Monday Open Thread
Here's the lighter news for today. Red Sox stomp all over Cleveland again, will play Colorado in the World Series starting Wednesday. Rowling mentioned that Dumbledore is gay
, surprising (and mostly pleasing) fans. Colbert is running for President (sort of
) and is serious: "I’m far real-er than Sam Brownback." Finally, Kid Rock spent the night in jail after getting into a fight
at a Waffle House. What a country!
What's going on with you guys today?
Submitted by Brendan on Mon, 2007-10-22 09:22
Tags:
Comments :
GoRight, you might find
this
interesting.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Yes, very much so.
I like a back of the envelope type sanity checker as this poster obviously is. I assume this person is actually from Britain given that their preferred medium is back-of-a-fag-packet calculations, as opposed to back of an envelope.
I rather suspect that in this context the term "fag" is a reference to a cigarette as opposed to the more American interpretation, but I could be wrong which would conjure up some interesting mental images!
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Heh
Yes, I assume he's British.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Nice going, Brendan
Now I have a hankerin' for Waffle House.
I used to eat there quite a bit when I was in college, but the nearest one to me is in Toledo (about an hour away). Oh, how I enjoyed listening to "Folsom Prison Blues" every Sunday morning after work.
I miss Waffle House and Skyline Chili. If any posters here haven't had Skyline Chili, you need to order some from their website. It's an acquired taste, but it's more addictive than crack.
I never broke the law; I am the law! --
George W. BushJudge DreddI'm listening to...
Glad I could help
Waffle House is alright but my college pancake place was IHOP. Usually at around 3am, of course...
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Do you prefer a 3-way or a 4-way?
Seems we have a number of Ohioans on the site. Skymutt is in Columbus, I think. I am in an undisclosed location but I guess I can narrow that down to Ohio for ya.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
And I'm just north of your border,
but I think we'd all prefer to keep it that way. ;) Seriously, Ohio has the most inconsiderate highway drivers I've ever encountered: not necessarily bad (they're not wrecking all over the place), but inconsiderate. My better half has started using "Ohio driver" as an epithet for any bad driver we run across.
Funny thing is, when we visit friends in Toledo, they tell us the same thing, in reverse: it's Michigan drivers.
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
Have you ever driven in New Jersey or New York ...
near NYC? I guess my problem with that area isn't so much the drivers, although they have some aggressive driving styles there, but especially in NJ their road signs and jug handles are just whacked. It is like they are explicitly designed to confuse people.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Yup.
I've driven down from the Bay State to NYC---twice in the past five 1/2 years.
Although New Yorkers do have a tendency to be aggressive and rude at times, unlike many Bay State/Boston drivers, they're alert, and more considerate than up in New England, generally. In NJ, the roadsigns are somewhat wierd, but they are in other places too. They may be designed to confuse people.
Speaking of inconsiderate drivers,
Boston, the Bay State and New England at large have long had a reputation for having aggressive, rude and inconsiderate drivers. In some of our cities, particularly, poorly-designed intersections where the traffic feeds into them from all different directions don't help, and, in fact, aggrevate the problem, especially during the weekday morning and evening rush-hour periods.
4-way beans; water
It's the only thing I've ever had there.
I'm in Sandusky. And I hate roller coasters.
I never broke the law; I am the law! --
George W. BushJudge DreddI'm listening to...
Ohio, eh?
My guess is you're down in Southwest Ohio, perhaps a Jean Schmidt voter ;-)
skymutt: wise and powerful... enlightened...
Actually, I might be closer than you think.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
did you guys see this?
MAHER MUZZLES MORON
- I love NY Post's headlines.
Heh I heard the audio on the morning drive to work.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
It was great
Yeah, I watched the show.
Maher was understandably pissed because he assumed that security would take care of it w/o him explicitly calling them out. He had to get rid of 3 9/11 conspiracy theorists in all. The wackos were urging him to ask Rep. Jackson-Lee about building seven, and then something about New Jersey.
The youtube is here
. The part where he says "Do we have some [expletive] security in this building?" is going to be used as a track in the music at my wedding reception.
I never broke the law; I am the law! --
George W. BushJudge DreddI'm listening to...
lol! and err, Congratulations :)
""Do we have some [expletive] security in this building?" too funny!
Politics is a clash of interests masquerading as a clash of principles. – Anonymous
that is pretty hilarious
We just watched that youtube here at work and had a good laugh. Thanks man.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Happy Islamo Fascism Awareness Week, everybody! hehehe
Politics is a clash of interests masquerading as a clash of principles. – Anonymous
I think it deserves a full month :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Indeed! Kudos to Horowitz et al for going into the belly
of the beast! hehe .... the alignment of the Marxist Pinko Lefties and Islamist Front Groups is out in the open now, for anyone with eyes to see ;)
Brace yourself, though: the nutroots' and moonbats' heads will be exploding all week long! lol
Politics is a clash of interests masquerading as a clash of principles. – Anonymous
Oh geez
what is this nonsense about? Link?
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
That and three bucks
... get you a cup of coffee at Starbuck's.
The American public has already made up its mind on the likes of Horowitz and his buddies in the neocon branch of conservatism.
The most unpopular president in history is poised to bring his party down come November 2008.
The small band of ignorant pinheads who support the idiotic ramblings of Horowitz will once again be relegated to being a fringe minority like they were before Cheney, et. al. arrived on the scene and created the monumental disaster that is Iraq.
Enjoy your final 12 months in an ever-dimming spotlight.
The neocon fools will once again be back where they belong and have always been (except during Bush's reign of terror): on the outside looking in.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Not sure I agree with you -
this is purely anecdotal, but it seems that people are growing disgusted with the war, not with the specter of fundamentalist Islam. It's self interest rather than clearer perspective. The same people who swear they won't vote Republican this cycle are still afraid of the beturban'd. (or as a Louisiana politician put it, the "diaperheads")
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
But the neocons oft-stated goal is to take down
... regimes in Iran and Syria.
Regardless of how much the Republicans ratchet up the "fear-the-Islamofascists" rhetoric, I think neocons have surpassed their shelf life in terms of credibility on attacking Iran and Syria. That's not to say Cheney may still pull off an attack on Iran before he leaves office, but once he and Bush are gone, the neocons are back in their own private hell where they belong.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
That's fair -
I think you're right: people are already bored with the two wars we have, and won't likely get behind a third one. The Nielsen ratings are too low for a new pilot in the lineup.
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
Nanny state alarmism or oversight failure?
Industrial chemicals appear to be accumulating
in children at much higher rates than in their parents. It's not clear that this is dangerous, but it's not clear that it's safe either. Your political views will probably have a lot to do with how you feel about this statement from a newly activist mom:
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Assumptions
Did anyone ever tell her her couch was 100% safe? Or did she just assume it was? And why?
The list of possible hazards is endless. Very few of the chemicals (and other stuff) we take for granted have been studied or deemed 100% safe. Why do people make the baseless assumption that if somebody is selling it or using it, it must be "safe"? I know I'd like to be able to make that assumption; it quite neatly absolves me of responsibility. But living is a risky proposition in the best of cases. A life without risk is not possible.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Well, because most products
are in fact regulated by the government, often in cooperation with the companies.
Just not to the degree that this woman would like.
Odd point here: the specific chemicals the baby has more of include flame-retardant PBDEs, which were intended to make couches safer
(as well as beds, etc). So basically the cheap stuff started catching on fire, companies reacted by making it fireproof, and then the stuff they were using had adverse effects on animals so it's been phased out.
I'm pretty sure this story is not a triumph for either government regulation or free-market response...
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Unfortunately, though, there are people who want
total deregulation, which would be even more dangerous, imo.
Flame-retardent materials tend to smoke--often poisously, to boot.
Total Deregulation
Who wants total deregulation?
Aside from a few odd (word chosen purposely) academic ivory tower thinkers and some wing nuts on the net, I don't see them.
Certainly isn't "conservatives," who love regulation, and pay good money to gain access to those who pass regulation laws.
Currently many power companies are begging for regulation so that they can delve into alternate energies (besides oil and dirty coal) with rules in place.
Just who of any importance do you know of who want "total deregulation?"
Are you saying you have no furniture in your house?
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Nanny V. Nanny
First the couch manufacturers were sued because their couches would burn up like you had poured gasoline on them. Now these people are lining up to sue them because the chemicals they had to use to make them flame retardant get picked up when they let their kids lick the couch. (A corollary to the lead paint issues where these same people were letting their kids chew on window sills. Hmm, maybe there's a connection here?)
The obvious solution which will delight the eco-terrorists? Don't manufacture couches, or anything else for that matter. Let's all just dismantle the evil manufacturing industries which provide our standard of living. Hey, if living with sh** covered clothes in a mud house was good enough for my great, great, great, great grandfather, it should be good enough for me, right?
The next problem I foresee from these people on the horizon? Sewers. These instruments of evil concentrate human excrement to the point where it is becoming a major nuisance. Dismantle them I say! Back to the old ways where you could just take a crap on the street or empty your bed pans out of second story windows!
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Are you going to sue food makers for making you fat?
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
I'm not suing anybody.
My commentary above is describing how I see the left's positions evolving.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Glad to see you taking some personal responisbility.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Poland center-right party wins big, wants out of Iraq
So much for being George Bush's b****.
Civic Platform crushed the current government in the elections. The Polish people are speaking as loudly on Iraq as Americans.
They want out. May we elect someone next year who will do get us the hell out of this bottomless pit of lives and money.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Well, CLS, you're consistent I guess.
But I agree with you. The American People have spoken and they elected the Democrats to get our troops out of Iraq. Unfortunately, after the election was over in 2006, it appears that the Democrats had lied to everyone about what they intended to do. In fact they have been supporting Bush's policies every since. Sure, they talk a lot out ending the war, but do they actually do anything about it? Nope. Symbolic gestures, no hard line action.
You people should feel completely betrayed on this point. Don't stand for it. Hold their feet to the fire for not doing eveything that they can to end the war. Make them cut the funding. Have them shut down the entire budget process if necessary. Don't take wimpy excuses and let them crap on you like this.
If they don't comply then replace them. Make them fight for their seats in primaries until you get someone that will at least follow through on what you have been promised.
It seems that the Polish have more backbone than American Democrats. At least they seem to be taking their positions seriously.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Well, GR, I think your team is in for a serious thumping in `08.
We shall see. But I love your overconfident spin. Never forget that Americans view this as Bush's war, regardless of how pathetic Congress is.
You guys will be buried. Going down with the most unpopular president in history.
Election day 2008 will tell the tale.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
I agree!
But why wait? Waiting is going to cost lieves. Go after your guys now for being the slackers that they are. When our guys don't tow the line we just toss 'em under the bus as you yourself have pointed out. Why don't you guys do the same?
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Election day 2008.
You'll be crying in your beer.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Maybe. I'm not really that optimistic about 2008.
That's why I keep cheering you guys on like this. I figure if you just stand up for what you believe in then our situation will improve! He he.
The trouble is that your politicians won't do it, the lousy bas****s. Light a fire under 'em!
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Election day, 2008
Bush brings down the entire Republican Party.
Kind of like the idiot conservative leader in Poland brought down his party at the ballot box:
Massive win for Polish opposition
Here's how the headline will read on the morning of November 9, 2008:
Massive win for Democrats
You'll still be making your inane comments, no doubt, but I suspect your whining will ramp up to ear-splitting levels. Can't wait.
Most unpopular president in history.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
I think Bobby Jindal's crushing of Dems
in Louisiana Gov race speaks volumes about the Dem prospects for '08. :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
We must wager.
I hope we'll have that contest again. Dems are going to pick up a boatload of seats in the House and the Senate.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
you should wait for closer to election time
so you don't embarrass yourself :) That said, you are probably right though I don't know about "boatload".
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Are you kidding? Have you noted Bush's trend?
He is taking the Republicans down with him. If there is a message to be gleaned from the elections in Poland, it's that those who stubbornly cling to Iraq will be punished at the ballot box.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
my apologies to anyone Polish
but let's not use Poland as an example of or in relation to anything in US politics.
I don't think Republicans are going to be judged for Bush in '08.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Funniest line of the day:
Economy in the tank.
Foreclosures at record highs.
Heath care a major issue.
And the biggie... Iraq a bottomless pit of lives and money.
And you don't think voters are going to acquaint these things with Bush and his lackeys in Congress?
That actually made me laugh out loud.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
RE: Funniest line of the day:
Fabrication. No its not.
They may have been. Aren't they down some now?
Only with left wing chicken littles.
Watch out, or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your strawman down.
Oh heck, I'll do it anyway! It is not a bottomless pit of anything but Democrat capitulation to the terrorists.
Umm, well, not really given that they are all lies and spin. You don't think voters can see right through Democrat lies and spin?
That actually made me laugh out loud!
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Typical bluster.
Yeah, Americans think the economy is rockin'...
October 11, 2007
(Well, equities were soaring...)
Consumers Remain Glum as Equities Soar
The foreclosure rate? What's the big deal?
October 22, 2007
Inflation and U.S. foreclosures makes two-year Treasury notes attractive
October 22, 2007
U.S. Housing Decline Threatens to Last Into 2009
October 22, 2007
Investor Optimism Remains Low in October
Everyone loves, loves, loves Iraq!
October 18, 2007
Public: Situation in Iraq Getting Worse for U.S.
Health care? What's that?
This August 2007 tracking poll finds that health care remains the top domestic issue that the public wants presidential candidates to address
in the campaign, trailing only Iraq on the publics' overall priority list.
But that's okay. The proof will come in November of `08 when your rose-colored glasses shatter into a million little pieces.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
The economy is not in the tank.
(1) You said the economy was in the tank.
It is not. Regardless of what you or OTHER average Americans might SUBJECTIVELY think. There are numerous OBJECTIVE measures to back this up but I don't care to indulge your fantasy so you can google them yourself.
(2) You said housing foreclosures are at record highs.
I admitted that they had been but thought that they had dropped off: Foreclosure rate dips but expected to stay high
, October 11, 2007.
Saying inflation is high is not the same thing as saying that the foreclosure rate is high. Saying that the housing market is down is not the same thing as saying the foreclosure rate is high.
(3) You said health care is a major issue.
I said that this was true only among leftist chicken littles. You provided a push poll by a group vested in the healthcare industry and making donations to the Tides Foundation
, a well known front group for laundering liberal donations 
:
So, like I said, left wing chicken littles.
(4) You said Iraq was a bottomless pit of lives and money.
I said "it is not a bottomless pit of anything but Democrat capitulation to the terrorists." This is true, the Democrats have not seen a way to make excuses for the terrorists in Iraq that they didn't like.
Take the poll you referenced. Respondants are indicating that the "situation in Iraq" is getting worse because of the Democrat's failure to deliver on their 2006 campaign issues. They are obviously complaining about the fact that the Democrats haven't delivered on their clear mandate to stop the war.
But in the end, this doesn't constitute a "bottomless pit" as you describe.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Right.
Don't let the reality of Bush's war intrude on the little fantasy world you have created for yourself.
Funny stuff.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
We'll definitely run a pool for people to pick races
Maybe with an actual prize this time.
We know nothing about any side bets, you must have the wrong establishment...
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
He avoided a runoff, which is very respectable, but it
speaks more to the loser LA Dems, imo - -- they played the race card against him, and the religion card against him ... and got thumped, b/c they had nothin'
Good luck to Jindal! he's gonna need it in that hellhole of a state -- after decades of Dem Majority, LA's dead last or scraping the bottom in most leading indicators.
Politics is a clash of interests masquerading as a clash of principles. – Anonymous
Jindal is a bright spot
He's got national potential. Perhaps he will be our first minority president :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Of course, most of the states with highest rates of
... illiteracy are controlled by Republicans.
The top 10 from 2003
:
Texas
California
Kentucky
New Mexico
West Virginia
Mississippi
Arkansas
Louisiana
Tennessee
North Carolina
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Texas, New Mexico, and California I'll give a pass to
since they all have large immigrant populations which surely skews the issue (since I'm sure they are only counting literacy in english).
The rest, well, we've talked about the south before.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
I agree
A better measure would be of people literate in any language. I'd also give a pass to Louisiana due to the minority who speak French and Louisiana Creole.
I never broke the law; I am the law! --
George W. BushJudge DreddI'm listening to...
it's mainly Kalifornia
that's keeping us down.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Joe Nocera's hilarious take on the new Fox Business Network
A must read. Simply hilarious.
The opening and some sampling from his piece in the Saturday Times:
Read the whole piece.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Is Rupert gonna lose any sleep over it: say Hi to Mrs. Murdoch
and his media empire's doing just fine! I know I'd rather own News Corp stock than New York Times stock, that's for sure!
Politics is a clash of interests masquerading as a clash of principles. – Anonymous
who is that girl
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
She loves him, Ender.
Who couldn't love a guy with a turkey neck and age spots?
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
ahem, she's obviously! a woman, and that's Mrs. Murdoch
No. 3, Wendi Deng
Politics is a clash of interests masquerading as a clash of principles. – Anonymous
Please, god, I hope no one ever posts
... a video of Rupert and Wendi, ala Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, on the Internets.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
You should read the article.
A lot of laughs.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
it is a fun article...
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Redstate post on keeping the coalition together
turns into yet another big fight between socons, fiscons, and libertarians.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
And where does that leave the neocons?
As I point elsewhere in today's open thread, post-Cheney, they will be back where they belong, on the outside looking in.
The neocons were always viewed as "lunatic fringe" by the foreign policy experts from BOTH parties, and they are headed right back to the loony bin.
Too bad it won't happen sooner.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
who designed their software... jeez
those comments that run into the sideline on the right are absurd.... :)
That said I don't have that much patience with non-negotiating socons. They are going to die out through darwinian evolution of ideas. I don't know how they cannot see that they are on culturally on an unstoppable and irreversible decline.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR