Mike Luckovich

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 6:58 AM | Link to this

You could have drawn 93 chickens on the desk if you weren’t such a slobbering partisan hack:

Throw in Scooter Libby’s conviction for bad answers in the pursuit of a noncrime in the Valerie Plame case, and the atmosphere truly does thicken with the stench of a phenomenon you will hear more about: “the criminalization of politics.” The term refers to redefining practices usually accepted as part of the gritty political universe and elevating them to the level of offenses crying out for probes and even prosecution. With no agenda for success in Iraq, coupled with an economy still doing well (anyone notice the stock market has completely rebounded in three weeks from the 400-point plunge Feb. 27?), the only page in the national Democratic domestic playbook is to attempt to impose the death of a thousand cuts upon this White House.

Does anybody really believe the United States of America is best served by a do nothing Congress engaged full time in pointless show trials and kangaroo courts?

Meanwhile Social Security, Medicare, Tax Reform, Alternative Minimum Tax Increases, Immigration and all the other pressing issues languish while democrats attend to their witch hunts and seances.

Did we expect anything different?

Happy with your 2006 vote now “Conservatives?”

Lock the Plame bitc-h up.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 7:02 AM | Link to this

Waxman and Democratic colleagues did not ask these pertinent questions: Had not Plame been outed years ago by a Soviet agent? Was she not on an administrative, not operational, track at Langley? How could she be covert if, in public view, she drove to work each day at Langley? What about comments to me by then CIA spokesman Bill Harlow that Plame never would be given another foreign assignment? What about testimony to the FBI that her CIA employment was common knowledge in Washington?

Was Fitzgerald aware of these things while he actively pursued a case where no criminal activity was committed?

Did he not effectively create a crime where there was a lack of one?

Is this not abuse of prosecutorial powers?

Lock Fitzgerald’s a-ss up.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By George

March 22, 2007 7:14 AM | Link to this

Andy Dull must be off his meds again.

Andy, did they stop delivering your anti psychotic meds to the trailer park again? You can thank your Conservatives for that. Once we got all those political appointees out of the jobs where professionals should be then the system will get better, It might be after 2008 though.

Oh yea, Great Toon ML!!!! Dubya fooled enough of the people to get elected but governing and get elected are two different things. Now he has to answer for all the times he bet the ranch and lost. The next two years are going to be fun for a change.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this

If the president cares not only about a legacy, but in seeing his Iraq policy successfully completed, he’d better start defending it and proclaiming the truth as he sees it before his opponents pound him to political death. The Left has no strategy for victory, only defeat. They won’t say what would happen without a strong America opposing Islamofascism. Their strategy is retreat and defeat.Why can’t Mr. Bush say these things? Is he afraid liberals won’t like him? They already don’t like him. He shouldn’t care if they like him less. The president is not the head of an etiquette club. He is a political leader and is also supposed to be a moral and military leader. The United States once was feared. Now, third-rate terrorists and puny dictators think they can do anything to us with few, if any, consequences. If conciliation and kindness won’t do the job, fear might. This business about U.S. attorneys is a distraction. Important issues need to be addressed. Where is the president’s voice? Where is his confidence? Where is his leadership? It’s way past time to “kick butt.”

That’s what I’m talking about, it’s time to light that as-s up.

There has never been a more inept, cowardly bunch of political scumbags as these pinko liberals, their agenda is to destroy the United States and we’re letting them do it.

Sandy Berger, William Jefferson, Harry Reid, Jack Murtha, Valerie Plame, Hillary Clinton, Henry Cisneros, Alan B. Mollohan and all the others, when do they get their subpeonas?

No one has to make up crimes for them like the libs do for us, they come complete with laundry lists.

When do we start hounding them?

It’s getting old.

Who’s side are you Republicans on?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Mrs. Godzilla

March 22, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this

Ah, Karma.

By Ad-Hoc

March 22, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this

Why hasn’t someone locked this crazy dude in his padded cell yet? It’s the lunatic fringe up close and personal.

Awesome cartoon. I was thinking something just like this a couple of days ago. I am ecstatic Bush is being exposed as the hack he truly is.

By Dusty

March 22, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this

LuckoDull has made some very pertinent statements and questions this morning. He asks about things that many of us are concerned about.

It is quite easy for liberals to call him names. A whole lot easier than answering the hard questions he asks. Give us your answers, liberals, instead of your usual derogatory remarks about conservatives. Do you have any vocabulary besides insults?

As to Luckovich’s cartoon, I think he stepped in it when he was in the chicken house. But what’s new? Nothing with Luckovich.

By George

March 22, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this

Locked up which crazy dude in his padded cell. Dubya or Dull or both???

By gadem

March 22, 2007 8:21 AM | Link to this

Andigirl, what about the previous six years when the Republican do-nothing Congress did nothing but rubber stamped everything the president did. Where you up in arms about all the social programs that needed to be fixed then? Everyday, you become more and more of a joke. I say we all band together and pay some toothless pre-op transsexual hooker to make all of Andigirls dreams come true…

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this

After watching various commentary programs, listening to NPR and Sean Hannity, and even lowering myself to watch the Communist and Nazi Network and reading the AJC and the NYTimes, I have come to the firm conclusion that no one has even come close to alleging a crime was committed in firing these eight prosecutors. The only crime is the White House being honest about why they fired them! No comment ever should have been made. This entire affair has turned in to a political witch hunt with the Donkeycrats looking to score some easy political points and forcing a showdown over an issue they know they will lose on in the courts - executive privilege. The Jacka** party also seems to be suffering from very selective memory- i.e. the 93 in 93. But what else can we expect from such icons of honesty and vertue as Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd?

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

After watching various commentary programs, listening to NPR and Sean Hannity, and even lowering myself to watch the Communist and Nazi Network and reading the AJC and the NYTimes, I have come to the firm conclusion that no one has even come close to alleging a crime was committed in firing these eight prosecutors. The only crime is the White House being honest about why they fired them! No comment ever should have been made. This entire affair has turned in to a political witch hunt with the Donkeycrats looking to score some easy political points and forcing a showdown over an issue they know they will lose on in the courts - executive privilege. The Jacka** party also seems to be suffering from very selective memory- i.e. the 93 in 93. But what else can we expect from such icons of honesty and virtue as Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd?

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

Cluck, cluck, cluck…

Waiting on those subpoenas to be served.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this

Boehner shows some courage:

And Democratic leaders have actually boasted about saddling pork on the backs of our troops. They’ve loaded up more than $20 billion in unrelated spending that has nothing to do with winning the war on terror: $25 million for spinach growers, $50 million for a power plant, $5 million for tropical fish, and more. Earlier this week, columnist Charles Krauthammer said there is “disgraceful stuff” in the Democrats’ bill. “[I]t’s pork and retreat. That’s what this bill is, an amazing combination — irresponsible on national security, irresponsible on spending.”

Call these cowards out.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Reece

March 22, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

Amazing. The Renamblicans are on the “Rush said it so it must be true” thought train.

Anyone that still toes the line for this Bush administration has pretty clearly not read anything more informative than Marvel Comics® in the last 6+ years.

By gadem

March 22, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

{Meanwhile Social Security, Medicare, Tax Reform, Alternative Minimum Tax Increases, Immigration and all the other pressing issues languish while democrats attend to their witch hunts and seances.} Were any of these issues addressed during the previous years when the “Conservatives” were running things (into the ground)? I know that their time was busy fighting the war on terror and intervening into the life of Terri Schiavo.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this

And when it comes to the economics of the issue, Gore is way outside the mainstream. Appearing before a House committee, he said that changing the American economy in the way he proposes - a plan of freezes, taxes, market controls and regulations that would represent a massive expansion of government control over the economy - would not be costly. Yet he also endorsed the ill-fated Kyoto Protocol (which he helped negotiate). The U.S. Energy Information Administration calculates that Kyoto would reduce U.S. gross domestic product by $100 billion to $400 billion a year. Gore is a very wealthy man, but it’s hard to see why he can’t recognize that this is a lot of money lost - and a lot of jobs lost and a lot of families going cold and hungry. How does Gore address this point? He doesn’t; he simply avoids it, with highfalutin rhetoric. It’s not just the Earth’s “fever” and our supposed moral duty to cure it; he says our descendants will either condemn us as blind or praise us for our moral courage. He also makes veiled references to himself as Churchill, while all around him others appease fascism.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Talk's Cheap

March 22, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

Oh hell nooooooooo! This morning I find myself agreeing with LuckoDull. This evening I’m going to wash my mind out with antiseptic (80 proof).

The absolutely ridiculous spectacle presented by the Republicans in their 8 year fishing expedition of the Clinton administration DOES NOT BEAR REPEATING. They did it first, just don’t cut it. If ‘they’ walk off a cliff (as they have done figuratively, time after time), it doesn’t mean that the whole damn country needs to do the same.

It is a new day in DC. Let’s jetison the last vestiges of neo-chicanery along with George W. Bush’s rubber stamp congress and return decency and honor to the political process! Let’s be BETTER than Republicans, not just like them.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

Today’s cartoon is truly inspired.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

Today’s cartoon is truly inspired.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this

LD Sends:

“Does anybody really believe the United States of America is best served by a do nothing Congress engaged full time in pointless show trials and kangaroo courts?”

That question is academic because that is not happening.

I -was- struck by Bush’s reference to “show trials”. The Nazi propaganda influence really shows through with that little reference.

Walt

By Paul

March 22, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

Truthsayer at 8:24

Careful, careful… You read opposing points of view? You listened to conservative commetators? Liberal ones, too? You even read extremist, as well as more traditional mainstream, writings? Whatever happened to just Googling something?

Tony Snow made some interesting points this morning. He said all communications (written, email, telephone logs, etc) are available - something like 3,000 pages from Justice have been reviewed. He said all the people from Justice could be called (I saw this morning the AG’s deputy has been called). He also said the “under oath” is largely a ploy - lying to Congress, even when not under oath, is a felony (I’m sure some will pick this up regarding Ms Plame’s testimony - but the questions and answers were so carefully crafted and rehearsed it’ll never go anywhere). So I’ll agree with you - this is more about political theatrics, embarass the President and try (again) to “get” Karl Rove. It’ll happen again - next time we have a Democratic president and Republican Congress.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this

“If the president cares not only about a legacy, but in seeing his Iraq policy successfully completed, he’d better start defending it and proclaiming the truth as he sees it before his opponents pound him to political death. The Left has no strategy for victory, only defeat. They won’t say what would happen without a strong America opposing Islamofascism. Their strategy is retreat and defeat.Why can’t Mr. Bush say these things? Is he afraid liberals won’t like him? They already don’t like him. He shouldn’t care if they like him less. The president is not the head of an etiquette club. He is a political leader and is also supposed to be a moral and military leader. The United States once was feared. Now, third-rate terrorists and puny dictators think they can do anything to us with few, if any, consequences. If conciliation and kindness won’t do the job, fear might. This business about U.S. attorneys is a distraction. Important issues need to be addressed. Where is the president’s voice? Where is his confidence? Where is his leadership? It’s way past time to “kick butt.”

Shoulda put a man in the Oval Office instead of a chimp.

Walt

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

A great column written about what we’re facing with the “Bush-cult” 30% of America:

This is not the way grown-ups behave. It is the ways cultists behave. The willingness to bypass critical thought, the tendency to make one’s faith in a man a litmus test, the emphasis on belief,… Every president has the right to seek subordinates who support his policies. But not at the expense of competence. Nor integrity. Nor loss of life and destruction of property. Loyalty to Bush is all well and good. But ultimately, these people work for me and you. Is it asking too much that they show a little loyalty to us?

By IN THE NEWS

March 22, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

TO THE NAIVE POSTER WHO WROTE

After watching various commentary programs, listening to NPR and Sean Hannity, and even lowering myself to watch the Communist and Nazi Network and reading the AJC and the NYTimes, I have come to the firm conclusion that no one has even come close to alleging a crime was committed in firing these eight prosecutors.

DID YOU READ ONLY THE CAR ADS AND SPORTS IN THE NYT ON 3/19?

TRY THIS:

Misrepresentations to Congress. The relevant provision, 18 U.S.C. § 1505

OR THIS

Calling the Prosecutors. As part of the Sarbanes-Oxley reforms, Congress passed an extremely broad obstruction of justice provision, 18 U.S.C. § 1512 (c),

OR THIS

Witness Tampering. 18 U.S.C. § 1512

OR THIS

Firing the Attorneys. United States attorneys can be fired whenever a president wants, but not, as § 1512 (c) puts it,

AND SUMS UP

It is far too soon to say that anyone committed a crime, and it may well be that no one has. But if this were a law school issue spotter, any student who could not identify any laws that may have been broken would get an “F.”

APPARENTLY BOB DOLE IS NOT THE ONLY REPUBLICAN WITH FIRMNESS ISSUES.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

“Was Fitzgerald aware of these things while he actively pursued a case where no criminal activity was committed?”

Lying to a grand jury is a crime.

Walt

By Walt

March 22, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

“It is a new day in DC. Let’s jetison the last vestiges of neo-chicanery along with George W. Bush’s rubber stamp congress and return decency and honor to the political process! Let’s be BETTER than Republicans, not just like them.”

The difference now is that the Bush people have engaged in serious and pervasive criminal activity.

Since the whole show is run by Nixonian throwbacks, you really couldn’t expect anything else.

Walt

By Paul

March 22, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this

LuckoDull 8:35

I’ll have to disagree with you. Your “facts” on the Democrats loading up a $100 billion appropriation bill with $25 billion in pork are obviously in error. You’ve obviously gotten your “facts” from Fox or some right-wing blog. 25 mil for spinach growers? Half a billion for “wild land fire suppression?” $35 mil for NASA’s exploration capabilities of Hurricane Katrina? 1.48 bil for livestock farmers? 74 mil to ensure the proper storage of peanuts?

I’m sorry, I apologize for you. Everyone knows the Democratic Part is the party of change. Everyone knows they were elected because the Republican Party passed every spending bill they saw. Everyone knows things are different because… because… they told us it would be.

Sorry, LuckoDull. A Democratic Congress would never do what you’ve alleged.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this

Paul - Yes, it happens under every president when the opposition is in control of Congress, that is why Harry Truman died in Independence rather than in Levenworth. People tend to conveniently forget past corruption when their party was at fault. The Republicans in Congress were actually easy on the Clinton Administration allowing federal prosecutors like Starr to do all the dirty work when they should have gone ahead and gotten their hands dirty. When the Republicans are back in control and Fred Thompson is President, then they will regret their excesses!

Sorry about the double post earlier.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this

“Did he not effectively create a crime where there was a lack of one?”

Irwin Libby did that.

Walt

By Jesus

March 22, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!!

By WTFBBQ

March 22, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this

Just because someone has nothing better to do than scrape together far-right blatherings and regurgitate them here doesn’t make them correct.

To all assertions by LuckoDull, yeah maybe so. But the republicans aren’t innocent either.

Every bill, and I mean EVERY bill, has pork. Please find me ONE bill, and include the link to the entire text, that has no pork and I will eat my shoe.

Not working on social problems? Isn’t it a reepublican assertion that Dems worry too much about increasing social spending, and now when they’re not doing it they arent living up to your expectations? They’re spending too much time on bullsh!t like who said what to whom. NEWSFLASH: Politics is a liars game - you lie to your constituants, you lie to the public, you lie to your coworkers. All you want is your pork, and you’ll do anything to get it.

Kudo’s on the Schiavo bit. Pubs didnt work on any of the mentioned problems while they had their chance - why expect Dems to do the same?

Pubs went after a liar in office and ignored presing social obligations just as much as Dems are doing now.

As far as I am concerned, no one wants to take ownership of any of the real large social problems, especially when they can make the 5:00 news prosecuting bologna while lining their pockets with pork. (btw, bologna is a pork product, did you know that?)

And no, I Don’t have the answers, and I won’t pretend that I have the time to cull together through hundreds of articles to pull a paragraph quote to backup my assertion. I actually have a job to do.

By Mike

March 22, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this

Over the past few years, one of the standard responses to criticism that th AJC has a liberal bias has been, “We just criticize the people in power, and the people in power happen to be Republicans.”

How many cartoons has Mikey done on the Democratic Congress? By my count, none.

By WTFBBQ

March 22, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this

Just because someone has nothing better to do than scrape together far-right blatherings and regurgitate them here doesn’t make them correct.

To all assertions by LuckoDull, yeah maybe so. But the republicans aren’t innocent either.

Every bill, and I mean EVERY bill, has pork. Please find me ONE bill, and include the link to the entire text, that has no pork and I will eat my shoe.

Not working on social problems? Isn’t it a reepublican assertion that Dems worry too much about increasing social spending, and now when they’re not doing it they arent living up to your expectations? They’re spending too much time on bullsh!t like who said what to whom. NEWSFLASH: Politics is a liars game - you lie to your constituants, you lie to the public, you lie to your coworkers. All you want is your pork, and you’ll do anything to get it.

Kudo’s on the Schiavo bit. Pubs didnt work on any of the mentioned problems while they had their chance - why expect Dems to do the same?

Pubs went after a liar in office and ignored presing social obligations just as much as Dems are doing now.

As far as I am concerned, no one wants to take ownership of any of the real large social problems, especially when they can make the 5:00 news prosecuting bologna while lining their pockets with pork. (btw, bologna is a pork product, did you know that?)

And no, I Don’t have the answers, and I won’t pretend that I have the time to cull together through hundreds of articles to pull a paragraph quote to backup my assertion. I actually have a job to do.

By JULIA CHILD

March 22, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this

Do you think George could use a good omelette recipe?

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this

We Georgians may be embarassed often by our members of Congress, but they certainly don’t look as foolish as Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, or Joe Barton of Texas… they are obviously stuck in the pockets of the big oil industry! But there are a few Repugs in Congress who understand the global warming crisis that we are facing:

“I agree with you that the debate over climate change is over,” Hastert said. “But when you tend to regulate, when you tax, you depress the ability of the free market to work. So how do we do it? We need to work on solutions and find the legislative language and legislative fixes to make this work.”

At least Rep. Hastert understands that the debate itself is over!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this

Those Repugnants who still claim that global warming is a “hoax” remind me of those tobacco executives who swore that nicotine was not addictive — they’re both shilling and lying for big industries!!!

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

Walt - it is absolutely amazing how blind hatred leads folks to do some very nasty things. I would ask you to give an account of a complicated situation and see if it jives with all of the other people involved in the same situation? I can bet you will not. In college we constantly saw examples of how witness accounts vary and how everyone believed sincerely he/she was telling the truth, because he/she was according to his perception and memory of the incident. Prosecutors are great at picking the one person they have decided must be lying and disregarding the story of others. This situation is clearly one of Congress trying to step on the executive branch’s privileges and trying to entrap someone they just hate. Too bad the Republicans were not in control during the Johnson Administration.

By WTFBBQ

March 22, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

Sorry for the double post, and dang if it didnt include my disclaimer… which was witty and poignant. basically it went something like this..

(disclaimer: I read this blog for alternative viewpoints that cause me to think about pressing political observations, and I enjoy that. However, I am a classic Fat American - I couldn’t give a hoot as long as I can still get my Starbucks via drive-through and no terrorists are blowing up my office building. As far as I am concerned, the political arena today is just an expensive fireworks show designed to give those in power something to do besides addressing the pressing problems of our time: dying soldiers, starving and homeless children, and the plight of the red-bellied bejewled whooping crow of northern east-Idaho (sarc))

By IN THE NEWS

March 22, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

MIKE CANT COUNT

SEE “A BRIEF HINEYMOON” 11/14

SORRY BUT THE DEMS (AT LEAST FOR NOW) ARE SERIOUS

ITS THE NEOCONS THAT ARE JUST PLAIN FUNNY

By Paul

March 22, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

WTFBBQ at 9:03

Which is exactly why Sen Obama is getting such attention from the public and why I hope Ralph Nader will jump in. He may not be electable but he sure has a great way of skewering to the truth.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

“This situation is clearly one of Congress trying to step on the executive branch’s privileges and trying to entrap someone they just hate.”

That’s not clear at all.

Surely you Bush supporters want the truth to come out. You want to not be defensive on message boards.

Shouldn’t you be urging the White House to have complete transparancy?

Walt

By Walt

March 22, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

“Over the past few years, one of the standard responses to criticism that th AJC has a liberal bias has been, “We just criticize the people in power, and the people in power happen to be Republicans.”

How many cartoons has Mikey done on the Democratic Congress? By my count, none.”

The AJC did call for the impeachment of Clinton.

But they have not called for the impeachment of Bush, or for him to be remanded to the Hague for war crimes.

But they should.

Walt

By Paul

March 22, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

On another topic, it might be nice for people to say a prayer, affirmation, positive thought or whatever appeals to you, on behalf of Elizabeth Edwards (wife of Sen John Edwards) in her treatment with breast cancer.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

Goldie - You love to pay attention to just about half of what people say. Most Republicans are not saying that they question global warming is happening. They are questioning the bad science behind Chicken Littles like DumGore who want to blame the entire thing on human beings rather than recognize that fluctuations in the earth’s temperatures and climate changes have occurred throughout recorded and geologic history. Watch the History Channel’s production “Big Freeze, Little Ice Age” about the Medieval Ice Age which gives great instruction about how much warmer the earth was before 1300 AD. Also why were winters so cold in the 1970s and the 1930s, but so hot in the 1940s? The models are also skewed and using just one, a Danish scientist came up with 29 different “average” world temperatures when he changed just a variable or two. Plus, Gore is a hypocrite and one big, self-promoting, publicity seeking JERK!

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

{{{By Paul March 22, 2007 8:56 AM Everyone knows the Democratic Part is the party of change. Everyone knows they were elected because the Republican Party passed every spending bill they saw. You’ve obviously gotten your “facts” from Fox or some right-wing blog. Everyone knows things are different because… because… they told us it would be. Sorry, LuckoDull. A Democratic Congress would never do what you’ve alleged.}}}

Yes, it does make you wonder why the pinko media is staying silent on these facts, kinda reinforces that old belief about them being in the pocket of the democrat party.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By REALLY WISE GUY

March 22, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this

Gallileo is a a hypocrite and one big, self-promoting, publicity seeking JERK!

By ed lorenzo

March 22, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this

Beyond the Walls 7321 - The Last Straw

“First Lady, what in the world are you doing?’

The President sounded concerned if not seriously alarmed. When he entered the First Lady’s bedroom, he found several trunks, boxes, suitcases and Wal Mart plastic bags half full with the First Lady’s personal objects.

“What do you think War President?’

“Are you leaving? What have I done? Is it the menu in this joint? The decoration motifs? The security snoopers all over? The new sound system in the projection room? Please tell me!”

“You know why I am leaving you, George”

“Why, pray tell!”

“According to the Constitution, if I leave now, I will be eligible for my pension and other benefits. I shall have use of a car and driver; will be able to eat in the cafeterias of the White House, the Defense Department, the State Department and the Firemen’s Union Center in DC. I will also have a life permit to use Greyhound, Amtrak and all commercial airlines in first class and can have a rent-free apartment in Watergate with a Republican maid!

“I know but you still have not told me why”

“You know what happens to the wife of an impeached president?”

By Paul

March 22, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this

ed lorenzo

[[“You know what happens to the wife of an impeached president?”]]

She gets to become a Senator from New York and run for President?

By Walt

March 22, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

“Lock the Plame bitc-h up now.”

Vice President Cheney, is that you?

Walt

By REALLY WISE GUY

March 22, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

Stephen Hawking is a hypocrite and one big, self-promoting, publicity seeking JERK!

By Walt

March 22, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

“They are questioning the bad science behind Chicken Littles like DumGore who want to blame the entire thing on human beings rather than recognize that fluctuations in the earth’s temperatures and climate changes have occurred throughout recorded and geologic history.”

All well and good, but humans could work to lessen the effects of the cycle, and certain interests don’t want that even condidered.

Walt

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

First of all REALLY WISE A**, It’s Galileo not Gallileo (I only correct you because of your chosen blog-name) and what Galileo was teaching was what is known as imperical science - science which can absolutely be proved through imperical, indisputable evidence. That is just not the case with global warming. A consensus of scientists is like a consensus of economists - it means nothing. To question whether global warming is caused mainly by human activities is certainly NOT scientific heresy. The fact is that climate change, both local and global happens all the time! The Sahara was a lush agricultural region just 15,000 years ago - a brief second in geological time. We are still coming out of a severe cooling period that lasted 1300 to 1850. These are facts which cannot be disputed except by those whose agendae are completely political and unscientific.

By Paul

March 22, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

The Comptroller General of the US - the one who said spending on Social Security and Medicare will quickly threaten the entire economy, is now being interviewed on the Diane Rehm show on NPR. You can go to her web site and stream it.

Link:Diane Rehm show NPR

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this

REALLY WISE A** - You are a total joke. To compare DumGore with people like Galileo and Steven Hawking is like comparing a Michael Luckovich to Michelangelo!

By jacksonwolff

March 22, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

WTFBBQ-

Libertarian?

By REALLY WISE GUY

March 22, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

” To question whether global warming is caused mainly by human activities is certainly NOT scientific heresy.”

It isn’t heresy, it is bought and paid for partisan political advertisement.

By REALLY WISE GUY

March 22, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

Who got the pulizter prize for that church ceiling anyway?

As far as the total joke thing goes, I guess you’d know.

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

{{is like comparing a Michael Luckovich to Michelangelo!}}

TruthDenier— OK, I’ll compare Luckovich to Michelangelo…

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

REALLY WISE A** - The bought and paid for political advertisement is exactly what DumGore has been doing with his machinations and his very bad documentary. Even scientists who back all of this global warming is caused by people crap are chastizing the Blimp because he has made huge exaggerations such as sea levels rising 20 feet when the models show 23 inches. The fact is you are bloviating and cannot prove any of this with imperical science. It will take at least thirty years. And the greatest irony is many who are backing all of this say that we cannot do anything about it. If that is the case, then we need to prepare for the future calmly and productively and not go around screaming that the sky is falling!

By Paul

March 22, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

Goldie

They’re both artists, Catholic and like to tick people off through their work? And do a fine job of it?

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

LuckoDull - Paul - Truthsayer,

In a rush today but wanted to mention an important point about this outrageous Democrat Pork that is being stuck on the Iraq funding bill -

My understanding is that funding for Iraq (and Afghanistan) does not come out of the general budget and is considered “emergency spending”.

Any pork that is added on, unrelated to the war on terror, escapes the overall budget.

I’d like to see Bush veto this thing. If the Dems want a fight, I say he should give it to them.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

Paul - to call Luckovich an artist is really a bit of a stretch. I’ve seen kindergarteners who can draw better. He does a good job of ticking people off. The difference is that when Michelangelo did it, it was for truth’s sake. When Luckovich does it, it has very little to do with actual truth!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

{{These are facts which cannot be disputed except by those whose agendae are completely political and unscientific.}}

TruthDenier— so, what exactly is the harm if we humans are trying to do our part to lessen our influence on the global warming problem?

Your ranting about this issue is reminisent of those “Christians” who condemned Gallileo so ferociously a few centuries ago.

By Walt

March 22, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

“imperical science “

Or even Empirical science.

Walt

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

Paul— good one @ 10:18… :>)

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

George 7:14

It seems you and Andy are the only ones who can post when posting is closed. Care to share how you do it?

By Paul

March 22, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

Buy Danish

I believe “emergency” appropriations (supplementals) are exempt from the spending caps of the discretionary budget - but are reflected in the surplus/deficit analyses.

BTW - Congress enacted the loopholes, also the definition of what constitutes an “emergency” (don’t laugh, it’s true).

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

For all of you liberal idol worshipers out there, please read this.

Warming Up

As Al Gore was giving his views about global warming to members of Congress today, lawmakers received a strikingly different view of the issue from the president of the Czech Republic.

Vaclav Klaus said in written testimony that global warming has turned into a religion that has replaced the ideology of communism and threatens basic freedoms. Mr. Klaus said the push to curb greenhouse gases will hurt poorer nations that can’t afford modern technology. He compares radical environmentalists to Marxists, and says initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol require enormous costs without any realistic prospect for success.

By Paul

March 22, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

Truthsayer

There’s always been a debate as to whether or not media cartoonists are “artists” - usually it comes from “traditional” artists (those whose works are in galleries). Mr. Luckovich has addressed this and my impression is most media cartoonists pretty much ignore it and go about their business.

I’ve read a number of interviews with political cartoonists - most of them quip that if a cartoon ticks off a lot of people then they feel they’ve done a good job.

“Truth” in politics is in the eye of the beholder.

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

George 7:14

It seems you and Andy are the only ones who can post when posting is closed. Care to share how you do it?

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

Walt - sorry about the mispelling. You were right to correct me Empirical. But Goldie - it is Galileo, not Gallileo.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

Walt - sorry about the MISSpelling. I slipped that time!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

{{But Goldie - it is Galileo, not Gallileo.}}

Oh great— another spelling dictator here on the blog! Are all of you Neo-con trolls that anal-retentive???

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Paul - I think my point is made, comparing Gore to any certified genius is absurd at best.

By getalife

March 22, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

I see the new UN guy got a little taste of Iraq.

Sick of lies.

Hand them over to the Iraqis.

Geez.

By regulator

March 22, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

Hospitalize Andi Now!

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

Goldie - I’m sorry. Originally I was trying to make a point to the self-absorbed twit who was calling himself REALLY WISE GUY who misspelled it. It was all tongue in cheek, so to speak.

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

-=-

Goood Morning Viet-Iraq — or is it now Viet-WhiteHouse —

As the Democrats investigate and try to restore the checks and balances in our government, the Whitehouse and their cheerleading gang continue to chant their mantra’s and point fingers at others rather than take some responsibility themselves.

I find it hilarious that we have a person here that has cut-and-paste from various right wing talking point rags, followed by another who says he has asked us all very pertinent questions! I laugh!

Pertinent questions from commentator and spin doctored talking points presented as some kind of factual evidence?

Ok lets take the current event of the attorneys. Is this investigation about the ability of the administration to fire them? No of course not! That has been a given from day one. But what it does concern is the PATRIOT act being used for political gain rather than fighting terrorist. The investigation has clear merits in protecting our country!

Of course this administration would love nothing better than to have all government business conducted behind closed doors in secret. Cheney’s Energy Taskforce for example.

So what do we really have in the PATRIOT act document? Is it a means to fight terrorism? or is it a means to install a Secret Government in the USA. Gonzalas had no problem in abusing teh powers granted in the PATRIOT act, and with the blessing of Karl Rove no less.

Do we now start seeing our nations citizens being “protected” by the American version of the “KGB” or “SS Corps”.

No I am very proud that the Democrats have started addressing the “Checks and Balances” issues that have long needed to be addressed in the PATRIOT act.

But the talking heads posting on this blog apparently would prefer a secret society running our nation.

Seig’ Heil!

Thomas/PNAC

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

What does the administration have to lose if they let Karl Rove and Harriet Miers testify under oath with a transcript of their testimony made public? That is the question we should all be asking whether you find yourself on the left or right side of the aisle. What does George W Bush have to lose when 70% of the American people strongly disagree with the job that he is doing? What could Karl or Harriet possibly say that would frighten the Bush administration so much? Obviously there are a few people who still support the administration. Perhaps George W Bush worries that something that Karl or Harriet might say would cause further erosion of his supporters. Maybe there are things that George W Bush would rather not have his base know.

After all, the argument that the Bush administration makes for not allowing Karl and Harriet to testify under oath is a bit weak. He says that the Democrats would use the testimony for political advantage. Since when is the truth something that could be used for political advantage? ;-} So, the Bush administration is saying that they do not want Karl and Harriet to testify under oath. An oath that only asks them to tell the truth! In other words, he doesn’t want what Karl and Harriet say to be tied to anything that might be verified as the truth. I think that it is pretty obvious that Bush would rather have Karl and Harriet lie about these things. And, of course, Bush is asking that no transcript be taken. In other words he doesn’t want any record of the lies that they tell. But, he is implying that the Democrats are trying to make this into some kind of political issue. How disingenuous!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

{{But the talking heads posting on this blog apparently would prefer a secret society running our nation.}}

Thomas— scarily reminisent of Nixon’s crimes, yes?

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

{{TruthDenier— so, what exactly is the harm if we humans are trying to do our part to lessen our influence on the global warming problem?}}

I repeat my question: what’s the harm in trying to do our part?

By getalife

March 22, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Looks like Edwards may drop out today due to his wife’s breast cancer.

I hope I am wrong.

Damn.

By regulator

March 22, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

Blackadder hits a homerun, rebut that idiosos!

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

George - I knew that wasn’t you. I’m not exactly a computer novice. SO what’s the real secret?

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

NASA says the Martian South Pole’s “ice cap” has been shrinking for three summers in a row. Maybe Mars got its fever from earth. If so, I guess Jupiter’s caught the same cold, because it’s warming up too, like Pluto. This has led some people, not necessarily scientists, to wonder if Mars and Jupiter, non signatories to the Kyoto Treaty, are actually inhabited by alien SUV-driving industrialists who run their air-conditioning at 60 degrees and refuse to recycle.

It has also led some people to believe that Al Gore and his “global warming” hysteritics are a bunch of numbnut, candy as-ses hoping to damage the US economy.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By @@

March 22, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

You’re not a gambler, are you ml? Is it logical to assume that if 8 federal judges have been let out of the coop, the other 85 are laying the “golden egg” for Bush?

What are the odds?

Not likely.

The Democrats will be “fricaseed” on this issue. They’re engaged in flights of fancy.

They’ve been cooped up too long is all.

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Too funny! Tom DeLay doesn’t even know what he wrote in his own book. During his interview, Chris Matthews, Chris starts flipping though the book and finds the “drunk with ambition” quote and reads it to Bug Man and DeLay keeps denying it. Finally, Chris hands the book to Tom and tells him to read it himself. DeLay looks down, pauses, and says “I don’t have my glasses.

Makes me think all these books by disgraced Republicans are ghost-written by the conservative think tanks. When the supposed author has no idea what he wrote it’s rather telling.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Goldie - I never said we should not do “our part”. But how to do our part is at the very heart of the debate. Those of you who would force the Kyoto Protocols upon the world would bankrupt the industrialized world and in the end pollution would not be reduced one whit because India and China as well as a host of other “developing” nations are exempt. Market solutions are the answer, not government dictates. The worst pollution on the planet occurred in the old Soviet bloc nations where entire forests were denuded by acid rain and life-spans reduced to under 40 years in some heavily polluted regions. I also have a problem with DumGore and his hypocrisy. He burns 20 times the amount of a normal family in his Tennessee mansion and flies around on his personal jet rather than flying commercial like the rest of us “common folk” he and his ilk claim to support.

It’s the same hypocrisy he has shown his entire career. He has never set foot in a public school as a student and neither have his children, yet he opposes vouchers which would make it easier for the less advantaged to get their kids out of failing public schools - e.g. Atlanta City or Clayton County!

Yes we should come up with a plan, but one that works and not one based on the hysterics of a self-promoting, whining, bloated JERK who buys “off-sets” from a company in which he owns stock rather than putting his money where his big FAT mouth is! He is rather like Paul Prudhomme lecturing someone on losing weight!

By getalife

March 22, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

Poor Andy.

Now he thinks he is Mike Luckovich.

Lock that psycho up.

Geez.

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

The Bush supporters are missing a very important piece of the puzzle. At least one of the fired USAs was investigating the administration and was getting a bit too close to the truth.

The question is, were some of the other 7 doing the same or did they just pick 7 more to smokescreen the firing of the one that was getting a little too close to the truth?

Time will tell.

By REALLY WISE GUY

March 22, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Truthsayers name really should be already debunked cliche sayer.

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

During yesterday’s hearings on global warming, global warming denier James Inhofe was asking Al Gore questions, but didn’t want to hear the answers because he thought the responses would take “too much time”. Barbara Boxer then explained to Inhofe how things work in Senate now.

Senator Boxer: “You’re not making the rules. You used to when you did this, you don’t do this anymore. Elections have consequences”

I love it! Everyone in the chamber appeared to love it too.

By regulator

March 22, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

Hospitalize Andi now!

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

Bob Barr blasted the Bush administration over the Alberto Gonzales/US attorney scandal and, as we Georgians know, he’s no liberal. As a matter of fact he served as a US attorney under Ronald Reagan in the Northern District of Georgia from 1986 to 1990. And we all know the role he played in the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

A question to those on the right. Is Barr, who was your darling a few years ago, now considered a traitor simply because he disagrees with Bush now? Just wondering.

BOB BARR: :Well, it’s probably some of both. But what’s really unfortunate here, both from the White House standpoint, as well as from the more important standpoint of what’s best for the country, is the integrity of the Department of Justice is being used as a political football by the administration to prove who’s the toughest hombre in all this. It’s very unfortunate. And I’m not really sure that the administration has chosen the best line in the sand to draw here, so to speak.

Congress clearly has a right to inquire into the running of the Department of Justice, to inquire into the integrity of the process of hiring and firing U.S. attorneys, notwithstanding the fact that that that is technically a prerogative of the president. And rather than fight this, the administration really ought to be going out of its way to do what prior administrations have done, such as the Bush I administration and Reagan administrations, and that is take whatever steps are necessary to assure the American people that the integrity of our justice system has not been compromised.”

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

REALLY WISE A** - just the kind of cliche I would expect from you. What has been debunked? Give me some facts, not opinions opined by left-wing politicians with radical agendae. The earth’s climates have changed many times during recorded and geological history. They will again. Just as it is warming now, it will get much colder in some time the future. Hysterics and histrionics will not “solve” the problem, because if it is a natural occurrence, which it most likely is, it is a matter of dealing with it, not bloviating and certainly not socializing the entire world economy to give a bunch of half-baked elitist socialists the right to tell the rest of us how to live.

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

{{Too funny! Tom DeLay doesn’t even know what he wrote in his own book.}}

Adder— now that IS funny. And I think you nailed what the “problem” is correctly — he didn’t even write his own book!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

{{because if it is a natural occurrence, which it most likely is,}}

{{Market solutions are the answer, not government dictates.}}

Now we know exactly where you’re coming from, Truth-Denier — the same answers given by the naysayers since the 17th century.

“Market solutions”— now that’s priceless!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Blackadder @ 11:23

That Inhofe is one screwy guy — remember when he made an announcement that “no one” in his family had ever had any “homosexual” activities??? Now, how exactly does he KNOW that?

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

{{{By getalife March 22, 2007 11:17 AM Poor Andy. Now he thinks he is Mike Luckovich. Lock that psycho up. Geez.}}}

gitmo: If I were Mike Luckovich the Urinal would have a cartoon in it today showing a fat faced, red eyed, deranged Al Gore insanely foaming at the mouth about “if the Earth were a baby” and there would be mothers with their babies running from him in terror (pretty good, eh?)

Please don’t get upset and start jacking names but WTF are you talking about?

{{{By Blackadder March 22, 2007 10:28 AM George 7:14 It seems you and Andy are the only ones who can post when posting is closed. Care to share how you do it?}}}

PoofoDull’s Tiny Testes: Hey, if you figure it out, wouldn’t you have to go to work earlier than 10:00 every morning? By the time you get to the boss’s computer, the posting window is already open, you dullard.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Blackadder

March 22, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

Goldie - good point. I had forgotten about that.

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this

-=-

A million independent scientist around the world could tell people like Truthsayer the facts that they have uncovered concerning global warming with all their years of work and measurements and calculations of weather patterns, and ocean currents and biological kill-offs, and temperature projections.

Yes all these scientist could stand before Truthsayer and tell him the real facts they found through actual research! But a person like Truthsayer would still point to what a politically paid and corporate sponsored scientist shill says about the environment as the only one that truly knows and speaks “The Truth!”

And that folks really is the Truth!

Thomas/PNAC

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

Look out! Here come the balloon police!

It’s $250 a pop for a balloon on the loose if this bill passes the House in “Live Free or Die” New Hampshire

By Somerville Sam

March 22, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

The anger expressed on this page by the conservatives seems misdirected. And ironic. And they serve as a pleasant reminder of how glad I am to be living in Massachusetts.

Luckovich, come on up - we’ve got plenty of room for you.

By getalife

March 22, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

Andy,

Gore was treated like a celebrity in those hearings.

His explanation was for the wingnuts to understand.

They are not too bright.

There are some wingnuts and some Corporations who agree with him.

Even if he is wrong, his cause is good.

We should take care of the world for future generations.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Nuked - You keep living in your dream world! Yes a million UN “scientists” cannot be wrong. You forget, all of these people are paid by someone and usually that someone is someone with an agenda of some kind. The great irony is that the majority of scientists who did the UN report on global warming were sociologists and other types of “social scientists”. Also, many very reputable scientists around the world have disputed the causes of global warming. Certainly the sun, the oceans, and the orbit of the earth have much more effect on the climate than pollution. One large volcanic erruption spews more gas into the atmosphere than a hundred years worth of American pollution.

In reality, it is you who will not question the “conventional” wisdom and you take your marching orders from pat talking points issued by the like of moveon.org and George Sorros and the DNC!

By @@

March 22, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish:

I would actually support the “balloon” bill in Concord. There’s really no good reason to release thousands of balloons other than for a spectacle in show.

But surely it wouldn’t fine the little kid that just can’t seem to hold on to his/her balloon.

I’m also a person who cuts the plastic rings that secure a six pack of canned drinks before I carry them to recycling.

Why you might ask…because I don’t trust that those rings are actually ending up in the county’s landfill. I feel good about cutting the rings, and good about recycling my plastics; I just don’t “trust” the environmental groups to follow through with their promises.

Too many of them have been caught dumping on my efforts.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

{{{By getalife March 22, 2007 12:19 PM Even if he is wrong, his cause is good. We should take care of the world for future generations.}}}

gitmo: There is conclusive evidence that the polar ice caps are melting….. on Mars, just the same as they are on Earth.

Gore is blaming man for the melting.

Are you suggesting that we have colonized Mars and are keeping it a secret?

Or that interplanetary space travel is like driving your car to Ohio now?

It’s indisputable proof that you liberals can’t be trusted to make decisions like adults do, you react to minor situations the way a child would, a clueless child at that.

Just look at the DDT hysteria and how many African children died because of your junk science, you’ll start to get some idea of what I’m talking about.

We don’t need your help, thanks anyway.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

getalife - you folks just kill me. As long as the message conforms with the current talking points and marching orders from the left-wing arbiter of truth du jour, you say anyone spouting that crap is good. Don’t actions mean anything. Certainly certain preacher’s words are powerful, but their lives are hypocritical. The message does not make YOU a good person.

And what is this: even if he is wrong, the cause is good? What kind of sophistry is that? If he is wrong, then his cause is wrong. Gore is wrong, even according to many supporters of the global warming theories. He believes his mission is to scare and terrorize. He loves being a rock star. He lives the life of a rich patrician who never practices what he preaches, he just expects the rest of us to do it - rather like a left wing Jimmy Swaggert.

The great irony here is that almost all people get into public service because they want things to be better for future generations. Some are right, many are wrong. In their own perverted ways Hitler, Mussolini, Genghis Khan and Atilla the Hun meant well, but that did not make them right. The worst excuse in the world is that “he means well.”

By Truthman

March 22, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Goodness, what dribble today!

Let’s see:

Gonzales will be gone by dinnertime Friday.

Cheney may actually last a few weeks past my 30 March prediction, but not more than a few weeks.

Finally, anybody - I repeat, ANYBODY - who still supports the Bush administration is:

A traitor!

A hater of American

A hater of the Rule of Law.

A supporter of Fascism and a bastardized christian theocracy!

It’s for folks such and Bush and Cheney that I wish there WAS a heaven and hell. Hopefully, they’ll be so tied up in civil and criminal courts after 2009 that earth will become their hell

By Mrs. Godzilla

March 22, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Edwards still in!

Elizabeth is a hell of a woman!

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

-=-

TruthMan -

YOU CAN”T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

(even when it comes from Faux)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189722,00.html

Something is clearly causing the earth temp to rise. If it is natural and we can do nothing then we are simply screwed.

If it is caused by man (even partially) and we can (And Should!) do something to curtail it wherever possible!

Even so we should drasticlly reduce pollutantsin our environment. Forget about Global warming - Pollution reduction is very important for many reasons.

But of course big industry would prefer their profits over environment.

I see who you obviously side with “Truth Man”. You have no problems turning the earth into one big landfill.

Thomas/PNAC

(Cudo’s to @@ for her efforts to do something to help the environment!)

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Mrs. Godzilla,

I never really thought I would see you type something so totally devoid of class.

Elizabeth Edwards is a very classy woman and will be in my prayers. Cheering on whether or not Edwards is still running, especially at the top of your post proves you aren’t.

By getalife

March 22, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

So according to Andy and lying liar, who have never been right about anything, we should take their word that there is no global warming.

I would bet with those who have been right and have credibility.

Clue to wingnuts, you have no credibilty. Period.

You can continue to spew but it is falling on deaf ears. The world could be exploding right in front of you eyes and your Baghdad Bob lies would keep coming.

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

{{As long as the message conforms with the current talking points and marching orders from the left-wing arbiter of truth du jour, you say anyone spouting that crap is good. Don’t actions mean anything.}}

Truth-Denier, you make some good points here. And as long as you Bush-cultists continue to take your marching orders from Rover or the RNC, you will be laughed right out of the White House in ‘08.

And that IS the truth.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Truthman - it is exactly the broad-brush elitism that turns people off to the atheist, socialist, truly anti-American agenda. You are of the same ilk that thought we could trust the Soviet Union and negotiate with the likes of Pol Pot during the cold war. You are also convinced that anyone who disagrees with you is stupid rather than misguided. I chose to believe that you are simply misguided. Hitlery and Bill certainly are not stupid, and I would not dream of calling them that, but they are and ever will be WRONG, WRONG, WRONG and misguided and as a result they MISGUIDE and you are one of the truly misguided.

By getalife

March 22, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

Bone cancer, that sux.

Edwards said you can go cower in the corner like Andy or you can keep fighting.

Good for them.

By Truthman

March 22, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Hey “Nuked”

I’m “Truthman!”

I am not “Truthsayer.”

Please check to whom you are writing. I’m on your side!!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

{{You are of the same ilk that thought we could trust the Soviet Union}}

Truth-Denier, you must be p!ssed as hell that your guy Ray-gun spent time actually talking to the Soviet Union, instead of bombing them into democracy like W likes to do. The Cold War was not won by bombs or invasions — you might want to learn something from past successes instead of preaching the use of war to obtain your goals.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

{{{By getalife March 22, 2007 12:47 PM So according to Andy and lying liar, who have never been right about anything, we should take their word that there is no global warming.}}}

gitmo: What do the Earth and Mars have in common?

What comes up in the sky every morning and sets in the horizon every evening, just the same as it did in the 1930’s and 1300’s which are some other notable “global warming” periods?

And what do the people that hysterically wailed about the impending ice age, over population, food shortages, oil running out, Y2K, the Soviet Union and all the other idiocies have in common?

That’s right, they were all silly as-s liberals, flipping out over nothing.

Like you are.

Lock up the Plame bitc-h now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By rushncap

March 22, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

Adder, just don’t try posting after RW. It won’t work. Our friendly little stalker here would stay up all night just to get in the last word. Ah the beauty of not having a job or a life.

By getalife

March 22, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this

blah, blah, blah………

No credibility, try linking with something credible even though I will not read it.

Maybe somebody out there might buy into your bs.

Geez.

Lock up that psycho.

By Mrs. Godzilla

March 22, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this

RW,

While you may be a slap-dashedly witty and manly rightwing stud, your post to me was way, way off.

I guess you didn’t see the press conference. She’s happy he’s still running. So she has no class either?

She continues to celebrate her life, her husband, her children and the campaign they are running together.

You’re just being petulant. I know times are tough for your side right now but it’s no excuse for such wrong headedness and baseless name-calling.

Besides, I have not seen the documentation anywhere that says somebody died and made you the official social arbiter of class. Heavens, I have read your posts over the years. You would have to admit that occasionally your words, especially after 5, certainly do not always set a standard for class.

Don’t be so self-righteous it’s doesn’t suit you.

Be proud and joyful for the strength of this family.

Peace.

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this

-=-

Sorry TruthMan — (I’m sooo confused - lol)

Andydull:

[gitmo: There is conclusive evidence that the polar ice caps are melting….. on Mars, just the same as they are on Earth.]

What “CONCLUSIVE” evidence? Heck for that matter what superficial “Evidence”

Your comparing a CO2 Ice atmosphere to Earths? - An frozen pole that almost completly shifts from one side to another each year? A planet on a different orbiital angle to the sun?

PROOF BABY! PROOF! LETS SEE IT!

Thomas/PNAC

By getalife

March 22, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

Ouch RW, that had to hurt.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this

Goldie - you seem to forget that you liberals criticized Reagan for not talking enough to the Soviets and being willing to cut off negotiations. You also criticized him for arming Western Europe to the teeth. He and others credited our large defense buildup with the fall of the Soviet bloc.

I guess you would have been like Senator Borah who said:”If only I could have sat down with Mr. Hitler, this terrible war could have been averted.” You and your ilk don’t get it. These people cannot be talked to. They don’t want to talk. They want us to die. It’s just like the line in Goldfinger when Bond asks Auric Goldfinger: “Do you expect me to talk?” Goldfinger replies: “No Mr.Bond, I expect you to die!”

The problem is you think that everyone is reasonable and can be reasoned with. Our implacable enemies today cannot!

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

Although the heart of Doom goes out to the Edwards family and what they’re going through, he is still what he was prior to today’s announcement: a loser.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

Mrs. G,

I watched every minute of the press conference and she was well within her place to proclaim her happiness that the campaign was to be ongoing. If you noticed, that came last unlike in your post.

I’m also not the one that holds myself out as the epitome of class. You do and you have proved it as unfounded as your ignorant political beliefs.

rushncap,

You got in the last word on March 20th, it’s only the 22nd today. Every time I think you can’t be a bigger idiot you prove me wrong. Good job!

By regulator

March 22, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

Institutionalize Andi and Buy Danish together now!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this

{{The problem is you think that everyone is reasonable and can be reasoned with. Our implacable enemies today cannot!}}

Once again, Truth-Denier, you must be p!ssed that there are “negotiations” going on right now with the insurgents in Iraq… you must also believe that the only way to win the “war on terror” is to keep killing all of the terrorists. It ain’t gonna happen!

You of such small minds will always go down in defeat!

By Goldie

March 22, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this

{{He and others credited our large defense buildup with the fall of the Soviet bloc.}}

Truth-Denier, you may want to go back and read some history. Bin Laden pretty much put the final nail in the Soviet Union’s financial coffin — all by keeping the Soviets in Afghanistan for too long!

By rushncap

March 22, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

Actually Stalk, you posted your last response at midnight. Considering that I was at a bar by then, I’d have been hard-pressed to get the last word in. Nice try. You really should stop lying. It’s not good for what’s left of your heart.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

gitmolife,

What hurts is that I started the job that Dmitry says I don’t have at 5:00 this morning.

The good news is that I’m done for the day so I’m heading out to the links to enjoy the life Dmitry says I don’t have.

Y’all enjoy!

rushncap,

Please remember to keep your hands on the keyboard when students are present.

By Mrs. Godzilla

March 22, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

RW

I take back every nice thing I never thought about you.

Epitome of class? Me? Heck no.

Great Gravy? Yes. The truth is the truth.

We see you are bored and in the mood to pick a fight. I’m not. I just washed my hands.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

There’s something peculiar about John Edwards. Why would an attractive younger man marry an older less attractive woman? Those type of situations usually carry stark homo undertones.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

rushncap,

Midnight was the 21st and your last post of the day on the 20th was at 11:39. I hate the idea that I’m your last thought before heading out to pick up a picture of a waitress in a bar, though.

Here’s a tip for you, at least on the posting, I can’t help with your paper girlfriend problem. When you are dashing off to a bar don’t ask a boatload of questions that you don’t want someone to answer.

Kerist, you’re a moron!

Bye!

By rushncap

March 22, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this

RW, look, maybe you assume we can’t do math. But I can. If you start your job at 5 am, yet are here posting at midnight, you get at the very most 4 hours of sleep a night. Riiiiight. Not in this world, bub.

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

-=-

Wow - Truthsayer is at it again - even lying about Reagan’..

Truthsayer - are you even aware that the fall of the Soviet Union was due to economic issues! They were financially broke because of their military spending. Over half their economy was going into their military budget. That’s what was really attributed to the demise of the Soviet Bloc’.

Reagan often DID negotiate with the Soviets on a regular basis - he sent Colin Powell to do that! True he took a hardliner stance publicly, but the negotiating door was always open.

Are you even aware of the exchange between Colin Powell and Gorbachev’?

Gorbechev was pushing Glastnos’ and peaceful solutions with us. But Colin was refusing, and then there was that famous statement to Colin Powell by Gorbie where he laughed and said “I’m afraid you Americans are going to have to find another enemy, because we will no longer be your enemy!”(p).

This was because they could no longer afford to be our enemy.

I might also add - this was long before Reagan stood in Berlin and said “Tear Down This Wall!”.

And that is also the reason that Gerald Ford said Reagan only had a minor part in the fall of the Soviet Empire.

Truth-not-at-all-sayer — Stop the fairy-tails while you can!

No one believes you now!`

Oh and by the way - after that quote, Bond then diplomatically (negotiated) his way out of that Death Ray by (ahem) talking!… He used weapons and military force later when it was tactically in his favor grins. And Hitler had no interest in negotiating!

Thomas/PNAC

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

{{{By The Peoples for a Nuked’ Amerika’ Century~! March 22, 2007 1:12 PM Andydull:[gitmo: There is conclusive evidence that the polar ice caps are melting….. on Mars, just the same as they are on Earth.) What “CONCLUSIVE” evidence? Heck for that matter what superficial “Evidence”}}}

Sybil Gasbag: My gawd, you liberals are hopeless, aren’t you?

Let’s see, google, type in “mars nasa ice melting.”

Gee, Mars is Melting The south polar ice cap of Mars is receding, revealing frosty mountains, rifts and curious dark spots., imagine that.

What are you going to ask me to look up for your crippled as-s next, numbnuts, what’s causing it to melt?

(Is it just me, I mean really, if I came up with some goofy idea to save bird egg shells that wound up killing 30 million African children, would you not stop coming up with goofy ideas?? Do these people WANT to kill us?)

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Republican Welfare State

March 22, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Until last year, financial counselors at the Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati spent most of their time teaching Americans how to buy a first home. Now, they’re deluged by broken and bereft homeowners facing foreclosure. “Oh Lord, there is no way we can keep up with these calls,” said Kaye Britton, a foreclosure counselor at the downtown nonprofit group that promotes home ownership to minority Americans, among others.

Foreclosures were formerly rare, caused mostly by the loss of job, divorce or medical bills. But when rising interest rates began driving up mortgage payments last year, homeowners started to feel the pain. Phones at credit counselors across the country are now ringing off the hook.

This would be the Republicans idea of a ‘robust’ economy!

What’s funny is that most of the financially secure think that this won’t affect them since it is the subprime market. They most surely do not realize that when poor and middle class people have their backs against the wall, they will work 3 jobs, live austerely, and try to keep their heads above water, but when all else fails and there are babies to feed, they will rob, steal, cheat, sell drugs, protest, riot, and maybe worse- just plain give up and become wards of the welfare state. The one thing they will NOT be doing is purchasing the goods and services supplied by businesses that are owned by those who are ‘currently’ financially secure.

Republican fiscal policy is expanding the welfare state, not diminishing it!

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

rushncap,

Try to keep up. I started this morning at 5:00AM. As getalife well knows that’s painful for me because I am not a morning person. That’s why I told HIM that. Unlike you, getalfe has a few working brain cells so I’m sure he understood.

Are you really this stupid or do you have to put in extra effort?

Now I’m really gone so feel free to lie away.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this

Atlanta just passed the 5 million population mark. That just means that the homos that run this city have more pockets to bleed.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

Lord Doom - I cannot stand John Edwards, his hypocrisy or his politics, but I really don’t see how his appearance has anything to do with anything. In my experience those that are obsessed by homosexuality are the ones who are the biggest closet cases.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this

Liesayer,

You evidently don’t have much experience then. The notion that anyone that makes a comment about homos may actually be one is typical leftwing propaganda. Who do you think made that one up: The Homos!

That’s like saying anyone who doesn’t like blacks is actually black themselves. Your philosophy is as a result of a perverted method of logic created by the,you guessed it, homosexual controlled media. They created it as a means of defense against what they call homophobia.

I’m sure you will find that as a correct analysis.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this

All charges are being dropped against the Duke lacrosse players. Finally someone understands that when there is NO evidence of a crime, there is not a crime. Now if only the Democrats in Congress could understand that about the firing of the prosecutors.

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this

-=-

LOL — Andy-dullard - did you even read that article before you posted it as your evidence of “Mars icecaps melting at a faster rate than normal” piece?

That is actually a very good science article showing how Mars Icecaps work in a way that is completly different from earths!..

[The south polar cap is vaporizing now, which means CO2 is rushing back into the atmosphere. “Remember, though,” adds Smith, “there are two polar caps on Mars—north and south. While the south polar cap is vaporizing the north polar cap is growing. It’s a balancing act. Overall air pressure will be greatest when there’s the least amount of CO2 on the ground.” The next such peak is due in early October—that is, early southern summer on Mars.]

It is an article on the “Standard” seasonal melting on MARS and not some evidence of an increased rate of melting of the CO2 icecaps.

Mars is an entirely different planet, with a 95%-CO2 atmosphere with different air pressure and very little water. One pole melts almost completly away each martian half-year (except the permanent icecap which may actually be water) and while one pole completly melts away the other end of the planet forms ice. Mar’s solar cycle is different than earths rotating around the sun at a different rate each year.

How you gas-bags can haul something like this out as evidence of Mar’s poles melting at an unusual rate is beyone me. How you can even compare Mars and Earths environments to each other I’ll never know. How about Jupiter. It’s a “Gas Giant” just like you!

Thank you for the great scientific link Andi-Dull

Now if you actually read through it completly - Mr-Andy-BS-for-Brains - then you will find that you have proven my point 100% and totally disproven yours!

Thomas/PNAC

By rushncap

March 22, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this

Oh, I’m not worried, Stalk, I’m sure you’ll be back here posting until 1 am again.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this

Nuked - You really don’t get it do you? You are like those people who believed the earth was the center of the universe before and even after Galileo proved otherwise. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME SOLAR SYSTEM AND HAVE THE SAME SUN. WHEN THE SUN GETS HOTTER, IT NOT ONLY HEATS UP THE EARTH, THE OTHER PLANETS GET HOTTER TOO! Is that clear enough for you?

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this

Lord Doom - I have yet to be called left-wing influenced, so that is a first. And secondly, I guess that you think that Neil Boorst is a left-wing media tool as well? He and I are of the same opinion on this one. It just seems to be a rather strange obsession to me, that’s all. I personally don’t worry about that kind of thing as it cannot affect me one way or the other.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

{{{By Anti Radical March 22, 2007 1:38 PM What’s funny is that most of the financially secure think that this won’t affect them since it is the subprime market.}}}

Spammie: The interest rates are still lower than what they were through the whole 8 years of the Clinton disaster and are a quarter of what Carter had them at, how in the F can this be a Republican problem?

I thought you pinkos were going to “change” things when you got elected, why are you still sucking on the same old Republican pacifier?

Aren’t you teethed yet, you idiot?

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

TruthSlayer,

It doesn’t affect Doom either. I’ve heard Neal’s comments before. He thinks their born that way on the basis of “why would anybody chose that lifestyle?” He or you would never admit it, but the foundation of that question shows a proclivity to think it is perverted because if its not perverted then it would be ok to chose,hence, they may actually chose it instead of being born that way.

The only reason Doom brought it up is because of the press conference today. I happen to notice the inequality of looks between the two.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

{{{By The Peoples for a Nuked’ Amerika’ Century~! March 22, 2007 2:04 PM LOL — Andy-dullard - did you even read that article before you posted it as your evidence of “Mars icecaps ” piece?}}}

Sybil Gasbag: I had no idea you didn’t realize this, my bad, but warmth causes ice to melt. I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to get over your head there.

Your first clue here, and slow me down if I get going too fast, is “melting at a faster rate than normal.”

Just like Earth!

Let’s see, what’s the only thing the Earth and Mars have in common, gee, gosh, I wonder, the Sun!

The Sun is warming Mars too, dullard.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Republican Welfare State

March 22, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

LuckoDull: This is not a problem only with interest rates in the subprime market. It is, primarily, an indictment of current fiscal policy which has left the poor and middle class without the means to earn a living wage or pay their subprime mortgages.

Most of the problem is not usurious interest rates, they are not that high as you said. The problem is that jobs paying a living wage have been exported overseas and replaced with McJobs that only continue the culture of dependency on the welfare state.

That is hardly a ‘robust’ economy as Republicans have claimed! Don’t tell me that the economy is great for you, it’s great for me too. Tell the children of the hundreds of thousands of families that are losing their homes that the economy is great for you, I’m sure that will make it all better!

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

Republican welfare state,

Normally, Doom does not comment to cowards who can’t reveal themselves. In this case, however, your theory is grossly incorrect, or at least it is grossly politically motivated. You said current fiscal policy is responsible for jobs going overseas. Oh I get it, prior to Bush taking office their were no exportation of jobs right! You are an idiot and a half!!

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

{{{By AntiRadical March 22, 2007 2:39 PM LuckoDull: This is not a problem only with interest rates in the subprime market. It is, primarily, an indictment of current fiscal policy which has left the poor and middle class without the means to earn a living wage or pay their subprime mortgages.}}}

Spammie: I’m quoting YOUR link, moron.

{{{By AntiRadical March 22, 2007 1:38 PM But when rising interest rates began driving up mortgage payments last year, homeowners started to feel the pain.}}}

You just grab the first thing you can find and flame the republicans with it, don’t you?

NewsFlash: You’re in charge now, Spammie, you idiots won the Congress. Pay these people’s mortgages for them, buy the whole freaking house and give it to them outright, let them sleep in your bed, eat up all your food, pull your thumb out of your mouth and lead you idiot, lead.

Do what ever you want, cripple, what are you whining at us for?

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By KidStuff

March 22, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

Luckodull, Do you have a life? What a fat, slobbering loser you must be.

By Republican Welfare State

March 22, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this

LuckDull: The link did not say that ONLY rising interest rates were at fault for the defaults, only that it helped to percipitate this run on the banks.

I don’t want to GIVE anything to anyone any more than you do. I, also, do not wish to employ workers at jobs that pay usurious wages that are damaging to our society in the long run. Obviously, you have no such reservations!

You can let them sleep in you bed, suck your tumb, etc if you wish. I’ll continue creating decent jobs for them instead. You should try to improve society for a change instead of just sucking the lifeblood out of it. The world may end up a better place, and you might end up a better person.

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this

-=-

To both: Dullard - and - The Truth-naysayer —

Now I know you two are not up on this science thing since you don’t believe in it. So I’ll try and help you out!

Yes both Earth and Mars have the Sun in common. And yes both planets rotate around the Sun exposing one pole to the sun every half cycle of their planets orbit around the sun.

And yes “just like earth they have a (now get this part) “Seasonal” polar melting cycle. That means both earth and Mars have yearly cycles of polar ice melting. (Yearly means the time for each planet to orbit the sun). Clearly the Mars and Earth’s year is different due to their orbiting distance from the Sun.

However - this is where you don’t seem to get it!

Earth’s IceCaps are made of water and the ice only melts a little during the seasonal cycle!

Mars Icecaps are made of Carbon Dioxide (Dry Ice) and dissolve rapidly and almost completly during the seasonal cycle.

Earth’s Icecaps are melting faster than normal! (This is an abnormal condition)

Dry Ice melts and goes directly to a gaseous state very quickly and therefore in the Mars cycle the icecap melts faster. This is a perfectly normal condition for Mars. (NOT abnormal). There are no signs that the permanent ice on Mars has been melting abnormally either.

So -

Earth’s water based icecaps are melting at a faster than normal rate, while Mar’s icecaps are melting at precisly the normal rate.

There is no planetary comparison evidence to suggest the Sun is getting hotter. (and you better pray to God that this is not happening, or you should start building that StarShip Ark’!)

There is no evidence of an increased surface temperature on Mars. But there is clearly evidence of an increase in surface temperature on Earth.

There is no evidence of Mars ice melting faster - other than the made up spin evidence which compares Mars icecaps receding speed to Earth’s Icecaps melting. Basically doctored science lies by the neocon talking heads!.

But Sadly and Clearly - Earth’s IceCaps and Glaciers ARE melting!

Now we have to deal with it one way or another…

Oh - And by the way!

Don’t go on “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” because you would surely lose!

Thomas/PNAC

(“In reality industrial pollution is

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

{{{By AntiRadical March 22, 2007 2:59 PM You can let them sleep in you bed, suck your tumb, etc if you wish. I’ll continue creating decent jobs for them instead.}}}

Spammie: The unemployment rate is 4.4% it was 6.5% the last time you freaks held the White House.

Wages are up, growth is up, tax revenues are up, the budget deficit is headed down, you pinkos just tacked 21 billion dollars of pork onto a spending bill after whining about the debt for the last 6 years.

You have no credibility, unless it’s for being a big fat thumb sucker.

STFU and see if you can do better, wanker.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

Unemployment is lower than the average when the Bstad was in Chief. Interest rates are lower than at ANY time in the 1990s. The “rich” pay a larger percentage of income taxes than at any time since World War II and the lower 50% of wage earners only pay 4% of the taxes even though they earn over 25% of the income. If the “poor” are in trouble, it has nothing to do with the present fiscal policies. And dip wads, importing/exporting is a two way street and importing goods creates as many jobs as it “destroys.” Also, if we put up trade barriers, then our trading partners will react in kind and we will have real economic problems. Ask the ghosts of Mr. Hauly and Mr. Smoot.

I would also like to point out that with your errant economic philosophy you are putting yourself in the company of such geniuses as Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan, hardly company that I think a “liberal” would want.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

Republican Welfare State - I did not know that wages could be usurious! If employers are paying usurious wages, then the employees are ripping off the employers! Where did you learn your economics - Clinton Clown College? Or maybe it was the more prestigious Perot/Buchanan institute for neo-Fascist, proto-Socialist Economics?

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

Truthstaler,

You just contradicted your earlier post dumba$$!

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this

{{{By Sir Dullard of Gasbaghdad March 22, 2007 3:05 PM Now I know you two are not up on this science thing since you don’t believe in it. So I’ll try and help you out! Blah, blah, blah}}}

Yaaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnn.

Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Truthsayer

March 22, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

Lord Doom - tell me how I did that, you rude jerk.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

Truthsayer,

My bad. I thought you were the other idiot.

By Midori

March 22, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

this had to be Andy, RW and Buy Danish

Just had to be!!

Hiya, Lord Doom :)

You know that you and I are on opposite sides politically, but I still think you’re A-ok :)

By The Peoples for a Nuked' Amerika' Century~!

March 22, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

-=-

Just like I said…

One million scientist say YES, and One scientist says NO, and of course Andy sides with the one scientist that said NO against all sensible reason and fact - lol

Habibullo Abdussamatov theory was debunked in that very same article you just now posted! - LOL

I suggest you read page 2 of your link and see “The Rest of The Story”!

Night all - I’m outta here!

Thomas/PNAC (Gee what is with Andy posting the first post each morning and RW, Dusty and Buy Danish posting the last post every evening here? Conspiracy?!!!)

By Republican Welfare State

March 22, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this

By LuckoDull March 22, 2007 3:10 PM Wages are up, growth is up, {{{{{tax revenues are up}}}}}, the budget deficit is headed down

So it seems that Republicans have been collecting taxes hand over fist (since the tax revenues are up so dramatically) and LYING to us once again in saying that they have ‘cut’ taxes.

Wages, growth, and the debt remain stagnant at present, while population growth is expanding exponentially.

Wages can indeed be usury (an exorbitant rate of interest) when considering the cost that below-standard-of-living living wages places back on society when the poor and middle class default on loans, apply for public assistance, steal, rob, give up, etc, etc, etc. Those are the hidden ‘costs’ (exorbitant rates of interest) that society bears when businesses pay less than a living wage.

……..or maybe the wingnuts will try to convince you that the reason so many thousands of home loans are defaulting is because their economy is so ‘robust’!

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this

@@,

I too cut the plastic rings. However, to the best of my knowledge there is not law which compels me to do so.

I think this ballon business is a serious case of over legislating. Heck, if pre-schoolers can figure it out surely adults can too without being threatened with fines.

I do worry that if one of these poor children accidentally lets go of their balloon that they will be emotionally damaged for the rest of their life with all the guilt that they will experience.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

Midori,

What’s up babe. Doom has been missing you. I ran that B*tch Hag away from these blogs for you.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

{{{By AntiRadical March 22, 2007 3:42 PM So it seems that Republicans have been collecting taxes hand over fist (since the tax revenues are up so dramatically) and LYING to us once again in saying that they have ‘cut’ taxes.}}}

Spammie: The tax cuts created more revenue which creates extra taxes.

I thought any idiot could understand that but I guess I’m wrong.

Sir Dullard of Gasbaghdad: Since you’re going to dismiss all of my links off hand, let’s try it this way.

Show us how the sea level will rise twenty feet and flood Manhattan like your boy Gore says.

It’s on you now.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Somerville Sam

March 22, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

@ Luckodull @ Truthsayer @ Gadem re: “witch hunts” Would you also call Newt Gingrich’s pursuing the impeachment of Bill Clinton

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

Midori,

Doom spoke to soon. B*tch Danish,aka,@@, thought I was gone and crawled out from under rock to send a message to herself

By Somerville Sam

March 22, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

Trying this again:

@ Luckodull @ Truthsayer @ Gadem re: “witch hunts” Would you also call Newt Gingrich’s pursuing the impeachment of Bill Clinton while he was still married and was banging a colleague a witch hunt?

As Luckovich points out, the chickens have come home to roost. And not a day too soon.

By Republican Welfare State

March 22, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

Spammie: The tax cuts created more revenue which creates extra taxes.

They are not ‘cuts’ if more tax revenue is generated, thereby. In order to be a ‘cut’ the rate would have to decrease on the additional revenues in order to achieve a total net reduction or tax ‘cut’. Republicans did not do that though, did they? They kept right on raking it in and spending it like there was no tommorow. To claim otherwise is deceitful.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this

“You know its hard out here for Doom, when there’s nothing but liberals in the room. When my conservative energy is spent, that’s when the B*tch Danish shows up to blow for rent.”

By WTFBBQ

March 22, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this

RE: JacksonWolf @ 10:09am

Umm, what am I registered as? Yes, Independent. What do I classify myself as? No doubt about it, a lazy uncaring Fat American. I am a lower middel class sucker of the teat of prosperity. I pay my taxes, I dont care if they go up or down, because lets face it there aint sheite i can do unless I play the loophole game. I hate loopholes, I hate excessive legislation, and theres the smallest slice of me that would classify myself as an Anarchist, except that I like having police, roads, schools, etc.

Not quite like most people on here… but then again what do I care as long as I can buy my food in a drive-thru.

By RE

March 22, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this

On the mortgage default and foreclosure thing we are seeing.

This is not the fault of Bush or his admin directly, when 9-11 happened, the fed cut rates in order to spur growth. This lowered mortgage rates and increased housing prices.

As the housing prices rose, more people turned to investment purchases, spuring more development and so on. Seeing this, many private companies expanded the crtieria for mortgage loans allowing larger loans at higher loan to value limits. They also expanded out acceptance to worse and worse credit on high value loans.

This is a market driven process, and foreclosure is part of it. The market will correct itself, 100% loans will be unavailable to most people. Housing prices will continue to fall as less people are eligible for home ownership. IT is going to be bad, lock into whatever loan you have and be prepared to lose value in your home for the next 2-3 years unless you are in rural areas.

By @@

March 22, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

Midori at 3:36.

Tell me you didn’t just use the death of an innocent boy to have your sick fun?

You truly are a disgusting ignorant moron.

Unbelievable, the depths to which you’ll stoop.

By @@

March 22, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

Midori at 3:36.

Tell me you didn’t just use the death of an innocent boy to have your sick fun?

You truly are a disgusting ignorant moron.

Unbelievable, the depths to which you’ll stoop.

By @@

March 22, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

I may have posted my comment to Midori twice.

To everyone but Midori, apologies.

And just so everybody who may be reading and not posting….

Midori is a liberal….

it’s not uncommon for her to be thoroughly disgusting on a whim.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

{{{By Spammie March 22, 2007 3:59 PM They are not ‘cuts’ if more tax revenue is generated, thereby. In order to be a ‘cut’ the rate would have to decrease on the additional revenues in order to achieve a total net reduction or tax ‘cut’.}}}

Would anybody else like to second this emotion?

AntiRadical: They must have some really, really good smoke over there in Thailand, it’s got you all f’ed up.

Enjoy!

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

How embarrassing:

THE HOUSE IN DISARRAY- Dem leadership pulls DC voting bill from floor; conservative Dems were supporting DC gun repeal…Leader Hoyer seen yelling at staff on floor…Speaker Pelosi absent because she is desperately searching for Iraq supplemental votes…Holmes-Norton standing silently in disbelief..

Meltdown.

It’s over, they lost control.

Bush might have to step in and straighten things out for them.

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

THE HOUSE IN DISARRAY

By @@

March 22, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

Midori:

It’s a simple question.

One that even a simpleton, like you, can answer.

Did you, or did you not just use the death of an innocent six-year old boy to entertain yourself on this board at 3:36?

By getalife

March 22, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

Mr. Murtha on C-Span.

By Midori

March 22, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

what’s wrong @@?

mad because they left you out of the action, you sick freak?

are you p** that your brother, Andy, found someone else to “play” with?

Go jump in a lake.

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

The Republicans are making these pinkos look stupid.

Murtha’s probably gonna propose cutting and running from the House of Representatives.

I hope the French aren’t watching this.

This is Al Qaeda’s team at work, how can we possibly lose in Iraq?

Lock the Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Paul

March 22, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

Lord Doom 1:31

I had to shake my head at your speculation. Sen Edwards and his wife have been married for 30 years. He’s in his mid-fifties. They met while both were in law school. Say what you will, the guy has character - he recognizes there’s more to relationships and marriage than the way a spouse ages.

RE: funny you should post that. It’s exactly what I wanted to discuss when you returned - but on a different angle. Much has been written about proposals for the government to subsidize refinancing for people who got caught up in the subprime lending practices. It seems to me several financial institutions were eager and pushy with the loans. The lendee assumed risk, sure, but so did the lender. But the lender’s risk pretty much means a foreclosed house.

The proposals ask Americans to chip in to pay for refinancing these loans. Why not have the financial institutions involved form a pool to bail folks out of this situation? They were the ones who came up with the methods (I ran into a classmate at a reunion whose job is to come up with creative ways to keep mortgage financing going once the current procedures don’t continue to generate demand) - so why not have them assume some of the costs?

By @@

March 22, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

Midori:

So in other words…YOU DID!!!!!

And you call me a “sick freak”.

There is definitely something emotionally unbalanced about you. You have the depraved tendencies of a “sociopath”.

It’s truly saddening to observe you as representative of the Democratic party.

By @@

March 22, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

Midori:

So in other words…YOU DID!!!!!

And you call me a “sick freak”.

There is definitely something emotionally unbalanced about you. You have the depraved tendencies of a “sociopath”.

It’s truly saddening to observe you as representative of the Democratic party.

By @@

March 22, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

Midori:

So in other words…YOU DID!!!!!

And you call me a “sick freak”.

There is definitely something emotionally unbalanced about you. You have the depraved tendencies of a “sociopath”.

It’s truly saddening to observe you as representative of the Democratic party.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 5:23 PM | Link to this

@@(you know who),

You’re the only freak on this blog. You are twisting Midori words and Doom doesn’t like it. You need to crawl back under your roach infested hole and don’t come out until you’ve developed some sense.

By getalife

March 22, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this

Al Qaeda’s team is in Pakistan and President Mushroom is losing power.

There goes another ally but they have nukes that Al Quaeda can use against us.

By @@

March 22, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this

Doom:

I could care less about what you like.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this

@@(the B*tch),

Is that the best you’ve got? Even Doom hates to kick a person when their down.

I will leave you alone as long as you leave Midori alone. Deal?

By Luckovich Losers

March 22, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this

Midori - Andi, Bi and RW seem to be in the clear on that particular crime, but it was an honest mistake on your part.

You see, the cowardly weakling liars Andi , Bi and RW are incapable alone or in concert of subduing a small child.

They do have the hearts of cold-blooded murders though - each of them at various times has attempted to fellate a man to death…

By @@

March 22, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this

Doom:

Leave me alone? Again….I could care less whether you leave me alone.

Now, move out of the way, or I’ll have to step over you.

By RE

March 22, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this

Paul,

I do not think there is a solution, and any gov’t regulated bailout would be expensive and ineffective. This is going to be bad, but I do not see much to stop it from happening. The only relief I can see is have a massive dollar devaluation sparking inflation, which I think is a bad idea generally.

It was a market decision for private lenders (non- fannie mae, freddie mac) to write these loans. They were much more lax than the Fannie Freddie guidelines and they will pay the price. Expect several more companies to default in the next few years. Expect standards to tighten up significantly.

Here is the problem, you are going to have people out there who should not have gotten a loan in the first place owe more than the house is worth. There is no point in refinancing and the people in the home are not losing anything of value aside from the place they live, they can relocate to an apartment. Don’t mean to sound cold, but the real losers are going to be the mortgage lenders.

Example, a guy with rough credit buys a home for 100% value at 200k on a 2yr arm. The market adjusts after 2 years, he still owes about 200k on the house, has no savings, and the house is now valued at 190k. So his payment goes up when it becomes adjustable, he could barely afford the house to begin with, and now that his payments went up he cannot make the note. 4 months later he is foreclosed on. He lost a place to stay. The mortgage lender owes 200k on a house worth 190k before attorney and realtor costs and has to let it go at a net recovery after auctiion of 175k, a 25k loss. That gets filed as judgement against the original borrower, but he can barely make his rent payment now, so that money is not going to be seen again.

The cycle continues, more houses foreclose, the foreclosures push values down further putting people who went into 95% loans at risk of not being able to refi or sell. The lenders tighten guidelines of who they will lend to so there are less buyers on the market. Less buyers, lower house prices. Less new construction, the only growth sector of the economy in the last several years.

Massive inflation and dollar devaluation may be the only way out of this, but the cure might be worse than the disease

By David in NYC

March 22, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this

Hey LuckoDull,

Please send me your address so I can mail you a dime.

Then, maybe you could use it to by a clue. Clearly, you don’t have one now.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this

@@(B*tch Danish),

You step over Doom? Ha Ha Ha Ha!

You and what army B*tch? What medication did you take to give you the guts to threaten Doom? I’ve crushed you before, I’ll crush you again.

Lay off Midori!

By Paul

March 22, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this

RE

Very good points, thanks. The “pool” I was referring to was only for folks in the lower income levels, as that’s what I heard referred to in radio and newspaper articles about “partial solutions.”

It’s not just people at the lower to mid income levels with problems. I have a very good friend, personal income (wife doesn’t work) is six figures, I figure the guy’s close to heading for foreclosure. It’s the classic “no matter how much you make you can always find a way to spend more.” Same thing with a community near mine - foreclosures are way up - homes are $600k and up. Corporate HQ cutbacks, people got no down, interest only, lose their jobs, little savings, living above their means so they walk away. To those people and my good friend, I’d have to say “you enjoyed it while you had it. Accountability’s tough. I’m sorry for your situation but that’s it.”

Good to have you back -

By LuckoDull

March 22, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this

Hey David: Reliable information costs more than a dime.

That might be why you’re such a dumbas-s, you reckon?

Lock that Plame bitc-h up now!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By @@

March 22, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this

Doom:

Has Midori created you in her “needy” little brain to act as her champion and suitor?

I’ll say this….you’re far more entertaining than your alter ego.

By Dusty

March 22, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

Luckodud: Time of day again for you to fetch your bottle of Manliness. Ummm.

By RE

March 22, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this

Paul, sorry I went off a little on a tangent.

The idea of a pool of private companies being used to help refi out people in foreclosure I cannot see happening. Every company is out for itself, why should a company like Flagstar, who did not write subprime loans be forced to compensate risky decisions made by other companies.

Long term, I have no clue how this is going to work out. There may be fed guidelines to mandate certain debt to income ratios or Loan to values allowed on loans even to private lenders. Mortgage securities are going to be less stable pushing up interest rates for everyone. It is going to be scary for the next few years.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

@@(B*tch Danish),

Alter ego? What the hell are you talking about? You,alledgely, haven’t even been around me much to even think such a thing. That proves you’re B*tch Danish. That’s something she would say. Stop using multiple IDs!

You cannot escape the wisdom of Doom!

By Paul

March 22, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this

RE

It was an interesting tangent - I learned something. I wasn’t referring to all lenders - just those who specialized in targeting people of lower income groups. There’s just something that, while not illegal, just seems - wrong - in the entire mess.

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 6:12 PM | Link to this

@@,

Doom, Midori and One Punk Pig (I keep improving on OV’s name!) are outdoing themelves in displaying sociopathic behavior. It’s almost as if they are having some sort of competition to see who can outdo the other in vulgarity and depravity. And of course they are projecting their sickness on to others - like when Midori called you a freak. What cheek! What insanity!

These are stone cold evil people we’re dealing with - not just political adversaries.

LuckoDull and Truthsayer,

Just wanted to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed your wise and entertaining posts today.

RW,

rushncap really is a moron, isn’t he? And like a typical lib he’s even decided he knows how much sleep you require.

Unfreaking believeable.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this

B*tch Danish!

Wow, what a coincidence! Doom was just speaking of you to @@, and after being gone all day you “magically” appear!

Even the power of Doom can’t pull that off.

Stop using multiple IDs!!!!!

By @@

March 22, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

Alright Doom! Just like Midori, you seem to crave attention. I’m through giving you any for the day.

Doom has wisdom?

Now THAT’S funny.

I’m enjoying the conversation between Paul and RE, so ssshhhhhhhh…unless, of course, you’d like to inject your WISDOM into their conversation.

By RE

March 22, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

Paul,

It is not about right and wrong. The folks who got subprime loans actively sought them. They wanted to be homeowners, remember all the rhetoric of “the highest level of home ownership” that was going around a few years ago. It was a free market decision that makes sense when viewed over a quarterly or 1-3 year view. It is an unregulated industry in so far as the parameters for decision making. This is what happens.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish,

It takes a special kind of moron to brag about their ability to do math in the very post where they prove they can’t read, but that’s our little rushncap.

Moby Doom errr….Midori,

When do we get the classic Friday meltdown? I guess I’ll leave a light on at my place for your filth if you don’t hurry up here.

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this

Deranged Dick Doomster,

Listen jackass - call up the AJC and ask them if I am @@. Okay? This game of yours is getting really old.

If the term “alter ego” is “alledegly (Sic) arcane to you then all that proves is that you are an ignorant fool.

By Lord Doom

March 22, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this

B*tch Danish,

Wonder why @@ hasn’t responded to you greeting her? Probably a natural oversight to respond to your own statement.

RW(f*ckboy),

The two of you losers are in luck. Doom has to leave now. Some of us do have lives. So you two can go ahead and enjoy your f*ckfest garbaged blogs. Bye!

By Paul

March 22, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this

RE

Well, I’ll agree people certainly wanted those loans. But I wonder if (I’ve heard allegations) many institutions targeted certain groups - possibly as those with more income/education were a bit more savvy. Reminds me of the allegations of the tobacco industry targeting certain groups (youth) so they’d have an expanding (if not constant) market.

I reread your first post - let me speculate - about two years from now, when it gets really ugly - people on these boards will be having the “discussion”: (if Rudy’s elected: Repubs continue the cycle of catering to the rich and letting the lower economic class pay for it) (if Hillary’s Pres: it’s not her fault, she just inherited the mess left by…). Same script, different players.

My son and his wife bought their first home (dual income, no kids, advanced technical degrees) and put about 20 percent down with a mortgage they could comfortably make on one salary (which they pretty well live on, anyway). Their first new car when they got out of college and landed their jobs was - a two-year old car from CarMax ‘cause “it’s taken a big depreciation hit, we got a 3-year warranty and why put a lot of money into a depreciating asset when we’re just starting out?” Darn, makes a dad proud.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this

RE,

What’s wrong with allowing the market to work? As you said the people that bought the properties aren’t really losing anything and if the failed or failing mortgage companies go under selling their foreclosed properties at a bargain to investors, the investors will work quickly to reestablish the higher end of the price structure in the area rather than let the whole area become devalued.

It seems to me that trying to piece meal this thing through Federal bailout bandaids and even more regulation will ensure that the problem goes on long enough that it wouldn’t be easy to reestablish traditional market pricing.

By Dusty

March 22, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this

I did not post any comment at 6:00. That was done by some creepy blogger who is too ashamed to use their own ID while insulting others.

By @@

March 22, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this

Doom:

((Wonder why @@ hasn’t responded to you greeting her?))

That’s easy Doom. Buy Danish didn’t ask me a question.

No need for a response.

I rarely respond just because someone mentions my name.

Hell, ask Scooter next time he’s on the board. He’s visited while I’m posting and low and behold…..Danish is posting from somewhere else.

Stop looking like such an idiot.

If you can help yourself, that is.

By Paul

March 22, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this

Dusty

Creepiness isn’t your forte. Most of us could tell it wasn’t really you (even on a bad day!).

By bon scott

March 22, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

Meanwhile, back in the real world:

[Mugged by Reality - How it all went wrong in Iraq {{The Ecoomist - March 22, 2007}}(http://economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8881663)

…there can be no denying that the project was bungled from the start. Western intelligence failed to discover that Saddam had destroyed all his weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the removal of which was the main rationale for the war. However, the incompetence went beyond this. The war was launched by a divided administration that had no settled notion of how to run Iraq after the conquest. The general who warned Congress that stabilising the country would require several hundred thousand troops was sacked for his prescience. etc., etc., etc.

I really don’t think it’s Valerie who shold be locked up. The neo-fascists who convinced Congress and “born without a brain” George Bush that Iraq just HAD to be invaded deserve shared, unairconditioned bunk rooms at Guantanamo. I’m sure they’ll enjoy the food. And we can be comforted by the fact that they’re waterboarded with only chilled Perrier. Nothing’s too good for these forward thinking, cutting-edge visonaries, is there?

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

RW,

I agree completely and was about to post something similar.

Why are we even discussing bailouts?

One thing I would look into is whether the banks are clear that the mortgage payment does not include taxes and insurance (unless you have set up the all inclusive PITA payment plan).

I can envision clueless people showing up at closing and not realizing that their mortgage was only a portion of their monthly nut.

I like the “sunlight is the best disinfectant rule”.

By @@

March 22, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this

RW/Paul or RE:

Please explain “reestablish the higher end of the price structure”.

I’m sitting in Clayton County amongst a forest of foreclosures.

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this

Sybil Bon Fascist,

I don’t even have to open our link to know that it originated in the U.K.

You certainly have changed your tune on what you believe is appropriate treatment of other human beings.

You’ve gone from opposing the alleged waterboarding of mass murderer KSM to wanting to lock people up and throw away the key for no reason, other than the fact that you disagree with them.

I don’t doubt that you’d get a lot of Left wing storm troopers to volunteer -right from this “moderate Democrat” blog.

By @@

March 22, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this

Well hell, here I am asking for clarification on the housing market, and Buy Danish is well informed.

If that don’t say it all.

Buy Danish and I aren’t the same person.

By RE

March 22, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this

Paul,

Well done, it seems you have raised a responsible kid. There should be more guys like you around.

RW,

I agree in part. Fed bailout loans are a bad idea. I think the idea of a set limit mandated by the gov’t on debt to income or value might be a good thing. Investors are not going to help much, I do not think. Right now there is a decent amount of investors buying on the foreclosure market, and if they are going to live in the home for a number of years, it is a good decision. If they think they can flip a house or that it will appreciate in the next year or two, they are mistaken.

I do not want to broadbrush too much here. The big boom markets are going to get slammed, Florida, DC, Boston, Califronia…etc. House values are going to be declining for a while. In places that never had a big boom like rural georgia and some small towns, there is not going to be much of a change. Again, in my opinion.

It is a good time to have some rental properties, there are going to be a lot more people renting in the future

By RE

March 22, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this

BD

PITI is pretty well covered. You have to sign off on about 5 pages showing the total amount monthly that you will be paying.

Problem is a lot of folks went for the non-escrowed loans because they could not afford the payments. In general, they are informed.

By Paul

March 22, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this

RE

Thx. Off to dinner, so I’ll catch you tomorrow, possibly.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this

@@,

If the whole area is depressed by factors other than sub-prime lending failures then you have a different set of issues. When we’re dealing with just the pockets of failures in a neighborhood that are all or about all from these lending practices an investor can buy the properties at a big discount and sell them to qualified buyers at a price more close to the normal value of the property.

If you try to patch that problem and a house or two at a time gets bought by an investor that just wants to flip it and make a few dollars the overall value of the area real estate will collapse.

By Buy Danish

March 22, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this

RE,

Yes, but if people don’t know about it until they show up to close it’s too late. How many people are going to walk away at the last minute, especially if they have a moving van arriving at the house the next day and nowhere else to live?

We have people in our neighborhood who bought huge houses but can’t pay the electricity bill. There are a lot of people who don’t think about what it really costs to own a house.

It seems to me that if people really were knowledgeable there wouldn’t be so many foreclosures.

This is odd:

The bulk of delinquencies is coming from loans made last year that are as little as one month old, making 2006 perhaps the worst ever in terms of mortgage credit quality, according to analysts at UBS Securities.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this

RE,

That’s sort of my point. The way it is now there are vultures trying to take advantage of any properties they can get hold of ahead of foreclosures and quickly sell them for a small profit. They will generally depress the entire market value in the area.

If the lenders can come to an agreement with a large investor group and work together with them and the home “owners” to accept a loss, but be able to unload many of their properties at once without having to foreclose and go through the expense of getting worthless judgements against people it seems like it’s a better solution than government regulations that will probably be as bad for home owners of the future as Sarbanes-Oxley is for future business owners and won’t solve the problem anyway.

I agree with you that some markets are going to see prices dropping, but that was due anyway. Many of the problems with real estate prices in New York and California have more to do with government interference that sub-prime lenders.

By RE

March 22, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this

OK, I do not think this is possible on a large scale but I think it will happen on a limited basis.

An entity with large amounts of capitol comes in a buys up properties enmasse. A much greater portion of the population will have a foreclosure on record that will preclude them from qualifying for homeownership for 4 years or longer. The next big growth industry might be rental houses, bought out from banks at a loss to the bank. There is going to be a few big banks coming out as winners in this long term and a bunch of failed banks.

A bank like countrywide or wells fargo have a large share already. They keep their foreclosures instead of selling them at a loss as some banks do. They could start buying out previously foreclosed homes from other lenders going out of business at a net loss. We could wind up with a few companies owning a 10-20% stake of all houses.

Just a theory.

By RW-(the original)

March 22, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this

RE,

Obviously it isn’t foolproof, but it beats saying “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but the sky is falling so let’s call in Uncle Sam.”

If what I proposed could be done the people wouldn’t have a foreclosure and they wouldn’t have a judgement hanging over their heads. Did you miss the part about a pre-foreclosure agreement?