Computer Crash

Yes Kim, great to see you back! Sorry to hear about your computer. Funny, my husband has been fixing mine as well due to "tracking cookies." Funny how those little buggers work. Welcome back Kim!

OM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100127/ap_on_bi_ge/us_aig_probe

Hmmmm re: AIG.

Good to have you back Kim.... and I'm looking forward to more news of your film.

Jessie

Isn't that one of the ways the left wing extemists were supposed to launch a terrorist attatck...Through cyberspace? It was only the right wing tea partiers that were the violent ones. Just a thought..good to have you back

Was it just me, or was the only thing I got out of the speech last night was contradictions and blame...blame...blame everything else but him/current administration?

I am totally ashamed to admit that I didn't watch. Reason being that I knew that he, the Prince of Peace had nothing to say. I didn't want to subject myself to a source of anger and disgust. I am so tired of the blah-blah-blah! I knew that I could get the idea of the crap that he would be flinging from watching all the commenters. So I gave myself a few hours peace and watched a movie. I'm glad I did, though I still feel alittle ashamed.

Politicians are simply used car salesman that get a get-out-of-jail free card. Being too honest or straight forward equals getting about 7 votes. No one wants to hear cold, hard truth. The point is that this speech was just more salesmanship. Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Carter were salesmen as well. Speeches are not essays. They are meant to conjure emotions and get the crowd riled up.

Except this administration seems to think they really need to save us from ourselves more than anybody else ever has. (for no other reason than their own agenda though)

Argue all that you want but political speeches are not meant to factual, objective, logical, or unbiased. They are designed to persuade. They are more advertisement than substance. Reagan was guilty of this too. Being too frank or blunt alienates people. People despise cold, hard truth. I get my cynical view from working on the phone for three years. I was regarded as the worst customer service agent there. Why? Because I did not give fake apologies, flowery but phony endorsements, nor did I leave any room for misinterpretation. Political speeches are meant to be general and somewhat vague. I just am stumped as to why smart, discerning, bright individuals are paying such close attention to them. They know that its simple advertisement but they hang on every word. I have seen enough examples on here of people thinking for themselves and not buying into advertisement so why now?

"We have the greatest opportunity the world has ever seen, as long as we remain honest -- which will be as long as we can keep the attention of our people alive. If they once become inattentive to public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, judges and governors would all become wolves." --Thomas Jefferson

"I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance." --Rueben Blades

About those events that you spoke of, you do know that are the formulative actions and decisions occurred away from the public eye. The speech was simply to help his approval ratings. These negotiations were done behind closed doors. We can argue til the Cows come home but all known credible sources will show that the Berlin Wall's demise had nothing to do with Russia or its leaders.

I dont listen to speeches to be informed or learn. They are simple entertainment and not all that different from Vince McMahon on WWE spouting off his garbage.

My history prof. brought up a good point today. In the Old Roman empire, leading scholars would write these grand speeches that were either fully in support of one person or another. There was no room for give and take. The person that they were writing about was divine and without flaw. The other person would criticize their every move and breath. Giving no thought that this emperor or topic is simply mostly bad not completely. Sounds like Olbermann versus Beck. Both are so entrenched on their respective sides that they simply sound like idiots.

OMG..here we go again. Twil you've been down this road before about whether Reagan and the Russians had anything to do with the fall of the Wall.

As for the crap from last night, I didn't get to watch either. I had to work, sad as it may seems but I still have a family to support. You are wrong though Twil. Last night wasn't a political speech. It was never meant to be. It is a constitutional mandate that the president give a synopsis of the status of the nation. Yes, in the past most every president has used it for a stump to launch his vision for the nation. The State of the Union address is meant to be a platfrom to tell the populace where we are and where we need to go. Last night was a campaign speech pure and simple. The man was elected over a year ago. In that year he has tripled the national debt, is in the process of figuring out ways to raise your taxes, has apologized to nearly everyone in the world for you and I being Americans, tried to ram nationalized healthcare down your throat, has bailed out banks and taken partial government control of two automakers. Tell me the truth Twil, is your life any better than it was before Barry was elected? Do you see it getting any better over the remaining 3 years of this administration?

I foresee my paycheck getting smaller, my employer getting taxed more which will in turn make him raise prices and/or lay people off, amnesy for millions of illegal immigrants who will in turn apply LEGALLY for welfare. I do have hope now that the right is starting a movement to take back enough seats in congress to make it a fair fight on issues such as cap and trade and healthcare. Should be great entertainment to see if the Dems actually DO reach across the aisle and try to work with the republicans for a TRUE compromise on the more serious issues such as jobs. All we have to do is vote the bums out.

Speaking of, bazooka, did you see where HB 391 got out of comittee and is up for vote in the full house here in Idaho. It pretty much tells the federal government to stay the hell out of states rights when it comes to healthcare. Good job to those in OUR congress that beleive in our sovereignty.

Full text of the bill

http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/H0391.pdf

Ok, lets lay it out. I am not one of Obama's followers. I do not endorse his every move. I have blabbered on enough about govt. borrowing to show that I am not in favor of it. Yes, I know the rules about a State of the Union address. The point is that this is not meant to be factual.

"Last night was a campaign speech pure and simple". I just shake my head when people take it as gospel and cant read between the lines. Campaign speech, State of the State, State of the Union, etc. are designed to be superficial. It would kill his approval ratings to be blunt, honest, and humble. To report mistakes on his and his parties behalf would be monumentally dumb. Enough said, To each their own but I take speeches with a grain of salt knowing that there are only slivers of truth in them (No matter the party or leader).

In short, if it was up to me I would not have bailed out/taken over the automakers. It is the companies fault and the Union's as well that they have failed. As for banks, I am not sure about that one. Simply stated, I think that the actions taken have been short sighted. On the other hand, I am not ignorant enough to think that this all happens in a vacuum. I just play devil's advocate and call into question those who dont see the whole picture.

I guess it comes down to my having Be-Like-Me syndrome. I try not to criticize something or campaign for change unless I know both sides of the story. How it works and Why people do it are just as important as why it should be changed? Its a bit unrealistic on my part to expect people to examine the issue before one goes on the crusade.

Libertarian... From what little I just read about it, I would say that its a fair description. I would need to investigate it a bit more. I think of myself as a mix of old-fashioned values and some new but thats always up for debate.

"Government spending was actually a slight drag on growth in the fourth quarter: A small increase in federal spending was outweighed by a drop in state and local spending."

This is a quote from an AP report about economic growth. It is called crowding out. With limited funds, excessive govt. spending squeezes out other transactions. There is no indication that this trend will stop either. The forecast is for govt. spending to increase. The biggest part of the increase is going to be in in-kind transfers. This means propping up the consumer sector in direct, quantifiable payments. There will be a time when this assistance wont be possible.

Ahh but Twil, that is EXACTLY what the State of the Union address (not speech) is supposed to be. Blunt, honest and to the point. A review of where our nation is and what we need to do to keep it a great nation.

Actually having fun watch the Republicans slowly roast the president in Maryland right now. They ask questions that are direct and on point and he weasles his way around and either shuts down the represenative during the question OR he lectures them on how they are wrong and his policies are right. Be great to pull it up on youtube later and watch it all over again.

I might be wrong. (please let me know if i am) But doesn't the president have to sign the execution orders if they are sentenced to death by military tribunal?

If so, that would explain why he wants a civilian trial. Fellow muslims are not supposed to take the life of other fellow muslims.

Does anyone remember what George W's first and last State of the Union Address was about?

I listened a little bit to talk radio which I never ever do, and Rush L was sort of comparing Obama's and George W'S State of the Union Address's.

He didn't go into detail about the speech's and I can't remember any of George W'S speech's I thought maybe someone else might remember a little. I guess I can do an online search for them.... Thanks

State of the Union is basic lip service. It kind of reminds me of the back of a newly published book. The short but ever so positive spin and then some lame endorsements and then praise. The age of advertisement is in full swing. Maybe that's why no one can handle some simple, plain, cold, hard truth.

Savage goes a bit too far. Politics, I guess he's ok but on social topics the guy is as ignorant as humanly possible. Beck is OK but is short sighted as well. But to his defense, It is TV and television is about being over-the-top, eye-catching, and selling a product. I dont buy that he does not take cues from studio execs. Yes, his opinions are his own but he is not in full control of the production that we see on TV. He still has to play it up and exaggerate things.

About the 9/11 issue, Obama is not the only input in this issue. The number of individuals involved in this gets deep and convoluted. Sure, he has the power to make some things happen but his control is not absolute. If you are to impeach him then so should go all of the other idiots involved. No one should a get out of jail free card.

Saw a quote from the leadership of the republicans in Idaho saying they are gonna target Minnick to get him out of conress...what a bad idea....a democrat that actually LISTENS to his voters and votes the way they want him too...FAR more centrist than the republican he replaced. We actually have a democrat that gives his party the finger and votes his conscience. Following some sound advice from Beck, vote for the person and not the party. As long as Minnick is upfront and honest, votes for what is right, not what his party wants him to will always get my vote.

What do you all think of the new elected Republican Senator of Mass. He's been seen in a centerfold lol ! He has already spoken about abortion and he isn't sitting in congress yet !

OMG...a centerfold....wasn't this fodder when Sarah posed in a bikini with a gun? A smart, sexy, republican female who owns guns....that musta given all those liberal FITS....lol.

I voted for Minnick back in 1996 and the most recent time. I cant quantify this with evidence but I like that he seems to be less of a salesman. If he does not know enough, he does not blow smoke. So far, I have liked what I have read about him and his decisions.

Thanks for the thought of Pelosi in a bikini, Bazooka...now gonna go was my brain with steel wool and soap..LOL!!!

So how many rounds did you get off in the 5 minutes there was no wind? I took advantage of the weather and rode my road bike around town. I hate having things that cost good money, sitting around collecting dust. Need to get out my 22 mag and get it ready for whistle pigs. Ohh now I've done it! PETA will be on my tail for saying I like to kill cute, little, fuzzy vermin.