The Republican Thread

[Balta1701]

Good lord, I don't know that I have ever read such a steaming pile of crap in this forum, and that is saying something. Good old mind tricks...

Have you never sat in on a marketing meeting?

 

I actually found it funny, as I was writing that post, there was a Ford commercial on, showing trucks going over rocks, all sorts of manly things...and their slogan "Built Tough". The double-sharp-T in the slogan to catch your ear. Exactly the same usage.

 

Hollywood does this all the time too. People get the T sound or the end-K sound inserted in their name to add some edge to how it's pronounced.

[iamshack]

Have you never sat in on a marketing meeting?

 

I actually found it funny, as I was writing that post, there was a Ford commercial on, showing trucks going over rocks, all sorts of manly things...and their slogan "Built Tough". The double-sharp-T in the slogan to catch your ear. Exactly the same usage.

 

Hollywood does this all the time too. People get the T sound or the end-K sound inserted in their name to add some edge to how it's pronounced.

Is that why The Rock is going by Dwayne Johnson now?

 

I kid, I kid...

[StrangeSox]

Have you never sat in on a marketing meeting?

 

I actually found it funny, as I was writing that post, there was a Ford commercial on, showing trucks going over rocks, all sorts of manly things...and their slogan "Built Tough". The double-sharp-T in the slogan to catch your ear. Exactly the same usage.

 

Hollywood does this all the time too. People get the T sound or the end-K sound inserted in their name to add some edge to how it's pronounced.

 

Seriously, companies spend millions (billions?) of dollars on this type of marketing stuff.

[NorthSideSox72]

I think its interesting these people switched AFTER the major GOP wave.

 

[mr_genius]

The Illinois Democrat party in action

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-03

/i...to-produce.html://http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...to-produce.html

 

I've quoted some of the 'highlights'

 

“chronic unwillingness to confront a long-term, structural budget deficit,”

 

The fiscal mess is largely of the lawmakers’ own making, and failure to address the shortages threatens public schools, local governments and other public services, said Dan Hynes, the state’s outgoing comptroller.

 

The state was hoping for a quick recovery or inflation, and they didn’t get it,” Johnson said in a telephone interview. “And there was no appetite to reduce the escalating costs of spending.”

 

“Revenues went south, spending went north,”

 

“The state has been spending $3 for every $2 it takes in, and borrowing to cover its current operating expenses,”

 

The state had $64 billion of assets to pay estimated liabilities of $126.4 billion as of June, or less than half the amount needed for almost 723,000 workers, retirees and other beneficiaries, according to bond documents.

Edited January 4, 2011 by mr_genius

[southsider2k5]

http://geekpolitics.com/obama-on-raising-the-debt-ceiling/

 

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.

 

Over the past 5 years, our federal debt has increased by $3.5 trillion to $8.6 trillion.That is “trillion” with a “T.” That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. And over the next 5 years, between now and 2011, the President’s budget will increase the debt by almost another $3.5 trillion.

 

Numbers that large are sometimes hard to understand. Some people may wonder why they matter. Here is why: This year, the Federal Government will spend $220 billion on interest. That is more money to pay interest on our national debt than we’ll spend on Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. That is more money to pay interest on our debt this year than we will spend on education, homeland security, transportation, and veterans benefits combined. It is more money in one year than we are likely to spend to rebuild the devastated gulf coast in a way that honors the best of America.

 

And the cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the Federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and States of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on.

 

Every dollar we pay in interest is a dollar that is not going to investment in America’s priorities.

 

Senator Barack Obama

Senate Floor Speech on Public Debt

March 16, 2006

[Jenksismyhero]

http://geekpolitics.com/obama-on-raising-the-debt-ceiling/

 

Oh the irony.

 

 

(awaits the liberal explanation that the world is different now and increasing the debt ceiling was absolutely necessary to our survival)

[NorthSideSox72]

Oh the irony.

 

 

(awaits the liberal explanation that the world is different now and increasing the debt ceiling was absolutely necessary to our survival)

Most of the increase falls onto the laps of the GOP, and they can feel free to use whatever excuses they want to. Most of this debt run-up is the direct results of actions of GOP-led Congresses and a GOP President, and they did it in times that were far better economically than the one we've been in for the last 3 years.

 

That's what many Republicans are failing to acknowledge - that this debt and deficit problem in the federal government (and it is a big one) is in great part their own fault. Obama and the Dem Congress get some too of course. But the idea that its a Dem thing is outright false, when looking at the past decade.

 

[Balta1701]

Last year, despite all that new debt, the government spent $164 billion on interest payments.

[southsider2k5]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/nyregion/05storm.html

 

Blizzard Cleanup Is Subject of Inquiry

By WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and RUSS BUETTNER

Published: January 4, 2011

 

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have opened a preliminary investigation into allegations that disgruntled sanitation workers sabotaged the cleanup after the blizzard last week that left some neighborhoods snowbound for days, people who have been briefed on the inquiry said Tuesday.

 

The investigation is focusing on whether there was a work slowdown and, if so, whether it was an effort to pad overtime. If the actions took place, two of those people said, they could constitute wire fraud or wire fraud conspiracy, both federal crimes. Both people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

 

The inquiry, which began last week, is being conducted by the Public Integrity Section in the office of United States Attorney Loretta E. Lynch, which will work with the city’s Department of Investigation, one of the people said. The city investigators also began looking into possible efforts to sabotage the cleanup last week.

 

“We’re taking a look at this,” one of the people said, adding that the inquiry was in its earliest stages. It was reported Monday night by WCBS-TV News.

 

City officials have said that the cleanup’s primary obstacle was the large number of vehicles stuck in the middle of streets, which left many impassable to snow plows.

 

Critics have said that the Bloomberg administration’s choice not to declare a snow emergency or to ask sooner for private-sector help, as well as the city transit agency’s delay in invoking a full-scale emergency plan, meant that thousands of cars, trucks and buses remained mired in snow-clogged streets.

 

Evidence to support rumors that some sanitation workers intentionally slowed their efforts has been scant. The leaders of the two unions that represent sanitation workers and supervisors have denied that a slowdown occurred, as have Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the Sanitation Department’s commissioner, John J. Doherty. All would have a vested interest in deflecting blame for the problems.

 

City Councilman Daniel J. Halloran, a Republican of Queens, was quoted in The New York Post on Thursday saying that supervisors, bitter over recent demotions and staff reductions, told their workers to “not do the plowing of some of the major arteries in a timely manner.”

 

In a telephone interview that day, Mr. Halloran said three sanitation workers, including one whom he had long known and who had worked on his election campaign, told him that the message from their supervisors was not quite so explicit. They were told they would not be closely monitored and should not overwork themselves, he said, adding that the message was subtle to avoid a violation of the state’s Taylor Law, which bars public-sector unions from going on strike.

 

Mr. Halloran also said two Department of Transportation employees told him that sanitation supervisors delayed their deployment by several hours.

 

“Their perspective was that the supervisors at Sanitation were taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, and saying we’re going to show the mayor that he needs us,” he said.

 

Mr. Halloran met on Tuesday with federal investigators and gave them videotapes and photographs he had received showing city trucks cruising through streets with their plows up, a spokesman for the councilman said. The spokesman declined to say whether Mr. Halloran had given investigators the names of the sanitation workers who came to his office.

 

Rose Gill Hearn, the city’s investigation commissioner, said late Monday that her office was looking into any evidence that workers suggested, encouraged or participated in a slowdown. The Queens and Brooklyn district attorneys’ offices are also conducting a preliminary inquiry.

 

The source of the ire among sanitation supervisors has been attributed to the planned demotions of 100 sanitation supervisors, a job title that the Bloomberg administration saw as bloated.

 

The plan was announced in October. So far, 45 recently promoted supervisors who were still on probation at that rank have been demoted, and 55 more-senior supervisors are scheduled to be demoted unless their union can come up with similar cost savings.

 

Joseph Mannion, president of the Sanitation Officers Association, did not respond to a message left Tuesday at his office. But on Monday he denied that his workers had done anything short of their best to plow the streets.

[Jenksismyhero]

Most of the increase falls onto the laps of the GOP, and they can feel free to use whatever excuses they want to. Most of this debt run-up is the direct results of actions of GOP-led Congresses and a GOP President, and they did it in times that were far better economically than the one we've been in for the last 3 years.

 

That's what many Republicans are failing to acknowledge - that this debt and deficit problem in the federal government (and it is a big one) is in great part their own fault. Obama and the Dem Congress get some too of course. But the idea that its a Dem thing is outright false, when looking at the past decade.

 

Who said anything about it being a Dem only thing? It's hypocritical for him to rant about spending problems and debt problems and the irresponsibility of government, only to then increase the deficit by a trillion dollars in 12 months while President, on top of whatever he added in 09.

 

God knows Reagan and Bush both spent like crazy, but this is a pot meet kettle situation given all the spending Obama has done.

[Balta1701]

Who said anything about it being a Dem only thing? It's hypocritical for him to rant about spending problems and debt problems and the irresponsibility of government, only to then increase the deficit by a trillion dollars in 12 months while President, on top of whatever he added in 09.

 

God knows Reagan and Bush both spent like crazy, but this is a pot meet kettle situation given all the spending Obama has done.

You know what's really amazing? Almost all of that spending you're railing against has been 2 things:

 

1. Tax cuts

2. Things that automatically kick in during a recession (people going on unemployment and Medicaid after losing jobs).

 

The increase in the yearly deficit has been caused much more by a loss of revenue than it has been caused by any new spending.

 

And you can say it's always different all you want...but deficit spending following a financial crisis is fundamentally different than deficit spending during a period of expansion. They're both expansionary...but when the economy is already expanding, the extra expansion winds up pushing inflation.

[Jenksismyhero]

You know what's really amazing? Almost all of that spending you're railing against has been 2 things:

 

1. Tax cuts

2. Things that automatically kick in during a recession (people going on unemployment and Medicaid after losing jobs).

 

The increase in the yearly deficit has been caused much more by a loss of revenue than it has been caused by any new spending.

 

And you can say it's always different all you want...but deficit spending following a financial crisis is fundamentally different than deficit spending during a period of expansion. They're both expansionary...but when the economy is already expanding, the extra expansion winds up pushing inflation.

 

I was against the tax cuts, so that means nothing. But yeah, this was the post I was waiting for. It's different now, circumstances change, blah blah. If you have a principle, you stick with it unless you absolutely can't.

[Balta1701]

If you have a principle, you stick with it unless you absolutely can't.

"Hurting the economy is bad".

[Controlled Chaos]

Was Alpha Dog suspended or banned? I haven't seen anything from him in a while.

[lostfan]

Neither, he just stopped posting on the site altogether.

[StrangeSox]

He got pissed off in one of these threads about a month ago and said he was done with the site. I don't remember which thread, the topic, or who provoked the response, though.

[Controlled Chaos]

just curious. thx.

[StrangeSox]

FYI here's the series of posts where he said he was leaving. He hasn't logged back in since then.

 

Two cults enter, one cult leaves.......

 

Westboro Baptist crazies picketing the Dearborn Islamic Center, on 11/18. Oh boy.

 

 

This is ridiculously disrespectful. There is nothing extremist about the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, MI. The Imam at this mosque works endlessly for religious reconciliation and understanding. His teachings have ecumenical underpinnings and is a prime example of moderate Islamic religion. So much so that George W recognized him for it.

 

 

Stop being politically correct.

 

 

There has been much worse written here about Catholics, so I am not worried.

 

 

You seriously are putting the religion of Islam in the same category as the Westboro idiots? Cults?

 

This after your recent posts extolling the virtues of racial profiling. I don't know how you expect anyone to react to your posts with anything but disdain, if this is the best you can do.

 

 

In the rules that you agreed to in order to post here, you agreed that the following posts are not acceptable or permitted in this forum.

 

 

 

Your previous post violates this rule. Referring to one of the largest religions in the world as a cult is not acceptable discussion on this forum, at any time.

 

 

Really? Show us.

 

I do know there are a few people who post in here who have derided all religions as a group. Some people find the very idea of religion as repugnant.

 

I've also seen people criticize the catholic church for specific policy or doctrine, just as people do so regarding Islam. No problems there.

 

What I haven't seen anyone do is "much worse" than calling a major global religion a cult. What would be worse than that, anyway?

 

 

I'm sure the Catholic Church has been raked over the coals a few times here over the pedophilia issues and how they handle it. But they deserve that.

 

 

That's my point - people rail on the Catholic Chuch on a specific action, one that pretty much everyone agrees is awful. Similarly, people rail on the more fundamentalist Ismalic atrocities, like the Taliban, or stoning women who supposedly commit audultery. What no one other than Alpha Dog is doing, is referring to either religin as a cult, as if they millions or billions of members are all drones or something.

 

 

So when someone makes jokes about priests molesting kids, that's not mocking the religion in general? Nobody takes those as singling out just the few (or many?) priests that have and do molest kids, they all hear and take it as an inditement of the religion as a whole. And I refered to it as a cult because it made the 'two cutls enter, one cult leaves' flow better. But let's see. It has members willing to die for it, members that follow rules that most of the rest of the world think are silly and/or arcane, has its members so devoted that their life centers around it, not their family, work or anythgin else. Devotion to it is higher than devotion to family or country. Sure, most other religions fit into a few of these, but that first one, it is a biggie. On that note, I am done with this thread, and site. It has been a pleasure chatting with most of you, a headache cahatting with a few others. Go Sox.

 

 

[BigSqwert]

^^ You're like the librarian, Pearl, in the original Blade movie.

Edited January 7, 2011 by BigSqwert

[Controlled Chaos]

FYI here's the series of posts where he said he was leaving. He hasn't logged back in since then.

Thanks for taking the time to look that up. I remember the discussion and made my own comments on the whole thing as well. I just wasn't sure if he left after that or was suspended or something.

[juddling]

Was Alpha Dog suspended or banned? I haven't seen anything from him in a while.

 

 

He still reads stuff here from time to time but he said he's giving up posting for a while. I could tell him he's been missed if you want??

[NorthSideSox72]

He still reads stuff here from time to time but he said he's giving up posting for a while. I could tell him he's been missed if you want??

Tell him I like it better when you post than him. Its the avatar.

 

[Cknolls]

Former representative Paul Kanjorski:

 

We all lose an element of freedom when security considerations distance public officials from the people. Therefore, it is incumbent on all Americans to create an atmosphere of civility and respect in which political discourse can flow freely, without fear of violent confrontation.

 

 

You mean like this:

 

“That Scott down there that’s running for governor of Florida,” Mr. Kanjorski said. “Instead of running for governor of Florida, they ought to have him and shoot him. Put him against the wall and shoot him. He stole billions of dollars from the United States government and he’s running for governor of Florida. He’s a millionaire and a billionaire. He’s no hero. He’s a damn crook. It’s just we don’t prosecute big crooks

 

 

 

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltwa...wall-and-shot-n

[Balta1701]

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), who many believed was a likely candidate to lose (badly) should she face a tea party candidate in the 2012 Senate primary, will retire at the end of 2012.