More and more folks are a catastrophic illness or job loss away from disaster these days.
And with the cost of everything going up, and the supply of food and other necessities diminishing, we are in a world of hurt. Especially with a rapidly diminishing safety net as the pool of need swamps the resources allocated for helping those in most desperate straits.
Well, those of us who haven’t married our fortunes together, anyway, eh, Sen. McCain?
I found this video at Kier’s livejournal, along with a link to a disturbing piece from Josh Gerstein at the NYSun. Josh did some great digging during the Fitzgerald investigation and the Libby trial, and this is another intriguing piece on an underreported but very real bit of news. If you thought the worldwide food shortages wouldn’t touch us here in the good ole US of A, think again:
Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks.
At a Costco Warehouse in Mountain View, Calif., yesterday, shoppers grew frustrated and occasionally uttered expletives as they searched in vain for the large sacks of rice they usually buy.
“Where’s the rice?” an engineer from Palo Alto, Calif., Yajun Liu, said. “You should be able to buy something like rice. This is ridiculous.”
The bustling store in the heart of Silicon Valley usually sells four or five varieties of rice to a clientele largely of Asian immigrants, but only about half a pallet of Indian-grown Basmati rice was left in stock. A 20-pound bag was selling for $15.99.
“You can’t eat this every day. It’s too heavy,” a health care executive from Palo Alto, Sharad Patel, grumbled as his son loaded two sacks of the Basmati into a shopping cart. “We only need one bag but I’m getting two in case a neighbor or a friend needs it,” the elder man said.
Is anyone else getting that "On The Road With The Joads" feeling?
You want to know what the big issues going into November are going to be? Start with food rationing and tent cities and work your way out from there. It’s the economy stupid…again. Funny how that always seems to happen on the GOP’s watch, isn’t it?
Related posts:
- Earth to CBO, Senate Finance and WaPo: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”
- Join Me and Medical Students Today to Treat, Not Trick for Generic Drugs!
- Ambinder: Sorry I Was So Stupid, But I Was Right to Be Stupid
- FDL Book Salon Welcomes Bruce Bartlett, The New American Economy: The Failure of Reaganomics and a New Way Forward
- Late Night: Birther Disease Becomes Metastasized Stupid
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So!
I love that McCain, Bush and the rest of the GOP are running on the idea that there is nothing wrong with the economy (and that we’re winning in Iraq). It makes it so clear that they have no idea what’s going on in the world.
Well, I know this is all pretty important stuff, but do you think Obama is really an “elitist?”
Good morning Christy!
Tent cities in our country. For shame. Tax cuts make more money for everyone — except when they don’t.
Maybe OT, but I grabbed this from the WSJ this morning. They quote a bit of the debate from Weds. I missed the debate, and only heard about how bad the moderators were, but what the hell is this?
What kind of a way is this to ask a question? What cherry-picked statistics does Mr Gibson think justify his lie that lowering taxes raises revenue? What a bunch of shit!
We should be so lucky.
please excuse the early OT, christy. but i think this is of interest to you too.
looks as though cspan is covering neither of the judiciary committee hearings. will have to stream from the committee’s websites (see links above).
A friend’s day job is selling flour to bakeries, and confirms the severe stress continuing in that market. Simply, while the price of flour has backed off slightly from the peak it hit a month or two ago, it’s still twice as expensive as it was a year ago, and has been since at least January 2008.
Part of the “problem” is in a combination of crop failures and export restrictions which have been imposed by other wheat producing nations – Australia, Argentina, Canada, Russia in particular. The US is the only country which, to all appearances, is selling wheat internationally with few or no restrictions. Add into that the strong Euro, making $12/bushel wheat cheaper in Euro terms every day, and you have a combination for continued domestic US price rises and supply shortages continuing into the foreseeable future.
Not that I can really blame the US government for being asleep at the switch on this. After all, the only things we export any more (for which there is a willing market) are farm crops and the raw products of extractive industries. Our industrial production was long since outsourced to cheap-labor countries, our own domestic plants shuttered, and no one really wants to be buying our war-making any more. The Republicans’ long term project to convert our country into something approximating a banana republic dictatorship is approaching it’s logical conclusion, for which the elites surely have to be congratulating themselves. Something has to be sold into the international market to keep the boatloads of crap your local Walmart sells, arriving from the producers. So, why not sell wheat and starve your own countrymen, George and St. John? After all, if those soon-to-be-starving Americans were really worthwhile saving or having around, they’d be rich and Republicans. If they’re not they can starve, I guess.
oh – the economy is down and people cant get enough pay?? who knew? one would think economy would get more coverage but noooooooooo – its SUCH a downer and why bother…..
And gas went up 12-20 cents this past week alone. Actually McSame is lucky that the election is in November and not later into the winter when the cost of home heating will undoubtedly go through the roof.
It’s well past time to bring the speed limit back down to 55 and get on the conservation bandwagon big time. Harder times are ahead.
Good morning Christy.
There is not one person I know that is not affected to quite a significant degree by the economy and the chimp said yesterday that we are not in a recession but a “downturn” life in a bubble must be grand. As for McSame, how the hell is he going to know squat about the economy. When was the last time he was in a supermarket buying groceries for his family? When was the last time he pumped his own petrol for his SUV? When was the last time he sat down and paid a bill for heating or cooling or whatever. He has a cadre of people doing everything for him accept wipe his ass, I would expect. And Cindy, her with the damn cookbook, when was the last time she was in the kitchen cooking? And even if she did cook what frig of a difference would it make to her if rice (the grain that is) cost $2.00 a lb? And she will never have to go hungry (if she eats or just runs an batteries). The “economy” to them is whether their oil stocks increased.
I’ve been bustling around this am & didn’t bother to turn off MNSBC. Every time I was near the tv, I heard gender, race, Obama MUST tell everyone how patriotic he is & how much he loves this country & blah, blah, blah. I must have been out of the room during those 2 hours when they talked about Clinton/Obama views on economy, war, health care…..
The recession is now smashing on our heads and the depression is knocking on our doors and coming soon to your neighborhood and mine. Attacking the problem with deep and far reaching federal programs to rebuild the US infrastructure is the ONLY way to recover our economic baseline. Only a progressive can accomplish this.
20 cents in one day here. and heating oil is now $4.07/gal (thank goodness it’s spring)
The price will be manipulated down as we close in on the election. I would be willing to bet that you will be able to buy gas for less than 2.50 per gallon by mid october.
“they will make the Reaganites look Amish in their reach and their recklessness”
- some old waitress
December 19, 2000
“You can’t eat this every day. It’s too heavy,” a health care executive from Palo Alto, Sharad Patel, grumbled as his son loaded two sacks of the Basmati into a shopping cart.” Sir, it is obvious your backbone and belly button have not been really close together.
Back in December I wrote about Migrant Mother at my blog and used photos from the Library of Congress collection, including the powerful picture by Dorothea Lange of the mother and her family. In these botox times, it’s stunning to contemplate just how young she was. Those were tenting times too, and not the fancy Patagonian pop-ups, either….
Does that mean an insurance company health decider?
misnbc – all scarborough all the time – what is up with this??
in the dept of cherry-picked statistics, there is no little satisfaction in what’s happened to ABC Nightly’s ratings since that debate. Can you say “backfire”?
“…the powerful picture by Dorothea Lange of the mother and her family.”
One of the greatest photos of all time.
More likely to be someone involved with the Stanford Medical School hospitals.
Men walkin’ ‘long the railroad tracks
Goin’ someplace there’s no goin’ back
Highway patrol choppers comin’ up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin’ round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin’ in their cars in the southwest
No home no job no peace no rest
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Searchin’ for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin’ for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box ‘neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin’ in the city aqueduct
The highway is alive tonight
But where it’s headed everybody knows
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Waitin’ on the ghost of Tom Joad
Now Tom said “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I’ll be there
Wherever there’s somebody fightin’ for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin’ hand
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you’ll see me.”
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ downhere in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
Bruce
Remember when Bush told that single mother of three how fab-yoo it is that she works three jobs?
Amazing watching American turn into a Third World country before our eyes.
I can’t afford to fill my tank, but my neighbor is one of those 50 hedge fund managers who earned $29 billion between them.
Says it all.
disagree -
the Extractionists finally have their hands on pharmaceutical grade profits and they know what the outcome in November will be, they are not going to go back to stepped on junk for a losing cause
“manipulating down” is for suckers :D
That will be a neat trick to pull off, but you are probably right. Even so unless fuel, grain, milk, cooking oils and all of the necessities go down as well the economic burden on Joe sixpack will be obvious to all.
I’m not an economist; but here’s my wild-arsed guess: Of course the revenue from these taxes went up when the rate initially went down. Everyone and their mother sold off stock to take advantage of the much lower rate just in case it went right back up again.
Buy a car for crying out loud
Sounds like a good time to switch to CSpan.
yup.
The war ain’t goin down so well either. New Gallup shows the highest percentage ever who say that the war was a mistake- 63%. This number went down for a while during the shrub euphoria about the “SURGE”. Now they are at the highest level ever.
It appears that the shrubbery has squeezed the political value of the surge dry as a bone.
Paying $3.75/gal. for unleaded here on the reservation. I can tell you that hurts, as well as the higher food prices people are paying here in the tiny stores that are already expensive. This is place with 50% unemployment. Maybe the rest of America will catch up with us soon!
If the price at the pump drops bush/MCain can claim they are going “in the right direction” “stay the course” and other crap.
Huh?
joe sixpack is now joe bottlecap..
Man, I have tix for Friday night in the ATL and my wife has a broken leg!
I got it, that is hilarious! Maybe if you had said Hummer!
I expect a big sell off as Clusterfuck leaves office as people see the last chance to take the capital gains hit at a bargain basement price..
The US had billions of dollars of capital gains sitting there waiting to be taxed- it was a huge national asset- Clusterfuck has blown through it- it is surely now only a small percentage of it’s former revenue value….
Like everything else in the economy—boy wonder ate it up!
i watch cspan also….. i’d like to see some news but i guess lamestream media feels we dont deserve any…… and then what little we get is filtered thru center-right prisms….. jus sayin
McSame was quoted on NPR this morning as saying he would “set up free retraining for those who lost their jobs as a result of NAFTA”. Wooop-de-doo and what good will retraining do for someone over 50 who could not a get a job on a bet anyway. Of course he does not believe that NAFTA caused any job loss anyway.
DING DING DING. The sell-off is going to be ugly, and will greatly exacerbate the already insurmountable problems.
By Lowell D. Kern
Most bands expose their fans to lesser-known bands by offering these musicians the slot as the opening act on their tours. As we know, Bruce Springsteen doesn’t have an opening act. But being the huge music fan he is, Bruce has always wanted to share his love of other musicians with his audience. And being who he is, Bruce has always done it in a most respectful way — by sharing his stage with these artists.
Over the past four shows, the E Street Band has been joined by four different performers — Tom Morello both nights in Anaheim, Jon Bon Jovi in Dallas, and most recently in Houston by two renowned Texas acts, Alejandro Escovedo and Joe Ely.
Morello joined Bruce for “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” a Springsteen-penned song that Morello’s band, Rage Against the Machine, made their own. Bon Jovi dueted with Bruce on “Glory Days.” But, to my mind, Bruce paid the ultimate compliment to Alejandro (in Texas, he’s instantly recognizable by just his first name) and Ely by playing their songs.
Can you exacerbate something that is unsurmountable? What does that make it, double-unsurmountable?
Regarding price of flour: We went recently to a local mill to buy our usual and literally, the cupboard was bare and there was a sign up saying that they basically could not even source certain grains to mill. It’s not just the inputs..it’s actual production that is suffering now.
McBush is trollin through Pennsylavania and Ohio seein how many fish he can reel in who won’t vote for an african american…the general election has begun.
Clinton being cash strapped despite the announcement today of a new $2 million based on her win in Pennsylvania is a strong indication that the smart (and even not so smart) money has decided that she can’t win the nomination and likely too that her continued presence in the race is damaging to the Democrats. She needed to win in Penn by double digits to sell the argument that she was the stronger candidate. But just as she said that a win is a win, double digits means double digits and she didn’t get them. It will be interesting to see what the fund raising differential will be for the two candidates. I’m thinking it will be even bigger than it is now. (Yes, I know not very insightful.) The real question is how long Clinton will stay in the race and how much damage she is willing to do to the Democratic party and its chances in November. Superdelegates who were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt should as Howard Dean has said make their choices and finish this thing.
“Whenever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Whenever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there . . . . I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’-I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build-why, I’ll be there.”
Its not just the subprime mortgage holders that are going bust, its families dealing with credit card debt, unemployment, helth insurance issues, gas prices, food prices and on and on. I am comforted to know I am not alone, but it is killing me…….
Indeed it was cherry-picked. Because in several earlier cases when capital gains were cut there was not an increase in revenues. In fact, the Bush tax cuts really didn’t increase the revenue proportionate to the losses from the tax (and THAT is what is critical…would it generate more revenue making a cut vs. not making one).
Reagan also cut the capital gains tax, investment was not really stimulated and net revenues declined. Ditto with Bush. Minimal benefits from his tax cuts on capital gains and the wealthy. And if the market had rebounded half as much as it did the actual revenues would have been far higher.
Capital Gains vs. Federal Revenues
And if revenues decline of stagnate or diminish, and expenditures are high…the deficit increases…which simply passes on the debt to future generations…likely via more regressive taxes or inflation.
In addition there are other issues with having little or no capital gains tax. Wealth accumulates at the upper end, so class stratification increases. Rather than be taxed the wealthy shelter it in investments – even when these are unlikely to produce jobs or cheaper or more efficient products. Not all investments are equally beneficial socially. If huge profits can be made in investing in military industries that can lead to lobbying for the government to expend more…with little or no net gain in revenue. Yet those produces may be then encouraged to be “consumed” by those same lobbyists in wars.
Or a wealthy individual may invest in jewelry, or art, or fashion, or other areas that provide little employment other than to other elite classes. Or the investment may go into environmentally or socially debilitating areas.
Thus having a high capital gains tax with exemptions for certain beneficial areas (or the obverse…a high capital gains tax for those areas that are not socially productive) that actually generate revenue or other tangible benefits is quite reasonable.
Cluster-fuck can.
I believe this will consist of giving someone a shovel and showing them which end has the handle. After that, you are on your own.
Good morning Christy;
Hunger in America?
No, not until the Political Classes notice the lack of caviar.
And then, they will blame the ‘help’ as being delinquent in failing to perform their ‘duties’.
It will be only when such necessities are not ‘on the table’, that we may reasonably expect some ‘notice’ of the ‘problem’, otherwise it is ‘business, as usual.’
Afterall, the first responsibility of the Political Class is to their actual employers.
Aite den!
One of the early scenes in Grapes of Wrath has a man plowing under the field and knocking down the home of the Joad family. When asked how he can allow himself to to take the side of the bank over his own neighbors he answers that he too has a family to feed; he takes his pittance of a salary and plows under the life and livelihood of a family no different than his own.
This sounds so much our very own times. The tractor man is like any poor non-union worker or the entire staff of the latest out-sourced company. The difference being only one of scale and technology.
I reccomend the book.
Glad you got it. I still don’t.
(Scratches head)
was hoping you’d show up -
have you seen this yet ??
Lowenstein/NYT – Rating Agencies
set for this Sunday
Re-training: Those programs exist already. It’s tough training for new jobs that don’t exist.
You said you could fill your TANK, like the Army type tank! So he says, get a car!
raven-”Man, I have tix for Friday night in the ATL and my wife has a broken leg!”
hey raven, when my mom broke her foot, she was on crutches, we had tickets with my sister for james taylor at riverbend….we called ahead to find out what to do, we didn’t want her schleppin’ in on crutches, is quite a distance….
you pull up to the area where they help, dropped her off, parked the car, came back, volunteers provided wheelchair, they wheeled her in, offered us ’special’ handicapped seats, good ones, which we turned down because we had aisle seats and they were better seats, and she could handle that, gave her the aisle and she would swing her leg out to let people in…….
they came to get her to roll her out at the end of the concert, no sweat…….we kept calling her the queen….they even come and roll you to the restroom or for food if you need it…..she didn’t need that.
only thing is, we had to get there early, and we had to leave the concert early because that is their policy to get handicapped out without fighting the crowd……
so call and see how they accomodate the handicapped…..it was no sweat for us.
If you like Grapes of Wrath I suggest you read “In Dubious Battle” also set in the Salinas Valley. Like in John Sayle’s “Men With Guns”, the regular people get caught in the middle between the capitalists and the communists.
Wow another song with meaining and a meaningful artist.
I think the implication was you were driving a tank, and might have a smaller gas bill if you were driving a car. Got it now?
Lol. Oh! Right over my head.
No, THAT tank I have up on cinder blocks in the front yard.
I don’t know if it’s the only way, but it sure would be a big part of the solution.
Why both candidates don’t lead with this as a significant and necessary part of economic stimulus in the US is beyond me.
It is comfortable campaign chatter as he, and his fellow right wingers, know that jobs do not exist and therefor there will be no need for such a program. Just more McLies from the forked tongue express
Thx, we have a chair too and we are mullin it over. It’s the whole package that is a little worrisome, a Boss show ain’t no “Sunshine Sunshine” it’s more like “Knockin round the Zoo”!
Someone should ask McCain to provide a list of a few of the jobs that were created from his wife’s share of the Bush tax cuts.
You are not alone.
Yea, well my 66 Chevy pickup with the new 350 ain’t exactly a hybrid!
Once I got it, that was funny!
Beer truck divers…alcoholism is a “growth industry” in an economic downturn.
Perhaps McCain will propose retraining people for this US booming industry:
Just imagine the catchy “become a prison guard” commercials.
Clinton will probably stay in through the primaries in my opinion. It’s only another month until the bloody things are over. She’ll probably scrape up enough cash to make a showing in the few that are left- none of em are in costly media states. After June 3rd—Dean wants the superdelegates to declare- and at that point Obama will probably become the “presumptive” nominee.
Superdelegates want to win in November. They know that they have to take Ohio and Pennsylvania. They also know that these states are very close- and that there is a certain percentage of white voters who will not vote for an african american—-they will try to figure out how large that percentage is.
They also know that if they vote for Hillary- a certain percentage of Obama voters will stay home.
They’ll try to figure out how large that group will be also.
Tough decisions.
seemed like it was a growth industry here last night (on FDL)
I think I read something in the NYT yesterday or today about what bullshit it is – supply side economics. I’m going to look up the link now.
They also know there are a certain number of crazy mofo’s like me that wouldn’t vote for Hillary under any circumstances.
This is an excellent point. Even the Bush Administration admitted that its tax cuts were not offset by revenue growth. What happened with both the rich and corporations is that Bush funneled so much money to them that even with lower tax rates they paid more in taxes. But, of course, this did not begin to recoup all the money he sent their way.
Much of that money ended up in hedge funds and helped to fuel a lot of the destructive speculation we have seen first in the housing market and now in commodities. Oil, gasoline, grains, metals all have increased greatly in price. A good fraction of these price rises have been the result of these sterile speculations.
I thought it was interesting that my public radio station that does a lot of agicultural reporting was reporting that it was running a public forum on how much the futures market in agriculture as a price finding mechanism has been affected by this outside speculation and questioning whether the futures market was even serving this function anymore. I found that very significant because it shows how widespread the concern is if even the farmers are worried.
Naturally, Paulson and Bernanke will do nothing to curb the hedge funds and investment banks no matter how much they threaten our and the world’s economy.
(i didn’t get it either, and i tried for a few minutes, reread it, etc… ROFL)
off to the wva border in a few minutes, have a great day pups!
(and raven, do call about the accomodations, it could end up being ok, and you could end up with really good seats, and annie there by your side–i’ve seen bruce 3 times, long time ago. the idea is to find the drop off areas where THEY help her, and that is what my sister and i were worried about with mom, her getting knocked into, but the way they did it, was fine, completely organized, and if you don’t/can’t use your seats, there are handicapped areas that are separate, and they are usually good seats…..call and ask them.
we were so concerned we almost didn’t go and it ended up being painless and had a blast. we go every time he’s in town. and bruce crowds aren’t ’twisted sister’……lol……plenty of handicapped people go to concerts and the venue has ways to make it a good experience for all.)
bbl
And bushco have been building more and more prisons, I would guess to put “illegal aliens” in and no doubt guarded by “Blackwater-US”
Yep–It’s a numbers game- and they may not have solid stats to figure the thing out.
Thanks fort this post, Christy. On days like today I keep thinking of the old powerful anti-littering advertisement of the native American on his horse looking at what has become of our country. It looks like far too many will shed that tear with him before it is over. Let’s hope it doesn’t descend into complete chaos before it is over…
Do you think their calculus will include the rumors that about 25% of obama supporters and as many as 50% of Clinton supporters will apparently vote for McCain should their favorite not be the ‘chosen one’?’
Here, I found it..
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04…..ref=slogin
You, me and my spouse
Cindy McBush will make even more money as we drown our sorrows in Arizona.
Of course. They know that those numbers are overblown- but significant.
If supply-side economics really worked, Arthur B. Laffer would not be relatively obscure today.
For the Republican Party, there is nothing wrong with the economy. Who does the Republican Party Represent? The RICH. For them, they are doing very well. They are winning the class war but then in America it’s taboo to talk about class. A winning technique for those who are rich and control the system.
Have they started rationing cocktail weenies yet?
-G
That’s true- of the general tax cuts. I don’t remember seeing any numbers specifically about the capital gains cuts. I wouldn’t be surprised if the revenue from them DID increase as people cashed in while the cost was low.
I find it amazing that gas is going up 5-10 cents a week, and no calls whatsoever about the obvious upward pressure hedge funds are putting on prices.
But how do you read that?
I read it as it is Clinton who’s getting the disenchanted Republican vote, those who do not want to vote for McCain but feel Obama is too “liberal” (or, sadly, due to his race) and therefore will either not vote or vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee.
Weekend before last, the Costco I go to had signs up saying there was a limit of two bags on rice. (I assumed they meant the really large bags, not the 5-pound size that I’d be looking for.)
Interestingly enough, Kevin Phillips says that the financial players are now mostly in the democratic camp- with Obama being their number one receiver of donations.
What are those things made of anyway?
Bom dia, pups
NPR just reported that Bush intends to name Petraeus to Fallon’s post as head of CENTCOM and Odierno would take over Petraues’ post in Baghdad. Both would need Senate approval. Talk about failing upward. Sheesh! And both are big on the lets blame Iran for our screwups in Iraq. I doubt the Senate has the stones to vote no on these clowns but they should.
That’s too bad. Are Obama’s supporters about unity so long as they get what they want?
That sounds eerily like Bush’s compromise: he’s all for compromise and for working with the opposition…so long as they do what he wants.
link?
Never ask how sausages are made. Especially if they are to be served inside the beltway.
Nha, some of us just are a wee bit concerned with her itchy nuke finger and all
That would be gettin out just in time for Petraeus. The public is rapidly getting tired of his schtick- and Iraq may be ready to blow up again.
what makes me shiver is that I can’t help but believe that that kind of video makes Bush and Cheney smile.
yea,as you know I’m an old rocker but my tolerance for drunken idiots is limited. We went to Bruce’s solo gig a couple of years ago and really liked it. They closed the bar before the show and you had to stay seated! We are most likely gonna go since we dropped $250 and I can’t get half price for them!
Must vote, even if it’s Hillary. She is my last choice among last choices. But even though I can’t imagine ever supporting her, I will do the nose-hold thing and vote for her. And believe me when I say that’s a huge concession for this Gore-to-Edwards-to-Obama mama.
ok *g* what was I thinking? they must have a hell of a shelf life, no?
Chicken lips
No need to be. It was just political posturing. Surprised you didn’t recognize it as such.
I would also argue that if this were true then the GOP is and has been advocating taking MORE tax dollars and not less from the citizens.
Increased revenues means that more dollars are being taken via federal taxes.
Why doesn’t anyone ever call these pudslaps on this?
-G
It’s in his new book- so I can’t link to it. I can give you a page number if you like- but I guess it wouldn’t do you any good if you didn’t have the book.
That’s probably a function of the delegate math; after all they are in finance.
me too..almost same trip but smae arrival point *g* Gonna make some calls later. I encourage those that want to and can to volunteer to do some phone banking. It’s not hard and since it is early in the Indiana/ North Carolina game, the folks are super nice. i was going to call just Indiana today but I’m going to pull a carolina list today too
don’t forget that beer requires a certain grain
aaaarrrggggghhhhhh oh wait……
I don’t believe so. In our case it is believed that clinton2 is wholey owned by corporations, is disingenuous about NAFTA, and cannot be trusted to nominate a true liberal to the supreme court.
Juno,
Statistics from PA last night showed that the Clinton supporters were far more likely to vote for McCain if Sen. Clinton didn’t get the nomination.
-G
No, the name of the book will do just fine. I will be at the university on Friday and can go in that there big ole square building called the library
Domestic abuse counselors. Divorce lawyers. Bankruptcy specialists. We could make quite a list.
Political posturing, you say. Poppycock, I say.
Budweiser up 6.2% this morning
RW,
Is the subtitle to the Phillips book: “We are sooooooooooooooo screwed”?
-G
It’s the SUPREME COURT. Period.
I will keep typing these words until the are no longer necessary. I don’t much like Hillary OR Obama but whomever the dem candidate is will get my vote. Period.
chucked up no doubt.
I will do the same but I’m working my tush off so that he gets the nomination and the presidency
That looks like an interesting article. The ratings companies were a critical enabler of the housing fiasco. But I don’t think it absolves the hedge funds from thinking they could invest in market sectors they knew nothing about and didn’t want to know. This is precisely the same thing we are seeing in the commodities markets. Money is sloshing around in them, even driving them, and the people who are doing the investing haven’t a clue about their fundamentals or the consequences of their wild speculations. It’s all a bit like gambling in a casino –with other people’s money.
Great post, Christy.
IANAEconomist…..but I’d love to see figures on the real inflation numbers (numbers that included food and energy).
The current official “core” rate just happens to exclude food and energy.
Imagine ER docs excluding blood pressure and respiration from vital signs…
Gee….temperature still warm…wonder why I can’t get a pulse?
I’m certainly getting the feeling that I’m being railroaded by Bush. Grandma’s in the wagon, she hasn’t moved on her own in weeks and the aroma’s a little ripe. Are we in California yet?
Consider a single outcome of Bush-O’-Nomics. Hundreds of thousands, bereft of homes, transportation and health care, without credit, living in tent cities near major metropolitan areas. Walking or using public transportation (in Southern Cal, uh huh). No vaccines, no antibiotics, not for newborns, infants or children, let alone adults.
Imagine the potential for infectious diseases we thought had been relegated to Africa. Cholera, typhus, dysentery, tuberculosis. Is that what funding the likes of Boeing, getting them “up to speed” on wall building and ghettoizing, is all about? Glad we politicized the CDC’s so completely, substituting prayer and magical (political) thinking for science. Nothing like maintaining a strong preventive public health program.
Here’s quote from the book- page 174
“Not that the other democratic presidential contenders were different. A tabulation of the political contributions by employees of the top ten U.S investment firms during the second quarter of 07 showed over 1.4 mm going to the dems vs. $900k going to republicans…….. Senator Barak Obama of Illinois led Hillary Clinton, who placed second..”
THe only thing about that argument that annoys me is; doesn’t congress play a role in accepting a Supreme Court nominee?
It oughta be. Scariest thing I’ve read in years.
Who knew that such a small group of people could really turn this country upside down. politically, ecnomically, socially, physically, mentally…this country is bottoming out.
Not a ‘mama’ but it’s the exact same route I took.
Great minds, eh?
Not that we say ‘eh’ much in Ohio.
I guess we would, just like Minnesotans, if Lake Erie wasn’t between us and Canada.
from primary debate almost a year ago in south carolina (when i was still watching the debates):
As in rubber stamp Senate?
right, that’s what I said.
So it’s Clinton who’s getting the disenchanted Republican vote, but it’s Obama who’s supposedly the uniter.
this is what I’ve been saying all along: Clinton knows what she’s doing, as unappetizing as it is.
From what I’ve heard, she is getting the core constituency Dems will need to win in November and Obama is not. I think it’s unfortunate, to tell you the truth, because I’m sure there’s a lot of racism in there, but I suspect it’s actually more perception of the “liberal” thing.
But Clinton has her own problems, namely her gender, but I do think that, in the minds of those people, she is a more palatable alternative to McCain, whom they do not want after the Bush disaster, a safer choice.
People need to think strategically and realistically, as ugly as that can sometimes be.
Btw, Oklahoma’s governor endorse Obama despite his state going for Clinton over Obama by a lot. Should his citizens throw a temper tantrum and stay home and accuse him of ignoring the will of the people?
every financial person I know refers to him as Arthur Laugher
thanks for typing that out for me *g* I didn’t expect you to do that. Could you give me the title of the book? thanks
The book is called “Bad Money”–Kevin Phillips. The most relevant chapter is “The Politics of Evasion.”
Well sure, because it helps politically (ironically enough!) to insist that Hillary is going to drop a nuclear bomb on Iran (talk about playing the fear card!) in order to scare people out of voting for her.
She’s not going to drop a nuclear bomb on Iran. Rest assured, Wobbly. Crikey, this thing gets so out of hand at times.
Party switchers lean toward Obama, exit polls show
Some misinformed person misinformed you.
Unless we somehow pull out more than 60 senate seats for the dems we are not safe. If McSame is elected (perish the thought) there are still enough anti-choice dem senators that he could get a really really bad candidate through. So therefore we need a pres. that is accountable to us somehow.
I don’t think our math even as good as it may be will overcome a rethug pres.
We had him here for FDL Book Salon on April 16.
One of the scariest books I’ve read recently as well, and I read a lot of the financial markets stuff. Tough times a’comin’.
That was her answer to a hypothetical question when all she really needed to say was that the premise of the question is bullshit because the NIE states the contrary (Iran is not and has not been developing nukes) but oh wait, that would require that she actually read it…like she did for the Iraq vote.
oh dear….
From today’s Kansas City Star:
Click through to see a chart of various staples and their prices over time – today’s price, 6 months back, and 1, 5, 10 and 20 years ago.
That is actually how I’m feeling now. Ruing that Gore didn’t get in.
thanks for the linky. I can go read this later today.
Wow that makes me feel so much safer. Maybe I can sleep tonight. From hillary’s lips to your fingers.
Okay.
Firest we need a candidate that is accountable to us somehow.
How can that be? I mean Honest George told us the fundamentals are strong?
He wouldn’t lie.
-G
Yeah- I know- I participated- which is why I ordered the book.
If you want to read a good daily source of info on the mortgage and banking mess try calculatedrisk.blogspot.
Just as here at FDL, some of the commenters have an inside perspective on things.
We won’t get the chance to replace senators until 2009. I posted the list of whose terms are up yesterday. Jello Jay Rockefeller is one.
Juno – this is a poo free response -
au contraire – pls find any instance of a Dem winning without the African American vote Senator Clinton blew off in her campaign’s haste to make short term political hay with Rev Wright
damn. damn. damn.
davis just asked mueller to say that rendition is a violation of us and international law. and then the hjc webfeed crashed. i can’t re-establish the connection. anyone else listening to this?
petraeus gets a new title…. centcom commander oh the war is going soo welll
You’re losing sleep because you think Hillary Clinton is going to drop a nuclear bomb somewhere????
Not good.
do you mean 2010?
I would be. I’m sure they can find a statistic to prove their argument, but I don’t buy it. If you cut the capital gains tax in half, to increase your revenue, you would have to make more than twice as much. It defies logic.
wow. interesting that chips were even included on the chart. What does that say about us?
Good! Blue Dogs Go Home!
Which is why I grudgingly support Obama. Hillary has already flipped us the bird.
sorry, no.
I, for one, think we’ve had enough unilateral intervention in the Middle East.
Well actually, it’s pretty logical to me. You can sell the stuff today and buy it right back- and pay only a 15% tax- or you can hold it until a dem takes office and pay 28%.. Lotsa people are going to sell and buy back- which TEMPORARILY would increase the revenues- but in the long term- eats of a huge national asset.
What Clusterfuck did was to take all the revenue NOW and screw tomorrow.
But what’s new about that?
I doubt African Americans will vote for McCain, and if they stay home to pout, shame on them.
I didn’t much care for Obama’s “Annie Oakley” comment or calling a female factory worker “Sweetie”, but it won’t keep me from voting for him.
If Clinton is the nominee and African Americans, who did well by her husband, want to hand it to McCain (and don’t think Repubs won’t use the Wright thing), choose not to vote for her (I think they will), so be it.
The point here is, she’s getting those who might usually vote Republican. They’re not “either I get who I want or I’m staying home.” They’re either Hillary or McCain. Shudder.
SF Chronicle:
Oh man, she is not a unilateralist.
Hysterical
is that true? can you give me a link to some good data to back that up? thanks.
Sure sounds like she is.
You’re thinking too literally. Think “election year.”
And her voting record on matters middle east are interesting as well
wow.
And, where do you think that the grain which would have been milled locally for you to buy, has gone?
Overseas, because no one other than the US is selling internationally.
Furrin’ media is picking up on the shortages of food and the food riots in the developing countries, too. But, you won’t hear it here in Happy News Land.
over at Big Orange:
There will be no reason to hold elections anymore.
Seriously.
Because that will prove nothing ‘the people’ want matters anymore.
If someone who embraces the policies of a POTUS that has set all time disapproval ratings while maintaining a very unpopular war and screwed up economy wins in November, reality as we’ve known it will be gone, and the Bizzaro world of the old Superman comics will have taken it’s place.
Either Democratic candidate should win this election by 10 points, and that’s taking into consideration the racist and sexist voters as well.
Oh boy. We’re going to get hit hard and so many people don’t see it coming.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/105…..cCain.aspx
Does it bother you that certain Republicans are as comfortable with HRC as she appears to be with certain Republican ’sensibilities’?
Or do you ascribe this reality to her ability to ‘unite’?
Or is it merely ‘political’ calculus?
I do not understand the need for certain apologist to come to a progressive blog and promote the least progressive candidate. IMHO.
Yep.
William Pfaff from the International Herald Tribune:
Food First sez it too:
But what do SF Bay Area types know about the workings of Empire?
Not Tom Davis of VA? Oh no way!! Surely you are referring to Artur of Alabama; yes?
Welfare legislation you may mean? Or maybe NAFTA?
It’s a bad habit being a part of the reality based community and all. She could have said that the question was crap but instead she repeatedly made it clear that not only would she exercise the nuclear option but also swpet a few other countries under that umbrella.
Which is why she voted against the AUMF against Iraq and why she didn’t support the war for more than 3 years. Oh wait . . .
that is why I could only respond with…wow
Not in the slightest bit surprised.
Look my issue with hillary is not personal or gender based rather her rather her war vote and her hawkish position.
yet shrub swears that everyting is fine. like many others, he thinks that if he keeps saying it enough, it will become true
Feel free to do some Googling. Bill Clinton had a 90% approval rating among African Americans when he was president.
I also think it’d be wise for Americans to stop thinking they have to agree with candidates on every single issue.
Well, I picked up the “eh” on our circle trip around Lake Superior a few years ago. And I use it when I’m traveling incognito. Which appears to be a more likely scenario if this glorious country of ours doesn’t stop messing itself! The only thing worse than poo-flinging is sitting in it and ignoring it. Add “ew” to “eh.”
so they should shut up and be grateful for all bill has done for them?
Everything is fine, as long as you’re too rich to need competence. Like Bush.
“I think you’re fine, I think you’re fine”
the little shrub that couldn’t
then how to you explain her vote against the levin amendment when she voted for the iraq war?
Hoarding! All the extra rooms in my
McMansionapartment will finally be useful now.We political novices don’t know what to believe and what not to believe about what Hillary says. We foolishly thought use of nuclear weapons was a serious threat to be bandying around. I’m relieved to hear you say she didn’t mean a thing by it; just trying to get votes of total neocon nutcases and apocolyptic Christians. Was she also promissing nuclear umbrella shield for a lot of nearby nations, or was that just more spoor of a really good politician? Since we’re mostly Democrats, please keep us informed on what to believe. Thanks.
he keeps saying it enough, it will become true
Ya dance wit da one what brung ya.
maybe I misunderstood this from house.gov: Terms for Senators in Class I expire in 2013, Class II in 2009, and Class III in 2011
Wow I must be wise!
Right, she could have answered it the way you think she should have. I can come up with a myriad of ways any candidate should answer a question.
You’re looking at it solely from your own narrow perspective. Democrats have a self-defeating way of doing that. It’s why Kerry didn’t respond swiftly to the Swift Boat liars, because he just assumed everyone would think like he does and know it was BS.
I know what she’s doing, and she’s right to do it.
now that was a rib tickler
ain’t that the truth
I’m going to ignore this post of yours. It’s repugnant and very insulting.
I think the way to address this betting is to increase the collateral necessary to buy futures contracts and raise the capital gains tax on profits from them.
Bernanke and Paulson’s willingness to bail out the financial sector for its bad choices only increases their propensity for wild gambles.
o/t
Trib
Yep – I did misunderstand that. These folks’ terms are done Jan., 2009 – so they are running for re-election NOW:
Democrats Republicans
Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Biden, Joseph R., Jr. (D-DE)
Durbin, Richard (D-IL)
Harkin, Tom (D-IA)
Johnson, Tim (D-SD)
Kerry, John F. (D-MA)
Landrieu, Mary L. (D-LA)
Lautenberg, Frank R. (D-NJ)
Levin, Carl (D-MI)
Pryor, Mark L. (D-AR)
Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Rockefeller, John D., IV (D-WV)
Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)
Allard, Wayne (R-CO)
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA)
Cochran, Thad (R-MS)
Coleman, Norm (R-MN)
Collins, Susan M. (R-ME)
Cornyn, John (R-TX)
Craig, Larry E. (R-ID)
Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC)
Domenici, Pete V. (R-NM)
Enzi, Michael B. (R-WY)
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC)
Hagel, Chuck (R-NE)
Inhofe, James M. (R-OK)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)
Smith, Gordon H. (R-OR)
Stevens, Ted (R-AK)
Sununu, John E. (R-NH)
Warner, John (R-VA)
The folks in Class II are up for re-election now. Those in class III will be up in 2010. We’ve pretty much blown taking down Jello Jay (and others) with a primary at this point in time.
Wow Hugh – that’s the first structural solution I’ve heard for this. I wonder if the folks at Food First have heard it?
She couldn’t just take off her kevlar vest, drop her cammies, and show us her Stones. So, “We’ll Nuke Iran” will just have to do.
oh, okay. how narrow of me to think of other human beings that are only trying to live their lives. It is a quirk of mine, I’ll admit but one I’ll keep.
You can spin it anyway you would like, but the fact is that the NIE doesn’t not bolster what she said and it still doesn’t. what that implies is that a) she is palying to the hawks and b) she still must not be reading those NIE reports.
See y’all later. Off to a meeting.
Well, this is chilling. But then, one might posit that the amount of chilling BushCo crap could offset global warming, eh?
Hey pups, still catching up here. good morning! First headline I saw: Clinton still kicking. Hmmm.
Had to fix this.
My visual of Elitism: “President” Bush looking out the window of Air Force One at Katrina aftermath…
Huh? howso, you said in your post that Bill has done lots for the african americans so umm how is my post repugnant? You can geet back to me when you have an answer, I’ll be around the rest of the day
later, rev
So why did Clinton support the Iraq War for more than 3 years? Why has she never apologized for that?
who do we have a chance of taking down?
“My visual of Elitism: “President” Bush looking out the window of Air Force One at Katrina aftermath”
_________
And don’t forget how Babs subsequently said of evacuees sheltered in Houston that it was a step up for them, essentially thety their lives had been shit before Katrina, and their lodging circumstances were now improved.
Well, I think it’s interesting that, when Obama attracts Repubilcans, it’s evidence of his ability to unite people, but when Clinton does, it’s a sinister and negative thing.
Yet another double standard.
I just wanna win in November.
It appears that that side of her mouth does not work
thought Hagel and Warner were retiring
barbara – he’s no ‘genius’ but smart enough to know there wasn’t enough kryptonite in the stash for that one
I’m sure it will be explained to you shortly. We’re being schooled here as to what the senator means and what she is doing.
the link you gave me says nothing – absolutely nothing – about republican voters. from the survey methods:
i’ve already OD’ed on looking at polling data that doesn’t say what a clinton apologist says it does. please stop.
How is it that nearly every thread lately seems to devolve into defensive snarking? It’s becoming habitual, yea, verily, Pavlovian. I so love the exchange of ideas and opinions here. You folks are so smart and so well-informed. But this FDL haven is becoming hazardous to one’s blood pressure and well-being. And don’t tell me to go away, please!! Usually, I like it here. Usually.
Oh yes yes yes. “It’s working out quite well for them”
(I pull out my hair everytime I think of that, but I’m focused on elected officials right now).
India has stopped exporting rice due to potential shortages.
However, a lot of the problems are being driven by speculation kind of like the oil prices.
Shrub must be very happy.
are we there yet?
(((barbara)))
When I signed on here I expected to see all kinda this and that about the PA primary. I was happy to see this post about McSame and the economy as a forward looking one.
stick around. the pups will settle down soon.
Juno;
Your continued assertion that much of what Clinton says and does is meaningless because this is an election year is disingenuos, at best.
Basically, you are suggesting that ‘anything goes’.
At which point NOTHING matters. Rather nihilistic, don’t you think?
Such fabulous ‘end times’ notions, as yours, shall enrapture us all.
sorry it does get out of hand (none of us are perfect) but I will take it down a level.
As if Babs needed to remind us where all of Shrub’s compassion comes from.
(((dosido))) !
for me…the war = lizard brain
From what I’ve gathered, it has been the introduction of a Clinton supporter that has caused this.
What does that say? Someone above actually came right out and all but said I’m not welcome here and he can’t figure out why I’d come here. So a fellow Democrat is not welcome because of her choice of whom to support, a Democrat in fact?
It’s always more “civil” when everyone thinks alike, I suppose, but it doesn’t challenge thinking or cultivate different perspectives.
please stay!
I’m de-lurking to say I agree.
Sometimes it feels like overhearing the neighbors arguing about whose dog pooped on the yard.
And, the over the top my sarcasm is better than yours is so elitist! Ha.
Wow, some long standing members of the Koolaid Kountry Klub there!
Domenici, Pete V. (R-NM) – retiring
buh-bye !
Collins, Susan M. (R-ME)
Cornyn, John (R-TX)
Craig, Larry E. (R-ID)
Smith, Gordon H. (R-OR)
Stevens, Ted (R-AK)
Sununu, John E. (R-NH)
prolly gone as well
Coleman, Norm (R-MN)
and dear Liddy Dole is getting the Katherine Harris treatment from the Party but will have to google her opponent
Maybe you oughta spend a bit more time on other blogs to get a better perspective. FDL remains a model of relative constructive decorum, intelligence, and wit in contrast, warts and all. The withering fires of rhetorical automatic weapons vitriol I see nearly everywhere else keeps bringing me here.
Most of us here have already cast our primary vote- so arguing in favor of one candidate or the other is pointless- there’s no one’s vote available.
and oh btw, per Schumer, Dems are killin ‘em in fundraising !
Next you’ll be telling us your ice skating has improved and you know which end of the maple leaf is “up” when it’s on a flag pole. Sheesh. *g*
for anyone who’d like a different topic- the hjc has had some good bits – mueller was just asked about how the fbi responded to their knowledge of torture. sadly i missed the davis questioning.
That is just untrue and has nothing to do with that. There are other Clinton supporters here as well.
Oh, Selise, Wobbly, Juno, I’m here for the long haul. But at risk of being labeled a kumbayahoo, I just want to encourage everyone to be more respectful and less vitriolic in our exchanges. And pups, that goes for me, too. So I invite you to whap me on the nose with a rolled up newspaper if I get into snark-on-steroids mode.
that is some good news indeed
Sorry but there are still folks from Oregon that post here so we can continue to discuss, debate and disagree. It’s going to continue to happen until the primary is over
I’m all for knowing the opposition and knowing the American public and doing what you have to to win in order to end this Republican reign.
If Obama’s the nominee, I hope he’ll do it too, and if that means eating a stack of pancakes, good for him. Do it.
you got it, but can I sit back and enjoy it for a moment before I get the newspapaer out?
So, are you trying to convert anyone to your point of view, or just get us to use our heads for a change? Honestly, you can’t let a single topic go without shortly getting to your view of Obamaniables and stirring up a scuffle. Your arguments range from tearful outrage over the savage and stealty attacks of the deceitful Obama and his followers to crafty smirking over the sage Macchiavellian technicquest of Hillary which are invisible to the deluded Obama cultists. Frankly, the arguments are so diametrically opposed that, as I noted the other day, I finally concluded you sought to solidify Obama support. It’s working.
Actually, you will notice that I never introduce the topic, I only respond to posts that do.
I’m merely voicing my opinion here. You may accept it or reject it as you see fit.
Meanwhile, as the Dems are bickering amongst themselves, back at McCain HQ: “OK, you run this anti-Obama ad, then I will denounce it and ask you to pull it off the air. It’s the best of both worlds – our message gets out and I get to play the hero by telling you to pull it. A win win situation.”
Juno, (Please, read this comment in its entirety, before commenting)
As a person you are likeable and worthy of respect, but;
As a ‘partisan’ your behavior is becoming quite INSUFFERABLE.
Since you are fond of suggesting that others research such subjects as ‘echo chambers and double standards’, I would suggest that you consult a dictionary.
I am certain you will NOT avail yourself of such advice.
But it may fairly be said that you do represent your candidate and HER attitudes veery well indeed.
However, as you do not, I would hope, wish to see McCain ‘elected’, don’t you think, rather than gifting us with your presence and scintillating wit, that you might better be speaking with that percentage of Clinton supporters who say they will vote for McCain if Clinton is not their choice?
As a ‘realist’ or ‘Realiticrat’ have you no concerns with the willingness of your fellow Clintonites to prolong our nation’s descent into ruin?
By your actions, we shall know you, Juno …
It does.
Go to the Huffington Post. It’s a cesspool over there.
I’m not sure what it is that is considered uncivil here. I’ve not seen it.
The Speech Barack Can’t Give.
There are 2 dem senators who are in some danger this year- but there are TEN goopers who are in at least a bit of trouble…
On the house side, it’s 34 dems vs 43 goops.
Looks like dems gain a few seats in each house.
Two excellent articles on this issue
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04…..ref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04…..038;st=nyt
Thank you. So, it’s not just me feeling this way.
dem primary has poisoned the well….. after all is said and done how does this humpty dumpty get put back together?
I hate to say is, but I think BO got pwned on this. I would have pointed out that the reductions in the capital gains tax were accompanied by economic growth that was not necessarily caused by the capital gains tax reductions. The increases in revenue were caused by the (1) robust economic growth, which increased the overall size of the pie, and (2) a shift in compensation from cash to stock that were subject only to the lower cap gains rate, and only increased as long as stock prices increased.
I’m not an economist, but these seem to be the explanations that make the most sense to me. Shifting compensation from cash to stock may or may not be a desirable thing, but it does allow certain rich people an opportunity to rake in some more tax savings that are unavailable to the rest of us. Ask Dick Cheney how that works.
Of course, after almost an hour of fending off stupid questions about people who sort of know him, flag pins, and the like, an actual question about an actual issue (taxes) probably threw him off.
I suggested someone Google info. on how African Americans felt about Bill Clinton when he was president, not echo chambers and double standards. Not sure from where you got that.
I’m sorry you find me to be insufferable. Intolerance and double standards often manifest themselves by making the person with the minority viewpoint appear to be “insufferable”. As a partisan, I’m a Democrat.
Not to mention Gibson’s apparent panic that his capital gains tax might go up and turning the question into a personal battle with Obama. It was disgraceful.
‘Really don’t mind if you sit this one out’ Ian Anderson
I don’t find you insufferable, just your behavior.
Your insult other’s intelligence, motivation, grasp and fundamental human decency, while holding yourself to be a model of moral rectitude, all-encompassing knowledge and, always, right.
Whatever interest you may profess in rational discussion seems to take a back seat to your short-sighted polemics.
Have you no respect for others OR their analysis?
Can you even hear anyone else?
You have just about convinced me that, like your candidate, you’ve no interest in anything which does not serve your ends, whatever they may be.
I have asked you numerous thoughtful questions, as have many others, you pick and chose, cherry-pick, what you respond to, ignoring context and perspective.
Basically, you articulate a ’scorched-earth’ attitude regarding your candidate, the rest of us, truth, and any attempt at honest discourse.
Okay. I don’t see it that way, of course, and in fact I think you’ve clearly been more aggressive, hostile, and personal toward me.
I’ve even defended Sen. Obama many times, when I’ve seen fit to do so, but never see anything but hostility toward Sen. Clinton here.
I don’t think disagreeing or expressing a differing viewpoint or even debating a point is showing disrespect for others or their analysis. It does seem to me that there is a thought here that any thinking other than support for Obama and hatred of Clinton is intolerable and wrong and disrespectful. I’m polarizing because I support Clinton and try to explain why, but anyone can toss bombs at Clinton and it’s fine.
My ends, as I have said many, many times, is for the Democrat to win in November. I think I’ve been very clear about that.
*sigh* ((DW)) your awesome. Sometimes you just have to leave folks where they’re at and move on.
The Grapes of Wrath scenes in the US are a big ole picnic compared to the oncoming mass starvation in the Third World. Marx didn’t get it right–Malthus did. http://newsprism.wordpress.com
and me and mine after the last 4-6 weeks of Hillary’s rethug tactics.
i wrote a comment about why this thread is so repulsive, then i decided why waste my breath
anyone who needs told that i don’t want to be around anyway.
so i deleted what i was going to say and will say this-
i will no longer refer anyone to fdl………and fdl needs donations to be here, blue america needs funds, any loss of people means loss of hamsters……..think about it, what kind of place has this turned into? granted, my small donations to fdl and blue america don’t mean much, but i did refer people here that would have added to our dialogue and do donate to many causes, think they’re gonna want to be around this shite?
i don’t think so.
my reasons to refer people?–everyone welcome, lots of good info, wide variety of people, wide variety of posts, good discourse–most days, not so anymore.
used to warn people about the vitriol goin’ on here and there, said just ignore that and read the posts and some days the comments are out of hand, but it’s not here and there anymore, is it?
nope.
i’m making one last donation, had already planned on it, after that-if this doesn’t change i’m not supporting it verbally or financially anymore.
Two more sites concerning this issue
http://www.ondayone.org/ One suggestion is turning the whitehouse lawn into a vegetable garden
http://eatingliberally.com/
There is a suggestion around to give tax breaks (incentives) for people to have home gardens –there is precedent Victory Gardens.