@Carol Jursik - People could have waited or have gone down to the elections board to vote. An inconvenience to be sure, but the rest has already been explained in the Beacon.

@Mary Spencer - I agree Mary. Unfortunately, too many of today's drivers, either wait til the last second to go, wherever they have to go, or are just maniacs who break the law and could care less.

Some of them even go as far and recite about how they feel the law is stupid, as their excuses for breaking them.

Im still wondering why the Abj never printed my letter to the editor.I thought they had to print all of them that they received??

Oh,its been almost a month since I wrote it.

@William L. Bungard

When the national do not call list was put into law the politicians excluded themselves. My phone is primarily free from annoying calls most of the year, with the exception of around the elections. I think common sense would tell these people to use the do not call list and remove the numbers from their lists that are on it. However politicians never use common sense.

@William L. Bungard - I'm with you on that! I got a ton of those calls all around the clock this election period. In fact, Frank Communale got a phone call BACK from me when he kept having his recorder call me over and over. He got a nice "f-Off" message left on his voice mail from me. I hope he takes notice.

Maybe we can get Voice of Reason to run a background check on everyone first since he does that to everyone who writes an editorial these days?

@Peebs - They get thousands of letters and the editorial board decides which ones to print. Massive liberal conspiracy or an issue with filtering through 900 batsh#@# crazy letters. You decide.

Mary Spencer,

Get out of my way.

Jimdandy,

Just come clean...you are Betamax.

Speaking of campaign phone calls, can we get the signs removed? Election day was two weeks ago.

Khen and peebs;

If you take a look at the letters published, there are some comical nuances.

Khen is right - there is a huge wing-nut filter that has to be applied, which explains why certain Regressives (members of Pope's Kook Klub, almost exclusively) get published almost to the minute every 30/45 days.

They use words with more than one syllable ...

@T_O_J posited:"Just come clean..."

LMAO!!!

Dear Peeps02:

Did not get printed...huh. Shocking. The board at the ABJ can only print so many KOOK letters per month. Otherwise the insane would be running the asylum.

For those of you concerned about some of us posting too much and not having jobs, I am quite secure.

I work for an agency employed by a former governor. We are tasked with publicizing intelligent or insightful policy statements issued by the former governor. We don't have a lot to do.

Just to make case here,my letter was very interesting and im sure they thought it a bit one sided and maybe demoralizing for some:-)

Speaking of which,,,what did happen to Betamax?

@peebs02 said:"Just to make case here,my letter was very interesting and im sure they thought it a bit one sided and maybe demoralizing for some"

Don't be discouraged, and don't be afraid to edit and resubmit.

It can take a while to find the "formula" for what the editorial board is looking for if you are addressing larger political issues.

Took me 6 letters the first time.

ntu - did you get your free chipped beef?

http://www.ohio.com/news/69831682.html

@ Spirit - Eating SOS is punishment. That restaurant owner should be jailed. Obviously just kidding about the jail time, and the effort is appreciated. But I can't eat SOS or rice without having horrible flashbacks.

We had bad chicken once on the carrier and 2-3,000 of us came down with really bad stomach issues. Ships aren't the cleanest place in the world (and you usually only have 5 toilets for 150 guys). That was ugly.

@ntu1,
Thank you for the info,im redoing it as we speak:-)

spd3333 For god sakes it wasn't a background check. It takes less then a minute to bring up your criminal record. If I really want to get the goods on someone i have the resources to identify anyones shady past

@Peebs02 - It may also be a timing issue. Obviously they will go with a lot of letters addressing current local events. They also probably have a slot for a "hurray for ZZZZ city park or something". Then they probably rotate on the national politics letters.

So it may not be due to your letter's topic or delivery...may just be timing and relevance.

Carol Jursik, If you ask me that is stealing a persons right to vote and should be punishable by 1 year in prison and a job loss at the board of elections for any and all responsible parties. They need to see the seriousness of their mistake and an example will be sent to the rest of these election board hot shots.

@Khen,
Thank you also,for taking the time to answer me:-)
you too Ntu1.

I was returning from the Brecksville VA this morning and there was this stench in Richfield.

It was coming from Spirit of Reagan's house where he is known to recycle tons of republican ideas that stink and have no life but he insists that new packaging will sell the product.

@Your Voice of Reason - Very good. I have the same resources at my fingertips and at a phone call away as well.

@Spirit asked:"ntu - did you get your free chipped beef?"

Would have liked to, as memories go, but I don't eat red meat anymore. Super noble of the guy (noticed he's from Tallmadge, ahem) to do this. Won't be long before WWII vets will be a scarcity.

Sure did love the stuff, and biscuits and gravy, too.

@Khen:

We were blessed to have great accommodations, as Navy ones go, on our boat. There were only about 250 Navy personnel and a load of government-types, so no open bays or hot-sheeting. Never more than 4 to a room. Head with each 4-room quad.

And some great cooks, since they cooked for enlisted/officers/civilians in one mess. Captain had a small dining area off his cabin for VIP's and such, but he liked rubbing elbows with the crew.

But you could never get warm enough when the outside temp dropped below about 50 or cool enough (outside of the equipment rooms, and 14 hour shifts were more than enough time in them, believe me) when it got above about 90.

Very, very old ship. I think it's razor blades now.

@ peebs. betamax? What happened to Bilbo, as well?

@ NTU - Carrier life wasn't much fun. The cooks tried, but were really limited in resources. Besides how much love can you put into a meal serving 2-3000. We were stuck with chicken patties for a long time (I think the Navy had a coupon or something), so they would serve chicken patties for every meal. They tried to get creative. Pour some red sauce on them for chicken parmagian, a mingy yellow sauce for lemon chicken. We were underway a lot, so we would have fresh fruits and vegetables about 2 days out of the month.

We also got a lot of stale stuff. I remember the guy sitting next to me opening his little box of Raisin Bran and having a bunch of flies come out of it (he still ate it). I also saw a guy get stabbed with a fork over a box of Lucky Charms. Getting a little 4 oz box of Lucky Charms was like hitting the Lotto.

Carriers have gotten much better. They now actually have phones/email that they can use while underway. On my first cruise, the wife of one of my coworkers took off and disappeared with the kids. We had to fly him off to Sigonella just so he could use a phone to see if they were alive.

My last 7 years in were spent overseas in civilian clothes. So overall, not too many complaints from me.

Oh yea Bilbo too!!! Maybe they both booked out of Akron!!! hehe

@ YVOR. Could you have a less apt moniker? Everyone know that photon torpedos are better than a disintegrating laser.

* knows

Bubblehead - great debate skills. Insult the opponent. That is usually a sign that your argument is oh so strong.

@Khen:

We had "mystery meat" on Thursdays, which was some "loaf" made out of the Sun~Wed left overs that could be a real challenge.

On Fridays, we always had fish, and had about a 3-month period when that meant canned salmon/tuna (the smell was horrible all over the boat) prepared is some very un-scientific ways.

Like they redefined "patties" and "croquettes" in some really evil ways.

Only time anyone got sick was from something smuggled on the boat from one of our infrequent port calls. Very infrequent, mind you. Put about 25 people in sick bay for a week.

We had security issues with some of our equipment that wouldn't let us go into most places - even with a dozen Marines on board.

Bayonne would have even been nice (SNL reference).

Like, we didn't see a fast food joint for most of 11 months.

Obama Response to Jobs Numbers - Let's have a big meeting

As another half-million Americans file new unemployment insurance claims, companies announce more layoffs and the jobless rate tops 10 percent — President Obama responds by calling a December summit .

Profiles in leadership ....

Meanwhile back in Afghanistan - "Mr President, where are the reinforcements."

Obama: "Sorry General, but I have been focused on getting the H1N1 shots to Gitmo."

Mary I agree I got a ticket on South Main St for speeding now I go the speed limit and everyone is flipping me off and passing me - I don't care I don't want to pay another $105 fine - for those who want to push us off the street - I hope you end up in a gutter somewhere when you're speeding.

@ Spit. said,

"Bubblehead - great debate skills. Insult the opponent. That is usually a sign that your argument is oh so strong."

Well, now we know two things about you. You have proffered nothing but weak arguments on this site — and you're a liar.

peebs / indy,

Jimdandy = Beta
Jason12 = bilbo

Spirit of Reagan:

What is your solution for the jobs market?

It appears that all the legislation passed to protect business from government made it easier for businesses to leave the US. Another GOP milestone.

Did you call Howie and tell him there are unemployed people in Akron?

Peebs - maybe they got banned from posting for a while. what was your letter regarding??

On political phone calls - i hate the automated ones - the others - i just have funn with the callers. Before the presidential election i got a call asking who i was planning on voting for. I told the lady Alice Cooper. she hung up.

Dear Spritless RayGuns: News flash!!!!!


BUSH LEAVES BIGGEST PILE OF DUNG IN HISTORY FOR AN INCOMING PRESIDENT. Probably the reason Bubbles smelled your old carcass while driving through Richfield. Some of that dung is clinging to your shoes.

bubblehead: the first thing I would do is encourage private investment in America. I would lower cap gains tax rates to 5-10% I would also expand the tax cuts.

On the stimulus, instead of spending close to $800 billion with very little going to real infrastructure, I would opt for a more targeted infrustructure investment on roads, bridges, etc. Obama's plan throws billions around and some people even used it give employees raises - which does nothing to "save" jobs. Building a tunnel for a mouse in California is worthless.

I would send a very pro-business signal. I would stop the Cap and Tax bill and nix the gov't takeover of healthcare.

@T_O_J:

Good calls. Very fitting after thinking about it for a minute.

Like a glove.

Meanwhile back in Texas- "Mr President, where are the paper plates."

Bush: "Sorry Laura, but I have been focused on getting Cheney to shut up about Gitmo."

"Fox News host Bill O’Reilly and analyst Brit Hume discussed the prospects for the Senate passing a health care reform bill. After struggling with the terminology for the “public option,” O’Reilly ultimately concluded that “all the polls say” that “the folks don’t want it.”

Hume, a regular Fox News misinformer, surprisingly corrected O’Reilly, noting that Americans actually support the public option:

O’REILLY: They call it, you know, the public sector. What is the –

HUME: Public option, you mean?

O’REILLY: Public option, whatever. The folks don’t want it. … But it looks to me like they have maybe 55 votes to pass it. And that means they could be filibustered and never come up for a vote.

HUME: That’s what it looks like right now. The public option, actually some polls show that the public option standing by itself is not at all unpopular, but it is kind of popular. But that depends on how the poll question is raised. … We don’t need to go into all that right now."

@SpitWad:

Why the need to subsidize greed? The falsehood is that money sits on the sideline because of taxes. It's sitting there because investors still haven't got the seat of their britches repaired from the last melt down, which few Americans really had anything to do with.

What's The Party's plan to fix that?

Why does The Party support regressive wage taxes but not all income being taxed as income?

Seems to me fair is fair. If you make your living investing, you should pay just like the poor schmo greeting at the WalFart.

And SSI/Medicare should come out of every penny, too.

There's no reason the middle class should have to heft the burden of those who, while entitled, have no need for the subsidy.

That's fair, I'd wager.

@SpitWad then proffered:"I would send a very pro-business signal."

If we bend over any farther, we'll bump our foreheads.

Are you just going to jump to "white flag" or do we need to go through some more dithering and pain till the vultures descend?

Dear NTU1:

Spitwad fully supports more wealthcare for the lucky few. More trickle-down voodoo Ronnie Boy Reaganomics. A total failure. Where are all the jobs promised by Bushs' tax cuts. Answer: NONE. The worst job growth in history. Next.

Truth - unemployment during the Bush years was generally between 5-6% He cut taxes and tax receipts soared to record levels. It confuses Dems and they still do not understand the high taxes ultimately results in lower receipts.

ntu - it is not susidizing greed, it is allowing people to keep the fruits of their labor. It is offensive for hard workers to hear people talking about getting their "Obama Money" handouts.

I'm still waiting for all the jobs that the Ohio tax restructuring was supposed to generate.

Anyone?

@Spitton bloviated:

"bubblehead: the first thing I would do is encourage private investment in America. I would lower cap gains tax rates to 5-10% I would also expand the tax cuts.

How are you going to change the Wall St./Banking culture with that? Bush bailout monies have gone overseas for investment. They're still playing with our money in their private casino. And only a few have paid it back.

And "expand the tax cuts"? For whom? We know, for the upper 1% that are already controlling most of the wealth. Nothing for the middle class in your tax cuts, right?

The defense budget needs a good, long look.

Have you ever read Eisenhower's Military Industrial Complex speech? Here's an excerpt:

"This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

spirit:

First and second paragraphs I agree with.

Sensible pollution control like eliminating acid rain needs to be implemented. Our waters are cleaner than ever but more has to be done. Cap and trade for the sole purpose of global warming is fraudulent. But, there is a global phenomena occuring. There can't be any denying of that fact.

Gov't health care is all I have ever received and I'm still walking and talking. What most people fear is their ability to shop for a doctor, who will cave in to their addictions to pain and tranquilizers, will be taken away. Also, under Obama's plan, people will have to be responsible for their food choices.

I realize that most weight gain is caused by certain medicines, but there is a lot of healthy people eating a lot of unhealthy things.

A national health insurance can be successful if you want it to be. How many people listen to their doctors now? I'd say 3% listen. The girth of people should give my statement some credence.

@SpitWad offers:"I would stop the Cap and Tax bill"

Ah - the free use and pollution of natural resources.

The uber-subsidy for all those Good Citizen Businesses.

The same ones that don't make jobs.

@SpitWad said:"it is not susidizing greed, it is allowing people to keep the fruits of their labor. It is offensive for hard workers to hear people talking about getting their "Obama Money" handouts."

So, "wage" taxes aren't like that?

What makes the investor-class so much more entitled?

And that last part just sounds "pity-me-pathetic".

A round of boo-hoo's, on me.

When is enough enough - When you've got it all?

That's pretty un-American.

@NTU1: You asked about Texas:

"AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up an anti-tax "tea party" with his stance against the federal government and for states' rights as some in his U.S. flag-waving audience shouted, "Secede!" He said the federal government is strangling Americans with taxation, spending and debt.
Many in the crowd held signs deriding President Barack Obama and the $786 billion federal economic stimulus package.

Then a few months later:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - While Gov. Rick Perry is criticizing Washington bailouts, state lawmakers are planning to use $11 million in federal stimulus money to help rebuild the badly burned Texas Governor's Mansion.

Top budget negotiators said Thursday that a House-Senate committee agreed on the expenditures late Wednesday night. Some $11 million in federal rescue dollars would be spent to refurbish the mansion, which was badly burned in an arson fire last summer."

Around $10 million in state tax money will also be spent on a renovation expected to cost about $20 million, officials said.

"If we're going to fix it up we're going to have to use stimulus money," said Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan. "We've made a decision to use the stimulus money. This is a good use of it."

Ogden, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, both said the $11 million was coming out of a $700 million rescue package for Texas - part of the massive federal stimulus pie approved earlier this year by the U.S. Congress.

The financing for the repairs was decided in a late Wednesday meeting of the budget conference committee, which Ogden and Pitts lead, both men said. The final budget still faces a vote in the House and Senate, then approval from Perry, before it can become law.

Asked if Perry approved of using federal money for the mansion, Pitts said, "He just wanted it done."

@Spittoon:

"Truth - unemployment during the Bush years was generally between 5-6% He cut taxes and tax receipts soared to record levels. It confuses Dems and they still do not understand the high taxes ultimately results in lower receipts."

Tax receipts soared to record levels in 08?

@SpitWad said:"it is not susidizing greed, it is allowing people to keep the fruits of their labor. It is offensive for hard workers to hear people talking about getting their "Obama Money" handouts."

How about the middle class pays no taxes at all?

NTU1,

Re: job & OH taxes, I know we've talked about this before. And the news is only getting better since then.


http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/ohios_business_climate_earns_a.html

The Pope,

Disagree on tax cuts, agree on military spending. Maybe that's the "pay go" compromise in Washington.

And just so I can disagree with everyone on something, I disagree on cap & trade. I support that. Nothing in this world is free. Just like a landfill for scrap material isn't free, nor should the skies and, indirectly, waterways be free.

Tragedy of the Commons 101

@ALL:

Carrie Prejean, ex-Miss California, an up and coming Anne Coulter in her own mind, got angry with Larry King last night. If you haven't seen this exchange it's a hoot:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-22153-Cleveland-Pop-Culture-Examiner%7Ey2009m11d12-Carrie-Prejean-on-Larry-King-CNNcom-video-Watch-Carrie-Prejean-stop-Larry-King-Live-interview

I'll preempt the blowback. IF (big IF) the ~$2,000 "tax" stemming from cap and trade is correct, then let's get the collective minds in Washington to trim $2,000 worth of spending, resulting in $2,000 worth of tax cuts.

Further, how can my mark*t brethren not be in favor of penalizing waste? Currently, wasteful producers compete equally alongside efficient producers. It's like playing a football/baseball/basketball game and not keeping score.

@ The Pope - You will never stop or cut back defense spending. It is a true corporate welfare/entitlement system that will never die.

As far as Texas...they are going to have a outcrazy the crazy contest there for the GOP primary for governor.

@TOJ:

Don't sweat it that you disagree with me on Tax Cuts.

I'm only interested in pesuading you with regard to the Browns....

So, will you be waiting outside the Stadium before the opening kick off?

@The Pope - The Prejean video was great, but it isn't the one I was looking for.

Somebody wake up Mary Spencer, the world is moving/spinning a little faster now, please speed up...if you pay attention to the entire roadway you can see the cops in a box in plenty of time...

@Khen:

1. I know.

2. You're right.

3. LOL

The Pope,

I don't buy season tix. I got to 1-2 games/yr. But if I was going, I'd be in my seat. The two "Super Fans" are being ridiculous. As bad as Pat M and Tony Grossi.

Re: tax receipts, I show 2008 with a slight decrease from the record year of 2007, but the point is noted.

Regardless, more worrisome is the government spending since 2000, regardless of corresponding receipts.

Q3 2000: $2.9T
Q3 2004: $3.6T
Q3 2008: $4.8T
Q3 2009: $5.0T

And it's a trend, not completely attributed to the stimulus of the last year. Yeah, we might want to do something about that. It's not enough to enact "pay go" going forward. We need to CUT roughly $1T before we even start with our fake displays of financial discipline.


http://www.bea.gov/national/nipaweb/GovView.asp

Carrie Prejean thinks Palin and Bachmann are brilliant. Wheeee!

@TOJ:

Thanks for the stats.

But the figures you cite are devoid of Afghanistan/Iraq war costs.

Pope,

I'm pretty sure that includes that spending. These are actual expenditures and not budget figures. I'm not looking to make a partisan point, so that would only compound what I'm saying if I am wrong.

@TOJ:

Not taken that way. I just know there was little transparency in that respect.

@nmaxxs:

So what would that make Marie "Madam" Curie?

@TOJ:

"The two "Super Fans" are being ridiculous. As bad as Pat M and Tony Grossi."

They got another 15 minutes of fame. I agree. A true boycott would entail not going, period.

That would have an impact on parking, concessions, etc. A dent in the wallet goes further than playing with yourself in the parking lot for 10 minutes then going in.

Like it's going have an impact on a national television audience that will probably be the lowest rated MNG of the year.

But I don't have a problem with Pat M and Tony.

@Real Voice of Treason trumpeted:

"Mary Spencer is one of those people who should not be driving. I only wish I had a disinigrating laser on the front of my car where i could push a button and remove them from the streets. It is people like her who drive in the fast lane just to slow everyone down. I would purposely speed past her on a snowy day and spin my tires to throw snow on her windshield."

More tough talk. Yep, more of the same tough talk against women, along with the usual racist comments on here.

Too bad all that machismo didn't embolden you enough to show up at Moe's last summer.

But that would mean you would actully have to confront men face to face, instead of flexing your fingers on your keyboard to act out your boorish behaviour against helpless avatar's.

You take first place in the site Chicken-Hawk rankings.

You didn't serve either. You would never serve.

Have you ever imagined yourself clad in an army uniform patrolling the streets of Baghdad?

Why of course not! Because it's much more fun fantasising about runninng women off the road.

At least you guys get to watch the Browns at home on TV. I am stuck going to a local sports bar and wasting money on beer while Steelers fans laugh at me. I opted to skip the NFL package this year.

"But I don't have a problem with Pat M and Tony."

I do. I want them both fired. Browns fans deserve better. They were on the new regime before the even leaves opened on the trees last spring.

I get my Browns news from Pluto, Steve D and waitingfornextyear.com.

TOJ - you are correct that spending is out of control. I would love to see gov't slash both spending and taxes. The economy would take off like a rocket.

@TOJ:

Fresh quotes from Jamal Lewis today:

''The way we work in two-a-days and camp, the way we work every day on the field for 21/2 or three hours, you want a 'W' on Sunday when you work like that,'' Lewis said. The Browns are 1-7.

''The talent is there, there's talent all over this locker room, young and old. But that talent's got to be able to be fresh and ready for Sunday, to be ready to go out and be efficient for Sunday. You can work all day, you can work seven days a week. But if you're going to work like that, on Sunday you're not going to get what you want out of your players.''

''Hey, this is his show, it's not mine. It's his show, it's not my show. Not anybody else around here's show. We're just the crop. You've got to take care of your crop. If you don't take care of your crop, when it comes time to harvest, you're not going to make no money because the crop ain't no good.''

Bubblehead - your earlier post noted "Also, under Obama's plan, people will have to be responsible for their food choices.

I realize that most weight gain is caused by certain medicines, but there is a lot of healthy people eating a lot of unhealthy things."

So Obama will punish one high risk behaviour (eating bad foods) and ignore another (Aids from homosexual sex). The CDC lists male homosexuals as a high risk group for AIDS.

Shouldn't they be punished like smokers and bad eaters? I mean their actions make rates higher for the rest of us. You can see how the definitions can easily become politicized.

@Khen:

I've got the same problem here in Vegas. Misery loves company, eh?

@ TOJ. FYI. Bilbo is female.

@independent: @ TOJ. FYI. Bilbo is female.

You're killing me.

Khen,

Don't speak so soon. Three of the last four games will probably be blacked out.

@TOJ - You may be right about that. At least I will get to see them on Monday night, though.

independent,

How would you know that?

The Pope,

Nothing says talent like 5-19 since last year, coached by TWO different regimes. Common denominator is the players (NOT LERNER). Jamal Lewis is ready for the glue factory. I say let's expedite his trip there.

TOJ. Nothing nefarious. She came to one of the Moe's nights. I've been to a couple. It a nice chance to put a face to the avatar. For instance, Swan does not appear to be on the verge of becoming an anarchist in person and Bud actually sounds reasonable at times. Granted, I don;t think Bud & I discussed politics or religion much the entire night. Turns out we actually had some common intersects besides taking occasional shots at each on this site. Actually, a non poster showed up last time out of curiosity to see what we looked like.

"Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the repeal of the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act and related legislation. It is an anniversary worth noting for what it teaches us about forestalling financial crises, the consequences of maniacal deregulation, and the out-of-control political power of the megafinancial institutions.

The repeal of Glass-Steagall removed the legal prohibition on combinations between commercial banks on the one hand, and investment banks and other financial services companies on the other. Glass-Steagall's strict rules originated in the U.S. government's response to the Depression and reflected the learned experience of the severe dangers to consumers and the overall financial system of permitting giant financial institutions to combine commercial banking with other financial operations.

Glass-Steagall protected depositors and prevented the banking system from taking on too much risk by defining industry structure: Commercial banks could not maintain investment banking or insurance affiliates (nor affiliates in non-financial commercial activity).

As banks eyed the higher profits in higher risk activity, however, they began in the 1970s to breach the regulatory walls between commercial banking and other financial services. Starting in the 1980s, responding to a steady drumbeat of requests, regulators began to weaken the strict prohibition on cross-ownership."

@TOJ:

Lerner hired both these regimes. Lerner is ultimately responsible. You know that.

You wouldn't have hired or put together either of these regimes if you had the power. That much I know.

Jamal Lewis is a respected veteran voice. He spoke truth to fading power.

Mangini is an insecure ego maniac. He's lost his players. The countdown to his demise is not being exaggerated.

Be ready to embrace Holmgren or Rich McKay, then a new head coach.

And be ready for the departure of both QB's. This phony controversy has only served as a smoke screen for Mangini and Lerner. Nice job dividing the fan base and keeping them focused non on the core problem.

Do you really want to entrust Mangini with next years' draft? Do you really think we drafted the correct linebacker from USC? Clay Matthews starts for GB! The other one, can't spell it, for Cinci!

Read up on Central Michigan's QB Dan Lefever. His stats are better than Tebow. And don't knock him because of the MAC. Roethlisberger, baby, Roethlisberger.

@independent:

"TOJ. Nothing nefarious. She came to one of the Moe's nights. I've been to a couple."

How come I never was introduced to her? Neither was Truth or NTU1!

She must have looked good. So that's who you were hitting on. Thought it was your wife.


"Actually, a non poster showed up last time out of curiosity to see what we looked like."

I really don't believe he was a non-poster. Bud brought him. He claimed he was.

After 5 minutes in his presence I had leave the table and go back to the bar. That was one of the strangest individuals I've ever been around. I dubbed him the "Ultimate Kook". That's how Truth and I now refer to him.

He makes Bud look like he's in Sunday School.

UGGGGH - The Nor'Easter washed away the big fishing pier I go to in Virginia Beach. I blame Obama.

Khen,
It was obviously a side-effect of Katrina/Bush.

TOJ,
"Mary Spencer,Get out of my way."
You should guard your computer better, keep That_Original_Juvenile from sneaking on.

You Have,

Hey, time is money and I need as much time as possible so that I can keep funding all of Mary's entitlements.

@T_O_J said:"And the news is only getting better since then"

Well, I sure wish the monsoons would start. Folks around here are getting awful parched.

;)

nmaxxs:

The new avatar is beyond cool, in a geeky sort of uber-cool way.

If you know what I mean ...

@Khen said, sardonically:"I am stuck going to a local sports bar and wasting money on beer while Steelers fans laugh at me."

Post of the day. Made me LMAO.

Best laugh in a month ...

@SpitWad posited:"I would love to see gov't slash both spending and taxes"

We've got wars to pay for and Uncle Sam is a bit too large a part of the economy at this moment to drastically curtail spending without a cataclysmic downside.

That money isn't going into an incinerator (literally), it's going to companies with employees.

Unless you just are wanting to be a major meanie and flail on entitlement programs.

Which still is money being spent ...

@SpitWad came up with - I swear - :"Shouldn't they be punished like smokers and bad eaters? I mean their actions make rates higher for the rest of us. You can see how the definitions can easily become politicized"

The comparison is invalid, disingenuous and just plain hateful.

Every bit of hoopla and religiosity and moralization about sex education hasn't done anything to continue the downward trend in teenage pregnancies in the most conservative bastions still left here.

Abstinence is one of the most failed reproductive health policies ever.

Ask Sarah Palin how well it worked for her family.

If the Regressives would quit caring about who their neighbor is bonking and get over themselves and their hypocrisy, we could get back to evolving.

It's like this voyeuristic thing pops back up, fogging their collective glasses and keeping their adrenaline flowing.

And they end up in airport bathrooms and texting underage boys and cheating on their wives.

It's like self repression.

Grow up.

@ pope. The good looking woman that came in with me at the June meet was my wife. Maybe I was mistaken, but when I arrived it was you, truth, NTU1, and who I thought was bilbo and a friend of bilbo. All posters in the booth were in tie dye that night. perhaps I'm mixing avatars, but she was sitting in the booth across from NTU1 in the aisle seat, facing Front St. Swan was at the bar.

As far as the non poster last time, I'm not talking about Bud's back-up (steve or joe?/) and neighbor. It was a tall stocky guy that just came to check it out.

NTU1,
So your answer to Spirit's suggestion for higher rates is:
1) His argument is invalid & dishonest, based on hate & voyeurism
2) Promoting abstinence has failed
3) We need to get back to evolving
4) Some people are hypocrites

None of your 4 "points" even addresses his argument, much less refutes it. Spirit has made a clever argument, however offensive it may sound. I would be interested to see if someone could honestly take it up & refute it.

@ nmaxxs. i actually remember that episode — when it ran originally. Well, that sucks.

Abstinence didn't work for Mary, did it?


Oh, I just snapped all of you back Bethlehem!

I post rants and when I hit the submit button, they disappear.

Oh well.

Reagan's Fluffer,

Did you know that prostate cancer is caused by a STD? Makes you go hmmmmmm. doesn't it? Many cancers are now being attributed to bacteria and viruses, thank to AIDS research. Look at the polio vaccine for a link to HIV.

Sex is not a crime. The STD's are caused by viruses that came from animals. It appears that the shepards of the biblical days were very lonely in the desert.

HIV is preventable with the use of condoms which is why the church could have prevented a lot of infections if only they would have taken a stand for the safety of their flock. Oh that's right, they were too busy dealing with transfers and cover-ups.

It's obvious you don't like gay people and that's your business. It's my business to call you out on your ignorance.

Khen:

I spent time on that Pier you used to fish. It was a familiar sight to see the city rebuild the beach after every storm. I went to A and C school at Dam Neck, VA.

Bubblehead,

You completely missed my point. Gays were irrelevant in it. I used them to illustrate how health decisions in a gov't Obama plan would be politically based. The Liberal teams would find it easy to call out and penalize smokers for "risky" behavior but in being politically correct would ignore data on gay men. In essensce, they won't apply an approach on one group to all groups.

You say I am anti gay. That is incorrect. I was merely quoting the CDC - Centers for Disease Control. I do not think the CDC is anti-gay. You might. Here is what they say:
*********************************************
When examined this way, the epidemic is largely concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM). Viewing the epidemic this way shows another disparity among populations. For we see that MSM accounted for 53% (over half) of new HIV infections in 2006, even though gay and bisexual men comprise a very small portion of the population.
********************************************

These FACTS are tragic. 53% of total new infections in 2006 were tied to this very small part of the population because of this risky behavior.

Bubblehead - sorry to hit you with facts. Go ahead -it's rebuttal time.

Hey Spitwad - Bush 8 yrs, War criminal, hater, etc.

Reagans Fluffer:

YOu missed my point- that HIV is a STD and that all STD's are treated without prejudice.

Prostate cancer, which all men will have some form of before they die, is now classified as a STD, from obviuos unprotected sex.

In the whole scheme of things, HIV is manageable but with untold side effects of the drugs. Cancer is still more expensive to treat than HIV. Alcohol addiction and drug addiction is far more damaging and much more costly to manage at the bottom line.

Sorry if I hit one of your fat nerves to set you off but you need to put down those Cheetos. The orange dust is toxic and will ruin your keyboard.

@ bubblehead
You still seem to miss the entire point. I guess you must because there is no way to dispute. In using your logic Spirit of Reagan gives you an EXAMPLE of how the Obama plan logic would play out. But, per usual, the liberal logic is to ignore areas that contradict their liberal beliefs.

Also, what ever happened to the left's chants for the government to "Keep your hands off my body"? Now they will not only be involved with your womb if you are killing your baby but with every cell of your body and every function. Any behavior seen as increasing the probability of requiring medical attention will eventually be banned or surcharged. The Obama plan motto "Live Enslaved and Die When We Tell You".

Of course except for the fact CDC lists male homosexuals as a high risk group for AIDS. They actually represent 57% of HIV cases in 2008, yet are a small minority. Nothing against gays...just supporting Reagans point. What is acceptable for the government to regulate our lifestyle?

akronisdynamic - I think the problem is Libs tend to be tactical - what rule can they put in place to target someone they don't like (i.e. the bad guy). So they will target behaviour eating / smoking. But the fail to recognize how this could be applied to all kinds of groups and the fact that when one group loses freedom, we all do.

That is why using the gay male argument really highlights the failure of these policies. One could say that HIV is 100% avoidable except for organ transplant cases.

Now, I don't think smokers, obese, gays should be punished for their behaviour.

Fluffer and Dynamic:

I didn't call for anyone to be punished for bad behavior. Fluffer inserted that assumption into his post because he assumed that all gay people have HIV. Obama's health plan will be heavily emphasized with personal responsibility regarding all aspects of health care.

Any new or young gay person infected with HIV can only blame theirself for the lack of protection. Most gay people I know are appalled at some of the behaviors that have returned to the sexual part of the lifestyle. It may be a gay man's disease in the USA but how do you account for the infection rate of the third world countries or even the Islamic countries? There are no gay people in Iran, remember?

Attacking me with the gay and AIDS issue was done so out of hatred and ignorance towards the lifestyle you people don't understand.

Maybe the Catholic diocese would have money if they didn't donate to the anti-gay marriage vote in Maine. How much did your diocese or your sect donate? I can't wait to pick up a statue of some saint at a yard sale that can't be used because of the content of lead paint.

You clowns were praying to mary and she was poisoning you. ROFLMFAO.

bubblehead
I am not attacking you or anyone. Facts are facts...that is a reality. The whole "Most gay people I know are appalled at some of the behaviors" does not matter one bit. This small group accounts for 57% of HIV cases in 2008 in the USA. The entire point was the Obama liberals that pick and choose what is acceptable lifestyles. I say bud out liberals, let us live a life of liberty...gays too. You continue to miss the point. Too powerful a point so per usual liberals go back to "stop attacking us, I am a victim mentality, government save me". You make me laugh...so thanks.