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RedditOn the day before the State of the Union address, Senator James Webb said, "If we're putting all of this money into Iraq and ignoring New Orleans, then we're doing something wrong." He suggested that the city had "kind of fallen off the national radar screen over the last year."
Yesterday, as if to prove the Senator's point, President Bush delivered a 5,600-word speech without a single mention of the Gulf Coast recovery. In his last State of the Union address, just five months after what Senator Edward Kennedy described as "a disaster of biblical proportions," Bush devoted all of 156 words to the unprecedented devastation and tragic non-response.
The President's disconnect from the Gulf Coast plight brings to mind the words of one Congressman who said in the days following the disaster, "Indifference is a weapon of mass destruction." It's also consistent with a Bush administration that columnist Paul Krugman described as having "an ideological hostility to the very idea of using government to serve the public good." In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, Krugman wrote, "I don't think this is a simple tale of incompetence…. At a fundamental level, I'd argue, our current leaders just aren't serious about some of the essential functions of government. They like waging war, but they don't like providing security, rescuing those in need or spending on preventive measures. And they never, ever ask for shared sacrifice."
Imagine how different things might be if – at this moment – our president were sending 20,000 civilian workers into New Orleans instead of 20,000 more soldiers into Iraq. A Reconstruction Surge instead of a War Escalation Surge.
But the reality is that we are now spending $8.4 billion per month in Iraq, while in Louisiana, as Senator Mary Landrieu noted, "We still have over a quarter a million people not back in permanent housing. We have major infrastructure projects that will have to be complete. We have a school system to rebuild, a health care system to rebuild and still more work to do on securing the energy infrastructure for the Gulf Coast."
What this nation needed when the hurricanes hit – and needs today even more – is a President who doesn't avoid facing our greatest challenges and tragedies, but leads our government to address them head-on.
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Katrina vanden Heuvel
Thoughts on politics, current affairs, riffs and reflections on what’s in the news and what’s not--but should be.
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KVH
how dare you assume that public tax money should be used for anything other than waging wars to enrich our plutocrats!?!? sheesh! commie!
Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2007 @ 5:47pm
New Orleans is being handled, why should he bring it up anymore than the highways are being rebuilt ? America gave large and gave often for her fellow citizens and the city can't spend what is ear marked any faster than it is now...whats the problem ?
Posted by john maasch at 01/24/2007 @ 6:35pm
The contrarian jack-in-the-boxes are as amusing as they are predictable. The Gulf Coast took a big hit in 2005, in my estimate, the rebuilding efforts should be mentioned in the State of the Union address.
Posted by Greydon Clark at 01/24/2007 @ 7:06pm
Posted by GREYDON CLARK 01/24/2007 @ 7:06pm
NO NO NO NO NO! the only role of government is to maintain law enforcement to protect plutocrat's property and military forces to wage wars that pad plutocrat's stock portfolios!!!!
commie!
Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2007 @ 7:10pm
New Orleans is being handled, why should he bring it up anymore than the highways are being rebuilt ? America gave large and gave often for her fellow citizens and the city can't spend what is ear marked any faster than it is now...whats the problem ?
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 01/24/2007 @ 6:35pm | ignore this person
Being handled in manner consistent with the Grover Norquist Nightmare: destroy government services so that the people loathe it. Make certain the government is disfunctional and corrupt, except when it requires the transfer of public resources into the bank accounts of the self-reliant, resourceful types written about in 19th century American literature; you know, the selfmade men who worked hard to be born into families which enabled them to walk through preordained scenerios where the most complicated of all choices was: Harvard or Yale? And then, which of daddy's business partners/acquaintances will let me work for them?
Posted by Oustbush at 01/24/2007 @ 7:44pm
Webb's "Iraq money should go to Louisiana" comments were not that brilliant.
After all, Iraq reconstruction funds are only about a billion dollars...and as many LIBERALS would say, we MUST help Iraq rebuild itself after the war (even if we don't pull-out).
So there was a bit of demogoguery to say we even COULD "pull money for Iraq and send it to Katrina victims", huh?
Posted by Mask at 01/24/2007 @ 8:02pm
"Harvard or Yale? And then, which of daddy's business partners/acquaintances will let me work for them?"
Like Kerry and Kennedy? Hillary? or all govt members of power?
"services so that the people loathe it..."
Most of us who know inefficient those services are for the amount they cost loathe it..not the people who need the services, but we loathe those whose answer is ALWAYS the govt.
" Make certain the government is disfunctional and corrupt,..."..
..make certain? The amount of money spent and wasted, stolen, misappropiated, lost, unaccounted for, and just plain looted is more than any corporation could ever dream up...
" requires the transfer of public resources into the bank accounts of the self-reliant, resourceful types"
This is the area why we self reliant types LOATHE you govt hacks... resources come FROM those who create, produce and grow ....not the other way around. Govt doesn't send me checks so I can prevent some one else from getting some service or entitlement you types believe one is to have simpley by breathing. Govt TAKES from my production and transfers it INTO the FEDERAL bank account..and from there is corrupts, wastes, and does it deeds...it is because I work and produce that YOU govt types can take from me and all the while blame me....and I have never even seen Yale, Harvard, ect.
"And then, which of daddy's business partners/acquaintances will let me work for them?"
Dream world...one may get a job because of who one knows, but one must be able to keep it alone....
It is you I fear just as much as AQ, as you can damage almost more with out even realizing...
Posted by john maasch at 01/24/2007 @ 8:14pm
Zero,
"Everyone please pause to notice that the Republicans just filibustered the minimum wage bill in the Senate. "
The bill effects less than 400,000 people and has as much impact on life as you. My 15 year might be thrilled...it will pass after congress gives small business a tax break to offset the job losses that accompany legislation like this...idiot.
Posted by john maasch at 01/24/2007 @ 8:25pm
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 01/24/2007 @ 8:25pm |
if there's one segment the dems should pander to...i mean court...its small to medium sized business...
see? i'm not a socialist after all...
heehee...
Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2007 @ 9:09pm
could you imagine having a hurricane kill almost 400 us citizens and the us army was off in some far away country--waging war against a country that had not really attacked us?
the president should bee impeached!!!!
september 1944: a major hurtricane hits new england killing almost 400 and causing about $100,000,000 in damage!!! What does FDR do? he allows the us army to participate in the FAILED attempt to bridge from holland into germany!!! (remember the movie 'a bridge too far"??). FDR, like shrub, had his priorities all screwed up!!! My FAMILY paid a PRICE during that hurricane and that bastard kept the army in europe!!! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN '44!!!!
Posted by marbiol at 01/24/2007 @ 9:09pm
could you imagine having a hurricane kill almost 400 us citizens and the us army was off in some far away country--waging war against a country that had not really attacked us?
the president should bee impeached!!!!
september 1944: a major hurtricane hits new england killing almost 400 and causing about $100,000,000 in damage!!! What does FDR do? he allows the us army to participate in the FAILED attempt to bridge from holland into germany!!! (remember the movie 'a bridge too far"??). FDR, like shrub, had his priorities all screwed up!!! My FAMILY paid a PRICE during that hurricane and that bastard kept the army in europe!!! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN '44!!!!
Posted by marbiol at 01/24/2007 @ 9:09pm
Posted by MARBIOL 01/24/2007 @ 9:09pm
Fabulous!!!
Posted by john maasch at 01/24/2007 @ 9:15pm
just the mere image of someone (like maasch) sitting at his computer and concocting various (pathetic) theoretical arguments against improving the lives of millions of working people, by raising the already pathetically low minimum wage (just over $5/hour), is nauseating.
the right wing point of view is always thus: "i had nothing. i made something of myself. now i have something. and i don't to share it with anyone who didn't make something of him or herself."
what these people always forget is that LUCK is always a factor. many people are simply unlucky. and if even they aren't unlucky, they just played a bad hand. in either case, why don't they deserve some help? can any intelligent person answer this question? does any self-described christian (like bush) actually deny helping those who are less fortunate, no matter the circumstances?
i mean, let's face it, haven't we given bush more than he deserves?
Posted by darladoon at 01/24/2007 @ 11:55pm
The bill effects less than 400,000 people and has as much impact on life as you.
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 01/24/2007 @ 8:25pm
But, hey . . . let's repeal the estate tax, right John?
Posted by Hman23 at 01/25/2007 @ 12:24am
from what we know, it appears that maasch owns a business. in order to run a business, one (usually) needs help (loans, employees, favors, etc).
see where i'm going with this?
Posted by darladoon at 01/25/2007 @ 12:24am
the bill effects a lot more than 400,000 people. more like 10 million.
Posted by darladoon at 01/25/2007 @ 12:24am
"But, hey . . . let's repeal the estate tax, right John?
Posted by HMAN23 01/25/2007 @ 12:24am"
Yup, Its their money they already paid taxes on and should be free to give it away without you stealing some. "
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 01:31am
"from what we know, it appears that maasch owns a business. in order to run a business, one (usually) needs help (loans, employees, favors, etc).
see where i'm going with this? '
yup, I do see...I never received a loan from any bank and had to earn it myself. I was robbed, lost my job and the IRS blocked me out of credit by liening my ass for years, even when I begged to let me try to get a loan after being robbed,instead they added penaties to $ 250,000....IRS agent said he didn't care and wanted money...I could have gone bankrupt but that was dishonorable..instead, lost my job, money,house, cars, country club, credit rating and bankability and paid my bills, fired sold everything I worked for 10 years...unlike my lib neighbor who bankoed...twice and kept his house...now he lectures on libs.... I went without and on my own.....BTW..IRS...8 years later took $ 5,000.....$ 20,000 less than I offered at the time...all I had...fuck them...
Do you know where I am going with this?
LUCK? My ASS....people make their own luck...luck is driving off a brige, killing someone, telling the world later, keeping your Senate seat and your wife until you tire of her, and keep getting re-elected to the "good guys" who care about little guys party and not the money boys....now thats luck.
I paid my bills BEFORE I ate and anyone who worked or I owed was paid with interest. it cost me years...thats not luck,.... what did MLK say? Oh, yeah, character...
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 01:42am
Lets hear the "Nation" update on what the State of Lousyana, its Demoncrat Gov. and the "chocolate city" Nagin is building is doing with the billions of aid already poured into the literal hole in the ground that is New Orleans!?
listen to the crickets in the background!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by RIO BRAVO
Like all you trolls, you can do one of two things,or maybe both:
Get your ass to Iraq and see how long you last.
Get your ass to New Orleans and repeat what you write here in the Ninth Ward and see how long you'd last.
Put your narrow minded bigotry and chicken hawk mentality to good use for once.
When you do as prescribed above, we will document it on film for all trolls to see and to learn from.
Posted by MCE337 at 01/25/2007 @ 04:06am
Ignore Zone man forgot to note 54 to 43 vote LOSS in the senate of the vote on minimum wage! Did the Demoncrat majority blink?
Posted by RIO BRAVO
The only "demons" are on the other side of the aisle...by the way, you can also take a job at Burger King for minimum wage to fulfill the prescribed duties you were suppose to do earlier. Waiting for how it goes...heading down to the recruitment office yet? Booked a flight to New Orleans? You obviously have time on your hands.
Posted by MCE337 at 01/25/2007 @ 04:09am
september 1944: a major hurtricane hits new england killing almost 400 and causing about $100,000,000 in damage!!! What does FDR do? he allows the us army to participate in the FAILED attempt to bridge from holland into germany!!! (remember the movie 'a bridge too far"??). FDR, like shrub, had his priorities all screwed up!!! My FAMILY paid a PRICE during that hurricane and that bastard kept the army in europe!!! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN '44!!!!
Ah, but WWII was a necessary, justified and competently (for the most part) prosecuted war.
Posted by brunowe at 01/25/2007 @ 06:04am
What it boils down to is that maasch was a victim and he wants his pound of flesh. Robbed, lost your job and the gov't went after you...looks like your luck ran out!
Posted by Chris C at 01/25/2007 @ 07:44am
Katrina:
Your commentary last night was right on the money - bust their balls and keep doing it.
Of course you have got to address the underlying cause at some point, or you are merely rearranging the deck chairs:
CONGRESS: NEW KNESSET FOR ZIONISTS?
By Harmony Grant
Recent events leave me wondering which is the real Jewish state--Israel or the USA? The Bush administration already took us to war to make the Mideast safer for Israel, and now it's gearing up for war with Iran--sending anti-missile missiles, an aircraft carrier, and cruise missile-firing ships to the Gulf--for the same reason.
If the midterm election was supposed to be a referendum against U.S. policy in the Mideast, it failed royally. In fact, the midterm election left things even rosier for Zionists and gloomier for those wanting an escape from the Jewish lobby's ruinous foreign policy.
Don't take my word for it; that's analysis from the JTA, Global News Service of the Jewish People ("Division of congressional posts seems to favor Jewish issues," Jan. 9, 2007). JTA's Ron Kampeas notes that in the new Congress there are "more Jews in powerful positions than the [Jewish] community has seen in more than a decade--it also features more friendly faces across the board, Jewish leaders say."
Although Jews comprise only 2 percent of the U.S. population, there are now 30 Jews in the House, an increase of 4 from the last Congress, and "a record 13 Jews in the Senate…20 percent of the Democratic presence." (JTA) Significantly, JTA says, both House and Senate have Jews in the top political position of caucus chair. Rep. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) chairs the Senate and Rep. Rahm Emanual (D-Ill) chairs the House.
Who now controls the International Relations Committee with jurisdiction over US foreign relations, border disputes, foreign loans, diplomacy, measures related to international commerce and economic policy, and over the American Red Cross and UN organizations? That would be Rep. Tom Lantos (D-California) who is "the sole Holocaust survivor in Congress and one of Israel's staunchest defenders in the House of Representatives" (JTA).
Lantos' deputy at the committee is Rep. Howard Berman, also a Democrat from California and also Jewish. JTA's piece notes that "four of the committee's seven subcommittee chairmen are likely to be Jewish." These Jewish politicians are set up to chair the Mideast subcommittee, the International Terrorism and Nonproliferation subcommittee, the Western Hemisphere subcommittee, and the committee on Europe and Emerging Threats.
JTA lists several other Jews assuming prominent positions and notes that the biggest gain for Israel is Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) as majority leader. Hoyer "is on a first-name basis with much of the board of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and has been to Israel multiple times…"
Jewish ADL lobbyist Stacy Burdett "noted the ascension of Sen. Ted Kennedy and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) to the chairmanships of their respective houses' immigration subcommittees." Burdett was pleased that their increased power would help defeat pressure from conservatives to tighten US immigration policy.
Some people say there's no Jewish elite with a powerful political agenda and that to say so is anti-Semitic. But the power of American Zionists is confirmed by Jewish sources themselves, like JTA. It is these Jewish organizations themselves which insist that there are unified Jewish interests (the foremost being unconditional support of Israel) and that all Jews should rejoice if more of their Zionist brethren are in government. Jewish Americans like Norman Finkelstein who think independently and resist the herding of organized Jewry are a minority.
All of this is pretty bad news for Americans--Jewish and gentile--who are concerned about the geopolitical consequences of our reckless, dangerous and imbalanced support of Israel. If Americans are fed up with the Bush administration's military actions in Iraq, they're going to have to wise up to the hands that are really pulling the strings.
Our foreign policy in the Mideast will grow only more destructive unless the Zionist lobby and Zionist politicians are recognized as primarily loyal to a foreign power, Israel – not to American interests and our troops, dying for Israel in Iraq.
Posted by plunger at 01/25/2007 @ 08:06am
Posted by RIO BRAVO 01/24/2007 @ 8:21pm
WOW, those poll numbers are really impressive.....
if you ignore all the rest of the poll numbers!
Posted by Mask at 01/25/2007 @ 08:43am
Posted by MCE337 01/25/2007 @ 04:09am,
" Booked a flight to New Orleans? You obviously have time on your hands."
All you have to do ois go to New Orleans and take one of those $22/hr jobs at entry level labor that the local companys are having a hard time filling...many Mexicans can get there, why can the residents of the ninth ward get there ? That seems to be the question down there....
Darlaloons bad luck again?
BTW, Burgwr King starts at above min wage, as do most companys. Have for years...funny how the market works...
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 08:57am
Posted by CHRIS C 01/25/2007 @ 07:44am |
Not luck, just theieves from Columbia..FBI told me a few years later many were caught and others were killed...no luck, good police work.
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 08:59am
I have seen John Edwards personally, on his own initiative, to go to NOLA with crews to work at cleaning up areas that are being ignored by the Federal office in charge of "rebuilding" NO. Edwards dosn't treat these trips as a Photo Op as does the B#%h administration but is there to do what the government isn't doing. To me that says a lot.
Posted by Bumpa at 01/25/2007 @ 10:45am
"I have seen John Edwards personally, on his own initiative, to go to NOLA with crews to work at cleaning up areas that are being ignored by the Federal office in charge of "rebuilding" NO. Edwards dosn't treat these trips as a Photo Op as does the B#%h administration but is there to do what the government isn't doing. To me that says a lot.
Posted by BUMPA 01/25/2007 @ 10:45am
Tells me you fell for Edwards BS..
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 11:04am
The liberal lemmings on this issue are as easy to predict as the sun rising in the east. They cackle and shout over corruption and incompetence at the drop of a hat....but reserve that critical eye when it comes to fellow DEMs in NOLA.
FYI there is alot more rebuilding than what many might think....but NO, NO, NO THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!!!
For the liberal nothing will suffice unless we all give 50% of our incomes to the casue of rebuilding for the poor and personally go down and pound in the nails.
Gov Blanco??? she gets a free pass...shhh she is a woman AND a DEM....Nagin???? he gets a free pass as well....shhhh he is black AND a DEM.
Posted by CPT at 01/25/2007 @ 11:19am
"Not a Single Word"... I also noticed there was not a single word about the allegations that Dikembe Mutombo was getting blowjobs at the Gold Club in Atlanta (I guess Jeri Ryan's ex-husband can tell us that it's a Republican Value to have carnal relations in sex clubs)[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/07/23/gold.club.trial/index.html ]
I wonder, at the end of the evening, did Laura say, "Hey Dikembe, call me!"...
Posted by nathanhale at 01/25/2007 @ 11:21am
Why worry about our own people when we can screw up the lives of others? Helping our own people at home does not contribute to the military-industrial complex. Who profits from this war? Not the compassionate who truly want to help others. Only those who want whatever they can get, regardless of what it does to others.
The saddest thing is that the administration of our nation, "elected" by it's people, feels that they are so right that they need to enforce their view of the ideal morality on others, regardless of the suffering it causes them. If "those people" would just understand how much better "our" beliefs and way of living is, they would gladly accept the loss of life and terror that our righteousness brings to them.
The president and vice president appear to be truly blind to the suffering of the citizens of Iraq, our soldiers they have placed in harm's way, the families of those who are killed in the name of democracy. Their arrogance and lack of compassion is a sickness that weakens all of us. When did our government stop being "...of the people, by the people and for the people."? Those who hid from the theater of conflict have no hesitation placing others into the arena.
It is true that we have to fight terrorism where it appears, and it is appearing in the words of our politicans who will use it to frighten the masses into agreeing with their actions. This is the truly frightening part. They have placed innocent blood on all of our hands.
It is sad that a nation as great as ours, with truly wonderful people, has fallen so far from the actions of so few.
Posted by emwarner at 01/25/2007 @ 11:59am
Posted by NATHANHALE 01/25/2007 @ 11:21am
NATHAN, are you SURE you want to go down the road of discrediting the humanitarian work that Mutumbo does in his native Congo by citing the fact that he received oral sex?
If so, I'm sure there are some ol' Limbaugh shows from 1998-1999 that could help you.
Posted by Mask at 01/25/2007 @ 12:02pm
Rio Bravo -- Oh, do try HARDER not to sound like a real jerk...
Posted by barnesgene at 01/25/2007 @ 12:12pm
Posted by MASK 01/25/2007 @ 12:02am
MASK, where do you see me discrediting Mutombo's humanitarian work? (and, by the way, I'm spelling his name correctly--not you) As a 76'ers fan, I am well aware of his work back home, and applaud him for it.
All I'm pointing out is that he hews to the moral double-standard that is so important to Republicans (maybe if Mark Foley gets through his rehab, he can be a guest of honor next year?)
But, hey, at least Dikembe and Mark are not Iranian agents, unlike some past guests in the Bush Box at the SOTU.
Posted by nathanhale at 01/25/2007 @ 12:30pm
Posted by NATHANHALE 01/25/2007 @ 12:30am
NATHAN, 80% of your attack in that post was on Mutombo, not Bush.
Why bring up allegations of HIM getting bjs at The Gold Club as some "hit on the self-righteous Republicans"?!?!?!
Again, Clinton? What if Hillary wins in 2008 and gives the SOTU and some guy like RIO or my good buddy MAASCH brings up his peccadillos at her speech and says "Ha, she didn't mention if Bill had a new 'intern' at the White House" and "Wonder, did Secretary of Labor Jennifer Granholm say Bill 'call me'"?
You want to hit self-righteous and moralistic Republicans....hit them. But all you did in that post was go after Mutombo...not Bush.
Posted by Mask at 01/25/2007 @ 12:46pm
Posted by MASK 01/25/2007 @ 12:46am
Oh, please, you sound like JohannesRolf after that MLK day/St. Patrick's day joke was posted.
I think it shows hope for the Republican party that it is now official policy to celebrate the good works of a married man despite the fact that he got a blowjob from a woman-not-his wife. Do you think Newt Gingrich stands behind that policy? How about our departed friends LVLIBERTY1 & OKSPORTSGUY? I'm surprised they haven't expressed their outrage...
Meanwhile, thanks for acknowleding your spelling error. Too bad your new post presents a new, mathematical error (80%? --Ha! Have you forgotten already the ads run by the Republicans in the Tennessee Senate race?)
Posted by nathanhale at 01/25/2007 @ 1:15pm
Posted by NATHANHALE 01/25/2007 @ 1:15pm
Again, I got no problem with you exposing Republican sexual hypocrisy....I thought Lewinsky-gate was ridiculous and self-defeating actually for the GOP.
But the post was a major hit on Mutombo (80% just a rhetorical useage), with a little "Laura" swipe thrown in. And he doesn't deserve it, and given the ALLEGATION (nothing proven was there?) is about oral sex....a dangerous ground to tread given Clinton.
Posted by Mask at 01/25/2007 @ 1:27pm
Oh, please, you sound like JohannesRolf after that MLK day/St. Patrick's day joke was posted.
thou shalt not use my name in vain.
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/25/2007 @ 2:00pm
But, hey, at least Dikembe and Mark are not Iranian agents, unlike some past guests in the Bush Box at the SOTU.
Posted by NATHANHALE 01/25/2007 @ 12:30am | ignore this person
nifty
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/25/2007 @ 2:01pm
It is sad that a nation as great as ours, with truly wonderful people, has fallen so far from the actions of so few.
Posted by EMWARNER 01/25/2007 @ 11:59am | ignore this person
all it takes for evil to flourish is the inaction of the righteous.
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/25/2007 @ 2:04pm
Posted by MASK 01/25/2007 @ 1:27pm
Sorry if you continue to see me as taking a hit at Mutombo. I'm sure he would prefer that his name couldn't be brought up in conjunction with such ALLEGATIONS (Steve Kaplan, the guy who ran the Gold Club was sentenced to a 16-month racketeering charge in the case in which such allegations were heard against DM, Patrick Ewing and others -- but the players were not on trial).
So, again, my apologies if I have offended you (I think Mr. Mutombo is big enough --figuratively-- not to take offense); two years from now, when Hillary gives the SOTU and you have to wade through the "Bill got bj's" comments from Rio and Maasch, here's your ammunition to twist their panties: the Bush Doctrine says you can be forgiven and be judged by your good works, not your pecadilloes.
Posted by nathanhale at 01/25/2007 @ 2:05pm
Posted by JOHANNESROLF 01/25/2007 @ 2:00pm
Apologies to you as well. If you haven't seen it, you should take a look at Chris Rock's "Bigger and Blacker" (with a doobie on hand, if you prefer). It includes the line (not necessarily verbatim), "There's not a white man in this room that would change places with me, none of you, ...and I'm RICH".
Posted by nathanhale at 01/25/2007 @ 2:24pm
Posted by NATHANHALE 01/25/2007 @ 2:05pm
No biggie, NATE....but I just don't like the innocent (or still only alleged) tarred to "get" the guilty by association.
Posted by Mask at 01/25/2007 @ 2:46pm
Nathan,
""Bill got bj's" comments from Rio and Maasch, here's your ammunition to twist their panties: the Bush Doctrine says you can be forgiven"
My take on Bills BJ has always been..
He should have said at the press conference...
" yeah, I did it, it was great, I hit the dress, send me the bill and I will answer no more questions on the subject..ever again. "
After all, any man who looks at Hillary understands.
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 3:39pm
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 01/24/2007 @ 8:14pm | ignore this person
John, John, John...your anecdotal tales remain disengaged from the overall portrait that captures the realism of America and the status of its inhabitants. You may have your rags to riches achievements to lord over the filthy masses, who- in the dim and murky lair lodging your pea-sized brain and all its mentally paranoid delusions- are out to grub and steal your money. Do you size up all strangers on your way home from the cash machine: discerning the most-likely looking liberal leeches (more treacherous and threatening to America than Al Qaeda-in your words), whose sole purpose is to cheat and fleece the hardworking patriarchs who built this country? Do you stare at your relection in the early morning, just prior to a day spent preying on the weak, thinking, "Man, I represent what all those dirty 'others' crave and desire, I am the Dream."?
Contrary to your self-serving worldview, wealth is generated from the workers providing an actual service; from the people building and constructing things sold to consumers. It's conceivable that a thousand individuals can pool their resources together and form a company, making the goods, selling those products, and even running the business--while it is inconceivable for a few fatcat executives to maintain a factory without a labor force. Who in reality, is more essential to the world of capitalism? You act as if capitalism in its current American form is as natural as the laws of nature. How natural is it for 5 out 10 of the richest Americans to be Walmart heirs and sit safely on grotesque piles of money, while millions of their neighbors go to bed hungry-- without the protection of the government to ensure that everyone knows their proper place.
Here are some statistics potraying a side to America you chose to ignore, or whitewash in cutting and feeble-minded comments betraying a logic that claims all those not rich and prosperous owe their depravity to personal character defects.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/04/b1579981.html
By international standards, the United States has an unusually low level of intergenerational mobility: our parents' income is highly predictive of our incomes as adults. Intergenerational mobility in the United States is lower than in France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Finland, Norway and Denmark. Among high-income countries for which comparable estimates are available, only the United Kingdom had a lower rate of mobility than the United States.
Key findings relating to short-run, year-to-year income movements include the following:
* The overall volatility of household income increased significantly between 1990-91 and 1997-98 and again in 2003-04. * Since 1990-91, there has been an increase in the share of households who experienced significant downward short-term mobility. The share that saw their incomes decline by $20,000 or more (in real terms) rose from 13.0 percent in 1990-91 to 14.8 percent in 1997-98 to 16.6 percent in 2003-04. * The middle class is experiencing more insecurity of income, while the top decile is experiencing less. From 1997-98 to 2003-04, the increase in downward short-term mobility was driven by the experiences of middle-class households (those earning between $34,510 and $89,300 in 2004 dollars). Households in the top quintile saw no increase in downward short-term mobility, and households in the top decile ($122,880 and up) saw a reduction in the frequency of large negative income shocks.
Posted by Oustbush at 01/25/2007 @ 4:52pm
First of all, leave Dikembe Motumbo alone. He may have been involved in the Gold Club scandal but let's face it, most of the NBA, NFL and even a few MLB guys were getting them a little Atlanta booty there. I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying that it shouldn't disqualify you from being recognized for honoring your mother's memory by building a hospital in your village.
(Besides, the Sixers run to the 2001 NBA Championship is still one of the best sports moments this city has had in awhile. Although I hated seeing them lose to Kobe '$4 million worth of I'm sorry' Bryant and the Lakers, it was still a good run.)
Secondly, when it comes to New Orleans I feel the same way that I do about the Arab/Israeli conflict: A pox on both your houses. While the feds totally screwed the pooch on that one, the city and state won no awards either.
But I do agree with you Katrina. If one of your cities still looks like the hurricane hit it yesterday, most of the people in that city are still other places, jobs are scarce, and because of that, crime is rampant, you should at least acknowledge that you know there's a problem and that it needs fixing.
But from what I've seen of this president, acknowledging that something needs fixing isn't his strong suit...unless there's a tax cut that he can somehow connect to the problem.
Posted by edwriter at 01/25/2007 @ 5:04pm
"...It's conceivable that a thousand individuals can pool their resources together and form a company, making the goods, selling those products, and even running the business.."
Yeah it is conceivable, but let's face it, they're not smart enough or intelligent enough to pool their assets together. It's called crab mentality.
"How natural is it for 5 out 10 of the richest Americans to be Walmart heirs and sit safely on grotesque piles of money, while millions of their neighbors go to bed hungry-- without the protection of the government to ensure that everyone knows their proper place?"
Posted by OUSTBUSH 01/25/2007 @ 4:52pm
Because those 5 out 10 are the smart ones!!! The less intelligent will never gain a foothold, let alone understand capitalism or globalization.
It's not the educational system that's causing the problem, because the smart ones will always make it out. It's just simple genetics.
Posted by ACook at 01/25/2007 @ 5:26pm
Posted by ACOOK 01/25/2007 @ 5:26pm | ignore this person
I will assume this is sarcasm. I did experience a moment of brief hesitation to assess it as such- due to the number of crazies I see posting comments like yours, the difference being: they (like Maasch) are dead serious.
Posted by Oustbush at 01/25/2007 @ 5:44pm
two years from now, when Hillary gives the SOTU and you have to wade through the "Bill got bj's" comments from Rio and Maasch,
a truly frightening thought.
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/25/2007 @ 6:00pm
"wealth is generated from the workers providing an actual service;"
this was pointed out by Adam Smith, what, 230 years ago.
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/25/2007 @ 6:04pm
because the smart ones will always make it out. It's just simple genetics.
Posted by ACOOK 01/25/2007 @ 5:26pm | ignore this person
nature or nurture?
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/25/2007 @ 6:19pm
"John, John, John...your anecdotal tales remain disengaged from the overall portrait that captures the realism of America and the status of its inhabitants. You may have your rags to riches achievements to lord over the filthy masses, who- in the dim and murky lair lodging your pea-sized brain and all its mentally paranoid delusions- are out to grub and steal your money. Do you size up all strangers on your way home from the cash machine: discerning the most-likely looking liberal leeches (more treacherous and threatening to America than Al Qaeda-in your words), whose sole purpose is to cheat and fleece the hardworking patriarchs who built this country? Do you stare at your relection in the early morning, just prior to a day spent preying on the weak, thinking, "Man, I represent what all those dirty 'others' crave and desire, I am the Dream."? "
? Have another drink on the way home.
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 6:26pm
The rest of your post was to what? 'Splain to me how the economy works? or how anyone who starts a factory needs workers and then when your product is wildly successful you become the enemy?
Please...If you were a professor in school the class would have long since fallen asleep..and the entrepenuers? they are already hard at work...
I did hear today that ALL incomes were up ove the last few years, but I guess thats bad because they were not up high enough for the libs...maybe we should have taxed ourselves more to prosperity and "help"...
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 8:13pm
Maasch -
You missed my point.
How many people does the estate tax affect?
Posted by Hman23 at 01/25/2007 @ 8:31pm
Hman,
Hows the family...
I don't care how many it affects, as the money the government wants to take belongs to the people who earned it. If it affects ONE person, it should not be allowed to happen and take their money. Wages paid, min or unearned, or earned, should be subject to what the jobs are worth...and not some arbitrary number....and in this case, the politicians scramble to get in front of a camera to show how concerned they are about the plight of a group...and it just so happens that the acually number of people affected by the raise is miniscule and will have a net negative effect, while letting one keeps ones own money has a positive effect....IMO.
Look, I want everyone to earn a good living..but the min wage is unrelated to anything in the pathway to achieving a good job or wage, as the minimum is designed to define the bottom with virtually no demand. Why codefy it? Most places pay more than that wage due to demand..
Again, my 15 year old is thrilled.
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 8:49pm
I don't care how many it (the estate tax) affects
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 01/25/2007 @ 8:49pm
The bill (the minimum wage bill) effects less than 400,000 people and has as much impact on life as you. My 15 year might be thrilled
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 01/24/2007 @ 8:25pm
Got my point, yet, John?
Family is good, thanks.
Posted by Hman23 at 01/25/2007 @ 9:48pm
Don't mean to get all "Maskian" on you, but you seem to be applying some inconsistent rationale.
Posted by Hman23 at 01/25/2007 @ 9:49pm
Hman,
It doesn't matter how many there are if you are TAKING AWAY something that is his,ie., ESTATE TAX.
So the logic becomes whether 0 or 1 million people are affected by each circumstance...it doesn't matter.
On minimum wage, it deosn't matter whether it is 0 or 1 million that one is paying....the amount is arbitrary.
Does it matter, Hman, if it inconsiostant to use a number for 1 example and no numbers for another?or numbers for both? or no numbers for both?
1 example is confiscation(tax) and the other a random number set at a whim with out reason(wage).
I fail to set any connection whethter using numbers of people affected or not...one could eliminate the number..the base principle is the same..or one could use numbers..BOTH serve to prove a point...the same point.
Posted by john maasch at 01/25/2007 @ 10:48pm
Maasch,
no minimum wage=$3 per hour.
no increase in minimum wage=theft
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/26/2007 @ 09:30am
edwriter,First of all, leave Dikembe Motumbo alone. He may have been involved in the Gold Club scandal
I beg to differ. Mutombo is a public figure.he sought out and accepted free sex from prostitutes. the fact that others did so as well, is no excuse. for Bush to single out this individual is hypocritical in the extreme.
Posted by johannesrolf at 01/26/2007 @ 10:02am
Posted by JOHANNESROLF 01/26/2007 @ 10:02am
JR, Mutombo was ALLEGED to have "sought out and accepted free sex from prostitutes".
And as I noted to NATHANHALE, you REALLY want to go down the road of attacking Mutombo for oral sex as a means to "hit" Bush????
Posted by Mask at 01/26/2007 @ 10:10am
What this nation needed when the hurricanes hit – and needs today even more – is a President who doesn't avoid facing our greatest challenges and tragedies, but leads our government to address them head-on.
By KVH
Absolutely preposterous. You don't have to agree with Bush's priorities to respect the fact that he does not shy away from a challenge. I believe that Bush is acting in the country's best interest as he sees it. I believe he is motivated by his love for his country and his sense of duty and responsibility as President. Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism is the single greatest threat to western civilization. It is unthinkably reckless that he shouldn't put this threat front and center on his agenda.
Health care, social security, education, tsunami, aids in Africa...these are just a few of the enormous challenges Bush has taken on. What were some of the enormous threats and challenges that were addressed during the Clinton presidency?
The role of government in our lives is an entirely different discussion. We already know where everyone in this forum stands. People like me, strict constitutionalists, prefer State sovereignty and a limited federal government. I prefer to limit government's influence over my life both socially and economically. The majority of the posters here are in favor of a strong, centralized federal government. The notion of State's rights is old fashioned and out of style. You are more of a one-size-fits-all kind of person. And the word of the constitution is up for continuous debate, with meanings and intents changing with the tides.
Posted by Person at 01/27/2007 @ 08:34am
Lets hear the "Nation" update on what the State of Lousyana, its Demoncrat Gov. and the "chocolate city" Nagin is building is doing with the billions of aid already poured into the literal hole in the ground that is New Orleans!?
listen to the crickets in the background!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by RIO BRAVO 01/24/2007 @ 5:48pm | ignore this person
You are a hateful and deeply cynical person. Shame on you.
Posted by hhemwm at 01/27/2007 @ 3:05pm
I tremble to think what your idea of democracy is.
Posted by hhemwm at 01/27/2007 @ 3:06pm
"we don't start trouble here but we do finish it" Riobravo
I have read these boards for some time, and your inane comments and absurd hubris have finally prompted me to register and post a response. You and your ilk did indeed start the collosal clusterfuck that is the iraq "war", and you and your ilk also either have no desire or no plan to "finish" it, so take your self righteuos "yeah America" bullshit and cram it so far up your arse that it might dislodge that archaic religious blockage that has prohibited you from expelling waste from your system in traditional, non verbal form.
Posted by entropy at 01/28/2007 @ 5:00pm
We don't start trouble here, but we do finish it!
Posted by RIO BRAVO 01/27/2007 @ 6:12pm
so what's taking so long?
Posted by Will C. at 01/28/2007 @ 7:25pm
Miles to go before they sleep!
Posted by RIO BRAVO 01/29/2007 @ 12:14am
Ah, so you're blaming the lack of progress on fatigue.
Now do you see what happens when you over extend the military?
Posted by Will C. at 01/29/2007 @ 12:20am