Why Iowa shouldn’t matter:
- No. 1: Caucuses don’t even pick binding convention delegates
- No. 2: Winner’s raw vote total would fill 1/4 of an NFL stadium
- No. 3: Only 100k of state’s 3 million residents participate
- No. 4: Presidents Gephardt, Huckabee, Harkin, Robertson
- No. 5: Saying its worth is “winnowing” field like family dog eating table scraps
- No. 6: Winner gets maybe 6 unbound delegates out of more than 1,100 needed for nomination
- No. 7: Five times more hogs there than people
- No. 8: Ranks 30th in population, 22nd in obesity
- No. 9: At 96.14% Caucasian, whiter than a “Justin Bieber Christmas-in-Norway Special” (courtesy Will Durst)
- No. 10: After all this, 41% still can’t make up their minds?!?!
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249 Responses to Top Ten Reasons to Ignore Iowa
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+8jace: Sjwny, Great post and well said. As for myself I prefer a healthy dose of symbolism attached to all my protests. Perhaps a guillotine set up on the capital steps and the occasional tumbrel parked in the limo. spaces?
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Is this two in a row? On a work day no less. What the Hell. Woo hoo.
Reason #11. People who might actually win are not running.
Craig,
Your official Dumb Ass prediction seems about right to me. would love to see Newt and Perry way, way back in the pack.
Off to work. See you when the results come in.
Number one reason to pay attention
For us political junkies.
It is the only game in town, sure it is preseason stuff but at least we have moved on from the hotstove league sillyness and are more based in reality.
Jack
If Santorum wins after his “We should get rid of welfare because black people shouldn’t be entitled to other peoples money” KKK like rant, we’ll know something is up.
I have a question for those more politically astute than I. And dear Jamie tried on twitter but I’m about as thick as a brick. Obama is running unopposed, right? (Excluding delusional wingnuts). So are the Dems having caucuses (cauck-eye?) and primaries? And if they are, what the hell are they doing there? Does Obama have to show up or can he bank all that travel and ad expense and spend big time on the general? This is where polling is a little suspect — If I were asked those questions on the generic poll, I might in fact answer that I think the country is on the ‘wrong track.’ Or that I’m, say, ‘somewhat satisfied’ with Obama himself. But that doesn’t mean I’d park my vote with any of the occupants in the clown car in the republican circus. Pundits like to ‘read’ something into poll numbers, but truth be told, they’re paid for by some huge corporation or other, and the questions are always skewed. And there are so many polling companies now that most have a huge problem getting enough respondents to consent to doing surveys — and then their numbers are badly out of whack. Then there’s the problem with a huge basic difference between the parties. One believes that Government can make things better, the other thinks that Government is bad, and can only f**k up anything anyone wants to do. And then they go about trying to prove those two statements. Republicsns are better at that. They make Government a gridlock and then say, “see? We told you Government doesn’t work!”
The Santorum surge is believable. First note that 40% are undecided, suspect that more of those undecided are evangelicals than they are old time Republicans or libertarians. Even if the undecided were evenly drawn from the Republican population that still gives close to 20% for the evangelical candidate.
The way Rick Perry is attacking Santorum it is clear that Perry believes in the Santorum surge.
Jack
Craig… ROFL!
although I will admit that #9 could just as easily pertain in NH.
Tylenol… the primary here in NH is for both parties.
I can take a Democratic ballot if I so choose. There’s actually 14 candidates on the Democratic side… don’t have a clue who any of them are except for Obama.
The Republicans have 30 candidates on their ballot here.
Of course, you would have to ask who should go first instead and watch the other 49 states come up with lists like this about that state.
Renee, Christian Scientist “What Iowa Caucuses Mean To Democrats.”
Craig,
It looks as if Current is going on air with caucus coverage and “Politically Direct”. When will you be on?
No wonder these people don’t want anyone voting who has a complexion darker than light tan
Republican Contempt for Black Folks
Running upstream, two important reasons to pay attention to the Iowa caucuses :
1. Being the first contest, they are not influenced by the other primaries and caucuses.
2. Iowegians usually caucus for people they admire or agree with strongly, and are not strongly influenced by tv advertising hype.
3. Iowegians rarely choose candidates that Wall Street wants -- “Presidents Gephardt, Huckabee, Harkin, Robertson”. The Wall Street guys win the later contests.
Parenthetically, I could have gotten along extremely well with Presidents Gephart and Harkin.
Jamie,
By ‘light tan’, you must mean the one that ends in a v on the sternum. HAHAHA.
Jokes aside, it is my experience that Iowa is less racially antagonistic than Illinois, Wisconsin, Southern Ohio, Georgia, or Southern California -- places in which I have spent a good deal of time over the last 20 years.
Happy New Year -- I hope 2012 brings happiness to all.
As always, your assessment is spot on. I have a question -- will anyone ever know the total amount of $ pumped into Iowa? How much of it helps their economy?
My suspicion is that Iowegian puguglies will give 15 -- 20% each to 5 of the candidates, with two other candidates combined getting less than 10%.
This will mean that between 80 and 85% of Iowegian rippers don’t want each of the ‘major’ candidates. This outcome is surely related to the fact that rip up ideology has become both so stringent and narrow that the only differences between candidates are the incident of their past, the variations of personality, and the esthetics of appearance, voice, etc. This is another way of saying that the pug culture has become so universally imprinted upon the minds of card-carrying rippers -- and so ossified -- that the candidates are now interchangible. They have become a sort of gathering atop Lenin’s tomb: we know what every one of them thinks. What we don’t know is whether this one or that will have dissidents murdered, or merely renditioned to Guantanamo/Siberia.
Don’t we go to Iowa so that people can have pounded pork cutlets?
From the previous thread I don’t think Romney is afraid of Nudie coming back…more that Mittens is afraid of the voters in his own party who are religious bigots
I was rooting for Newtie Gingrich… Or maybe I should just call him the “Grinch”. Then there is also Santorum whom I gladly refer to as Sanitarium, where he belongs. There were 3 reasons why I don’t like Perry… He changes his opinion on abortion for political expediency. God told him it was his calling… and, uh, uh, uh, uh…. I forget.
I went to the same high school that Michele Bachmann graduated from: Anoka Senior High, a really cool school, but the only student political group were Republicans. I guess I should of guessed. Bachmann is nuts but she’s semi-interesting.
While many are losing their homes, Romney is having his mansion expanded while so many are suffering.
Ron Paul is too busy warning about race mingling and homosexuality. What a bore.
The only candidate I would even consider voting for, if I wasn’t voting DEM, would be Jon Huntsman. I like him!
Jamie, I signed up for a couple of hits in their 7-11pm special tonight
Trail Mix Fav
+5
If Ron Paul wins Iowa…like I said…all the mice will scurry about…..having an early win there and coming close at other early states….is how McCain did it….it will be fun just to watch…….
E T (eurotom) “come home”….prove your statement about Ron Paul saying any such things that you have accused him of
After reading this from someone that does know convinces me that after reading this…that the ones that keep up the bs about him are no better than the lowest dirt throwing republicans or on the same level with anyone at “fair and balanced” new stations…..R you fair and balanced?
Written By : Eric Dondero
Fmr. Senior Aide, US Cong. Ron Paul, 1997 – 2003
Campaign Coordinator, Ron Paul for Congress, 1995/96
National Organizer, Draft Ron Paul for President, 1991/92
Travel Aide/Personal Asst. Ron Paul, Libertarian for President
1987/88
I have been asked by various media the last few days for my comments, view of the current situation regarding my former boss Ron Paul, as he runs for the presidency on the Republican ticket.
I’ve noticed in some media that my words have been twisted and used for an agenda from both sides. And I wish to set the record straight with media that I trust and know will get the story right: conservative/libertarian-conservative bloggers.
Is Ron Paul a “racist.” In short, No. I worked for the man for 12 years, pretty consistently. I never heard a racist word expressed towards Blacks or Jews come out of his mouth. Not once. And understand, I was his close personal assistant. It’s safe to say that I was with him on the campaign trail more than any other individual, whether it be traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska or Boston, Massachusetts in the presidential race, or across the congressional district to San Antonio or Corpus Christi, Texas.
He has frequently hired blacks for his office staff, starting as early as 1988 for the Libertarian campaign. He has also hired many Hispanics, including his current District staffer Dianna Gilbert-Kile.
One caveat: He is what I would describe as “out of touch,” with both Hispanic and Black culture. Ron is far from being the hippest guy around. He is completely clueless when it comes to Hispanic and Black culture, particularly Mexican-American culture. And he is most certainly intolerant of Spanish and those who speak strictly Spanish in his presence, (as are a number of Americans, nothing out of the ordinary here.)
Is Ron Paul an Anti-Semite? Absolutely No. As a Jew, (half on my mother’s side), I can categorically say that I never heard anything out of his mouth, in hundreds of speeches I listened too over the years, or in my personal presence that could be called, “Anti-Semite.” No slurs. No derogatory remarks.
He is however, most certainly Anti-Israel, and Anti-Israeli in general. He wishes the Israeli state did not exist at all. He expressed this to me numerous times in our private conversations. His view is that Israel is more trouble than it is worth, specifically to the America taxpayer. He sides with the Palestinians, and supports their calls for the abolishment of the Jewish state, and the return of Israel, all of it, to the Arabs.
Again, American Jews, Ron Paul has no problem with. In fact, there were a few Jews in our congressional district, and Ron befriended them with the specific intent of winning their support for our campaign. (One synagogue in Victoria, and tiny one in Wharton headed by a well-known Jewish lawyer).
On the incident that’s being talked about in some blog media about the campaign manager directing me to a press conference of our opponent Lefty Morris in Victoria to push back on Anti-Jewish charges from the Morris campaign, yes, that did happen. The Victoria Advocate described the press conference very accurately. Yes, I was asked (not forced), to attend the conference dressed in a Jewish yarlmuke, and other Jewish adornments.
There was another incident when Ron finally agreed to a meeting with Houston Jewish Young Republicans at the Freeport office. He berated them, and even shouted at one point, over their un-flinching support for Israel. So, much so, that the 6 of them walked out of the office. I was left chasing them down the hallway apologizing for my boss.
Is Ron Paul a homo-phobe? Well, yes and no. He is not all bigoted towards homosexuals. He supports their rights to do whatever they please in their private lives. He is however, personally uncomfortable around homosexuals, no different from a lot of older folks of his era.
There were two incidents that I will cite, for the record. One that involved me directly, and another that involved another congressional staffer or two.
(I am revealing this for the very first time, and I’m sure Jim Peron will be quite surprised to learn this.)
In 1988, Ron had a hardcore Libertarian supporter, Jim Peron, Owner of Laissez Faire Books in San Francisco. Jim set up a magnificent 3-day campaign swing for us in the SF Bay Area. Jim was what you would call very openly Gay. But Ron thought the world of him. For 3 days we had a great time trouncing from one campaign event to another with Jim’s Gay lover. The atmosphere was simply jovial between the four of us. (As an aside we also met former Cong. Pete McCloskey during this campaign trip.) We used Jim’s home/office as a “base.” Ron pulled me aside the first time we went there, and specifically instructed me to find an excuse to excuse him to a local fast food restaurant so that he could use the bathroom. He told me very clearly, that although he liked Jim, he did not wish to use his bathroom facilities. I chided him a bit, but he sternly reacted, as he often did to me, Eric, just do what I say. Perhaps “sternly” is an understatement. Ron looked at me directly, and with a very angry look in his eye, and shouted under his breath: “Just do what I say NOW.”
The second incident involved one or two other staffers many years later at the BBQ in Surfside Beach. I was not in direct presence of the incident. But another top staffer, and I believe one of our secretaries, was witnessed to it. This top staffer adores Ron, but was extremely insulted by his behavior, I would even say flabbergasted to the point of considering resigning from his staff over it.
“Bobby,” a well-known and rather flamboyant and well-liked gay man in Freeport came to the BBQ. Let me stress Ron likes Bobby personally, and Bobby was a hardcore campaign supporter. But after his speech, at the Surfside pavilion Bobby came up to Ron with his hand extended, and according to my fellow staffer, Ron literally swatted his hand away.
Again, let me stress. I would not categorize that as “homo-phobic,” but rather just unsettled by being around gays personally. Ron, like many folks his age, very much supports toleration, but chooses not to be around gays on a personal level. It’s a personal choice. And though, it may seem offensive to some, he has every right in my mind to feel and act that way.
Finally, let me make a couple observations. The liberal media is ferociously attacking Ron this morning, on everything from the Newsletters to his various PACs. I’m amused at how off-base they all are. If they are looking for something that went un-explained after many years, it’s the Nadia Hayes incident from the end of the presidential campaign in 1988. I personally am still a little ticked off by this, and surprised that nobody has ever followed up on it. In brief, Nadia was Ron’s longtime business/campaign manager in the 1980s. On the very last day of the presidential campaign, attorneys, accountants, and even Nassau Bay police dept. investigation officials stormed into our campaign office, sealed everything off, rushed us campaign staffers into the storeroom (literally), and for hours on end ruffled through the entire campaign records, file cabinets, and other papers.
Lew Rockwell and Burton Blumert were there too. We were greatly surprised by this. Nadia was eventually convicted of embezzlement and went to jail for 6 months, plus had to pay $140,000 in restitution to Ron.
There were rumors at the time, and long thereafter, that Lew and Burt had pinned it all on Nadia, and that they had their own reasons for the “coup.” For years afterwards, Rockwell, and Blumert had complete control of Ron’s enterprises through Jean McIver and (former JBS/Jesse Helms fundraiser) David “James” Mertz of northern Virginia.
It was easy to pin it all on Nadia. She lived extravagantly, and her husband who owned a boat repair business in Clear Lake, had recently had some serious financial problems.
Nadia never resurfaced, and was never heard from again.
I will attest, that when campaign consultant Tony Payton died of heart failure, in 2002 I believe, I specifically asked Ron if I could look Nadia up, and contact her to let her know that her longtime friend had died, and he reacted sternly to me, expressing that he did not want me to do that, and if I did, there would be serious consequences. I was shocked. And this was one of the reasons I eventually left his staff.
On one other matter, I’d like to express in the strongest terms possible, that the liberal media are focusing in on entirely the wrong aspects regarding controversies on Ron Paul.
It’s his foreign policy that’s the problem; not so much some stupid and whacky things on race and gays he may have said or written in the past.
Ron Paul is most assuredly an isolationist. He denies this charge vociferously. But I can tell you straight out, I had countless arguments/discussions with him over his personal views. For example, he strenuously does not believe the United States had any business getting involved in fighting Hitler in WWII. He expressed to me countless times, that “saving the Jews,” was absolutely none of our business. When pressed, he often times brings up conspiracy theories like FDR knew about the attacks of Pearl Harbor weeks before hand, or that WWII was just “blowback,” for Woodrow Wilson’s foreign policy errors, and such.
I would challenge him, like for example, what about the instances of German U-boats attacking U.S. ships, or even landing on the coast of North Carolina or Long Island, NY. He’d finally concede that that and only that was reason enough to counter-attack against the Nazis, not any humanitarian causes like preventing the Holocaust.
There is much more information I could give you on the sheer lunacy of his foreign policy views. Let me just concentrate on one in specific. And I will state this with absolute certainty:
Ron Paul was opposed to the War in Afghanistan, and to any military reaction to the attacks of 9/11.
He did not want to vote for the resolution. He immediately stated to us staffers, me in particular, that Bush/Cheney were going to use the attacks as a precursor for “invading” Iraq. He engaged in conspiracy theories including perhaps the attacks were coordinated with the CIA, and that the Bush administration might have known about the attacks ahead of time. He expressed no sympathies whatsoever for those who died on 9/11, and pretty much forbade us staffers from engaging in any sort of memorial expressions, or openly asserting pro-military statements in support of the Bush administration.
On the eve of the vote, Ron Paul was still telling us staffers that he was planning to vote “No,” on the resolution, and to be prepared for a seriously negative reaction in the District. Jackie Gloor and I, along with quiet nods of agreement from the other staffers in the District, declared our intentions to Tom Lizardo, our Chief of Staff, and to each other, that if Ron voted No, we would immediately resign.
Ron was “under the spell” of left-anarchist and Lew Rockwell associate Joe Becker at the time, who was our legislative director. Norm Singleton, another Lew Rockwell fanatic agreed with Joe. All other staffers were against Ron, Joe and Norm on this, including Lizardo. At the very last minute Ron switched his stance and voted “Yay,” much to the great relief of Jackie and I. He never explained why, but I strongly suspected that he realized it would have been political suicide; that staunchly conservative Victoria would revolt, and the Republicans there would ensure that he would not receive the nomination for the seat in 2002. Also, as much as I like to think that it was my yelling and screaming at Ron, that I would publicly resign if he voted “No,” I suspect it had a lot more to do with Jackie’s threat, for she WAS Victoria. And if Jackie bolted, all of the Victoria conservatives would immediately turn on Ron, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
If you take anything from this lengthy statement, I would hope that it is this final story about the Afghanistan vote, that the liberal media chooses to completely ignore, because it doesn’t fit their template, is what you will report.
If Ron Paul should be slammed for anything, it’s not some silly remarks he’s made in the past in his Newsletters. It’s over his simply outrageously horrendous views on foreign policy, Israel, and national security for the United States. His near No vote on Afghanistan. That is the big scandal. And that is what should be given 100 times more attention from the liberal media, than this Newsletter deal.
_from rightnews.com
When analyzing the Iowa results, it’s probably a good idea to remember what native Meredith Wilson had to say about the place.
Rick Santorum is endorsed by Glenn Beck
one is known by the company one keeps
KGC totally irrelevant to the caucus vote tonight. And Santorum is not going to win the Republican nomination, that would be Romney, }:-)
Jack
Solar… Diablito…
Jeeeeesuuuuuuus…. now I have scroller’s cramp in my right index finger…
ps… was that a post or a book…
1. Iowa is merely Vermont with two coasts instead of one.
2. Jamie’s Q gets to the heart of this quibble over Iowa. If not Iowa, then who ? Westport, Connecticut ?
3. Four swing states pick the president. Reading from left to right they are : Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. The other states, even California, Texas, and New York, are irrelevant.
4. a. It makes no sense to anyone other than advert firms and tv/radio stations to waste money on other states. If we force these, the only relevant states, to select the nominees, we could save money, time, and effort. In fact, we might as well leave the general election up to these 4 states also. Start the campaign on the 4th of July. Have the crucial states select the nominee on Labor Day, and have the entire cockamamie business done in 4 months.
4. b. Therefore, if we are to denigrate the IA Caucuses, we may as well go all the way in correcting matters by instituting my patented 4 State Nomination and Election Solution.
Renee,
Don’t say Diablito and Jeeeeeeeesuuuuuuuus at the same time…..made me look over my shoulder, still a ghost of him from my (recovering catholic) earlier life….
Oh read the damn thing……that is the last time that I post that long…unless i wrote it myself…..and don’t you like to read books…..
Plus I posted it knowing that some people would not even look at it….im used to that….but then they should not talk b s….there is plenty to say about him……but take a point that he has made and refute it, or forever hold your pistolas…….
Ps….tanks for the hugs…back at U…oh poor rick, rick could not go skiing………..
Place your bets NOW!
Yes, folks its time to participate in Iowa’s great quadrennial game of chance.
For your edification and pleasure, here are some of the more intriguing proposition bets for tonight’s festivities.
Easy money at 2:1 — The groundhog sees his shadow and the Republican nomination process continues for 10 more weeks of increasingly nasty knife-fighting.
Even money — I’m setting the over/under line on Republican caucus turnout at 125,000.
Iowa Republican Chair Matt Strawn has been boasting about increased Republican registration and how organized all the campaigns are for tonight’s contest.
[Folks, I'm taking the under, betting that Mitt's middle isn't passionate enough to turn out.]
D turnout exceeds R 4:1 — Despite activists’ urgent needs to pass hortatory resolutions on Keystone Pipeline and Iran, there’s absolutely no reason for the Democrats to leave the Sugar Bowl in their nice cozy living rooms and go caucus. Yet, the Obama campaign has been touting how well organized they are?
Parlay bet of a lifetime 13:1 — Take the under on the Republicans and the over on Democrats turning out in greater numbers. Pundit alert: If this occurs, the chattering class will wax grandeloquent predicting that Obama will win Iowa and swing states in November.
Off the Board: Candidates individually and collectively announcing that they exceeded expectations--even Michelle Bachmann.
When it comes to money, you need to look at surrounding states for “bleeding” of the message. Iowa is a great deal cheaper in advertising costs, but the Illinois market can see a great deal of Iowa advertising. The same holds for North Carolina/Virginia and New Hampshire/Massachusetts.
These campaigns need to put their money where it will have the most reach. Of course the Internet is now creating it’s own level of reach where the biggest cites are free to access and the more news you make there, the more you reach younger people.
Solarman… yeah I read books… but always of my own choosing… hell.. most of my life is of my own choosing… that’s why I live in the Live Free or Die state…
ps… your penance for crampin’ my finger is 3 Hail Marys and 5 Our Fathers…
pss… rick rick went skiing yesterday with his brother dan dan… it was manmade snow, but they stayed all day and said it was great.
Ditto to xrep’s comments, adding only that for something that should be “ignored,” a heckuva lotta money has been spent by candidates to get 100k folks to caucus for them.
The most important thing to come out of this may rest in how many indies Ron Paul has been able to get to register as Republican so they can caucus for him. Ron Paul running as a 3rd-party candidate is the GOP’s worst nightmare. If gets any play out of Iowa and then goes that route, Iowa will be shown to have had great importance by dint of ultimately helping Obama.
So, Newt & Santorum cried and that was OK, but when Hillary did it…yes, I’m still on a puma rant.
Drink suggestions for tonights watch party
It goes well with those little wienies in bbq sauce
Jack
Apparently we’ve just downgraded into posting complete articles by political hacks and attacking those who express simply their own opinion about political candidates. I am so NOT INTERESTED.
Not sure if this will work: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2977893053323&set=a.1068884129293.12743.1441770734&type=3&theater
Iowa doesn’t matter ? But every major news outlet , blogger , political pundit, and anyone with an opinion has been focused on iowa 24/7 for months ,
Seems like a contradiction .
Abc , NBC , CNN , msnbc , CBS ,
All spend time and money to set up shop in Iowa ,
Morning shows , special reports , reporters on the ground , all to cover a non- event .
Well’ hell they must be dense or something ,
Maybe the truth is they don’t matter so much
I left out fox didn’t I ! Well them too
The last 60 days on the North Sea , have been pretty amazing. This is the fourth storm to hit Scotland in the last 30 days, with winds of 100 mph or greater. Dec. 8th saw gusts to 165 mph. As they roll Northeast they smack into Norway, which had 120 mph winds over Christmas.
As the extra heat builds in the oceans and then streams northward in the form of water vapor every fall & winter, insurance on the North Sea is going to get pricey. What one needs to understand about the changes we’re seeing is this :
Heat seeks cold, that simple rule drives the water cycle. And water being vaporized in warmer latitudes goes looking for a colder spot to release the heat it picked up during the vaporization . As the water vapor heat exchange grows, the violence in the release of this heat does as well. Over Oklahoma it does it at 60,000 feet, making 6 inch diameter hail stones , on the coast of Norway it makes 98 foot waves. In Thailand it’s raining 25 inches in 72 hours.
The scary part is there’s no real upper limit on how violent all this can get.
ET,
After quite some time now, and researching (did not know much about Dr. Paul before) the information…no make that the misinformation that we all complain that is done so much in the none-news channels…there has been a lot of the same going on here at the trail…and it has been sort of fun for me to find out the truths….but also a liking for much of what Dr. Paul talks about. He has been right on 90% of the time….that is 90 % more than that phoney Democrat (his actions…..all of them prove that he is an Republican to everyone now)that is in the white house right now.!!!
The reason that i site this “clown” is that he was with Dr. Paul for some time…has no reason to lie whatsoever….and also takes a swipe at him, on his foreign policy, that I agree with. He is not attacking any democrat….so relax…he is just correcting all of the bs about Paul..here are the dates that make him qualified to make those corrections:
Fmr. Senior Aide, US Cong. Ron Paul, 1997 – 2003
Campaign Coordinator, Ron Paul for Congress, 1995/96
National Organizer, Draft Ron Paul for President, 1991/92
Travel Aide/Personal Asst. Ron Paul, Libertarian for President
1987/88
Dondero turned into a rabid Islamaphobe after 9/11
He was gung ho for the Iraqi war and any other opportunity to kill a Muslim , so Ron Paul fired his ass , he’s still pissed off
Paradigm shift for insurance
Thailand seen as risky by global reinsurers
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/273588/paradigm-shift-for-insurance
Solar
The point wasn’t that you referenced him but that you posted every word he seems to have said since perpetuity. A link and your commentary is sufficient. Several people on the board only have dial up and these threads get long enough and take a while to load as it is even for us speed demons.
Solar,
Yep, i posted that bit the other day! Its just how Paul acted in Borat the Movie..I’d say Paul needs to come into the 21 century regarding gays. Wants to be President but is afraid to share a bathroom with a gay…Again, his homophobia isn’t a bad thing to have in the Republican Party..I know, i know, he just likes his gays…
Solar ,I know you were just trying to set the record straight , some people would just rather parrot the mainstream media , when it coincides with their already strong preconceived beliefs . Lots easier than doing you’re own research and coming to you’re own conclusions
“The point wasn’t that you referenced him but that you posted every word he seems to have said since perpetuity.”
You can look at it another way: by my posting all of that…I will bookmark the link…and all anyone has to do in the future when (this was the point) he is maligned (which is often the point)…is to link to that long post, that has all the info that anyone could want…like a wiki post…plus I just said that I would not do that again….that is to mean that i know what you said, …but thanks…….
Hey Solar,
Old man winter is blowing cold my way today. 54 degrees is not very Florida like…lol
Tony,
Im on your side…but he just doesn’t qualify as an Homophobic to me…it was explained…pretty stupid of him…if you ask me….but I have known many people that feel the same way…very nice people with a stupid notion of others…I would try to educate them…if they were friends…or if they would listen…
First thing I would say to anyone: why the fk would anyone chose to be GAy, or Lesbian…it would be like admitting that you are a witch…in the time that they were burned at the stake….but I do get what you say….
What I would be bothered about is he being a fk doctor and not being comfortable around gays…he knows biology better than most….he is just a victim of his times….
ps….having some wonderfull weather here now…..want some…that will stop you from being so gay…..no not thata way….happy about your weather…..later ive used all my bandwith for a while…..
Santorum Surge and Alan Colmes’ Callousness
by Taylor Marsh
Tony Baloney….ahhahahahaaaa we both posted at the same time….that cold wind up the pant leg is coming pal……….
Solar,
Ha ha, you funny..So glad you use bandwidth cause i enjoy reading you! The very fact RP or others are afraid of sharing a bathroom/shower with a gay qualifies in my gay book as homophobic..I get it and see how straight people could see that differently but if your gay you would feel singled out because of your sexuality..Of course that’s just my opinion and thankfully were all entitled to them..
Haha, yep i feel it buddy! Oh god, my poor flowers..I must get in the attic and look for my covering blankets, ugh, life..
Ooops, MQW, thanks……
Tony,
Flowers in the Attic….big taboo…later
Solar, re the dondero article :
ron paul strenuously and repeatedly asserts that the US should not have “gone to war against Hitler to save the Jews”, despite the fact that the reich had been torpedoing American ships for a year, and on December 10, 1941 declared war on us. What an incredibly stupid bigot paul must be. I repeat : the US didn’t begin to make war on germany until AFTER the germans declared war on the US !
A fellow may make a mistake like this once, but upon being informed of the facts, his failure to correct his view is a sign of something very wrong. To say repeatedly that we made war against germany to save Jews is obstinate, willful, ignorance. This accusation (after all, it is an accusation) against FDR, the US Congress, and the American people, white-washes german aggression, and is complicit with nazi and neo-nazi propaganda that claims german attacks and murders were entirely defensive. This accusation is part of the complex that goebbels called ‘The Big Lie” : that the invasion of Czechoslovakia was to protect german nationals from Czech oppression; that the invasion of Poland was a defense against of “Polish aggression”; that the war with Britain was the work of the Bank of England and Winston Churchill; that the attack on russia was to prevented russia from attacking an unprepared germany, and finally, that the war with the US was to defend Jews. All this is a fabric of guile, composed entirely of lies, woven to disinform credulous people and those who are predisposed to blaming any of the victims.
Setting aside the “Jewish problem”, how does paul feel about the german genocide against Gypsies ? Would America be unjustified in opposing that too ?
Where does responsibility for the well-being of our fellow humans end ? Clearly paul draws the line at our national boundary, but what if it were Oklahomans committing genocide against Choctaws ? Using paul’s ‘logic’ would either Texas or the USA have any say in the matter ? Do paul’s ‘rights’ also apply within state boundaries ? Does the state, county, or city even have a right to prevent murder on private property ?
http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/03/the-trouble-with-my-uncle-rick-santorum/
In short, I believe dondero misses the point that paul blames Jews, FDR, Congress, and the American people for our participation in the war against germany.
Xrep , you got that on video , a recording , a transcript , ?
No matter what Republican you pick they all have hate speech in their histories and a few like Santorum are still spouting racist nonsense
Personally I think Paul is the ultimate Republican -- the others all play favorites for money or power he applies his ridiculous idea of government equally.
The story about how he provided medical care for free is sweet but I don’t think very accurate and he needs to be addressing the AMA and Big Pharma because he IS the only medical professional doing that…I don’t think his son does
XR,
Yes I would say that would be a concern…since I sited that clown….than im going to live with it.!! Paul does has had some pretty shitty opinions…..Obama didn’t just sleep in the pew for 20 yrs either….if by some miracle Paul was to be the one to run against Obama….would people chose to forgive him like they did Obama…me I don’t know that was pretty fk hateful…I do agree about them not being given Israel after they suffered the horrors of the Holocaust..they refuse other places…i don’t agree…b/c of religion(to me) they were given it by the UN, England, The French fries,and the US as in us the worlds keeper….
mqw,
Read dondera’s stupid article.
“he needs to be addressing the AMA and Big Pharma because he IS the only medical professional doing that…I don’t think his son does”
BINGO.!!! thats the way its done…not the bs stuff…I would like to hear this also…..
What I meant was that Obama didn’t just sleep in the church pew, while his hearing racist rants over and over again, and was personal freinds with his Preacher.!!!
ETom… hey… Hi!
I know I chided Solar on the length of his post… but let me defend him for a second. It is primary season and once again many here will passionately defend their cherished candidate.
Solar is just a crazy passionate Ron Paul supporter. Four years ago this place was humming with crazy passionate Hillary and Obama supporters. Same thing… just a different party this time around.
ok Solar… don’t let this go to your head… don’t make me go out there and give you a what for…
XR,
Last one….Also posted that whole article to show the good, bad, and the ugly about Dr. Paul that you talked about. I didn’t want to favor just the good…..but thanks…like Jace the Ace likes to say “good on U”
Solar,
I don’t know the statements oh,bummer made prior to his ’08 campaign, to which you refer. Please help.
Solar,
I was late to see your 3:43 post. Thanks for the clairification. Agreed.
Thanks MOMMY.!!!
Im not a crazy Paul supporter….as much as Im trying to keep it honest…we can attack him for the things that he said..but not for what he hasn’t said…that would make the Trail…..like any other blog….we gotts to keep it on the up and up no? Oh and if you weave my a hat(didn’t get it yet, or did Santa keep it for his big head)….make it a big 10 galin one huh?
RR,
My comment wasn’t meant to attack Solar, but to attack wrong pol and his idjit former servant dondera. Just so you know.
Breaking news Xrep eats cute little puppy dogs , says they are delicious , goes good with gravy and rice ,
It’s true I swear , must be, I said it
“Breaking news Xrep eats cute little puppy dogs , says they are delicious , goes good with gravy and rice ,
It’s true I swear , must be, I said it”
Told U’s that he didn’t go fishing….he went hunting mans bests friend….there U go ….Jace…thats my story and im glued to it…..
XR,
New Years Eve (early, before it got crazy outside)…I went to Ninos a hunting……….froze what we didn’t eat for another time….want some?
The core of paul’s comments on WWII in his newsletter, and in interviews with Jewish rip up organizations and dondera, is that the US went to war to rescue Europe’s Jewry. That repeated dysinformation takes the responsibility for our attacks on germany off of Hitler, the nazi party, the german navy, and the german people. In fact, the USA only declared war on germany after germany declared war on the USA.
If paul were a man with integrity, he would admit his error, rather that repeating the lie. I can only conclude that paul is not a man of integrity.
Imagine a pol running for office claiming that the War in the Pacific was about FDR wanting to rescue the Melanesians.
Thanks, Solar.
I can’t eat cheese anymore, dammit. However, Ninos used to make a good Italian beef sandwich. Did you freeze one of those ? How about a beersickle ? HAHAHA
Today, it’s colder down here in Ft. Lauderdale than nude grinch’s heart. I guess I’ll pass on cold food. Nice of you to ask, tho’.
I gotta go find an alligator to cook for tonight.
Seeya round.
Yes the newsletters , four news letters published over a ten year period , thats thousands of pages of newsletters and no one can come up with but four paragraphs cherry picked from three issues that are offensive , there should be a treasure trove of offensive material to choose from , where is it at ? You know if there was more they would come out with it
Dr Paul said he did not write those specific articles, He did write and periodically contributed articles , He
Accepted responsibility for them , and admitted it was negligent on his part , what would you have him do ?
Well, when you and your wife puts out newsletters that cater militia types. You have to write what sells.
Jack
Again Santorum is another loser gooper trying to boost his speaker fees by running for president
Santorum’s problems are he’s a loon but not a sleazy one.
Maybe he can get the Duggar’s to campaign for him
Every story I see about the newsletters say
“TEN Years of racist newsletter”but then qoute the same offensive four paragraphs over and over , the same ones ,from three articles ‘ if there is ten years of offensive newsletters why repeat the same four paragraphs over again ?
It was a mistake for dr Paul to let it go out under his name , he has said that many many times ,
Its not new news , it’s come up time and time again since 96
Xrep… yeah… but… at least you won’t be shoveling any snow in Florida.
Jack… Mr. and Mrs. Paul also wrote a cookbook. I think I saw a recipe in it for puppies with gravy and rice…
Renee
One of the most amazing things about our current political process is that Ron Paul ,as Ron Paul and associates can publish these news letters directed toward militia groups and he is one of the heavy hitters in the Republican party,
And the truly most amazing thing is given that, the Republicans are kicking the Democrats butts. Now how pathetic does that make the Democrats?
Jack
MQW
Then all Ron Paul has to do is show the other 1200 or so news letters to prove it was not business as usual.
Jack
Both parties are really pathetic. All joking aside.
I can understand how 41% of Iowans hadn’t made up their minds on who to support as of this morning. I haven’t made up my mind yet on whether I’m taking a Republican or Democratic ballot or which candidate to vote for next week.
All the candidates are bought and paid for by corporate interests… except for 2. One of which, doesn’t have a prayer’s chance in hell… and the other who lives in some fantasy land.
I will vote… for me it is important to vote after being an elected official of the voting process for many years. But as of right now… I can’t decide for whom. And that thought frustrates the hell out of me.
Trail Mix Fav
+5
The eleventh reason to ignore Iowa:
IT’S IOWA.
That doesn’t make sense jack , there in some archives some where ,Kansas city I think , I’ll have to go back and check
Maybe you can read them and get back with us
And of course the only thing that the media will concentrate on from now on is who is winning the proverbial horserace…. which candidate will get a start at sitting at the head of the table of the funding raising feast tonight.
Meanwhile all our problems and possible solutions will have to sit on the back burner. Afterall… we have an election going on… and what could possibly be more important that who’s ahead in the polls.
It makes a person want to get drunk just to have to not think about it… hey, KCG, please pass the wine.
Obama is going to ask to raise the debt ceiling another trillion ,
I don’t know , doesn’t look to be a ceiling on the debt, wonder how much is enough ,
A trillion gazillion ought to do it
I’ll be on Current TV’s election broadcast tonight somewhere in the 8-845p zone with Al Gore, Jennifer Granholm and host Cenk Uygur — Find your channel
Current has a live chat for the coverage in case anyone would like to get on and compliment the Grateful Dead tie i plan to wear — http://bit.ly/sGAxZg
Santorum V Romney for Nomination
There is only one candidate in the GOP presidential primary field who has consistently garnered a strong majority of the vote in state and national polls and that is ‘Non Rom’. Of course the Non Rom vote is divided among a half dozen candidates (with the exception of Ron Paul who is just as mired at 12% as Romney is at 25%) but it is really just one voting block searching for the right candidate to bless with their 60% support, as has been proven by the fact that the total Non Rom vote has stayed almost identical as one leader after another rises and falls. But this might not go on forever and Romney is far more vulnerable than he appears.
If the Non Rom options were all viable candidates, then Romney would win with his quarter of support as he watched the dirty half dozen fight for the table scraps, but they’re not. Every single Non Rom candidate have disqualified themselves through scandal or incompetence or duplicity, except one. That is Rick Santorum.
I didn’t see this Santorum opening coming and I have to admit up front, I would die for President Obama, my vote is a done deal for him. But as a Liberal born and raised and still ensconced in the Deeeep South, I know for a fact that Santorum has managed to situate himself in the center of Conservative Consciousness and I mean Tea Party People. They like him fine and yet, he’s not nearly as crazy as the rest of the candies and he seems to be a literal ‘zero baggage’ honest guy like President Obama, though they are polar opposites on many subjects, they really have a lot in common in demeanor.
So Santorum is the obvious ‘Coalesce Around’ guy left standing V Romney. If he finishes 2nd to Romney in Iowa then he will finish 2nd to Romney in NH. At that point it would almost inevitably come down to Romney V Santorum and I think Santorum would, and should win.
http://thedixiedove.com/
Santorum yikes! A throw-back to less enlightened times.
I can see a Mittens Santorum ticket and that is pretty darn scary
I did the instant sign in Craig, so I’ll be there when not making spaghetti for the men in the family.
Have fun, haven’t turned the TV on in 3 weeks and when I do the cable is screwed up, Wish there was some way to stream you on line.
Jack
Something about Iowa tonight -
The ethanol tax credits have gone away , Listen for the crickets on this topic.
Loved the purple shirt but you may have been overdressed for the “Young Turks” (all of whom are too old to be called young).
John Prine sez :
hey Craig…
Rick says… really nice appearance…
I say… really nice tie…
CBob
Gotta love Brother John Prine.
Here you go Jack, CURRENT..
http://livetvcafe.net/video/DH4B26MAM49N/Current-TV
http://tvpc.com/Channel.php?ChannelID=5333
This may be the sanest political blog on the planet. When the politicians and pundits get too intense, start playing John Prine.
Middle Aged Turks ?
The most amazing thing about the Iowa Caucuses is that it proves for once and for all that there really can be a winner and a loser in a clusterfuck.
RR
Rick quoting Foghorn Leghorn?
Jamie -
Good Buddy Holly Ave. trip today . (Insert smiley face here)
As Iowans gather tonight, let us remember the Greeks gathering on a field that we can walk on today. One wonders about their rules and paperwork.
CBob
I have guitar picks in my ears. Had to rescue one pair from the kitten. He was very proud of catching and slaying the great yellow beast and paraded around until I praised him for his hunting ability.
I would remind everyone here, that democracy & jury trials were not invented by Christians.
These are purely pagan thinking.
One thing I do like about the Caucus is counting individual pieces of paper with observers watching the tallies.
If Romney Wins Iowa It’s Huge
by Taylor Marsh
If I could have made them from gold , your ears would be in pain.
Newts ad in tomorrows Union Leader!
As the president’s man said , ” As the monkey climbs the pole, more of his ass is exposed “.
RR -
I am still working on your Christmas gift, which means we’re talking a arrival date between next week and Feb. 14th.
Watching Al Gore, damn, wish he had of been President! Many reasons why, mainly the Supreme Court but his running away from President Clinton, well the what ifs will kill you! Think if we never had a BUSH presidency!
My computer has been our of service for several days..felt very isolated and missed checking in each day to see what people are saying.
CNN said that only abougt 5% of Republicans take part in the process. This is a joke…all the money and all the press coverage and it is really a non-event…
Just heard on MSNBC that Michelle Bachman was told by some of the Evangelical pastors that they backed Santorum because she was a woman. There’s divine justice in their somewhere of the hoisted by own petard variety.
I’m thinking that Ron Paul is that cross roads of crazy and genius .
OD
We have much the same up here in WA. The caucus system may have been a good thing in a pioneer society. Now it is nothing but an insiders game with little participation by the general public. Even less representative that the small percentage who take the time to vote in primaries.
Damn, Craig, missed your segment! Heard Cink speak of you but hell, your not on..
The last time we heard it :
“That giant sucking sound is jobs ”
H Ross Perot
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/01/03/top-ten-reasons-to-ignore-iowa/#comment-277932
CBOB
I told the folks here that some women drip diamonds and I drip guitar picks. Of course, I always have been low maintenance.
Hi OD,
Missed your checking in..I thought you were just extra special busy cause of the holidays..
Thanks Tony…
Jamie..
I think all states should look into some variation of the Oregon all mail-in system…despite my initial opposition, it has been very successful with good security and large %’s voting. I know that Washington is moving in that direction…
tony thanks
I happened across Chris Hedges on “In Depth” on C-Span last Sunday . I knew the name and where he stood, but I never dreamed he was that smart. One thing he said , was about “Magical Thinking” . Hitler was the purest form of this.
I have always wondered about that woman in the old newsreels .
What made her eyes flame with joy, as he rode by .
“Magical Thinking”
Looks like the Santorum surge is real, so far it is a three way race.
Jack
OD
I’m already on mail in for elections. The nominations for President are still by caucus though there has been some changes to make it partially a primary. How it will be done this year, I haven’t a clue.
Jack -
I have a tomato plant under my LED panel tonight in the greenhouse . I rescued it from my compost pile in Oct.
I’m pouring nearly 24 hours a day of light on it . I don’t heat it, just pour light on it.
It’s packed with blossoms.
Well off for the night. Be kind. I shall return.
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/chris_hedges_lays_it_all_out_20120101/
C-SPAN goes in-depth with Chris Hedges
I may start reading books again because of this.
Bob
Thats cool,
Jack
Sorry, if I’m Mitt, I’m not feeling all that good tonight. A three way tie with Paul and Santorum.
He may not have paid for a landslide, but he damn sure paid for a win.
I’ve been hoping for a five way tie, with nudie and the bachmanniac -- all at 18%.
I hope wrong pol goes the distance. willard and michelle, too. I see a wonderful trio of ‘pure’ tickets : willard and Potholes Aplenty for the neoconmunists, wrong pol and bo gritz for the anarchists, and michelle bachmann with sharon angle for the tea party.
Oh XR,
You ain’t spending all your time fishin’.
Good on you.
Just watching Ron Paul’s speech. He has convinced me.
I won’t be voting for him.
Newt goes to the GOP Playbook. Plays the fear card right off the bat. Reserves the right to tell the truth.
Damn straight, he has a lot of truth in reserve, he hasn’t spent much of it on previous occasions.
Professional politician michelle bachmann has announced that she is not a politician, that she is continuing her candidacy, and that it was she who began the campaign to defeat barack obama and his libbrull policies.
Bachmann was unreal, thank God I had an empty stomach.
bachmann said she’d congratulated ron paul. Then she said that the next president would have a pro-Israel policy, insinuating that obama doesn’t. There is a biggish disconnect there.
I am deeply disappointed in Iowegians failure to support their own, native-born, fellow Iowegianette, michelle bachmann. What a crappy race this is turning out to be.
Goodbye Little Richard.
There is life after a campaign, call Herman Cain.
@BorowitzReport: Santorum says he just got a call from Obama: “He stopped laughing long enough to say congratulations.”
The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.
Yes Jack -
You and I are very cool .
The IA Caucuses WERE important ! They showed that more than 3 out of 4 Iowegian rip ups reject willard romney. They showed that more than 3 out of 4 rippers reject his holiness, sanctum sanctorum, and nearly 4 out of 5 reject wrong pol.
The first thing I ever did on the web was follow B-15, that was 12 years ago ………..
http://www.thedailysail.com/offshore/11/60694/0/banque-populaire-jules-verne-trophy-attempt-2011-16-dec-report
Bob and Jack are indeed cool.
Not me. I’m freezing, deep in the heart of Florida.
The world wide web is really much larger than any of us dream.
Oooooh, here comes Sick Rant Orum.
“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart.” Yaaaay ! Klatsch, klatsch, klatsch.
“You have taken the first steps to take back the White House”.
He’s proud to be a Coal Miner’s Daughter.
The sad thing is , in our life time men can’t enter the Southern Ocean , it will eat them …… every ship of every size.
Sanctum comes out against Social Security and Medicare. That incinerates his candidacy. These blokes rise to the top of the non-romney heap, and huebris takes them down again. With the country in this Occupy Wall Street mood, Sanctorum’s attacks on regulation and Medicare do nothing but incinerate him.
Weeks ago the Whale Fighters cracked their boat , and made for port , ……. Now Karma comes to the the Japanese fleet.
May they die quick.
In the Southern Ocean you have no choice.
Ok , now I’m agreeing with Craig , Iowa doesn’t mean anything , lol
On to new Hampshire , on to Tehran , on to Guantanamo bay
Or where ever we wind up at , Yeehaah
There is a book called …. ” Endurance ” it is named after a ship , read it . Then we talk what people are made of, and what is possible. But 100 years later , they would never made it.
4 years ago the soon to fail huckster campaign won with 34%. Less than 25% for either slick willard or sanctorum seems wonderfully weak.
In November , the North Sea threw 98 foot waves on to the West Coast of Norway. 2 weeks later 120 mph winds came.
Go to the Southern Ocean now and crack your boat.
There are no land masses to slow wind speeds at the bottom of the world. It’s called the “Roaring 40′s” , not because of the speed, but to the location. As the world warms crossing this ring will become more lethal by the day.
The real winners tonight , Goldman Sachs ,j p Morgan , lockheed Martin , haliburton, it’s a win win situation ,
On Jupiter there is a storm that blows 800 miles an hour , we call it the “Giant Red Spot”. If it works Jupiter , it can work here. All we need is an energy source to do it.
I was hoping for a 5 way tie. But this will do pretty well, knowing that wrong pol might go to the bitter end. Let them keep going each getting no more than 40% and no less than 20%.
Gimme a convention with a coke-filled back room, and a mega-skreoughbawll announcement that willard and sanctorum will run and serve as co-presidents -- ala 1980. Then I want jack abramov to endorse someone. I want it ! I want it ! I want it ! I want it !
MQW,
Yup. There is that downside.
Believe me , nothing physics limits these things as long as heat is applied to the system .
The level of violence that may come, makes me glad I’m an old man.
As an observer , I feel cheated .
Mqw take heart. Time to start pushing Ron toward 3d party bid
G’night.
I would remind every one . I saw less than 6 inches of rain this year. The last dry year was 1917 with 8 inches .
As a student of the Earth I fear we go to 2 inches a year for 40 years.
There’s 6 feet of blow sand over 5,000 years here when it rained less. I have no reason for this happening , but it did I saw it, and it means it can happen again .
Don’t think Ron Paul will go third party , wish he would just for spite ,
It would only give the GOP a scapegoat for their inevitable loss to Obama and ruin rand’s political career
The heart of the world’s blue jean production.
MQW -
Two week’s ago the Corps of Engineers said the river was over 38 feet at Vicksburg , this was the All Time Record for December at Vicksburg, normal is 17 feet.
Watch the rain very closely now .
We got It Cbob ‘ we’re all going to die ‘ I was tired of working anyway ,
MQW -
If it can rain 25 inches in Thailand in 3 days , It can rain just that much now on the Ohio River, doubt me ? They just recorded the most rain in the records , in Philly it was 213 years. Like I said the river is over 30 feet at Vicksburg. Don’t let it fool you , you sail over 15 feet above Mark Twain.
MQW -
Last year I told you the same thing, before the flood .
Now the water really comes.
Want to bet ? June 1st we settle up .
The Corps of Engineers is on record , 2011 was the worst flood in their books.
Period.
Yea Cbob I know exactly what the river stages are from new Orleans to st Paul to Pittsburg
We get them everyday , with a five day and thirty day forecast
We have two company computers , satellite links , constant cell link with the office , electronic gps navigation charts
Satellite direct tv , satellite radio Sirius xm ,
Personal smartphones , personal computers
I’m not running around out here on a 1880″s paddlewheel boat
Last summer I saw something.
The City Engineer for Oklahoma City was in a meeting , it had been a year since 6 inches of rain fell in less than 6 hours. The people wanted bigger pipes, how could he not see the need for this ?
That guy in Oklahoma City said , …… Nobody designs for 6 inches in 6 hours.
Last summer I saw something.
They all ask why other people didn’t do a better job . But when 25 inches come on 3 days , you have to bury 8 foot diameter pipes . That guy in Oklahoma City and me are buds.
And he’s never heard of me.
The media is as “liberal” as the conservative firms that own them.
Trail Mix Fav
+5
MQW -
You have a place in our hearts , we sail river with you .
No political blog , is steering for the snags tonight like us.
MQW -
At my peak , I was 11 hours from Vicksburg, from this spot west of 100 meridian I could cross the River in 11 hours.
http://www.thelavinagency.com/articles_covers/Alterman/altermanarticle1.pdf
I find it amazing that some people actually believe that the media is a leftist conspiracy. There is no mainstream “Liberal” media. There is a marginalized leftist media such as THE NATION and the like. There are more but they are certainly not powered by the same financial empires that keep the powerful right wing media front and center.
Here is a book that some could read, just sayin’ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guardians-Power-Myth-Liberal-Media/dp/0745324827
Ok Cbob come on over sometime , we’ll have a beer and talk about old cars and young women ‘
MQW -
On the West side , stop and look at what Grant dug for months , it’s all still there . Just covered in plants. And water now, but when it goes down cross the River from Vicksburg. It hasn’t changed at all , but it’s completely different. It’s still wild ass bottom land , just beat to hell, when Grant saw it the trees thick and tall.
I don’t believe is cutting spending. I don’t believe in “austerity” programs. Obama did not spend ENOUGH in saving the economy. He was too timid. If you want to bailout the American workers, you have to spend as much as necessary to put the people to work. Government spending creates jobs and stimulates further spending from other companies that sprout up from associated new businesses that employ further people.
MQW -
In the journals of the “Corps of Discovery” , Lewis’ dog , …… “Seaman” jumps out of the boat to chase tens of thousands of squirrels crossing the Ohio River into where Craig’s people lived in Kentucky.
Lewis nearly committed murder over this dog , later in the trip . But when he jumped out of the boat , we see how much Lewis loved this dog.
Yea Tom , thats been working out great for Europe
Wasn’t belgium”s credit rating just downgraded not long ago
MQW -
I never saw Lewis’ grave . I saw 3.000 miles of this trip …. the place where he was born , the breed of his dog, but never his grave.
I monitored the cable stations between plays of The Sugar Bowl game . I had to watch football because I am a long-time fan of the Michigan Wolverines, and they won.
The caucuses tied, the football game tied. The football game was decided in overtime.
The caucuses had no winner, just a few losers. Anybody see ol’ Serpent Head Carville bitching about how tonight was a torrential loss for Romney, figuring in how much dough Romney spent in Iowa and didn’t even emerge a clear-cut winner?
Colorado Bob, MQW…are the Bull Snakes down there too? On the L & C Trail in Montana they still scare people.
MQW -
I saw the grave of the baby that made the trip .
I stood in the village where they met.
Clark called him , Pommey. I saw Clark’s writing on the Yellowstone at Pommey’s Pillar .
Clark sent him Europe. His mother died about 12 years later.
About 28 years old, we made a coin for her, no one used it.
MQW -
The very best story about American Rivers , still the Crops of Discovery” …….. Lewis was in Philly doing science training under Dr. Ben Rush, he bought 100′s of laxatives from Rush, these were called . “Rush’s Rockets” .
Later in the trip everyone was eating 10 to 15 lbs. of elk a day. When they arrived back on St. Louis , they had 4 things that made the trip , a black New Foundland dog named “Seaman”, gun power, lead, and plenty of “Rush’s Rockets”.
MQW -
Lewis was in Philly doing science training under Dr. Ben Rush, then moved West to Pittsburg to have his boat built , he had Harpers Ferry rifles , Rush’s Rockets , and his gun powder sealed in lead containers.
By order of the President , …… One fly in the butter , the only man in Pittsburg that could make his boat was a drunk. It took nearly 2 months more than Lewis had planned,
the Ohio River dropped to a trickle.
Lewis nearly killed him twice.
Lewis nearly killed 4 times, he did kill once.
In Idaho on the way back , some Indians wanted to eat his dog as tax for crossing their land, he became insane.
Clark stepped in and saved the moment.
I always thought this story could be told via the eyes of York , Clark’s slave, the first black man West of the river.
Mitt beat Rick by 8 votes .
There will be blood
No before you die , Hell’s coming to breakfast.
From my grave I promise you that.
No before you die , the Corps of Engineers will spend millions of dollars to keep your sorry ass at work.
This is of course if your lunitic friends don’t completely “win”……… They’ve already killed the money for over 500 flood gauges across the country. So now we don’t really know how much water is coming your way fuck head .
Hmmm… Just heard GOPers offering Rand Paul more senate powers if dad doesn’t run 3d party
I take back every word of caution to you , and all your kind .
Hell’s breakfast with you folks everyday, from now on.
I mean 8 inch hail stones in your windows, lot’s of deniers in West Texas are buying $315 a ton alfalfa .
Time to set up the steel cage for the death match.
The GOP will be lucky if rand doesn’t run third party, the way he was looking last night , I think he has just about enough of his so called friends and allies heaping abuse and dis- respect on his father
MQW I am sure you were pissed off when Standard and Poor’s lowered America’s credit rating. The problem in Belgium, in case you care to actually read, was the fact that the government was not formed for over 500 some days and that was the cause of the credit rating. Nice try though.
Jeeze-louise Nudie is a sore loser. His little diatribe last night was pretty amazing -- if it had been someone anyone else -- the coverage of it would be condemning him for a inappropriate activity but it’s Nudie and he’s the guy the media wants to keep in the picture so they have proclaimed him the spoiler for Mittens and will keep up that story line
especially ridiculous was Nudie’s adoration of Rick Santorum ..an unhinged gooper with whom Nudie only shares an interest in boosting his speakers fees
Nudie and Callie — they look like the people you don’t want to live next to in the assisted living facility
Hi Tom,
Glad to read you again!
ET
Ditto what Tony said --
How is it without a government?
Ron Paul Supporters Unfazed By Idol’s Third Place Finish
EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO
Mother Jones is loaded with good articles today, but this one stood out for me: Obama’s Drone War
If Ron Paul’s foreign policy is so crazy, why does the military support him? Or, is it just the lower ranks serving in the arm pits of the world who like him? CNN had a Ron Paul supporter on who was redeploying to Afghanistan and, oops, they lost the feed.
There is a real distaste for Wall Street and war. I still don’t know that Ron Paul couldn’t get backing by the Occupy movement.
If Rick Santorum is sooo pro-life, he should put down that hunting rifle.
If Romney does get to be the GOP nom, which would be more important for veep? Since the far right will vote for anybody-but-Obama, it almost seems they need to go with Rubio.
Where was the Tea Party???
My fave graphic of the night: Current TV’s Trivial Pursuit Wheel of candidates. (Good to see Al Gore, again, and makes me a little sad for what should have been.) Second fave graphic: CNN’s crazy-quilt of counties.
crackers -- Great line about the Gingriches!
Second good article: The Newtification of Mitt Romney
I can understand how Ron Paul supporters are pissed at the news media. I went to google news looking for information on last nights caucuses. You wouldn’t have known Ron Paul was even in the race let alone coming in at 3 percentage point below the winner. In fact if you didn’t read the whole article you wouldn’t have even known he was in the race at all.
Backman and Huntsman got a mention before Paul.
Too bad Paul is such a piss poor excuse , because he does worry the ptb.
Jack
“One week ago, you could swing a dead cat and you wouldn’t find a Rick Santorum supporter,” said Luntz.
what the hell does that even mean? this from a so-called “expert” political operative? whadda putz.
(Yes, I know what it’s “supposed” to mean…..lol)
Ron Paul has a lot of support here in NH. I’m constantly getting robocalls from his campaign. Last night the phone was ringing off the hook… sure it was nothing but pollsters… we didn’t even get off the couch to look at the caller ID.
And now it will be Santorum’s turn for media attention… watch out Ricky… they’re going to start explaining why you got hammered in your last election.
ps… really enjoyed Al Gore last night. His insights into campaigning were interesting… his intelligence shone through… and it was good to hear an honest and fair assessment of the candidates. He even praised Bachmann…. said he disagreed with everything she stood for, but respected how hard a fighter she is…
don’t hear that kinda stuff on CNN or MSNBC.
Newt’s speech last night warmed the cockles of me old heart…….I loved it. Karma may be selective but it was long overdue for that fatheaded schmuck, and a most welcome sight to see.
I called it right on the nose!…Santorum will now inherit ALL of the Non Rom and Non Paul vote (about 30%) and Santorum will be the GOP nominee.
DD
Every time Ron Paul is asked -- he says he will NOT run as a third party candidate --yet the goopers are doing everything they can to annoy him including all their talking airheads start every Ron Paul comment with “of course he won’t be the nominee….”
DixieDove
I don’t think so. I think Santorum is like the Huckster and won’t do well any place else.
Nudie will probably beat him in New Hampshire
Santorum thinks his voters were bold?!
He’s the 4th choice in a 4th rate field
..his voters are desperate religious bigots
geez, get real…..the 1% are completely decided upon mr romney for the next gop nominee….it’s a done deal except for the shysterous theater of bullshit “primaries”.
Thanks to twitter, I’ve never had this much fun following the debate/primary/caucus season. Last night was fantastic. Renee, I’m very curious. The differences between the party platforms could not be more diametrically opposed. I really want to know why you’re undecided. All I see from the republican house is bill after bill about social issues (no jobs bill, but now a woman can’t get information about abortion OR birth control). If I were a voter, there’d be no ambiguity on my part.
What politician has the courage to say that the drug war and drug laws are government institutionalized racism ? Ron Paul
All you have to do is look at the percentages in the prison population for proof
Who has the courage to tell the truth about the Iraq war ? That is was based on lies and propaganda ?
ron paul and wm f. buckley supported legalization of drugs….end of war on drugs….not sure what wm f thought about the iraq situation.
Who says that the death penalty is discriminatory and is not applied equally for whites and non whites , rich and poor ?
KGC
Ron Paul has already done the third party thing and all it got him was 10 years in purgatory where he survived by publishing newsletters for right wing miltia types. He likes his cushy Congressman gig.
Jack
Who says openly and publicly that the NDAA
Is an abomination and unconstitutional ?
Same for the patriot act ?
It damn sure isn’t Obama
Tony and Katherine… it was not much of a difference because Belgium has so many layers of government that most services were still able to proceed. However, the Flemish Nationalists were absolutely refusing to negotiate on any issues or compromise. Because they were the biggest vote winners in Flemish Belgium, and the most vote percentages in all of Belgium, they were expected to form a government. But they had their agenda and they were not going to let go of it.
For me, waiting for a national government has help up my nationality request to become a Belgian. It’s been more than 3 years now in waiting. Frustrating. However we now have a French speaking Prime Minister, the first in around 40 years. It is my hope that Prime Minister Di Rupo will reach out and create a unified Belgium.
Our health system remains VERY strong and that is perhaps one of the best aspects of the social state in Belgium. Unfortunately, EU countries are supposedly not able to do any deficit spending. In Belgium, the prices of everything is rising, including taxes. Most Belgians take this on with a shrug and acceptance. Belgium is the only EU country that I know of which indexes the worker wages on the basis of inflation. This is something Germany, France, and many other EU countries do not like. And while Belgium is now working on its own austerity plans, it will not be bullied. However, the only down side of the last government negotiation that almost ended, was the cause of the lowering of credit rating in Belgium. The Flemish Liberals (aka Republicans in the states), found objectionable pieces in the final rounds of negotiation, and the whole thing almost fell apart again. The credit rating finally SCARED the Flemish Liberals and all the other 5 parties working on a coalition government, to get things DONE and they did. So in this situation the credit downgrade made progress happen. Strange isn’t it?
Any other questions? I am glad to share what I know.
Tom.
Jack you still parroting the mainstream media I see
You still haven’t come up with any more than four articles in ten years of newsletters
Dr Paul was a full time doctor the whole time ,
If he needed the money why didn’t he charge his poor patients that couldn’t pay? Why didn’t he just accept Medicare and Medicaid payments ?
Tom Freeman via “Republicans Are Idiots And Arguing With Them Is A Waste Of Time!” by Addictinginfo.org
Comes from behind? And I thought he hated homosexuals
Headline: “Santorum Almost Comes From Behind, But Romney Pulls Out A Win With 8 Vote Lead” My reaction: “Almost Comes from behind?” And here I thought Santorum hated homosexuals… sort of like the rest of the Repugs.
http://www.addictinginfo.org
It was a razor close race, but Iowa has chosen. Mitt Romney pulled out a close victory over Rick Santorum, winning by a very narrow margin. Despite being tied at 25% of the vote apiece, Romney scratched out an eight vote victory.
And he gave all of his patients a pony too.
Ron Paul refused to participate in the congressional pension plan , he returns a large portion of his congressional allowance to the treasury every year , and has every year he’s been in office ,
He has already declared he will not run for congress again
Do some research jack
Media literacy is sadly missing in political, economic, and social debates. The myth that the mainstream media has a liberal bias is simply that. It’s a lie but has been repeated over and over again until society itself believes what they have been spoon fed.
Here is some media literacy resources for everyone to consider, if that is something you are willing to learn.
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=101
Independent, aggressive and critical media are essential to an informed democracy. But mainstream media are increasingly cozy with the economic and political powers they should be watchdogging. Mergers in the news industry have accelerated, further limiting the spectrum of viewpoints that have access to mass media. With U.S. media outlets overwhelmingly owned by for-profit conglomerates and supported by corporate advertisers, independent journalism is compromised.
Ultimately, FAIR believes that structural reform is needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates, establish independent public broadcasting, and promote strong, non-profit alternative sources of information.
Check out these links for more of FAIR’s analysis of the media business: You can find each heading here: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=101 If you find it interesting, I’d like to hear what you think:
Corporate Ownership
Advertiser Influence
Official Agendas
Telecommunications Policy
The PR Industry
Pressure Groups
The Narrow Range of Debate
Censorship
Sensationalism
Tom
Thanks. It is interesting to hear from someone who lives there as opposed to the regular news
That pony thing is just juvenile of you there jack .
I thought you were the proud independent thinker ,
Looks like you are willing to led around by the nose by the mainstream media just like the majority of Americans
Come on, do you really believe that a medical carreer is turned on and off like that? That you can abandon it for 10 years and just pick it up again?
My pony is no more juvenile than your belief there is a doctor.
Would your wife go to a washed up politician for her medical needs? She would be damn desperate if she did.
Jack
You don’t even have any idea what you’re talking about , just spouting out lies and half half truths , and you know where you can stick that pony jack
Looks like Michelle is giving it up ,
That’s good I guess
so it looks like Michelle’s campaign has a few airplane tickets to South Carolina to sell. She might be willing to let them go cheap.
Looks like Obama is still listening to Tim Geithner. Why didn’t Obama use the recess appointment to appoint Elizabeth Warren?
Richard Cordray to be appointed to lead Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
By JOSEPH WILLIAMS, January 4, 2012 10:36 AM EST
Obama is a big disappointment because he promised to work on the issue of $$$ in politics and he has only made it worse
and now he is planning on raising over a billion dollars for this campaign
Richard Lessig on Democracy Now…Obama not so much
One reason NOT to ignore Iowa:
Iowa proved the GOP is divided into factions that would rather lose the general election than work together.
The one thing they all have in common is a contempt for compromise; they see politics as “total war,” where victory must be achieved by any means necessary, ESPECIALLY when fighting inside the party.
Obama Given Low Marks In Annual ACLU Report For Civil Liberties — Ranked Lower Than Paul
By Jonathan Turley, January 3, 2012
MQW do you have to be so aggressive with people you do not agree with? I thought we were all adults here. Excuse me for getting that wrong.
didn’t Ron Paul have a pretty good showing in Iowa last election cycle? How did that work out for him?
Tylenol…
I’m not a member of any political party… I’m an independent. I am left of center… and have not voted for a Republican since 2000. But that’s because that party has been pulled so far to the right. If it ever manages to find it’s center again and think highly of moderates, I’d consider voting for Republicans again.
I will vote Democratic in the general election. However, I’m in complete agreement with KGC’s 11:56 post. I think the money in politics has corrupted both sides.
As for the NH primary next week…. Obama will win and be the party’s nominee. I can choose to vote for him.
Or I can take a Republican ballot and choose for who I’d rather have run against him… either as a serious candidate… or the one I think he’d beat.
If there was a race on the Democratic side, I’d take a Democratic ballot for sure. I’m having a hard time making up my mind which Republican I could put my X next to and still live with myself.
Either way… I believe the nominees for both parties will be owned by the corporations lock, stock, and barrel…. and that is not a good thing for our country or the world.
euroT -- Good timing re: your news article and Bachmann leaving the race.
The start of her demise was the Gardasil vaccine comment. NBC “news” rushed to protect the vaccine; it was the lead story.
Isn’t it intersting that someone sat on the boards of both NBC Universal and Merck (maker of Gardasil). And if you check the CDC website on the stuff, there have been reports of adverse reactions to the stuff, including paralysis and death.
Lesson 1) Don’t mess with big pharma.
Lesson 2) Be able to back up your stories.
Lesson 3) Everything is on constant spin cycle.
NEW THREAD
Was hoping for at least a 2nd place finish for Dr. Paul. Hoping that he does go the 3rd party road….not to win, but to get the country to think about his military stance, the irs, if we can replace the news papers with the internet, the post office with email, we can replace the way that we file our taxes…,,yesterday I heard that someone donated a heart, or something that saved persons life via face book….a way for all, including the corps that don’t pay a penny at tax time…
not giving $ to other country’s for buying our military weapons, (free $ that comes from our taxes).
Ron Paul may be some kind of nut….but we would all be nuts not to listen to common sense…..
I hate his son Rand Paul, as much as I hate Rick Santorum….if I saw him in person…..don’t know if I could resist knocking his Racist ass to the ground…
Tony you were talking about what ifs..and about Gore….Gore was talking about courage….if he had any we wouldn’t be in the shape that we are in….he did not have the heart to fight for the country all the way (do you think that if it was the other way around, Bush would have given up, having the most popular vote?)…..he gave up, and gave Bush 43 his chance to listen to God, and now have the latest crusades going on for a piece of land that the bible says existed…the holy land is a myth just like the bible….but religion has killing (still) millions upon millions……this was the real reason that I wanted Paul to win…but his most of what he says is right on….and what the young people of the country see in him….I do Agree that he has said some very stupid things.
Most of what was said on current tv ( not so opportunistic young turks)…sucked as much as any other cable bs station…
They dismissed a third place finish by Paul, and showered (Gore did also) compliments to the last place finisher…..the coward should have sounded like he talked last night when he was running for potus….fluent…not like me, fluent only at times…his wife had the courage in his family…and still does…..Tony, yes the dumb shit ran away from Clinton…..but he also lost his own home state…oh yeah its a red state….
Jack,
Im not mad b/c i won’t get a ….PONY….im just surprised that the american people are so used to getting two piles of shit from the blue and red Clydesdale……I guess we can get used to any stench if it is around long enough……….