blzrul

I see the Gov. of California is asking for a tax hike?

As long as I don't have to personally witness homosexual "relations" I don't give a rat's ass. It's none of my damned business. Maybe the problem is that some people obsess over stuff that really has nothing to do with them. So-called "gay marriage" is a civil rights matter.

Unless you like bed-wetting. Congress has other fish to fry and I think they know it. Interestingly my husband's school required 100 hours of community service to graduate. It was a private school...you know, supposedly private schools give you a better education...so if a private school like Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas requires it, maybe it's actually a good thing for the student as well as the community. Just a thought. I think this is a tempest in a teacup. I presume there will be incentives for community service. Frankly doing volunteer work is fun and builds character so I cannot imagine why anyone wouldn't do it. But I don't believe that students will be conscripted.

Lieberman is an independent ... the Dems can make him go caucus with the Republicans. He votes with them anyway so why not. They will be glad to have him.

Boy that sucks. I thought community service was just for criminals, and of course I am very happy to have volunteer military people who are willing to kill and be maimed for me so I can sit around and watch TV. And my kids should enjoy those same freedoms. I wonder if it's too late to take back my vote? It's unAmerican for the government to set a goal for kids to pitch in and help their country be a better place to live. Of course, maybe it's not true. You guys better slow down, and the rate you are worrying over this you'll give yourselves a heart attack or stroke before the inauguration.

You should ask them. I am not old or bitter. I do enjoy absurdities though.

He makes me sad like McCain made me sad, because I really used to have immense respect for them both. They just sound old and bitter. I wonder what names they use to post on PPP?

There are plenty of decent, smart Republicans out there and I hope Obama taps those who are qualified. Of course I would not want him to select incompetents in order to satisfy people who would claim he's not willing to cross party lines - that would be a sort of "affirmative action" and of course we don't like that here. I hope there is a role for Hagel. Wesley Clark is a smart man too. Whatever, for Defense we need someone who has BEEN in the service. We've seen what can happen when our defense person doesn't have actual defense experience.

Chuck Hagel supported Obama - but in a positive way, not in attack mode. I don't see anyone giving him any grief over it. I still think it would have been cool to have had Hagel on the ticket. The objection to Lieberman, on my part at least, is not that he supported McCain as much as they way in which he did it. You can cross party lines without attacking your own.

I believe eight years may also be an appropriate timeframe because it was that recently that many state university systems were allowed to have more control over their tuition. This is what happened in Texas. In 1997 I enrolled my children in "Texas Tomorrow". This was a pre-paid tuition plan that guaranteed, at the end of the contract, that whatever the going rate in 2006, it would have been paid for at 1997 rates. It was a great deal, because the contract for a 4-year public university cost $15,000. The guarantee for my daughter is that whatever the current per-credit-hour cost in Texas ... is what she gets. So whereas we paid an average of $117 per credit hour, the plan guarantees WHATEVER the CURRENT cost is in Texas. (The tuition in WA is lower so...we pay for room and board only, and not even full price since there is money left over from the tuition that gets applied.) After 2000, the Texas university system was "deregulated". Tuitions skyrocketed. Net-net: Texas Tomorrow had to shut down, because it would have run out of money to meet its commitments - it couldn't accept new contracts. It was only just reincarnated a few months ago with all sorts of caveats and restrictions to be sure it doesn't run into the same problems. Regarding the question on the $5,000 loan...or any loan...I think the only correlation between a loan and tuition rates may be the availability. If there's money all over the place for loans, and that generates more demand for college...I guess the college will charge what the market will bear, within whatever regulations are in place to maintain its "not for profit" status....

Excellent post. It reinforces my belief that while we may all disagree on a few issues, we are really not so far apart.

Even Eisenhower and Nixon talked to Kennedy about their Bay of Pigs proposal. Kennedy shouldn't have listened. So who's the dumbass now.

My Seattle PI with historic front page was delivered at 5:20 a.m. as usual.

Bush is President until 1/20/09. This is his watch. He needs to deal with it. He probably won't consult with Obama, but he should.

And this somehow is Obama's fault? Maybe the list of Obama donors was TOO BIG to publish whereas the handful of McCain supporters filled up some empty space. Get over it.

After WWII people danced in the streets and hugged complete strangers. I wasn't there...but I've seen the photos. I never expected to live to see something like that in my lifetime, particularly not after a political race. You people who think so little of human integrity that you SERIOULY thought "blacks" would riot in glee ought to take a long look internally. Maybe it's time for a little attitude adjustment. Oh and if you watched any of the celebration there were white, black, Asian, Hispanic, young, old, male, female. The only label I can think of for such a diverse group is "Americans".

My cousin, retired USMC, gun-toting, crew-cut wearin wingnut was involved in that mission. He said once, and only once, that he believes the rescue mission was doomed before it began and that it was intentionally sabotaged intermally.

I am in a meeting with our European and Asian team members and everyone's talking about the excitement worldwide. I have never in my lifetime seen people across the US run into the streets and dance in celebration of an election. I don't know if it's a testimony to the man or the hope that an awful era in American history is drawing to a close. To the guys from EMEA and AJP the world's excitement isn't so much Obama, it's getting back the America that used to stand out as a shining example. They've missed us. 'Basimane Bogopa, from Botswana, said: "Americans have shown once again, why they are world leaders. Obama's victory has shown me that the American dream is real, you just have to dream. My heart is filled with joy."'

If you watched Obama's speech tonight and looked at the crowd you saw the Obama supporters are, instead of unwashed hippies and gangstas that some people like to think - white, black, hispanic (in AMAZING numbers), male, female, young and old. They look like...Americans. And they are sick and tired of fear-mongering, and hate, and divisive tactics. Come along for the ride if you want, there's room. Or stay where you are. Whatever.

I think we are in agreement here - that was my point. The Republican party has NOT been in charge. A lunatic fringe, calling themselves Republicans, have been. And as a result, the Republican party got its tail kicked. I've said it many times: we ALL want the same things. We don't always agree how to get there - but if we can work together, we can do it. Bush and his inept presidency were merely the catalyst that we needed to get back on track. And that will be his legacy. It sounds harsh but it's true. Everything happens for a reason, even George W. Bush. The Accidental President.

I thought it was a good speech. I am sorry that John McCain had such a bad campaign. And I'm sorry for a man who, at age 72, now knows he's not going to realize his dream. I've said it once and I will say it again: I feared a McCain presidency for only two reasons: 1) his age and 2) Sarah Palin. John McCain gambled, and he lost.

Yeah it's fun watching Fox. Looks like they're all at a funeral. hahhahahahahhahaha

Actually the exit polls prove you're wrong. People voted AGAINST McCain because of his age. And what does that imply? They were afraid that he'd die in office and leave the dingbat in charge. A calculated risk. He took it, and he lost.

Come on Alaska D, we know it's you. Get over it.

And to think, George W was worried about his legacy. Well, here it is. Democrats now own the House, the Senate and the White House. And, who knows how many gubernatorial seats. Thanks Bush, you incompetent nitwit. I really mean that - I am grateful to you for !@#$ing things up so wholeheartedly. Of course your rich friends got richer, and many brave Americans and innocent Iraqis are dead but...the important thing is that history recognizes the pivotal role you played in sweeping your party out of power so convincingly. I look forward to the GOP cleansing itself of wingnut losers so that Americans can once again all work together to raise this country back up to the greatness in the world that we once enjoyed. Yes, we can.