ThinkFast: December 21, 2007
ThinkFast: December 21, 2007
“After protesters clashed violently with the police inside and outside the New Orleans City Council chambers on Thursday, the Council voted unanimously to allow the federal government to demolish 4,500 apartments in the four biggest public housing projects here.”
The CIA has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether John Kirikaou “illegally disclosed classified information in describing the capture and waterboarding of an al-Qaeda terrorism suspect.” CIA officials previously said they were “furious” at Kirkikaou for openly talking about waterboarding.
U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy ordered a hearing Friday about the destruction of CIA videotapes “over the objection of the Justice Department.” If Kennedy orders government officials to testify, the hearing would mark “the first time that administration lawyers” spoke “in public and under oath about the matter.”
“California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) plans to sue the federal government over its decision not to allow a California plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” citing the administration’s “failure” to treat global warming seriously.
“Governors and other officials from at least eight states” have “pledged to help California as it prepares to sue” the Bush administration after the EPA denied a waiver for the state’s tough greenhouse gas emissions law. “We’re going to be out there on California’s side,” Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski told the Sacramento Bee.
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will return to work at Comedy Central on Jan. 7, despite a continuing Writers Guild strike. “We would like to return to work with our writers,” said Stewart and Colbert in a joint statement. “If we cannot, we would like to express our ambivalence, but without our writers, we are unable to express something as nuanced as ambivalence.”
Though 2007 was considered “one of Wall Street’s most dismal years in a decade,” bonus checks for investment bankers rose “an average of 14 percent.” “Four of the biggest U.S. investment banks — Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Bear Stearns Cos. — will pay out about” $30 billion in bonuses this year.
The Treasury Department’s inspector general for tax administration “said the IRS needlessly spent almost $2 million on a computer security system that the tax agency doesn’t plan to use,” an “example of financial waste contained in a government report on the tax agency’s involvement in a program ordered by President Bush in 2004.”
And finally: How are notable Washingtonians spending their holiday breaks? Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) said he will be spending some time “reading” and Rep. Chris Van Hollen will be watching his son’s soccer team play in Florida. CNN’s Ed Henry replied, “Everyone’s favorite pastime of cow-tipping in wonderful Crawford, Texas…followed by the rocking Western White House New Year’s Eve party. Just kidding — about the cow-tipping.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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New Orleans transformed into a white neighborhood before your eyes.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:05 amWhat a sad state of affairs for our once united and healing country. Regression is America.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:07 amHave missed Stewart and Colbert. It’ll be nice to have them back.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:08 amNew Orleans: the Neo-cons’ dream of urban renewal realized….
December 21st, 2007 at 9:10 amIRS also spent 188K on a outsourced contract clerk.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:10 amI feel sorry for the people in New Orleans. The $#!+ just keeps rolling downhill…
December 21st, 2007 at 9:11 am“California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) plans to sue the federal government over its decision not to allow a California plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,†citing the administration’s “failure†to treat global warming seriously.
Ahnold…it is a tumor. Really. And it has been growing unchecked for seven years. Time to go surgical on them.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:13 ammoveon.org to sponsor campaign with USO to supply phone cards to troops.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:14 amNew Orleans: the Neo-cons’ dream of urban renewal realized….
Comment by raynman — December 21, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Required reading:
http://www.gregpalast.com/hurricane-georgehow-the-white-house-drowned-new-orleans/
http://www.democracynow.org/2006/8/28/top_hurricane_expert_says_officials_threatened
December 21st, 2007 at 9:17 amNow who are the “girlie men”, Swarzie?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:20 amAt least Brad Pitt is bringing attention to the people of New Orleans; our own government officials are “swarming like flies” to snatch up the real estate while the people get shat upon once again. What is occurring in New Orleans is vulgar and reprehensible, thanks to our wonderful “do-nothing government”.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:22 amThank God for Henry Kennedy this Christmas! He’s bringing the best Christmas gift to the people of this country ever with the smoking gun pointing right at the upper eschelon of the white house and their “war crimes” – torture and obstruction of justice.
Add that to the NIE lies, the illegal spying on citizens, and the vote rigging in New Hampshire by the wholly owned subsidiary of the RNC: This White House.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:24 amWhat did we miss?
Hows about Bush violating the Constitution of Iraq
December 21st, 2007 at 9:26 amI think it’s consensus of opinion that the treasonous outing of a definitely covert CIA agent in the person of Valerie Plame can now be added to the list of criminal offenses by Cheney/Bush.
Every impeachable offense attributed to Cheney goes straight to Bush since nothing anyone has done under him was not done with his blessings, if not tacit approval by nature of his position. The buck stops at the desk of this president – let no one forget it.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:26 am“After protesters clashed violently with the police inside and outside the New Orleans City Council chambers on Thursday, the Council voted unanimously to allow the federal government to demolish 4,500 apartments in the four biggest public housing projects here.â€
Once New Orleans is turned into a lily-white disneyland, all the people that were saying the city should be abandoned and returned to swampland will suddenly see a need to spend untold billions for reconstruction when the next hurricane hits. So in the end they will have “saved” the city at the cost of its identity and its soul.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:27 am#14 Does that mean that the Iraqi government can bring charges against him as well? We did it to Hussein so I presume they can do it to Bush. I know they voted overwhelmingly to kick our butts out of their country in August and have recently voted overwhelmingly to disallow US bases in their country. Is this something new?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:27 amThe draw of New Orleans was it’s history and ethnicity. That will be gone and it will resemble any other american city when the “ethnic cleansing” is accomplished. Sad.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:28 amThough 2007 was considered “one of Wall Street’s most dismal years in a decade,†bonus checks for investment bankers rose “an average of 14 percent.†“Four of the biggest U.S. investment banks — Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Bear Stearns Cos. — will pay out about†$30 billion in bonuses this year.
Their reasoning: we were driving the bus just fine up to and including the point it went off the cliff. So we still deserve most of the fare.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:31 amClassification cannot and should never protect criminal activity. CIA is opening a can of worms if they pursue Kirikaou that, I believe, they’ll come to regret.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:32 amFrom the Boston Globe:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/aging_before_our_eyes.html
Great article about Hill’reh’s “… cleavage, cackle and crow’s feet …”.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:33 amBush is lying about knowledge of the tapes . He said he learned about them just the other day . When Hayden told him.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:33 amBullsh*t !!!
We all knew about the tapes right after Abu Gharhib Rumsfield said there were other photographs and even video. He said when these came out we would be even more horrified by what the tapes contained then we already were by the current pictures of Lydy and Grainer and others abusing the prisoners (detainees my as*). The tapes exsistents was discussed publicly . There has to be footage out there with Donald Rumsfield talking plainly about them . I’ve been waiting for years for them to become public only to learn last week we wont ever see them . Bush and Rumsfield had them destroyed.
Finallly Please expose Bush for the liar he is.
Wow, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are officially SCABS. Whatever happened to Liberal support for unions?
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 9:29 am
No they’re not. They’re going to be improvising their monologues, not writing material for their shows. That’s not breaking the strike.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:34 amIf Kennedy orders government officials to testify, the hearing would mark “the first time that administration lawyers†spoke “in public and under oath about the matter.â€
————————————–
If Kennedy orders administration lawyers such as Harriet Miers and Gonzo to testify, prepare for more claims of “executive privilege”.
BTW — since executive privilege can only be invoked by the “executive” (in this case, Bush), would this mean that if he invoked it he is admitting tacitly that he was somehow involved in the matter? Or has “executive privilege” just become so cheapened that it means “blocking any effort to do anything that might possibly make any Republican look bad”?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:37 amFeds not allowing California plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Correct me if I’m wrong. Isn’t state’s rights one of the much touted tenets of the Republican party?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:37 amGreat article about Hill’reh’s “… cleavage, cackle and crow’s feet …â€.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 21, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Hendler, this fixation on Hillary is a little too telling… she MUST remind you of your mother. BTW, yer off-topic, AGAIN, but hey, yer a troll. By defintion, yer never on-topic.
Nice Jingle Ballsâ„¢… been hangin’ out with Li’l Footie?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:38 amFeds not allowing California plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Correct me if I’m wrong. Isn’t state’s rights one of the much touted tenets of the Republican party?
Comment by Tawdry — December 21, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Not when it conflicts with their political talking points.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:39 amThere MUST be a way the attack can be pinned on Bush.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:32 am
This comment is just ugly. You think you’re being funny over the deaths of 50 people and cleverly using it as an opportunity to blast “libruls”.
Just flat out tasteless and ugly. But, hey, yer a troll. It is “what you do”.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:41 amWhat did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
The fertility rate among Americans has climbed to its highest level since 1971, setting the country apart from most industrialized nations that are struggling with low birthrates and aging populations.
Now if only the liberals would cease their support of murder then the rate would be even higher.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:42 amWhat did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
“Iraqis of all sectarian and ethnic groups believe that the U.S. military invasion is the primary root of the violent differences among them, and see the departure of “occupying forces” as the key to national reconciliation, according to focus groups conducted for the U.S. military last month.”
http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=45D590730CB4C1561A58751ED7E7A4CE?diaryId=280
December 21st, 2007 at 9:43 amGreat article about Hill’reh’s “… cleavage, cackle and crow’s feet …â€.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 21, 2007 @ 9:33 am
You’re right — it’s an interesting article, pointing out some of the ugly shallowness of our culture. Of course, the article kind of defeats its own purpose by planting the idea of Hillary’s less-than-youthful appearance in the minds of its readers.
I don’t support Hillary for the Dem nomination, but it really has more to do with her position on the issues than her cleavage, cackle, and crow’s feet.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:44 amComment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 21, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Not at all. The libs love to tout every death in Iraq as ironclad evidence that the country is about to topple off a cliff, and that a U.S. presence caused it.
My post was just a friendly reminder that the terrorists are killing lots of people all over the ME and often for reasons that have nothing to do with hatred of America.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:45 amHey, don’t blame us for yer complete inability to git laid.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 21, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Ok, I won’t. Promise.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:46 amKiriakou is really Kareoke. He’s inging the song the Whitehouse and the Agency wrote for him.
This ‘investigation’ is kabuki. It is a Kiriakou Kareoke Kabuki.
-GSD
December 21st, 2007 at 9:47 amAwash with trolls at this hour?
Christmas vacation begins today…
It should now be painfully obvious to even the most casual observer that our trolls are nothing more than HIGH SCHOOL IDIOTS (as of their sophomoric, inane BS hasn’t clued you in yet).
December 21st, 2007 at 9:48 am#32 – “Now if only the liberals would cease their support of murder then the rate would be even higher.” Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:42 am
But Liberals are already against the murder happening in Iraq. What more do you want?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:49 amComment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Actually your post was a strawman that gave you an excuse to take a potshot at “libruls” – “the libs love to… – and your reply above is a sorry-ass*d rationalization of that, and that’s all it is.
Whilst I’m addressing your nasty comment directly, you’re using an artificial, irrational, and meaningless stereotype – “the libs” – as an excuse to condemn a whole group of people. SORRY!!! NEXT!!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 9:50 amShaldag,
Bush is to blame for everything!
Comment by Megatron — December 21, 2007 @ 9:47 am
I hear ya, and it makes life easier to explain.
BTW, I got stuck at a long traffic light yesterday after shopping at Cabela’s. I plan on blaming Bush.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:50 amAwash with trolls at this hour?
Christmas vacation begins today…
It should now be painfully obvious to even the most casual observer that our trolls are nothing more than HIGH SCHOOL IDIOTS (as of their sophomoric, inane BS hasn’t clued you in yet).
Comment by DieNowForPeace — December 21, 2007 @ 9:48 am
I was going to suggest middle school, but you’ve got the right idea. Flag ‘em and forget ‘em.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:51 amWhat more do you want?
Comment by Democrat Soldier — December 21, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Careful, DS… pointing the inherent conflict and irony in Shaldag’s own comments might make that pointy little head implode.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:51 am#42 – “The DOW was at 12,500 a year ago and now sits at 13,500, a gain of 8%.” Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 9:47 am
What was the DOW at in 2000? 13,500.
What is the DOW now? 13,390.01 as of 9:50 am today.
How is that better?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:51 am#51 – Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 21, 2007 @ 9:51 am
That’s a risk I’m willing to take. ;-)
December 21st, 2007 at 9:52 amBut Liberals are already against the murder happening in Iraq. What more do you want?
Comment by Democrat Soldier — December 21, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Could have fooled me, considering how many of them voted for it.
Now if only the libs would cease their support of all murder, then you might have a chance.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:53 amLet the flagging begin!
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 21, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Indeed. I’ve also emailed Faiz to see if someone in admin is awake.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:53 amif only Bush hadn’t been born, the islamosavages would be operating flower shops and accepting Jews into their communities.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Ah yes, more of the same irrational, self-serving stereotyping.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:53 amNow if only the libs would cease their support of all murder, then you might have a chance.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:53 am
And yet MORE irrational, meaningless nonsense.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:54 am“The CIA has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether John Kirikaou “illegally disclosed classified information in describing the capture and waterboarding of an al-Qaeda terrorism suspect.†CIA officials previously said they were “furious†at Kirkikaou for openly talking about waterboarding.”
And, yet, they’re just dandy with Pres. Bush outing CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Severe hypocrisy, anyone?
Oh, I guess having a VP with a shotgun makes the difference. Can anyone get John Kirikaou a shotgun so the CIA will shut up, roll over and be a good dog again?
December 21st, 2007 at 9:55 amIt’s like the little clown car pulled up in front of TP, and all these drunken trolls came tumbling out and staggered in thru the doors.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:55 amThat’s a risk I’m willing to take. ;-)
Comment by Democrat Soldier — December 21, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Whack-A-Troll!
December 21st, 2007 at 9:57 amIt’s like the little clown car pulled up in front of TP, and all these drunken trolls came tumbling out and staggered in thru the doors.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
Nah, its Xmas break and the high school kids are home with unmitigated computer access…
December 21st, 2007 at 9:57 amWhilst I’m addressing your nasty comment directly, you’re using an artificial, irrational, and meaningless stereotype – “the libs†– as an excuse to condemn a whole group of people. SORRY!!! NEXT!!!!
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 21, 2007 @ 9:50 am
And so unusual from the usual, stereotypical tripe leveled at anyone here who doesn’t automatically support the liber…er…progressive line.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:57 amAnd yet MORE irrational, meaningless nonsense.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 21, 2007 @ 9:54 am
I would be happy to provide basic tutoring if you are having trouble understanding.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:59 amNah, its Xmas break and the high school kids are home with unmitigated computer access…
Comment by DieNowForPeace — December 21, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Completely unrestricted use of the dial-up connection? Whoa! Now, that says “Livin’ large”.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:59 amI would be happy to provide basic tutoring if you are having trouble understanding.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:59 am
You haven’t made one rational, coherent comment yet.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:00 amI could understand the EPA getting its panties in a wad if California wanted a WEAKER emissions law than the national one. By why the fuss over a stronger law?
My guess is that the national government is afraid of hurting the automakers.
Well, guess what? Nobody is REQUIRED to sell their vehicles in California. The Detroit Big Three could make their cars according to national requirements and sell them in whatever states allow them. California seems willing to take this chance.
However, no automaker wants to forego the lucrative California market. I imagine they have all boo-hooed to the EPA, begging the government to make California stop picking on them. And the federal goverment complied — no longer even PRETENDING that the Republicans favor smaller central government and more power to the states.
I say let California set whatever emission standards they want, as long as their laws aren’t weaker than the national standard. And let Detroit either comply with California standards or not sell their cars there. Free markets in action. You’d think the GOP would love that.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:01 amAnd so unusual from the usual, stereotypical tripe leveled at anyone here who doesn’t automatically support the liber…er…progressive line.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:57 am
And yet another broad, meaningless stereotype.
Yer battin’ 0 fer 0 this morning. Keep it up. You ‘ll have aperfect score by the time you pass out from all the T-bird you’ve been chugging.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:01 am#55 – “Now if only the libs would cease their support of all murder, then you might have a chance.” Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:53 am
If only cons would cease their support for murdering US troops by refusing to properly armour them and their vehicles. Do your rose-colored glasses interfere with you seeing the truth?
Why do cons hate live children, and only care for un-born children? “Life begins at conception, and ends at birth” for cons.
Ooops. It’s those rose-colored glasses you’re wearing hiding the truth from you.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:03 amTrain derailment and toxic cloud released in DC
Government offices sheltering-in-place.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:04 amtheir cleints even when the DOW is down.
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:03 am
And certainly for themselves, no matter what!
Why do you tink they call them “brokers”???
December 21st, 2007 at 10:04 amIt’s nice to see Republican leaders suing one another. Now if we could only get them shooting one another.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:04 amSo, g_g & M, does this mean the value of yer bottles and cans has risen proportionally w/ the DOW?
December 21st, 2007 at 10:08 amYer battin’ 0 fer 0 this morning. Keep it up. You ‘ll have aperfect score by the time you pass out from all the T-bird you’ve been chugging.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 21, 2007 @ 10:01 am
T-Bird…egads, no one drinks T-bird anymore. Mad Dog is the way to go for a truly great drinking experience. Get yourself out of the eighties, man.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:09 amNow if we could only get them shooting one another.
Comment by Perry logan — December 21, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Shucks, I’d be happy to just see them start ratting each other out to avoid longer sentences… :-D!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 10:10 am#80 – “Democrat Soldier,
You’re a liar!” Comment by Megatron — December 21, 2007 @ 10:06 am
Look who’s lying, Mr. “progressive alliance”
Why do you hate so very much more than anyone else on TP?
December 21st, 2007 at 10:11 amGet yourself out of the eighties, man.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:09 am
‘Course, yer reply does confirm what we already suspected… that you do indeed understand the world of cheap alcohol all too well, and clearly I don’t.
NEXT!!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 10:12 am#67 – “The Dow was not at 13,500 as you claim, but rather was at 10,940 on Jan. 1, 2000.” Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:05 am
And what was it on 21 Dec, 2000? Or 31 Dec, 2000?
December 21st, 2007 at 10:12 amI still have a few days left to try to catch up to the DOW though.
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Try moving to another state. Some pay better for bottles and cans than others. Read the fine print on the labels, when yer sober… you’ll see. I guess when you cash in yer personal empties, it could be considered a form of “reinvesting”
December 21st, 2007 at 10:14 amthe usual “progressive†posters here
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Ah yes, another stereotype…
December 21st, 2007 at 10:15 am#16: Unfortunately, i do not see anyone in the Bush administration being held accountable for anything over here let alone over there.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:15 amVery green, you know.
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:16 am
In yer case, “green” most likely has more to do w/ personal hygiene than ecology…
December 21st, 2007 at 10:18 am‘Course, yer reply does confirm what we already suspected… that you do indeed understand the world of cheap alcohol all too well, and clearly I don’t.
You may have a point there. I think I may need to blame my incipient cheap-booze alcoholism on Bush and demand a government subsidy.
It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:18 amI still have a few days left to try to catch up to the DOW though.
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:11 am
You talking about finance is laughable, written to you by someone who actually works on Wall Street. I think there is a Pepsi can behind that tree, another $.05 for you. You lucky guy you.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:19 amVery green, you know.
Is this a contest? Cause you lose. Try recycling newsprint, magazines, tin cans, phone books, junk mail etc. in addition to your 40 oz. malt liquor bottles and cans of beans and weenies…
December 21st, 2007 at 10:20 amYou may have a point there. I think I may need to blame my incipient cheap-booze alcoholism on Bush and demand a government subsidy.
It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:18 am
You are a racist, it’s very clear. Laugh at the poor people in New Orleans, you are loathsome.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:21 amWell, here are the trolls, with lies, innuendo, and wishful thinking. Too bad, no matter how much they cry and stomp their feet, their party of treason, rape, perversion and murder is just about finished off. Buh-bye, GOP, take your closets and ignorant tools with you!
December 21st, 2007 at 10:22 amYou are a racist, it’s very clear. Laugh at the poor people in New Orleans, you are loathsome.
Comment by Blue Stater — December 21, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Please link to where I mentioned or commented on anyone’s racial characteristics.
I’ll wait patiently for you to produce something, now go ahead.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:23 am“You may have a point there. I think I may need to blame my incipient cheap-booze alcoholism on Bush and demand a government subsidy.
It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.”
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:18 am
You’re not there already? Given the hatred you show for blacks in your postings, I would have guessed you’re speaking with personal familiarity on the issue.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:23 am“It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.â€
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:18 am
That’s pretty clear: he’s talking about blacks.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:24 amMy post was just a friendly reminder that the terrorists are killing lots of people all over the ME and often for reasons that have nothing to do with hatred of America.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Your post was a lie, as usual. You don’t have the faintest clue of a) whether the dead were in fact Muslim or b) what the underlying cause was. Nice straw man, too bad I had to burn it to ashes.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:24 amStill far short of the 13,500 you falsely claimed.
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:23 am
Not far at all, in adjusted numbers. But the truth means nothing to you.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:25 amYou’re not there already? Given the hatred you show for blacks in your postings, I would have guessed you’re speaking with personal familiarity on the issue.
Comment by barfly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:23 am
Team up with blue-stater, perhaps the two of you can can salvage something to support your claims.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:25 amBecause the simple use of the phrase “the usual progressive posters” is in and of itself a stereotype, whether you believe that or not.
(Pssst… using the word “usual” is what does it… if you had just said, which you didn’t, “some of the posters”, your comment would not have been a stereotype. And we’re all not “liberals” either. Define “liberal” in a clear-cut manner. You can’t. Or “progressives”. When you use the phrase “usual progressive posters” the way you did, w/ the intent you had (a put-down), it’s a self-serving stereotype.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:25 amWell, it looks like another day at TP where the trolls have completely taken over the thread and no logical debate will occur. I look forward to TP someday setting up a moderation system.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:26 amI’ll wait patiently for you to produce something, now go ahead.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:23 am
it’s obvious. unlike you, we’re not idiots.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:26 am“It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.â€
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:18 am
That’s pretty clear: he’s talking about blacks.
It’s the “Low expectations of soft bigotry”, formally known as RACISM.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:26 amI don’t think the trolls Megatron and Shaldag are high school students. Their utter stupidity coupled with there inability to spew anything but strawman invectives speeks more to the idea that finals are finally over at Regent University. They’re probably sitting next to each other with their laptops in the Regent U’s Library, cocking each other’s Johnnies under the table giggling to each other as they role play about being liruls. Maybe they can hook up with Hendler what with his Hil’reh fantasies and “fatherly” demeanor. Maybe Faiz could do them all a favor and hook them up with their IP addresses. Then they could meet up over the Holidays at an airport restroom and finally complete their internships with the RNC.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:26 am“Team up with blue-stater, perhaps the two of you can can salvage something to support your claims.”
Comment by Shaldag
Been there, done that.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:28 amI’ll wait patiently for you to produce something, now go ahead.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:23 am
You use the typical conservative code words, but we all know what you mean. You are a racist, a bigot, and your insecurties just show so tellingly. Go get your hood from the dry cleaners.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:29 am#67 – “The Dow was not at 13,500 as you claim, but rather was at 10,940 on Jan. 1, 2000.†Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:05 am
You are correct, I was wrong. My pardon. (I can admit when I make a mistake.) Have you been able to find out what the Dow was at the end of 2000? I’ve been looking, but haven’t found it.
Some interesting facts:
The 1990s Superbull Market (1990-2000)
January 2, 1990 – 2,810.15
January 14, 2000 – 11,722.98
I guess Pres. Clinton’s liberal policies were actually better for America than are the “fiscally irresponsible” conservative policies of Pres. Bush.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:30 amYour post was a lie, as usual. You don’t have the faintest clue of a) whether the dead were in fact Muslim or b) what the underlying cause was. Nice straw man, too bad I had to burn it to ashes.
Comment by Lefty Patriot — December 21, 2007 @ 10:24 am
Hooooo, you may have a problem. Try not to read the words “mosque”, “worshippers” or “islamic holy day” as they might circumvent your skewed reasoning capabilities:
“SHERPAO, Pakistan — A homicide bomber killed at least 50 people inside a mosque packed with holiday worshippers.
The bombing turned a prayer service crowded with hundreds of people celebrating the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha into a scene of carnage at the mosque inside Sherpao’s residential compound in Sherpao, a village 25 miles northeast of the city of Peshawar.
The bomber was in a row of worshippers when he detonated the explosive, provincial police chief Sharif Virk said.”
December 21st, 2007 at 10:30 am#87 – “Still far short of the 13,500 you falsely claimed.” Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:23 am
Well, when you correct your prior false claims, then maybe you’ll garner some believability.
I won’t hold my breath as I wait for you to do so.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:31 amI’ll wait patiently for you to produce something, now go ahead.
Comment by Shaldag
“It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.â€
Comment by Shaldag
I print it again, now try reading s l o w l y…
It’s known as “low expectations of soft bigotry”, formally known as RACISM.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:32 amAnd while the US states are preparing to sue the EPA for its heavy-handedness, the Lakota Nation has declared its independence from the US:
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Descendants_of_Sitting_Bull_Crazy_Horse_1220.html
More to come?
December 21st, 2007 at 10:33 amYou use the typical conservative code words, but we all know what you mean. You are a racist, a bigot, and your insecurties just show so tellingly. Go get your hood from the dry cleaners.
Comment by Blue Stater — December 21, 2007 @ 10:29 am
In other words, you failed to find a single racial reference and have instead chosen to decry my use of “code words”. Heh, how convenient for you.
I’m thinking of the outrage you would display if I decided to ‘decode’ your posts and interject all sorts of meanings into them based on nothing but preconceived notions.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:34 amIn other words
READ MY POST, DILDO. #102.
No clue’s needed. You wear it on your sleeve, like a proud GOPer…
December 21st, 2007 at 10:36 amWell, everyone.
It’s been real, and it’s been fun, but it hasn’t been real fun. ;-)
Happy Holiday’s, Merry Christmas, and good luck to all!
December 21st, 2007 at 10:37 amIt’s known as “low expectations of soft bigotryâ€, formally known as RACISM.
Comment by DieNowForPeace — December 21, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Ah, so you join blue-stater in his inability to find a single racial reference and have instead projected your own preconceived notions onto me.
Again, how very convenient for you.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:37 amA homicide bomber
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:30 am
What an idiotic term. EVERY bomber is a homicide bomber, whether they’re pushing a button on an explosive vest or a B-52 cockpit.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:38 amComment by Shaldag
Could someone who types be so clueless?
You can claim no direct racial remarks, but your implied racism is so overtly apparent, only a true racist could deny it.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:39 amAgain, how very convenient for you.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:37 am
so, you deny your racism, even though it’s obvious to everyone here. How convernient, and how typically rightwing. Lies are all you know, and all you spew.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:40 am“In other words, you failed to find a single racial reference and have instead chosen to decry my use of “code wordsâ€. Heh, how convenient for you.”
Well, it worked for Reagan in the South, so you’re only carrying on a grand old tradition. We all know NO is and was populated primarily by blacks, and that references to NO’s population must mean blacks. So peddle your code words to the rednecks.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:41 amMore to come?
Comment by Proud American Liberal — December 21, 2007 @ 10:33 am
This idea has been floating around since the ’70’s and has never gotten any real traction.
The problem with trying to create an independent nation is that it’s citizens are required to renounce their U.S. citizenship for the right to never have to pay taxes, yet there is no self-existing economy in the proposed new nation.
Someone in the Native American community felt compelled to resurrect this idea once again and it will fall by the wayside, as it always has, in due course.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:42 amshaldag lives his life regretting the freeing of the slaves, women’s suffrage, and the end of the exploitation of children in factories. he longs for the good old days, when white men didn’t have to actually work for a living. he is a member of the GOP, the party of treason and savagery, trying to turn the clock back to the days before America was founded. Understand his hatred, it’s based on frustration that civilization is making him obsolete.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:44 amComment by good_golly — December 21, 2007
What they should do, is make a video apologizing to the Iraqis for all the bloodshed their support has engendered. That would be in true christmas spirit.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:45 amWell, it worked for Reagan in the South, so you’re only carrying on a grand old tradition. We all know NO is and was populated primarily by blacks, and that references to NO’s population must mean blacks. So peddle your code words to the rednecks.
Comment by barfly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:41 am
You need to concentrate on your own post, specifically the word “primarily” which means that there is a “secondary” population which is not African American.
I made no reference to race, but only to the “ex-residents” of New Orleans which, if you bothered to support the thinking behind your own post, would include people of all races and ethnicities.
You couldn’t produce a single racial reference by me and have been reduced to claiming that you THINK you know what I meant, which is not only illogical but irrational.
Heh.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:48 amRE: Daily Kos
ACLU lawyer Megan Lewis told the judge she believes the government has pictures of abuse beyond the Abu Ghraib images that sparked outrage around the world after they were leaked to the media last year.
–
She said the judge’s findings likely would clear the way for the release of other pictures of detainees taken around the world by U.S. authorities.
“I do think they could be extremely upsetting and depict conduct that would outrage the American public and be truly horrifying,” she said outside court.
The images, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress, depict “acts that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel, and inhuman.” After Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) viewed some of them in a classified briefing, he testified that his “stomach gave out.” NBC News reported that they show “American soldiers beating one prisoner almost to death, apparently raping a female prisoner, acting inappropriately with a dead body, and taping Iraqi guards raping young boys.” Everyone who saw the photographs and videos seemed to shudder openly when contemplating what the reaction would be when they eventually were made public.
–
By that time, the executive and legislative branches had learned their lesson: Don’t release images. The day after the Berg video, members of Congress were allowed to see a slide show of 1,800 Abu Ghraib photographs. The overwhelming response, besides revulsion, was, in the words of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-Va.), that the pictures “should not be made public.” “I feel,” Warner said, “that it could possibly endanger the men .
Come on pepole Arent the tapes included in these comments .
December 21st, 2007 at 10:48 amI bet they are.
John Kirikaou “illegally disclosed classified information in describing the capture and waterboarding of an al-Qaeda terrorism suspect.†CIA officials previously said they were “furious†at Kirkikaou for openly talking about waterboarding.
Johnny better watch his ass, the waterboard in Cheney’s secret room adjacent to his office has Kirikaou carved into it.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:49 amComment by Lefty Patriot — December 21, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Ill-constructed and chock-full of baseless innuendo. Pretty sad, you have all been reduced to mouthing such boilerplate stereotyping with absolutely no basis on which to support your attacks. Not that I expected more, I’m just saying…
December 21st, 2007 at 10:51 amHeh.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:48 am
Embarrassing to be caught, isn’t it, racist? But you keep on coming up with those rationalizations. wingnuts never quit digging that hole.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:52 amIll-constructed and chock-full of baseless innuendo. Pretty sad, you have all been reduced to mouthing such boilerplate stereotyping with absolutely no basis on which to support your attacks. Not that I expected more, I’m just saying…
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Good, keep it up, you’re very convincing, racist.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:53 amso, you deny your racism, even though it’s obvious to everyone here. How convernient, and how typically rightwing. Lies are all you know, and all you spew.
Comment by Lefty Patriot — December 21, 2007 @ 10:40 am
There is no racism to deny. BTW, your post is direct evidence of push-poll questioning, raising the specter of immoral behavior and then asking if you agree with it or not…your line has taken a definite zig-zag.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:56 amEmbarrassing to be caught, isn’t it, racist? But you keep on coming up with those rationalizations. wingnuts never quit digging that hole.
Comment by Lefty Patriot — December 21, 2007 @ 10:52 am
I’ll continue to wait for you to produce evidence of my racism beyond your simplistic “I know what you REALLY meant!”
Feel free to post your evidence and if it exists I will readily accept your accusation as truthful.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:58 amyour post is direct evidence of push-poll questioning, raising the specter of immoral behavior and then asking if you agree with it or not…your line has taken a definite zig-zag.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:56 am
that’s one of my favorite situations, when rightards are caught in their own webs, whining and crying :it’s OK when we do it”.
You lose, racist, but thanks for playing.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:58 amGood golly, unsurprisingly you’re missing the point. The article was talking about executives of Investment Banks…
“Four of the biggest U.S. investment banks — Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Bear Stearns Cos. — will pay out about $49.6 billion in compensation this year. Of that, bonuses are traditionally estimated to represent 60 percent, or almost $30 billion.”
While Goldman Sachs has avoided much of the prime rate meltdown, Morgan Stanley reported the first quarterly loss in its history amid a $9.4 billion writedown, Bear Stearns posted the first loss in its 84-year history after a $1.9 billion writedown, Lehman booked losses last week. It’s been the worst year of many for investment bankers and yet the executives rake in billions worth of bonuses.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:59 amYou lose, racist, but thanks for playing.
Comment by Lefty Patriot — December 21, 2007 @ 10:58 am
You obviously don’t understand the concept of the push-poll.
Anyway, I’m still waiting for you to produce something, anything, on which to base your racism accusation.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:01 amIt’s been the worst year of many for investment bankers and yet the executives rake in billions worth of bonuses.
Comment by Dave C — December 21, 2007 @ 10:59 am
dave, gg will fight you on that, because rich white dudes have the god-given right to steal at every opportunity, and who are you to point that out? gg is a twisted fruit, one of those that places profits over people.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:02 amAnyway, I’m still waiting for you to produce something, anything, on which to base your racism accusation.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 11:01 am
sorry, shaldag, you already lost the fight. you’re a racist, we all know it, I’m surprised that you’re even fighting it, given that your kind are usually rather proud of their ignorance. I guess you’re even less evolved than most of the neandertals that you worship.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:03 amIt’s been the worst year of many for investment bankers and yet the executives rake in billions worth of bonuses.
Seemingly this would be an issue for the shareholders to decide upon, since the bonus structure would be a contractual obligation.
If a business which is losing money continues to highly reward its top officials, then it would be up to the shareholders to decide the fate of the company.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:07 amComment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Shaldag…. LOL… don’t you know Projection is the new progressive thought. If you disagree with a TP’er here you are a racist, sexist, or homophobe, or they start calling you a monkey who hurls feces…
I definitly agree with you about Miss_Molly… she has calss for the most part. She is angry at the GOP/ conservatives etc… but she can at least formulate a a conversation rather than the cliche TP lexicon and tired references to feces, trolls, and pointy hats, which was probably pretty funny a couple of years ago but now its just weak when you can actually argue to the point.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:07 amComment by Lefty Patriot — December 21, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Ok then, I’ll note that you have been unable to produce absolutely anything on which to support your claim other than “we all know”.
Heh, you make it so easy sometimes.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:10 am“rich white dudes†— how racist of you.
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Whoops, I missed that, thanks for the post.
Odd that lefty would claim the evils of stereotyping and racism while indulging in….well….stereotyping and racism.
The crows have come home to roost, right on top of lefty’s house.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:13 amClaims that all of these hundreds of scientists are on the payroll of Big Oil in 3….2……1
Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 11:11 am
Big Coal, Big NatGas, Big Oil, or just to make it easy, Cheney has gotten to all of them with threats of being confined in Gitmo on trumped-up charges.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:15 am#26 yep, and if I am not mistaken health and welfare decision are up to the states too. Seems to me that greenhouse gas emissions are clearly a health and welfare situation. The republicans will probably sue on the lines of interfering with interstate commerce, which is defined very broadly.
Good_golly, aka cold hard left aka Jason hendler perhaps you too are missing something… some of these record bonuses are going towards the people who are responsible for the sub prime mortgage collapse & write-offs. Granted people do make money in down times in the market as well as down times and stagnant times. But when the overall market is stagnant, when firms are writing off a billion here and a billion there the appearances are not favorable when management pays out large bonuses. Couple that with the news that once again trickle down is not working as the wealthy are getting wealthier while the middle class incomes are stagnant at best and things just don’t look good from a PR perspective. Can you and your multiple personalities at least admit that from a PR perspective it looks bad to issue bonuses when the very same firms ware taking Billion dollar write-offs for bad investments?
Good_golly, aka cold hard left aka Jason hendler, once again you miss another point. Even if global warming is not real, though it is but I’ll pretend for your sake, lets say it is not real, what is wrong with lowering emissions to create healthier air? What is wrong with taking preventative measures to ensure global warming does not become a reality? Seems to me you and your ilk want to block every thing and do not want to take any action until there is 100% consensus of opinion among your pundits and industry scientists. Seems to me like you would wait until we were past the tipping point before you would even acknowledge the problem? Unless of course it has to do with brown people who anger you thinking that someday they may want nukes, so we should blow the crap out of them now.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:17 amThe Treasury Department’s inspector general for tax administration “said the IRS needlessly spent almost $2 million on a computer security system that the tax agency doesn’t plan to use,â€
Why do I smell Daryll on this one??
December 21st, 2007 at 11:18 amShaldag…. LOL… don’t you know Projection is the new progressive thought. If you disagree with a TP’er here you are a racist, sexist, or homophobe, or they start calling you a monkey who hurls feces…
Yes, it is quite sad. I come here infrequently to offer up a different opinion and invariably end up being called all of those things without a shred of evidence.
These self-indulgent hysterics haven’t even taken the time to deduce my gender, race, age or political affiliation before attacking. It can be quite comical at times as I am forced to deconstruct, shatter really, the baseless and irrational arguments the TP’ers present.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:19 am#114 – “Please point one out for me. If I agree that I was wrong in a prior claim, I’ll gladly correct it.” Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Fine, here you go: #18 – “Wow, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are officially SCABS.” Comment by good_golly — December 21, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Scabs are people who are hired to replace the ones who are on strike.
If you actually read the article, you might have noticed two important facts:
1 – “Mock newscast “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and spinoff series “The Colbert Report” will resume broadcasts of all-new episodes on January 7, making their return without writing staffs unless the strike is settled by that time, the Viacom Inc-owned network said.”
2 – “Fox said because both Stewart and Colbert are WGA members, they are barred from penning any material, even for themselves, that their staff writers would normally handle.”
Since you might need to have the relevant parts pointed out to you:
1 – “making their return without writing staffs”
2 – “they are barred from penning any material, even for themselves”
Nowhere did they mention “We’re going to write our own material, in contradiction with the strike”.
Nowhere did they mention “We’re going to hire ourselves to do the jobs of our striking writers”
Basically, you were completely and totally wrong to label them “scabs”.
Be a man. Admit when you’re wrong and move on.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:21 amMy theory on the infusion of trolls…its Friday, they usually release embarrassing news on Fridays so it gets buried by the indifference of our people to weekend news. Something embarrassing must be coming down the pipeline for the bushies and the hired guns (yes some are hired guns, I have a buddy who works in the PR section of a very large Washington law firm and he has hired people to monitor blogs and spread the administrations good news, or whatever else it is they do) and their friends are out in force to muddy the waters and cloud issues before the news erupts.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:22 amComment by Severus — December 21, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Case in point, notice the inclusion of a reference to “brown people” by the poster. Severus had a quite rational post until that point but then for some reason felt compelled to add a little dig.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:22 am#142 – “It can be quite comical at times as I am forced to deconstruct, shatter really, the baseless and irrational arguments the TP’ers present.” Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Let me know when you ever do something along these lines. It will be a first, and I’d like a laugh.
I won’t hold my breath as I await the first time you ever accomplish this.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:23 amWhat did we miss?
Rio – Argentina
Rotters newswire
An American pseudo-missionary was arrested after being roughed up by a hostile crowd on the nude beach in Rio yesterday.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:23 amHis proseletyzing was infuriating the Roman Catholic residents, as he was ranting about Reverand Jeffers being the True Church.
At one point, the crowd was going to bury him in the sand and let the crabs feast on his head. The crabs, however, refused to go anywhere near the missionary, identified as Daryll Deludo.
His wife, when asked to comment, got up from her blanket and asked for a towel to cover herself, before replying in disgust, ‘what a lame ass religious bigot’.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 11:19 am
You made evil vindictive stereotypical comments about New Orleans residents all being drunks wanting a government hand out (see below). As a large percentage of NO residents are black, what is one to take from this? At the very least it’s class warfare language and just mean spirited and shows you are at the very least a miserable d-bag. That much is very apparent.
Your comment:
“You may have a point there. I think I may need to blame my incipient cheap-booze alcoholism on Bush and demand a government subsidy.
It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.â€
December 21st, 2007 at 11:27 am(yes some are hired guns, I have a buddy who works in the PR section of a very large Washington law firm and he has hired people to monitor blogs and spread the administrations good news, or whatever else it is they do)
Thank God for the anecdote.
I too have a buddy who works for a very large Washington law firm and he has hired people to monitor the monitors of blogs. Or something like that.
No not really, that was just my attempt to post a conspiratorial anecdote.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:28 amshagdog, different opinions and wrong mean spirited opinions are two different things. Frequently the like of you just come here to raise the same tired dead points over and over even long after they had been proven false. Example Valerie Plame was not covert. Or they come to regurgitate the same tired attacks usually with the phrase “But Clinton…” preceding their argument. You people on the right always want balance, sometimes there is no balance, sometimes there is only one position, but you keep pushing your proven dead information and theories. An example of this is the Trickle down theory of economics. It just does not work, it has never worked in history, it did not work in the 1980’s (according to my overtly conservative economics professor) and it is not working now. Your kind come on here to defend the indefensible like torture. You defend everything the administration has to offer tooth and nail, even when their position switches from what it was yesterday to what it is today. And after all is said and done you make comments like, I don’t support Bush…But then you sound like a republican candidate for president. All of them have distanced themselves from the disaster known as George Bush, but none of them are significantly different from him with how they are campaigning. Get over it, when you are wrong you will be called on it, but I guarantee you you will never admit it.
Contrast your treatment here with how one of us might be treated at one of the right wing sites. Here you get to post, people sometimes engage you in debate, sometimes shout you down, but nonetheless you have permission to post on this forum. On right wing forums dissent is usually swiftly dealt with by banning the IP address very quickly no questions asked.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:32 amWishing everyone here a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:32 amHere’s to hoping not one more soldier will be killed or maimed in the upcoming year.
Here’s to praying that this administration will finally get it’s head out of it’s collective arse, and realize that the United States of America stands for it’s citizens, not it’s corporate CEO’s!!!
Here’s to wishing everyone can discover PEACE, no matter of skin color, religious beliefs, political affiliation, etc.
And finally, here’s to stress free holidays with family!
Salut, my friends, Salut!!!
“You may have a point there. I think I may need to blame my incipient cheap-booze alcoholism on Bush and demand a government subsidy.
It works for so many ex-residents of New Orleans, it should work for me too.â€
Comment by Blue Stater — December 21, 2007 @ 11:27 am
Actually the comment referred to demanding government subsidies, but I wouldn’t expect you to have the ability to parse something even this simple. This was based on a story that appeared today about New Orleanians(spelling?) living in Houston who are complaining about their troubles two years after Katrina.
And even for the sake of argument, there was no racial comment made by me, it is you and others who have been interjecting racial innuendo into the debate based on nothing more than “we know what you really mean!”.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:34 amAnd to you and yours, DrxJ, the very best of the holiday season!
December 21st, 2007 at 11:35 amP.S. Merry Christmas too!
148…
Comment by Blue Stater — December 21, 2007 @ 11:27 am
then let me see… that means if you don’t agree with Israel and what our connections with them… you are an anti-semite??????
NOOOOOO…. why? cause that is a weak projection… never mind you never attempted to delve any further into your assumption about Shaldag…. Sounds like a classic bigotted manuever to me. Irony much?
Furthermore… he was speaking to an common place activity in New Orleans, I lived there for 5 years. The only injectors of race that I saw in the postings were “blue staters”
Seems like you guys own the monopoly on labels… truely Progressive.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:38 amThey shoud demolish every public housing project in the entire country.
Those places only breed crime, hopelessness and desperation.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:40 amComment by Severus — December 21, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Which seemingly is the point of debate, to exchange ideas and opinions rather than just saying “you are wrong because I don’t agree with you”.
You had a cogent and rational post about global warming, one which I would have been happy to debate with you and even…GASP!…agree with you on some parts, but the last sentence about “brown people” led me to believe that my disagreeing with you might eventually lead to a “well you are just a bigot” comment.
I agree that there are right-leaning sites out there that suppress liberal thinking, though they could be added to the left-leaning sites which do the same for their conservative posters.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:42 amComment by Joneser — December 21, 2007 @ 11:38 am
Both your and Shaldag doth protest too much. The simple fact is that the basic platform position of the GOP hurts minorities and poor (and middle class) people regardless of their race. If you support those positions, what exactly does that make you? At the very least a mean, spiteful person. It’s that simple, if you want to support this president then get used to being called all sorts of names because this presidency has been a disaster for this country. It’s not too late to come to your senses, but I doubt you ever will.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:44 amComment by Blue Stater — December 21, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Which will of course culminate in being called a “racist” with nothing to back it up.
Still waiting.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:47 amThe draw of New Orleans was it’s history and ethnicity. That will be gone and it will resemble any other american city when the “ethnic cleansing†is accomplished. Sad.
Comment by Veritas
The other problem they will encounter is finding the workers they need to keep their white “Disneyland” going. All their workers will be forced to live far away from New Orleans and many won’t want to commute there for low-paying jobs.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:47 am“She is angry at the GOP/ conservatives etc…”
Comment by Joneser — December 21, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Thank you for your kind words, but I just wanted to point out that I’m not angry with ALL Republicans and conservatives — just the corrupt and power-drunk ones who have lost all conviction of doing what’s best for this country.
One Republican I always had respect for was Barry Goldwater. He was definitely a conservative in the old Republican tradition — less government, free markets, etc. And he was honest. I didn’t always agree with him (in fact, I probably disagreed with him more often), but I respected him.
Goldwater bemoaned the highjacking of his party by the evangelical right. He believed that conservatism meant that the government had no business telling Americans how they could run their lives — and fervently believed the government had NO place in the bedrooms of America.
I would like to see the GOP return to what it once was — honest conservatism in that style. I believe there are Republicans out there who share this vision and would like to reclaim their party. Unfortunately, they have been squelched by the current corrupt cabal in power.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:48 amI agree that there are right-leaning sites out there that suppress liberal thinking, though they could be added to the left-leaning sites which do the same for their conservative posters.
Comment by Shaldag
Would you like to give us a list of the left-leaning sites that suppress conservative thinking? And please don’t post to sites that ban useless trolls who do nothing but make outrageous statements and refuse to answer questions or link to proof of their statements. Those trolls deserve to be banned because they are contributing nothing to the debate and are simply there to disrupt.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:50 amThey shoud demolish every public housing project in the entire country.
Those places only breed crime, hopelessness and desperation.
Comment by Charles James Napier — December 21, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Great idea! Then they can sell them houses with variable-rate mortgages that they can’t afford!
December 21st, 2007 at 11:50 amGoldwater bemoaned the highjacking of his party by the evangelical right.
Oh my, severus, hold on to your hat because I am in agreement with molly about her take on the evangelicals.
Don’t worry though, blue-stater will find some way to curse me as a bigot for doing so.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:52 amThey shoud demolish every public housing project in the entire country.
Those places only breed crime, hopelessness and desperation.
Comment by Charles James Napier
And what do you propose we do with the people who are living in the public housing? Make them all homeless, because that is what you will be doing. You have a very black soul and I feel very sorry for the people who are around you.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:52 amthe Council voted unanimously to allow the federal government to demolish 4,500 apartments in the four biggest public housing projects here.â€
Ethnic cleansing, chymp style.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:53 amGreat idea! Then they can sell them houses with variable-rate mortgages that they can’t afford!
Comment by toasterhead — December 21, 2007 @ 11:50 am
While simultaneously teaching them how to read since they obviously weren’t able to do so the first time around.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:54 am157…
Comment by Blue Stater — December 21, 2007 @ 11:44 am
like i said… how Progressive…. So name calling is justified…
First off… being that you, seem to be so obsessed with race… and as always require qualifiers in order to talk about anything (how Progressive, nevermind I don’t have to have a PHd to know what comes up must come down) I am a young black male from a single mother who didn’t take smidge of welfare. I could have been happily aborted in order to preserve her ability as a woman to move up in the world…. but she sacrificed (how progressive) at any rate…
Its called accountability… and its an equal oppurtunity employer. I don’t agree with about 30% of what Bush has done. But could you tell me why he has helped increase small business administraiton loans for blacks by 28% and how black business ownership has increased as well?
“But we know what you really think” PSSHHHH
December 21st, 2007 at 11:54 amDon’t worry though, blue-stater will find some way to curse me as a bigot for doing so.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 11:52 am
No I won’t as this wasn’t a bigoted statement like past statements you have made, but I would ask you why you support this president? As he is evangelical, so much so that he thinks God is responsible for him being president.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:55 amAwash in PSCT’s (piss-soaked-concern-trolls).
Lurking till the piss-storm passes…
December 21st, 2007 at 11:57 amToo bad the redevelopment of the N.O tenements was in the works before Katrina happened.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:57 am160….
December 21st, 2007 at 11:57 amThanks Molly…
reaffirming there is hope in the world…
I know we have gone back and forth on things before… but as always you shine in my book.
168… that wans’t very progressive either… but ok. But you can’t possibly be bigoted towards someones religion. Tell me something… who has done more than anyone for the people in LOUSIANA (contrary to media and TP’ers New Orleans is one of many cities in the state, but go figure its about money and race… the best chum for political sharks) and MISSISSIPPI… hmmm the Churches…. a little faith based initiative if you will….
December 21st, 2007 at 12:02 pmNo I won’t as this wasn’t a bigoted statement like past statements you have made, but I would ask you why you support this president? As he is evangelical, so much so that he thinks God is responsible for him being president.
Comment by Blue Stater — December 21, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Still waiting for proof of your accusation, though you could choose to act like lefty-patriot and just disappear with your integrity shredded.
I have a problem with Bush referring to God as an active participant because I, as a casual Christian, don’t believe in the notion that God actively participates in the daily actions of humanity. Some of it I chalk up to political pandering (as all pols do), some to an over-active affirmation of his faith, and some to his real belief.
That being said, I support Bush and others for a host of reasons that go beyond concentrating on one thing. Trying to find the perfect politician is futile.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:02 pmHey folks, I hope you are all flagging golly_golly. It is nothing over than the new moniker of cold_hard_left who got banned a couple of days ago. Let’s get rid of this useless troll again.
TP, it is very easy to ban people according to their IP address. If you don’t know how to do it, write me and I’ll tell you how to do it. Until you ban people by their IP address, we will continue to have the troll problem we have today. It’s very easy to get another e-mail address and re-register.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:05 pm174…
classic.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:09 pmToo bad the redevelopment of the N.O tenements was in the works before Katrina happened.
Comment by Shaldag
There is a big difference between redevelopment and tearing them down. Are you saying that the city of New Orleans was in the process of converting the public housing units into condos to be purchased by the wealthy white residents before Katrina. If so, please link to proof of this fact.
Here’s what they plan to do:
The agency plans to replace barracks-style projects, known as “the bricks,†with mixed-income developments.
Mixed income developments will result in maybe 10% going to low income residents and the remainder to the wealthy white’s who can afford the new condos.
New Orleans will live to regret the decisions they are making right now when they find that they are unable to find workers to do the jobs that the white residents refuse to do. Where will these low paid workers live?
And, trolls, please don’t try to project me as a racist for saying that the wealthy in New Orleans are white. That is a fact, not a “racist” comment.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:11 pmThe libs love to tout every death in Iraq as ironclad evidence that the country is about to topple off a cliff, and that a U.S. presence caused it.
Comment by Shaldag
Hahahaha. Oh, no, the US 2003 invasion HAD NOTHING to do with all those thousands of dead civilians and millions displaced.
Whatever.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:13 pmWow… at least you had the guts to put a caveat….
“And, trolls, please don’t try to project me as a racist for saying that the wealthy in New Orleans are white. That is a fact, not a “racist†comment.”
nice…. god forbid you get labeled something you aren’t… the scandel!!
And what would your solution be? I mean after all Lousiana is headed in the right direction during the recent elections…. Cause lats time i checked it was the Dems running the show since the stone age down there.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:16 pmthe Council voted unanimously to allow the federal government to demolish 4,500 apartments in the four biggest public housing projects here.â€
And then the US became a III World Country.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:17 pmComment by bilbobaggins — December 21, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
Doesn’t detract from the fact that the redevelopment (the city council term, not mine) was scheduled before Katrina when the city council was majority African American.
The buildings will indeed be torn down, basically because “tearing down” is the only way to possibly deal with the shambles which constitute the current state of those structure.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:22 pmAnd then the US became a III World Country.
Comment by Juan C. — December 21, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Only if we continued to allow a city like New Orleans to appear as Mexico City or Mogadishu or Calcutta have for centuries.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:24 pmThe buildings will indeed be torn down, basically because “tearing down†is the only way to possibly deal with the shambles which constitute the current state of those structure.
Comment by Shaldag — December 21, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Which of these structures did you visit and evaluate before condemning them as unfit for habitation?
December 21st, 2007 at 12:24 pmOnly if we continued to allow a city like New Orleans to appear as Mexico City or Mogadishu or Calcutta have for centuries.
Comment by Shaldag
You mean with drowned people floating on the streets?
December 21st, 2007 at 12:26 pmAnd, trolls, please don’t try to project me as a racist for saying that the wealthy in New Orleans are white. That is a fact, not a “racist†comment.
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 21, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
Ok, I won’t do that as long as you amend your statement to include the word “mostly” before “white”.
I too wouldn’t want to think you are being a racist stereotyper.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:27 pmYou mean with drowned people floating on the streets?
Comment by Juan C. — December 21, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
That does happen in Kolkata from time to time during monsoon season. But otherwise the comparison is ludicrous.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:27 pm#149 he told me this back in 2002.
#156 but my point that sometimes there is not counterpoint is to be ignored? For instance that Plame was not covert. The argument comes up time and time again in spite of the fact that the CIA has said numerous times, yes, she was covert. See in the minds of people who listen to ell the evidence as it was presented there is no counterpoint here. Ditto to trickledown. The blow up brown people comment is to show the dichotomy of the rights arguments. In the face of what seems like mountains of evidence they deny global warming, yet with very little evidence they seem to have no trouble invading a sovereign nation and when their reasons for invasion dry up they change the subject, redefine the goals etc…the comment had nothing to do with the global warming part of my post. comprehension, comprehension!!
Another example torture. Right wingers defend our right to torture tooth and nail. The administration redefines torture to suit their purposes the argument gets clouded with our justifications for torture. Here’s a clue for you all, the other side can make arguments to convince their people of the need to torture our people. We of course will not agree with their reasoning. But what has happened is that we have lowered our selves to their level and 30% of the population does not care and is actively working the other 70% of the population to make everything foggy. It’s a black and white issue there really is not another side to the argument that torture is wrong, yet you would not know that by looking out over the US today. It is always wrong because 1) it provides useless information and 2) the other guys can coem up with justification for doign it also.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:29 pmBut otherwise the comparison is ludicrous.
Comment by toasterhead
I agree, however, not on the way the situation was handled. That was a III World country response.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:29 pmYou mean with drowned people floating on the streets?
Comment by Juan C. — December 21, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
No, I mean with people building cardboard tenements next to the city dump or having thousands of disabled beggars falling dead in the streets.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:30 pmWhy do people build cardboard tenements? Why are there beggars falling dead in the streets?
December 21st, 2007 at 12:34 pmComment by Severus — December 21, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
You mentioned quite a few issues and in the interest of not destroying the bandwidth, it would make little sense to debate all of them at once.
EVERY issue has a counterpoint, some which we may debate over and some which we may agree on. The point of debating them is to raise awareness on the idea that consensus is not fact and that compromise needs to be found.
In reference to your post on global warming, I would agree that there is nothing wrong with taking steps to reduce the amount of man-made pollution, the problem is that there seems to be a severe disinclination by GW proponents to agree that nature itself can have its own large contribution to the phenomenon.
Throwing in bits like “you just hate brown people” won’t gain you many converts and will more than likely make opponents of those who might have been willing to earnestly listen to your pov.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:39 pmAnyhoo,l I suppose the time has come. Blue-stater and lefty put up a good fight but let’s face it, they didn’t really have much to offer.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Eid al-Adha (or however you choose to acknowledge it) and Happy Holidays to everyone else during this season. Hoping everyone the best and stay safe during the holidays, especially New Years Eve.
Sayonara everyone, talk to you next year.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:42 pm#157 it does not only hurt minorities and the poor, it also hits the middle class pretty hard. The current administration is fixated on the top tier of income earners and little else.
#163 my take on the religious right aligning with the republican party is that it all boils down to money, period. Realistically once you study them, the teachings of Christ are more in line with the democrat/liberal way of thinking, especially when you take the biggie, the sermon on the mount and the crucifixion (giving yourself for the sake of others). Anyhow the way I have always seen it is the current crop of republicans (note I did not say conservatives) is totally fixated on lowering taxes. The leaders of the so called religious right are mainly pretty wealthy and white. They have gained their wealth via their churches, the more influence they have the larger their flock, the higher their income etc… On a personal level they can benefit if they get guys into the White House and congress who are sympathetic to lowering taxes so they push the low tax guys and get their flocks to follow along by trying to focus on one or two issues…mainly abortion, but lately the faith based stuff, and the dreaded harbinger of the end of society…gay marriage. It has provided both with benefits. One thing that kind of pints me in that direction is that over the last six years the republican dominated congress has passed law after law that would normally never see the light of day (approval of torture, approval of warranties wiretapping being two). SO they have had the ability to push through unsavory legislation that when seriously challenged will probably not pass by the supreme court. Anyhow my point is that in spite of passing all these bills they never once tried to get an abortion law passed, why not? Because they need that hot topic to stick around as a campaign issue. The republican party needs it and the religious right needs it to keep the masses salivating.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:49 pmSorry I guess we will have to disagree because every issue does not have a counterpoint. Torture being one example another is gravity, what is the counter point in a discussion on gravity? Or on the world being round? Or on the relative salinity of water? Something’s just are and expressing counterpoints is occasionally rooted in not believing the obvious. Which in a round about way gets us back to the so called Christian right.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:54 pmWelcome to America people. This is it. This is what we have. Now you jackasses doing nothing get out there and take this country back cause it is VERY VERY VERY close to being too late.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:56 pmWhy do people build cardboard tenements? Why are there beggars falling dead in the streets?
Comment by Bluedahlia — December 21, 2007
—————————————————————–
Poor choices in life. Drug and alcohol abuse. Mental illness.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:02 pm195 – Societal Dysfunction. Charles – when you and your family travel to Europe, so you not see the differences? I think you must.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:04 pm“do” you not, rather. pardon typo
December 21st, 2007 at 1:04 pmwhen you and your family travel to Europe, so you not see the differences? I think you must.
Comment by tombaker — December 21, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Unfortunately, “Europe” is not a subdivision in Orange County, yet…
December 21st, 2007 at 1:09 pmI was at the protest yesterday. And I would like to send a message to the white protesters that were stirring up all the trouble:†Go home to daddy. Tell him your story of bravery over coffee at your local Starbucks in Seatle. Then please come back in five years and go to the neighborhoods you were protesting for. I’m looking forward to reading the coroners report.â€
Comment by Southern Man — December 21, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
Ah, I see. Outside agitators are to blame. Why is that so familiar? Hmmm. Something about the 60s . . .
December 21st, 2007 at 1:41 pmSeatle.
with two t’s moron. Like Twattle. Prattle, things you do incessantly.
December 21st, 2007 at 2:02 pmGive the people of New Orleans a little credit; the city’s been going down for decades and it seems what we’ve been doing is the wrong way to go about it. I’m all for social justice. I think everyone has a right to a roof over their head, but public housing as it exists/existed in New Orleans is/was a failure. For every project resident that spoke out against demolition at the City Council meeting yesterday, one or more resident spoke out in favor. Clustering poor people together doesn’t serve anyone’s interests. The projects slated for demolition are in disrepair, laced with asbestos and lead-based paint. People who need assistance should get it, the government has a responsibility to help its citizens and “promote the general welfare.”
The soul of New Orleans is still here and it doesn’t need to shoe-horned into the projects to survive. Jazz was born before there were projects and it thrived, maybe you’ve heard of it. Our cultural traditions rely on our people and a lot of those people (white and black) are coming back. We’re not going to be a “white-Disneyland” as one commenter suggested; the people of New Orleans (white and black) won’t allow it. But we can’t continue to do things the way we’ve been doing them. We have to do something different. There’s housing available in the city and vouchers available to help pay rents. A lot of the rental properties have been newly renovated or built (for obvious reasons). It took me a long time to come over to this position, but we HAVE to change to survive. I love NOLA with all my being, warts and all. But if we can’t turn the city around, if we can’t build an economy on something more than tourism, if we can’t educate our children, if we can’t provide a decent place to live, not just a roof, but a safe, secure home and city to live in, the city is not going to make it.
December 21st, 2007 at 2:34 pmDixie – I’m pretty sure you claimed to be a resident of southern New Jersey – didn’t you? What gives?
December 21st, 2007 at 3:02 pmNo little man, you are the racist.
Comment by Southern Man
Historically, the left banned children labor in industrialized countries, gave women the right to vote and good labor condition (8 hrs/day, etc.) So next time you want to talk sh*t about the left, begin working 18 hours a day.
December 21st, 2007 at 3:02 pmPoor choices in life. Drug and alcohol abuse. Mental illness.
Comment by Charles James Napier
Clueless.
December 21st, 2007 at 3:04 pm“It was people like you that decided to give away free housing and welfare for life, and put the poor people in the worst parts of town, away from the rich people. And not just here in the south, all over the country,RUBE!”
Comment by Southern Man
Apparently New Orleans was unique, in that it never experienced white flight to the suburbs. It was liberals that forced blacks into the worst part of the city, not that disinvestment by whites in urban areas caused them to exist. Now I get it.
December 21st, 2007 at 8:01 pm