ThinkFast: May 31, 2006
ThinkFast: May 31, 2006
Out of the loop: White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said yesterday that President Bush learned of the reported Haditha massacre after the press did. Bush found out “[w]hen a Time reporter first made the call,” said Snow. Time reported the events in March, nearly four months after they took place.
“Climate researchers at Purdue University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology separately reported new evidence yesterday supporting the idea that global warming is causing stronger hurricanes.â€
City and state officials in hurricane-prone areas are pushing a “save-yourselves approach… after government agencies were overwhelmed by pleas for help after last year’s storms.†Officials say that “only the elderly, the poor and the disabled should count on the government to help them escape a hurricane or endure its immediate aftermath.â€
“The South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families announced Tuesday that it had secured more than twice the number of signatures it needed to refer the abortion ban passed by the 2006 Legislature to a vote of the people this fall.†The group gathered 37,846 signatures – “more than double the 16,728 they needed to get.â€
The Pentagon’s latest quarterly status report on Iraq, published yesterday, “shows an increase in the overall average number of attacks, from fewer than 500 per week last year to more than 600 per week in the most recent quarter.” “On average, nearly 80 Iraqis were killed or wounded every day…up from the previous quarter’s 60 per day.”
Afghanistan’s parliament approved a nonbinding motion calling for the government to prosecute U.S. soldiers responsible for a deadly road crash that sparked the worst riots in Kabul in years. USA Today writes, “The riots revealed a disturbing truth: At a time when the United States has enough trouble in Iraq, Afghanistan is increasingly beginning to resemble that war.â€
The United States is “ready to meet with Iran and other nations for talks on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions if the Islamic republic gives up uranium enrichment.” Diplomats, however, said Washington would only join talks if Russia and China agreed to back U.N. sanctions against Iran “if it remains defiant.”
The FDA official who revealed that Merck’s Vioxx medication “caused 140,000 heart attacks and strokes testified that co-workers at his agency tried to damage his reputation.â€
Rep. Bob Ney’s (R-OH) former chief of staff, Neil Volz, testified yesterday that “Ney was a champion on Capitol Hill for Jack Abramoff and his clients before the lobbyist was disgraced.†Volz admitted to conspiring with Ney to underreport the cost of a 2002 golfing trip to Scotland.
And finally: Another pork-filled bill? In Taiwan’s parliament yesterday, “deputies attacked a woman colleague for snatching and trying to eat a proposal on opening direct transport links with China in a bid to stop a vote on the issue.” The woman “later spat out the document and tore it up after opposition lawmakers failed to get her to cough it up by pulling her hair.”
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“City and state officials in hurricane-prone areas are pushing a “save-yourselves approach… ”
Otherwise known as self-reliance.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:16 am“On average, nearly 80 Iraqis were killed or wounded every day…up from the previous quarter’s 60 per day.â€
That, my friends, is a civil war. 80 dead a day? ~600 a week? Civil war. Brought to you by Bush and Co., fine makers of strife, hardship, torture, and killings.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:20 amFire Democrats who don’t push safe sex as the means of ending abortion.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:22 amAbortion has to become a left issue. It has to be taken away from the Republicans.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:25 amI’m still wondering how people in this country still believe there will be an election this year. Bush has declared himslef above the law,and a free and fair election would bring his shenanaghans to an abrupt halt. Look for a lame excuse for declaring Martial Law. We need a Plan B.
50 Ways To Dump The Dubya
May 31st, 2006 at 9:25 amANVILHEAD,
May 31st, 2006 at 9:27 amI bet you get all the girls. You’re sound so hot! Swing that big d*ck, cowboy!
Well, Jesus, I guess you can’t save ‘em all!
May 31st, 2006 at 9:34 am#7 Jesus – I think ANVILHEAD is so angry because of his ultra small penis… the only big dick he swings is that of his boyfriend.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:35 amSee: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-473.pdf
May 31st, 2006 at 9:38 am
Pentagon says 600 IED events per week in Iraq. That’s a hell of a lot of explosives – WHERE DO YOU THINK THE EXPLOSIVES ARE COMING FROM?
May 31st, 2006 at 9:39 amWhen will it sink in with the Conservative-based media that 80 dead Iraqi’s a day x 7 days =560 dead Iraqi’s a week might just look a little bit like a Civil War? I guess not until Faux News gets the go ahead from Rupe Murdoch to start spewing the truth, maybe?
May 31st, 2006 at 9:40 amANVILHEAD was later seen pulling his head out of his a$$, but then put it right back in because he can’t stand the look of the real world. Nothing like a foreign policy based on the teachings of the Dukes of Hazzard.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:42 amOut of the loop: White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said yesterday that President Bush learned of the reported Haditha massacre after the press did. Bush found out “[w]hen a Time reporter first made the call,†said Snow. Time reported the events in March, nearly four months after they took place.
Of course he didn’t know. That would be ‘bad news.’ ‘Bad news’ is not allowed at the White House. Only two types are allowed:
a) Good News: Which there isn’t much of.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:44 amb) Made Up News: Which there is plenty floating around.
Time to spend ten trillion dollars to rebuild Iraq, and then bomb it again. Then, rebuild it again, then bomb it again.
It doesn’t matter, the oil will still be there. War is the name of the game. Call it an earth friendly recycling program since it won’t really affect the oil.
It’ll be like an internal combustion engine: intake, combustion, power, and exhaust.
Why do the people in South Dakota hate abortion so much?
May 31st, 2006 at 9:45 am“Out of the loop: White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said yesterday that President Bush learned of the reported Haditha massacre after the press did.”
I’m sure the brass just didn’t want to trouble poor George with such insignificant matters. After all, he had so many fund-raisers to attend.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:47 amWeren’t these the very same groups left to die in Katrina? Were there not armed people keeping the poor from crossing a bridge to dry ground?
I know squeegeboo you blame the poor for their circumstances, but do you also blame the elderly and the disabled?
Something to think about:
Progressives/liberals, who espouse separation of church and state also feel that the above functions should be performed by the government. Conservatives/evangelicals, who believe in a government based on Christian values feel that the above functions SHOULD NOT be performed by government, instead left to the charity of individuals.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:51 am4. That’s a very humble Christian sentiment. Enjoy your rapture.
Goper’s Lament (Hard To Be A Republican
May 31st, 2006 at 9:52 amThe Pentagon’s latest quarterly status report on Iraq, published yesterday, “shows an increase in the overall average number of attacks, from fewer than 500 per week last year to more than 600 per week in the most recent quarter.†“On average, nearly 80 Iraqis were killed or wounded every day…up from the previous quarter’s 60 per day.â€
Note to Bush: Just because these numbers are going up does not mean that they show an improvement.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:52 am$19. Remember, the Shrub “graduated” from B School….he’ll no doubt see rising numbers as an improvement. Unless Uncle Dick and Reichsmarshall von Rove tell him differently.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:58 amBriseadh
“I know squeegeboo you blame the poor for their circumstances, but do you also blame the elderly and the disabled?”
Elderly? Sure do, they should have planned better for their future when they were younger, and raised their kids with the necissary values to help them out. Disabled? depends, physically disabled, yup. Mentally disabled? Nope, can’t expect someone with the brain power of a 5 year old to be responsible for their circumstances, but where are their family members?
“Progressives/liberals, who espouse separation of church and state also feel that the above functions should be performed by the government. Conservatives/evangelicals, who believe in a government based on Christian values feel that the above functions SHOULD NOT be performed by government, instead left to the charity of individuals.”
May 31st, 2006 at 9:59 amYour point being?
#19 – They probably showed him a chart on its side. Thats what happened to him at every business he ever ran.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:00 amSouth Dakota is a very red, conservative state…. So much for those who argue that it’s we liberals having all the abortions…
May 31st, 2006 at 10:01 am“The South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families announced Tuesday that it had secured more than twice the number of signatures it needed to refer the abortion ban passed by the 2006 Legislature to a vote of the people this fall.â€
This is a huge victory for Democrats— and the results of the vote in November will be as important as any election in the country. We cannot allow a group of right-wingers to impose their radical beliefs on the rest of us. The SD Campaign for Healthy Family’s ability to collect nearly 38,000 signatures underscores that this ban does not reflect the beliefs of most South Dakotans. This is a critical fight– the SD Campaign for Healthy Families has had huge success, but the fight is far from over –please visit http://www.sdhealthyfamilies.org
May 31st, 2006 at 10:01 am#11 fnordboy, those explosives were looted from various munitions dumps that the Army failed to guard after “mission accomplished”. In the al qaa qaa facility alone, there was over 500 tons that were stolen by the insurgency.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:04 amSpongeBob has not one sympathetic bone in his body… well, until he stubs his toe – then everyone should say “poor baby’. It’ll change when he some day learns the meaning of ‘help me please’. Odds are good that he will. Until then, he is balanced out by those who already do.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:04 amthere was over 500 tons that were stolen by the insurgency.
Comment by cynicalgirl — May 31, 2006 @ 10:04 am
I guess after giving and selling them to these folks for so long, our government forgot to put the lid back on the cookie jar.
Talk about chickens coming home to roost…
May 31st, 2006 at 10:07 amSquegeeboo;
May 31st, 2006 at 10:07 amI very much hope you are being sarcastic. What happens to the elderly whose children or grandchildren happen to be in the Gulf with the national guard?
If individual charity does not cover feeding the hungry or clothing the poor should these people go hungry or naked?
#26
May 31st, 2006 at 10:10 amSimply put that type of person is an egoist. Not a very popular personality trait especially when trying to interact in a social setting.
By all means let’s have an actual VOTE by the people on the abortion issue.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:10 am#21- Those folks who drowned in their own beds in a nursing home did everything right. You can’t honestly claim they could have better prepared for their future. The failure was on the part of the healthy, young, people paid to ensure their safety, who failed to do so.
Make no mistake about who the poor in this country are. Unless you are independently wealthy, every single one of you is one auto accident or one lump of cancerous cells away from sheer poverty.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:13 amIt’s amazing how Bush always seems to be hte last to know WTF is going on with his own people. How can he be keeping the country safe when he is always out of the loop like this?
Oh well, My guess is that it is just another case of an overzealous staffer. I’m sure no upper-level people had anything to do with this or knew anything was going on.
*cough*
May 31st, 2006 at 10:13 amOut of the loop?
Of course the idiot prez is out of the loop. He only knows what Rove and Bolten tell him. His eyes are too glazed over from alcohol and drugs he cant watch the news on television, and he cant read.
They keep him in a rush of televised talks about the country and the only way he knows where he is is because they write it down for him.
We are talking about an idiot here folks, a certified, true blue idiot that has no idea what is going on around him.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:19 amIt’s been nice living on the Mississippi Delta, along the Gulf Coast, and on over to Florida for the past 300 years, but all good things must come to an end.
Time to move on; laying around and playing around down there when the wind blows at 150 mph isn’t much of a good time.
Move on up to Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, etc. Escape the hurricanes and start having more fun.
Maybe down to Patagonia. Who knows? You’re on your own. Don’t expect the Pharisees that run the US government to help you, they’re too busy interpreting the laws.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:22 amSimply put that type of person is an egoist. Not a very popular personality trait especially when trying to interact in a social setting.
Comment by dlet — May 31, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Yeah, certain people tend to forget that we are social beings… until they are the only ones left in the room… : )
I think Squeegie is a good kid – just hasn’t gotten a good dose of reality yet. For his sake, he should hope that it happens sooner rather than later. Will make the rest of life much less contentious in the long run… People understand at his age – but not so much so when you’re in your 40’s, 50’s and so on (see any resident troll for a prime example :).
May 31st, 2006 at 10:28 amBy all means let’s have an actual VOTE by the people on the abortion issue.
Comment by Retired Republican Soldier — May 31, 2006 @ 10:10 am
I assure you, when people close that curtain on the voting booth and are left all on their own vices – they sometimes act very differently than when all the fanatical holier-than-thous are watching….
Banning abortion does not stop it. Go read up. There’s a history there to prove that you cannot stop people from having sex and having abortions. And in fact, the more you make it ‘forbidden’, the more you ensure people will want it.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:31 amTime to move on;
Comment by Ron — May 31, 2006 @ 10:22 am
Don’t be ridiculous. If people can’t afford flood insurance or to evacuate a city during a hurricane, what makes you think they can afford to move? Especially when no one is buying what they have to sell…
May 31st, 2006 at 10:34 amSo wait, a group that opposes abortion except on select circumstances wants that law repealed? Why not have it changed to their liking? Sounds fishy to me.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:35 amunbelievable
“well, until he stubs his toe – then everyone should say “poor baby’.”
When have I ever asked for anyones pity?(except when it comes to my spelling/grammer)
“I think Squeegie is a good kid ”
Still have you fooled do I? But thanks :)
dlet
May 31st, 2006 at 10:36 am“Simply put that type of person is an egoist.”
Nope, I just have no problem being blunt and stating my beliefs with out hedging them in language/terms to not offend.
This should help you all understand what Bush, single handedly, has done to the American economy, and the amurkan people.
in the last five years total debt has increased to 12.7 trillion. Rise in income has increased 2.1 trillion. For every dollar added to income, 6 dollars had been added to debt.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:36 am#36
May 31st, 2006 at 10:38 amTotally agree. If the legislators of South Dakota really thought that the law they passed would halt all abortions within the state borders they are fools. They just pushed it underground and put the health of women at risk. Granted abortion is not a pretty subject but having a realistic outlook at the discussion table is what is needed not political pandering. Reality is where we all are….well most of us.
When have I ever asked for anyones pity?(except when it comes to my spelling/grammer)
You answered your own question. But, you know, there’s nothing wrong with saying “I need help”. You act liek it is some horrible thing. I will agree that there are those who milk the system. But there are always those kind and you can’t deny the many in true need for teh few who will take advantage.
Still have you fooled do I? But thanks :)
I’m hard o you sometimes. Just wanted you to know that it’s nothing personal. With the exception of Mighty Mouth who I greatly dislike, and Denny who I am growing to dislike (though he told me to ‘leave him alone’ yesterday… funny, huh? after I had enough and whacked him), I think most people are truly doing the best they can.
Nope, I just have no problem being blunt and stating my beliefs with out hedging them in language/terms to not offend.
Comment by squegeeboo — May 31, 2006 @ 10:36 am
Sugar coating is not my specialty either. Probably why I cut you slack on occasion : )
May 31st, 2006 at 10:46 amReality is where we all are….well most of us.
Comment by dlet — May 31, 2006 @ 10:38 am
I grew up in a conservative area within the Bible Belt. A good number of the girls I graduated high school with had had more than one abortion. You’reright – it’s about reality. And the reality is that people will have sex. And the other reality is that they don’y always want a baby. It’s the overly-religious nuts who bring their unrealistic morality into it and say ‘well, then don’t be human’. Yet, when it comes to people disagreeing with their church doctrine – I saw some statistics that most people say that they are Pro-choice.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:51 amHave you ever noticed that the majority of anti-choice people are men?
May 31st, 2006 at 10:53 amPresident Bush learned of the reported Haditha massacre after the press did.
Bullshit!!!
Bush knew… but if he admits that he knew before the Time story broke then he implicates himself in the cover up.
It is in his best interest to look out of touch rather than criminally complicit.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:56 am#4, whoah, one Chuck Norris film too many can really mess you up, can’t it?
May 31st, 2006 at 11:15 amHave you ever noticed that the majority of anti-choice people are men?
Comment by Jules — May 31, 2006 @ 10:53 am
Would be interesting to know by how much… I bet it’s pretty disproportionate. And I bet it would change significantly if men could get pregnant…
May 31st, 2006 at 11:17 am“whoah, one Chuck Norris film too many can really mess you up, can’t it?”
There is no such thing as one to many Chuck Norris films, it’s always one to few.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:17 amMy mom used to say that if men could get pregnant abortion would be in the constitution.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:19 amIt is in his best interest to look out of touch rather than criminally complicit.
Comment by G.W.SuperChrist — May 31, 2006 @ 10:56 am
I agree. I think he’s lying – again.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:21 amIt is in his best interest to look out of touch rather than criminally complicit.
Comment by G.W.SuperChrist — May 31, 2006 @ 10:56 am
I agree. I think he’s lying – again.
Comment by unbelievable — May 31, 2006 @ 11:21 am
It is so difficult to tell. He is a dumbass, but he also lies about everything.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:22 amMy mom used to say that if men could get pregnant abortion would be in the constitution.
Comment by Jules — May 31, 2006 @ 11:19 am
Your mom sounds like my mom – except that mine used to say that there would be stronger drugs… :)
May 31st, 2006 at 11:24 am#1 self reliance is preached by the republican party as if it is their own idea when in fact everyone pushes self reliance. However republicans push it as an every man for himself strategy, except of course in Iraq where those poor people need our help.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:24 amBriseadh — Good point! (#17) The truth is, you can’t count on this impostor government for anything.
Why do you bother quoting the Bible to these pseudo-Christians? You think they’re going to think, “Oh! The Bible says I’m wrong to feel this way! If I had only known. Sorry, Jesus!”
May 31st, 2006 at 11:29 amIt is so difficult to tell. He is a dumbass, but he also lies about everything.
Comment by Jules — May 31, 2006 @ 11:22 am
I think he lies because he’s a dumbass… Something I realized after an encounter with a resident troll recently. They are either incapable of understanding the facts, or are too lazy to go look them up. It must be easier to snort a lot of cocaine, drive drunk, and them pull opinions ouit of your ass, apparently – than to educate yourself. You as an attorney know that facts win. So, the ignorant have to start to lie to seem credible.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:29 amexcept of course in Iraq where those poor people need our help.
Comment by Mark — May 31, 2006 @ 11:24 am
And also Halliburton who desperately needs all of our money, and wealthy people who sorely need those tax cuts so that they can buy another yacht!
May 31st, 2006 at 11:30 amI spoke for Anvilhead yesterday about the massacre, he’s late. (It was sarcstic of course).
May 31st, 2006 at 11:31 amWhat if Russia & China agree to back the U.N. sanctions? Then it’ll be: “Diplomats, however, said Washington would only join talks if Iran abolished its government and became a client state of the U.S.”
May 31st, 2006 at 11:32 am#1 Squeegieboo – is that what Chimpy meant? The ‘(your-on-your-)ownership society’?
May 31st, 2006 at 11:39 amYou as an attorney know that facts win. So, the ignorant have to start to lie to seem credible.
Comment by unbelievable — May 31, 2006 @ 11:29 am
There is a “thought” in the law that goes something like, “When the law is on your side, argue the law. When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When neither is on your side, speak very loudly.”
This is what these trolls, and the republican party, do. They yell louder than anyone else drowning out the voices of reason.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:43 am#44 – Have you ever noticed that the majority of anti-choice people are men?
Comment by Jules
We are not to be trusted with something so important as a viable uterus.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:51 amCity and state officials in hurricane-prone areas are pushing a “save-yourselves approach…
When government is telling you this, it means everyone is on their own, even the elderly, poor and disabled. This is the heads-up, folks. Just look at what happened to the people when the government “tried” to help.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:54 amMushroom Conservative: kept in the dark and fed manure
May 31st, 2006 at 11:55 am“The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life; the sick, the needy, and the handicapped”.
Hubert H. Humphrey
Squeegeblow, eaten any mushrooms lately?
How do they taste?
Oh wait, wingnuts don’t have any taste!
However republicans push it as an every man for himself strategy, except of course in Iraq where those poor people need our help.
Comment by Mark #53
Mark,
You forgot the corporate boardrooms…
…when they need bailing out (airlines, Chrysler, Amtrak et al), or unconscienable “tax breaks”…
…or the farms that need subsidizing…
…or the sparsely populated red states that need to have prisons built in their communities…
…in order to have jobs and steal congressional representation by inflating their census using their captive “slaves”…
…Republiscum are hypocrites, racists and shit-for-brains scum…
…they should ALL be exiled or executed (or both)…
May 31st, 2006 at 12:02 pmHaditha is the tip of the iceberg. I wonder how the hearts and minds thing is going.
May 31st, 2006 at 12:06 pmThey yell louder than anyone else drowning out the voices of reason.
Comment by Jules — May 31, 2006 @ 11:43 am
How true… (and funny :) There was someone yesterday who was spouting nonsense – calling everyone illegal aliens, including me. Of course I pointed out the flaw in his accusations, and he started yelling and tossing around ad hominem attacks. Eventually, he says “I’ll debate you anytime, any place.” Sure. That’s why he was yelling and insulting all afternoon instead of debating. Had no facts… Never seems to stop them from making specticles out of themselves and then calling us names for it. I’ve been wondering why it works so well for them… After all 60 million people did seem to vote for Chimp in 2004.
By the way, did you find a book for your trip?
May 31st, 2006 at 12:10 pmThe US government is unofficially a prolapsed uterus. Useless and in the way.
America will move forward without the US government.
May 31st, 2006 at 12:13 pmOut of the loop…
I’m pretty sure they don’t tell Georgie the sun is up until it’s absolutely necessary, or if a reporter happens to notice.
May 31st, 2006 at 12:17 pm#66 it works so well for them because entertainment like the WWF is huge in this country. People seems to like black and white issues that do nto require thinking. Republicans can frame anything in terms of black and white with sharp lines drawn in the sand. Dems try to explain things. People don’t want explanations. Also like the WWFF our country seems to like the macho thing tremendously and the repuplicans are masters at framing things in terms of macho vs wuss. Of course like the WWF when hulk hogan goes bad their heads explode.
May 31st, 2006 at 12:18 pmIn Taiwan’s parliament yesterday, “deputies attacked a woman colleague for snatching and trying to eat a proposal on opening direct transport links with China in a bid to stop a vote on the issue.†The woman “later spat out the document and tore it up after opposition lawmakers failed to get her to cough it up by pulling her hair.â€
I would pay a large portion of my life savings to see this on the floor of the Senate — just once.
May 31st, 2006 at 12:21 pmBy all means let’s have an actual VOTE by the people on the abortion issue.
Comment by Retired Republican Soldier — May 31, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Can we have an actual VOTE by the people on the Iraq War as well?
May 31st, 2006 at 12:27 pmI think that Murtha could make a major statement by going to the white house and throwing his medals over the fence like Kerry did. The press would eat it up!
May 31st, 2006 at 12:32 pmBy the way, did you find a book for your trip?
Comment by unbelievable — May 31, 2006 @ 12:10 pm
We found a website – I think it is the same name as the book title you gave me…I cannot remember right now.
We have decided to see the Blue Rdige Mountains and…get this….we may go to Dollywood!!! Is that not a hoot?
We are both so excited. I cannot wait until Friday!!!
May 31st, 2006 at 12:33 pmWe have decided to see the Blue Rdige Mountains and…get this….we may go to Dollywood!!! Is that not a hoot?
We are both so excited. I cannot wait until Friday!!!
Comment by Jules 373
Jules,
…vacationing in a red state…
…eeewwwww yuck!!!!!
May 31st, 2006 at 12:40 pmOf course like the WWF when hulk hogan goes bad their heads explode.
Comment by Mark — May 31, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
You know in 1984 when they used people’s fears to break them. I wonder if in this current Big Brother Regime, they aren’t doing exactly that… Wacthing 8 hours of television a day – or whatever it is up to – is scary…
May 31st, 2006 at 12:54 pmWe have decided to see the Blue Rdige Mountains and…get this….we may go to Dollywood!!! Is that not a hoot?
Comment by Jules — May 31, 2006 @ 12:33 pm
Dollywood would most certainly qualify as an American oddity : ). I haven’t been there since it was Silver Dollar City (or something like that) when I was 15. But it actually had roller coasters and was a lot of fun, even with my best friend’s strict parents and younger sisters :). I can only imagine that it’s been improved in the 20 years since…
I’m sure you’ll have a great time! You’ll have to let us know how it goes.
May 31st, 2006 at 1:02 pmIf it’s Dollywood, wouldn’t that be “hooters”
Sorry, I had to.
May 31st, 2006 at 1:18 pmJules,
…vacationing in a red state…
…eeewwwww yuck!!!!!
Comment by big papa — May 31, 2006 @ 12:40 pm
Not to worry….just passing through to Boston!!
May 31st, 2006 at 1:19 pmZookeeper,
it has always been my opinion that congress should have a 4 drink minimum. At least it would be entertaining.
May 31st, 2006 at 1:46 pmI find Squeeg’s comment on #1 amusing. What’s next? If your house is burning down, you better crank up the garden hose real quick-like? After all, the fire was probably your fault anyway because you left the stove on or something. Why the heck should the tax payers have to pay to keep up those fire stations and fire rescue workers?
Yea.
Uh huh.
I guess some of us just have a little more compassion than others.
May 31st, 2006 at 1:52 pmKrazny, their tolerance is probably built up, better make it a 6 drink minimum. I’d watch C-Span every afternoon…
May 31st, 2006 at 1:54 pm#80 – Parrotlover77, Squeegy just likes playing us.
May 31st, 2006 at 2:00 pm“If your house is burning down, you better crank up the garden hose real quick-like? After all, the fire was probably your fault anyway because you left the stove on or something. Why the heck should the tax payers have to pay to keep up those fire stations and fire rescue workers?”
I support what some areas of the nation do for things like that, paying for fire protection for your house is optional, so if it burns down and you pay your yearly dues they help, if you don’t pay your dues, they watch it burn down and make sure it dosn’t spread to neighbors that do opt in to the coverage.
May 31st, 2006 at 2:39 pm#83 – Squeegy, I hope you pay your dues on time. Wouldn’t want to lose all those Star Wars action figures, D & D books, Star Trek costumes, Simpsons T-shirts, etc. ;)
May 31st, 2006 at 2:50 pmSquegeeboo;
May 31st, 2006 at 2:51 pmCan you give a reference for #83? I heard of this practice as a very early ( 17th and 18th century ) practice in historical america when fire departments would only put out fires in buildings that were owned by their supporters. This ended in modern times with municipal fire departments. I didn’t know that any region still followed this custom. Thanks for the information.
Sorry I meant 1700’s and 1800’s America, particularly New York City.
May 31st, 2006 at 2:55 pm#
I support what some areas of the nation do for things like that, paying for fire protection for your house is optional, so if it burns down and you pay your yearly dues they help, if you don’t pay your dues, they watch it burn down and make sure it dosn’t spread to neighbors that do opt in to the coverage.
Comment by squegeeboo — May 31, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
When organized crime (aka the mob) did this, it was called exhtortion, and racketeering.
May 31st, 2006 at 3:16 pmI’m with Krazny on that… Because how do you make sure that the ‘dues’ are affordable?
Besides, since you’re into the finacial aspects SpongeBob, it’s a cheaper system if everyone participates – you know – group discount…
May 31st, 2006 at 3:21 pmSomeone needs to do a comparative study of Andrew and Katrina. Andrew was destructive as hell. I drove through it less than two weeks after it occurred and then again a few months later. The progress was undeniable.
There was clearly a coordinated and definite response from state and federal employees. Clearly resources were made available to those stricken in southern Florida.
Katrina occurred IN a major city. (I still think the government took a 9/11 approach and either let the levees break or caused them to.)
What I see on TV and what I read is total chaos in southern Louisianna. There must be a reason for this.
No matter what, bush administration is to blame.
May 31st, 2006 at 3:57 pmI support what some areas of the nation do for things like that, paying for fire protection for your house is optional, so if it burns down and you pay your yearly dues they help, if you don’t pay your dues, they watch it burn down and make sure it dosn’t spread to neighbors that do opt in to the coverage.
Comment by squegeeboo —
So Squeege now thinks municipalities should be run like protection rackets. “Gee, I’d HATE to see anything happen to your store, maybe you should just sign this policy…” Why does this thuggish outlook not surprise me? Typical republican values.
May 31st, 2006 at 5:16 pmThe only thing I can imagine Squeegy is referring to is Volunteer Fire Depts asking for support money every year, or a subscription ambulance service like we had when I lived in Louisiana. Otherwise, I think it’s pure Squeegy bullshit.
May 31st, 2006 at 5:28 pmI am a bit late but where I grew up in upstate NY we had a volunteer fire department which collected “dues” from every protected household..something like $10-15 a year. You were not required to pay but if you didn’t then if the fire department had to show up and put out a fire on your property they charged around $250-500, which was not optional then…in central KY where I live now we pay either a $20 member fee, each year or a $500 fee if we did not pay the $20 and the fire department is called to your house…
The first fee is like an insurance policy..the second fee is like you didn’t buy the insurance policy
May 31st, 2006 at 6:00 pmClif;
May 31st, 2006 at 6:34 pmIn both of your examples, the fire departments will put out all fires instead of just laughing at an unsubscribed building. Much more conducive to the public good. The subscription part of the fire department must be hard on renters and landlords, unless it is clearly written out which one is responsible for fire department contributions.
Both the renters for their belongings and landlords for their buildings…but 20 dollars is not much in todays world and fire fighting equipment is costly….the fire always will be put out and lives risked to save innocent people…the subscription just helps spread the financial burdern to all.
May 31st, 2006 at 6:59 pm#70- With all of the toupee-sporting individuals in the Senate, I think some ‘hair-pulling’ would prove to be very… revealing. And very,very, VERY funny. Oh my my, oh HELL yes!!
May 31st, 2006 at 11:02 pm[...] Think Progress [...]
June 1st, 2006 at 9:01 amI must commend CEI for the sides they choose to champion on these tough topics. Or is that condemn? I mean its not easy to defend a position with no facts to back you up. They must really want to bring the discussion on these subjects to the public eye. Well done I say.
November 20th, 2006 at 8:24 amPeople seems to like black and white issues that do nto require thinking. Republicans can frame anything in terms of black and white with sharp lines drawn in the sand. Dems try to explain things. People don’t want explanations. Also like the WWFF our country seems to like the macho thing tremendously and the repuplicans are masters at framing things in terms of macho vs wuss.
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