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According to today's fair and balanced pug reich news, the Iraqi PM did not snub shrub. It was a one finger peace sign!
Good morning everyone!
A little Thursday fun for you.
The turkey at the White House - By Andy Borowitz
Here's the video from Canada of Governor Dean's great speech to the Liberal Party's convention. Click the picture on the right. He got a wonderful reception.
Kristen....Thanks for the humor....I needed that,....just got back from the drug store....just found out that my doctor dropped me because of cuts in Medicare...and will no loger even fill my pain prescriptions for the degenerative bone dease I now have as a result of my chemo...I hope you guys nail these bastards in'08. I may not be here to see it, but there are a hell of a lot of people worse off than I am who will still be suffering because of Bush and Co.
John Kerry and John Murtha have been the leaders inside the Democrat Party in our assault on terrorism. We need to stop terrorists not recruit them.
Jimmy Carter has my vote as being the most effective military leader of the 20th century. When the soviets invaded Afghanistan, President Carter’s strategy was to develop and support allies within Afghanistan. The “look for allies “strategy eventually worked and the Russians withdrew. Incredibly, Jimmy Carter is given little credit for setting a course resulting in success with no US military casualties.
We can develop a strategy against terrorism without using our military daily on covert missions.
John Kerry is our best candidate for president. We are approaching honest election counts. An honest election in 2004 would have had him in the White House. Our military would be disengaged and we would have to deal with far fewer terrorists.
John Murtha should be granted a position in the House proportional to his stature.
We need to take our gloves off and deliver the electorate the results our mandate deserves.
Supreme Court battle considers regulation of greenhouse gases
The Supreme Court's hottest environmental case of the year pits California against Texas.
It's also Washington state vs. Idaho, scientists vs. car dealers and, it may seem, the world against the White House, as the justices on Wednesday consider a crucial question in the effort to combat global warming.
The question is this: Can the federal government regulate the so-called greenhouse gases many experts blame for rising global temperatures? The Bush administration says no. California, Massachusetts, Washington, 15 other states and their allies insist otherwise. The final answer is now up to the court's nine justices.
"This is a global problem," California Secretary for Environmental Protection Linda Adams said Tuesday, "and I think everyone agrees that a global problem needs a global solution."
I was on a roll.
Gaia scientist Lovelock predicts planetary wipeout
The earth has a fever that could boost temperatures by 8 degrees Celsius making large parts of the surface uninhabitable and threatening billions of peoples' lives, a controversial climate scientist said on Tuesday.
Posted by sunny on November 30, 2006
THX for the link Sunny. Go Dean!
Good Morning,
Well, it seems the X-tian pug reich is using their third person again. This time the X-tian will put the virgin Mary as a shield. How dare “THEY” criticize the virgin Mary?
No, one is criticizing the virgin Mary butt the pug reich! No one is trying to steal Christmas except the pug reich!!
THERE GOES THE X-TIAN PUG REICH WITH THEIR THIRD PERSON COMMENTS!!
A hApPY pOLiTIcAL diSinFormAtion TO yOu!
goodfoe, what disappointing news for you this morning. I know that more and more doctors are pulling out of being medicare providers. When I was managing the clinic it would take months and months to get paid and multiple phone calls to figure out why they denied the claims to begin with. Something it was because their adjusters hadn't caught up on the new requirements and would deny them because a box wasn't checked that no longer needed to be checked.
All of this doesn't help you, I do hope you find a doctor office that realizes helping their patients is worth the extra effort, but most of all I hope you find a repreive from your pain.
Wanna "argue" with a Christian about whether it's holy or not to have a "Christmas Tree" in their home? Oh well! I'm a pagan...my tree is standing in the breezeway all decorated with shiny beads & lights...and the 100+ snowmen display are tiny idols. I'm sure to burn in Hell.
Here's what the Good Book says about adorning trees.
Jeremiah was a Bull Frog
1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel.
2 This is what the LORD says:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good."
6 No one is like you, O LORD;
you are great,
and your name is mighty in power.
Republicans want vote on abortion bill
While they still can, House Republicans are looking at scheduling a vote next week on a fetal pain abortion bill in a parting shot at incoming majority Democrats and a last bid for loyalty from the GOP's base of social conservatives.
Good Morning everyone.
Many decades ago, not centuries as some would have you believe, two forces began a struggle for power within the Middle East. As the time our government maintained relatively good relations with all nations of the Middle East, including Iran and Syria. The Palestine Mandate was also fresh in our minds having only recently come to refer to a part of it as Israel once again.
In ignorance a group of Americans and Arabs clashed. Each believed that total control of the region and nothing less than total control of the region would be acceptable. These two forces even went so far as to pervert the glory of God and religion in an effort to fulfill this unholy quest. Domination is what they wanted.
Today we know well why relations between Americans and Arabs have become as tense as they are. It is the fault of those who fail to see, no matter how many times they are shown, that relgion is here to bring people together. There are many names for that power responsible for the existance of all creation and they exist because we speak different languages, not because we are meant to destroy one another over a name.
People will do battle, as they always have, but they will do battle for selfish reasons, not for godly ones.
Private HMOs cost more to Medicare: study
Private insurers in the Medicare insurance program were paid 12.4 percent more by the government than the health care provided would have cost under traditional Medicare, a report released on Thursday said.
Anybody see Gore on Leno last night. I have sworn off that stupid chinned-one, (who for some reason cannot give a monologue without mentioning John Kerry) but had to watch cuz of Gore.
Gore looked great. The interview seemed to be more about him then his movie, however. He is definitely running for 08. Bout time he showed some warmth and humor!
Financial ties found among clinical trials
More than one-third of experts charged with overseeing clinical trials at medical schools and research hospitals have financial ties to companies that sell pharmaceuticals and medical devices, according to survey results released Wednesday.
Coalition Targets Convicted Lawmakers
Both Pelosi and Reid have said that Democrats, who made Republican ethical lapses a major campaign issue, will move quickly in the new Congress to tighten rules governing congressional ethics.
The House last spring passed lobbying and ethics legislation that would have denied pensions to lawmakers convicted of bribery or acting as a foreign agent. The legislation died when the House and Senate were unable to agree on a common approach.
Kristen....as a follow up...your kind words much appreciated...I just called Kelsey-Seybold Clenic here in Spring....they have probably 12 locations around Houston plus thier main campus in the medical center. Some 300 doctors on staff...was just told that they no longer accept Medicare....my thought was...how many thousands of patients did they drop and where do these people now go?....random thoughts,,,to the public, charity hospitals? just blabbering....got to see if I can find a doctor to see me for cash, w/o medicare....incidently, medicare comes out of my ss check as does Humans Gold which is another $44 per month, So thats about $100 mo and I can't get medical care and these outfits are going up on thier premiums. What are we paying for. I kown there is nothing anyone who reads this blogg can do now, I'm just asking that you all remember us 'ol folk in '08. you'll be here someday....thx...got to go...later
Posted by Esmeralda on November 30, 2006 at 11:15 AM
I enjoyed this post Esmeralda.
Halliburton Unit to Pay $8 Million for Overbilling
A Halliburton subsidiary agreed to pay the government $8 million to resolve accusations of overbilling related to the firm's work for the Army in the Balkans, the Justice Department said yesterday.
Posted by Marine on November 30, 2006 at 11:49 AM
Glad you did.
One article about "work", then I'm off to wrap the few gifts I have bought. One of the gifts for my Necee was a new muffler for her car. The receipt is in her stocking. (it's one of the things she "wanted") Her dad bought her tires. (that kid!)
Enjoy the day, everyone.
New voting machines' debut rocky, study says
American democracy survived the Nov. 7 general election without any major voting machine disasters, but there were far too many problems to call it a real success, according to a report released yesterday by a nonpartisan election reform group.
Long lines, machine mishaps and inadequate poll worker training in many states -- combined with questions about 18,000 "undervotes" in a hotly contested Florida congressional race -- likely damaged the public's confidence in widespread technological changes made since the disputed 2000 presidential election, the group said.
THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS: Letters from the front.
"My name is Jingles, I am one of Santa's Helpers. Before the War on Christmas, I made toys and played jolly games with my friends at the North Pole, it seems like a thousand years ago. I miss my wife Sleigh Bell and our two children, Snowy and Tinker Bell.
This is my third tour with the Army of the North Pole, and it has been a living hell ever since the Coalition of Christians declared war. I started out as an infantryman, but after witnessing two years of the carnage, I decided to switch to Psychological Operations.
As December nears, I am prepping for a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. My unit, a crack outfit of specially trained Reindeer and Helpers, will be riding Santa's sleigh over the deep south and dropping leaflets announcing sales on the new PS3 and Wii. This is a diversionary tactic as it forces many of their front line troops to flood shopping centers and wait on line for hours. Then, we can move in to plant Christmas trees, bubble ornaments, and PEACE WREATHS on people's lawns.
This mission is dangerous, because we have to watch out for the ever present Cross Cannons, which attempt to take us down. It seems that they have batteries of them everywhere in the south. Last year, they took out Lancer, the son of Dancer and Prancer. Tutu, the elf who had been riding Lancer, was tortured for weeks and forced to convert.
We all know the risks involved but gladly volunteer to protect our cold and snowy homeland and bring peace and cheer to children all over the world.
For years we managed a truce with the Coalition of Christians, but it was only a ploy. They pretended to be accomodating by moving Jesus' birthday to December and combining it with the celebration of Yule. Since then, they have been systematically hunting the other traditions down one by one. We should have seen it coming, but we are not going down without a fight!"
Don't mis tomorrow, when a Christian Soldier writes in.
Posted by goodfoe on November 30, 2006 at 11:47 AM
I've looked on as several individuals were taken from this world prematurely as a result of medical intervention. I've also seen two people, less far gone to start with, saved by medical intervention. I have myself found the medical community to be a mixed bag of nuts, some having what it takes and some lacking a clue.
Keep looking and start looking in places that you would never have before allowed yourself to look in search of relief. It sounds as though you've found medication to be effective but don't rule out alternative means. I have no idea whether or not something like deep tissue massage would help you but I do know that it is something you might at least try.
Bodies of slain Canadians leave Kandahar base
The bodies of two Canadian soldiers killed earlier this week while serving in Afghanistan are on their way home to Canada.
Full story:
Scores more bodies found in Iraq
At least 80 bodies - many with gunshot wounds and bearing signs of torture - have been found in Iraq in the past 24 hours, officials have said. Full story:
Posted by goodfoe on November 30, 2006 at 11:47 AM
Hi, goodfoe,
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with the health care mess. When my mother got really sick, I found out just how little respect the patient gets in our country. But there are resources. You have to dig to find them.
Have you tried the patient advocate at Humana Gold or talked with the social worker at the hospital where they did the chemo? There is no way that you shouldn't be getting your pain meds.
In dealing with my mother-in-law's cancer treatments and with talking to seniors at medical office waiting rooms, I found that you have to find an advocate who will work for you. They're out there, but the medical centers like to keep them secret.
This problem with doctors dumping Medicare patients seems to be a result of the HMO and PPOs cornering the market in large cities.
Hang in there. You don't seem like the kind of person who takes "no" for an answer. Neither am I.
Christmas and Halloween, both celebrated in times of the year previously dedicated to celebrations centered around seasonal change.
Christmas, or Yule as it is also known, is considered to be the last great celebration before winter sets in. Celebrating both simutaneously made sense, but one purpose was never meant to overshadow the other.
Halloween, or Samhain as it is also known, is a celebration held at summer's end. The Celts and Christians who celebrate it also used the day to worship spirits. Early Christians new it as All Saints Day.
For some reason a few zealots have seen fit to deny their followers the pleasure of companionship on these days. They attempt to divide people by making it appear as though simply communicating with and sharing in the lives of those around you can be evil. Why a people who once sought to spread peace and kindness now wish to isolate themselves is beyond me.
Marine, massage isn't covered by medicare nor are many of the alternative treatments.
It's almost as though modern day Christian leaders have forgotten that their religion did not exist at one time. It is during that time, prior to the existance of Christianity that these seasonal celebrations became popular, not because the previous religion deemed them necessary but because people found them pleasurable.
I'd like our community spirit back. That belief that we all may interact and share with one another a period of time that can be pleasurable for all involved. No we don't all share the same customs, but that doesn't mean that we can't interact.
My ancestors, as with the ancestors of all people, were a diverse group of people. Most predate Christianity, as the human race itself predates Christianity. Whether you get your history from the bible or from other sources you know this to be true.
Yesterday, I took a local radio station to task via email because they were lamenting that they had to say Happy Holidays and that they didn't understand why people from other countries come here and try to change "our" religious holidays.
I asked them (both Catholics) to refresh my memory where in the new Testament it states that Jesus forced people to say his name or he wouldn't shop in their stores. I then encouraged them to find the true meaning of Christmas with a hint that it isn't threatening others with your faith.
This phony war on Christmas really takes the joy out of the season.
Posted by Esmeralda on November 30, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Essie,
Senator Elect Clarie McCaskill says she's requested committee apppointments this session in those areas where she can use her expertise in auditing most. Looks like there's a great need for more Democratic senators with her background. The Republicans have had 12 years to corrupt the whole system.
Maybe that's a key to success in the future for the party....making sure we run attractive candidates with real skills. The voters seem to have a renewed interest in legislators who can do their job competently.
"One purpose never meant to overshadow the other?"
From Wikipedia:
Many of the symbols associated with the modern holiday of Christmas such as the burning of the Yule log, the eating of ham, the hanging of boughs, holly, mistletoe, etc. are apparently derived from traditional northern European Yule celebrations. When the first missionaries began converting the Germanic peoples to Christianity, they found it easier to simply provide a Christian reinterpretation for popular feasts such as Yule and allow the celebrations themselves to go on largely unchanged, rather than trying to suppress them. The Scandinavian tradition of slaughtering a pig at Christmas (see Christmas ham), and not in the autumn, is probably the most salient evidence for this. The tradition derives from the sacrifice to the god Freyr at the Yule celebrations. Halloween and Easter are theorized to have been likewise assimilated from northern European pagan festivals.
English historian Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum ("Ecclesiastic History of the English People") contains a letter from Pope Gregory I to Saint Mellitus, who was then on his way to England to conduct missionary work among the heathen Anglo-Saxons. The Pope suggests that converting heathens is easier if they are allowed to retain the outward forms of their traditional pagan practices and traditions, while recasting those traditions spiritually towards the one true God instead of to their pagan gods (whom the Pope refers to as "devils"), "to the end that, whilst some gratifications are outwardly permitted them, they may the more easily consent to the inward consolations of the grace of God". [1] The Pope sanctions such conversion tactics as Biblically acceptable, pointing out that God did much the same thing with the ancient Israelites and their pagan sacrifices.
Marine, massage isn't covered by medicare nor are many of the alternative treatments.
Posted by Kristen on November 30, 2006 at 12:32 PM
I know it Kristen, which is foolish because it and other treatments have been proven time and time again to be as effective as medication. I was simply trying to pass on some advice, that the medical community may have ignored.
Marine, I was trying to point out that while it would be great to seek other options some people need to be able to depend on what medicare will cover and it isn't as simple as seeking out other treatments when doctor's shut the door on patients.
I noticed an interesting quote in a news story about the Pope’s visit to Turkey this weekend. Call it a holiday revelation if you will. I’m not sure why, but it somehow makes a lot of sense.
The CNN or MSNBC story quoted a Turkish protester as saying, “Why can’t Christians accept Mohammad as a prophet when we accept Jesus as a prophet?”
Why don’t we? The Pillars of Faith do seem to be a clarification of earlier Judo-Christian tenets? Would it hurt Christians to admit that the Lord maybe didn’t end His messages to Mankind when Jesus died on the Cross?
I’m no theologian, but I get what this protestor was saying. Are we selling our Christian religion short; and in the process fueling division among the faiths, when there is a perfectly logical explanation that could mend fences out there in the Middle East (in the whole Muslim world)? Maybe the Almighty did speak to Mohammad for just that purpose, if we would only consider the possibility?
It could help bring peace to a world that yearns for it at a time that celebrates that sentiment. Good tidings to you...? Maybe there was more Good News and we just didn't hear it?
You can't say we aren't coming up with candidates who address the big issues in new and innovative ways.
Iowa Gov. Vilsack runs for president
By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa - Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack launched his long-shot bid for the presidency Thursday, calling for an end to U.S dependence on foreign oil in favor of alternative energy sources.
"Energy security will revitalize rural America, re-establish our moral leadership on global warming and climate security, and eliminate our addiction to foreign oil," said Vilsack, a prominent proponent of ethanol, biodiesel and wind power.
Long lines, machine mishaps and inadequate poll worker training in many states -- combined with questions about 18,000 "undervotes" in a hotly contested Florida congressional race -- likely damaged the public's confidence in widespread technological changes made since the disputed 2000 presidential election, the group said.
Posted by Esmeralda on November 30, 2006 at 11:59 AM
Damaged the public's confidence? Far as many Floridians are concerned that election was stolen pure and simple with the aid of the Supervisor of Elections.
Marine, I was trying to point out that while it would be great to seek other options some people need to be able to depend on what medicare will cover and it isn't as simple as seeking out other treatments when doctor's shut the door on patients.
Posted by Kristen on November 30, 2006 at 12:45 PM
Kristen, I've been through this with the VA who will not provide massage therapy to patients suffering from PTSD despite the fact that massage therapy was found to be beneficial to such patients as far back as WWI when their sufferings were refered to as Shell Shock.
All the hoopla about what one says for the season.
It's Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays and to all a good night! Whatever!
I'm not lettin' some group or whoever tell me what to say during this season. For me it's Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year and a healthy respect and regard for all the other spiritual celebrations during this time of the year.
It looks like we would both like to see some changes made when it comes to the treatments government agencies deem worthy. It is all too obvious that medicine and surgery get the thumbs up an unproportional amount of times when compared to alternative and proven treatments.
Posted by Marine on November 30, 2006 at 01:01 PM
well my favorite VA story is when they tell my father that they have no record of him serving even though he was treated out there less than 10 years ago and it will take two years before he can begin his treatment again.
You still miss my point.
Damaged the public's confidence? Far as many Floridians are concerned that election was stolen pure and simple with the aid of the Supervisor of Elections.
Posted by J on November 30, 2006 at 12:55 PM
I'm sure that many feel a certain sense of déjà vu.
Posted by J on November 30, 2006 at 01:05 PM
Egggsactly! If it doesn't come from your heart, it doesn't mean a thing.
Posted by SandyH on November 30, 2006 at 12:46 PM
There will never be peace in the world as long as religions are evangelical. As long as people can say they are good simply because they are Christian or Muslim (or whatever) and others are evil simply because they are not--they will see each other as a threat and hate one another. Religion is not about spreading peace, it is about spreading religion, by preaching or at gun point!
On that cheery note, I am off.
Have a great day dems.
Posted by Kristen on November 30, 2006 at 01:05 PM
What's your point Kristen?
Religion is not about spreading peace, it is about spreading religion, by preaching or at gun point!
Sadly this is the approach taken by ambitious men and women who desire only to be part of a group that is stronger than others. These aren't godly people and never have been. Instead, these folk are all about human power and the ability to control others with it.
Marine...thanks for your thoughts on deep tissue massage. Usually the pain with degenerative bone deteriation redates out of the femurs. In my case I also have two vertabre that are deteriating. When the spinal cord gets pinched, it's next to impossible to stand and walk. But all of that does not mean a whole lot, thats just happening to me. What is importantis that we should never have been in Iraq in the first place. By the time we get out we will have 3000 kia, 30,000 maimed and have spent 1/2 a trillion dollars on Bush's folly. Bush is attempting to build schools, hospitals, water treatment plants and repair the electrical grid in Iraq while here at home, 20% of our own children live in poverty, our own electrical grid is obsolete, and our health care system is a digrace! A lot of you good folks may disagree with me, but I think we shpould be taking care of our own first!
Did you ever get the book "One Bugle, No Drum"??? Good reading. Sorry for the lenght of this, but I'm slightly irratated tis morning.
In my case I also have two vertabre that are deteriating. When the spinal cord gets pinched, it's next to impossible to stand and walk.
Have you ever heard of manipulation? This and deep tissue massage combined offer a degree of relief from the above mentioned problem. Medication masks the pain and allows deterioration to continue unchecked, manipulation and massage focus on reducing the amount of stress being applied to the joint(s) in question thereby reducing pain and deterioration.
I agree, Americans come first.
Never read the book, though it sounds good and I may just check it out.
By the way goodfoe, deep tissue massage may offer some degree of relief from your other condition because it relaxes that nerves which are responsible for conveying pain to the brain. It may also be that stress compounds your pain by tensing muscle fibers in the deep tissue near the bone. It's a possibility, not a certainty. I hope you don't mind me passing that on.
senator sanders, making socialism a respected concept in the senate. bravo!!
Socialist senator to push Congress from left
Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:40pm ET
BURLINGTON, Vermont (Reuters) - From pressing for hearings on Iraq to probing no-bid contracts awarded to Halliburton Co., America's first socialist senator aims to give Congress a hard tilt to the left.
Bernie Sanders, a 16-year veteran of the House of Representatives who swept 65 percent of the vote in Vermont running as an independent in the November 7 elections, says Congress owes voters an exhaustive probe into the White House.
"It is time to ask some hard questions. Why did we go into Iraq and what did the president know and when did he know it," Sanders said in an interview in his Burlington office on a hillside above Lake Champlain near Canada's border.
"The war in Iraq has been an absolute disaster and it's absolutely imperative that America never again goes that route. That's why we have to ask those questions," he said.
vermont delivers the real goods
Sandy...thanks for your suggestions...I will call Humana Gold.....thier sales hype tells you that you can go to any doctor you wish,...what they don't tell you is that most doctors will not accept this coverage because it essentilly is a "pass through" to medicare. I didn't understand that when I enrolled and that is my fault. I should have investigated the situation better. I had my chemo at M. D. Anderson Cancer Research Hospital in Houston. Excellent care. Unfortunatley, I had my bladder cancer surgury done by a HMO doctor. It failded and I now have a hernia the size of a large cantelope on my stomach and it is really an inoperabe situation.During the course of my tratment, I ran into several situations where the private insurance companies we had tried to defraud us. For example, trying to kick me out of the hospital one day after I came out of ICU. There is agreat deal of criminal fraud perpitrated on unsuspecting patients by private insurors. Most suffer in silence, die and thier story dies with them. We didn't want that to happen, so we wrote a book about it and as funds permitt, have been sending copies to Democratic members of Congress. In that way, we have tried to benifit a lot of oeople. Considering some of the things I have said about the Bush administration on this site, I can't give you the name of the book. I don't want to see the black suburbans pull up to my front door. As an aside, I had my wife call M.D. Anderson, they told her that they also, do not accept Medicare. With my spelling as horrible as it is, you may rightfully wonder how I ever got a book on health care published. My wife is my "editot" and is a wis with the computer and spell checked and corrected the entire manuscript. Thx for you good thoughts...
be thankful for the empiricist-dreamers....for they have saved you from polio, from pneumonia, from malaria, from early death and have given you electricity, television, space travel, artificial heart valves and the machine i am typing this on...
Humans must colonize other planets: Hawking
Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:39am ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Humans must colonize planets in other solar systems traveling there using "Star Trek"-style propulsion or face extinction, renowned British cosmologist Stephen Hawking said on Thursday.
Referring to complex theories and the speed of light, Hawking, the wheel-chair bound Cambridge University physicist, told BBC radio that theoretical advances could revolutionize the velocity of space travel and make such colonies possible.
"Sooner or later disasters such as an asteroid collision or a nuclear war could wipe us all out," said Professor Hawking, who was crippled by a muscle disease at the age of 21 and who speaks through a computerized voice synthesizer.
"But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe," said Hawking, who was due to receive the world's oldest award for scientific achievement, the Copley medal, from Britain's Royal Society on Thursday.
Previous winners include Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.
In order to survive, humanity would have to venture off to other hospitable planets orbiting another star, but conventional chemical fuel rockets that took man to the moon on the Apollo mission would take 50,000 years to travel there, he said.
Hawking, a 64-year-old father of three who rarely gives interviews and who wrote the best-selling "A Brief History of Time", suggested propulsion like that used by the fictional starship Enterprise "to boldly go where no man has gone before" could help solve the problem.
"Science fiction has developed the idea of warp drive, which takes you instantly to your destination," said.
"Unfortunately, this would violate the scientific law which says that nothing can travel faster than light."
However, by using "matter/antimatter annihilation", velocities just below the speed of light could be reached, making it possible to reach the next star in about six years.
"It wouldn't seem so long for those on board," he said.
The scientist revealed he also wanted to try out space travel himself, albeit by more conventional means.
"I am not afraid of death but I'm in no hurry to die. My next goal is to go into space," said Hawking.
And referring to the British entrepreneur and Virgin tycoon who has set up a travel agency to take private individuals on space flights from 2008, Hawking said: "Maybe Richard Branson will help me."
Good Afternoon, ALL!!
Well, there's ANOTHER ONE LOOSE.
What is it with these "holier than thou" Pugs and NAMBLA??
Posted by goodfoe on November 30, 2006 at 02:04 PM
Have you sent a copy of your book to Michael Moore? He's doing a movie on the health care crisis. I bet you could be a big help to him.
I've been the familiy health care giver off and on for both sides of the family during the past 15 years, but it sounds like you know a lot more about the subject than I.
I've been thinking about writing a book about my mother's death and how the system mades it a lot more difficult for people to die with dignity. We made the best of it, and I'm confident I did all I could to make her passing easier and meaningful. I was lucky I got to spend so much time with her at the end.
But you sure sure aren't ready for that yet. I knew you were a fighter. I'd love to read you book someday. Don't be so humble about what sounds like a serious work on an important subject.
Did anyone see 20/20 last night? Great show on charity. They did a study at Syracuse University about charity in the U.S. Out of the top 25 states for charity giving. 24 were RED States and only 1 was a Blue State (according to who voted for Bush v. Kerry) I guess now you commies can no longer spew your lies about how "liberals" care more about people than conservatives do. Also, they had the salvation army put out a dontation bucket at its busiest location in San Fran and its busiest location in Sioux Falls, S.D. (population about 1/50 of San Fran's) Guess where the salvation Army got more money...that's right. Sioux Falls. You pinkos are such lying idiots. You only want to be generous with other people's money.
And referring to the British entrepreneur and Virgin tycoon who has set up a travel agency to take private individuals on space flights from 2008, Hawking said: "Maybe Richard Branson will help me."
Posted by gregg on November 30, 2006 at 02:07 PM
gregg,
Wouldn't it be neat if Hawkings could soar into space and fly? Now that would be one heck of a flight.
With all the shit going on in the world today, it's good to remember there are those that still believe that mankind can fly to new heights. Science opens up so many possibilites.
PS-Vote for Liberty, Vote Libertarian.
A government can only give that which it has stolen.
Read more here...
http://townhall.com/Columnists/JohnStossel/2006/11/29/are_americans_cheap?page=full&comments=true
PERHAPS THE CREEPY LOSER CONSERVATIVES HAVE MORE MONEY......
You only want to be generous with other people's money.
Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 02:31 PM
Get off you soapbox and consider that you might one day be someone in need. Didn't Katrina teach you anything?
Posted by Kathy_in_Indiana on November 30, 2006 at 02:36 PM
I am sure they do. Conservatives believe that work is good. Liberals think living off the government (i.e. off other citizens is the ideal) However, read the list of states below and the red states are some of the poorer states yet they crush the blue state liberals who care so much about saving the poor...as long as they can do it with some elses money
The catalogue for philanthropy keeps track of which states are the most generous based on their respective incomes. Here is the top ten:
1)Mississippi
2)Arkansas
2)Oklahoma
3)Louisiana
5)Alabama
6)Tennessee
7)South Dakota
8)Utah
9)South Carolina
10)Idaho
Here is the bottom ten:
41)Pennsylvania
42)Michigan
43)Colorado
44)Connecticut
45)Minnesota
46)Wisconsin
47)New Jersey
48)Rhode Island
49)Massachusetts
50)New Hampshire
Posted by SandyH on November 30, 2006 at 02:37 PM
Katrina taught us the greatest lesson of all. You need to count on yoursef, not the government. And you are missing the point. Conservatives donate more money to charity than liberals. You do not practive what you preach. That is call hypocracy.
Neener Neener, that proves exactly nothing. It is a completely meaningless chart. If you could reason, you would know that, but we know you can't reason because if you could you wouldn't be a libertartiona pig.
Posted by SandyH on November 30, 2006 at 02:37 PM
yes, Katrina taught us a great lesson. You can never count on government, only on yourself and your neighbors. Also, you are missing the point. Conservatives give more than liberals. You are a hyppocrite.
Posted by Christopher_blunt on November 30, 2006 at 02:44 PM
Yes, but the study did show that people who are conservative give a higher % of their income to charity than those who consider themselves liberal. The study was conducted by Syracuse University. Hardly a haven of conservative thought. Why do you want the government to steal other people's money to serve your causes but you (liberals) wont give your own?
Posted by ranger995 on November 30, 2006 at 01:11 PM
I don't know, ranger. Religion can be whatever it needs to be. It's isn't all about earthly power. The power of peace can be just as strong.
The fact that a Turkish Islamic protestor was asking a pertinent question about Christanity even while he railed at the Pope, gives me hope that even the radicals want some peace in their world.
For every voice raised in anger, there are two quiet ones pondering the true meaning of life. This man seemed to be pulled from both directions. I see that as a sign of hope. He was trying to bridge the gap.
I think its time that Western cultures did the same. Turkey is after all sort of a bridge between the two worlds. I'd like to visit there someday.
9's 2:31 post proves the study was flawed.
Any gay person, or gay friendly person will not donate to the Salvation Army. The head of that organization has stated that he didn't want Salvation Army to have to help any gay people in need. Therefore, many gay folks and gay friendly folks no longer donate to that organization.
I used to drop in a five dollar bill every time I saw a bell ringer. They no longer get a penny from me.
Want to skew test results? Put a Salvation Army bucket in a city known for a large gay population and gay friendly laws
Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 02:45 PM
I know you are saying conservative but you really mean Republican, don't you?
I'm a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, so what does that say about the study? You are making assumptions about people based on faulty definitions.
Democrats always pay off Republican deficits and you know it. You are the hypocrite.
And Katrina didn't teach us that it's everyman for themselves. The Republican's idea of government failed to perform. So the American public decided that the Republican agenda was a complete failure and voted them out of office.
People give from their hearts not with just money...but also with acts of kindness. You really need to read the Christmas Carol or see a performance this season.
Regressive solution: CHARITY
Liberal solution: GOOD PAYING JOB
Give me the liberal solution!
Posted by Cate on November 30, 2006 at 03:01 PM
HA HA HA HA!!!! The ability to deny the truth in the face of overwhelming evidence thereof. I am impressed. You must be a lawyer.
That was just one test done for the TV program. The study at Syracuse was a scientific study of dontations throughout the USA to any charity, foreign or domestic for any charitabe cause. Face it, you people are the worst specimen on the planet, hyppocrites who advocate that the government steal money to support causes that you, yourselves will not support with your own money. I think I remember a special circle of hell reserved just for you
I saw that Stossel ("I wanna be on Faux News but I'm stuck here at ABC") segment and I believe the book and its balogna should be answered through proper data. My question for this Brooks guy, who wrote the book that this segment is based on, is this: If you discount all religous charities, which group gives more?
See, I think that the holier-than-thou Kristian Repugs give to their churches and sit back on their fat arses and think they've done their part. While the dems give not only money but TIME in volunteering and actually starting charitable programs that do not involve religion.
Also, the "data" was based on what people say that they give, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT PUGS ARE LIARS.
No doubt the study has huge holes and the author is as "fair and balanced" as Pravda, er, I mean Fox.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Thursday he believed Iraqi forces would be ready by June 2007 to take full control of security in Iraq, an issue on which he pressed President Bush during their meeting in Amman, Jordan.
In making the argument that his military and police could handle security in the country, al-Maliki has routinely said the force could do the job within six months.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/30/bush.trip.ap/index.html
To which Bush quickly replied, "I said NO f-ing timetables!"
Posted by SandyH on November 30, 2006 at 03:05 PM
I too am a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. We are called Libertarians though. I am not seeing your point. I am pointing out that "liberals" give less money to charity than repugs. So, wouldnt be DEMOCRATS that need to see a Christmas Carol? Scroog was "Scroog" because he failed to advocate for the government to take more money from people.
Did they count my tax money that went to unConstitutional "Faith based Initiatives"?
Probably not....
Posted by BlueinIdaho on November 30, 2006 at 03:11 PM
You pretty much nailed it, Blue. There are a lot of non-profit organizations to which you can make tax-deductible donations, but that doesn't make them charities in my book.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on November 30, 2006 at 03:11 PM
Actually the study did discount for dontations made directly to churches. I like how you referenced PRVADA since I am sure you would have loved to have worked for that paper, it was just so...oh what's the code word you guys are using now to replace communism??? Oh Progressive. That's it. If we call it "Progressive" maybe people will not realize that we are advocating for Socialist/Communist ideals.
Conservatives donate more money to charity than liberals. You do not practive what you preach. That is call hypocracy. Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 02:43 PM
And how the hell do you know it's not Liberals in those red states donating the money to conteract the crappy policies of the conservatives where they live?
Good afternoon
Here is prime example of the narrow and intolerant views of the Christian Right.
Opposition to the speaking of a US Senator that wants to make human conditions for ALL citizens in this country more tolerable because his views on abortion rights differ from those of other participating religious institutions, there are those opposing Senator Obama speaking on HIV/AIDS.
These folks evidently just carry Bibles around because they sure don't read them.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061130/ap_on_go_co/democrats_obama
I think a lot of people have big problems with all large national charities these days. Right after 9/11 the Red Cross was found to be not spending their money wisely. And these faith-based Republican iniatives using tax money only made some contributors more wary.
Smaller cities can keep better tabs on what's going on with local chapters of these charities, so I can understand why they might give more freely to them.
My personal beef is with the Boy Scouts. I volunteered hundreds of hours and annually helped raise donations for this organization and then I found out how homopobic they were. They do provide a needed role in the community, but they've lost my respect and support.
As the foundation of the American government, I am proud to provide our senior citzens with healthcare.
Posted by Domingo on November 30, 2006 at 03:16 PM
He shoots. He scores. Thanks for pointing out the obvious.
Nine,
Haven't you learned to view a study, any study, through a skeptical eye by now? Haven't you been led around by the nose enough for one lifetime?
See, as I stated above, I think that if you back out the religous charities, the numbers would be different. I also believe that the data is inherently flawed because it is primarily based on what people said they gave. Have you seen the questions they asked these people? And, this professor isn't even a statistician. We don't even know if the number questioned meets a statistically relevant number.
Flawed, but boy is the "liberal" (HA!) media and a few gullible souls eating it up.
Medicare has done more for our citizens than most charities combined.
And how the hell do you know it's not Liberals in those red states donating the money to conteract the crappy policies of the conservatives where they live?
Posted by Domingo on November 30, 2006 at 03:16 PM
Umm, because the scientific study showed that conservatives give more. If your logic held true wouldnt BLUE states be way ahead in the giving game. Face your hypocracy!!!! You only like giving other people's money!!
http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/2006/11/22/it-turns-out-conservatives-really-are-compassionate/
A government can only give that which it has stolen. Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 02:33 PM
Oh really? When you hand over money to Wal-Mart for a new TV or DVD, is that money "stolen"? All you are is just another free-loading conserative moocher who want all your police, fire, paramedics, schools, roads, military for free. You're nothing but a free-loading bum who wants to mooch off of others, pal.
Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 03:16 PM
"Actually", no it did not.
And, why are you so testy? I've voted for republicans (though never again) and democrats and like you are "fiscally conservative" and "socially liberal".
But, unlike you, I don't let anyone spoon feed "studies" to me.
Charities can provide soup kitchens, but
good paying jobs sustain families.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on November 30, 2006 at 03:23 PM
Sure I learned to be skeptical of studies. But I have never seen any data to suggest this study was flawed. Also, the FACT that red states dontate larger % of their incomes was based on an analysis of total receipts within those states for non-religous cause charities. It was not based on subjective questions.
Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 03:13 PM
No, I am called a Democrat. You can call yourself whatever you want. The study you site is flawed because its asumption are as faulty as your definitions.
It only proves that larger dollar amounts were contributed to the Salvation Army in different cities, not who the contributors were. Same thing with the state figures.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on November 30, 2006 at 03:23 PM
Sure I learned to be skeptical of studies. But I have never seen any data to suggest this study was flawed. Also, the FACT that red states dontate larger % of their incomes was based on an analysis of total receipts within those states for non-religous cause charities. It was not based on subjective questions.
If your logic held true wouldnt BLUE states be way ahead in the giving game.
NO! Because Blue states are not as messed up as red states. They give people jobs and hence don't need to give handouts.
Regressives are not compassionate- they're full of guilt!
And, Stossel claims to be a "Libertarian". Why did you stop using the term PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME after the first few posts? Is it because that ypu realized that "Blue" States have higher incomes, and you are comparing dollar amounts to percentages?
Also, I am SURE that San Francisco had MORE kettles than Bupkiss West Dakota, and people may have dropped their bucks in the kettle closest to their train station or where ever, not the "designated" test kettle.
Posted by Domingo on November 30, 2006 at 03:25 PM
Thank you for making my point. When I hand over my money to make a purchase from Wal Mart or some other great free market enterprise, I do so voluntarily. Wal Mart cannot throw my in jail if I dont buy a tv there. But the TAX man can throw me in jail if i do not surrender my money to him so he can waste it on some failed program like public eduation or an unjust war in iraq.
And, nice logic bozo. I am the one who wants to rid others of the burden of proving government services for me, yet you call me a "freeloader." It is you who wants to free load. Also, Libertarians do believe it is the job of the government to provide things like police departments and an Army, but do not think they should provide for every whim of the masses like healthcare, crappy public education that alays fails and always will
Anyone who votes against a minimum wage has to know that they are hurting poor folks. Anyone who votes for a politician who votes against the minimum wage has to know that they are hurting poor folks.
Its not compassion- its guilt!
SandyH...Thanks for your comments...I think you are too modest about your role as a care giver....I don't want to get into this debate about charities....get started on your book!....I'll "see" you tomorrow.
Is it because that ypu realized that "Blue" States have higher incomes, and you are comparing dollar amounts to percentages? Posted by DPD
Right! If a Red stater makes 10 grand a year and gives one grand, that's 10% of his income. If a Blue stater makes a 100 grand and gives five grand, that's five times more than the Red guy gave, but only half the percentage of income. There's lies, damn lies, and then there's statistics. And rePugs rely on all three.
9:
First of all, this book is clearly designed to make greedy and selfesh people not feel guilty for their actions. "You really are compassionate, even though you promote endless war, imprisonment without trial, and spying on your own people"
Secong of all, you can't tell me that Mississippi is #1 in charitable giving and it has nothing to do with the Church. I am sorry, but that is all there is in Mississippi. By the way, I don't see any difference in giving money to the church and paying taxes. Donations are generally mandatory at Church, and you have no idea where the money goes. Usually, it goes to the Pastor's new BMW--but I guess that is charity.
It is funny to me how people who consider themselves "libertarian" support the church so strongly. There is no single entity in the world that wants to control you more than the Church. They want to control every aspect of your life, and you willingly comply.
This book is more propaganda, as are all books on social issues now, and you are a troll come here to stir things up, which is ok because it is sort of a boring day.
We The People are the government.
We The People are good.
THE PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT IS GOOD.
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 03:36 PM
The FACT that minimum wages HURT the poor is not even that something is really debated among economists anymore. While a very small % of economists advocate for minimum wage, it is almost universally accepted that minimum wages are a detriment to the poor. The reason idiots like you people advocate for it is because you dont understand economics which is why you all marxists
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 03:44 PM
Was the GOVERNMENT GOOD when it went into IRAQ?
How about when it passed the PATRIOT ACT?
How about when it opposed GAY MARIAGE?
How about when it tortured people in jail?
How about the many innocent people on death row? Was goverment good then?
You are a lemming. Move to N.Korea moron.
That idiotic mentatlity is what despots use to control their subject. Government is force and oppression. It must strictly limited it it will consume us all.
The states with the some of the highest poverty rates have the highest charity rates? No news here.
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 03:36 PM
Quick lesson. Labor is a commodity. When you increase the price of a commodity without increasing its value, you decrease demand for that commodity.
You are welcome. More lessons tomorrow!!
Thank you for making my point. And, nice logic bozo. I am the one who wants to rid others of the burden of proving government services for me, yet you call me a "freeloader." It is you who wants to free load. Also, Libertarians do believe it is the job of the government to provide things like police departments and an Army, but do not think they should provide for every whim of the masses like healthcare, crappy public education that alays fails and always will Posted by 9
No, Thank you for making MY point, Bozo. You drive on roads, you went to school, you have the police protect you, you call for wars all over the world. You just don't want to pay for any of it because you're a moocher, a freeloading bum who wants to live off of other people's money. You're disgusting, you piece of trash.
Arrogant regressives prefer charity over a good paying job.
Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 02:45 PM Katrina taught us a great lesson.
Yes, what katrina (and this administration and this Congress in general) taught is that when we elect people who think that government can't do much good we shouldn't be surprised that they don't do much good when they govern.
Libertarians can't even work with each other to organize and run a national political party let alone work with the rest of country to organize and run a government.
The FACT that minimum wages HURT the poor is not even that something is really debated among economists anymore. Posted by 9
Ha! here we go again. Maybe we can "not hurt them" by just not paqying them at all, huh? Now the freeloading "moochers" wants poor people's labor for free! This sicko is so damn cheap he wants EVERYTHING for free. Even slaves now! What a low-life!
I agree with Cong. Rangle only the dumb emlist in the material, it explains John Kerry's enlistment to a tee
Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 03:49 PM Quick lesson. Labor is a commodity.
Great. Be sure to tell that to workers across the country. Just don't tell them you're a Democrat.
Here's a quick lesson for you. Any ideology when taken to an extreme is destructive and laissez-faire Capitalism is no exception.
If this democracy ever turns it's citizens into commodities, it will cease being a democracy.
But you go ahead and fight on. Just raise the GOP or Libertarian banner when you do.
The minimum wage is what it is.
Arguing against the minimum wage is arguing for a lower wage.
Regressives prefer charity over a good paying job.
Posted by 9 on November 30, 2006 at 03:47 PM
All of those things you mention come about because the Church has gotten involved in government.
We are not Marxists here for the most part, and I bet you haven't even read Marxist theory. It is mostly about the struggles between rich and poor. To me Communism is an ideal that humans who are ambitious will never accept. I certainly don't want to live in a commune.
However, I do want government to provide a check on greed, and services like roads, schools, police, military, etc...
I am glad that my government abolished slavery. Government oficials don't always act the way I would like, but I trust them a hell of a lot more than I trust corporations and religious groups.
Have you ever heard of Robber Barons? That is what happens when there is no government regulation. There should be a system of checks and balances so that we can stay somewhere between Soviet style communism and Nazi style capatalism.
Being "libertarian" wouldn't mean much if you had to earn the wages the company decided, had to shop at the company store, and live in the company tenaments--You would essentially be an indentured servant.
Many charities are inherently religious but are not necessarily churches...duh.
Also, there are real statiticians that are already picking apart Brook's data because he relies on flawed base data--such as the income factors.
This is just so sad. I died and went to heaven the first time I tried Rum Raisin.
Co-founder of Haagen-Dazs dies at 90
HACKENSACK, N.J. - Rose Mattus, who launched Haagen-Dazs ice cream with her husband, peddling the super-premium treat in grocery stores, has died. She was 90...
Even though she had diabetes, Rose Mattus was a fan of her product, particularly vanilla, said her daughter Doris Mattus Hurley.
"If it was anywhere in sight, she would sneak it," Hurley told The Record of Bergen County. "My dad was always yelling, 'Rose, get out of the ice cream!' But she lived to be 90, so I guess it didn't do her too much harm."
Posted by ranger995 on November 30, 2006 at 04:01 PM Have you ever heard of Robber Barons? That is what happens when there is no government regulation.
But ranger, if we get rid of laws governing coporporate behavior, corporate crime will go away.
You need to learn how moonbats think, dude.
Domingo: For or against censorship? Posted by Greggythechild
I'm all for folks who try to force themselves on other people against those people's will, being put in jail were they belong. You can call not being able to force yourself on people who don't want you bothering them "censorship" all you want to, Pal, but it ain't gonna wash. If you came up to me on the street and started getting all mouthy, I have the right to tell you to "get away from me" and have you arrested if you don't. "Free speech" only allows you speak to someone who wants to talk to you, otherwise it's nothing but harrasment and a crime.
Posted by Greggythechild on November 30, 2006 at 04:00 PM
You are so right, it was Unions, those ungrateful workers, who stood up to the Robber Barons when this country was a utopia.
If only those poor people would shut their mouths and devote their lives to the corporation, then the corporate executives would have more free time to run the world.
Oh, how I long for the days when there was no minimum wage and no safety regulations for workers. When mines would collapse on a dozen men, and we'd send a dozen more down the shaft the next day. Oh how I miss the good old days when workers were not paid for sick days and there was no paid vacation, back when child labor was essential. Why send poor children to school, all they need to know is how to work in my factory.
Now, Unions have come and ruined all that.
Free Speech also includes the right to keep your mouth zipped when you have nothing relevant or helpful to offer.
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 04:03 PM The 40-hour work week has not ruined this country.
Nor did the "weekend", or employer health care, or Social Security, or employer participation in 401K's - all bargained for collectively.
The conventional wisdom used to be that one man's employee was another man's customer and everyone had to pay their people enough so they're were people around who could afford to buy your product.
Not so any more.
Corporations have direct incentives to reward shareholders.
Except in a relative few sectors of the economy, they have no direct incentive to treat employees as something other than commodities or the ingredients for molding compound.
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 04:16 PM Sick days have not ruined this country.
Cheap labor economics IS sucking the wealth and prosperity out of America.
Domingo:
Wow you love to spin. So I assume by your lack of a yes or no response you accept censorship.
Posted by Domingo on November 30, 2006 at 03:55 PM
Yes Domingo, don't you know that by running sweatshops in places that don't have minimum wages, we are actually helping those people? Before the factories, they were land owning peasants who made their own food but made little to no money. Now they own no land, live in corporate tenaments, and have just enough money to buy food from the company market, which buys food from peasants and marks up the price. Wow have we helped those people so much. They should be kissing our feet! I wish America was like that, I hate owning my own home! The corporation should provide all to me.
Posted by dorsano on November 30, 2006 at 04:15 PM
...which is why they are outsourcing their work to countries that do not have unions.
It's is ironic and depressing that the people that have benefited the most from unions are usually the ones that ignore and forget the lessons of the past. That is what a poor education will get you: the inability to think for yourself and the inability to recognize when you are being duped ONCE AGAIN by the people who run this country.
Corruption within Unions and dues and pension funds used for personal gain have been a disaster.
Tell people Unions are good when they are forced to pay organized crime off. Look what happened to JFK after his father bought an election with the help of the mob
Jeez, these right-wingers are a sick bunch, aren't they? It's like trying to tell a rapist, "No, you can't force somebody to have sex with you if the other person doesn't want to!" Now we have to explain to these simple minded morons, "No, you can't force somebody to talk with you if the other person doesn't want to!" Everyone of these conservatives is a sociopath control freak who wants to run others lives. And then this clown has the nerve to try and claim being a "Libertarian". All they do is lie.
Danny DeVito sex in every inch of the Lincoln Bedroom and BJ Clinton in the Oval Office with Monica....laughable and sad to what is accepted
Domingo:
You are the one that thinks censorship is ok, not me
Oh,
I have forgotten to mention how the damned unions are responsible for terrible things like pensions, retirement, and disability.
Before unions, workers had no weekends or free time to spend idly. WORK WORK WORK!!!!!! Oh, those were the days!
Man have unions just torn this country to shreds.
Domingo, you have to understand that these guys are the same drones that voted for Prince George cuz he would be funner to drink a beer with.
You have to answer in short, one syllable word sentences, otherwise the message is lost. We learned that from 2004.
Lobbyists buy elections/laws.
What is the ratio of corporate to union lobbyists?
Attorney General
After the 1960 election, he was appointed Attorney General by President Kennedy. As Attorney General, he continued his crusade against organized crime, often at the resistance of FBI head J. Edgar Hoover. Convictions against notorious organized crime figures rose by 800% during his term. Kennedy was relentless in his pursuit of Teamster's President Jimmy Hoffa resulting from widespread knowledge of Hoffa's corruption in financial and electoral actions, both personally and organizationally.
Why are the pugs so interested in the sex life of Bill Clinton and the Kennedys? Is this some sort of jealousy thing or something deviant?
It always makes me chuckle when they say "BJ" like they are in sixth grade...
Blue:
Funny, either you agree with censorship or you don't it really isn't hard, unless you need to spin.
Well, now we know Greggythechild is another one who hates seeing workers get paid for their work. He must be another freeloading moocher who wants to "live off other people" like number "9" does.
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 04:28 PM What is the ratio of corporate to union lobbyists?
Pretty high.
But while there are still some union lobbyists, none have been given the many opportunities to write legislation that corporate lobbyists have.
Domingo:
I guess reading comprehension is not a strong suit of yours. How many Union negotiations have you sat in on?
Posted by Greggythechild on November 30, 2006 at 04:20 PM
I am not saying Unions are corruption free or have their problems, but without them there would be no middle class, which is what makes this country so good.
There is lots of corruption in the government, in the church, and any large organization (unions, corporations, chairities). That does not mean that they are all evil. We have to constantly work to make them better, and hold them to high standards.
Kidding aside, unions can go overboard, but they have provided the average American with so so much.
Read the story of Matewan, where corporate bastards actually killed union reps who were trying to organize the workers. The conditions those workers lived in were just scandalous. Is that what you want to go back to?
For me, I would rather put up with union corruption than the alternative. Although they piss me off, I would rather see rules like "you need a qualified electrician to plug something in" than millions of factory workers living in terrible conditions and dying in misery.
For the 40 hour work week, paid vacations, sick days, a home of my own, I owe those brave union representatives who gave their lives fighting for the workers.
Censorship, as relevant to the US Constitution, is the restriction of speech, or the representation thereof, BY THE GOVERNMENT or authority of a similar nature, i.e., school.
Kicking someone out of a private business or, in this case, a blog, is NOT CENSORSHIP.
Just consider yourselves EDITED.
Greggythechild. You are the one that thinks mooching off the government and working people is ok, not me.
Domingo,
Again off point, I have been involved with many union negotiations, to make it short and sweet you take care of the leadership and they could care less about the membership
Blue:
So burning a book is not an attempt at censorship, interesting theory
Posted by ranger995 on November 30, 2006 at 04:34 PM For me, I would rather put up with union corruption than the alternative.
If a link's not posted consider it BS, Ranger.
Also, in the mind of moonbat if one of anything is guility, they are all guilty,
unless the guilty party is a Republican.
Then he or she is a liberal and that trumps everything else.
Greggythechild, just admit it, you don't want workers to get paid. Don't try to cover it up with tangled talk of "leadership" and "membership" and the rest of your hookie mish-mash.
Posted by Greggythechild on November 30, 2006 at 04:40 PM
No, you can burn all the books you like. BUT, when a public library (see where "the gov't" comes in?) prevents books from being read by the US public by burning or otherwise, THAT is censorship.
Corruption within Unions and dues and pension funds used for personal gain have been a disaster.
Posted by Greggythechild on November 30, 2006 at 04:20 PM
Why don't you get mad at the corruption in corporations? Instead you want to free them from any regulation.
Why aren't you mad about Enron, it was the corporation that cut the pensions. Why aren't you mad about corporate scandals like KBR in Iraq and Afghanistan stealing your tax dollars? Do you ever complain about them? Not a word, just want to come here and attack the unions.
If I have to choose between the corrupt union heads and the greedy corporate elite, its a "no brainer" for the unions.
You can't tell me that the corporate elite would not revert right back to the Robber Baron days if they could. They already have by moving their factories to places without labor laws, by hiring illegal aliens here at lower wages and benefits, and by destroying our environment. These people have absolutely no conscience--if it makes them more rich, it is good.
Disclaimer--not all corporations are bad, many have choosen to pursue good practices.
Posted by ranger995 on November 30, 2006 at 04:34 PMFor me, I would rather put up with union corruption than the alternative.
As an example of BS consider that union negotiating committees don't discuss compensation for their leadership with the corporations they are negotiating wage and benefits with. :)
As another example of BS consider that employer sponsored pensions cannot be accessed by union leadership - only underfunded by the corporation. :)
Also, Libertarians do not believe it is the job of the government to...provide for every whim of the masses like healthcare
Cancer and high blood pressure are just a whim?
So you believe that only those who can afford the inflated, mismanaged health care offered by American insurance companies deserve to give into these whims?
This is the kind of logic that keeps the libertarians out of office...and the Republicans living with a ticking clock that is about to blow up in their face.
Domingo:
So again I assume you have never been involved with Union contracts and/or negotiations.
Ranger:
You make an assumption about my feelings regarding corporations that is incorrect
Posted by BlueinIdaho on November 30, 2006 at 04:20 PM ... which is why they are outsourcing their work to countries that do not have unions.
Yes, without strong unions and without enforced labor laws.
The rise of global capital markets and the rise of transnationals, has outstripped the growth of internation labor agreements and that has brought on the current imbalance.
Blue:
Simply Google censorship to see how incorrect you are
Domingo:
I do respect your attempt to discuss a subject you seem to know nothing about.
Posted by SandyH on November 30, 2006 at 05:05 PM So you believe that only those who can afford the inflated, mismanaged health care offered by American insurance companies deserve to give into these whims?
What's even more interesting, Sandy is that insurance companies don't provide ANY health care. Health Care providers like doctors, hospitals and nurse do.
All insurance companies do is pool risk and spread the cost among the participants.
Without regulation, in a laissez faire world, they would kick all the sick people out of the risk pool and just insure the healthy ones.
Ah, so now Condi is explaining to Brian Williams the virtues of bi versus tri lateral meetings. This gives a whole new meaning to diplomatic "relations." I’ve often wondered what her true talents were.
This unfortunate summit fiasco is even worse than the Katrina embarrassment. If anybody thought this group of dysfunctional screw ups could still do anything right, they now know different.
People who don't believe in the people's government can't govern!
Posted by dorsano on November 30, 2006 at 05:18 PM
dorsano,
And that's what they are pretty much doing to those who have any pre-existing conditions. Get sick and your out the door.
The truth about minimum wage and jobs. Pay particular attention to the first article on Illinois (which is now $6.50, and going up to $7.50 in July, then to $8.25 within 3 years).
It has been PROVEN that raising minimum wage increases employment, and decreases reliance on social programs.
People who don't believe in the people's government don't deserve our votes!
Posted by Greggythechild on November 30, 2006 at 05:09 PM
No, I am not incorrect. The broad term, "censorship" is currently applied to everything from a teenager not able to wear a skimpy skirt by thier mother to a government restricting what its citizens read. However, if you read my earlier post to you, I stated "as relevant to the US Constitution", because that is what is at issue.
Real Censorship is when a government through its power restricts information to its citizens. Now if you want to argue that this blog somehow "censors" you by removing harassing posts, that is as ridiculous as saying that kicking someone out of a store for wearing a Michael Savage shirt is "censorship". Neither are. They are acts of private citizens who have the absolute right to remove someone from their property that they do not wish to deal with.
Now, tell me I'm wrong...
People who don't believe in the people's government corrupt the system!
I wonder if al Sadr's security forces will be ready by June, 2007? It's obvious that he's the one who's really training the Iraqi troops and police.
It's fun listening to the 24/7 pundits analyze the Bush parallel-universe view of the situation... instead of discussing the reality on the ground over there. They just can't admit that Iran won because Bush blew it.
Will they ever cut the cord?
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 05:45 PM
The bigger corrupters are those that ignore and defend the acts of a corrupt government.
Greggythedhild...I have been involved in union negotiations...representing labor....there have been some very well run unions that have represented thier members honestly and fairly and there have been some that have not...that does not mean that all unions are evil just like the corruption of the leadership of the current "Reublican" party does not mean that A. Lincoln was dishones. So whats your problem?
If union leaders are corrupt, there are ELECTIONS to get rid of those corrupt leaders.
Wow, Libretarians and Republican trolls coming here at the same time. The Republicans are lost now that they're in the minority again and the Libreatarians are just lost, all fourteen of them.
Abortion pill thwarts breast cancer gene
WASHINGTON -- Scientists used the abortion drug RU-486 to keep tumors at bay in mice bred with a gene destined to give them breast cancer.
No one is suggesting women use the abortion pill that way. But the provocative experiment helped illustrate how the notorious breast cancer gene BRCA1 does its dirty work, by spurring a hormone called progesterone that RU-486 happens to block.
If researchers could create a safer hormone blocker, it might offer a long-awaited alternative for women with the bad gene. They have few good options today to prevent breast cancer.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on November 30, 2006 at 06:09 PM
Evening Blue. 72 and sunny here in today in central VA.
Exxon Mobil CEO Warns Ending Tax Breaks
Nov 30 5:26 PM US/Eastern
By MARK JEWELL
AP Business Writer
BOSTON
Proposals by congressional Democrats to eliminate oil industry tax breaks and subsidies would set a bad example overseas and discourage new industry investments, Exxon Mobil's top executive said Thursday.
Rex W. Tillerson said moves suggested by leaders of the incoming Democratic congressional majority would encourage similar steps by governments abroad, where Exxon Mobil Corp. generates the bulk of its profit.
"I think the bigger concern I have is not so much the economic direct effect of the fact that they want to take a tax break off here or there. But it's the message it sends the rest of the world that you don't have to provide stable (regulatory) frameworks," Tillerson told reporters after a speech to the Boston College Chief Executives' Club.
"And if that happens, none of us are going to be able to take the risk in this business."
Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, earns about two-thirds of its profit from oil and natural-gas production outside the United States, and production is rising in Africa, the Middle East and Russia.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/30/D8LNLLBG0.html
Over $10 billion in profits and they still want their tax breaks? WTF?! Sorry, Mr. Tillerson, the American people have spoken. Furthermore, screw around with the prices again like y'all did in the first half of the year and we may nationalize Exxon\Mobil or the whole darn industry. Better yet, we'll find something in the Patriot Act to link big oil to terrorism and confiscate the whole kit and kaboodle. Be afraid, Mr. Tillerson, be very afraid. The people have spoken. Corporate welfare ends in January of 2007.
LONDON (Reuters) - BSkyB Chief Executive James Murdoch launched a withering attack on the British broadcasting industry and the BBC in particular, accusing it of megalomania.
In a speech in London hosted by media regulator Ofcom, Murdoch also appealed for less regulation and a free market, which he said was not currently the case in the industry.
"The triumph of the free market surely indicates that broadcasting should be more like other industries," he said on Thursday.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/30112006/325/bskyb-s-murdoch-accuses-bbc-megalomania.html
This is another fine example of the conservative pot calling the kettle black. Bring back the Fairness Doctrine here and leave the BBC alone.
The oil companies have not built a new refinery in the U. S. in over 20 years. Yet the bonuses and retirement programs they vote each other exceed the gross nation product of some countries. I'm tired of all thier sick excuses and posturing. It amounts to class warfare and they have all the $ to grind working people into the dust.They need to be taxed and we need to go to corn fast. That is supposed to be the role of national government, to protect all of its citizens from exploitation
K Street Already Influencing Democratic Leaders
While the Democrats had opposed many of President Bush's tax cuts, particularly the investment tax cuts which has temporarily reduced capital gains and dividend tax to 15%, Rangel said that to repeal them would be counterproductive, and would merely throw the area of tax policy into chaos
I have said it before and I will say it again: Moderates don't want change. Mr. Rangel (the guy who wants a draft) has been getting a lot of cash lately from corporate lobbyists. I think it has something to do with him becoming the head of the House Ways And Means Committee.
Posted by BobVADemHawk-Gore-Obama2008 on November 30, 2006 at 06:27 PM
Bob,
The oil companies as terrorists? That sounds plausible to me. After jacking up prices over $3.50 a gallon all spring and summer then dropping them down below $2 a month before the election, I'd say they are operating like pirates.
Besides there is a precedent. Didn't Putin throw the head of their private oil industry in jail for terrorism against the Russian consumer and nationalize the industry?
If that doesn't work, there's always plutonium poisoning? Pay your taxes, Rex W. Tillerson. The rest of us do.
all fourteen of them.
Posted by BobVADemHawk-Gore-Obama2008 on November 30, 2006 at 06:09 PM
Sounds sort of like they are an endangered species.
SandyH...just read your last post...you really do need to write your book if for no other reason than you have the skill to do it and to leave it for your family record.
Charles Rangel is getting money from the financial industry.
Raising retirement age or reducing benefits can't be ruled out if the Social Security system is to be saved from going bust, Rep. Charles Rangel said yesterday.
Let's see........
My top three donors are from the financial, insurance, and healthcare industries. Well, let me see what I can do for them. Oh. I almost forgot: I am supposed to be helping poor and middle class folks. I'll just make it look like reform.
Evening all,
DPD,
Great commentary last night. I want to see a DPD news network. HAHAHA
pee-wee....I read not to long ago that Hillary has been accepting large contributions from the health care industry. Now that they think she might be president, they "want a place at the table". I have liked her and Bill for a long tome,what do you think?
Goodfoe - glad you hung around. Some drug companies do offer assistance with certain medication. I was not sure from your post, if the loss of your doctor meant that you had no prescription for the medication or Humana was refusing.
It is now open season for Part D of Meciare and you could change from Humana if another plan would benefit you more. I believe you can compare plans at medicare.gov. The site may also help find a dr who accepts medicare in your area.
I would love to read your book and hope that your story moves some mountains in DC. Health care in this country is a national disgrace.
Greetings goodfoe,
Sorry to hear of you medical nightmares and pains. There is change coming, this system is broken and disgraceful.
There are lots more like you. Can you start a website, or do you know of one, that can organize and present cases to help effect a systematic change?
Raising retirement age or reducing benefits can't be ruled out if the Social Security system is to be saved from going bust, Rep. Charles Rangel said yesterday.
****
Rangel is beginning to irritate me. He never been my favorite Dem. Of course, he's a better choice than any Pug but come on this is hardly the only choice. How about:
1) Putting back the money Bush stole.
2) Raising the salary cap.
I can tell this. People that are nearing retirement (50 plus) do not want to hear about changing the rules on them this late in the game.
Dems better thread lightly in this area or they will face pissed off voters in 2008 themselves.
Is there anyway we can replace Rangel as head of Wats and Means?
Corruption within Unions and dues and pension funds used for personal gain have been a disaster.
****
Me thinks we have a new Re-pug troll or is the same old Frosty.
Give it a break. Unions are no more corrupt than the corporate leadership.
People who don't believe in the people's government can't govern!
****
That's the real corruption. Politicians who feel more obligated to their large campaign contributors in the corporate world rather than people.
We have a bunch of Dems who should get the boot in the next primary. It's time for Dems to embrace real campaign finance and corporate lobby reforms. Otherwise, they will take over the culture of corruption. This is not what voters voted for in 2006.
I have liked her and Bill for a long tome,what do you think?
Posted by goodfoe on November 30, 2006 at 08:29 PM
I'm not pee-wee, but if I may, I think Hillary has been working hard to get vengence. She, as first lady, put up a plan, that no one else seemed to be able to tackle, and was cruelly bushwacked. Look out idiots that messed with her if she gets the position beyond criticism and care.
That said, how about Clinton,H. and Clinton,W. for a ticket?
Dixiehen....thx for your help....are you from the south or is that a stupid question?.....I'm going to look at changing from Humana...tomorrow...now that we control Congress, it might be possible to get at least a subcommittee hearing on the criminal fraud that some of these private health insurance companies routinely practice. My estimate is that including dependents, people covered by private health care and/or HMO's probably is in the 100 million number. The patient that get ripped off is one lonely individual going up agaainst a billion dollar insurance co that is highly experienced at reducing claims. Its not a level playing field...Anyhow...thx again
There is change coming, this system is broken and disgraceful.
****
The system is broken. Unfortunately, there are still roo many self-centered americans who say I have my health care so why should I vote for a change.
The real expert in this area is the economist Dean Baker. He thinks we are still two to three major shocks away from real reform. Maybe when more than 50% of the country has no health care something will finally get done.
I hate to be that pessimistic but the resistence to change is still way too strong. Too many tire old meme's still around such as universal health care is too costly and universal health care will mean waiting lists, etc... It's a shame and the disgusting corporate media doesn't help at all.
Good evening
Time to bring out a subject that I do not see much posting of comment and I sense ranks right up there with abortion and same sex marriage as lighting fuses.
Affirmative action! Oh yeah, a whipping boy if there ever was one. As things currently stand in this country, most folk other than those of color and the conservative ones that don't know any better feel that there is actually no need for affirmative action. But that is because they have been feed and drummed the premise that it gives one race a job over another. Wrong! That is not the totality of what affirmative action is all about.
Affirmative action was designed to attempt to remove as much of the inequalities for minorities which at the time were African-Americans in the real world as could reasonably by done. The real world included, but is not limited to employment, education, sports etc. It originated with the gauge of having a percentage of minorities included within a framework.
Two terms were launched as the wrecking ball for the beneficial program and they were reverse discrimination and quotas. Anyone that was not a minority (white) that felt that they were wrongly denied a position to whatever they desired immediatley stated that they were discriminated against, but only in reverse. Wrong! They did not lose out on their pursuit because of a minority being hired. What so very many, many people did not and still don't realize is that a minority only had to be CONSIDERED in the process, BUT if the qualifications overrode other applicants then it was a go. The percentages or quotas as so aptly labeled came in because there were those that still found ways to get around the program and its goals and therefore had to be TOLD to have a certain percentage of minorites especially if they were receiving any type of federal funding.
Since the program couldn't be torn down as a whole, opponents decided to make a state by state blow out. First California with Proposition 209 and now Michigan on Nov. 7. The crusade is led by a Ward Connerly who has deemed himself the Father of Kill Affirmative Action. Ward is an African-American of mixed heritage that has refused to say whether he is black, white, red or what. As he states, "the world says I'm black, but that is not true" (then what are you Ward?) As a University Regent who was appointed by former Gov. Pete Wilson (Wilson also nominated Janice Rogers Brown to the CA Supreme Court-where did he find these crazy black folk?) and was approached when two students and their families felt that they were denied acceptance into University programs due to affirmative action programs. Connerly has been shouting in his blowhorn since then to destroy the program. He currently heads a conservative civil liberties group that is backed by some very powerful conservative money, big money.
Think that there is no need for affrimative action? Oh so we have come so far? I don't think so, not by a long shot. But you see for black folk, we accepted that there wasn't going to be any more beneficial assistance for us from the program long ago when the first yells of reverse discrimination starting creeping out. Boils down to using the doors that are still open for opportunites. But for other people of color and WOMEN the deathknell of this program will hurt deeply.
The banning of affrimative action on a state basis is equivalent to an old slavery proverb:
I done been in sorrow's kitchen and licked the pots clean.
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/mathis1117
goodfoe - I'm in Alabama - across the Tenn River from the "Colbert Museum". I use the name Dixiehen, because I'm too old to be a Dixie Chick, but I like their style.
Well, well, well ... Olberman pretty much says what I said earlier this week:
Newt Gingrich STFU!
Iraq's civil war set to worsen, warns top analyst
By Edward Luce in Washington
The civil war in Iraq is likely to deteriorate significantly over the next few months regardless of which combination of options the Bush administration chooses to exercise, according to a report released by a leading Washington think-tank yesterday.
The report, Options for Iraq: the almost good, the bad and the ugly, dismisses as "dishonest" the Bush administration's claims to have readied more than 100 Iraqi military units for combat, pointing out that the true number is probably less than a third of the Pentagon's estimate.
It also takes strong issue with the notion that Washington can simply put pressure on Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, to push harder for conciliation between Iraq's clashing sectarian groups. It disputes the growing consensus in Washington that the US should press the Maliki government to close down the sectarian militias and forge a reconciliation with the Sunni Arab groups by threatening to withdraw US forces.
"It is not meaningful to blame Iraq for the problems that exist. These are mistakes that we made in nation-building," said Tony Cordesman, author of the report and one of the most influential analysts of the Iraq civil war, at the Centre for Strategic International Studies. "When you send a bull in to liberate a china shop, to blame the china shop for the broken china seems disingenuous, if not misleading."
The report says that the only way the US can hope to stabilise Iraq is by coming clean with the American public about the long-term costs, risks and patience that would be entailed in achieving that goal. It urges the Bush administration to listen to the Iraqi government and America's allies in the Middle East and Europe, rather than continue to treat "26m Iraqis as white rats" in an experiment of transplanting democracy.
********
www.ft.com/cms/s/227564c6-8017-11db-a3be-0000779e2340.html
-notice the international headline wording
So, Bush is still staying the course and is still defiant and is still in a state of denial. So, what else is new?
All DLCers are corrupt. That includes Hillary.
They're all slaves for corporate cash. yet they won't reform the system that makes them slaves (maybe the correct term is whores).
All DLCers are corrupt.
****
The worst thing the Dems ever did was to become "pro corporate/ pro business". It's a poorly though out idea. The DLC is a corporate front group ... it's as simple as that.
Watching this disgusting Scarred Borough show. Gawd I am sick of Pat Buchanan. What a damned phoney! He's been against the war from the start but is now arguing to stay there.
The hell with this Iraq war. If the Dems have any guts they will cut the funds off. If they don't we won't have enough money to reform health care, save social security, etc...
Damn it, enough of this Iraq garbage.
Rush Holt for head of the intelligence committee:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/15984
We won't go wrong with Rush. He is smart, committed to doing the right thing and a heck of a nice person. I met him a couple of times.
Black folks need their own political action committee.
Posted by pee-wee on November 30, 2006 at 07:00 PM
Now let me play the devil's advocate here: would there be the uproar as to Charlie's comments if he weren't black and in such a powerful poition?
Has it ever occured to anyone that with all the hoopla of the DEM election win and moving into such a powerful chairmanship, it would not be wise to say just what one would actually be doing in the coming weeks and months. I know I wouldn't let on to what I really have in mind or what is actually being discussed. Hell throw as much spin out there as the media will feed on. whether it be true, false, unsubstanciated or whatever.
Before the actual election the GOP already had Rangel repealing every tax cut to the rich along with other liberal based objectives. So why do what is expected?
Now let me play the devil's advocate here: would there be the uproar as to Charlie's comments if he weren't black and in such a powerful poition?
****
To me, that's irrelevant. My problem with Charlie is what he says NOT who he is.
I have a real problem with him proposing cuts to social security without even examining all of tje options.
I am not wild about a draft for the simple reason that it would give the maniac Bush more bodies to throw at a war with Iran.
Charlie is off to a bad start as far as I am concerned. He should try to build concensus within his party.
What does it mean to win in Iraq? For every idiot that says we must must win in Iraq, I am fed up with all of them. Tell me what the heck does it mean to win in Iraq. We beat Hussein, we arrested him, we had two-three elections. So, at what point is it a victory? There may be a civil war in Iraq for the next 100 years for all we know. Is it obly a win once the civil war stops and how does our troops wend it? Stupid!
Tom N
"When you send a bull in to liberate a china shop, to blame the china shop for the broken china seems disingenuous, if not misleading."
Is there anyone on this planet who can get through to Gone Wrong Bush?
Is there anyone on this planet who can get through to Gone Wrong Bush?
****
I don't think so. It's going to come down to the Dems saying we had enough and are cutting off the funding for the war. If we don't have the guts to do it not one troop will come home.
THE MYTH OF MORE IN IRAQ
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-11-30 17:51. Media
By Michael Schwartz
The midterm elections in the U.S. launched a new era in Iraq policy, including a new assertiveness by the ascending Democrats and visible soul-searching among at least some descending Republicans. The news is filled with a sense of impending change: the Democrats are finally claiming the front pages with promises of dramatic new departures and scads of investigations once they take control of the reins of Congress; James A. Baker’s Iraq Study Group is about to report its eagerly awaited recommendations for a new policy in Iraq to a new Defense Secretary, himself a critic of deposed Secretary Rumsfeld’s Middle Eastern policies; and the President is finally abandoning his “stay the course” posture in favor of a new mantra of “flexibility.”
But beneath this ferment lies an unfortunate continuity with pre-election reality: the myth of “more.” Almost without exception, whatever proposals are being raised about changing Iraq policy avoid mentioning[1] or explicitly reject[2] the idea that the United States should abandon its three-year old attempt to occupy Iraq, and instead actually withdraw its troops. Instead, each suggestion calls for the United States to do not less, but a whole lot more of something that is already a part of existing policy.
Among the most commonly heard cries for more are the call for more Iraqi troops to replace overstrained American combat forces; or more American advisers to insure the capability and growth of Iraqi combat units; or more American troops assigned to Baghdad to win back the streets of the Iraqi capital; or more marines in al-Anbar Province to quell the rising tide of violence in that heartland of the Sunni insurgency; or more Congressional oversight to insure that the administration is following a constructive course in the Middle East.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/15976
This is what we are be subjected to - the myth of more! The Dems must not give in to this. It's not a matter of doing more, it's a matter of getting out of there and letting Iraq decide their own fate. If they want civil war, let them fight it. If they don't a centralized government, then fine, why do I care about that?
I am totally disgusted with this iraq crap.
Charlie is off to a bad start as far as I am concerned. He should try to build concensus within his party.
Posted by rjsnj on November 30, 2006 at 09:20 PM
And if you had read the remaining paragraph of the post you would know that everything that is being said may not necessarily be what actually is. It's called sit, wait and see.
As for Pelosi not giving the nod to Hastings, this is something we all knew had to be even though Hastings has put in unparalled work and effort into that committee in the 20 years he has served. Consulation though that Harmon won't get the nod either.
And if you had read the remaining paragraph of the post you would know that everything that is being said may not necessarily be what actually is. It's called sit, wait and see.
****
We'll see! It won't be at all popular to tell the public that our solution to social security is to in essense do what the Republicans would do - cut benefits and raise retirement ages. That's all that privatization would acheive. If we do the same without privatization it will be equally unpopular.
Consulation though that Harmon won't get the nod either.
****
I agree with that. It's a shame about Hastings.
I hope that Rush Holt is an acceptable compromise. He has experience, brains, honesty and dedication.
evening dems- found this quote from scott ritter at antiwar.com:
"We say that we care about the war, but we don’t even really know what we’re fighting for."
we are all tired of the wars in iraq, we are more tired of all the empty rhetoric from both sides of the "war party" (dems and repubs alike)- we will continue to be tired as a country until new voices are heard, and i am starting to wonder if these voices will be heard from the dems or not- not that they aren't there, but will we find a way to silence the deafening roar of the dlc and its corporate cronies long enough to allow a new politics to emerge in this country or will it finally take enough people to say they have had it with the democratic party and begin seeking a third way- i don't know the answer to that question
i posted this here last night and nobody seemed interested (course they were a little busy entertaining the troll)- has anyone been following these excerpts from de la vega's book?
12/30/94
Newt said his wife was his greatest "advisor", "confidant", the "person I love".........
newt has had his head up his ass since he was born- he is one of a number of what should properly be termed "failed academics" who are eternally frustrated by their extreme views that don't come with enough substance and the hard work of research credentials to actually land them a job anywhere in the world of academia
bbc-Living in the shadows of Civil War
...I called a university professor I know. She didn't want me to use her name.
On Tuesday, the day after the curfew was lifted, she returned to work. There are more than 600 students in her department. Just 10 came in that day.
"They tell me they are too fearful to make the journey in," she said.
She's not going to work now. And like thousands of other Iraqis, she admits she's thinking of leaving the country.
The United Nations estimates that 100,000 people are fleeing every month, most going to neighbouring Syria and Jordan.
But she told me she doesn't want to leave. "I have still got a slight hope inside me, a candle in this whole darkness."
"But I am pessimistic, the candle is fading."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6158847.stm
Iraqi's are leaving for Jordan and Syria. Does this have something to do with Iraqi-Syrian meeting and GW being summoned to Jordan?
Well, GW and Co have accomplished great things. Iraq and Iran fight a war to a draw for 10 years. GW destroys Iraq, removes Sadam and Iran is the winner.
Now we have Condi in the middle east, to do what- entertain them with her ice skating and piano skills. (Fiddling while Rome burns)
12/30/94
Newt's Yardsticks: "Do we have policies that put power in the hands of the American worker?"
You failed Newt!
Malloy is screeching at Bush tonight!
Gawd, what can we do to get rid of this maniac Bush or at least cut his powers? The only option I see is cut the money. There is no way that we should give the Pentagon a 127 billion dollar supplement. That is outrageous. Make the Pentagon operate in a budget, no more supplements.
You failed Newt!
****
Newt stinks. He is the winner of the STFU award and must immediately shut his obnoxious pie hole.
rj- apparently jim webb thought about what he might do to end this nightmare recently when the cheerleader had the audacity to pull his petulant cheerleader routine on him at a meet and greet at the white house- one should have no doubt that it would have been over had he chosen to act on his impulses that night as jim webb actually served in the military and looks like he could take the chimp with one hand tied behind his back
Now we have Condi in the middle east, to do what- entertain them with her ice skating and piano skills. (Fiddling while Rome burns)
Posted by dixiehen on November 30, 2006 at 10:10 PM
Yes this is the woman who was so busy with ice skating and piano lessons that she had no knowlege or participation in the civil rights era or as she calls it, the "counter culture".
Condi and I are in the same age range there by a couple of years give or take and mighty funny I know the time frame like the back of my hand.
I guess she didn't know about the 4 little girls that died in Birmingham either.
What gets me are folks whose time or star has come and gone and they're still out there trying to either boost the star back to life or just trying ride what's left of it back into the spotlight.
That's Newt Gingrich.
queencity - it sounds like Jim Webb will keep things interesting in DC. I admire him for keeping his cool. But you can bet the house, he's on the hit list.
J- our paper carried story about Condi meeting Alabama Sen Sessions on her trip. She had to fill him in on the important news - the firing of Alabama's football coach.
gingrich appears to have been on a crusade for most of his life- the "opportunity" crusade- have been searching through the web about him- very little information on his failed academic career- he was denied tenure at west georgia college sometime during the '70's- mother jones has a couple of articles from '84 and '89 that talk about his crusade- sounds much like the "ownership society" crap that the cheerleader was trying to see to us at the beginning of his second term when he tried to pull a fast one and gut social security
hey dixie- it's jefro (or jeff if you prefer)- we cleaned house here on the computer and i ended up with another web address the other day and of course it wouldn't let me use my original moniker as it was taken at the other address (the one that i had forgotten)
This morning I saw a news clip of a killer whale swimming around in a pool holding onto a person during a show.
She held him under a couple of times then let him go. It was the earth speaking in sign language, unmistakable, yet still incomprehensible?
"He tried to stand up on the stage and that's when we realized there was something wrong with his leg and his foot. He was just white as a ghost," spectator Sherri Justice told KFMB-TV in San Diego.
www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/30/killer.whale/index.html
i saw some commentary on the web today regarding an op-ed that george will had written where he basically edited out some of the comments that bush had made to webb to try to make it seem like webb was the one that was being rude- when you read the whole exchange, there is no question that bush was the one that was being deliberately rude- for one thing, as was pointed out, webb had no desire to shake his hand or meet him (which is certainly understandable)- bush sought him out and pushed him into a corner (as is his usual m.o. when he smells that someone doesn't agree with his point of view)- i wonder how many times he has had someone punch his lights out- i have little doubt that it has happened more than once to the little prick
Hey Jeff - I have relatives in Cincy area. There is a house in one of suburbs that has an "Impeach Bush" sign in the yard. I have one sister-in-law who goes out of her way to drive by and honk. She made sure I got the tour and a chance to honk and yell my support.
I have not given up on my red state (Alabama) but have warned my dem rep (yellow dog) that he can now vote with the Dems and knock of the repug s**t.
12/30/94
Newt was just like our trolls here today: His idea of helping people was lowering taxes for the rich and have them volutarily give to charity.
Jeff, I noticed that in the Will article, he left out GW "That's not what I asked"
GW - How's your boy?
Webb - I want them out of Iraq
GW - That's not what I asked
Webb - That's between me and my boy
Guess Will got his info from Karl
My rep is Bud Cramer. There is some talk about Davis running for Senate, but don't know that he has decided. I don't know a whole lot about Davis. If he does decide to run, it will be another media frenzy, because of his race. It would be hard to predict how the locals in my area would vote. They tend to support dems for local and state offices, but there are some rednecks who would not vote for a black. I don't know if he could get enough support in south and central Alabama to carry state or not.
I've said I would vote for a two-headed purple people eating monster because it would be an improvement.
Nearly half of Ford workers accept buyout
By Bernard Simon in Toronto
Published: November 29 2006 18:06 | Last updated: November 29 2006 18:06
About 38,000 Ford Motor workers, or close to half of the troubled carmaker’s US blue-collar workforce, have accepted early retirement and severance packages as part of its turnaround plan.
The response to the buyout offer is well above the target set in September, when Ford unveiled an accelerated version of its Way Forward recovery plan.
Analysts said the response would enable Ford to achieve significantly higher cost savings than the plan’s goal of $5bn by 2008.
Together with similar packages offered by General Motors, Delphi, the bankrupt parts maker, and other suppliers, the acceptances at Ford mean that close to 100,000 unionised workers will leave the Detroit-based auto industry between the start of this year and autumn 2007. Thousands of salaried workers are also set to clear their desks.
The exodus has contributed to rising unemployment in states such as Michigan and Ohio, raising concerns about potential long-term social dislocation. Michigan’s October jobless rate of 6.9 per cent was the highest of any state.
On the other hand, the departures have already forced GM and Delphi to hire thousands of lower-paid temporary workers to minimise disruption in production.
Ford said on Wednesday that while it has not yet hired temporary workers, its agreements with the United Auto Workers allow it to do so.
-from Financial Times
dixie- just stepped away for late dinner and have just come back to read your comments- i wonder where your relatives live- we have some neighbors at the end of our street with impeachbush.org signs in their yard- i stopped one day to tell the woman of the house that i appreciated their signs- she thanked me and asked if i wanted one- i admitted that i wasn't sure i was ready to take the potential ill-will from the neighbors- we are the only house on the street that puts up political signs (very few in the entire subdivision put signs up)- we are on the east side
i say we are the only ones on our street that put up signs- actually there was one other house about a block away that had dem signs up before '04 election- the always put up a "peace on earth" in their bay window each christmas (did not put up political signs this year)- the woman with the impeachbush.org signs actually lives at the intersection of our allotment (on another street that runs by)
Jeff - They are in Batavia. They moved in the spring and didn't put signs in their yard, didn't want to create problems with new neighbors.
Well, I need to sign off, tomorrow is a work day
have a good night
dixie- nice to talk to you- we aren't too far from batavia- very close to mt washington actually- thanks, you have a good night and a good weekend
Dixie....I have fond memories of one nite in Hartford, near Dothan. Old farmhouse, tin roof, many bedrooms and a lot of visiting relatives. 'ol W A'
wanted me to drive him to the north, but we had to stop in Hartford. The wimmin' folk got the bedrooms and "us boys" got the floor. I woke up on the veranda with 'ol W. A. kicking me in the slats, ready to leave. Nice red clay country and nice, decent, down to earth country folks.
kudos to olberman for doing what the press is supposed to do- keep their eyes on the ball (maybe not so surprising that this former sportscaster should do so well as a nightly newsman)
keith is right to cast the light of truth on this fraud- after all, he brought us the failures of the so-called "contract on america" and now he imagines that he still has something to say to americans who have tired of his nonsense:
Olbermann says of Gingrich, "He offered the time-tested excuse trotted out by our demagogues since even before the Republic was founded: widespread death, of Americans, in America, possibly at the hands of Americans. But updated, now, to include terrorists using the Internet for recruitment. End result — 'losing a city.'
"The colonial English defended their repression with words like these. And so did the slave states. And so did the policemen who shot strikers. ... And so did those who interned Japanese-Americans. And so did those behind the Red Scare..."
and so did those who fought mlk and those who fought for civil rights during the sixties and so did tricky dick when he tried to justify his own criminal mind- maybe we should thank newt for once again showing us the criminal/paranoid mind at work- maybe he should give these speeches once a week to be sure that americans understand just how out of touch with reality he really is- then we can read the story of how he treated those ex-wives of his again just to be sure we understand what a sick cretin he is
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Video_Keith_Olbermann_blasts_Newt_Gingrichs_1130.html
happy friday all and good night
Are the posts reading correctly? Pretty quiet during the night.
Hi J,
I'm here!
(observing)
I have been all over the Blogosphere,actually, reading and posting.I posted a blog here as well.It's on my name.So, how are you?
Hello Ms FOS. Reading your profile there on your party builder page, so we both like the CA white wine :)
San Diego huh? My son was stationed there for 4 years 2000-2004. Know you're missing that weather.
Decided to stand my affirmative action soapbox last night. Quite a few folks were kinda thrown back with Condi's ice skating and piano lesson crapola. Girl needs to quit.
I'll comment on your post later today. Need to get a good read.
Decided to stand my affirmative action soapbox last night. Quite a few folks were kinda thrown back with Condi's ice skating and piano lesson crapola. Girl needs to quit.
Posted by J on December 1, 2006 at 05:36 AM
Like I said, she's got "UncleTomolitis" LOL! Most Black Republicans have that disorder.
He He!
Now I agree with this writer - I definitely wouldn't want to be Jordan about now.
I know. My Senator is out there in Africa right now too, trying to bring about some kinda peace.
He issued a statement about it. No other United States Senator has done more about Africa than Russ Feingold.(D-Wi) and I'm not just saying that because he's mine either. He has a long record.
FOS
And speaking of the "n" word again, let's hope that the hip hop community can come to grips and stop using it. Oh yeah, it rings dollar bills for them, but there has got to be a stopping point somewhere.
As you said earlier, it will give someone liberty to one day rap a song about "porch monkeys".
Oh yeah FOS, check this book out sometime when you get a chance. Good read, so realistic.
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0060090553/ref=pd_rvi_gw_2/104-3091389-7149517
J,
We can get Sharpton to buck up and call for a mass boycott of the industry untill they do right. He can also tell BET that they will lose ratings if they play raps that have to be bleeped out more than three times.
We have to hold them to task. It's gonna be hard, but we have to.
BTW. Who says N****R sells? It's the music and the beat that get's those CD's sold. They could rap about pancakes and still go Platnum.Look at that Lupe Fiasco guy with his two songs. One was about scateboarding and the other ,with Jill Smith "Daydreaming". I flippen love that song.
J,
I think, I might get that. I notice people who bought it also bought a book I have. The Covenant with Black America. Now, that book makes me want to go out and buy a laptop computer for every Black kid in America!
:p
I know. My Senator is out there in Africa right now too, trying to bring about some kinda peace.
He issued a statement about it. No other United States Senator has done more about Africa than Russ Feingold.(D-Wi) and I'm not just saying that because he's mine either. He has a long record.
Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForWeThePeople on December 1, 2006 at 06:32 AM
All of Congress should have the continent of Africa within their platform of goals, not just a few members.
Kudos to your Senator.
BAN THE RAPPER NOREAGA!
This ignorant fool doesn't want to give up the N' word because he wants to make his own little selfish point. Perhalps, an empty bank account might enlighten him! If he wants to act and talk like a ......, then he can NOT get paid like a .....!
"Man, Seinfeld was my show and Kramer, he was my favorite character," Noreaga lamented. "But f**k him. Why run to his aid? There are neighborhoods in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico that look like Third World countries. I definitely don't plan to change my vocabulary or speech pattern because of this incident. You never hear from these leaders until something controversial happens."
Before I go, speaking of rap - my main problem is with the videos that depict black women in such a degrading manner. There is no around it - black women are portrayed as b*tches and h*es in them. All about that body. None of them depict a sistah with some brains.
Now the folks that make these videos claim, "sex sells".
Sex sells? Crack sells too, but that doesn't make it right!
And that's my little playoff for the day
Take care FOS and Good morning to the morning crew.
Some bits and pueces this A M....While I was posting last night I had the tv on...Story about a nice lady in Houston who wants her insurance co to pay for addition tests for breast cancer....Blue Cross-Blue Shield has been turning her down for months now. Thier reason? she has no history of cancer in her immediate family. Seems that the lady herself does not qualify as "immediate" family even though she has already had one breast removed recently for cancer. Her doctor said that this delay of months in authorizing the tests he wants may very well result in the death of his patient.Nice folks, those people at Blue Cross= Blue Shirld.....
Mayor Bill White of Houston has a problem. Like a lot of big city mayors, he has more needs than he has money and is trying not to raise property taxes. Shelly Secula Gibbs ran for Tom Delays office. She lost to Nick Lampson for the regular term, but won the balance of Delay's current term. So, she gets to play Congresswoman for two months until the new Congress takes over in Jan.What has this got to do with Mayor White? It's going to cost the city of Houston an estimated $4 million to hold a special election to replace m/s Gibbs. Thats a lot of money to feed her political ambitions for two months. Mayor White(D) is trying to get the law changed to just leave M/s Gibbs former seat on the city council vacant until the next regular election which I believe is in May. We have a Republican Gov. and a Repub dominated state legislature, so lots of luck Mayor White!
J,
That's what irritates me about Bruthas. They are so stubborn and foolish.I mean, noone asked the guy (Noreaga) to chance his speech pattern, just stop saying the N'Word. What the hell do neighborhoods and thirdworld nations have to do with anything? So, we should say the N'Word because of that? I just don't get the way Bruthas think thse days.They're annoying as hell!
Idiots!
GRRRR!
Take care FOS and Good morning to the morning crew.
Posted by J on December 1, 2006 at 07:00 AM
I agree.
Have a Great Weekend!
Gotta come back, well this "brotha" is black, puerto rican and other things mixed so he doesn't have the desire to follow through for ethnic reasons.
bbl
bbl
Posted by J on December 1, 2006 at 07:08 AM
Not an excuse for him. Almost all Black Americans, with the exception of those from the south and Africans,Haitians Jamaicians and what have you, are of mixed heritage so, that's not an excuse. Besides, Paul Hall (A White Rapper) has never used the word and refuses to do so. He supports the NAACP's call to banish the N'Word. This isn't a Black thing.It's an American thing and so this rapper , Noreago has no excuse. He just want to be ignorant, stupid and selfish. Here we are trying to step up as a community and he want's to buck us at every turn.This fool will be the fisrt one calling fowl when somebody burns a cross in his yard. Maybe, he needs to learn the hard way. I hope he doesn't.
EVERYONE STAY SAFE
Huge Winter Snow Storms hitting the US Midwesten Region. Illinois, Minnisota, Wisconsin ,Missouri and others.
For some reason Green Bay, Wis. is situated in such an angle that we are'nt even getting hit bad. Just a few flurries, but Milwaukee is currently experiencing a Blizzard.
Have a great weekend all and stay warm.
C-Ya!
:)
good morning j and fos and goodfoe.
as an old white man the "nigga" thing in all these videos and stuff make me uncomfortable. i am big on freedom of speech but it just seems to be another pretty offensive way to make a buck. but then a bunch of white guys using it with racism in their hearts is worse and of course a bunch of white kids trying to emulate black rappers is pathetic....damn i am lost....
Posted by gregg on December 1, 2006 at 07:43 AM
I hear ya. Don't worry.
Okay, I'm gone for reals,
SMAK! all ya'll
:)
Gregg.....I'm an 'ol white guy too...sometimes I don't express myself too well, but you said it perfectly...thank you...one of my best nieghbors, directly across the street, is African American. We look out for each other...needless to say, ...I hate the"n" word. Good to hear from yiu again, I hope everything is going well for you.
i am reposting this because:
1. things are slow here this morning
2. it shows that gregg was ahead of all blogs and other left wing cranks in diserning the hack job george will tried to do on senator webb. note datea and time.
george will that pompous, sniveling ass is upset because jim webb told bush to back to off. aw poor george he wants his buddy the udda george treated with respect and civility....like udda george did with st mccain and kerry and so many others...the republicans and their msm apologists are a riot in defeat...all hissy and fussy and self righteous....get used to the taste assholes, it's gonna last awhile:
Already Too Busy for Civility
By George F. Will
Thursday, November 30, 2006; Page A23
That was certainly swift. Washington has a way of quickly acculturating people, especially those who are most susceptible to derangement by the derivative dignity of office. But Jim Webb, Democratic senator-elect from Virginia, has become a pompous poseur and an abuser of the English language before actually becoming a senator.
Wednesday's Post reported that at a White House reception for newly elected members of Congress, Webb "tried to avoid President Bush," refusing to pass through the reception line or have his picture taken with the president. When Bush asked Webb, whose son is a Marine in Iraq, "How's your boy?" Webb replied, "I'd like to get them [sic] out of Iraq." When the president again asked "How's your boy?" Webb replied, "That's between me and my boy."
--now of course auntie will rewrote what the dummie said---here is the exchange as reported by the seattle post intelligencer:
"How's your boy?" Webb, in an interview Wednesday, recalled Bush asking during the reception two weeks ago.
"I told him I'd like to get them out of Iraq," Webb said.
"That's not what I asked. How's your boy?" the president replied, according to Webb.
At that point, Webb said, Bush got a response similar to what reporters and others who had asked Webb about Lance Cpl. Jimmy Webb, 24, have received since the young man left for Iraq around Labor Day: "I told him that was between my boy and me."
but this war hero whose kid is in iraq and who just beat the next stupid bush like president and took him off the 08 count was sooooo unfair to the man whose hands are dripping blood and who was insubordinant during his "tour" in alabama.....
Posted by gregg on November 30, 2006 at 07:28 AM
Here's my weather forecast, Gregg. And just when I was getting ready to reopen the camp!!
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBANY HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 12 PM EST SATURDAY FOR ALL OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND ADJACENT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
A STRONG COLD FRONT REPRESENTING THE LEADING EDGE OF ARCTIC AIR WILL MOVE THROUGH OUR REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT...ALONG WITH THE CLASH OF WARM AIR AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH VERY COLD AIR BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL RESULT IN DAMAGING WINDS MAINLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY MORNING. AHEAD OF THE FRONT SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 60 MPH POSSIBLE IN NORTH SOUTH ORIENTED VALLEYS AND ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN. BEHIND THE FRONT...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND INCREASE TO 20 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS 60 TO 80 MPH... ESPECIALLY IN EAST WEST ORIENTED VALLEYS AND ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN. IN ADDITION...THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ON THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING WHICH MAY INCREASE THE WIND SPEED IN SOME AREAS.
THIS COLD FRONT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE ACROSS MUCH OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND ADJACENT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.
goodfoe, doin ok here in the hudson valley. supposedly some big storm is coming thru today. 60 to 80 mile an hour winds. guess we'll see just how many years those 35 year shingles i had put on the house two years ago last.
your story about the guy across the street and you looking out for each other reminds me of my favorite saying which i got from a chinese fortune cookie and which i wish everyone on this troubled planet would live by:
" kindness is the greatest wisdom"
thanks cyn. i am crazy glueing my shoes to the floorboards.
Gregg, that's par for George Will. What a dolt. Yep, we have an out of control civil war, thousands of our soldiers have been killed and even more maimed, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are dead, and Webb had the adacity to not respond to the Chimp's "just making conversation" question. Like he really cared about Webb's son. The Republican Noise Machine continues to manipulate how people will respond by framing and faulty information.
mornin' scoop and the morning crew
raw story is looking for an investigative reporter, buddy.
will is a putz, an alliteration abuser and hackneyed hack
goodfoe, read about your medication problem yesterday. Don't give up - there's got to be a way to get that medication. And, call your state representatives and tell them your story. It may help.
Good Morning, Fade! Yep, gg would be perfect for the job, but now he's glued to the floorboards. Hope he can reach the computer...
Off to work - have a super day.
i've got my blowtorch ready to de-ice whatever needs meltin'
we've got ice, with a light dusting of snow...lovely yet destructive...branches are bent and snapping, trees on hills are uprooted...and it suddenly became wintery
Sandy--hope you're okay...and powered up. stay warm and stay home...
i'm out...enjoy the day, everyone...
the kindness thing is nice greg. i much prefer that to holiness. thank you
Gregg...'ol Charley is a real good neighbor....I guess it is obvious to him that I have a disability...one day, he asked if he could mow our front yard so that ny wife would not have to do it. That night when I told her Charley had mowed our yard, she made him a really nice cake which he really enjoyrd. His trash can blew way down the road recently. If it was one of my other neighbors, I might not have retrieved it. For him, I went and got it and put it up near his front door where the wind could not get it. And we watch out for each others property. A few days before the election, I went over to go ask him to go vote, That was when I found out that he is a Democrat too. Most of our nieghbors are good people, but Charley is special.Your fortune cooky saying is special too. The Hudson Valley area is real pretty. I stayed at Spuyten Divil (Riverdale) when I was a kid and played a little baseball one summer in Peaksskill(?) Hope I spelled that right.
Cyn-NY...Thanks...I have found a doctor who will accept my Medicare. Seeing him on Monday. He does not have my medical file, so I may have to do a liile selling to get him to fill my meds. But I have faith, it will all work out. Thx again.
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THERE IS A NEW OPEN THREAD!!!
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