ThinkFast: September 19, 2008
ThinkFast: September 19, 2008
Homeless advocacy groups and city agencies across the country are “reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.” These tent cities — reminiscent of Hoovervilles during the Great Depression — continue to grow with “with foreclosures mounting, gas and food prices rising and the job market tightening.”
Though it was near completion a month ago, an agreement to extend the American military mandate in Iraq beyond this year “has stalled over objections by Iraqi leaders and could be in danger of falling apart.” The major point of contention is whether American troops and military contractors will be “subject to the country’s criminal justice system for any crime committed outside of a military operation.”
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a class-action lawsuit yesterday against Bush administration officials, “seeking to halt what it describes as illegal surveillance of Americans’ telephone and Internet traffic.” The lawsuit parallels legal action EFF sought against AT&T in 2006 that was derailed this year when Congress granted immunity to telecom companies that had assisted the surveillance program.
Federal officials told the Associated Press that after a “lengthy investigation into his lurid messages to underage congressional pages,” no charges will be filed against former Rep. Mark Foley (R).
On the trail today: John McCain will deliver a speech on the economy in Ashwaubenon, WI. Sarah Palin will start in Green Bay, then travel to Blaine, MN, and finish her day in Orlando, FL. Barack Obama will attend a rally focusing on women’s issues at the University of Miami, and Joseph Biden will campaign in Sterling, VA.
The LA Times writes that Sarah Palin said “yes, thanks, to a road to nowhere in Alaska.” Palin approved the construction of a 3.2-mile-long, $26 million gravel “road to nowhere” on a small island that was supposed to connect to the “bridge to nowhere.” In a 2006 gubernatorial debate, Palin specifically defended the project.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne “pledged yesterday to squelch the ‘ethics storm’ exposed by investigators who said agency workers rigged bids, accepted gifts, and had sex with energy company officials doing business with the government.” Inspector General Earl Devaney told Congress he was disappointed that two now-retired employees were not prosecuted by the DOJ.
According to a UN Development Fund study released yesterday, “women have entered politics in greater numbers than ever in the past decade, accounting for 18.4 percent of parliament members worldwide” — a seven percent increase since 1995. Advocates said the rise “was driven by women realizing that they needed to attain power rather than just lobby for change.”
The federal government is now “embracing the need for a comprehensive approach to the financial crisis.” Regulators are considering a number of proposals that would “take bad assets off the balance sheets of financial companies.” Congressional leaders and regulators met yesterday to discuss the plan which would “require what several officials said would be a substantial appropriation of federal dollars.”
And finally: “People who startle easily in response to threatening images or loud sounds seem to have a biological predisposition to adopt conservative political positions on many hot-button issues,” according to a study published yesterday. It concludes that people “who adopt political views you disagree with are not be stupid or irrational. Rather, they may arrive at their positions in part because they are predisposed to be more or less worried about risk.”
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Texas Has Little Sympathy For Some Ike Victims
Hundreds of people whose beachfront homes were wrecked by Hurricane Ike may be barred from rebuilding under a little-noticed Texas law. And even those whose houses were spared could end up seeing them condemned by the state.
Now here’s the saltwater in the wound: It could be a year before the state tells these homeowners what they may or may not do. Worse, if these homeowners do lose their beachfront property, they may get nothing in compensation from the state.
The reason: a 1959 law known as the Texas Open Beaches Act. Under the law, the strip of beach between the average high-tide line and the average low-tide line is considered public property, and it is illegal to build anything there.
Over the years, the state has repeatedly invoked the law to seize houses in cases where a storm eroded a beach so badly that a home was suddenly sitting on public property. The aftermath of Ike could see the biggest such use of the law in Texas history.
Texas General Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a Republican whose office is responsible for policing the beaches, said he saw hundreds of houses in jeopardy of being declared on the beach unlawfully as he flew over the coastline this week.
Link
Here is what the former Senator who wrote the law had to say: “We’re talking about damn fools that have built houses on the edge of the sea for as long as man could remember and against every advice anyone has given,” A.R. “Babe” Schwartz said. (No sympathy here)
My question is: why in the world did the State of Texas allow those people to build their homes there, if this was going to be a potential problem? This makes absolutely no sense. The people that own the undamaged homes may loss everything; how in the world is that considered right? We are talking about a little-known law; which means most people don’t realize it even exists. Lastly, Schwartz should consider what he says during this stressful time before opening his mouth, what a jerk….
September 19th, 2008 at 4:27 am“And finally: “People who startle easily in response to threatening images or loud sounds seem to have a biological predisposition to adopt conservative political positions on many hot-button issues,” according to a study published yesterday. It concludes that people “who adopt political views you disagree with are not be stupid or irrational. Rather, they may arrive at their positions in part because they are retarded.”
There, fixed that for you, TP.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:30 amYou know, if the Financial debacle gets really bad, and all the people on Wall Street loose their jobs, it would seem that those jobs would be ripe for an influx of Immigrants to fill those “no American Wants” kinda jobs.
Low pay, too much stress, not sure if you will have a job tomorrow. Sounds just like working in the fields in California.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:30 amGreat…now Ill have manchasm by Future of the left in my head for the rest of the day
Mark Foley was right
There are no ghosts in this town
There is no reason to fear
There are no obstacles here
Mark Foley was right
There are no barriers for medicine
Mark Foley was right
There are no barriers for shame… SHAME!
see…already stuck… poop…
September 19th, 2008 at 4:31 amAvast ye scurvy dogs! It be Talk Like A Pirate Day!
September 19th, 2008 at 4:32 amhttp://www.talklikeapirate.com/
At the very least, when ye responds to troll, type like a pirate, it’ll befuddle the bejesus out of the bilge rats and send em to davy jones’ locker. ARRRRRRRRGH!
With apologies for being so techno-challenged, I just saw a powerful photo from Time, speaking to the current president’s influence during this week of financial concern:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/whitehouse/photos
— Probably many have already guessed this, but I believe Mr. Bush will remain in office long past Jan. 20 ’cause the election of Sen. Obama will result in enough calls of fraud that the whole deal will be tied up in courts for months, making the Bush/Gore toss-up look like a picnic.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:36 amThough it was near completion a month ago, an agreement to extend the American military mandate in Iraq beyond this year “has stalled over objections by Iraqi leaders and could be in danger of falling apart.” The major point of contention is whether American troops and military contractors will be “subject to the country’s criminal justice system for any crime committed outside of a military operation.”
We The People already know that this administration will not agree to anything that includes holding criminals accountable for breaking the law.
And if the past week’s activities with respect to the ongoing investigation in Alaska is any indication, a Palin/McStain administration will continue this criminal free for all. Obstruction of justice, claims of executive privilege and abuse of power. Where have we heard that before?
PEACE
September 19th, 2008 at 4:49 amVast Bailout by U.S. Proposed in Bid to Stem Financial Crisis
The head of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve began discussions on Thursday with Congressional leaders on what could become the biggest bailout in United States history.
While details remain to be worked out, the plan is likely to authorize the government to buy distressed mortgages at deep discounts from banks and other institutions. The proposal could result in the most direct commitment of taxpayer funds so far in the financial crisis that Fed and Treasury officials say is the worst they have ever seen.
Senior aides and lawmakers said the goal was to complete the legislation by the end of next week, when Congress is scheduled to adjourn. The legislation would grant new authority to the administration and require what several officials said would be a substantial appropriation of federal dollars, though no figures were disclosed in the meeting.
Democrats, having their own desire for a second round of economic aid for struggling Americans, see the administration’s request as a way to win White House approval of new spending to help stimulate the economy in exchange for support for the Treasury request. Democrats also say they will push for relief for homeowners faced with foreclosure in return for supporting any broad bailout of struggling financial institutions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/business/19fed.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
**Yeah, I am going to hold my breath in expectation of ANY homeowner assistance from the Feds. According to MSNBC a few minutes ago, so far these bailouts will cost every taxpayer more than $3600. Where will that money come from? Maybe I am jumping the gun on my reactions, but I don’t see how these actions will help the AVERAGE American. They don’t have any investments. Their retirement plans are Social Security. THEY will be the ones called upon to bail out these greedy bastards from their bad decisions. What do you think they will do to these companies to punish them for their behaviors? Crickets chirping…
September 19th, 2008 at 4:57 amHow bad is it when a major hurricane has become a ‘visible distraction’ from the country’s real problems. All of these trillions of dollars being spewed about like a drunken sailor are not real..they are promises by Bush that are made just to get past the election. However there are a few trillion here and there that will go directly into some select Republican investors pockets to slurp up bank stocks at .05 cents on the dollar, seems fair.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:01 amThe economic CRASH! has already happened…the news of it is being hidden by the Republican Corporate Media. I garrunteee!
September 19th, 2008 at 5:06 amWhy do my comments show up in the old comment section?
September 19th, 2008 at 5:07 amDRxJ
the only reason the repubs have is mccain was a POW, and he’s not black. That’s it. Oh, and you can see Russia from Palins house.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:07 amShruburbia, Georgetowns.
LOL. Either one would be an appropriate title.
In a few months, Drunky McStagger gets to crawl back to that fake ranch of his in Texas, while the rest of the country picks up the pieces. More folks become homeless, unemployment rises, the mideast wars still rage on with no end in sight, and the stock market crashes and burns.
I think I hear a drunken, redneck rendition of God Bless the USA coming on: “an am proud to be an ‘merikan….”
September 19th, 2008 at 5:11 amYO ThinkProgress techies!
I just responded to DRxJ’s post no 29 (at 9;47) and my comment showed up as post 12, (at 5:07). Something is amiss with the comments section, unless I’ve suddenly developed the power of time travel. In which case, I’m going to go and get rid of some suddenly useless stock. Can I get anyone anything?
September 19th, 2008 at 5:12 am“The investors are happy.”
- heard this morning on the TODAY SHOW (i think it was matt)
whew! thank gawd…
September 19th, 2008 at 5:14 amOn the trail today: John McCain will deliver a speech on the economy in Ashwaubenon, WI.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:15 amYou failed to mention that this will be held at the Comedy Store.
This allowed zillionaire developers to take over valuable waterfront property to build resorts, etc. Rob from the poor/middle class to give to the rich is not just for third world countries anymore. We are so totally fcuked….and a majority of Americans still have no clue.
Fine. Let these greedy bastards build they fancy-schmancy, hoytey-toytey sh*t on the beachfront. Then I hope a big, M-F’in Category 5 hurricane comes in and tears them all down. These stupid f(uks need to brush up on their history. Galveston Island, prior to 1900, had beachfront hotels that rivaled the finest hotels in the nation, if not the world. The storm of 1900 however, turned most of them to splinters. I agree. This Texas law is going to be exploited, so the wealthy can build on that property. If that’s is indeed the case, then to hell with all of them. Of course, Rick the Prick Perry will look the other way while this scam goes down.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:21 am5th Estate Says:
Spin Fast
September 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am
_______
Well done! I do hope this will be a regular segment….
September 19th, 2008 at 5:27 am5th Estate Says:
McWars Says: Did you know that Palin found the SNL skit hilarious WITH THE VOLUME TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN?
September 19th, 2008 at 10:11 am
_______
Ahh, Tiƚty McGee and Oldy McDodderington… The comedy just never ceases with these two.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:30 amThey will do it again.
An election whistleblower who is a Republican, a nationally known data security and computer architecture expert, and an Ohio resident has filed a sworn affidavit in federal court that describes how Republican Party consultants in 2004 built an electronic vote counting network in Ohio that could have stolen votes to re-elect the president.
The whistleblower, Stephen Spoonamore, who has run or held senior technology positions in six technology companies, and whose clients have included MasterCard, American Express, NBC-GE, and federal agencies including the State Department and the Navy, said Mike Connell, a longtime Republican Party computer networking contractor, “agrees that the electronic voting systems in the US are not secure” and told Spoonamore in 2007 “that he (Connell) is afraid some of the more ruthless partisans of the GOP may have exploited systems he in part worked on for this purpose.”
September 19th, 2008 at 5:33 amdareme Says:
Even the people that are supposed to “protect and serve” feel the homeless are “throw-away”.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:17 am
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Well that just goes back to the Reagan Administration, when many of them were “throw-away” residents of mental institutions.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:34 amMcWars Says: Spin Fast. That was hilarious, 5th. Please adopt that routine as many mornings as you can from here on.
hussein toasterhead Says: Spin Fast. Well done! I do hope this will be a regular segment….
So you are both suggesting that you lot do all informed research and serious comments–the heavy lifting—whilst I just make things up?
September 19th, 2008 at 5:50 amI think that’s a brilliant idea! I’ll give it a shot.
> I’m going to go ahead and blame the folks at the LHC
My posts are time travelling too…weird! You know, I didnt think about the LHC connection at all! fascinating thought..is the experiment turning the world into one big donnie darko out-take? maybe some time traveller can give us stock tips. has anyone seen if famous time traveller J Titor has made any pronoucements recently?
September 19th, 2008 at 5:54 amooooh! it works! off to buy a lottery ticket.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:13 amPatty,
— Probably many have already guessed this, but I believe Mr. Bush will remain in office long past Jan. 20 ’cause the election of Sen. Obama will result in enough calls of fraud that the whole deal will be tied up in courts for months, making the Bush/Gore toss-up look like a picnic.
No Patty, the criminals have already backed the trucks up to empty the U.S. Treasury. The move is on. Dick to Dubai, and dinkledoofus to Paraguay.
The next countries we need to invade are Switzerland and the Cayman Islands to find all of the anonymous bank accounts that hold our TRILLIONS.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:15 amBad Debt Plan May Cost Up to Half a Trillion Dollars
Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson briefed Congressional leaders on plans to address the “illiquid assets” on U.S. financial institutions’ balance sheets, possibly including the creation of a government facility to take on financial firms’ bad debts.
The proposal to create a massive facility to buy mortgage-backed securities could cost as much as a half-trillion-dollars and would involve the purchase of both private-label and government-guaranteed mortgages, according to an administration official.
The plan would have two parts. The largest part would be the purchase of private-label (those underwritten by Wall Street) mortgages by some as-yet unnamed vehicle. Financing would occur through the sale of treasuries, the official said. That part of the plan would require congressional approval. The idea is to hold the securities to maturity. The average mortgage has a life of about 7 years.
A second part of the plan would involve the purchase by Treasury of additional government-backed (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) under a plan it announced several weeks ago to rescue the two government-sponsored entities. Back then, it said it would purchase $5 billion initially. The idea is to ramp up those purchases more quickly. It does not require approval by Congress.
Link
Where in all of this does it talk about all the money we the American Taxpayer have lost from our retirement accounts while being saddled with debt for several generations to come.
What is Paulson going to tell all of the people around retirement age or the retirees that have lost money? Is he going to help all of us who have lost money as part of the bailout? I know that our situations may not have a major impact but it sure is going to have a devastating effect on many of our budgets. Will the citizens be getting something in return from any of these deals or will our grandparents end up Wal-Mart greeters to make ends meet.
I know I’m tired of funding multi-million salaries’ for these CEO’s who help create this nightmare. If McCain gets his way these same rotten sob’s will receive even more tax cuts. They all deserve to go to jail for these crimes in my book.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:16 amGood morning, campers. TGIF
I just read in today’s edition of the Detroit Free Press That Sec. of State Teri Lynn Land, is being sued to prevent voter purging by Rethugs using foreclosure lists and disenfranchment of college students.
to read more, I think this is the link. http://www.freep.com
September 19th, 2008 at 9:19 amSorry that should have read:
Avast ye Mateys, the move is afoot. The scoundrels have plunder the loot from our locked treasure chests. They are chartin a course for lands unknown. Pull up the anchor Mr. Christian, we’ve got some pirates to chase and throw in the brig.
Man the main sail, trim the jib. Hard to PORT, no more Starboard.
H/t Bobwurst
September 19th, 2008 at 9:21 amHomeless advocacy groups and city agencies across the country are “reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.” These tent cities — reminiscent of Hoovervilles during the Great Depression — continue to grow with “with foreclosures mounting, gas and food prices rising and the job market tightening.”
Bushville, USA
September 19th, 2008 at 9:24 amThese tent cities — reminiscent of Hoovervilles during the Great Depression — continue to grow with “with foreclosures mounting, gas and food prices rising and the job market tightening.”
— and the Republicans think these Americans ought not be allowed to vote, seeing as how they have no permanent address to match their I.D.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:27 amThe major point of contention is whether American troops and military contractors will be “subject to the country’s criminal justice system for any crime committed outside of a military operation.”
What does it say about our country that we are not willing to live by and be responsible for the laws of the country we are occupying? I guess it’s a country that doesn’t even respect the laws of its own country (ignoring subpoenas).
September 19th, 2008 at 9:31 amAlecto Says:
Bushville, USA
Another poster offered the term Shruburbia.
My entry is Georgetowns.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:31 amSarah Palin will start in Green Bay, then travel to Blaine, MN
_______
The Stool Capital of the World?!?
September 19th, 2008 at 9:32 amFederal officials told the Associated Press that after a “lengthy investigation into his lurid messages to underage congressional pages,” no charges will be filed against former Rep. Mark Foley (R).
Of course not, he’s a Republican. This is the result of having a Federal prosecuting agency that has taken an oath to the man occupying the White House instead of an oath to the people of the United States.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:33 amThe federal government is now “embracing the need for a comprehensive approach to the financial crisis.” Regulators are considering a number of proposals that would “take bad assets off the balance sheets of financial companies.”
So if you are an irresponsible corporation, the government will make your bad assets go poof. But if you are a homeowner with a bad asset (your home), you are SOL. Nice.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:35 amInterior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne “pledged yesterday to squelch the ‘ethics storm’ exposed by investigators who said agency workers rigged bids, accepted gifts, and had sex with energy company officials doing business with the government.” Inspector General Earl Devaney told Congress he was disappointed that two now-retired employees were not prosecuted by the DOJ.
And Sarah Palin’s campaing mantra is….
“drill, baby, drill”
September 19th, 2008 at 9:38 amPatty Says:
— and the Republicans think these Americans ought not be allowed to vote, seeing as how they have no permanent address to match their I.D.
________
Hmmm… one COULD come to the opinion that GOOPers believe only landowners s/b allowed to vote… that is rather “19th Century” of them, no?
September 19th, 2008 at 9:41 amhussein toasterhead Says:
Sarah Palin will start in Green Bay, then travel to Blaine, MN
The Stool Capital of the World?!?
Could ye offer a bit o context there, matey?
September 19th, 2008 at 9:43 amIolair Says:
“Interior Secretary Kempthorne “pledged yesterday to squelch the ‘ethics storm’…”
_________
I noticed Kempthorne DIDN’T pledge to root out the crooks, or to clean up the office… but, just “squelch the ethics storm”… in other words, business as usual.
Nothing to see here… move along… move along…
September 19th, 2008 at 9:44 amTent cities similar to those of the great depression?
Ike victims left up in limbo from the government for possibly over a year?
Stock market in turmoil?
Just add these to the list. And again, I ask (for the third time), can anyone provide me the positives of the current administration?
September 19th, 2008 at 9:47 amAnd why I would even think about McCain, who has voted with Bush over 90% of the time?
Bobwurst Says:
Could ye offer a bit o context there, matey?
September 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am
______
Ay, it be a Waiting for Guffman reference…
September 19th, 2008 at 9:52 amHomeless advocacy groups and city agencies across the country are “reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.
Where’s Darryl to tell these distressed Americans to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps in the name of God — or
September 19th, 2008 at 9:52 amhang on to someone else’s (B.S., CIS, Grandma and Pa)?
Fear not, good folks, King George will apparently be addressing his subjects at 10:45 a.m. today.
I guess they were able to sober him up for a few minutes.
Any bets that all the current crises are the fault of the Democrat Congress? Probably not, we’ve lost enough money this week.
PEACE
September 19th, 2008 at 9:54 amFreedom Rebel Says:
Texas Has Little Sympathy For Some Ike Victims
Hundreds of people whose beachfront homes were wrecked by Hurricane Ike may be barred from rebuilding under a little-noticed Texas law. And even those whose houses were spared could end up seeing them condemned by the state.
In The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein talks of beachfront areas devastated by the Tsunami where native fishermen were not allowed to rebuild. This allowed zillionaire developers to take over valuable waterfront property to build resorts, etc. Rob from the poor/middle class to give to the rich is not just for third world countries anymore. We are so totally fcuked….and a majority of Americans still have no clue.
Good morning Freb :)
September 19th, 2008 at 9:55 amspencers mom Says:
Any bets that all the current crises are the fault of the Democrat Congress? Probably not, we’ve lost enough money this week.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:54 am
_______
I thought it was cause Wall Street got drunk…
September 19th, 2008 at 9:55 amPatty Says:
Good morning, Patty! My guess is that neither Bush nor Cheney will remain in office past Jan. 20. That may be an unpatriotic benefit of the doubt, I know. But, if serious challenges are posed by America’s extremists to Obama’s win, the constitution has it that vacancies occurring in the POTUS/VEEP would mean Pelosi becoming president until the grudge is settled.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:58 amI’ll be joining the ranks of the homeless myself (again) pretty soon. That’s okay…I love sleeping out under the stars. And eating out of dumpsters…
(Funny how homelessness increases during rightwing reactionary Republican administrations and when the neo-Confederate GOP controls Congress, isn’t it…?)
====
September 19th, 2008 at 9:58 am“People who startle easily in response to threatening images or loud sounds seem to have a biological predisposition to adopt conservative political positions on many hot-button issues,” according to a study published yesterday. It concludes that people “who adopt political views you disagree with are not be stupid or irrational. Rather, they may arrive at their positions in part because they are predisposed to be more or less worried about risk.”
Exhibit A: Piss-soaked trolls.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:00 am“subject to the country’s criminal justice system for any crime committed outside of a military operation.”
no Murkin, military or civilian, will EVER face trial in Iraq for acts against Iraqis.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:00 amNEVAFUUKNHAPUN…
Did you know that Palin found the SNL skit hilarious WITH THE VOLUME TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN?
September 19th, 2008 at 10:02 amDisaster Capitalism is not unlike raping a passed-out drunk, in both its intentions and its consequences.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:02 amSpin Fast
Mortgage-free camping is the new low-carbon footprint lifestyle. With food prices still rising, there’s money to be made from those leftovers!
On Iraq Survivor US military immunity means it can’t get voted off the show this week.
Despite low ratings the series has been picked up for next season.
The Bush administration cites knowledge of EFF lawsuit months before it was filed due to phone and internet intercepts as an example of money-saving government efficiency.
Dismissal of charges against Mark Foley a victory for Gays in Government movement and the Don’t Admit-Don’t Prosecute policy.
Latest Alaskan tourist attraction, the $26 million “Road to Nowhere” gravel ‘meditation road’ art installation, completed on time and on-budget.
Closure of Sex for Oil Department saves taxpayers millions in administrative costs and defense lawyers’ fees.
An increase of women in politics brings ‘equal bribes for equal work’ goal a step closer.
A new “comprehensive approach” to “taking bad assets off the balance sheets of financial corporations” will create a boom in eraser and correcting fluid industries.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am“reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.”
I had a local cop tell me that 90% of the homeless are there because they want to be. They cannot live in regular society.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:04 amI had a local cop tell me that 90% of the homeless are there because they want to be. They cannot live in regular society.
The school bell rang hours ago at my kids elementary.
Shouldn’t you be in school?
p.s. local cops also claim to NOT eat at Dunkin Donuts too.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:08 amdareme Says:
“reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.”
I had a local cop tell me that 90% of the homeless are there because they want to be. They cannot live in regular society.
Oh, I’m so sure you’re right! Remember, McStain told us that some of the richest people are the most unhappy.
Idiot.
PEACE
September 19th, 2008 at 10:09 amspencers mom Says:
Any bets that all the current crises are the fault of the Democrat Congress?
___________
Actually, it appears they’ve settled on a strategy of blaming… ***drumroll***…
Jimmy Carter! yes, you read that right. Jimmy Carter, and an obscure 1977 banking act he signed into law: the Community Reinvestment Act.
Thas, right, folks… the big investment bankers didn’t screw up. It’s tha Poor Folk, selfish enough to Want… a… Place… to… Live.
If ONLY the poor could accept their lot… they’re poor for a REASON… so the rich can stay rich, or even richer.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:09 am> People who startle easily in
> response to threatening images
Wow. You just described everyone who looked at 9-11 and saw something which they actually believed statistically posed a greated threat to their existence than lightning…
9-11 was the ultimate hollywood moment…
September 19th, 2008 at 10:09 amMcWars Says: Did you know that Palin found the SNL skit hilarious WITH THE VOLUME TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN?
I saw that last night on The Daily Show.
The day before on The View right wing mouthpiece Hasselbeck remarked that Palin actually found the skit amusing (which makes her authentic I guess) but neglected to mention that Palin purposely avoided LISTENING to the skit.
With luck in her next couple of softball interviews she’ll be asked about it so that she can play the “I can take a joke” card and then….bam!
September 19th, 2008 at 10:11 am#37 Exit Stage Left Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
Texas Has Little Sympathy For Some Ike Victims
Hundreds of people whose beachfront homes were wrecked by Hurricane Ike may be barred from rebuilding under a little-noticed Texas law. And even those whose houses were spared could end up seeing them condemned by the state.
In The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein talks of beachfront areas devastated by the Tsunami where native fishermen were not allowed to rebuild. This allowed zillionaire developers to take over valuable waterfront property to build resorts, etc. Rob from the poor/middle class to give to the rich is not just for third world countries anymore. We are so totally fcuked….and a majority of Americans still have no clue.
Good morning Freb :)
Good Morning ESL :) Great to see you. I bought that book and haven’t had a chance to read it yet.
I agree too many people are not seeing the big picture. They are saying that even if they bring in sand it won’t help. It will get washed away in a year or two. It sounds like they are not going to rebuild on that island. But you could very well be right and some Donald Trump could come in and buy it up. At this point nothing would surprise me at all. Not after all the things we have witnessed this last 8 years.
I hope everything is going well for you….
September 19th, 2008 at 10:14 amdareme Says:
“reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.”
I had a local cop tell me that 90% of the homeless are there because they want to be. They cannot afford to live in regular society.
There, I fixed it for ya.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:16 am“On the trail today: John McCain will deliver a speech on the economy in Ashwaubenon, WI. “
That ’speech’ was very interesting. McCain ranted and raved about the “do-nothing congress”
Does he not know that he is one of ”those’?
September 19th, 2008 at 10:16 amI had a local cop tell me that 90% of the homeless are there because they want to be. They cannot live in regular society
I said this without explanation. I was arguing with him that the homeless ARE NOT illegal human beings. His response was what I said. Even the people that are supposed to “protect and serve” feel the homeless are “throw-away”. Sorry for the mis-understanding
September 19th, 2008 at 10:17 am5th Estate Says:
Spin Fast
That was hilarious, 5th. Please adopt that routine as many mornings as you can from here on.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:19 amBobwurst Says:
Something is amiss with the comments section, unless I’ve suddenly developed the power of time travel.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:12 am
_______
Looks like my comments are time-travelling, too. I’m going to go ahead and blame the folks at the LHC – it seems that they’ve created a black hole that is distorting the fabric of space and time and spilling Higgs Bosons all over the place.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:22 amdareme Says:
“reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.”
I had a local cop tell me that 90% of the homeless are there because they want to be. They cannot live in regular society.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Proof that you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a cop.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:24 amspencers mom Says:
Any bets that all the current crises are the fault of the Democrat Congress? Probably not, we’ve lost enough money this week.
hussein toasterhead Says:
I thought it was cause Wall Street got drunk…
Check out Bondad at Huffpo. He points out that right-wing shills with financial ‘cred’are working hard to blame Jimmy Carter!
It has to do with a bill called CRA which was designed to make mortgages easier to get for lower income people–BUT ONLY FROM BANKS!. The CRA was re-written under Clinton but didn’t expand upon it.
The Rightwing are trying to claim that the CRA forced ALL financial institutions to give loans and mortgages to low-income high-risk people out of guilt for the less well-off.
This is of course bollocks–especially as the vast majority of foreclosures and defaults today are a result of non-bank finance houses making commissions on loan and mortgage transactions thus encouraging them to sell as many as possible and then bundling their transactions as investment vehicles to others.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:25 amNothing to do with Carter and the 30-year-old CRA, but before reading BonDad’s article I’d already heard on the TV some schmuck alluding to it.
That should be BondDad, above
September 19th, 2008 at 10:25 amoh! i’d forgotten – thank you stephanie…
ari flusher says it’s the american people who are to blame.
(also on TODAY, with ddmeyers)
September 19th, 2008 at 10:40 amTP
September 19th, 2008 at 10:46 amThere is a problem with your clock.
Freedom and Exit
I have read the Shock Doctrine — and it remains on my mind, weeks later.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:48 amToday’s news has been played out in history – and it is not a pretty picture.
.” These tent cities — reminiscent of Hoovervilles during the Great Depression — continue to grow with “with foreclosures mounting, gas and food prices rising and the job market tightening.”
History will record these as ‘Bushvilles’.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:48 am5th, they believe it works every time: Repackage their screw-ups into time-tested demlib smearing, where the LIVs can be counted on to eat it up.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:51 amTP Problem–Time Warp?
The contents of #22 was submitted about 5 minutes after #63 and ten minutes after #52.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:53 amEh, TP, I’m finding responses to my posts at the top of the threads.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:58 ampeople “who adopt political views you disagree with are not stupid or irrational. Rather, they may arrive at their positions in part because they are predisposed to be more or less worried about risk.”
That does not mean they are not also stupid and irrational.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:02 amMcWars Says: 5th, they believe it works every time: Repackage their screw-ups into time-tested demlib smearing, where the LIVs can be counted on to eat it up.
McW…It HAS worked every time apparently.
When I began living in the US (82) I couldn’t see much diff. between GOP and DEM (my reference was the Tories and Labour) and was quite ignorant but the DEM party made a bit more sense to me than the GOP (and I thought Reagan was a dangerous fool).
Since 1991 I’ve been gradually better informed but what I’ve learned in retrospect and especially in the last 10 years is frankly scary and in the last 8 years absolutely terrifying and at times overwhelming.
Even so I much prefer being informed to being uninformed, no matter how helpless I might oftentimes feel.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:06 am#70 Marie Says:
Freedom and Exit
I have read the Shock Doctrine — and it remains on my mind, weeks later.
Today’s news has been played out in history – and it is not a pretty picture.
Good Morning Marie :) So good to see you.
My husband is reading it first and was telling me about the parts that he has read. He said exactly the same thing you did last night.
I agree with you Marie. Just when you think it can’t possibly get any worse under this administration, there comes something to hit us in the face again.
To fix even part of this mess is going to take years because of all this debt we are carrying now…
Have a wonderful day!!!
September 19th, 2008 at 11:19 am5th Estate, love the Fast Spin :)
Great Post…… LMAO
September 19th, 2008 at 11:26 amMcWars Says:
Eh, TP, I’m finding responses to my posts at the top of the threads.
Good Morning McWars:)
TP has entered the Twilight Zone.
Here where time and space collide
September 19th, 2008 at 11:26 amRepublicans:
PRIVATIZE the profits.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:32 amSOCIALIZE the losses.
#79 ‘Freb’…
Ta! Just trying to give back in my own little way..:D
September 19th, 2008 at 11:38 amWhere is the news about the stock market rebounding? I’m sure Think Progress isn’t ignoring the rebound for political reason is it? Not the caring left?
September 19th, 2008 at 12:30 pmIt concludes that people “who adopt political views you disagree with are not be stupid or irrational.
Pardon me, but yes they are!
September 19th, 2008 at 12:33 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Democrats
Helping Lawyers ruin America since 1830!
September 19th, 2008 at 12:40 pmPlease explain how the biggest bailout by taxpayers in the history of the US is a sign that the market is rebounding?
If the gop knew you were here they would dissappear you for making them look so stupid.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:21 pmyeah, right. How many lawyers does bush have fool.
bush and his particualar group of ciminal lawyers and economists are responsible for ruining America.
Too bad for you that Americans are becoming all to aware that you and your type are responsible for our slide downhill…….8 years of control by republicans have opened a lot of eyes.
enjoy you time in isolation for oh, a couple of generations at least.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:27 pmHoovervilles, again
September 19th, 2008 at 4:36 pmThe federal government is now “embracing the need for a comprehensive approach to the financial crisis.” Regulators are considering a number of proposals that would “take bad assets off the balance sheets of financial companies.” Congressional leaders and regulators met yesterday to discuss the plan which would “require what several officials said would be a substantial appropriation of federal dollars.”
I thinky we jsut bought our Socialized Medicine program. There is no way the right can say no to that after this bailout. It DWARVES any pricetag of socialized medicine.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:38 pmthem_libs Says:
You are a worthless ignorant punk TL. Nothing you have ever posted is worth the waste of life it took to read them. You are an ignorant, brainwashed, zombie without a shred of decency nor a single clue
September 20th, 2008 at 10:12 am