YellowLinesandArmadillos

Nice response CTM, our Press Secretary saw the plane go over top of the Capitol down the Mall before it turned around and headed into the Pentagon. My wife was in the red brick tower in Arlington, next to the silver Gannet Bldgs and felt the explosion a mile away, looked out the window with a birds eye view into the Pentagon. I have a friends brother who was blown out of his chair against the wall. He had just been moved to the reinforced section of the Pentagon. Remember half of that side that the plane hit had just been reinforced, the other half of that side was scheduled to start shortly and people inside were moving from one side to the other, hence the low casualty count. I myself, from the windows of the Capitol Bldg., saw a white plume of smoke come up near the WH, to this day I don't know if was anti-aircraft fire or a smoke signal from the Terrorists to show where the WH is. Hard to locate between buildings from the air going 200mph. But the theory was that plane's first target was the WH? And for at least a week afterwards you could smell the jet fuel in the air, it relit a couple of times. The problem that gives normal kooks some room for speculation is that this group we have in WH now has lied about everything, so how could they not be complicit somehow in 911. Not that much of a plausible stretch. However, the physical conspiracy these idiots describe is without merit. The only thing that I could see as possible is that Cheney and Rumsfeld knew and let it happened to justify their ambitions in Iraq. Either way it was used it as such, so what is the difference. P.S. Didn't and couldn't watch any of the B.S. made for TV shows earlier this month. 911 began a series of events including a month later Anthrax, one of my offices was across the hall, then the Sniper shootings, the Ricin scare and the idiots going into DC air space for closer looks, not to mention all the suspicious package alerts. Somewhere in the middle of all that our house got flooded by hurricane Isabel. Western, MA is so much less eventful.

The nuclear waste debate is the problem with nuclear. Safety changes and new reactor designs including smaller sizes have made managing them much less of a risk. Yucca mountain from everything that I read about it while on Capitol Hill doesn't work. Yes, it is in the middle of nowhere, but cracks in the structure of the mountain, the fact that the mountain sits on an active earthquake fault unknown previously, and the fact that it sits near one of the largest aquafirs (sp?) in the U.S. makes it risky. That is why there has been such a hold up. I am not sure where there would be a better place to put it, and NIMBYs will sure make any alternative problematic, but ignoring the waste problem with Nuclear makes Nuclear an unviable alternative until it is solved. The air quality benefits would be wonderful if it was. There is a reason CAL is raising its CAFE standards, unless you are right on the coast, air quality sucks and even on the cost sometimes it is bad. DC is no better, too many cars and downwind of PA and West Virginia plants.

I know Ken that you are not a Bush defender unless it suits your point of view, but I still don't see a reason for the size in the drop in prices. Yes, they usually drop this time of year, granted, but a .40 drop in Mass is more than normal, especially given recent demand news. I have heard from my mutual fund investor that the market was at least 25% speculative, so I guess maybe that would account for some of the drop, but the timing is suspect, hence why I am pointing out the political angle. If you ask me your argument that gas prices always drop before the election even under Dems is not necessarily true. They did during the Clinton mid-term, if I remember correctly, but I don't think gas prices dropped before the 2000 election and energy prices were way up because of Enron et., al. So either way your criticism of this argument doesn't hold water. Now understanding that energy companies would oppose a candidate that calls for stricter regulation and support one that allows them to do whatever they want is a no brainer..duh. It is just simple politics and denying it is rather niave, can't believe that I just implied you are niave, not true, but your contrary argument is either that or purposely distortional.

Since when, a lot of parts come from all over. Assembled here but common, even hardware is outsourced. What about those Japanese or Chinese machine screws that were found to be defective a few years ago. There are other examples out there, I just put my fingers on them right now.

No I am just cynical, if the shoe was on the other foot, the Dems would be doing the same, but I still think it is a little too convient. Enron wasn't a good enough example for you? They made a proven attempt to manipulate the energy markets for both political gain and profit. They were just too greedy and their plan was full of holes that they got caught. I don't think it is a conspiracy directly, i.e., with the Bush White House, although, I am sure idle conversation at fundraisers has indirectly gotten their wishes across to their buddies in the oil and gas industry. To deny this is ignoring political reality. And no it doesn't rise to the level of a Carl Rove weather making machine, this is just a little more practical, and based on my knowledge of the way DC works. It is election time and the party in power is feeling the heat, so its allies will do whatever they can. Check with me in December and we will see where gas prices are.

You guys are clueless, Bush and GOP have been way down in the polls, it is September, within strkining distance of the mid-term elections and all the sudden a new oil find is discovered in the Carribean, imagine that! Also, it won't come on line for another 3 years and details are sketchy as to its size and demand is still way up. Sounds like good old fashion political manipulation coinciding with the WH strategy to scare the public near the 911 anniversary. Good politics, lousy government. You wait after November and a little cold snap to justify it prices will be right back up. My advice, buy gas future long, contracts that close after the November elections. Nice try Bushies.

Minus Holcombs nitpicking about your statistical terminology, I finally understand and agree whole heartedly with you analysis. And that is why welfare through the WIC program is so important, a government program that he and others rail against. Without it, the difference in IQs in the U.S. as exemplied by Holcombs example in a later post would be more stark. I can't quote stat and verse right now, but in my USDA days I could bore you with a lot of stats. Face it government has and always will be involved in our lives and public education, feeding poor kids and addressing special needs children makes imperfect progress towards raising everyone's chance at success. As I am about to put my son to bed, I am greatful for public education, without which, it would be one a greater difference of haves and have nots very much like that of an earlier history in our country. Private industry only cherry picks the best and serves its own interest, which is good for many purposes and as a competitive expensive alternative to public education, but it should never be held up as an example of a successful exclusive model. Private education will never and cannot work effectively on its own.

Jeez, even AD wouldn't touch your beliefs and I consider him a conservative, libertarian type, but the operative word is libertarian....Your list is just plain old scary. I am not going to touch most of what you say, but school choice is a farce unless it is between public schools. There are plenty of bad private schools and they cost way too much. When a local community assisted by the state and Feds puts its priorities on good schools, crime goes down, saving prison space, the number of police officers needed and a host of other services. Your statement still doesn't solve the problem of underfunded public schools. I would cut the miriad of pork barrel parochial projects that the feds and states fund and a little cut in military waste would help. I am not advocating raising taxes, unless obviously needed, but changing the percentage of its use and increasing it for education. I have seen areas where it works and where other priorities take over and education becomes a red head step child, always in line for cuts and yet is complained about for all the local ills. Folks you can't have it both ways, poorely funded schools and good education. You get what you pay for. The funny thing is if you look at folks who send their kids to private schools and what it costs them. Most folks property taxes are a pitance compared to the costs of these schools. I can't afford $15,000 a year each for two kids for quality I want, so I moved to an area with slightly tax priorities on education. Crime is relatively low and business that complain about the tax rate just move to the next town, which is their choice and I understand it. I pay my property taxes, write them off on my Fed and save $26,000 a year in tuition costs. Simple economics. If you pay less in taxes and don't have kids, please ignore this message, move to area with no kids and low taxes. Simple economic sense.

Yeh Ken, but think about it for a second, the greens are pretty single issue, while Liberatarism is more a political philosophy. Advocating less government, which despite their actions, the GOP pays a lot of lip service to, Libertarians don't have a salient issue to hang their hat that hasn't totally been coopted. Not that the issue doesn't have legs, the GOP has just effectively coopted it, so it makes it hard to organize or fire up the troops as an effective alternative to the GOP.

Oh common guys, granted he was looking to box you in a nice rhetorical package, but AD your answer "neither" was pretty lame. I think the question was more ignorant and lazy, all he had to do was do some research and properly gather an opinion. AD you must be loosing it, perfect chance to flip that question...liberal wanting all the answers spoon fed...or give him some examples, not everything, let some assumptions be made and then have chance to correct the inaccuracies. Not enough sleep last night or just bored with the post. P.S. While I don't currently own a gun, I have been an NRA member, best darn training programs out there. No where in the constitution does it say that guns cannot be regulated, banned no, regulated yes. And while many liberals would like to ban them to address violence, regulation is better. As tougher drunk driving laws have been enforced, DWIs have and deaths related have gone down significantly despite more drivers on the road. Don't have recent stats, but the old 70s stat was 25,000 deaths a year due to cars and alcohol. The last stat I saw, a couple of years old was that stats was down to 15,000. AD do you support any kind of gun regulation and if so what do you think would work?

Interesting discussion, I am not sure the veracity of the opposition to Joe in Democratic circles is so much his stances, while that is certainly an issue. There are others who defect on specific issues within Dem and GOP ranks but don't garner the same vitriol. Joe's problem is that he is not known as an active party supporter when he does agree with the party. Additionally he has commited cardinal sins by consistent in public standing with Bush in support of the war. His continued public support represents and affront to the party. It is one thing to differ, it is another thing to show up your supporters consitently. Kinda of like a baseball umpire. If you talk down to the plate and don't use foul language, you can say a lot, raise your head and publicly question his mental status and you will probably get thrown out. That is Joe's biggest offense. McCain gives the Republicans the same head aches, but at least he has tried to make amends. And he lately has emphasized his conservative credentials. Lieberman hasn't, or hasn't effectively tried until it was too late. Feingold is another maverickwho causes WI Dems head aches through his lack of support for his state party. However he votes correctly when he takes a public stand, i.e., campaign reform and lobbying disclure efforts and it works for him there.

I meant to post an observation the other night. Just thought that I would add in my two cents. I don't think, despite the pundits and everyone else's statement to the contrary, that Hillary is running. My sense is that she isn't and would rather be a kingmaker in the Senate. Look for her as Dem Leader in the Senate in a few years. Also, on that list Ken neglected dark horses in both parties. I think the nominations will go to some of that ilk, a governor or former governor. Interesting that John Edwards is up in most Dem straw polls. Kerrey is a has been. Gore less so, but can't make it over the top. McCain has too many enemies. Allen is an idiot. On the GOP side, Halley Barbour (MS) would be formidable. Barrack Obama is too green and the name from a P.R. standpoint causes problems. Frist could suprise folks, he is a calming influence, if not the brightest politician. He lives on being underestimated. Look for some one else to come forward or some of the under estimated to gain traction. I get the sense on both sides, folks are looking for a new face.

It is a pretty pathetic remark, common, he should opologize to everyone for linking virginity and its implication of unsoiled youthfullness to Helen Thomas. And how that has anything to with faith and spirtuality, even in Islam. The whole remark smacks of the anachronym for an I.O.W.A.N. : Idiot Out Wandering Around. And with that Anachronym is a photo of Chuck Grassley...yuch...yuch..yuch.

RIP, darn haven't had a chance to read the posts lately and just caught this. Tried to email him the other day and it bounced back. Now I know why! Shoot, heart aches of the sole are difficult to go through. He is in a better place now. Paul you were wonderfully supportive of a new guy, even when you disagreed with me. Thanks.

One last whine...Now the refs are calling meaningless penalties on Carolina so that the final stats sheet looks fair. Pretty pathetic, they just better call if fairly...our way in Buffalo.

It was close, they showed it later, don't know, but looked like it stayed out. The ref had a good look at it too and waved it off. Still you never know, now the Sabres are just making mistakes, but at least they are going for it. Teppo is sorely missed.

Carolina outplayed them in the 1st, but reffing is a joke. Call it even, Carolina is getting away with assault and they are calling it every time on the Sabres. I hate whinning, but give me a two minute shift on the ice so I can get kicked out. I will show them a real penalty. Cabrele wouldn't have a head when I got done, it would be on the end of my stick. Recci is a kitty.

I have heard the one you suggest, however, the fact is that the terrorists that have been caught or were part of 911 entered from Canada, so there appears to be some validity to the counter argument, especially, since we are spending so much time working on our southern border. Plus the Canadian Border is so much more wide open, but you would probably have to be a homer to know where it is safe. Unlikely for that level of avoidance. This discussion brings up some interesting questions on our security efforts.

CTM, I think you have it backwards, they know that the Narco trafficers wan't to protect their routes from unreasonable inspections by American authorities. As a recent hispanic comedian stated, "where did all the 911 and other arrested terrorists come to U.S. through....Canada! The drug boys guard their routes jealously and have and will immediately turn in anyone likely to screw up their organizations. Kinda of like the Pimps and hookers in DC, lowest crime areas in the City other than sex crimes. They protect their areas from other idiots, just good business practice. Interesting theory, anecdotal only, but I didn't make it up.

Yeh, but we aren't on the ice and I can't rub your nose into the boards or drop my should on you coming over the middle.

Hey, Hey this isn't Philly, have a beer and give a rest, unless that makes you more angry, then have a coke and a smile and sleep it off.

Now ladies, everyone go to their rooms until you can come out and be nice...

Finally got Emery moving, that is what the Sabres haven't done tonight.

Still calling it pretty pathetically, Chara is slick but dirty.

Bout darn time. Cheap crap, get Neal out of the game. Accidental my rear.