Thinking Right

By CJ

March 13, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this

The “Big Idea”? No so big. It’s more roads paid for with regressive sales taxes (which hurts economic development relative to progressive income taxes) and tolls. It’s a present for DOT insiders at the expense of Georgians. In short, the so-called Big Idea is more of the same.

The 20 to 30 mile route across North Georgia for the carpet, automobile and poultry industries sounds a lot like the Northern Arc – a gift for well-connected landowners and an invitation for additional metro-like development, congestion and pollution. Jim’s suggestion that politicians are against the Northern Arc (or whatever it’s called this time) because they would lose taxpayers to the far reaches of the suburbs is a straw man argument. He is right, however, about the fact that additional road building projects draw money away from “alternatives” (aka: mass transit).

Serious mass transit (not the abbreviated MARTA kind) works great in cities with as much or more sprawl than metro-Atlanta, such as Dallas and the San Francisco Bay Area. In these and other cities, suburbanites are happy to have the option of a comfortable train ride to work (their seats have cushions) from 30 or 40 miles out while they read the paper, read a book or get some work done during their commutes. Those who choose to drive also benefit since such “alternatives” keep other cars off the road. And of course, air quality is improved, fewer children suffer from asthma and fewer serious car accidents occur (saving taxpayers money on indigent health care), etcetera.

Republicans are always demagoguing us with words like “choice”, “freedom” and “liberty”. So let’s have it. This Republican-led State Legislature should give us a serious transportation plan that gives Atlanta area commuters more choice, frees us from congestion and liberates us from air pollution. It’s already been done in cities all over the country and the world, and there’s no reason we can’t do it here as well.

In the meantime, let’s all pray that DOT Board member David Doss (he’s not the Board Chairman) spends more quality time with his family and leaves his legal pad in the drawer when he’s at home.

By Planner

March 13, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this

As one of the people heavily involved in the “planning process”, I can honestly say there’s justification and support for a reconstituted Northern Arc. However, it must be done properly. The fact that interchanges suspiciously close to land held by policymakers kept mysteriously appearing in the project scope doomed it to failure. Both intowners and suburbanites found common cause in opposing a highway which would be nothing more than a publicly funded boondoogle for developers disguised as a “bypass”.

Here’s a proposal worth considering. Commit to a four lane cross section, never to be widened. Create as narrow a footprint as possible to minimize right-of-way requirements and displacements. Depress it below grade as much as possible to minimize noise and visual impacts. Institute variable tolls to manage demand and ensure free flow. And, finally and most importantly, provide interchanges only at I-75, Georgia 400, I-985 and I-85. If it’s to serve a function as a regional bypass, there is no reason to provide access at every arterial it crosses. Essential services can be provided at oases within the corridor, as along tollways in Florida, thus eliminating the potential of sprawl clogging all the surface roads in the vicinity.

By Jeff

March 13, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this

I’m a native Bartow Countian (now living in Middle GA after a brief stint in South GA). And I’ve got five simple words for ya:

BUILD THE NORTHERN ARC ALREADY!!!!

It is DESPARATELY needed. Right now, it takes at LEAST 30 minutes to get from Cartersville to Canton via Ga20. MOST of that road is two lane. Meaning if someone decides to go 20 miles an hour, you are STUCK until one point at the Cherokee/ Bartow line (for about a mile, MAYBE a mile and a half), and another point just outside Canton on the far side of Allatoona. Going from Canton to Cumming is even worse: From the exit to Ga20 off 575, it is two lane at LEAST through Ball Ground (sorry, I don’t go past Ball Ground that often).

Those of you that live near mass transit: fine! Use it, love it, feel free! But don’t begrudge the rest of us because we choose to live where we can actually have decently affordable land (and lots of it, rather than the 1/4 acre you call a yeard!)

By jbmlaw

March 13, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. I favor the long-range thinking at GaDoT, suggested in today’s essay. I may quibble on the details – I think a road parallel to GA 20 is too far south – but the general thrust of the proposal, coupled with the “toll” aspect of the road, is perfectly reasonable to me. I would certainly be willing to pay a toll to avoid I-285 on those occasions when we need to head north on the other interstate.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

March 13, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this

Hi Jim,

So someone sitting in his den writing on a legal pad is your definition of someone with “vision”.

Cost Benefit Analyses are “nitpicking”.

No wonder the GOP has us in such a mess in Iraq. Rummy, Cheney and Wolfie, sitting at a bar, scribbling on notepads came up with this godforsaken plan. And now that it’s failed, those who would seek some level of accountabiltiy or control measures, where there are none, are “nitpicking”.

Same would go for your pet traffic solution, Jim.

And BTW, the Georgia DOT should be named something along the lines of DOR or DOP…Department of Roads or Department of Pavers…because that’s really what they are.

Any time you’d like to discuss my commute with me, let me know. It’s an uplifting story of a young man determined to avoid the stress and aggravation of daily life on the streets and interstates of Atlanta.

By Killin' Time

March 13, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this

Jeff,

If you want to live on ten acres out in the sticks, then that’s your choice. But don’t expect taxpayers to alleviate congestion for hundreds when the same amount of money could alleviate congestion for millions.

Priorities.

By Redneck Convert

March 13, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this

Me and my buddy Jim Earl was talking last night about how we would like more roads and all. When I have to go to Rome to vote before I come back here to north Forsyth and vote again I have to take a lot of back roads. This new road Wooten talks about would save me a lot of time. Maybe I could have time to vote a 3rd time up in Calhoun. Where I used to live and still on the vote rolls.

We agreed we would like to be as lucky as Mr. Scoggins that owns the chicken plant. He always seems to be owning land that has got to be bought out when a new road is being planned. Me and Jim Earl can’t figure it out except he knows a lot of people that does the road planning for the state. Anyway he sure is lucky.

I like Wootens idea or the idea of this Doss guy. Going east to west would keep me away from a lot of Those People to the south. We don’t need no mass transit like this CJ guy wants. It would bring Those People up to my neck of the woods and I already got one fambly of them living here in the trailer park.

Come to think of it lets just pave everything to the north of Atlanta. You wouldn’t need no exits then and people could build stores and gas stations anywhere they like. You could just walk out of your trailer and right into the place where you work. Unless you are a beer truck driver like me.

Anyway everybody could get rich with this new highway. Maybe they will buy out my trailer. Which I will take only half a million bucks for. And I’ll even leave the key to it and let them have the cement safe where I keep my money so that Pelousy woman can’t get her hand on it.

Wooten is right about the main reason for building highways too. People don’t matter that much. We need to build for business and let the people move to where it is. The bigger the better. After a while everybody can own a business of their own and owners will be begging us to work for them. Just bulldoze houses that are in the way and get on with it. Let the pantywaste libruls in Atlanta walk to work. Don’t waste money on them.

By Truthsayer

March 13, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this

Transportation problems in this country are just too complicated for a top-down “comprehensive” approach. We are not Europe, Japan or even China. We also are not Russia or Canada where the problem is almost beyond solving. The new plan being bandied about in the legislature is really the best - leave it to local control and financing. We can only do so much with interstates and state highways.

I can understand those living in the “northern arc” area objecting to any extensive highway development such as that proposed by former Governor Barnes and his business partners. That was a boondoggle on the order of Georgia 400.

The old addage build it and they will come applies to these types of things. People generally live in these bucolic surroundings because they WANT to live away from city life. Most do not commute to the city or even bigger suburbs. Build these highways and they are not just thoroughfares from point A to point B, but they become destinations in themselves.

The long and the short of it, none of these transportation “solutions” should be forced down any communities throats! Let the people in the individual communities decide. They are adults and can make the best decisios for themselves without Big Brother butting in where he is not wanted or needed. I say this as a very long-term co-resident of Atlanta and the bucolic North Carolina mountains.

By Southern Democrat

March 13, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

I, personally, have no problem with either the Northern Arc or the widening of GA 400. As someone who has spent many hours on Hwys 20, 120 & 92, I can tell you that they ain’t what they used to be… Roswell & Alpharetta are like Buckhead & Vinings as far as auto density. I would think many would be willing to drive north to the Arc to go east or west rather than have to brave the surface roads or I-285.

It is clear that those OTP have one mindset and those ITP have another. The Northern Arc is needed to alleviate the traffic suffocation OTP and to divert commercial traffic that does not need to deal with Atlanta away from the congested hub of the Southeast. Plus, there are many who live in these regions who do not wish to incorporate Atlanta into their daily lives (they’re missing out, but their call).

I think that, going forward, there needs to be a combined mass transit plan: the Athens-Atlanta rail line with a stop in Lawrenceville NEEDS to be built. The Lovejoy line is fine if it addresses needs, but I am still not convinced it does.

MARTA needs to be expanded with another two North-South diagonal lines running parallel to the existing one with points of intersection at the airport, Five Points, and Buckhead and serving more of eastern DeKalb and western Fulton. The trolley system and Beltline will be a good supplement. It should be the goal for ITPers to be able to store their cars all week if they so choose… a completely realistic goal and one that will improve the quality of life in Atlanta proper immensely.

By abc

March 13, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

IMHO, the need for traffic capacity trumps environmental concerns and others, at this point. Traffic hell is upon us, anything that offers relief is welcome.

By Shar

March 13, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this

The state can never build enough roads. As soon as a new road goes in and traffic is eased, developers rush in to infill and subdivide, and more congestion is created, thus again straining the road. Jeff asks that those of us who choose to live near public transportation not “begrudge” him his choice of “lots of decently affordable land.” He mistakes - no one is challenging his choice of where or how to live. He chose a rural or semi-rural area, and one of the considerations in that choice is his commute. It is NOT the responsibility of the taxpayers of Georgia to fund his extrication from a consequence of his decision. It sounds as if he bought his vast acreage at “affordable” prices and now wants the rest of Georgia to increase its value by improving access and convenience. There are lots and lots of Jeffs out there, those who have chosen the lower prices and larger spaces outside of Atlanta but who want to either cash in on their investment or alleviate the frustration of their jostling to get into the city. The more roads you build, the more Jeffs there are. It is a never-ending, never-sufficient demand, and it needs to be denied in favor of expandable, environmentally sound alternatives.

Mr. Wooten, although usually a reliable adherent of taking responsibility for one’s choices, is utterly hypocritical in his zeal to pave the way for ever greater numbers of suburbanites. But with gasoline rising and scarcity ahead, who’s to say that “what moves us” in 25 or 50 years will be individual cars? We’re on a nonsustainable course right now, and we’ll have had to make changes in the time period that Jim mentions. Finance, foreign policy and the environment will force it, leaving huge roadbuilding projects as relics of the gas-powered paradigm. The “Big Idea” addresses congestion and transportation patterns of the present time, paid for through a regressive tax that will stretch over ten years. I can’t see anything big about this except for the spending, or anything visionary at all.

By Jeff

March 13, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

Shar:

You’re going to feel really stupid when the big boy companies in ATL finally realize that they are better off in virtually every way with a campus - and even their corporate HQ - FAR OTP. And quite a few companies are heading in that direction. Seen very many companies moving INSIDE the Perimeter recently? I haven’t. But I’ve seen DOZENS - including a few of the big boys - moving to Alpharetta or even further out. Heck, I work in IT now and when I was searching for a job, for every ITP job available there were at LEAST 3 OTP!

Point being: ATL is NOT GA. The STATE DOT needs to do what is best for the STATE, and the sooner they realize that, the better.

By Truthsayer

March 13, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

This is the latest headline:

Scientists to Gore: Cool It!Several experts on climate change question former vice president’s assertions in Oscar-winning ‘An Inconvenient Truth’

By Killin' Time

March 13, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

Jeff,

Of course you haven’t seen companies moving to Atlanta. You’re too far out in the sticks.

You work on a computer, so there’s no reason that you can’t telecommute from your deer stand. No reason for the rest of us to build a road so that you can live in the woods.

Welfare queen.

By Killin' Time

March 13, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Truthsayer,

If you want to live your life in denial, then go for it. But don’t expect the rest of us to play in your make-believe world.

By Dennis

March 13, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I wonder if Jim Wooten would feel so great about more highways if one of them went through the middle of his recently repurchased farm?

Of course, a man who feels like evnironmentalist are nothing but a nuisance might not care.

You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By Curious Observer

March 13, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

For once, I agree with Jeff. We need to put priority on relief of traffic congestion outside the perimeter, where most of the traffic originates and congregates. The City of Atlanta proper is rapidly becoming obsolete as a headquarters for business, and many firms are moving out of the city. Diverting funds to establish streetcar service and tunnels within the city does not recognize the longer term traffic alleviation needs.

By time for the truth

March 13, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Solving metro Atlanta’s traffic problems is unbelievably easy - it just takes a little courage to impose the blindingly OBVIOUS solution.

Ban ALL damn yankkkees from passing through Atlanta. No more aggressive road hogging wankers from MI or OH or Nu Yawwwk etc clogging the roads on their way to and from FL will greatly improve the traffic flow. The icing on the traffic improvement cake would be to also ban any snivelling locally domiciled loser with a now faded worthless kerry-edwards sticker from clogging and polluting our roads.

Sending all the bloody juggernaut lorries on their way to and from FL directly through AL from Chattanooga/Mobile would also make a huge difference.

Lastly the GSP and local police should be legally compelled to shoot the tyres (not correct spelling) out of any turdbrained jobbie’s car that has any kind of noxious self absorbed bumper sticker proclaiming my barely literate spoiled brat is an honour student at Ritalin Middle/High Skool!!

By LMAO

March 13, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Shar is going to feel stupid?????

So the inside the perimeter area is dying? There are what, 25 high-rise buildings going up inside the perimeter right now? Thousands have moved to Atlanta in the past few years and thousands more will be following soon.

Atlanta is thriving. Its a shame all you people that are living outside the perimeter have to suffer so much just to visit Atlanta. Its places like Gwinnett that are withering on the vine. All because you didn’t want to solve the traffic nightmares when you had the chance.

I hope you like your low taxes. Gives you something to cherish while you sit behind 1,000,000 cars on your way home.

BTW, Cousins Properties is moving Downtown from Cobb County.

By Truthsayer

March 13, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Shar et.al. - today I would have to agree with the bulk of you who disagree with Wooten as I stated earlier. The wholesale building of highways is only in the interests of certain politicians and the road construction companies whose only business is the building and maintenance of roads. The less development the better is the way I and most of my neighbors in the NC mountains feel. We’ve had enough people move in already because of just paving the roads. It’s convenient to a point, but making development easier with these massive highway projects not only spoils the view, but it also ruins the reason that most of us old-timers are there to begin with. A city feller or suburbanite like Mr. Wooten probably does not understand, not at least until retirement.

By JP

March 13, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

“But don’t begrudge the rest of us because we choose to live where we can actually have decently affordable land (and lots of it, rather than the 1/4 acre you call a yeard!)”

Sorry, you and your ilk’s collective desire to live in a pasture without sight of another human being is why Atlanta is eating up raw land like a cancer, and why it is unable to create mass transit—nothing is close to anything else.

Congratulations. Within ten years I’ll be leaving metro ATL and its “Free Market” fundamentalists—because of its unchecked sprawl.

You can have it.

By LMAO

March 13, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

When Atlanta asked for help with its transportation needs the rest of the state, including the suburbs said NO. A big emphatic NO at that. Atlanta added a 1 cent sales tax and developed MARTA on its own.

Now the suburbs want the state, including Atlanta to bail it out of its traffic jam.

LMAO!!!!

By getalife

March 13, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

The reason Newt came clean is the madame for the escort service in Washington has released her clients names.

Expect many to come clean.

By Truthsayer

March 13, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

Time for the truth - touche!

By getalife

March 13, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Cleland to Cheney: “Where the hell were you in the Vietnam War?”

“”Where the hell were you in the Vietnam War? If you had gone to Vietnam like the rest of us, maybe you would have learned something about war. You can’t keep troops on the ground forever. You gotta have a mission. You gotta have a purpose.”

You can’t keep sending ‘em back and back and back with no mission and no purpose. As a matter of fact, the real enemy is Al Qaeda, it’s Al Qaeda stupid, it’s not in Iraq.”

Major smackdown and just a thing of beauty.

Dump Saxby, he is a w w-w******* and a failure.

By JohnD(the actual)

March 13, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

Growing up literally within sight of the State Capitol and seeing the growth ITP, the new homes and high-rise residences, office buildings in Buckhead and other signs the city of Atlanta is coming back is thrilling.

The fact is that growth both ITP and OTP is exploding. A plan for relief of the congestion should address both areas.

I do find some of the comments by the liberal side of this blog amusing. One in particular was:

“It is NOT the responsibility of the taxpayers of Georgia to fund the extrication from his decision.”

Where was all this righteous indignation yesterday when the topic was extricating people from their bad decisions relative to health care? Neither relief from traffic congestion nor health care is among the inalienable rights.

The argument seems to depend on the impact the topic of the day has on the individual, as opposed to the standard liberal bleat of “best for everybody”.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker & a Distractor

March 13, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Truthsayer & Jim,

Traffic is always fun to debate, and Al Gore is easy to pick on, but since I’m sure that ya’ll are both a little sensitive to what’s really news, here’s my idea of what that is

The real question that seems to be lost on Jim & co is this:

What part of government is George Bush not using to further the personal goals of himself and his cronies? What part of government is running well? What part of government is not experiencing budget shortfalls and horrible mis-management.

I’m sure there are a few, but it’s looking like they’re the exception.

Seems that during the Clinton era, the GOP found fault with every little thing, but now that there’s some real stuff to focus on, they’ve hung up their hats.

Why is that? Where are all those patriotic watchdogs that signed on to Newt’s “Contract With America” believing that a Republican-led government would end the era of political posturing and evasion?

Has the cycle of scandal and disgrace ended yet?

Jim? Has it?

By Redneck Convert

March 13, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

While the drug crazed TFTT is at it and he ain’t locked up again lets go ahead and take out anybody with one of them dog breed stickers on their car or a liscence plate that deals with spaying.

Also I don’t want to know every thing a car driver likes so lets spray a car with more than one bumper sticker with a AK-47.

A peace sign on a car also gets a good spraying. If I wanted peace I would vote for a Democrat. Bunch of wimps.

And the death penalty for anybody that has a sticker that says ask me about my grandkids or Retired. If you are a grandpa or retired you don’t need to be out driving and clogging up the road. You need to be in one of them nursing homes. Unless you are young like me and happen to be the proud grandpa of little Sonny Zell George. He ain’t got a pappy yet but my dotter says it has to be one of five guys, unless she was drunk and forgot about one or two.

By Truthsayer

March 13, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

JohnD - touche! I agree. The hypocrisy is palpable. They only want personal responsibility and initiative part of the time. I want it all of the time. Would you not agree?

By Truthsayer

March 13, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

Cherry Picker - please stop confusing apples with oranges and stick to the subject. First of all, Bush has nothing to do with this issue. He did not cause the traffic problems in Georgia and I am not asking him or the feds to fix it. Also, all of the plethora of scandals in the Clinton misadministration were easily connected to the President. You still cannot connect most if any at all to Bush personally. Certainly there is no question of personal aggrandizement for him or any present member of his administration. As for past members, don’t cast that stone as Clinton and his cronies have personally profited every step of the way since he left office. Terry McAuliff made a fortune off of the MCIWoldcom, Global whatever deal and I don’t hear you calling for his execution.

As for government programs, they are always poorly run. That’s why I try to avoid them. I didn’t eve get a student loan! I imagine that they are still better run under Bush than Clinton. Cite me some examples besides Katrina (the worst disaster in American history). Besides, Katrina was woefully mismanaged on the state and local level long before we ever got to the feds part in it. Those guys and gals were all good ole Democrats!

By Carolyn

March 13, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

To “REDNECK CONVERT”.. I love you, keep up the posting.

By Van

March 13, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

John D,

I took Dusty to the Dwarf House last evening followed by a pleasant shooting session at the gun range. You’re on the losing end of the battle, partner.

By Pitty Pat

March 13, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Jim, sweetie,

What about those cute little streetcars I read about in the Atlanta Constitution? Are we still going to get those too?

I can’t wait to ride downtown and eat at the Rich’s Magnolia Room again. It’s been such a long time, but I’ll bet nothing has changed. The colored girls there are so nice, you know, the way they bring you a fresh glass of iced tea with a sly little smile on their face each and every time?

Maybe I’ll splurge and take in a picture show at the Roxy as well. I forget, it is next to Davison’s, right? They play all the really good ones there. I wonder if that darling Carole Lombard has anything new out?

Oh, maybe I’ll just do a little window shopping. I can spend hours quietly browsing the streets with no one to bother me while I take in all the stores - and there are so many of them! It’ll be just like old times.

Bye-bye now,

Aunt Pitty

By time for the truth

March 13, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Too bad that inbred rednekkk’s mammy had one too many litters and didn’t instantly drown rednekkk in the still thankfully pretty dirty Hooch!! Inbred being the clear wimpy little runt of the incestuous litter … they say line breeding is what sick cut and run demoNcrats are most fond of - just look at the hideously ugly Chelsea Klinton and the Kennedy demonseeds!!

I actually agree with our resident racist inbred, anyone with an I luv my ……. dog sticker needs shootin’. As does inbred rednekkk just for bein’ inbred rednekkk!!

Nice to see that inbred rednekkk’s preDICKtable choice of weaponry is a commie one. I guess inbred on its GA welfare cheques cant afford a decent American, Israeli or British weapon.

Time for a nice big ol fiery crash in your stolen beer lorry inbred, that’ll help some with global whining - and make damn sure you take out at least one of the racist scumbag McKinney’s when you go!!

BTW my earlier post should have read tyres (note correct spelling).

By Magneto

March 13, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this

To everyone on this blog:

If you ever encounter a woman who goes by the ID Buy Danish, please realize that you are speaking with her when you address @@.

Thank You.

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

damn, there goes that Charlie Brown effect again. Every time I see a post from TFTT all I see is wawawawawa wawa wawawa, just like the teacher on Charlie Brown.

My high school drama (a strict religous conservative) called it “over-acting”

By Shar

March 13, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

John D @ 11:17: Good points, and well made. I agree that both ITP and OTP are growing fast, with both businesses and residential decisions being driven by proximity and quality of life issues, primarily length of commute, size of home/acreage, quality of school and tax considerations. One indication of the shifting dynamics in the individuals’ decisions is the concern over outsize infill housing in town, which reflects a desire to keep the square footage common in the suburbs but drastically cut the commute, deciding to take the tax hit instead. There are tradeoffs to every one of these decisions, and my point is that having taken advantage of the plus side of the ledger (Jeff’s swaths of “decently affordable land”) the individual cannot expect to use the power of government to tax in order to escape the traffic nightmare that Jeff and his colleagues have created.

Your point comparing this and healthcare is appropriate and timely. Health care is a matter of life and death, which cannot be said for traffic unless you count in road rage and/or accidents. Health care, like transportation planning, has a wide range of permutations in its delivery, and if you are unable to pay for it yourself you’re going to have to make some accomodations to what is in the best interest for all. If you choose to live buy property in a place where the infrastructure is limited, you can either sit in traffic with all the other people just like you, buy a helicopter and make your own transportation, expand the infrastructure or give up driving your own car and get some of the vehicles off the road. With number one increasingly unacceptable and number two accessible to only a handful, number three has been the knee-jerk response, which costs the many to benefit the few. I believe that number four is a serious alternative.

Similarly, in health care, there are options. Beneficiaries of public health care dollars may want to have the most comprehensive, convenient expertise available on demand, but the cost of that choice, like endless road building, is ever-escalating and open-ended. Instead, there are hybrid options for delivering care that require sacrifice and responsibility. To keep patients from using emergency rooms (the most expensive form of care) as primary care centers, a model could be used based on the clinics that some manufacturers have put on the factory floor. LPN’s treat minor injuries and provide monitoring and followup with common health problems such as obesity and diabetes that otherwise tend towards degeneration and crisis. Such clinics, implemented on a neighborhood level, could not only encourage health basics like vaccinations and checkups but serve as a required screen for all but true emergency hospital care. Patients might not get the care they would prefer to have it delivered, but care would be available. More draconian ideas, such as Connecticut’s experiment with disallowing long-term rehabilitation for motorcyclists who are in an accident but have chosen not to wear a helmet or limiting long term payments for emphysema treatments for smokers, will probably be looked at as well. The idea is to direct spending as much as possible to the areas that will support the general health of the population, encourage responsible behavior on the part of patients and minimize treatment of avoidable illnesses that would not have reached crisis stage if intervention could have been arranged earlier.

Just like with transportation, unless you can afford not to rely on the public purse, you’ll have to make choices and accomodations that you may not like but which will serve the overall goals of efficient movement of people and material to support growth or improvement of the general level of health in the population as a whole. Those, I believe, are legitimate tradeoffs for public investment. And yes, I believe that the life and death nature of healthcare justfies a higher priority than traffic calming.

By Lord Doom

March 13, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

jacksonwolff,

I see that you’re still at it. Because Doom has been evolving as it relates to how he treats people I won’t tell TFTT your secret.

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Lord Doom-

Thank you very much, but I have no sectets. I believe in being open and honest. That is the only way to communicate with people.

By Lord Doom

March 13, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

jacksonwolff,

Are you familiar with Gen. Pace’s comments about gays in the military? If so, how did that strike you?

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

It dosen’t bother me. Personaly, I think the only group that is being hurt by not allowing gays in the military in the military it’s self. Why fire people who are doing a good job because of who they bump uglies with? It’s not like everyone has to watch.

We are at war with islamic terrorists, so why fire arabic translators for what they do in there own time?

By Aquagirl

March 13, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Oh, you conservatives, get over it.

You want to slam the liberals for calling Jeff out on the assumption of personal responsibility in living OTP. Then you want the government to spend billions so a crackhead can’t exercise his personal decision to hit the pipe. But then the crackhead can’t get health care when he jumps out a window when high, because the war on drugs didn’t really stop him from doing anything.

Or the government shouldn’t interfere with the free market, but we should build a road to facilitate profits for chicken-pluckers and carpet manufacturers. Like they don’t make enough money off of illegal employees.

Spare me the blather that conservatives are so about personal responsibility. At least the liberals admit they want to nanny you, and that the government should be in charge of everything.

By jbmlaw

March 13, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

Dear TFTT @ 10:41, this is your funniest essay in a week, thanks for the laugh.

Dear JaCP @ 11:19, I would respectfully suggest that “government” and “mismanagement,” in the same sentence, is redundant. Nevermind, looks like Truthsayer saw the same argument.

Dear Magneto @ 12:09, you name two of my favorite writers here – I suppose it was too much to hope that we had discrete geniuses at work.

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

BTW- I admire him for standing up for his convictions. I may not agree with him, but atleast he didn’t go all PC.

If that’s the way he feels, then he should have the right to express that.

By Lord Doom

March 13, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

jacksonwolff,

I saw a gay guy in my complex get evicted this morning. He’s one of those individuals who tries to hide his sexuality, but it came right on out when he gave the sheriff a piece of his mind.

By jbmlaw

March 13, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Dear Shar @ 12:20, well-written, but I disagree with your conclusion on health care. I have concluded that the death rate is, and will remain 100%, and that any expenditure of funds would be flushing valuable assets into a toilet. I oppose corporate welfare for the “health” industry.

By Magneto

March 13, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

jbmlaw,

Think about the reason they are your favorite writers. They sound extremely similar wouldn’t you agree? I busted her last Saturday and vowed to campaign against her multiple ID use.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

March 13, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

Truthsayer,

So earlier, when you posted that bit about Al Bore and someone somewhere saying something negative about his movie, that was “on topic”.

As far as government being poorly run goes, true dat.

But what I’m interested in is how the Republicans out there, the ones who prefer private corruption over public corruption, how those folks raise such a stink about how they can clean up government and make it run better. But then when the peoples (the voters) allow them to do that, those very same Republicans use government as their own lil’ weapon for their own lil causes. With no accountabiltiy.

To me, you’re kinda like the Catholic preists. They go to all this trouble to set up all this rigamarole (sp?) about worshiping God and all that, but really what they want to do is use that as a front to get little boys.

As a reminder about the GOP’s promises about running government, I’ll post this “contract” from ol Newtster (the guy that the Republicans are so excited about electing for president). If you’re intersted in explaining to me how the GOP fulfilled any of the promises in the contract, I’ll be checking back soon. But all I really expect is a bunch of nuthin:

REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA

As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives. That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.

This year’s election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public’s money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.

Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act “with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.” To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.

On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:

FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;

SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;

THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;

FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;

FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;

SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;

SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;

EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.

Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.

Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.

Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.

By Magneto

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

Jim’s a cherry picker,

What are you, running for congress? Do you actually expect us to stop what we’re doing and read your endless contract? If you have something to say, say it. But don’t expect us to read the contract with America on this blog. We can download it if we want to. Be more creative please.

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

knowing alot of the closeted gay men that I know, when they get into an argument it usualy does come right on out. But getting into it with a sheriff isn’t the smartest thing to start with.

just curious, what was he being evicted for?

By Truthsayer

March 13, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this

Cherry Picker - excuse my one diversion from the subject of the day. Notice I made no commentary either. I just put it out there. Al Gore’s ranting do have much to do with sprawl and transportation issues, however. In any case, my sister was working for Newt in his Marietta office at the time of the Contract with America, so I am more familiar with it than most.

I agreed with most of it and strongly disagreed with one provision - term limits. That died a merciful death on the federal level. Lamar Alexander’s idea of limiting the amount of time Congress sits to six months a year is much better.

Back to your earlier point, the Republicans did vote on all provisions of the Contract as promised and they fulfilled many of them. I was not disappointed with the balanced budget that Clinton opposed vehemently and then took credit for when it was a fait accompli.

Part of what the Republicans were trying to do was turn back to federalism. Thus, the most successful reform for a while was being honest about unfunded mandates to the local and state governments. That has since been abandoned as a practical matter, unfortunately.

Many reforms were blocked in the Senate or by the President. Even in the Bush years with a Republican Congress it was not possible to get many of them through because they did not have the sixty votes to kill filibusters.

Finally, even though I have at times been very disappointed by the performance of Republicans in office, they have still proven themselves to be better on the core issues I care about while the Democrats continue to advocate more government control of the economy, higher taxes and eviscerating the defense of this nation in the name of civil liberties which they themselves are slowly eroding iwth their big-government philosphy.

Now you have the reply you did not expect.

By Redneck Convert

March 13, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this

I might of knowed TFTT would turn on me. Wanting my beer truck to crash and burn. And with all that good PBR in it too.

Joe Bill says we get a sorry trade for the people we send to England and TFTT proves it. We send over our best and they give us a sorry old broke down meth addict and glue sniffer that bellows about killing people he don’t like. I warned you all before and soon you will see TFTT out in the middle of the street like that Isreal ambassader, nekkid and wearing nothing but sex toys and a ball in his mouth, except TFTT will be packing a gun he will shoot everybody with. That’s what meth will do for you. When they catch up to him he will pull a Haggard and decide he will go to school and learn to spell right and be a good boy for a while.

Well, got to stock all the Baptist bars. They got a powerful thirst up here, and I aim to please.

By Lord Doom

March 13, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

jacksonwolff,

He was orginally a server at Denny’s on Cobb Pkwy. They closed several months ago(I feel a lot of the customers weren’t comfortable with the employees), and he’s been out of work since. When I went outside this morning, The apartment manager, maintenance, the sheriff, and this gentleman were having a discussion with all of his furniture laying on the side of the street. After he was done fussing at everone he then proceeded to walk down the street with his clothes tightly packed in a suitcase. I as I drove off, I started to stop and ask him did he need a ride somewhere, because I knew he didn’t have a car, but I didn’t because I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.

Am I bad for that?

By getalife

March 13, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

devil broom up your a-ss,

Sorry you and your boyfriend were evicted.

Stop blogging and get to work at another fast food joint.

TFTL is an illegal immigrant escaped from the loony bin.

Ganzo to hold a press conference. He should resign or be impeached. We were a nation of laws.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

March 13, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

Magneto,

No. Not running for congress. Just a regular ol’ guy that is fed up with the sluts running this country. Someone needs to call them on their BS, and I’m doing what I can by needling Jim.

And btw, it’s not my contract, it’s the GOP’s. The Republicans wrote it, stood next to it and told the country “Vote for us, this is what we stand for”.

Some of us thought it sounded pretty good, so we voted for them on the basis of that.

It’s important for everyone to read, because it bears witness to what they really stand for: taking all they can get, rewarding those who pay them the most money, screwing the little guy, confusing the subject and punishing those who dare question them.

School yard bullies in suits, basically. It’s only fitting that their leader is a daddy’s boy frat jerk.

So this is what I’ve got to say:

Our “president” is a rich daddy’s boy frat jerk who, after an undistinguished career as a failed businessman, conned his way into politics using his dad’s name and the big lie foisted on us by the GOP and their dumb arse “contract”. And now he and his cronies are sucking this country dry for their own personal gain because they know they’ve got the game rigged so they’ll never be held accountable.

And all you people whining about how bad traffic is in Atlanta are the problem. Like a bunch of drunks at the liquor store complaining because the line is too long.

How about that?

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

Well if he worked at a Denny’s that closed two months ago and hasn’t found a job at another restaurant in two months, I think him getting the wrong idea was the least of your worries.

Anyone who can’t find a job in 2 months has bigger issues. As a former restaurant manager, you are probably right about the employees. They are usualy the reason that a restaurant closes, it shows a lack of management.

By Lord Doom

March 13, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

Redneck convert,

Any idiot can see that you are jacking getalife. Your diseased filled mother never taught you not to steal? She was probably too busy sucking my c*ck to get in any discipline in the household.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

March 13, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this

Truthsayer,

You’re right, that’s a better response that is typical. But it’s still a dodge - the Contract was and is nothing but a PR stunt. None of it has been implemented; blaming the democrats has been done to death.

And you’re still using the same ol tired stereotypes with no supporting data. “Big Government”, “Erosion of Civil Liberties”, “Weak on Defense” “Tax and Spend”, “Climate Change”.

Those means nothing to me. Those are talking point phrases invented by Frank Luntz and Herr Rove to distract their followers from the truth.

The truth is that corporate America has rigged the system so that whoever is in charge, Republicans or Democrats, will bow to them.

I like how all this back and forth about corrupt democrats and corrupt republicans fails to mention that none of that hanky panky happens in a vaccum. Someone had to provide that money.

Business provides that money. Corporate America funds those lobbyists. And the junkets. And the campaigns. They’re incitivized to. It’s good bizness.

Just like Jim’s column today. All this hype about tunnels and arc’s…that’s coming from privately backed industry groups and “think tanks” who represent the private contractors who stand to gain the most from those projects. Those contractors give a rip about what’s best for Atlanta. And the worse the project goes, the more the overruns, the better….that only means they’re in it longer.

This is supposed to be a country by the people and for the people.

Republicans think it’s by the corporation and for the corporation.

By Jeff

March 13, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this

Presidential post: (I know, off topic today, sorry!)

Has anyone checked out Tom Tancredo of Colorado? I’m doing research into him right now, but so far it appears that he may be as close to a Thomas Thorn/ Jack Ryan as we’re gonna get. Will update as I see more info.

By Jeff

March 13, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

Presidential post: (I know, off topic today, sorry!)

Has anyone checked out Tom Tancredo of Colorado? I’m doing research into him right now, but so far it appears that he may be as close to a Thomas Thorn/ Jack Ryan as we’re gonna get. Will update as I see more info.

By Shar

March 13, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this

jbmlaw@12:52: Thank you kind sir she said, but the incontrovertible fact that ain’t none of us gettin’ out alive does not mean that we should not make the best of the time we have. And that is not possible without health. Thanks to America’s boisterous research and development, medical interventions are now as diverse as they are unaffordable. The cost effective means to health - vaccination, nutrition, maintenance and early detection - should be required of every person who seeks to have the more expensive options paid for by the public purse. The smallpox vaccine has eradicated one of mankind’s greatest scourges, the polio vaccine has saved millions of people from paralysis or death, and the lack of such spending would cost unthinkable lives and treasure. Just look at the increase in the rates of diabetes are, and think of what could be saved if nutrition and maintenance could be improved.

My teenage daughter recently returned from a medical mission to Central America, shocked by the accepted level of illness, suffering, malnutrition, parasites and ignorance that are tolerated there. I don’t think that many of your fellow Americans are prepared to permit that, despite knowing that we’ll all die in the end. Optimism and compassion are two American hallmarks - the real kind, not the political props.

By getalife

March 13, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

devil broom,

Yes you are an idiot.

It was me and I am not a converted redneck.

Geez.

By jbmlaw

March 13, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

Dear Jeff @ 2:00, Tancredo is a single-issue candidate, blames the Mexicans for everything that is screwed-up. Just a notch better than the John Birchers.

I saw Fred Thompson may run, and since he is doing a second fund-raiser for Scooter Libby I’ll probably throw all of my political clout his way. Fred’s a bit more moderate than I am, but then almost everyone is.

By jbmlaw

March 13, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Dear Shar @ 2:10, you see everlasting hope and I see an endless chasm, but I think we are looking at the same hole. I would simply reserve more resources for the next generation rather than eat all of my kids’ seed corn.

By Redneck Convert

March 13, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this

Maybe this Lord Doom can go to the same head doctor TFTT needs. I can’t figure out what he is talking about.

By Jeff

March 13, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

jbm:

This is what Tacredo said on Valentine’s Day 07 regarding the non-binding resolution:

“Mr. Speaker, the approaching vote on this resolution has caused me and I am sure many of my colleagues to give serious and considerable thought to the most difficult issue that faces America today.

Like many of my friends on both sides of the aisle, and like many Americans I am opposed to increasing our troop presence in Iraq. I am sure we have all asked ourselves individually what we would do if we were in the oval office at this time.

If I were in the oval office, if I were Commander in Chief, I would tell the Iraqis something similar to what Benjamin Franklin told a woman who asked him as he came out of the negotiations on the Continental Congress, Dr. Franklin, what have you given us? He answered, a Republic if you can keep it.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we have with our blood and treasure already won a great victory when we deposed a dictator and helped the Iraqis set up a fledgling democracy. Frankly, I believe it is up to them to keep it.

Mr. Speaker, the fall of Saddam has helped create a situation in the Middle East that we did not anticipate but one that can be exploited. I believe that the ethnic and sectarian earthquake inside and across the broader Middle East is underway. I believe the fault lines in this conflict can be seen moving today, not just in Iraq, but in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere.

If I were Commander in Chief, I would do what I could to exploit the situation. I believe it can be exploited, but not if we are acting as a referee in what has become a civil war. I believe that prolonging or increasing the U.S. presence in Iraq will virtually guarantee this fault line will move in a way not advantageous to us.

Sure, if I was President, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you unequivocally I would not be sending an extra 20,000 soldiers. But I am not President of the United States, I am not Commander in Chief, I am a Member of Congress. And while I have every right as a Member of Congress to voice my concerns and objections to what I see as flaws in the strategies this President may choose to employ, neither I nor this Congress has the right to micromanage a war.

Mr. Speaker, our Constitution vests sole authority of the U.S. military in the President of the United States, not in 435 Congressmen or 100 Senators. Our Founding Fathers empowered the President, not the Congress, with the authority precisely to avoid the kind of group micromanagement of our military strategy that we are seeing on this floor today.

I differ with the President on many things, Mr. Speaker. Indeed one of them is the recently announced surge strategy. But while I am concerned about the wisdom of the strategic military decision, Congress does not have the authority nor the ability to manage this war or any other by committee.

I fear that this resolution is just the beginning of a long-term attempt by Congress to become the micromanager of the conflict in Iraq. As many Members have correctly noted, this resolution is nonbinding, but it has been described by its authors as just the bark from the Congressional dog. The bite will come as they say during the appropriations process.

As I said at the beginning, Mr. Speaker, for a time this resolution posed a dilemma for me. But after hours of listening to the debate, reading the Constitution, it helped me to decide how to vote, there is no longer a doubt in my mind. I accept the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and bend to the constraints of the document that we swear to uphold and defend.

I hope that Members of both sides will think carefully about the precedent that this debate will set for the future, for future Presidents, future wars, future soldiers. I would ask them to join me in opposing this ill-conceived resolution.”

Immigration may be his “biggie” issue, but from what I’m seeing so far (check out some quotes regarding Education I posted over at Get Schooled), this guy is certainly electable. My only fear is that the majority of the populace won’t do the research into him that I am doing.

By GRCleft

March 13, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this

jbmlaw wrote, “I saw Fred Thompson may run, and since he is doing a second fund-raiser for Scooter Libby I’ll probably throw all of my political clout his way.”

This dude thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips.

By jbmlaw

March 13, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

Dear Jeff @ 3:10, anti-immigration and isolationism certainly fit together logically, so I do not dispute the internal consistency of Mr. Tancredo’s outlook. I believe neither serves a useful long-term purpose for this country, and thus disagree with his world view.

In the specific quote you cite, I see no benefit of leaving Iraq soon. Iraq, as with any political cauldron, is a place of potential anti-American forment, and is also a place of potential strong pro-American formation. Having our noble military representatives within the country permits pro-American forces to develop within a secure framework. I fear what will develop in a vacuum, and thus urge that America keep a strong presence there for a generation or two.

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this

lord doom-

I swear that the above name jacking was NOT done by me.

whoever is doing it, is childish and is not helping their side

By Jeff

March 13, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

jbm:

Ah, but that Thorn guy that I want so much? One of his first acts as President was to pull every single soldier home (from EVERYWHERE - Germany, Korea, NATO, Japan, anywhere else outside of American owned soil).

Course, he then completely disbanded the Army. Even in the book the guy takes TONS of heat for it, as I’m sure a real life version of him would as well. (To the tune that his VP - described as his best friend and most fierce opponent - CONSTANTLY accuses him of thinking in the 18th century rather than the 21st.)

But even though I would side somewhat with the VP, I still say that a real life Thomas Thorn would be a GREAT asset to this country, and since Tancredo appears to be as close to that ideal as we’re going to get, so far I remain with him.

By JoeD

March 13, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

Jeff, that is certainly a reasonable concern. The majority of the populace won’t do any research on Tancredo, or anyone else.

By buck

March 13, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this

I don’t have big problem with the new highway concept if a few rules are followed. The Northern Arc has to be a toll road, so those who use it pay for it. There also has to be a very limited number exits on main highways only. Rest stops and fast food and gas should be placed in the middle of the road-no unsightly ‘sprawl exits.’ This should absolutely not be a meal ticket for everyone with 5 acres they want to develop. Also, no billboards allowed. Finally, go ahead and run it from I-20 near Madison all the way to I-75 near Dalton.

By Lord Doom

March 13, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this

For some reason, my proclamation was censored. For all others who missed it—due to an uncontrolled reaction after a fling I had with a guy I met in a Piedmont Park bathroom, my name is officially now Lord Doo.

By Lord Doom

March 13, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this

jacksonwolff,

The groveling nature of your post at 3:43 shows that you fear the almighty power of Lord Doom. Always remember to bow dowm in my presence!

By Lord Doo

March 13, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this

jacksonwolff,

The utter joy in my last post caused me to mistakingly refer to myself in my old name. Always remember to bow down in front of the path of Lord Doo!

By jacksonwolff

March 13, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this

OK, who let the kindergarden out?

I wasn’t groveling, i was just informing.

as for pretender boy

SMACK!!

snap out of it

By Political Foreskin

March 13, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff declared homosexuality immoral today. Immorality presumes a level playing field; that is, all men would have to be capable of gay acts and only the choice to commit gay acts, then, could be judged immoral.

Is the chairman himself coming out with this raw declaration? Is he calling our troops all gay? I demand his resignation for mixing homilies and Humvees.

Homosexuality: it’s not just for raw recruits anymore.

By time for the truth

March 13, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this

It seems that the racist inbred mutant, aka the child molestor rednekkks is getting almost as uppity as the nasty black racist crackpipe who thankfully has slithered back into its crackhouse for a few days. Inbred rednekkk needs to once again practice playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded Uzi with dum dum bullets whilst its drunkenly caressing the humungous rear end of its forked tail blowup HiTllary Klinton doll in the disabled lesbian toilets at its local Chuckee Cheese.

Clever, erudite Brits like me p!ss on worthless pond scum like rednekkks just because we can, and its a social necessity to put retarded hyperventilating afterbirth like rednekkks in its wart infested, peasantish place!!

Its a damn shame that the obsessive id stealing maggot brain, aka the treasonous, hate America whoralicious cyber pimp for the putrid pukes at moveon.org and sadly still our resident syphilitic illegal Cuban immigrant wont bugger off back to Havana to continue licking Castro’s happily seriously diseased and hopefully dying in agony murderous butcher commie arse!!

By Political Foreskin

March 13, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this

The bus that crashed two weeks ago was the direct result of the diamond marking the hov lane on the exit ramp. That diamond informs a driver that he is in the HOV lane.

It was a cruel oversight, and the DOT is negligent.

By getalife

March 13, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

I spew bollocks like I’m feabily writing haiku.

I’m a sullenly misguided wankpig who hates Bush.

That’s all I bloody well know how to say!

By FYI

March 13, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this

The number of presidential pardons by each president, with months in office, since 1945:

_Harry S. Truman, 93 months, 1,913 pardons

_Dwight D. Eisenhower, 96 months, 1,110 pardons

_John F. Kennedy, 34 months, 472 pardons

_Lyndon B. Johnson, 62 months, 960 pardons

_Richard M. Nixon, 67 months, 863 pardons

_Gerald Ford, 29 months, 382 pardons

_Jimmy Carter, 48 months, 534 pardons

_Ronald Reagan, 96 months, 393 pardons

_George H.W. Bush, 48 months, 74 pardons

_Bill Clinton, 96 months, 396 pardons

_George W. Bush, 74 months, 113 pardons

By time for the truth

March 13, 2007 5:31 PM | Link to this

By getalife

March 13, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

I spew bollocks like I’m feabily writing haiku.

I’m a sullenly misguided wankpig who **hates Bush.

That’s all I bloody well know how to say!

At last maggot brain says something truthful and incisive!!

By JohnD(the actual)

March 13, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this

Many sane, reasoned posts today - with a few of the other stuff thrown in as well.

Jeff and Shar make excellent arguments for their points of view and there is not much in either to dispute.

The immigration issue is the hot button for Tancredo but we do not have to eliminate immigration, just return to the 1970’s era limits of about 200,000 legal immigrants per year.

I do not believe we will ever reach the level of care of the countries in South America cited above, there are clinics, emergency rooms and plenty of private doctors willing to treat those who are unable to pay. We, as a people, have the obligation to care for our young, our elderly, the infirm, and our young men and women who fight for our country and are injured in service.

The recent upheaval over the conditions our wounded military is subjected to during care points vividly to the soul of our country. We are righteously disgusted by the conditions in some of the hospitals and the disclosure that after separation from service our veterans are not adequately treated for their injuries, whether physical or mental. Our government bears the obligation to treat our veterans, and the government bears the responsibility for the woeful conditions. That is our government – not Republicans and not Democrats but both parties and the bureaucrats, whether civilian or military.

The people bear the responsibility to treat the other groups that are not adequately cared for by the medical establishment. The government role should be minimal.

By jm

March 13, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this

this is off topic but I wonder if Mr. Wooten will comment about Halliburton moving their corporate headquarters to Dubai.

By JP

March 14, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

LOVE that Cleland quote. LOVE IT!

But Georgia gives us Saxby instead. You guys are total idiots.

By JP

March 14, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

LOVE that Cleland quote. LOVE IT!

But Georgia gives us Saxby instead. You guys are total idiots.

By JP

March 14, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

Jackson, re: the dismissal of 300-odd Arabic translators because they’re gay, that’s one of the primary reasons I cannot be closed-minded enough to be a modern-day Republican.

Regardless of their misguided “Small government” mantra—when the goal shouldn’t be size-related at all, but rather an “efficient and effective government” of whatever size helps reach that objective best—Republicans are willing to undermine their own objectives (translating Arab intelligence) because of their own anti-gay bigotry.

I’m sorry—I cannot participate in such counter-productivity. Color me a Democrat.

By Truthsayer

March 14, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

JP - you have it all wrong. Smaller government is better, whether efficient or not. The idea in a representative democracy is to limit the scope of government in order to preserve liberties. The more power in any the government is given, the fewer liberties we end up with. ‘Give us enough to get the job done’is getting on a very slippery slope indeed.

As for the Republicans tossing out gay interpreters, that is both misguided and unfortunate. It is also just one issue. In a two party system one party will always take positions on individual issues which some members will find repugnant. You must look at the big picture and general principles or you will throw out the proverbial baby with the bath water!

By The Truth Hurts

March 14, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

JP - you have it all wrong. Smaller government is better, whether efficient or not.

What?? Your saying something that is efficient is worse than something that is not even close to being efficient?

Typical Republican response…….

By The Truth Hurts

March 14, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

The idea in a representative democracy is to limit the scope of government in order to preserve liberties.

So, Truthsayer - how do you think the Bush Administration has done on “preserving liberties” these last 6 years?

By Truthsayer

March 14, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

The truth hurts - No, the truth doesn’t hurt me, and oddly enough won’t hurt you either. The fact that we are blogging right now and that neither of us are receiving knocks at the door from some Secret Police force is proof enough that our civil liberties have not been curtailed on whit. Your argument is tired, trite and not worthy of a thoughtful adult.

By JP

March 14, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Truth, if everyone had access to healthcare, would that not be a form of “liberty” - the freedom to be treated for health conditions?

As for the Corruption Party, I voted to throw them out in November even though I recognized I’d be voting with the minority in this backwards state. I stand by my vote.

By The Truth Hurts

March 14, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

How about the recent report that the FBI abused the Patriot Act to spy on Americans in ways that they were not suppossed to do? Is that tired, trite and not worthy of a thoughtful adult? Your example of proof in that we can blog without the secret police knocking on our door is petty and, basically, juvenile. Is that the best you can do?

By Dusty

March 14, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

NO jp,

Universal healthcare would mean that you could not choose your doctor or your facility. That is not freedom.

By John D(the actual)

March 14, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Dusty,

I heard that you accompanied Van to dinner at the Dwarf House the other night, followed by a session at the gun range. You broke my heart and therefore shall never attempt to court you again. I will always have the precious memories though.

By Truthsayer

March 14, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Truth hurts - no it is quite the opposite, I am afraid. The very fact that the FBI did not get away with this and it was exposed proves my point. Also, it is quite clear that no one’s freedom of speech is being curtailed. After all Free Speech TV is still on channel 9415 on my satellite provider. If your scenario were true, it would have been off long ago!

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Who’s the pi$$ ant that ID jacked Doom yesterday?

By Genius of Dusty

March 14, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

“Universal healthcare would mean that you could not choose your doctor or your facility.”

And Dusty pulls another one out of her azz.

By Dusty

March 14, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

Truth hurts,

A thoughtful adult would realize that there are undercover terrorists in our country and the FBI is trying to protect you FROM them.

They are not interested in your conversation and messages unless you act in the most commonly known ways of suspicion aka communication with other terrorists, sending money to parties sympathetic to terrorists or large sums in foreign banks under incorrect names. That sort of thing.

If the FBI makes mistakes, then they should be corrected. But that might be expected in the millions of communications they have to check.

Perhaps you had rather have terrorists working against our country in our country. I have enough faith in our government, which is the best in the world, to protect us.

As truthsayer has reminded us, I have not lost one civil liberty or had anyone knocking on my door. And there is no corruption party in this country. I am sorry you cannot appreciate the freedom Americans possess.

By Genius of Dusty

March 14, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

A thoughtful adult wouldn’t be in denial about the fact that the Bush administration and their Republican apologists in Congress have a political agenda that takes priority over protecting us. The FBI isn’t just spying on suspected terrorists. They’re spying on their political enemies.

I’m sorry that Dusty doesn’t appreciate the freedom that Americans possess to hold their President accountable. She doesn’t have to use hers, but the rest of us are using ours.

By Magneto

March 14, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this

Lord Doom,

Now that we know that Buy Danish is @@, and Goldie is Midori, I wonder who else is using multi Ids? Dusty maybe?

By Jack

March 14, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

It didn’t start with Bush. Big Brother has been watching us for decades.

Oh…and global warming is all Bush’s fault too. The Earth is flat and the Sun revolves around it and that is Bush’s fault too.

By Dusty

March 14, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

Phony one posting as John D @ 12:46 and Genius @ 12:57.

Your mother is calling. You’d better run…

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this

Magneto, master of Magnetism,

Doom doesn’t give a sh*t right now. I’m trying to find the mongrel that jacked me yesterday.

By getalife

March 14, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

Well, I wanted to comment on Zell blaming aborted babies (geez) but could not.

Dusty=@@.

Asleep at the wheel again

Geez.

By Truthsayer

March 14, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

Genius of Dusty - I don’t think Dusty or anyone else is in denial of anything here. Please tell me the exact circumstances and against what specific political enemies the FBI was spying. The fact simply is NO ONE’s political or civil rights have been trampled upon. The fact is the FBI revealed and is dealing with its own mistakes. That is hardly the act of an abusive and out of control dictatorship - like let’s say Venezuela?

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this

getalife,

You french fried fa$$ot!! You attacked Doom yesterday and probably ID jacked me too. The next time you attack me,I’m going to the matresses on this blog!!

See “the Godfather” if you don’t know what that means punk!!!

By John D(the actual)

March 14, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

Dusty,

That was really me at 12:46! You left me no choice but to post my emotions on here and bare my pained heart to the masses after hearing about Van taking my dear Dusty to my favorite restaurant followed by a session at the gun range. It hurts so bad.

Alas Dusty, I shall never seek your courtship anymore and will courageously face the dark prospect of dining many nights in utter solitude at the Dwarf House.

Fare thee well, Dusty.

By Jack

March 14, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

Hey Doom, he’s probably at Piedmont Park.

By Dusty

March 14, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Genius,

Would you mind telling us about all the political persons who are being spied upon? I think thee are a bit paranoid.

Conservatives are being watched by thousands of liberals like you. Not to be sure that we are doing the correct procedures, but to see if they can find somethng that can be claimed illegal, improper or cast a dismal light on the Republican administration.

You don’t seem to notice what a bad “light” you put on Democrats. It is undermining the country for political purposes. You couldn’t make it any plainer.

By getalife

March 14, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

devil broom,

I do not play stupid games with id’s.

I will make you an offer you can’t refuse.

GFY!

By Dr. Doom

March 14, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this

Jack,

You flaming idiot! My glory-hole partner is at Piedmont Park, not the $hitstain ID jacker!

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

getaf*ckinglife,

Regardless of the ids, you still f*cked up!!

Last warning racoon!

By Jack

March 14, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

LMAO!!!

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this

Whoever just attempted to jack Doom, everyone knows that I no longer go by the title Dr. So you have royally screwed up.

Whoever attempted to jack me(getalife), may your mother choke on cockroach sperm!!

By getalife

March 14, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this

Wow, I have never been called a “racoon”.

Just when you think you are out, they pull me back in.

GFY!

By Dusty

March 14, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

Ah phony one, yet another nick-jacking at 1:35.

For general information:

I post under no ID but Dusty. I am not @@ or anybody else. I will be gone for the afternoon.

Question: Why does Magneto show up every afternoon when the nick-jacker appears?

By The Truth Hurts

March 14, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

I wonder if Dusty had this much faith in government when Clinton was in office?

By Magneto

March 14, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this

Dusty,

I suppose you’ve never been nick jacked before I showed up right? Right!

Interesting how your investigative technique is similar to the one I use for Buy Danish. Hmmmmm?

By Dusty

March 14, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

Truth Hurts,

I have always had faith in our government but I had no faith in Clinton the man because he had no ethics. You don’t see the difference because the truth hurts you too much.

I’m gone now. Bye!

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this

getalife,

After I return from my Piedmont Park glory-hole session, your AZZ is GRASS!

By Genius of Truthsayer

March 14, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

“The fact simply is NO ONE’s political or civil rights have been trampled upon.”

Uh-huh. And U.S. Attorney’s weren’t fired for refusing to lauch investigations of political enemies.

Truthsayer has the faith of a child.

By Truthsayer

March 14, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this

Tell me what part of their first - tenth amendment and 14th amendment rights were trampled upon. They were fired, not put in chains. Their feelings may have been hurt, but in the end I don’t think they had hoses turned on them or their right to vote arbitrarily denied because of race. You really need to learn what civil rights are. An appointed federal position is not a civil right. You folks crack me up.

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this

getalife,

The fact that you have to nickjack(at 2:40) me is evident of your fear of the power of Doom. No one believes that is me, you are simply displaying your inability to compete with the likes of Doom.

By Lord Doom

March 14, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this

Doom is looking forward to his glory-hole session today as he gets to play keymaster instead of gatekeeper! All hail the power of Doom!

By getalife

March 14, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this

glory hole broom up your ….

I told you it is not me.

GFY!

By PJ

March 15, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

Dude, you are a psycho!