What are you doing home? It's Haloween; and if you dress up like XR (you call him Xgop) you really clean up,when you go door to door...but don't bite anyone HA.!
also not a good time to go as an elephant.
either they'll take you as the rabid killer above or as a certain unnamed ex-vpotus... on second tho't, may be that's the same thing
Jeez, krauthammer and all his flakey extremist pals griped about Jimmy Carter nonstop from 1976 until 1992 - 16 years. Then they griped about Bill Clinton in 1993 & 1994 - when they took a brief break to gripe about FDR* - before getting back to Clinton basking for 16 years. That's a total of 32 years of blaming 2 Democrats for not much in particular. Molehills.
However, now there are mountains of catastrophes that began in the late summer of 2006, when babybush was at the Crawford "Ranch". The least chuckles krauthammer could do, if he were a gentleman, is extend to President Obama the tiny courtesy of allowing him to blame babybush for 4 years. That is, krauthammer were a gentleman. Fat chance.
* The pitch was that republicans would ditch FDR's welfare system. Actually, they ditched the welfare system of satanic republican president dick nixon (a man who with republican party approval got 30,000 Americans killed just so he wouldn't look like a loser. Then he accused Dems of losing the war by de-funding it.) You see, republicans always have to blame catastrophes of their making on the Dems.
Gosh, I didn't get my first Woo Hoo until I was over 62.
The other day, my question about Me109 and Me262 was a joke having to do with 2 very good airplanes back in the days of World War II.
The other jokes about 168 were 1. a code for the 1st day of June, 1998, which could fit as birthdate for someone your age, and 2. June 17th - the 168th day of any non-leap year - which might also be the birthdate of someone who is 11.
This afternoon, I've been hassling maxtrue as usual. I'll let you take that over, if you wish, but Sweetie wants me to go for a walk with her, and at my age, I might never get another chance.
Abdullah now is thinking about sitting the re-run out. As I said in the last thread, Obama wanted a coalition solution and he appears far less in control of "elections" in Afghanistan than Bush was in Iraq.
I suspect X, you didn't see my last thread's news items. Let's see you take on Murtha, the CBO, the DOD, "real" job numbers, the "real" Ahmadinejad response, etc. etc.
As I said in the last thread. Slate, NYT, Wapo, etc.etc. are hardly Right Wing Republican sources.
Craig, I see the House is bringing up Press Rights again. See todays front page of the NYT. Nice to know the corportate media sources are protected though hasn't Obama launched his minions after those "leaks" coming from within his own Press? I wonder what Helen thinks of Obama's war with Fox. Perhaps he has been out-foxed?
The "media" is beginning to look into the many stories the Democrats would prefer they not investigate. Hell, even LIberal media can't hold the stories back for so long like who was behind the Goldstone Report, the nature of claims against Murtha and House friends and even the reason the judge wants Kerik back in jail without bond. Could it be about Rudy? Gees....if these were Republican issues we all know how this would spin out.
Glad I could be f service X. Consider me your mental trainer like in the Biggest Loser. Come on now, work that cortex.....make it sweat. No pain no distain.......
I hope I get some trick or treaters tonight. I live in a condominium complex and virtually everyone turns out their lights, afraid they are going to be murdered.
I'll go prop open the walk in gate and it will be closed within five minutes.
I haven't had a single treater in several years.
Does anyone remember when Halloween was for children?
After living on military installations for years with the hundreds of children visiting every Halloween, we were really disappointed when we moved to our condo in Florida. Not a single kid in the 14-years we lived there.
Up here in SC it's better, but still not the same as in the military. We'll have maybe 30-kids tonight; I'll treat them to boxes of Cracker Jack--they love them.
Speaking of Cracker Jack, I hope the Phillies enjoy theirs tonight!
btw, anyone who wants a signed book plate to paste in your copy, please email your snail mail if you haven't already. we're going to try to get this done next week.
"What I am, as a minority is very, very disappointed in the missed opportunity to start getting this county in the right direction. I know that he would break most of his promises..but the few big ones that he should have kept..would have helped to heal this country...we are still a very intolerant ignorant country as a whole.....A new direction is needed, so we can get the right people in office...the ones that have the all of the power now, are the ones we keep electing...cos they are not the other one; the other party...so we are still very tribal........and have not progressed very much, other than in technology...just MO." http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/i-hear-them-all-2.html#comment-268901
Solar, A very nice post and a very honest answer. Thank you.
"the reason the judge wants Kerik back in jail without bond. Could it be about Rudy? Gees....if these were Republican issues we all know how this would spin out."
"Morning Joe Crew Thinks This Week Has "Been a Mess" for Democrats on Health Care Reform"
"I'll gladly reserve judgement as I would expect everyone will as well on whether we should be clamoring for that or not after we see what makes it to the floor for a final vote. If they go back to either opt-in or Snowe's trigger I don't see how that's a step towards reforming the current system. The other compromises are bad enough already away from single-payer, which is what we should have."
"Remembering back during the primaries and how visceral it got between Edwards and Clinton, I also remember how down and dirty Edwards got using Mudcat Saunders’ strategy coupled with invoking Jesse Helms. Right then and there I knew what Edwards was willing to do to win or keep himself inside the presidential ring.
5) Edwards is as craven as you think:
Sometime after the South Carolina debate Plouffe got a call from a senior Edwards Advisor who said Edwards was willing to announce the end of his campaign and join forces with Obama to defeat Clinton. When Plouffe asked if he could raise this with Obama the Edwards advisor said, “Yes.…Just to be clear we’re going to talk to the Clinton people too. That’s not where John’s heart is, but he is at the point of maximum leverage now.”
“Obama’s answer,” Plouffe writes, “was quick and firm: he would cut no deals.”"
It is 7:07 p.m. here..still no trick or treaters..A friend told me today that she knows when she is serious about her diet on Halloween..she buys Mounds Bars. When she is not serious about her diet, she buys snickers.
Shut off the lights about 9pm we had around 30 tonight. Quite a few more than we have been having.
I think maybe some of the work I'm doing in the neighborhood is paying off.
All of them were 10 yr old or younger and in costume.
The older kids seemed to have something better to do on a Saturday night.
we had been having very few trickortreaters the last few years and many of them never dressed up.
1. Abdullah's playing coy because Karzai wants to have the same Karzai controled phoney ballot boxes that he 'won' with in the first election. he wouldn't be part of a coalition because he knows that he won that 1st election, if you don't count the stuffed boxes. This isn't rocket science, all you have to do is read Abdullah's statements on these topics.
2. You haven't a clue as to what the President wants, so stop pretending that you can read his mind.
3. I read the links and am impressed with your inability to discriminate between conjecture, hope, extrapolation, and rumors on the one hand and actual facts and actual events on the other.
4. If you ever get a get a real lead on a real ethics violation by Representative Murtha, be sure and let us know. Until then, tell it to the Marines.
5. Sorry, picking your republican bull should apart is not an intellectual exercise.
I almost stole a 5 year old...I think it is the same 5 year old that I tried to steal or buy last year...I won't want him next year..he will be 15 HA.!
8:00 p.m..still no kids..At nine the candy goes in the dumpster. Last year I put it by the mailboxes, but out of 40 condo units, only three have their porch lights on so let them starve.
Sorry that I wrote, "Tell it to the Marines". In the highly unlikely event that anyone finds anything to pin on Rep, and fellow Marine Murtha, I expect thast he'll now nag you about it.
Between you & me, Murtha may earmark a lot, but it's never about crap like support for :
failed puppet dictators, roads to nowhere, the Yellow Cake Defense Fund, bridges to nowhere, fairy tale WMDs, the g.w.babybush Mission Accomplished Celebration, the paul bremer Mission Accomplished Celebration, the george tenet Mission Accomplished Celebration, the alberto gonzales Waterboard Park Fund, ken lay's Defense Fund, prettyboy skilling, bernie ebbers Defense Fund, the Wall Street Bankers' Bonus Defense Fund, the Global Warming is Wrong Committee, randy cunningham Defense Fund, the larry craig memorial mensroom, the Achmed Chelabi Cheerleaders for Victory Committee, The Wall Street Mortgage Bundlers' Defense Fund, the ted stevens Home Away from Home in Alaska, rumdumb's Mission Acconmplished Celebration, The Evolution is Wrong Committee, the mark foley memorial cloakroom, the dink cheney Drunk Shooter Defense Fund, the g.w.babybush midnight chats with Jesus Foundation, the Mortgage Bankers' Defense Fund, or the jack abramov & ralph reed Indian Reservation Scam Defense fund.
If he mistakes you for the Marine to tellit to, I owe you a republican shamburger with FREEDOM FRIES, but w/o terrorist pretzels and definitely no YELLOWCAKE.
Thanks for pointing out the link. Looking at the comments on the article, I am amazed. Friedman didn't say that Iraq was important in a vacuum. Friedman has said since 2003 that Iraq will remain crucial until we are no longer net importers of oil.
I think he is wrong about the order of things. By that I mean that we won't cease to be net importers of oil until we decide that we hate doing business with Iraq - and by extension, all the other fascist pumper states, including russia, Venezuela, saudi arabia, the Persian Gulf states, Texas, Alaska, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
Without adamantine resolve to get beyond the obsolete, republican, 19th century, power technology that chains us down, and go where no nation has gone before, we will continue to be oil junkie weaklings, waiting for some kind Arab or russian to sell us a fix, and fecklessly hoping that it won't cost too dam' much. All the whizbang weaponry in the world, and all the zillions of bucks in tribute of dollars and weaponry that we shovel at saudi arabia, libya, and the persian gulf states, won't help the US a bit, if we can't shake this obsoltete, 19th century, republican, oil monkey off our backs.
happy nov oneth! just two more months of the oughty aughts... what a wasted decade politically-wise. all that which we ought to have done and all that which we nought have done.
solar, is it proper to say "happy day of the dead"? what's the correct greeting on this day? whatever, have a good one.
"The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls' Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts."
deja vous , all over again. Can disco be far behind?
"Maoist Rebels Widen Deadly Reach Across India"
"India’s Maoist rebels are now present in 20 states and have evolved into a potent and lethal insurgency."
.........
"“The root of this is dispossession and deprivation,” said Ramachandra Guha, a prominent historian based in Bangalore. “The Maoists are an ugly manifestation of this. This is a serious problem that is not going to disappear.”
India’s rapid economic growth has made it an emerging global power but also deepened stark inequalities in society."
"The battle for upstate New York confirms just how swiftly the right has devolved into a wacky, paranoid cult that is as eager to eat its own as it is to destroy Obama. The movement’s undisputed leaders, Palin and Beck, neither of whom has what Palin once called the “actual responsibilities” of public office, would gladly see the Republican Party die on the cross of right-wing ideological purity. Over the short term, at least, their wish could come true."
The kids last night were universally polite saying thank you and acting nice. All except three were costumed.
I enjoy Hallowe'en. It's a shame that parents can't take the time to help their children enjoy this single night during a period in which there are so many things burdening families.
"More and more lately, I find people asking me: What do you think President Obama really believes about this or that issue? I find that odd. How is it that a president who has taken on so many big issues, with very specific policies — and has even been awarded a Nobel Prize for all the hopes he has kindled — still has so many people asking what he really believes?
I don’t think that President Obama has a communications problem, per se. He has given many speeches and interviews broadly explaining his policies and justifying their necessity. Rather, he has a “narrative” problem."
"After all the fuss, public health plan covers few"
" To be fair, most people would not have access to the new public plan. Under the House bill, it would be offered through new insurance exchanges open only to those who buy coverage on their own or work for small companies. Yet even within that pool of 30 million people, only 1-in-5 would take the public option.
Who's likely to sign up?
The budget office said "a less healthy pool of enrollees" would probably be attracted to the public option, drawn by the prospect of looser rules on access to specialists and medical services.
As a result, premiums in the public plan would be higher than the average for private plans. That could nudge healthy middle-class workers and their families to sign up for private plans.
"The concern was that the public option would destabilize the bulk of private insurance, but in fact what Congress has fashioned is very targeted," said economist Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund. "It's not going to be taking away the insurance industry's core business."
In that he can't put his governing into simple 10 word bites for the use of simplistic media?
The Republicans are great at that , then lousy at governing.
"Sarah Palin stood up and out and boldly backed Hoffman long before it was clear it was a very good idea. Tim Pawlenty was there, but Sarah was first among people who matter. (Mr. tea party organizer, Dick Armey, does not).
What does it mean?
Expect more of it from the far right, with moderate Republicans further on the outs than ever. But that’s not what should worry Democrats.
Looking at 2010 it means that our opponents will be emotionally engaged, attached to outcome, and inspired to support more tea party activist types at all costs. They aren’t calculating who can win as much as they are the type of person they want in office who they’re willing to back to make a statement, even if the person loses.
The most committed wins. In off year elections that goes double. If the health care bill looks as bad as the CBO’s latest reviews are saying, with premiums being higher, it’s going to add even more fodder, because people on the left will disengage. Add wingnut radio, which is the best GOTV engine in American politics, and you’ve got a political adrenaline pumped right into the voting disgruntled. Because conservatives won’t just be voting against all things Obama; they will be voting for tea party candidates that talk their language, no matter how alien it is to independents and others looking to register their complaints next year."
"If the health care bill looks as bad as the CBO’s latest reviews are saying, with premiums being higher"
Good Morning All,
This stood out!! How can this be?? I thought the whole point of Healthcare reform was to cover all people and reduce costs,SILLY ME..
I think he has a core vision, It is just one that can't be translated into simplistic Reaganist bites.
I think he is very much a realist and operates in the realm of the possible. Maybe too much so.
And no I don't think we are going to get some Kennedy type grand vision for the future.
But remember, bush had grand visions for the future and look where it got us. I just hope for competence.
Flatus,
When I read this piece, I said the same thing to myself,what does the President believe in really? I think he wants to be a trans-formative President,just like he wants a healthcare bill,but refuses to take political risk to make anything of real value happen...
It's nice to know that they still have enough readers doing the crossword puzzle that such a correction was necessary.
One of the things I noticed while in Scotland were the number of people obviously engrossed alone or in groups in figuring out that day's puzzle. British crosswords are different and a real bear to do unless you are well read, like puns, and have a huge vocabulary. I'm seeing a trend with more of that type of clue in American puzzle mags so we may be getting down to an intensely literate minority.
If I were to make an agreement with human beings on what a just society owes its citizens, it would be fairly straightforward.
Your mother will receive decent prenatal care to get you here as safe and whole as possible. If you arrive severely affected in some way, you will be decently cared for until you pop off.
If you arrive somewhere near average or better, you will be fed, tended to, and educated to the full extent of your abilities until such time as you can become a productive member of society including decent healthcare so that you can continue to be a productive member of society for the next 30 to 50 years.
At this point, I get very libertarian - If you make dumb choices, for the most part you get to reap the consequences of those choices until such time as you stop making them. If people are well educated up front and raised in a reasonably secure environment, we won't have as many in jail. Those who choose to OD or take risks with their lives, get a nicely dug hole.
For events outside your control (massive economic downturns and acts of nature), food and a safe place until such time as the outside events can be repaired
When you are aged and/or dying, you will be supported by contributions you have made to your eventual old age and we will see that you are ushered out with a minimal amount of anguish.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of societal problems that need to be cleaned up to make the above more than pie in the sky (i.e. slums, crime, bad parenting, etc.) but they are a matter of investment in the population.
The only really large hang-up that I have with a libertarian society is that when someone sins against individuals in the society, then I suspect there will be some sort of grand arbiter who will mete out summary justice; that way, the libertarian masses need not soil their hands. The potential for abuse is frightening.
Thanks for remembering "El Dia De Los Muertos" Yes it all proper. As you know all things evolve: It is not "el Dia De Los Zombies" I'll make a post a little later on how. yet another day of Pagan festivities was stolen by the Catholic Church...but it is my favorite day to celebrate, only the dead truly know how to have a fun time....Awuuuuuuu......oops have to take of my fangs now...tug, pull, pull, and tug......oh noooooo Countsolar will not go away...Awuuuuu.
Hey Jack,,,The Sunday morning show was one of the best today....they discussed the relation of magic, and the brain..the magicians are working together with neurologists to study how magic will help autism , and more... along with this they had a great segment about Magic (that word again-synchronicity for sure) Johnson, and Larry Bird...just a great show....
Ha.!! Ivy, now there is something to look forward to.....Death after Life.....the evolving Zombies...Don 1, XR, and myself would make a fine ones.....no make up needed.! Tony the Baloney too....we don't discriminate we have happy-but gay Zombies....but they sure walk funny, ahaha
solar, found a link that says it was aztec. do you know anything about azcentral? are they reliable? did the maya or inca have similar rituals? here's an excerpt from the link's history notes. also has pictures and explanations of certain symbols.
"Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake.
"The pre-Hispanic people honored duality as being dynamic," said Christina Gonzalez, senior lecturer on Hispanic issues at Arizona State University. "They didn't separate death from pain, wealth from poverty like they did in Western cultures."
However, the Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan.
In their attempts to convert them to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual.
But like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die.
To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today.
Previously it fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for the entire month."
"I got a woo hoo the other day, but couldn't remember what to do with it."
don1 and ivy, re your leftover woohoo and trailmix, jack suggested the nearest food pantry might make good use of them. altho' how they'll divvy up one woo hoo and spread it around equitably will be a challenge.
The Azted Solar Calender: Is part of why I chose my nick of SolarCrete; and yes Im familiar with azcentral..I do like them and find them very informative..and reliable on the whole...when they give the history of what they are talking about...sometimes the opinions are very subjective to the point of "huh what did he say" but I don't go there that often..have to remember it more tho..they have a diff.
look on the wars often also...thank for reminding me of them.....take the garlic off and let me nibble a little....Awuuuu...I love Holoween....Flatus is right...let the kids be kids...we had a lot of them yesterday...not too much left over.....I hid some of my favorites...from the left overs.
I part with Libertarians in that I think any society has to have some agreed upon rules and standards. In order for that to exist, then some percentage of what everyone earns needs to go to the "commonwealth" in order to keep that society functional.
Police, Fire, Education, and Health, and operational infrastructure benefit the whole of society and as such should be contributed to in some fashion by everyone. The most capable and talented owe more than others for the simple reason that they benefit the most from that commonwealth.
(Solar this is why I oppose the flat tax schemes and why I think inheritance taxes should be pretty heavy after a large enough deduction to cover homes, small business, and family farms with high cost amortized equipment).
We need to make it possible for people to start out as fairly equipped as possible to care for themselves. One of my favorite millionaires told me that he sired his children, Gave them a good university education, a nice paid for house and started them in the career of their choice. Now after making provision for his wife he was busy giving away and spending everything else with an object of being totally broke by the time he died. :-)
PS....One of the main reasons that the Spaniards were so brutal with the Latin American Indian: Was that they believed that they had no souls....thats all the excuse any religion needs, and the excuse for abusing all others....sorry, I couldn't let Sunday go by without Father Solar s sermon....by the way, thats the main reason for what happened to all Indians.....or so it was written up by the News-Papers...but it was all about Greed...nothing really changes....
"I part with Libertarians in that I think any society has to have some agreed upon rules and standards. In order for that to exist, then some percentage of what everyone earns needs to go to the "commonwealth" in order to keep that society functional.
Police, Fire, Education, and Health, and operational infrastructure benefit the whole of society and as such should be contributed to in some fashion by everyone. The most capable and talented owe more than others for the simple reason that they benefit the most from that commonwealth."
Thanks for making my point...I said that these things should be a part of consideration for a Flat, income, and a Flat sales tax.. also with some kind of voucher or any other thing that will be used by those that can't work
Every thing that you mentioned above, is/are being abused now by the state, and city governments to our disadvantage: Here is Il, and Indiana, we are paying 80 cents for the tolls that let us get from here to there in a hurry, they rasied it from 10 cents, to 15 cents 20 cents...it has been small incrementals....from 40 cents to 80 cents....we are paying triple taxes in order to get to work, so they can take taxes so we can pay for insfrastructure......this example you can do for all that you mentioned.....
With a flat sales tax....we could keep track of where its all being spent a lot easier...and less Government-Corporation partnerships...look at you're phone bill, you're light bill,,etc, etc. and don't forget my favorite Vampires.....the Irs won't be in office......they won't exist...no need, and all this could be a start to finance campaign reform....that is really the beginning of the problem in every campaign that is run in the country...from dog catcher to potus.....100 mil to run for dog catcher is out of reach for the average person, 1 bil that is needed for potus..where U going to get that......the corps can help....you wash my hands...and I will wash yours...the partnership can't be broken, until we do somethings different...and all examples that you can come up with...that you don't like...won't change anything about this....so the same ole, same ole will be good enough for any one that doesn't want to change.....all of the talk about what is best for the country...is just which way they two party's want to take turns abusing the existing tax requirements that they both put into place though out time. One of these day's I will write out all of the advantages of this...and we can compare with what we have now..one by one, a positive; and a negative list; can't go wrong that way no?....just saying...... will be a lot of accountants, and a lot of lawyers looking for something else to do...I can live with that.....it will take just one paragraph to do you taxes...
I believe in the graduated tax. I honestly believe that those with the highest incomes should be paying in the neighborhood of 60%, with those at the lowest income paying nothing and graduated levels between those extremes with no deductions. None, nada, zip, zero, zilch. Beyond that single deduction, you get to keep everything else and spend it anyway that makes you happy while knowing that your schooling and healthcare are already covered and the streets on which you drive are safe.
You could still have your postcard: Income from all sources (including overseas earnings brought into the country) x$, taxes x% send check. The big trick would be identifying all the income as weasels are very good at weaseling.
How that money is divied up between Feds, States, County and City open to negotiation.
The problem with a "sales" tax is that the wealthy spend a much smaller percentage of their income on disposable expenses plus being able to buy in bulk or at special opportunity at much cheaper prices. Once the house, car, insurance, and food have been bought, it just sort of sits there making more and more money.
Even if you tax every single service, stock purchase,etc. an awful lot of accumulation would be going on totally untaxed unless you consider dying a form of "sale" and tax everything passed to the next generation.
Progressive taxes is what is wrong with the way that government does business..where does it all go?
Of course the very rich should pay more...the poor very little..but the middle shouldn't have to pay it all: As it is the middle class pays for all of the governments needs.....why does a Rich Billionaire pay less taxes than his 40-60k secretary pay....you call that fair...and the loop holes will always exist...didn't you see what Obama did with ending the benefits for the wealthy...he shut the front door and let them in the side door...all they did was to raise their salary, the same amount that they would have received any way......I don't want our taxes to end up like that......
Let the very wealthy pay more of a flat tax..I don't care...and about the infrastructure...it is falling apart, with this type of taxes...all they do is redirect it all...same for anything else....everything is going for the wars...and we don't have any for the things that you say we have to have......less money for schools now..less money for any programs that benifit the ones that need them..and more and more cuts to the sciences, under the existing tax system, why is this happeniing...yep the tax loop holes that exist..but that not all...where is the ss $ and all of the rest.....where is the 2 trillion that the defense dept lost...sure in time we can replace it all with out combined proggresive taxes that look good on paper..but not in reality...
Why is there an unemployment tax...the small corps that pay for the benefits pay for them...and then you progressive tax code..get the employee to pay for it again...Ok the flat tax needs some tweaking....lot better than system that continues to rape us..I hope that I saved a list of taxes that both parties have passed ..to get us to this point....both of them did this together.!!!
That the only thing that I have liked about Steve Forbes...he wanted the tax system fixed....
I think it was Will Rogers who said,
"The difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is that the Democrats want to take money from the middle class and give it to poor people, while the Republicans want to take it and give it to rich ones."
On Tuesday there will be a couple of elections for Governor...on Wed. all that will be talked about; is how one party or the other won, and how they need to make adjustments to win more...and how the other party needs to make adjustment to get back in the game..and start winning again...there will be not talk of how to help the middle class...or any class...just what they need to do to win again......
Question. Does any one of the two party's really lose? I don't think that they do...it's just a period of time that the pendulum swing back to the other side....until this happens..they won't make as much money as the ones up to bat...but thier time will come up to bat,,,sooner or later......its just a game....no?...and the party loyalist are the sports spectators.....they know the era's, the home runs. and the errors of both teams..just a sport is all. I don't go to sports games...I could care less who wins the world series, I could care less....if it is all a sham...sure there are some exiting moments in the game...but its just between the ones playing...they are the winners...we are the losers...
Any thing change?.....What has Obama changed...other than the words-words that matter....to get elected.!! ok going to find that list of taxes, that they passed for the last 100 years...together.!
"Our personal taxes are easy. It is my business taxes that get complicated.
A flat tax doesn't solve any of the business tax complication.
if you want it simple treat all income the same, subject to the same taxes and keep the progressive tax Jamie wants"
Makes sense to me; and I agree with it...and can go from there...so its is a flat tax...is you treat all income the same...i like it.....I used to do my own bu sines taxes up until around 92 or so...I wouldn't know where to start now.....
Im not saying that the intent of the progressive tax is wrong..im saying how they are not traceable to where it is going...b/c it is all confusing. I read once. where all or most colleges have one or more buildings as large as libray;s ...no books in them for the students: just books for the lawyers that have to have the space for the laws that they need for the college.....I picture our tax laws in the same way...not for us..but for the corps to keep it all straight...for themselves....but all in all I agree with what you said thanks......candy for breakfast hus..been hanging around those Mexihillbilies again?
![[RSS]](http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/templates/images/rss_icon.gif){kind=icon}
![[ARCHIVES]](http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/templates/images/archives_icon.png){kind=icon}
Comments
WOO HOO!!!!!
Posted by: me168
| October 31, 2009 1:20 PM
big round of applause for me168 on his maiden "woo hoo" and thanks for letting us know about the new thread.
Posted by: patd
| October 31, 2009 1:36 PM
"Italian police have captured one of the country's most wanted mafia fugitives during a raid on a chicken farm near the southern city of Naples."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8335742.stm
well, that explains the dead chicken head on the bedspread.
Posted by: patd
| October 31, 2009 2:05 PM
Hey kid,
What are you doing home? It's Haloween; and if you dress up like XR (you call him Xgop) you really clean up,when you go door to door...but don't bite anyone HA.!
Posted by: SolarCrete
| October 31, 2009 2:07 PM
"Charging elephant kills BBC guide"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8335045.stm
also not a good time to go as an elephant.
either they'll take you as the rabid killer above or as a certain unnamed ex-vpotus... on second tho't, may be that's the same thing
Posted by: patd
| October 31, 2009 2:14 PM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268914
And it also explains why folks born in Palermo should stay in Palermo.
Posted by: Flatus
| October 31, 2009 2:39 PM
Jeez, krauthammer and all his flakey extremist pals griped about Jimmy Carter nonstop from 1976 until 1992 - 16 years. Then they griped about Bill Clinton in 1993 & 1994 - when they took a brief break to gripe about FDR* - before getting back to Clinton basking for 16 years. That's a total of 32 years of blaming 2 Democrats for not much in particular. Molehills.
However, now there are mountains of catastrophes that began in the late summer of 2006, when babybush was at the Crawford "Ranch". The least chuckles krauthammer could do, if he were a gentleman, is extend to President Obama the tiny courtesy of allowing him to blame babybush for 4 years. That is, krauthammer were a gentleman. Fat chance.
* The pitch was that republicans would ditch FDR's welfare system. Actually, they ditched the welfare system of satanic republican president dick nixon (a man who with republican party approval got 30,000 Americans killed just so he wouldn't look like a loser. Then he accused Dems of losing the war by de-funding it.) You see, republicans always have to blame catastrophes of their making on the Dems.
Posted by: xrepublican
| October 31, 2009 2:48 PM
roger ailes trampled as BBC guide to death ???
Posted by: xrepublican
| October 31, 2009 2:50 PM
I'd have said 'pink elephant', but that I'm saving thaqt for dink cheney.
Posted by: xrepublican
| October 31, 2009 2:51 PM
Hi Mr.168,
Gosh, I didn't get my first Woo Hoo until I was over 62.
The other day, my question about Me109 and Me262 was a joke having to do with 2 very good airplanes back in the days of World War II.
The other jokes about 168 were 1. a code for the 1st day of June, 1998, which could fit as birthdate for someone your age, and 2. June 17th - the 168th day of any non-leap year - which might also be the birthdate of someone who is 11.
This afternoon, I've been hassling maxtrue as usual. I'll let you take that over, if you wish, but Sweetie wants me to go for a walk with her, and at my age, I might never get another chance.
'bye 4 now.
Posted by: xrepublican
| October 31, 2009 2:52 PM
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/005085.html
Abdullah now is thinking about sitting the re-run out. As I said in the last thread, Obama wanted a coalition solution and he appears far less in control of "elections" in Afghanistan than Bush was in Iraq.
I suspect X, you didn't see my last thread's news items. Let's see you take on Murtha, the CBO, the DOD, "real" job numbers, the "real" Ahmadinejad response, etc. etc.
As I said in the last thread. Slate, NYT, Wapo, etc.etc. are hardly Right Wing Republican sources.
Craig, I see the House is bringing up Press Rights again. See todays front page of the NYT. Nice to know the corportate media sources are protected though hasn't Obama launched his minions after those "leaks" coming from within his own Press? I wonder what Helen thinks of Obama's war with Fox. Perhaps he has been out-foxed?
The "media" is beginning to look into the many stories the Democrats would prefer they not investigate. Hell, even LIberal media can't hold the stories back for so long like who was behind the Goldstone Report, the nature of claims against Murtha and House friends and even the reason the judge wants Kerik back in jail without bond. Could it be about Rudy? Gees....if these were Republican issues we all know how this would spin out.
Posted by: maxtrue
| October 31, 2009 3:00 PM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268921
Glad I could be f service X. Consider me your mental trainer like in the Biggest Loser. Come on now, work that cortex.....make it sweat. No pain no distain.......
Thata boy....
Posted by: maxtrue
| October 31, 2009 3:02 PM
I hope I get some trick or treaters tonight. I live in a condominium complex and virtually everyone turns out their lights, afraid they are going to be murdered.
I'll go prop open the walk in gate and it will be closed within five minutes.
I haven't had a single treater in several years.
Does anyone remember when Halloween was for children?
Posted by: Oregon Democrat
| October 31, 2009 3:47 PM
OD,
After living on military installations for years with the hundreds of children visiting every Halloween, we were really disappointed when we moved to our condo in Florida. Not a single kid in the 14-years we lived there.
Up here in SC it's better, but still not the same as in the military. We'll have maybe 30-kids tonight; I'll treat them to boxes of Cracker Jack--they love them.
Speaking of Cracker Jack, I hope the Phillies enjoy theirs tonight!
Posted by: Flatus
| October 31, 2009 4:22 PM
btw, anyone who wants a signed book plate to paste in your copy, please email your snail mail if you haven't already. we're going to try to get this done next week.
cqtrailmx@verizon.net
Posted by: craigcrawford.myopenid.com
| October 31, 2009 5:15 PM
Hello from flight to Chicago !!
How about a book signing in Hometown OTown?
Posted by: Ping Pong
| October 31, 2009 5:33 PM
"What I am, as a minority is very, very disappointed in the missed opportunity to start getting this county in the right direction. I know that he would break most of his promises..but the few big ones that he should have kept..would have helped to heal this country...we are still a very intolerant ignorant country as a whole.....A new direction is needed, so we can get the right people in office...the ones that have the all of the power now, are the ones we keep electing...cos they are not the other one; the other party...so we are still very tribal........and have not progressed very much, other than in technology...just MO." http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/i-hear-them-all-2.html#comment-268901
Solar, A very nice post and a very honest answer. Thank you.
Posted by: chloe
| October 31, 2009 5:43 PM
Craig -- I think my son got me an autograph at your embassy signing party. I'm hoping he did anyway! He's in trouble if not.
Posted by: Patsi
| October 31, 2009 5:49 PM
"the reason the judge wants Kerik back in jail without bond. Could it be about Rudy? Gees....if these were Republican issues we all know how this would spin out."
Errr Max,
Rudy is a Republican.
Posted by: Jamie
| October 31, 2009 5:53 PM
We will get a pretty good crowd unless it rains.
Posted by: Jamie
| October 31, 2009 5:55 PM
Good work, You168!
Posted by: ivygreen.myopenid.com
| October 31, 2009 6:14 PM
http://crooksandliars.com/
"Morning Joe Crew Thinks This Week Has "Been a Mess" for Democrats on Health Care Reform"
"I'll gladly reserve judgement as I would expect everyone will as well on whether we should be clamoring for that or not after we see what makes it to the floor for a final vote. If they go back to either opt-in or Snowe's trigger I don't see how that's a step towards reforming the current system. The other compromises are bad enough already away from single-payer, which is what we should have."
Posted by: tonyb39
| October 31, 2009 7:31 PM
http://www.taylormarsh.com/
Plouffe, Wright, Clinton, and Edwards
"Remembering back during the primaries and how visceral it got between Edwards and Clinton, I also remember how down and dirty Edwards got using Mudcat Saunders’ strategy coupled with invoking Jesse Helms. Right then and there I knew what Edwards was willing to do to win or keep himself inside the presidential ring.
5) Edwards is as craven as you think:
Sometime after the South Carolina debate Plouffe got a call from a senior Edwards Advisor who said Edwards was willing to announce the end of his campaign and join forces with Obama to defeat Clinton. When Plouffe asked if he could raise this with Obama the Edwards advisor said, “Yes.…Just to be clear we’re going to talk to the Clinton people too. That’s not where John’s heart is, but he is at the point of maximum leverage now.”
“Obama’s answer,” Plouffe writes, “was quick and firm: he would cut no deals.”"
Posted by: tonyb39
| October 31, 2009 7:39 PM
Thanks for the Taylor Marsh link Tony! Very interesting stuff.
Posted by: Patsi
| October 31, 2009 9:25 PM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268936
Patsi,
Oh Ya.Damn, that J.Edwards is a putz of the worst kind...
Posted by: tonyb39
| October 31, 2009 10:06 PM
It is 7:07 p.m. here..still no trick or treaters..A friend told me today that she knows when she is serious about her diet on Halloween..she buys Mounds Bars. When she is not serious about her diet, she buys snickers.
Posted by: Oregon Democrat
| October 31, 2009 10:08 PM
"when she is serious about her diet on Halloween..she buys Mounds Bars. When she is not serious about her diet, she buys snickers."
That's funny Oregon.
Now me, I like them both equally, so that wouldn't work for me. :)
Posted by: chloe
| October 31, 2009 10:25 PM
We had 26 here tonight. They all stayed inside because it was raining in Philadelphia.
Posted by: Flatus
| October 31, 2009 10:27 PM
I have Snickers and Pay Day..I'm in big trouble if some kids don't show up tonight.
Posted by: Oregon Democrat
| October 31, 2009 10:28 PM
Shut off the lights about 9pm we had around 30 tonight. Quite a few more than we have been having.
I think maybe some of the work I'm doing in the neighborhood is paying off.
All of them were 10 yr old or younger and in costume.
The older kids seemed to have something better to do on a Saturday night.
we had been having very few trickortreaters the last few years and many of them never dressed up.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| October 31, 2009 10:29 PM
Grandma and grandpa seemed to be in charge of the kids tonight around here.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| October 31, 2009 10:33 PM
Jack,
I hope that you didn't dress up as a scarecrow...A 6 ft 3 inch and 250 lbs one, might keep them away lol....
Posted by: SolarCrete
| October 31, 2009 10:34 PM
Solar
I dressed as Merlin the majicion
Straight out of White's "The Once and Future King"
complete with birds nesting in my hat.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| October 31, 2009 10:40 PM
"majicion"
That is the way they spelt magician in the days of the Round Table.
really, didn't you know?
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| October 31, 2009 10:44 PM
Don't make fun of me....that's the way that i spell majicion.!
Posted by: SolarCrete
| October 31, 2009 10:48 PM
1. Abdullah's playing coy because Karzai wants to have the same Karzai controled phoney ballot boxes that he 'won' with in the first election. he wouldn't be part of a coalition because he knows that he won that 1st election, if you don't count the stuffed boxes. This isn't rocket science, all you have to do is read Abdullah's statements on these topics.
2. You haven't a clue as to what the President wants, so stop pretending that you can read his mind.
3. I read the links and am impressed with your inability to discriminate between conjecture, hope, extrapolation, and rumors on the one hand and actual facts and actual events on the other.
4. If you ever get a get a real lead on a real ethics violation by Representative Murtha, be sure and let us know. Until then, tell it to the Marines.
5. Sorry, picking your republican bull should apart is not an intellectual exercise.
6. Boo
.
Posted by: xrepublican
| October 31, 2009 10:51 PM
I almost stole a 5 year old...I think it is the same 5 year old that I tried to steal or buy last year...I won't want him next year..he will be 15 HA.!
Posted by: SolarCrete
| October 31, 2009 10:54 PM
Kindf of a George Bernard Shaw sort of spelling, rather like Ghoti for fish.
Posted by: xrepublican
| October 31, 2009 10:59 PM
8:00 p.m..still no kids..At nine the candy goes in the dumpster. Last year I put it by the mailboxes, but out of 40 condo units, only three have their porch lights on so let them starve.
Posted by: Oregon Democrat
| October 31, 2009 11:03 PM
Xr.
# 6- Boo....U funny.!
Posted by: SolarCrete
| October 31, 2009 11:05 PM
OD
Donate to the food pantry. They give treats in the basket of groceries.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| October 31, 2009 11:07 PM
XR I like this explanation
What's up up with Abdullah Abdullah?
http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/10/31/whats_up_up_with_abdullah_abdullah
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| October 31, 2009 11:14 PM
Food Pantry is a good idea..not far from here.
Posted by: Oregon Democrat
| October 31, 2009 11:30 PM
Don't forget to set back you clocks
Posted by: Jamie
| October 31, 2009 11:31 PM
Hi Solar !
Sorry that I wrote, "Tell it to the Marines". In the highly unlikely event that anyone finds anything to pin on Rep, and fellow Marine Murtha, I expect thast he'll now nag you about it.
Between you & me, Murtha may earmark a lot, but it's never about crap like support for :
failed puppet dictators, roads to nowhere, the Yellow Cake Defense Fund, bridges to nowhere, fairy tale WMDs, the g.w.babybush Mission Accomplished Celebration, the paul bremer Mission Accomplished Celebration, the george tenet Mission Accomplished Celebration, the alberto gonzales Waterboard Park Fund, ken lay's Defense Fund, prettyboy skilling, bernie ebbers Defense Fund, the Wall Street Bankers' Bonus Defense Fund, the Global Warming is Wrong Committee, randy cunningham Defense Fund, the larry craig memorial mensroom, the Achmed Chelabi Cheerleaders for Victory Committee, The Wall Street Mortgage Bundlers' Defense Fund, the ted stevens Home Away from Home in Alaska, rumdumb's Mission Acconmplished Celebration, The Evolution is Wrong Committee, the mark foley memorial cloakroom, the dink cheney Drunk Shooter Defense Fund, the g.w.babybush midnight chats with Jesus Foundation, the Mortgage Bankers' Defense Fund, or the jack abramov & ralph reed Indian Reservation Scam Defense fund.
If he mistakes you for the Marine to tellit to, I owe you a republican shamburger with FREEDOM FRIES, but w/o terrorist pretzels and definitely no YELLOWCAKE.
Posted by: xrepublican
| November 1, 2009 12:40 AM
Thanks for your patience, Solar.
G'night.
Posted by: xrepublican
| November 1, 2009 12:43 AM
Whskyjack,
Thanks for pointing out the link. Looking at the comments on the article, I am amazed. Friedman didn't say that Iraq was important in a vacuum. Friedman has said since 2003 that Iraq will remain crucial until we are no longer net importers of oil.
I think he is wrong about the order of things. By that I mean that we won't cease to be net importers of oil until we decide that we hate doing business with Iraq - and by extension, all the other fascist pumper states, including russia, Venezuela, saudi arabia, the Persian Gulf states, Texas, Alaska, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
Without adamantine resolve to get beyond the obsolete, republican, 19th century, power technology that chains us down, and go where no nation has gone before, we will continue to be oil junkie weaklings, waiting for some kind Arab or russian to sell us a fix, and fecklessly hoping that it won't cost too dam' much. All the whizbang weaponry in the world, and all the zillions of bucks in tribute of dollars and weaponry that we shovel at saudi arabia, libya, and the persian gulf states, won't help the US a bit, if we can't shake this obsoltete, 19th century, republican, oil monkey off our backs.
Posted by: xrepublican
| November 1, 2009 2:38 AM
I got a woo hoo the other day, but couldn't remember what to do with it.
And tomorrow, there's absolutely no difference in time for me. I'd like to say this is different, but...
Posted by: don1one
| November 1, 2009 2:56 AM
happy nov oneth! just two more months of the oughty aughts... what a wasted decade politically-wise. all that which we ought to have done and all that which we nought have done.
solar, is it proper to say "happy day of the dead"? what's the correct greeting on this day? whatever, have a good one.
Posted by: patd
| November 1, 2009 7:16 AM
wiki:
"The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls' Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts."
Posted by: patd
| November 1, 2009 7:19 AM
Good morning Pat.
Guess the rest of the crew is nursing a sugar hangover.
The wife is not up yet so I snuck a hershey bar to have with the morning coffee.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| November 1, 2009 7:29 AM
Interesting read now if he had approached healthcare the same way.
Victory for Obama Over Military Lobby
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/business/29defense.html?_r=1
Posted by: whskyjack
| November 1, 2009 7:33 AM
deja vous , all over again. Can disco be far behind?
"Maoist Rebels Widen Deadly Reach Across India"
"India’s Maoist rebels are now present in 20 states and have evolved into a potent and lethal insurgency."
.........
"“The root of this is dispossession and deprivation,” said Ramachandra Guha, a prominent historian based in Bangalore. “The Maoists are an ugly manifestation of this. This is a serious problem that is not going to disappear.”
India’s rapid economic growth has made it an emerging global power but also deepened stark inequalities in society."
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| November 1, 2009 7:52 AM
In the Washington Post. First time I've ever seen a correction such as this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/31/AR2009103102103.html?wpisrc=newsletter
If it had happened at the Times, Will Shortz would have a heart attack.
Posted by: Flatus
| November 1, 2009 8:03 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/opinion/01rich.html?th&emc=th
"The G.O.P. Stalinists Invade Upstate New York"
"The battle for upstate New York confirms just how swiftly the right has devolved into a wacky, paranoid cult that is as eager to eat its own as it is to destroy Obama. The movement’s undisputed leaders, Palin and Beck, neither of whom has what Palin once called the “actual responsibilities” of public office, would gladly see the Republican Party die on the cross of right-wing ideological purity. Over the short term, at least, their wish could come true."
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 8:05 AM
"I snuck a hershey bar to have with the morning coffee"
jack, sounds like an irish coffee without the irish. a bailey's virgin?
Posted by: patd
| November 1, 2009 8:08 AM
The kids last night were universally polite saying thank you and acting nice. All except three were costumed.
I enjoy Hallowe'en. It's a shame that parents can't take the time to help their children enjoy this single night during a period in which there are so many things burdening families.
Posted by: Flatus
| November 1, 2009 8:11 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/opinion/01friedman.html?th&emc=th
"More Poetry, Please"
"More and more lately, I find people asking me: What do you think President Obama really believes about this or that issue? I find that odd. How is it that a president who has taken on so many big issues, with very specific policies — and has even been awarded a Nobel Prize for all the hopes he has kindled — still has so many people asking what he really believes?
I don’t think that President Obama has a communications problem, per se. He has given many speeches and interviews broadly explaining his policies and justifying their necessity. Rather, he has a “narrative” problem."
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 8:11 AM
hillary in marrakesh
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hb_xc8bPYYb6_iD-QS3XgQAUu1WQD9BMNSJ00
Posted by: patd
| November 1, 2009 8:16 AM
http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9000/9368416/After_all_the_fuss_public_health_plan_covers_few
"After all the fuss, public health plan covers few"
" To be fair, most people would not have access to the new public plan. Under the House bill, it would be offered through new insurance exchanges open only to those who buy coverage on their own or work for small companies. Yet even within that pool of 30 million people, only 1-in-5 would take the public option.
Who's likely to sign up?
The budget office said "a less healthy pool of enrollees" would probably be attracted to the public option, drawn by the prospect of looser rules on access to specialists and medical services.
As a result, premiums in the public plan would be higher than the average for private plans. That could nudge healthy middle-class workers and their families to sign up for private plans.
"The concern was that the public option would destabilize the bulk of private insurance, but in fact what Congress has fashioned is very targeted," said economist Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund. "It's not going to be taking away the insurance industry's core business."
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 8:38 AM
"narrative problem"
In that he can't put his governing into simple 10 word bites for the use of simplistic media?
The Republicans are great at that , then lousy at governing.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| November 1, 2009 8:38 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268973
tony
In the real world, I believe thay call that "bait and switch"
In congress it is "just doing business"
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| November 1, 2009 8:42 AM
Jack, I think in that he has no core vision to narrate.
Absent that, all he can do is dump a bunch of fancy words into a poke and withdraw when confronted by an occasion in which he's expected to speak.
Posted by: Flatus
| November 1, 2009 8:44 AM
http://www.taylormarsh.com/
"Sarah Palin is Now the GOP Establishment"
"Sarah Palin stood up and out and boldly backed Hoffman long before it was clear it was a very good idea. Tim Pawlenty was there, but Sarah was first among people who matter. (Mr. tea party organizer, Dick Armey, does not).
What does it mean?
Expect more of it from the far right, with moderate Republicans further on the outs than ever. But that’s not what should worry Democrats.
Looking at 2010 it means that our opponents will be emotionally engaged, attached to outcome, and inspired to support more tea party activist types at all costs. They aren’t calculating who can win as much as they are the type of person they want in office who they’re willing to back to make a statement, even if the person loses.
The most committed wins. In off year elections that goes double. If the health care bill looks as bad as the CBO’s latest reviews are saying, with premiums being higher, it’s going to add even more fodder, because people on the left will disengage. Add wingnut radio, which is the best GOTV engine in American politics, and you’ve got a political adrenaline pumped right into the voting disgruntled. Because conservatives won’t just be voting against all things Obama; they will be voting for tea party candidates that talk their language, no matter how alien it is to independents and others looking to register their complaints next year."
"If the health care bill looks as bad as the CBO’s latest reviews are saying, with premiums being higher"
Good Morning All,
This stood out!! How can this be?? I thought the whole point of Healthcare reform was to cover all people and reduce costs,SILLY ME..
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 8:49 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268974
Jack,
True.The Republican's have a bumper sticker mentality!!
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 8:52 AM
"n the real world, I believe thay call that "bait and switch"
In congress it is "just doing business"
Jack,
Ha,so true..Will it ever change,NO...
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 8:54 AM
Flatus
I think he has a core vision, It is just one that can't be translated into simplistic Reaganist bites.
I think he is very much a realist and operates in the realm of the possible. Maybe too much so.
And no I don't think we are going to get some Kennedy type grand vision for the future.
But remember, bush had grand visions for the future and look where it got us. I just hope for competence.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| November 1, 2009 9:00 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268976
Flatus,
When I read this piece, I said the same thing to myself,what does the President believe in really? I think he wants to be a trans-formative President,just like he wants a healthcare bill,but refuses to take political risk to make anything of real value happen...
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 9:00 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268980
Jack, I hear you giving a sigh of relief that he's not Bush. And that's a valid point.
But, I want more, much more.
And, I disagree that important visions such as healthcare as a right of birth can't be uttered in a Reaganesque way.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268976
Tony, I absolutely, positively agree with you.
Posted by: Flatus
| November 1, 2009 9:09 AM
Economist article on increase in falling birth rates in the midst of still increasing population
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14743589&source=hptextfeature
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 9:10 AM
thanks to all and sundry for the renfro valley music info........
Posted by: sturgeone
| November 1, 2009 9:18 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268983
Jamie,
Thanks for the Economist piece,very interesting..
Posted by: tonyb39
| November 1, 2009 9:35 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268967
It's nice to know that they still have enough readers doing the crossword puzzle that such a correction was necessary.
One of the things I noticed while in Scotland were the number of people obviously engrossed alone or in groups in figuring out that day's puzzle. British crosswords are different and a real bear to do unless you are well read, like puns, and have a huge vocabulary. I'm seeing a trend with more of that type of clue in American puzzle mags so we may be getting down to an intensely literate minority.
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 9:41 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268982
Flatus
If I were to make an agreement with human beings on what a just society owes its citizens, it would be fairly straightforward.
Your mother will receive decent prenatal care to get you here as safe and whole as possible. If you arrive severely affected in some way, you will be decently cared for until you pop off.
If you arrive somewhere near average or better, you will be fed, tended to, and educated to the full extent of your abilities until such time as you can become a productive member of society including decent healthcare so that you can continue to be a productive member of society for the next 30 to 50 years.
At this point, I get very libertarian - If you make dumb choices, for the most part you get to reap the consequences of those choices until such time as you stop making them. If people are well educated up front and raised in a reasonably secure environment, we won't have as many in jail. Those who choose to OD or take risks with their lives, get a nicely dug hole.
For events outside your control (massive economic downturns and acts of nature), food and a safe place until such time as the outside events can be repaired
When you are aged and/or dying, you will be supported by contributions you have made to your eventual old age and we will see that you are ushered out with a minimal amount of anguish.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of societal problems that need to be cleaned up to make the above more than pie in the sky (i.e. slums, crime, bad parenting, etc.) but they are a matter of investment in the population.
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 10:07 AM
Jamie, I don't think we're terribly far apart.
The only really large hang-up that I have with a libertarian society is that when someone sins against individuals in the society, then I suspect there will be some sort of grand arbiter who will mete out summary justice; that way, the libertarian masses need not soil their hands. The potential for abuse is frightening.
Posted by: Flatus
| November 1, 2009 10:35 AM
Yes, Jamie, the Economist piece was well worthwhile.
On Amazon, there are customers who are _really_ dismayed at how they are being ripped-off on their Kindle subscriptions to that magazine.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Economist/product-reviews/B0027VSU9S/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Posted by: Flatus
| November 1, 2009 10:40 AM
Patd,
Thanks for remembering "El Dia De Los Muertos" Yes it all proper. As you know all things evolve: It is not "el Dia De Los Zombies" I'll make a post a little later on how. yet another day of Pagan festivities was stolen by the Catholic Church...but it is my favorite day to celebrate, only the dead truly know how to have a fun time....Awuuuuuuu......oops have to take of my fangs now...tug, pull, pull, and tug......oh noooooo Countsolar will not go away...Awuuuuu.
Hey Jack,,,The Sunday morning show was one of the best today....they discussed the relation of magic, and the brain..the magicians are working together with neurologists to study how magic will help autism , and more... along with this they had a great segment about Magic (that word again-synchronicity for sure) Johnson, and Larry Bird...just a great show....
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 11:24 AM
nnot=now..dang it.!
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 11:29 AM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268990
Solar --
They did a zombie bit too..."They're here already! You're next....!!"
Posted by: ivygreen.myopenid.com
| November 1, 2009 11:42 AM
Trail Mix bars were a big hit with my tricksters...but I still have a lot of leftovers.
Posted by: ivygreen.myopenid.com
| November 1, 2009 11:44 AM
Ha.!! Ivy, now there is something to look forward to.....Death after Life.....the evolving Zombies...Don 1, XR, and myself would make a fine ones.....no make up needed.! Tony the Baloney too....we don't discriminate we have happy-but gay Zombies....but they sure walk funny, ahaha
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 11:49 AM
solar, found a link that says it was aztec. do you know anything about azcentral? are they reliable? did the maya or inca have similar rituals? here's an excerpt from the link's history notes. also has pictures and explanations of certain symbols.
"Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake.
"The pre-Hispanic people honored duality as being dynamic," said Christina Gonzalez, senior lecturer on Hispanic issues at Arizona State University. "They didn't separate death from pain, wealth from poverty like they did in Western cultures."
However, the Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan.
In their attempts to convert them to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual.
But like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die.
To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today.
Previously it fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for the entire month."
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html
Posted by: patd
| November 1, 2009 12:00 PM
"I got a woo hoo the other day, but couldn't remember what to do with it."
don1 and ivy, re your leftover woohoo and trailmix, jack suggested the nearest food pantry might make good use of them. altho' how they'll divvy up one woo hoo and spread it around equitably will be a challenge.
Posted by: patd
| November 1, 2009 12:09 PM
Patd, ,
The Azted Solar Calender: Is part of why I chose my nick of SolarCrete; and yes Im familiar with azcentral..I do like them and find them very informative..and reliable on the whole...when they give the history of what they are talking about...sometimes the opinions are very subjective to the point of "huh what did he say" but I don't go there that often..have to remember it more tho..they have a diff.
look on the wars often also...thank for reminding me of them.....take the garlic off and let me nibble a little....Awuuuu...I love Holoween....Flatus is right...let the kids be kids...we had a lot of them yesterday...not too much left over.....I hid some of my favorites...from the left overs.
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 12:12 PM
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-268988
Flatus,
I part with Libertarians in that I think any society has to have some agreed upon rules and standards. In order for that to exist, then some percentage of what everyone earns needs to go to the "commonwealth" in order to keep that society functional.
Police, Fire, Education, and Health, and operational infrastructure benefit the whole of society and as such should be contributed to in some fashion by everyone. The most capable and talented owe more than others for the simple reason that they benefit the most from that commonwealth.
(Solar this is why I oppose the flat tax schemes and why I think inheritance taxes should be pretty heavy after a large enough deduction to cover homes, small business, and family farms with high cost amortized equipment).
We need to make it possible for people to start out as fairly equipped as possible to care for themselves. One of my favorite millionaires told me that he sired his children, Gave them a good university education, a nice paid for house and started them in the career of their choice. Now after making provision for his wife he was busy giving away and spending everything else with an object of being totally broke by the time he died. :-)
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 12:15 PM
Patd,
PS....One of the main reasons that the Spaniards were so brutal with the Latin American Indian: Was that they believed that they had no souls....thats all the excuse any religion needs, and the excuse for abusing all others....sorry, I couldn't let Sunday go by without Father Solar s sermon....by the way, thats the main reason for what happened to all Indians.....or so it was written up by the News-Papers...but it was all about Greed...nothing really changes....
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 12:17 PM
Jamie,
"I part with Libertarians in that I think any society has to have some agreed upon rules and standards. In order for that to exist, then some percentage of what everyone earns needs to go to the "commonwealth" in order to keep that society functional.
Police, Fire, Education, and Health, and operational infrastructure benefit the whole of society and as such should be contributed to in some fashion by everyone. The most capable and talented owe more than others for the simple reason that they benefit the most from that commonwealth."
Thanks for making my point...I said that these things should be a part of consideration for a Flat, income, and a Flat sales tax.. also with some kind of voucher or any other thing that will be used by those that can't work
Every thing that you mentioned above, is/are being abused now by the state, and city governments to our disadvantage: Here is Il, and Indiana, we are paying 80 cents for the tolls that let us get from here to there in a hurry, they rasied it from 10 cents, to 15 cents 20 cents...it has been small incrementals....from 40 cents to 80 cents....we are paying triple taxes in order to get to work, so they can take taxes so we can pay for insfrastructure......this example you can do for all that you mentioned.....
With a flat sales tax....we could keep track of where its all being spent a lot easier...and less Government-Corporation partnerships...look at you're phone bill, you're light bill,,etc, etc. and don't forget my favorite Vampires.....the Irs won't be in office......they won't exist...no need, and all this could be a start to finance campaign reform....that is really the beginning of the problem in every campaign that is run in the country...from dog catcher to potus.....100 mil to run for dog catcher is out of reach for the average person, 1 bil that is needed for potus..where U going to get that......the corps can help....you wash my hands...and I will wash yours...the partnership can't be broken, until we do somethings different...and all examples that you can come up with...that you don't like...won't change anything about this....so the same ole, same ole will be good enough for any one that doesn't want to change.....all of the talk about what is best for the country...is just which way they two party's want to take turns abusing the existing tax requirements that they both put into place though out time. One of these day's I will write out all of the advantages of this...and we can compare with what we have now..one by one, a positive; and a negative list; can't go wrong that way no?....just saying...... will be a lot of accountants, and a lot of lawyers looking for something else to do...I can live with that.....it will take just one paragraph to do you taxes...
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 12:49 PM
Solar,
I believe in the graduated tax. I honestly believe that those with the highest incomes should be paying in the neighborhood of 60%, with those at the lowest income paying nothing and graduated levels between those extremes with no deductions. None, nada, zip, zero, zilch. Beyond that single deduction, you get to keep everything else and spend it anyway that makes you happy while knowing that your schooling and healthcare are already covered and the streets on which you drive are safe.
You could still have your postcard: Income from all sources (including overseas earnings brought into the country) x$, taxes x% send check. The big trick would be identifying all the income as weasels are very good at weaseling.
How that money is divied up between Feds, States, County and City open to negotiation.
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 12:59 PM
"Recount" is on HBO now. Fun and games in Florida.
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 1:03 PM
Solar,
The problem with a "sales" tax is that the wealthy spend a much smaller percentage of their income on disposable expenses plus being able to buy in bulk or at special opportunity at much cheaper prices. Once the house, car, insurance, and food have been bought, it just sort of sits there making more and more money.
Even if you tax every single service, stock purchase,etc. an awful lot of accumulation would be going on totally untaxed unless you consider dying a form of "sale" and tax everything passed to the next generation.
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 1:12 PM
Progressive taxes is what is wrong with the way that government does business..where does it all go?
Of course the very rich should pay more...the poor very little..but the middle shouldn't have to pay it all: As it is the middle class pays for all of the governments needs.....why does a Rich Billionaire pay less taxes than his 40-60k secretary pay....you call that fair...and the loop holes will always exist...didn't you see what Obama did with ending the benefits for the wealthy...he shut the front door and let them in the side door...all they did was to raise their salary, the same amount that they would have received any way......I don't want our taxes to end up like that......
Let the very wealthy pay more of a flat tax..I don't care...and about the infrastructure...it is falling apart, with this type of taxes...all they do is redirect it all...same for anything else....everything is going for the wars...and we don't have any for the things that you say we have to have......less money for schools now..less money for any programs that benifit the ones that need them..and more and more cuts to the sciences, under the existing tax system, why is this happeniing...yep the tax loop holes that exist..but that not all...where is the ss $ and all of the rest.....where is the 2 trillion that the defense dept lost...sure in time we can replace it all with out combined proggresive taxes that look good on paper..but not in reality...
Why is there an unemployment tax...the small corps that pay for the benefits pay for them...and then you progressive tax code..get the employee to pay for it again...Ok the flat tax needs some tweaking....lot better than system that continues to rape us..I hope that I saved a list of taxes that both parties have passed ..to get us to this point....both of them did this together.!!!
That the only thing that I have liked about Steve Forbes...he wanted the tax system fixed....
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 1:28 PM
I think it was Will Rogers who said,
"The difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is that the Democrats want to take money from the middle class and give it to poor people, while the Republicans want to take it and give it to rich ones."
Posted by: cajunjoe.pip.verisignlabs.com
| November 1, 2009 1:35 PM
On Tuesday there will be a couple of elections for Governor...on Wed. all that will be talked about; is how one party or the other won, and how they need to make adjustments to win more...and how the other party needs to make adjustment to get back in the game..and start winning again...there will be not talk of how to help the middle class...or any class...just what they need to do to win again......
Question. Does any one of the two party's really lose? I don't think that they do...it's just a period of time that the pendulum swing back to the other side....until this happens..they won't make as much money as the ones up to bat...but thier time will come up to bat,,,sooner or later......its just a game....no?...and the party loyalist are the sports spectators.....they know the era's, the home runs. and the errors of both teams..just a sport is all. I don't go to sports games...I could care less who wins the world series, I could care less....if it is all a sham...sure there are some exiting moments in the game...but its just between the ones playing...they are the winners...we are the losers...
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 1:47 PM
Our personal taxes are easy. It is my business taxes that get complicated.
A flat tax doesn't solve any of the business tax complication.
if you want it simple treat all income the same, subject to the same taxes and keep the progressive tax Jamie wants.
Jack
Posted by: whskyjack
| November 1, 2009 1:56 PM
Joe,
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html#comment-269005
Any thing change?.....What has Obama changed...other than the words-words that matter....to get elected.!! ok going to find that list of taxes, that they passed for the last 100 years...together.!
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 1:56 PM
Jack,
"Our personal taxes are easy. It is my business taxes that get complicated.
A flat tax doesn't solve any of the business tax complication.
if you want it simple treat all income the same, subject to the same taxes and keep the progressive tax Jamie wants"
Makes sense to me; and I agree with it...and can go from there...so its is a flat tax...is you treat all income the same...i like it.....I used to do my own bu sines taxes up until around 92 or so...I wouldn't know where to start now.....
Im not saying that the intent of the progressive tax is wrong..im saying how they are not traceable to where it is going...b/c it is all confusing. I read once. where all or most colleges have one or more buildings as large as libray;s ...no books in them for the students: just books for the lawyers that have to have the space for the laws that they need for the college.....I picture our tax laws in the same way...not for us..but for the corps to keep it all straight...for themselves....but all in all I agree with what you said thanks......candy for breakfast hus..been hanging around those Mexihillbilies again?
Posted by: SolarCrete
| November 1, 2009 2:08 PM
new thread (over an hour ago)... our sneaky gracious host slipped one by us
Posted by: patd
| November 1, 2009 2:17 PM
NEW THREAD
Posted by: Jamie
| November 1, 2009 3:08 PM
Post A Comment