Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2007 > March > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRed-light cameras, overweight dogs and politicians
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thinking Right’s free-for-all Friday. Pick a topic:
➢Install red-light cameras to ticket motorists, if you wish. But eliminate the incentive for cities and counties to use them as cash cows. Either roll back property taxes by the sum of fines collected or require that they go through the state’s General Fund to support trauma care. Local governments should never have a financial incentive to decide how vigorously laws should be enforced.
➢Vince Dooley was said to be considering a race for the 10th Congressional District in a special election set for June 19. No, he declared. Just as well. The Dooley my conservative band requested, anyway, was Barbara. With all the candiates getting into the race from the Athens side of the district, advantage shifts to State Sen. Jim Whitehead (R-Evans),who represents about 26 percent of the district vote. He’s got a little age on him, though. 64. Once upon a time, the South sent them young and let them age into power. Carl Vinson, who served more than 50 years, was 30. U.S. Sen. Richard Russell was 36. U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn was 34. U.S. Sen. Herman Talmadge was old. He was 43.
➢Oh goodness, expect orchestrated leaks with dire predictions that would frighten children about the safety of the nation’s airports and air service. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a 14,000-member union, is locked in dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration over pay and staffing Been there. In 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization union (PATCO) struck for 17 sky-is-falling months. Ronald Reagan took decisive action. He fired them. Great man, that Reagan.
➢Agreed that TV and print ads for specific drugs do prompt consumers to ask their physicians for them and may cause them to be over-prescribed. But anything that moves consumers from passivity to active management of their health has to be good. Today paying attention to a medicine. Tomorrow paying attention to bills and to quality of care.
➢You know Americaa’s solved the hunger problem that afflicted previous generations. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Slentrol, a drug to help dogs lose weight. When our dogs are overweight, hunger in humans is cured, except when individuals make bad choices with food stams and grocery money.
➢Headline: “Land’s explosive past vexes homeowners.” One vexed homeowner is “stunned” and “angry” that nobody told her in 27 years that her home that it was located on the former Camp Wheeler military post near Macon. Darn uncommunicative and uncurious, these neighborhoods. “Nobody told me” is an excuse that comes after due diligence. And probably sooner than 27 years.
➢The Brian Nichols trial is delayed until March 27 to allow the Legislature to deposit more money in the checking accounts of his three private lawyers, whose combined $395 per hour bills are being paid by taxpayers. We’ve seen the future: Defense lawyers and judges can repeal the death penalty by making it cost-prohibitive. Cap spending before this becomes another runaway.
➢How times have changed: I read of a “massive nationwide study of the environmental and genetic factors that make children sick” and alarm bells go off. The Congressionally-created program, projected to cost $3.5 billion, is the kind that becomes a magnet for agenda-bearers. Congress launched the study in 2000. President Bush proposed to terminate it in his 2007 budget, one of 91 programs targeted. Congress just ignored that plea and appropriated $69 miillion to keep it going.
The same story informs us that children will be followed “from their conception to their 21st birthday.” I do trust the government agent there at conception will be permitted to advise the couple that marriage is in the best interest of the just-conceived child.
Comments
By Mid-South Philosopher
March 2, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this
Good morning, all, With respect to red light cameras, I have a problem with NOT being able to confront one’s “accuser.” Now, I understand that “radar” has been use for a half century or so, but, with that tool, there is a living, breathing officer to testify. In the camera scenario, the machine is the machine is the machine.
Were I charged via one of these Frankenstein monster devices, I would subpoena the damn thing into court to cross examine it!
If that failed, I would try to get the menagerie of lawyers, who argued before Judge Larry Seidlin in the Probate Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to defend me. After all, if you can’t beat them, confuse them.
By Brian Curtis
March 2, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this
Wooten, thanks for reminding me how Reagan helped launch the anti-labor attitude that has dominated our government for so many decades and helped crush the middle class.
I really should thank Mr. Reagan again. Now, does anyone know where he’s buried… and if there’s a soda machine nearby I can use to fill up first?
By JohnD
March 2, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this
Are the members of PATCO headed for the unemployment line again? They probably should be.
A friend’s brother led the strikers in Miami and 2 years after President Reagan busted the strike this genius was still claiming the “biggest cover-up in the history of the US” had taken place. He could not identify what exactly was covered up but he went from a $60,000 a year government job to selling used cars.
Every union striker should have to deal with someone like Ronald Reagan.
By deegee
March 2, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this
I remember 1981 well. The country was in a recession and there was an abundant supply of well educated baby boomers in the work force. They are retiring now and being re-hired by companies that can’t find enough young workers to do jobs that require spatial and analytical skills. Go ahead and fire the air traffic controllers. They’ll be back at a lower wage and we will get what we pay for.
By Jim in Marietta
March 2, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this
So you don’t want to wait for that green arrow to turn left? Great! Now you don’t have to. You have a choice. You can now pay a premium for your desire to save two minutes. I have had several near misses with people running red lights while turning left while I am proceeding straight through the intersection. The first SOB to hit me while pulling this trick is going to have more than a traffic violation to worry about!
By Jim's a Cherry Picker
March 2, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
Hi Jim,
I know you’ve been wriggling your toes in the sand this week, but have you been paying attention to your legislature?
Basically, they’re ignoring the wants/needs of their constituents and catering soley to the desires of their narrow special interest backers. Namely, Christians and those who would take advantage of the most financially desperate among us.
As detailed yesterday by your colleauge Maureen Downey, certain legislators have seen fit to introduce legislation written by those who are giving them money, with no apparent interest or need in the legislation coming from Georgians.
Today, another of your colleauges, James Salzer, is reporting that the GOP is stacking the committe responsible for passing the Sunday alcohol sales bill…something that Georgia residents do indeed want. The GOP doesn’t even want the bill out of committe so it can get the dreaded “up or down vote” (remember that?).
So from my perspective Jim, we have Republicans, who run almost exclusively against the ills of government intervention in peoples lives, intervening in two different cases to negatively impact Georgia residents. In one case, they’re allowing corporate interests to prey upon financially weak individuals, and in another case, they’re keeping me from picking up a sixer at the Kroger on Sunday.
You go on and on and on and on about how great Republicans are.
They suck. Just as bad as Democrats. There’s no moral high ground here. Politicians are w*******. It’s right there in black and white, in your very own fish wrapper.
All you do is cherry pick the issues that make Dems look bad and the GOP look good, while ignoring the blatant misdeeds of the GOP.
You’re not a reporter. Your a PR hack. You’re a shill for a pie in the sky ideology.
And to top it off, one of your biggest supporters on this blog consistently refers to himself as masturbating while writing (what’s your take on that anyway?). Your other biggest supporter is a libertarian who sees fit to allow corruption to continue because he doesn’t believe in this particular form of government.
I’m really glad I’m not one of your supporters.
By Brian Curtis
March 2, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
Yep, there’s nothin’ worse than workers thinking they have rights or something. That’s bad for business!
By Aquagirl
March 2, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Oh, so now Republicans are worried about abuse of law-enforcement for the purposes of raising cash? Funny, they were all for D.A.R.E. cops driving around in confiscated cars. The insane drug war has resulted in wholesale seizure of property without due process.
Now these psuedo-conservatives in the GA assembly want to get media coverage time by whining about red-light cameras. What a joke. Any appearance of real concern for out-of-control government is purely coincidental.
If they’re so darn worried about our rights, you’d think they’d start somewhere besides the right to be T-boned and killed by red-light runners.
By Pope rednecks - Amerikkka's Al Qaeda I
March 2, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
As long as we’re talking about dogs this morning, you Woo-ten Klanners owe me one - I once kilt a sheet-eating dog.
I saved your miserable lives.
By sharkeyextreme
March 2, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this
Ok who’s identity is the pinhead blog liberal going to steal today? What a child.
Why is Brian Nichols still alive? Murderer Brian Nichols is an example of why every law abiding citizen should be encouraged to own a gun. Look at all the taxpayer dollars that could have been saved had he been taken care of by a security-conscious citizen.
Well, somebody’s gotta say it.
By Jack
March 2, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
Yes Sharkey, and Al Amin (H. Rap Brown) too.
By JohnD
March 2, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
Jim’s a…
I agree with you on the Democrats and Republicans - there is hardly any difference in their conduct once in the Congress or the State Legislature.
Both parties live for the power, with the honor of service to nation and community a long forgotten reason to pursue public office. Instead of our best and brightest in public service we now have our most corrupt who have an almost open disdain for the people they are elected to serve
By Dusty
March 2, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
Jim Wooten (in absentia),
You better hurry on home. The liberals are swarming here like locusts. I mean those evil red light cameras, insane drug wars, the ruinous Ronald Reagan, poor little labor unions, etc.etc.
I tell you. It’s something! But excuse me. I am going to apply to Law School. If lawyers are making $395/hr, that is the place for me. Here’s to justice for one and all.
By Van
March 2, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Brian Curtis,
If PATCO had not broken the law, I wonder where they would be today? They were not allowed to strike by law and they ignored that little item. If they had just done another sick out, they might have succeeded.
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
jim’s a leftist arse-licker
your intellectual dishonesty is quite stifling on this glorious morning. The truth bubbakins is that vapid leftist scum endlessly perpetuate their bollocks and corruption whilst their conservative betters constantly fulfill the role of watchdog.
Your cowardly assertions about my wanking prowess whilst I feverishly type my prose for others subsequently reveals your utter ignorance in my superior technique. Instead of endlessly spewing your marxist venom relax and studiously observe my TWIST and SHOUT technique.
twist…pull…twist…pull…twist…LEFTIST AFTERBIRTH…pull…twist…MARXIST VERMIN…pull…twist…LEFTIST WANKFACE…pull…AAAAAHHHH!!!!
HUGE i’ve fabulously enjoyed this fantastic wank SMIRK
By deegee
March 2, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
Dusty, I want to know about the law school that accepts you as a student.
By Van
March 2, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
Dusty,
It is my duty to please that booty.
By Burdell
March 2, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
Has anyone (with the necessary salary information at hand) computed the hourly cost of the prosecutors in the Nichols case?
I wonder how it compares to Nichols’ lawyers.
By Dennis
March 2, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this
By Jim’s a Cherry Picker March 2, 2007 8:42 AM
Whoa!, Whoa! I say. Just calm down. Calm down. Take a deep breath and let it out s-l-o-w-l-y….
YOU’RE RIGHT!!!
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
By jbmlaw
March 2, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
Good morning all. Totally agree on the red light cameras – more efficient “catching” does not imply better government.
As to congressional candidates and age, that issue hits a little close to home for me – I’m too far from 30 to even remember, much less endorse those whipper-snappers.
The cure for NATCA is, obviously, privatization. Why we so willing rely on government competence when our lives are at stake, baffles me.
I still cannot fathom why the physician should prescribe the drug. If we cannot have everything sold over the counter, the second best solution would appear to be reliance on the competence of the pharmacist.
Our dogs are not overweight, they are merely fluffy.
Explosive past – I would thing the “duty to investigate” would kick in before the title changes, absent a fraudulent “why, no, this property never belonged to the Army.”. 27 years later sounds too long.
Judge should audit the expenditure of funds in the Nichols trial, if that is the only excuse for not going forward.
We all know that section of the Constitution that requires Congress to act on “environmental and genetic factors that make children sick.” I’m sure they teach that in schools as prerequisite to KumBaYa. 101.
If children are followed from conception to age 21, it is time to get a protective order against the stalker.
By Richard
March 2, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
Hey, tftt - are you masterbating while typing again?
By deegee
March 2, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
Van, just how much sick time would the PATCO workers have been allowed before they would have been fired? Just wondering.
By V for Vendetta
March 2, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
Anyone look at statistics regarding accidents INCREASING once red-light cameras go in? Minor accidents sometimes increase as motorists break hard for fear of running the light.
Watch yourself people, these cash generating money-makers are getting out of hand. Soon there will be photo-radar ticketing you as your drive by (they’ve had it in Europe for years). This all appears under the guise of public safety, but it has NOTHING to do with safety and EVERYTHING to do with money.
What’s next? Well, with current GPS-based technology it is conceivable that your car’s actions could be monitored at all times. An insurance company could obtain that information and use it in their policy decisions. It could even be used to immobolize and rowdy teen’s car if the parents noticed the GPS showed them speeding.
Many cars already have the necessary deviced installed within them now. With some simple tweaking, GM’s OnStar system could be used in such a way. Ditto any car with GPS-based navigation.
If safety is your concern, what we need is a better driver education program and far harsher penalties for DUI’s and serious automotive infractions. In Germany, the land of the unrestricted interstate, the accident rate is FAR lower than it is here. Drivers must go through extensive training, expensive classes, and strict penalties for grievous mistakes.
When you’re given control of a two-ton machine, all that training doesn’t sound unreasonable to me.
By Mullah Reece
March 2, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this
Were are those “red’ lights? Are they mostley in poorer streets were drivers are not given a recurse but to pay? Do though rich poeple get stoped? At who are they aimed at? We all no.
By Rod
March 2, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
Mid-South Philosopher - regarding your 8:05 post. You said you: “have a problem with NOT being able to confront one’s “accuser.” Excuse me?
If you go to court, the picture is laying on the table in front of you and the judge. The picture shows that the traffic light is red and your car is in the intersection. Um, your defense is …. ?
Get a clue. You break a law, be man enough to accept your punishment. You’re starting to act like tftt.
By Curious Observer
March 2, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
I’m all for not only ticketing but also suspending the licenses of those selfish ba**ards who feel free to sail through red lights in order to save a minute. I see it all the time, including people who turn left 20 seconds after the left-turn arrow has turned green. They are a menace to us all. One of my great joys last Saturday was watching a cop pull over one of them when the self-important a-hole thought he would sail through a red light with impunity. The phony-baloney “confront my accuser” argument doesn’t wash with me. If a city profits from red-light cameras, so much the better. Let the dangerous drivers pay the freight for more rigid traffic law enforcement. Use the money to hire even more cops and install even more cameras than property tax revenues or user fees would ordinarily afford. Where’s the “law and order” crowd on this issue? Why are they moaning about traffic law enforcement by camera? Is it all right to use no-knock warrants and other intrusive measures to enforce the laws they like, but abhorrent to use cameras to enforce the ones they don’t like?
Casey Cagle’s little stunt of stacking the committee that is considering Sunday alcohol sales is a prime example of Republican hypocrisy. Provided a measure will suit the redneck taste, any bill will sail through the Republican legislature “because the public supports it.” But introduce a popular proposal that offends the knuckle-draggers and preachers, and you’ll see all the stops installed, regardless of public support.
By deegee
March 2, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
V, the purpose of the yellow light is to warn motorists that the light is about to turn red. If you don’t have enough time to stop for red after the light turns yellow then you should be ticketed for speeding.
By Rod
March 2, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Hey V for Vendetta - how about just not breaking the law? Huh? Ever thought of that one?
Your argument that accidents are increasing due to red-light cameras is pathetic. First, it’s not true. It is a fact that rear-ending accidents have gone up (thanks to the jack@$$ in the second car that plans to flagrantly run the red light). However, the overall number of accidents has decreased. And what’s more important, the life-threatening T-bone accidents have dramatically decreased. 10 rear-end accidents for 1 T-bone is still a good trade-off.
Grow up. You’re an adult, obey the law and if you break it, pay the price. You’re a waste of breath.
By jbmlaw
March 2, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
Dear JaCP @ 8:42, I respectfully disagree with your perspective – the “corrupt” are those who restrict freedom merely because they think nobody should be responsible for his own incompetence.
Dear Brian @ 8:43, workers have the only important right – the right to leave. Employers cannot compel anyone to stay, as we have abolished involuntary servitude.
By @@
March 2, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Red-light cameras? - I wonder Jim…who eats more, the red-light cameras or the cop hiding behind the billboard?
Jim Whitehead? - A fine wine is better with age. If they sit there too long, they ferment and become sour.
The NATCA? - Unions are terrorists that should frighten any child.
T.V. advertisement of drugs? - I think they scare more people than attract. My goodness, who wants to use something after they’ve been told that it may cause dizziness, headache, diarrhea, constipation, nausea & vomiting
Not me, that’s for sure.
Overweight dogs? - ‘Ya know Jim, when I first saw your headline, I took it to mean that “overweight dogs were politicians. Anyway, my parents always reminded me to clean my plate because there were people starving in other countries.
I get to sit at the grown-up table now, and don’t have to clean my plate if I don’t want to. I don’t waste though. I give the scraps to my dog, Buddy. He’s fat.
You know what they say Jim, if a woman wants to look thin, then she should hang out with fat Buddys.
Stunned & Angry? - She needs to blow that excuse up her…….sewer pipe?
Brian Nichols? - Why in the world does that man need three attorneys? Is it one for every victim he was witnessed gunning down?
Nationwide study? - I know all too much about politician’s “Field of Dreams”, build the massive government programs, so I can play “Shoeless Joe”.
Catch ‘ya later Jim.
By Rod
March 2, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
Mullah Reece - are you illiterate? Your 9:57 post looks like it was written by a child.
Your version:
Were are those “red’ lights? Are they mostley in poorer streets were drivers are not given a recurse but to pay? Do though rich poeple get stoped? At who are they aimed at? We all no.
The corrected version:
Where are those “red” lights? Are they mostly in poorer neighborhoods where drivers are not given a recourse but to pay? Do the rich people get stopped? At who are they aimed at? We all know.
Go back to your minimum wage job and get off the internet.
By jbmlaw
March 2, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
Dear Mullah @ 9:57, so you think it is merely coincidence that there are no red light cameras around St. Ives or Sugarloaf? Shocking.
Dear Curious @ 9:59, we could almost certainly increase the revenues if we privatized. Would you support that idea?
By Dusty
March 2, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
Deegee,
I must leave for a while. But I want you to know that Harvard and Yale are fighting over my applications for Law School. The one that guarantees that I will make $395/hr will get my prestigious credentials. I will let you know the results.
jbmlaw…don’t cry. I didn’t put you down as a reference.
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
@ brainless curtis … if you were on fire turdbrain I wouldn’t even P!SS on you!!
I see the anal obsessive stalker who’s even more slippery than a San Fran Sicko sewer rat’s douchebag is back puking up its anal obsessive bile. Please kill yourself quietly and without fuss or media attention this afternoon - there’s a good unhinged leftist bastard!!
@ STUPID DICK … looks like you’ve been generously freed for a rare day away from your Emory experimental chemical castration primate experiments.
I see that redneKKKs NAMBLA - the resident VT child molestor is back to feverishly talkkking about its fave subject - coprophagia. We proud right wing conservatives all know NAMBLA’s stinky litle secret though … if it had a sh!t there’d be nothing left!!
By jm
March 2, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
The only issue I have with the red light cameras is the kickback given to the manufacturers for each ticket issued.
Regarding paying attention to medical care, how about opening up all court records for every doctor. No more sealed settlements. If a doctor had a malpractice suit filed against him, I want to know the details even if the case was settled and the records “sealed”.
With military base closings, I wonder how many of these will be converted to residential areas. I wonder what might still be under the ground in those places.
I wonder if a title search would mention that the land was a former military base.
By Jim's a Cherry Picker
March 2, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
Jbmlaw,
I hear ya. But problem is, there is a deficit of knowledge in that relationship that gives a distinct advantage to one side.
Free markets, as I’m sure you’re aware, are predicated upon each side of a transaction having a sound understanding of the relationship.
Buyers in a grocery store can go to the bread aisle and look at the various types of bread. They can see their prices, and develop a basic understanding of the relationship between cost vs. quality. But ultimately, they have little understanding of the company that made the bread, what their labor practices are, what the ingredients really are, whether or not they pay their taxes, etc…
The buyer is free to do that research, but why would they? It’s just a loaf of bread. The risk is low.
With other transactions that interface with the lowest common denominators in our society, the transaction itself is predicated on the purchaser having little, if any, real knowledge about the product or the company. The product is moderately complicated (there’s numbers and stuff) and the buyer (in the case of payday lenders) might be in distress. Additionally, the seller can make it difficult for the buyer to really understand the agreement by throwing up a lot of technical jargon, process, procedures, contracts, etc…further tilting the advantage to their side.
Consumers cannot possibly always have all the information or understanding that they need to make fair trades in the marketplace (how many folks out there know who owns Citgo? How many conservatives on this blog know who owns the “Washington Times”). And while it’s not the government’s job to be the nanny, there is a responsiblity for it to ensure that the playing field is either level, or that the most disadvantaged among us are not blatantly taken advantage of.
Market’s aren’t perfect and they never will be. There’s too great an incentive to cheat. Additionally, with the help of lobbyists, those with the money can always engineer ways to rig the game in their favor.
If everybody played fair, we wouldn’t be discussing this topic. But they don’t. Because if they do, they get screwed.
By Tara
March 2, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
Just a quick response to Jim’s comment about air traffic controllers. This is a point that jbmlaw might appreciate: supply and demand. The President isn’t in any position to be firing them any controllers this time — otherwise our economy would find itself in a world of hurt. Air traffic controllers have the upper hand this time around.
By Walter Sobchek
March 2, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
Speaking of overweight dogs, anybody heard how Sonny’s diet is coming along? It’s the sucking the public trough dry diet.
I pray for the IRS to put the corrupt crank yanker on a baloney sandwich in prison diet.
By Free Wheeling
March 2, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
I say screw the red light cameras and put all available resources on rounding up cyclists who completely ignore traffic signals and signs and apparently believe that their sacred motto, “Same Road. Same Rules”, really means, “Same Road. Rules only apply to cyclists if it benefits them at the moment otherwise they can do whatever harebrained thing they want anytime they want”. Vigilante posses should be considered to assist the police.
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
How fitting that the sleazy sex pest leftist mayor of San Fran Sicko, who defied the law to marry queers and diikes officially approves a day celebrating a film company that produces Bwarney Fwank’s fave entertainment - homosexual porn. Watch NAMBLA, the anal obsessive stalker, wanker steve and all the other leftist filth on here fly out to Frisco for the depraved celebration!!
Dear oh dear … the thuggish misogynist ebonics spouting garbage hippety hop has hilariously suffered a whopping 21% reduction in CD sales. Guess the incarceration rate of the scum who listen to/perpetrate this mindless gangsta lovin’ bollocks has finally taken its toll.
Why oh why is the long awaited civil war in Gaza starting so slowly? This is extremely selfish of the mohammedan fascists thugs involved - I’ve bought some extra popcorn and am waiting for the entertaining footage to begin!!
I’ve just seen the long range forecast for Tehran next month in the Jerusalem Post … a little bit cloudy and 500000.F
Time for all good law abiding Americans to burn their Bank of Amigo credit cards. Any company that faciltates the illegal FIFTEEN MILLION and counting mexican type infestation should be boycotted.
How bleedin’ hilarious … Osama Obama’s mammy’s ancestors (the usually ignored white ones) apparently owned slaves too. Lets hope that they were from the micky mouse so called reverend J Jackasson’s line, then poor old Sharptongue will have someone equally odious and shameless in front of the cameras to share the liberal media spotlight with!!
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/politics/bal-te.obama02mar02,0,3453027.story
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
every damn day yours truly factually vanquishes resident leftist feckpigs and every damn day those same leftist feckpigs feverishly puke their hateful bile and venom! Glib marxist afterbirth like NAMBLA, stupid dick, brainless curtis, and curious peepingtom relentlessly proffer irascible leftist propaganda bollocks in hopes that some slutty leftist trollop graciously dotes them with attention a la Lewinsky.
These vainglorious leftist wankpigs fail to recognise the blindingly obvious fact that their enlightened conservative betters including yours truly maintain our tranquil intellectual demeanor through our fabulously superior wanking technique!! All you fooking leftist nutters STFU and observe!!
twist…shout…LEFTIST NUTTERS…twist…shout…STINKING MARXIST FECKPIGS…twist…shout…SLIPPERY LEFTIST AFTERBIRTH…twist…shout…ANAL MARXISTS…twist…shout…AAAAAHHH!!!
HUGE what a glorious wank SMIRK!!
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
careful there free wheeling … you’ll have the car hating nutter harold mincing all over you for honest hate speech against cyclists!!
By Van
March 2, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
deegee,
This came out of Wikipedia -
It was initially founded in 1968 and succeeded in being recognized as a collective bargaining agent in 1969, after a brief labor stoppage referred to as the “sickout”. To circumvent the federal law against strikes by government unions, numerous controllers called in sick. After a few days the federal courts intervened and most controllers went back to work by order of the court, but the government was forced to the bargaining table. The controllers won substantial pay raises (about 110% their previous pay.
Gee, it worked once, but 12 years later, they had forgotten their own history.
By jbmlaw
March 2, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Dear Tara @ 10:34, since all ATCs (except I think Russia of China?) control in English, it is at least possible that the jobs could be outsourced to computer geeks in Mumbai. The number of American ATCs may be limited, but privatization would unleash the worldwide population available through the magic of internet.
By tired
March 2, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Tara,
I disagree with your statement that the controllers have the upper hand. I believe there are numerous controllers out there looking to get into the local market.
I say this because I know of many military controllers who are trying to enter this particular part of the industry. And, have considerable experience handling a considerably higher number of aircraft.
By V for Vendetta
March 2, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
Rod and Deegee,
You are obviously both a lot smarter than I. How silly of me to think that the increased ability of the government to monitor our every action is something worth worrying about. I’m sure that neither of you ever speed. You probably drive at the posted limit wherever you go. Most people speed on some level. There are myriad roads where the speed limit doesn’t reflect the possible driving conditions (ex. Hwy 78 up towards Athens where the posted limit remains a pathetic 55mph). The only reason the limit remains low is because that road is a cash cow for Walton County. Anyone who commutes that drive on a daily basis can tell you that.
Rod, if minor rear-end accidents have gone up (as you agreed) then how could overall accidents DEcrease? T-bone accidents, while terrible, are fairly rare. If one were to look into the history of intersections in the metro area, one would find that just about every single one of them has had at least one fatality. Should we pepper the road with cameras because of this? Is that the answer? Or would it make more sense to teach people how to drive a car better?
One of those proposals generates money and one does not. Still wonder why people choose the cameras? It’s sickening.
I would also contend that you’ll find the number of fatality accidents not greatly decreased. A driver who is going to commit such a heinous error as t-boning a car is probably not someone too concerned by a $100 fine. The stats don’t lie guys. It’s the wool being pulled over your eyes so the local law enforcement can make quick and easy money. The safety argument is an illusion.
I’ll stop speeding when you stop speeding Rod. Sorry to be such a waste.
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Awwww … how cute …
the anal obsessive socially inadequate stalker is gleefully taking out its hen pecked ritalin abusing mommy’s boy asexual frustration on its conservative intellectual betters. Now if the court ordered operation had also sewn up its GIANT sphincter muscle instead of just its filthy simpering leftist mouth we’d now be free of its anal obsessive leftist puke.
its fab fun deliberately (and systematically) using patter and banter that while factually accurate about marxist cut and run turds is relatively easy to replicate … if NOTHING else it shows how easy it is to effortlessly manipulate certain resident wankpig lefty afterbirths who are ENDLESSLY sitting there anally and excitedly reading my posts and absorbing the distilled DEATH TO ALL LEFTIES wisdom - like an energiser amoeba ridden with transexual scabies.
By Rod
March 2, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Again V for Vendetta, grow up and take responsibility for your actions.
By Jack
March 2, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
If Israel decided to take out Tehran they should not consult with the gutless US gov’t. I can hear the screams coming from the left asking Israel to “talk to them”.
Save some of that popcorn for me. :)
By Van
March 2, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
One of the problems I have with the red light cameras is the revenue it generates on an ongoing basis for the manufacturer of the camera. It is not only a cash cow for the localities where they are installed, but private companies are collecting part of the fines paid, as a kick back. For some reason, this does not sound like a firm business practice for a local government, or a private business.
By Lee
March 2, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Re: red light cameras.
I think they should pass a law that does the following:
Increase the yellow light times to 5 seconds in city and 10 seconds highway. (Currently, they are usually set on 3 and 5 seconds).
Increase the delay on the time the light changes red on one side and green on the other to at least 5 seconds.
Make the cities and counties roll back property taxes equal to the revenue generated by ALL traffic fines.
Maybe then, the police could get back to patrolling the neighborhoods looking for criminals instead of trying to generate revenue.
By Aquagirl
March 2, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
V, you’re one of those that only worries about government intrusion when it reaches you. All this homeland-security/in your business crap has been going on for years, and now the same Stepford Legislators are supposedly freaking about red light cameras. They have all the sincerity of a TFTT post advocating affirmative action.
The only reason the Repubs settled the red-light bill is so they could get on with quietly (they hope) strangling the bill on Sunday beer and wine sales.
By V for Vendetta
March 2, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Time for the truth?
Time for someone to put the Thesarus away. People like you fail to realize that extremism in either direction is harmful to society.
People like you decry terrorists for foolishly blowing themselves up in the name of religion. We laugh at their ideas of forty virgins in the afterlife and assinine belief that the infidels should be vanquished. Yet here in the South, every Sunday, we find the masses prostrate in church professing a slavish devotion to a misguided faith. Sure, they’re not blowing up civilians or attacking American in the most cowardly way possible. Of course, then again, most religious zealots down here will not tolerate anyone that does not share their beliefs and take every opportunity to hate on gays, other religions, other races, etc.
If you want a theocracy, by all means let me know. I need time to pack my bags. Conservatism is fine. Extreme conservatism is not. It’s the same on the left side of the aisle. I’m sure you’ll denounce me as a leftish, what was the word, afterbirth? I can assure you I’m not. I’m just someone who finds extremism to be dangerous in any form.
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
tut tut aquaHAG
you know damn well I would NEVER even stoop to making a twisted sick joke about supporting racist quotas for blacks or any other minority!! Some things … like naturally despising ALL Bush derangement syndrome leftists are sacrosanct!
By Jack
March 2, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
Hey V. That’s 79 virgins. Who wouldn’t kill themselves for that?
By Jack
March 2, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
May be 78.
By jm
March 2, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
Van@11:20 - Stop the presses !!! We agree on something (see my post at 10:30).
By time for the truth
March 2, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
I eagerly await the glorious day when we rightfully deport all black vermin back to afriKa!! These black parasites have endlessly posed as a burdensome lot on American society. The darker types constantly bleat about slavery and Jim Crow whilst they glibly ignore the blindingly obvious fact that they never suffered one day since they arrived on these shores..much to their pathetic benefit indeed!!
The incessantly grotesque behaviour of black hippety hop thug vermin causes me to long for the glorious days before the cheating and plagiarising baptist preacher began crying about civil rights!! Fortunately there is one organisation who refuses to cower in face of the shameless bullying tactics of black racists like Sharptongue and JJackasson!!
By Mid-South Philosopher
March 2, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
Rod, relative to your 9:58 A.M. response.
Does the photo clearly show that I am the driver?
Does the photo show the child with the severe laceration and excessive bleeding in the back seat?
Does the photo show the 80,000 pounds semi with squealing brakes behind me?
Do we know that the timing mechanism is working properly?
And those are just the first few questions.
Government is impersonal at best. Police power of govenment is even more impersonal. Mechanical police power should not be tolerated.
By getalife
March 2, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
Imagine sleeping on a bus to wake up to a horrible crash and your bus has flipped on 75.
Or in a high school with a tornado blowing down a wall crushing you.
This is life in the real world.
Geez.
By Heather
March 2, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
V at 11:28,
One man’s heresy is another man’s orthodoxy.
By Tara
March 2, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
tired,
Let’s apply a little economics here. Generally, the less competition there is for a position, the more money existing workers make for that position (again, supply and demand). Air traffic controllers are in a dispute with the FAA over staffing levels. In other words, despite such potential economic benefits (more money, better benefits), they’re begging the FAA to hire more controllers (controllers are retiring faster than the FAA is hiring). In this case, union members are putting air traffic safety ahead of their long-term personal finances (yes, they’re asking for more money because they’re understaffed, working longer hours with less rest, etc.). As members of the flying public, if air traffic controllers say that they’re under-staffed, then we had better listen.
FYI, the FAA is yet another agency run by incompetents appointed by President Bush who put ideology above public safety.
By Lord Doom
March 2, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
Doom is 35 today!!!!!
Everyone on this blog needs to sing ‘Happy Birthday to Doom’.
By Jack
March 2, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
We don’t sing to relatives of the one who killed our beloved Superman.
By Lord Doom
March 2, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Jack,
Even though Doom would have loved to do that, I’m not related to Doomsday. Doomsday is a hideous,albiet, wonder of a creature.
By Aquagirl
March 2, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
especially me, Doom.
By Lord Doom
March 2, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Aquagirl,
Doom is really not that bad a guy once you get to now him. All I seek is world domination, that’s all.
By Redneck Convert
March 2, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Well, I hope TFTT don’t slip up while playing with hisself. He could accidently say something nice about a librul before the “Ahhh!” comes. I’m telling you all, this guy is dangerus. I expect any day to see a news flash about a maniac loose with a gun downtown. We should all just take his posts as something a two year old kid would say. The guy is just boiling with hate. Like someone else got his toy and he can’t stand it.
I’m against these red light cameras. It has got to the point that a fellow can’t even sip his beer while going thru a light. You could get arrested for drunk driving and running a red light too. And all by mail. What kind of laws is that? Next thing you know they will be ticketing people for having sex while driving. These laws is against Georgia rednecks and I’m going to call Sonny and Casey.
I hope Sister Dusty does go to law school. I can see her in a court room now. “Your honor, I object. The other side is cutting and running and they are traders and unAmerican!” That’s all she ever writes on this blog anyway. Maybe she could team up with jbmlaw and then everybody in the area could get clipped good.
Well, got to stay with the beer run. The bars need to stock up for all the Baptists for the weekend. They drink up a river of beer, but they sure don’t want it sold on Sunday. Tell Harold don’t forget to buy his booze by midnight Saturday. We don’t want no sneaking around on Sunday in the self checkout line. It would be unChristian.
By Aquagirl
March 2, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this
Well, Doom, you’re better than the Republicans, who want to control the entire Known Universe, or even more insidious—-Sunday Beer and Wine sales.
I will concede your world dominion if you let us buy a six-pack on Sunday, cut taxes, and make zoo Atlanta show the panda cam 24/7. Maybe throw in a couple of terrorist’s heads on public display, and you’ll really turn me to the Doom side.
By Lord Doom
March 2, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Aquagirl,
You are a goddess among insects. Doom definetly supports Sunday alcohol sales. I’m orginally from Mississippi and we used to love to turn up a fifth after church.
By GRCleft
March 2, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
jbmlaw,
As much as you might prefer to risk thousands of lives to save a buck, tower controllers can’t and shouldn’t land planes via the internet from India.
Stick to fake law.
By sharkeyextreme
March 2, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
Yes, people really die in this world and accidents really happen. The government can’t protect us from everything you know. Especially not from the Georgia DOT Einsteins who design things like a kamikaze exit ramp off an HOV lane that ends right on top of the interstate. It’s surprising that a midnight drunk didn’t done it sooner with a car, especially in that area of partiers. Do they give out Darwin Awards to government DOT road designers?
By JK
March 2, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
But anything that moves consumers from passivity to active management of their health has to be good.
I would agree with this statement, Mr. Wooten, if it weren’t made in the context of supporting the huge waste of money that is pharmaceutical prime time advertising. Yes, medicines ARE good when needed, but the idea that just a pill fixes the damage people do over time eating well-marketed garbage, and sitting on their expanding lard deposits is just more enabling of bad choices. Whether that money could be better spent is an opinion directly related to one’s value system; for those who think greed is a virtue, HERE: have a little purple pill! And a blue one! Is the cheese-in-crust pizza here yet? Don’t forget to finish up!
By jbmlaw
March 2, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
Dear CRCleft @ 1:38, I understand your appeal to racism, but the Indians are perfectly competent.
By Southern Democrat
March 2, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
I find it interesting that the Air Traffic Controller debate is dominating the conversation today. I would say that of President Reagan’s many successes, that decision was not one of them.
I would like to ask some of more learned conservative friends on this blog this question (asked in a neutral tone, out of complete curiosity):
Looking back, knowing what you know now and not what you knew then, do you think it would have been better to spend the money we have spent on the Iraq Conflict on intranational defense (e.g., securing airports through hiring private corporations to evaluate risks, installing bomb detecting devices in airports, securing our ports, etc.) or do you think that we received good national security value for our dollars spent in Iraq?
I realize that subjective perspective enters into every discussion, even the way I’ve phrased this question, so if there is a more content-neutral way of phrasing it, please suggest it.
By compassionate libertarian
March 2, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this
re: Brian Nichols and the issue of state-funded criminal defense. I understand the Constitutional reasons criminal defendants are provided legal representation. I paid better than $300/hour for legal representation in a civil matter. Is there not something un-Constitutional about the state picking up the tab to ensure a (yet to be convicted) murderer is represented, while law-abiding, tax-paying citizens have to foot their own legal bills in civil cases? I guess at the end of the day it’s not so much a question of “justice” or the law, as it is there is no question the lawyers will always get paid.
By Dave
March 2, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
Re: PATCO
If a worker has a right to strike… the employer has a right to fire. That seem fair & balanced to me. Why does one out weight the other?
By jbmlaw
March 2, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
Dear Southern @ 2:14, you raise two issues and I respectfully disagree.
(1) On air traffic controllers, as best as I can tell that was the last significant strike anywhere in any US industry in the past 27 years. To the extent that one appreciates labor peace, looks like a resounding success to me.
(2) As to the Iraq matter, I think I would have preferred not funding Department of Energy, Department of Urban Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Education to fund your intranational defense projects – Iraq served a purpose, I cannot tell that the entities I listed serve any useful purpose.
By jm
March 2, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
jbmlaw@2:38 - Department of Energy is who handles the nuclear weapons (among other tasks).
By atc
March 2, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
Just an attempt for a little information sharing from someone who works at air trafic control (ATC). 1st, check this link to the ATO website: text to be linked
please note that at the beginning the author states that lower staffing is justified because there is less traffic. Then 5th Para. from the bottom the FAA administrator states that “The system is in trouble because we have squeezed every ounce of capacity that’s out there,” Which is it? traffic less or more?
According to govt data. the traffic at the 5 major NY facilities has increased an average of 10% while staffing at these facilities has dropped by 12% and 20% in the 3 big airports.
Privatization? You think the union has leverage? Just wait until the private contractor goes to Congress and says that unless they get a $5 billion infusion that the system will collapse. Oh Boeing…Lockheed is blackmailing us, do you think you can take over the busiest air traffic system in the world by 6am tomorrow? I’ve got to think that life doesn’t get much better than a government sponsored monopoly.
If those controllers don’t like it they should work somewhere else - Oh yeah, nobody else but the government hires controllers (e.g. you remember the car salesman in the earlier post).
So, there are no free market rules to apply here. Its a monopoly of the sky (let’s see, which ATC company should your pilot use today?) and its a monopoly of employment.
If any of you have engineering background you might remember how bridges used to be designed to carry 250% of the anticipated max load. some folks decided that was wasteful and the number is now (I believe) 150%. you just hope that the guy pouring the concrete didn’t come to work with a hangover. And how many strands can be cut from the safety net before it won’t be able to hold that plane about to fall. I’m not saying it’s there (do you remember Lexington, KY or is it already forgotten) but it is a question that should be asked by engineers and people who actually know something about ATC not by actuaries. BTW, probably 1/2 of the people in the FAA administration have no ATC experience or are folks who couldn’t work the traffic and ran to a nice safe desk job.
By sharkeyextreme
March 2, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
On air traffic controllers, as best as I can tell that was the last significant strike anywhere in any US industry in the past 27 years.
jbmlaw, I respectfully disagree. The last major strike that caused the loss of thousands of jobs, not to mention the loss of a company, happened at Eastern. First striked the machinist union and then the pilot’s union. Man those union picketers sure showed Eastern. That’s typical of the union mutaneers though. Sink the ship to make a point.
Incidentally, the Eastern debacle started 17 years ago tomorrow.
By Southern Democrat
March 2, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
Jbmlaw,
(Tongue placed firmly in cheek) Have you already forgotten the plights of our poor professional athletes who have had to strike for a fair wage? Athletes of the World Unite!
I took issue with President Reagan’s actions because it was not the least disruptive alternative; it was a power play. In the interests of full disclosure, though, a family member was an Army Air Corps Air Traffic Controller at old Candler Field and so I have a soft spot for them.
You, of course, forgot the most glaring bureaucratic blunder (and on which you and I agree), the Department of Homeland Security, with its airport agency Thousands Standing Around (TSA).
By Tom Emory
March 2, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
REMEMBER this about the “great Communicator.” He WAS a Union member and president of SAG when he made accusations against his OWN Union Members during the McCarthy “witch hunts” in the 50s.
By Jack
March 2, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
Yes. The Eastern pilots were told that if they went out, the company would fold. The greedy bastards went out and everyone lost their jobs. The pilots went on to other airlines while everyone else went jobless. A pox on those pilots.
By Lily Toad
March 2, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
If the DA had accepted Brian Nichols’ guilty plea and put him in prison for the rest of his life we, the taxpayers, wouldn’t have to pay for defense lawyers when there is no defense. He did it, he admitted it, lock him up.
By Dusty
March 2, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this
Dear Rednecks,
Just got home from a day of hard labor and read your words of wisdom. Well, that is, I read what you posted which is pretty much the same every day.
Hey, nobody has to go to Law School to call liberals cut-n-runners and unAmerican etc. Just read AJC blogs.
But the problem is, as truthful as that might be, it does not pay $395/hr that lawyers make. Therefore I have given some great law schools the chance of a lifetime…my enrollment!!
Will let you know which university gets the honor of my presence. Hello Harvard! Hello Yale!! (Do you think I should ask Ted Kennedy to speak up for me at Harvard?)
By Van
March 2, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
Dusty,
If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
By Jack
March 2, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
Lily. In order to get life without parole they must first try for the death penalty. The new legislation is to eliminate that caveat and will save lots of money. (we have it on tape, they should take him out and shoot him as he did to his victims)
By @@
March 2, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
‘Ya know Jim, I didn’t read the very last paragraph in your article.
That would be a whole bunch of busy government agents now, wouldn’t it? I can just see it now….
One agent assigned to each unmarried person.
If you count the teens having sex, that could get to be a pretty expensive government program.
A whole lot of “porking” going on.
You’re a funny guy Jim.
By sharkeyextreme
March 2, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
UPS cancels it’s Airbus A380 freighter order of 10 planes because they were not confident Airbus could meet it’s delivery schedule due to labor issues. FedEx has already done so. The combined have hurt Airbus bigtime. French unions have called for a one day strike aand German workers may join them.
Well at least those nations have a massive social safety net to fall back on. Perhaps that’s why the EU has a much higher unemployment rate than we do. Go ahead unions, shoot yourselves in the other foot. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070302/france_airbus.html?.v=16&.pf=taxes
By Lily Toad
March 2, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
Jack, I think the plea bargain was going to be for life without parole. That was my impression from a news story from the AJC on 2/9/07:
“Parker would not comment on what sentence Nichols would be willing to accept.
But in most such cases, the defendant pleads guilty with the assurance of a sentence of life in prison without parole, rather than death.”
By JohnD
March 2, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
We have at least one post claiming there is a shortage of ATCs and another indicating there are former military ATCs lusting for a job in the public sector. So, which is it?
A few years prior to the PATCO strike I had the opportunity (misfortune?) to participate in a basketball league with a team of ATCs. Frightening to think some of those guys held hundreds of lives in their hands every day. Violent tempers, instability and recklessness were the trademarks of most of them. Not a scientific study I admit, but a sample.
The point already made here about the right to leave the job is important. If you want to control your own destiny then start a business for yourself since the employee has no “right” to a job. If the working conditions, other employees, or the employer do not meet your desires your only “right” is to leave.
If the ATCs are as skilled as some would like to assert then they will be in demand somewhere, if not as an ATC then at some other position requiring similar skills.
The three lawyers for Brian Nichols are in the case for the publicity with a nice check to tide them over until the really big dollars roll in after this trial. The only lawyer in town starved until the second moved in - and then they both became rich.
By ATC
March 2, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this
I used to play basketball against a guy named JohnD. He was one stupid SOB. He passed when he should have taken the shot and shoot when he should have passed. Then when he missed, he’d call foul on some guy sitting in the bleachers.
Violent temper? When you’re on the court with a crybaby hack like this clown, who wouldn’t lose their cool? Playing against JohnD was more stressful than landing a 767.
Not a scientific study I admit, but a sample.
By JohnD Dropped His Popsicle
March 2, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
JohnD,
Ever play basketball against the Marhabas?
By Nicole
March 2, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
“If the ATCs are as skilled as some would like to assert then they will be in demand somewhere, if not as an ATC then at some other position requiring similar skills.”
JohnD seems to think that air traffic control work requires about as much skill as working at Dairy Queen.
Tell us JohnD, what other positions require similar skills as monitoring and directing air traffic?
By Violent, Unstable , and Reckless Secularist
March 2, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
JohnD,
I’m a secularist. What do you say we get together for a little roundball?
You know what they say — you don’t know a secularist until you’ve played basketball with one.
By aaronhumes
March 2, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this
i wonder how many folks b*** here, including me, would actually want to run for