Speak Out [politics] January 1 through April 1, 2013

Newsacross writes (again): "Capitalism is a failed system."

We've never had a system of true capitalism.

What we have instead, is crony capitalism, which is closer to socialism than true honest capitalism.

The bond of big business and government is the very definition of fascism.

The bailout of the private globalist bank engineered failures (gambling casinos and public plunder) are communist at the bottom and fascist at the top.

It's a lie to call it capitalism. The failures are engineered and allowed to happen as a last giant transfer of wealth..

We peons, get sacrifice and austerity while the private bankers gain control of all real assets. We are literally taxed to death to support a corrupt system that systemically loots and plunders with no negative consequences.

The 'tooling' of this fascist government/corporate collusion, is the Keynesian economic theory of throwing money into the wind (to select crony capitalists) advancing the destruction of the bottom tax cow peons.

"There are elements of socialism in most guided capitalist countries."

Exactly. Guided Capitalism = Crony Capitalism

North Dakota State Bank, socialism at work for the people. Just one example of socialism helping the people. Who is against? The big banks of course.

Right wingers, I dare you to read this. I will be surprised if any of you knock it. The very conservative folks in North Dakota sure as hell don't! http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accoun...

OKR,

No offense to your old friend, but I am afraid I will have to side with Occam on this one mate. No hard feelings I hope.

Or perhaps its...oh wait...tell me its not them, OKR

not...

Los CHICENISTAS!!!!!

I am visiting my friend, whom I have not seen in fifty years. He showed me this blog, and I have been immersed in it for three days. I am amazed at the progression through layers that has occured. I'm thinking that a couple of you are beginning to get whas happenin'. Far out!

O. K., see a couple of youse guys have the second layer figured out. You got it, New World Order. Beyond a doubt. I don't know why everyone else can't see that? It is frustrating.

Stay with me now because here is what frustrates me. Before I go further focus on what you see so clearly, but others don't. Frustrating huh? Think deeper now, think to the next layer. First a little more background. Yes you are dead on about the Jews, and control of money. It's been that way a long time. Remember Shylock? Uh hu, thought you did, see what I mean? You are right about the menacing powers. You are ready to understand the Third Layer. Don't feel alone, there are others who know, but are afraid to speak directly to the threat, for instance most of the writers, and artists of the super hero comic books know. Their work is largely a symbolic, and metaphoric act of resistance to the multiple layers of menace. Though at the moment it appears passive, they are telling us that it will take the development of super powers within we ordinary Jacks, and Jills to effectively thwart our enemies. Thus we need to pay them their due, and confine our reading to Super Hero Comics. But I digress.

Those who tell you of those existing cabals of The New World Order, are secret agents of the Third Layer. Their warnings of the second layer (New World Order) are simply a smoke screen, an attempt to obfuscate the even greater Third Layer threat. Do not listen to Alex Jones, I repeat do not listen to Alex Jones. His goal is to confuse you, just as it the goal of the other third layer minions. Be on your guard for one, or more of the lesser ones could even appear on these blogs. Be aware that one of their favorite tricks is to convince you that something that makes no sense, is entirely reasonable, and that if you would only try harder, or if you were just a little smarter, you would see the sublime rationality of what they profess.

At this point you are probably thinking just who, or what is this Third Layer? For now it will suffice to tell you that they are not of this world, but have visited this world many times. They became interested in the sentient beings of this planet who in one sense, or another traveled outside earthly boundaries long ago. The Mormon story is a garbled version of the truth of those trips, garbling courtesy of the Third Layer.

I probably should not tell you more at this time. Too much at one time would be such a shock to your systems that you would be in great danger. So for now, be vigilant, consider who might be controlling the New World Order, and why. I think that the fertile minds, and imaginations who are beginning to frequent these blogs will soon understand the greater peril, and share with others.

I must now go to comfort my old friend Oklahoma Reader who is in a dither because he just can't grasp the truth of all the ins, and outs of The New World Order. I think that he may be relieved to hear that it is a smoke screen. I may even share a little more about The Third Layer with him. I don't know if I will be able to communicate further about the menace, they are after me. I may need to go back into hiding. If I can I will send news to you through OKR.

Sincerely,

Penrod Parsimon

Why Anti-Depressants Don't Work & How We Can Heal Ourselves

http://tv.greenmedinfo.com/the-truth-abo...

DO

I thought we were discussing Economic Theory.

After all, I am an Economist. Its my thing.

We have the empirical evidence of what happens in guided and unguided capitalist systems -- see crash of 2008 for more on this.

Ya know the funny thing is that the Feudalists said the same nonsense about capitalism. But change things did. Captitalism was a step -- a small step -- in the right direction, after all anything is better than being a serf directly, literally, physically owned by the local rich guy, but it has some serious problems not the least of which is the 5-6 year boom-to-bust cycle, its sensitivity to decreasing consumption, its failure to equitably distribute goods and services to all the members of the society, as well as its tendency to concentrate the accumulation of wealth in the hands of the very richest in said economy.

Capitalism does not work well, but we will save that discussion for another time mate.

However the Economic Theory I partially described, Modern Democratic Socialism, is an entirely different matter.

Take taxes for example:

Taxes are unnecessary in a socialist economy because the People own the means of production and distribution and thus benefit directly from the profits.

Perhaps you should go back and read my synopsis again.

Schism "I don't understand what you are saying here. I implied just being older does not make you wiser."

Read it slower?

{Wisdom generally tracks age, but it's such a rarity these days it's more like, 'we may be gettin' older, but we ain't gettin' better.'}

"If just growing older made you wise, our government has laws about age."

Now that, I don't understand.. laws against wisdom in old age?

"If older people were more wise than we simply pick the age where people make the best decisions and that's our leaders. I don't believe that is what wisdom is."

That would surely be better than now, thinking we are 'choosing leaders' with our Diebold black box voting machines. Vote rigging with paper ballots was so much classier..

"And hey DO, here is something you might like, under socialism there are no taxes. There are no income taxes, no sales taxes, no real estate taxes, ect. Socialism is designed to be tax-free." Posted by news across on Sat, Mar 30, 2013, at 1:15 AM

You are a laugh a minute, News. Keep 'em coming!

ND,

I think that Korean kid is just crazy enough to launch. If he launches a nuke on South Korea it too will be shot down. But what happens after that? Korean War II?

My logic is explained in the religion forum.

You don't have to believe in religion to be effected by those who do. We all know a family of converted Jews control the finances of the world. Controlling the finances is controlling the world.

We know the American media lies, could that be why Fox is reported that North Korea is backing down on television? Does someone tell them what to report?

For all we know Kim Jong Un and the rest of the Rothschild's tools can be sitting in fallout shelters built by the American government to protect the American government. The ISS would hold thousands of people and for all the people know there may be something larger sitting in space we don't see. Not everyone has telescopes powerful enough to see certain things and even if I came to this forum and reported seeing something I would undoubtedly be ridiculed for my lack of credibility.

How come we can't trust our peers but we believe the lies fed through corporate media?

Any disaster would be the perfect opportunity to move in and set up the fema camps for a New World Order the United States presidents can be quoted speaking of for over 30 years.

"It was probably egged on my the media so people would ignore logic and reason at this moment."

Bad wording. It could have been the media proliferating rumors, is what I meant to suggest.

DO

In a Marxist system the banks are owned and controlled by the People -- not just 1 primary stockholder or just 1 family of primary stockholders. The People, jointly, have far different motivations and goals than do the rich fat cat bankers in a private banking system.

In regard to modern Democratic-Socialism, some economists (such as Richard Wolff -- with whom I concur) have suggested the replacement of corporations with cooperatives jointly owned by the People and the employees of that co-op. The corporate structure would remain but the board of directors would be elected by the employees -- the only stockholders.

Of course, there are some areas where direct ownership by the People is far more efficient and automatically directs profits to the public use -- rather than helping a gazillionaire buy that new mega-yacht. Areas such as energy, something that goes directly to national security because it is so necessary in our society, should be nationalized. Finance, oil production, medical care, all should be nationalized as soon as possible.

But there is no reason that most of the goods and services available in our society today could not continue to be made available through the co-op process just as it is done today by privately held corporations, but with the exception that the benefits go to the employees of the co-op and the People and there are no private owners.

By going to direct employee ownership but keeping the corporate-type operational structure, we keep intact, and utilize more efficiently, important economic forces we typically associate with capitalism, such as competition and synergy, but the profits are directed to the employees of that co-op and to the People for public use (think free, widely available, public mass trans for everybody as just 1 possible example -- said public benefit being whatever the People decide it should be through a democratically elected government).

Competition for customers within a particular market would help keep prices stable and still retain the limiting effects of Price Elasticity of Demand. Efficient, effectively operated co-ops would be rewarded with more sales and higher profits, and yes, conversely, inefficiently and ineffectively operated co-ops would go out of business -- contributing to an economy which would move constantly towards more and more efficient, and less costly, systems, contributing to an overall increase in supply and downward pressure on price. In fact, employees of a co-op would be very motivated toward efficient production and operation since their jobs and their profits would be directly tied to the success of the co-op in its particular market.

Motivated workers would also compete for the better paying jobs at successful co-ops ensuring efficient, effective allocation of labor as well as increasing productivity.

Under socialism, the employees would decide through democratic process who would manage the co-op with periodic elections held at pre-determined dates. The employees would decide what would happen to their portion of the profits. This may be a direct payout in cash or a partial pay out in cash and maybe a new employee break room complete with hot spa and swimming pool (just as an example of 1 possibility).

And hey DO, here is something you might like, under socialism there are no taxes. There are no income taxes, no sales taxes, no real estate taxes, ect. Socialism is designed to be tax-free.

I wonder when they are going to start making mattresses with built in safes?

http://truth-out.org/news/item/15401-it-...

NanaDot,

Everything that exists is mathematical. Just because we don't know the equations yet, they are there.

Illogical mathematics are called paradoxes.

"after you clearly schooled me"

I meant to say he not you.

My point being you are telling me how the world is because of how people are.

Weeks ago I would have responded to attacks on my ideas the same way you have. You choose the way you feel. You do that by learning to control your emotions. I did that by reading about Buddhism: a pacifist philosophy, Taoism: a philosophy of balance and self-preservation and Hinduism: because I understand scientific theory to support my interpretations of their beliefs. Combined with the ideas I've learned from reading Islam and Christianity that inspire me to share my spiritual enlightenment with everyone. I'm not suggesting a religious belief in God. I'm suggesting an educational solution for the control of emotions and developing the ability to understand others. I feel that if more people work toward the same mentality, we won't be the people so many stereotype us to be.

Furthermore, the belief structure I am building for myself does not violate the majority of religious doctrine. Unless they are truly ignorant to the point of WBC. :)

NanaDot,

Thank you. I know my posts can be overwhelming to some. I don't know what others know compared to myself so I typically try to project with the assumption my audience knows nothing I do. I don't want to persuade anyone to believe what I think is right and wrong. My morals are based on my experience of the world. I simply want to encourage critical thinking and independent research from ALL points of view so the world can be better for my family. So my daughter will have a world to grow up in with the opportunity to do anything she pleases rather than the conformed slavery we are indoctrinated to. It is my belief, based on my experiences and observation of others, that what I think would help a vast majority of our planet as well.

"I said the ponzi scheme would last a lot longer if we printed the funny money ourselves instead of allowing private bankers to "create" money out of thin air as debt."

Your argument still appears contradictory to me.

Why does it matter who prints fake money as long as we are using fake money?

Use a fake money system to build a new world that creates a free healthy environment for all life on Earth. Once that's built everyone will have everything they need. When it's done you retire to a life of learning, exploring, teaching and loving so we develop the mindset to sustain that world that will constantly improve.

Guns won't need to be taken away from anyone. When no one has need for a gun anymore, reasonable people will put them away.

Crime is almost completely eliminated. If you don't have to compete to receive what our technology can provide, you would have no reason rob and steal.

Eliminating greed will limit the medical field to people who choose that profession because they want to help others, not collect a paycheck.

When a healthy intelligent doctor with no desire for money treats a sick person their focus is the health of the patient, not whether the patient can pay or insurance will cover them.

I would propose sending the Corporations from the higher developed countries into third world nations. We can generate income for our people to continue to survive while helping those who need it most.

Then, or at the same time even, we build up our homes so we can do the same. We could transition the entire world within a few years.

People have all the right to choose what they want in life. If some don't want to participate they are free to continue the proven failed systems in place now outside our new cities.

You can better convince people what's best for them by showing them it works, rather than sticking a gun in their face and forcing them to submit.

Do,

You make points that I do agree with. I think people will be more inclined to listen to you if you can find a more assertive method to express your ideas while being a lot less negative.

All input is valuable, your negativity and accumulated responses creates a situation for sociological observation. Take time to reflect and understand the progress you made thus far and what other's have done better, and what each of us can do to move this discussion to a more productive tone that offers examples to problems and logical solutions, while educating our peers.

Newsacross: "Actually, its banks who create money."

Yes. Thanks for confirming what three people have stated. And the crime is that our money is created out of thin air as debt, and paid back to private bankers,(Federal Reserve) that really have no skin in the game.

The "Federal Reserve" is neither Federal nor are there any reserves. The ponzi scheme is a hundred years old this year and we seem to be in the end game of final plunder and collapse.

The bankers create debt, wars, starvation and enslavement. Capitalism or Communism, the bankers are still in control. We are dumbed down and lied to. I feel sorry for the younger generations that are born into our idiocracy. We are stupid pawns in an old game that we can't understand.

Of course our means of exchange could just as well be sea shells with a hole drilled in 'em. Its really what ever we say it is. But the laws of Economics apply no matter what the currency is.

Our current economic problems tie directly to the changes made under Reagan and imperialism.

There has been no increase in real wages in America in over 30 years. Under Reaganism, (utilizing Neoclassical Economic hypothesis as his guide) we stopped taxing the rich, for all intents and purposes, and then borrowed the money from the rich instead.

In addition to all that, America is busy bullying other countries, committing genocide, and in the process wasting trillions of the tax payers' hard earned tax dollars on their pointless imperialism.

In the end America shot its economy, its reputation, and its principles.

Now the chickens have come home to roost.

DO

Actually, its banks who create money.

Printed money, or as we know it in Economics, Money 1, makes up a very small percentage of money in the system.

The rest is on paper, mate (Money 2, Money 3) and its created by banking.

Since we live in a society obsessed with worship, here's a list of famous people telling you that bankers suck. I believe there are quotes from the bankers saying they are screwing you and don't care.

http://www.themoneymasters.com/the-money...

NA,

This is the kind of article I start with. A conspiracy as large as global domination over the course of centuries is not going to have all the evidence summed up in one article. This one does a good job and cites many sources for further reading. This is information I've already read in other places and understood to be legitimate, the timeline helped place it all in order.

http://www.pakalertpress.com/2010/07/19/...

Posted by NanaDot Mar 28, 2013: "First, the legislatures don't make laws to 'lower the bar'"

Well actually that isn't technically true and Schism, really didn't make that assertion anyway.

There are many ways the "bar" is lowered to dumb the citizenry down. In nomenclature popular here, empirical evidence points largely to the Federal Department of Education, dumbing our children down.

"Our fiat currency has about sunk us... the only way out is for the government to print their own money,"

Now you are just stepping on Bugs Bunny's toes. Next you will be saying that Keynesian economics may have something to do with our (engineered) economy. Keep it up and 'News' may quit the blogs again. Everybody (?) knows that to get out of the latest/greatest recession we have to print more money and throw it to the winds.(bankers)

It looks to me that you just uncovered the veiled truth that the central banks are privately owned by globalist whose intent is to systematically bankrupt the country (the world) while they convert, printed out of thin air, fiat money into real assets in order to control and enslave the world.

"strictly regulate the banks, put the thieves in prison,"

Crazy talk..

You said,

"What I propose is not 'giving up' on current society. The United States Constitution defines a republic. Small local governments, states making their own rules, and the federal government having very limited power."

Actually, the Constitution you refer to, the Articles of Confederation, was scraped and replace with our current Constitution which establishes much stronger centrally controlled government.

You will find our new Constitution here:

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

In addition, the issue of decentalized vs centralized government was further dealt with and resolved by the Civil War.

In fact the entire reason our Founding Fathers tossed out the old constitution and replaced it with a much stronger centrally controlled construct is because decentralized government was unworkable.

schism,I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but in my opinion, you do have an out look on things that makes a lot of sense, if you think about it! I'm not one too think any of us can go against the establishment in any significant way,regardless how much we would like! The establishment is here and is not going to give up power of the way things are done! We are NO different than any of the Middle East Countries,because that kind of action is whats going to change things here, if we could begin the process of not being so Intellectual & Civil we can rid ourselves of all the crazies running thing! This Country set a trend of thing too come when they didn't do Bush & Company the same as Husseini & Gaddafi for killing our Brave Men & Women!!! Fair, & just is what this Country is suppose to be,but think again! None of whats happening makes any sense,too me! This is a statment not for debate! Right and Wrong,simple as that!

DO and Schism -

Great stuff ... I've been saying all along just what Schism added today. And there's more of that stuff happening every day. Too many people just trying to get by or to keep up with their lifestyles to take notice, or even care.

Thanks for posting - and welcome to the fray.

gb

CM,

What I propose is not 'giving up' on current society. The United States Constitution defines a republic. Small local governments, states making their own rules, and the federal government having very limited power.

If you desire to rule over other people it's just another example of the failure in the current system. If we had a society that solved the root problems; poverty, food and fresh water, housing for all, education, and healthcare there'd be little reason left for crime, or unnecessary rules. Intelligent people do not need companies like OSHA to violate laws of nature. In nature stupid people would eliminate themselves. In society, we intentional lower the bar on education so we become more ignorant with each generation. Then make up rules because we have conditioned people not to think about what they are doing. They we tell these people they are equal and should vote about things they don't understand because we allow them to continue in life with no education.

Intelligent healthy people who are not conditioned to compete for money and power would evolve beyond the primitive social behaviors like jealousy, greed, and intolerance. That's not theory, there are many peaceful cultures. Plastic America has caused our moral collapse.

Conditioning and conformity teaches our children not to think for themselves. That life is about going to school, getting a job, buying as much **** as we can to max out our debt so we can spend our lives making a small group of people rich before we die. Do you not understand how that's slavery? Instead of having to cloth and feed you they figured out how to make you do it yourself and still not have any control over your life. No choice in any important decision that effects you. You have the illusion of choice in an illusion of reality.

Elimination of capitalism would not be done instantly. The process or building this ideal city would generate revenue and jobs. After everything is completed only a small portion of the population would be needed on an engineering level.

The government is a reflection of the people. People hold the true power in numbers. The government manipulates the ignorance of the masses to turn the public against one another over trivial matters to distract us from important issues.

People are arguing about the right to own a gun? That's a Constitutional right, period. No fine print or interpretation. 2nd amendment allow people the strength to protect themselves from government; but there was no public outcry when the government stripped the rest of the Constitution after murdering innocent American so the confused people would allow them to start an unprovoked war which murder's thousands of innocent people world wide.

I shouldn't have to cite information on 9/11. If you don't believe it was a false flag operation, the only evidence you could have seen was whatever the government controlled media told you.

Capitalism is destroying our planet. As long as the economy is completely depending on oil there is no hope of a bright future. Cancer rates will continue to increase from the continuous consumption of oil based products added to food. There is nothing about this world that is driving in a positive direction.

There truly is only two options. Mass enlightenment, or we will extinguish the human race and destroy this planet in the next 50 years.

'News' wrote:"Yeah rich capitalists around the World would like to control the World. So you oppose global capitalism. Great. So do I. So did Vladimir Lenin. What is your point"

The start of Communism was funded by robber Barron bankers. http://www.thehiddenevil.com/communists....

http://www.xat.org/xat/worldbank.html

Author Gary Allen gives his explanation:

"If one understands that socialism is not a share-the-wealth programme, but is in reality a method to consolidate and control the wealth, then the seeming paradox of super-rich men promoting socialism becomes no paradox at all. Instead, it becomes logical, even the perfect tool of power-seeking megalomaniacs.

Communism or more accurately, socialism, is not a movement of the downtrodden masses, but of the economic elite." Gary Allen, Author

http://www.savethemales.ca/000843.html

The purpose of the New World Order is the same as Communism. The Illuminati created Communism as a means to flout God's will and enslave mankind. Karl Marx was hired to sell totalitarian rule ("the dictatorship of the proletariat") by pretending to espouse equality. He was a Satanist as were Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin.

In his book, Marx and Satan (1986) Richard Wurmbrand illustrates Marx`s true hatred of God and humanity. As early as 1848, Marx wrote about a "coming world war" that will eliminate "riffraff" like Russians, Czechs and Croats.

"The coming world war will cause not only reactionary classes and dynasties, but also entire reactionary peoples, to disappear from the face of the earth. And that will be progress...the revolution...cares as little about the human lives it destroys...as an earthquake cares about the houses it ravages. Classes and races that are too weak to dominate the new conditions...will be defeated...their very name will vanish." (42)

In his poem Human Pride Marx writes that he will "wander Godlike and victorious through the ruins of the world... I will feel equal to the Creator."(31)

Far from champion of the working class, Marx was a police spy. In 1960, the Austrian Chancellor Raabe gave Khrushchev an original letter by Marx proving the "founder of Communism" informed on other revolutionaries. (33)

The reason only 13 of the 100 Volumes of Marx's writings have been published is to hide the true character of Communism. (32)

THEY HATE THE GOD IN YOU

Wurmbrand, a pastor who was imprisoned in Romania, says Communism is in essence Satanism empowered. Christians weren't just brutally persecuted and murdered, they were made to blaspheme. Communism's goal, the goal of the New World Order, is to mock God and to praise Lucifer. A Communist newspaper confessed,"We fight against God: To snatch believers from him."(77)

- See more at: http://www.savethemales.ca/000305.html#s...

CM,

As always, great analysis mate. Well done indeed my friend, well done indeed.

Hey OKR,

Did you ever know Tom Butterfield before you left Marshall?

I knew him when I was a kid. My Grandmother always liked Tom, and I had friends that lived out at the Boys Ranch. So I would go out there and visit with my pals and I got to know Tom a little bit more each time I went out there. He was a very good person. He really cared about those fellas out there and every one of them called him "Dad." He was always kind to me and he always treated me like a member of his very big family every time I was visiting. I think of him every now and then. Though not originally a native of Marshall, he still was definitely one of Marshall's best citizens and a man to be admired.

DO,

I had a look at the website you linked to.

Yeah rich capitalists around the World would like to control the World.

I hope you don't think that is a new problem.

After all, capitalism is not much more than semi-evolved feudalism.

So you oppose global capitalism. Great. So do I. So did Vladimir Lenin. It looks like you are in good company.

So what's your point mate?

Evenin' News, evenin' Slater if you are still around. Wonder if Nana is gonna join us on the old porch this evenin', or any of them other good folks like SD, RT, IT, GB, rr, Jason, and the rest of 'em.

Reckon they might not considerin' that smell comin' from down around the bridge, think I heared some weird sound down that way a bit ago too. Don't think it amounted to much at all.

Pleasant evenin' all 'n' all. ;)

Oklahoma Reader, Mar 27, 2013: "You have over, and over asserted that there is something hallowed about the religion blog as is exemplified by the above quote. Rubbish! It is not a church, nor The Christian blog, It is not a Christian Church. It is a blog with far more general intent."

It's a blog intended for religious issues. Things you posted were rude, crude and something that would have embarrassed my Grandmother. .

OKR:"If that is what you want then take a hike somewhere else, and find it."

It's not "what I want". Please read the posting guidelines and then explain how your postings apply. Atheism is not a religion.

One last salvo DO; I don't treat everyone as I do you DO...wow I just noticed that's a lot of DO in one sentence. It is my practice to return serve with the same heat that the serve has. You might want to start duckin'.:)

Naw, not really, I'm done for the night. In fact I may just not ever say anything to you again. See how fast I learn your little tricks? ROTFLMAO (figuratively)

"You wouldn't just blurt those out in church, would you? In addition, you wouldn't go into a Christian church, declare yourself an atheist/communist/gun grabber, and start proselytizing Buddhism, would ya? But you did that here, in the Religious blog."-DO

My, my tro...I mean DO aren't we the sanctimonius one tonight? Could it be...SATAN?

You have over, and over asserted that there is something hallowed about the religion blog as is exemplified by the above quote.

Rubbish! It is not a church, nor The Christian blog, It is not a Christian Church. It is a blog with far more general intent.

If that is what you want then take a hike somewhere else, and find it. You have no friends here for you have offended every one that has offered friendship. You are pegged DO, and thus done here beyond being temporarily toyed with when posters are seeking simple amusement to relieve boredom.

GET THE BEHIND ME!

ROTFLMAO x 2, before you ask, figuratively, I wouldn't lift a finger on your account, let alone roll on the floor.

Good night DO, you have now completed your mission, appearing, only to confirm what we have been saying. Oh yes, and thanks for the simple amusement.

Slater, you are as clear as mud on specifics. What exactly are you having a problem with in my postings?

Hey! Any cartoon characters in here? :)

"Welfare Caddies?"

They're back?

Wow! I want to get one of those and given the low, low, low prices in America right now I should be able to get one for peanuts.

The thought occurs to me that the "Welfare Cadillacs" were consigned to the junk yard of history a long time ago, but have been retrieved by a million desperate souls who have lost their economic security, and are in panicky need of any available ride, no matter that it can take them nowhere. ;)

The thought occurs to me that Jason, and rr3 have been sitting back hoping that DO would be their champion, and would rout their adversaries. They may be even more disappointed than me.

It is becoming obvious that no one's champion is DO. He is just another, albeit unusual, advocate of NO! ;)

Ya know its a darn shame we seem to have run rr off.

I sure do like that fella.

He may be conservative, but at least he would shoot straight with ya and he was never afraid to assert his argument.

Instead nowadays it seems all we get are the temporary commenters who try to speak out of both sides of their mouths.

I sure do miss rr.

DO I responded to your question with a counterpoint. Will you now please respond to mine?

If communism is not the answer, considering the context of the conversation up to this point, what is the answer? Libertarianism? If so in what ways? Something else? Surely you hold an opinion that counters your negative response that Communism is not the answer.

You asked, "Opposition to communist propaganda is subjective?" DO, DO, DO, of course it may be, but then you know that don't you?

Case in point: A citizen hear's fire brand Joe McCarthy rant about the communist evil that pervades our nation, the citizen has little prior knowlege of communism, but is captured by McCarthy's magnetism. The citizen, without examining pros and cons of the issue, forthwith expresses his subjectively grounded opposition to what he believes is communist propaganda.

Obviously a large portion of our nation was caught up in a subjective frenzy of McCarthyism, and yes a subjective frenzy against what ever they were told was communist propaganda.

Again DO, "I am especially curious in regard to the sentence, "There is no left and right and communism is not the answer.". You rule out communism, but say nothing in the affirmative as to what is the answer. In your opinion what may that answer be?"

Cut the extraneous DO. I am asking for discourse. Did you not come on this blog for discourse?

"Oklahoma Reader on Sun, Mar 24, "DO I hope you stick around for a while though I haven't yet determined whether you are allied with, or opposed to much of anything other than a few folks whom you emphatically oppose based on your subjective opinion of them."

Opposition to communist propaganda is subjective?

"Jim Carrey's anti-gun music video: Charlton Heston had an 'itty-bitty gland"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/25/ji...

Jim Carrey at his best!!!

Posted by NanaDot on Sat, Mar 23, 2013,

"Good"??? so whoever agrees with you is 'good' and others are 'bad'??? Because there are not two more disparate thinkers here than OKR and news... and they are both 'bad'??? And don't tell me you 'didn't say that' - your terminology gives the lie. lmao. seriously."

Nana, are you seriously laughing your as off? Butt you're not rolling on the floor??? I didn't say that!

DO I hope you stick around for a while though I haven't yet determined whether you are allied with, or opposed to much of anything other than a few folks whom you emphatically oppose based on your subjective opinion of them.

You do provoke curiosity, and that is something, at least for a moment.

"Return of the Dummies"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoIGyoJ5B...

DO,

Did you say I am bad? lol...cool!!!!!!

"Bad like Jessie James"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_ZVrR6lD...

They were political zombies, among the walking dead.

They inspired a sense of pity more than a sense of dread.

They uttered nothing, for there was nothing to be said.

Yeh, I remember. ;)

SOME GOOD ADVICE FOR THE TEA PARTY

Listen mates, I hear it isn't easy going through life when you come from the dumb side of town, or as I like to call it, the "Brian Kilmeade" side of town.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/210298/thumbs/...

But TPs isn't it time you reconsider your approach?

I mean, look, Fox News is all you have mates. Without them where would you get "news" you actually like?

Anyway, my advice to you TPs is that you click your heels together 3 times and chant,

"BENgHAZI! BENgHAZI! BENgHAZI!

and you will be magically transported to the Con Bubble where its the 1950s again, Jim Crow is alive and well, and Joe McCarthy is rootin' out those evil commies.

At least there you can be happy there.

DO I wrote a long response to your accusation about atheists stealing the religion blog. I deleted it because I thought you would delight in stirring me up.

Instead I ask that you do your homework by going back, and reading the religion blog since its inception. Note how many times I have brought up, for instance, Taoism, and Buddhism in an attempt to broaden the conversation.

There was little interest in those forms of religion, especially there was a lack of interest by the members of the fundamentalist Christian posting community who see the religion blog solely as an opportunity to proselytize, and condemn to Hell all those who are not like them. That behavior I find repugnant, and have often attacked via reason the simplistic hypocrisy that they espouse, all of which I do in the defense of reason.

Thanks News :)

DO,

Listen mate, imagine you just moved to a small town where everyone has known each other for many years.

You decide to enter the nightly debates that are held in our imaginary town. No body knows you. They all know each other but they have no idea who you are.

You are, in that scenario, an unknown quantity.

While the folks in our imaginary town may be the nicest people in the World, until they know where you stand on issues they may come across as a bit stand-offish.

That is the situation we have here.

So clear up the unknown quantity thing mate. How do you vote? What is your political ideology?

Introduce yourself mate and you may find us all a lot friendlier.

"Christian" hypocrites, and internet trolls are two categories that come immediately to mind DO. By "Christian" hypocrites I mean those who scorn the poor, ignoring the primary instructions of Jesus. By internet trolls I mean, "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion." But then you already knew that, and just really enjoy baiting me, and others, right? LOL

I may have further reply to your recent statements if I determine it isn't a waste of my time, or if I feel like playing the game you have brought with you to the blogs.

Oh yes, one other thing as you apparently suffer from hard of reading, which is akin to hard of hearing. Once again, thank you for your benevolent response to the issues facing my son.

"By the way I saw your response to the rr replica. That probably isn't fair to rr3 to call this guy a replica. This jerk oozes hatred, and its companion ignorance. Anyway, I think we at times make a darn good tag team in response to the haters.-- Posted by Oklahoma Reader on Sat, Mar 23, 2013, at 11:05 AM

Reader, you have such a way with words but how many can read your code? Please explain the comments you make, above. What and who are you talking about? Why and who, are you calling "haters"?

"Texas takes step toward secession with Rick Perry's plan to hoard gold"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/22/te...

Well news -

As far as I know I am of European lineage.

However, there may be a little Cherokee on my mother's side of the family tree.

That said - I agree whole-heartedly about the government needing to apologize to the First Americans for all of the crimes brought against them - now and in the past.

gb

"Icelandic bankers jailed for reckless loans made before crash"

http://www.independent.ie/business/world...

Recently DO indirectly asked me to comment on the situation in Cyprus.

My answer is this: Cyprus, Spain, Greece, and Italy should tell the IMF to stick their austerity measures, cancel the debt, withdraw from the EU, issue their own currency, and increase the taxes on the rich significantly making all earnings by their citizens -- inside or outside of their country -- taxable.

That is what Iceland did and now their Economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the World.

And now they have put the bankers in prison where they belong.

Cyprus should follow Iceland's lead.

On the vet situation,

the VA is suffering from years of cut-backs which are directly or indirectly related to the continuing American austerity measures. There is nothing new about the ongoing budget cuts and nothing new about cutting programs such as the VA Benefits -- and in fact, they plan to do a lot more cutting in the future.

I think what surprises folks -- especially the folks who support such austerity measures -- is that yeah, it means you will be cut off from a benefit you may be qualified for now.

Just take a look at Congressional deficit-cutting plans on the table right now. Paul Ryan's plan proposes to eliminate Medicare as it is now for anyone under age 56 and replace it with a voucher which is predicted to fall far short of the actual cost of insurance premiums.

Look at what they have suggested for Social Security, eliminating Social Security for anyone under age 55 and replacing it with a 401K-type of market account.

And there will be a lot more cuts too.

As long as the President continues caving in to the Tea Party Crazies' demands that we cut government to the bone, more and more people will find themselves doing with far less government benefit programs.

And after all, that is exactly what the Tea Party wants. However, I am not sure how long those folks will be around after all the cuts begin to become reality for most Americans.

"Nearly a million vets wait for benefits"

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-new...

The wait period from filing until completion is two years in some high population areas.

All this, and the graying of the baby boomers together. How will we deal with it?

Will the generation that includes today's teenagers out of necessity become known as the Caretaker Generation?

"Judge: Louisiana law banning felons from owning guns is unconstitutional"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/21/ju...

http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2...

ROTFLMA!!!!

That's what I like about you news - no matter what the crime or indiscretion, you always have the conservatives - American, Australian, or "long ago"ians ...to blame. It's as if left leaning folks were always on the right side, etc.

gb

Hey Y'all ...

What's this I hear about the Aussie government taking babies away from single moms following World War II and all the way up till the early 70s? Surely that can't be true ... (note: this is a serious question and not meant to start an argument)

gb

Oh and that reminds me of an interesting question:

Where in the 2nd Amendment does it say we can't prohibit the manufacture or import of firearms?

Folks can certainly keep the firearms they have or sell them. Other folks can buy them. And the 2nd Amendment remains unbruised.

Perhaps we have simply been going at this all wrong.

We should leave the gun owner alone, but prohibit the manufacture or importation of any more guns.

Thanks all, no time to write more now. :)

Ya know good BBQ ribs over an open fire can be a great natural medicine too.

I also donated to Kuchinich, no one else.

I donated a little to Dennis Kucinich for 2008 and a little bit more for Ron Paul. The dirty system chewed them both up but they both left their marks.

Today, a few pols are attempting to make their marks in the footsteps of Ron Paul, but there doesn't seem to be much in the following of Dennis K.... I'm wearing a DK* T-shirt right now and I'm tardy off to bed.

*I've got ten, in navy blue

Democrat is not a synonym for liberal, any more than Republican is a synonym for conservative. True practicing conservatives, and liberals are distinct minorities these days.

In the 2008 Democratic primary election campaign the only true liberal on the stage was Dennis Kuchinich. He was ignored.

In the 2012 Republican Primary Ron Paul was the only person approximating any old style conservative values. He was ignored.

The rest, from both parties were corporatist to the core.

Some of the best detox, and the cheapest, would be calcium bentonite clay and activated charcoal.

http://www.naturalnews.com/025854_clay_b...

http://naturalsociety.com/food-grade-act...

Good clean greens, cruciferous vegetables and a lot of sunshine is a good prescription. Lots of clean non-toxic water to flush the system. I'm just tossing out a good base to start from. It tears me up to see what the puppeteers do to our children.

http://www.naturalnews.com/cruciferous_v...

Bread and circus for the masses. We are so dumbed down. Recruiters is sharp uniforms troll the public indoctrination centers for kids that can't find a decent job. War propaganda, video games, toxins for the body and mind. Fodder for the machine.

We are paying for our own destruction and the neocons are just one head of the hydra. There is no left or right to the machine. It's the top and the bottom and we are the bottom. Hillary Clinton and Obama are war demons. Where are the "loyal" lefties protesting this? Obama says he can kill whomever he wants and the character named "News" defends it.

People need to wake up. Globalist bankers have mounted a takeover of the world and our expert economist hasn't said a word. Most everything crazy is a distraction for their criminal takeover. Wars are to wind us up and run us down.

Banks are taking peoples' savings in Cyprus as a beta test to see if they can get away with it. Does the economist defend this, also?

DO we can't expect people to give a darn about all the suicides, they don't even care anymore about the more dramatic deaths in Afghanistan (twelve more of those forgotten ones listed on the PBS evening news tonight).

Most folks haven't thought about it, or spoken about it since the main stream news stopped regular mention of it, and then the yellow ribbons stuck on cars faded, fell apart, and fell off. That was the end of the wars as far as most people are concerned.

If you mention it a standard come back is "well they volunteered for it". I'll give the neocons one thing, they are shrewd connivers.

First they make sure that there aren't enough decent jobs for young undereducated folks, and then they lure them into the service promising to educate them, and pay a "living" (macabre use of that word) wage. Artful Recruiters seem to some of them to be the only ones that have cared about them for a long time. Volunteers? More like a last chance to make it for many. What a racket by the neocons, all the IED fodder they need, and no one cares about them.

Disgusting, Neocons, and blissful neighbors.

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsHLA1CM...

Haven't watched this yet. Don't know if I can stand to watch it. Looks like old news to me. Years too late. The BBC was a tool for war and now they act like they are just finding this stuff out..

-- Posted by DO on Tue, Mar 19, 2013, at 11:07 PM"

DO it's just some more of the knowing arrogance exhibited regularly by the puppets of the Corporate Masters. They know well that the masses can't remember their transgressions for more than a few years, if they ever knew. This latest B. S. may be just a trial run to see if the guppies are ready yet for even more revisionism. :)

I suppose you were referring to ScaredyCat's comment DO, because you knew exactly what I was talking about in my comment you just quoted.

I didn't understand ScaredyCat's comment either.

"The Spies Who Fooled the World"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsHLA1CM...

Haven't watched this yet. Don't know if I can stand to watch it. Looks like old news to me. Years too late. The BBC was a tool for war and now they act like they are just finding this stuff out..

It is nice to see even a few of them come over Countryman, some is better than none.

I'm being attacked by cartoon characters in the funny papers..

"I find it disgusting that you would make use of such an accomplished individual's initials. Especially while portraying to follow such far left ideologies." -- Posted by ScaredyCat on Tue, Mar 19, 2013, at 3:24 PM

OKR said DO was an acronym for "down under."

What is it now?

Here is a five minute speech from the Senate floor by one of the few clear minded ones during the lead up to our effort to invade, and occupy Iraq. It was a breath of fresh air buffering against the stench of ill winds blowing the people of our country right out of their ever lovin' minds.

Some of us had it right from the get go regarding the material folly of the endeavor, to say nothing of the moral folly.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=harr...

DO

I was saying that BEFORE any of these wars were forced upon us by conservatives.

I have always opposed the wars and their "reasons" for the wars.

I have always been critical of the media as well, but I can't analyze what their saying if I don't at least listen to what they have to say before I make my analysis. Otherwise, I would just be walking around blind and trying to describe that elephant without benefit of sight.

When I hear folks who came late to the party, sort-to-speak, warning me to not listen to the media, I always wonder well where were you back in '01,'02,and 03? when we, the loyal left wing opposition -- who staunchly and publicly opposed both the Bush Wars -- could have really used your voice?

And worse yet, the answer, whether they freely admit it or not, is that they were too busy supporting Bush, voting Republican, and cheering on the war at that time.

Do: i hope your not calling me naive about the Government? I haven't been fooled about the Government since Eisenhower! I've been expressing my distrust in this System for Years! they have it so complicated it's hard for me too keep up! but i have never had the illusion of anyone being Prosecuted for any of the Crimes they have been committing( and there has been many! But hell Bush and Cheney have admitted too their Treasonous acts! This is why i've thought nothing can be changed till the System and conduct in Washington is changed! In my opinion,we need a Socialist Democratic Society of some sort! We need too work together with the World ,not always trying too change a Countries Culture! Keep our nose out of it. We keep sending Money to these Countries and we shouldn't!! When we get our problems workout ,then maybe we can have the respect for what we do for Humanity,other than financing their Rebel takeovers! None of these Politicians care about anything (We the People have too say),and we're their **** Boss,i thought? I've did my duty too this Countries for what i thought was right at that time! That was the time i was naive! And i also think it's a Government Workers Duty too report any wrong doing if they can prove it? And deal with a possible of them taking your life! If you can save a life or stop some sort of tragic thing from happening (YES) iT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN FIGHT BACK! S.O.Bs !!

Evenin' ND.

I don't know why I always manage to get myself stirred up at bed time. I guess it must be practice for some last point instruction "do not go gentle into that good night". ;)

I will never forget Wolf "The War Pimp" Blitzer during the months leading up to the Iraq invasion.

Every day he had a strange gleam in his eye, and a tense pre-orgasmic tension in his face, that finally disappeared with the release of "Shock and Awe". I think he had been so enraptured by his previous opportunity to roll with "Desert Storm" that he could think of nothing else excepting a possibly greater opportunity to amplify his sick version of Arabian Nights.

To this day I change the channel when his repulsive face pops up anywhere. I reckon you could say I don't care much for him. ;)

"I sure am anxious to view the BBC program and find out what the new evidence that confirms the old evidence is."

As you watch it just remember how the BBC helped lie us into a trumped up war. Yellow cake, anyone?

DO

Yes as a matter of fact I do remember that, why?

"Selling the Iraq war: Experts knew the intel was faulty. Why didn't they blow the whistle?"

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/03/18/selling-t...

In fact, maybe we should be putting a number of criminals on trial.

And it presents an interesting question:

Do government employees have a legal obligation to be a whistle-blower when they become aware of unlawful or immoral, secret government action/inaction?

I may be mistaken but I think I just heard the bark of a dissatisfied dog. ;)

Yeah so say you Do...whatever that is worth.

I mean its not like you offer any credible sources to support your claim.

Fortunately, we know its just your empty opinion.

Jo, the latest puppet can never point fingers at an earlier puppet. You aren't paying attention to who is pulling the strings.

Clinton couldn't go after Bush I, Bush II, couldn't go after Clinton, and Obama can't go after Bush II. Both sides are corrupt. Two wings to the same bird. There is no left and right and communism is not the answer. How can one become so old and yet remain so naive?

Good stuff guys!

On the GOP,

They have a fairly popular Governor nationally, who is also garnering 70% approval in his home state in Chris Christie, who they did not even invite to their CPAC convention. I don't particularly care for Christie, but he does at least seem to be working for his constituents; and for the CPAC to pick Rand Paul and Sarah Palin over him seems totally suicidal.

Christie was even given an award by the state's teacher's association when a year earlier he was their public enemy.

Come on GOP, at least give lip service to your willingness to change.

You are truly laughingstocks to many many people.

I am not overly proud of the Dems either, but at least they roll out their party favorites. Example; Bill Clinton went to bat for Obama at the convention and during the campaign, and those 2 will never be hanging out together once Obama's term is finished.

More evidence of the GOP death spiral.

"Tonight on Celebrity Death Match, Karl Rove vs. Sara Palin"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/17...

Hey, at least the cons are entertaining.

Good links Nana.

So data from the great recession will prove once again that Trickle Down does absolutely nothing for anyone but the rich folks.

The growth in income disparity from 1980 to 2010, during which there were 20 years of neo-con's in the White House, seems to me to prove that the super wealthy drizzling on everyone else is not leading us to a very healthy society or economy.

From one of Nana's links: "The growth in wealth we did see got funneled to the top and it didn't spur faster growth in the middle," Shierholz said.

So to any Tea Partier out there who would like to educate me I have some questions. If we continue down the neo-con path and give even more breaks to the wealthy, how is that sustainable?

Do we keep helping the capitalist system funnel all the wealth to the top elites? How far are you willing to let the middle and lower classes decline? Until everyone is starving or just hungry a lot? Until people are dying in the street, or just until they are really ill? Until most of America can't afford to live indoors, or just until those deemed "undeserving" are out on the street?

It will be a wonderful society when the top 1% have 99.99999% of the wealth (actually, I don't think they are all that far from that right now, then they can just trade their trinkets among themselves and ignore the great unwashed masses.

To learn what history teaches us about what happens next, just study up on the French Revolution, or the Russian October Revolution, or the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Personally, I have no desire to live through one of those.

So once again, cons, I ask. What's your plan to restore moderate wealth to the middle class and restore the American Dream?

If you say "Supply Side Trickle-down Reaganomics" then I would ask "How many years worth of data do you need before you get that it doesn't work, 100?" and we are right back to "here comes the revolution."

You all rag on the 1 percenters but did you know out of every 5 dollars the government 4 dollars come from then..

ND,

This whole CPAC thing has been extremely entertaining and enlightening.

Here is another great commentary on the recent big Tea-Party Klan Rally.

"CPAC 2013: Angry and beaten right wingers offer wacky ideas in search for electoral victory"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/16/cp...

ROTFLMAO!!!

SD,

You hit the nail right on the head mate.

Neocons and Tea Partiers want to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Perhaps Paul Krugman said it best when he said there are 2 economic models both of which made predictions ( the Neoclassical, aka "trickle down" and the Keynesian model). One model's predictions never happened (Neoclassical) and the other model's predictions all occurred (Keynesian). Yet despite this fact, the Republicans and Dixiecons keep telling us to try the failed model again and again.

Its time folks like Jason wake up and take a good look at the facts.

Everyone does remember that in 2000 George Bush and the neo-cons inherited a budget surplus, and the national debt was going down, right?

Those folks who Jason choses to believe and support managed to turn that into a record level of deficit spending which contributed to the financial collapse of 2007 while they were still in charge of the federal government. What did George and Dick and those loveable neo-cons do in response? Absolutely nothing.

Since Jason is a fan of conspiracy theory, have you considered the possibility that the GOP and it's 1%'er supporters crashed Wall Street purposely as they knew they were going to lose the election?

They hate that little gem of historic data that shows the economy does better during Democratic Administrations than Republican Administrations, but rather than learn from that, they seem hell bent on proving that "Trickle Down" economics works, in spite of the many failures.

I get this mental image of David Koch urinating from his Park Avenue balcony whenever I type "Trickle Down" ever since I saw the documentary 'Park Avenue: Wealth, Power, and the American Dream.'

Less money spent on the interest of debt could be spent on other things.. It would free up 250 billion every year of no interest payments in 4 years that would be 1 trillion. We could invest that money in proven economic programs. If we had less debt we as a nation would have a better chance of having foreign investment in the USA.

and Jason,

yeah there is a lot of blame to go around for past evils, but my tentative project is only focusing on the Tea Party, aka the Dixiecons, aka the Dixiecrats, aka the confederacy, aka primarily Southern, conservative, Christian red-neck racists, and their Tea Party Grand Wizards.

I will let you worry about those long-dead, ancient Democrats.

Evenin' ND. :)

The liberals don't think we have a debt crisis our President is on record with that he is also on record for saying W was irresponisible for increasing the debt by 4 trillion but he is not for adding 6 trillion, Obama said we don't have to worry about that for 10 years our debt..

The Dems in the senate are about to propose a budget that increase spending by 61 percent this is projected to add another 10 trillion indebt. Increase taxes by 1.6 trillion that means they can't get all that from the upper class so they will be going after the middle class. I say that soon we will have spent ourselves.

A person who would want to destroy our country would make sure there was big division in our country and weaken our Military I say Obama is doing that.

Thanks ND,

so what do you think of my potential new project?

Hey OKR,

I have been considering a new project -- identifying the Grand Wizard of every county Tea Party in the USA.

It may prove to be an interesting list.

There are a lot of counties in the USA, so it would take awhile to compile, but I think it would help folks in their local area identify with their neighbors in their own local Tea Party, and what better way to start than knowing who the local Tea Party Grand Wizard is?

What ya think?

and stating facts is not a meltdown. Its a statement of facts.

but heck, call it whatever you want mate lol.

Yeah, the best thing you can do after that mindful meltdown is to ignore the obvious and get right along with all the 'uppity' you can muster.

"Yeah I am back and yep, I am uppity!!!"

-- Posted by news across on Sat, Mar 16, 2013, at 4:57 PM

Yeah I am back and yep,

I am uppity!!!

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME! :)

Jason

We already have term limits -- its called "elections".

I am going to say this in order to get the desire effect of what you want we should back to where the states appointed the Senators. That way hopefully they would be advocating his/her own state's needs. Another way is term limits if its good enough for the President should be good enough for congress.

OKR has made a comment that I had not considered before. Thanks, I like it when somebody triggers a new thought.

The future of American politics will indeed most likely become a battle of the big shots to see who gets to control the federal government.

In the 19th century Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, et al battled and backstabbed each other to be the richest man in America. (A side note: psychology tells us that these types of personality are actually to be considered psychopaths as they suffer from extreme narcissism and remorselessness, so let's not admire these fellows too much.)

The 21st century version of this appears to be a battle among the 1%'ers to see who gets to control the government, and therefore skew legislation and regulation in their favor.

I believe the only solution is to level the playing field somewhat. Campaign finance regulation would be nice, but that's asking the very people who profit from the existing system to change it. Unlikely at best.

The big drawback in attempting to level the playing field is that the 1%'ers start screaming "Socialism" at any attempt to limit the power and control of the robber barrons of today.

Oh, and back to the original point. Won't it be fun to see the titans of industry and finance vainly throw obscene amounts of money at attempts to control the government which is supposed to be "by the people, for the people." The kind of money that might cure cancer or discover entirely unknown energy sources or, I don't know, maybe help education?

Here's a gem for you on a slightly different track. How is it that all of the countries we have bailed out in the past are now kicking our ***** in education and economy? We protected the Chinese from the Japanese in WW2, we saved South Korea from Chinese communism 10 years later, Germany we rebuilt after WW2, most other European countries would be speaking German, including Great Brittan, if not for us.

We have to be the biggest dupes in the world if we can fund wars to protect the world from the modern versions of "evil," but we can't seem to fund decent education or get 40% of our citizens out of poverty.

Countryman good recent posts.

The Koch brothers are scary as hell. When I consider them, and then consider the top people at the mortgage banking firms, like the White House favorite Jamie Diamon, I wonder if in some ways the Koch brothers aren't on the outside looking in for the moment, their monumental egos in a jealous rage at the success of the mortgage banking inside plutocrats.

Thus the Koch brothers throw mad millions to get the banker's government out and their government in.

Has it come to the tragic point that our federal elections are now just a fight for control by differing factions of plutocrats? Is the will of the people a forgotten concept relegated to history?

One thing for sure, if we ever want to rule out the concept I have presented we must get all corporate citizen money out of elections, and finance them entirely with tax payers' dollars. In the end we only get what we pay for.

LOL Nana.

http://beforeitsnews.com/libertarian/201...

Was Adam Lanza, on Psychiatric Drugs? Medical Examiner Snubs Official Request for Toxicology Report

March 15, 2013

While state and federal lawmakers frantically push for massive mental health reform and sweeping gun control laws, two Connecticut mothers recently took to the streets of Newtown, connecting with local residents and gathering signatures on a petition that asks a simple but essential question--did prescription psychiatric drugs play a role in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting?

Seems like an easy and obvious question that, remarkably, has escaped the consideration of legislators who seem hell-bent on legislating increased mental health services without first having all the necessary information to make thoughtful, fact-based decisions.

Sheila Matthews, co-founder of AbleChild, a national parents' rights organization, and Newtown resident, Patricia Sabato, went one-on-one with local residents to collect hundreds of signatures requesting the release of the complete autopsy/toxicology results and medical/psychiatric records of alleged shooter, Adam Lanza.

To back up the need for full disclosure of Lanza's records, the petition points out certain undisputed facts, such as, at least 31 school shootings and/or school-related acts of violence have been committed by those taking or withdrawing from psychiatric drugs resulting in 162 wounded and 72 killed.

Sheila Matthews has appeared on TV numerous times, including on CNN, NBC and Fox. She has been interviewed on many talk radio programs and has been featured in major newspapers and magazines.

The Petition further points out that 22 international drug regulatory warnings have been issued on psychiatric drugs causing violent behavior, including mania, psychosis and homicidal ideation. Additionally, between 2004-2011, there were nearly 13,000 reports to the FDA's MedWatch system of psychiatric drugs causing violent side effects, including homicide, mania and aggressive behavior.

Both Matthews and Sabato were gratified by the community's support. "The vast majority of the people were really supportive of our efforts," says Matthews. "They were really engaged," continued Matthews, "and they wanted, and felt like, they had a right to know if Lanza was on drugs."

Sabato mimics Matthews' sentiments. "A lot of people," says Sabato, "actually congratulated us for doing the petition." "The people of Newtown," explains Sabato, "know there is more to this story and, though they are tired of hearing Lanza's name, they still want to know everything that may have played a part in his actions."

I concede nothing to you DO except the last word, in a fruitless conversation. The floor is yours, excepting occasional toxicity warnings to other posters.

By the way DO don't bother addressing the other points in my comment from which you again cherry picked. I do not care to engage in a dialogue with you. I have been down that road before with a fella who called himself Third World. You won't find his comments on these blogs; they were all expunged when he lost it. Are you Third World returned with a new moniker? Never mind don't answer that either.

"You also said that federal control of our schools has ruined them, and is the cause of American decline in the ratings of countries in regard to education. That is a bold statement."

The more government involvement, the lower the academic achievement. You have heard of empirical evidence, right?

"I think that the reason so many of us are having a problem with understanding you, and what you believe is because you really don't tell us anything. Please be more forthcoming."

I gave you links to John Gatto and "The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America" to understand why Johnny can't read. It's all documented here: http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/pag...

There is your water.. now all you have to do is drink. Also, please don't mistake my growing propensity to ignore your taunts and baiting as spiteful arrogance.

When the Law got involved in how you Parent your kids,what was it back in the late 70s,the kids went too hell and started leaving home with the threat of putting their Parents in jail with a lot of false accusations about them! They ,the law took away the respect the kids were taught too have for their Parents,Teachers,Law Enforcement,or anything, or anyone! I had some of that, until i and then took them too the Law to tell their story. And swatted their a#^ walking out the door! No more problems until the late teens! The END! Ha

I think the American health care system is doing a fine job of destroying it's self and really doesn't need any help from Ryan or his party.

But if Ryan wants to take the credit.....

Who doesn't love 'em some Koch brothers?

http://thecontributor.com/media/brothers...

And I thought I was the only one who refrred to them as "those lovable right-wing billionaire brothers."

Who says you can't buy off enough politicians to control the United States Government if you have enough money? I believe these gentlemen will make Murdock's Fox News empire look like a bunch of bleeding heart liberals.

This should be an interesting turn in American politics.

I, personally, feel there are two main problems causing the low educational rankings of Americans.

1) Bad parenting.

It's not at all hard to find bona fide, peer reviewed studies that show how important parenting is to the outcome of the child, and how badly the average American parent sucks at it. Duh, eh?

Apparently, generally speaking and according to my reading, Americans have become really crappy parents.

2) Special Ed.

A rather large portion of education money is consumed by "special services." Stop worrying about the football team soaking up all the cash, because in America we spend twice as much educating the lowest performer than we do on the average or top performer. This, of course, is done in the name of "fairness and equality in education."

It's an ugly thing to say, but if we want high performance kids, shouldn't we be spending the biggest portion of the money on the students at the top? In our capitalist economy, we certainly believe that those at the top deserve much more than everyone else, so why doesn't this philosophy hold true in education?

It seems like nobody wants to take on these two problems. Folks would rather sit around and blame the "guberment" and say how public schools don't work. Funny thing is that the majority of highly successful people in the 20th century were products of public education from an era when the goal was to graduate intelligent, educated, hard working people. Most came from one room schoolhouses.

But here in the 21st century, the conventional wisdom is that shiny new buildings, massive special education programs, and a winning football team are the desired outcome of our education dollars.

School should be seen as a wonderful opportunity we can provide for our children. Instead, it is viewed as free babysitting by many parents.

Of course there are those things like teacher tenure, teacher qualifications for given subject matter, and the teachers union. Let's just say that from my reading, after parenting, the quality of the teacher is the next most important thing that affects educational outcome.

Now take that knowledge and look at what qualifications a middle or high school teacher actually has to have to teach a given subject. Let's just say that you are not required to know all that much about the subject being taught and leave it at that.

I need to add here that, in my experience, Marshall Public Schools has several outstanding teachers. In some areas, I don't think you could find a better teacher anywhere, so my comments are no way intended to take pot-shots at Marshall schools. I think our local district, in spite of the perpetual "As the School Board and Administration Turns" drama, did an excellent job educating my children. But then again, I was paying attention along the way as well.

My apologies to those who have waded through my comment. It seems I can not keep these things from turning into dissertations. It's probably due to that excellent education I recieved way back there in the 20th century when teachers could smack you upside the head if you weren't paying attention. ;)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07...

The United States has fallen to "average" in international education rankings released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to the AFP.

America has received scores around 500 on a scale that goes up to 1,000: 487 in math, 500 in reading and 502 in science.

The AFP reports,

The three-yearly OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report, which compares the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds in 70 countries around the world, ranked the United States 14th out of 34 OECD countries for reading skills, 17th for science and a below-average 25th for mathematics.

re: open information ...

We don't have any idea what is going on in Washington these days ... how sad ...

The government gets the blame (and should shoulder a great part of it), but the real culprits are those who control those in control (if that makes any sense?) ...

If the average American had a slight bit of knowledge about what's going on - they'd probably cry.

Sooooooo instead ... we sit in front of the tube and watch basketball tournaments and NASCAR races and sitcoms and non-reality reality shows - and what-have-you ... or we spend so much time on our smart (?) phones that the circumference of our thumbs increases exponentially ... All to block out - or distract us from - what is going on in the shadowlands that surround us.

When the executive branch - no matter which party - wields seemingly unlimited power (legally or not) ... we should all tremble. When casual reading for our Commander in Chief includes a book titled (something like) "The Post-American World" ... we should all tremble. When oil prices and the value of a dollar are controlled by secret (or not so secret) corporations ... we should all tremble.

But not today - It's time for March Madness - or the Bachelorette - or Honey Boo Boo or My Big Fat Redneck Vacation ...

Good grief!!

Get me outta here!!!!

Sorry - I had to get that off my chest.

Now - where was I?

Ok, so from what I see about Ryan's tax plan, it is a huge cut for those making over about $150k disguised as a simplification of tax brackets.

Here is a link to the actual brackets and rates for 2012.

http://taxes.about.com/od/Federal-Income...

And here's a link to Ryan's proposed tax rates.

http://roadmap.republicans.budget.house....

Looks to me like those making around $142,000 and above are getting a nice fat tax cut. Who do you reckon is going to makeup that difference? Where's that money coming from, Paul?

If you make over $217,000, your rate goes from 33% to 25%. That's a 24% reduction in your income tax bill on everything above that amount. Nice perk, Paul. Thanks.

Once you make over $388,350, you rate was 35%. Mr. Ryan wishes to lower that to 25%. A nice fat 28% lower tax bill. It's good to be wealthy in America, eh?

Good old trickle down economics. I love it when our leaders think it's good economic policy for the 1%'ers to relieve themselves on the great unwashed masses as economic stimulus. Makes me feel good about the future and that kind of stuff.

How does Ryan keep a straight face when proposing this stuff? Is there anybody alive who still thinks trickle down Reaganomics is anything but a con game?

Speaking of Baaaaaad....

Apparently Ayn Rand's boy toy, Congressman Paul Ryan, didn't learn much from his defeat. He's apparently still carrying the water for David Koch.

All hail trickle down (drizzle down?) tax policy! More cuts for the rich folks, yeah, that's the ticket.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013...

C'mon, conservatives out there reading this (both of you). You can't really support this "tax cuts for the filthy rich and tax increases on the middle class" plan, do you?

Hi Ben, Sorry it sounded like I was speaking of you. I should have said "thinking for OURSELVES when wondering what to do without News. I've followed these threads off and on for some time and frankly have been put off by a know-it-all flavor of the stew that brews here.

I have no doubt that the persona "News" will lick his wounds, declare himself victor and return with a vengeance to this medium. The fascist freedom loving Tea Party,(baggers) pigs will again be the causation of all that is wrong in this world and we will get the empirical evidence straight from the mouth of the great grandson of an unnamed anti-rebel/anti-slavery, Civil War hero.

No slight was intended too anyone that might be a grizzly bear, even if he is gentle.

"Glenn Greenwald is a LINO - liberal in name only - he's a CATO Institute guy, funded by the Koch Bros."

"There are actually pictures of Greenwald speaking at CATO functions."

A lot of people speak at CATO. CATO isn't even listed as a HATE group organization

with the hate group Southern Poverty Law Center.

Maybe you know something they don't?

"I don't dislike his work... just cautious."

Where was your caution with the hack website you linked to as your proof.

"As noted by others, while I appreciated Rand Paul's filibuster on theoretical grounds I was VERY suspicious of his grandstanding motives... turns out it was a fund-raising stunt..."

I don't believe one man standing alone to speak truth to power and defending your and my rights was a mere fund raising stunt. We disagree.

More confusion?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/21...

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvuhVu0z...

Glenn Greenwald conspiracy

"Because I saw his bio on the CATO site 2 years ago... don't care what he says, it WAS there. Isn't now -new website design..."

-- Posted by NanaDot on Sun, Mar 10, 2013, at 11:36 PM

Nana, could you be mistaken? Ever?

People that are part of CATO seem to be proud of their work. I don't think it is likely that someone that was ever connected/listed with a bio could ever successfully remove all traces that they had ever been there.

The website you linked was much harder to find than:"Glenn Greenwald Responds to Widespread Lies About Him (on Cato, Iraq War, and more)"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/30..

What about Glenn that you dislike so much?

Okie Wife

I like it!

O'Bama sure lays rest to that Kenya thing!

"Glenn Greenwald is a LINO - liberal in name only - he's a CATO Institute guy, funded by the Koch Bros."

-- Posted by NanaDot on Sun, Mar 10, 2013, at 9:56 PM

I feel a little dirty for just going to that web site, Nana.

Why are people so proud of being "extreme liberal"? Wow.. it is just so destructive and divisive.

How progressive is that?

That guy is not on the level of Glenn Greenwald.

I wish I had that 5 minutes back.

http://vimeo.com/61306840

Glenn Greenwald at ACLU of Oregon 2013 Liberty Dinner

Glenn Greenwald worked as a constitutional and civil rights litigator before becoming a columnist and blogger to Salon.com and then The Guardian, where he focuses on political and legal topics. He has written three New York Times bestsellers: How Would a Patriot Act? (2006); A Tragic Legacy (2007); and With Liberty and Justice for Some: How the Law is Used to Destroy Equality and Protect the Powerful (2011). He also wrote Great American Hypocrites (2008).

http://vimeo.com/61306840

Vapid?

Okie Wife: "It's been proven time & again the US Government executes innocent people. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU will back that statement up."

The ACLU has it's moments but the the (wealthy) Southern POVERTY Law Center, is all about helping the US Government target innocent people.

People that believe in the right to protect their families and the Second Amendment, are all racist crazies that hate the President.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, might have you on their 'dangerous hate group' list that the President uses to help form his 'secret kill' list.

I hope you don't send money to the SPLC.

Very astute of you. I am the descendant of a fighting Irish clan out of Kilkenny, Ireland. Some stayed & some went back home but the ones that stayed joined the armed forces during WWI & we have been fighting for one thing or the other ever since. My family has loved the Kennedys for generations now with John's picture in our living room. I do believe my small grand daughter thought he was an uncle or someone. Now we have Mr. O'Bama in the White House who is also of Irish descent. I have a link (below) which should help out in this regard. I hope everyone will celebrate St. Patricks Day with the Irish this next weekend. Erin Go Bragh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADUQWKoV...

I have never written on this web site before. I do follow the rules of Mother Jones when she proclaimed "read, educate yourself, and prepare for the war". I am a card carrying member of the NAACP and the ACLU, but all that requires is to send in $$ once or twice a year and get a card or free mailing lables. I get frustrated because I see injustice after injustice and feel as if there is nothing I can personally do. Obviously voting does pretty much nothing as I have been voting since 1971 and what a fat lot of good that has done. Therefore, I will write. I live in a southern state, I highly admire southern writers, not that I would ever be on their hallowed ground but I am gonna write what I think so here goes...

And Another Thing

So Mr. O'Bama's White House wants to kill American's on American soil without a fair trial and without getting their hands dirty. The US government will just use those pesky little drones, those venom filled mesquitos controlled by some computer guy miles and miles away who likes to shot people on the internet. I can drone on and on about drones. It's been proven time & again the US Government executes innocent people. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU will back that statement up. That single fact alone should scare the bejeezus out of all US citizens.

The US government admits it acts upon intelligence from agents. Who these agents are gets foggy so we'll neatly wrap them all up in an "intelligence agents" package. Early on in "Operation Enduring Freedom" (words are a wonderful weapon in their own right) the agents advised of (1) Weapons of mass distruction beginning in the time of the longest war in US History (2) Intelligence advised US troops to shoot down a group of terrorists when in actuality they were a Afghan wedding party who were unfortunately mowed down by American airstrikes and (3) Most recently in Afghanistan the US mistook two young brothers 10 & 11 years old who were following their donkey as terrorists & were killed by US drones The US response was there were terrorists in that area (who know right?).

The last time there were so may innocent civilians killed in Afghanistan was when Russia invaded that country. Like O'Bama's White House, Russia's government also kills Russian's on Russian soil. Remember Chechnya the almost complete destruction of Grozny, the Chechen capital. Russian Government is bolder and more open than the US Government about killing, locking up, and torturing it's people but the US and Russia are getting closer and closer to being alike.

The bottom line is justice should be a fair and reasonable solution but can be a blind b*tch holding a lopsided scale and a double edged sword. Be aware be very aware the cossacks are coming.

Signed: And Another Thing...

(Okie Wife)

Last comment News. So now you are a martyr? I think not, and I point you to MLK as a true example of martyrdom. Not even close.

As to your leaving the blogs in a pout, so be it. However I find it ludicrous that you of all people feel wronged. You more than any other expressed the opinion that these blogs are rough, and tumble, and that if one can't take it they have the option of going away. You certainly have dished it, but obviously can't take it when things don't go your way.

Do as you wish, but I must say that I have enjoyed many of your comments, especially concerning economics, and have learned from them. I don't know who shares my opinions, and who doesn't. I do want to remind you that you also have the option of getting over your hurt feelings, and coming back to post like a big boy should. Of course that would take a good measure of courage to return from such an unusual departure. I am not certain that you are up to that. :)

Ya know mates I don't know why OKR or anyone else is attacking me in this forum.

I simply said the the High Court has ruled that the Constitution gives Congress the authority to suspend habeas corpus in any area that is engaged in armed insurrection or making war on the United States within or outside the USA, and that has no functioning civilian Federal court. Further, that the Congress can authorize the President to conduct military defense in said areas.

That is a fact...nothing more, nothing less.

I don't know what you fellas are discussing but it sure isn't factually based.

I guess OKR is making the point that drones are bad.

I would go much further and say nukes are bad, war is bad, but what does any of that have to do with the constitutionality of the President being authorized to conduct defensive operations in an area of the US that is under armed rebellion and has no functioning Federal court?

War bad...yep. Drones bad..yep Nukes bad...yep. Civil war bad...yep.

Other than that, what is OKR's point?

On another matter. I don't care what you think of me or say about me, but when you begin addressing my wife with insults, that is when I put my foot down.

I won't be back and neither will Aussie Wife.

You boys do whatever you want, but if we want to be insulted for being factually correct...well I am sure we could find folks just as insulting much closer to home.

Its been fun but now its time to go.

OKR,

Ya know come to think of it mate, it sure took you a long time to mention it too -- despite the fact that I was commenting about the killings extensively in this forum immediately after the killings.

I was quite surprised then that not one other person, including you, seem to feel there was anything wrong with the targeted killings back then.

I am glad to see a year and a half seems to have opened your eyes...you and Randy both. But you sure didn't condemn it when it happened.

Here is one more thing you might want to think about.

Al Awlaki, senior, concerned that his son was soon going to be assassinated by Obama, sued Obama in an effort to stop Obama from killing his son. There were some rather interesting rulings from that Bush-appointed Federal Judge. He ruled that (1) Al Awlaki,Sr. had no legal standing to bring the case and here comes the best part, (2) that if the President says that something is a matter of national security, the courts have no right to review the matter (that means they can't even listen to the facts of the case -- it means they can't even have a hearing over it).

Now that is something to be worried about.

When we can't even bring a matter to the attention of the court just because the President says its a matter of national security then any President can do anything he wants.

The decision has been appealed but to date no court has struck it down.

Between the 2, I would say the court ruling limiting court review is far more dangerous than any drone. Why didn't Randy rage about that?

I guess Randy had to think about Al Awlaki and his son for a year and a half before he could think of the correct words to express his outrage.

OKR, you've been hoodwinked mate -- whether you know it or not.

"Unedited Tea Party Protestor in Cleveland, Ohio"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUsBvkfQK...

Oh OKR,

Randy was not up there dissing war mate. In fact he said he fully supported war.

As to terrible weapons, we have had nukes for a very long time now mate and they make those model planes with a bomb attached to them look like child's play.

Why didn't your hero Randy mention getting rid of the nukes?

Mate, you better have a good look at your hero's political agenda.

But all his grandstanding is meaningless anyway since the Congress has the right to suspend habeas corpus in any region in which there is no functioning civilian US Federal Court. Once duly authorized by Congress, the President can use any weapon in our arsenal -- including drones and nukes -- what ever is necessary to put down the insurrection.

That is the law no matter how many or what types of weapons are in our arsenal.

And as Randy pointed out, he certainly has no problem with war.

He is a bit worried about us making war on him and his Tea Party fascists in the States that he and his Tea Party fascists are pretty sure will be seceeding from the union soon.

Nice try, but no cigar mate.

Show me its not legal/constitutional for the President, under specified conditions noted in Ex parte Milligan, when duly authorized by Congress, to wage war against domestic enemies who are engaged in armed conflict with the US or you have nothing mate.

Frankly mate, you should have read AG Holder's response to Randy a bit more closely, and while you are at it you may want to read Ex parte Milligan very closely as well.

http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/yes...

CASE STUDY:

"Can Texas Really Secede from the Union?

Not Legally"

http://ideas.time.com/2012/11/19/can-tex...

Yeah I must be crazy to believe secession is unconstitutional and that the United States Government has a right to prevent said secession.

Yeah that's right OKR, I must be crazy lol lol lol.

And in case you have not noticed over the years mate, I don't care if you are listening or not.

Exploding Tea Party Protester Threatens Interviewer (Original)"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=bgec...

yeah...OKR, those Tea Party folks are just trying to put forth some good, common sense ideas and protect our civil rights.

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

"Army suspends popular tuition assistance program because of sequester, in blow to soldiers"

http://nbclatino.com/2013/03/08/army-sus...

Why are the vets complaining?

Don't they realize we have to cut the deficit so job creators will create more jobs?

Well!...they aren't very patriotic are they?!!

Don't they know they have to tighten their belts so the rich folks will create more jobs for them?

Apparently these complainers weren't listening when Randy and his pals in the Tea Party explained the Tea Party job creation plan -- cut America to the bone.

OKR, I bet you will be supporting you new found friend Randy for President of the Confederacy, wont you?

Come on, don't be shy mate, you know you already support him. Why not go all the way after your state joins the Confederacy and support him all the way to the Confederate Presidency?

After all, he is obviously very concerned about civil rights and all.

And listen, don't worry about the "Indians," Hispanics, and black folks. I hear Randy has a Confederate jobs program designed just for them. Sure they won't be citizens, but, utilizing the old South African model, they will be fully employed. What more could a brown-skinned person hope for?

OKR, no one is forcing you to say anything mate.

As for me, I have lots and lots and lots more to say about this.

Question:

Will Oklahoma being sending folks their Social Security payments after they follow the other succeeding states and become an independent nation?

And yes I am sure the independent Nation of Oklahoma will do all it can to extend you civil rights similar, kind of, to those you enjoy now...or will they?

Oh wait, I guess it will be new Confederate Federal Government that will pay your pension and assist you with with CSA medicare and other seniors benefits.

Yeah, everything will be just fine mate.

Oh and may I add that the Tea Party agenda Randy is pursuing as hard as he can is likely to succeed.

Its as clear as the nose on your face mate.

And he has folks like you, who have a heck of a lot to lose if he is successful, to thank for giving their agenda much needed support. Frankly, without you they might never be able to pull it off. But that's all water under the bridge now, eh mate?

The fact is mate, we may very well be seeing the beginning of the end of America.

I sure am glad I am also an Australian lol lol lol...

Good luck mate, you are going to need it.

Like I said News R. Paul is crazy, so yeh there may be something to your hypothesis. There are also many crazy citizens in the southland who dream every day of the south rising again.

For that matter one can go to redneck bars all over Oklahoma where if they believe there ain't nobody here but us'ns the N word is a part of about every third sentence. White trash is what this ole country boy calls 'em. ;)

OKR,

Let me give you a hint at where this entirely new position of Randy's is headed and specifically what it is designed for.

Let me give you a potential, but as yet hypothetical, scenario.

August 1, 2015. Texas Republican Governor signs into law TX HB 34009, the "2015 Texas Independence Act,", and publically announces Texas official secession from the United States of America.

President Obama orders the military arrest of the Governor and all Texas State legislators and senators on charges of conspiracy to commit treason against the United States of America.

Federal Marshals attempt to enter the State Capital where the Governor is believed to be but are turned back at gunpoint and refused entry by the Texas State Police.

The Governor protests that the United States has no authority in Texas.

Day 2, Texas creates the Texas Army and swears in 100,000 volunteers -- many from the State Police, county sheriff's departments, the TBI, and private militias from all over the state.

Day 3, Texas military officials attempt to take control of Fort Bliss, but their requests are denied by the commanding General under direct orders from the President.

Loyal American citizens in Texas ask for an emergency ruling by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on the constitutionality of the "2015 Texas Independence Act."

12 Am, August 6, 2015, on orders from the Texas Governor, the Texas Army seizes all Federal Court Buildings and orders all US Federal Judges in Texas to be taken into Texas military custody.

August 8, the Texas Army surrounds Fort Bliss and demands its immediate surrender.

President Obama asks Congress for a joint resolution authorizing him to act in his capacity as Commander in Chief and use whatever military force he needs to defend the United States Constitution, citizens, and federal government in Texas against the unlawful armed rebellion in Texas.

The House Passes the Resolution quickly and declares Texas a martial law zone.

However in the Senate, Kentucky Tea Party Senator Randy Paul launches a filibuster of the resolution, and states that the President of the United States cannot target American citizens any place in the United States, including Texas and that such would exceed his authority under the Constitution.

End of story.

OKR, I believe Randy Paul, in concert with other Tea Party fascists, is positioning himself politically for exactly the kind of hypothetical scenario I have described. He is attempting to gain political support to somehow ignore all precedent and insist that the President and the Congress have no authority to enforce the Constitution in any State using military force - thus paving the way for the successful secession of the Southern (and other) States of the United States.

And before you start saying, oh that will never happen, well mate it already did happen in South Carolina in 1860. And yep the Southern Senators attempted to thwart any action by the Senate, albeit unsuccessfully.

Am I to believe the "South's Gonna Do It Again" crowd wouldn't try to do it again?

OKR, my dear friend, are you beginning to see something odd about Randy and his pals sudden interest in civil rights?

I just want you to know that you will eventually, and I await your realization patiently my friend.

And ya know I thought it most interesting that Randy clearly stated he supported our invasion of Afghanistan.

We had no legal or moral reason for doing so.

Randy and Bush claim it was to get Bin Ladin. But he ignores the fact that the Afghan government immedietly placed Bin Ladin under house arrest as soon as the request for his extradition was made by Bush. They surrounded his house with a platoon of infantry and gave them orders to kill him if he attempted to escape. The extradition request went to the Afghan High Court. The court asked for 1 -- just 1 - piece of physical evidence tying Bin Ladin to the 9/11 attack. The USA provided none. So the Afghan High Court ruled that under their extradition laws the USA must provide at least 1 piece of evidence which they failed to do. So, the Afghan court turned down the extradition request. Then the Afghan government offered to turn Bin Ladin over to a neutral 3rd party -- they suggested American's close ally Egypt, and they were fully ready to transfer him to Egypt's custody. Bush refused the offer and began preparing to invade that sovereign nation.

So much for the law, eh mates?

DO

You said, "There is your hope, News, and your (non)change is to proudly defend it."

I am not a Democrat, nor do I vote for Democrat.

I am not a Republican, nor do I vote Republican.

I am an independent voter.

In 2012 I voted for, and supported, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian party for President.

gentle ben

As before, I remain a pacifist. I do not participate in violence of any sort.

How about you mate?

countryman

Good point mate. I am with you 100% on that mate.

I have publicly and privately opposed these military actions since before the Republicans even sent 1 soldier to die in a foreign land.

I hope we can say the same for you mate.

I am glad to see that folks are beginning to see that we peace-nicks were right all along.

"Hope" (and change) that President doesn't murder-drone-strike Newsacross?

"Newsacross.. I am relieved to read AG Holder's clarification and I hope it also applies to Americans living overseas.-- Posted by news across on Fri, Mar 8, 2013, at 2:47 AM"

Your hope is wasted on Holders clarification. It doesn't even rule out murder-drone-strikes of Americans on American soil, if they are deemed *enemy combatant. (*see 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon for that because you might know someone that knows someone that once knew someone... or their children, or whatever, that might have spoken to an alleged Al-CIA-Duh member.

Of course the President's prerogative to murder-drone-strike Americans elsewhere (and their children)has never been in question.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-gre...

There is your hope, News, and your (non)change is to proudly defend it.

Oh and DO, I am relieved to read AG Holder's clarification and I hope it also applies to Americans living overseas.

As an American (dual citizenship) living overseas and who is sometimes regarded as "radical" (well my hair is half way down my back -- an old man with very long hair lol, I guess that might be a little radical for some) has, based on the empirical evidence apparently a bit more to worry about than one living in the USA (see case of "Anwar al-Aulaqi" for more on this).

In fact, every time I call home or email my family back in the good ol' US of A, the US gov gets a copy thanks to the Bush/Obama Eavesdropping program. I am already a victim of Presidential over-reach in that regard my friend.

DO

I don't care what you believe. I know my own family history.

Anyway, believe whatever you wish mate.

His name is none of your business mate.

Oh and DO? Just one more thing.

Randy's dance was kinda funny actually.

I mean talk about entertainment lol lol lol....

Its just another case of a con telling us that white is black, up is down, right is wrong.

Randy acts like this is the first time anyone thought about it -- the fact that the President of the United States might, when duly authorized by Congress, use military force to subdue an armed insurrection in an area of the United States that is no longer under a functioning federal court because the area is in the control of the insurgents or under no control at all.

I think he is a bit late mate...153 years too late.

DO,

Checked! and its fine mate, as always.

Look mate, I guess you missed the last 2 Presidential elections -- the Tea Party and the Republican Party lost the elections for President and lost seats in both Houses of Congress.

I don't know where the extra votes are coming from to change this trend and especially since its due, at least in part, to the diminishing number of conservatives and especially the diminishing number of white conservatives. Brown skinned folks now make up about half the population and they refuse to vote conservative.

So good luck with that dream mate.

I think the problem is you are viewing the World from within the conservative bubble.

But hey, you can believe whatever you want mate -- but it won't change the reality of the facts.

"Newsaccross... Ron Paul and his group of fascist pigs need to stop holding a gun to the head of the American People and get on with our business -- but we know he and the fascists are only interested in their own not-so-secret-as-they-think fascist agenda.

The best long-term solution to the fascist filibuster problem seems to be to simply continue to replace the Congressional Republicans with Democrats in each and every election until such time as there are no Republicans/fascists left in Congress.

-- Posted by news across on Thu, Mar 7, 2013, at 2:13 PM"

Might want to check your blood pressure, News

Oh and Randy's grandstanding doesn't impress me one bit. I may just consider renting a nice place there in Kentucky just legally long enough to register to vote there and vote against this clown the next time he comes up for re-election. I just love Kentucky that time of year and my wife would just love it too. The best part is that it would be 1 more vote against Randy with a great vacation side-effect...(lol).

I am shocked you got taken in by that TP Fascist Republican mate, but you did...hook, line, and sinker!!

OKr,

An ad-hominem attack from you mate?

That's surprising.

"Top 5 moments of Rand Paul's filibuster"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/07/to...

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

Oklahoma Reader

The slaves in the rebel states were freed by proclamation by President Lincoln and the Civil War.

The 13th Amendment made the slaves citizens.

That is the lawful path that was taken.

The institution of slavery was stopped by men like my Great-Grandfather (my Father's Grandfather) who went to the battlefield to settle the matter by force of arms. My Great-Grandfather fought long and hard in the Civil War to stop the rebel traitors and to free the slaves. That is what HE said was his reason for enlisting.

And it was that war that also settled a few issues besides slavery including the matter of centrally controlled government or state's rights, the unconstitutionality of state secession from the Union of States (Texas v White), and defined boundaries to when and under what conditions Congress may limit habeas corpus.

Congress is the key mate.

Congress can limit the President in a number of ways which begins with a simple "do not authorize the President to do it." All Congress has to do when the President asks for authority to suspend habeas corpus anywhere in the country is to do what they have been doing for years -- nothing.

DO,

The filibuster is a Senate rule, Rule #22. It can be changed or eliminated by a simple up or down majority vote. Many in the Senate have felt for some time now that its time for Rule 22 and the filibuster to be removed from the rulebook by the Senate. However, it is the Senate's prerogative and the President has no say in the matter.

Ron Paul and his group of fascist pigs need to stop holding a gun to the head of the American People and get on with our business -- but we know he and the fascists are only interested in their own not-so-secret-as-they-think fascist agenda.

The best long-term solution to the fascist filibuster problem seems to be to simply continue to replace the Congressional Republicans with Democrats in each and every election until such time as there are no Republicans/fascists left in Congress.

In the interest of fairness and open-mindedness, following is a link to the article by John Papola that Mr. Livingston takes issue with in my link below.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk...

After reading both, it seems to me that Papola is having trouble getting past his personal failed business adventures. Newsflash, Mr. Papola, not all smart guys are good managers or leaders. Additionally, there is a decent amount of luck involved in developing a successful business.

If two guys start similar businesses, and both do the same things, but one guy stumbles into a great market and the other stumbles down into a morass, was it luck or leadership?

That has long been a pet peeve of mine, successful folks that think they are somehow genetically or intellectually superior, when in reality, it was most likely their employees, or dumb luck, or good timing that resulted in their success where others failed.

The following is a link to an essay on the topic of austerity, and it's pitfalls. I found it interesting, and a stimulus for more reading on some of the topics presented.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk...

His argument that an economy based on consumption makes more sense than an economy based on savings and investment seems to be a good one.

I do understand his point. That savings in order to drive investment, which will then increase production and in theory result in more wealth, doesn't make any sense in light of empirical evidence and modern society.

I find his argument against the fundamental ideas that the only driver for growth is savings and investment seem very well reasoned. He seems to favor the idea that economic growth created by consumerism drives investment, not the other way around.

Now, how do we teach this to about 200 congressmen who seem hell-bent on making life as miserable as possible for as many as possible.

Perhaps someday we will grow beyond the Puritan influence on American dogma that says we must suffer through austerity and misery in order get anywhere. The more I think about the article, the more I realize that it makes no sense to tell folks, the government included, that the only path to riches is through sacrifice and austerity.

Heck, if no one ever spent any money on anything, then none of us would have a job, and therefore no one would have anything or any money to spend.

Isn't that what the end result of austerity in it's most extreme would be? How does that lead to economic growth or prosperity?

Oklahoma Reader, hits the nail on the head with this: (where were Congressional progressives last night?)

"Bravo to Rand Paul. He is dead on right on this one. I just wish that more of the Republicans, and the Democrats too had a strong libertarian streak.

Our civil rights, the precious entitlements common to us all, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are all endangered by this monstrous decision, and the cavalier attitude of those who promote it.

This is one issue that should unite the left, and right for it literally attacks us all. It grieves me to see the citizenry so unconcerned about this encroachment on the life, and welfare of every one of us. If it is ignored what will the federal government next steal from us?

-- Posted by Oklahoma Reader on Thu, Mar 7, 2013, at 12:06 AM"

We as american's are protected by due process and I feel in some cases due process is violated..Drone attacks on American soil should never happen we are a nation of laws and we can operate within them.

Oh and OKR,

Would you not have made the same argument to refute Lincoln as well?

We are a nation of laws.

The High Court has been clear and there are circumstances when the President, not only has the right, but rather, has a full obligation and duty as President and Commander in Chief to the Constitution, the Federal Government, and the People to protect against enemies both foreign and domestic.

That is a Constitutional mandate that cannot be ignored mate.

If that enemy is in an area in which the Federal Courts are unable to hear cases, unable to enforce rulings and orders, and are functionally neutralized, the President can go in with lethal force to put down violent insurrections, ensure the safety of Americans in that area, and protect against invasion, protect both private American property and federally owned property, and enforce federal law -- including martial law (suspension of habeas corpus) if such authority is granted by Congress.

Its been that way since 1866 mate, These are not new powers.

You may choose if you wish to ignore the greater moral question in this instance.

To me there are few threats to a civilization and a citizenship as great as an executive proclaiming that he has the right to kill an American citizen on American soil without ever a charge being made in any sort of court, without the victim ever having the chance to refute any charge, without any responsibility for any attendant murder of innocent bystanders. The fellow being resisted by Rand Paul is central to this Freedom to Murder scheme.

Mr. Paul is not stupid, he knows that his resistance will be overcome. Meanwhile he is doing all he can to call attention to this outrage against humanity. It is an excellent example of civil disobedience, and I am flabbergasted that you do not support civil disobedience of lesser laws in the furtherance of moral law, just as you would resist a law forcing you to the back of a bus in whatever way was possible in furtherance of the greater moral law.

Mr.Paul is protesting, he has chosen a forum available especially to him, and yes he is breaking a law to do it. I don't suppose you want to let loose the police dogs on him, or blast him from his sit in with a water hose? ;)

So which is the greater threat News, fascist Republican impeding of congressional procedure in this, or fascist destruction of habeous corpus, et al by the executive branch?

Sometimes great threats require breaching protocal, and laws. The civil rights movement proved that point, and this is once again civil rights.

No way OKR.

I may not believe John Brennan is the best choice for the job, but he is fully qualified under our Constitutional requirements for that office and its the President's prerogative. After all, he did win that last election with an electoral mandate from the people.

Its time the Fascist Republicans stop obstructing the People's business and get this confirmation to a straight up or down vote.

Bravo to Rand Paul. He is dead on right on this one. I just wish that more of the Republicans, and the Democrats too had a strong libertarian streak.

Our civil rights, the precious entitlements common to us all, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are all endangered by this monstrous decision, and the cavalier attitude of those who promote it.

This is one issue that should unite the left, and right for it literally attacks us all. It grieves me to see the citizenry so unconcerned about this encroachment on the life, and welfare of every one of us. If it is ignored what will the federal government next steal from us?

"Newsacross... I retired early (late 40's). I was able to do so because my wife and I both have defined pensions and because of accumulation of wealth over the years as a result of hard work."

From your radical comments I would have guessed you to be a younger man.

Where does an economist actually work and how did you come to the conclusion that a Communist utopia is really the way to go?

"NOAA: 2012 saw second largest rise in climate emissions on record"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/06/no...

The Younger-Dryas II, coming to your location real soon!!

"The French Revolution"

([Documentary] [History Channel])

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUrEJBsWL...

I find it more than ironic that every other word out of a non-political, communistic, "economic" promoter's mouth is about murdering all business people by chopping off their heads.

News-across, if you are a wealthy economist as you say, wouldn't you also be seen by the lowly proletariat as such an evil capitalist? It sounds like you live much above the standard of the rest of us peons. How did you make so much money? How are you to keep your wealthy head attached when so many others are rolling in the streets of our new non-political world order?

"News-across...

In fact, its a rather ironic situation when the only thing standing in-between a capitalist and the Guillotine is the Food Stamp program."

One of these days the People will get tired of the capitalist propagandists and the capitalists and off their heads will come...just like France of old.

Ultimately, it is the People -- the masses -- who are the "deciders." When the People get tired of starving while watching the rich get richer, capitalists lose all their wealth and their heads. So says the empirical evidence.

The Bill O'Reilly's of the World may very well find themselves on the Guillotine right next to their capitalist masters.

"Parody: Mitt Romney says he lost because minorities understood his message"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/05/pa...

That ought to Do it. ;)

Is this supposed to be a joke?

"Newsacross....Marxism is all about equality. Marxism is centered around economic equality where every person owns an equal share of the Net National Product. In addition, rather than using dollar vote to make economic decisions -- as does capitalism -- Marxist economic decisions are 1 man, 1 vote.

Everyone is equal in a Marxist economy provided it exists under a democratic government in a free and open society."

Due to sequester all tours of the white house have suspended March 9th apparently the White House can't afford volunteers. (volunteers due the tours. On occasion staff help.. This another example of your fellow marxist liberals trying to steal mid term elections... Obama is in campaign mode.

Speaking of those same Dummies they have included in their latest pseudo-bill the defunding of ACORN. ACORN ceased to be in 2010 when the moronic Right defunded them. Just another case of perpetual "Ground Hog Day" from those irrational fools. ROTFLMAO. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/05...

ND,

and let's not forget that the 1% and their conservative dummies only call it class warfare when we fight back.

OKR,

No actually I have not enjoyed much in the way of spirits since the Holidays ended. I know I often make it sound as if I consume large amounts of spirits (lol), but the reality is I rarely ever have a drink outside of the holidays.

It was a super-typo.

I blame the internet.

News are you sure that it was not another kind of double that caused the double comment? For instance as in double whisky. ;)

"Alleged escort in Daily Caller video: I was paid to make claims against Democratic senator"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/04/al...

Gee I wonder who paid the escort to make that claim?

Obviously it was the Republican Party since they are the only folks with a motive for doing so (to make the Democrats appear as immoral as the Republicans).

Another example of Republican morality (or rather lack thereof).

I don't care for either party, but between the two of them, most of the immorality I have seen comes straight from the Republican Party.

Gee I wonder who paid the escort to make that claim?

Obviously it was the Republican Party since they are the only folks with a motive for doing so (to make the Democrats appear as immoral as the Republicans).

Another example of Republican morality (or rather lack thereof).

I don't care for either party, but between the two of them, most of the immorality I have seen comes straight from the Republican Party.

Your elitist attitude that you share with your fellow marxist socialist comrades is what is ruing our country News your ignorance is clouded with 1 dollar words that have no cents (sense) then again ignorance is bliss for you...

What happened to all you right wingers, and yes some in the middle, who defended our invasion of Afghanistan righteously stating that we were there to save them from themselves, and all the other ridiculous, nonsensical justifications that you made?

HELLO? Hello? Oh that's right you crawled back into another pocket of ignorance that you blather about, and have conveniently forgotten how wrong you were.

Your ignorance is pathetic, and you by association have blood on your hands, not only that of your fellow Americans, but that of countless innocent women, and children of Afghanistan. You are disgusting. Can you now understand why I have no respect for you?

After eleven years nothing there has changed, and the Taliban patiently awaits our departure to again take over the entire country. http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/...

Jason your comments are always so enlightening.

The night of Benghazi the President was no where to be found. There have been several stories about that night from the White House how interesting I find it that you News take lightly about or fallen americans then again I am not shocked most marxist are immoral.

There are 435 Congressmen and women and 100 Senators.

I agree that they should all vote themselves a pay-cut and a corresponding reduction in staff and budgets if for no other reason than appearances. That would be a nice indication that our elected leaders actually cared about something other than themselves.

Once getting yourself elected to a federal post became a path to wealth in of it's self, our system was doomed.

I wonder what would have happened if, when Obama took office and had the Majority in the House,why they didn't ram everything they wanted through the House & Senate at once? Would it have made a difference? Could it have been done? There is nothing going to happen as long as there is only 2 Parties! The People has too Write them every day and then turn around and do it again the next day! But we as a people just don't care,and we let them have their way! The people have just given up on their own Welfare. Disgusting!! Another Rant from me1

However, Jason, to be fair, I have to admit that nothing beat the expression on the faces of Republicrazies immediately after they lost the election.

That was the best!!!!

They actually believed that not only would they win, but that they could not lose.

Then facts burst the bubble...and it all happened so fast -- Wham, Bam, it was over.

I am really looking forward to 2016 when Hillary puts that look back on their faces.

Jason,

Spare us the bubble version of events. We know about Woodward -- he showed us his neocon-self during the illegal and immoral war in Iraq.

Anyway, We the People have not forgotten where this started -- when the Republicans put an economic bullet to the heads of the American People, Yeah we know where this started.

And We the People will be kicking those House Republithugs to the curb in 2014.

Get used to it mate.

Btw even though I don't agree with this the Republicans proposed to give Gov. Depts. flexibility in how to handle the cuts in the sequester it was voted down by Dems. Why because they are playing politics they are wanting to make the Republicans look evil because they are still campaigning so when a political party plays politics with policy then we as a whole nation suffer.

I forgot where I got this but I do remember this Let's rewind a bit to the presidential campaign -- remember Barack Obama vowing to veto any attempt to undo the sequester? Bob Woodward has pointed out the sequester was actually invented at the White House and was imposed during the Budget Control Act negotiations. This is the same reporter that the white house kind of sort of threaten by Saying you will regret this oh by the way Lenny Davis strong supporter of Obama has reported his boss at the Washington Post has been threaten with withdrawing press credentials if they don't stop running Lenny Davis' column.

BTW, it's "Sequester Day." Has the sky fallen yet? Has the zombie apocalypse begun? Are the streets littered with dead bodies? Has business come to a screeching halt?

So far all I see as a result is a gigantic amount of finger pointing and political potshots.

From my view, across the board 3% spending cuts at the federal level are a good start. Personally, I don't want to cut education, medicare, or social security a single penny. However, what I also know is that any good manager should be able to find 3% in waste in their organization pretty dang easily, especially a government funded organization.

I am not convinced that our federal bureaucracies are finely tuned, high performance organizations, so a round of learning how to control costs might be just what the doctor ordered.

Defense cuts could be much deeper than 3%. We obviously are down to just one war (how sad for the warmongering crowd, eh), and are closing in on an end to the other, so we ought to be realizing significant reductions in millitary costs to the taxpayers.

I'm all for strong defense, but somebody is going to have to explain to me how ending two rather large and expensive foreign campaigns should not result in a smaller defense budget.

I am also all for ending corporate welfare. Cut those subsidies to some of the worlds richest companies in the oil industry. Close all the ridiculous tax loopholes for specific industries.

I could also get behind new tax revenue. Here's the kicker, the new tax revenues should fall onto the shoulders of anyone moving American jobs overseas.

New taxes on foreign corporations sounds like a great idea. All the American companies racing to incorporate in places like the Caymans, Ireland, etc. should be required to pay a new fee to do business in the good old USA where all the money is. This new fee should exceed what they would have paid in corporate income taxes (which in my understanding are much lower than what individuals pay).

I won't be holding my breath until congress get's any of that done.

And somebody be sure and let me know when the sequester becomes something other than political theater.

This should get the Pavlov's Liberals crowd salivating.

In the past, I had developed some measure of respect for Justice Scalia due to his well known stance of opposition to "judicial re-interpretation of what congress, or the framers of our constitution, actually wrote down." It seems Scalia says he believes that laws should be interpreted based on what is actually written down, not what we think the lawmakers really meant, but didn't write down.

I have to agree with him in that respect, that putting words into the mouths of the founders, or the framers of the constitution, or the legislators who wrote laws, is improper. After all, as he has famously said, "if the congress had wanted the law to be interpreted in a certain way, they would have written that into the law in the first place." What counts is what they actually took the time to write down, not what we think they meant.

However, in this latest round of debate of voter rights, it appears that Justice Scalia has contradicted himself.

To make the following statement reeks of second guessing the legislature if you ask me.

Regarding the 2006 renewal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,'He said the Senate's unanimity simply proved the law had not been given serious consideration. The senators were afraid, he said, to cast a vote against a law with a "wonderful" name. He went on to assert that the reauthorization of the act was merely "a phenomenon that is called perpetuation of racial entitlement."'

Sadly, Scalia, who at times can display impressive logic and reason in his conservative points of view, has again reaffirmed that regardless of how savvy his logic, his politics always take precedence.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/top...

One thing I can say about today's neo-cons, give them enough time and they will all contradict themselves.

For example - "all life is sacred." Well, except for those lives who were working in those Baghdad buildings during "shock and awe", or those brown skinned folks who want to vote, or those folks on death row regardless of wrongful conviction rates, or the children of the 'terrorists' killed in drone strikes, or those 'suspected terrorists' who we tortured to death, or . . . . you get the point.)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canad...

Darned if I know OKR.

If he wants to know why folks call Hannity and his pals at Fox News fascists, then he will want to understand the definition of the word.

But the funny thing is that if he did read the 14 defining characteristics of fascism, he would probably wonder to himself, "so what's wrong with fascism?"

I think its both funny and sad that so many folks don't have a clue that the ideology they love and defend is just plain, ol' fascism.

"Gun owner fires at Walmart shoplifter to 'mark' him for police"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/28/gu...

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Orange-...

One day a fella gets to carry his pistol in his pocket legally, the next day he is well on his way to prison.

Do we really want ignorant fools like this guy carrying pistols in their pockets?

Perhaps its time to rethink conceal-carry laws?

My opinion, nothing going too get done Until we can take the control of our Elections out of the Politicians hands! Go too the Popular Vote! All States will abide by Federal Law. A 51% vote on everything,and let the chips fall were they may! The way things are now, the Presidency has NO power at all,so why do we have a favorite?

"Eyes Wide Shut on the Iraq War" This commentary made me recall the frustration, and exasperation I felt as I saw my country going down the tubes, with megaphoned mainstream media, left, and right bellowing a constant war chant.

http://consortiumnews.com/2013/02/24/eye...

Well Jo, it might help if Republicans could start actually accepting personal responsibility for their wrong-doing.

The Republicans give the phrase "personal responsibility" a lot of lip service, but that is as far as they go.

When it comes time for them to really and truly accept personal responsibility for their bad deeds, they are nowhere to be seen.

And mate its not like the sides are equal. There are far more Democrats than Republicans and frankly the average American seems to dislike the Republicans very much. As I said before, they are loud, they give personal responsibility a lot of big talk, but in the end we see the Bush's, Cheney's, and Rumsfelds of this World go on as if they had done nothing wrong -- and nary a word from the Republican Party while they assisted in committing Bush Administration crimes of state.

If you "disagree" with Hanity and the fascism he represents, then you will love this video clip.

"Rep. Keith Ellison hammers Sean Hannity: You're a shill for the Republican Party"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/26/re...

Finally...somebody has said what had to be said.

Finally, Hannity's been properly put in his place.

r, if you see this clip, please be sure to take notes mate.

IT,

Yeah but I think she will be busy getting ready be President.

Dear Future Constituent,

Thank you for your suggestions.

You may rest assured the Honor will be Restored in Rome, I mean the Vatican.

I plan to rule the Italian peninsula, I mean the Vatican and its 2 billion strong Catholic Church with my iron will no matter who is on my Cabinet.

When I go from being Papal Candidate News Across to Pope Duce I, discipline and order will be high on my list of priorities.

Thank you again for your interest in Vatican Cabinet positions, and I hope I can count on your vote.

Oh and r,

After I win the Office of Pope, I hope you will consider accepting a place in my Administration, specifically the position of Secretary of Labor.

Your ideas seem to fit well with my vision for a new Rome, uh I mean Vatican.

rr3yv0

Are you defending slavery?

Are you defending treason against the United States of America?

I think you are.

You are really special rr3, only you would think of ways to celebrate slavery.

Father of U.S. slavery was a black man

http://www.wnd.com/2013/02/father-of-u-s...

Jo,

There seem to be a lot of conservatives but in fact they are a small minority. They are loud, and that may be why it seems like there are quite a few of them.

Jo conservatives have gotten hostile with America before. 4 years later their states lay in ruins, burnt to the ground, most of the conservative traiters who were men were either dead, permanently wounded, or POWs.

Once the richest area of the United States, 4 years after they got hostile with America they were a beaten people. The South still, almost 150 years later, has not fully recovered economically.

The conservatives talk a good story, but when it comes down to it Jo, but I don't think they really want to go that same route again.

Early 2016 prediction:

Hillary for the Dems and Christie for the GOP.

No room there for Tea Baggers.

Oh, what will become of them?

Hee hee.

Yeh News solar panels at the nuclear plant are the real cause of the worse than thought radioactive liquid leaks at the Hanford facility...what are you doing just putting something out there that no one to the left of rr3 could possibly believe?

I know you were obliquely making a statement that we would not have these nuclear nightmares if we instead had invested the same amount of capital in the solar industry.

You need to watch that though because there are folks out there barely clinging to the right edge of reality that will actually blame it on solar panels. I am talking about those folks who busily separate the wheat from the chafe, and brag about how much chafe they collected. ;)

OKR,

I am somewhat confused by the article you linked to.

Is that radiation leak being caused by solar panels at the nuclear plant?

Oops! Typo!

I meant to say "...caved to pressure from the pro-obamacare crowd."

r,

Just out of curiosity...

1.) why do conservatives hate women?

Could it be related to the high number of conservative closeted gays (aka Log Cabin Republicans)?

2.) Do you agree Congress should begin adding the single payer provision back into the Obama Care Program?

It certainly seems to me like it would be an improvement relative to the current American medical access system. Any thoughts on this issue mate?

rr3yv0

Those aren't crimes.

His personal-life mistakes do not make the Reverend Jessie Jackson anything but human.

And paleeeeeez my friend, don't try to cast conspersion on his public work. He has been an asset to our Nation in many ways not the least of which is his work in the ongoing Civil Rights movement.

We saw this same kind of attempt to discredit a great man when the FBI attempted to do the same with Dr. Martin Luther King when it was learned he may have had some indiscretions in his personal history.

It didn't work then and it won't work now mate.

Oh news are you talking about his dad the Baptist minister that committed adultery and knocked up a girl working for his organization and had a child out of wedlock. It's funny how you people always lift up your failures.

OK, a Congressman can wear a Rolex, but what was he doing with the fur capes?

Selling them?

Now if we could get the Bush Administration criminals to all enter into plea deals at least we could say We the People got our day in court.

yeah I see your errors, if that is what you mean.

What the f...

Yeah mate, this is the first I have heard that he has entered a plea in a court hearing.

Anyway, I don't care at all what you do for a living as long as I can continue to live my lavish lifestyle and never have to work.

In terms of physicians, the only one who's medical opinion I am interested in is the treating physician. However, if he had not entered a plea of guilty, the court would be interested in having him examined by state experts in the field of psychiatry and their diagnosis would carry a lot of weight with the court's decision in this regard.

But as you pointed out, he has acknowledged his guilt which would have to mean he has already plead guilty -- either that or he made "admissions" when he was hospitalized, under medication, and suffering from a severe mental illness -- one that could seriously interfere with his decision making process. I doubt the jury would ever hear those "admissions."

Personally, it sounds like a bad decision a client might make in a case like this but its not what his attorney recommended.

And now I guess we just wait for the sentencing.

That's that!

Badda Bing, Badda Boom!

Unless he has not plead guilty in which circumstance he may be listening to his attorney now and preparing for a plea of not guilty (due to insanity maybe?). And frankly, given the description his treating physician has given of his condition, I am not sure he knows if he is guilty of anything or not.

Frankly, as I said in an earlier comment, like any other defendant he is innocent until proven guilty.

My only concern here is that everyone get their day in court. Its a thing we Aussies call a "fair go." He gets his day, the People get their day.

Its a better deal than we got with the Bush criminal gang who all walked away without even nary a hearing or investigation or a single question about it.

As to your personal opinion of me, it means nothing to me mate. Think whatever you want.

News,

The man pled guilty. Also, how do you know I'm not a physician? More importanly I am someone who is Manic-Depressive(diagnosed) and I can still tell you it does not give me or anyone else Carte Blanche to steal $750 grand in campaign funds. Period.

Please spare me any long winded, mind numbing retort.

Quite frankly you stike me as someone who is in love with the sound of his own voice.

Furthermore, you seem to be afflicted with the unfortunate compulsion to always appear to be the smartest guy in the room at any given moment.

For instance, your incessant use of the word "mate" in written form as opposed to just conversational usage comes off as pretentious. It doesn't make you sound any smarter or even Australian for that matter. It just makes you sound like a Yank who's trying too hard. Perhaps you should consider dailing it down a few notches?

Yes rr,

To my knowledge, in the case of Congressman Jackson there has been no legally admissible admission of guilt and even if there was there are still some serious legal questions and possibly a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

In addition, unlike with the Republican criminals Bush, Cheney, and others in the Bush Administration, we actually saw an investigation at full tilt as concerns Congressman Jackson.

With Bush's crimes -- much more serious crimes -- there was no investigation, no grand jury investigation, no police investigation, and no special prosecutor investigation. We just let those who may in fact be guilty of torture and genocide just walk away from their crimes with nary even a peep from the Republican Party or you rr.

In no way have I said that if found guilty these folks should not all be held to the letter of the law, and, while a prosecution based on the evidence we do have against Bush and his fellow criminals would likely be successful (if it ever got that far), the prosecution of a severely mentally ill person may not be possible or may result in dismissal based on the likely insanity plea Congressman Jackson's attorneys have almost certainly been contemplating.

I am saying that apparently if you are a Republican there are no consequences at all for law breaking, while if you are a Democrat there WILL be an extensive investigation for even the most minor crimes -- and a prosecution and probably prison time.

When it comes to Congressman Jackson, We the People will get our day in court.

But with Bush and his criminal gang We the People will never get our day in court.

Man that was out of left field!

Innocence is most closely the purview of the individual in whom it is questioned, for in most cases the individual is the only possessor of the most relevant facts. The stickler is that in the case of many there is a dearth of the mental acuity necessary to forming a sound judgment. Here we witness the innocence of a fool.

Innocence is so slippery that it can not be quantified with sufficient certainty. Ultimately we determine innocence more by what we feel about an individual, than what we know about the individual's inner being. I can not bring myself to assume the innocence of anyone, including myself, who is over the age of two. ;)

Actually OKR,

This approach is based on the notion of Western Jurisprudence (and in particular English/American Common Law) which holds that one is innocent until proven guilty.

In addition, I think perhaps we are splitting hairs over 2 similar words. If we are viewing it from a legal sense (and we are), then there is no substantial difference between not guilty and innocent.

"If you can get him convicted, then he is guilty. Until then, he remains innocent by virtue of the fact that he has not been convicted of anything."--News

He doesn't remain innocent, he remains not guilty. The court only decides whether guilty, or not guilty. Innocence is not their purview. :)

Rand Paul returned $600,000 to the treasury that his office came in under budget. He returned $500,000 last year. Why doesn't this make the liberal news media? Oh he's not a liberal. Have you ever heard of a liberal giving back anything? This should be headline news to counter all the crazy spending of the other idiots in Washington. We the people should be asking our congressman every year how much did they save. Will the low information voter ever support this kind of action?

Still... missing the point news.

Then you try to justify liberal actions because you believe all the lies about Bush. Or are you just trying to change the subject because you don't want to see my point of your hypocrisy.

r,

given that Bush and other senior leaders of the Republican party committed the worst crimes on the books (torture, genocide, murder of civilians, ect), and just walked away with not even a grand jury investigating their crimes which they have admitted publicly they committed, it seems ironic that here you are wanting to throw the book at mental patients who haven't been convicted of anything.

Where were you when Bush was busy breaking the law?

WTF,

He was diagnosed by trained, fully qualified doctors.

I will take their diagnosis and prognosis before I would ever take a non-physician's diagnosis and prognosis.

And frankly, there is a real difficulty in convicting someone who has been diagnosed with this debilitating illness.

If you can get him convicted, then he is guilty.

Until then, he remains innocent by virtue of the fact that he has not been convicted of anything.

Still missed the point news.

Well r, if your point is that he is guilty of anything then you are wrong.

He has not been convicted by any jury or court of law that I am aware of.

That makes him innocent of any wrong doing under our laws.

rr3yv0

He has been fully examined and diagnosed by fully qualified psychiatrists -- you know, doctors -- as suffering from Manic-Depression.

A conviction under those circumstances is rather unlikely.

And until such time as he is convicted, he remains innocent under the law.

FoxP2? http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/...

Question: Does this extend to written language? I tend to think otherwise, anecdotally speaking of course. ;)

See what I mean by being dumbed down. Countryman they got you too!

rr3yv0

Congressman Jackson is suffering from a major, debilitating illness which was responsible for his poor behavior.

He is sick.

Where is that Christian compassion my friend?

Hey Country Man.

I agree 100% with your assessment.

However, may I add that his "apology" to the folks out there in New Mexico, and the rest of us, is pathetic.

Its not enough to admit he is wrong.

I want to see some Jimmy Swaggart-type confessing with a lot of crying before anyone considers forgiveness for any of these jerks (lol).

At least we should get a good show out of it.

"Supreme Court: Search warrants don't give police the power to detain someone away from home"

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/...

OKR,

As y0u may recall, I am an independent voter and I support neither major party nor do I vote for either of their candidates.

But I gotta tell ya mate, the only thing worse than a Republican or a Democrat is a stupid Republican or stupid Democrat in political office.

When is Marshall going to learn that when we have stupid legislators we are certain to get stupid legislation.

Next election I hope folks do the smart thing and show Doorman the door!!

OKR,

Yeah...read it.

See my comment in that section address to that poor excuse for a legislator.

I guess really he should have read those law before he voted for them.

'Cause I sure DID read them...very carefully.

It goes to show the pathetic choice of politicians the conservatives have to offer. No wonder their party is dying off. I say good riddance to their incompetence.

RT: All the evidence needed to put a label on the Government of this Country is follow the Administration of George W. Bush! These criminals that got 1000's of our American Hero's that were killed because of the lie Bush,Cheney,Rice,Rumsfeld perpetrated on the American People! And i say that most of our Government new this to be a lie,and let it happen. So in my book, these Criminal's need to be Hanged for the Death of all these Hero! (What happened) they are walking the streets and Doctor's giving this S.O.B.A new heart,and the Dummie Bush living high on the Hog!The rest going about their business like nothing has happened,it sucks! So yes i'm angry at these Politicians!I would never serve again if i was a young Man! We need to write indite bush.org We should keep the heat on until it too late or they are dead, for the sake of the unnecessary War!

Its sad ND that there are folks who walk around intentionally ignoring the facts that are contrary to their beliefs.

By the way, this is a common characteristic of Fascists also. Fascists have no need for facts. Facts just get in the way of their plans. They rely on faith...and WW2 was the price we paid for their intentional ignorance ("death camps? what death camps?").

Link please concerning Santa's catholicism. Don't bring me that Saint Nikolas junk; that Vatican propaganda is spuriously sourced, they have twisted, expunged, and hidden documentation for so long that they have no source credibility.

On Feb 16 only 1 papal candidate had the guts to sign the "Pledge for a Clean Election."

Why haven't the rest of the candidates signed the PCE?

What are they hiding?

Why are they afraid to sign the Pledge?

Please urge your Cardinal cast his vote for the one and only signer of the Pledge.

Ask him to support Papal Candidate News Across.

(paid for by Citizens to elect News Across Pope)

Hi Friends, I just wanted to say its been a real pleasure to have the opportunity to run in the Papal race.

I've met a lot of nice folks and its been great to hear the stories of so many little people from all over. I am glad that the little folks out there share many of the same concerns as my staff and me.

Recently, I suggested a Papal debate that would include all the candidates participating.

I have not yet heard back from the Vatican Cardinals yet, however I remain confident we can get in at least 2 debates before the election. This will give the undecided voters a chance to make up their minds on the best choice for the Office of Pope.

At the debate I hope we will be able to discuss the topic of National Defense.

Frankly, the idea of being defended by the Swiss Guard is a bit lame and way out of date -- and generally a national embarrassment.

Its time for a modern, mechanized, trained, and well equipped Vatican Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. A force that reflects the power and stature of one of the richest, most powerful nations of Earth -- the Vatican.

Now some of my opponents have accused my plan of being an attempt to assemble a large nuclear force capable of enforcing the Pope's will anywhere in the World.

I would like to say that my opponents fail to cite even 1 time I suggested that the Vatican go nuclear -- not once!

My National Defense plan is a reasonable, common-sense approach to ensuring peace through military strength.

Folks, I hope I can count on your support in the upcoming Papal election.

(paid for by Citizens to Elect News Across Pope)

OKR,

Earlier I laid out some immediate changes I would make upon being sworn in as Pope.

As you may know, the Vatican is its own country. And as you may also know, the Pope rules absolutely by decree.

In addition, you may also be aware that there are nearly 2 billion Catholics in the World.

That alone makes the Office of Pope pretty valuable and add to that the fact that the Catholic Church is the richest non-government organization in the World who's exact wealth is still unknown, and you have the perfect executive office.

Yeah, I think I'm gonna like being Pope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aogOR8c8...

Hi friends and neighbors.

I just wanted to leave you good folks this reminder that the Papal election is just around the corner, but its not too late to get that email letter out to your local Catholic Cardinal and urge him to support me for the office of Pope.

Its time for Papal change.

Its time for News Across.

(paid for by citizens to elect News Across Pope)

"Nugent conspiracy theory: 'No so-called assault weapon used' in Newtown"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/15/nu...

What an idiot.

This is what we have come to expect from the low IQ crowd.

Dead on Jo! Good to see you.

Great link ND,

However, I must say that Nobel Laureate (Economics, 2008), Dr. Krugman is unfairly using facts to confuse the issue. And what the heck would he know about it anyway? He probably had his head stuck in a book, writing another book on Economics when Bush was in office anyway.

Besides what difference does it make that Republican deregulation policies and rich Republicans on Wall Street -- good honorable Republican businessmen (job-creators) -- crashed our economy in 2008? We survived. It wasn't the end of the World.

Dr. Krugman should keep all his "theories" in the classroom where they belong and not on panels criticizingly Republican jobs programs.

I was almost personally offended by the obviously correct conclusion summarized in his concluding paragraph where he says,

"This strikes me as a bigger deal than whether Rubio slurped his water; he and his party are now committed to the belief that their pre-crisis doctrine was perfect, that there are no lessons from the worst financial crisis in three generations except that we should have even less regulation. And given another shot at power, they'll test that thesis by giving the bankers a chance to do it all over again."

Frankly, ND, Krugman may be scarring my grandchildren with his fact-based, professional opinion in that paragraph.

Clearly, the problem is his ability to both understand and recognize facts.

I would be willing to go as far to even bet that Dr. Krugman believes the Earth is more than 6000 years old.

'nough said!!

Ya gotta point Nana. I apologize to all those good recycling dumpster divers. Come to think of it there are hardly any groups today that won't be legitimately offended when compared in any fashion to right wing Regressives. ;)

OKR,

As r pointed out, you are missing the bigger picture.

Clearly, the 22 scumbags that voted against the bill were merely reaching out to women in an effort to explain their alternative plan which is taken from Leviticus. It involves male-centered family relationships and for the ladies it means more time at home, pregnant, in the kitchen, no need for shoes.

As an independent, I am well aware that the Republican Party would like to educate me as to how we can succeed with their plan.

Their problem is that I am already well aware of their positions on the issues...all too aware to join them, vote for them, or even take them seriously.

The Senators representing Stepford have struck again. Twenty two of them, all Republicans of course, again reinforced their opinion that violence against women is just fine, and dandy, voting to continue the legality of same.

No doubt they all have Stepford wives excepting one or two of the fellas who instead may have Stepford boy friends.

Yes Roy Blunt was one of them along with those two crazies from Oklahoma James Inhofe, and Tom Coburn.

OKR,

I read your comments with great interest.

However, I was disappointed to find you skipped the Republicans secret weapon for the 2014 election -- the Zombie turnout.

Apparently Lil' John Boehner has confirmed that the Republican Party does plan to employ certain Haitian ritual practices designed to re-animate long since dead Republicans...aka Zombies.

It is rumored that the Republican Party's entire 2014 get out the vote strategy will be confined to three things; setting up voter registration tables in the game rooms of nursing homes; borrowing hearses, and family cars from rich old Republicans who control the Retail Death Market to line up in front of the Rest Homes on election day, giving free rides to the polls; and paying nursing home secretaries under the table to "handle" the absentee ballots of the residents.

It looks like they are set up to get the votes they have a shot at getting.

Of course an always looking ahead party like the Republican one is setting up for 2016. For that they intend to send campaign workers to the nation's cemeteries. As always they will remain in hot pursuit of likely Republican voters wherever they can dig them up. ;)

Oh my they didn't reach out to me the independent voter. Victim mentality, what should they promise to give you? Your vote went for psc although in an indirect way. But really news are you independent when you rely on the lies and deception of the left? There is no common sense or independent thinking there, is it the liberal education making you dependent to a point you can't accept anything else?

r,

I know why Rubio and the other 21 men voted against it -- they are chauvinist pigs.

I don't see that as reaching out to me, the independent voter -- you know, like they claimed they would?

Regarding Obama:

I agree r, Obama is bad medicine mate.

That is why I voted for Governor Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party.

How many of you fell for the lies in the misstatement of the union speech tonight. No I didn't listen to psc because it would make me ill. He is going to do all these things and not add one dime to our deficit. Really are people that gullible? How many of you believed that after the fifth straight trillion dollar + deficit psc has handed us, without a budget. Well who believed it okr did you, news did you, wtf did you and I don't want to forget about nana, did you believe it. If is no wonder people can't believe the truth if they believe this guy. But hey, WHAT DOES IT MATTER, ANYWAY! Right!

Well r, I can tell ya this buddy.

The Republican Party is heading downhill fast.

Its kinda sad really, it being the Party of Lincoln and all, but what the heck I guess it was just the Republican Party's "time" if ya know what I mean.

So here is the thing mate, the Republican leadership has indicated that they want to reach out to more independents to the party as well as minorities.

That is probably a good first step.

I am an independent.

Where's the Republican reach out to me?

All I hear from Republicans are conspiracy theories and crazy rants about "libruls" and Obama.

Where's the "reaching out" in that?

I have to tell ya mate, as an independent I am not impressed with all the empty Republican rhetoric.

OKR,

Wow!!

In light of today's headlines, this recording is certainly interesting. Could we have inadvertently slipped into the Republican Bubble? 'Cause surely this can't really be happening lol.

Hey guys an interesting story is in the MDN today. Check out the first link below to read it. Then read the second link which is an NPR feature by the beloved truth speaker to America, Uncle Walter Cronkite. That is about all I am going to say right now. I am going to do some research later on tonight. ;)

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/194059...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...

rr What else do the Politicians have too say, for you to believe they are lying to us? Not everything they say is a lie.But most of it! Do you think everyone else is as gullible as you?Its Obvious the G.O.P.IS trying too privatize everything! And it wouldn't surprise me if a few of the Democrats aren't in on it also! We have lost control of our Democracy,and everyone can feel it! It don't seem too register with you??

r,

You are correct in part, the Sun does effect the Earth's weather but not to the degree that you suggest.

The hypothesis you suggest has been throughly tested and results have always been the same no matter how many times it has been tested -- null hypothesis.

Granted there are 2 or 3 "scientists" who work for the Koch brothers who are paid to try and resurrect the null hypothesis from the dead -- much like Jesus (PBUTH) did with Lazarus -- but their credibility, much like their ethics, is just as empty as their claims.

As to cycles of Glaciation, yes there have been other periods of of glaciation (ice ages) (one time most of the World was covered in ice and its a period sometimes referred to as "Snowball Earth") and yes they have given way to non-glaciation (warm periods), after extremely long periods of time and all these were the reaction to a natural causation. We know what caused them and it was nature -- not God -- that was the culprit.

However, the cause this time around is, without question, the introduction of additional carbon into the air -- and yeah its because of human activity.

Too much carbon in the atmosphere is a real bad thing (for more on that see the "Planet Venus"). In fact, the most conservative estimate so far is that we are adding a minimum of 3% more carbon into the atmosphere each and every year (in 3.3 years that comes to about 10% more carbon in the atmosphere that is not cleaned out by the natural cycle of carbon through the environment). Over 33 years of that and we have effectively increased the amount of carbon in the air by 1/3. Thats not good because that carbon tends to cause a greenhouse effect and that means serious climate change effects -- unpredictable and radically changing weather patterns.

And Global Warming has another nasty effect on the Earth mate, it can, and has in the past, Shut down the Atlantic Conveyor in the North Atlantic and that can bring on an ice age -- as it did with the Younger-Dryas a mere 10 - 12,000 years ago (that would be 6000 years in Bible-speak).

And those are the facts mate.

rr3yvo

evolution, green energy, global warming and climate change.

What do all those things have in common?

Scientific data.

The bible has zero credible data regarding any of it's supernatural claims.

You believe in a magic man in the sky while telling others they are the failures.

I hope there is a Jesus and I hope that one day you get to meet him but,don't get too excited.

If he's everything we're told he is he probably won't like you.

Gee r, you sure are repeating yourself a lot mate.

I think we covered all those topics.

I concur with OKR.

Yawn...zzzzzzzzzzz...

You really need to get some new material mate.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER, ANYWAY!

Are Pelosi and Reid the dumbest politicians in America? We don't have a spending problem we have a paying for problem! Yeh I have that all the time. What about the people that vote for them and believe them? They probably believe in evolution, green energy, global warming and climate change. Another great example of the failure of liberalism.

Nana,

Forget that argument...Google is part of the liberal media.

You'll have to find another souce for the 'truth'.

"Neil DeGrasse Tyson Destroys Bill O'Reilly"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5dSyT50C...

Oh I almost forgot.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER, ANYWAY!

Rubio?

The teaparty fool who has no idea of what the age of the Earth is?

That Rubio?

I guess the low IQ crowd finds him interesting, but then again, they are pretty easy to con.

Hey r,

If Drew Zahn says it then it must be true, eh mate?

I guess folks like Drew -- who apparently has no credentials of interest -- are helpful to the low IQ crowd.

Anyway, its sounds like Drew is venting.

I am sure he will get over it when he gets it out of his system.

Today the producers are the villians of this country and the takers are lifted up as victims. You all really hate the truth don't you? HeHeHe! I love it. Scrambling to discredit me because you can't address a single issue with truth in it. I think it is really the blatant hypocrisy of the left that I point out is the reason you don't like me. I post on here as a no name because no body knows who I am am and you try to discredit me? Now that is hilarious!

You know poor old Lance he must be a Republican because they are going to make an example out of him on this doping deal. I think it was because he confessed on Oprah now they have to prosecute because everyone knows now. I wonder if any other cyclers will be prosecuted because of this. He should have told Oprah, "WHAT DOES IT MATTER, ANYWAY!". He could have kept his millions and never had to answer for it again.

SIX QUESTIONS r, six of my recent questions unanswered by you that are now a part of the years of questions you have avoided from me and others. Your credibility with me, and I suspect many others....ZERO.

rr,

You are now on my 'do not read' list.

I like reasoned rhetoric, but that was just hogwash.

Where is Gal66 when we need him?

ROTFLMAO ND.

There are six unaswered questions rr3 that you have back logged. When you answer those questions that I posed I may resume our dialogue. Until then, talk to the hand.

Seems like California are wasting a lot of resources trying to find this rogue cop. Heck he has only killed 3 people. Heck he even likes liberal talk and liberal tv. He can't be bad he's a liberal, right! They could just promise that he could set in front of the California congress and say, "WHAT DOES IT MATTER, ANYWAY?" Then we could go back to life as normal.

Maybe Arkansas needs to restore workhouses a la Dickensian England. Then those ungrateful humans could stay there on bread and water, cleaning trash from streets, and highways, etc. until their back rent was paid, and of course the cost of room and board for their families while they were all in the work house was paid. It would be a charitable kindness to pay them at a one half minimum wage rate.

Humbug! No account forty percenters all!

(satire)

"Why Dummies Can't Build a Tea Party Future"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKohsoxqk...

Returning the compliment countryman, I enjoyed your piece on shabby America, it was dead on.

Speaking of compliments there are several of you who post frequently whose product I nearly always enjoy (you know who you are). I struggle between remiss, and redundant regarding reaction each time you write something. :)

News I do not understand why the Republican Party still caters to the far right section of their party. They should just ignore them, and not support the far right representatives. The far right will still vote for any Republican candidate as they have no other viable place to go with their votes.

The fear factor that is so prevalent in those of the far right will compel them to vote for any Republican candidate because they are paranoically afraid of what every Democratic candidate will do to our nation. It is amazing that the Republican Party has been so obtuse in regard to this problem.

The Democratic Party learned long ago that they could ignore the far left of their party, then even the moderate left, and still succeed. Fear was also the key component of the success of that strategy. The left has been afraid that if they did not vote for a center right Democrat that a bogey man Republican would win, and all hell would break loose.

Maybe the time is approaching for all of the far left, and moderate left persuasion to dig in their heels, and say "hell no, we ain't supporting that center right junk any longer, get right with us, or loose control to the Republicans."

It would be interesting to see what comes of both major parties when each are fragmented at the same time. Hopefully at long last a third party candidate, the likes of which we haven't seen since Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose charge, would sweep away the stagnancy of American politics.

Karl Rove explains to the Tea Party what their new role in the Republican Party is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7K3YDAXC...

And OKR,

Its about time the American Empire fell.

The rest of the World rejects imperialism while the American Reaganites love imperialism.

So while the Reaganites may be crying, the rest of the World is rejoicing that the American Empire is ending.

We don't want or need empires nor nations that believe they are the exception.

What we do want and need are responsible nations working together to eliminate poverty, hunger, disease, and war.

Tragically folks, what you have all said is true. What we are a part of, what we are observing, is the disintegration of the New World version of the Roman Empire.

Like the Roman Senate our federal government is corrupt. Like, but worse than the Roman infrastructure's lead water pipes, we have unleashed a myriad of brain damaging toxins that march hand in hand with a failing education system, exponentially making us dumber.

As the well to do fled Rome for outlying areas, escaping her crumbling, and burning, our capitalists have taken their treasures to other countries, and are following with their corporeal selves. The parallels are there in every facet of our society.

We the people are a giant lobster, and though the pot that is America is past a simmer, and beginning to boil we bask in the boil. Though feeling a nagging sense in most of us that something is wrong we can not as a whole focus on the cause. Meanwhile we get redder, and redder. ;)

ND,

Yep the World does regard Americans as the dumbest suckers on Earth, and yeah the World laughs at America a lot.

They aren't laughing to be mean.

They genuinely believe we are morons -- lowdown, immoral, war-mongering, torturing, NAZI morons.

I do wish the conservatives and folks who tend to vote Republican would take off their blinders and have a good look at what they have done to our once great nation.

If we as a nation want to be successful then we had best get our head out of our rears, stuff Reaganism into the garbage where it belongs, and wake up -- or things can and will get much, much, much worse -- for them.

Cons need to realize they will suffer just as much as the next guy. The Koch Brothers have no intention of giving any of their money to help out and they don't care 1 bit if conservatives starve to death.

"Solar power's future looks dim, as plug is pulled on incentives"

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/...

Yeah, I guess the conservatives and Fox News are right again.

Solar power is dead.

ROTFLMAO!!!!

I don't know about you folks, but I am an electricity pig.

Yeah, I burn electricity with no concern what-so-ever for conservation.

I admit it, I leave my office air-conditioner running full tilt every day and night, whether I am in there or not, and often with the doors and windows open in the Summer. I keep that electric heat at a comfy 80 degrees in the Winter.

Yeah, when it comes to electricity my wife is just as bad as me. She does the same thing. In addition, she leaves our Panasonic big screen plasma TV on most of the time. Those babies really suck up the electricity!! We have 3 refrigerators and 2 freezer chests that are always in operation, several computer systems that are on all the time. We cook in our convection/microwave oven which sucks down about 5kw an hour.

Yep, the little lady and I are definitely electrical energy pigs -- and darn proud of it!!

But the funny thing is, despite all the electricity we use, we haven't paid 1 single penny for electricity since we installed our solar panels a couple of years ago -- and our carbon footprint from electricity is 0.

But Fox News and the conservative think tank, the Washington Policy Center, say its unsustainable.

Funny that...it sure is sustainable for Aussie Wife and me.

Lol....

Nana, you shouldn't pick on the Romneys like that.

Well OKR,

Australia IS on that list lol...

At the least ND we should be able to impose a tax on their overseas assets, including the human assets. I propose a minimum tax for every overseas worker that each corporation employs. So they took our jobs away, darned if they shouldn't have to pay the tax that they took away.

I want to jump back to the thread preceding ND's interesting comment for just a moment.

We are the big monkey in this world, as for the rest of the countries, well...monkey see, monkey do. For instance there have been fifty countries involved in the dark practice of extraordinary rendition that we initiated.

How long is it going to be before all the other monkeys emulate us. Will they not also decide that they can assassinate whomever they want whereever they want? For instance will Britain decide to kill one of their citizens when he is in Chicago? Supposing such an individual is walking down Madison Street, a British agent jumps out, shoots him, and disappears. Is that not a murder punishable by law within the United States? Would we demand extradition of the murderer?

More monkey see, monkey do; Drones! Everybody gotta have 'em. Suppose that the Chinese launch a drone here because they think that a dissident Chinese citizen is plotting destruction in China? What do we do? Suppose it is Iran in the same scenario? What do we do?

Folks the outrageous breach of the civil rights of U.S. citizens is just the beginning of this monsterous problem. We have flung open the lid on Pandora's box again.

"A new government report is predicting the budget deficit will drop below $1 trillion for the first time in President Obama's tenure in office."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/...

I reckon about the only thing that can unite us all is outrage at our government assuming the right to kill an American citizen because they choose to do so. That is the scariest breech of freedom of my life time.

If they can take our lives without established cause what can they not take.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/1...

What shocks me is the we even have to discuss torture in the United States of America.

Surely our nation is above such NAZI type behavior?

Or maybe the problem is that the conservatives follow NAZI policies and ideals?

Sure they won't admit they are indeed fascists, but the fact is they support NAZI principles, such as regarding torture as a legitimate means of discovery.

So even if they call a rose something besides a rose, isn't it still a rose? Doesn't it still look the same, and doesn't it still smell like a rose?

The problem with America is that some folks -- the conservatives -- are highly opposed to freedom and democracy and are highly opposed to doing the right thing.

Maybe its time we start calling a rose, a rose and a NAZI, a NAZI ...after all, no matter what you call either of them, be they a rose or a conservative, they are what they are and that is the way it is.

rr3yv0

One last thing mate, everyone who was water-boarded (tortured) was injured. Torture, by its very nature, is an injury all by itself and highly unlawful under Title 18 as well as the 8th Amendment.

Nobody was injured or killed from water boarding.

"'Judge, jury and executioner': Legal experts fear implications of White House drone memo"

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/...

I was warning about this the day they murdered natural born and raised, American citizen, Anwar al-Aulaqi.

Now the legal experts have decided it is "dangerous."

Oh its dangerous alright, its also the kind of power that allows for dictatorship.

Yeah IT,

I read about Rove the other day. No doubt the Republicans have discovered something new about the Dixiecrats-turned-Dixiecon -- they are crazy and will drive our country right into the ground.

It will be interesting to see the Dixiecons mount election campaigns without the big money Traditional Republicans.

He's the poster child OK.

Maybe the violence isn't "legitimate".

Scary stuff OKR,

I am reading their Justification PDF very carefully. I want to analyze their legal argument.

One has to bear Ex parte Milligan in mind whenever suspension of habeas corpus occurs -- a suspension of habeas corpus occurred each time the President ordered the deaths of 3 Americans in the Middle East.

Its important for 2 reasons. 1.) It defines when a President is authorized to declare martial law (defined as the suspension of habeas corpus) in a region (only Congress can authorize the declaration of martial law) and 2.) and it limits where application of martial law can take place (only in places where there is no functioning civilian court).

The Department of Justice attorneys are well aware of the importance of Ex parte Milligan as regards these military activities by the President. They know they have to satisfy Milligan or they are in serious trouble.

That is exactly what they have claimed so far -- that they have acted Constitutionally and in accordance with Ex parte Milligan. They claim Congress gave them authorization to declare martial law anyplace in the World where they decree they are fighting Al Qaeda or its affiliates when Congress issued the Joint Resolution for Authorization of Military Force in Afghanistan -- satisfying part 1. In addition, they claim that there is no functioning civilian court in which they could indite and bring to trial the Americans they killed.

The last part is incorrect, however, as they never issued, nor sought, any warrant of any kind for their arrests nor did they ever seek a grand jury indictment and have admitted they had no evidence at all against any of these folks they killed. That means that no civilian court anywhere in the World would have authorized their arrests, much lest put them on trial. No evidence = no warrant, no indictment, no trial, no conviction.

I believe what the President has done violates Milligan and violates our Constitution and laws.

Gal66

I like a good bourbon as well. Aged, single malt Scotch ain't half bad either lol.

I agree; Gal is cool and cool headed as well. It also looks like he forms his own opinions based on his own life experiences.

rr and Jason do what Faux News tells them to do, as far as I can tell.

"I reckon that is because he enjoys his guns, cars, and beer more than he does this stuff. Nothin' wrong with that. :)"

You almost hit that right on the head, I would much rather have a good Bourbon :)

I see psc is still campaigning. This time for stricter gun laws. I wonder how much this is costing us? So we are paying psc to campaign against our guns? Only in America. Maybe those sales of F-16's and tanks to terrorist will pay for it. You think?

OKR, Yeah X-ray was OK in an extremist-conservative kind of way.

Gal is one of my favorite conservatives also. In fact, I find Gal's intelligent conservative approach both challenging and refreshing. He often makes strong points and offers a different perspective.

However, OKR, I must disagree with you when it comes to our friends, the Tea Party folks.

Without them we would think real Republicans were true conservatives. We have the Tea Party folks to thank for providing contrast -- and you know it mate (lol).

X-ray's last post was 10-29-12. Do you suppose he may have been a troll trying to gin up the Republican vote in the election. Maybe he left for another country when Obama won?

You are right news it isn't patriotic. I guess I should say, 'is it wrong to sell F-16's and tanks to terrorist(Muslim brotherhood) and at the same time talk about taking away or restricting our rights to own guns.

News you are getting hung up on things just like okr. Just look at what is happening in Egypt and tell me if psc is not supporting terrorism. They are just waiting for pull out deadline in Afghanistan then Al Quida will be bigger and stronger then before 9/11. But now that might be patriotic.

On reflection I suppose Gal66 comes the closest to filling the need, but he doesn't go in for detailed extended discussion of all things conservative. I reckon that is because he enjoys his guns, cars, and beer more than he does this stuff. Nothin' wrong with that. :)

"Karl Rove launches initiative to keep tea party candidates out of elections"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/03/ka...

Yep, the Republican Party doesn't want the Tea Party crazies either.

R the first eight of the last 12 Years, YES!,THEY ARE AT FAULT, FOR WHAT OBAMA IS LEFT WITH!

rr3yvo,

I'll ask you once again. Define terrorist.

r,

How is selling weapons to other countries patriotic in the first place?

I think perhaps you are confusing patriotism with psuedo-patriotism.

I was wondering if it is patriotic to sell F-16's and tanks to terrorist while at the same time proposing to take guns away from Americans?

With all those feelings okr don't you feel sorry for psc for what he inherited?

Whatever r. I think that at least for the time being I am done with you, your smug direct line to God, your misquotes, and shoddy research, your refusal to respond when inconvenient, or when you have painted yourself into a corner, and all the rest.

Of course all that criticism is just my opinion. I don't claim certification by any God, nor even a certitude akin to that which you can somehow develop from the thinnest of evidence, while ignoring the bulk of same.

You know I really feel sorry for psc don't you? He inherited over a $1 trillion dollar deficit, 7.8% unemployment, and a contracting economy. But hey it wasn't me it was because of hurricane sandy and the uncertainty of the fiscal cliff by the Republicans. Do low information voters really believe that a hurricane and Republicans are the cause of the disaster of the last 4 years. We are into psc's 5th year and has he been held responsible for anything?

Did any economist predict this downturn? Then they want to say it is because Republicans are cutting spending. Really! Even if the huge cuts because of the sequester goes through government spending will increase by over 500 billion dollars.

Oh I know we need more stimulus. More of the magic that takes 1 dollar from us and turns it into 3. Has that ever worked? Now the liberal are spinning this saying that last quarters contraction was the best looking contraction ever. This is the new normal with the growth choking policies of the psc.

With more regulations, higher taxes and a 5th straight trillion dollar deficit will anyone be surprised if we have an under performing economy for 2013?

By the way okr don't patronize me because you don't feel sorry for me or really give a ****. The feeling is mutual although it makes for exciting conversation. Liberals don't care about anyone but themselves because their policies always end in failure and hurt a lot of innocent people but that wasn't the intent. It is the intent that matters not the outcome. Right!

Lol OKR,

The cons can be a bit frustrating. The problem is ignorance mate and the solution is education. However, education requires a receptive mind. That is the catch 22 mate.

Don't let them frustrate you.

Were they your comments OKR? Or were they a response from the loyal opposition?

lol...

News you have a point. I'll see what I can do to get you appointed to the Board's awards meeting for next year. C.R.A.P. is already moving toward next year by the release of a special award for an all categories considered super winner.

It is to be called "The Honor Roll", crafted of copper in the shape of a double roll of toilet paper. The winner of that one will truly wipe away the competition.

OKR,

While all the candidates for the coveted C.R.A.P. Award were certainly all deserving, I think the most deserving is Sarah Palin.

She has always been dumb as a sack of hammers.

We all know that.

But now she has lost what little good looks she may have had in ancient times and has devolved into the hedious old hag of the Alaskan wilderness.

http://img2-2.timeinc.net/people/i/2012/...

As if that wasn't bad enough, the Republican cons at Fox News have fired her for excessive redneckism.

So at least she now has the C.R.A.P. Award she can add to the list of things she clings to including her guns and bible.

ROTFLMAO r, I truly believe that you, and Jason have more doh! moments than Homer Simpson*. ROTFLMAO x 2.

* Homer Simpson is a long running cartoon character much beloved by all but the extreme right who either despise all he stands for, or are ignorant of his existence. Some of the worst cases also suffer a tragic psychological deficiency of not being able to see, hear, speak, or think about anything that they have not heard from Rush Limbaugh, or Fox News.

I do not admit to naivety rr3, but even if that is the case I much prefer it to self imposed ignorance, and delusion.

Answer the questions r!

Here is a link that will inform 99.999% of people though I hold only faint hope for you. Still I offer it to you even though I don't believe in miracles, and know that due to its politically neutral approach you will have the opportunity to cherry pick. No, I should have said exercise your compulsion to cherry pick. ;)

By the way there is some interesting stuff here for all of us. It is a sort of amalgamation of contrasts between Rep, and Dem on many points of our economy. http://tlrii.typepad.com/theliscioreport...

Bill always has a way a speaking the truth.

Bill Cosby "I'm 75 and Tired"

I'm 75. Except for brief period in the 50's when I was doing my National Service, I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and Madrasa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia , New Zealand , UK, America and Canada , while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance..

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

I'm really tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's be-deck them selves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves unemployable and claiming money from the Government.

Yes, I'm **** tired. But I'm also glad to be 75.. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and their children. Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in.

" I'm 75 and I'm tired. If you don't agree you are part of the problem!

rr3yvo,

Perhaps you could define what a terrorist looks like. Is it only a dark skinned Muslim, or could it be a spoiled white suburban school shooter upper?

So does the low information voter think that because the DOW is at 14,000 that America back on track to prosperity and influence? I think we need to look at why it is where it is at. Obamanomics will not allow success, we are supposed to punish it right?

Let's look at some numbers. The economy reportedly added 157,000 jobs in January, the unemployment rate was up to 7.9 percent. Wait we added jobs and the unemployment rate went up? For the low information voter 169,000 dropped off the roles. Can that be good news?

Some 8.5 million Americans have dropped completely out of the work force since Obama took office. That is about 6,000 for every day psc has been in office. Can that be good news?

We now have about 89 million either retired, they have take early retirement or have just given up looking for work. So we have less people working, an ever expanding government, so how is the government ever going to balance the budget without a serious tax increase on those left working?

So we have a government that is projected to spend 4.5 trillion a year within the next 5 years. Right now we take in about 2.5 trillion and spend 3.6 trillion. So where is the money going to come from?

Does anyone think that government spending will decrease with sequestration cuts? Is anyone that naive?

Gas is headed toward $4 a gallon again. Who does that hurt the most? Hint:not the rich.

With Obamacare tax increases the least expensive family health plan may cost $20,000 a year. What does that do for those that are working?

Ahhh but the stock market is booming so why isn't the economy? We actually saw a contraction in an economy that the media keeps telling us is recovering and the low information voter says it must be true because they say so.

The stock market is being artificially inflated by $85 billion the fed is printing and putting into it. You might remember the fed forcing the banks to make it easier to buy a home and a whole bunch of people got a home loan that could never pay it back and do you remember what that did to the housing market? What do you think it will do to the stock market and our economy? We are bankrupt but the low information voter will not hear or if they do they will deny it.

Debt is crushing this country and psc doesn't care, in fact it is his plan and he kept enough people dumb enough to vote for him, having the worst first term record in the history of this country.

A high stock market is good if you have money in it but an artificially high stock market is not good for the future of this economy. So you can tout the stock market as a sign of a good economy just like the liberals touted the housing market was good at it's peak because they had got it done despite the warnings from the conservatives. Then when the poopoo hit the fan it was all the conservatives fault and the liberals that orchestrated the whole scheme were running for the hills. Low information voters don't get this stuff from their liberal information press.

Then we have the low information voter that thinks that every dollar the government spend turns into 3. Shazzaam! And they think believing in God is magic. That's so silly! If government spending were what causes economic growth, then the economy today should be booming, and the unemployment rate in American should be plummeting.

Hey r, why won't you address OKR's question?

Watch out countryman with flattery like that you will also bow at news feet. I don't have to worry about that.

I was wondering if it is patriotic to sell F-16's and tanks to terrorist while at the same time proposing to take guns away from Americans? I really want to know what the low information voter thinks.

One of many of my favorites by JM, a great poet musician. Thanks for sharing GB. :)

All Creatures Not So Great, Not So Small

The red herring prolificates, swims in sewers of many minds.

The hen house fox salivates, thirsty chickens run toward the drip from its grin.

The disingenuous duck walks as always, secure in its devious disguise.

The fly in the ointment is taken for the cure.

Sadly none will ever be endangered species.

News, you are missing something in Geraldo's actions.

He can get in on the ground floor of the new, "kinder and gentler" GOP. The one with the Gen X'ers like Bobby Jindal up front doing all the talking.

I'm starting to read the 'up-and-comers' in the conservative ranks say things like "we have to stop coining stupid phrases like 'legitimate rape'."

This should be fun to watch as the baby-boomer neo-con generation fades into obscurity. (Who can tell me where Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld are right now? .....and, yes, I know where they should be.)

A new generation of egomaniacs are recognizing an opportunity to jump into the vacuum created in the Republican Party leadership due to the ineptitude of the old guard. There's still plenty of rich cat political contribution money floating around out there looking for a home, and plenty of starched shirt wearin', bible thumpin', holier-than-thou types out there looking for a ride on the Koch Brothers gravy train.

"Psssst.....Geraldo........just tell 'em you love Jesus, hate gays, think war is good, and that there shouldn't be any taxes on rich folk, and they'll start throwing cash at you."

Personally, I can't wait to watch the parade of political prostitutes lining up at the trough of fat cat money.

Then, it should be fun to watch Hillary, who will seem like the wise, old, nostalgia candidate, trounce some rookie 40-something Paul Ryan look-alike front man, who believes the earth is 10,000 years old and Atlas Shrugged is an economics textbook, in the 2016 campaign.

NanaDot

My advice to to all teachers -- go into private enterprise and let folks teach their own kids at home.

At least until the public decides to pay them what they are worth and that is at least triple what they make now.

You might be amazed at how fast the public would move to pay teachers if all the teachers quit teaching all at once -- permanently.

"South African billionaire announces he'll give half his fortune to charity"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/30/so...

Wow!!

Hey Jason,

Just out of curiosity, what is it cons have against peace?

Jason,

To me, at least, you have become irrelevant. Not you, as a person, but your posts, as they really have no fathomable content.

It's ok Jason, it's not like we take you seriously anyway.....

Wow Jason you are incorrigible. Why didn't you attribute "your" Obama meal joke to Conan O'Brien who authored it? Here it is, and a whole bunch more Obama jokes that you can enjoy, and adopt as your own work. http://www.you-can-be-funny.com/ObamaJok...

I am going to be on you like white on rice until you stop stealing!

Up until now now you have only shown these blogs an empty mind without an original thought in it. Maybe I will start referring to you as Polly Parrot.

I've noticed an interesting and alarming irony lately in that those among us who seem to be the most well armed also seem to be the most frightened.

Mcdonalds will be offering a new Value meal its Obama Value meal order anything you want and the person behind you pays for it.

Jason,

What is a terrorist? What is a terrorist attack? Benghazi - 4 dead - Newtown - 26 dead - with now probably more that 1000 Americans dead, on home soil, from gun violence just since Newtown. These tragedies are more political that you know.

I wonder whay we can't get FOX news to manufacture any outrage about that? So, does it matter that much what we call it? Terrorism or criminal? Apparently it means everything.

Hey "Clinton", -- now there is another word those cons like to throw around.

Trust me, she will be stomping the snot out of the Republican Candidate for the White House in the 2016 election.

My wife and I are reserving front row seats for that election.

Of course, frankly there may not be a Republican Party anymore by then -- or at the least it will likely be a minor 3rd Party by then.

In that case the cons can be spared the embarrassment of seeing their candidate figuratively, politically dismembered in front of their eyes by the single most powerful force in Washington second only to our President -- yeah, Thats "MRS." Hillary Clinton, to the con losers.

Jason please quit copying other peoples words, and presenting them here as your own. Several have asked you to stop but you won't. Here is your latest act of plagiarism, which in case you don't understand it, is a form of stealing. Evidence of the crime: http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/hillary-...

Jaason,

Answer: Fox News is the propaganda wing of the Republican Party.

Mate you really are stuck deep in that bubble.

Hey everyone!

Jason just informed us all that "redneck" is a race!

Seriously mate, a race?

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

Democrat Senator from Louisanna says the spending problem in Washington only exists with Fox News. I guess 16 trillion debt is a made up number... Obama mention Fox news when talking about immigration...How the hell does Fox News have anything to do with the way politicians run the country.....

With any economic system you can corrupt to being political.

I guess rr3 I'll just have to keep wacking you with the same question every time you pop up, until you answer. For the third time, what do you make of the stock market historically doing better under Democrat Administrations than under Republican Administrations.

You can hide, but you can't run. ;)

"Georgia man guns down immigrant after GPS sends him to wrong driveway"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/29/ge...

What an idiot!!!!!!!

He took a young man's life for absolutely no good rhyme or reason.

This illustrates the biggest part of red-neck gun ownership -- the owner.

Thanks ND. Actually I thought when I read it "That sounds like Alex Jones". That thought was immediately followed by the self query "why do I always think of 'Third World' when I think of Alex Jones".

Sorry Jason but that doesn't really qualify as a credible source. However I do read stuff produced by him from time to time just to keep myself alerted to things on the outside fringe of possibility.

Interesting stuff about the framing our "enemy" by blaming him for a chemical weapon attack that was perpetrated by our minions.

Jason would you mind providing a link to your source? I don't rule it out, but I want to know more about it. If I determine that it is likely true I will be one of the loudest ones spreading the alarm.

Thank you.

Alleged hacked emails from defense contractor Britam reveal a plan "approved by Washington" and funded by Qatar to stage a chemical weapons attack in Syria and blame it on the Assad regime, fulfilling what the Obama administration has made clear is a "red line" that would mandate US military intervention.

The fact that the plan involves delivering a CW (chemical weapon) that is "similar to those Assad should have," clearly suggests that the idea is to stage a false flag chemical weapons attack that could be blamed on Assad by Gulf states like Qatar and NATO powers. Red flag news if this is true that means Obama is a war mongrel.

But then again r,

After reading this, its pretty easy to see why the Republican Party is on its way out the door permanently.

"Father of Newtown victim heckled by gun advocates at legislative hearing"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/28/fa...

r you guys should have put McCain on the ticket in 2012. Then you would have had a shot at winning.

liv='low information voter' or 'liberal information voter'

They never address issues and believe all the lies and corruption of the lib media. Of course some don't care at all they maybe hear a sound bite and go vote based on that. Then some are prodded to get on a bus and told they are going to go vote and they need to vote Democrat. It is hard to beat lies and santa clause in the voting booth.

I was never that sharp in English,so thanks! Always willing (too) or (to)learn. Thanks!

I know that I will get slammed for being a spellchecker on this, but, I just have to do it.

Call this English 101:

3 common typos that, when fixed, will make it easier for some of us to read, and digest some posts on this site.

'You're' means you are. It is a hyphenated word which actually combines 2 separate words.

'Your' is actually used as a possessive, meaning something along the lines of 'This is 'YOUR' bike."

Lose vs. loose. Lose means to actually have something missing where loose means 'not tight', or not corralled, such as "The dog is loose".

To vs. too.

To indicates a direction or a movement. "I am moving 'TO' this place."

'Too' means also. It's as simple as that!

(We'll get to it's vs its some other time.)

These are common typos, and I make my share of typos as well. I actually accept with grace when I am corrected, as I know that my meaning will be clearer and cleaner for it. I used to make the 'it's vs. its' mistake a lot.

(We'll get to 'use vs. used' later!

For those who want to do a bit better job on their (we'll get to their vs. there later) posts, this is intended as concerned advice. For those who do not consider this in good humor; please feel free to disregard my missive. I mean no harm, and am only trying to make it easier to decipher your posts.

I am with News on this one; we all make typos, but these examples aren't typos, these are unintentionally misleading words that can change the entire meaning of a sentence or phrase (we'll get to sentence vs. sentance later).

Have a great day y'all!

:)

What the heck does 'liv' mean anyway? I know it must mean 'lib', but the 'v' makes no sense. Please explain.

rr,

I see you didn't like Secretary of State Clinton's direct method of answering -- or maybe its because nobody but the handful of crazy conservatives are interested in their crazy conspiracy theories.

Its a new World mate and there is no place in it for conservative crazies.

Get used to it mate!

You read my comment very selectively rr3. Do you remember this part of it? "Seems like the stock market historically does its best during Democratic Administrations."

Care to comment on that?

I have come to realize that psc is not our problem. The problem is when half the population watches a lying president rip apart America for 4 years and then see fit to reelect him. Millions think it is ok to rip apart babies before they are born, steal from those that work hard to redistribute to those that don't, think that gay marriage is ok and embrace the most absurd, preposterous and destructive lies as though they are enlightened truths. Millions are in love with lies, deception and selfishness which is our problem, psc is only the symptom.

I figure a big dog like you r probably has a lot of interest in the stock market. Did you see that it is rocketing upward approaching 2007 highs? Now thats the kind of change that puts extra change in the pocket of guys like you. Say what you will you gotta hand it to those Democrats. Seems like the stock market historically does its best during Democratic Administrations.

Griping all the way to the bank are you? ;)

Funny how the liv's never want to talk about issues but will jump all over a spelling error. Hilarious!!

"Berlusconi praises Fascist dictator Mussolini on Holocaust Remembrance Day"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/27/be...

No surprises there.

Oh heck Jason1969,

We can recover that by slashing that outrageously large military budget and raising Mitt Romney and his buddies taxes to 75%.

It might just have been a typo.

heck look at anything I write -- you'll find at least a couple of typos, comma errors, misspellings, ect.

It happens to us all.

rr3yvo,

FYI, It was BEN "STEIN".

All Hands On Deck!

Hello to you all, I am The Right Wing Dream. Though I have never been real it has been your desire to believe in me, so you have. Many of you have long believed in one myth or another, often basing everything on it. Thus I do not feel any responsibility for your fate.

I am telling you now that this ship has been circling to the right for the entire cruise. I know it will be a surprise to most of you that we have gone nowhere. I am also telling you now that this ship is sinking...fast.

One other thing; there are no life boats aboard. Swim for it maties. If you are lucky you may be saved by one of the many other ships that thankfully do not go in a circle. ;)

"Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured...,but not everyone must prove they are a citizen."

"and now, any of those who refuse, or are unable, to prove they are citizens will receive free insurance paid for by those who are forced to buy insurance because they are citizens."

BEN SHEIN

I think we ought to adopt the new liberal slogan.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE!

25,562 people die from falling each year. Let's demand that Congress OUTLAW gravity. Sounds logical doesn't it?

Wow got back about a week ago from a Carribean cruise. Wonderful vacation for the middle of January. I guess you could say I went to where the globe was warmer for sure. The boat for a 5 day cruise averaged 32,000 gal of fuel per day. That is awesome I felt just like Algore. The only difference is I wasn't trying to convince anybody of the climate change hoax while enjoying a jet set lifestyle.

Well i seen were the States that were trying too Redistrict there State to give the Rep.a NO fail Election!(gerrymandering)are backing off from it, for now. The only way to keep the Elections fare is to change the System.Obama is wasting a lot of his time buy not pursuing Indictments of Wall Street Bankers,changing the Voting system,seeing that the 60% majority is changed. To me these kinds of changes would do a lot to correct a number of things!

And just maybe this is a hint as to why there is a purge going on in the Republican Party:

"Christian radio hosts: Feminists are 'selfish, narcissistic, family-destroying [women-of-ill-repute]"

(mild language warning on this one)

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/25/ch...

"Sarah Palin's contract with Fox News not renewed'

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/25/sa...

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/20...

Hey Tea Partiers...guess who is getting dumped (and it ain't just Palin)?

If you guess "the Tea Party," then you guessed correctly.

Stay the hell out of our Social Life,were not a bunch of adolescents,the politicians are not our Parents, we can handle our own choices! This is what causes a lot of the Nations Problems! I mean, Rage ,from a lot of our Citizens!Some, will not stand for it anymore! They can't see this could cause some of this carnage happening?

Its either that or the Republican Party is really just trying to put lipstick on a pig and trying to convince us its something else.

Surely the Republican Party is smarter than that?

I know the American People are smarter than that.

Maybe not "surrendered" - maybe retreating and regrouping ... I doubt they will surrender.

2nd amendment rights ... abortion ... gay marriage... all good topics ... But not even on the radar as far as the puppeteers are concerned. Again - just distraction.

Much like the elections, the Tea Party, the fight over abortion, that guy from Kansas and his church full of lunatics ... just things to distract us while they make their plans - and their fortunes - at the expense of the rest of us.

Maybe we'd be better off to be like PollyAnna and just play the "Glad Game" until we turn back to dust and become part of a beautiful sunset.

I've worn my fingers out Writing to every Politician available too get an answer,no answer yet! I am beginning to think we are no different then any of these Countries fighting for Democracy! What do you do Riot? And have our own Military kill us? This Government has learned a lot from this kind of behavior,so they are more subtle in their approach of taking our Democracy away!

GB

What worries me most are politicians, parties, and individuals who think Americas' only solution to an economic depression is to force Americans' to accept a much lower living standard -- and then threaten to commit terrorism if the American People don't submit to it.

I think that is fundamentally wrong.

I think that is the wrong direction.

I would love to see how long Ted and his band of pseudo patriots would last after the US Air Force began their carpet bombing -- if he and his pals ever did go ahead and actually carry out their threats of treason/terrorism.

These cons seem to think its the 1700's and that somehow they will achieve glory in some kind of twisted, Bizzaro World version of a "Bunker Hill" stand against the People (and military might) of the United states of America.

What a bunch of idiots.

The United States will make short work of them.

BRING IT ON TED!!!

Saw that News about that narcissistic nut Nugent. He has never given a darn about anything except self indulgence. He says why would he waste his time going to Viet Nam when he could instead stay home and live life exactly as he chose. It had nothing to do with any principle other than self gratification.

He also suffers from the earliest onset of arrested development that I have ever witnessed. It appears to have hit the poor soul around age two, or three.

Well i was in a good mood until i just seen the wimp Reid make a deal with MCconnell on the 60 Vote Majority with a hand shake,do you believe it? The Man with no Honor at all! That little wimp needs too go.So now we're stuck another 2 Year with this Crap! What the hell's wrong with the Democrat? He has said for Years it was going to happen this time! What happens, they said they didn't have the Votes. I think both Parties has taken over things ! We don't have anyone doing our bidding,We think we do but i think they have us all fooled,we're already living in a dictator-ship! They could careless what we the People want!11

Well Jo, they call the conservatives crazy for a good reason.

But ya know Joe, the Democrats have their own history of doing the same thing.

That is why we can rest assured most these Republican redistricting "plans" will be struck down in much the same way the courts struck down similar Democrat "plans." Eventually the districts will be objectively drawn utilizing one of several objective methods for re-districting.

Its nothing new mate. Its just the Republicans doing it this time instead of the Democrats.

Jo,

Its likely the gerrymandering will be challenged in court.

The standard the court usually uses is to ask the question, "does the redistricting plan benefit the State majority party" -- in these cases that would be the Republican party. Normally if the court finds it does benefit the majority party, they strike down the redistricting and order that an objective method (there are several) be used in drawing up new districts.

"Listeners and employees quit Georgia public broadcasting as mind-control conspiracy theorist takes over"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/24/li...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/11/15/ge...

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regio...

And the Tea Party wonders why everyone thinks they are crazy...lol.

Yep...and the way of the NAZIs.

OKR,

I love discussing Bush and Cheney. Its one of my favorite pastimes.

The problem seems to be that when confronted with facts the average con suffers acute can't-remember-bush-itis.

Its often the result of long-term selective memory loss experienced while in the conservative bubble.

There is no known cure.

Regressive Couples: Realigned folks who should dance together at every Tea Party Event.

1. Ted Nugent and Orly Taitz

2. Paul Ryan and Sarah Palin

3. Michelle Bachman and Rick Santorum

4. Jan Brewer and Scott Walker

I can see them dancing through the night, twirling always to the right, turning into rotten pumpkins at the stroke of midnight.

Someone please send this link to Paul Ryan. ;)

http://paulbibeau.blogspot.com/2012/01/i...

I checked Fox News, they fail to mention that he was home schooled.

You just can't trust Fox News to give ALL the facts.

"Cops: Woman kills husband, mistaking him for intruder"

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/...

"Husband accidentally shoots wife while lying in bed"

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Hus...

"Husband accidentally shoots himself and wife during gun safety class"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...

Well, I think you see the point.

GAL,

This link might help explain the answer a little better than I can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtqDB2spy...

News GB asked a very good question, so I will ask it again.

How can a firearm in a home be used for personal protection if it is not loaded and not handy (secured) and the ammunition is secured separately?

Come on news man up answer the question.

Oh, hey GB,

I just watched O'Reilly's comments regarding our President's speech.

I was hoping O'Reilly would go ballistic -- complete with on-screen meltdown...but nope he just made some stupid comments that only make sense in the con bubble reality.

Fortunately, we can still watch re-runs of his classic meltdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-Y3HJNU...

Jo,

I sure am glad to see our President finally come out swinging for a change.

And I can almost hear the crowd chanting for him to deliver the knock out blow to the cons.

Its a new day mate and it looks like the American People are winning for a change.

I agree News.Ever since the Leadership G.O.P. has been standing in front of the Camera to tell us what we want, they do look like, & reminds me of the News Reels of Hitlers group. Cantor,kyl,and the rest looks like a bunch of Naiz! You hit the nail on the head like always!

Hey News -

How can a firearm in a home be used for personal protection if it is not loaded and not handy (secured) and the ammunition is secured separately?

"Excuse me Mr. Intruder - give me just a few minutes to assess the situation, unlock my gun safe, find the proper weapon, and then go to another location, unlock yet another vault, and load my weapon - and I'll be right back!"

I know it's important to make sure the firearms are secure - but what does that really mean?

GB

I for one am getting darn sick and tired of all the Ryan Bashing in this forum!!

But seriously, if you dressed Ryan in a NAZI uniform he could look and play the part perfectly!

Jo,

I think having a reliable, reasonable firearm in the home for protection is a good idea provided there are safety criteria mandated by law.

The weapon should be well secured with well secured ammunition kept separately from the weapon.

It would also be a good idea to require some form of firearms training and for the owner to become accustomed to their weapon and learn to shoot it.

Such training should include a general course on gun-owner legal obligations and the limits to the weapon's lawful use.

But frankly mate, I think if we wanted real safety we would be teaching Gandhi/King style pacifism to every child and adult in the World. Then maybe we would not have to any think about needing weapons anywhere at all.

OKR,

That is a great article. It inspired me to do some research.

So now to the crazies who are opposing Chuck Hagel's nomination I must ask....

The surge worked? When?

Maybe what worked for us was the withdrawal -- but that surge thing doesn't seem to have had much effect on the violence in Iraq or damping their defacto civil war.

"Wave of Iraq car bombs targets Shia Muslim pilgrims"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan...

"43 killed in sectarian attacks across Iraq"

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/secta...

"Al-Qaeda making comeback in Iraq, officials say"

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world...

"Police: 26 killed in blasts across Iraq"

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world...

I clicked on it this morning News, and it came right up. I don't know what's going on unless the good ole USA has opted for a Chinese approach to the internet. ;)

It is at "TruthOut" and has to do with revisionist attempts regarding the Iraq surge. You could probably get it by just going to "TruthOut" and perusing their articles.

Regurge the surge. http://truth-out.org/news/item/14020-the...

ND I believe that it is at least partially a consequence of our drift to a center right base. That new focal center has among other things brought a very trend sensitive media to increasingly ape the national feel.

All that of course is counter to what the paranoid right sees, and believes.

The pendulum can never swing fast enough, nor far enough for radicals of any stripe.

Good evening UpseDaisy. We were on the same wave length at the same time. Great minds think alike. :)

Today's, gun show at NC State Fairgrounds was closed after a loaded shot gun fired three rounds through the gun case. Three people are in hospital. Gun show will reopen tomorrow, but no more "private sales" will be allowed.

In another county, a loaded shot gun in a single wide trailer began firing when flames reached 300 degrees. County fire truck was damaged to the tune of $3,000-4,000.

Adding security officers to all elementary schools for the remainder of the school year will cost $800,000.

Money well spent Tea Party?

Glad you enjoyed it News. I am waiting for responses from J69, and r, it will probably be a while. It is likely they are already in seclusion. On the other hand they may have already read my post, and have started acting on all my great suggestions. Guess we'll hear from them when they get back. ;)

My top ten things for Tea Party Members to do to get through the double whammy of President Obama's inauguration, and Martin Luther King's birthday.

10. Take a three day mini-vacation to Alabama, Mississippi, or Oklahoma.

9. Lock the parental guide on all channels except Fox News, and "The 700 Club" provider on every television in your house.

8. Read the "Cliff Notes" version of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged".

7. If you some how finish "Atlas Shrugged" in under three days read a Scrooge McDuck comic to the kids. Scrooge is a wonderful role model.

6. Alternate watching Ted Nugent concerts, and Pendergraft Sisters concerts on your DVD. (http://www.realcourage.org/2009/12/white-supremacist-pendergraft-sisters-efforts-to-promote-hate-via-music/)

5. Triple your meds.

4. Watch a lot of "Father Knows Best", and "Leave It To Beaver" on NetFlix. If you are the modern sort mix in "The Brady Bunch".

3. Eat all you meals at a "Cracker Barrel" restaurant, and recall the good old days when you could get a good breakfast at "Sambo's".

2. Spend several days at "Creation Museum".

1. Go to the shooting range every day. Insist on black silhoutte targets, and be sure to lean them to the left.

"Worker's outsourcing scam discovered"

http://www.crn.com.au/News/329133,worker...

As soon as his employer learned what he had been doing he should have been promoted right away.

"Firearms instructor' hired as school guard leaves handgun in student bathroom"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/18/ne...

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ss...

countryman

In short -- neither my American citizenship, my Missouri birth, or my American civil rights are up for debate. They are absolute.

Drop the virtual xenophobia countryman.

I say that in self defense as much as in defense of News Across, for next you will be complaining that OKR no longer lives in Missouri thus should not be entitled to an opinion on Missouriania.

How wrong you are. I suppose that you have never read Dickens, after all what could a Limey have had to say that was at all relative to America?

Is it possible for a fellow who does not pay taxes in our local community, participate in any way in any local organizations or activities, pay taxes in America, or actually experience daily life in Central Missouri in the 21st Century to have any credibility when bloviating on solutions to rather complex societal woes?

Internet philosopy is a great exercise, but there is this pesky real world out here that most of us live in.

Good Points all, OKR.

There are never enough guns for the American people.

There are too many people in this country with a subconscious phobia that our country is falling apart, and/or going to hell. Thus a subconscious restlessness, and insecurity causes a conscious reaction, get more guns now.

It is totally understandable given the context of the overwhelming fiction media primary message for at least the last sixty years. Guns solve problems, end problems, and are the only real security when things go wrong.

An endless stream of cops and guns shows are perennial hits on television, shoot 'em up movies in every genre from crime to cowboys, and shoot your way to victory video games seal the deal. It couldn't be any other way. Life imitates art, as often as art imitates life, and in this case it has become a circular affair that grows exponentially.

countryman

1.) "Our" refers to the political majority.

Being loud does not change the fact that the cons are a small minority.

We will be changing the law, and I believe the Supreme Court will uphold the law as fully Constitutional.

2.) I am an American citizen, and that is not up for debate. In addition, where my boots happen to be standing has no bearing on my American citizenship.

Did I forget to mention cluelessness and one-upmanship, defined as a burning desire to always be right about everything, never leaving any room for other possibilities? The stench of arrogance abounds.

Or perhaps defined as pseudo-intellectual ramblings from one who really has no dog in the hunt in the first place?

Good plan, mate, let's punish the innocent and law abiding masses for the egregious acts of individuals. Now that is enlightened governance.

BTW mate,

Do you think perhaps our National reaction to 27 victims -- most young children -- being murdered by a crazed gunman who had easy access to his weapons -- is a bit overly dramatic?

Isn't that special....

And hey how about that Colorado theater shooter? Would you describe our National reaction to that as a bit over the top mate?

And hey, what will you say about the next mass-murder? Will you say, "oh its just a few folks getting killed. Nothing to see here, just move along (lol).

"Every thing's OK in Mayberry!"

Floyd the Barber

Another fine example of a common charachteristic found in the baby boom generation: excessive drama, or perhaps better stated as a propensity toward dramatic over-reaction and riteous indignation.

Alas, poor maturity and dignity, we knew ye well.

Gal66

I doubt defined pensions are offered as a benefit anywhere these days.

They were replaced by the 401K.

When 401Ks were first offered, most employers offered to match contributions of the worker which made the 401K viable. Those matching contributions by the employers then began to decline slowly, and today most companies offer no matching contributions.

The 401K was originally touted to be far superior to defined pensions (which had been the pensions companies offered prior to the 401K).

Defined pensions enabled many of the WW2 Generation to retire and not have to worry about future income because their pensions paid them an amount close to their former salary (and usually included annual cost of living increases).

These defined pension wained during the Reagan years (phased out by the 1%). Ultimately, the 401K turned out to be just another lame-brained, conservative idea that made the rich richer and the middle-class/poor poorer.

The 1% sold us the 401K idea and then they sold us down the river.

News and OKR I was asking about the 401k because I really was looking for an answer from someone I thought would be able to tell me the truth.

But because of my conservative views I get a smart mouth answer from news.

OKR the 401k is the only program offered where I work.

As for a problem with personal responsibility I really think I was admitting that don't you think?

So news you think everyone that does not agree with the President should be swinging from the end of a rope, sounds like you have some real problems!

You know I really thought the active people on this section of the news papers web site could have a disagreement about political issues and still be decent and respectful to each other but I see I was wrong.

I respect both of your views and some of them I even agree with from time to time.

Have a great day both of you.

Jason1969

Hey I got a great idea mate.

Lets vote the Republicans who are placing our babies at risk out of office.

I say we vote those scumbags out of office and replace them with responsible members of Congress.

'cause frankly mate, I think we who value our children can way out vote the scumbags who are putting our children in danger.

Let's start convicting the cons who would do our children in and just go ahead and start hanging the lawbreakers who are resisting our President and our placing our children in danger,

I am going to say this gun control only works with law abiding citizens there is no honest criminal. I think nothing is going to happen with gun control the president did what he could do and that is it. There will be no bans on semi automatics or limits on magazine....

Why would that not be drawn out before you saw it with a standard pension plan?

You didn't address why a 401K is better. They both have the advantage that you find necessary.

I have to say that the NRA could not possibly be responding any more poorly to the current situation.

For example:

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/...

I think those $1,000,000 annual salaries that Keene and LaPierre are raking in are making them soft in the head. Which, by the way, seems to be a charachteristic of the 'privledged' class.

Which just goes to show you, you don't have to be smart to be rich. Cunning, guile, remorselessness, and luck are much more important. Heavy emphasis on the last one. Here's a lesson for you young folks, it's much easier to marry wealth than it is to earn it. Even better if you can get yourself born to the right parents.

Don't get me wrong here though. I support gun ownership rights and have no problem with folks who like to target shoot or even hunt with black rifles. It seems that the anti-gun folk are most concerned about magazine capacity, and they deserve to be heard.

My personal take, bring back permits to own certain weapons. I have no problem having to apply and recieve a permit from my local sherrif to purchase a hand gun or high capacity magazine. In some ways, it would be easier to recieve the permit, and then go shopping. Also, require a permit for the buyer in a private sale. No selling your handgun to somebody unless he has a permit. I guess I never had a problem back when that was the law.

The instant background check system seems to be filled with flaws and obviously isn't stopping guns from getting into the wrong hands.

Of course, responsible gun ownership should be mentioned in this discourse as well. Trigger locks, cable locks, and lockable gun cabinets are all good ideas. My position is that it is the gun owners responsibility to assure their weapons are properly secure and their nut job friends and relatives, or neighbors, or burglars can't do bad things with them.

OKR no problem at all with the time it took to reply no way is this the most important place for any of us I hope.

I may have missed some of what you posted.

The only problem I have with the old AWB is that it put the ban on a type of gun that I like to shoot.

I do not have a problem with a limit on clip size really with the exception that I do not want to see it go below 10 rounds.

"Poll: Majorities favor assault weapons ban, background checks"

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/...

http://www.people-press.org/2013/01/14/i...

OKR yes I know what it is, I have tried to do it but never got very far with it hell I can not walk and chew gum at the same time.

I make it to many ranges in a years time and just do not see it being done much any more that could be a product of the fact that the cost of ammo has gone up drastically.

I do not get any joy out of just blasting away the vast majority of the shooting I do is done at paper targets I have shot at a few matches but that is just not my thing really, I still do some informal matches most of those are email matches.

I get great joy at being able to hit what I am aiming at no matter the range.

Being able to hit a 4" target at 1000 yards is amazing.

OKR from everything I have seen you post on the subject of gun control it appeared to me you were in lock step with most of the gun control advocates if that is not true I am sorry.

Am I right or wrong? Have a lot of the mass school shootings been done my suburban white kids or not?

"Coddling, awards for everyone, no discerenable discipline etc,etc, etc. This is the extreme left I am referring to."

WTF I think that you are myopic if you truly believe that is applicable to our whole society. Reading between the lines which for some reason is necessary with these most recent of your posts I think you are talking about kids today. If that is your observation about all the kids in Marshall and beyond, and the way they are treated at home, and school you are entitled to that opinion. However I am also entitled to my opinion that it is cynical, and over-reaching.

How you can ascribe the source of that, even if it existed, to the left is beyond over-reaching. I think it is balderdash. It is as if an ill wind had torn some misbegotten paper banner, slogan intact, from a Tea Party gathering, and blown it across your eyes, your ears, temporarily blinding, deafening you to what is. To ascribe such conditions to the extreme left is indeed short sighted.

If only it were so that the extreme left held such influence on society as a whole, we would not have had any of the wars that have morally, and financially bankrupted our country.

If such massive decline as you describe it even exists it is caused by a buy in of society as a whole. Such shattering of structure is never, ever caused by a sliver of a minority, neither left, nor right. That is just my opinion, take it, or leave it.

Nana-Dot,

Name calling? I guess my point in the most basic terms is that in regards to the "mass" shootings, seems to be mostly suburban white kids. Not black or latino gang bangers, but spoiled little white yuppie offspring.

WTF,

Have you ever had a Henry Hill moment?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A90bVruQr...

(language advisory on this one)

By the way WTF speaking only from personal observation I see no difference between the over-indulging of today's children by politically right parents, and politically left parents. I also see no political distinction concerning the fascination with accumulating material goods that make life easier, and softer, that effects the most of us.

If that is a machination by the political left it is a true wonder, because it is the only left wing plot that the right wing has bought part, and parcel.

If you were speaking of coddling criminals it goes on no where as flagrantly as it does with the rich right wingers who are seldom charged, and even less frequently convicted of anything. We have accepted a culture in which they are above the law.

Even on personal crimes it is the same. Rich white guys can blow coke all day long, and nothing happens. Some poor Mexican can smoke pot, or black guy can do crack, or white red neck do meth with the same frequency, and they are in the slammer for years. Yeh it's that way in Marshall, and in the cities.

I think maybe that if you expanded, and detailed what you were talking about there is less chance that you will be misunderstood. I hope you do, because more often than not I agree with your comments, and I may not be getting your point.

WTF you have a point on coddling. I was obviously excersing my right as an irascible old man to indulge myself with a back in my day moment, circa 1952.

OMG here I go again. When I was a kid, and it snowed I grabbed the scoop shovel (none of them fancy "snow shovels" back then), and was gone all day. I earned on average about a dollar per sidewalk, and steps, and maybe two dollars if it included a good size driveway. I went straight home afterward, and the money went in the family pot. Yeh, it was a hard life, but we liked it that way. ;)

News, OK Reader,

I never said anything remotely close to that. That is your projection. If you don't think we are raising a generation that expects certain things then you are wrong. For example I went to shovel the snow on my Father's driveway. There was a time several groups of kids would have been by to do it for extra money. Not so anymore. Just one very small example.

G66 you have just exhibited one of the traits of the far right. You need to discern that there are differences in position between various folks on the left. Because one calls for something, does not mean all do.

You have never read that I favor doing away with all semi-automatic weapons. I do not. Hell, as a young feller I hunted squirrels, and rabbits to put meat on our empty table. It sure went easier when I was able to scrape together a few bucks to replace my single shot twenty two with a used semi-automatic twenty two.

How about doing me a favor, and not automatically, nor semiautomatically, assume my every view is some rote thing common to every one on the left. After all, I have never suggested you were in lock step with Jason 69, or rr3, or a universal right wing stance on every thing. You might take offense at that. ;)

Gee WTF I some how missed out on all of that coddling, and some folks would consider me a part of the extreme left political segment...go figure. ;)

"Blackburn promises to 'be very thoughtful' while shutting down government"

with video

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/14/bl...

News like it our not when Obama made that decision he was coming of the 2008 election and if I remember correctly you voted for him in that election so at that time he was you choice

News no where in my post did I say any thing about a violent criminal rebellion period.

Yes I did say I would have to decide if I wanted to become a criminal and News like it or not that is my choice.

You know News you may just be surprised just how many of those police, including the state police, US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines just might not be willing to take action against American citizens when it comes to taking guns if it came to that.

I regards to these mass shootings of late, I think we are seeing the results of pure extremism from both sides.

The extreme left has given us a generation who don't know how to handle disappointment or any other of life's little unpleasantries while the extreme right has made sure that those same little darlings have insanely easy access to miltiary/law enforcement type weaponry.

We have all seen the results.

We all need to get back to the middle but fast. Let's keep score at T-Ball and paddle their butts when needed. At he same time let's take the 2nd ammendment, any gun available to anyone at anytime rhetoric down a few notches and we maybe we'll all be better off. If anyone is looking for me I'll be over here....back in the middle.

OKR I know you can see the part of the quote that says "Semi-automatic weapons" News started out wanting to ban just the assault rifles now it has changed to "Semi-automatic weapons".

I am not confused in any way I can read exactly what News posted if you choose to not see it thats up to you!

News as far as Bush goes your boy Obama could have done something about every thing you have brought up time and time again.

News and OKR if or when a ban is put in place depending on if it includes a confiscation (yes I think that A confiscation is going to happen sooner or later) there are a bunch of people going to have to decide if they want to remain law abiding citizens or not.

In my opinion that is a decision I really do not think I should have to make.

Gal66

We the People have not yet defined what your and my 2nd Amendment rights are yet mate

However, rest assured that We the Majority, who are We the People, will make those decisions through the legislative and constitutional processes.

We will find those lines, and I believe we will have a High Court willing to draw those lines.

As to your fears, they are irrational and irrelevant to the concerns of the majority.

Its our fear, the Majority's fear (babies/angels being massacred by crazies with assault weapons), that are our concern...and you better believe we are going to do something about that...despite your fear.

I just did this post because I want 4 in a row!

:)

Yes news;

I am so looking forward to the day when we have a good Supreme Court again.

Finally, some relief for the common people.

"Semi-automatic weapons are extremely dangerous because of that factor, and should be banned for use by civilians.

Semi-automatic weapons belong in the hands of soldiers -- not in the hands of civilians"

News this comment is exactly why us pro gun people fight so hard for our gun rights.

You have gone from banning assault rifles to banning all semi-automatic weapons.

Thank you so much for proving my point give the anti gun crowd an inch and they will take it all!

News don'tcha reckon that a whole lot of these self proclaimed conservative gun lovers who delight in their BushMasters, and such may be just a little hypocritical?

One of the first points that they hasten to make is, oh no these guns aren't assault rifles they are semi-automatic, assault rifles are fully automatic.

Don'tcha figure that a whole lot of those folks know all about bump firing, have used the technique, and know darn well that the technique approachs the rapid fire rate of full automatics? C'mon when the instuctions on the technique warn them to be careful because the barrel gets very hot from spewing rapid fire bullets, even suggests that they put a handle on the front of the barrel if they are going to do it? They have known all along that the slow fire BushMaster is a myth.

Yet not a one of them has said anything but that they are semi-automatic, and entirely different rifles.

Which leads me to the thought that if Diogenes could not find an honest man, it was because his world way back then was populated solely by pseudo- conservative right wing radicals. ;)

Gal66

Yes and under the 2 defining cases ruled on by the Supreme Court, that would be arms regulation.

So finally we agree the People do have the right to some regulation of arms use.

You may note that most the Supreme Court Justices, including the Majority Author of the 2 precedent setting decisions, Justice Scalia, agree with you and me that there are limits to the 2nd Amendment and that the People do have the right at some point to regulate arms and arms use.

Now that we agree that their are limits to what type of arms one can own and that the Majority has the right to regulate arms, we need only to agree on where that line is.

Oh by the way, I am a Vietnam Era Vet. I spent my term of service as a permanent tourist in Germany making America safer by drinking and eating as much German beer and food as best I could.

However, in boot camp I was trained to shoot an M16 and a few other weapons. Under our training, and based on our trainers' experience -- the Vietnam Vets' with multiple-terms in Vietnam, and having just recently returned from there -- our Drill Sgts insisted that we understand that our automatic setting on the M16 would rarely be used.

They said under fire the semi-automatic was our best bet.

In addition, during our training in combat simulation we were taught to use the semi-automatic setting unless ordered to do otherwise -- and that was not often. There were a number of reasons for that including the fact that the M16 barrel would get red hot if we tried to fire off an entire clip and it would jam up.

But I gotta tell ya, I could fire off a standard clip of 20 in nothing flat on semi-automatic, and accurately so.

Semi-automatic weapons are extremely dangerous because of that factor, and should be banned for use by civilians.

Semi-automatic weapons belong in the hands of soldiers -- not in the hands of civilians.

And I think we have a Majority willing to ban them and we will have a Supreme Court willing to define the limits of the 2nd Amendment when those bans are challenged.

Seriously News I am in very good company with the other winners of your Hammer award. :)

Thank you Wizard of Oz. I humbly accept your award, and aspire to meet the criteria for such consideration in the future. ;)

ND,

The Powell interview...WOW!!

Personally, I only disagree with 1 issue with Powell in this matter. I believe the Republicans have already gone off that cliff and are on their way to a split and becoming 2 separate parties -- the Tea Party which will have most of its support in the South and a smaller Republican Party composed of moderate, big money, North-Eastern Republicans.

Guess which party will have money and which one will be Po'?

Lol...

Jason you said in response to me, "If your able to get a job find a way to get one I have no further input on this." The only thing that I can logically gather from that is that it is a confirmation that you walked away from the discussion because you had painted yourself into a corner, and your only out was to disappear. It doesn't get much weaker than that.

You guys on the extreme right just can't admit even once, that you are wrong. I suppose that is because if you did your entire house of cards would fall, and you are all missing the will, and where with all to rebuild it from legitimate materials.

Oh its coming ND, and comin' right soon.

It won't be the end of the World, but there won't be many of us left when its through. Getting there will be a long series of wars, wars to control resources...shrinking resources in a rapidly expanding population on a planet that cannot meet the resource needs of its current population.

Think Easter Island on a World-wide scale.

...yep, and comin' right soon.

Nana my point about the question was that the only difference is the looks period!

I live out side Marshall on "O" road.

Now as far as the hand gun problem in big cities the problem is that by far most of that handgun violence has been committed by criminals that are going to have guns new gun control or not.

Do you really think more gun control is going to stop that

Feinstein is going for a US gun band.

Like parkuser said its not gong to matter in a few years anyway and yes I really think that's going to be what happens.

Jason1969

Yes, Texas...the minimum wage State!

And yes mate, the lower the cost of labor, the higher the demand for labor.

The problem is trying to feed your family on poverty-level wages.

We aren't interested in making our Nation poorer mate. We are interested in making our Nation (and thus its People), prosperous.

Lowering our Standard of living is not an acceptable solution.

Raising our Standard of living is the solution.

We need a New Deal -- not minimum wage jobs.

Jason,

you said, "If your able to get a job find a way to get one..."

I don't know to whom that is directed, however please indulge me while I weigh in on that idea.

The last thing I want is a job.

First off, I haven't worked in many years.

Secondly, I don't like the idea of working for somebody else. Frankly, I have worked for other people before. Trust me, it sucks.

In addition, I don't like working -- short of piddling around my workshop in the backyard or doing some yard work.

Finally, I live in the South Pacific in one of the most unique places in the World, and I am having way too much fun to even consider seeking employment.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Texas has a surplus because they had previously cut welfare, reduced retirement plans and cut back on (you guessed it) mental health. Now, they have a surplus due mostly to less stringent regulations for oil and gas (under the Obama administration, mind you), and an increase in sales tax. (The dreaded TAX word).

Missouri does not have oil and not much natural gas. I guess that just leaves decreasing mental health programs and raising sales tax, right Jason?

Oh yes, and let's get those welfare bums some guns and let them guard the schools; there's a job opening for you.

If your able to get a job find a way to get one I have no further input on this. Problem is there is no will because you can get more out of the government than you can get out of a job so its natural for people to look for the easiest way out. We have no self pride.. Cut down on the benefits for able body america. Give them an incentive to go look for work wherever that may lead.... I think there is no further reason to discuss this with you I have made my point and you have maid your point.

Now how come it seems the more progressive of a state the more in debt the state and how come Republican controlled states are the ones that have surpluses? Mike Huckabee summed it up. he media may have a lot of voters convinced that huge deficits and sluggish job growth are the "new normal." But on the state level, it's obvious that what's normal depends on who's in charge. The Washington Examiner reports that the federal government just racked up another quarterly deficit of $293 billion, and states controlled by Democratic governors are facing similar problems. Illinois is looking at a deficit of nearly $6 billion. And surprise: the revenues from California's huge new tax increases are running 10.8 percent below expectations, so they're now anticipating a $1.9 billion deficit. Meanwhile, states controlled by Republican governors are rolling in money. Tennessee and Florida have seen deficits turn to surpluses. Iowa, Michigan and Indiana have surpluses in the hundreds of millions. And business-friendly, energy-producing, income tax-free Texas is trying to decide what to do with a projected two-year budget surplus of $8.8 billion.

Oh and Jason,

you said,

"Didn't see any facts btw."

Well mate that is the whole point, you never do see facts...and especially when those facts turn your argument on its head.

Didn't see any facts btw.

The recent school shooting was not cause by a semi automatic weapon. Jonesboro school massacre rifles were used by 11 and 12 year old who stole them which by they way I think there is a law for it...Gun control laws keep law abiding citizens from having but not the criminals.

Nana,

As I have said I and lot of other gun owners have no problem on a limit to how many bullets go in a clip we do have a problem with a ban on "assult rifles" (by the way if it is like the AWB from before it will also include handgun clips)

as soon as there is another mass killing the gun control folks will go after another type of gun.

I enjoy shooting my so called assult rifle I have no 30 round mags, I am working on another for long range shooting out to 1000 yards.

Here is a question for you what is the difference between any other semi-auto rifle and one of the so called assult rifles?

In my opinion in this last mass shooting the owner of the guns used was not a responsable gun owner he should never of had access to guns period.

But you want to punish me for what she did wrong!

But before I go,

They should have entitled this

"Dorks With Guns"

"Portland residents panic as men armed with assault weapons 'educate' the city"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/11/po...

News you are so predictable and easy it's almost funny.............

Every news outlet has an agenda period your smart enough to know that right?

For that matter everyone has an agenda.

Have a great weekend news, I will thats for sure the oldest son and Iare going to work on his race car.

May even go out and do a little target shooting!

"Bring Me My Shotgun"

Lightnin' Hopkins

This is what a real guitarist/singer/composer sounds like.

The Washington times...lol.

Ted Nudgent...lol.

Gee...no conservative bias there (LOL).

No sir!

ROTFLMAO!!

Sorry have a bad habit of ignoring ignorance one of my hidden talents, Since you all seem to want to intrude on the 2nd amendment maybe you all should go after the first amendment with violent Hollywood.

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.

-- Saint Augustine

Hello Jason? Jason? Gone again, I wonder why? ;)

"In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth."

Gahndi

Jason,

After viewing the facts at the link provided by OKR, I have to ask you, what is it about facts vs lies that you find confusing?

Facts are reality.

Lies are not the reality.

Or is it your conservative bias again?

Oh and Jason,

Ganhdi wiped the biggest empire your culture could create off the face of the map -- and he did it without firing a shot.

Top that mate.

"Gandhi does not matter to me he was not apart of our cultural..."

Jason

Now there is a statement from a guy firmly rooted in the con Bubble.

Jason1969

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you had to walk 5 miles uphill in the snow and then 5 miles uphill in the snow to get back.

Spare me your self-indulgent tears.

No matter how hard you think you had it, no matter how tough you think you are, there are lots of folks who have had it harder and who are a lot tougher than you.

Your party -- the Republican Party -- and your President -- George W. Bush -- crashed our economy, embroiled us in not 1 but 2 "Vietnams," made torture the norm, broke our laws, spied on our People without a warrant, and drove unemployment to levels not seen since the Great Depression.

And now you want to blame the poor for being poor.

Paaaaleeeeeeze spare me your insensitivity and lack of compassion and lack of common sense.

Gandhi does not matter to me he was not apart of our cultural and btw if there are gun control laws then in fact in my opinion the government has infringe on my rights.

Jason my questions were, "How many folks do you think there are in Marshall right now that could work, should work, but don't work? I have another question for you. How many jobs are available in Marshall right now?"

Your answer was, "First of all there are means for transportation working the dfs just got to look for it second of all I would say about 10 percent to 20 percent could work".

My follow up question is what the hell does your answer mean?

Jason1969

You really should refrain from commenting on history.

Its clearly something you don't know much about, judging by your consistent errors on same.