blzrul

Osama bin Laden was pretty clear years ago that he knew he couldn't kill us all with terrorist acts but that his intent was to crush us via financial means. And rich though his family is, he didn't mean he was going to buy us and then break us up ... he mean he wanted to bankrupt us. So. We have a war going on two fronts (with Pakistan threatening to attack if we chase evildoers across their border, so maybe three). Then we have the war on drugs and immigration...not to mention the crumbling domestic infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc), the lousy education system, and the current financial crisis. Toss in energy ... what a mess. We're still the richest and strongest country in the world but if we continue to bleed out, bin Laden could well achieve his end at some point without ever needing to attack us again. I don't think it's going to happen but ... at this point in time I could see where the evildoers might be cautiously optimistic.

Obviously you've never visited the PPP board. Nothing is sacred there.

It is to laugh. I was at the game on Sunday at Qwest and we all immediately thought of Robinson... I wish him well, I hope he is recovered. The problem is: receivers are just ONE of the Hawks' problems. They are just not a good team. Their coverage teams are lousy...their defense is a BIG disappointment so far. Lofa Tatupu stated that the D wanted five shutouts this year but they're averaging what, 30 pts per game after two games? I guess the key is "after two games". The Rams are coming to town this week so we'll see what happens there. Of course we all thought the 49ers was a "gimme" because they really DO suck. Having been at the Ralph the prior week though, my immediate reaction was that the Hawks were continuing the same level of play. There is definitely something missing - some of it is personnel but the "spark" isn't there. I wonder what the loss of Zorn has to do with it, if anything. And the special teams stuff is courtesy of our friend Mr. DeHaven. If this is the level of play we can expect from the Hawks though I may have to rethink renewing my season tickets.

Weell you know I don't believe that home ownership is still a "good thing". Clearly from a quality of life aspect it's great - you got your own place, no worries about putting a hole in the wall and you can play music louder than an apartment and scream at bad officiating without someone calling 9/11. When I bought my first house it was definitely still advantageous to own versus rent. However, the big attraction for home ownership in the past was the tax breaks. Nowadays when you weigh reduced tax benefit (compared to a decade ago, or more) against the cost of maintaining the home...it's not what it was any more. People tend to hear the word "taxes" and spazz out. It's silly really. If I save $5k* in taxes a year because I own, but spent $14k* to maintain, and that happens year after year, then I am only ahead when I sell and realize my equity. It's never black and white ... and TELLING people who cannot afford a home, that they can do so through unnatural acts and unwise financing vehicles, is not particularly responsible. The burden of blame for the credit mess though, unless there was fraud or misrepresentation by the financial institution, really rests squarely on the individual. Face it, as taxpayers we are all screwed. The difference is not so much WHAT they take, it's WHERE they spend it. If I am going to be bled dry on taxes, I would rather have it to buy lunches for hungry school children as opposed to bailouts for bloated corporations and their golden-parachuted executives. *Made-up numbers used to illustrate a point. Substitute your own. Or, if you are pinhead wingnut, jump on those two figures, ignore everything else and make a nasty comment about "libtards" etc.

6.1% national unemployment More layoffs announced Freddie Mac Fannie Mae Government bailouts Sky-high gas prices Energy prices...winter's coming, who knows what they'll be by then Am I forgetting anything?

Which is why the wingnuts are so hung up on sex. They don't get it.

It's not possible for you to "see" on anyone's behalf. Your mind is too narrow and you have tunnel vision. You have no idea what I think. In fact no-one would EVER accuse you of putting yourself out to try to understand what other people think, or why. However you are definitely easy to amuse. Flashbacks perhaps.

Huh? You ever hear of a guy named Roosevelt? or Truman?

I think you need to go pee in a cup if you're serious and not just trolling.

A Chicago Tribune article published in 2007 during the Democratic primaries that cites McCain criticizing Hillary Clinton’s health care plan. “I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig,” McCain is quoted as saying about Clinton’s proposal. Hmmmm.

Who said anything about being "better" than anyone else? The fact is that the have-nots HURT MORE THAN THE HAVES and it is very SAD that they continue to FALL FOR POLITICAL RHETORIC AND LIES than tends to FOSTER THE VERY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT VICTIMIZE THEM. "Lower down the food chain" is just an expression. I guess I should have said "middle class", would that have made a difference? I guess if you want to pick nits, it does. Somewhere in the forest there is indeed a tree ... just gotta open your eyes. I am not a dude by the way.

I haven't seen him do a comedy schtick since he did the SNL "Al Franken for President" thing - how many years ago? I thought he was boring. Like Steven Wright. Given the fact that he's not really funny and he's vociferously anti-Bush, in addition to not really having political experience, one would think the wingnuts would be pissed off. On the other hand, he's in the state that Jesse Ventura once governed, so perhaps in comparison it just pales.

Yes. It's just a very sad commentary that this kind of thing is so effective. It makes quite a statement about the people who fall for it. But as I always say, we don't get the leadership we need. We get the leadership we deserve. In the long run, whoever is in office impacts me personally very little. Ironically, it's the people lower down the food chain, who fall for these tactics and vote in favor of the candidates employing them, who are victimized.

That assumes there are thoughts.

As someone who formerly had a great reverence for this man, this illustrates why I stopped supporting him. The hypocrisy far surpasses what drove me nuts about some of Hillary's claims. McCain's actions do nothing to improve the political climate and discourse in this country. He can talk all he wants about the high road but he's just a liar. I'm sorry for his legacy that he's come to this. Oh and by the way - the lipstick on a pig thing? It seems like McCain made that same statement months ago about Hillary's healthcare plans. Where's the outrage? Hypocrite. My favorite part: "McCain's persistence in pushing dubious claims is all the more notable because many political insiders consider him one of the greatest living victims of underhanded campaigning. Locked in a tight race with George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, McCain was rocked in South Carolina by a whisper campaign claiming he had fathered an illegitimate African-American child and was mentally unstable. Shaken by the experience, McCain denounced less-than-truthful campaigning. He even apologized to journalists for his own reluctance to criticize the flying of the Confederate flag at South Carolina's state Capitol in a bid for votes. When the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacked the military record of Democrat and fellow Navy officer John Kerry in 2004, McCain called the ads "dishonest and dishonorable." Now, top aides to McCain include Steve Schmidt, who has close ties to Karl Rove, Bush's premier political adviser in 2000."

Did I say HE was funny? When I re-read my post I clearly said IT was funny, as in "the situation". Houston, in addition to a hurricane problem, we got us a READIN problem here.

Naw, I think it's kind of funny. I know Al Franken is smart enough to do the job. But somehow I can't picture it.

First thing I did this morning is say a hello and prayer to/for my friend George and his wife, who were killed when their plane hit the Pentagon. I suppose in a way I was luckier than many on 9/11. Our son had passed in June and we were still in shock so the grief of 9/11 was just additive. But what I still cannot get over is that among the VERY first people to send a sympathy card in June was George...who'd never met Nick...who would have thought he would soon follow.

I have reported your post to the board nanny. It's just too much - I was about to begin fixing dinner and now the entire family is puking in a bucket.

First they get told by Mellencamp to stop using his music. Jackson Browne sues them to make them stop. Heart complains and tells them to stop. Then they steal a slogan. And look what happens..... Maybe they ought to pony up a little scratch to a creative marcom agency and try for something they can call their own.

So let's see...I am the one with a narrow world view because I am paying attention to something that's happening thousands of miles from where I live? Yeah, sure. Makes perfect sense. Sure. Very parochial of me. Particularly when it's a guy that the right loves to hate...the guy who called Rush Limbaugh a big fat liar and has thrown more mud at the right than I ever could? Yeah. Narrow world view. Right.

bump

I would have thought the wingnuts would be all over Al Franken's winning the Democratic nomination for Senate in MN... I wonder if he's using his previous Presidential campaign experience to drive this campaign? Is there anyone out there in the "land of 10,000 Johnsons" who can give us some insight?

Oh, I just like to see wingnut heads explode is all. The smart ones don't take the bait (which is a backwards way of saying most of them are dumber than a post).

Uh as a matter of fact I have voted for Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents and Greens and will continue to do so. Just because I think the current Administration is full of incompetent nitwits who are puppets of corporate America, and because in recent history that's a hallmark of the Republican party, doesn't mean I am blind to the failings of the Democratic party. I would, for instance, have been pleased had Obama chosen Chuck Hagel as his running mate. There are some things I don't agree with about Hagel, and about Obama, but overall I share their beliefs and values as i understand them. I supported McCain in 2000 and am dismayed at how he's sacrificed his integrity in his current campaign. Frankly I have more respect for a $2 whore...with or without the lipstick.