 PM
First I’m impressed that the host has posted so soon. I still question the authorship and writing skills of the author. An 80’s plus grandma pictured on a scooter is less than impressive..but to more or less disarm the reader.
I appreciated and whole heartedly endorse the comment as posted by Talea…
“Term limits for all, I say. It’s about time we take back the country from all career politicians and special interests.”
You know Obama came in on the backs of many supporters that truly thought he would do what he said and promised such. But so far this administration could be pegged as one in which it is status quo. The Executive and Legislative branches are continuing business as usual.
With a majority senate and a mandate by the democratic party to make “CHANGE”, they have cowered and found themselves in a hole. They had the movement, inertia and place in time to achieve a health care reform bill.
What they did not count on were the millions of other peoples who had been in the centrist movement and assisted Obama into the White House.
These people then stood by and watched
Obama as he inserted political cronies and moved an agenda that propagated ideologies much too far to the left than what he ran on as a candidate.
The election of Brown has caught him by surprise
as well as the movement of millions of centrist
voters, who now see the emperor as he is, with
little to nothing in the way of clothes or substance
to show for his presidency.
He had a chance..but now I see him as a one term President. The only correct political move was keeping Gates as Sec.of Defense.
Other than that..Obama has continued to blame George Bush for all the economic woes while all the time soft shoeing around the economy.
Remember..the Trillions of dollars that would stimulate the economy..and jobs?
The jobs continue to decrease and tomorrows
government “Jobs” report will be a report card for the current President that his stimulus is lacking.
And so another red ink mark in the economic
scene will be in the news as all of our investments and retirement accounts take a hit on Friday the fifth of February.
Sleep well all. Our economy is going in the toilet
and your President and his economic advisors are at the helm.
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By: craigΔ on February 4, 2010
at 9:15 PM
Once I make my move, the Queen will take me and you will be free to make your move and take the King.
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By: HHG on February 4, 2010
at 9:04 PM
Namenda is a Alzheimer’s disease medication that has been proven effective in helping to safely treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
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By: HHG on February 4, 2010
at 9:03 PM
great. now i can’t get that song out of my head. bastard!
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By: HHG on February 4, 2010
at 9:02 PM
You really do need to take your Namenda daily, dear…you are loosing it!
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By: Anonymous on February 4, 2010
at 9:02 PM
Brava, Miss Helen. Just the points I’ve been trying (and failing) to get thru my husband’s head.
Keep up the good work, please. I mean it. Really.
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By: Gail on February 4, 2010
at 8:58 PM
What if God is one of us?
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By: Joan Osbourne on February 4, 2010
at 8:48 PM
How dare you. How dare you I say. Enough. That is quite enough.
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By: HHG on February 4, 2010
at 8:47 PM
Who will feed the Lesbian Eskimos now?
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By: Conner on February 4, 2010
at 8:46 PM
Eskimo? Eskimo? You dare to call them Eskimos??? They are Native North American Ice Dwellers… you sanctimonious bigot!!!!!
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By: HHG on February 4, 2010
at 8:46 PM
Margaret’s original had no typos….just saying. Maybe “surprises” aren’t the way to go….just saying.
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By: Theresa on February 4, 2010
at 8:45 PM
If Margaret would have done her own homework, she might have fewer typos. Just saying..
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By: MaryJane on February 4, 2010
at 8:27 PM
“Today’s Republican Party has an issue with abortion, but then fights against healthcare reform knowing full well that more than 9 million children lack health insurance.”
Even more importantly, don’t forget they also have an issue with birth control and with people not having children. Which’d be like saying “people should not eat junk food” and then going on a diatribe against healthy food and how it’s wrong and no one should eat it, except for bread (having kids and kids and kids). Bread is okay. Bread is good and almighty. Everybody should, and should WANT to, eat bread bread only bread and nothing but bread. There is no reason to not eat bread, like, say, Celiac’s disease, or mold, or anything. Everybody just should have da bread. But not carrots. Carrots are immoral and unnatural, just like birth control and not wanting children (whether it’s not now, or not ever).
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By: Katia on February 4, 2010
at 8:25 PM
Helen is back! In fine form no less! I agree with everything you said in your post. The party of “No” just found out about the deficit. Hah! My views exactly! No fairness when it comes to that bunch! And Margaret, your Howard sounds like somebody I share a room with. Sometimes, I am left scratching my head too, unable to understand some of the stuff he comes up with.
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By: Easier on February 4, 2010
at 8:22 PM
Who will feed the Gay Eskimos now?
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By: Jordan D. on February 4, 2010
at 8:22 PM
This always happens when one of Helen’s posts goes viral. YOU ROCK HELEN!!!!
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By: Stan on February 4, 2010
at 8:19 PM
Oh for the love of God….look people…..Colorful is back!!!
(Hold on to your hats, folks, the whackos are out tonight!)
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By: Mary on February 4, 2010
at 8:17 PM
I bet Helen smells like food. Most old people do.
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By: Tanner on February 4, 2010
at 8:15 PM
Gay people cannot serve in the military because our soldiers must be morally superior in order for us to continue to bring freedom to the world. God will work against us if we allow gay people to have sinful sex while serving with our brave soldiers.
I am saddened that this blog is still here. You are part of the reason God has lost faith in America.
I will pray for all of you to find the Lord, your savior. Abortion is bad. Homosexuality is bad. Sinners are sinners are sinners in God’s eyes. No excuses.
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By: Colorful on February 4, 2010
at 8:14 PM
Delurker,
Thank you for the link to President Obama’s address at the National Prayer Breakfast.
It’s a powerful speech. Moving. I copied his words because I’m beginning to keep a collection of his words. It should be required reading for all of us.
For he spoke to all of us.
Immigrant….
Women…..
Those with health and wealth…..
Those who need a warm place to sleep tonight….
Jews….
Haitians…….
Tea-Baggers…..
UAW tradesman……..
Me…….
Sikhs……….
Those who are getting abused as we read and respond on this blog…….
Civil human beings……
Protestants……
Prisoners…………
Deaf people……
Superbowl Fans………
and everyone who has a heart–which, as I last recall, would encompass every last human on the planet.
This planet was never a place meant to sustain beings who take and never give back.
Keep on telling us like it is, Helen and Margaret!
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By: vgmanΔ on February 4, 2010
at 8:12 PM
I think Margaret is a figment of Helen’s wild imagination.
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By: Jules Vern on February 4, 2010
at 8:11 PM
Here is the link as a comment, if that’s easier for others.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl1112
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By: Maria M. on February 4, 2010
at 8:09 PM
Great post, as usual. I was wondering if you’d seen that strange attack ad in California against Tom Campbell. If so, what was your opinion. I’m putting the link as my website for those who haven’t seen it.
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By: Maria M. on February 4, 2010
at 8:08 PM
🙂
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By: TKP on February 4, 2010
at 8:04 PM
Funniest thing I have read in YEARS.
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By: Harvery K. Tanner on February 4, 2010
at 8:01 PM
I just found your blog (through 21 year old college student, no less) and think you are so dead on right about everything. I can’t wait to read all your past blogs and future ones. I will turn my 81 year old liberal mother onto your blog. She will become your biggest fan. Love you, love you, love you.
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By: Carol Cohen on February 4, 2010
at 7:52 PM
Oh – and if you’d like to listen to a discussion on the concept of supermajority. . . .
http://bit.ly/9afQ6T
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By: Greytdog on February 4, 2010
at 7:41 PM
UAW – have you visited this site? It’s rather entertaining but good political analysis – might rile you up so take BP meds prior to reading 🙂
http://shoqvalue.com/
as for the idea that Dems had a supermajority – WRONG! we never had a supermajority, we will never have one – when you have to barter within your own party and then add in Lieberman, supermajority is nothing more than a pundits pipe dream. Used to be 51 was majority vote – but under the fuzzy math of the Rethugs, 60 is considered majority. Therefore I suggest everyone whose grades were ever in the 70% range should petition their schools to have those C grades changed to A-. Cite the Repubs math when you do.
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By: Greytdog on February 4, 2010
at 7:36 PM
UAW – do you even have a life to be all up in arms about? You seem to spend 24/7 here. Is this your own special version of Viagra to get your blood pressure up and your otherwise useless self excited? What a nerd.
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By: Jason on February 4, 2010
at 7:21 PM
President Obama talks to the Democrats.
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/president-obama-scolds-blanche-lincoln
President Obama is GREAT!
Helen and Margaret are GREAT!
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By: JuneauJoe on February 4, 2010
at 6:45 PM
ccleaner got me
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By: uaw tradesman on February 4, 2010
at 6:36 PM
[…] The Elephant in the Room is a Kangaroo Margaret, I really do like this President. He is young and smart… and I think he is trying his best under bad […] […]
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By: Top Posts — WordPress.com on February 4, 2010
at 6:32 PM
jsri….
I could only guess why you got called….computer dialing?????
kinda like the DNC calling me for a donation….
I don’t donate to the RNC either…..
I do slide the NRA a $20 every year though….and yes the NRA is bipartisan
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By: Anonymous on February 4, 2010
at 6:30 PM
Bravo, ladies! Margaret, I always love it when you have something understatedly hilarious to add.
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By: the problem child on February 4, 2010
at 6:29 PM
I want you to be my new best friend!
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By: Robin on February 4, 2010
at 6:02 PM
Congratulations Ladies on another outstanding post.
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By: GSZ on February 4, 2010
at 5:47 PM
DAMN, Grandma, you is WHACK!
We need you in office, Dog!
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By: EyeDrinksAlot on February 4, 2010
at 5:44 PM
First time here. WOW! You have said it all. I will be following you and your wonderful words from now on.
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By: Francis Polansker on February 4, 2010
at 5:41 PM
UAW, I really do detect a big change in you. I hope that you are OK.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 4, 2010
at 5:38 PM
CoreyJ and Stacy
Trolls, like mad dogs, stay alive as long as they get a bone to chew on occasionally. I guess the trick is to not feed them at all.
However, perhaps UAW with his remarkable insight and broad view of the world can explain why my wife and I received over 20 irritating phone calls and push polls from the Scott Brown campaign during the week leading up to the election and we don’t even live in Massachusetts.
Now there is talk of Scott Brown for president. If you think Sarah and GWB were lightweights wait until flyweight Brown takes center stage.
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By: jsri on February 4, 2010
at 4:48 PM
This has to be one of the best commentaries I’ve read in a while! Right on!
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By: Beth on February 4, 2010
at 4:16 PM
Finally, we hear from Margaret too. Missed you, Margaret.
You ladies rock! 🙂
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By: MLP on February 4, 2010
at 3:49 PM
Way to go Helen!
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By: Tom C. on February 4, 2010
at 3:47 PM
You two ladies are the very best. You have said it all.
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By: Mrs. Stanislovski on February 4, 2010
at 3:47 PM
Stacy….
I’m not mad at the world…..
I’m mad at hypocrites…..
CorieJ was pissed because “Blue Dog” Dems didn’t vote the way the she thought they should…..
I would like to think that they voted the way the people of their district wanted them to and not go against their wishes by blindly following Nancy and Harry……
I also don’t see any difference between idiot and ignorant bitch….the second only being gender specific….
so what is CorieJ problem?????
better yet what is jsri’s problem….
money came in from across the U.S. for Brown…….and wasn’t there actually people from this blog(from across the U.S.) phoning voters in Ma. to vote against Brown……..like I said….hypocrits
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By: uawtradesman on February 4, 2010
at 3:33 PM
Hi Stacy,
Thanks :)…UAW who? Fight over
Corie
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By: CorieJ on February 4, 2010
at 2:59 PM
GREAT POST HELEN AND MARGARET!
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By: LTD on February 4, 2010
at 2:56 PM
Corie, don’t let UAW bother you…he is mad at the world…he lost his wife recently…he hangs around here alot…guess he doesn’t have anything else to do…sorry sod….
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By: Stacy on February 4, 2010
at 2:55 PM
Fight over…now back to the reason we are here….MARGARET AND HELEN!!!!!!!
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By: HTP on February 4, 2010
at 2:53 PM
Gee, great discourse lol. Anger management classes are available…just sayin’
I’m done with you as you have nothing to say.
Corie
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By: CorieJ on February 4, 2010
at 2:38 PM
and to paraphrase SNL…..”Corie….your an ignorant bitch”
I think your lying and the closest you got(unless flying over) was MSNBC….
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By: uawtradesman on February 4, 2010
at 2:34 PM
[…] The Elephant in the Room is a Kangaroo […]
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By: Margaret and Helen, Elderly Liberals from Texas and Maine | themcglynn.com/theliberal.net on February 4, 2010
at 2:27 PM
Welcome back, my favorite bloggers. Your posting today is a masterwork.
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By: Richard Schmidt on February 4, 2010
at 2:17 PM
UAW you’re an idiot! I’ve actually been to North and South Dakota. I think the furthest you have traveled is to FOX!
The constitution gives each state 2 Senators, I have no beef with that. I do have a beef with these conservative Dem’s holding all of us hostage.
Why don’t you tawdle off now and leave all of this to the adults.
Corie
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By: CorieJ on February 4, 2010
at 2:08 PM
Sarah Palin: Just your average tax cheating hypocrite!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/sarah-palin—tax-cheat-c_b_448137.html
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By: JuneauJoe on February 4, 2010
at 1:44 PM
CorieJ….
the senate was set up the way it was so that the more populous states couldn’t “RAHM IT”down others throats……are you advocating changing the Constitution……do you actually feel that the “fly over states should be treated just like something you’d wipe off your shoes…
waiting
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By: uawtradesman on February 4, 2010
at 1:36 PM
jsri…
quit holding back….lets hear it all…..
money from other states….sounds like things advocated here for libs to do…..what next ….phone calls from out of state…….
hypocrite
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By: uawtradesman on February 4, 2010
at 1:26 PM
You made me mess up my knitting!
But it was totally worth it.
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By: judith on February 4, 2010
at 1:06 PM
Helen AND Margaret
you two are the best
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By: Kaye on February 4, 2010
at 1:01 PM
Helen should sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.
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By: HTP on February 4, 2010
at 12:52 PM
You two make all this politcal crap funny. God bless you for it.
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By: Granny TooToo on February 4, 2010
at 12:51 PM
“They had filibuster proof majorities and they still couldn’t get the job done.”
Wrong, wrong, WRONG, talea. There was never, at any point, a “filibuster-proof majority”, because the moment that it looked like we might get something done, some of the so-called Democrats stabbed us in the back by essentially declaring themselves Repubs. You’ve heard of them – the so-called “Blue Dogs”. (Blue nothing – they’re yellow all the way up their backs.)
Until the Traitor Dogs are thrown out and replaced with REAL Democrats, and the real Democrats who exist already in Congress stop trying to cater to the Party of Hate, nothing will get done and we’ll take the blame. Combine that with the constant barrage of lies, damn lies, and Traitor Parties from the right-wing media, and we haven’t got a chance.
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By: El Gordo on February 4, 2010
at 12:48 PM
I am a fan of Joy Behar, but CNN needs to giver her time slot to HELEN PHILPOT!!!!!!!
HELEN NEEDS HER OWN CNN SHOW! 🙂
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By: Natalie Harris on February 4, 2010
at 12:47 PM
Love it.
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By: Cheryl on February 4, 2010
at 12:45 PM
Dear Helen and Margaret,
Awright!!!! Now you have all of us back on track. what a wonderful post from start to finish – both of you.
If you keep this up, we can sail through the mid-term election with an even bigger majority.
Thank you so much. We love and respect both of you.
Aloha 🙂
Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on February 4, 2010
at 12:40 PM
Your brilliance at speaking what is on so many of our minds never ceases to amaze me. As a writer, I can only dream of creating dead-on, straight-through-the-heart prose like you do. HOW DO YOU DO IT????
Rock on, ladies. You are my heroes.
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By: Debbie Schubert on February 4, 2010
at 12:35 PM
You are my favourite women in the whole wide world. I wish you’d post more often because not only is there so much wisdom to be found here, you always make me laugh!
Yours in pie,
Pamela, from the Great White North
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By: A Novel Woman on February 4, 2010
at 12:34 PM
So glad to hear from you again, as I said before, I don’t really say to much but just love your absolutely wonderful way of looking at things and making them such a joy to read. I look everyday to see if you’ve written something new. KEEP ON TRUCKIN LADIES!!!!!! I’ll be watching for your next delightful post.
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By: Crafty woman from Illinois on February 4, 2010
at 12:25 PM
I agree completely with you Delurker. I don’t understand why the left on capitol hill cannot see the trap that they are willingly walking into.
If the R’s want to fillibuster I say bring in the matresses and MAKE them actually fillibuster. That will only have to happen once and that will be the end of it.
And isn’t it sad that we are being ruled by Senators from states like North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota etc. I believe there is more wildlife in those states than people. This committee chairmanship needs an overhaul. The chairs on committees should be people with the most knowledge about the subject…just sayin’
Corie
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By: CorieJ on February 4, 2010
at 12:21 PM
Corie, by the time the legislation gets passed, if ever, it’s going to be so watered down and twisted up that everyone will hate it. Then the right can say “See, we told you this would be awful.” They’ll have a finger pointed at the left, but 3 fingers pointed back at themselves.
It gets so discouraging at times. However, right about the time I post here that I’m really discouraged something really good happens. Well, I’m discouraged, so to the good I say, “BRING IT ON!”
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 4, 2010
at 11:52 AM
Oh, that Howard! Will he ever learn?
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By: Skeptic Turtle on February 4, 2010
at 11:45 AM
Thank you so much Helen. I was beginning to think I was the only person left with common sense, but reading your post and the comments I no longer feel so alone 🙂
I do wish someone would explain to me why the Democrats give in to the Republicans. Gee wiz, they have the majority, stop trying to make nice and ram your stuff down their throats. It’s what they did to you for 8 years. Please Democrats in Congress…grow a pair
Corie
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By: CorieJ on February 4, 2010
at 11:30 AM
I love the posts where the two of you have a little back and forth. Keep that up and my best to both of you.
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By: TommyMac on February 4, 2010
at 11:25 AM
Dissent is good, GenWar. Intellectual and civil debate would be refreshing! Unfortunately, the only ‘dissent’ that seems to arrive here are trolls and parrots.
I’ve always wondered where the reasonable conservative people hang out because the screechers and whack jobs drown them out. Sane conservatives must be unbelievably upset that their party has been essentially destroyed.
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 4, 2010
at 11:23 AM
Love it.
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By: Jennifer on February 4, 2010
at 11:17 AM
Wow, 40 comments and not one dissent? Maybe I missed it.
You’re post is certainly entertaining, as they always are and I do enjoy reading them.
However, I feel you stereotype and generalize “Republicans” down to two dimensional caricatures. You don’t really delve into or present any type of description of WHY Republicans think what they thing. I know you don’t agree, and even you say that’s fine, but failing to even offer lip service to the “other side” flies in the face of your self-proclaimed intolerance for bigotry and ignorance.
In closing, I’ll say…Limbaugh and Beck? Seriously. I’ve been a Republican since I registered for Selective Service and I never got the letter/email/survey about THOSE two representing me. I guess that’s like me being black from day 1 and never being asked if I wanted to be considered ‘Barack-like’.
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By: GenWar on February 4, 2010
at 11:14 AM
You are balm to my increasingly-cranky soul. Thank god for people like you two!
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By: Steve H on February 4, 2010
at 11:11 AM
Margaret and Helen are the greatest!
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By: Harold on February 4, 2010
at 11:08 AM
And so it was spoken. I shall now go forth and post a link to these wise words on the holiest of all social media sites… Teh Facebook.
Remember folks, don’t feed the trolls! It only encourages them and it goes straight to their hips.
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By: Imaginista on February 4, 2010
at 11:06 AM
“You must remember. Loyalty to the Party comes first! Then the Country.”
What Joe said. So glad I’m done with the two-party system.
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By: HawkMom on February 4, 2010
at 11:03 AM
I think it was UAW who said earlier, “GO BROWN!!!”
I agree and the farther Brown goes the better, – as long as it is FAR FAR AWAY!!!
Obviously anyone familiar with Mass politics knows that Brown is a totally empty suit. He will do or say anything that will gather votes. And the pickup truck is a sham too. His record in the Mass legislature is zero, – nada, – nothing. And to think that he has not eliminated the possibility of a run for presidency should give everyone the horrors. He is nothing more than a pickup driving hockey mom in drag and has amply demonstrated an intellect equal to that of a squash bug. As soon as he is exposed as an extension of the Bush-Palin intelligensia, that should cause a stampede to pull the reject lever on voting machines.
BTW, during the last week of the Brown campaign, almost a half million dollars flowed onto the advertising scene in Mass, all from out of state. His election was bought and paid for by outsiders who will get their pound of flesh somewhere down the road, guaranteed.
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By: jsri on February 4, 2010
at 11:00 AM
Repugs embrace ‘we are Americans first’ only when it suits them.
Has there ever been a bigger sore loser than John McCain? Did he even listen to himself after the election?
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By: Daryl on February 4, 2010
at 10:56 AM
Dearest Helen & Margaret, what at treat to hear from you both! Getting pretty close to 3 million hits – we’ll have to have a pie party!
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By: chloe on February 4, 2010
at 10:51 AM
Whoops, sorry, it was Helen who wrote the main article, my apologies! You both rock!
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By: Mauigirl on February 4, 2010
at 10:42 AM
Well said as always, Margaret. Thank you for your wise point of view!
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By: Mauigirl on February 4, 2010
at 10:42 AM
Thank you again and again for telling it like it is. You say it so well.
Namaste,
Susan
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By: Susan Sarabasha on February 4, 2010
at 10:36 AM
Great Post Margaret and Helen!
UAW, might be time for you to find another blog. Your weak attempts here are getting old. just saying…
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By: Mavis on February 4, 2010
at 10:36 AM
Good lord you are brilliant ! You are now book marked and will be reccomended widely. I would adore it if you could cast your well practised eye over the British political landscape, what insights you could offer.
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By: Andie on February 4, 2010
at 10:35 AM
Yikes! Please delete my previous post. Thought I was commenting on another site — obviously!
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By: figmentofcogitation on February 4, 2010
at 10:34 AM
GO SISTER!!!
LISTEN WORLD!!!
HELEN IS SPEAKING!!!!!
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By: TLC on February 4, 2010
at 10:33 AM
My wardrobe situation is getting dire as more items are discarded but not replaced because I hate to shop. So this site might be my salvation. Now if only you could find $15 jeans that fit perfectly…without me having to try them on.
~Michelle
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By: figmentofcogitation on February 4, 2010
at 10:33 AM
http://www.truthout.org/does-president-obama-really-want-a-better-approach-fix-health-care56591
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By: uawtradesman on February 4, 2010
at 10:32 AM
Absolutely spot on. Thursday morning bliss!
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By: 5280point5 on February 4, 2010
at 10:32 AM
Good stuff from our President at the National Prayer Breakfast
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 4, 2010
at 10:24 AM
Among other things your thoughful post (all of them) give me, a 75 year old, hope that the mind can keep expanding, growing and analyzing as long as we keep it active. Keep it up!
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By: Jerry C. on February 4, 2010
at 10:23 AM
Made my day!!
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By: Claire on February 4, 2010
at 10:20 AM
Helen , You are a ray of sunshine ! I always feel so much better after reading your post. Sarah Palin is always using the term common sense. She need to read you thoughts to really learn and understand what common sense truely is !! Love you !!!!
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By: linmac on February 4, 2010
at 10:11 AM
Fabulous post!
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By: Oswegoeileen on February 4, 2010
at 9:46 AM
Conservatives are all about keeping government out of our lives–unless you happen to be in the midst of an unwanted pregnancy or want to marry someone of your own gender.
Conservatives are all about personal responsibility and pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. This of course assumes you’re born with boots and maybe an opportunity or two.
More than anything, the current state of affairs points to the abysmal failure of public education. But then, it’s easier to keep ignorant people in line….
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By: Crotchety O. Man on February 4, 2010
at 9:41 AM
AMEN!!! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
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By: Felda on February 4, 2010
at 9:37 AM
Such a great way to start my day! Coffee, Helen, and Margaret. Another home run Helen, keep telling it like it is! (Margaret, tell Howard NO on the Toyota. Said as I spew coffee through my nose.)
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By: Jim_1956 on February 4, 2010
at 9:31 AM
you got one thing right….
“the Democratic Party seems to please no one. ”
why do Dems think that Obama’s popularity extends to them??????
what better place for a tea party victory than Boston!!!!!!!
GO BROWN!!!!!!!
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By: uawtradesman on February 4, 2010
at 9:31 AM
Oh, I’m glad I found your blog. You are awesome! This post made my day!!!
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By: Meaghan on February 4, 2010
at 9:20 AM
Thanks again, Helen and Margaret, for bringing a laugh and a smile to this prairie dweller. My view of the world gets a little brighter with you two ladies in it.
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By: bbgunn on February 4, 2010
at 9:18 AM
Great points, awesome post, love you two!!! I am also scratching my head as to why Republicans seem to have a love/hate relationship with human beings. Meaning–once they’re born, screw ’em.
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By: Clementine Moonflower on February 4, 2010
at 9:15 AM
Way to sum up the situation, and make us laugh at the same time.
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By: Darryl on February 4, 2010
at 9:11 AM
right on helen! you rock lady:)
margaret, i imagine your howard is not the only man thinking the same thing right now! lol
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By: leslie postin on February 4, 2010
at 9:11 AM
“Howard thinks now is the perfect time to get a good deal on a new Toyota? Honestly, Helen, that man will be the death of me yet.”
Priceless.
Thanks for all you both do!
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By: Bic on February 4, 2010
at 9:07 AM
Great post ladies!!!
Geez, UAW…not even “Well done” or “Good Morning Helen” from you…just right to the bashing, huh? 🙂
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By: Sarah on February 4, 2010
at 9:06 AM
This woman needs to write a book. NOW!
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By: Barbara Feinstein on February 4, 2010
at 9:04 AM
tom c….
Rahm it
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By: uawtradesman on February 4, 2010
at 9:04 AM
Today is my birthday (67) and you just gave me my first present! Imagine a world of such straight-thinking, straight-talking folk! Bravo!
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By: Carol on February 4, 2010
at 8:53 AM
I just love Margaret!!!!
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By: Kenny S. on February 4, 2010
at 8:49 AM
Another hole-in-one ladies. Keep it up.
Maybe this will help explain…
…how we got into this mess.
8) ~ Δ
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By: Whirled Peas Δ on February 4, 2010
at 8:45 AM
Best blog post I’ve read all week ( and that includes my own)! Bravo! I just wish some of the media pundits, politicians, and “journalists”…using the term so loosely it has fallen on floor….out there would have the “you know whats” to speak as sensibly and as plainly as you have spoken here. Luv ya, luv ya, luv…like a rock oh baby!
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By: T. on February 4, 2010
at 8:44 AM
Excellent points. Will now send off to my daughter!
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By: yolanz on February 4, 2010
at 8:43 AM
Between 1976 and 1987, I heard my grandmother say two things about politics–
“I like that Jimmy Carter because he’s a praying man.”
“I don’t like that Ronald Reagan because he’s an actor.”
In her own way, she spoke her peace.
Thanks, Margaret and Helen, for telling us like it is and calling out the hypocrisy.
Have a good day everyone!
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By: vgmanΔ on February 4, 2010
at 8:42 AM
Yes! You tell them Helen. Kangaroo court, for sure. Some of the biggest sacs are the supremes.
And Margaret, please be careful which Toyota you get in. There is a recall on most of those, just so you know…
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By: Poolman on February 4, 2010
at 8:41 AM
What a treat – another new blog post so soon, with an appearance from BOTH Helen & Margaret!
This was fabulous:
You love the constitution but you seem to pick through that document the same way you pick through the Bible – with all the effectiveness of eating corn on the cob through a picket fence.
and this:
My party at least recognizes the need for increased access to birth control. Your party is pro-life right up until they cut the cord and then you turn your attention to electing judges who promote shortening the waiting time on death row.
and the Archie Bunker line.
Thanks for your new post. I mean it!
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By: Delurker Girl Δ on February 4, 2010
at 8:39 AM
As always-just Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
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By: knittergran on February 4, 2010
at 8:26 AM
Margaret is insane.
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By: Jimmy Z on February 4, 2010
at 8:23 AM
Amen, sister!
You are so sharp and so accurate…keep taking aim.
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By: Olga on February 4, 2010
at 8:22 AM
Well, I agree that Republicans only seem to be in two modes: getting all their buddies soft, cushy deals and jobs when in office and then turning into figurative concrete highway barriers to block anybody outside of their party who wins, regardless of whether their ideas have merit.
But I gotta tell you I find the current Democratically-controlled legislative branch a huge disappointment. They had filibuster proof majorities and they still couldn’t get the job done. That health care bill they came up with was just a mess.
Term limits for all, I say. It’s about time we take back the country from all career politicians and special interests.
We need this one thing Americans used to be great at: common sense.
And don’t get me started on cable Fox “News.” (With apology to local Fox News channels, some of which are awesome and do their jobs well.)
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By: talea on February 4, 2010
at 8:19 AM
“You love the constitution but you seem to pick through that document the same way you pick through the Bible – with all the effectiveness of eating corn on the cob through a picket fence.”
Is there a Pulitzer for blogging?
Helen, this one was worth waiting for. Thanks.
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By: KC Johnson on February 4, 2010
at 8:17 AM
– with all the effectiveness of eating corn on the cob through a picket fence. LOL
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By: FRK on February 4, 2010
at 8:16 AM
AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!
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By: Louise on February 4, 2010
at 8:16 AM
The Goddess has spoken! Long may she live!
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By: Marvin Stanfield on February 4, 2010
at 8:15 AM
I just spewed coffee through my nose…
Now where is that pie!
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By: fred on February 4, 2010
at 8:12 AM
Oh, how I have missed you!
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By: Maryanne on February 4, 2010
at 8:10 AM
What she said! Go Helen Go!
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By: Dee on February 4, 2010
at 8:10 AM
Go Helen!
Take That UAW guy! 🙂
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By: Tom C. on February 4, 2010
at 8:06 AM
OMG LOL
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By: Terry in AL on February 4, 2010
at 8:05 AM
“Today’s Republican Party has an issue with abortion, but then fights against healthcare reform knowing full well that more than 9 million children lack health insurance.”
EXACTLY!!! Thanks, Margaret and Helen. You articulate my thoughts so eloquently!!
Have a great Thursday, all!!!
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By: OceanGypsi on February 4, 2010
at 8:05 AM
You’ve got pie, I’ve got coffee. Let’s talk….
15 years ago I listened to Rush. I was still young and innocent. I was also convinced – at the time – that he was a commedian who was just saying some of those things to be funny.
Unfortunately, all I can do now a days is laugh at him. I laugh especially hard when he trying his darndest to be serious.
Glen Beck just doesn’t even make any sense.
Our President is one of THE MOST thoughtful men I have ever seen in office. I am constantly in awe when I hear him speak. After each speach I am amazed that the Fuax News guys have anything to say. then I realize that their main talking points are to blam O’Bama for O’Bush’s (I just made that up) mess.
Peace to ALL, I mean it, really.
~Donovan in Dallas
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By: Donovan on February 4, 2010
at 8:05 AM
Helen You Rock!!!!!!!
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By: Stacy on February 4, 2010
at 8:05 AM
Yes! thank God someone is saying it! Helen for President!
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By: Sad Eyes on February 4, 2010
at 8:03 AM
Love love love you lady. I felt the Dems were slipping a bit but you have given me hope! We took 10 steps forward with Clinton and then 12 steps backward with Bush. We need to make up the lost ground!
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By: JJ on February 4, 2010
at 8:01 AM
You must remember. Loyalty to the Party comes first! Then the Country.
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By: Joe on February 4, 2010
at 7:58 AM
YES! You made my morning.
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By: Joanie on February 4, 2010
at 7:52 AM
Bravo!
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By: Anonymous on February 4, 2010
at 7:26 AM