-
Posts
2,032 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by fromthetop2
-
The much anticpated, long awaited, change to our way of life- the DTV transition- comes Friday. Delayed often, it is now set to go and the date won't be changed. From an industry article this morning: "With DTV coming and analog going in just a matter of days, 2.5% of all US TV households still aren??™t ready, according to Nielsen. The number stood at 5.8M on February 1, so progress has been made, but there is still a ways to go. Nielsen??™s latest reading was based on results gathered 6/7/09. It did note significant gains in all categories compared to the prior 5/24/09 temperature taking. The overall 2.5% percentage of unprepared houses improved from 2.7% on the prior survey. All categories also improved. The White total fell from 2.1% to 1.9%; African Americans fell from 5.4% to 5.1%; Hispanics fell from 4.7% to 4.3%; Asians fell from 3.2% to 3.1%; those aged 35 or less fell from 5.0% to 4.6%; and those aged 55 or more fell from 1.5% to 1.3%. Draw your own conclusions from the data above. I guess it was worth spending all of that money so that an extra 3M people get the message. We can infer also from the data that there is a class of people who just are too far down the Darwin chain to ever get educated. Interesting, it breaks down by numbers in Tennessee of those who are permanently stupid: Memphis (23,919), Knoxville (12,328), Nashville (19,208). Other Tennessee TV Markets were too small to sample. Are YOU Ready???
-
Government takeover of Healthcare
fromthetop2 replied to rappy's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
This has been my professional industry for the majority of my working career. I have seen the good the bad, and the changes. This is what my professional experience tells me: The US citizen has access to the finest healthcare systems in the world. Like everything else, you have to be an informed, discriminating consumer. You also have to have some internal will to practice being healthy and engage in a healthy lifestyle. You also have to plan and take an active role in your own health. Like a car, if you neglect basic maintenance, trash it up, it will eventual fail. And it will cost in time and $$ to fix it if it is fixable. Unfortunately in this case, you can't trade in for a new one and start all over. Here is the challenge. When you claim you had a procedure and it cost you nothing, that is what the real problem is in a nutshell. There is a cost involved in providing the patient with the healthcare they demand. It cost real $$ for a hospital to operate, it cost real $$ to pay the salaries of the healthcare providers, it cost real $$ to buy the equipment to assist the doctors in providing an accurate as possible diagnosis, it cost real$$ to maintain this equipment and to maintain the different departments within the hospital. But when you pay $0, $5, or $500, it is a FRACTION of the actual expense. The problem is that American's want someone else to pay for the care. And if the outcome is not what they (or anyone else wanted), they want to sue the hospital and be compensated handsomely. You want to go to the doctor you want, when you want, and pay what you want-when you want. You want to go to the hospital you want, when you want, and you want the BEST of everything- and then pay what you want when you want. If the diagnosis or treatment doesn't suit you, you don't want to pay and want to go where you'll hear the words "You are fine, keep living the way you do." In a recent survey of 463 hospitals, the median were operating at a ZERO% profit margin, 50% were operating in the red. Too many people abuse the system, and the system is inefficient too often. As PJ O'Rourke stated " If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free." -
Obamas D day speech
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
It is abundantly clear that Obama's prime motivation in his speeches is to be personally liked. It is his Messiah complex in full bloom. To that end, he will throw anyone and everyone- including a whole country- under the bus. He will apologize and point to America as being the one who is doing the harming-whether or not it is appropriate, needed, or even accurate. Once again, facts don't matter, it is all about perception. Blame Them- Love ME. It is and continues to be only about him. It is the ultimate celebrity-in-chief mode, constantly looking for approval, affection, ratings, great polling numbers, and adulation. It is how he can separate himself from his own cabinet, his own policies, his own governing. It is narcissism on a scale that would make Hollywood blush in embarrassment- if they could be ever embarrassed by a Democrat for any reason. Meanwhile, Obamarxism is destroying this country without any remorse. -
I think all brunettes should dye their hair blonde.
-
She seems to be a perfect mirror to President Obama. Doesn't appear to be particularly learned; but hey, she has life experience of being a latino woman. Ironically, so does Jennifer Lopez. Republicans will twist their thumbs into knots, worrying about how this will play out with the Latino and female voters. Don't worry. If the Latinos didn't get offended by the Dem's smashing of AG Gonzoles, they won't be voting for you anyway. And if women didn't get offended by their treatment of Gov. Palin; then check-they won't be voting for you either. Try voting with your convictions. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" /> If you believe that this position deserves someone who will interpret laws drawn up by lawgivers in the framework of the Constitution and case law, then vote against her. If you believe that this position deserves someone who will legislate from the bench, and not worry about case law- a policy maker in robes- then by all means step aside and cheer her on. Either way, please grill her at least harder than they would on "Hardball."
-
Are u ready for the surprise?
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
Fiscal conservatism is what the last bunch of Rhino's forgot to bring to the table. You cannot get elected a Republican and then govern like a Democrat and be "liked". The Dem's will crucify you anyway, and the GOP will bleed at election time. Things go in such cycle; there were too many people who grew up during the Clinton years, who were also too young to understand what was going on, who longed for those "good old days" and helped get BHO elected. But what they elected were their parents' generation 60's radicals- not the Clintons. Those in power now are the old -school flower children turned environmental activists; Black Panther raised, Weather Underground nurtured, Yippie's and their progeny. This group has money and idealism, and a still strong affinity for the works of Trotsky, Chairman Mao and the lifestyle of Che Guevera. Liberation Theology, Revolution, the worst elements of the old Civil Rights and Peace Movements, the whole toxic soup all dressed up and fired up for the new Millenium. They conned the young and guilable; they worked them like the old playbook they used in Berkely and Madison- this time with the Internet, blogging, and chat rooms. They texted the plays before the old fogey Republicans could turn around. Organize at the grass roots, drown out debate, distill it all into a slogan; "Hope & Change." How easy it all was! The Repubs need to focus on the economy and national security- and nothing else. Nothing else plays. -
"Build America Bonds", or timebombs
fromthetop2 replied to fromthetop2's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
Tex, I'd personally take Tom Hagen as my consigliere', if you catch my drift. That should get the message across, particularly if you bring a fish wrapped in newspaper. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> -
"Build America Bonds", or timebombs
fromthetop2 replied to fromthetop2's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
Tex, you are not alone in your property tax problem. On average, local governments get nearly three-quarters of their tax revenues from real estate assessments. If they have a fiscal crisis, this is the biggest "well" on the property in which to pump up revenue. In metro Atlanta, more than 50,000 people filed appeals ahead of the April 1 property tax deadline (despite home prices are back down to 1996 levels there). It was a ten-fold increase over last year. The good news (?) is that, unlike sales or income taxes, they can be directly challenged. According to ABC News (believe them if you like), 40% of assessment appeals are successful. Good Luck and good bargaining. -
"Build America Bonds", or timebombs
fromthetop2 replied to fromthetop2's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
This morning from USA Today: "In a historic first, Uncle Sam has supplanted sales, property and income taxes as the biggest source of revenue for state and local governments. The shift shows how deeply the recession is cutting. Federal stimulus money aimed at reviving the economy and a sharp drop in tax collections have altered, at least temporarily, the traditional balance of how states, cities, counties and schools pay for their operations. The sales tax had been the No. 1 source of state and local revenue since the mid-1970s, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Before that, property taxes were the primary source. That changed in the first three months of 2009. Federal grants ??” early stimulus money plus conventional federal aid ??” soared 15% in the first quarter to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $437 billion, eclipsing sales taxes, which fell 2%. The dominance of federal money is set to expand dramatically this year because tax collections are sinking while the bulk of federal stimulus aid is just starting to arrive. "This money isn't manna from heaven. It comes with a price," says Indiana state Sen. Jim Buck, a Republican. He worries that the federal money will leave states under greater federal control and burden future generations with debt." -
It is becoming more and more apparent that in the stimulus package, the overall rationale is to make Barry look great in the short term- all the while digging a deeper economic hole than ever imagined. One last big party and then- POW! States and municipalities are teetering on collapse- burdened by overextended budgets and financial obligations exacerbated and revealed by the economic downturn. Their long-term woes may worsen thanks to one piece of the fiscal stimulus bill-the Build America Bonds program. In short, these are new financing tools for state and local governments. The bonds, which allow a new direct federal payment subsidy, are taxable bondes issued by state and local governments that will give them access to the conventional corporate debt markets. At the election of the state and local govenrments, the Treasury Department will make a direct payment to the state of local governmental issuer in an amount equal to 35% of the interest payment on the the Build America Bonds. As a result of this federal subsidy payment, state and local governments will have lower net borrowing costs and be able to reach more sources of borrowing than with traditional tax exempt or tax credit bonds. California, which intends to market the bonds in Europe, is planning on selling $3B of the bonds. New Jersey is preparing a $1B issue. California is also pressing the government to insure the short term debt of municipalities The problem? Have a yawning fiscal gap, plug it with borrowed money- and delay the day of reckoning once more. Or, how about defaulting to France, Germany, or China at the expense of your local government? Don't cut costs- promise more, borrow more. These scenarios will make this recession look like the good old days!
-
Lib's working hard to put blame on Bush
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
If you do not wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, If you frequent areas of large crowds, Then you have a hightened chance of getting the flu. This flu, any flu, any type of "bug." If you DO get the flu, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Flu Flu (heck if you get a bad cold) AND: You are an infant, or You are elderly, or You are already very sick with a compromised immune system, Your are at risk for a more severe outcome from any virus or infection; including possible death. This has always been the case, always will be the case, and is nothing new to report -
From the "paper of record" comes this not-so-startling analysis: Fabrizio Costantini for The New York Times DETROIT ??” In the devastating slump that has forced one of Detroit??™s automakers into bankruptcy and another to the edge of it, the United Automobile Workers union stands to become one of the industry??™s few winners. According to restructuring plans proposed this week, the union will have more than half the stock in Chrysler and a third of General Motors, meaning it will have tremendous influence, with the government, in determining the future of the companies. Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/business...&ei=5087%0A Here's how Obama, the Treasury, and the UAW will soon own GM: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124105303238271343.html Happy May Day, Workers of the World Unite! /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
-
More on the Pirate takedown from an e-mail I recently received from a friend who is involved with the USN: (McGinley is a retired Rear Admiral and a classmate/company mate of mine (USNA '61). Buddy Wellborn was a football star at USNA and retired after having command of the USS San Jacinto.) Marshall, Your "Real" story is not exactly the way I heard it, and probably has a few political twists thrown in to stir the pot. Rather than me trying to correct it, I'll just tell you what I found out from my contacts at NSWC Norfolk and at SOCOM Tampa. First though, let me orient you to familiarize you with the "terrain." In Africa from Djibouti at the southern end of the Red Sea eastward through the Gulf of Aden to round Cape Guardafui at the easternmost tip of Africa (also known as "The Horn of Africa") is about a 600 nm transit before you stand out into the Indian Ocean . That transit is comparable in distance to that from the mouth of the Mississippi at New Orleans to the tip of Florida at Key West-- except that 600 nm over there is infested with Somalia pirates. Ships turning southward at the Horn of Africa transit the SLOC (Sea Lane of Commerce) along the east coast of Somalia because of the prevailing southerly currents there. It's about 1,500 nm on to Mombassa, which is just south of the equator in Kenya . Comparably, that's about the transit distance from Portland Maine down the east coast of the US to Miami Florida . In other words, the ocean area being patrolled by our naval forces off the coast of Somalia is comparable to that in the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River east to Miami then up the eastern seaboard to Maine . Second, let me globally orient you from our Naval Operating Base in Norfolk, VA, east across the Atlantic to North Africa, thence across the Med to Suez in Egypt, thence southward down the Red Sea to Djibouti at the Gulf of Aden, thence eastward to round Cape Guardafui at the easternmost tip of Africa, and thence southerly some 300 miles down the east cost of Somali out into the high seas of the Indian Ocean to the position of MV ALABAMA is a little more than 7,000 nm, and plus-nine time-zones ahead of EST. Hold that thought, in that, a C-17 transport averaging a little better than 400 kts (SOG) takes the best part of 18 hours to make that trip. In the evening darkness late Thursday night, a team of Navy SEALs from NSWC (Naval Surface Warfare Center) Norfolk parachuted from such a C-17 into the black waters (no refraction of light) of the Indian Ocean-- close-aboard to our 40,000 ton amphibious assault ship, USS BOXER (LHD 4), the flagship of our ESG (Expeditionary Strike Group) in the AOR (Area Of Responsibility, the Gulf of Aden). They not only parachuted in with all of their "equipment," they had their own inflatable boats, RHIB's (Rigid Hull, Inflatable Boats) with them for over-water transport. They went into BOXER's landing dock, debarked, and staged for the rescue-- Thursday night. And, let me comment on time-late: In that the SEAL's quick response-- departing ready-alert in less than 4 hours from Norfolk-- supposedly surprised POTUS's staff, whereas President Obama was miffed not to get his "cops" there before the Navy. He reportedly questioned his staff, "Will 'my' FBI people get there before the Navy does?" It took the FBI almost 12 hours to put together a team and get them packed-up-- for an "at sea" rescue. The FBI was trying to tell him that they are not practiced to do this-- Navy SEALs are. But, BHO wanted the FBI there "to help," that is, carry out the Attorney General's (his) orders to negotiate the release of Captain Phillips peacefully-- because apparently he doesn't trust GW's military to carry out his "political guidance." The flight of the FBI's passenger jet took a little less than 14 hours at 500-some knots to get to Djibouti . BOXER'S helos picked them up and transported them out to the ship. The Navy SEALs were already there, staged, and ready to act by the time POTUS's FBI arrived on board latter that evening. Notably, the first request by the OSC (On Scene Commander) that early Friday morning to take them out and save Captain Phillips was denied, to wit: "No, wait until 'my' FBI people get there." Third, please consider a candid assessment of ability that finds that the FBI snipers had never practiced shooting from a rolling, pitching, yawing, surging, swaying, heaving platform-- and, target-- such as a ship and a lifeboat on the high seas. Navies have been doing since Admiral Nelson who had trained "Marines" to shoot muskets from the ship's rigging-- ironically, he was killed at sea in HMS VICTORY at the Battle of Trafalgar by a French Marine rifleman that shot him from the rigging of the French ship that they were grappling alongside. Notably, when I was first training at USNA in 1955, the Navy was doing it with a SATU, Small Arms Training Unit, based at our Little Creek amphib base. Now, Navy SEAL's, in particular SEAL Team SIX (The "DevGru") based at NSWC ( Naval Surface Warfare Center ) at Little Creek do that training now, and hone their skills professionally-- daily. Shooting small arms from a ship is more of an accomplished "Art Form" than it is a practiced skill. When you are "in the bubble" and "in tune" with the harmonic motion you find, through practice, that you are "able to put three .308 slugs inside the head of a quarter at 100 meters, in day or night-- or, behind a camouflaged net or a thin enclosure, such as a superstructure bulkhead. Yes, we have the monocular scopes that can "see" heat-- and, draw a bead on it. SEALs are absolutely expert at it-- with the movie clips to prove it. Okay, now try to imagine patrolling among the boats fishing everyday out on the Grand Banks off our New England coast, and then responding to a distress call from down around the waters between Florida and the Bahamas . Three points for you to consider here: (1) Time-Distance-Speed relationships for ships on the high seas, for instance, at a 25-knot SOA (Speed Of Advance) it takes 24 hours to make good 600 nm-- BAINBRIDGE did. (2) Fishermen work on the high seas, and (3) The best place to hide as a "fisherman" pirate is among other fishermen Early Wednesday morning, 4/8/2009, MV ALABAMA is at sea in the IO about 300 miles off the (east) coast of Somalia en route to Mombassa Kenya . Pirates in small boat start harassing her, and threatening her with weapons. MV ALABAMA 's captain sent out the distress call by radio, and ordered his Engineer to shut down the engines as well as the ship-service electrical generators-- in our lingo, "Go dark and cold." He informed his crew by radio what was happening, and ordered them to go to an out-of-the-way compartment and lock themselves in it-- from the inside. He would stay in the pilot house to "negotiate" with the pirates. The pirates boarded, captured the Captain, and ordered him to start the engines. He said he would order his Engineer to do so, and he called down to Engine Control on the internal communication system, but got no answer. The lead pirate ordered two of his four men to go down and find him and get the engines started. Inside a ship without any lights is like the definition of dark. The advantage goes to the people who work and live there. They jumped the two pirates in a dark passageway. Both pirates lost their weapons, but one managed to scramble and get away. The other they tied up, put tape over his mouth and a knife at his throat. Other members of the crew opened the drain cocks on the pirates boat and cast it adrift. It foundered and sunk. The scrambling pirate made it back to the pilot house and told of his demise. The pirates took the Captain at gun point, and told him to launch one of his rescue boats (not a life boat, per se). As he was lowering the boat for them, the crew appeared with the other pirate to negotiate a trade. The crew let their hostage go to soon, and the pirates kept the captain. But, he purposefully had lowered the boat so it would jam. With the rescue boat jammed, the pirates jumped over to a lifeboat and released it as the captain jumped in the water. They fired at him, made him stop, and grabbed him out of the water. Now, as night falls in the vastness of the Indian Ocean , we have the classic "Mexican" standoff, to wit: A life-boat that is just that, a life-boat adrift without any means of propulsion except oars and paddles; and, a huge (by comparison) Motor Vessel Container Ship adrift with a crew that is not going to leave their captain behind. The pirates are enclosed under its shelter-covering, holding the captain as their hostage. The crew is hunkered down in their ship waiting for the "posse" to arrive. After receiving MV ALABAMA 'S distress call, USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG 96) was dispatched by the ESG commander to respond to ALABAMA 's distress call. At best sustainable speed, she arrived on scene the day after-- that is, in the dark of that early Thursday morning. As BAINBRIDGE quietly and slowly, at darkened-ship without any lights to give her away, arrived on scene, please consider a recorded interview with the Chief Engineer of MV ALABAMA describing BAINBRIDGE's arrival. He said it was something else "... to see the Navy slide in there like a greyhound!" He then said as she slipped in closer he could see the "Stars and Stripes" flying from her masthead. He got choked up saying it was the "...proudest moment of my life." Phew! Let that sink in. Earlier in the day, one of the U.S. Navy's Maritime Patrol Aircraft, a fixed wing P3C, flew over to recon the scene. They dropped a buoy with a radio to the pirates so that the Navy's interpreter could talk with the pirates. When BAINBRIDGE arrived, the pirates thought the radio to be a beaconing device, and threw it overboard. They wanted a satellite telephone so that they could call home for help. Remember now, they are fishermen, not "Rocket Scientists," in that, they don't know that we can intercept the phone transmission also. MV ALABAMA provided them with a satellite phone. They called home back to "somebody" in Eyl Somalia (so that we now know where you live) to come out and get them. The "somebody" in Eyl said they would be out right away with other hostages, like 54 of them from other countries, and that they would be coming out in two of their pirated ships. Right-- and, the tooth fairy will let you have sex with her. Yea, in paradise. The "somebody" in Eyl just chalked up four more expendables as overhead for "the cost of operation." Next page. Anyway, ESG will continue to "watch" Eyl for any ships standing out. The Navy SEAL team, SEAL TEAM SIX, from NSWC briefed the OSC (Commander Castellano, CO BAINBRIDGE) on how they could rescue the captain from the life boat with swimmers-- "Combat Swimmers," per se. That plan was denied by POTUS because it put the captain in danger-- and, involved killing the pirates. The FBI negotiators arrived on scene, and talked the pirates into sending their wounded man over for treatment Saturday morning. Later that afternoon, the SEAL's sent over their RHIB with food and water to recon the life boat but the pirates shot at it. They could have taken them out then (from being fired upon) but were denied again being told that the captain was not in "imminent danger." The FBI negotiators calmed the situation by informing the pirates of threatening weather as they could see storm clouds closing from the horizon, and offered to tow the life boat. The pirates agreed, and BAINBRIDGE took them under tow in their wake at 30 meters-- exactly 30 meters, which is exactly the distance the SEALs practice their shooting skills. With the lifeboat under tow, riding comfortably bow-down on BAINBRIDGE's wake-wave ("rooster tail"), had a 17-second period of harmonic motion, and at the end of every half-period (8.5 seconds) was steady on. The light-enhanced (infra-red heat) monocular scopes on the SEAL's .308 caliber Mark 11 Mod 0 H&K suppressor-fitted sniper rifles easily imaged their target very clearly. Pirates in a life boat at 30-meters could be compared to fish in a barrel. All that was necessary was to take out the plexiglass window so that it would not deflect the trajectory of the high velocity .308 round. So, a sniper (one of four) with a wad-cutter round (a flaxen sabot) would take out the window a split second before the kill-shot-- no change in sight-picture, just the window blowing out, clean. Now, here's the part BHO's "whiz kids" knew as well as the Navy hierarchy, including CO BAINBRIDGE and CO SEAL TEAM SIX. It's the law in Article 19 of Appendix L in the "Convention of the High Seas" that the Commanding Officer of a US Ship on the high seas is obligated to respond to distress signals from any flagged ship (US or otherwise), and protect the life and property thereof when deemed to be in IMMINENT DANGER. So, in the final analysis, it would be Captain Castellano call as to "Imminent Danger," and that he alone was obligated (duty bound) to act accordingly. Got the picture? After medically attending to the wounded pirated, and feeding him, come first light (from the east) on Easter Sunday morning and the pirates saw they were being towed further out to sea (instead of westward toward land), the wounded pirate demanded to be returned to the lifeboat. There would BE NO more negotiations-- and, the four Navy SEAL snipers "in the bubble" went "Unlock." The pirate holding Captain Philips raised the gun to his head, and IMMINENT DANGER was so observed and noted in the Log as CO BAINBRIDGE gave the classic order: WEAPONS RELEASED! I can hear the echo in my earpiece now, "On my count (from 8.5 seconds), 3, 2, 1, !" POP, BANG! Out went the window, followed by three simultaneous shots. The scoreboard flashed: "GAME OVER, GAME OVER-- NAVY 3, PIRATES 0!" I hope you found the above informative as best I know it-- and, please excuse me in that after more than 50 years the Navy is still in me. I submit that AMERICA is going to make a comeback, and more than likely it'll be on the back of our cherished youth serving with honor in Our military. So, let's Look Up, Get Up-- and, Never Give Up! God Bless Our Troops, and GOD SAVE AMERICA ! Buddy Wellborn, USNA Class of 1959, Dickinson, Texas.
-
The new obama patroitism
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
I, too, have a good friend who is a complete 180 degrees away from me politically. He lives out of town, so I have for the last few years been bombarded by his blogging on everything anti-Bush and anti-Republican. He and I would engage in a few back-and-forths before I would stop it by saying would would agree to disagree. His vision of reality was so starkly different then mine, it was mind-boggling. A few weeks ago, incredibly, he then wrote and asked if I would contribute to his campaign in testing the waters for a US Senate seat in Kentucky. I was flabbergasted. He claimed he was "a middle-of-the-road Democrat." My jaw bounced off the floor about six times. He actually wanted my money (although, in a cynical way, they have always been about wanting my money)! I guess the road has dramatically shifted, and the lanes have slid off to the shoulder. It is this drift that has allowed a book that Chavez gave Obama (socialist drivel from 1971) to rise to #5 on the best seller lists. To look at the right as potential terrorists? Should we have talked about a domestic leftist assault on our country when we had a middle-left President and a terrific economy? It would be fueled by dissaffected actors, academics, and unionistas, I suppose. Unfortunately, my friend hasn't blogged since the Inaguration. I guess he's got nothing to rant about, or is incapable of blogging unless he is upset with the status quo. I guess it's time for me to start blogging him. -
makes me want to vomit.
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
As a public service, I am posting a segment of an e-mail I received this morning: CNN has just shut down Susan Roesgen's email. Instead please email CNN Executive Vice President Ken Jautz at: [email protected] and CNN Chairman & CEO, Phil Kent at: [email protected] I have a friend who went to the Tea Party in Nashville. He stated that parking was impossible, and there were more people there than any event he had ever seen there. The park police estimated the crowd at 10,000. The Pravda on the Cumberland (Tennessean) lone reporter said there were about 3,000. Guess which number was represented in the paper? The media has abandoned their role of reporting the news. I will predict that there will one day be, during our lifetime, an official media czar- or more properly put, a Minister of Information and Propaganda. This will be the last straw in stifling free speech which with the Media Elites do not agree with. They have demonized and slandered the Center and Right of the political spectrum. They control the content and frequency of the their own message, and editorialize the oppostion at every turn with impugnity. They will next attempt to codify their roles and message. "The Bright Shining City on the Hill" seems oh so far in the past. . . -
who would you believe?
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
Biden and Obama are the perfect match. When Obama tells a lie, it is an "exaggeration used to explain a bigger purpose." Biden, on the other hand, has a long-standing compulsion to make things up out of whole cloth (think Al Gore with less hair) to make him look more important. In both cases, the amateur psychologist would have a field day. Something about self-asteem and a need for validation come to mind. On the other hand, these instances where they "misspoke" are being totally bypassed by the fawning press. They would rather believe Biden on any subject than Karl Rove on this. Can we please, at some point get a consistent line the media holds all politicians to when it comes to their actions, deeds, and words? Do that Mr. Newspaper, and circulation might improve. Attempt that Mr. Magazine, and I might buy your publication again. Please try, Mr. Network News Anchor, and I might leave your broadcast on just a little longer. This American is weary of your inaction and blatant pandering. -
Where can I find season standings for DI and DII?
-
The only "implication" I see is that a lot of "graves" will be dug if this psychopath is allowed to continue. You go girl! Strong words will lead to even stronger words. What they don't realize is that- unlike President Bush- this administration will NEVER run out of words! Pretty soon we'll be left with no alternative but to deny them access to Hollywood movies and rock music. We may even have to loan them some more of China's money to make them stop.
-
I've got it figured out. Republicans pander to Democrats once they get in power, because they want to be liked. They want to be invited to the best parties, which are all the rage in DC. They will start sounding like Democrats because they think THAT will do the trick. Democrats really could give a flying you know what, and will still talk bad about them. Democrats pander to Europeans once they get in power, because they want to be liked. They want to be invited to the best parties, which are all the rage in Europe. They will start sounding like Europeans because they think THAT will do the trick. Europeans really could give a flying you know what, and will still talk bad about them. I am sure now, the Celebrity in Chief will take the Korean missle matter to the Security Council. He hopes they will go beyond the "serious concern" to "in the strongest language condemn" the Koreans Who Are Broke. That will show them! That will stop them! Obama and the UN have SPOKEN! Then after 17 consecutive times of ignoring "binding resolutions", will Obama concur that we must invade above the 38th parallel, because they A) have shown a strong interest in producing weapons of mass destruction, and we have proof. /cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /> have consistently ignored UN resolutions, C) are a clear and present danger to the World by their actions, D) their sadistic dictator who has murdered his own people needs to be overthrown so his people can enjoy freedom, and E) we need to establish Democratic governments as the surest method for world peace?
-
This is the week that determines whether or not the Preds get to the playoffs. Basically, win and your in. Trotz has gotten by with spit, duct tape, and mirrors while having his three biggest guns- on a team VERY short of firepower- out with injuries. Plus, they have a stand on your head rookie goalie who better start getting used to standing on his head from here on out. Last reg season home game Tuesday. Unfortuantely, if they do get in it seems we will be looking at our annual post-season opponent in either San Jose or Detroit. Chances are good for a sweep in those scenarios.
-
good perspective on bailouts and AIG
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
This has to be the most cogent media reply on the AIG bailout I've heard. To the point. Concise. Undeniable. Even a Democrat can understand this. ELA, where are you when we need you? -
obama's failing leadership
fromthetop2 replied to dandy82's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
Remember our conversations off-line Solly? It is getting scarier and scarier. -
No More Charitable Giving?
fromthetop2 replied to fromthetop2's topic in Politics, National Issues, & Controversy
As my father told me once, if you want to find fair in this life, look for it to come sometime toward the end of summer. You'll know it when it comes because they usually have a ferris wheel and corn-eating contests. That's the only "fair" you can ever count on. Because of the economic downturn, I am sick to death that I cannot give to the level I have in the past those charities that I favor. I have consistently done more than my fair share. I have committed to my church more than my fair share. I have begged others to support not- for- profit organizations I believed in because "at the very least it is tax deductable." I get calls weekly from worthy organizations and causes. Cut off the tax benefit, couple that with my shrinking 401K and lessening take home pay, and I will be forced to turn a deaf ear to those charities that depended on me. I will no longer be on their boards, I will no longer attend their functions, I will no longer write them a check. Is that the Hope and Change you want for ME and THESE people Mr. President?