Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Whoo hoo!

'Ya know, when you get right down to it, they're all a bunch of whores.

But some of them are our whores.

Anyone notice that in Chicago Richie Daley is almost as corrupt as his old man? Like the saying goes: "He may be a crook, but he's our crook" I personally liked Daley the father. He was a thug but he did a lot for the city, no matter how it got done.

Chicago! Talk about a political sausage factory.

Hey, Craig. You still awake? What a mess. I remember watching and following every bit of Watergate. That was fun, mainly 'cause we did it to Nixon. This is sad. And I think it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

I miss seeing you on the okd Imus MSNBC show.

"...they urged the provision in order to avoid lawsuits by those contractually entitled to the bonuses."

If that was the complete rationale -- avoiding lawsuits -- then what was the projection on how much such lawsuits would have cost, and would those costs have been borne by taxpayers? Rhetorical question to no one in particular. And a moot point to boot.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-211881

I'll ponder that in my dreams...off to count bedbugs now.

McCain met with the Hon John Hutton, British Secretary of State for Defence. The only thing I can figure, he must have been delivering his dry cleaning.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-211878

Cosmo, the new Imus show has more listeners, and i am still with him.. http://tinyurl.com/d6vysb

I don't get the RFD or whatever. I can stream him online. I used to Tivo him daily. The 3 hour show, skipping the creaks, totaled 68 minutes.

creaks=breaks

Whew, good thing we didn't elect Chris Dodd PRESIDENT, eh? Really dodged a bullet there, didn't we? >:~/

And I went to a sausage factory once (that's what SHE said), and can still eat sausage. At least you can see for yourself what shit you'll be eating there.

Progress Stinks.

newspapers waste paper, and TV fries your brain. Vive l'internet.

"He may be a crook, but he's our crook"

LMAO, CosmoDeCritic, that's what my poor old late daddy used to say about Bill Clinton. *sniff*

Give me back the old Red Car, Gilmore Field watching the Hollywood Stars play the San Francisco Seals. Aldo's on Hollywood Bl. for breakfast. Chasen's for dinner & Ocean Park out on the Lick Pier. I think I'll go cry now.

So the dew is off the Obama/Democratic rose by now, eh? It only took less than 2 months.

I would read the old Herald Examiner front to back daily, and do the crossword. I miss it.

The only man who could save the newspaper industry is Bill Watterson.

But a cartoon is still only a cartoon.

Until not too long from now, these magnetic media computers will make dandy doorstops.

ha, cosomo, that'll be the day when they plant chips in our brains. we won't need cpu's. a hard drive in every pot.

I used to hang around Chicago for a week or two at a time several times a year when I was a young man between jobs.
I loved having access to all the newspapers. I'd get a Chicago Today (decendant of The American) , a Sun Times, and a Trib in the morning, go to a Cubs game and this is no kidding...I would take the El to The Loop for dinner at a cheap steak house and buy a Green Streak edition of the Trib...less than an hour after the game had ended the story was in ink , in my hands. I marvelled at the efficiency of an operation like that.
Now, 40 years later, it still takes a writer a few minutes to type in the final score and hit "send". But really, not all that much faster than the old Green Streak edition---it actually had a green streak across the banner so you'd know what you were getting...some may recall the old bulldog, midnight , and final editions some papers used as a format . The Bulldog was "fast news" at 8:00 PM, the midnight was printed then and trucked to newsstands, and the final was for paperboys on bicycles.

Bill Watterson was a huge part of my life, too.
http://paulbuckley14059.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/calvin-and-hobbes.jpg

Dex,
I'll bet that cheap steak house was either the Flame on Randolph St. or my personal favorite, Tads, right between the Loop theater and the grand Chicago theater. The price for a steak, potato and salad was $1.09. They were char broiled right in the window. And the Sun-Times was 7 cents.

I toild you I traveled a bit.

Then you could go across to the 8th floor of Marshall Fields and take a record onto a soundproofed booth to listen to it before you bought. Where the hell did all that go?

Vizio hi-def TVs are fine, and I did love watching "The Dark Knight" on daughter 's huge TV, but then I have several friends who have trashed their TVs and watch their fave shows on Hulu and other sites. i do not understand how this works, but two weeks ago The Simpsons went hi-def ...and the Hulu dot com site's showing of the episode was SO MUCH clearer and cleaner than the old way they streamed the show. i MUCH prefer watching hi-def TV shows online...the picture quality is a hundred times better than my TV's picture.
Will people dump their TVs? Nah, not yet, but the number of those that do is growing as the economy continues to tank.
If I am out doing yard work and 6:30 comes along and I wanna watch my hero Brian Williams, shee-it....i just watch it later on Nightly at msnbc dot com.

Cosmo...are you a damn psychic? HOW THE HELL...damn! You surprised the s^i! out of me ...of course it was Tad's.
In 1969 it was 99 cents...steak, baked tater, little lettuce salad...
and they cooked 'em in the window!
Just a year later I was a soldier in San Francisco...on Powell Street there was ANOTHER Tad's...why...I didn't know it was a franchise.
AND...the damn joint is still there!

But the Chicago papers were 15 cents unless i am wrong

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-211904

Those soundproof booths were great. i still maintain a turntable and receiver and KLH huge 1970s speakers, but i only spin an LP when the urge hits...a couple times a year.
I am hooked on satellite radio and Pandora web site. No time to clean the stylus and wash the vinyls!

Dex,
You've got it almost right. In 1959 it was $1.09. In 1969 it was $1.99. Close enough. I told you I traveled. Got another city?
By the way, Tad's was also in NY., right across from Macy's.

Of course, the best spot in S.F. was Original Joe's on Taylor St.
They had a fire and are rebuilding.

COSMO: Here is the Tad's in The City...I have a suspicion you have been there...
http://tinyurl.com/dzzyjl

I've got this 1921 Sonora Victrola. Wind her up and spin the vinyl. No electric. The heavy arm doesn't do the record any good, but I have some 78's that sound good. Try to explain to the others what that means.

Your suspicions are correct.

Flatus -
A few weeks ago, I used this board like I have in the past. I used it for council, and advice. you gave the best council, and advice., I ever got here.

Search for Dexter Friend on Facebook...write on my wall and I'll PM ya my email addy.

Oh, Cosmo? Last year Craig encouraged us Trailmixers to join Facebook so I and many of us did. I can say I have enjoyed that format, too.

It you Twitter, search for me as "DexterJohnson" just like that.
I am ending our dialogue now as I want to post something on-topic.

And from us on the Left Coast, to all on the Wrong Coast, a pleasant night. You too, Dex.
Adieu

Flatus -
I still want to see Rex Harrison in a toga, farting when I get to Florida.

Craig or any other pol-junkies still awake: is Paulson totally off the hook now?
Is the Obama team taking all the heat for what Dodd was talking about?

sausage is sort of a side-topic tonight...here's the best in Toledo:

http://tinyurl.com/czkyzl

I'm the Happiest Boy on the net tonight.

I missed the "why" in your moving from Lubbock to The Sunshine State, CBob...where are you moving to in the state?

I did something very cool, sometimes you go much further than you can ever conceive of going.

God Dam it happened to me.
To my friends here , Thank - You. You guys were the trick, all that time I wasted with you, gave me the key to this door.

Why so joyous Cbob?

Lucky you...I take cryptic hints from Trailmixer posts and convert them to lotto numbers...you guys are LOSERS!!

I posted here about Buddy Holly's ghost. That he joined me and my friends, in an old Iron Works at 19th and Buddy Holly.

I was just spinning stories then, I'm not spinning stories now. We are doing really good things in Lubbock, it is not all dark.

I Love you Old Sea -
Please plant some corn with me.

Well , not sure if you are just pulling my leg or not, but glad you are happy for whatever reason.

would that be blue corn?

Why so joyous Cbob?
The City, the one paper, and everyone we meet has come to our banner.
Money and gifts are flowing in, donations of time. It's pretty fuckin cool. You people did my proof reading for it. I rolled dice all my life to see this.

I'm the Happiest Boy on the net.

very cool. "I rolled dice all my life to see this.." Thats a huge statement. Congrats!

Went to your blog in hopes to read more. You gonna post anything about your success?

I loved the Andy Griffith show. I once read or heard a comment fromAndy that Frances Bavier apologized to him once toward the end of the show, saying he was right.

The show never jumped the shark tank, and I think that has helped keep it popular.

Corn -
That's right, me and Strug are plantin' corn , some on Buddy Holly, some on Saint John's Island. The web site is so we can all post pictures , It would mean a lot if Nantucket was part of this party. The corn comes in any day now. I bought 1/2 pound. Everybody get's a handful of seeds.

No cost no fuss, just something to tie us all together.

http://cbhopibluecornexperiment.blogspot.com/

By the way, was the provision in the TARP bill or the stimulus?

Blue Corn is planted in hills. Rings if that works for you.

I just want a little circle of corn planted everywhere I can.

If it dies, tell us. If it grows 9 ft. tall we'll all want the secret.

Everybody see were I'm going with this ?

Sure, I'll give it a shot. Pretty stuff. My only available bed is pretty small though (8x8) and probably a bit closer to two oaks than the corn would like though. Hell maybe I'll just plant it out front with the hydrangeas,

If it grows 9 ft. tall it will be due to Neptune's Secret.http://www.neptunesharvest.com/

http://www.neptunesharvest.com/

Trust me, this is going to be a lot of fun.

I've got some high john seeds that I could send in exchange if you would like. Its a powerful plant used in american magick. The seeds are rare, can't buy them on the internet. They were passed on to me from a shop in MD who got them from an old root worker. Meant to sell them, it just never felt right though, guess I'm not a very good business woman.

Thank- You Sea,

Just a little corner, that's it. We all take pictures as the season moves a long. Write about our little group of corn. All over the country, and Belgium, if I can swing it.

Crawford's Corn in wherever DC, and some at the front door of the Imus Ranch. That would be good to send a handle full of Blue Corn to the Imus Ranch. I would like to know there was some growing near the Pecos this season.

Sounds right up Deidres' alley.

Is Jack in?

Sea -
You Yankees have plants I never heard of. I'll put them in my mother's garden on Buddy Holly . My email is on the Blue Corn page.

Shit, those seeds are from down south, There are a couple of blues songs that mention high john
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Conqueror

Old Sea -
This Blue Corn thing has no point, except to draw us closer together. And show off our front steps.

no point-I think the hopis would disagree with that statement! Sounds like great fun though.

This is not good, this is not good at all -

Actress Natasha Richardson dies in New York hospital

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5926549.ece

no it isn't.,
Thanks for the invite CBob, looking forward to it.

Okay, where do I get the blue corn seeds?

And C-bob -- you have to explain the move. You can't open a can of worms and not fish.

oldsea, thanks for the info on high john. your wiki reference also has something important for pogo and our other friends at the bar to read:

"Chewing John" is galangal, Alpinia galanga -- a member of the ginger family. This is chewed much as chewing tobacco is chewed, to sweeten the breath and to calm the stomach. It is said that if you spit the juice from chewing this root onto the floor of a courtroom before the judge enters, you will win your case. Other names for this root are Little John and Little John to Chew. (This is called "Low John" in the Deep South.)"

Oh No... Dodds? He and Barney are so full of it… What they knew the Bonus situation all along.
THEY ALL MUST GO !!!

"like making sausage" the meat of Truth of this New Government will start to clog the arteries as we discover we did not get the Filet but a sausage filled with lots of Fat!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-211878

Cosmos.. Quote of the day - Discovers that we have a mess. this is an understatement and it is not the bonus themselves.

Now the real problem is the continued distain for Truth from this new Government and that they run by polls and make slick Willie look like Orphan Annie!

I think in his core Obama has good intentions – two problems
First – his good intended method to destroy the values and principles that created his opportunity

Second – he is just on little pea in the pod and already squashed by the system into pea soup

Already off to the Capitalistic, Free Market, not taking but waiting for the Stimulus dollars trickle over in a fundamentally strong Economic System.

Now, dammit, Pong...I usually stay off your back...but lay off my man Bill Clinton...:)

Agree about Chris Dodd -- never liked him, never will...

Oh, and I thought it had been declared unpatriotic to question Obama....much like it was to question Bush.

"I was stunned when I learned how bad this was on Tuesday [March 10]," Geithner said. "I shouldn't have been in that position, but it's my responsibility and I accept that."

Two days later, Geithner told the White House."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/18/AR2009031804210.html?hpid=topnews

joe lieb. just said on imus that the insertion language may have been pushed not with aig in mind but for some of the other folks getting bailout $$. that makes sense seeing that fannie and freddie execs as well as others are getting a bonus.

c'bob - As a Nebraska native, I feel compelled to join the corn project. What a cool idea.

As for the language, honoring contracts seems like the right thing to do if there was nothing in the contract re: bonuses being based on performance. I still think AIG will eventually end up in bankruptcy & the bailout is a waste.

This is like the weak parents who let their kid live at home until he's 30 without any responsibility...then they decide to make him pay rent...out of the allowance they give to him.

Good Kristof op/ed in today's Times:

http://tinyurl.com/c6wcgc

Do not question the great and powerful O!

My sister said there is a new bumper sticker out now:

One
Big
Ass
Mistake
America

I haven't seen that one or any for that matter.

good morning gang....

"Oh, and I thought it had been declared unpatriotic to question Obama....much like it was to question Bush."

Patsi.... that makes my quote of the day....

Bush didn't want to be questioned so no one would find out that he and his Repub cronies were actually raping and pillaging us..... I think Obama really does want to do what's right for this country.... but OD's lone question the other night.... has anyone discovered yet that Obama is not ready to be president.... has been haunting me....

thinking he wasn't ready was the problem most of us Hillary supporters had....
most... if not all... of us liked him personally....

in order to change a system..... one must know that system inside and out....
Obama was barely wet behind the ears..... but I'm still rooting for him....
because I'm rooting for this country..... hell.... I'm rooting for this planet...

Ron Paul supporters and Solar beware. That 3rd party stuff evidently isn't popular with the current administration

First Fifty Six Days: What Obama Hath Wrought

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/9430

oh wait a minute...

I forgot to say...... Welcome home Bethy!.... you were sorely missed....
really glad you had a good time..... old friends are the best..... and sometimes new ones too.....

The scary thing for me is how many times during the Bush administration people criticized people in Bush's cabinet etc...Bush defended these people each time they were criticized. Talked about how he "Stands behind them". Kinda like what Obama is doing with Geithner.

mornin'

XR, re: your post from yesterday at 5:59 :

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/aig-too-big-to-exist.html#comment-211667

RFLMFAO.

Ivy, I do indeed appreciate your comment about the park commemorating the church bombings, but I have a little difficulty equating anger over the receipt of bonuses paid from taxpayer money - regardless of how outrageous tehy seem - with the anger of southern whites against southern blacks trying to join the america club. But I do understand your concern - I just don't really think people who find it easy to srite stupid death threats would find it quite as easy to kill someone because they felt they were paid too much.

OK, and this is off topic, but not ofr us guys -

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/health/19cancer.html?_r=1&hp

Apparently the PSA test we are all urged to get and pay attention to ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Renee, you got your cheerleader outfit on? :)

"Obama, Obama! He's our man...if he can't do it....then dammit...who can?!"

You're doing a heckofajob Timmy!

Kudos to Barny Frank & Chris Dodd for keeping on top of things.

"Obama was barely wet behind the ears..... but I'm still rooting for him....because I'm rooting for this country..... hell.... I'm rooting for this planet..."

Absolutely. Got to.

Morning RR-Just for the record- Besides his premises often being fallacious and his tactics not in line with his rhetoric, or his interpretation of the truth.I didn't like his humor, his arrogance and value system of what and whom he respected and how they were treated. I never liked him personally.

I forgot to add haughty and poor mannered.

Future triumphant monument featuring Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and the President.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2639154141_982042dbe7.jpg

Historic future image of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and the President confronting their economic nightmare.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EABuPIKLAtM/RbFR9pO5YbI/AAAAAAAAAJI/p718QYEHk5Y/s400/dumbo.jpg

Okay, now I'm pissed.

I try to stay out of the style wars...but the fashionistas are calling these boots of Michelle Obama's a disaster...screw the experts...I friggin' love these boots!

http://tinyurl.com/c3djbx

Iconic moment in which Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and the President reveal their secret plan to save the world.

(Hey, what's better stimulus than what they got?)

http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/1/3/Disney-Dumbo-and-Timothy-Mouse-The-Magic-Feather-135792.jpg

I don't fault Obama for his lofty ideas and soaring rhetoric - and I don't give him a pass when actions don't meet the standards he appears to set. But I do recognize that he's learning that things aren't easy in DC, and it takes more than lofty ideas and soaring rhetoric to acheive much, so I give him some slack and hope he can accomplish some of what he is trying to.

I am concerned about Dodd's statement that the "contract" language was inserted in the bailout bill as a result of pressure from the O admin (my guess is Geithner and Summers - to pull their fat out of the fire because of their involvment in the first TARP installment seeking the same provisions). As to Obama, we get back to a "what did he know and when did he know it" thing. Seems that always becomes the question, doesn't it?

9/11, stop it - (raching for the paper towels).

I dunno Pats, those boots might look pretty bad with mud around the welts. These, though . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/03/18/fashion/19wrap.ready.html

CB, if you're lurking - see this?

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/03/19/science/AP-AS-Tonga-Volcano.html?hp

Cool!!!

This whole issue is starting to look a lot like the Reverend Wright fiasco. Some one needs to be giving a rational explanation for some of these bonuses.. Manup own them and move on. There should be good reasons for many of them.
Obama needs to quit behaving as a senator or congressman. Congressmen can grand stand but presidents have to lead. I'm begining to suspect he is surrounded by to many politicians and not enough public servants.

Jack

"...pressure from the O admin (my guess is Geithner and Summers..."

pogo, my guess is that it was either biden or a holdover at treasury from the barf admin.

patsi, at least those boots are better than the spider dress.... and i bet the kids have matching pairs.

Wish they would take Jack's advice Manup own them and move on."

Patsi great boots but they don't go with the outfit. She needs an equally funky pair of jeans to go with them. After all this was a visit to a youth build construction site.
Hey if all they are going to talk about is you wardrobe give them something to talk about.

Jack

Good fashion call Jack. You are well rounded.

pat,

Biden may have been involved or he may not have - I haven't seen his name appear in any coverage about it. Geithner and Summers have already been fingered.

Cbob

Glad things are working out. Having done community work, I love it when a plan come together. I'll be emailing you for some of the blue corn I think I can find a spot for a hill. I'll use it and the Okra to screen out the world.
Kind of a protective barrier of blue corn and gumbo.

Jack

"... haven't seen his name appear in any coverage about it."

pogo, that's exactly why i have this hunch. guess it would be easy enough to check his whereabouts during the mark-up.

"ttp://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/1/3/Disney-Dumbo-and-Timothy-Mouse-The-Magic-Feather-135792.jpg"

ROFL, 9/11!

"You are well rounded"

Yeah, thats what the wife says when she pats my belly as she walks by.

Jack

Nah, Jack -- those boots go with anything.

Pogo -- I not only had a pair of turquoise ankle boots, but chartreuse sandals AND a pair of black leather boots that went up to mid-thigh. It's all good.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-211978

Mornin', Pogo, and thanks. My admittedly stretch-of-a-point concerned the unleashing of nut-jobs who decide politicians' rhetoric gives them license to take the law into their own hands. They scare me most of all.

Other than that, today March 19 is St. Joseph's Day - an actual holiday at my old parochial school because our sisters were the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Jack- LOL.. Reminds me, better get going and my my pilates.

do my

sound familiar?

"The Panic of 1837 was a panic in the United States built on a speculative fever.... The Panic was followed by a five-year depression, with the failure of banks and record high unemployment levels"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1837

"Throughout the whole country the mercantile interests went down with a general crash, involving the mechanic, the farmer even the humblest laborer, in the ruinous consequences of the disaster. Bankruptcy everywhere prevailed, forced sacrifice for valuable merchandise was the order of the day, on less than eight of the States partially or wholly failed, even the general government could not pay its debts, trade stood still, business confidence vanished, and ruin stalked unchecked over the land."
http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/The_Great_Republic_By_the_Master_Historians_Vol_III/thepanic_ce.html

I woke up this morning and immediately had two questions.

Why haven't all politicians figured out by now that if there is a public uproar, immediately say if you did it. Don't leave it hanging to fester. Man up for pity's sake.

Just own it. If you hit home runs1/3 of the time in baseball and fan out 2/3 time, they put you in the Hall of Fame.

Second impression. Why haven't Republican males figured out that greasy looking hair parted on one side is just plain creepy? Bless their pasty white, pinky cheeked faces, they all look like prospective child molesters.

OSH.... I love it when you tell us what you really think....

Patsi.... Keen made sandals in fuchsia.... I just had to get me a pair of them....
I now see they've made some in turquoise.... gotta get me a pair of them too....

Two beautiful pieces on Natasha Richardson

Salon

http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2009/03/19/natasha_richardson/index.html

BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7949195.stm

CBob

UK head scientist predicts global environmental crisis by 2030

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7951838.stm

"Progress Stinks"

Progress is inevitable.
(... as if you didn't know that) :)

",has anyone discovered yet that Obama is not ready to be president.... has been haunting me...."

Renee, Don't worry about it. There's nothing we can do about it now, anyway.:)

CBob, I'm dying to know what that advice Flatus gave you was. Please tell ,,,,

Sea, I love it when you tell us what you think too. :)
Keep being honest.

Gail Collins' column today. Love it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/opinion/19collins.html

And it looks like osme of the bonus money is coming back.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123743055512280701.html

So what? Barney and the rest have lost sight of the big picture.

pat, there are more than a few economists out there who would argue that every significant economic downturn in the US was preceded by a period of relatively unconstrained and unregulated capitalistic activity. Not knowing diddly about economics beyond knowing that tax cuts don't do what the repugs claim, I imagine there are also more than a few economists that would argue something to the contrary. I can say that I figure there's some truth to both positions - and that there are probably more than a few (repetition can be a good thing) economic models out there that do a better job of explaining the causes of economic downturns than the mainstream ones we hear try to fix blame for economic activity that isn't what we'd like to see.

I would like to nominate Jason for comment of the day

"Don't blame me I voted for Hillary Clinton" His bumper sticker

His mom and Dad are gonna make big $ if they a lot of these bumper stickers left

SEA,,,Hi,,,thanks for warning me about not going overboard about the third party that's needed,,,,,Im going to shut up about it now,,,,,,,NOT,,,,,,,
More and more people will be Independents,,,they can see that there is no diff,,,between the 2,,,,,,where are all the people that are fed up with both of them going to go,,,,it takes too much $ to get one started,,and the best rationalism for starting a third party,,,eliminate the way and the $ that it takes to run for POTUS,,,,this is why there is no possibility of a third party,,,,,not all of the built in excuses...the R's and The D's,,,both conspired to keep a third party out,,,in this way they can take turns ruining and raping our country,,,,,,,do we need more proof,,,,,,and we need term limits,,,at one time Chris Dodd,,,Barney Frank,,,Charlie Rangle ,,,and a lot of other's were excellent public servants,,,,after their 3rd term,,,,they just used their position to line their pockets,,,,,what makes them diff from the R's????

Patsi,,,,,LOL,,,,,I can just see you with those boots,,,and a whip,,,herding a bunch of misogynistic men,,your favorite,,,,,yep,,,you would need a good pair of boots for that kind of a round up!,,,or a construction hard hat,,,come see me about one.HA!

Soldier Suicides Increase

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/03/19/army_suicides/index.html

One of the biggest horrors to come out of Iraq and Afghanistan

Hey RR, I've been trying to be so good since the election, still every once in a while my peacekeeping mission and mute button just disappears.

Jamie, Thanks for linking those articles on Natasha Richardson. I can't even imagine what her family is going through.

Vanessa Redgrave Visits Daughter Natasha Richardson At Hospital
http://www.news4jax.com/news/18954497/detail.html

pogo, is "contrary to the public interest" big enough door to get them out of this bonus mess?

"The stimulus does include a provision that allows Treasury to examine past compensation payments to determine if they were "contrary to the public interest." Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he was using that provision to determine whether the government could somehow recoup the AIG bonuses."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29771223/

Jamie -- your 9:38 comment is spot on...

Mornin' Solar.
Did I miss a post by Jason?

Solar -- when I moved to Nashville I had a journalist friend who worried that my "radical feminism" might really hurt me...later he was talking to someone about me and said, "Jesus H. Christ, I walked into the Rock & Roll Hotel bar and there she was yukking it up with Tompall Glaser and Faron Young!" I told him I could cowboy it with the best of 'em.

Morning Chlo,,,,Morning all,,,,,,

No Jason,,,once told us that his mother and Father had a bumper sticker on their car,,,and would not take it off,,,and that they several more,,,I think he said that they would wait a few months to see how Obama was doing in the first cpl of months?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212018

Solar, You can't get term limits for Congress Critters without an Amendment to the Constitution. It isn't going to happen even if it were a good idea which it isn't because it takes so long to learn the ins and outs of the job that the first few terms are just about useless.

Thanks Solar. That sounds like him. :)
I miss Jason and thought he was back, and I missed it.

pogo, thanks for that gail collins op-ed. priceless! deserves a jon stewart minute or two. and her "it's tax time" remark might explain why the outrage has gotten so outrageous.

They say legislation is like making sausage. And like real sausage, there's nothing more disgusting than finding out what's in it and who put it there.

An insult to sausage --The USDA has pretty strict regulations about what goes in sausage --it's not like the days of Sinclair Lewis

Chloe.... there's so much we can't do anything about.... that's why I'm turning numb to most of it and just living.... and enjoying.... my life day to day.....

OSH.... haven't mentioned this.... but my baby sister (who turned 50 on Jamie's BD) became a Wiccan about 5 yrs ago..... she's been teaching me a lot about it.... won't become one.... but it's fascinating.... we had a long talk on the phone Saturday morning..... she explained all about twin flames...

that ski accident with NR was very strange.... hitting a tree like Sonny Bono did is understandable..... but simply hitting one's head on the slope with a fall happens all the time.... I've done it innumerable times..... I haven't skied in 3 yrs.... but I'd probably wear a helmet now..... Rick started this year and he says it keeps his ears much warmer than any hat could....

Who was it that said they thought Congress was a mob yesterday. (I think Bowmanc)

What was supposed to be legal lynching of AIG's Edward Liddy turns into huge defeat for Congress

"What was supposed to be a legal lynching of AIG boss Edward Liddy over the firm's bonus plan turned into a humiliating defeat for the lynch MOB. Liddy came off as a smart straight shooter, a man who gave up retirement for $1 a year to rescue AIG so it wouldn't bring down the financial system.

He also proved himself a cut above those who aimed to make cheap headlines at his expense. I'd pay to see him question Congress on its role in the economic mess.

Most important, he revealed the dirty little secret that much of Washington knew and approved of AIG's promises to pay retention bonuses to members of its financial products unit. That revelation came early in Liddy's testimony and punctured the hot air balloon."
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/columnists/goodwin/index.html

"just living.... and enjoying.... my life day to day..... "

Renee, Good advice to all of us.
I'm doing the same.

I miss Jason too...wasn't he headed for Central America?

"...anonymous Treasury Department sources later suggested they urged the provision in order to avoid lawsuits by those contractually entitled to the bonuses. "

Whatever the cost of those lawsuits would have been, it's safe to say it pales by comparison to the political price of this AIG debacle.

RR- I'm just a plain old traditional witch, a solitary with friends. Definitely not wiccan, too much dogma in it for me. Does she twin flame experiences? I do life running sometimes, don't much like to, it kind of makes me ill. Please tell her to stop in if she ever comes by, would love to meet her. I advertise in the Witches Almanac- New Moon Magick

My favorite Natasha Richardson movie Widow's Peak

Remember how William Holden died -- any fall will do this --

"Whatever the cost of those lawsuits would have been, it's safe to say it pales by comparison to the political price of this AIG debacle."

They didn't expect us to care so much. Apparently, the Teflon is wearing off.

FDR: "There is nothing to fear but fear itself".

BHO: "I got mine".

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/03/19/washington/AP-Obama-Book.html

I watched (actually listened to) most of the Congressional hearing with Liddy yesterday on CNN...

I think the article Chloe just quoted in her 10:09 post is spot on....
so many of those Congress Critters (thanks Jamie).... looked like complete fools....

took too long of a break again..... must get back into my studio....

"I miss Jason too...wasn't he headed for Central America?"

Patsi, I don't remember anything about that.
Hopefully, we'll hear back from him one of these days.

I remember, one time a few of us were talking about how much we missed him, and he stopped in and said hi. Then he was gone. As Tony says, poof. He disappeared.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212039

LOL 911.
I didn't read the article yet, but I love your quote!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212023

Patsi,

I really don't get it. If they are going to wear that hair style at least get a good barber and lay off the Brylcreem.

For everybody. In looking up the spelling of Brylcreem, I found this funny about Romney campaign contributions.

http://sirenschronicles.com/2007/08/17/leaked-campaign-document-reveals-heavy-brylcreem-contributions-influence-use/

but before I go....
OSH.... yes.... she thinks she's found her twin flame which is why she was explaining it to me..... she also said the connection was emotionally too strong for her to handle and she thinks she needs to walk away for the time being....

that's an interesting comment about dogma..... all religions have too much dogma for me... my last religion was 28 yrs ago as a Baha'i..... even the religion that claims it has no dogma had too much dogma for me.... ;0)

chloe,

It's two, two, two treats in one.

He signed a deal for a book to be published (amount undisclosed) after his Presidency shortly before taking office...

And a half-million dollar one for a redacted for tweens version of Dreams of My Father.

I would say that may be the most direct and rewarding of his stimulus packages yet... at least for one family.

Any other President sign such a contract prior to taking office?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212038

Ha, Chloe...spot on...they probably didn't even to expect us to comprehend! ')

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212022

pat, pretty words, but what do they mean? From a legislative interpretation standpoint, the general provision "contrary..." would yield to the specific "The prohibition...shall not be construed to prohibit any bonus payment required to be paid pursuant to a written employment contract executed on or before [2.11.09]."If it was challenged in court, anyway.

Ivy, you bet. And it's a rare lawsuit that is resolved for what the original demand was.

Not that I know of 911.
This is the first I've heard of it.

The swallows are supposed to return to the Mission at San Juan Capistrano today. I always loved that legend and wondered how the birds get the calendar straight.

http://www.sanjuancapistrano.net/swallows/

The time I visited there, they had a sign board up with photos and arrows pointing -- "This is a swallow. This is not a swallow, it is a pigeon." We still chuckle over that.

911, That half million was just the advance, wasn't it?
Does all this get done when he's out of office or now?

... my grandbaby is awake ...will check in later to see what I've missed. Thank everyone!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212047

Chloe,

Apparently they themselves did not comprehend the language.

Besides, I heard Joe Lieberman on the radio this morning saying he read the Senate version before the conference committee changes, but not the final version. I would think that would be the most important version to read prior to casting a vote.

Craig, do you know if there's any precedent for a pre-Inaugural post-presidency book deal being done?

I remember a number of other presidents and their wives signing deals as their terms were ending... as there was some there there.

It does feel peculiar knowing that all of this will be a published narrative years in advance: it makes things seem even more self-conscious and perhaps self-serving.

Of course, none of this may be a factor in much of anything he does, from why to how he does it.

But he is working for the people of the United States in a time of grave multiple crises.

Shouldn't he avoid any other signed obligations until that's just about over?

Couldn't he just... Twitter?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212044

Renee, My mother was B'hai for awhile when I was about 8. I've always respected them as a result, but like you I don't do well in any group of a religious nature.

The middle school revision of "Dreams" comes out soon.

The post-Presidency book will come out, come out, whatever it may be in either four or eight years.

Also the half mil was for the Dreams book.

No dollar amount was stated for the post-Presidential one... or for when an advance would be paid.

Jamie

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212027

It sounds like to me that you have given up on good government,,,and will just take what they hand out,,,and I would rather have an Idiot in there than an educated snake,,with the intent of do intentional harm,,,look at what we have now!!! and idiot would be an improvement,,,,I can deal with useless,,,and have had a few of them, on my payroll,,they can be watched,,,,,but I also have had a cpl of very good intelligent thief in my company,,,,they have caused more harm than the goof... and the thing that I tell people that say that can't get anything done,,,,,is Lead,,,,Follow,,,or get out of the way,,,if there is a huge build up of Independents,,,cos,,,both on the left and the right are fed up with the statuesque that would be good enough for me,,,,thanks Jamie for taking the time to talk about this a little with me.

Patsi,,,,,,I have had a lot of fun in my life,,,,,but you would have surely added to it,,,I have had 2 women friend that were a lot like you,,,,my sister Maria,,,,,,and one that was named,,,,,,yeah,,,you guessed it Sue,,,I would have to calm them down most of the time,,,,men don't know how to take a no nonsense women do they!!

Sea you 2,,,you would have been a pisser haha as you say

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212053

9/11 For the sake of history, it's nice to know he's taking notes. There will probably be a test before, during, and later.

''When a fireman sees a house on fire, he sounds an alarm, dons his turnout gear, bravely rescues the occupants and puts out the fire.

When an investment banker sees a house on fire, he quietly sells the burning house short, uses the proceeds to buy a larger house for himself and, when someone suggests that his taxes be raised to help the homeless, he rails against the dangers of socialism.''

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/03/fire-2/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212047

Pogo, sorry that was you who posted that. You are so right about the costs, even if you're talking merely about the judgment or the settlement, beyond those are the financial and emotional costs of the legal process itself -- mind-boggling for everyone involved (well, maybe not the attorneys) :)

Jamie,

Good enough.

As he is public servant number one, it might be appropriate to tell the people the denominations of the notes he will be taking.

Oh, good lord.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/us/politics/19military.html?hp

Maybe I missed something - but WE pay for the Afghan security forces? At least this proposal is cheaper than Iraq (of course it doesn't appear to include the cost of OUR forces there). But maybe I'm missing something else.

For those who just can't get enough of the AIG bonus kerfuffel, here's an analysis of the contract provisions (actually, this is the first thing I've seen on the issue - aside from the two step being done by Dodd and Geithner - of any real interest to me).

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/dissecting-the-aig-bonus-contract/?hp

Would W.S. Gilbert please resurrect himself and rewrite THIS into tightly rhymed paradox?

Obama reverses hardass position --he now will NOT require vets to use PRIVATE insurance to cover treatment of of their combat-related injuries (which I'd have to GUESS might just be considered "pre-existing conditions" that don't get covered).

He had proposed that as a $500 million dollar budget cut (applied directly across so many human throats).

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/us/politics/19vets.html

Fannie Mae: Refinance volume triples in February

WASHINGTON — Fannie Mae said the volume of mortgage loans it refinanced in February totaled $41 billion, nearly triple January's volume.

The mortgage finance company said Wednesday it was the largest figure in almost a year as a surge of homeowners took advantage of low interest rates and higher loan limits.

The company expects volume to increase more under President Barack Obama's housing plan, which expanded the criteria for who qualifies for a new mortgage backed by government-controlled Fannie and Freddie Mac.

The pair own or guarantee almost 31 million mortgages worth about $5.5 trillion. That's more than half of all U.S home mortgages.

http://www.comcast.net/finance/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212061

9/11 It would be nice if they all did that. Given the total lack of privacy in today's world what with phones, face book, you tube and twitter that record everything and people who want their 15 minutes as a source. All public servants should heed Franklin's advice: Two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

Just assume everything you are doing anywhere is going to be on the next available billboard within 15 minutes.

"Obama reverses hardass position --he now will NOT require vets to use PRIVATE insurance to cover treatment of of their combat-related injuries "

No reversal there, he never did in the first place nor was he going to.
Good job on spreading the Republican attack
BTW Flatus did an excellent job the other day explaining how the system works.
There is a word for spreading this kind of misinformation it was my favorite word for several days around here.
But I forget what it is
Jack

AIG Leads Wednesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 4.50%
03/19/2009 10:25:32

OLDWICK, N.J., Mar 19, 2009 (A. M. Best via COMTEX News Network) -- The AMBG closed Wednesday, March 18 at 531.61 (+4.50%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes rose. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were American International Group (+43.75%) and Conseco (+34.29%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were DCAP Group Inc. (-89.74%) and 21st Century Holding Co. (-18.00%).

http://finance.comcast.net/www/news_list.html?ID_SUPPLIER_CATEGORY=18068

You too Solar!

9/11

The closing paragraph is the key.

"One way is to collect payments from private insurers who are already responsible for some care provided to veterans for needs unrelated to their military service."

when I went over the initial proposal and my misgivings yesterday, it was about the insurance that all service people get for themselves and their families that is deducted from their salaries. Because there are catastrophic limits just as with virtually any insurance, this could be exhausted with treatment of war injuries leaving no coverage for other family members.

By dividing the coverage for wounded vets so that items unrelated to their injuries will be billed to their insurance while rehab and other expenses that relate to their war wounds will be handled by the Vet Admin.

It may create some paperwork snafus, but it is the way to go to get them the care they need while not breaking the VA budget.

Bush has saddled us with about 40 years worth of Vet treatment that should never happen and now the tax payers need to come up with the most humane way to handle it financially. Another "Way to go George!"

Solar

If anyone is refinancing expect long delays on closing. It seems the mortgage folks laid everybody off last fall and now they don't have enough people to support the flood of applications. We had our rate locked in for 60 days. we are at day 45 so the wife started to get nervous as she was starting to go on the road the next 2 weeks.
Found out that although the loan is approved and we have jumped through all the hoops they have even given it to what they called the processor who will bring it all together. Look like it will be a few weeks past the 60 days. So the wife got in writing that we were guaranteed that rate or lower. We didn't just take assurances over the phone.

Jack

Jamie

You are so much nicer than I am

Jack

"There are more than 200 open Treasury jobs listed at the government's Office of Personnel Management and even more on the agency's Web site. They need bank and finance attorneys, risk management experts, compliance workers and more specialized workers to handle the sudden workload"

http://tinyurl.com/c5c4cd

So the folks at treasury may understand that there is no choice but to pay out the yingyang as we don't have in house capacity to deal withe AIG mess

Second breafast is over back to work

Jack

Jack

You have that right,,,I have 2 people that I sent to Home Loans Mortage in Indiana,,,,they have very good credit ratings,,,and they have been on hold,,the banks are holding onto the $,,,they are in a wait and see type of attitude,,,,meanwhile there is danger of losing homes,,,wish that they would think of the little guys problems no?

Here is one that is either sad or funny,,,depending on your mood.

Wife divorcing ex-CEO: $43 million not enough

HARTFORD, Conn. — A 36-year-old Swedish countess divorcing a former CEO says she cannot live on $43 million.

Marie Douglas-David, a former investment banker, says she has no income and needs her 67-year-old husband, George David, to pay her more than $53,000 a week — more than most U.S. households make in a year — to cover her expenses.

David stepped down last year as chief executive at Hartford-based United Technologies Corp. but is still chairman of the board and has an estimated net worth of $329 million. He and his wife accuse each other of extramarital affairs. Their divorce trial started Wednesday.

"I'm just very sad that we are where we are," Douglas-David said. "I hope we resolve this soon so everybody can move on with their lives."

David briefly took the stand Wednesday. Asked if his marriage is irretrievably broken, he simply answered, "Yes."

http://www.comcast.net/news/national/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212076

Jack, Now that my preferred object to chew up and spit out has left the building, I no longer find it necessary to dine on my fellow trailmixers.

Jamie,

That depends on a few factors, too.

There is a greater variety of age groups and genders in the service than ever before.

Private insurance has become virtually unaffordable, particularly as either company after company pulls out of the HMO biz or groups of doctors cease to accept HMO customers.

Some service people may have coverage provided by their spouse's employers back when the war began.

But how many of those spouses remain eligible for employee benefits now?

How many of the young independent enlistees can afford to have their additional insurance paid for by their families?

Have insurance companies established group rates for active service people and vets?

Do the vets have to create their own? Would most or all companies accept those?

How many could afford the premiums and the ever rising deductibles?

Is there a program within the VA which mimics Medicare and its mess of supplementary insurance options?

Those are my questions.

House to vote on 90 percent tax for AIG bonuses
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_go_co/aig_outrage

"We figured that the local and state governments would take care of the other 10 percent," said Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

(that would be tax- evading C. Rangel of NY)

"President Barack Obama, who took office just under two months ago, told reporters Wednesday that his administration was not responsible for a lack of federal supervision of AIG that preceded the company's demise.

But Obama added, 'The buck stops with me.'"

^That makes no sense, Mr. Obama. Claiming the buck stops with you means you accept ultimate responsibility. They must have left that part off the teleprompter.

Outrage? Let's see how much outrage there will be if it turns out billions in bailout funds ultimately end up in hedge fund managers hands. Congress just spent a week trying to recoup a couple hundred million dollars. Here's an aphorism for you, Mr. President & Congress:
"Penny wise and pound foolish". County of idiots.

Hulk angry.

Watching House action. We have some incredibly stupid Congress Critters who are better at loud talking than they are at level thinking.

Jack

Is that the car loan that you were talking about,,,or for a project? hope t hat you don't mind me asking? the time line is about the same,,will let you know if our re-fi's come in first.

What we are getting a lot ,,is that the underwriter is being told one thing one day,,,,and something else the next,,,,,but that they are (the lenders) are hording the $ in a wait and see attitude?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212074

Oh dans---lunch

Pogo

Vamos a lunche :-)))

This is what the idjits are trying to do after the fact.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder

It take a lot to make Boner look intelligent, but they have managed to do it. Let's hope it fails so the grandstanding can cease for a while

Even if we disapprove of the AIG bonuses, this is forbidden by the Constitution. If the law doesn't apply to ALL bonuses paid to ALL people earning over $250,000 a year, it's illegal

solar - LOL - lunch

Pogo

That cool,,,,lets go together,,,I buy-- hope that you are a cheap date HA!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212081

9/11

Virtually all service people are on private insurance at very favorable group rates as they are part of such a huge pool. It isn't the totally free care they got when privates were paid below minimum wage, but compared to the average family's insurance it's darn cheap.

Most are on Tri Care that includes medical, dental, and prescriptions

http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/

Jamie

the other that goes along with that from my constitution studies in highschool is Ex post facto. Making something illegal after it has already been done. I have heard several wanting to do that with the AIG bonuses.
What a bunch of maroons.

Jack

Ya know, Prez Obama shouldn't make off-the-cuff remarks...he is reminding me more & more of W with his scare tactics.

"Same thing with AIG," Obama said. "It was the right thing to do to step in. Like they've got a bomb strapped to them and they've got their hand on the trigger, you don't want them to blow up, but you've got to ease them off the trigger."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/03/obama-town-ha-5.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212092

True Jack. You can't change the tax laws in 2009 for income earned in 2008. Retroactive doesn't work.

The usual judgement is that you can grandfather a benefit, but not a penalty.

hey... I just heard that bit about Congress wanting to make a law about bonuses being taxed at 90% for any company that took over 5 billion in bailout money.....

oh YES!.... doesn't it feel good to close the barn door after the horse has run away!......

god help us.....

((((((((((((BLUE))))))))))))

so great to have you back!.... what took ya so long....

many apologies to blueIndallas -- i just realized she's been in the holding pen, but no longer:

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/aig-too-big-to-exist.html#comment-211675

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-211970

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212093

I would much rather they pay them bonuses with goals and objectives to meet than I would want to see them contract "consultants" charging all the market will bare.

Jack

We are getting a home refinance loan through Bankm of America. No problem getting approved but the processing is taking forever. As I said they laid off many of their support people and those left are swamped
All we are doing is locking in these low rates in a safer form. our next step is to combine all our rental stuff and do the same. Rates are low right now but the way the government is throwing around money they won't stay that way.

Jack

Jack...
I would never try to pretend that I understand all this economic stuff....

but for the Congress to decide to create a law basically because of public outrage is total political Kabuki theatre, IMO...

and Jon Stewart is right..... you just can't make this stuff up.... ;)

"level thinking"

level thinking and congress? Jamie --surely you jest! :)

Patsi

Have some good news,,,and bad news for you,,,,,,first the good news,,,,
Darth Brooks in on the Jay Leno Show tonight,(I won't be watching),,,and Pres. Obama is going to sit down with Leno,,,and give the Com median the time that he should be sleeping,,so he can get up and take care of our business,,,I think that by going on these shows,,,dumbs down the Presidency,,,and further advances the notion that the American People can get their new from a comic's show,,,no wonder to me,,,why The Chris Mathews of the news world ,,are just a bunch of entertainers,,and that's the bad thing!!

Patsi,

I wonder if the crowd here could get a deal to run Congress for a Year. Sort of the old getting a jury from the first 12 names in the phone book idea.

The qualities needed to get elected are often exactly the qualities that will guarantee a poor performance.

I'm repeatedly stunned by just how little general knowledge the majority of Critters have about damn near everything.

Solar,

I don't see a major problem with the President being on Leno as long as they don't yuck it up. The majority of the people in this country don't read and rarely watch news of any kind. If this helps explain some of the problems government is facing, it is a good idea.

He does need to maintain the dignity of the office as much as possible.

Who U gonna call-------------Ghost Busters,,,and Tony Baloney :j))

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"Darth Brooks in on the Jay Leno Show tonight"

ROFL, Solar -- Garth Brooks....it's Darth Cheney...

"I wonder if the crowd here could get a deal to run Congress for a Year."

Jamie, I was to be the BS Police in the Administration...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212112

Solar,

What square footage does the device cover? Can we send one to the Capitol building to take care of the critters (i.e., creatures) there? Wasn't Tom Delay already in this line of work? ~)

Patsi

Well I finally got a laugh outta U,,,U haven't liked my last few jokes,,,,that looked an eye catcher to me hahaha

Ivy

been trying to see how I got on that page,,,want to save it for future haha's....I tried the to get in with www.boondee but not luck,,,,but to answer your question,,,yes about TD,,,,between him and Cheney,,,the machine would break down no?

I gotta say, it does strike me as untoward that Congress wants to pass retroactive tax legislation that applies only to bonuses and only to companies that take a certain amount of tax money or more. Sounds just stupid to me - to say nothing of arbitrary, and as renee pointed out, political kabuki - but it's not actually a bill of attainder, which is not as general as Wiki makes it seem, the punishment meted out by bills of attainder being criminal, and in GB it involved the death penalty, but it is ex post facto, and that was considered similarly odious by Madison, but as to tax laws it's not unconstitutional - In the 1994 opinion United States v. Carlton, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that retroactive tax laws did not violate the constitutional prohibition on ex post facto legislation.

Ivy, Tom Delay's very presence in DC proved that no pest repellant was effective there.

Here you go Solar

http://www.boondee.net/ghost-repeller/index.html

and speaking of John Stewart.... it appears the feud between he and Cramer isn't over yet.....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/19/cramer-stewart-fued-conti_n_176778.html

at this point.... I will not take any of it seriously..... methinks we are being manipulated by both shows to garner ratings.... bad, bad Cramer..... bad, bad Stewart.... stop playing your audiences for fools....

pogo, from your above link re aig bonus wording, this excerpt presents an interesting question... and another rage opportunity. let's all rant in unison.

"This was not a boilerplate contract. Rather, it was highly negotiated. And it was highly negotiated to pay retention fees at high levels without regard to performance. This is obviously shocking. But it makes me wonder: perhaps one area of direction here should be actually looking at who negotiated this and why?"

so in addition to naming names of the bonees, how about naming names of the contract negotiators.

thanks Jamie,,,last ha ha on this,,going to go and see if they show how many they sold,,,I bet ya Im in for a surprise?,,,can u say suckers.

Product dimension 20 x 21 x 20 cm in wooden box
Net weight 2900 gram
Rated Voltage 110 vac and 220 vac, 50-60 Hz
Electric current 2 Amp
Ghost capture Video camera special design for low magnetic field or natural phenomenon
Display meter 15 LED indicator of magnetic/electromagnetic field INPUT
Repellent system (Out put) Video capture the invisible picture then convert to radio signal and sent to WAVE KILLER gernerated by complex electronic circuit.

looks like the inside of a pc,,,

http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tri06.jpg

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212122

Pogo --

SO true! :))

My parents had these devices that plugged into the wall outlet that supposedly emitted a radio wave that kept all the critters away. They also had a "deer whistle" on their car. They swore the things worked!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212126

patd,

Boilerplate can be amended, I've amended numerous of them...hardly anybody reads them because they make your eyes "boil" by definition.

Regarding AIG, GOP are blaming Dems for putting in loophole to allow bonuses, but will not pass bill to allow Congress to tax these bonuses, thereby allowing people to get back most of the bonus money. What hypocrisy, when all of this began under GOP/Bush/Paulson rule who would not allow any restrictions at all. However, there were some restrictions put in by Dems' insistence, but not enough. At least the Dems are trying to resolve this boo boo short term, and long term to put regulaitons on the greedy wall street and Washington Club gang. Funny, how banks are now saying they do not need further stimulus money due to the regulations and restrictions inforced by the Obama Administration now going forward!

Ivy, Mrs. P bought those things and had a couple or three in our house - I believe the little ladybug beetles breed in them and I know that camel crickets aren't phased. And onyone who has been told they keep mice away and believes that needs to think again. And the deer whistles - biright lights and horns don't do it - why would I think a little $2 gizmo would?

pat - yeah, everyone's calling for the heads of the guys who got the bonuses - I'd be calling for the heads of the lawyers who let the company enter into the contracts.

meanwhile, back in the real world some interesting hires and appointments going on.... and not going on it seems if you read down page about the christopher hill ambassador-to-be or not-to-be issue.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/

ivy, the article pogo linked made big point that this was not merely an amended boiler plate but one

"...highly negotiated to pay retention fees at high levels without regard to performance."

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/dissecting-the-aig-bonus-contract/?hp

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212133

I'm with you, Pogo, but they're my parents. I just rolled my eyes and moved on...much as I'm sure my kids do with me now.

Can just pop in for a minute.....
It's no big suprise that Pres. Obama appears to be a little unprepared. His lack of executive experience was noted well before his election. We as a country decided that we could live with that when we elected him.

Personally I doubt that McCain would be doing any better. With that said, Pres Obama needs to step up the learning curve and reel in congress while he still can.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212136

patd,

I'm very interested in reading that, and I will, thank you for the links. I need to circle back to read Pogo's post too...I am interested in knowing whether, and how much, of the information regarding the negotiated changes got the actual attention let alone scrutiny of the legislators before they voted.

It is a lot of stuff to absorb even after the fact. It's like getting the Wall Street Journal...sure, it came, but did I actually read every word of it?

Well, really, in the real world LSU, Memphis and TxA&M won their first round NCAA tourney games.

Cosmo was talking about missing his daily newspaper. This article talks about how the effect the endless ideological attacks on the mainstream media are affecting our government/politicians. It says Americans "hunt and gather what they want when they want it, use search to comb among destinations and share what they find through a growing network of social media." (of course, we all know that) :) But it considers the possibility of information overload. Hmm.

News industry's depression has spillover implications
"These are depressing days in news, and those still in the profession don't talk nearly enough about how that affects Americans and their way of life.

If not there already, we could soon be living in a world where government and politicians spend more on public relations and propaganda than an independent media spends to watch them.

Imagine Richard Nixon with a 10-million member e-mail army behind him, with legions of bloggers attacking his political foes, with a much larger phalanx of taxpayer-paid public relations people defending him, and with no independent investigative reporters raising questions others dare not ask.

If Nixon had survived the "third-rate burglary" at the Watergate, how long would his enemies list have grown, and how emboldened would he have become in spying on political rivals?"
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/raasch/2009-03-18-raasch-column-03182009_N.htm

Ivy, it is extremely unlikely that any legislators even saw that contract language or had any idea about it, much less scrutinized it. Remember, Frank had to threaten to issue a subpoena to even get the names of those who got the bonuses.

btw-I forgot to add I'm 2of 3 so far- and if history's a teacher, that is the best I'll ever be.

Interesting website to give you a whole different view of the world from a completely different culture and how technology is changing everying

http://whiteafrican.com/

Be sure to check out the links, particularly the Afrigadget tab

Featured comment nomination:

Posted by: jaxtrader Author Profile Page | March 19, 2009 2:31 PM

Newspapers

The horrific downfall of MSM, and in particular, our newspapers is putting us in the position of having to rely on rumor spread by word of mouth to let us know what is happening locally, regionally, and in the world.

Makes know difference that the 'word of mouth' i.e., the internet, is more sophisticated than in the past, the information being passed is still rumor.

The other day I had the thought that we, as a people, are in much the same information vacuum as were the residents of the Warsaw Ghetto as Hitler was tightening the noose; grasping at anything purporting to be news no matter how improbable.

Pogo
About the link you posted earlier that Patd referred to.

Another question is does this contract languge in the article even apply to any of the bonuses being paid? It looked like old bonus provisions for 2007 when the company was flying high. From what little I listened to Liddy yesterday , he seemed to claim that many of the bonuses being paid are for the people who were liquidating the default swap book.
Also, just how much does AIG owe the government? 175 billion as is floatting around the web and many congress critters brains or the closer to 80 billion the number Liddy used as a correction when ever a congress critter used the larger number?

Jack

know difference =no difference (but I like both :))

The deer whistle works, use to beon police cars in upstate, they really need them there too.

Chloe,

I'm sure it was my remark admonishing him to, “Go West, young man, go West.”

If I had said the remark was made by Horace Greeley in an 1865 editorial, I wouldn't be in the pickle I'm now in.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212144

Your lordship
thanks , I had missed Jax's comment and I agree with you.
Good comment Jax.

Jack

"the internet, is more sophisticated than in the past, the information being passed is still rumor."

Yes, Flatus. It's a whole new world.
And what that article said about politicians is so true. They're beginning to write their own ticket.

I didn't see Jax's post either, a good one.
I can't believe how many posts slip by me.

But Flatus did Greeley end it with "Or go anywhere as long as it is not here"

8^o)>

Jack

Jack, according to the article the contract discussed in it is the one posted by Barney Frank's office. It could be conincidence, but our filters block my getting to it via the link provided - calling it a Newtworking and Social Blogging site. I have to assume that the contract is the one that is applicable.

OSH, about those deer whistles, maybe, maybe not.

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1677/eb1677.html

http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/021118/02111812.htm

I want to agree with that guy solar,,,but I can't understand him half the time.

He changed my mind ,,,and I will watch the Leno Show tonight,,,just to see if there is any news there that some one can come away with?

Greeley just repeated. It then got attributed to him. Leave it to a New York politician who ended up in an insane asylum to steal a good line.

Congress is wasting outrage: It should fix AIG problem
"Yes, it is infuriating to see executives who have benefited from $170 billion (so far) in taxpayer-funded bailouts, then hand out $165 million in bonuses to the very people who played a central role in the collapsed economy. (And AIG's promise that executives will pay back half the bonuses hardly settles the matter.)

But watching elected officials respond by trying to out-perform each other in the role of a scold is like watching a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar blaming the cookies.

There is plenty of blame to go around. The original bailouts to AIG began last
year under the Bush administration. Congress should have ensured then that they approved of salary and bonus provisions extended to financial institutions benefiting from taxpayer aid -- especially ones such as AIG, in which the government now owns an 80 percent stake."
http://www.thereporter.com/editorials/ci_11948601

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212158

See, I knew I was in trouble as soon as I said it.

Pogo maybe this site will work better for you in reg. to the AIG retention plan, document.

http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/aig/bonus-retention-plan2008.html

Jack

"But watching elected officials respond by trying to out-perform each other in the role of a scold is like watching a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar blaming the cookies"

I love this comment from Chloes post so much I pulled it out mand repeated it.
May do it again.
Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212145

flatus, i share your "rely on rumor" fear...

"I'm sure it was my remark admonishing him to, “Go West, young man, go West.”

If I had said the remark was made by Horace Greeley in an 1865 editorial, I wouldn't be in the pickle I'm now in."

ROFL, Flatus -- do you have to attribute quotes that are so widely known?

Once a phrase has been popularized like that one, it matter little where it actually came from...and only academics need footnote.

chloe, you are dead on.

Thanks jack, but it's "Personal Network Storage and Backup", which is filtered. I'll look at it at home if I'm istill interested enough to bother.

Patsi, life was easier when I dealt in non-attributable remarks and thoughts.

Hey all,

Just dropped in for a quick moment.

Quick thought:
I wonder if my ancestors were into inbreeding. My genes seem tight.

Later

Cosmo - RFLMFAO. If I didn't live in WV I'd plagiarize that thought. What the hell - I will anyway - too bad if a few natives don't understand the joke.

Cable news is dead. Maybe so, but I still enjoy seeing those attractive women on cable news. Yep, I'm a cable news lightweight! LOL! Speaking of famous slogans....when my friend Jeff and I were playing a lot of tennis, we joked about having t-shirts made. We always joked about our tennis racquets by calling them "sticks". I told him our t-shirts should have a tennis racquet on them and say, "Speak softly and carry a big stick!" My friend thought that was the greatest "original" quote ever.

newpogo

Now that I know you're in WV, I promise to type slower. :-)

Chloe,

That quote is so good, someone on the networks is going to steal it. Expect to hear it coming back to you on the news. :-)

Yeah, because we know all the pundits read this blog!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d49m6G9vOrI

Chloe,

Your scenario of nixon backed by 10 million malicious bloggers bombarding his political enemies, backed by an army of professional spinmeisters reminds me of the myrmidons of the bushcheneyrumsfeldgonzalespaulson junta, its 10 million malicious bloggers and its army of spinmeisters.

Corey
Not all the pundits read our comments and you can easily tell which ones don't.

All the dumb ones

Jack

Well, the house passed the bill taxing bonuses at 90% if paid in 2009 by firms accepting $5B or more in TARP funds. This explains a lot - it's not a bill with retroactive effect since the tax due on those bonuses doesn't come due for another 13 months and it affects earnings in this calendar year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/business/20bailout.html?hp

Boner's competing bill was supported by only 2 more repugs than Rangel's bill. Finally a bipartisan issue, and one that shows that Boner can't hold his caucus together when push comes to shove. I gotta say, this is a pretty informative article whether you agree with the bill or not.

Here is the brief autopsy report on Ntasha Richardson as expected, hematoma due to blow to the head.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/entertainment-movies/20090319/Obit.Natasha.Richardson/

Do you get the feeling that " Mob Rule" is now the norm in congress?

Institutions (like Congress) are supposed to be the antithesis to "Mob Rule".

Wonder what one can expect from the general public when the governing institutions behave like this?

Cosmo - I'm IN WV - I'm not FROM WV. I can read and write, wear shoes and have a mouth full of teeth - and most of them are my own.

Jax

That would be tomorrow in the senate, everybody knows that the house is filled with common rabble.

Jack

Help is on the way! Auto parts suppliers to get $5 billion in aid! I wonder if my company will get any?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_bi_ge/auto_bailout

Actually, jax, the Senate is supposed to be the antithesis of mob rule - the house is the people's house (read - mob rule) - it's just mob rule, with rules.

newpogo

Real shoes, huh? Love the sense of humor.

Corey

Let us know how much trickles down to you.

btw are you still building those kevlar lined Jeep door panels for those folks down in South America?

Jack

fomer AIG CEO 1968-2005 Maurice Greenberg: Bush-Cheney '04
Bush-Quayle '92
Council on Foreign Relations 1992
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Dreier for Congress Committee
Ensign for Senate
Foreign Policy Association Board of Directors
Friends of Giuliani Exploratory Committee
International Rescue Committee Overseer
Japan Society Board of Directors
John McCain 2008
Friends of Mark Foley
McCain Victory Committee
National Committee on US-China Relations Vice Chairman, Board of Directors
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Nixon Center Chairman
Rely on Your Beliefs Fund
Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee
Securing America's Future Energy Energy Security Leadership Council
Trilateral Commission
World Technology Network
World Trade Center Memorial Foundation Board of Directors
Bush Pioneer 2000
Bush Pioneer 2004 Ranger
Took the Fifth (12-Apr-2005)

Hey Pogo
I happen to own all my teeth, paid good money for them. Why would anybody use someone elses teeth?

Jack

They said it would go to tier one suppliers. I believe that would include us.

AIG former CEO 2005-2008 Martin Sullivan
Bush-Cheney '04
The Business Council

Here's why the Repugs didn't want Holder to be sworn in.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/03/64373133/1

Return to the premise of FOIA - a presumption of openness.

(I'm now 3 of 4 and if the games now going on continue as they are, I'll be 7 of 8 at 5:00- which has to be a new record for me).

Pogo, you should no that Stinky is one very unhappy woman. Seems as if a group of fellas running around in oversized shorts preempted her afternoon soaps. :((

God, here come the word police. no=know. Double :((

Cosmo, yep, real shoes - with soles and toes and heels and everything.

Jack - I didn't say they were all natural (after all, I AM from AL) I always say that if I'd invested in a retirement fund unstead of my teeth I could be on a beach in Mexico. Who needs teeth to drink tequila anyway?

Flatus, give Stinky my condolences - My cross is that I'm not at home to watch them. (But thank you, ESPN)

XR, imagine, the CEO of the largest insurance company in the world is a republican. Who could have guessed that? :-)

No prob, Flatus - what's wrong with a little phonetic spelling in a blog entry among friends anyway?

Well, 'bout time to mosey along and pick up the rotten kid. Later (and good luck to all you closet bracketeers).

Pogo

Do you think that all of this could go all the way back to the Clinton administration?,,thinking that the Bush administration was to lazy to even find out all the legality of every thing involved,,,,and I keep thinking about A Greenspan,,he advised them all??? blame will go that far back,,im thinking?

Chloe

I agree with everyone,,Hear! Hear!

Chloe,

Not back far enough. It goes back to the S & L mess. Since then these banks, mortgage, and insurance firms have been lining the pockets of politicians under a mountain of names and entities before and after mergers and name changes to get regulations and oversight steadily taken off the books.

It is that lack of regulation and oversight that has made this mess possible. If some investigating reporter can find out who has been sitting on the pertinent committees and how they have been legislating and voting and just how much they have received from whom and they will have one whale of a story.

"The human mind cannot grasp the causes of phenomena in the aggregate. But the need to find these causes is inherent in man’s soul. And the human intellect, without investigating the multiplicity and complexity of the conditions of phenomena, any one of which taken separately may seem to be the cause, snatches at the first, the most intelligible approximation to a cause, and says: “This is the cause!”

-Leo Tolstoy

"To the layman it appears, had the law (below) been enforced, we would get to the root of the problem. Of course Congress has no interest in reducing the lobbying dollars they can collect from firms that rely on those TARP dollars. They would rather pretend to be ineffective populists than effective legislators and responsible public servants."

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/03/quick-note-on-the-aig-bonus-sideshow/

Jack, you are indeed 'Philosopher du Jour"!

I liked Jason's posts. Late in the night very few post and his thoughtful observations were appreciated. I hope he returns sometime..

Any respect for Congress has disappeared in recent years. Barney Frank and many fromk both parties should end what they refer to as their public service.
Frank is so rude and disrespectful to just about everyone. I do like his sister, Ann Lewis. She is always polite and respectful, even in the heat od debate. She should have a talk with her brother.

Obama is amazingly inarticulate without a teleprompter. He should spend a few hours with a good speech teacher. He needs to stop making noises when he is thinking.. A little silence goes a long way.

He definately has a message. Poor speech habits get in the way.

I always liked going to Tad's in San Francisco. Good, cheap food..not much on fanciness, but I loved the Powell Cable Car going by..

Have a nice day everyone!

Well if they spread it out even steven, this is approx a $700 bonus for each employee plus all the other perks.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/finance/20090319/Wal-Mart.awards.2.billion.to.U.S.hourly.employees/

http://www.comcast.net/articles/finance/20090319/Wal-Mart.awards.2.billion.to.U.S.hourly.employees/

On employee stock purchases of walmart stock, walmart will pay 15% of the cost. Walmart has always been strong on employees owning shares of the company.
Information from 2 of my sisters one a former Walmart employee one a current employee. Both went to work at Walmart because the family needed health insurance.

Jack

"..the human intellect, without investigating the multiplicity and complexity of the conditions of phenomena, any one of which taken separately may seem to be the cause, snatches at the first, the most intelligible approximation to a cause, and says: “This is the cause!”"

LOL Jack!
Are we really that dense?
How in the world did you find that quote. (still laughing)

Jack

They took a lot of heat about keeping their employees hours down just enough to be "part time" and not qualify for a lot of benefits. Maybe they have started correcting some of those bad acts.

It still doesn't make up for shilling for China and killing small business, but a little better.

Btw, When I was at the post office yesterday, I asked the clerk when they were going to be closing on Saturdays. And she said that was probably never going to happen. That they just got approval for it, in case it was ever really necessary. She said, even if it did happen, it would be like a Tuesday or Wednesday, or some other day, rather than Saturday, that they wouldn't deliver. But highly unlikely to happen.

Pogo,

I agree. I don't think the folks getting the bonuses are the problem. The fellows who designed this corporate poisoning are a different story.

also, sorry if you found the notice of sullivan's & greenberg's republicanacity redundant. Btw, did I mention that greenberg was in g. Herbert w. bush's class at Yale?

Although I still will hold back fire, the list of things Obama has stumbled over is quite amazing.

1. He removed e-verify 5 year extension from stimulus bill after blasting Bush for failing to enforce worker status.

2. He promised no pork and delivered pork.

3. He bungled several pay back nominations.

4. He demanded a quick stimulus bill signing over protests from Republicans that no one had time to read the bill. Then he took a holiday vacation before signing it. Next comes AIG with our dear friend I-won't-release-my-mortgage-papers Dodd at the helm. Guess nobody had time to give Americans the details. And there are many more details to come.

5. Obama suggests vets use private insurance if they have any while his team gets ready to provide illegal aliens with health insurance.

6. Transparency? As transparent as the stimulus bill, the spending bill and several executive orders.

7. Obama made more than two million from book sales. One such book was dedicated to Wright.

8. FBI is now going after several ISM groups -so called Muslim charity groups including CAIRNS that Obama had long time associations with. Why? Because of ties to terrorism. There’s something for Holder who thinks banning guns here will curb chaos in Mexico…..lol.

7. He aid he would do some drilling but then directed Salazar to put a hold on that idea.

8. He said he would beef up border security, but told homeland security to hold off on that idea.

9. He called Afghanistan the "war we must win" and wait until you see his lower expectations on that declaration.

10. He promised that if Musharraf resigned, moderates would liberalize Pakistan and get militants. Yeah right.

11. He closed Gitmo, but still has little clue about what to do with detainees. Several former detainees are now fighting against us in terror groups.

12. He said he supported missile defense (US just broke the 100kw electron laser threshold -see Wired) but is now drawing back on Poland deployment with more cuts to come.

13. He claimed he was Israel’s best friend but hasn't said a word about Hamas weapon supplies, commented on the Mullah's dissing him or the Russians now saying Iran is close to a bomb.

14. No comment on Iran in SA, or the trend there.

15. Obama has looked awful at times trying to talk without teleprompter. He thanked himself on one occasion and tonight will make light and funny on the Today Show.

16. He almost kept in provisions to the stimulus bill that was extremely protectionist. Republicans got that stuff out.

17. He talks about supporting a Union bill that would make union voting an open public record.

18. He has based his budget on assumptions most experts call dubious.

19. He has looked totally not Reagan as Russia buzzes our ships. China does as well. Iran laughs at us. Assad plays us and Hugo calls upon Leftists to reject Obama's neoliberal attempt to save capitalism. As far as confidence, Obama called a press conference and delivered a less than sincere pitch for confidence.

20. He has thus far solved nothing except spending trillions of dollars which certainly will have some lifting effect now, but remains a dangerous debt with no certainty credit will loosen and the economy picks up.

In short, the last two months have been a blow to credibility and confidence. There is still time to change the tune, but perhaps that is more than I can hope for. The hard stuff is coming. If a Grand Bargain with Iran, Syria and others is like the stimulus bill, we are heading in the wrong direction.

Like a rolling stone..........

"It is that lack of regulation and oversight that has made this mess possible."
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212198

Jamie, I so much agree with your post.
And 'regulation and oversight' is one of the most important responsibilities the government has, imo.

Well, I wouldn't say greedy real estate agents, greedy banks, greedy sellers and buyers with little capacity to pay mortages had no role. One can attack regulators and corporate culture but where is our sense of personal responsibility? And regulators have limited powers. See SCOTUS's recent decision in the Wyeth case about federal regulators not being able to usurp some State power.

Well after ten minutes my posts don't appear. I tried, but I will have to see later if my comments were posted.

See you all later......

whskyjack:
I used to unload semi truck , mostly 53 foot standards, and we had a small load of "hot parts" coming in from a supplier...well, the dispatcher sent it on a trailer that had room , and I unloaded our small skid and as soon as I did the driver hopped into the trailer to keep anyone away from his main cargo...it was the damndest car I have ever seen---brand new, a Mercedes sedan, fully armor plated and windows "presidential thick".
The car was moving west and we all speculated as to whose it would be...a CEO? A drug lord in Mexico? A star entertainer in LA?

"And 'regulation and oversight' is one of the most important responsibilities the government has, imo."

Exactly Chloe
I think we were sold a bill of goods starting with Reagan.We were told government is the problem not the solution,well I didn't believe it then and I sure as hell don't believe it now...I don't think government should be responsible to fix all of life's problems but regulation and oversight is a must especially where money and humans are involved...Poof,HA HA you remembered....

Hey Tony.
Yes, I remember you saying: poof, then one day they're gone.
And it's the truth. That's how it seems.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212211

Ree, If all that was required to be in Wikipedia was that a blog be a real blog, we could all be in there. It isn't. The "Pedia" part of its name means factual. While the blog may be real, it's contents are not.

It also violates a major Wikipedia rule that are grounds for deletion: "pages which exist only to disparage their subject"

Now if the author cares to step out of anonymity, and present him/herself as a real human being worthy of a biography in Wiki, then his/her "creation" could be listed and linked as one of the accomplishments.

Barring that - Say bye bye to Wiki

"Jack, Now that my preferred object to chew up and spit out has left the building, I no longer find it necessary to dine on my fellow trailmixers."

Jamie
You really made me laugh with this one!! You were always nice and polite to your preferred object as you chewed him up and spit him out.I remember my first post to you expressing my amazement at your niceness to those who trashed you...Amazing...

Apologies to Maxtrue for the delay in publishing your comments. You are all set now for future commenting without review.

If any regulars have similar trouble, send an email to cqtrailmix@verizon.net

More info at http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/commenting-guide.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212219

Ya Chloe
It does seem like that.I don't remember Jason ever saying he was leaving?I do remember something about a trip as Patsi suggested to South America but never a goodbye.I liked Jason and I really looked forward to his comments in the mornings especially during the bad old Dem primary days....

LOL
Something you will never hear the Treasury spokesperson say, but maybe he should

"Mr. Geithner profusely apologizes for not devoting more attention to this matter. He clearly devoted too much time to the G-20 summit, implementing the stimulus package, preparing the 2009 budget, and other piddling matters like that. Clearly, instead, Mr. Geithner feels he should have devoted more attention to this issue, which does absolutely nothing to put the financial sector on a sounder financial footing. I mean, it's not like he's the only guy in the building or anything.

Mr Geithner thanks the media and Congress for focusing so much on this dumb-ass issue. "

http://drezner.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/03/18/what_do_aig_and_earmarks_have_in_common

Who U gonna call-------------Ghost Busters,,,and Tony Baloney :j))

Hey Solar
Are you trying to give me new idea's for business ventures??I think I better stick to the cleaning business....HA HA...I need to get movin to that Ellipitical machine but I don't want too...I spent some time at the beach earlier and the waves were crashing on shore and the gulls were singing and it was very soothing...Oh man if you could see this perticular beachouse I clean its so beautiful..I have a few but with this house it seems like the Atlantic is your own personal ocean.As you desend from the 2nd floor staircase through the windows lies the most beautiful view of the Atlantic...

Welcome home, Maxtrue !

Are we all back now, one big dysfunctional family, with the exceptions of he-who-must-not-be-named & MR. MONOTONY. Oh yeah, and the gal who always wrote ALL IN CAPS ? Or, are there still a few stray lambs out in the meadows ?

Who needs Basketball when you can fill out "The Bracket of Evil"

Have you ever wondered who would win in a face-off between Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh? Sarah Palin and Joe Lieberman? Ann Coulter and AIG?

http://www.bracketofevil.com

CBob, You need to send Michelle some blue corn seed!

White House to break ground on 'kitchen garden'
"First lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to break ground Friday on a new garden near the fountain on the South Lawn that will supply the White House kitchen."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_go_pr_wh/white_house_garden

Geithner has double talk down to a fine art. Anyone listening to Ali's interview of him on CNN?

Hi all,

I just had someone named Brian Arons become one of my followers. Could this be your unmentionable name? Just seems a little coincidental. Then again, Pauley Paranoia could be sitting behind me.

On Twitter, that is

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212232

Cosmo
That's him....

Guess I drew the short straw.

Pogo's lying Cosmo -- he's known as the barefoot lawyer of WV....:)

Patsi
He almost had me fooled

Let's see:

From WV, AND a lawyer......., Strike 2

Craig... and CQ --- A+ for the day.. Facts, Simply the facts.
Forgot to add that earlier...

For the first time in months I agreed with Keith Olbermann's Special Comment. Of course, it got believability from being in total agreement with everything I've been yowling about here for months. :-)

"Bust The Trusts"

If you missed it, it's usually up on his signt the next day.

Is this Brian Arons of the Wellington, NZ fire police, or Brian Arons, high school senior of the North Sachem Boys (Flaming Arrows) Lacrosse Team, or Brian Merrill Arons of Kappa Theta, Cal. St. Chico, '04 ?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212237

Brian has five followers. I feel bad for him. I only have 38 and want more. If anyone wants me I'm at

https://twitter.com/jessied44

Whatever you think of him, it's not fair to get on Brian's case if he's not able to defend himself here.

Laird, you are quite right.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212178

I see a small problem with that house bill. Weren't most of the "bonuses" paid in December? If that's true, then they passed a bill that has absolutely no effect on what it purports to punish.

It's Arens not Arons

OK, OK.
It's him. Take it easy xrep, breathe into a paper bag. Your getting to hyped up.

It is Arens. He has now sent me 4 direct msgs on Twitter telling me all about your families heritages.,

He has also sent me the link to this new blog. Not a bad looking site. Their subject today was on diabetic health costs, which happens to be near & dear to me, but I felt like I was cheating on all of you and that was that.

There's a blurry pix of him there. I am now totally insulted that you thought I was he. There's sufficient forehead space there to reflect enough sun to light up Pittsburgh.

He must have been reveling in the last couple of days tete a tete.

Cosmo,
I'm just peeking in for a minute. But I have to say, it is so sweet that you felt like you were cheating. You are so funny, and it is so nice to have you here.
Nite.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212164

Patsi, Look up above. Greeley stole it in the first place, said it in a speech and then used it in the editorial. Ever since it has been attributed to him.

Cosmo

There used to be very interesting articles there. I still run by every once in a while to see if there is anything of interest. I always look for Horsedooty as an author as those are always some of the most interesting.

Jamie,

A thousand thanks for the Bracket of Evil link. I can hardly wait to find out who the winner is.

Jamie,

Thanks for the tip.

Xrep,

Feeling better?

Cosmo
No need to feel guilty, I usually go over there once a week and check out their posts. Like Jamie I always read Horse dooty's posts and Sheila's. Don't bother reading the comments much

Jack

Cosmo can you give me the link to Back Channel? It is no longer in the blog links here.

that should read "I don't bother reading the comments"

You may do as you wish.

Jack

Arens not Arons. That explains why I didn't find an essentially adult (for taxonomical purposes) Brian Arons who lives with his mother in Brooklyn, and spends 20 hours a day writing insulting 1 liners and worshipfully defending walmart and red China.

I hope this explains how people mistook you for him, Mr. de Critic.

Anyway, Brian may not put out fires in Wellington, but at least he lights up Pittsburgh.

CT just google "back channel blog" it works for me

de Critic,

Still waiting for your explanation.

Here 'ya go.

http://clistersbackchannel.wordpress.com/

BA's self authored bio

* Middle aged curmudgeonly queer living in New York City
* Angry liberal smart ass
* Great cook
* IT Geek
* A pretty good date if I’m into you
* Pot Head
* Chain Smoker
* Proud owner of Tucker (ok he really owns me)
* Keeper of Ralphie (seriously the dog is nuts, I think his mother was a crack whore)

Ralphie

xrep,

I missed something. What explanation?

Most blogging is dull boring and repetitious, but once in a rare while you come across a beautiful piece of prose
This is a local blogger posting about the deaths of two young boys in a recent break in and shooting. two innocents caught up in something their aunt and her boy friend were doing.

I enjoyed the piece I hope you will too.

http://midtownmiscreant.blogspot.com/2009/03/there-will-be-no-justice-as-long-as-man.html

Are you cosmodecritic on twitter or something else

Jamie,
I found this odd bit on your site,
"Why haven't Republican males figured out that greasy hair parted on one side is creepy? Bless their pasty white,.. "

It seems to me that rove, cheney, muckcain, Hollywood Fred, and Mr. red dress all part their hair down the middle.

The explanation for your rudeness yesterday.

You wrote that you only act like that when you are attacked. I never attacked you. So, what happened ?

KGC

Exactly the same as here. COSMOdeCRITIC.

http://twitter.com/COSMOdeCRITIC

KGC

I really don't twitter all that much unless I'm replying to Karl Rove or McCain or Jindal. Usually, I'm telling them that their parents weren't married when they were born, etc.

Posted by: COSMOdeCRITIC Author Profile Page | March 19, 2009 10:17 PM

Finally a good use for twitter

So far, it's been a super day for the NCAA tourney, formerly known as the UCLA Invitational.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/03/the-buck-explodes.html#comment-212270

The leaders seem to have good barbers. Maybe it is only the ones who have to go to the fundies for money.

I often wondered if that greasy brown thing that perched aboard trent lott's head was a wig, or a familiar. Do you suppose lott is bald, but wears a wet muskrat to attract funders ?

Sir,

You do muskrats a great injustice, How dare you?

The President seems to be getting a lot of heat for his snotty remarks about his 129 bowling score and the Special Olympics..Perhaps a telephone apology to the Kennedys might be appropriate.

Time to grow up Mr. President!!!

God forbid that the Prez ever belches aloud. Some Fox, so called, news person will try to figure out if it was code for something. ENOUGH!

Mr. de Critic,

It's not the poor muskrat's fault, sir. The unfortunate beast was killed by Vice Usurper Cheney, who was aiming at his best best friend. In short, it is a defunct muskrat.

Xrep

Defunct...., Defunct!! There you go with those funny words again.
That's a helluva thing to call a muskrat. Good eatin', maybe, but defunct!?? I think not!

At 129, some of the Special Olympics kids could probably bowl circles around him. Still I'm with Cosmo on this one. This nit picky microscopic autopsy of every darn thing he says is going to get awfully old over at least the next four years.

At some point everyone sticks their foot in their mouth or unintentionally says something that hurts another's feelings. Apologize and move on.

"Patsi, Look up above. Greeley stole it in the first place, said it in a speech and then used it in the editorial. Ever since it has been attributed to him."

I'm aware of the history of the quote....just don't know how it got to be an issue here. Footnotes not required for widely used phrases.....

Good night all. Be kind to each other.

Patsi,

It wasn't a criticism of you. I was just pointing out that the bit about the attribution had been previously mentioned.

Hey, Xrep,

What's the matter? Muskrat got your tongue?

We cast off for a dream-lit strand, where the fish bite on bare hooks, and the trees bear vintage bottles.

A fresh breeze fills the sheets (no rude remarks, please) Our trusty bed cleaving the waves, now heels. The hull lifts to plane the wavetops, scattering rainbow shavings intos.Iridescent Dorado leap and dive beside us. Afore, the bright tomorrow rises green and green.

Farewell, ye lubbers. Don't wet those beds.

Nope.

I have never experienced a desire to chew rodents; thanks for asking.

Lips that touch muskrat shall never touch mine.

G'night. Good luck in the NCAA.

Xrep,

I don't know where, but there was something dirty in all that.

Can't be I just took it outa the laundry.

G'night.

XR - as usual, I agree with you. Lott's hair is one of the goofiest sights that has come out of DC. I always wonder why some people think they look great when they don't - and then I wonder how many people are thinking that very same thing about me - HA!

That still doesn't explain Lott's hair.

I'm bemused by the orgasmic, rapturous comments re the internet - good lord above! I don't get a paper but I still think they have a lot to offer, and all tv news has good points.

The biggest problem the net has is the user-unfriendliness, the long list of problems with computers that exist. Computer people have NO interest in making it easier to deal with this thing. Look at all the things we've all commented on and asked for help in doing. There is a fortune to be made out there right now if only anyone could make these machines more reliable and user friendly.