10/13/08 12:40 - 62ºF - ID#46088
Liberals are mean-spirited people.
We live in America in 2008 and yet we have grown men and women acting like the spoiled, ridiculous children that they are.
Now, I'm sure I'm going to read various comments from some of you suggesting that I'm cherry picking, but let's nip that at the bud right here and now. If I led a McCain march down Elmwood, or in SF, or in Boston, or in Chicago, or in Los Angeles, the scene would be identical to what you've just watched. Nowhere in America will you find Republicans shouting down liberals in the middle of the street. Let's forego the pretense of general decency on the side of the left - they threw it away when they spat on their brothers and sisters coming home from Vietnam. Now that sort of idiot is in Congress, and they STILL cannot accept responsibility for their own actions.
Now, I'll give liberals at least some credit - long ago they abandoned the notion that they are the tolerant ones. Nevertheless it is important for people to see these sorts of videos because it sheds light on the base of support for Barack Obama. If you support Barack Obama, you are lining yourselves up in alliance with people like this. There isn't a shred of decency to share between them. I would never vote for a liberal Democrat anyway, but allying myself with lunatics such as these? That pretty much seals the deal. Some people don't know enough to be embarrassed by it.
By watching this video you might think that we're watching an American version of the Catholics marching down Shankill Road. What is next - instead of this:
are we going to see deifications of Obama in mural form along Columbus Avenue, with or without revolutionary regalia? (Think Che/Cuba flags, like the lady at the Obama office you've all seen).
Why do these liberals have no ability to get a grip whatsoever, and why is this style of persona so prevalent among liberals? I doubt they lack intelligence or patriotism (I've always hated that charge - it's unfair in 99.99% of cases) but based on this behavior they aren't doing themselves any favors. This is the style of "thinker" that wants Barack Obama in office? Scary. I think middle America would find this hard to swallow. And liberals refer to McCain rallies as "mob-like?" Haha! Riiiight. These people are openly hostile because it is who they are, straight to their cores. Don't bother justifying it - it is what it is. It is a sad and regrettable state of affairs indeed.
Permalink: Liberals_are_mean_spirited_people_.html
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10/10/08 09:09 - 45ºF - ID#46036
Chowdah
The leaves are just beginning to turn in New England. I saw deep ruby red, amber, orange, brown - it was very nice. As you might have guessed I had lunch at Legal Sea Foods in the airport after work. I enjoyed an outstanding fried clam roll, a cup of chowder and an iced tea. I think I might have been the only one drinking a non-alcoholic beverage! The lady to the right of me was enjoying a snifter of cognac, which I thought was a little odd for a 3pm beverage choice. The man to the left of me was enjoying raw oysters. I have it in me to give that sort of stuff a try, but growing up we never, ever ate anything remotely "risky" in the eyes of our grandmother. By risky, I mean seasoned, spicy, slimy, raw, shellfish or anything foreign. Or maybe by risky I mean fun. As a result I never learned how to properly eat shellfish, so at a restaurant I have a tad bit of a phobia regarding looking like an idiot by eating the food in the "wrong" way. I did take a step this summer though - during the Taste I stopped by the cajun stand with the crayfish. Twist, pull, suck. (Ok, I now regret phrasing it that way).
New England is an interesting place, full of honest, hard-working people. These are people with firm handshakes that will look you in the eye. They also seem to have a regional sense of humor that some people may not understand - in fact, if you aren't paying attention you might think you just got insulted or otherwise screwed with. Personally I enjoy people like that, but the key to it all is the deadpan. New England is full of stone-faced comedians.
I think I finally realized my dream housing setup. A small cottage with a little boathouse and a dock off the Atlantic coast for the summer, and a beach house on the Pacific coast for the winter. I really liked the coastal, pseudo-seafaring vibe I picked up as I looked down along the shoreline. That might be one of the most relaxing places in America!
Permalink: Chowdah.html
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10/08/08 12:36 - 57ºF - ID#45994
Outrage We Can All Believe In
AIG, after receiving their bailout, sent their executives on a $400,000 vacation at a posh resort in California. Here's the invoice -
Although a lot of trash is peddled on The Smoking Gun, you've still gotta love it.
This is a redefinition of the word "hubris." The American people hate corporate America today, and who could blame them?
Permalink: Outrage_We_Can_All_Believe_In.html
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10/07/08 02:56 - 60ºF - ID#45980
News of the Weird and Sickening
His defense was that the other guy was trying to rape him. I wonder i forensic evidence will bear that out... not that I ever plan on following this story.
Permalink: News_of_the_Weird_and_Sickening.html
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10/03/08 10:51 - 48ºF - ID#45916
Spot in the Morning
Permalink: Spot_in_the_Morning.html
Words: 39
10/01/08 11:23 - 55ºF - ID#45877
Alternate Bailout Proposals
George Soros has present a plan to the Dems, which isn't actually new, but hopefully with his cajoling the politicians can be convinced to take a more rational path. Now, the article makes a point of highlighting potential problems because, well, Soros is Soros and a lot of people in America hate his intrusion into our politics. Nevertheless, nobody should question his financial acumen and when the guy speaks, people should listen. I can't imagine liberal Democrats agreeing to lowering the corporate tax rate and I can't imagine Republicans agreeing to forcing the Treasury to back mortgages that have been renegotiated, but we'll see.
I think buying the preferred stock is the way forward because it will inject capital immediately into the credit market without the need to buy the bad debt. Buying the bad debt is an unacceptable risk to the American people. The truth of the matter is that these firms could have already sold this bad debt, but why take 10 cents on the dollar when the government may offer you 30? With this method taxpayers will actually have assets - something tangible to hold onto, rather than debt that is impossible to value. With preferred stock comes enhanced voting rights as well. The government, on behalf of the American people, will ensure that the fox is not guarding the hen house and will limit executive compensation. If some banks don't want to play ball and fail, so be it. This is America - we have smaller banks lined up to take advantage of the big boys and their hubris, and would cut off an arm for the opportunity to do so. Generally speaking, smaller banks are more efficiently managed anyway.
I would advocate for lowering the corporate tax rate to encourage skittish foreign investors to stick around, or even bring aboard new investment. The reality of America is that if this gets any worse, more foreign investment will be pulled and we will suffer a long lasting depression, not a recession. We need to encourage businesses and let them know that we want them to stay here and make money. My first instinct when I read this was to wrinkle my nose at the thought of suggesting "corporate welfare" in the midst of this problem. However, we have the second highest corporate tax rate in the world. We could get away with it previously because doing business in America was a premium opportunity that businesses would fight each other for. That is no longer the case, at least for now. The days of getting away with having the second highest corporate tax rate in the world are over if we want to maintain a robust economy through this mess. Foreigners have absolutely no confidence in our ability to move forward, so they are refusing to participate. We have to fix that.
As for the little guy - I'm the last guy in the world to suggest a socialist tenet as a solution to a problem, but there is no acceptable free market solution to the mortgage mess from the Main St. perspective. Economists say that the free market will work out the mess, but they openly admit that some people may fall through the cracks. I'm unsure about how acceptable that is - some people should have never taken the loans out to begin with while others are legitimately getting screwed through no fault of their own. I'm also unsure about the ability of the Treasury to unravel the mortgage mess in the way Soros describes. Where would the money come from anyway? We have $700b we're going to "invest" with, and if Obama gets elected we will have $1 trillion in new spending, not to mention $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities with SS, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. that NOBODY wants to reckon with. How does a CBO estimate of 25% base federal tax rate at the turn of the century for the poorest Americans sound? How does a CBO estimate of 88% corporate tax rate sound? With that kind of scenario we may see the end of America as we know it in this very century and nobody wants to talk about it! Are we going to produce yet another $1 trillion to back mortgages, some of which should have never been written? If you make $40,000 per year, you obviously should not be in a $400,000 house, so I envision that the end game will involve people losing their homes regardless of the scenario.
No amount of financial deftness will make unaffordable housing affordable. That is, unless home prices in distressed areas drop 40% like some suggest they will do. In that case, the judges can rewrite the mortgages based on a more reasonable base asset value and mitigate any potential fallout. In any case, I don't believe Americans will bail out Wall St. without a solution for homeowners tacked onto the plan, and I'm fairly sure Democrats will insist on some sort of measure. In my view, it is necessary just like being forced to deal with all of this garbage is necessary. People that legitimately need help and are getting the shaft deserve the government's attention; more so than the baron robbers who are the first in line, begging for mercy. To what degree the government is going to intervene remains to be seen, but I'm in full support of an intervention in the housing market as long as it is done intelligently.
Financial scaremongering is the activity du jour on Capitol Hill. Let's not be naive - we have a serious problem that could potentially collapse our economic system, so we have to be big boys and girls about this and take one on the chin to save the house of cards from falling. However, we're smarter than this. We know better than to rush a bad plan through simply because President Bush, Secretary Paulson and congressional leadership are feeling pressure to fix the problem immediately. Are we even sure how immediate the problem is? Do we really have to push a bill through in 48 hours when maybe a week of serious, well thought out discussions would serve us better?
In this midst of this panic they are playing the blame game, and to be honest if I were King of America I'd fire every single one of them, eliminate the concept of seniority, make it illegal to serve more than two consecutive terms and ask the American people to start over with their government by voting in an entirely new Congress. Those politicians who encouraged reckless borrowing (aka forcing lenders under the threat of criminal action to provide affordable loans to low income people, based on 'stated income'), prevented regulation of Fanny and Freddie (Demos), prevented regulation of the financial markets (Repubs) should no longer have viable political careers. Our Congress has well-earned their 9-10% approval rating - we have the worst Congress to have ever been assembled.
Anyway, you know how I feel about politicians.
Permalink: Alternate_Bailout_Proposals.html
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09/17/08 12:39 - 65ºF - ID#45707
Stress Relief
Permalink: Stress_Relief.html
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09/15/08 11:48 - 61ºF - ID#45686
Vegetarianism - A Track To A Small Brain
Regarding the blowup on Wall St. - I wanted to make a comment since (e:jim) said something in the chatter that made me consider it. The thing about investment banks is that they are generally not lending institutions, but borrowing institutions. They do not affect the everyday life of Americans in the same way as a lending institution. I don't think there is any doubt that more regulation on Wall St. is needed, and regardless of who is elected it is definitely coming. However, there is no divine right for investment banks to be in business. It was their own incredible stupidity for backing these so-called strategic investment vehicles (or whatever the term is, depending on the company) with bundled mortgages that were never going to be paid back. If they crash and burn, so be it.
I don't want today's confusion to necessarily worry people who are wondering what this all means. The most damage to everyday Americans has been caused by lending institutions, who gave out money freely to people who clearly couldn't afford what it was they were borrowing. Even worse, many of these companies encouraged this type of reckless borrowing. Investment banks like Lehman borrow money just like individuals do, except at much larger scales and for different reasons. Their mistake was in borrowing money to make investments backed by what is now essentially bundled junk debt. They couldn't borrow more money to keep the ship afloat, which is exactly why Lehman is walking the plank. This is also why Merrill Lynch sold up before it got too late.
Consumers can begin gulping if a big boy like Citigroup folds. Having the financial sector in turmoil is bad for the economy, and therefore is bad for America, but Lehman is not a Fanny or Freddie, whose decisions directly affect millions of lives. It is ironic that it is the lending institutions are getting bailed out, since they were the ones who really made the big mistakes that are costing people their houses. I would never advocate for an investment bank to be bailed out. Bear Stearns was bailed out, but according to some circles they are "too big" to be allowed to fail. It remains to be seen how many more banks fit into that category, but based on the government's mood I wouldn't count on any more bail outs for publicly traded, mismanaged companies in the future. Free markets are about survival of the fittest - I think I'm going to nominate Lehman Bros. for a Darwin Award, if at all possible.
Permalink: Vegetarianism_A_Track_To_A_Small_Brain.html
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09/12/08 06:15 - 71ºF - ID#45658
My Friend In Houston
I'm really worried. I tried to call him but getting a line is pretty much impossible.
Permalink: My_Friend_In_Houston.html
Words: 68
09/11/08 04:11 - 73ºF - ID#45642
Interesting Politico "Arena" Entry
It is a worthwhile read and a lot of salient points are made. Personally, I'd suggest that the media certainly is complicit in focusing on silly stuff. If the topic isn't about politics then it is about "celebutards" such as Paris Hilton and such. News is sensationalized for the same reasons in the US as they are anywhere else - to make money. It isn't as if the mainstream guys are doing good business, particularly in print. I think the media is desperate to compete for attention and are generally willing to extend remarks on the most trivial of topics if it means gaining an edge.
Permalink: Interesting_Politico_quot_Arena_quot_Entry.html
Words: 154
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You're a funny man, (e:josh) .
Well, seeing as how McCain's woefully crap campaign team are pushing Obama to victory by attacking liberals and calling him a 'pal' of terrorists I think we can safely assume that the independents and filthy liberals don't agree with Joshua's sentiments and, seeing as how Conservatives are already mobilized to their hilt and it is still not enough, it is not really them that matter this year.
It's funny to me that in my country I am not considered a liberal but your politics is so far right of the median that here I am a fully paid up bed wetter
I personally don't mind the nastiness, this country has been like a bad divorce/custody struggle for the last eight years. It needs to get it's anger out, blame mom and dad, cry, fight and stomp it's feet, regain it's dignity and get on with it's job
roll on november
Based on the information I have it is New York City. Isn't the finger and fuck you the New York City modo it also isn't at all like any of those other cities you mentioned. That New York Attitude is one of the reasons I wouldn't live there.
That isn't a McCain rally by the way. I can tell it isn't because as everyone walks by they are going past booths. I can't tell what is going on at them but the street is closed off and people are walking about. I know that when I'm at something and I see some political dude who is at every festival it upsets me a bit. Yeah I know it is a good way to get your name out there, but come on you can't really care about every event that happens in a city. Maybe I'm wrong and all those booths are for McCAin but somehow I doubt that.
Yes liberals can get mad sometimes but It isn't only them who yell and shout and protest stuff. The way you are writting it you make it sound like it isn't there right. The Klu Klux Klan has just as much right to walk down the street and have blacks and others yell at them as the Klan Had the rights to Yell at MLK marches.
Besides what should someone do who doesn't agree with McCain walk up to one of the rally people and star talking as they are walking. They aren't in the parade and then it looks like they support them. As much as I don't like the people who protest Pride Parades as long as all they do is talk and hold signs they have a right to do that. I think it would be better if people just shut up and didn't yell. But the republicans do it to so don't sit up there and act like it doesn't happen the other way around.
Because Fred Phelps is a dick, all Christians are dicks.
Because you find a clip of people not being polite to McCain supporters, all liberals are like this. And certainly, we aren't living in politically heated times.
And what the fuck is up with that video?
"Are intellectuals boo and jeer them as well... just as they have been taught to do"
"Zero tolerance for the opposing viewpoint... yet they want to impose their rules on our lives."
What a grand mischaracterization of intellectuals. What a great stereotyping of New York City.
This sent you over the edge? This enraged you so you were willing to paint liberals with broad strokes?
And again, you engage yourself in a logical fallacy. By supporting Obama we are in league with the worst of his supporters? Because we share a similar value, we ergo support everything about these people. Or calls for respectful discourse in the campaign are obviously hollow as there are those among us who are not respectful. And what of John McCain? Is he immune from his more vile supporters because we magically disengage from faulty thinking?
And if you're the one who decides where the cut off group is for group membership -- Like: all liberals includes the whackos, all people in my group just include the civil people -- then you can win arguments by default.
That doesn't sit right with me in the slightest. Especially when I have experience from the other point of view of things equally vile directed at me.
I am a justice-oriented, green, anti-establishment, radical Jesus-follower.
I didn't mention it because most "discourse" in this country is almost exactly the same. In fact, the tone of the superimposed text, while not a middle finger, is just as inflammatory and irrational. Things like: "FACT: Islamic radicals would be more welcome on the Upper West Side than American Patriots," do nothing to encourage productive conversation. (Really?! Did they bring in some radicals as a control group? Did they conduct a scinetific survey?) Furthermore, if they KNEW they were unwelcome, than why did they go/stay?
One bunch of bullies wanted a fight, another bunch gave them exactly what they wanted.
I wish this was uncommon, but its only the smallest bit worse than what can be seen on Fox, CNN, and MSNBC.
All of them are idiots.
Furthermore, I was at an Obama office in South Carolina a few months ago where McCain supporters were shouting 'no black in the white house' anytime they thought the police weren't listening...
I hope McCain chokes on election day...not because he is a 'conservative' but because he's fucking creepy.
And whatever, "GOP political culture" was, I don't think it is anymore. From where I sit, it looks like principles have gone out the window. (Not 100%, of course, but quite a bit). Anyway, I've listened to right-wing radio. Don't tell me that there aren't crazed radicals.
So, you are wrong. I have personally been accosted on the street in at least 5 occasions by conservatives. In Buffalo, NY, Salt Lake City, UT, and Portland, OR.
What you're doing would be like me condemning all conservatives just because the conservatives who go to the effort to show up at a Palin rally call Obama a terrorist. Just because conservatives attack me in the street.
If I were to judge conservatives by the most outspoken among them, I would be forced to conclude that they are incapable of making an argument that wasn't based on emotions, hated anyone who wasn't just like themselves, and that all conservatives think you're unpatriotic and a terrorist sympathizer or faggot if you disagree with them.
Luckily, I don't judge conservatives by the worse among them.
The right is getting angrier and angrier, now that they're out of power. McCain-Palin rallies demonstrate this. Who do you think is going to be protesting in the streets these next 8 years? It's going to swing as the pendulum of power swings. You're just used to seeing the left out of power, not in it.
I do accuse you of cherry picking and painting with too broad a brush. You can't see any incident without taking it as confirmation about what you already believe and are predisposed to think about groups of people. It drives me crazy.
(e:drew) - no it wouldn't, and I've just illustrated that it is a reality on the other side. I'd love to see the day where I'm wrong on that, because I would truly be astounded and curious. I'll explain why. GOP supporters have never radicalized themselves in the same way that the left has. The GOP isn't the party of the loud, annoying protester and never will be. The only political party in America that commonly uses groups to make a point in the fashion you've just seen is the Democratic Party. The GOP would have to behave more like liberals in order to make that scenario a reality. What you're talking about is not ingrained in the Republican political culture.
(e:carolinian) - very astute comment. Thank you - I appreciated your even keeled approach. A signed copy of my upcoming book is in the mail!
I've gotten four people to respond, and not one word to condemn the behavior in the video. Is it because acting like spoiled children is understandable when you agree with their disposition? I knew that most would respond by pointing their fingers at someone else, but really folks. C'mon.
And the next time somebody refers to me as a conservative I'm going to explode. I understand perfectly well that for some people, if you aren't a Kool-Aid drinking liberal than you must be a blood-drinking conservative. I'm neither. I am a libertarian first and foremost, who believes in nearly unlimited personal liberty and freedom from government intrusion, whether it be personal, financial or otherwise. Believing big government is disastrous doesn't make me conservative. The fact that I loathe liberal political ideology doesn't make me conservative. Because I see war as a necessary evil that one would hope is rarely utilized doesn't make me conservative. Trust me, many of my social views don't make me a conservative either. I've flat out been called liberal on many occasions because I'm pro-choice.
If you want to characterize me, consider me first and foremost to be antiliberal in 90% of cases, with the rest of my time preoccupied with thinking of ways to keep government out of my life and liberals out of government. I would vote Democrat if there was one worth my vote. I thought Spitzer was worth it and look where it got me. =/ I like our current governor a great deal because he's a pragmatist.
(e:janelle) - you are going to get Christian evangelical nuts at every pro-choice rally in the nation. We're talking about the difference between nut jobs showing up to a pro-choice rally at a particular place and particular time, intent on irritating and pissing off the participants, compared to people getting booed, heckled and flicked off en masse by latent folks in the area hanging out, drinking coffee and walking down the street of a major American city. There is a HUGE difference between the two, although both are despicable actions. What I'm suggesting is that you'll never see a comparable scene with the political affiliations flipped. As an Obama supporter you aren't going to show up in Tulsa at a street fair, march with your buddies while holding up Obama signs and get the nastiness that you've seen in that video from New York.
I've also found that the only thing that these people find more offensive than the opposite extreme viewpoint is a moderate viewpoint recognizing the good and bad points of both sides.
On the other hand, the conservatives that I know in the Elmwood Village know their neighbors, disagree, yet everyone remains civil. (and you and your twin aren't the only ones).
Were I to travel, with a bunch of EV people in Obama shirts to a Republican stronghold (if we can find one ;) ) a similar thing would happen.
granted, it's canada. but don't paint right wingers as being the thinking dignified morality. politics inflame, period.
When I went to a pro-choice rally in Washington, I don't believe it was the liberals yelling vile things at me; it was the conservatives/republicans.
Yes, they are all at McCain rallies shouting the same things.