YellowLinesandArmadillos

LOL, but still a biproduct of the Reagan Revolution...kicking out "harmless" mentally ill folks into the streets. Saved the government millions in mental health costs. Shoot if he had frozen to death the savings would have been greater.

There is the rub, if it is not a big issue and can be resolved realtively quietly without to much interference and no one sees it as something to politically take advantage of things can be fixed relatively quickly, but if it does, then the solution is probably SOL. This is why effective friendly and trust worthy communications with the authorizing and appropriations subcommittee is important. They do not, and I repeat do not like to be surprised. Throw them a bone every once in a while and you keep everyone happy. They will eat out of your hand, but F with them and you can kiss your whole agenda good bye. Now if they disagree, there are ways to get their attention and go around them, but you better be prepared for their anger and have a solution to mollify it with another alternative.

Yeh that happens too, can't argue with it and I am not sure there is an easy way to overcome it when politics are being played up there and someone doesn't think of the consequences or deem the consequences as all the vital...not seeing the whole picture.

Nice one, wasn't going to weigh in on this one until your post. Because some smart $#%@$, such as yourself, will parse the simple words, take them out of context and use them to justify something that it they don't even apply to nor were intended to and a judge will agree the intentions were vague and it can be applied, but you already know that. The specific case you mentioned...ass wiping...the problem is someone beaucrat could interpret that to mean using a brillo pad instead of toilet paper and then there would be more lawsuits. BiB has it right in this case SESers are a pain in the ass. Most are former campaign folks that think they know something and cause more problems then they are worth. Even schedule Cs hate them.

Yeh, not going to argue with that one, anything to gain an advantage over your oponnent, even not well understood National Security issues. Heck, even you have seen that, probably frustrates you to no end when something leaks, but if that is happening it is usually a sign that someone internally is playing too much politics or the thing underwraps is not working. Either way it may not be a bad thing at that point.

Sorry, couldn't resist being a smart @#$@#$

Touche' Yeh but did you actually write the leg, I know you guys are good at coming up with ideas, translating it to legaleese has been somewhat problematic, oh that is right, you just ignore the inconsistencies and prepare executive memos stating that law doesn't apply and you are going ahead with the change of plan without consulting anyone, hmmm, now I understand.

Never hid it and hey I have to admit those tactics are just good politics, but really frustrating when on top of which you get cut out of any of the discussions. So that is why I get so bent out of shape when Reps and other folks here argue that the Dems don't have a plan, duh! We have plenty of them, just choosing to give only outlines and talking points so they don't get high jacked. Why should we have to write legislation the GOP is going to take credit for, but can't effectively write themselves? If they were a little less partisan, then the feelings wouldn't be so hard, but now it is just us v. them mentality among staffers and everyone is looking for ways to trump the other side.

LOL, yeh been a building frustration for much of the Bush Admin, hence why the Dems have not been making a lot of leg suggestions lately, the other side did a lot of reading the leg we submitted cherry picking what they liked and calling it their own, a lot of times taking 95% of the same language. Remember the Republicans have accused us of over legislating things...and the Republicans can't right a decent piece of leg even when their ideas are good, so why not high jack good leg text from the folks that are the most effective at writing it. Can't blame them, pissed our lawyers off to no ends. So the statement is not wholly inaccurate and explains a lot of Bush's P.R. problem.

I understand that rational, problem is everyone is telling us not if but when. But after the Katrina debacle what would it matter. I know...I just strengthened your arguement, darn. But maybe....maybe something has been learned since then about emergency situations, not....that is why I moved to the mountains of Massachusetts. You will be happy to know, if there is an emergency as feared, you will have one massive budget cut. They will close down roads and bicycle or foot is the only way to leave DC, thus eliminating huge chuncks of the beaurcracy, kinda like an earthquake in LA. Of course the leadership of Congress will be protected, but that is another issue....or is it?

LOL, PSI was started at least during Clinton, and probably under Bush I... it may have had a Republican name change, but I remember that stuff being discussed before Bush II. But you are right it is a relatively positive P.R. routine that Dems so infrequently get to engage in. It is ironic, if as you state, not being an expert on foreign affair details, that Dems are taking credit for so called Republican programs. I would be careful though on the facts, a lot of these ideas over the years have been generated by low level but smart knowledgeable staffers on both sides of the aisle only to have leadership, which ever is in power claim credit. It would be a pain to trace, you would have to go back to hearing and subcommittee markup transcripts. I love the things like paying our troops more you argue would only cost more money...whatever....kinda like JStar? I am aware that that darn thing, JStar, crosses party lines, but at least our troops could be housed state side in more then ghetto style apartments. Granted that is only a moral booster, but heck Bush has said he supports our troops and in the same sentence issues a budget that cuts their benefits. The armored issue you guys hacked out on another post, not touching with a ten foot... Still, if you agree with so much of it, why so upset? Yeh you are right a lot of what Dems and Reps say on foreign affairs is remarkably similar. Problem is isolationists and internationalists choose their parties for other reasons than just these and it splits them. No wonder why neither party has a consistent coherent mesage to choose from.

Back to the P.R. problem, but that is politics and why they are failing miserably. Actually you have to have a plan, but explain it to the American public in terms that are on Sesame Streets level, kinda of like Reids outline and plan you are criticizing. Hey, have you seen anything like that out of the White House....NOooooo! Yet you and Ken both said that 80% of those things are already being done. The other stuff you may or may not agree with and then BiB calls it rhetoric. Duh, Bush should hire Reid as his Press Secretary, it would eliminate half of his problems in Iraq.

Yeh, I know that...to many other folks up in my neck of the woods working for Walmart making a lot less money.

Oh and this administration has a plan to deal with Iraq? Since when, according to the Blair memo, the whole thing was suppose to be over with after six months. They are just making crap up as they go along, and then after the fact claiming they had a plan. To quote Bib more @#$@#$ rhetoric. Their plan failed, now they are scrambling. So, really what is the difference. The Dems have some reasonable suggestions that are being ignored or incompetently mismanaged. P.S. Congress can set special forces levels by specific appropriations and they do it all the time. Still this has been a nice attack DEM rant with little substance. Common guys you can do better than that or maybe it is just not worth it.

After seeing the news and papers out here and local video, I am sorely disappointed. The flag burning, flags turned upside down, the gang signs, kids skipping school. It would be one thing if they were supporting the U.S. and acting respectful, but they lost me on that one. I still think there are lot of American Latinos undocumented that want to become part of this country, but like the crazy's in the environmental movement, these folks just lost my respect and screwed up everything they were trying to accomplish, might as well go ride wind surfers with John Kerry...dumbas#@$#$s.

Just wanted to clarify, your rhetoric seemed to be getting awfully partisan. Was just wondering. I will grant you that my folks often speek out both sides of their mouths on issues. But they all believe in National defense, but they also hate Bush with a passion, like GOPers hated Clinton. Even when they agree with him. Man I am glad I have loosened my hold on that daily resentment, now it only weekly.

Yeh except it wasn't like they had a whole lot of options either way, poor, no transpo, problem is they have a right to blame everyone the mayor, governor and President. The fact that President was the furtherest up the food chain could have been a good excuse had he come riding in on his white horse with the national guard immediately, but they waited, bumbled and his P.R. folks were asleep at the wheel. It could have been a flashback to his leadership under 911, but it only served to remind us of how incompetent his folks are and raise doubt about the progress of the war. I believe this was the "tipping" point of his administration. His folks botched and every stupid little mistep since then has gotton amplified. They all have them, but a step in the right direction can diffuse them. 911 did for Bush, Katrina took him the other direction.

Well, I can't disagree with that Nancy is a piece of work, Reid on the other hand is not.

Oh great Bib, you are basing your evaluation on anything Kit Bond is saying, that justifies your analysis. Sure it is election politicing duh, and so is Bush flying around the country trying to drum up support for Iraq. Your and CTM statement that all Dems do is try and dismantle everything that is good in the military is false. Yeh, there are some liberal pacifist and some right wing isolationist that would do so, but these statements are insult to the members of my family, Democrats actively politically that have served. How is your blanket criticisms different then your accusation the all Dems do is try and screw up everything (paraphrasing) that is Republican. That is what Republicans do. Also we are not uniformally big spenders, I am a fiscal conservative that wants my money spent effectively and the budget balanced. My priorities are different than righties, but I believe in sound fiscal management. Common, you are better than that...unless !! lightbulb!! you are just looking to instigate...hmmm that would be more along your vein of tactics. P.S. You will know the plan at 1pm est. Democrats to Unveil Comprehensive Real Security Program Washington, D.C.-House and Senate Democrats will hold a major event tomorrow at 1 p.m. to unveil the comprehensive Democratic plan to protect America: Real Security. Despite their tough talk, Republican's incompetence has made America less safe. Democrats will offer tough and smart policies to provide the real security that Americans expect and demand. WHO: Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Senator Jack Reed Congressman Ike Skelton House and Senate Democrats General Wesley Clark Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State Joe Wynn, the National Association of Black Veterans Harold Schaitberger, President, International Association of Fire Fighters WHAT: Announcement of Real Security, the comprehensive Democratic plan to protect America WHEN: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1:00 PM

Doesn't suprise me, soccer Moms have taken over where equal participation rules and it is all for fun. Some of this crap is brought on by nut job dads over dooing it. Still there is a balance and this is nuts. Is this state wide? I wasn't a good fielder so they moved me to pitcher. Then I found out I was better a soccer because I could run, never looked back and in the winter played p/U hockey whenever I could on ice or in the street, didn't matter. But we always kept score. Got beat many times till I got better and administered the beatings. Nothing wrong with competition, if there are not enough teams to let all the kids play, make more teams and spread out the talent...but keep score. Even the good kids learn to help out less abled kids and adjust. It is called team play. Hell at 7 abilities will all change in 3-10 years. So what?

I am not French, so I guess that I can't spit on you. P.S. Schumer criticizes anything the President does...rightfully so as the loyal opposition and he did complain that this change wasn't anything of substance. Been dittod a few times on this post already even by tighty righties.

The infrastructure question hasn't been brought up enough, in the press or elsewhere. I still don't have any sense of what it is like there from that standpoint. Oh there are accusations and positive posturing, but nothing that gives any kind of detailed overall picture. Probably not something a civy needs to know. But I thought that was a mistake and originally thought they were going to try and bring in these folks to do work. What went wrong?

You forgot the yellow lines and it should be dead exoskeltoned possums but I don't think I had enough space.

Just got informed it couldn't have been a Bushmaster...wrong continent. I will have to contact this said friend and find out which snake it was, oh well.

Sounds like a flashback...get help quick...Bushmaster eh....yeesh. A friend who has been over to Tialand to some Buddist monestary tells a story about looking out for them. He said they often bite first, then figure out why they bit later. He had one come off an embankment right by his head accross a path in the jungle and if he had taken another step...scared the hell out of him.