Republican Insanity

[iceman]

Orson T. Swindle!!!

I guess Mr Haney and Sam Drucker weren't available, and too bad Arnold died, he woulda made a better VP. More personality at least.

ARE YOU SHITTING ME!?!?!?!

[telepariah]

Nobody in that arena seems especially excited. I know how to get em worked up into a frenzy.

I am very proud that the first female vice president of the United States will be a transexual democrat hooker from North Hollywood! Yeah!

[schindlerpiste]

Who will you vote for, a person who is "ready to lead", or a "rockstar" with no experience, who can fill a football stadium?

[TyWebb]

Katie Couric looks ready to tear the head off the next repub that claims sarah has more experience than O.

[squatch]

Who will you vote for, a person who is "ready to lead", or a "rockstar" with no experience, who can fill a football stadium?

This is what I hate about politics. It's all bluster and spin.

I'm not aware that either of those people are on the ballot.

[marshalolson]

Who will you vote for, a person who is "ready to lead", or a "rockstar" with no experience, who can fill a football stadium?

i'd based it on judgement. look at both canidates votes and ideas 3 years ago versus what they are saying and the american public believes today.

additionally, define "ready to lead"?

i would say that mobilizing and inspiring large groups of people is explicilty "leading", and presenting a clearly articulated, well thought out, and detailed policy proposal is showcasing the fact that one is "ready".

i would love to hear mccain actually describe his economic plan as i would like to pass judgement at which point that he elaborates in depth on his ideas. but as far as i have seen, mccain has elected to attack rather than elaborate, which leaves me to belive that his promises are hollow and empty. this does not inspire confidence nor does it show a readiness to lead.

[montanaskier]

Lieberman is the worst speaker I have ever heard. WOW.....what a douche.

[schindlerpiste]

The media is screwing me up. Really, no matter how hard I try not to listen to them, it is difficult. I'm still on the fence. Like Marsha, I want to hear McCain speak on policy issues. Unlike many, I was not that impressed with Obama. To me, he is trying to hard to sound like Dr. MLK. I'm very leary that he is trying too hard to say what he thinks the public wants to hear.

One thing is for sure, I am sick of the rhetoric from both sides.

[Tippster]

"Hi, I'm a B-rate Actor and I'm going to stand here, look tanned & wrinkled, and try to scare the fuck outta you." - Fred Thompson

The cutaways of the Republi-hotties were nice, anyway.

[TyWebb]

One thing is for sure, I am sick of the rhetoric from both sides.

Thats the truth...I'll be left in large part because I think that the country occasionally needs to be checked by the opposing party to keep the balance of power; that said..."that's the change we need" and "take off your republican hat and put on your 'merican hat" are two phrases that I could deal with never hearing again. Frankly its staggering how little useful info actually comes out of these 4 day debacles.

[squatch]

Who will you vote for, a person who is "ready to lead", or a "rockstar" with no experience, who can fill a football stadium?



One thing is for sure, I am sick of the rhetoric from both sides.

I can't reconcile these two statements, unless I'm missing your sarcasm on the first one.

[gretch6364]

I thought Fred Thompson did a really good job. Much better than Lieberman.

I had to switch to FOX though so I could actually hear the speeches. NBC didn't show half of the speeches. I want to hear what they have to say so I can make my decision on my own....I have no interest in listening to a bunch of reporters, or their opinions.

[gretch6364]

Thats the truth...I'll be left in large part because I think that the country occasionally needs to be checked by the opposing party to keep the balance of power; that said..."that's the change we need" and "take off your republican hat and put on your 'merican hat" are two phrases that I could deal with never hearing again. Frankly its staggering how little useful info actually comes out of these 4 day debacles.

People seem to forget that the President is just one part of the government....what about a change away from the Democrat controlled Congress that has failed so bad?

[Tippster]

I thought Fred Thompson did a really good job. Much better than Lieberman.

I had to switch to FOX though so I could actually hear the speeches. NBC didn't show half of the speeches. I want to hear what they have to say so I can make my decision on my own....I have no interest in listening to a bunch of reporters, or their opinions.

CSPAN - all speeches in their entirety. Fox is spinning just as much as CNN.

[montanaskier]

the democrat controlled congress was a switch from the republican controlled congress that failed equally as bad. Just for shit and grins....how did this Dem led congress fail?

[schindlerpiste]

Squatch the "ready to lead" are G.W. Bush's words, not mine.

Today, on CNN, I heard some democrat who went to Harvard with Barack (Who, I can't remember) refer to Obama as a "Rockstar".

[montanaskier]

and if you are watching FOX, then you have already decided who you are voting for.

[TyWebb]

People seem to forget that the President is just one part of the government....what about a change away from the Democrat controlled Congress that has failed so bad?

Traditionally I'd agree, but you have to admit that these past 8 years have resulted in an unprecedented number of executive led pet charges, that (without the bombings or war) would not have gone unchecked in any other term.

I.e...the mass privitization movement of the military would not have been possible without the proceeding war/occupation and thus the need for an inordinate amount of manpower. All fueled by the fear that existed in the American public during the 04 election.

[str8line]

McCain's son looked coked up. I heard he tried to snort Barbara Bush's hair before the event.

[Tippster]

McCain's son looked coked up. I heard he tried to snort Barbara Bush's hair before the event.

How much for an 8-ball? My buddies and I have the weekend off....

[gretch6364]

and if you are watching FOX, then you have already decided who you are voting for.

Way to generalize....anyhow...FOX spins between the speeches...NBC was spinning during the speeches.

I will have to find CSPAN on my TV...I just switch from Comcast to DirectTV...by the way...why can't they put all the damn channels that you get with basic programming together? It pisses me off!

[telebobski]

...i would love to hear mccain actually describe his economic plan as i would like to pass judgement at which point that he elaborates in depth on his ideas. but as far as i have seen, mccain has elected to attack rather than elaborate, which leaves me to belive that his promises are hollow and empty. this does not inspire confidence nor does it show a readiness to lead.

Here's his position on his website http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm

Some of the ideas (gas tax holiday, deplete strategic reserve) are IMHO epic FAILs.

I'm kind of torn about his troubled mortgage refi program - on the one hand I don't want the taxpayers bailing out people who made bad real estate decisions. On the other hand, if fewer people default then the downward pressure on the economy is reduced. The Big Question - can the federal government under McCain figure out how to unravel/restructure these mortages, most of them buried in some tranche of some CDO, in time to make a meaningful difference?

He also proposes a hudge series of tax cuts - including lower rates for middle class - but sort of glosses over what spending cuts he's gonna make to offset the loss of revenue.

He wants to reduce ag subsidies, which I agree with.

His plan has more detail than BO's, but both seem to require that the laws of economics take a 4+ year holiday.

[Tippster]

I will have to find CSPAN on my TV...I just switch from Comcast to DirectTV...

Channel 350

[gretch6364]

the democrat controlled congress was a switch from the republican controlled congress that failed equally as bad. Just for shit and grins....how did this Dem led congress fail?

There are a TON of articles out there....simply search on google and you can decide for yourself after some heavy reading. The reasons are too complex to cover in a message board and with the amount of energy I feel like putting in...which is not much right now...Sorry

There are a lot of polls out there that show the approval rating of the Congress is equally low between republicans and democrats, so it does not appear to be along party lines. Obviously, polls are of the public, and everyone has read our founding fathers opinion of the mob...which are not flattering.

[gretch6364]

Channel 350

Thanks..changing now.

[AKA]

I thought Fred Thompson did a really good job. Much better than Lieberman.

I had to switch to FOX though so I could actually hear the speeches. NBC didn't show half of the speeches. I want to hear what they have to say so I can make my decision on my own....I have no interest in listening to a bunch of reporters, or their opinions.

if you really want to watch these fools speak put it on c-span.

[Tippster]

He is, dude. Try to keep up.

How's the baby?

[AKA]

He is, dude. Try to keep up.

How's the baby?

I'm slow.

Baby has a busted fore-arm.

[Tye 1on]

i would say that mobilizing and inspiring large groups of people is explicilty "leading", and presenting a clearly articulated, well thought out, and detailed policy proposal is showcasing the fact that one is "ready".



Well said. And I understand the nervousness of his flowery rhetoric, but what's cool too is that he can answer questions in full and coherent sentences.

[str8line]

Here's his position on his website http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm


He also proposes a hudge series of tax cuts - including lower rates for middle class - but sort of glosses over what spending cuts he's gonna make to offset the loss of revenue.


He's placating the Re-pube-lickin party. Both McCain and Obama will rescind the Bush tax cuts(hand out) for the rich. Which presidential nominee has not preached tax cuts?

[gretch6364]

I'm slow.

Baby has a busted fore-arm.

That sucks....sorry to hear that.

[AKA]

That sucks....sorry to hear that.

kids a total bad-ass, he never even cried.

[gretch6364]

Why do we have to replace the money from tax cuts? Why not chop this government down to size? Their only job, IMHO, should be defense.

[AKA]

Why do we have to replace the money from tax cuts? Why not chop this government down to size? Their only job, IMHO, should be defense.

do you seriously believe that?

[gretch6364]

do you seriously believe that?

Probably to a farther degree than most would consider reasonable....I believe America would be better off with more power returned to the state governments.

Obviously, in today's world, the federal government has to handle other things such as foreign relations and world trade....but imagine if we returned a lot of power to the state governments...if you did not like something a state was doing, you could move to a different state, taking your tax dollars with you...which would speak much stronger to the delegates than what we can do to the federal government at this point.

Money speaks.

[rideit]

Why do we have to replace the money from tax cuts? Why not chop this government down to size? Their only job, IMHO, should be defense.
Uhhh..speaking of defense, how would we pay for the mistakes in the last, say, 100 years, without taxes?
Unicorn farts?

(Infrastructure collapse, pathetically 'fought' wars, poverty, national disasters of all stripes, environmental degredation/disaster, roads, agricultural management, national forests/parks/etc, education, health care, etc, blah, blah)...who the fuck IS going to pay for it?

You? Oh, right, you aren't going to.

Who is?

Iraq?

(that was a bit of the plan, I think, didn't quite work out)

You think our government is disfunctional now...imagine every state trying to find ways to shirk every one of these responsibilities onto their neighbor states. Can you say Civil War?
Christ, just take the Teton Valley Idaho/vs. Teton Valley WY. problems...

[gretch6364]

Uhhh..speaking of defense, how would we pay for the mistakes in the last, say, 100 years, without taxes?
Unicorn farts?

(Infrastructure collapse, pathetically 'fought' wars, poverty, national disasters of all stripes, environmental degredation/disaster, roads, agricultural management, national forests/parks/etc, education, health care, etc, blah, blah)...who the fuck IS going to pay for it?

You? Oh, right, you aren't going to.

Who is?

Iraq?

(that was a bit of the plan, I think, didn't quite work out)

Read my last post....many of these responsibilities should fall on state governments...who would get more tax revenues when federal taxes are reduced. There are obviously economies of scale that would have to be considered at each level of delegation.

[gretch6364]

Competition is always good for the consumer...why not create a little competition between states as they all bid for individuals tax dollars?

[doughboyshredder]

He's placating the Re-pube-lickin party. Both McCain and Obama will rescind the Bush tax cuts(hand out) for the rich. Which presidential nominee has not preached tax cuts?

McCain has said repeatedly that he will NOT allow the bush tax cuts to expire. This was his first flip flop after not voting for them because they were geared too much towards the rich.

Obama on the other hand WILL allow the bush tax cuts to expire.

[squatch]

Why do we have to replace the money from tax cuts? Why not chop this government down to size? Their only job, IMHO, should be defense.

Unfortunately, this is a terrible idea.

[doughboyshredder]

Why do we have to replace the money from tax cuts? Why not chop this government down to size? Their only job, IMHO, should be defense.

I just can't come up with anything better after reading a handful of your posts throughout a couple threads than : You're an idiot.

[gretch6364]

rideit, I missed your last edit after my next post....this discussion is moving fast!

If states don't have organized militia outside of an armed citizenry, don't you think a federal army could put a stop to any inter state wars pretty quickly?

[gretch6364]

I just can't come up with anything better after reading a handful of your posts throughout a couple threads than : You're an idiot.

Great way to settle the discussion...thanks....it is always good to hear from people that are intolerant of others opinions.

[Tippster]

Heh -- "Oops!"

btX1RVbgvzg

[gretch6364]

Tippster....any chance your a Jawbreaker fan (as in the band)?

[Tippster]

Color me unfamiliar.

Meh, just checked them out on Youtube... nothin' special. I prefer Hum:

nYusYLhgAsI

[The AD]

While watching the GOP convention I was reminded of a Rodney Dangerfield quote in Caddyshack: "the dance of the living dead..." God, I hope they've got a few extra EMTs on hand at the Xcel Center!

[AKA]

Probably to a farther degree than most would consider reasonable....I believe America would be better off with more power returned to the state governments.

Obviously, in today's world, the federal government has to handle other things such as foreign relations and world trade....but imagine if we returned a lot of power to the state governments...if you did not like something a state was doing, you could move to a different state, taking your tax dollars with you...which would speak much stronger to the delegates than what we can do to the federal government at this point.

Money speaks.


sounds like the Europe.

[Tippster]

And next -- an old White Person!

[telebobski]

Unfortunately, this is a terrible idea.

Yup - the farm states aren't gonna go for this - not when us farmers get about $20 billion per year in federal subsidy payments. I've always found this a little ironic, since most of these states vote "red".

And Gretch, how would you push social security and medicare down to the states? It's about 1/3 of federal spending, and will get bigger as the baby boomers pass that magic age of 65. And are you planning to give all federal land (USFS, BLM, National Parks) back to the states?

[gretch6364]

Color me unfamiliar.

Meh, just checked them out on Youtube... nothin' special. I prefer Hum:

nYusYLhgAsI

Hum is also cool...I did not mean to imply they would be your favorite. I was just making a reference to your "the world is my Oyster"....obviously an old saying from many different places...I just enjoyed Jawbreaker's song "Oyster," which makes reference to this phrase.

[gretch6364]

Yup - the farm states aren't gonna go for this - not when us farmers get about $20 billion per year in federal subsidy payments. I've always found this a little ironic, since most of these states vote "red".

And Gretch, how would you push social security and medicare down to the states? It's about 1/3 of federal spending, and will get bigger as the baby boomers pass that magic age of 65. And are you planning to give all federal land (USFS, BLM, National Parks) back to the states?

I am not 100% sure how I would feel about giving the land back. My original statement was obviously on the extreme side and did a poor job of attempting to make a point. I would have to look at how the states have done with managing the state parks. There would need to be some type of federal law dictating the use of all the current federal lands so that states would not take these resources away from their people to use for other "resources."

As far as SS and medicare, I am partially for the privatization of SS. Obviously, the baby boomers are a big issue and I have not done enough research to come to a full blown conclusion on what to do with SS, other than I am setting aside provisions for my own retirement and not counting on a single cent from SS when I retire due to the uncertainty surrounding the system.

Medicare is a tough issue due to how fucked up things are right now....can we at least start with some reform related to reckless lawsuits and see what happens once mal-practice insurance comes down in price?

[squatch]

As bad as the federal government is, the state governments make it look awesome.

[H-wood]

People seem to forget that the President is just one part of the government....what about a change away from the Democrat controlled Congress that has failed so bad?

That's a pretty pathetic argument when you take into account the fact that the dem majority hasn't been big enough to be veto-proof. Bush would veto anything he didn't like, the repubs in congress would side w/ him, hence Congress is treading water until the election.

[gretch6364]

That's a pretty pathetic argument when you take into account the fact that the dem majority hasn't been big enough to be veto-proof. Bush would veto anything he didn't like, the repubs in congress would side w/ him, hence Congress is treading water until the election.

Sometimes it is good for the government to tread a little water...they can fuck less stuff up that way!

[Grange]

As far as SS and medicare, I am partially for the privatization of SS. Obviously, the baby boomers are a big issue and I have not done enough research to come to a full blown conclusion on what to do with SS, other than I am setting aside provisions for my own retirement and not counting on a single cent from SS when I retire due to the uncertainty surrounding the system.



I don't get this view. How can taking money away from a program help that program when the very reason that program is in trouble is because money is being diverted away from it already?

[Tippster]

And what happens when those Baby Boomers gamble and lose their Soc. Security when exercising the private investment option? We let them live in parks and under benches?

Who do you think will scream loudest then?

[GoldMember]

And what happens when those Baby Boomers gamble and lose their Soc. Security when exercising the private investment option? We let them live in parks and under benches?

Who do you think will scream loudest then?

As much as it grates me to agree with you on this, I do. On one hand, it irks me that there's a sense that we can't trust adults to make decisions on their own and have a certain level of control over their own lives. On the other hand, the fact is likely as you state; there are many who would squander their retirement savings through bad investment choices and the rest of the citizens would wind up picking up the pieces anyway. If the gate was opened fully, ultimately the level of retirement income through SS would tend to level as the system would still be obligated to providing some kind of safety net. Having said that, allowing some percentage (25% for argument's sake) of one's SS account to be used for discretionary investments might not be so bad. They would still have the fixed portion available but may or may not have a higher level of funds when they retire, depending on the performance of their choices.

[str8line]

McCain has said repeatedly that he will NOT allow the bush tax cuts to expire. This was his first flip flop after not voting for them because they were geared too much towards the rich.


And you believe that? Remember he's pandering to the pube-lickins.

Remember "READ MY LIPS"?

[Obstruction]

As much as it grates me to agree with you on this, I do. On one hand, it irks me that there's a sense that we can't trust adults to make decisions on their own and have a certain level of control over their own lives. On the other hand, the fact is likely as you state; there are many who would squander their retirement savings through bad investment choices and the rest of the citizens would wind up picking up the pieces anyway. If the gate was opened fully, ultimately the level of retirement income through SS would tend to level as the system would still be obligated to providing some kind of safety net. Having said that, allowing some percentage (25% for argument's sake) of one's SS account to be used for discretionary investments might not be so bad. They would still have the fixed portion available but may or may not have a higher level of funds when they retire, depending on the performance of their choices.


Or those that buy say something like Auction Rate Securities based on advice from a trusted professional financial advisor and get screwed through no fault of their own.

If we are supposed to diversify our retirement portfolios what is the harm in thinking about the SS portion as being part of the conservative portion? Anyone with sufficient financil acumen is going to have more than SS to invest so let them role the dice on teh portion that is already self directed.

[Cliff Huckable]

This is what I hate about [American] politics. It's all bluster and spin.


Fixed it for you.

[Cono Este]

And what happens when those Baby Boomers gamble and lose their Soc. Security when exercising the private investment option? We let them live in parks and under benches?

Who do you think will scream loudest then?

Absolutely. SS should never be invested in the stock mkt or anything than the bonds they are in now. Too many crooks would suck the life out of it.

However, dont forget, our politicians have borrowed trillions of dollars against it as well. The result: You own a piece of the Iraq war debt tip.

The only sane idea would be to keep it out of the hands of all the crooks. Wall Street and Washintong DC.

Private accounts in federal securities as they are now.

[grrrr]

SS exempt and very very happy about it.

[hutash]

Great way to settle the discussion...thanks....it is always good to hear from people that are intolerant of others opinions.

He is not intolerant of your opinions, but rather based on your opinions he thinks you are an idiot. There is a difference.

At least, that is how read it. Have a nice day:)

[H-wood]

Sometimes it is good for the government to tread a little water...they can fuck less stuff up that way!

Yeah, like ending a war that most Americans don't support, undoing the mess that's been made of all the agencies run by Bush appointees, finding Osama, making sure that the real estate collapse doesn't turn into a federal bailout for rich guys, fixing the fucking health care system or the mass employment of illegal immigrants...

Way to acknowledge your fuckup. Why bother to post your opinions about government when you don't even understand what's happening?

[ArmadaBC]

SS exempt and very very happy about it.

How ? I know nothing of SS law but one of my dreams is to be SS exempt.