Bits Bucket for September 15, 2012
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Heckuva job, Hillary! Oh, yeah, it was some obscure little film that caused all this brouhaha, sure it was.
Keep repeating this, because the sheeple will believe anything.
Shades of Alger Hiss.
BTW, I’m not implying Hillary is the Alger Hiss. I am, however, raising the possibility that she has been severely mis-advised by a very close staffer.
There goes one half of the 2016 Jeb-Hillary match-up, lol.
I used to think old Hillary was gonna eventually scuttle Obama for undermining her chances at pres. I had my money on her. Not now.
It’s never them, is it? It’s not the bombing, it’s the obscure movie, right?
We blow their children’s limbs off, they will say or do nothing, right? They they are so thankful that we bombed them. Somehow our knowing and understanding of our “enemy” hasn’t produced anything in last 10 years. Instead we get deflection, cover up and more propaganda.
Well, I mean, after all, it’s not like Americans are storming the Mexican consulates and killing their diplomats.
Now, Mayheeco isn’t exactly bombing us. But they are imposing their language, their settlers. Lowering wages. Forcing taxpayers to pay for this. Illegals murder American citizens, mostly via drunken traffic accidents. But then there’s the drug cartel activity. And other stuff, like tax fraud. They directly and deliberately insult us. But we’re rather supine about the whole thing.
Mexico’s not doing that to us.
The US is the victim.
It’s always them, always those who always have all the answers, all the solutions. Only they know what is best for everybody.
They, with their answers, their solutions, worm their way into power then, once there, they unleash their answers and solutions onto every problem that arises.
And, so, here we are.
Politics 101
“The United States, Carter said, has “less influence” over Middle East nations and diplomacy in that region than it has had at any time since Israel was established as a nation-state in 1948. “Our country’s government has basically abandoned the effort,” Carter said, adding that he still supports a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel.” –Jimmy Carter (09/2012)
“… adding that he still supports a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel.”
See? Carter has the answer. If everyone would just listen to him everything would be all right in the world.
(snark)
The Jews aren’t going to let the Arabs vote, and thy are also becoming a minority in Israel. How do you think one state is going to work?
Libya: Estimated 30,000 Died In War; 4,000 Still Missing
The former rebels entered Tripoli on Aug. 21, but only took control after a week of fierce street battles.
Barakat said that at least 1,700 former rebel fighters died in the battle for Tripoli, along with about 100 civilians.
The number of war wounded is currently estimated to be at least 50,000, including some 20,000 with serious injuries, but is expected to rise, Barakat said.
The Real Reason the Middle East is Rioting
Food prices, more than some lousy video, are to blame for the violence sweeping the Middle East.
In cases of broad social unrest, catalytic incidents are important insofar as they take the measure of people’s passions and attach a vivid narrative—a shot heard ‘round the world—to a mass movement. But wood has to be dry for a spark to catch; populations of people have to be primed for unrest. And in both the run-up to the Arab Spring and now, a research team at the New England Complex Systems Institute has demonstrated convincingly, that priming factor is skyrocketing food prices.
My problem with this whole is that once the Muslims lived up to their billing in the movie with their reaction to it (being a bunch of violent hypocrites). That instead of flatly denouncing the behavior, we immediately turn and point the finger at Americans and tell them to shut up.
How often has placating the barbarians of history worked out for anyone?
“How often has placating the barbarians of history worked out for anyone?”
Never. Tip your hat to a snake, you’ll get bit for your troubles. Leave ‘em alone. Leave their countries alone, let ‘em work it out and they’ll destroy themselves soon enough. Cut off diplomatic relations, pull all troops and foreign aid. Bring all diplomats home, expel theirs. And invite all their countrymen currently in the US to leave, now.
Lost in all of this is the Muslim doctor who blew away members of his HOA in Kentucky. He was pretty offended.
Bring domestic energy production online and perhaps develop energy sources outside of the sandbox, then that may be a possibility; otherwise there is no hope of that happening.
perhaps develop energy sources outside of the sandbox,
incorporating the ideas of producers, who assured the people that freeing the (oil) industry would lead to solutions”
http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Kennedy-Bush/Jimmy-Carter-Energy-policy.html
“As he grappled with international and economic problems, (President) Carter attempted to build support for an energy program. Energy was, in fact, one of his biggest concerns. In April 1977 he introduced his solutions, employing dramatic terms in doing so. His proposals emphasized conservation and envisioned a smooth transition to an era of scarce and high-priced oil; they relied heavily on the taxing power to encourage people to shift from large automobiles to small ones, to cut back on the miles they drove, to insulate their homes and workplaces, and to shift from natural gas and oil to coal, nuclear power, and solar energy. Warning of a bleak future, praising conservation, appealing to patriotism, and criticizing the “special interests,” the president, others in the administration, and the Democratic National Committee waged a massive campaign to build support.”
“…..In the Senate, however, the energy package ran into powerful opposition. A temporary surplus of oil, dislike for the tax features, and demands for deregulation of newly discovered natural gas contributed to the resistance. Republicans and southern Democrats, with Senator Russell Long of Louisiana, head of the Senate Finance Committee, playing an especially large role, combined to revise the package, incorporating the ideas of producers, who assured the people that freeing the (oil) industry would lead to solutions”
Carter’s policies lead to high energy prices, solar was not competitive and still is not. Prices collapsed after we drilled under Reagan so those evil “producers” were right not Carter.
So Carter put forth a plan that wasn’t a plan at all? I’m shocked.
-Coal: How many Democrats in America today support the expansion of the use of coal? The Green Peace kids with the petitions in their hands sure dont.
-Nuclear: Let’s see, I like the idea but it would seem that nobody else does. There are a lot of NIMBY people out there.
-Solar: LOL! In 1977? C’mon! In 2012 have you seen the footprint of your garden variety 300 MW solar plant? Have you seen the footprint of a 300 MW combined cycle plant? If you main concern is protecting the environment, then you sure will destroy a whole of it to put these plants in.
Why not domestic oil or natural gas?
Carter’s policies lead to high energy prices
So what? You’re thinking short-term. Look what short-term thinking has done to American energy policy. “Higher” short-term energy prices can help lead to energy independence because it adjusts behavior. See: Public Investment in Brazil Energy Independence.
So Carter put forth a plan that wasn’t a plan at all?
No. It was a GREAT start of a national plan and a noble national goal. You are thinking short-term and too politically biased. Long term energy plans involve exploring and investing in many types of energy sources. Some of them will not cut it, some will. Eventually, if a country invests public money in long-term energy independence, eventually they will achieve it. See: Brazil Energy Independence.
Why not domestic oil or natural gas?
Yea. Why not? Why do you make it an either/or deal? To warp the issue because of politics?
Hey, look, I’m with you. But you have to use what’s at your disposal.
Nuclear, sure, I agree. We haven’t built a new plant since the 70’s, if I’m not mistaken. I don’t see too many Republicans or Democrats clamoring for them.
Coal, we have a lot of it, why not?
Oil/Nat Gas, yes, we have it. Why not use it?
Hydrogen would make a lot of sense too.
Solar, keep developing. It may also help if someone would develop a super capacitor or better battery technology. Otherwise a solar grid is rather difficult to make work.
I get it. The people who talk about renewable energy as the path forward and that we need to go through pain now while it is developing have good intentions. The road to hell is paved in good intentions.
To sit there and say that I am advocating an either/or situation and politicizing things is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. To say that I am thinking short term is also false. Abandoning oil and gas because it isn’t the long term solution while we have vast amounts it remaining isn’t sensible.
Brazil only invested in areas that made economic sense. They are drilling for oil, use hydro power from large dams raises a real question whether it is really green and use sugar cane that they can produce cheaply.
Sorry price matters, Carter tried to push solar when it 3 and 4 times the price of other methods and Obama is pushing it when it is twice the price. We had stagflation under Carter and we are developing it under Obama and it is a much worse situation than Obama inherited.
You can’t run an economy on solar and you only need to look at Japan which is now running large trade deficits since it could not replace its nuclear with solar and had to turn to expensive LNG which still was much cheaper than solar.
(To) say that I am advocating an either/or situation and politicizing things is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
It is not. I have never been against more oil drilling and I frame energy independence as a national goal not a political goal.
Abandoning oil and gas because it isn’t the long term solution
This is a straw-man if you are addressing MY argument. Abandon? I would increase oil and gas exploration not “abandon” them.
Sorry price matters
Price is not the only thing that matters when a country strives to become energy independent. “To know the price of everything and the value of nothing” National Security costs bank.
Brazil only invested in areas that made economic sense.
Many areas did not make economic sense until public money was invested into them. And Brazil also invests public money in wind, nuke and solar which are just starting to make economic sense.
Brazil has one of the highest solar incidence in the world. wiki
Comment by RioAmericanInBrasil
2012-09-15 11:21:38
“This is a straw-man if you are addressing MY argument. Abandon? I would increase oil and gas exploration not “abandon” them.”
You quoted this: http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Kennedy-Bush/Jimmy-Carter-Energy-policy.html did you not? Which includes this statement: “and to shift from natural gas and oil to coal, nuclear power, and solar energy”
In a later post you said this: “No. It was a GREAT start of a national plan and a noble national goal”
“and to shift from natural gas and oil to coal, nuclear power, and solar energy”
Firstly: “Shift from” does not mean abandon. It means “shift from” and shift from a dependence.
Secondly: An attempt to “shift from” would put money and investment in alternative energy sources which WOULD have lessened our dependence on the Middle-East. Would it have “abandoned” oil and nat gas? Of course not. Just as Brazil’s energy independence plan that I have referenced many times in today’s discussion did not abandon oil and gas.
Therefore: Carter’s energy plan in my words was “a great START of a national plan and a noble national goal”. And you implying that I would “abandon” oil and gas or even that Pres. Carter would abandon oil and gas was a Straw-man/false argument.
We haven’t built a new plant since the 70’s, if I’m not mistaken.
Nuke plants take about 10 years to build, many times because of legal action against it. That said, 46 nuclear reactors commenced operation in the 1980s. 4-5 commenced operation in the 1990s’, the latest in 1996. Four more plants just began construction.
The main hangup is the waste issue.
“Secondly: An attempt to “shift from” would put money and investment in alternative energy sources which WOULD have lessened our dependence on the Middle-East.”
+1 Carter was on the right path, IMHO. Unfortunately our venal congress was being lobbied for deeper involvement in the region.
“…Maybe the best way to look at the world is to start with the idea that all humans are human. Because once any other way of viewing a group, nation or race is chosen, it may be impossible to undo what wrongs are done….”
Lovely, Ben.
Ryan,
Try turning your arguments around and ask yourself how you would react if legions of armed, uniformed young Arab men in sunglasses and iPods set up shop in your hometown, took over your streets and public services in the name of corporatizing your water supplies to ship off to their “homeland”, embargoed food and medicines, and started barging into your neighbors’ houses in the middle of the night looking for “terrorists”. Imagine, too, that your state and local governments were on the take from them and fully cooperative.
Then think about how you’d react when everywhere you looked, Big Brother was forcing Sharia law down your throat in the name of Islam. “They hate us for our morality”.
Now go ahead and tell us all about the “violent hypocrites” again. The overwhelming preponderance of US “service” members are self-professed “Christians”. “Humans are humans” indeed.
AHansen,
Very interesting perspectives. I have a few comments.
Comment by ahansen
2012-09-15 11:16:15
“how you would react if legions of armed, uniformed young Arab men in sunglasses and iPods set up shop in your hometown”
Very poorly, probably. You won’t find me supporting the Global War on Terror beyond Afghanistan and the tribal regions of Pakistan. Beyond that, my original post had more to do with the activity going on in Egypt and Libya where you won’t find U.S. boots on the ground or the associated knuckle-dragging counter-insurgency activity.
Comment by ahansen
2012-09-15 11:16:15
“Now go ahead and tell us all about the “violent hypocrites” again.”
Now that I have hopefully clarified what I was talking about above, it will be easier to understand my violent hypocrite statement.
In Egypt for example, looking back to the Arab Spring moment, how quick people are to forget the Muslim majority putting Christians to the knife and fire to their churches. These same people now rise to violence if their prophet is insulted. They overrun U.S. sovereign territory which used to be a big no-no, I don’t know if it is now though based on current policy.
It sounds as though you’re assuming the citizens of Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, et al, are in political accord with one another. I can think of no place on the planet where tribal divergence (and educational levels) are more pronounced.
Again, imagine the response in the US to an armed take-over backed by an alliance of militant fundamentalists.
Southern religionists and TeaParty stalwarts might tend to be more sympathetic to an anti-abortionist misogynist puppet government than say, Los Angeles university professors and female New York trial lawyers. And rural hicks with water rights might be more tempted to fight on the side of the “oppressors” who were paying them big bucks to “develop” their their resources, than those city-dwellers who failed to see the compensatory value in the interloper’s presence.
In a representative sense, how is overrunning an embassy any different than invading a country? These angry men aren’t out on the streets of Cairo because they’re thrilled with the American presence in their country, but they likely can’t afford a plane ticket and hotel lodging to make their displeasure known in Biloxi.
Keep in mind that “Insulting the prophet” is the preferred excuse the Imans use to rally the faithful when their power base is threatened — much like “they’re after your guns” or the threat of “socialized medicine” are used to rile the marginalized here. It’s just that we Americans have armies they can join, and access to foreign populations they can shoot at.
Arguing that the US is not “on the ground” in Egypt or Libya is disingenuous. That’s like saying that because the Westboro Baptist Church is based in Topeka it’s influence doesn’t cross state borders.
(Please note there were also numerous photographs published yesterday of folks holding up signs saying “Sorry, people of America” and “This does not represent us”, but those tended not to make the evening news reports on network television.)
OK, now you’ve lost me. In the first post you say: “It sounds as though you’re assuming the citizens of Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, et al, are in political accord with one another.” In the second post you say: “Arguing that the US is not “on the ground” in Egypt or Libya is disingenuous. That’s like saying that because the Westboro Baptist Church is based in Topeka it’s influence doesn’t cross state borders.”
It sounds like you are saying the same thing?
“These angry men aren’t out on the streets of Cairo because they’re thrilled with the American presence in their country, but they likely can’t afford a plane ticket and hotel lodging to make their displeasure known in Biloxi.” Huh?
What are you trying to say?
Not sure I can make it much simpler, but taking your concerns in order:
-There are widely differing political opinions among Muslims (so please stop stereotyping).
-US military interference transcends geopolitical borders (so please stop playing the naif).
-Those Muslims opposing US interference in their countries’ internal affairs are fighting us there because they can’t fight us here (so please stop feigning outrage at what amounts to moral equivalence).
-Not everyone there is fighting us (so please try for some perspective).
Or perhaps you’re simply perplexed that I’m not taking sides? Okay, how’s this? I’m as offended by those who use violence to make their point as I am by those who are too self-righteous to listen.
Pax.
There is so much wrong with what you say it is dizzying.
1. Of course there are widely different opinions in the middle east, the sky is also blue.
2. Terrorism transcends geo-political borders as well. So. What.?
3. The irony here is that the countries where violence was worst is also where the Arab Spring was strongest. We support democratic change in their country, in response we see violence. Regardless, none of it justifies the targeting of diplomatic sites or personnel. Period. Without diplomacy we descend back to the dark ages.
4. Where have I ever said that the entire Middle East is against us? Again; the sky is blue.
I’m perplexed by your previous circular logic and statements that didn’t make any sense. Which you resist clarifying further. I’m further confused by this message but it’s clear that this discussion has ended because you have basically stopped just short of calling me a bigot. We know how this goes: when discussing this type of issue the discussion ends with one party calling the other a racist, homophobe or bigot.
Sigh.
“…Maybe the best way to look at the world is to start with the idea that all humans are human. Because once any other way of viewing a group, nation or race is chosen, it may be impossible to undo what wrongs are done….”
“How often has placating the barbarians of history worked out for anyone?”
That’s why they’re are attacking us. This is one issue Ron Paul has 100,000,000% correct.
Without a doubt he is correct. He has been about many things. As you know though, there is a difference between being correct and being politically correct.
And in a political position for his correctness to make a difference.
The first rule of power is to get it.
It amazes me that the more peaceful-minded liberals don’t embrace his foreign policies. He wants America to go back to diplomacy and trade with foreign countries and get away from military bases in every time zone worldwide.
It’s no surprise that the military industrial complex bought and paid for conservatives detest him. I can’t blame them though, a good politician stays bought, that is what keeps the campaign contributions and reelections coming.
The second rule is to keep it.
‘the barbarians of history’
Romans once considered the Gauls and Celts barbarians.
I live in Northern Arizona, which is home to some reservations. The people who live there were at one time considered ’savages.’ Were they savages then? Are they still savages? Or did that viewpoint make it easier to treat them as less than human?
The parts of the world where these people you describe live have been called the cradle of civilization. Their dominant religion is newer than that, but it’s hard to see how a faith could make millions of people barbaric. The Gauls and Celts were largely farmers and gatherers, but could be fierce in battle. The Romans worshiped many gods, even men, and would watch tens of thousands die for sport.
Maybe the best way to look at the world is to start with the idea that all humans are human. Because once any other way of viewing a group, nation or race is chosen, it may be impossible to undo what wrongs are done.
Not to pile on. Which country has killed more people in last 40 yrs? In history, there’s been only one country to use nuclear bombs on civilians. Guess which is it? We are the barbarians and we are the savages.
I agree Ben. People are people.
And some of us don’t care to be f*cked with!
Fair point but I don’t think it’s necessarily congruent with the current situation. We are talking about people who misinterpret their own religion in a violent manner. We are talking about people who hate us with a passion that you and I don’t even comprehend. It doesn’t matter what we say or do, they want us dead. Death to the non-believers, that’s their stance. It doesn’t matter how many McDonalds we build, dollars we give or ipods they buy; they hate us for who we are.
Yes, this is a self-inflicted wound. Our foreign policy spanning decades has brought this about. No, not all Muslims feel this way. Yet still it does not change the fact that there is no place in the world for killing in the name of your God.
As a relevant aside: I spent some time in a war zone building part of an installation a few years back in the ME. The local workers were very friendly, some even aspired of coming to America and becoming a U.S. citizen. One day, a very large truck bomb was driven to the gate of one of the compounds, it was one of the largest mushroom clouds I had ever seen. It killed a few Servicemen. When the news made it to the level of these same local members of the workforce, they were cheering and smiling. Draw what conclusions you will.
Or did that viewpoint make it easier to treat them as less than human ??
+1 Ben….Create the image to suit your agenda….
‘I spent some time in a war zone…in the ME’
I’ve never been in a ‘war zone’. I hope I never am in one. I can remember when there were no US soldiers in a ‘war zone.’ It wasn’t that long ago; now how many ‘war zones’ are there?
Somehow, this country managed just fine for a long time without being hip deep in war zones all over the world.
It’s not war, it’s defense.
(snark)
We used to have a War Department (with a small budget), now we have a Defense Department (with a huge budget).
Funny how that is.
Cuba?
Cambodia?
North Korea?
China?
The USSR?
Sudan?
Rwanda?
I am sensing a pattern here…
Not to pile on. Which country has killed more people in last 40 yrs?
there’s been only one country to use nuclear bombs on civilians. Guess which is it ??
Not my desire to be flippant about the death & destruction from the bomb’s but, so what….We were sneak attacked at Pearl with the intent to destroy the USA…How many died there without being able to defend themselves….How many lives were ripped apart defending ourselves…How close did we come to losing our home land, how many of us would have died on our own soil and all of us speaking Japanese…
Its war….We see what happens when you fight a limited war…Vietnam, Iraq, Afganistan…
This was from Pew research , yes Ben before Islam you had the Persian and Egyptian civilizations and many others. But the only time the Islamic world made any progress was when it deviated from Islam’s views as in did in during the 1100’s and 1200’s, borrowing from the Greeks, true Islam has been a force for conflict since its founding. It is a threat to Hindus, Christians, atheists and every other person who is not what is considered a true muslim.
This is from Pew research”
About eight-in-ten Muslims in Egypt and Pakistan (82% each) endorse the stoning of people who commit adultery; 70% of Muslims in Jordan and 56% of Nigerian Muslims share this view. Muslims in Pakistan and Egypt are also the most supportive of whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery; 82% in Pakistan and 77% in Egypt favor making this type of punishment the law in their countries, as do 65% of Muslims in Nigeria and 58% in Jordan.
When asked about the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion, at least three-quarters of Muslims in Jordan (86%), Egypt (84%) and Pakistan (76%) say they would favor making it the law; in Nigeria, 51% of Muslims favor and 46% oppose it. In contrast, Muslims in Lebanon, Turkey and Indonesia largely reject the notion that harsh punishments should be the law in their countries. About three-quarters of Turkish and Lebanese Muslims oppose the stoning of people who commit adultery (77% and 76%, respectively), as does a narrower majority (55%) of Muslims in Indonesia.
‘About eight-in-ten Muslims in Egypt and Pakistan endorse…’
What does this then justify? A war? Assassinations? Under international law and the US constitution, what actions are justified? And even if justified, how would those actions actually change peoples minds?
In China, the authorities forces women to have abortions. In South Africa, govt leaders think AIDS is a CIA invention. The consensual sex age in Japan is 13. Isn’t it interesting these things aren’t used to justify invasions, war and assassinations?
There’s more; there are religious groups in the US that practice polygamy. A US senator said women couldn’t get pregnant when raped. Several US supported dictators have murdered, tortured and denied basic liberties to millions of people for decades. There is a former US secretary of state who said the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children was ‘worth it.’ There are political groups in the US that created false ‘intelligence’, invaded Iraq, killing hundreds of thousands more innocent Iraqis.
What actions are justified by the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people? Can some nation act to bring those in the US responsible to justice? Can half a million US citizens be deemed ‘worth killing’ to get at US war criminals?
It shows their mind set. You cannot expect to reason with people that think people should be put to death for religion conversion. Sorry Ben but you are acting no different than the people that let Hitler come to power. It was the peace movement not the war mongers that caused ww II and all its suffering. If we could have supported a military coup in pre-world war Germany or even engaged in the assassination of Hitler and other leaders it would have been worth it.
Saddam Hussein had to be removed. His action of invading Kuwait and posing a danger to the region justified his removal. The economic sanctions were killing hundreds of thousands of people and his attacks on his own people were killing at least tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands.be called for removal. My problem with Bush II was his attempts to impose democracy. The only policy that makes sense in the Middle East is to be feared since we will never be loved unless we convert to Islam. If we would pulled out right after we captured Saddam we would have accomplished that mission.
“It shows their mind set. You cannot expect to reason with people that think people should be put to death for religion conversion.”
Or maybe it’s because we have bases, hardware, drones, etc. in their front yards?
Islam has been trying to conquer the world for a thousand years long before there was even a United States. They will continue until they are succeed or Islam is destroyed. The muslims were held down by the Pan Arab movement for a while with leaders such as Nasser, Hussein, Khadafy and Assad but you are really naive if you think it is U.S. policy that drives muslim fanatics.
‘They will continue until they are succeed or Islam is destroyed’
OK, I can see where you are coming from and it’s pointless discussing this with you. If you think the west is going to ‘destroy’ Islam, I’ve got some downtown Kabul property to sell you.
I will tell you some facts though; these people are here, they have way more children than the west, they aren’t going away. To many, their faith is the most important thing to them. You’d be better off if you learn to get along with them.
Have you had a look around the UK, France or the Netherlands laterly? Ask them how they are getting on?
Look at their words and look at their actions. Actions often reflect the true internal sentiment since words are easy and cheap. Both are important in teasing out the truth, but actions are more heavily weighted.
It could be simple tribalism and bigotry, fanned by the leaders, that are behind the demonstrations. Bigotry and tribalism are publicly acceptable there.
Here, they are taboo (see “political correctness”). But it doesn’t take much prodding to have the veneer fall away to reveal the same kind of bigotry and tribalism here.
They’re poor, they’re getting hammered by the cost of living, and their leaders are giving them a satisfying direction to vent their rage.
I don’t think Ron Paul’s point was that America placiating the Arabs would lead to attacks on America.
Ron Paul’s point was that America’s constant meddling in Arab affairs and waging war on them pisses them off to the point of attacks.
Yuppers…
I am not sure Ryan picked up on my subtle point. I should have said “placating barbarians” like placating barbarians.
I picked up on it. We are well beyond the point of using Ron Paul’s strategy. I wish that wasn’t the case. I wish we could magically snap our fingers and suddenly forget the nonsense that occurred in Iraq, the drone strikes, the secret prison, all of it. The die has been cast. Hell, you could look all the way back to the installation of the Shah of Iran or the creation of Israel if you wanted to in terms of Middle Eastern blowback. Unfortunately, the best we can do now is damage control and mitigation strategies.
Regardless, even Ron Paul would not stomach an open attack on Embassies and the murder of diplomats. Tolerance is important, I don’t question it but there are limits.
No one here is “stomaching” it, Ryan. We’re simply pointing out that it’s not unprovoked. And that there are obvious similarities in the diametric extremes which seem to evade the extremists.
“…placating the barbarians…”
Hogwash. The reason they are attacking us is because we are occupying their countries. Before 9/11/01, we also allowed them to roam freely inside our borders.
Stop playing policeman inside the Islamic countries, and keep playing policeman at home, and the opportunities and reasons for attacks will dwindle.
You know what happens if you tell an abusive person that they are, well abusive? Rage.
Hey, Patrick. Thanks for the info yesterday. Yes, I’m taking a train to London after the flight. The VIA ticket is MUCH cheaper with a few days advance purchase, so I didn’t want to just wait to buy it when I got there. An hour and a half seemed about right. Glad to get some reassurance that it should work. There is another train an hour later if I miss it. And while rush hour starts around 3 in DC, I’m assuming that Toronto (as more of a banking/finance place) is more like NYC and the rush hour starts a little later. Also, the ferry/shuttle evidently goes every 15 minutes now. Should help. The Porter ticket (with special summer sale code) was less than $300. Air Canada wanted around $1000, though it might have been cheaper if I had looked with more lead time.
By the way, everyone. I’m going on vacation next week, starting Monday. I might stop by on occasion, but not as much.
NP, Polly. Enjoy your stay in Canada.
(On Patrick’s behalf)
Have a nice trip. We will miss your input (even though we almost never agree).
“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people.”
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
May the Force be with you always.
psssssst …
http://thesecret.tv/
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
You do see the cynical irony in this, yes? If not, here’s a tip they should have given you back when you were about ten or so:
Pssssst, kid… God is just pretend.
ahansen,
Someday every knee will bow and every tongue will confess - - - -.
My only hope is that someday you will come to know this as well.
Lip
PS: Thanks for calling me a kid, kind of funny, but nice nonetheless.
Someday every knee will bow and every tongue will confess - - - -
And every Repub will be cast into the dark pit, for championing the powerful and trampling the weak.
“…every tongue will confess….”
If God dwells within us, I hope He likes enchiladas because that’s what He’s getting.
-Jack Handy
Florida Stripper Commits Food Stamp Fraud, Spends Thousands On Plastic Surgery
A former stripper and paralegal allegedly spent thousands of federal aid on such trivial pursuits as plastic surgery, car stereos, and custom paint jobs, according to the Daily Mail. While she was bringing home close to $85,000 from her gig as an exotic dancer, 28-year-old Brenda Charlestain was reportedly collecting quite a bit of money through the welfare program. It’s good to know that her vehicle’s bright pink paint job was acquired using taxpayer dollars.
Since Charlestain claims that a lot of the money she made during her time as a stripper were gifts from extremely generous male customers, she never thought to claim the money on her taxes. In fact, when she applied for federal assistance, Charlestain stated she was homeless and unemployed. To properly care for her five children, she told the government she needed a little help. Hence, the issuing of food stamps.
The Sun Sentinel reports that, instead of taking care of her kids, the former stripper spent the money she made from her day job on $10,000 worth of plastic surgery, over $1,000 on a car stereo, and a large chunk of change on the aforementioned paint job for her car.
For spending money that could have been given to someone who genuinely needed the help, Charlestain will now reportedly spent close to a year-and-a-half behind bars for the crime. In addition to turning herself over to authorities by November 30, the woman will also have to pay back the $24,000 she essentially stole from the state of Florida.
Adding a bizarre layer to the story are reports that Charlestain made threats against a federal employee after her priest explained that someone had placed a Voodoo curse on her husband. Oddly, the judge ruled in favor of the woman’s alibi, stating that, if you believe in Voodoo, then her actions make perfect sense. The priest should have warned Charlestain that defrauding Florida’s food stamp program would send her to jail for quite a while.
http://www.inquisitr.com/332057/florida-stripper-commits-food-stamp-fraud-spends-thousands-on-plastic-surgery/
Thanks for this story, UNK. I re-read it in The Sentinel and it brings up an interesting proposition.
It appears that food stamp fraud was just an add-on to charges of threatening a federal employee and procuring a firearm for her felon boyfriend. (Whom she believed had been voodoo “cursed” by said fed.) Whatever.
Five kids, trained as a paralegal but unable to find employment, she’s working as a stripper with a murderer for a boyfriend. Probably the only stability in this woman’s life is the $800 a month she’s getting to feed her kids for a couple of years. After bearing five of them, a boob job seems a mandatory expense for for someone who makes her living exposing them, and who cares what color she paints her wreck of a car? If generous patrons give her tips to pay for it, what does that cost taxpayers?
Now she’s going to cost us another $50K to imprison plus whatever we spent to investigate and prosecute her/have to spend to keep her five kids fed and out of trouble while she’s away, and “rehabilitate” her once she gets out– when she’ll no doubt go back on food stamps. At least before all this the family lived in a reasonably stable environment and the lady was marginally employed.
Since the headlines trumpet food stamp fraud, for the sake of argument let’s forget for a moment that we’re talking about the misguided girlfriend of a bona fide menace to society, and consider the following question:
When there aren’t enough jobs to go around, wouldn’t it just be cheaper to give unemployed/unemployable people food stamps (which after all, is a giveaway to Big Ag), tie eligibility to strict birth control measures, and cut the larger losses? At what point is this prosecution a “win” for the taxpayers?
Media Fiddle While Mideast Burns
The media immediately echoed Obama talking points and for days absurdly have made Romney’s statement the story, claiming that Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton aren’t responsible for what U.S. embassies say.
The truth is that the Middle East is now on fire, precisely because of a policy of appeasement toward Islamists exemplified by that embassy statement.
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/091412-625871-press-ignores-obama-foreign-policy-in-shambles.htm
The world is on fire because our adversaries can see that the Prez won’t do anything about it. He is weak, but he thinks he’s strong. He is foolish, but he thinks he’s wise. He thinks he’s ahead in the polls, but he’s believing polls that are skewed, he’s really behind.
Killing Bin Laden was appeasement?
Democrats BAAAAAAAAD!
Have you heard how many times, how many months it took for him to make a decision? He is not good at making them.
Then he finally does make a decision, it turns out the right decision, and he’s a hero. Hooray.
Democrats aren’t bad, this Prez is inept, and his ineptitude is making things worse. But that’s OK, lets give him 4 more years because, —– because, —- because why??? I really would like a rational explanation for this because IMO there is no reason at all.
Have you heard how many times, how many months it took for him to make a decision? He is not good at making them.
At least he did. His predecessor couldn’t do it.
We need 4 more years for more hope and change?
and because it is all Bush’s fault?
this Prez is inept,
You’re just repeating RNC spoon-fed lines.
lets give him 4 more years because, —– because, —- because why?
1. Because RMoney wants to double down on failed trickle-down economic policy.
2. Because the Republicans are hostile to women’s rights and science.
3. Because the Repubs might put another quasi-fascists on the SCOTUS.
4. Because Ryan’s budget “plan” hammers the poor and elderly.
5. Because RMoney is an international twit. (Mitt the Twit according to England)
6. Because the Republican party has been hi-jacked by the uncompromising extreme.
7. RMoney is a warmonger on Iran.
8. Because Ryan is a liar.
9. Because the Republican Party does not well represent the demographics of America.
10. Because Ryan’s plan will cut RMoney’s taxes to 1%.
11. Because RMoney’s energy plan invests nothing in alternative energy.
12. Because RMoney bet against the US dollar with a Swiss Bank account.
13. Because no president has ever had a Swiss Bank account.
14. Because RMoney made 250 million dollars by stripping companies of wealth and shipping jobs to China.
15. Because “Corporations are people folks!”.
I can go on……
Just who is in office right now? Who controls the power of the government?
But NOTHING is obama’s fault to the kool-aid drinkers…
———————————————–
Obama’s ‘proud’ statements on changing US image may backfire
The Hill | September 15, 2012 | Jeremy Herb
President Obama has said that elevating the image of the United States around the world was one of his proudest foreign policy accomplishments, but those remarks could boomerang and hamper his reelection bid.
The violence and anti-American protests throughout the Middle East are bringing fresh attacks on the president’s foreign policies as Muslim rage is intensifying in the region.
The protests that have spread could undercut one of the key tenants of Obama’s foreign policy argument that he has restored the U.S. image in the Middle East.
In February, Obama said, “One of the proudest things of my three years in office is helping to restore a sense of respect for America around the world, a belief that we are not just defined by the size of our military.”
Three years ago in Cairo, Obama stressed his leadership would be dramatically different than former President George W. Bush’s: “I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition.”
OMG - What an inept President. But keep defending him.
A gay man, ambassador Chris Stevens, is raped, slain, and dragged through the streets. His employer worries about his attackers’ feelings.
————————–
State Department sent gay man to be ambassador to Libya
HillBuzz | 09/14/2012 | Kevin DuJan
Of course, they’ve all been talking about Ambassador Stevens’ murder by Muslims in Libya: and all of them are incredulous that the State Department sent a gay man to be ambassador to a Muslim country. News reports continue to indicate that the Muslims who murdered Stevens also raped him repeatedly, before and after his death.
Obama sucks, but replacing him with Rmoney isn’t the answer.
But NOTHING is obama’s fault to the kool-aid drinkers…
Obama rocks! He’s the man! Go Obama. What I like about Obama is that he doesn’t do much wrong at all and that he’s Black. I’m glad a black man is our President!
I mean do you know how much more popular the USA is now in Brazil because Obama is black? It rocks. Now Brazil doesn’t think America is as racist anymore. And people don’t look at me mean because of Bush anymore. It’s cool! Go Obama!!
23 hrs ago | Posted by: Joe DeCaro
Kuwait: Muslims chant “Obama, we are all Osama”
Full story: http://www.jihadwatch.org
About 500 demonstrators gathered Thursday near the US embassy in Kuwait waving a black Al-Qaeda flag in protest at a film mocking Islam.
President Barack “Obama, we are all Osama,” they chanted referring to Al-Qaeda’s former leader Osama bin Laden who was killed by US forces last year …
“Obama, we are all Osama,” they chanted referring to Al-Qaeda’s former leader Osama bin Laden who was killed by US forces last year …
Yep. It sounds like the terrorists are pissed because they are being appeased by Obama.
“OMG - What an inept President. But keep defending him.
A gay man, ambassador Chris Stevens, is raped, slain, and dragged through the streets. His employer worries about his attackers’ feelings.”
How do you rape someone in a rocket attack? Makes no sense…sound an AWFUL lot like more Repugnican propaganda, too!
Doesn’t the Republican form of Christianity believe that lying is a sin?
“Obama sucks, but replacing him with Rmoney isn’t the answer.”
Comment by a close associate of mine on Romney’s candidacy:
“…because they are being appeased by Obama.”
How did the Retardican propagandists confuse killing Osama bin Laden with appeasement? Don’t these dolts even own dictionaries?
Op-Ed Columnist
The Foreign Relations Fumbler
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: September 15, 2012
DIPLOMACY is a minefield, and Mitt Romney spent the last week blowing up his foreign policy credentials to be president. He raised doubts about his capacity to deal with global crises, and we were left hoping that if that 3 a.m. call ever went to him, he’d have set up call forwarding.
The essential problem is that every time Romney touches foreign policy, he breaks things. He went on a friendly trip to Britain — the easiest possible test for a candidate, akin to rolling off a log — and endeared himself by questioning London’s readiness to host the Olympic Games. In the resulting firestorm, one newspaper, The Sun, denounced “Mitt the Twit.”
(Imagine a President Romney making a London trip and helpfully offering off-the-cuff advice on Northern Ireland, or breaking the ice in Parliament by telling jokes about Queen Elizabeth. The War of 1812 would resume, and the British would again be burning down the White House.)
…
So far, no credible news source has reported “rape” or “torture” of Ambassador Chris Stevens. The story apparently originated with an extreme anti-Islamist site in Lebanon, called “Tayyar” which in its first sentence of the story refers to Muslims as “scum”.
The AFP has sent out the following statement to the Washington Post:
Greetings, Concerning your query on the report published by a Lebanese website according to which ambassador Stevens was sodomized. That report falsely quoted our news agency and has no truth whatsover to it. AFP promptly sent a strongly worded complaint to that website and they removed the report and published a denial, saying that AFP did not report such a thing.
‘So far, no credible news source has reported “rape” or “torture” of Ambassador Chris Stevens. The story apparently originated with an extreme anti-Islamist site in Lebanon, called “Tayyar” which in its first sentence of the story refers to Muslims as “scum”.’
But did you notice how quick the HBB’s resident Republican propagandist, 2banana, was to recycle the story as though it was factual?
I thought lying was against the Christian religion, but thanks to the new breed of sanctimonious Republican propagandists, I stand corrected.
because, —- because why???
Because, because, the alternative is far worse…
Who controls the power of the government ??
Please explain 2fruit…Who controls it ??
The filibusterers in the Senate, actually.
“He is not good at making them.”
Why don’t you just put a link on the HBB to the Republican talk radio shows you so enjoy, so we can get the propaganda feed in undiluted form?
Inside Obama’s Decisions: From Libya To Lunch
by NPR Staff
Morning Edition
[6 min 43 sec]
September 11, 2012
To try to get a sense of what it really means to be the president of the United States, writer Michael Lewis spent six months in President Obama’s shadow. Lewis hoped to find out just what it’s like to be in the president’s shoes — down to something as simple as how he decides what to wear every day.
…
On the president’s powers
“At the center of the magazine piece is this decision whether or not to intercede in the Libyan revolution. It’s a moment when [then-leader Moammar] Gadhafi and his army are marching across the desert to exterminate a city full of Libyan rebels within a few days. And the president has to decide whether he’s going to do anything about it. Because if he doesn’t, nobody does.”
On making the decision to intervene in Libya
“He had been told that the French and the British were proposing to create a no-fly zone over Libya. His military people told Obama that a no-fly zone actually wouldn’t stop Gadhafi, because Gadhafi wasn’t flying. It was basically political cover — ‘Look, we’re doing something’ kind of thing. So he goes to a meeting and he’s presented with two options: One is do nothing at all, and the other is establish this no-fly zone, which he’s already figured out actually doesn’t do anything. So, what he does, to get an argument he’s not getting from the important people in the room, is he says to the junior people in the room, ‘Tell me what you think we should do.’ And several of those people around the room say, ‘We need to figure out a way to stop this slaughter.’ …
“And Obama turns to his generals and says, ‘Go back to the Pentagon. Come back with an option that actually prevents this slaughter.’ But you step back from this process and you think, here’s a president basically making a decision all by himself that his top advisers would not have him make. And the consequence is, you know, a hundred-thousand people in Libya are now alive who would have been dead. To me … it’s a breathtaking power. And it’s one that goes in this election season sort of hardly mentioned. Because in this case, except peripherally, it didn’t seem to affect Americans very much.”
…
The truth is that the Middle East is now on fire, precisely because of a policy of appeasement toward Islamists exemplified by that embassy statement.
There are at least 4 things that are totally wrong about that statement.
1. “precisely” (Really?)
2. “policy of appeasement toward Islamists” (Yea right!)
3. “exemplified by that embassy statement” (Say what?)
4. “The truth is” (In a pig’s eye)
Funny how Brazil doesn’t have our problems. I wonder why the Islamists aren’t trying to kill them?
I wonder why the Islamists aren’t trying to kill them ??
Or pretty much everyone else on the entire planet for that matter…
Brazil doesn’t have our problems. I wonder why the Islamists aren’t trying to kill them?
We both know many reasons why but for those that don’t know, Brazil spent more than a couple decades investing public money to become energy independent. Brazil put its public, national interest above its oil or any other industry. Brazil succeeded.
There are two important lessons the American right-wing can draw from Brazil but they won’t because the lessons conflict with their dogmatic programming.
Lesson 1:
The private sector alone is unable to bring an entire nation to energy independence. It requires decades of investing public tax money exploring many energy sources. Some will fail, some won’t.
Lesson 2: Becoming energy independent and not having to rely on the nut-ball Middle-East is a matter of NATIONAL SECURITY. And national security is an issue worth investing public tax money into and is in fact, in our charter “To provide for the common defense”.
The US is the world’s policeman and the sole remaining superpower. The biggest guy in the bar, and he’s got characteristics you don’t like at all.
Brazil? Sitting in a booth with some friends, sipping sodas.
“I wonder why the Islamists aren’t trying to kill them?”
The capitalists are first, then they turn on their progressive allies.
maybe obama can APOLOGIZE another time to the muslims…
yeah - that should work.
“That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn’t. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.” - obama
maybe obama can APOLOGIZE another time to the muslims…
Maybe the right-wing does not know what words mean (they’re ignorant?) or they know what words mean but they misuse them intentionally. (They lie?)
Factcheck.org to Romney: Stop saying Obama apologized to Middle East protesters
http://factcheck.org/2012/09/romney-gets-it-backward/
Mitt Romney claims the Obama administration issued an “apology for American values” after U.S. embassies were attacked. Not true.
….Romney has falsely accused Obama of “apologizing for America” many times before. The line has been a dependable applause-getter with conservative audiences. But we found no basis for this claim in Obama’s previous speeches and remarks. And other fact-checkers came to similar conclusions.
Maybe the left-wind doesn’t understand appeasement and apologizing doesn’t work in the middle east.
obama’s foriegn policy is a HUGE disaster.
But it is not obama’s fault. Actually, nothing is…
Obama said, “One of the proudest things of my three years in office is helping to restore a sense of respect for America around the world, a belief that we are not just defined by the size of our military.”
Obama said, “One of the proudest things of my three years in office is helping to restore a sense of respect for America around the world, a belief that we are not just defined by the size of our military.”
Obama is correct because Obama ROCKS! He’s the man! 4 more years! America is more respected now than when under Bush. Take my word for it! Or don’t.
International Business Execs Say Obama’s Better for World Economy
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/17/global-business-execs-obama-poll/
LONDON — Twice as many business executives around the world say the global economy will prosper better if incumbent President Barack Obama wins the next election than if his Republican challenger Mitt Romney does, a poll showed on Friday.
Democrat Obama was chosen by 42.7 percent in the 1,700 respondent poll, compared with 20.5 percent for Romney. The rest said “neither”.
Maybe the left-wind doesn’t understand appeasement and apologizing doesn’t work in the middle east.
You’re funny and you have it 180 degrees wrong. Al qaeda is urging on the protests because President Obama (Our President) has been cleaning the terrorist’s clock for three years. Killing them and kicking the terrorists A$$ for 3.5 years is not “appeasement”.
LOL. You need a new dictionary.
Missile strikes do not get actionable intelligence. Obama was found due to intelligence developed from prisoners. Also, We have lost Egypt and on the way to losing Libya to the Islamists. We are not kicking their butts under Obama we are losing.
“We are not kicking their butts….we are losing.” Matt Rhoades, Mitt Romney’s campaign manager, Sept 2012
Smart guy if he agrees with me. he gets bonus points if he said it prior to the attacks on the embassy.
“Obama was found due to intelligence developed from prisoners.”
That’s funny in many, many ways.
I don’t need fact-check to tell me what I heard with my own ears.
On Fox News.
Actually - I like this obama quote much better…
Obama said, “One of the proudest things of my three years in office is helping to restore a sense of respect for America around the world, a belief that we are not just defined by the size of our military.”
Actually - I like this obama quote much better ??
I do also….Basically its a apology to the world for the havoc that Bush & Cheney caused…
Me too nanerz. At least I don’t have to cringe when I show my passport anymore.
A majority of the world would be speaking German, Japanese or Russian if not for the United States. You should never feel like you have to cringe when you show your passport. Only the progressives reserve their national pride for times when the occupant of the white house is like minded.
There is a big,big,big difference between like and respect. People especially Americans seem to have a need to be liked. At my job I didn’t give a damned if they liked me but they damned well respected me both at work, across the country, and in the court room. One Pathologist told a close friend of mine “I don’t like that man but he is the best chemist/toxicologist I’ve ever known”; that is the best compliment a professional can be paid.
The foreign press plays on our obsession to be liked, the splinter groups trying to overthrow them our weakness brought about by our obsession.
People especially Americans seem to have a need to be liked.
Really? Have you seen many American tourists in foreign countries lately? American policy in the world?
As individuals, we are no worse than most but I would not say Americans go out of our way to be “liked”.
Monday, Sep 10, 2012 08:24 AM PDT
Why I left the GOP
I grew up in a rich, Republican household, but after Katrina and Iraq, I realized my priorities were out of order
By Jeremiah Goulka, TomDispatch.com
I used to be a serious Republican, moderate and business-oriented, who planned for a public-service career in Republican politics. But I am a Republican no longer.
There’s an old joke we Republicans used to tell that goes something like this: “If you’re young and not a Democrat, you’re heartless. If you grow up and you’re not a Republican, you’re stupid.” These days, my old friends and associates no doubt consider me the butt of that joke. But I look on my “stupidity” somewhat differently. After all, my real education only began when I was 30 years old.
This is the story of how in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and later in Iraq, I discovered that what I believed to be the full spectrum of reality was just a small slice of it and how that discovery knocked down my Republican worldview.
I always imagined that I was full of heart, but it turned out that I was oblivious. Like so many Republicans, I had assumed that society’s “losers” had somehow earned their deserts. As I came to recognize that poverty is not earned or chosen or deserved, and that our use of force is far less precise than I had believed, I realized with a shock that I had effectively viewed whole swaths of the country and the world as second-class people.
No longer oblivious, I couldn’t remain in today’s Republican Party, not unless I embraced an individualism that was even more heartless than the one I had previously accepted. The more I learned about reality, the more I started to care about people as people, and my values shifted. Had I always known what I know today, it would have been clear that there hasn’t been a place for me in the Republican Party since the Free Soil days of Abe Lincoln.
…
Well…he’s smarter than he used to be. Once he has his epiphany on the Ds as well, then his opinions should get really interesting.
deleveraging is a b@tch isnt it?
What deleveraging?
Household debt down a whopping $750B, or about 5% from peak. (and do not believe the “paying off” meme since write offs have been over $1.2T. We are still spending more than we earn, we’re just writing off bad debt at an even faster pace.)
Meanwhile, median income is down 8% when adjusted for inflation. Seems to me there is less left over to pay the debt.
5% is whopping huh? You’re truly a joke.
http://reason.org/UserFiles/Household_Debt_Deleveraging_Mixed_Chart.jpg
Read the whole post, then get your sarcasm detector replaced.
You are such a moron, you don’t even know when we’re making the same point.
You’re a con man darryl.
Ah, the joys of home ownership:
$1600 for washer/dryer/fridge
$200 for ceiling fans, switch boxes, switches, cover plates, etc.
$100 for new water shut off valve where it comes out of the meter box, 6 new under sink 1/4 turn shut offs, one of those a double for the…, 20 feet of 1/4 o/d brass tubing for ice maker/filtered water in door in new fridge, and various assorted couplings and elbows along with 5′ of 1/2 copper for redoing the PTCV on the water heater because the flex pipe there is not to code.
$25 for new shower valve parts to stop the drip, drip, and replace the hard water encrusted valve stem/collar/handle from the peviously untended to drip/drip/drip….
Security hinges so people can’t just pop the pins out of the laundry door and still my washer/dryer.
Coveralls, and a skinny day laborer to go into the crawl space to run the electrical for the ceiling fans.
An entire weekend spent at the new townhouse doing all this instead of plunked on a couch watching football?
What is the opposite of priceless?
at least your busy instead on sitting front of a tv vegetating like most people. Congrats on you new home.
Congrats on actually improving a home instead of sitting in front of computer talking about how you’re not going to buy one.
You don’t want to know what I’m spending.
Sample: my light fixtures alone will run into the thousands of dollars.
Meanwhile, my HBB banner advertisement is for Van Metre Homes “from the low 200’s to $1 million.” So what are they selling for the low 200’s? 900 sq ft condoze out past Dulles Airport (40 miles from the Washington Monument). 1-bed and a “den,” which is a bedroom with no window. In fact the entire condo has only two windows. These are the places that aren’t going to survive the sequestration cuts.
There won’t be any sequestration cuts. You’ll see
We just got back from looking at everything at the home big box store. We talked to the store mgr and he’ll discount a package deal for us. Consumer Reports is lite on Samsung Appliance reviews. We also looked at Whrilpool and LG. Any feedback from experience?
All docs signed by us and seller. COE 9/24.
Then the real work begins.
Oh, and we paid $67k less than the home we got into a bidding war on, went out at.
That home needed everything as well, but had a “wow” pool/spa yard. This home we’re closing on has a pool w/ yard entrance off the Mstr & FR as well, but minus the spa. This home is walking distance to parks & shopping. The other home was not close to shopping or parks. We’re HAPPY!
Enjoy your new home!
Does anybody have a current link to search the HBB database?
I used an old link and it wasn’t available.
http://www.southrustern.com/hbbcmt/index.cgi
Cool, thanks.
I self-reflect quite a bit through the archives. It’s interesting to see what was on our minds over the years.
Oh, and it looks like perhaps I’m not a fan of Florida… 7 years and going. Lol.
I also used it to look up the last time I had new tires put on my car
Thanx Mugz.
That’s odd, I just used the inksex link a few weeks ago and it was working. But you’re right, it looks like the owner is using it for his original purpose now. I don’t remember who owned it…and I would need it to be working to find out :-).
” don’t remember who owned it”
Lavi D (approximation)
Well, obama did RE-INFLATE the housing bubble.
So realtors, banks and wall street are much better off…
————————————–
Obama ad: We’re better off than in 2008
By David Jackson - USA TODAY September 15th, 2012
President Obama’s latest television ad seeks to answer Mitt Romney’s primary question: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?
The Obama campaign says yes, saying the economy has recovered from the “worst financial collapse since the Great Depression,” and has generated “30 months of private sector job growth, creating 4.6 million new jobs.”
Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said, “Americans are not better off since President Obama took office: 23 million Americans are struggling for work, our national debt has hit a record-breaking $16 trillion and more Americans are in poverty and on food stamps than ever before.”
Greetings HBBers from Utarrr (as Ollie would’ve said it), where things really are different.
Losty
Wassssssssssssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup
We want a report :-).
You aren’t lost any more now, are you?
BTW, my family drove through Vernal and other parts of Eastern Utah this summer. I was duly impressed with the amount of economic development that has occurred there over the last two decades, since my previous visit. I guess those high commodities prices haven’t hurt the economy in that part of the world?
YAY! Great day to come back, Losty. HUGE hug to you!
mwah
The Ambassador from ANY foreign country could not walk through Camden, NJ for more than 3 days and not be mugged. Who would we blame then?
This question is Racist®. Please proceed directly to Diversity Training and pick up your COEXIST sticker at the registration table. And make non tax deductible donation to Race Hustlers, Inc®.
You are severely underestimating the Islamists.
I’m back just in the nick of time.
Note to progressive islamist apologists:
They will kill you, they hate you, you are not dealing with rational people. They subjugate women and kill homosexuals, yet the progressives in this country, who rail against the war on women and homophobia, have formed some kind of sick alliance with radical Islam.
Please someone tell me why?
This question must be answered directly.
You want direct? Talk to the strawman in the mirror.
Answer the question. Why have progressives formed an alliance with Islamists? Come on, you know the answer, just say it.
“Naive Beliefs and Misplaced Fears”
I know it is off topic, but the response of the Islamic world to an amateur video certainly fits the description. These people behave almost as though the U.S. government sponsored, made, and endorsed the film.
Fury over Mohammad video simmers on in Muslim world
DUBAI | Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:40pm EDT
(Reuters) - A wave of furious anti-Western protests against a film mocking the Prophet Mohammad abated on Saturday, but U.S. policy in the Muslim world remained overshadowed by 13 minutes of amateurish video on the Internet.
Washington ordered family members and non-essential staff to leave the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, which was attacked on Friday, after Sudan turned down its request to send Marines to bolster security.
In addition, it pulled non-essential personnel out of its embassy in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, also attacked on Friday, and urged American citizens to leave the city.
Marine platoons have been sent to U.S. missions in Yemen and Libya since the unrest erupted.
Elsewhere, riot police stormed into Cairo’s Tahrir Square and rounded up hundreds of people after four days of clashes and demands from protesters for the U.S. ambassador to be expelled.
…
Romney, Republicans increase attacks on Obama
By Tom Cohen, CNN
updated 4:20 PM EDT, Fri September 14, 2012
Washington (CNN) — Republicans led by presidential challenger Mitt Romney served up a heaping helping of political red meat on Friday, launching a salvo of attacks on President Barack Obama that called him a liar and a failed leader.
Romney told an interview broadcast on ABC that his biggest concern about the three upcoming presidential debates is that Obama will be untruthful.
“The president tends to, how shall I say it, to say things that aren’t true,” Romney said, contemplating whether he would spend debate time “correcting things that aren’t quite accurate” or “talking about the things I want to talk about.”
In an already nasty and bitter campaign, Romney’s pre-emptive strike less than three weeks before the first debate on Oct. 3 signaled more personal attacks to come as the election campaign gallops toward the November vote.
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